How I decide what to write next

I'm highly visual. I wasn't going to start a new series; I had perfectly good series that needed following up. Unfortunately, my brain decided otherwise. I started having daydreams about a giant tree, which became (crude) comic book panels. My storyboard then required typing...and Bramble Burn was born.

Daydreams are my method for story building. I can't daydream if I'm stressed, so no creative writing gets done. That's when I do formatting, website update and humdrum stuff. I have to be excited to spend months writing a story, and I can't force it. Only strong daydreams, the ones that really grip me, get written; I let the other ones go.

I can't seem to visualize a series beyond three or four books. I get bored. This isn't a bad thing, as new and exciting worlds emerge. Writing is my version of play, and it's a pleasure to bring readers along for the ride.

So word of warning: you might fall in love with a character. You may be beset with insatiable curiosity about their story. My suggestion: fan fiction. Go for it, make your own HEA for your favorites! Explore your artistic talents. Cosplay.

Now that you're busy, I'm going to sneak away and get back to writing...

Little slice of Japan

I ordered koji rice from Japan via Amazon so I can make miso without soy, b/c I'm allergic. Any bean works. South River Miso sells good stuff, but it's cheaper to make my own, and I like adventure! No doubt I'll put moldy food in a book soon.

Love Asian food, so soy sauce is a must. Coconut aminos work, but not quite the same, and $6 per little bottle is outrageous.

That, and I'm stuck indoors with stupid pollen, so kitchen chemistry to the rescue! I love food science. Acids and bases and emulsions thrill me!

Snippet from Breaker's Ruin: He's a good catch

This is a snippet from Breaker's Ruin, book 2 of the Convergence Series and a work in progress. Book one of the series, Bramble Burn, will be released April 30.

~

“Of course he’s old,” Luke groused. “How did you not know that? Only old dragons are white. Bleached, they say.” His head flopped on the couch as he exhaled smoke. “That’s why he acts like a grumpy old man.”

“They pale with age,” Breaker assured her, one eye on Luke. “I’d better stay until he sobers. Do you have tea?” Dragons loved firethorn tea with a mad love, and it was good for the fire organs. Every dragon household stocked it.

“Right. I’ll get you both a cup.” She rattled around the kitchen, conscious of how bizarre it was to have Verbreaker, the Skylord’s son and right hand, in her living room. Not that she usually thought of him like that. In fact, he was a frequent visitor to Bramble Burn, and she’d known him long enough to think of him as a dangerous pest. He said he came for the spectacular monster hunting in the park, but he’d made no secret of his interest in her.

The jerk.

It made her mad every time she thought about it. Sure, she was cute and curvy, if a bit plump for current fashion, but he could do better. He could have a dragon female if he chose; he simply thought he’d have a better shot of hatchlings with her.

She smacked a cup on the counter harder than she’d intended. She got it. He was a dragon and she was a changeling. Dragons couldn’t reproduce easily and females were rare. Daisy had a gene that would solve his need for an heir. There was no other reason for him to pursue a lowly biologist.

The cold logic of his plan hurt, but it was so typical of dragons. Brilliant creatures, they were sly, long range planners. While they were fiercely protective of those they loved, trust came slowly.

Malcolm had been like that with her mother. Fire in courtship, ice once married, the saying went. Dragons married human women to have offspring, which were always born dragons-in-human-form. They kept their vows for the length of the mother’s life, but humans didn’t live long, not when compared to a dragon.

She muttered to herself.

“What’s not fair?” Breaker joined her at the kitchen counter and accepted tea for Luke and himself. “Thank you.”

“Dragon lifespan,” she groused, deciding to leave the tea things out. They could make more if they liked while she went to bed.

Breaker handed Luke his cup and smiled slyly. “You could live as long if you wished.”

“You could,” Luke echoed with sudden enthusiasm, twisting around to look at her. “You should take Breaker. He’s a good catch.”

“You’re drugged! You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she retorted. “Aren’t you supposed to snarl that no one is good enough for me? It’s what you do.” Malcolm didn’t even need to growl. He stared at any male who presumed to talk to her with chilling intent, nipping any potential flirting in the bud. Luke was as bad, terrifying her dates until word got out at collage that her dragon family would devour anyone who looked at her.

Graduation hadn’t improved the pool of eligible bachelors, because the drakes they’d introduced her to left her cold.

If she died unmarried, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

“That’s because you’re not smart enough to date a dragon,” Luke said reasonably.

“Maybe I don’t like dragons,” she griped. Breaker looked like he was enjoying their sibling squabble, and it made her grumpy. He didn’t need any more insight into her life.

“You like them,” Luke said confidently.

Stupid arrogant drake. “Maybe I don’t trust them,” she replied with false sweetness.

Breaker spread his arms. “Deadliest thing in the sky, and you let me into your living room.”

Luke snickered.

pre-order panic

So I’m checking email, making a chore list and battling a bit o’ stuffy head from allergies, and I see that Amazon helpfully sent me this:

Thank you for making your book Bramble Burn available for pre-order.

We see that you have not yet submitted the final version of the book file. Please remember you are required to provide the final file by 04/20/2015. Maintaining a positive customer experience is important, and delivering your book on schedule is required to retain access to pre-order. If you do not upload the final version of your book on time, your pre-order will be cancelled and customers will be notified that you did not publish your book. Also, you will lose pre-order access for one year.

And I think, panic! What if I break an arm, or someone dies, or it rains turtles?! This is why I don’t like pre-orders! I'm only one person, and I have no backup plan. Run about, wave arms.


And then I think, you know, if it’s such a problem, discipline yourself to get the book edited and sit on it so it can pre-order properly. Mark Coker (Smashwords) swears that it drives sales, and that's important.

This is were I lecture my daughter (who says she's going to write books like Mom, and is working on practice graphic novels daily) on the importance of business sense. Artists are selling a product, and we can't afford to be special snowflakes, too delicate for the real world. Whatever she ends up doing, she'd need to understand contracts, deadlines and editing, and possibly how to work with other freelancers as a team. She'll need an understanding of budgets, royalties and taxes, and she'll need to be able to evaluate suggestions to see what improves the work and what doesn't.

It's not enough to be an excellent artist, although that is wonderful and fulfilling. It's about having the determination to wash, rinse, repeat. That's what separates a hobby from a profession.

My fruit trees are alive, with only a bit of browning on the very tips of one or two almond blossoms. Fist pump! I'm in business, baby.

My youngest son (14) has red, swollen eyes from pollen, but salt water rinses have been very helpful in reducing it, so now he doesn't look like he's been in a brawl.

Just heard that my sister in law's whole family has gone gluten & dairy free because her kids are sensitive. Since they're visiting for a week in the fall, that will help a LOT. I like to hug the kids in my family without reaching for my epi-pen because they're covered in milk. Talk about conflicted--cute baby cuddle vs. anaphyaxis.

My son wants to learn coding, and guess what? Youtube has videos on it. Best library ever...used properly.

It's snowing on my blooming fruit trees! Thankfully it's melting as it hits the ground and it's not that cold. I've been spraying the frost off them before the sun hits the past few mornings and praying. I've got honeycrisp apples, pears, plum, cherry, kiwi, blueberries, a delicious nectarine and a dwarf peach, so I'm pray I get fruit this year.

The rhubarb I know will live; that stuff thrives even in Alaska.

Easter was nice. I enjoyed cooking. Walmart sells chocolate crosses and mazes, so we go the kids some; even teens like Easter gifts.

My husband is hot for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, so we're "living like no one else so that later, we can live like no one else". Cracking his ribs and lacerating his spleen really made an impression on him, and he's determined to make sure I'm taken care of if something happens to him. I'm very proud of him.

Of course, now this means that the budget is king, and it's a change to see him with a calculator at the store, making sure we stay on budget. He religiously brown bags it now, and it's amazing to see how much he saves by not buying junk food.

Side note on the junk food: by switching from soda to pure fruit juice and cutting down on sugar, his high blood pressure is now normal and he has more energy. Nice, huh? He takes it in his thermos at work.

He's never been bad about it, but he's never put his mind to saving, either. There's a big difference.

God can do amazing things. Believe me, no amount of talking on part could ever have gotten him this excited about this. I reinforces my belief that people will change when they're good and ready and not a moment sooner.

Pollen hit. Breathing's fine, but the eyes! At least I'm getting work done.

Roast chicken for Sunday dinner, maybe game hens, deviled eggs, green bean casserole. Lemon and pecan pie were requested.

Spaghetti squash and Brussels sprouts were strictly forbidden.

I'd post a snippet, but that would contain spoilers. Instead I'll say that Breaker's Ruin is at 30 pgs.

Each book is different. This one has tossed lots of plot twists at me, and I've finally settled on one, thankfully. I was feeling guilty about browsing pintrest while I debated.