I've been invited to take part in a "My Writing
Process" blog tour, which is an ongoing thing each Monday. Sherry Gloag,
the person who invited me, blogged on January 6, (here's her post) and it is my turn today. My
three blogging friends who have agreed to take part will all blog on Jan 20th.
The blog tour asks four questions – so here they are,
with my answers:
1) What
am I working on?
I tend to have several projects going at once! I
suppose that's handy for when I'm stuck, because I can always shift to
something else and then come back to it. Right now I'm concentrating on a
historical novella set in the Jersey Shore during the Depression Era. It's for
an anthology one of my publishers is putting together, and I'm very excited
about it! I'm also trying to finish another Stitching Post novel, this time
about a very busy single mom and a real estate tycoon.
2) How
does my work differ from others of its genre?
I'm not sure. When I started writing I was focused
more on historical romance, especially Asian history. But now I've shifted more
to American contemporary. I like to write about places I've been—since I've
retired I've gone on a major trip every other year! So the settings for my
books are, for the most part, places I've visited.
3) Why
do I write what I do?
I guess I like to write what I'd like to read. I like
a "happily ever after" because it gives me a sense of satisfaction,
or optimism. People tell me I'm a happy person – so I guess in order to stay
happy I focus on romances, because there's almost always a happy ending!
4) How
does your writing process work?
I have to know what the conflict is first. What is it
that the hero/heroine has to overcome? What is it that's going to make me care
about him/her? Once I have a clear idea of the conflict, then I go on to create
characters who are deeply affected by that conflict. From there I plan a
general plot, with major turning points and obstacles that keep them from
achieving their goal. And THEN, I start writing.
I've
persuaded three of my writing friends to continue the blog tour! Here are the
three authors who will tell you about their writing process on January 20:
Nancy Gideon, author of paranormal
and romantic suspense
Felicia Rogers,
author of sweet historical romances
KatherineBone, author of regency action/adventure/romance
