Writing update and Halloween at our house

Update on The Trouble With Demons: I started Chapter 7 yesterday and got to the halfway point last night. Not a bad day's work. I hope to have it finished by tomorrow night.

I won't be writing tonight; Derek and I have some shopping to do that we've put off for way too long (since I write at night). Tonight is Halloween, and we live in neighborhood with lots of kids, but we simply can't do Trick or Treat. We're leaving the house and turning off the lights. We have dogs -- excitable dogs. Big, excitable dogs. If our dogs hear a knock or if someone rings the doorbell, we immediately have a barking, furry mass surging toward the door. Then it really gets chaotic. Multiply that times how many kids we could expect at our door. Uh-uh, we're not doing that. And shutting the pack in the back of the house would just make matters worse. We have a Jack Russell Terrorist (enough said there) and a pair of greyhounds who are taller than most of the kids in the neighborhood. Derek & I decided that we didn't want our pack to be the cause of childhood emotional trauma and possible dog-fear therapy later in life. Our dogs are sweet; they're just, shall we say, enthusiastic. The pizza guy and I have a routine worked out. It probably looks like a drug deal going down at our front door. I'm on the lookout for him. He approaches the front door quietly. I open the door as casually as I can. I slip him the cash. He passes me the pizza. I close the door. Transaction complete, food delivered, no canine chaos. We eat.

For you writers, Kristin Nelson (my agent) is still doing a mini-seminar on her blog about how to write a pitch paragraph for query emails or letters. She started it on Tuesday of last week and is continuing it into this week. And don't just read Kristin's posts, be sure to read the comments as well, there's good stuff in there, too. Her website is www.nelsonagency.com, but you can click on the "Agent Kristin" link in the list to the right and it'll take you straight to her blog.

Happy Halloween!
Lisa

Why I LOVE a book synopsis

NEWS UPDATE: My editor just sent me the complete cover (front, spine, and back) for Armed & Magical. WOW!! It's absolutely gorgeous! I'll post it as soon as I can. There's still some tweaking to be done to the arrangement of author quotes, and the whole thing needs to be officially approved -- but as soon as that happens, you'll see it here.

I now return you to my regularly scheduled blog. . .

Yes, you heard me right -- I love having a synopsis for a book that I'm writing. I came to this conclusion last night when I finished Chapter 6 of The Trouble With Demons, and started blocking out the action for Chapter 7. Here's why:

A day or two after I turned in Armed & Magical to Anne Sowards at Ace Books, she contacted my agent Kristin Nelson and said she'd be interesting in more Raine Benares books, and would I be interested in writing them? My answer was an emphatic and resounding "YES!" Usually an editor wants to see the first 50 pages and a detailed plot synopsis. But since I'd already done two books for Ace, Anne said that a synop of each book would be fine. So I got to work.

And it was Work with a capital "W". Writing a synopsis is also a couple of other things that I won't say here so as not to traumatize sensitive ears. It took me a little over a month to get those two synops to where they needed to be to send to Anne. It was well worth the effort, blood, sweat, swearing, etc. My books tend to get a little complex in the plot department. The trick is making the complex seem simple -- or at least able to be followed by readers. That calls for weaving in subplots as seamlessly as possible. A detailed synop keeps a complicated plot organized and at my fingertips when I need it. Last night, I needed it. I've found that every couple of chapters, I need to refer back to my synop to make sure I'm on track and have included the plot twists and introduced any new characters when they need to come "on stage."

There is absolutely no way I could keep all of that straight in my head. Other writers may be able to, but I can't. All hail the wonderful and all-powerful synopsis.

And for the writers out there, don't forget Kristin Nelson's (my agent) mini-seminar on her blog about how to write a pitch paragraph for query emails or letters. She started it on Tuesday of last week and is continuing it into this week. And don't just read Kristin's posts, be sure to read the comments as well, there's good stuff in there, too. Her website is www.nelsonagency.com, but you can click on the "Agent Kristin" link in the list to the right and it'll take you straight to her blog.

I've think I've found my pace

I've gotten emails from fans saying that they read MLTF in either one sitting or one day. Dang, but you people are fast! It takes me three days to read it and I wrote the thing. ; ) Most of you read it in a few days and said that once you started reading, you couldn't put it down. Thank you!!! That's the ultimate compliment for a writer.

Advance warning: Armed & Magical is an even faster read. The chapters are a little shorter (though there are a few more of them), the action takes off on page two (as those of you who read the first two chapters know), and the pace never slows down from there. Linnea Sinclair (my mentor and "author mom") read A&M for an author blurb (her quote is on the front cover). She said "Fresh, original, and fall-out-of-your-chair funny." Fabulous quote -- thank you, Linnea! I told her it was too bad we couldn't use what she said in her email to me when she'd finished reading it. She said she only stopped reading to sleep and mix another gin & tonic. ; ) Now that's what I call an endorsement!

The thing is, I'm finding out that with The Trouble With Demons, I'm writing the same way as I did with A&M -- snappy & snarky dialogue, non-stop action, and some delectible scenes involving Raine & Tam and Raine & Mychael. But it's also so much fun the way Raine's world is expanding, more characters are being introduced, and I now have so much material to use that the hard part is picking what to include in a particular book. My characters have grown to be like friends. I know them, I'm comfortable with them, and I've found my pace, and gotten in the grove. Jeez, I love being a writer. ; )

For example, yesterday I found out that Raine's Uncle Ryn Benares (Phaelan's pirate dad) has a pet name for Raine -- Spitfire. It's also the name of a particularly ill-tempered breed of small dragon. Raine says that, "Uncle Ryn had always meant it as a compliment, so I 'd taken it the same way." I just love it when little tidbits like that just pop up when I'm writing.

Update on The Trouble With Demons: Last week I wrote Chapter 5 and am about half way through Chapter 6. And a big accomplishment for me -- I got my email under control. I now have an elaborate filing system, and got rid of all the emails I didn't need. BTW -- I keep all of my fan emails. They now have their own folder. When I hit a rough patch of writing, I go in and read some of them. It's the best pick-me-up there is!

Lisa

Happy Friday! Writing updates, etc.

I didn't get any writing done last night because I was meeting with a local book club who chose Magic Lost, Trouble Found as their book to read for October. : ) Wines, delicious hors d'oeuvres, desserts, coffee AND I got to talk about writing and my book -- this author was in heaven. Ladies, thank you so much for inviting me and for the beautiful gifts.

Update on The Trouble With Demons: Chapter 5 will be finished momentarily (only about two paragraphs to go), then I'm off to Chapter 6, where you'll finally get to meet Phaelan's dad, pirate entrepreneur extraordinaire Commodore Ryn Benares. I love this guy already, and I think you will, too. I doubt I'll get Chapter 6 done this weekend, because for one, I'm taking tonight off from writing. Derek and I are going to have a "date night" -- nice dinner out, etc.

And for the writers out there, don't forget Kristin Nelson's (my agent) mini-seminar on her blog about how to write a pitch paragraph for query emails or letters. Great post from Kristin last night (and be sure to read the comments, there's good stuff in there, too). Her mini-seminar began Tuesday and will run through tonight's (Friday's) blog. Her website is www.nelsonagency.com, but you can click on the "Agent Kristin" link in the list to the right and it'll take you straight to her blog.

I may pop in this weekend with writing updates.

Lisa

Revealing tidbits of plot on my blog

My little blog has reached a milestone -- today is my 100th post. Cool.

As I'm writing The Trouble With Demons, I'll let slip fun little bits of action (no spoilers) in my blog. For example on yesterday's blog, I said that Sarad Nukpana was in TTWD -- but in the comments section (after some of you said how much you love Sarad Nukpana -- he's becoming the villain everyone loves to hate), I revealed a tidbit of action between Sarad Nukpana and Raine in Armed & Magical. Pop back to the comments on yesterday's blog if you're interested. The thing is, I'll probably be doing a lot of that -- revealing action tidbits here and there. Just as long as it doesn't spoil the plot of an upcoming book, I don't see any reason why we all shouldn't have fun with it. So when you read a day's post, if there are comments, read those too. You never know what nuggets you'll find.

BTW -- I've had a little over 31,000 hits for this month, and the month ain't over yet. Wow! So I know there are a lot of you out there. So respond to my blogs, if only to introduce yourself. And tell me where you're from, too. That'd be great. This month I've had visitors from 24 countries. Pop in and say hello, and if you're too shy to respond to the blog, send me an email. I adore hearing from my fans. Writing's lonely work, people. Keep me company. ; )

Update on The Trouble With Demons: I'm still wrestling with Chapter 5 (and Sarad Nukpana). That man does love to make trouble -- and make things complicated.

And for the writers out there, don't forget Kristin Nelson's (my agent) mini-seminar on her blog about how to write a pitch paragraph for query emails or letters. Most writers Dread (with a capital D) writing query letters, mostly because they feel they have to sum up their entire plot in a single paragraph. Not true. Her mini-seminar began Tuesday and will run through tomorrow night's (Friday's) blog. Her website is www.nelsonagency.com, but you can click on the "Agent Kristin" link in the list to the right and it'll take you straight to her blog. I can guarantee you it'll be advice worth its weight in gold. If you a writer getting ready to start submitting your work, you should check it out.

Query letters -- How to write pitch paragraphs

I want to give a heads up to the writers out there. My agent Kristin Nelson has a blog that's become one of the places in the publishing industry to go for information on how agents work, what works for them, and what doesn't. This week's she's just come home from the Surrey International Writers' Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This past weekend, she taught an eQuery workshop on how to write a pitch paragraph for query emails or letters. Most writers Dread (with a capital D) writing query letters, mostly because they feel they have to sum up their entire plot in a single paragraph. Not the case. Kristin's doing a mini-seminar on her blog that started last night (Tuesday) and will run through the end of the week. Her website is www.nelsonagency.com, but you can click on the "Agent Kristin" link in the list to the right and it'll take you straight to her blog. I can guarantee you it'll be advice worth its weight in gold. If you a writer getting ready to start submitting your work, you should check it out.

Update on The Trouble With Demons: Okay, so I found a slight snag in Chapter 5 (of course I did). Then I found the solution, or actually the solution slithered onto the bed next to Raine. Sarad Nukpana. Yep, Sarad Nukpana is in TTWD. Yeah, yeah, I know, he's trapped inside the Saghred at the end of MLTF. But Sarad Nukpana isn't about to let a little thing like being a disembodied soul get in the way of vengeance. ; ) He has turned into the most delicious villain. And as you writers out there know, if you get a villain that good, you hang on to him.

FYI -- Book writing is hard work

Yesterday, I got an excellent start on Chapter 5 of The Trouble With Demons. My plan is to finish it tonight or tomorrow at the latest. It's mostly dialogue, and as my husband will tell you, I do like to talk. ; ) Once I immerse myself (and my characters) in a scene, writing dialogue is like taking dictation.

For those of you who think writers think of a story, then sit down and cruise through that first draft, you're ever so slightly mistaken. In fact, you're downright wrong. For me, and for many writers, writing that first draft is like squeezing blood out of a rock. It's difficult to get started, the middle is a quagmire, and the endings are a bear. Let's face it, writing is hard work. Is there a part of a book that I don't have difficulty with, that doesn't give me fits? Apparently not.

But I love it, or I wouldn't do it.

I know I have to have a solid first draft to get to the part where I have the most fun -- the rewrites. (Yeah, I enjoy rewrites. I'm sick that way. It's the editor in me.) The first draft is for getting the story down. Everything after that is weaving in the magic and bringing it to life. Now that's what I call fun. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of the "joy of discovery" in those first drafts -- when the story goes off in an unexpected (and completely cool) direction, when a new character suddenly makes an entrance, or when an established character does something completely out of character (and it not only works, but rocks).

Now I'm back to Chapter 5 -- Raine gets advice (and some critical insight) from her dad. And yes, Raine's dad (Eamaliel Anguis) is in The Trouble With Demons.

Hints of books to come

I finished writing chapter 4 of The Trouble With Demons yesterday -- Yea!!! I met my two chapter quota for the week. This week, I try to take down chapters 5 and 6. I know where I'm going with chapter 5, chapter 6 is still up in the air. I have a couple of plot path choices. I hope I pick the right one. ; )

It feels odd to me to be writing Book 3 and thinking about Book 4 and you all haven't gotten to read Book 2 yet. Well, except for the first two chapters. So I thought I'd give you a hint of things to come in future books -- without throwing in any spoilers, of course.

The Trouble With Demons
You finally get to meet Phaelan's dad, pirate extraordinaire, Commodore Ryn Benares. I just love this guy! Then there's a man from Raine's romantic past. This is not a man that Raine is happy to see. More on Tam's past in the goblin court. Piaras's spellsinging abilities take a big jump in an unexpected direction.

Bewitched & Betrayed
Phaelan has a brother (who knew?). Phaelan's relationship with his older brother Mago Benares is lukewarm at best, which in the Benares family means Mago hasn't given Phaelan a reason to stab him lately. You finally get to meet Markus Sevelien in person. He's the head of elven intelligence in Mermeia, and Raine's sometime client. You'll also meet Imala Kali, the chief of goblin intelligence, a lady with secrets and schemes, and plots piled on top of motives.

After I put the first draft of The Trouble With Demons to bed, I'll write a synopsis of Books 3 and 4 and get them posted for you.

Armed & Magical cover feedback

Well, from what I'm hearing, I'm not the only one who loves the cover for Armed & Magical. ; )

BTW -- There's coverage of my new cover over on Enduring Romance and The Toasted Scimitar. (Thanks Kimber An, Laurie, and Skip!) Over on the Scimitar, Laurie posted a short interview she did with me last night on the cover art process. The links to The Toasted Scimitar and Enduring Romance are in the list to the right.

Now, I'm back to Chapter 4 of The Trouble With Demons. Raine's in the city police headquarters dangling upside down in the clutches of a giant, yellow, and incredibly stinky demon. Nothing the cops or Guardians can do can hurt the thing. Phaelan just broke his favorite rapier on the demon's foot. So as usual, it's up to Raine to save her own bacon.

See ya Monday!
Lisa

Armed & Magical cover is here!

The cover is here; the cover is posted; go and gaze upon its loveliness. ; )

For those of you who come in through my homepage, you saw the new cover for Armed & Magical. I love it! Go to the BOOKS page and click on the cover to see a larger version of Aleta Rafton's magnificent work. ; ) So far, I've just seen the cover. In the next few weeks I should have the entire thing (cover, spine, and back cover). As always, I'll post it when I get it.

Update on The Trouble With Demons: I got Chapter 4 started yesterday; it's going great. I'll have it finished on Sunday. I've got a busy book-writing weekend ahead of me.

Have a great weekend!
Lisa

Armed & Magical cover update

Update on posting the cover for Armed & Magical: Webmaster Todd promises to post it tonight. I just can't tell you how much I love this cover. Aleta Rafton (the artist) has hit a home run with this one!

Update on writing The Trouble With Demons (Raine Benares adventure #3): I finished Chapter 3 last night. That gives me four days to write Chapter 4. I'm not going to be able to write tonight, but between now and Sunday, I should be able to get it done. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself for these first few chapters. I realize (whether I like it or not) that it'll take a few more chapters before I'm up to speed. At the moment, I'm only able to write a chapter and a half a week. In the next two weeks, I want to be up to speed (writing at least two chapters a week). I'm getting there.

Upcoming in the next few weeks: Derek (the hubby) just bought a new digital camera. So I'll be adding more pics to the Photos page. I also want to do a blog (with photos) on my office. I thought you all might enjoy seeing where I work.

Take it one chapter at a time

"It's just five pages a day. It's not a whole book."

I have to keep repeating this to myself to avoid "brain lock." It's kinda like a deer freezing in the middle of the road in the headlights of on-coming cars. If I try to think of the entire book I'm writing, it gets overwhelming. Immediately. And if I'm stuck trying to start a scene or a chapter, I tell myself that "it's just scribbling, you're not really writing anything you'll keep." I know that's not true, my "business brain" knows that's not true, but my "writing brain" just might buy it. That's what I count on. Every day. Fooling my writing brain into taking it a page at a time -- and most of all, to keep going.

"Five pages a day isn't much," I tell it. "It's not even a chapter," I continue in my best soothing voice. "It certainly isn't an entire book, or two books; and yes, you're under contract to deliver the first one by May 1st, but that's not your problem. You have no problems. No worries."

If all goes as it should, my writing brain takes what I'm telling it hook, line and sinker. If that happens, my characters start talking, I start taking dictation, the work progresses, and the deadline will be met. My business brain knows what date it is and how much time I have left; my writing brain doesn't need to know. Ignorance is bliss, or in my writing brain's case -- ignorance is production, accumulating chapters, progress being made.

People ask how I can write a whole book. I tell them it's because I don't write a "whole book," I just take it one page at a time.

NEWS UPDATE: I just got the cover art for Armed & Magical! It is magnificent! I've sent it to Webmaster Todd who will try to get it posted tonight, by the weekend at the latest. Keep checking back. Believe me, it's worth it! ; )

The fine art of procrastination

Procrastination. The fine art. The sweet science.

The bane of a writer's deadline.

I don't remember how I procrastinated before the Internet came along, but I'm sure I found something to lure me away from the humongous manual typewriter I wrote my two "practice novels" on. Procrastination and writing go hand in hand. Nowadays most writers (including myself) write on computers, and most of those computers are connected to the Internet. Some writers can claim research as an excuse. I can't. I'm a fantasy writer; what I write, I make up. Don't need the Internet for that. That's the main reason why I'm so productive at my family's mountain cabin -- no Internet, no TV, three radio stations. That's it. I get an amazing amount of work done. Hmmm, I wonder why?

To stay on track (and on deadline), I'm going to have to "just say no" to surfing. I love chatting with my blog/livejournal/yahoo buddies, and I'll admit to being a news addict. I'm going to have to limit my surfing/chatting to half an hour in the morning, and half an hour at night. Heck, I'm even thinking about getting one of those little wind-up kitchen timers. Because when I'm online, I lose track of time. I think we all do. Of course the exception is responding to comments on my blog and answering fan emails. I'll always make time for that. : )

Lisa

Monday morning updates

For those of you who didn't visit my site this weekend, the first two chapters of Armed & Magical are up. Read and enjoy! I've also updated the rest of my site, consolidating all of the interviews (both for me and the questions you've asked Raine, Tam and Mychael) on the new INTERVIEWS page. There's also the wonderful article that Diana Pharaoh Francis let me reprint from her site: "How to help your favorite authors." If you haven't read it, please do.

For those of you who have read the A&M sample chapters, rest assured there will be plenty of Tam in this book. In fact, Tam fans will be ecstatic. ; ) There's also a lot of Mychael, Phaelan and Piaras -- in short, there's something for everyone. And you'll find out more about Tam's past.

Tia over on the Fantasy Debut blog (see link to the right) mentioned the A&M sample chapters on her blog, as did Laurie over on The Toasted Scimitar (link to the right). Thank you ladies for helping to spread the word! Tia mentioned something else in her blog concerning the title for the fourth book. I've started putting it in my email signature, and I don't see any reason why I can't list it here, especially since it's just a working title. I like it, but by the time the book is on the shelves it could have a different title. So here goes:

As you all know the working title for Raine Benares adventure #3 is The Trouble With Demons. By the way, I finished Chapter 2 last week, and am a third of the way through Chapter 3. The working title for Book #4 is Bewitched & Betrayed. And believe me, Book 4 will have plenty of both.

I won't get any writing tonight because I'll be doing a book signing/reading at the new Barnes & Noble in Burlington, NC, at 7 p.m. with James Maxey, author of Bitterwood (see James's link to the right). If you're in the area and can drop by, I'd love to meet you. The B&N address is on the new EVENTS page.

Lisa

Armed & Magical sample chapters -- They're here!

The updated website is now live! Thank you and kudos to Webmaster Todd!

I hope you all enjoy the first two chapters of Armed & Magical! Don't be shy, let me know what you think. Either respond to the blog or email me at lisa@lisashearin.com.

Book writing update: I finished Chapter 2 of The Trouble With Demons last night, and am starting Chapter 3 now.

Booksigning/reading this week: If any of you are in central North Carolina, I'll be having a booksigning this Monday, October 15 at 7 p.m. at the new Barnes & Noble in Burlington, NC, at 3125 Waltham Blvd. If you're in the area, please stop by and introduce yourself -- I'd love to meet you!

Lisa

Almost there

Todd should have the final proof of my website to me today or tonight, I'll give it a quick once-over, then my updated website can go live. Hopefully tonight.

I'm almost finished with Chapter 2 of The Trouble With Demons and kind of have Chapter 3 already started. I planned to finish Chapter 2 last night, but once again something came up that I had to take care of. I went to see my eye doc yesterday for a checkup, and guess what? I got the big welcome to middle age -- bifocals. Oh yeah, big fun. Right. I went to my local Lenscrafters last night and the lenses have now been ordered (anti-glare lenses have to be special ordered) so I won't get my new glasses for another ten days (probably a little less). Hopefully. Meantime I'm making do with what I have.

I ordered two books last week and they came yesterday. I can't wait to start reading:
The Silver Spoon by Stacey Klemstein (the link to her site is to the right). I'll be one of the speakers on the SciFi, Fantasy panel along with with Stacey at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Pittsburgh in April. The Silver Spoon is the first in her first sci-fi romance series featuring Zara Mitchell, a human, and Caelan, one of the aliens known as Observers--beautiful and manipulative aliens. Hmmm, kind of reminds me of my goblins. ; ) The first chapter or two are on her site. It's great. Pop over and give it a read.

The second book is Nelson: A Dream of Glory, 1758-1797 by John Sudgen. This book came very highly recommended by my friend, fencing coach and fellow military history buff, Wes Caudill. Wes isn't the only one who liked it; the critics are in absolute raptures over Sudgen's insight into Nelson's life and world. Apparently if you're going to read a book on Horatio Nelson, this one is THE BOOK to read. Wes told me it reads like a historical novel. This is good because I bought the paperback version and I still wouldn't want to drop this thing on my foot. It's a couple pounds worth of reading enjoyment.

And for my listening enjoyment, I ordered (and also received yesterday) the new Christmas CD by Josh Groban (magnificent baritone). The CD is "Noel." Go get it, if you can find it (it's been selling out). As usual, Josh's voice is breathtaking.

Proofing new website updates!

Webmaster Todd finished the updates to my website last night (including the sample chapters for Armed & Magical). I'll proof those today, Todd will make any corrections or adjustments, and by tomorrow night you all should be happily reading those sample chapters. ; )

I'll let you know if the chapters go live before tomorrow evening.

I'm back on track with Chapter 2 of The Trouble With Demons. Yea! Ooooo, the confrontations and conflict. Juicy stuff. I probably won't finish Chapter 3 this weekend, though I will get it started. I meant to get more done last night, but life got in the way. That's fine. It's going to happen. My family is way more important to me than a writing schedule.

Lisa

Hitting the writing wall -- Oh the joy

I'm just on Chapter 2 and yesterday it was like Raine and Mychael were actors who'd forgotten their lines. I expected this to happen in maybe another chapter or so -- but on Chapter 2?? Jeez. I think I've brainstormed my way past it, so today I push on with that scene. For me hitting the wall (or stumbing over speed bump) has three causes. It can be one, the other, all of them, or a combination.

1. You don't know where you're going with a chapter. If you don't know where you're going, how the heck are your characters going to know what to say? It's like plopping your characters down on an empty stage and expecting them to start spouting off something brilliant. Not gonna happen.

2. You think you know where you're going with a chapter, but it's the wrong direction and your characters refuse to cooperate. In movie production, the equivalent would be the actors going back to their trailers, and refusing to come out until you get your crap together and give them a script they can work with.

3. You've just got too much stuff to work with. I've got six pages of notes on what could happen in this chapter. The problem lies in picking from what could happen to what needs to happen. If it's not what needs to happen, the dialogue will just sound wrong coming out of your characters' mouths. This is the big red flag for me that I need to stop and think about what I'm doing, because it obviously isn't the right thing. My characters have never led me astray.

Now, I going to go knock on some trailer doors and see if I can get Raine and Mychael back on the set.

An interview interlude

Update on The Trouble With Demons: Chapter 1 is done, Chapter 2 is well underway, Chapter 3 is simmering on the back burner. Chapters 2 & 3 have to be finished this weekend to stay on my "two chapters a week" schedule.

*** Progress report: Webmaster Todd is formatting the A&M sample chapters and has a few more new pages to build. If all goes well, the revamped site will go live before this weekend. ***

For today's blog, I realized that I haven't posted the really fun interview that I did recently with the fabulous fantasy author, Diana Pharaoh Francis. It was originally posted over on her site (the link is to the right). I thought you all might enjoy it. Tomorrow's topic will be back on the writing of TTWD.

The world of MLTF is really fun. What I like about it is that there's this feel of a larger world existing beyond the city, and also that there's a lot of history to it, which makes for a lot of political posturing (for lack of a better word). Talk to me about how the world developed, and can you tell me more about it, beyond what's in MLTF?
Back in college when I first started writing the books that would form the basis for MLTF, I drew a map to go along with it. Those first two books were epic fantasy, and since all the epic fantasies I was reading had maps, I had a map. I actually still have that first map, and a later version of it hangs in my office for reference purposes (city names and whatnot). It's on parchment, it's framed and it's gorgeous--and it's utterly wrong, geologically speaking. Ooops, my bad. Apparently being an English major isn't conducive to map making. I drew my rivers and inland seas where I wanted them to be, and where I thought they'd look good. A fencing buddy of mine (who also happens to be a PhD in geology and paleontology), told me that my rivers were flowing the wrong way, and the location of my inland sea would have made it a swamp. He wasn't even going to get into what was wrong with my mountains. So he graciously redrew my map (correctly), as well as included what natural resources would be found in each kingdom what crops could be grown (or not grown) which would affect the type of culture they had, along with what they could export and what they had to import. Thanks, Bill! Dr. William Straight was the fencing buddy, and he'd bring in fossils, t-rex teeth, dino jaw sections, all sorts of uber-cool stuff. So at our gym, we not only fenced, but got mini dino-lectures. : )

I think I mentioned that I really like your goblins and elves. First, can you give people a sense of what makes them unique, and then talk about why and how they came to be the way they are?
I wanted to do something different with my elves and goblins. In those early books that I'd written, the character that eventually became Raine was an elf princess. I look back on that now and it cracks me up. Not to mention, it so did not work. I decided that not only should she be non-royal, she should be from a family of criminals, and she worked for a living. No hoity-toity elves for me (at least not for Raine and Phaelan). However, there will be a hoity-toity, high-elf mage in Armed & Magical, named Carnades Silvanus.

As to my goblins--most of the goblins in books I'd read were short, gnarled, and had a bad case of post-nasal drip. Again, I wanted to do something different. Why couldn't goblins be hot? Svelte, silver and sexy--with fangs. And amazing long black hair, dark eyes, tall, with sinuous grace, cultured, dangerous bad boys. Niiice.

Talk about the writing of MLTF--what was it like for you? What's your process like?
Once I started writing in first-person, I immediately found Raine's voice, and knew I was on to something when my characters started coming out of the woodwork as if they heard their cue to come on stage. As to my process, I write every day (whether I feel like it or not). Some days I only get a couple of pages, other days I've written an entire chapter (that's exhausting but exhilarating). I go for a minimum of five pages a day.

I know I've mentioned that I really like the mix of urban sensibility with the traditional fantasy. Was that a hard line to walk? How did you make sure you didn't stray into anachronism?
Yes, it was a hard line to walk. I resisted doing it for as long as I could, but finally gave in. Raine's voice just didn't work trying to force her into traditional "fantasy speak." To avoid really modern references--and to put a fun twist on them--I'd say things like: "armed for ogre" instead of "armed for bear" and "that's the king's ransom question" rather than "that's the million-dollar question."

What's your favorite bit from MLTF?
There are so many; it's hard to choose. But I'd have to say the goblin king's masquerade ball and the final scene with Raine and Sarad Nukpana. The ball was just fun to write, and the final confrontation scene with Sarad Nukpana was incredibly difficult, so I had a tremendous sense of satisfaction when I finally got it the way I wanted it.

What was the most painful thing you had to cut?
There were another two chapters set in The Ruins with some characters that I had to cut to streamline the book. I resisted cutting the characters and chapters, but realized that they had to go for the good of the book. I've posted some of those chapters on my blog as "Outtakes from MLTF."

I know that Armed and Magical is a sequel to MLTF--can you tell me something about it? And do you see this as an ongoing series or have you got a specific ending in mind?
It's an ongoing series, with no ending in sight. ; ) Two weeks ago, my publisher bought the next two books in the series. And I even have some prequels (books before MLTF) floating around in my head. After all, Raine did have an adventurous life before the events of MLTF.

As to what happens in Armed & Magical--By the end of page three, Raine's already got big problems--an assassination attempt on the archmagus, an encounter with an enemy from her past, and an entirely too public display of her Saghred-enhanced powers. Later, Tam has not one, but two, deep dark secrets from his past that he'd rather keep buried. Piaras is now a Conclave college student studying spellsinging, and that voice of his attracts way too much of the wrong kind of attention. Mychael has his hands full with Raine, and with trying to keep her from falling prey to the darkest side of the Saghred.

What do you read? Got some favorite novels titles you want to throw out there? I absolutely adore Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. I've just finished Nightlife and Moonshine by Rob Thurman (must-buy, fabulous books, deliciously snarky characters). I'm reading Wraith by Phaedra Weldon (really fun book that breaks new ground), Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (a wonderful, different take on werewolves), Bitterwood by James Maxey, a NC author who I'll be doing a second booksigning with Monday, Oct. 15 at the Barnes & Noble in Burlington, NC at 7 p.m. He's written an awesome dragons vs humans adventure series, and I've recently finished Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews (a new take on just about everything). In my TBR pile is Coyote Dreams by C.E. Murphy, Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair (my author "big sister"), The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (as well as his sequel), and your book The Cipher as soon as it comes out. I've read the first chapter and it's definitely my kind of book. I'm looking forward to it. I know there are some books I'm leaving out, but that's it off the top of my head.

Two chapters a week -- here we go

Because of finishing the copyedits for Armed & Magical, last week was half of a writing work week for me -- therefore I only had one chapter to get done. And yes, I finished Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons on Saturday evening. It'll need tweaking, but I'm pleased with it. I think I'm off to a good start. This week begins my "two chapters a week" pace. I haven't done any book writing from scratch since the spring, so getting back up to speed will be a struggle. It's a struggle because I haven't gotten my focus back yet. That teeth-gritting determination to ignore absolutely everything when I sit down at my laptop -- no surfing, no visiting blog buddies -- but most of all, snatching my brain back on track if it even thinks about wandering away from the story. I'm aiming for complete immersion in the story.

Oh man, that is so not easy. But for me, it's critical. My brain will flit all over the place if I let it. I think most writers are probably like that. It's the nature of the beast. Our minds like to run off and play in any and every direction. That's how we find our inspriration, how we experiment with different things, how we come up with the story we're now struggling to get from our reluctant brain onto the computer screen.

With Armed & Magical, some weeks I wrote four chapters in a week, and a couple of chapters were written in a day. Now that was focus. It was also a little nuts.

I think I'll back off the intensity a little this time. This is my third book. I have a better idea now of how long I need to get things done. I need the focus, but to get started with this book, I'm going to cut myself a little slack for the next week or two. If I don't quite get that second chapter finished by the end of the week, I'll accept that. I won't be happy with it, but I'll accept it -- but only for the next two weeks. After that, the gloves come off. No excuses. Well, except for extreme illness, family emergency, or an overwhelming need to get the hell out of the house for a Cinnabon. Sometimes taking a break is more important than taking down that second chapter.

I'll try to check-in today with Webmaster Todd on the updates (and the posting of the sample chapters for Armed & Magical). I'll add to this post later in the day if I have an update for you.

Finished Chapter 1!

Last night I finished Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons (Raine Benares adventure #3 for those of you who have just joined us). That means I get to go to my in-laws after church for lunch. Yea!! I have a two-chapter per week goal, and if I get them done before Sunday, I get to enjoy a fabulous Sunday dinner with my husband's family. His mom is the most awesome cook! Every Sunday, she cooks lunch for the entire family. With visitors (and they usually invite guests to lunch), the number of peoople can range from 15-20. Mom manages to do all of this and still teach Sunday School. Like I said, she's amazing!

If I don't have my two chapters done by Saturday night, I'll stay home on Sunday afternoon and work. I don't want to, but since I have a day job, nights and weekends are the only time I have to write. Gotta make the sacrifice somewhere. And believe me, no sacrifice is greater than Mom's pepper roast and gravy with all the fixings (or whatever fabulous meal comes out of that oven or off of that stove). The woman is a marvel. Can you tell I like her cooking?

If I have to stay home, I generally eat fishsticks. Don't get me wrong, I like fishsticks -- if I didn't, I wouldn't eat them. Derek goes to his mom's for lunch with his family and I stay home and write. Likewise about the writing, if I didn't love it, I wouldn't do it. ; ) But today, it's off to have lunch with the family.

I'll check in with Webmaster Todd later and see where he is with those updates and Armed & Magical sample chapters.

Finishing Chapter 1 today

About 7:30 Saturday morning: Cats and dogs have had breakfast. Coffee's perking. Husband's still sleeping. I'm writing. Well, at the moment I'm blogging, but I'll start back on Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons momentarily (after I get a huge mug of coffee.) I'm determined to finish it today, so I can do the prep work for Chapters 2 & 3, which is to read through all my notes and copy the stuff I think I'll be using into a new Word doc.

I just wanted to let you all know how the web updates are going. Webmaster Todd was at a conference in Chicago until Wednesday of last week (that explains why I couldn't reach him on IM). He's back now and got some of the work done yesterday, and will be doing a lot of it tomorrow. So if all goes well, you'll be reading the first two chapters of Armed & Magical by this time next week.

I'll keep you posted. Now back to writing. . .

Lisa

Writer's insomnia -- Here we go again

3:10 a.m. Friday morning: Boom -- I'm awake. Wide awake. The beginning of the next scene is coming to me. Actually it's already here, fully formed. I can see it like a movie in my head. It's on repeat mode, but I know it won't be running for long. It'll fade, then it'll be gone. It's good stuff, so I've got to write it down. Dang it. Not because I've got a fully formed scene (that's great), but because it's 3:10 in the freakin' a.m. and I know I'm not going back to sleep after I write that scene down. Dang it.

I turn on my bedside table lamp and get out the notepad and pen. Derek rolls over, away from the light. He knows the drill: light goes on, he rolls over. Sorry, honey. Note to self: Find flashlight before tonight. I'm scribbling as fast as I can before the scene goes away. It sucks when that happens. I'm stuck wide awake and I've got nothing to show for it.

I feel a cold, wet nose and find myself looking straight into a pair of big brown eyes. As soon as the light came on, Andy the Greyhound stood up. And for any of you with male greyhounds, you know what that means. I think they have gravity-activated bladders. They stand up, they have to pee. Now. If you hear a whimper to go with the standing up, you'd better get moving. Now. You don't want to have happen what happens next if you don't move fast enough. It's the middle of the night, and I don't wanna go outside, but try telling that to a dancing greyhound who's convinced he's on the verge of a potty emergency.

Within a minute, I'm standing at the backdoor scribbling this, and Andy is happily soaking every tree and bush in sight. Good boy. I know I am so not getting back to sleep. Crap. Well, at least it's Friday. Maybe I can catch a few extra winks tomorrow.

I call Andy, no response. It's a fenced yard, so he's not going far. But I really don't want to set foot outside. Last time I went out into the yard looking for him, I stepped on a toad. A really big, fat, squishy toad -- and I was bare-footed. That was an ick and a half. Talk about not going back to sleep. Jeez, Andy's probably eating a toad as some sort of narly pre-breakfast appetizer.

3:37 a.m.: Andy's back inside and I'm back in bed. Yep, I'm definitely awake. I feel another wet nose on my arm. Gracie the Greyhound. Gracie doesn't have big brown eyes, this girl has orbs. They're enormous -- and utterly irrestible. One greyhound, one mission -- to get in bed with me and Derek. Resistance is futile. I scoot over. After all, that's why we got the king-sized bed.

3:50 a.m.: I'm officially the middle of a greyhound/husband sandwich. I can't move. Happy hound, sleeping husband, awake writer. More book ideas coming fast, and I'm groping for my notepad and pen on my bedside table. Since I can't move the rest of me, thank God I've got long arms -- and can write in the dark and actually read it in the morning. Yep, it's a gift.

4:00 a.m.: Wide awake writer. Sleep's way overrated, but I'm gonna give it a shot. My alarm goes off in an hour and a half. Wish me luck. Good night.

Lisa

The Trouble With Demons -- Off to a fine start

Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons is well underway and all is as it should be -- Raine and Phaelan are in really big trouble; they just don't know it yet. Next they find out just how deep the doo-doo is that they've stepped in. ; ) Oh, and Raine runs into a man from her past; problem is that he didn't stay there. I'm doing the same thing I try to do with each of my chapters: start with a hook (preferably a snarky one) and end with a cliffhanger.

Yesterday must have been "start that big project" day. After I'd finished writing for the night, I visited a couple of author friends' blogs. Anya Bast started Witch Heart yesterday (the third in her new series), and Diana Pharaoh Francis is diving into the revisions for her latest book.

For the duration of my first draft (which will take me into January/February) I'll be writing at least two chapters a week. So my social life is officially in lockdown mode. I'm not going to be getting out much (not that I was ever a social butterfly before).

Derek and I have an agreement for this book (after the experience of Armed & Magical.) I will take a night off every other week for a little "me & we" time. No writing. Though note-taking is allowed (because that's unstoppable). As a writer, if something comes to me and I didn't write it down, my head would probably explode. For A&M, I had no life outside of writing that book. This time I'm going with a healthier approach. ; ) Take a little break, hang on to those vestiges of humanity that tend to fall by the wayside the moment a hyper-focused writer like myself gets a deadline and sits down at the computer. So tonight Derek and I are going to the mall, get some needed shopping done, get a Cinnabon, and go to B&N. Though one of our personal favorite break nights is to get a bottle of wine, a pair of glasses, and go get in the Jacuzzi. Now that's what I call a break. : )

The Trouble With Demons -- It begins

The copyedited manuscript for Armed & Magical is on its way back to New York, and last night I finished typing up the rest of my notes for The Trouble With Demons. Nothing left to do now but get going.

Yikes.

Starting a book is exciting because the possibilities are endless. Starting a book is scary because the possibilities are endless. If I pick the wrong possibility, I could screw up this book really quick. But I've been there before, done that, fixed it, and swore it'd never happen again. ; ) That's where a detailed synopsis can save your bacon. A royal pain to write, but at least for me, more of a pain not to have. That way if I do go off wandering down a side road that leads to a dead end, I have a map to get me back on the highway.

I'm now on page 6 of Chapter 1. I'm going to finish Chapter 1 by this Sunday. And my personal deadline for the book is to have the first draft finished by February 1 at the very latest. January 1 would be better. The Trouble With Demons is due to Anne Sowards, my editor at Ace Books on May 1. There, I've said it. You all know my deadline. This blog is now getting over 30,000 hits a month. (big grin) Thank you all for dropping by and hanging out! By posting it here, I've just told thousands of people my deadline.

It'd be embarrassing as hell if I missed it. Now that's what I call motivation. ; )

How to help your favorite authors

I read the following on the website of Diana Pharaoh Francis (fabulous fantasy author), and thought it was so vitally important, that I asked if I could post it here. A lot of people think that just because you get published that you'll be popular enough to keep your books on the shelves and keep getting book contracts. Wrong. We need help. Your help.

The link to Di's site is in the list to the right. Here's her article:

What can you do to keep your favorite authors writing and their books on the shelves?

Recently I spent time with a writer friend who has written some fabulous science fiction. She has a contract for two more books, but plans to switch genres after those two because her books aren't selling as she'd hoped. This isn't because they aren't good (I've read them, they are). And this same writer has won a very prestigious writing award for her work. So what's the problem, and what can readers do to help keep their favorite authors' books coming?

The fact is that new book sales are what drives book contracts. If the numbers in the computers don't say that the author will sell well, then that's it. It's over. Change your name and start again. (Please don't think I exaggerate on that. I really don't. There are a number of authors I know of who have changed their names for low early sales--Kate Elliot and Robin Hobb to name two). Now it is up to the author to write good stuff. But suppose she does, suppose you like her stuff. There is something you can do to help.

Buy books new as often as you can. I know how much cheaper used can be, but authors get absolutely no money for their books when they are sold used. With the recent proliferation of used books being sold on Amazon, for instance, book sales have plumetted for authors. Those authors on the edge of a contract may cease to write, or they may be dropped from their publisher.

And you know how Amazon lists used books? That's a really troubling thing since most people will opt for the used books rather than the new, and it's right there on Amazon. Plus independent book stores are some of the best supporters for genre writers out there. Shop one of those first if you can.

Tell your friends.

Spread the word to anyone who will listen. Got a website? Post a review on lists, blogs, newsgroups, newsletters, etc.

Belong to a book group? Recommend the book for the month.

Email the author and tell her what you think. Moral support counts too. I know that it's been one of my greatest encouragements.

Ask for the books in your bookstore. In every bookstore you go into. Don't let books disappear off shelves. And take your friends in to buy them. And when you see strangers browsing the shelves, recommend authors. That's also tremendously helpful for people who are looking for something, but don't quite know which book to choose. A personal recommendation means they don't spend money on books they won't like.

When you're in the bookstore, face the book on the shelf so that the entire cover shows. Certainly the employees will come by later and face them in again, but for awhile, that cover was exposed to who knows how many interested eyes. But be careful not to cover other people's books.

Buy books as gifts at Christmas and birthdays and graduations and just-because.

Link the writer's page to yours.

Go to book signings when they are announced. Trust me, not that many people go and writers really, REALLY love to meet fans.

Over the years, I've seen some of my favorite books go away, series dry up, because the publishers didn't feel there was enough interest. If you want to see your favorite authors survive and keep writing, help her out. Spread the word.

Monday miscellaneous news tidbits

I finished the copyedits to Armed & Magical last night, today I write the dedication/acknowledgement section for the front of A&M, and start putting together the updates for my website and send them to Webmaster Todd. Then I'll get back to writing Raine's third adventure -- The Trouble With Demons.

As those of you who visited yesterday found out, one of those website updates will be sample chapters from Armed & Magical. You've been asking, and I aim to please. I cannot wait for May so you can read the entire book. The action simply does not stop.

If all goes according to schedule, you'll be reading A&M sample chapters within the next two weeks. I'll keep you posted on our progress.

Book signing/reading: For those of you in the Burlington, NC, area: I'll be doing another book signing/reading/discussion with James Maxey (author of the fantasy novel Bitterwood). We had such a great time at our first signing together, that we're taking our act on the road. We'll be at the Barnes & Noble in Burlington, NC, (3125 Waltham Blvd.) on Monday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. If you're in the area, please stop by and introduce yourself!

What I'm reading now (or have just finished):
The Bible -- I'm still in Matthew, but progressing nicely.
Mooncalled by Patricia Briggs. Wow, I am loving this book. Then there's the second in the series, Blood Bound.
Nightlife and Moonshine by Rob Thurman. These books are fabulous! Snarky, funny, tense and exciting -- get up, go out and buy them now!