I spoke at a Boise book club last week. They had read Beloved for last month’s book, and I was hosted to a picnic by the river which was inspired by a scene from the book. Such fun. Especially since they expressed their affection for Beloved and the main characters, Diana and Tyson.
During the discussion, which was about both Beloved and the writing life in general, I mentioned that by the time readers hold a certain book in their hands, I will have written two more books and have probably started another one. My head is full of completely different characters in a completely different storyline. Which is one reason the marketing efforts required of an author by a publisher can be so hard for me.
My current WIP (work in progress) is a contemporary romance set in the same area as my January 2014 women’s fiction release, A Promise Kept. When I began that book, I hadn’t intended to return to Kings Meadow, but then I realized there were more stories to tell. Beginning with Chet Leonard (see photo). Come on now. When you see this guy, don’t you think he deserves a HEA (happily ever after)?
Anyway, several times I have started writing this book and then been interrupted to revise or edit or proof other stories. But now, at last, my schedule is free and clear from such distractions until after this book is finished.
To my delight, now that my head is thoroughly back into the story, I have fallen in love again with Chet, the other characters, and the setting of Kings Meadow. There is something so wonderful about that feeling for an author. True, it can be fleeting. Writing is often hard and words don’t always flow with ease. But there are moments when the creative process is utterly sweet. I’ve learned to treasure those moments.
Naturally, my hope is that readers will fall in love with characters and settings, too. My desire is for readers to be entertained and swept away, enough to forget some of the trials of life, if only for a few hours.
It will be November 2014 before this book arrives in stores, if all goes according to plan, but I’ll have three other releases between now and then; you can see the covers on my web site in the Books section. If you have an ereader, now is the time to take advantage of the preorder special for A Promise Kept. It’s only $4.99 prior to release. A nice bargain.
Okay. Gotta run. The beauty of Kings Meadow and the Idaho mountains is calling to me.
~robin
