Wow, really?

March 7th was my last post?? I have a bit of updating to do!


I'm doing it again, that hopping from story to story thing, and changing up my stories. I'm learning something about the way I need to write: start a story, play with it, let it sit. Let it evolve from one concept to another until I find the right ingredients for the characters. I simply cannot make my characters fit into the first outline I write; it must be the other way around. But once I know, I know. Everything clicks into place, and I can't STOP my characters from telling me their story.

The YA Driving Lessons is still a work in progress. I adore those characters, but they needed some time to simmer. I wasn't happy with the way one of the characters was coming across on the page, or rather NOT coming across. He isn't what I want him to be. Yet. It's fun and easy to write the other characters, though, so I hope to get back to Sarah and her friends real soon. The exciting thing about them is they leap off the page, straight to your heart. That story will be so satisfying to finish.


While Driving Lessons is simmering, I'm toying with my mystery again and loving it. Remember Rebecca and Erik in Err Apparent, previously known as Art of Deception? That story has been simmering on a back burner for 2 years because it was missing something. I wrote it twice, but both times stopped at the black moment. I let my mind wander one day and suddenly there was this Really Big Idea. I'm adding this new ingredient and stirring the pot :) It's so exciting!

Since my last post, I've found a new job. It was necessary for me to work full time, and the bank - despite the fact that I enjoyed the work and the people I worked with - didn't pay enough to support my family, so I'm back to my pre-kids career of accounting. I found the best job I've ever had! The company I work for is family-friendly, and in the two months I've worked there, everyone I've met has been warm, caring, and supportive. I absolutely love my job. And the pay :)

My husband is working again, too, after almost 2 years of unemployment. I probably don't need to explain to you that having a stable income alleviates a lot of that creativity-stifling pressure.

In other news, we got a new puppy and the kids dubbed him D.O.G. (pronounced dee-oh-gee), Hannah got braces, Sean is driving (eek!), and we're resuming work on the remodel.

So, back to writing. And back to my stories. My goal is to have a complete story by November, so that I can spend January editing, and spend February shopping it out.

First things first: Err Apparent needs a new title. Something to fit that Really Big Idea.