Ask the Author: M.J. Summers
Answered Questions (8)
M.J. Summers
Hi Trisha,
Thanks so much for the question! I JUST saw it now. So sorry about the crazy long delay in getting back to you. I finished the serious women's fiction book just last month, actually. It will be published on January 10th!
It's called The After Wife. If you'd like an ARC of it, please e-mail me at mjsummersbooks@gmail.com. I see my email MUCH quicker than questions on Goodreads - LOL.
Take care and happy new year!
Melanie
Thanks so much for the question! I JUST saw it now. So sorry about the crazy long delay in getting back to you. I finished the serious women's fiction book just last month, actually. It will be published on January 10th!
It's called The After Wife. If you'd like an ARC of it, please e-mail me at mjsummersbooks@gmail.com. I see my email MUCH quicker than questions on Goodreads - LOL.
Take care and happy new year!
Melanie
M.J. Summers
Hi Nora,
I'm so sorry for the delay - I just saw this now. Thank you so much for your question! How exciting for me. A real question from a real Goodreads reader. I'm WAY too happy about this. There is indeed a third book on the way in the Crown Jewels series. :) Here's a little hint - it's called: The Royal Delivery, and if I can be really honest, I have to tell you that it is cracking me up and that there are some scenes that are going to make me cry at my keyboard as well.
If all goes as planned, it'll be out in early 2018.
All the best,
Melanie
I'm so sorry for the delay - I just saw this now. Thank you so much for your question! How exciting for me. A real question from a real Goodreads reader. I'm WAY too happy about this. There is indeed a third book on the way in the Crown Jewels series. :) Here's a little hint - it's called: The Royal Delivery, and if I can be really honest, I have to tell you that it is cracking me up and that there are some scenes that are going to make me cry at my keyboard as well.
If all goes as planned, it'll be out in early 2018.
All the best,
Melanie
M.J. Summers
Hi Rita!
Thank you SO much for your question! I didn't see it until now. My email address is mjsummersbooks@gmail.com. I am really excited to see your review of Breaking Clear. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed Harper and Evan's story.
All the best,
Melanie
Thank you SO much for your question! I didn't see it until now. My email address is mjsummersbooks@gmail.com. I am really excited to see your review of Breaking Clear. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed Harper and Evan's story.
All the best,
Melanie
M.J. Summers
Colleen,
I am SO sorry I missed this. I am just seeing it now. No one has ever asked me a question on good reads before.
Email me at mjsummersbooks@gmail.com, and I'll send you all the secret scenes you can handle!
Sorry again,
MJ
I am SO sorry I missed this. I am just seeing it now. No one has ever asked me a question on good reads before.
Email me at mjsummersbooks@gmail.com, and I'll send you all the secret scenes you can handle!
Sorry again,
MJ
M.J. Summers
Hi Ayekah!
Thank you SOOOO much for your note! I cannot tell you what a relief it is to read this. When I finish a book, I never truly know if it's good or not. I'm too close to it, so, of course, I love the story.
Have a beautiful week!
MJ
Thank you SOOOO much for your note! I cannot tell you what a relief it is to read this. When I finish a book, I never truly know if it's good or not. I'm too close to it, so, of course, I love the story.
Have a beautiful week!
MJ
M.J. Summers
Dear Garima,
Thank you so much for your question! I'm delighted to hear from you. I apologize profusely for the long delay in getting back to you. I'm afraid I'm a little scared of GoodReads (seeing my reviews, etc.), and so I rarely log on. I must stop being such a wimp, though, because in actual fact, most of the people on GoodReads are absolute gems.
I honestly had never considered writing Betina's story, until I saw your note. Hmmm. Well, that's something to which I'll have to give a lot of thought.
You've got me thinking, Garima!
All the best to you and yours,
MJ
P.S. I definitely answer my email much quicker. mjsummersbooks@gmail.com. Normally within a day. :)
Thank you so much for your question! I'm delighted to hear from you. I apologize profusely for the long delay in getting back to you. I'm afraid I'm a little scared of GoodReads (seeing my reviews, etc.), and so I rarely log on. I must stop being such a wimp, though, because in actual fact, most of the people on GoodReads are absolute gems.
I honestly had never considered writing Betina's story, until I saw your note. Hmmm. Well, that's something to which I'll have to give a lot of thought.
You've got me thinking, Garima!
All the best to you and yours,
MJ
P.S. I definitely answer my email much quicker. mjsummersbooks@gmail.com. Normally within a day. :)
M.J. Summers
I am currently working on Breaking Hearts (Full Hearts Series Book 4) due out June 2015. It features Trey and Gabriella from Break in Two. What a fun book to write. It's set mainly in Brazil, so I've been enjoying trying out new recipes for Brazilian cuisine and learning about the culture and music. It will be the final book in the series and I think I might have a little trouble saying good-bye to all of the characters.
M.J. Summers
When I'm stuck I generally do one of the following:
1) Go for a long walk. I like to be out in nature with my dog, so I take her to the woods where I can really be alone with my thoughts. I try not to think about the book for a while, but just let my mind wander.Eventually I start daydreaming about the story until it picks up where I left off.
2) Re-read what I've written. From start to finish. I helps me connect with the characters and ask myself if what I have them doing is realistic for each of them. Can people relate to it? Is there something I don't like about the story that is getting me stuck? This also helps if I have lost confidence in what I'm doing. I might have started having doubts about the story, my ability to write, etc. Going back over it allows me to see that I do like what I've written so far and that I can do this.
3) Read blogs about writing/writers block, etc. If you check out my tweets, I've sent quite a few links to blogs that were really helpful to me.
4) Move On in the Story. Skip the part you are on and write a scene that will come later in the book (and that you know what is going to happen). This can help because you are still making progress. With my second book I had to do this a couple of times. I wrote myself into a real corner and it took me a while to figure out how to get out of it.
5) Leave it for a while. Maybe a day or so. Do non-writing things. Clean out a closet, go out with friends, do yoga, cook a great meal. Getting rid of some project that I have hanging over my head can help to clear the space it takes up in my mind so I can get back to writing. Doing things I enjoy relieves stress, which helps the process flow again when I am ready to sit back down.
6) Have a Little Faith. Trust that the ideas will come flooding back in very soon. They will. You started writing because you have a story to tell. You'll finish it. Worrying about writer's block only serves to block your mind and take your thinking from the creative right brain to the lower level thinking of the amygdala, which is what we use when we are in fight or flight. Ever heard of an author writing a novel while being chased by a bear? Me neither.
So believe that you'll get back into the groove any minute now. Have a glass of wine (or a tea if that's your thing). Be confident. The story is already in you. When you relax it will come out.
1) Go for a long walk. I like to be out in nature with my dog, so I take her to the woods where I can really be alone with my thoughts. I try not to think about the book for a while, but just let my mind wander.Eventually I start daydreaming about the story until it picks up where I left off.
2) Re-read what I've written. From start to finish. I helps me connect with the characters and ask myself if what I have them doing is realistic for each of them. Can people relate to it? Is there something I don't like about the story that is getting me stuck? This also helps if I have lost confidence in what I'm doing. I might have started having doubts about the story, my ability to write, etc. Going back over it allows me to see that I do like what I've written so far and that I can do this.
3) Read blogs about writing/writers block, etc. If you check out my tweets, I've sent quite a few links to blogs that were really helpful to me.
4) Move On in the Story. Skip the part you are on and write a scene that will come later in the book (and that you know what is going to happen). This can help because you are still making progress. With my second book I had to do this a couple of times. I wrote myself into a real corner and it took me a while to figure out how to get out of it.
5) Leave it for a while. Maybe a day or so. Do non-writing things. Clean out a closet, go out with friends, do yoga, cook a great meal. Getting rid of some project that I have hanging over my head can help to clear the space it takes up in my mind so I can get back to writing. Doing things I enjoy relieves stress, which helps the process flow again when I am ready to sit back down.
6) Have a Little Faith. Trust that the ideas will come flooding back in very soon. They will. You started writing because you have a story to tell. You'll finish it. Worrying about writer's block only serves to block your mind and take your thinking from the creative right brain to the lower level thinking of the amygdala, which is what we use when we are in fight or flight. Ever heard of an author writing a novel while being chased by a bear? Me neither.
So believe that you'll get back into the groove any minute now. Have a glass of wine (or a tea if that's your thing). Be confident. The story is already in you. When you relax it will come out.
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