A few days ago, fab author Stephanie Tyler commented on my blog post about my feelings on the muse. In terms of writing, she said “…there are days when the magic just happens.” Amen to that. Some days the words flow better than others. Some days they don’t flow at all. I’ve had whole books that were easier than others. For example:
-YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY – I wrote this book in seven weeks while working full-time. It snapped together for me. It was my first single title and I thought they’d all be this easy, until…
-RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW – Oh, lordy. This one was awful to write. I changed professions, moved across the country and got really sick. Needless to say, this book did not flow. At all. I re-wrote most of it after I turned it in and before my editor even had a chance to read it. I loved it at the end but the “getting there” part was not pretty.
-HOT AS HELL – Let’s just say that my editor called and said, “I love the plot and the hero is terrific. One problem…I despise the heroine.” I don’t think my editor even liked the heroine’s hair color. Yeah, it was that bad. Good news is that I figured out the problem and rewrote the book and then my editor’s love flowed once more.
-HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO – The entire plot of this one formed in my head while I was sitting by the pool on vacation. Really, this one came to life with ease. Writing it was a bit hard because I had been thinking about this hero for a long time and wanted to get this story just right, but I always knew where it was going. I’m super excited for this one. It comes out on Septemer 29th and I hope you all grab it.
Now, for those who read my books, you’ll notice a trend here. The books in my Hawaii series go far better in terms of writing. The others…not. Guess that means I should write more Hawaii books. 
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lol so I know it’s totally not the point… but this post really makes me want to go to Hawaii
I’ve never been!
(if only…)
by limecello August 4th, 2009 at 8:38 pmI think I should take your Hawaii books and go read them there
Do you have a favorite out of the ones you’ve written? Any more plans to write anoither anthology? I really enjoyed Viva Las Bad Boys too.
Might mean you have to go to Hawaii again for research purposes *g*
by Stacy ~ August 5th, 2009 at 3:19 amI think you definitely need a trip to Hawaii–purely to sooth your muse of course!
by Darlene August 5th, 2009 at 4:48 amAs it turns out, I’m going to Hawaii next week. It’s a rescheduled trip. We were supposed to go in the spring but I was sick. Very excited to go!!
Stacy – Right now my favorite book is the one that will be out in October, HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO. It’s a follow-up to YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY, my first single title and a sentimental favorite. HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO is Josh Windsor’s story. He’s the DEA agent and best friend of the hero from YMDMC. I’m hoping everyone loves Josh as much as I do.
Thank your or loving VIVA LAS BAD BOYS! I love that one, too. I don’t have any plans to write another single author anthology – ie, book where all three novellas are by me – right now. I love doing them but they tend to not sell as well as single titles. I will have a novella in the Christmas anthology, KISSING SANTA CLAUS. Donna Kauffman and Jill Shalvis are the other two authors in that one, and they’re fabulous. I love writing novellas, so I’m hoping more opportunities will arise.
by HelenKay August 5th, 2009 at 11:36 amBabbled is more like it. Really.
Unleashing the Storm (a co-written Croft with Larissa) was the book that wrote itself. Easiest book in the entire world. Love. That. Book.
Coming Undone, my first Blaze, was easy too. After that, it was more like magic scenes than magic books, you know?
I was talking about this to Larissa the other day, wondering if maybe it’s because we know too much now – ie, we know the edits / revisions are going to happen (which I’m cool with – I need revisions) but maybe we tend to second guess ourselves because we know it’s not truly the end. I know I tend to try to guess what my editor won’t like and that slows me down a lot. I’m wrong about half the time.
So really, I have to learn to shut off the, you’re doing it wrong, part of my brain.
Oh look, babbling again…must buy HK drinks at next conference…
by Stephanie Tyler August 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm