Molly O'Keefe's Blog, page 61
April 11, 2011
Author Throw Down!
No. It's not a cage match, although I wouldn't mind seeing that. Damon Lindelof and George RR Martin are having an author feud h
. Sort of. In a New Yorker interview, Martin talked about his disappointment with how Lost ended and talked about being worried that he'd f*ck up the ending of his Fire and Ice series and "do a Lost."
Lindelof fired back with a series of tweets. Seriously, has he seen Martin's books? That man could no more be held to 140 characters than lightning could be bottled. Plus, it's really hard to have a Twitter feud with a guy who is a) not on Twitter and b) is traveling and apparently doesn't take his computer with him.
Regardless, it all reminds me a little of that book How I Became a Famous Novelist which if you haven't read, you should. You will alternately laugh and weep as Hely lays bare what so much of us experience in the publishing industry. In the book, the narrator sort of accidentally starts a feud with a bestselling author and it vaults his own book into the limelight.
So I'm trying to decide with whom to feud. I've publicly dissed Stephenie Meyer and Elizabeth Gilbert repeatedly. They don't seem to care. Clearly I need a much more thin-skinned bestseller or a more cogent and pointed attack. Lindelof seems pretty touchy and I did hate pretty much the entire last season of Lost. Really? C.J. from West Wing and a magic spring in a cave? That's all they had for me? But now it seems done.
Anybody have any suggestions?
. Sort of. In a New Yorker interview, Martin talked about his disappointment with how Lost ended and talked about being worried that he'd f*ck up the ending of his Fire and Ice series and "do a Lost."
Lindelof fired back with a series of tweets. Seriously, has he seen Martin's books? That man could no more be held to 140 characters than lightning could be bottled. Plus, it's really hard to have a Twitter feud with a guy who is a) not on Twitter and b) is traveling and apparently doesn't take his computer with him.
Regardless, it all reminds me a little of that book How I Became a Famous Novelist which if you haven't read, you should. You will alternately laugh and weep as Hely lays bare what so much of us experience in the publishing industry. In the book, the narrator sort of accidentally starts a feud with a bestselling author and it vaults his own book into the limelight.
So I'm trying to decide with whom to feud. I've publicly dissed Stephenie Meyer and Elizabeth Gilbert repeatedly. They don't seem to care. Clearly I need a much more thin-skinned bestseller or a more cogent and pointed attack. Lindelof seems pretty touchy and I did hate pretty much the entire last season of Lost. Really? C.J. from West Wing and a magic spring in a cave? That's all they had for me? But now it seems done.
Anybody have any suggestions?
No. I don't want to.
I love writing. I really do. But today is the day I start a new book and I honestly can't believe I have to do it. I have to put together another 90,000+ words. I have to do that, right now. As soon as I stand up from this blog, it's start writing time. It's marked in blue marker on my calendar. Start Book Today.
Doesn't that seem ridiculous? If I start this right now, I jump right back into the grind. And I just left that grind, spent a week and a half reading and contemplating closet cleaning, picking fights with my husband and it was good. Normal. Lazy, even. But that's all over as soon as I open that file. The next months will vanish in character arc contemplation, arguing with myself over scene selection, hating my poor grammer and limited vocabulary, feeling good about myself only to feel terrible about myself ten minutes later. Getting caught up in some delicious suprise I didn't see coming and some hidden part of my character I managed to unearth. And then, when it's all over, worrying that it's just not good enough.
Ugh.
It's not that I'm not excited about my idea - I totally am. I have an opening scene in mind. But I have to start a book today. Just seems surreal.
Doesn't that seem ridiculous? If I start this right now, I jump right back into the grind. And I just left that grind, spent a week and a half reading and contemplating closet cleaning, picking fights with my husband and it was good. Normal. Lazy, even. But that's all over as soon as I open that file. The next months will vanish in character arc contemplation, arguing with myself over scene selection, hating my poor grammer and limited vocabulary, feeling good about myself only to feel terrible about myself ten minutes later. Getting caught up in some delicious suprise I didn't see coming and some hidden part of my character I managed to unearth. And then, when it's all over, worrying that it's just not good enough.
Ugh.
It's not that I'm not excited about my idea - I totally am. I have an opening scene in mind. But I have to start a book today. Just seems surreal.
April 8, 2011
What is the right idea?
I've posed a question I honestly have no answer for. The drunk writers are about to go into brainstorming mode for new ideas and I imagine that question might come up, and truthfully, I don't know who could answer it, except maybe an editor.
But even an editor probably only knows if they read a great idea written really well and it fits well into their list.
There are some authors, who by luck, or instinct, or some secret font of information who can hit a trend just as it's taking off. But most of us feel like we're struggling in the dark.
But I've known writers who've written amazing books to be turned down because they hit the market at the wrong time.
so when trying to figure out the next idea, do they come up with something completely new, or try and find a twist on an idea that is currently out there.
And I honestly have no answer to this question. I go back and forth on pretty much a constand basis.
On another note: The Vampire diaries started up again last night. The plotting on that show is amazing. Small details in a scene become significant dramatic points six episodes later. Those writers are so smart.
But even an editor probably only knows if they read a great idea written really well and it fits well into their list.
There are some authors, who by luck, or instinct, or some secret font of information who can hit a trend just as it's taking off. But most of us feel like we're struggling in the dark.
But I've known writers who've written amazing books to be turned down because they hit the market at the wrong time.
so when trying to figure out the next idea, do they come up with something completely new, or try and find a twist on an idea that is currently out there.
And I honestly have no answer to this question. I go back and forth on pretty much a constand basis.
On another note: The Vampire diaries started up again last night. The plotting on that show is amazing. Small details in a scene become significant dramatic points six episodes later. Those writers are so smart.
April 7, 2011
Old Ideas New Again
Okay so how many of you have done it? How many of you have tried at one point or another to take that old idea you had, maybe you even wrote a couple of chapters, and tried to brush it off and see if it still had some life.
I do this occasionally but not often with great success. One book I know I did this with was Suspect Lover. I pulled it apart, put it back together and thought it really worked. But when it finally came out it wasn't reviewed all that well - why? Reviewers said it was disjointed. Hmmmm? Could it be the pulling apart and putting back together wasn't so transparent to the reader?
And let's face it. The main reason those old ideas didn't work was because they weren't that good. And here I'm using "good" to mean "sellable". We have lots of great ideas. But we're professional writers or aspiring professional writers so it isn't enough to have a great idea – you need to be able to sell it.
I wrote a freakin' A great book. It's funny, suspenseful, heartbreaking and uplifting. It's a great sports movie in book form. At least in my opinion. But it's about a woman golfer. Yep. A woman golfer so amazing she qualifies for the Masters. A lot of agents who read it said basically the same thing. Love it. Can't sell it.
Tweaking and reworking to come up with something new sounds good, but if at its heart its flawed (like an idea about a female golfer) then you could be spinning your wheels and wasting time.
I hear this a lot with new authors. They write that first book and it's such a huge thing for them that they will do everything to hold on to it. Changing it and altering it trying to please the next person in line – which I think in some ways can ruin your story because you're moving away from what this was in your head.
It's a story about a female golfer, but maybe if I instead make her an actress it will work. It won't. Who this character is, is built on all of the experiences I created for her. Plugging out the essence of her and switching it with something else I think would make for a lesser character and a lesser story.
On the flipside, I am considering going back to two characters who I loved and giving them a new plot. I originally intended them for a romantic suspense but never really loved the suspense element. It was a bit too hokey. But I realize maybe I can just focus on who these two people are and what their issues are as a couple. Granted – I still need to give them a plot to move the story but it makes me realize something interesting.
I can't go back and make Reilly Carr (my favorite heroine name) anything else then what she is, but I can't take these two people and who they are at their core and just send them on a different adventure. At least I hope.
I do this occasionally but not often with great success. One book I know I did this with was Suspect Lover. I pulled it apart, put it back together and thought it really worked. But when it finally came out it wasn't reviewed all that well - why? Reviewers said it was disjointed. Hmmmm? Could it be the pulling apart and putting back together wasn't so transparent to the reader?
And let's face it. The main reason those old ideas didn't work was because they weren't that good. And here I'm using "good" to mean "sellable". We have lots of great ideas. But we're professional writers or aspiring professional writers so it isn't enough to have a great idea – you need to be able to sell it.
I wrote a freakin' A great book. It's funny, suspenseful, heartbreaking and uplifting. It's a great sports movie in book form. At least in my opinion. But it's about a woman golfer. Yep. A woman golfer so amazing she qualifies for the Masters. A lot of agents who read it said basically the same thing. Love it. Can't sell it.
Tweaking and reworking to come up with something new sounds good, but if at its heart its flawed (like an idea about a female golfer) then you could be spinning your wheels and wasting time.
I hear this a lot with new authors. They write that first book and it's such a huge thing for them that they will do everything to hold on to it. Changing it and altering it trying to please the next person in line – which I think in some ways can ruin your story because you're moving away from what this was in your head.
It's a story about a female golfer, but maybe if I instead make her an actress it will work. It won't. Who this character is, is built on all of the experiences I created for her. Plugging out the essence of her and switching it with something else I think would make for a lesser character and a lesser story.
On the flipside, I am considering going back to two characters who I loved and giving them a new plot. I originally intended them for a romantic suspense but never really loved the suspense element. It was a bit too hokey. But I realize maybe I can just focus on who these two people are and what their issues are as a couple. Granted – I still need to give them a plot to move the story but it makes me realize something interesting.
I can't go back and make Reilly Carr (my favorite heroine name) anything else then what she is, but I can't take these two people and who they are at their core and just send them on a different adventure. At least I hope.
April 6, 2011
My Books are Official!
It's still a little bit hard for me to believe, but I've actually seen copies, in real stores, so in spite of the bumpy road, and in spite of the April Fool's Day release date, I'm happy to say that my first two novels, Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer are officially out!
As Molly mentioned, last Friday night my family threw me a surprise book launch party and boy was it a a surprise. I didn't have a clue.
And look at the fabulous cake! Thanks to my sister, Sue, for that one! And mom for the stand up cards of my covers...
And here's a very red me... (It was a surprise party. No make up. Not even sure if I had clean hair. No, I'm sure I didn't...)
And here are some photos of the books in actual stores!
Thank you to my sister-in-law and to author Claudia Osmond for the photos. :) I've been reminded a lot over the past few days what a fabulous family and group of friends I have. Big hugs to you all.
I feel like I should be saying something about, you know, the books--but I've already been on a few blogs and will be doing quite a few more...
If you're interested in reading more about the books (and why wouldn't you be, LOL) here are a few links to other places where I've been blathering on. :)
Where the (not-so) Wild Things Are
Brant Flakes
Get Lost in a Story
And over the next few weeks I'll be interviewed/features at a bunch of lovely book bloggers' blogs. (say that fast five times)
As Molly mentioned, last Friday night my family threw me a surprise book launch party and boy was it a a surprise. I didn't have a clue.
And look at the fabulous cake! Thanks to my sister, Sue, for that one! And mom for the stand up cards of my covers...
And here's a very red me... (It was a surprise party. No make up. Not even sure if I had clean hair. No, I'm sure I didn't...)And here are some photos of the books in actual stores!
Thank you to my sister-in-law and to author Claudia Osmond for the photos. :) I've been reminded a lot over the past few days what a fabulous family and group of friends I have. Big hugs to you all.
I feel like I should be saying something about, you know, the books--but I've already been on a few blogs and will be doing quite a few more...
If you're interested in reading more about the books (and why wouldn't you be, LOL) here are a few links to other places where I've been blathering on. :)
Where the (not-so) Wild Things Are
Brant Flakes
Get Lost in a Story
And over the next few weeks I'll be interviewed/features at a bunch of lovely book bloggers' blogs. (say that fast five times)
April 4, 2011
In Praise of the Set Up
I've been thinking about how much I love a good set up since I watched Date Night a week or so ago. The set up on that movie was great. I totally believed Tina Fey and Steve Carrell as a couple trying to keep it all together and I totally related to their struggle. There are things from the first 15 minutes of that movie that keep coming back to me. Tina Fey has a recurring stress dream about having sex with three men at once? I totally get it. It would be so stressful to try to please that many men at once! And the whole thing with her night guard when they come back from their date? Absolutely priceless.
I'm not so sure about the rest of the movie because I watched it while I was making witch hat cookies for the booksigning and had to pay attention to sticking Hershey's kisses to Fudge Stripe cookies with canned frosting (only the best for my fans!). Okay. FIne. I managed to drag my gaze off my work when Mark Wahlberg was on screen without his shirt, but other than that I was being really industrious. It kind of fell apart for me after a while, though. Without the kisses and the frosting and the fudge stripes, I'm not sure it would have held my attention.
I've read a few books where the set up was great, but didn't quite carry that promise through. Sock is one I can think of. Also the Yiddish Policeman's Union. The shtick made them charming at the beginning, but then got burdensome by the end. I might have finished both of them if I could have made cookies while I read them, but no suck luck.
How about you guys? Any books or movies where the set up rocked, but then lost you? And is a good set up enough for you? Will it carry you through to the end?
I'm not so sure about the rest of the movie because I watched it while I was making witch hat cookies for the booksigning and had to pay attention to sticking Hershey's kisses to Fudge Stripe cookies with canned frosting (only the best for my fans!). Okay. FIne. I managed to drag my gaze off my work when Mark Wahlberg was on screen without his shirt, but other than that I was being really industrious. It kind of fell apart for me after a while, though. Without the kisses and the frosting and the fudge stripes, I'm not sure it would have held my attention.
I've read a few books where the set up was great, but didn't quite carry that promise through. Sock is one I can think of. Also the Yiddish Policeman's Union. The shtick made them charming at the beginning, but then got burdensome by the end. I might have finished both of them if I could have made cookies while I read them, but no suck luck.
How about you guys? Any books or movies where the set up rocked, but then lost you? And is a good set up enough for you? Will it carry you through to the end?
Molly's Perfect Day
1. I like being a little hungover
2. I have a slightly embarrassing but totally absorbing love for the JR Ward books
3. I have kids
If you answered false to two or more of those questions, my day of bliss may not resonate with you, but I'll tell you about it anyway. I might use more numbers. In fact On Friday:
1. I sent rewrites of one book to my editor
2. I sent the finished second book to my critique group
And if that wasn't reason enough to celebrate, Maureen's family was throwing her a suprise celebration for her launch day. At an Irish Pub. Clearly, I was going to be a mess on Friday night. To make it all better my husband agreed to take my kids up to my in laws on Saturday morning, leaving me and my hangover all alone. All day. AND the new JR Ward book came out just a few days before.
Thursday afternoon I went through a ridiculous search and destory mission trying to find the Ward book, dragging my kids in and out of the truck, through Wal-Mart's and Costco's. Grocery Stores and drug stores. No luck. My day of bliss of was in serious jeopardy. But then when I met up with Maureen for our pre-drinks drinks - she told me she had the new one at her house. And I could have it! Saved. I just had to carry this hardcover book around, to a party. No problem.
Drinking ensued. Sinead got rowdy. Which is how we like her. Maureen got weepy. We like her like that. Good night.
Next morning, got the kids out the door, laid down in bed with my roaring hangover and read for five hours. This used to be my way of life before kids and returning to it for one day, with a book that was partly GREAT and partly meh, but TOTALLY READABLE...perfect.
Then I watched Brothers (Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhall... such a painful movie but so good, all the way around, writing, directing, performances - also pretty perfect) and ARN, the swedish epic about the Knight Templar who helped create Sweden...or something. I was distracted by the guy's eyes for most of the movie. And then I started the last Kinsale book which I hadn't gotten around to. All in all...I don't think it could have been better.
How about you? When was your last perfect day? Did it look anything like mine?
2. I have a slightly embarrassing but totally absorbing love for the JR Ward books
3. I have kids
If you answered false to two or more of those questions, my day of bliss may not resonate with you, but I'll tell you about it anyway. I might use more numbers. In fact On Friday:
1. I sent rewrites of one book to my editor
2. I sent the finished second book to my critique group
And if that wasn't reason enough to celebrate, Maureen's family was throwing her a suprise celebration for her launch day. At an Irish Pub. Clearly, I was going to be a mess on Friday night. To make it all better my husband agreed to take my kids up to my in laws on Saturday morning, leaving me and my hangover all alone. All day. AND the new JR Ward book came out just a few days before.
Thursday afternoon I went through a ridiculous search and destory mission trying to find the Ward book, dragging my kids in and out of the truck, through Wal-Mart's and Costco's. Grocery Stores and drug stores. No luck. My day of bliss of was in serious jeopardy. But then when I met up with Maureen for our pre-drinks drinks - she told me she had the new one at her house. And I could have it! Saved. I just had to carry this hardcover book around, to a party. No problem.
Drinking ensued. Sinead got rowdy. Which is how we like her. Maureen got weepy. We like her like that. Good night.
Next morning, got the kids out the door, laid down in bed with my roaring hangover and read for five hours. This used to be my way of life before kids and returning to it for one day, with a book that was partly GREAT and partly meh, but TOTALLY READABLE...perfect.
Then I watched Brothers (Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhall... such a painful movie but so good, all the way around, writing, directing, performances - also pretty perfect) and ARN, the swedish epic about the Knight Templar who helped create Sweden...or something. I was distracted by the guy's eyes for most of the movie. And then I started the last Kinsale book which I hadn't gotten around to. All in all...I don't think it could have been better.
How about you? When was your last perfect day? Did it look anything like mine?
April 1, 2011
Incarceron, Maze Runner and Morning Glory
I've had a busy couple of weeks, with some of that time spent on planes, waiting to get on to planes and because of that, time spent reading.
And it's been great. Molly already mentioned the Maze Runner, which I loved, more than Molly did, because while I noticed the lingo the boys used at the beginning of the book, I was too entranced to care about how annoying it was. I love a book when it keeps me guessing, when I can't tell where it is going and the quesions it raises are completely intriguing. If a story does that for me, I can overlook a lot of other problems, and maze runner did that from the very beginning.
Another book that did that for me recently is Incarceron, which I think is even better than Maze Runner. both are similar in setting and tone, but Incarceron is more intricately plotted and has two lead characters, two main plots that are entwined and both equally interesting. And it's a combination of both dystopian and post-apocalyptic YA.
What both these books feature are leads that are really pro-active. They are driving the action. The last two books I'd read before Incarceron were also YA, but they were yawn-inducing, primarily I think because the heroines of the books were not pro-active. What happened, happened to them, not because of them.
Which leads me into Morning Glory, a movie I saw on a plane and was oddly charmed by. Not because of the romance, a waste of Patrick Wilson, or even Harrison Ford playing grumpy. Because the heroine is, from the start of the movie, to the end, really capable and creates her own opportunities. She is not fumbling through her job. My favourite scene in that moment, is her first day as the producer of a morning show when she sits down at a table and a ton of questions are fired at her. And she answers each one, decisively and, I presume, correctly. It sums up the character nicely and was a nice switch on a genre that in another movie would have had her screw up the first day and then redeem herself in a rising swell of music later in the movie.
It was good. Anyone else read Incarceron? Molly, I'll have it for you this weekend if you're interested.
And it's been great. Molly already mentioned the Maze Runner, which I loved, more than Molly did, because while I noticed the lingo the boys used at the beginning of the book, I was too entranced to care about how annoying it was. I love a book when it keeps me guessing, when I can't tell where it is going and the quesions it raises are completely intriguing. If a story does that for me, I can overlook a lot of other problems, and maze runner did that from the very beginning.
Another book that did that for me recently is Incarceron, which I think is even better than Maze Runner. both are similar in setting and tone, but Incarceron is more intricately plotted and has two lead characters, two main plots that are entwined and both equally interesting. And it's a combination of both dystopian and post-apocalyptic YA.
What both these books feature are leads that are really pro-active. They are driving the action. The last two books I'd read before Incarceron were also YA, but they were yawn-inducing, primarily I think because the heroines of the books were not pro-active. What happened, happened to them, not because of them.
Which leads me into Morning Glory, a movie I saw on a plane and was oddly charmed by. Not because of the romance, a waste of Patrick Wilson, or even Harrison Ford playing grumpy. Because the heroine is, from the start of the movie, to the end, really capable and creates her own opportunities. She is not fumbling through her job. My favourite scene in that moment, is her first day as the producer of a morning show when she sits down at a table and a ton of questions are fired at her. And she answers each one, decisively and, I presume, correctly. It sums up the character nicely and was a nice switch on a genre that in another movie would have had her screw up the first day and then redeem herself in a rising swell of music later in the movie.
It was good. Anyone else read Incarceron? Molly, I'll have it for you this weekend if you're interested.
March 31, 2011
Ode to Jane Eyre...
So the new movie is out and of course I had to see it immediately. I have seen every variation and hope they continue to produce them throughout my life. I count Jane Eyre as one of my all time favorite female characters in fiction. When a new version comes out I always love to see how they'll interpret the story, what lines of dialogue they'll use, etc. In this one they used the … "as if there was a string tied to my rib…" My favorite.
This I thought was a very good version. Jane for me was very convincing. But what I liked about this version is they started the movie with her leaving Rochester. So we see her trek through the moors, her suffering until she finally arrives at the Rivers door. Then we see her life essentially being told through back story. Sort of cliché I know, but done with great affect here because I really got to see how the events of her childhood formed who she was.
In the book, she suffers, she suffers, her bff dies, she suffers some more and finally there is happiness, until there is more suffering. Bronte did not give her girl a break. Talk about throwing her in the dumpster!
But looking at it retrospectively I was able to really see how each event in her life brought her to the place she was. I remember reading the book - which I didn't do until I was 22 – and screaming at Jane to stay with Rochester. What is the BIG deal? Go to Paris. Pretend you're married. Who will know?
As she says… she'll know. And it's the iron core belief in herself that makes this heroine so compelling. She is plain, little and poor. She has ugly dresses and she's always wearing her hair in that awful knot. Yet Rochester loves her and every single time I believe it. This movie really helped to showcase her developement into the woman.
Jane Eyre might be the very first Bombshell. She is tough, resilient, strong, witty and she loves. She loves completely and with her whole heart.
Great great character. I think I've been aspiring to write someone as amazing as her my entire writing live.
What about you? Who is your favorite heroine? Favorite hero?
This I thought was a very good version. Jane for me was very convincing. But what I liked about this version is they started the movie with her leaving Rochester. So we see her trek through the moors, her suffering until she finally arrives at the Rivers door. Then we see her life essentially being told through back story. Sort of cliché I know, but done with great affect here because I really got to see how the events of her childhood formed who she was.
In the book, she suffers, she suffers, her bff dies, she suffers some more and finally there is happiness, until there is more suffering. Bronte did not give her girl a break. Talk about throwing her in the dumpster!
But looking at it retrospectively I was able to really see how each event in her life brought her to the place she was. I remember reading the book - which I didn't do until I was 22 – and screaming at Jane to stay with Rochester. What is the BIG deal? Go to Paris. Pretend you're married. Who will know?
As she says… she'll know. And it's the iron core belief in herself that makes this heroine so compelling. She is plain, little and poor. She has ugly dresses and she's always wearing her hair in that awful knot. Yet Rochester loves her and every single time I believe it. This movie really helped to showcase her developement into the woman.
Jane Eyre might be the very first Bombshell. She is tough, resilient, strong, witty and she loves. She loves completely and with her whole heart.
Great great character. I think I've been aspiring to write someone as amazing as her my entire writing live.
What about you? Who is your favorite heroine? Favorite hero?
March 30, 2011
I held my books...
My actual books. Held them.
That's all I really want to say. :)
Okay, and that I NEVER could have finished any books, but particularly not these two books, without my good friends Molly and Sinead.
For those of you who've been following this blog for over a year, you'll know that last winter I was, um, a basket case. I had insane deadlines for these two books, especially the second one, because being a total newb I didn't factor in enough time for revisions and line edits on the first, which I had to do during the, um, 8 weeks I had to write the second. (I had a luxurious 10 weeks to write the first one.)
I hit a few points last February, when I did not think I was going to meet my deadline. I remember one night in particular when I called Molly and Sinead in a panic and they came over and talked me in off the ledge, told me I could do it, and even though I hadn't shown them much of the second book, (when did I have time for a proper critique??), listened to me babble about the crazy plot problems I was having and helped me work through them.
I love you guys. :)
Oh, and I'm being interviewed today (and Thurs and Friday) at another group blog I'm part of that's more about promotion. Stop by there if you want a chance to win copies of the books!
That's all I really want to say. :)
Okay, and that I NEVER could have finished any books, but particularly not these two books, without my good friends Molly and Sinead.
For those of you who've been following this blog for over a year, you'll know that last winter I was, um, a basket case. I had insane deadlines for these two books, especially the second one, because being a total newb I didn't factor in enough time for revisions and line edits on the first, which I had to do during the, um, 8 weeks I had to write the second. (I had a luxurious 10 weeks to write the first one.)
I hit a few points last February, when I did not think I was going to meet my deadline. I remember one night in particular when I called Molly and Sinead in a panic and they came over and talked me in off the ledge, told me I could do it, and even though I hadn't shown them much of the second book, (when did I have time for a proper critique??), listened to me babble about the crazy plot problems I was having and helped me work through them.
I love you guys. :)
Oh, and I'm being interviewed today (and Thurs and Friday) at another group blog I'm part of that's more about promotion. Stop by there if you want a chance to win copies of the books!
