Welcome back, Susan. What are we talking about today?
This year caught me off-guard. First because I thought most of the pandemic problems would be behind us and, also, I thought we would all be given a new beginning. We seem to have paid our dues and deserve to return to ‘normal’. Evidently, I was overly optimistic and may need to cut back on my zeal.
It takes more than ‘want’ to make a marriage work. Much more in the Montana desert with only the chickens, renegade Sioux braves, and an uncommunicative husband to interact with. How was Daisy to face years in this barren cabin?
I have signed with a new publisher. I still intend to continue with The Wild Rose Press. I have a new release with Wild Rose, a Regency titled The Perfect Arrangement, out in April, 2022. But that seemed like so far away and for me time is of the essence. Not that I know of anything that will take me out in a moment’s notice although that seems to be happening to my friends all around me. Let’s just say I am of a certain age where I don’t bother getting reservations to anywhere more than a week-out. With that in mind, I was eager to find another outlet for my work – trying to cover a certain check-mark on my bucket list.
I won’t need to write new stories for these unless a new one comes to me. I mean, when I decided to try to get my books published three years ago, I already had over 85 written. I have 25 more than that now which I refer to as my WIPs or ‘works in progress’. These range from a quickly jotted down idea of something I want to research more or a title and quick outline of the story. Even though I am a panster – the story forms so quickly sometimes – I have enough of an idea to go from the first line to the ending. In fact, I have begun with the ending more times than I like to admit. I mean the last kiss before the sun sets in the west sort of ending.
When Magnolia Blossom Publishing approached me through my website, I was pleasantly flattered. I mean we authors usually need to beat the doors down to get noticed by publishers and there is plenty of great talent out there to get lost in. I welcomed the ability to publish more work and I signed with them for certain stories. I have a Midwest Mail Order Brides Series with five books on the racks and will have another two series soon: Rangers Meet their Match and the other about Lawmen’s Loves.
I am blessed to have two such wonderful publishers handling my work. Neither need to wait since I live my writing. I never get writer’s block – always the opposite. I often need to tell the ‘people in my head’ to slow down a little so I can get everything they’re saying down on paper. Since these novels are already written, I go through and freshen them, tighten the word usage, throw out the words I over-use such as: that, look, and, was. I reread them to make sure the flow feels right and send them in. Is that cheating? I don’t think so. I am still writing new stories all the time. Some short and some novel length. My characters are happy to keep me informed of their lives.
I don’t wish to jab at fate. I am grateful for what I have been given while others are fighting for their lives back. I have lost loved ones and have faced frustrations. I have held-on to my escape into my character’s lives and pray for the world to right itself once again. I can only wish for the normal we all miss and hope we have enough patience to wait for it to return. Love to all…