My Writing Process

This particular blog hop is all about authors offering others a glimpse into their work, their work schedules, and perhaps their innermost thoughts. Some of us are quite opposite our real life personas.

So who subjected you to this arduous journey through the innermost working of my mind?  The very talented paranormal author, Renea Mason, who single-handedly lured me into reading this genre. You don’t have to love paranormal, erotica or mystery to read her Symphony Series, you just need to love a damn good story.

Author of:

   

Click here to find out how she does it!

http://reneamason.com/2014/02/17/my-writing-process-blog-hop/

Q. What am I working on?

I am currently finishing up the first in my historical romance series on the four musketeers. Yes, the FOUR musketeers. Each book concentrates on the love life of one musketeer. I have tried to maintain the flavor of Dumas and the Hollywood movies but follow the historical events of their real lives. The series begins with Athos and his love interest, Rosalind. I will be pitching the series to an agent and publisher at the Chicago Spring Fling Romance Conference in April.

Q. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Character development is my specialty so I concentrate on that more than other writing aspect. I like to throw a twist into every story. While my main characters stay true to themselves, the plot often gets in their way. So with each storyline, the hero or heroine must overcome some wrench I’ve thrown into their plans.

In Merry Christmas, Henry the MC is a museum guard by night and artist by day. An introvert, relationships do not come easy to him. He becomes infatuated with a woman in a painting and seems content with this one-sided affair. Until an element of magic changes his life. How does he deal with it? You’d have to read the book.

Q. Why do I write what I do?

Writing is a way to express creativity and give release to your imagination. I have always been known for my imaginative stories. When I come across an item or old tale, turning it into a story is like putting together a puzzle. I take the original idea or object and combine the right touch of fantasy to create a piece of entertaining fiction. I have always been a history geek and my goal in historical romance is to make the past fun and exciting.

Ideas come from anywhere and I often stumble onto stories during my travels. Henry derived from a photo of a man staring at a painting, a bottle of wine and a brainstorming session between my sister and I. Some novellas on the back burner began with a visit to a bicycle museum, an old copy of the Hans Christian Anderson’s The Sandman, Barry Manilow’s song Could It Be Magic? and recurring dreams of family members.

The musketeers developed from an ending scene of Man In The Iron Mask when the musketeers charge the King’s men. As the smoke clears and the four are still left standing.  My sister and I began the “What if?” game and Magnificent Valor slowly took shape.

Q. How does your writing process work?

All plots begin the essential bottle of wine and brainstorming session with my sister and muse. She is often the mastermind behind  my ‘twists’ for each story. I need an outline to keep myself focused although it often changes as the characters take over or plot turns in a different direction.  Once I’ve begun, I post it for critique on a writing community website and the Coffee Talk gals add their expertise to help shape and refine the story. Then I pass it over to my mother, a retired editor and award winning journalist. If it passes her scrutiny, I consider it a finished piece.

Q. Who will we meet next week?

I love historical romance and short stories so I have chosen authors that will give insight to both the long and the short of their writing process.  Sorry, I couldn’t resist. The first three are friends and gifted writers I met on Scribophile.

Katie Stephens is a multi-published author whose short stories appear in magazines and anthologies including Spark and Mused. Her latest work, Home, will appear in the Spring issue of Mused.

Faceless by Katie Stephens                                   Final Letters by Katie Stephens

                                            

 

K. E. Shade is multi-published author Kastil Eavenshade who loves fantasy and historicals. Her latest steamy romance includes pirates, stolen gold and a sailor who will risk everything for the woman he loves. 

 

Samyann writes historical romances with a theme of reincarnation. Her first novel involves the Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire. 

 

Valeri Clarizio is a fellow Romantic suspense author from Melange-Publishing.  The series A Nick Spinelli Mystery finds the sexy detective solving murders, dodging danger and keeping his girlfriend/caseworker Shannon out of trouble.