L.E. DeLano's Blog, page 37

Another Great Review of TRAVELER by With Love For Books

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Many thanks to Suze at WithLoveForBooks.com for her great and thorough review of TRAVELER! Here’s a bit of what Suze had to say:

“The possibilities are endless, but she keeps it easy to follow, which is something I loved. Traveler uses a well known concept of parallel universes, which I always find fascinating as the success of the stories usually depends on the fantasy and creativity of the author. It was fun to take a look into L.E. DeLano’s imaginary world. Traveler has an unexpected and open ending, which instantly made me want to read more. I really liked this compelling story.”

You can read the full review on their website, and be sure to check out all the other reviews while you’re there! Suze, Anniek and Tanya do a fabulous job and really, really love what they do.

Thanks again to With Love For Books!

I Really Need To Learn To Trust Myself As A Writer

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So I just got another set of edits on my latest version of DREAMER, and as I’m scrolling through my editor’s notes, I started to get worried.

There weren’t many. I mean, nothing. A word here. A sentence there. Few, and far between.

This is when my stupid insecurities come into play.

Maybe she’s not giving me stuff to change because she’s given up. She just wants this over with so she’s phoning it in.

Maybe they really didn’t read it. Maybe they only skimmed it because I’m not worth the time.

All of those thoughts are ridiculous, and I know in my logical mind they’re ridiculous. My editor’s job is to turn in the best damn book she can and the publisher certainly isn’t going to put a book they’ve ‘given up on’ out on a shelf with their name on it. That’s just lunacy.

And when she read the new chapter I wrote that I thought was so freaking good – she wrote one simple sentence in the margin: This is AMAZING.

But somehow, that wasn’t enough to make me entirely sure that she shouldn’t be writing me tomes about all the stuff that probably still needed to change. What the hell is wrong with me?

The book is good. I know the book is good. And this isn’t a first draft. It’s been revised significantly already. I just can never feel like it’s done. Or good enough. Why?

I let out a sigh of relief when I saw some more meaty rewriting is needed on a chapter near the end, but how crazy is that? I’m glad it wasn’t great? Because that jives with my view of how it should be – not great, but getting there.

I need to accept that I’ve gotten there. Mostly. Not to pat myself on the back, but to stand strong in my love for this book, and the story its characters tell. And I do love it. I love where they’ve all been and who they’ve grown into. So much.

Guess I need to pull up my writer britches and get to work and stop worrying about every little thing.

Me, and every other writer in the world since the beginning of time.

Check Out The Fabulous Fan Artwork!

I’ve been meaning to share this for awhile because it’s just that terrific! Olivia M. is a fan and drew this for me:

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There’s Jessa, stepping through the mirror to a glittery new reality. Thanks Olivia! So glad you enjoyed TRAVELER!!

He holds me tightly . . .

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. . . and something inside me starts to thaw. Something I’ve kept carefully hidden in the ice. This is madness.

#LoveLines

Topic: “Melt”

From: WIP

Book Signing @ Barnes & Noble Tomorrow In Reading, PA

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I’ll be signing copies of Traveler at Barnes and Noble in Wyomissing/Reading, PA on Saturday, April 8th from 1-4pm.

Stop by and enter to win a prize pack filled with a signed copy of Traveler, a $25 Amazon gift card, and other goodies!

Hope to see you there!

Listen To The Don’t’s – Then Do If You Must

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One of the things you hear a lot as a writer is well-intentioned advice that’s mostly true.  Don’t tell, show. Don’t make it easy for your protagonist. Don’t be predictable, don’t start slow, don’t dump too much backstory all at once.

Then there are the things that are generally good advice – except for when they’re not.

Like: “Don’t use a love triangle.” Except, sometimes, they work if they’re done right. Put a fresh spin on it, if you can. Make it really tortured. Or resolve it in a way no one will see coming. If it adds to the story, moves the plot forward and helps a character (or characters) evolve – and you’re not just writing it in so you can have a love triangle – the use it.

Or how about “Don’t have your characters fall instantly in love.” Except what if it’s important that they do? What if it’s magic? Or fated? Or starts out giddy and then falls apart because falling instantly in love is a silly thing and the maturation of that starting premise is really the bones of your book?

What I’m getting at here is that in general, tropes work when they’re not cliches, and cliches work when they’re being held up under the glaring light of truth to unravel in front of us. This is your book. Write it true.

I say all this because I’ve been struggling with the opening of my next book. I really want it to open in a dream. This is a classic newbie writer move, having someone start out in this action-packed beginning and having it all be a dream, but I really, really need the book to get right to it and that’s the best way to do it. In my case, the dreams are a key plot point in the book.

I think I’ve found a way to make it work without having to resort to the “oh, it was all a dream,” moment, but I’m not ruling it out. It’s a first draft, so it feels clunky. That’s what first drafts are for. The book will find its own way, and if it says I need to open on a dream, that’s where I’ll go.

And I’ll write it true.

There I Am, Like A Regular Cee-Lebrutty

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That’s my picture, right there on the sign. My book is on the shelves and I’m featured on a sign and holy tamales is it still so surreal to me.

I told a friend the other day that authors have their own little corner on immortality. Now and forever, I have a book in print. Whether it fails or flies or falls somewhere in between, it’s been published by a publisher, has a library of Congress number, and somewhere, someone read it and said, “Oh, I love this book.”

And I get to see my name up on signs and out on social media and most importantly, on the cover of that book, and the validation is a wondrous, wondrous thing.

I am so very grateful for it all. And believe me when I tell you I don’t take it for granted for a moment. You’re only as good as your last book, they say, and it’s my job to make very sure this book and all the books that follow it aren’t my last book.

I gotta go write. And I’ll be sipping my tea with a dollop of gratitude.

Her love carried a terrible burden now . . .

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Every moment she loved him was another moment she encouraged him to love her in return. Every moment he loved her was one less, then one less, then one less that he could.

#2bitTues

Topic: Caretaking

 

Thank You, Barnes & Noble!

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I had a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA on Saturday, and it was tremendous fun! I want to give a big shout-out to Heather (pictured with me there) for her bubbling enthusiasm and for making me feel like a rock star! Also to the barista that made me an incredible cup of chai. And of course, a round of thanks to all the readers who showed up to chat and to get their books signed.

This was my second author event, and let me tell you . . . it still feels surreal. But great!

This weekend, I’ll be at Barnes and Noble in Wyomissing, PA. Stop by and wish me Happy Birthday!

Just A Reminder – I’m Signing Books Tomorrow In Plymouth Meeting, PA!

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In you’re in the Philly area, come on out to Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA at 1pm on Saturday, April 1st! I’ll be signing copies of TRAVELER, and you can enter to win a chance at a prize pack with an autographed copy and other goodies!