On Writing

So, I’m working on a second draft of the second book in my Spy series — You Only Spy Twice. I’m up to 70,000 words now, and I can see the end (of this draft at least).

I’ve got to finish the chapter I’m working on. Write my final big action sequence, then tie everything together at the end. Sounds like a lot (and it is), but it’s a lot closer to being done than I was this time last week. I might meet my March 1 deadline after all. :bubbles:

What about you guys? Anybody do any writing this weekend?

Is over at Dear Author. I’m doing a guest review of the Dortmunder comic crime caper series by Donald E. Westlake. Check it out! :ww:

I got an interesting letter in the mail this week from the Salt Lake County Library System — Karma Girl has been nominated for the system’s semi-annual Reader’s Choice Award! Yeah!

According to the letter, every year the Reader’s Choice Committee selects twenty or more recently published books that have been recommended by other staff or customers. Books that have previously won the award include The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder; and His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik.

Some folks put Karma Girl on their year-end best lists (thanks Tia, Susan, and Jody), but this is the first award I’ve been nominated for. I doubt I’ll win, but it really is an honor just to be nominated. And if I do win, how cool would it be to put award-winning author in my bio? 😎

I also received a lovely e-mail this morning from Michele R. She writes:

“Oh – my – gosh! You are an amazing writer! I just finished reading HOT MAMA and the book is fantastic! … I don’t know how you came up with such a good plot but I think your writing is right up there with J.K. Rowling!”

Thanks so much Michele! This reminds me of another lady who came to one of my book signings and told me she thought Karma Girl was “better than a Nora Roberts book.” I will never forget being compared to Nora — and now J.K. Those kind of compliments are things writers never, ever forget — and what keeps us going in this crazy, often heartbreaking business.

Let’s recap. I’ve been nominated for an award, Karma Girl is better than a Nora Roberts novel, and my writing is right up there with J.K. Rowling’s. Can world domination be far behind? :ww:

So, this weekend I buckled down and finished revisions on my assassin book, Gin on the Rocks.

It’s about an assassin who can control the elements of ice and stone (the other two are fire and air in my world). My assassin, Gin, goes to do a job and gets double-crossed and almost dead. Soon, she’s on the run from the cops, a Fire elemental who wants her dead, and lots of other people.

This book is a little grittier than what I usually write, and there’s lots of blood. Seriously. Gin kills something like ten guys in the first ten chapters. The girl is really handy with knives. 😉

It’s also set in the South and has a nice regional flavor to it. There are barbecue restaurants and fried chicken and Southern movie references. I even mention Dr. Enuf at one point. That’s a soft drink, for all you Yankees out there. Tastes like a weak version of Sprite, but it’s really good.

I’m always amazed at how right my agent is when it comes to revisions. She sent me some suggestions, and we talked about some other things on the phone. As I went through the book, I saw how much sense her ideas made. I’m really excited about the book now — I think it’s one of the best things I’ve written. And I’m really looking forward to writing Assassin 2, after I do some page proofs and other stuff.

I got such a high when I finished the revisions last night. I’m still smiling this morning. Good times. :bub:

Now, we’ll see if the book sells. Fingers crossed!

What about you? What did you do this weekend?