Isn’t this the cutest thing? Yes, my book is out in a couple weeks. I received today some cover flats* and two copies, now covered in drool.
I have a massive to-do list. I still have laundry to do from Dallas and
Isn’t this the cutest thing? Yes, my book is out in a couple weeks. I received today some cover flats* and two copies, now covered in drool.
I have a massive to-do list. I still have laundry to do from Dallas and
Eeek. I’m running out of time. In a couple of weeks my book will be in the stores. Cover flats and two copies, now covered in drool, arrived today.
If you’d like a signed cover flat, join the riskies mailing list–and mine–by sending an email to riskies@yahoo.com with COVER FLAT in the top line. Supplies are limited (five). First come, first served…you’ll know you’ve won if I email you back asking for a snailmail address.
So I’m barely back from Dallas, with a huge amount of laundry to do–funny, since I didn’t take that many clothes. Books I brought back are scattered randomly through the house. The cat is figuring out who I am again. I’m figuring out who I am again. The National conference is one of the few places where a writer can be a writer; where you’re in the company of people who hear voices in their heads and understand if you say things like, “I really want to kill off the cousin in chapter ten” or “I think I have insufficient character arc.” So coming back into the real world, where there are mice in the kitchen and a three-figure electricity bill, no one except me apparently knows how to recycle plastic bags, and everyone’s medication has run out at the same time, is a real shock.
And meanwhile the countdown continues.
While everyone was having fun at RWA I’ve done a little quiet celebrating myself. This past Friday, I finally completed the 2nd draft of my mess-in-progress. 🙂
This may not sound like much but it’s huge for me, because it means the plot and characters have evolved from the primordial ooze of the 1st draft into something that promises to be a story.
It’s the most difficult part of my process. I still have a load more research to do (my plots always twist, requiring new areas of research). I have a lot of rewriting to do, but I am a very good rewriter.
Still my inner demons remind me it’s been about 2 years since I started this story. And…sigh…I’ve heard readers forget authors if there’s a gap of more than a year between books.
I can’t really do anything about that. I’m not a fast writer. This particular story is taking longer because I’ve also worked on 3 other stories at the same time and struggled to locate my errant muse. But even at my best pace it takes time for me to understand my characters. I don’t know if I’d ever be able to write more than one book a year–not a book I’d want my name on, anyway.
This isn’t to imply that taking longer on a book necessarily ends up in a better read. I have read some books that had great concepts but which I thought needed more development. On the other hand, if the concept isn’t workable, no amount of polishing will fix it.
Nor am I saying prolific authors can’t produce quality. We all have different processes. But I have this feeling that the sort of stories I most enjoy require maturing time. Many of my favorite authors take a year or more per book. In the case of those who write more quickly I’m willing to bet the stories were already percolating in their minds ahead of time.
I’m also not sure I buy the whole reader forgetfulness thing. I know I will pounce on the next Judith Ivory or Laura Kinsale whenever they come out. Now *blush* I am not implying my books are anywhere near as memorable as theirs. I’d just rather like to think a few readers will remember me kindly by the time my next one comes out!
So anyway, what do you think about the relationship between the time it takes to write a book and its quality? Do you think the average reader does forget authors after a year? Are there authors you’ll wait for?
Elena
www.elenagreene.com
I love attending this conference! I love walking through the lobby or the bar or the meeting room area and encountering friends I haven’t seen in a year. I love meeting friends that I only know from email or the blog. I love the energy and stimulation and excitement the conference creates, making me excited and eager to get home and write. I was in Dallas from Tuesday to Monday. Wednesday was a big day with the Beau Monde conference during the day to the huge Literacy Booksigning in the evening. The Beau Monde conference was devoted to all things Regency. I missed Kalen’s fashion workshop (darn!), but our own Risky, Janet Mullany, gave a very useful and entertaining workshop on servants, and I did get to spend a lot of time with our Risky blogger and friend Keira but I don’t have a photo!!
Here I am at the booksigning with Olivia Gates who writes Mills & Boon Medicals and Silhouette Bombshell. The booksigning raised $58,000 for literacy.
After the signing, I missed the Beau Monde Soiree because Sophia Nash roped me into joining several other authors to go to a Cowboy bar to learn line dancing. Romance Novel TV came along to film the fun. They also interviewed me at the booksigning, so stay tuned to see me on Romance Novel TV!
On Thursday the Harlequin Historical authors including Amanda and me had a Tea at a posh restaurant specializing in desserts. Not only were the desserts fabulous, but this restaurant is the only one I’ve ever encountered that had a TV in the bathroom–showing the cooking channel. Amanda and I and our friend and fellow author, Deb Marlowe went out to dinner with one of the Mills & Boon editors. Friday was the Harlequin Party which was held at the Fairmont Hotel. A group of us intended to share a taxi and wound up in a white stretch Hummer limousine to get there.
Here are Amanda, Deb, and me in the limousine.
Here we are again before the dancing started.
On Saturday I attended a marvelous workshop by Michael Hauge who wrote Writing Screenplays That Sell. He spoke about the essential components of a romance, and I’ll have to talk more about that in another blog someday.
Two Regencies won the RITA in their categories: Julia Quinn’s On the Way to the Wedding for Long Historical and Tracy Anne Warren’s The Husband Trap for Best First Book.
Here is a special photo! Romance Vagabonds Elodie and Manda (seated), me, our blogger, Santa, and Eloisa James!
I’m home now and already missing the new and old friends I saw at RWA!
Any questions about the conference?