WIP Blog Tour...Tagged by Nicki Elson!

I was tagged by the lovely Nicki Elson for the WIP Blog Tour.  And since it's been a bit since I last posted anything about my writing, I figured this was as a good time as any to let you guys know a bit about Fate's Awakening, my WIP.  Also, in case you don't know, WIP stands for "work in progress".  Yes, I still count FA as a WIP, because it's not published, and, in fact, is being critiqued mercilessly by Shelley Greene at this time.

Anyway...

The rules of the to:

1)  Link back to the person who tagged you.  That would be Nicki Elson, so check out her blog here.

Okay, so far so good.

2)  Write a little about and give the first sentences of the first 3 chapters of a WIP.

Here's the blurb I've tentatively settled on for Fate's Awakening.

Jack Harris's reluctance to find The One has put his life in danger with the Fates. They send a young goddess to convince Jack that he needs to search his heart or he's going to lose his only chance at happiness. After the goddess gives him less than a month to get his act together, Jack realizes that his soul mate is his long-time roommate and best friend, Andrew Kelly. Problem is, Andy's in a relationship with a woman, and Jack can't quite figure out where they stand. Will the goddess's divine intervention be enough to help Jack? Or will the Fates have to cut the tangled thread of his life when the deadline comes?

Intrigued? I hope so.

And here are the first sentences from the first 3 chapters of Fate's Awakening...four, actually, because I did a prologue. So you guys get a bonus sentence! Woo hoo!

Prologue:  "The Three have requested your immediate presence."


Chapter 1:  "Your place or mine?"


Chapter 2:  Insistent banging roused me from a deep sleep.


Chapter 3:  Just after eight-thirty, my cab pulled up in front of the bar.


And finally, rule 3:  Tag 4 more writers to see what they're up to!

Shelley Greene

Jennifer DeLucy

Debra Anastasia

and

Rumer Haven


I can't wait to see what they're up to!

xoxo Sarah

Interview Time with Jen DeLucy!

Today we have the amazing Jennifer DeLucy, author of the three books of The Light Series, which is getting a serious cover make-over AND a box set! Woot woot!  Maybe, if we're good, she'll even let us see the pretty new covers...

Take it away, Jen!

Tell everyone a bit about yourself.

Oh, man. This question. When I was younger I could have come up with this whole thoughtful answer that seemed completely authentic, but, the truth is, nowadays I’d say I’m this woman constantly growing into and out of her skin. In other words, I have no idea! It keeps changing. I guess I’m someone with feelings to express.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts about being a writer?

Favorite parts? Falling into a story so that I can’t break away and want to write constantly. Also, seeing it published and hearing from readers about their shared experience. Least favorite? Pushing past writer’s block. Keeping the faith when success is slow coming.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other writers?

This much has never changed: DO NOT STOP WORKING. It may take you a decade to become known or successful. If writing really does bring you satisfaction and it’s all you really picture yourself doing, then you aren’t allowed to give up. You can whine, you can cry and throw things, but do not stop writing new things. It’s the only way you’ll become a better writer and beat the odds.

Do you prefer silence or to have music on when you’re writing?

Silence. I can’t concentrate very well when music is on, but only because I love music so much that it distracts me. I tend to listen to my musical inspirations before and after writing sessions to keep in the mood.

I’m super-excited that The Light Series is getting a make-over! Can you tell us how much input you had in the new covers? What’s the process like?

I had a very heavy influence in the new covers. My publisher worked with me closely, giving me guidance and opinions, but allowing me to pick and choose a lot of the way. The process was super easy when we came down to it. It was the last five years of my aversion to characters on the covers that made me put the whole thing off. But it was just time now, I guess, because it fell together easily for all parties.

Can we get a peek? Pretty please?

You can. :-) Here’s a glimpse of the box set. It’s not the full size covers, but, it’s enough to wet the palette.

That's gorgeous! And how’d you get the idea for The Light Series?

Well, I was obsessed with Harry Potter. (Still adore that series with all my heart.) And I’m also a huge paranormal fan. I love scary things. I’m also pretty spiritual, though, and think there are a lot of plausibilities in this mysterious universe that we can only imagine. So I just wrote from my head and heart what I felt was (mostly) possible if the supernatural and the natural world were the same, with all sorts of creepy and cool things existing among humans with special abilities. I didn’t overthink it initially. I just wrote and learned about their world as I went.

Okay, I have to ask…are YOU a bigger fan of Christian or William? Why?

Ooooookay. Okay, okay! Hah. I promised people I’d answer this question, but I hate to, because I don’t want anybody to think my love is unevenly distributed among my mains. Alas, however…sure, I’ve got a favorite. It’s William. There. I said it. Just a little above Christian, for me. And the reason is simple: He’s exactly the kind of man who would challenge my character without making me feel any less for it. He’d force me to be the strongest version of myself. And though that would be harder, I think it’s a good thing.

I love it! And it's okay to have favorites. :-) Which one of the series was your favorite to write?   

Which book, you mean? Ugh. It’s tough. Seers has the most magic in it, for me, because I was just getting to know the characters and the world, and I was falling in love  for the first time, but Circle was super cool to write, as well, because my writing abilities were amped up by then. My writing and storytelling were far better. Plus I got to research other countries. But, I’d say Seers, because you can’t beat the magic of your first love.

  

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a book called “Beautiful”, about a very unorthodox protagonist. That’s all I’ll say for now. :-)

Tell us what genres you write in, why, and what your experiences are like writing paranormal romance for The Light Series.  How is the experience different from one genre to another?

I don’t hold myself to any one genre, though I prefer paranormal. The book I’m working on now is contemporary, actually. My experience writing The Light Series was about as beautiful as I could have imagined. There’s just something about the mystery of the unknown and supernatural that feeds my soul. I’ll always love paranormal.

I’d say the main difference between paranormal and contemporary writing is that you have to really work hard to keep the plot interesting in a contemporary book without the novelty and fun of supernatural elements. And to write paranormal, you need to be able to suspend your own disbelief and let your imagination run rampant. You also have to be able to make up an entirely new set of rules that somehow feel believable to readers, where contemporary novels lend themselves to the reality we already know, so they’re easier in that way. 

What was your favorite scene to write in The Light Series books?  Why?

Good Lord…These questions are hard! Can’t I pick a scene from each book? Please? I’m going to say, in Seers of Light, it’s one of the initial training scenes between Lily and William. In Whisper of Light, maybe the grocery shopping scene with Nicole and Christian, and in Circle…I believe the scene involves potatoes.

What scene gave you the most trouble? Why?

I think in Whisper of Light, any scene with Nicole and her dad was tough, just because it was hard to muster the kind of animosity his character put forward, but it was necessary.  

Where can we find you on the interwebs?

My blog: http://jenniferdelucy.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-DeLucy/236708649693933

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jen_DeLucy

                                                                                        

Where can we find your books?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-DeLucy/e/B003WSKNT0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Simon and Schuster: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Jennifer-DeLucy/488327689

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/jennifer-delucy

Sweet! Thank you so much for being awesome, Jen!

Please go check out Jen's books...they're just as wonderful as she is.

xoxo Sarah

Hey! Read this!

Okay, so the title's not that subtle, but if you're an author, or a reader, or an editor, you need to read this awesome blog post by my lovely friend, Jen DeLucy.

Seriously.

I'll even post the link and not embed it or some crap like that, just to make it easier for you to find.

Here:  http://jenniferdelucy.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/sometimes-i-peeand-other-things-authors.html

Want to know what it's about first?

Okay.

Basically, it's an extremely well-written post about writers and editors, and respecting each other's jobs as well as what we do in the time we're not *gasp* editing or writing.  As I am both a writer and editor (Jen DeLucy is too), we've seen both sides of it.  And seeing as how she's done the work for me already and said it better than I think I could have, check it out.

So go read it and come back here and tell me what you think.

xoxo Sarah