Last Updated on April 20, 2015 by Palessa
Last year, I was fortunate enough to have some downtime by being offline. Now, the first time that happened in May 2014, I wasn’t happy about it at all. Facebook is my means of communicating with my friends, fans, publisher…a lot of people. For me to go dark like that, I was just…I didn’t know if I could handle it. But I had to because my ISP was being “difficult” and I needed to find another one.
However, I also saw it as an opportunity to hammer out Story of Us, which I was avoiding because I had to share a couple of really tough scenes. Those 3-4 weeks turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me. I wasn’t distracted by social media, email messages or anything else. It was me and my writing and my ideas.
I LOVED IT!
I had to do it a couple more times with the last time being November or so but that time, it was more of a choice. THAT was the time I ironed out Eyubea Girls and worked on SNT, 2.5 rough drafts. So I was happy to send up Devereaux Cox and just take a bit of a break from actively writing stories. I have other things going on, that need my attention so it’s good to focus on that for a while.
So now that Devereaux Cox is submitted, what do I do now?
Well, I do have half of a rough draft for SNT Book 3 PLUS I have working drafts for Quinn’s new series, tentatively named Lost Ones, but I’m not touching them. At least I’m not focused on them exclusively yet. Instead, I got a couple of ideas for other stories. One is a standalone that’s related to SNT and the other is a shorter story, a prequel to a new character who’s been in my head for well over a year.
I have been looking for an outlet for her story in some way. Her name is LuLu and she’s…sharp in many ways. Now that I’ve given her some time, she’s acting all coy but her backstory is coming slowly. It’s for a special project I have going.
Then there’s a story with Niveah, she’s Tobey Fine‘s love and there was a part of her story that just called to me. I outlined that and it seems very interesting. It’s a standalone, not a part of the series but I’m not sure how it will come out or what to do with it when I’m done. Plus I’m working on a special project that I hope to be done with by April 30.
So you see, it’s not that I have nothing to do, it’s that I have quite a few stories to write and am freaking out a bit because I want to do well by them. My projections tell me that I’m “booked” until 2020! I’m grateful but nervous because I want to make sure I keep my promise to myself: Writing the kind of stories I would read. That’s my bottom line.
But I also want to make sure I’m not churning out stuff and not paying attention to the marketing side, which is important. I’m not scared of marketing; I love it (I am a former marketing analyst for a major retailer, so there’s THAT). I also have other businesses that I am working on because seriously, I’m not JK Rowling or EL James or Nora Roberts or Sable Hunter, who’s now and even bigger deal…Those are writers with BANK.
Me? I’m a small fry and not ashamed to admit it 🙂
What I’ve decided to do is to do a minimum of 2-3 new stories out per year. This may seem like a small amount but again, I’m not a churner. My stories go through a lot before I even hand them in for publisher consideration. PLUS if I’m writing historical, (which I plan to continue in 2016/2017 with Growing Wild 2 AND another series I have outlined), it’s going to take me much longer because I have to do more serious research.
I know this calling of mine is also a business. To me, it’s the business I’ve always wanted to have and I love it even though I may not make a ton of money at it like many other authors out there. I love it. So I have to make sure that my products are decent and that I’m not burned out, which can and will happen if I push myself, force the story.
So after SNT 2 comes out, you’ll hear from me about that book (which is just great and I hope the readers enjoy it) and my other published works but I may not publish another story for a while yet. I want to reorganize, re-plan and research.
I have to say it’s a pity I can’t be offline like I was last year. I may be able to do a day or so but not too much more. My other businesses just won’t allow that kind of shut off time, at least not yet. I’m so glad I enjoyed that time when I had it, though.
It really was fantastic
Here’s a ROUGH excerpt from Devereaux Cox, Sacked & Tackled 2:
Getting off at the fourth floor, he turned right and saw the numbers decrease as he walked down the corridor. When he saw 355, he took a deep breath and stood in front. How he hoped that he would find his Rebekka on the other side.
Rebekka was at the table looking at her financial statements. She didn’t know how long this suspension would last or even if it would let up but at least she had some money to live off of for a while until she figured things out. When she heard the knock she looked at her watch. It was still early and she hadn’t even ordered lunch yet so she had no real idea who it could be.
She hopped up and strode to the door. Looking through the peephole, she saw the side of a jacket. Unlocking the door but not the chain, Rebekka opened it slightly peered around it.
“Christ!” she swore and slammed the door. Running a hand through her hair she leaned her forehead against the door, silently cursing whatever malevolent god was messing with her life in all ways possible.
Devereaux had expected as much but at least he knew he was in the right place.
“I’m not leaving, Rebekka,” he hollered, his voice strong and heavy.
Rebekka knew him. She knew how stubborn and self-righteous he could when he got an idea in his head. He really wouldn’t leave. At least not until he got what he came for. The question was, what did he come for?
Only one way to find out…
Before Devereaux and Rebekka, meet Tobey and Niveah:
