The Chancellor's Bride is now done--69 000 words of spectacular (I hope!) m/m/f action, all tied up in a nice, fantasy romance bow. All I need to do now is sit on it for a few days, give it one more look-see, and then send it in to my editor.
But DAMN, this is a long time coming. It feels like this book has taken forEVER. I started it last summer and had initially estimated I could finish by the end of October--my editor, Bethany, even dangled a January release date in front of my nose if I could get it in by then. When Halloween came and went and I was barely half-done, I promised her the end of January. Then, a few weeks ago, I emailed her to say I only had a few thousand words left, and it should be done anytime.
Even those last few thousand words have been agony.
Holy crapping damn, this book has put me through a wringer. Part of me wonders if it's the fact that there are two heroes. My feelings about men have been a tad cool since my separation in September, and I've been distracted by thoughts of a new project--an f/f novella that will be a prequel to Crossing Swords.
Kids, yeah; work, yeah; housework, yeah yeah yeah--they're all great excuses for putting off doing what I'm supposed to, which is working on making writing a career. That ain't gonna happen if it takes me three-quarters of a year to write a relatively short novel. So as soon as this one is in the post, I'm buckling down and getting that prequel onto my hard drive. No more excuses, no more whining (and no more male heroes to put a damper on my creativity, heh. At least, not for a while). I'm planning between 30 and 50k for it, so it shouldn't take me long (famous last words, I know), and because the hero* is my favorite character ever, Lianon al-Sylphae, I'm hoping the words will continue to flow effortlessly.
In honor of this new project, I'm posting a new word-meter in my sidebar so you can all nag me when I deserve it. Please, don't be gentle--if my slacker ways are allowed to continue unchecked, I'm going to end up one of those writers who put out a book every two years, and none of us want that. So crack the whip, baby. I can take it. :)
*Yes, hero. Lianon may be a woman, but she is definitely NOT your typical romance heroine. She's even inspired me to write (hopefully in time to make the Samhellion newsletter deadline) an article on romance and the female hero. If you all have any suggestions of female heroes you've encountered in romances you've read, I'd be much obliged if you'd mention them in the comments.
Hugs.
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7 comments:
Kirsten, I was thinking about you yesterday and was going to send you a message about how Chancellor's Bride was coming along. A firend of mine had sent me a message showing me that Healer's Touch and Bound By Steel are on amazon for pre-order, and it made me wonder how your next book was coming along! That is so awesome to hear that you have it finished. I'm really looking forward to reading it!
Oh and a prequel to Crossing Swords. Dude, get writing! :).
Whoohoo! Good for you. I'm looking forward to reading it.
Interesting that maybe it took longer because you don't relate so much to your two heroes. Even so, I'm sure you wrote some really hot smexing and a fun story.
I've been distracted by thoughts of a new project--an f/f novella that will be a prequel to Crossing Swords.
Heh, I get that. LOL Me too. Can't wait for it. :D
Yay! Congrats on finishing it.
Prequel you say...oooh can't wait. :D
Congrats! I'm stuck trying to wrap up the overdue story from hell myself, so I'm both admiring of what you've accomplished and jealous as hell that you're done and I'm not.
Have fun diving into Lianon's story!
And best of luck with Chancellor's Bride.
Thanks, everyone!
Amy, I was totally jazzed when I saw those books up for preorder, but then I thought about the fact that I didn't have one currently with my editor and my pleasure kind of fizzled. But at least now it's done--even if my editor doesn't want it, I can at least put the damn thing down, right?
Hey, Leah. It's not that I don't like these guys--I really do. But the dynamics between three people are really hard to do, and the fact that two of them are men just kind of made it moreso. I found the three-way scenes in this one so much harder to write than the corresponding scenes in Bound by Steel. I think it also has a bit to do with the power/role thing--in that one man with a woman on either end is automatically thought of as being "pleasured". But when it's the same basic position with one woman and two men, there's a subtext that she's "servicing" them. It's hard to get away from that.
Hi Anna. Yeah, the prequel has been in my head for a long time. I'd initially thought to include Lianon's romance with Rhianna as flashbacks in Crossing Swords, but then I realized it would drag down the pacing. But it's still a story I want to tell. :)
Hey Evie! *waves* Aren't those books a bummer? And you just don't like to abandon them--especially when you know they're going to be good. Good luck with yours. :)
A prequel would be amazing! That story is what made Lianon into the character she is today and it would be awesome to read it. Even if it sad.
I can't wait to read Chancellor's Bride, so hurry up woman! ;0)
Hey, Tiah.
No, it won't be sad--I'm planning to end it on their happily for now and won't go into what happens later. I suppose for anyone who's read Crossing Swords, there might be a hint of sadness, but I hope the story will be engaging enough that readers won't keep thinking about what's ultimately going to happen down the road.
As for Chancellor's Bride, I'm just finishing up my final editing pass before I send it in to Bethany--and then she still has to give it a yea or nay. Fingers crossed!
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