Michele Hauf's Blog, page 4
September 12, 2012
The Reaper's Heart
Forgot to post an update last week. Have handed in the story weeks ago, but editor emailed revisions last week. Just a few questions to clarify motivations. Finished those yesterday and sent manuscript back in. Hope to get final galleys some time next week!
August 31, 2012
Dark Rapture - Remastered Edition
That sounds so fancy, doesn't it? The remastered edition. I like it. I was so pleased to get permission to use Daniel Priego's awesome artwork on the cover because it really echoes the dark tone of the story.
So some details on this book. Dark Rapture was the first book I sold waaaaay back in 1993. Wasn't even aware of what I had written at the time. Thought it was some kind of fiction/horror/romance mix. Didn't label it 'paranormal romance' in my head, because at the time I hadn't stumbled onto the vast romance community, nor was it easy to chatter with authors online as it is today. And I remember I had the audacity in that query letter to suggest I'd written something 'on the lines of Anne Rice's stories'. Ha! But yes, that first book sold, and four years later, it was published.
Vampires were not as hot in the 90s as they are now. In 1997 there were 11 paperback vampire romances published (give or take; I just counted books at Amazon). Today? There are probably 11 para/rom/vamp stories published every week. So those of us who loved a different kind of romance would grab up these paranormal releases whenever we could get our hands on them. Dark Rapture sold out quickly, and was not reprinted until 2008. Unfortunately, the reprint in '08 was riddled with errors, missing a complete chapter, and some pages mixed up. I would not recommend ever buying that version. (It's also got the hideous ugly cover.)
Anyway, now, almost 20 years later, I finally have my rights back and have lightly revised and edited the story for re-issue. Why re-edit? Well, it needed it. And frankly, to pick up a story that I wrote twenty years ago and reread was very interesting. I've learned my writing has greatly improved over the years. I told an awesome story in Dark Rapture, but I just want readers to know that this is an example of my early writing. First story, people! And it wasn't written as a romance, but more a mix of all genres. I'm going to call it a classic. ;-)
Anyway, why would you want to read this version? Well, if you haven't read it at all, it's a good read, I promise. Vampires, and ghosts and time travel! A lot going on in this one. And Sebastian DelaCourte, the sexy rockstar vampire is still one of my favorite heroes, even if he did have some real jerk moments in the story. (I was surprised at the way he acted toward the heroine at times. But again, over the years, I've learned the 'tropes' of the romance genre, if you will.) And as a bonus, I've included the sequel to this story, Wicked Angels. For the price of $4.99, you just can't go wrong to get two stories that clock in, together, at over 200,000 words total.
How does it relate to my Beautiful Creatures world? Well, Sebastian and Scarlet exist in my world, even though I hadn't even named my world back then. I have to say my idea of the vampire and some of their traits has altered over the years. So the methods of creation, and death have changed a bit. I've mentioned Sebastian in a recent book (though the title escapes me), and hope to drop mentions of him in the future as well. Wicked Angels actually ends with the idea that there could be another story. I did have an idea for that story—Sebastian in Spain a few years after his transformation—but not sure I will ever write it. Then again, never say never.
So if you're interested in a dark, twisty vamp romance, then do check out Dark Rapture!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Rapture-eb...
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-...
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-rapture/id556204052?mt=11&uo=4
Michele
August 27, 2012
Short Story — Day 14
Yep, I skipped all those days, 10 - 13, and gave the manuscript a chance to sit and brew a bit. This morning I wrote on another project. Now, I've just received the contract for this short story via email, and took my lunch break to read through it. Only one change requested, then I'll sign and send it off. I will have handed in the story before I get paid for it, but that's how it works with these quick time schedules.
So this afternoon, it's back to The Reaper's Heart. Going to focus on the romance today. And to try and do that without increasing the word count (already over 10K). Wish me luck!
Check the side column. I have a giveaway going on at GoodReads for copies of FOREVER WEREWOLF.
So this afternoon, it's back to The Reaper's Heart. Going to focus on the romance today. And to try and do that without increasing the word count (already over 10K). Wish me luck!
Check the side column. I have a giveaway going on at GoodReads for copies of FOREVER WEREWOLF.
August 22, 2012
Short Story — Day 9
Day nine, already. Hardly seems like that many days have passed. And yet, it doesn't seem like long to craft out a story, but here it is, sitting in front of me on the page. I spent the afternoon editing and marking it up and making changes, while sitting on the patio (just beat the rain by a few minutes). Just typed in those changes, and now will go through and do some special edits, like searching for all the 'justs' and taking out as many as I can. I do love the word 'just'. Aggh!
Anyway, I feel as though this story is complete. I'll set it aside again for a few more days, then give it a final read through, and...probably hand it in early. No sense in keeping it around if it's finished. But for sure I'll give it a few days to sit, in case something clever pops into my brain.
Also today, I announced the release of my new Beautiful Creatures app. Yay! I've been wanting an app for years, something readers can consult for all my books. I think it's pretty darn good, if I don't say so myself. You can download if for FREE from googleplay.com. Just search my name.
Anyway, I feel as though this story is complete. I'll set it aside again for a few more days, then give it a final read through, and...probably hand it in early. No sense in keeping it around if it's finished. But for sure I'll give it a few days to sit, in case something clever pops into my brain.
Also today, I announced the release of my new Beautiful Creatures app. Yay! I've been wanting an app for years, something readers can consult for all my books. I think it's pretty darn good, if I don't say so myself. You can download if for FREE from googleplay.com. Just search my name.
August 21, 2012
Short Story — Day 8
Nada.
One day to let it sit. Tomorrow I'm back at it. In the mean time I formatted Dark Rapture for digital release, and am tweaking my new Beautiful Creatures app. So I spent the day before the computer, as usual.
One day to let it sit. Tomorrow I'm back at it. In the mean time I formatted Dark Rapture for digital release, and am tweaking my new Beautiful Creatures app. So I spent the day before the computer, as usual.
August 20, 2012
Short Story — Day 7
All righty, here is today's report! Word count is 10014, and I still haven't written the final scene in the heroine's POV. I estimate 500 words for that, but who knows.
I started by reading through the hero's POV this morning. Just tracking through his mind and adjusting things a bit. Then I went back and read everything in the heroine's POV. Gives me a closer look at each character and also points out missed stuff, like maybe in one scene she's really starting to fall in love with him, but I realize I gave no reasons for that to happen in her previous POV scene. Helpful stuff. I still haven't nailed the characters though, so more layering to come.
But right now, I'm done for the day. And I'm hoping to let it sit for a day, to take my mind away from it and come back with fresh eyes. I plan to print it up and read it on paper. That is always very helpful for me. Reads differently on the page; not sure why, but it does.
So back to other writing stuff for the rest of the day. I have a Nocturne Cravings due beginning of September as well, so want to read through that today and tomorrow, and hopefully, hand it in. Then I have a Nocturne due Oct 1, another one due Feb 1st. And, yesterday, I just set another deadline for an urban fantasy due Feb 1st as well. Much work to be done!
I started by reading through the hero's POV this morning. Just tracking through his mind and adjusting things a bit. Then I went back and read everything in the heroine's POV. Gives me a closer look at each character and also points out missed stuff, like maybe in one scene she's really starting to fall in love with him, but I realize I gave no reasons for that to happen in her previous POV scene. Helpful stuff. I still haven't nailed the characters though, so more layering to come.
But right now, I'm done for the day. And I'm hoping to let it sit for a day, to take my mind away from it and come back with fresh eyes. I plan to print it up and read it on paper. That is always very helpful for me. Reads differently on the page; not sure why, but it does.
So back to other writing stuff for the rest of the day. I have a Nocturne Cravings due beginning of September as well, so want to read through that today and tomorrow, and hopefully, hand it in. Then I have a Nocturne due Oct 1, another one due Feb 1st. And, yesterday, I just set another deadline for an urban fantasy due Feb 1st as well. Much work to be done!
August 19, 2012
Short Story — Day 6
Just checking in because not much time to write at all today, what with grocery errands, and a wedding later. In a perfect world it would be nice to have at least one day off a week where I don't write at all, and I attempt to do that on Sunday, but it doesn't always work.
I did get a short bit written on that new chapter. Was just a shot in the dark kind of thing, not even sure if it fits with the rest of the story, but I'll find out when I reread. Wanted to get something down on paper. Word count is now at 9611, and I'm officially calling this story drafted out. Now come revisions, editing and much much layering.
Tomorrow will probably focus on the heroine. What generally happens in these short stories is for each chapter I have two scenes, one in hero's POV, the other in heroine's. I don't try to make that happen, it just flows that way. So I'll read only the stuff in the heroine's POV and start to beef up her character and figure out who, exactly, she is tomorrow.
I did get a short bit written on that new chapter. Was just a shot in the dark kind of thing, not even sure if it fits with the rest of the story, but I'll find out when I reread. Wanted to get something down on paper. Word count is now at 9611, and I'm officially calling this story drafted out. Now come revisions, editing and much much layering.
Tomorrow will probably focus on the heroine. What generally happens in these short stories is for each chapter I have two scenes, one in hero's POV, the other in heroine's. I don't try to make that happen, it just flows that way. So I'll read only the stuff in the heroine's POV and start to beef up her character and figure out who, exactly, she is tomorrow.
August 18, 2012
Short Story — Day 5
Not much time for writing today, so just reporting in. Have a lunch with friends this afternoon, so that will take up most of writing time. But I recalled that the ending I wrote last night needed something more. Foreshadowing. Love that stuff. And while most readers might suspect we write linearly, from page one to the end, and all is well, what really happens (at least for me) is some jumping around, inserting bits here and there, and, as I learn about characters, adding layers.
So at the end when the hero remembers the heroine telling him about 'that thing', and then he does that thing, and all is well, it occurred to me that the heroine had never actually told him about 'that thing' earlier. So today, I hope to insert 'that thing', probably in that missing chapter, and then we'll have some fine and dandy foreshadowing. If I can manage that, the day will be well spent.
Have a great weekend, all!
So at the end when the hero remembers the heroine telling him about 'that thing', and then he does that thing, and all is well, it occurred to me that the heroine had never actually told him about 'that thing' earlier. So today, I hope to insert 'that thing', probably in that missing chapter, and then we'll have some fine and dandy foreshadowing. If I can manage that, the day will be well spent.
Have a great weekend, all!
August 17, 2012
Short Story — Day 4
Wow, is it already day 4? My word count right now is...8826. And I've just written the end of the story. It ends happily, thank goodness. But that means I'm 1200 short, and that's a whole chapter. Which means, I have to go back and insert a chapter somewhere. And I know what I'm missing, that whole 'falling in love' stuff. Hee. Sometimes the action comes easier than the romance. But I have no idea how that missing scene will go, so will save for tomorrow. I'm just glad I have a satisfying ending.
I'm currently reading WIRED FOR STORY by Lisa Cron. It's a neurologist's way to write story, and it's very similar to everyone else's way, but she explains a lot about why we need the story to go a certain direction, and why reader's expect as much. Very interesting. I was nodding my head in agreement last night when I got to the part about writing fast. Some writers/readers think a story written quickly can't possibly be good. That the writer must go slowly, savor, and angst over every single word. But you know what? Those first drafts that are written at a stream-of-thought pace are often very good. It is your brain, unhampered by doubt and questions about the characters, plot or pacing, just spilling out ideas. It is when your brain is most free, and, I believe, when some of the best stuff comes out and lands on the page. Writers who tend to spend years polishing and going over and over a piece may actually being doing the story more harm if they scrub out all that initial good stuff.
I always do my first drafts that way, stream-of-thought and fast. Just want to get the ideas down on the page. I go into it not knowing everything, but having a basic skeletal plot and character sketches in mind. I follow the characters and allow them to take me where they will. I generally end up using 98% of that first draft, and only tossing a bit here and there. Because, it's good. Oh, sure, it needs polishing and editing and more detail and content, but the bones are sturdy.
After that draft, the real writing comes in when I begin to layer. I can do from five to twenty-five reads through the story (maybe more?), each time layering new things in, details, description, emotion. I might not learn an important detail about the heroine until draft #8, then I weave it in. It's a learning process, and I love uncovering those details.
So after I, hopefully, get that missing chapter added, then I'll go back and start layering.
I'm currently reading WIRED FOR STORY by Lisa Cron. It's a neurologist's way to write story, and it's very similar to everyone else's way, but she explains a lot about why we need the story to go a certain direction, and why reader's expect as much. Very interesting. I was nodding my head in agreement last night when I got to the part about writing fast. Some writers/readers think a story written quickly can't possibly be good. That the writer must go slowly, savor, and angst over every single word. But you know what? Those first drafts that are written at a stream-of-thought pace are often very good. It is your brain, unhampered by doubt and questions about the characters, plot or pacing, just spilling out ideas. It is when your brain is most free, and, I believe, when some of the best stuff comes out and lands on the page. Writers who tend to spend years polishing and going over and over a piece may actually being doing the story more harm if they scrub out all that initial good stuff. I always do my first drafts that way, stream-of-thought and fast. Just want to get the ideas down on the page. I go into it not knowing everything, but having a basic skeletal plot and character sketches in mind. I follow the characters and allow them to take me where they will. I generally end up using 98% of that first draft, and only tossing a bit here and there. Because, it's good. Oh, sure, it needs polishing and editing and more detail and content, but the bones are sturdy.
After that draft, the real writing comes in when I begin to layer. I can do from five to twenty-five reads through the story (maybe more?), each time layering new things in, details, description, emotion. I might not learn an important detail about the heroine until draft #8, then I weave it in. It's a learning process, and I love uncovering those details.
So after I, hopefully, get that missing chapter added, then I'll go back and start layering.
August 16, 2012
Short Story — Day 3
So where am I with it all? Today I wrote the scene that I think might be the ending, or maybe not. I had the idea last night that I really want to go Grimms Fairytale with this story, and this end is particularly grim. So I need an upbeat finale scene that brings the tragic lovers together forever and without one losing their life. (As if stands right now, the heroine is dead. Of course that will change. I hope.)
With that scene written, I'm at about 7500 words, and so I started rereading the story and fleshing it out a bit. I'm thinking the hero needs a cool title, so for now he's Vashon, Reaper of Lost Souls. Why are the souls lost? Have no clue. Will that title stick? Have no clue. It just works right now. And next I need to figure exactly what a white witch does, but I'm saving it for tomorrow.
Usually, after I have the bones of an idea down, which is what I have now, then when I reread through it, I have more leisure to actually let my mind wander and fill in details. I can go through the story many times, up to a dozen or more drafts this way. Each time more layers are added and I learn more about the characters.
And then there's the ultimate question, which I started asking myself last night: Why do they fall in love with one another? How do they love one another? What makes them, in so short a time period (less than 3 days) fall in love? Important questions, that I have no answers to. Yet. Sigh... That the toughest part, but also the most interesting.
Until tomorrow!
With that scene written, I'm at about 7500 words, and so I started rereading the story and fleshing it out a bit. I'm thinking the hero needs a cool title, so for now he's Vashon, Reaper of Lost Souls. Why are the souls lost? Have no clue. Will that title stick? Have no clue. It just works right now. And next I need to figure exactly what a white witch does, but I'm saving it for tomorrow.
Usually, after I have the bones of an idea down, which is what I have now, then when I reread through it, I have more leisure to actually let my mind wander and fill in details. I can go through the story many times, up to a dozen or more drafts this way. Each time more layers are added and I learn more about the characters.
And then there's the ultimate question, which I started asking myself last night: Why do they fall in love with one another? How do they love one another? What makes them, in so short a time period (less than 3 days) fall in love? Important questions, that I have no answers to. Yet. Sigh... That the toughest part, but also the most interesting.
Until tomorrow!
