My Writing Process

First, thank you to Marliss Melton for including me in this huge blog tour. This was started by Laurel Odonnel several weeks ago, and Marliss was nice enough to tag me.

Under the rules, I’m to answer four questions.

1. What am I working on?
   
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I am editing to release SEAL My Destiny, Book 6 in the SEAL Brotherhood Series, for June lst. This is the full length novel, based on the novella that appeared in SEALed With A Kiss earlier this year (Valentine’s Day).  The story line is that Luke Paulsen has returned from a treacherous duty in Afghanistan, where he witnessed up close and too personal a school being blown up and the death of a medic he was training.

You can view the book trailer here.

Returning home with signs of PTSD, coupled with a past involving the death of his former fiancé, he partakes in a one night stand which turns out to be anything but that. He has decided, though, that he is too damaged to continue to be anything but a fling, so breaks off further entanglements.

But fate steps in and he and Julie Christensen are reunited by a family marriage. The full length book takes over where the novella ended, where the lovers are reacquainted. A high powered suspense unfolds as the parents of one of Julie’s students becomes the villain in a devious plan that nearly costs Julie her life, forcing Luke to risk everything to save her. Other characters from SEAL Team 3 show up to lend a hand.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Romantic Suspense is a genre that is expanded by every new author coming along. Some RS authors are heavy on the action. Some, like me, are heavier on the romance. Some are equally balanced between the two. Just like no one would want steak and mashed potatoes every night for dinner, readers are lucky these days to have a variety of voices and styles to choose from, and they like to be surprised, and they hate getting bored. My hunky SEAL stories are heavy on the romance, the sex and the emotional phases of falling in love, revealing the mystery and power of true love.

3. Why do I write what I do?

Anyone who knows me knows I have a soft spot for Navy SEALs. They are, in my opinion, the best of the best. Their training is unmatched anywhere in the world, the equipment they use is beyond anything any other fighting force has ever had. It absolutely thrills me to see this big tough warrior type hero fall so hard for someone of the opposite sex. It tortures them at times. It tortures the women too (not physically but emotionally) at times as well. But the backdrop to this community is the sense of family. They are a SEAL on a SEAL Team, but they are part of the same SEAL Community that acts like one large team, including extended family members as well. There isn’t any other group of people I’d rather write about.

4. How does your writing process work?

Since I write about different members of SEAL Team 3, usually the next book will begin to appear from the pages of the previous book. Although all the books are standalone, if people read them in order, they will get a good history of the players and what they are about when they show up later on. I have lots of characters in these books. I don’t resolve every mystery that shows up (for later plots). And I don’t give every person their HEA until I think it’s right to do so.

Once I figure out who the main character is, I then devise a plot that would take them to the place I want to write about. I’ve liked writing some stories in Sonoma County, California, the wine country, where I live. Others I’ve written in exotic locations like Morocco, Italy or on a Cruise ship. The story takes shape as I fit the character into the setting.  My stories are all heavily character based.

I’ve tried to be an organized plotter, and I just can’t do it. I have developed a hybrid form of writing, some plotting and some seat of the pants writing. I also try thrill myself by taking twists and turns as they come up. I never want to write bored. If I’m emotionally invested in the story, the reader will be too. So unexpected things that add to the tension or cause humor unexpectedly, are great tools for me.

Next week, on May 28^th, you will get to hear from three other authors I dearly love and have collaborated with on other projects. You will recognize them:

 

Kym Grosso is the author of the bestselling erotic paranormal romance series, The Immortals of New Orleans.  The series currently includes Kade's Dark Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 1), Luca's Magic Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 2), Tristan's Lyceum Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 3), Logan’s Acadian Wolves (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 4) andLéopold’s Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans, Book 5).

In addition to romance, Kym has written and published several articles about autism, and is passionate about autism advocacy.  She also is a contributing essay author in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum.

Kym lives with her husband, two children, dog and cat. Her hobbies include autism advocacy, reading, tennis, zumba, traveling and spending time with her husband and children. New Orleans, with its rich culture, history and unique cuisine, is one of her favorite places to visit. Also, she loves traveling just about anywhere that has a beach or snow-covered mountains. On any given night, when not writing her own books, Kym can be found reading her Kindle, which is filled with hundreds of romances.

 Website  | Facebook  | Twitter |  Goodreads

 

Elle James

Award-winning author Elle James grew up as an air force military brat. She received her work ethic from her rock-solid father, her creative streak from her artistic mother and inspiration from her writing partner and sister, Delilah Devlin. As a former member of the army reserves and a current member of the air force reserves, she's traveled across the United States and to Germany, managed a full-time job, and raised three wonderful children. She and her husband have even tried their hands at ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas) in the Texas hill country. Ask her, and she'll tell you what it's like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird and live to tell about it!

Her adventures in the army and air force reserves, and the wild antics of her life on a small ranch in Texas give her fodder for mystery, suspense and humor in her writing. Elle writes gothic, paranormal mystery for the Harlequin Intrigue line and paranormal romantic comedy for Dorchester Publishing. A former manager of computer programming and project management professionals, Elle is happy she now has the opportunity to pursue her writing full time.

Website | Facebook  | Twitter 

 

Jennifer Lowery

NY Times & USA Today bestselling author, Jennifer Lowery grew up reading romance novels in the back of her math book and on the bus to school, and never wanted to be anything but a writer. Her summers were spent sitting at the kitchen table with her sisters spinning tales of romance and intrigue and always with a tall glass of ice tea at their side.

Today, Jennifer is living that dream and she couldn’t be happier to share her passion with her readers. She loves everything there is about romance. Her stories feature alpha heroes who meet their match with strong, independent heroines. She believes that happily ever after is only the beginning of her stories. And the road to that happy ending is paved with action, adventure, and romance. As her characters find out when they face danger, overcome fears, and are forced to look deep within themselves to discover love.

Jennifer lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Find Jennifer:

Author Website   Facebook   Twitter   Romance Recipes