Rebecca Graf's Blog - Posts Tagged "deep-connections"

I'm finding out how the life of an author can be so exciting. I've posted once before how the creative mind can take over your life. It makes writing such a ride.

Currently, I'm writing three novels at one time. The first few chapters of each can be found at A Book Lover's Library under serial books. As I write a chapter, I think I know how it will go. I've found how the characters correct me on that. I've had to rewrite a few chapters here and there because the story was calling out for more. It was frustrating at first, but I'm enjoying it now.

Just this morning I was thinking of the story I am working on this called Deep Connections. The bad guy had developed but I wanted to really show his evil heart in a sequel. He told me the readers needed to see more of him. I wrote a whole new chapter and rearranged a few scenes to make it fit. Now, the book has taken a more sinister tone. It is nothing like I started with on this book and I'm loving every minute.

This story has become a fun trip for me. Characters are developing where before I thought they would be minor characters that would show up once or twice. They are now major players in the unfolding story. I'm loving it.

Check it out and read about a woman who feelings an attraction to a friend while some crazy man is after her. She has no idea what each moment holds for her, but she is about to get the adventure of a lifetime.

I am so excited because I actually finished my first novel. I already had a children's book published, but this one is geared toward adults.

It's called Deep Connections. Right now it is in the hands of my editor. The goal is to be ready to publish it somewhere around the first of June.

It's the story of a woman who is finding herself falling in love with someone she has viewed as a friend. In the process, she finds herself stalked by someone intent on kidnapping her. Throw in a jealous 'boyfriend' along with strange feelings going on between her and the one she is falling in love with and you have the making of a romantic suspenseful story. So many questions she needs answering. So many answers they can't find.

Already starting work on the sequel. There has to be one. Huge cliffhanger at the end. I would have to go into protective custody if I didn't.

The first few chapters of Deep Connections can be found at www.abookloverslibrary.com under serial books. Chapter 3 will be out this Wednesday.

I am so excited to say that my romantic/suspense novel, Deep Connections, is in its final edit. After this round, we'll be formatting and editing for publication on the kindle and for print. This is so exciting. While this is happening, I've also written the very first rough draft of the sequel, Dark Connections. From here I'll be editing and expanding on it like crazy before venturing into the third and final book, Deadly Connections.

What's it all about? You can actually read the first few chapters at abookloverslibrary.com along with two other books of mine in the making an a horror story from my friend Lisa Binion. Lisa is also my editor. So if you are looking for an editor, I know one. :)

So far, only the first 5 chapters are available online for you to read, but the next two are coming soon. After that, you have to buy the book which should be out the end of May/first of June.

I have found that writing as a form of therapy. I usually have two to three books going at the same time. One is a serious drama style. Another is a comedy. Then another is more romantic. Which one do I write on? Depends on my mood.

As I write on my book Leigh, I have to be serious as it is a serious topic. It's about a woman who is faced with changes in life and hard decisions.

As I write on The Men's Preservation Society, I have to be almost silly so I can come up with the scenes those women find themselves in.

As I write on the Deep Connections series, I have to be slightly romantic or mysterious.

I have a writing project for every frame of mind. I write book reviews when none of my moods fit those listed above. It's fun.

You can find more about these books in progress at abookloverslibrary.com

I'm not sure if everyone is like this. All I can speak for is myself. But after I have written the first draft or two of a book I begin to get blue because patience is not a virtue I possess.

The process of editing can be so much longer than writing a book. That is not always the case but more the norm than you might think. What happens then? I, as the author, want to just get it done. I want it to be perfect now.

That ain't gonna happen.

Right now, Deep Connections is with my editor. Fingers are crossed or a release date of June. During this time, I have already written the sequel. First draft is done and I'm going through the second draft now. I can't seem to do it.

I'm so anxious about Deep Connections that I can't finish polishing up the sequel. I want it all done now! Oh, well. I can't get every thing I want.

What am I doing instead? I'm writing the first draft of an entirely different story. I'm getting my frustration out on different characters.

The struggle of being a writer :)

The end of May is just a week away. That week will fly by. It always does especially when there is so much to be done between now and then.

I have a virtual book tour today on my website for Demon Vampire. I have another one in six days for Saving Mary. Then I have to prepare for 9 virtual book tours in June. Wow! That means reading 9 books and getting my website prepared for it along with writing the reviews and getting the interviews done.

On top of that, I'm going to spend a few weeks with my mother who lives almost 1000 miles away. She doesn't have internet access! That means driving into town everyday and getting my work done. That will be most of June.

This is also the month my first novel will be 'finished'. I'll begin the final editing and formatting for publication in July. I'll also begin the editing process of the sequel to Deep Connections.

As if I needed more on my plate :), I've joined with two friends to start a publishing company called Silver Tongue Press. We officially will launch on June 1st with a call to all writers. We're pulling together an anthology of children's stories for Halloween and Christmas.

The month of June is not only busy but life changing. So much to do. So little time. So much fun!

When you strike out into the unknown to discover a dream, support from those around you is very precious. Sadly, it is rare to find and can take time to develop.

Striking out on my writing career, I had from the beginning a small amount of support from my husband. He knew that I was one who pushed aside dreams to do what society deemed the right thing. In the process, he saw me becoming miserable. As my love of writing developed, he was there to suggest focusing on it. He was there to say I could quit my job. He was there telling me we would make it.

When times got tough (and they still do), he refused to hear of me going back to work full time. I did take a seasonal tax preparation job but nothing more. Yet I'll be honest in that fact the support was not exactly what I needed.

I needed my family to read my material.

You heard right. No one really read my stuff including my husband. Part of this is because he is not a big reader. In fact, I think I can count on both hands the number of books he has read in his life. He read excerpts of my pieces only.

No one beyond that read my material until I published A Gift for a Mouse. Still no support when it came to promoting my work. I rarely saw family or friends like and share my work on the social networks I used.

I have since found out that some read my work but never said anything. Though I am grateful they took the time to read it, not saying anything was not helpful. I still needed the support and encouragement to write.

Within the last few months, I've found it. My husband has read a few chapters of my latest and is willing to do anything to see it published. He said to spend whatever to get it done. He said to not get a job and focus on writing. He said I had to get it published soon. My heart sang with those words.

From there I began to think a deep freeze had occurred in a remote region below the earth's surface as I began to hear similar sentiments from a few other family and friends. To hear the words of support from my mother-in-law's lips was like sweet nectar to me. Why? Because I felt like she was accepting me as a writer. By doing that she was accepting more of me. If only the rest of my family would feel the same....

The only other family member I know of that has read any of my current material is my cousin who is creating the cover of Deep Connections. Sadly, no one else has read it.

Of my friends, I have my muses that give me the most support. I wouldn't be writing the books I am without Lisa, Sara, and Courtney. But I had to do a happy dance when another old friend read the first seven chapters of Deep Connections and begged for more! Her words sent me into writer's heaven. A few days later another friend on facebook did the same thing. That was what I needed.

Support for those around you is precious because it is not always easy to obtain and can take time. But when you get it, you will appreciate it so much more. By writing this, I'm not complaining about people. I'm pointing out to you how important it is to support the writers in your family or circle of friends. It doesn't take much to like or share their material. Retweet a post. Ask them how their writing is going. Show you care and you'll see a writer soaring through the sky creating works of literary art.

I used to think that a writer was just born with the ability and the words came out nearly perfect as they wrote. I think I viewed it this way because in school my teachers never really took the time to show me how to improve my creative writing. It was here's the A and let's move on.

I wrote my first stories. I did something not too smart. I showed them to someone I considered a friend. They began pointing out every problem they could find including character development. It was the first draft and just really pages of ideas. I thought I was not the born writer and stopped writing creatively for over a year.

Then I met a friend who writes and she pointed out that it is a process and has to develop. Even the bestselling authors of today write crappy first drafts and then edit like crazy to produce award winning material.

I sat down and wrote. It was a story I had dreamed and I couldn't get it off my mind. I just wrote. I didn't care of it made sense or was logical. I produced at 20,000 word first draft.

I went back and began editing it. Then I went back through and edited it again. The editor has it. I'll go through it again before we finalize it and get it published. It is now well over 80,000 words.

I'm finding that I have to write the bare bones of the story first. I don't care about describing the location or the character's facial expressions. I just need to get the action and plot out.

Next, I go back and expand on plot and begin describing. The next round is largely descriptive writing. When I'm ready to pass it on to an editor, it is nothing like the first draft. It is much bigger and deeper.

Add to the fact that I'm growing as a writer you can't judge my writing on the first drafts. If you did, I'd just have to quit.

But watching the story move from notes on a page to something close to publishing quality is amazing. It is so much fun to watch how it morphs from an idea into a reality. Writing is so cool!

The result of all this is July being the month I publish Deep Connections!

For a writer, having writing writing withdrawal can be devastating. It can ruin your personal life, professional life, and have you on the verge of being rushed to the emergency room.

Exaggerations? Barely.

My personal life is falling apart. Why? I haven't had time to write. The result is grouchiness, depression, and daydreaming of the next scene that never seems to get written. It's horrible. My family is begging me to lock myself away. I think they want me to write. Maybe they just wanted me locked away.

My professional life is both rejoicing and wailing at my withdrawals. I am getting writing done for other sites and working on Silver Tongue Press stuff, but I'm not getting any headway on my books. A win/lose situation.

I need to write! I need to get more of The Men's Preservation Society Done. I need to edit Trust Me. I need to work on the final revisions of Deep Connections. I need to write!

Now, how is your day? :)

I thought we had Deep Connections ready to release. That was until some eagle eyes caught a few discrepancies which I am very thankful for. Now, I'm working on them and having a few more eyes look at it. Oh, boy.

Editing is very important. It can make the difference between an okay book and a great book. Think about it. When you read a book do you get turned off when you know the author wrote a scene all wrong? I know I do.

So, Deep Connections is being pushed back a couple of weeks while I work on it and work on Dark Connections.

Stay tuned.