Monday planning…

How many of you make lists? I make them all the time. It helps me to realize my goals, finish tasks and stay somewhat organized. I make grocery lists, to-do lists, cleaning lists and my favorite, writing lists.

Writing lists? It’s my way of keeping up with what I’m working on, future projects and the maybe-one-day projects. Here’s how I go about making the writing lists…

Now projects list: This is the list of things in the hopper now, like the manuscripts that are due out soon. They are already outlined, just waiting to be completed. I keep a current list so that I don’t lose track and it also keeps me in focus on my release dates.

Future projects list: I love this list. It’s the list of projects that maybe are already outlined, but are on the back burner until my now project list is whittled down some. These are the books that I can see the whole story in my mind. This list gets a long look each week as I long for the characters and their unfolding lives. I have to strive not to dip into this list until its time.

Maybe one-day projects: Here’s where I play sometimes. All writers will understand this one. You’re sitting, playing with story ideas and something sneaks in, but the whole idea isn’t quite there, just yet. I put these in this list for future writing. If the story suddenly and without warning comes through and into focus I bumped it to the future projects list.

Included in all of these lists are items like finished covers, finished blurbs, characterizations, etc. Usually, I just mention that these items are saved in the books dedicated file on my hard drive.

Funny how the mind of a writer works. Mostly I’m just willy-nilly and let the characters take over where they may, but for the sake of my sanity I try to keep up with what’s happening. So, I do lists…

Hopefully one day I’ll be doing lists for a big publisher or I’ll be doing writing lists that will fill my day with writing, not just accounting and taxes mixed in 😉 A girl can dream, right?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Research? That’s it…

Good Friday morning! I know I’ve been away from the posts for a lot, but it’s been really busy around here. I’ve finished Maggie, she’s in edits and I’m busy working on the Christmas edition that will end the series…

This morning as I sat here, writing and sipping coffee by the Christmas tree, I watched Breaking Dawn, Part 2. When I’m alone and writing, I love to listen to music or watch a romantic movie, keeping the inspiration flowing. So this morning it was the last Twilight movie. Yes, I cried at the end. You have to admit, the moment Bella sends Edward through the history of their romance and that beautiful song, A Thousand Years plays in the background, it touches you. My fingers were flying over the keys as it inspired the romantic thoughts.

Some say movies are not research, but I call foul. They’re great research. Just watch how the plot plays out, how the couple’s relationship is planned out. It’s the perfect research material and enjoyable at that.

I listen to the dialogue between characters, the way they work with one another and flow. Watch how the intense moments come about and how the writer/director has made it into a nail-biter that pulls you in. Try using it in your story, it will help.

So, do you watch movies to inspire?

As always, great writing and May God Bless You…

Five Oaks Ranch Coming to a Close!

It’s hard to believe it, but my Five Oaks Ranch is coming to a close soon. Maggie is in editing and will be out in a little over a week, then the Christmas edition will be out before Christmas. I’m excited about the Christmas book. It will feature recipes and so much more, but there will be romance as always…

I’ve grown to love all of the Cauthen’s and will miss their lively banter and all the fun they have. But they’ll live on in fiction.

My new series is already in the works, without a name of course, but in the works. The first book in a chapter in and I can’t wait for you to get a glimpse of it. It’s something I’ve been playing with for a while, so start looking for tidbits before Christmas.

Keep a watch out for bundle specials on the Five Oaks Ranch! Some great deals will be coming before Christmas so don’t miss a post. If you haven’t caught a Five Oaks book, then get one soon. The Cauthen’s are a fun, loving family and you’ll love their stories as they unfold in each book.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Release for Luke

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Writing Fun…

It’s finally Friday… hope you have an awesome weekend planned. My son is out of school for 10 days so I’m happy to spend time with him.

As for writing, do you have fun with it? Me, yes I love to write. It’s a big part of me that get’s to flow from my fingers daily. Some days I struggle when something is on my mind, but I still enjoy it. Writing is a stress reliever, which is great therapy for me.

I’ve heard writers say that writing isn’t fun, it’s just something they have to do. What? I just don’t understand that frame of mind at all. For me, writing is fun and I think it’s what helps me stay sane in this insane world we live in. After a busy day, I can sit down at my laptop and lose myself. Even if it’s just an hour or so, but it helps clear my head.

Don’t forget all the fun of meeting such wonderful people, other writers, bloggers and reviewers. Then you have the great fans that fill your inbox with wonderful words that make you want to write even more. It’s a wonderful life, the life of a writer.

Writing is fun, if you don’t think it’s fun, then maybe you need to get lost in it for a minute, then rethink it.

As always, good writing and May God Bless You… Thanksgiving Cowboy

At Series End…

Good morning! Hope all is well…

I’m working on the last of the Five Oaks Series and feel a bit out of sorts. Not sure if it’s a feeling of being glad it’s almost at an end or sad about it. When you pour your heart into a series and the characters are part of your daily life for over a year, it’s hard to say goodbye.

Then again, as a writer, I’m ready to begin the new series and stand-alone manuscripts that are outlined and ready to come alive. With the plan of putting this series to bed by the end of this year, it’s played with my mind.

How do you feel as you get to the end of your series? Do you start to mourn the end or relish in the thought of it?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Stepping back …

Good Sunday morning! Here in Georgia it’s chilly but sunny. It will be a beautiful day. For me, I’m sitting by the fire, enjoying the early morning quiet.

This morning’s post is about the rough draft. I’ve had the rough draft completed and turned into my editor for a week. I haven’t looked at the rough draft since I handed it over. But it has work to be done. I want to embellish on the story, add several elements to help bring his story alive, but I had to step back.

What do I mean by step back? Well, it’s simple. During the writing process sometimes we get too close to a project, then get burnt out. For some reason, the story started slipping away. I still had the bare bones, but the flesh and all the other things that make it a whole story seemed to go out of my brain. I had to step away from it.

Now, I think I’m almost ready to step back into the story. Of course, I’m in the middle of Maggie’s story, but it helps to get into another story to get the one that slipped away back into your brain. It’s still a little foggy, but I think I’ll do fine.

Have you ever had to step back in order to get the story going?

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Maggie’s taking over~

Good Friday everyone! Yes, it’s finally Friday!!! Sorry I haven’t been posting much, but I’m trying to finish Maggie so I can finish the Christmas companion book to the Five Oaks Ranch Series. But, I was sitting here working on Maggie this morning and it’s amazing the difference in writing her story. For one, the four brothers stories were of course written from the man’s point of view. I’m back to writing from the woman’s point of view and she’s sassy that’s for sure.

I’ve enjoyed this series so much and sadly all good things must come to an end. Maggie’s story is intriguing with the secrets she’s kept, the over protectiveness of her brothers and the great love she builds with the forbidden man in her life.

For those that have been inquiring about Luke, he’ll be out really soon. He’s with my editor right now and should surface soon. I think you’ll like his story.

Now, back to Maggie. Have a great Friday!

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…

Friday, Coffee, and Writing

It’s finally Friday. Wow, what a week! My submission to Harlequin has gone from a ‘Received’ status to a ‘In Progress’ status. Per the help screen, that means it’s on an Editor’s desk. Let’s just say I’ve check my email and status so many times that my laptop should automatically go on the site as soon as it’s opened.

As for the Five Oaks Ranch series, well I’m five chapters in on Maggie, which means the series is almost complete, sadly. I’ve come to know these siblings so well. They’ve been a part of my daily writing for over a year. The last book will be like a keepsake as the final story, the parents will be told. It will include recipes and Christmas goodies. I’m excited about it.

Tomorrow is my local book signing, which excites me. With every book signing, I gain more knowledge on ways to make them better. Since this one is in my hometown, I look forward to seeing old friends. The last one at this bookstore was great. So many friends and family came out to support me. This time I have a really cool gift basket to give away and possibly some books every thirty minutes.

So, enjoy today because the weekend is only hours away!

As always, good writing and May God Bless you..

Working ahead of yourself!

Good Friday morning! Yes people, it’s Friday. For me, I’m on my second cup of pumpkin spice infused coffee and thinking about the third. Hope all of you have great plans this weekend that don’t include going to the West Coast of Mexico. Hurricane Patricia is scary looking. To my Mexican friends and all of those in the path, stay safe.

Now on to today’s post. As you know I’m working on the last three books of the Five Oaks Ranch series. Luke is over halfway completed and Maggie is outlined. My mind has been drifting this week to Maggie’s story. Since it’s outlined, I’ve been playing with some of the pivotal scenes within her story. A couple are really exciting and I had to get them out of my system so that I can finish Luke, hopefully this weekend.

Of course I’ve been looking for photos for the Cauthen Christmas book which will end the series, sadly. I feel like I know the Cauthen’s personally. But that’s what happens when you spend a good chunk of time creating every aspect of their lives. That’s why Maggie’s story is pulling at me.

The Christmas book will be so sweet that I almost started writing it the other night, but I have to make sure that Maggie doesn’t become rogue and go in a different direction. You know how sneaky those characters can be 😉

As always, good writing and May God Bless You…