Once upon a time ...

 

I have so many half-started and half-finished stories under my bed, metaphorically, I need a stepladder to get to my pillow. Each and every one of them is worthy of rescue, not because of scintillating prose or clever twists, but because the characters deserve their happily-ever-after. 

Starting with the first story I ever wrote in which the heroine retreats to the recently inherited house of her late grandmother to lick her wounds after both a failed career and a failed relationship. I mean … how many tropes do you need? Sure, the conflict is difficult to find, the description goes on and on and on, but the dialogue sings! I discovered early on that I love writing dialogue and I occasionally can’t type fast enough to keep up with the chatterbox characters. The hero is worthy of a book cover, dark haired … no, blond … no, definitely brown hair. And his blue eyes sparkle with humour … except they’re brown. It’s a design-your-own hero book!! The newest fad!

My second story ever written is a retelling of the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea, with magical elements, a foreign prince, and steaming hot sex on the page. Woo boy … not something I want my mom to read! The story opens when the heroine’s car breaks down on a dark and stormy night outside the gates of a castle. She’s on her way home from a cocktail party so isn’t dressed for hiking through the pelting rain. Needless to say, she’s soaked by the time she gets to the prince’s castle. And needless to say, she needs to borrow dry clothes. And needless to say … I’m sure I don’t need to go on, do I? Did I mention the erotic nature of the prose? But there is intrigue, and a bad guy that needs to be defeated, and an overbearing father who needs to come to terms with his daughter’s wants and needs as the royal family moves into the 21st century. A real slice of life story we can all relate to, am I right? But, again, the heroine and hero deserve to be happy.

I guess my problem is I fall in love with my characters and can’t stand to leave them hanging. Unrequited love is no fun for anyone. I put them in that mess, the least I can do is get them out. 

My other problem (how long do you have?) is the never-ending supply of new story ideas. So, yes, I could return to the story of the witch who messes up her spells – oh, how they laughed! -  and is being stalked by a demon who will claim her soul if she doesn’t fulfill a promise, but when would I finish the next book in my contemporary series? Or finish the second book in my paranormal women’s fiction series (as yet unpublished) about the recently divorced real estate exec who discovers she’s a hereditary witch with phenomenal power, a wise-ass cat for a familiar, an angry ghost for a roommate, and a smokin’ hot hero for a love interest – not on your life! – who doesn’t know if he can trust her. 

And so those first few tomes will remain entombed (ha!) under the bed until I get the other stories and characters out of my head. Oh, and I didn’t even mention the cosy mystery series I have sketched out complete with recipes, or the historical series I have all the characters for, or …

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing spicy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her heroes and heroines, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband, a spoiled cat, and five hens. 

Website ~ Bookbub ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads 

Losing it All: Writing In A Pandemic #scifi #coverreveal

Hi, I'm Pippa Jay, author of sci-fi and supernatural stories with a romantic soul. It's been a while since I actually had a WIP, but I suppose the pandemic has had some positive outcomes. When I was first sent home from work, I threw myself into doing as much of my job as I could from home, closely followed by as much physical stuff as I could to keep my mind off the state of the world, and because the glorious weather just called me to spend time outside (and with my chickens). The thought of writing at such a time... didn't seem possible. I was worried about my family, my friends, my work colleagues, my job, my animals...the list was unending. 

But as life in quarantine settled into the new normality, boredom set in. Apparently boredom is a major trigger for my muse. I had several pieces in my files that were finished, or close enough to finished that really they shouldn't be much work to complete. I pulled open three of them, but one seemed to call into particular. A missing part of my main series that my editor said was needed before book three, that I had half written and knew what the rest of the story should be, but hadn't had the dedication to really stick at until done.

Like several of my stories, this was done more as background between books two and three so I had the details down for reference, but that had never been intended as a piece to be published. My editor was of a different mind. After assessing book three and repeated comments of 'wait, what, who are these people? Did I miss a whole book somewhere?!' I figured I'd better get it done. And what could be a more perfect time? Despite being started years earlier, the darker, more destructive tone of the story was at least in resonance with the near apocalyptic reality!

So months, if not years later than it should have been done, Redemption 2.5 is in the final round of edits. It is not the most romantic chapter of my main characters' life, that's for sure, and I have yet to determine a release date (I originally planned to release it just before book three, but as yet don't have the finances to send that to my editor for edits and a cover). Instead, I have two other pieces booked for edits in September - a winter solstice scifi mystery that I would like to release close to the time of year that it's set, and an angel short that will release next summer. In the meantime, you can read the blurb and get a look at the cover. If it doesn't give you the shivers, I'm hoping the story will...

How could a moment's anger destroy so much happiness?

It's a question that will haunt him. When an old enemy comes to Kasha-Asor to kidnap their daughter, armed with a weapon that could end everything, Keir is forced to leave an injured Quin on Lyagnius. But his quest for a cure and their missing daughter will come at a terrible cost.

My Current WIP: A Tough Note to Crack by Lynn Lovegreen

This month, Genre-istas are sharing their current WIPs (Works In Progress). My current project is a YA historical mystery with romantic elements—a good example of how you can mix and match those subgenres!

The idea started with a question: What if Veronica Mars was a teen in in Anchorage, Alaska in 1941?⁠

Fifteen-year-old Peggy Jones is the perky, fearless queen bee of Anchorage High School’s freshman class of 1941. She has plans to become first flute in Orchestra, Honor Society member, and future crème de la crème of the territory of Alaska. When the new kid’s flute is stolen, she gets the blame, and has to nab the thief to clear her name. Life gets complicated when the shy boy she’s just noticed becomes a suspect, Peggy’s best friend thinks she’s taking over her student government campaign, and her mother is keeping a secret from her. What’s a girl to do but take a cue from Humphrey Bogart and solve mysteries to keep her dreams alive?

Here’s the beginning:

It started with Humphrey Bogart.

I was halfway through filing thirty slips of paper with locker assignments when the third-period bell rang. My mind drifted off to more interesting things. A thousand miles away from Anchorage High School and Alaska, I searched the docks of San Francisco with Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon. I saw the movie three times at the Empress Theatre, so I could picture the fog rolling in and Bogart’s handsome face half in shadow from the brim of his fedora. If only I could solve a mystery with him and gaze into those dreamy brown eyes. I sighed. I glanced around to make sure that nobody overheard me.

Then the new kid walked in. A tall drink of water with a slim build and dark, he had wavy hair you could run your fingers through. His argyle sweater had seen better days, with stretched out sleeves and a fraying strand of yarn hanging from his waist. Standing next to him was an elegant, petite lady wearing a stylish velvet hat.

“Good morning, may I help you?” I asked in my best office girl voice. Excited at meeting a new student—and a cute boy— before anybody else, I bounced up on the toes of my new saddle shoes. Thank goodness Mother got me into this class as an extra elective—her status as president of the Anchorage Women’s Club and her friendship with the registrar sure came in handy. It kept me in the know around here, and out of boring old gym class.

 The woman opened her mouth, but the kid spoke up first. “We just got into town.” From the way he had his hands shoved in his pockets, he probably didn’t want to move here four weeks into the school year.  I could help set things right. 

“That’s great! Welcome!” I gestured to the office, the walls hung with festive orange and black pennants, and our eagle mascot. “I’m Peggy Jones, freshman. Pleased to meet you.” I stuck out my hand and shook both of theirs heartily, pep club and welcoming committee rolled into one.

Writers, what is your latest WIP? Or if you’re a reader, what’s the more recent read you really enjoyed?

Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for over fifty years. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering at her local library. Her young adult historical fiction is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.