Works in Progress

[Lezlie]

I will discuss the three works I have in progress in this thread. Most are in the planning stages, but I have some scenes written for SINS OF MY YOUTH.

[Lezlie]

Decisions, decisions! Three ideas and two of them fighting for my attention--it is a first for me. I will briefly describe the concepts and my progress.

I began writing the CHASTENING trilogy about fifteen years or so ago. I think I may have even "finished" the first two or close to it. Then I met my husband...and I set it aside to edit the INTENTS series and have not gone back to it.

CHASTENING will be rewritten as one novel. It is the story of Jessalyn Derebourne that chronicles her journey from pampered, headstrong heiress to a wiser young woman with purpose. It is set in Edenton with friends of the Prestons, a companion to the INTENTS series. I will tackle this story when the other two have been written.

I have begun to write SINS OF MY YOUTH, the bookend to the INTENTS series. If I am to write CHASTENING, there are some aspects of the Prestons that need to be resolved. Plus, I love writing about them--and had some "old" stories that had not been told. So, I am crafting a novel of flashbacks...scenes that revolve around a very important event in that family's history. I may post the first scene sometime soon for feedback!

With the release of THE KING'S HEART, I have been bombarded with the request for a sequel. I have always thought about one vaguely, but I now have an idea. It is in the planning stages (historical notes, plot elements, title) and will probably play second fiddle to the INTENTS final volume, but who knows? The tentative title is DESPERATELY WICKED. I found it in a verse in Jeremiah on the heart. It spoke to me.

The sequel will follow Stuart and Corinne as their children reach maturity and, once again, trouble finds them. I am exploring the ideas of deception/revenge and quests to prove your worth. Ideas are churning inside me, but not all have made it to paper, yet. This is the least developed project, but one that is drawing me in.

Any questions? Requests?

[Debbie]

Desperately Wicked--love the title, time period and characters!

[Julie]

Go with what's drawing you. Won't that be more fun?

[Lezlie]

I have no doubt that I will write what is most compelling at the time. I have never been one to adhere to rules as in "this must be written next." However, I do feel (in my head) that should I finish the Intents series now, then the sequel to KH will be better for my having given it some time to "simmer."

[Debbie]

I don't know, Lezlie. I loved Follet's Fall of Giants so much and would have jumped right into sequel. However, it's been well over a year and characters are so faded that I would have to read it again before I could go to the second. he may lose me on the sequel. Just saying....

[Lezlie]

I know, Debbie. I was thinking maybe I needed to simmer with those ideas. Personally, i love reading a series...so i am always ready to keep reading. What i wonder is if it is good to write them back to back. It was okay with Intents because it was in essenece one story--Lauren's. But King's Heart stands on its own, and I hope the sequel will, too. I just don't want to be stale. I do think I need to finish the revisions for the three Intents book and get them on Kindle. Then I will feel more free to decide where my heart is leading me next.