My Writing Process is an ongoing blog hop where a writer answers four [everyday] basic questions about their writing process... and then is asked to pass the baton to another author or two.
I was passed the proverbial baton by Terri Lyndie, debut author of Wolf Eye Sly. To see what she has been up to and working on, check out her blog. I think she is hard at work writing a sequel. Hurry up!
AS FOR MOI', I will sit down with a glass of wine (it is after 5 p.m. on Sunday as I write this) and tell you a bit [and a tad more] about myself:
What Am I Working On?
Right now, I'm finishing Smoldered, the second book in The Electric Tunnel Series. The story picks up somewhere in the middle of Electrified (Sienna and Carson); it is the story of Asher and Natalie, two equally shattered, fragmented souls, both who are trying desperately not to fall in love. Mostly set in Las Vegas, where the Tunnel is located and just as full of lust-filled, sex-hazed, pheromone-dosed scenes as its predecessor. But, this time, the reader gets to know a grittier, baser side of the industry in Smoldered.
Asher’s story is not one of hearts and flowers...there is a lot of pain, suffering and angst. Even I found I had to write in chunks because I would get so gut-wrenched after a while, tears would come.
YES, I cried while writing my own book.
I thought this would be my favorite tale to tell because I love Asher so much, but like most readers, I'm slowly getting sucked into the sordid stories behind the Tunnel bouncers and ideas for their books wake me in the middle of the night.
With cameos from ex-FBI detective, Carson, and bad boy bouncer, Petey, along with a beginning look into Big Mike’s affairs of the heart, there is a lot of alpha men to choose from in Smoldered.
How does my work differ from others in its genre?
With a background in human development and clinical social work, I really need to delve into the minds of my characters. There is no wham, bam, thank you mam, when it comes to my stories. I need to be able to understand their mental processes, what they are thinking, and show how they arrive at their decisions. I believe in a slow-build, even though the reader wants to shoot me at some point.
Can they just hook up already?
So, I think personally, I spend a bit more time and emphasis on character development and background. I need it to all fall in place, for it to be a neat package.
In Electrified, I used the third person to do this, but Smoldered is a first person story. It will be interesting to see how readers react to the difference. I personally, loved writing the chapters in a man's POV while I was scripting Asher.
Why do I write what I do?
I guess you could say I've been reading some form of romance since I was twelve or thirteen years old. It all started with Judy Blume and her books––I couldn’t read them fast enough. Later on in college, I fell in love with Catherine Coulter, which must be why I love a good romantic suspense and FBI man. As an adult, I had an ongoing, huge love affair with Karen Marie Moning. Her Fever series kept me up for days on end. OMG, Jericho Barrons.
Don't know him, look him up!
After reading my romance in private, I put my big-girl panties on and decided to be brave and start putting my own stories down on paper. It took me a while to eek out which one to share first. I had so many characters swimming in my head. Now, even with great reviews and constructive criticism, I’m freaking glad I did share.
***I love IT when I get a text or an email from a woman who is spending her day reading my book and she can't put it down. We all need a few hours to unwind, relax and enjoy ourselves and if you can do it with my book, well, that’s amazing!
How does my writing process work?
Typically I am on a run when an idea or character comes to me, and I often record a voice memo to myself so I don’t forget! Then, I spend some time chewing on it, drinking coffee/eating junk donuts] elaborating in my mind before I sit down at my laptop. When I finally do start typing, I write a few chapters at a time and then let them sit and marinate before going back and reviewing––and then, onward.
So, now before I get back to writing and editing Smoldered, I need to pass the baton to my girl, Christy Pastore:
Writer Christy Pastore grew up in the lakeside community of Syracuse, Indiana USA writing short stories that usually involved characters who loved to travel, had a passion for fashion and were often times swept up in boy crazy crushes. Many of her first stores also dealt with coming of age situations with their best girlfriends.
Christy gave up reading books for several years, disillusioned with the annoying characters and predictable plot lines. Upon the recommendation of a friend, Christy picked up a much buzzed about popular romance novel which reminded her of why reading was such an enjoyable guilty pleasure.
Writing has been a constant in Christy’s life, leading her to create a popular fashion blog, Fashion Wrap Up. This endeavor allowed Christy to have the wonderful experience of working and collaborating with many talented models, designers, makeup artists and photographers in the Fashion Industry. While Pastore still writes about fashion and celebrity style in her spare time, her passion for story development, more specifically creative writing, publishing and content creation has taken her on a new journey and career path: Author.
Her debut novel, Fifteen Weekends was released in May of 2014. Her next novel, Unscripted is set to release in November 2014.
Additionally, Christy enjoys a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a warm cup of coffee, Gummi Bears, traveling and tweeting her thoughts on her favorite TV shows.
Christy and her husband Kevin currently reside in St. Louis, Missouri in the popular Italian Neighborhood, The Hill, with their two lovable dogs and cooler than cool cat.
AND, M.L. Ortega:
M.L. Ortega was raised in the North by Southerners and thus learned to embrace dichotomy, which shows in her writing. With humor at the wheel, dark subject matter rides 'shotgun'.
Moving frequently throughout her childhood, her family finally settled in California, where she eventually married and had four children. The children have grown and moved away, leaving her in the care of a very patient husband and two independent cats. She's just published her book, Turn Key Condition, on Amazon.
Excited to hear from Christy & M.L. next week....RB