CONFESSIONS AND A NEW BOOK

9/30/2019

I love to read series, and I know that I'm not alone. Lots of people do that. What's there not to love? You can sneak a peek in what's going on in characters' lives after their story was told.
I love reading them, so it follows that I love writing them. I want my characters to go on living, and they never let me down.
They bring something more to a new story. They grow, and their development shapes the plot and shades light on the heroine and hero of a new novel.
I have written a few series by now, both as Roxana Nastase and as Rowena Dawn. I liked some of the novels, and I adored others. I know I wrote a good one if I read it the third time and I don't yawn.
However, it doesn't happen often. I can count the ones I love on the fingers of one hand.
I also know that it doesn't mean that everybody would read them with the same eyes. It hurts, but I can live with that.
I have just released a new book, and this one I do love. Not only because of the main characters, which are quite lovable, or because of the story and the humor infused in it. This novel connects two series, The Perfect Halves -- a suspense romance series, and The Winstons -- a paranormal series. Just imagine the potential. I hope I got it right.
Writing isn't easy, you know. And especially if you do it my way.
I read a lot of blogs about writing. Authors explain how they plan, and plot, and how they do their research. Everything is very structured and organized.
So, I figured I'd better keep silent about my writing. I'm far from being organized.
However, everyone has their style. That means that I shouldn't be afraid to talk about mine.
I start with an idea. It is a bit fuzzy, but it covers a few things. I know where to begin, and I have a general idea about the plot. I never write a plan or anything.
I did it once. I wrote the most boring book known to man. So, I stopped. Plans don't work for me.
It is enough if I know who the heroine is, or at least, I have some idea about her. I choose a man who seems right for her. Sometimes, I start with the guy. Anyway, that's just the beginning.
The storyline evolves along the time. Something new might appear and change the line. I don't mind at all. I like surprises.
Once, I got to the last chapter, and a new development popped into my mind. Of course, I went back and changed everything.
I remember what happened when I wrote one of my crime novels, A Churchgoing Woman. In chapter three or four, I realized that everything had shifted. Someone else had become the main male character. I just shrugged and went on with the new one.
I usually go with the story. If it leads me somewhere else, I never fight against it. I suppose the story knows better.
I also do my research while writing. I get to a point in the book, and I have to check something, a place or a profession. It might be anything. Thank God, I have unlimited Internet on my phone. It does come handy sometimes.
However, there's also a drawback. I start doing the research, and I sail from one thing to another. I waste about two hours or maybe more online, while my story patiently waits for me to get back to it. Eh, it happens.
Developing the plot and characters and doing the research at the same time is exhausting. Sometimes, it is also tricky.
For instance, while writing my last novel, Catching Lily - Live Wire, I had to set a mission. Remember, suspense series! An operation is a given. I had already covered the paranormal angle by then.
But let's return to that mission. I chose the site for it and researched it online. I checked even the satellite map. I was covered, or that's what I thought. I developed the scene, and it worked fine for a while.
Suddenly, I realize that the place I chose doesn't work as well as I thought.
Well, it happens. Nothing to it, but go back online and look for a different location.
Of course, I had to read about it first. Then, I checked it on the satellite map. Another hour went down before I went back to writing. But hey, what's the time in the big scheme of things?
The mission was a wonder. Everything clicked. I like the development. It is smooth and catchy. I'm satisfied. I'm even happy with it.
That, until I get to the last sequence. Where the heck is my main character? Everyone is there, and he is missing.
That gave me pause. I forgot Mark somewhere in the forest. Everyone had something to do, but Mark. I couldn't just leave him there. The story belonged to him.
I went back to the beginning of the chapter to retrace his steps. Then, I did something I had never done before. I took a piece of paper and drew something close to a parallelogram. I'm also good at drawing stick people if you were wondering. Anyway, I chose locations for each character. I determined their directions with arrows. Then I wrote the scene once more, glancing at that paper all the while. And thank God, Mark was in it this time.
Now you know. I tell myself a story when I write. The hard work comes afterward when I fuss over every word I put on paper. Not really on paper, as I use a computer, but you get the drift.
I know that most writers don't do that. And the ones that might won't say it out loud. Too many people would look down on them, I suppose.
So what? I would say.
Anyway, if you like suspense, romance and paranormal, or all of them rolled into one, you should try this novel, Catching Lily - Live Wire. You might like it. I, for one, did.
You can check the first chapter on the Stories tab.