Allyson Charles's Blog, page 8

Single Girl Ingenuity

Writing romance novels is all about getting your characters to their Happily Ever After with their other half. Finding that special someone to hold your hand, build you up when you’re feeling down, kill the spiders in the bathtub, get that pesky zipper that last inch up your back… What? So my desire for a mate oftentimes takes on a more practical bent. I enjoy being single, but sometimes having a partner would have a definite utility.Take my poor, sunburned back. I came home from a weekend in the mountains with red, itchy skin in a spot that I can’t reach with lotion. It is times like these when I really feel the pain (literally) of living alone. But, if necessity is the mother of invention, than being single is the sister of ingenuity. Since my arms just don’t bend far enough to apply aloe to the middle of my back, I devised a substitute delivery device – lotioning up an empty bottle of Pellegrino and then rolling it across my burn. Not a very elegant solution, but effective.  And while I’d prefer having one of my hunky romance heroes rubbing lotion into my back, I’m still pretty darn proud of my work-around.Now if only I could think of something to get rid of spiders for me…

My Current WIP - Why'd It Have to be You?

I’m at the point in my manuscript where if I were a surgeon, I imagine I’d be elbows deep in someone’s chest cavity, blood streaking my gloved hands. Too graphic an image for you? Well, sometimes I feel like being a writer, even a romance writer, can get a little gory.I’m working on the third book in my Pineville series, and have become good friends with my protagonists, David and Connie (You’ll be introduced to them in book two, The Christmas Tree). The premise has been set, we’ve been introduced to all the characters, and everyone is starting to make a muddle of their lives. It will take a lot more than a stitch or two to close this mess up.I’m also at the point where my rough outline is about to run out. I’m a natural pantser, but try each book to become a plotter. The result is an outline that takes me about half way through the book. What happens next is anyone’s guess.This is my first book where the hero starts out as, let’s just say, something less than heroic. (Spoiler alert: he was the nemesis in The Christmas Tree). I’m really enjoying redeeming this bad boy, and hope readers will forgive his past misdeeds and fall in love with him the way I have. If I could just figure out what he’s going to do next…

RWA16 Log: Final Day

The awards' ceremony is about to begin, but since I'm not attending, RWA is over for me. I finally went a day without drinking (although my sister is talking about heading down to the pool bar, so that might change). I made up for it with eating. Had a great lunch with my agent. Got some advice for focusing my career. And some of the workshops today were very focused and informative. All in all, a successful first RWA. I don't know if I'll attend next year. It might become more of a once every five years kind of thing. But the romance writing community is really great.Right now I'm sitting on my hotel balcony listening to a concert of Beatles covers that's being held on the marina nearby.. They are playing "All You Need is Love." It feels very appropriate.

RWA16 Log: Day Three (and my feet are tired)

I'd heard many people say that you need to dress professionally for this event. Well, my definition of professional apparently differs from everyone else's. Not that anyone looks bad, but pretty darn casual on the business casual end of the spectrum. My beautiful three-inch heels, I'm pleased to say, have done me well. My feet are tired, but not sore.I had a mixed bag at the workshops today. On the whole, they seem light on specifics. In an hour-long workshop, it's hard to get too detailed, but they are so general as to border on useless. But others have been interesting, most particularly the one on author branding. Sadly, after listening to the panelists, I think my website needs an overhaul, and it's not even 6 months old.By far the best part of RWA for me is the meet-and-greet. Met my agent face-to-face for the first time today, and had a lovely sit-down with an editor at the bar by the pool. Yes, more drinking. And this one tasted even better since I didn't pay for it.

RWA16 Log: Day Two (sort of)

Just started this blog and already a day late with my RWA thoughts. Hopefully, that's not the beginning of a trend. The second day of RWA was more useful than the first. It had to be; I pretty just drank day one. But I didn't manage to get to all the workshops I wanted to - one was too packed and the other I missed due to networking.Or, I should probably say, attempted networking. That's a skill I'm pretty pathetic at. I think more drinking would make it easier. Yes, we should be able to attend the workshops, cocktails in hand. The enjoyability factor of the already fun RWA would triple. (Crud - I just realized I left half a bottle of pineapple cider, delish by the way, open yesterday on my balcony. Drinking foul.)So yesterday was workshops, lunches, and publisher cocktail parties. Then I topped the night off at a bar (don't judge) talking with a former ball player and current coach, and watching as my sister got schooled in baseball knowledge. Good Day.

RWA16 Log: Day One

I’m registered and have my swag and badge. I dislike wearing badges. It makes me feel like part of a herd, and I hate being part of a large crowd. With 2,000+ women swarming around, it is definitely a crowd.Only one workshop today, a first-timer's orientation that I sit in for eight minutes. A woman tells me ‘Congratulations, this is your first RWA and you’re a man.’ I stare at her stupidly until she awkwardly moves on and I realize that she said 'you’re a PAN.' (Published Author Network). I then get tired of waiting for the orientation to start (I hate tardiness almost as much as wearing badges) and head out for some drinks along the water.So far, I’m enjoying San Diego, but haven't done anything writing related. Tomorrow when I have actual work to do, it might be a different story…

Yosemite Inspiration

My last trip to Yosemite was a cold and drizzly one, but I got this lovely pic from my iphone without any filters. And I actually got some plotting for my latest novel in, something I always say I'll do on my trips but rarely do. Must be something about the scenery...