 I decided to write a book this month.
Well, I looked at my editing and deadline schedule and decided this was going to be the best shot at writing Beauty School and the Beast. After all, I've written a book in a month before. Many times, actually. At least once, I wrote a book in 18 days. I could do this. I forgot something very important. This is December.
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 November starts in two days. Crazy to think about that. Also crazy that there is no Nanowrimo this year. I've been participating off and on in National Novel Writing Month for almost as long as it has existed. It's where I taught myself to write fast (50k words in 30 days, though I added to the challenge and aimed for over 70k). Almost half my books that are published, including Rendersella, were written during a Nanowrimo challenge. And I need to write another book.
 Last Christmas, my dear friend Heather Greer gave me the cutest little notebooks. Big enough to be able write something but small enough to fit in a purse. I'd only used them on a couple of occasions before now. But we're in soccer season again, which means sometimes I spend an evening sitting on the side of a field while my nine-year-old gets some energy out and the sun sets.
At first, I thought I would just take a book and let myself enjoy the "quiet." Then, I realized the hour could be used even better.  Quite a few of my stories end up having a verse or two that runs through them, strengthening the characters. Or challenging them. But I don't often start writing knowing those scriptures are going to be the ones my fingers add to the writing as I type. And yes, my brain really does work that way when writing.
That being said, however, as I plot and imagine scenes for my next story, Beauty School and the Beast, I have several scriptures that keep popping up in my head. And I love that this novel is starting with scripture instead of just allowing the Spirit to move as I compose.  I've got to admit, I'm sort of tired of the recreation of movies that were already made. You know what I mean. The way certain movie companies are taking all their animated films and making them into "live-action" ones. It wouldn't be so bad if the movies weren't almost exactly the same as the one they're redoing. Only a few have any changes.
But this latest one, when I saw the trailer, I was excited. It looked beautiful, for one. For another, I was neck-deep in doing my own version of a Snow White retelling too. So, how could I not be thrilled to see another version?  When I started writing Rendersella, I had no idea it wasn't going to be a stand-alone book. The idea came to me fast and furious and all I knew was I was going to write it. Of course, my muse likes to trick me and suddenly have me realize there were two more books to go with it. Because why not?
The further into Rendersella I wrote, the more I realized her friend Teresa was Snow White. And her stepsister was supposed to be the heroine in a Beauty and the Beast retelling. Right. So, two more books, it is.  How is your 2025 going so far? Mine is off to a fairly good start.
Over Christmas break, I was able to add about 20,000 words to my story, Fairest Inn All. It's my Snow White retelling and my goal is to finish it by April so I can get it on the calendar for early 2026. Between now and then, though, I have a fun novella collection releasing in a month. Wow! February isn't very far away, is it? Where did the rest of January go? Pets Amore is four rom-coms and each has their own pet involved in the romance. My story is "Out-of-the-box Valentine's." It has a hamster named Houdini, a kindergarten teacher, and a firefighter. So much fun! |
This is a place for me to tell you about what I'm writing, talk about the process or where some of my ideas came from, or even have other authors come in and talk about their books.
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