Laura McNeill's Blog, page 9

Writer Wednesday: 7 Ways to Create Stronger Heroines

Every author wants to create a hero or heroine that’s believable, likeable, and relatable. But it’s even better if you can dream up a protagonist who’s independent, capable, and a little bit flawed. And for me, I love reading about a heroine who can also kick a little butt.

For example, I’d love a mash-up of Jo March, Little Women, Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hemione Granger, Harry Potter Series, and Nancy Drew. Oh, and throw in The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen.

So how does a writer come up with characters that possess the wonderful contradictions of sassy and sweet, fiercely independent, yet sensitive? Beautiful, but sometimes, an outcast?

Here are 5 ways to boost you’re heroine’s staying power.

Backstory

To make your heroine believable, a well-developed backstory is critical. The backstory you create can be as complicated as you like, but only show portions to your readers only after about fifty pages into the book, and then, sprinkle in further details sparingly.

For example, in Center of Gravity, we learn that Ava Carson has a complicated relationship with her mother, who has recently married a wealthy older man in the community. We also discover that Ava’s mother has still not forgiven her daughter for running away from home with her (self-described) worthless high school boyfriend. Readers are later told that Ava’s father was a philanderer and died in the arms of his lover, causing her mother extreme public humiliation.

Readers soon also learn that Mitchell has had a very unhappy childhood, compounded by the suicide of his mother and the untimely death of his wife. All of this, even Mitchell’s losses, become Ava’s emotional baggage.

Intelligence

Not only is Ava well educated, personable, and well liked in the community, readers quickly observe that she adored by her children, even the precocious 8-year-old Jack whom she has just adopted.

As readers get to know Ava, they understand that she performed well in her former job as a former school counselor at a prep school in Mobile, and that she has been told she will always have a job there.

A Goal

After a series of unrelated events that trigger uncontrolled jealous anger, Mitchell begins his descent into madness; he files for divorce and the custody of the couple’s children.

While Ava’s objective at the outset of the novel was to keep her happy-from-the-outside family intact, her goal becomes to win back her children and fight for their safety as she is being pummeled from all sides by Mitchell’s manipulations.

Flaws

Intelligence doesn’t always mean a lack of naiveté, and after shying away from relationships because of her father’s track record, Ava finally allows herself to be swept away by Mitchell’s charm, attention, and persistence.

Like many of us, Ava wants to believe in the good inside all people, and it takes her a few agonizing chapters to wake up to the fact that her husband is not who he portrays himself to be. Even when she’s come to understand her husband’s dark side, she still, on several occasions, underestimates his ability for evil.

Vulnerability

Ava is vulnerable because she isn’t cloaked in the steel armor that protects Mitchell from feeling much emotion. While he fuels his personality through jealousy and hatred, Ava cares too much about her mother’s opinion, as well as that of the members of her small community.

She has grown up listening to others and, for the most part, following directions. It is only when she breaks free of those chains that she begins to come into her own and gains the clarity to solve her own problems on her own terms. She no longer needs to be rescued.

Happiness

 Ava Carson is a character who experiences true joy and happiness. She isn’t materialistic, and is, in fact, a bit embarrassed by her husband’s lavish taste in architecture and home décor.

She takes joy in the small things in life that cost very little: a swing set for her children, baking cookies because her family likes them, and the pink paper heart that her children gave her on Valentine’s Day.

Heroic Qualities

Though your main character does not have to save the world, major sacrifice usually wins over readers. Ava begins the story as a rather cautious character, but learns to take risks.

Writers can begin a story with smaller heroic acts, like stopping to save a puppy that’s run out into traffic, or leaving groceries to melt in a shopping cart while rushing off to meet an ambulance carrying her 8-year-old son to the emergency room.

Those tiny acts build the heroine’s true identity and character, so that when you reach the climax of the story, and your main character’s internal strength is tested, readers will believe she is capable of the fight and (hopefully) the victory.

Who are some of your favorite heroines and why? I’d love to hear about them!

Character Casting for ‘Center of Gravity’

Although I think everyone sees characters differently in the novels we read, I’m often asked who I’ve pictured while writing Center of Gravity. If the book was made into a movie, it’s also fun to think about which celebrities might play the main characters.

Here’s my cast for Center of Gravity:

Ava Carson – Emma Stone
Emma Stone is best known for her roles in The Amazing Spider-Man and Crazy, Stupid Love, and would play Ava in  Center of Gravity .

Emily Jean “Emma” Stone was born in Scottsdale, Arizona and at the age of 15, she decided that she wanted to make acting her career. She made a PowerPoint presentation, titled “Project Hollywood,”  to persuade her parents to allow her to drop out of school and move to Los Angeles.

She and her mother moved to LA, where she was home-schooled while auditioning. – IMBd
Mitchell Carson – Christian Bale
Bale is best known for his role in the Dark Knight (Batman) trilogy. He would play Ava’s husband in  Center of Gravity .

Born as Christian Charles Philip Bale in Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK in 1974, his mother was a circus performer and his father was a commercial pilot.

He earned his first Oscar in 2011 after The Fighter‘s critical and commercial success. Bale earned the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal the brother to and trainer of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg. – IMBd

 Graham Thomas – Chris Pratt


Pratt, who would play a lawyer new to Mobile, Ala., in  Center of Gravity , was born in Virginia, Minnesota and grew up in Lake Stevens, Washington. He is married to fellow Washington State native, Anna Faris. His hobbies off the silver screen include fishing, hunting and working on cars.

Pratt played major supporting roles in several television series, including Parks and Recreation, and film roles in Moneyball and Zero Dark Thirty. In 2014, he starred as Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy. – IMBd



Jack Carson – Jonathan Morgan Heit


Carson was born on July 16, 2000, and would play Mitchell and Ava’s 8-year-old son in  Center of Gravity .

He is best known for Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Date Night, and Bedtime Stories.

Prior to movies, he acted in commercials for Comcast, Publix, and Zales. – IMBd

Dr. Lucy Olsen – Carla Gugino
  Carla Gugino, who would play child psychologist Dr. Lucy Olsen in  Center of Gravity , was born in Sarasota, Florida and moved with her mother to Paradise, Ca., when Carla was just five years old.

A major modeling agency discovered Carla in San Diego and sent her to New York to begin a new career when she was 15. Gugino soon returned to LA to do modeling and enrolled in acting classes.

She played the mom in all of the Spy Kids films, as well in Watchmen and Race to Witch Mountain. – IMBd

Center of Gravity releases July 14, 2015 in bookstores and everywhere fine books are sold.

Purchase your pre-order copy today:  Center of Gravity.

xo, Laura

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In anticipation of Center of Gravity’s July 14th release, here’s a new giveaway offering 2 prizes for 2 lucky winners!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on my blog July 11th!

Congratulations to Jennifer, the winner of my “I Love Summer” Prize Pack!

Jennifer, North Carolina

Summer Reads: 35 Books Not To Miss!

I wanted to share this “35 Top Summer Reads” article by Canadian news writer Deborah Dundas. It’s reprinted from The Toronto Star.

Here goes:

From comedy to thrillers to romances to non-fiction to stuff for kids, books to dive into on the beach or wherever else you go this summer! (P.S. Center of Gravity is #4 on this list … read on!)

Thrills and chills

The Intruder by Hakan Ostlundh (Minotaur, Aug. 18)

Nordic crime fiction is intensely popular and this is yet another great Swedish writer. Ostlundh, once as a journalist for Sweden’s bestselling morning newspaper, crafts a tale about the Andersson family, which is being sent threatening letters. High-quality suspense.

Broken Promise by Linwood Barclay (Harper Collins, July)

Journalist David Harwood takes his son to his own hometown after his wife dies and the newspaper he works for collapses. Our regular Whodunit reviewer Jack Batten says this is Canadian writer Barclay’s best book yet.

The Hesitation Cut by Giles Blunt (Random House, August)

From the Canadian author of the John Cardinal series, a small twist: a suspense novel starring a young Benedictine monk and troubled poet.

Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill (Thomas Nelson, July 14)

This ex-news  anchor has a two-book deal. This thriller features Ava Carson, a woman whose picture-perfect marriage is unravelling . She starts digging into the past for the truth . . . which isn’t, of course, what it seems.

Take it to the beach

Villa America by Liza Klaussmann (Bond Street Books)

A luscious, jazz-era read about the real-life, art-commune couple who were the inspiration for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic Tender Is the Night.

China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan (Doubleday)

The sequel to Crazy Rich Asians follows the same wealthy, young social climbers and pokes fun at their flashy cars and lavish lifestyle. It’s the second of a planned trilogy focusing on the world through protagonist Rachel’s eyes.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (Penguin)

A debut, this novel is about a food-loving single dad raising a daughter. She becomes one of the most celebrated chefs in the country. There’s lots to satisfy foodies: each chapter tells the story of a single dish and character.

The Rocks by Peter Nichols (Riverhead)

Set in a Mallorca seaside resort, this combines mystery and romance as two honeymooners experience an event so catastrophic they don’t speak to one another for 60 years.

The Making of Zombie Wars by Aleksandar Hémon (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

Zombies are a thing right now and Hémon taps into the zeitgeist with this story of an aspiring screenwriter who has lots of ideas (for example, Love Trek: aliens undercover as cabbies abduct the main character’s fiancée). This hilarious, dark book has sex, violence and a conspiracy theory that the government wants to turn immigrants into zombies.

Books to sink into on rainy days

Birdie by Tracey Lindberg

This debut Canadian novel is a powerful coming of age story that incorporates elements of Cree folklore and oral tradition. Follow protagonist Bernice as she recovers from sexual abuse by an uncle.

The Birthday Lunch by Joan Clark (Knopf)

The latest from the popular and award-winning Canadian author of Latitudes of Melt, this is the story of a week in the life of one family who is set to celebrate Lily’s birthday but has to come to terms with her shocking death instead. Set in New Brunswick.

A History of Forgetting by Caroline Adderson (Biblioasis)

This book didn’t make a huge splash when it was first published in 1999. Now the author’s revised it, for those CanLit fans who want to compare and contrast. It’s part of the ReSet series by Biblioasis, which is also reprinting John Metcalf and Clark Blaise.

When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi (Wm. Morrow, late June)

Hashimi has created a remarkable portrait of familial love between a mother and teenage son, Afghan asylum seekers who are separated on their journey from Kabul to London. It’s a heartfelt story of hope amidst the despair of a world short on compassion.

The Dust That Falls From Dreams by Louis de Bernières (Knopf Canada, August)

From the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin comes a novel about a family shaped by the horrors of the First World War. Evocative period detail.

Angel of Eden by D.J. McIntosh (Penguin)

This new release is the third in the megaselling Mesopotamian series. If you like fantasy thrillers, this is a good excuse to read the first two (The Witch of Babylon and The Book of Stolen Tales).

Life writing

this is happy by Camilla Gibb (Doubleday, August)

Described as “honest, tender, brutal and kind,” this highly anticipated memoir from the Canadian writer chroniclesthe grief she felt when, at eight weeks pregnant, her partner ended their relationship, shattering the much longed-for family. A very poignant and personal story.

So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead by David Browne (Da Capo)

This year is the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary, an occasion marked with this book, which digs into the back story of pivotal days in the band’s career. (Deadheads can also check out a book of interviews with the late Jerry Garcia edited by biographer Dennis McNally and, of course, the band’s concert tour.)

Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola (Grand Central Publishing)

From the personal essays editor at Salon.com comes a memoir of her alcoholism by a woman who drank to the point of oblivion. It’s a powerful, funny and poignant book about the battle to get sobre.

Losing the Signal by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff (HarperCollins)

This is “one helluva story,” according to our reviewer, about the rise and fall of BlackBerry (the Canadian company formerly known as Research in Motion). These Canadian writers bring to life the personalities involved and the technology sector in a thoroughly researched and authoritatively written story.

Empire of Deception by Dean Jobb (Harper Avenue)

A true-crime story anchored in Chicago during the Roaring Twenties, this is the story of Leo Koretz, the lawyer who scammed investors out of $30 million in timberland and non-existent oil wells. Koretz disappeared when his scheme collapsed but was apprehended in 1924 in Nova Scotia, where he was living as a book dealer and literary critic.

Your next book club pick

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee (Harper Collins, July)

The sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird may be controversial — the manuscript had been set aside when it was written in the 1950s — but there will certainly be lineups when it’s released on July 14.

Black Feathers by Robert J. Wiersema (Harper Collins, August)

Cassie Weathers, 16, is a runaway on the streets of Vancouver, where there’s a serial killer on the loose. In this latest from Canadian Wiersema (a reviewer for this paper), we have to figure out what is real and what exists only in her night terrors.

His Whole Life by Elizabeth Hay (McClelland & Stewart, August)

A story about a boy who wants a dog, set during the dying days of August on a lake in Eastern Ontario, with deftly drawn characters (as you’d expect from Giller-winning Canadian writer Hay) and an exploration of family, love and forgiveness.

Mrs. Sinclair’s Suitcase by Louise Walters (Putnam, August)

This debut novel is about a lonely librarian who finds a letter in her grandmother’s suitcase. We get the narrative of the two women: one set in the current day, one in the early years of the Second World War.

In The Unlikely Event by Judy Blume (Doubleday)

She’s led us through our awkward middle-school issues and now, in her latest book for adults, Blume takes us on a powerful journey through the grieving process. The background is, incredibly, three plane crashes within two months in her hometown of Elizabeth, N.J. A riveting, heartfelt read.

Romance! Comedy! Hillary Clinton!

Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow (Random House)

Why does Jon Stewart do what he does? What makes a good joke to Lena Dunham? Apatow, the filmmaker behind Knocked Up, has compiled his conversations with the biggest names in comedy: a list that includes Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne Barr. Lots of inside stories.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (Penguin Press)

Ansari is used to getting laughs for his standup routine on online dating; here, he takes a more clinical (but still funny) look at the phenomenon using charts, stats (with the help of an NYU sociologist) and personal anecdotes. His advice to men includes such gems as “Don’t be a ‘bozo.’”

 The Hillary Doctrine by Valerie M. Hudson and Patricia Leidl

It’s never too soon to start your American election reading (the vote is Nov 8, 2016 and Hillary Clinton might well be the Democrat contender). The Vancouver-based Leidl and her co-author look at the doctrine (that the subjugation of women around the world is a threat to U.S. security) in depth.

Me Artsy, edited by Drew Hayden Taylor (Douglas & McIntyre)

An exploration of what inspires the artistic spirit, with 14 First Nations writers, artists, musicians, designers telling how their culture has influenced their art.

Keep the kids happy (and far from any screen)!

All Year Round by Emilie Leduc, translated by Shelley Tanaka (Groundwood Books/Anansi, July, ages 2 to 5)

This delightfully illustrated book takes younger readers through the months of the year by season. It’s a great pick for older siblings who can read to younger ones. If your young one is studying French, pick up the original La ronde des mois, too.

More Boredom Busters by Caroline Fernandez (Cico Kidz)

The Mosquito Brothers by Griffin Ondaatje, illustrated by Erica Salcedo (ages 6 to 9)

Dinnn Needles (say his first name out loud, sounds like a mosquito) is the main character who learns that The Wild, i.e. the big world, outside, isn’t as scary as he thinks. This read is really about family and how to be cool, big questions for developing minds.

The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner (Algonquin Young Readers, teen)

This novel tells the story of Francesca Schnell, whose little brother drowned four years ago when she should have been watching him. It’s emotional and it’s told in a lovely, gentle manner.

Egg: Nature’s Perfect Package by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, all ages)

A picture book with all you need to know about how animals lay eggs. Great for the cottage or the beach in equal measure.

 

 

The original article was published Friday June 26, 2015.

Publication:
Toronto Star


Article:
Summer reads: 35 books you won’t want to miss



© 2015 Torstar Syndication Services

Reader Spotlight: Jenny C

Hey ALL!  Wanted to share the 4-1-1 about one of my reader-friends and the winner of my “I Love Summer” prize pack!

Jennifer wins a Williams-Sonoma apron and oven mitt, as well as gourmet coffee, a Southern Living Cookbook, and Center of Gravity swag!

1. Name:  Jennifer C.

2. Where you live: The beautiful piedmont of North Carolina!

3. My family! My husband, Kevin, and two sweet cats, Coley and Bailey.

4. Five words friends would use to describe you. Loyal, determined, kind, helpful, and smart

5. Finish this sentence. “When I’m not reading, I’m  exercising!”

6. Finish this sentence. “I love it when people  are happy!”

7. What would you do with a million dollars? I would probably take a few years off from work and just travel, read, and relax!

8. Favorite book: If I can only list one, then I’ll start with one of my first favorites, Great Expectations by Dickens. Oh, how I love it!

13. Favorite movie: The Sweetest Thing! It’s one I can watch over and over and laugh!

14. Favorite treat/snack: Anything with peanut butter and chocolate! Yum!

15. Favorite vacation spot: Mykonos, Greece (with a book in my hand, of course!)

16. Romance or Suspense? Suspense!

17. Coffee or Tea? Water with lemon!

18. Beach or Mountains? Beach (but I love our mountains, too!)

19. Sun or Snow? Snow! It’s a big event to get snow here!

Thank you to Jennifer and everyone for participating in my “I Love Summer” Giveaway! Wishing you the happiest July ever!

xo, Laura

Publishing, Pen Names, and Breaking the Rules

When I first began writing, several authors generously shared their unwritten rules for forging a successful career. They unanimously recommended:

Writing in a popular genre
Thinking long and hard before using a pen name
Sticking with one genre

Being a newbie to the business, their advice seemed reasonable and sound. After all, they’d played it safe, signed with agents, and landed long-term publishing deals.

Fast-forward a year later, and I’d finished my first terrible, awful manuscript. In retrospect, the result was glaringly obvious. I was trying too hard to fit my book into traditional romance—a genre I don’t often read. I took a deep breath, shelved the book, and began writing the next. This time, I allowed myself more freedom.

Breaking Rule 1

I injected humor into my new manuscript, created some eclectic characters, and drew upon my real-life experience as a news anchor and producer. The result was a fun, frothy, chick lit novel set in the Deep South. Not exactly New York Times bestseller material, but it felt right. I got to work querying agents, sending several dozen letters out over a period of two months.

The replies were swift and polite. “We don’t represent chick lit” was the standard answer, though many of the letters included kind words about my writing. After the fortieth rejection arrived in my inbox, I had a glass of wine (or two), shook it off, and began my third manuscript. In the following months, I determined that indie publishing was likely my best option if I ever wanted to make it as an author.

Breaking Rule 2

In preparing for my first novel’s release, on a whim I searched Amazon author names. In short order, I discovered that an erotica writer shared my married name. As I was penning sweet Southern novels, this didn’t necessarily bode well for my future career. After much debate about confusing friends, family, and potential readers, I published my novel under the pseudonym Lauren Clark.

While I was enjoying some modest success with the book and planning for another release, my life took a few unexpected turns. A relationship ended. I became a single parent. I moved. I changed my name. All for the better, but not without pain.

Breaking Rule 3

I found myself unable to capture my previous enthusiasm for writing lighthearted, humorous novels, and instead turned to crafting a manuscript full of drama and suspense. I wrote a second, and began brainstorming a third novel when I received a phone call from Liz Winick Rubenstein of McIntosh & Otis. She had come across my second chick lit book and enjoyed the writing, but wondered if I’d written anything darker.

I signed with Liz two months after delivering my two completed manuscripts. In the next year, she sold my first two suspense novels to HarperCollins / Thomas Nelson. Center of Gravity will be released July 14th of this year, under Laura McNeill, nine years after I began my first manuscript.

Though my main focus and time now center on my upcoming HarperCollins book launches, I’m not at all certain that I’ll give up my pen name persona completely. I’ve enjoyed sharing my sweet Southern books with the world, and my friends, bless their hearts, wouldn’t know what to do if they couldn’t tease me relentlessly about having an erotica book somewhere on a flash drive.

 

Moral of the story? Not all advice, however well meaning and thoughtful, is the right advice. I’ve learned, through trial and error, that writing from the heart and being authentic is the best way to succeed in this business.

xo, Laura

 

Meet Ava Carson – Center of Gravity’s Heroine

When a reviewer recently interviewed me about my new novel, Center of Gravity, she asked, “How much of yourself is there in the main character?”

It’s a question that often came up in Q  & As about each of my previous Lauren Clark novels.

But my Center of Gravity protagonist, Ava Carson, is quite a departure from my fun, frothy, and sometimes zany Lauren Clark heroines.

That said, I’ve found that I do inject a bit of myself in many of my leading ladies, and Ava Carson is no exception.

So, here goes …

How much of yourself is there in the character of Ava Carson?

Ava Carson definitely reflects some of my personality traits. She is an optimist who fiercely loves her children. She’s also a people person, enjoys spending time with friends, and is involved as much as she can in her children’s activities.

Like me, she prefers a simple, no-frills lifestyle, adores handmade cards from her children, and doesn’t mind driving a car that isn’t brand new. (In fact, she drives a cute red Jeep that has more than a few miles on it. I drive a Prius, BTW!)

After her honeymoon, Ava enrolls in a few gourmet cooking courses (I never have… but would like to!) and soon discovers that she’s better off baking cookies and whipping up BLTs than attempting to prepare seven-course meals.

That’s just a little about Ava … there’s so much more to be discovered in the novel.

It’s my hope that readers connect with Ava – a woman who finds strength deep within herself when almost everyone else has given up on her.

Like so many of the women I’ve met over the years, Ava is tenacious, smart, sensitive, and, as it turns out, a bit naïve, when it comes to trusting and believing in the man she’s chosen to marry.

She’d like to cling to the fairytale of a perfect marriage, but eventually sees–and breaks through–her husband’s façade when her children are placed in grave danger.

Happy Reading!  xo, Laura

Starred Library Journal Review for ‘Center of Gravity’

Keeping it short and sweet today with this Starred Library Journal Review:

Sharbrough, Christine. Library Journal 140.10 (Jun 01, 2015).

Ava Carson is enjoying the perfect family life with husband Mitchell Carson, a new baby of their own, and Mitchell’s young son, Jack, until Mitchell’s personality changes from Prince Charming to an unpredictable, jealous control freak. Digging into a past Mitchell refuses to discuss, Ava finds more than she bargained for. When Mitchell files for divorce and obtains custody of the children, Ava must act quickly. But challenging Mitchell may endanger her and the lives of her children.

VERDICT This powerful debut by a former television anchor is a suspenseful and haunting tale of a marriage spiraling wildly out of control. The story line is particularly unsettling as it mirrors the headlines found in newspapers and court cases everywhere. This title will resonate with readers of contemporary women’s fiction and fans of Gina Holmes.

McNeill, Laura. Center of Gravity. Thomas Nelson. Jul. 2015. 320p. ISBN 9780718030902. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780718030919. CF

xo, Laura

image: http://tumblr.libraryjournal.com/

“I Love Summer” Giveaway

Love summer? Love books? Love cooking and Southern recipes?

In honor of the July 14 launch of Center of Gravity, and my main character, Ava Carson, who tries her hand at gourmet cooking, I’m offering an “I Love Summer” Rafflecopter giveaway!

The Prize Pack offers everything you need for the perfect summertime party or get-together… a hardcover Southern Living Cookbook, a Williams-Sonoma Apron & Oven Mitt, 2 bags of Gourmet Coffee, & Center of Gravity Swag! (Total giveaway valued at $75.00) … just add burgers, friends, and a grill!

The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter July 1st and announced here on my blog Thursday, July 2nd!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xo, Laura

Pre-Order Center of Gravity

The Writing Life: It’s All About Juggling

I’m often asked how I keep everything straight. Not my work schedule, mind you, or my kids’ activities, or even my grad school projects.

People, in general, ask about how I organize everything in my writing life — from character names and settings to story details and plot twists in multiple books. The truth? You have to love it. It’s truly a juggling act. Here’s the latest update:

Book #1 (Center of Gravity)

July 14th Release!

At present, I’m getting ready to launch book #1 (Center of Gravity), which means planning book signings (find the list here), answering Q & As, and writing guest posts for blog tours.

The book, set in Mobile, Ala., features 8-year-old Jack, his mother, Ava, his father, Mitchell, and attorney Graham Thomas. Center of Gravity releases (yay!) Tuesday, July 14th with a kickoff party at my favorite Mobile coffeehouse, Carpe Diem, on Tuesday, July 21st. Come one, come all!

‘Sister Dear’ Edits!

Book #2 (Sister Dear)

I’m also deep into the edits for book #2, due at the end of this month. Sister Dear, set in Brunswick, Ga., combines suspense, secrets, and family drama in a picturesque town built on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Armed with 7 single-spaced pages of recommendations and thought-provoking questions from my lovely editor, Amanda, I’ve been working on the manuscript slowly but steadily, grabbing any snippet of time that I can over these past few weeks. I’ve re-acquainted myself with sisters Allie and Emma, Allie’s daughter, Caroline, and Glynn County Sheriff Lee Gaines. Sister Dear is scheduled for release in April of 2016.

Book #3 (Untitled – though I have a few ideas!)

New Orleans, La.

Meanwhile, I’m can’t wait to get back to writing book #3 (Currently untitled) and set in New Orleans, just two hours down I-10 from Mobile. This story centers on a foiled kidnapping attempt and involves 16-year-old Olivia, her grandmother, Victoria, Olivia’s stepfather, Theo, and his girlfriend, Kate.

Since January of this year, I’ve finished 33 chapters. The remaining 9 are outlined; I’m estimating that I’ll need about 14,000 more words to get to the finish line.

Here’s hoping I’ll wrap up the”first draft” of book #3 by Independence Day. After some time off with my family and boys, it’s on to more fun … outlining book #4!

xo, Laura

Photo Credit:  Alex Demyan and NewOrleansOnline.com