It’s here! It’s here! As of today, my amazing and talented crit partner, Brenna Aubrey, is officially published! Her short story “The Love Letter” is available now as part of the Jane Austen Made Me Do It anthology!
Check out her blog to read about her inspiring journey and her touching dedication.
Filed under Brenna Aubrey
I’m trapped in the vortex of false beginnings. I’ve rewritten the first chapter of this new story THREE times and it still isn’t right. I have the darn thing plotted, I know what needs to happen, but I’m having trouble finding that oh-so-elusive spark. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that moment when you open a new book and you immediately get sucked in. Or when you’re writing and you just know you’ve nailed it.
Normally, I’m quite good at finding the spark. Sparks come pretty easy for me. So this dark, foreign world of false beginnings is a tad unsettling (read: completely freaking me out). The good news, I think I know what the problem is. The bad news, it’s a tough problem to solve. You see, I have no idea who my characters are yet. I know their names, their background, their eye color, but I don’t really know who they are as people. At this point, I feel like I’m holding character auditions. I’m ushering them into the scene, trying them out, and then cursing at them for being completely wrong. Too stoic. Next! Too rakish. Next! At some point, the right characters will step onto the stage and I’ll recognize them instantly. The only trouble is, that could be gazillions of first chapters from now. Sigh.
So that’s my little update. Hey, on your way out, please tell the strong, silent guy in the waiting room it’s time for his audition. He can leave his shirt at the door. ;c)
Filed under Uncategorized
You’ll be pleased to know that I was working hard this weekend, catching up on the first season of Game of Thrones. Research, my friends. Research. Take this sexy morsel, for instance. 
His name is Khol Drogo and he’s king of the barbarian warriors. The second he stepped on stage, I melted. Sure, he’s delicious, but he’s also dangerous, powerful and fiercely protective of the woman he loves. He’ll rip a man apart, literally, for threatening his woman. Wow. I’m in.
Drogo got me thinking about my own heroes. I write mostly Regency and in that world a man can’t rip another man’s throat out to prove he cares. It simply isn’t done. But every one of my heroes has a little bit of Drogo in him. That wild, fearless warrior type speaks to me on a biological level. But it’s his love for the heroine, his absolute devotion to her, that gives us glimpses of his humanity. Those are the heroes I melt for; those are the heroes I want to write. I want to watch the mighty warrior fall to his knees for love.
Filed under Monday Inspiration
