What I Write and Why I Write It... Tag, You're It!

I’ve been tagged by both Cherie Colyer and by Carol Oates in this blogging challenge, to answer four questions about my writing and then tag four other writers to do the same.

Cherie is a pub sister of mine at The Wild Rose Press, writing paranormal YA romance. She also writes for Omnific Publishing and manages the Darkly Delicious YA group... the girl is busy!

I met Carol through the Darkly Delicious YA group, and love her YA tales that infuse Celtic mythology and the paranormal. I loved Shades of Atlantis and Shades of Avalon… She’s at work on the third book in her trilogy right now (write faster, Carol!)

What am I working on?

I have two books newly published this summer, and am working on sequels to both. Right, like that’s not confusing! My second young adult book came out in May, and my latest contemporary romance has been out in Kindle but makes its world-wide debut on July 30.

Blood of a Mermaid is the second book in my Mermaids of Cape Cod series, and I’m a quarter or so of the way into a third book which follows Shea to Atlantis, and through the trials of Prince Demyan and his henchmen. Something More is the working title of my next Cape Cod romance, set in Provincetown. Most people know P-town for their flamboyant gay and lesbian festivals and events, or the thriving art scene, but because of its location at the very tip of the Cape, the town’s roots are based in fishing. There’s a great nonprofit organization based down there – The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies. My main character, Charlie, is a visiting environmentalist studying ocean ecology. He meets Emma, a local girl with deep ties to the community and a jealous boyfriend. Problems arise… and I have to keep writing before I tell you any more!

How does my writing differ from others of its genre?

In my young adult books, one of the big differences is that I don’t write in first person. So many YA books of all genres are now exclusively first person POVs, but mine are a little old fashioned, I guess, sticking with third person points of view that shift by chapter between characters. Maybe the next YA series I try will have a first person narrative, but I feel like the mermaid books work this way so I’m not going to mess with them. Son of a Mermaid switched POVs between the title character Shea, and his love interest, Kae. In Blood of a Mermaid, I added a third POV, the sorcerer who kidnaps (and falls in love with) Kae. In the third book, I’m added a fourth POV from Hailey.

Why do I write what I do?

I loved reading as a kid, loved the way a book could take me away from my world and plunge me into another time and place. I’ve always wanted to be able to do that for someone else. Young adult fantasy books do that – take you away and plop you into another time, another world, another dimension. For many adults, fun and quirky romance novels can do much the same thing. Reading should be fun, an escape from the stress of every day life.

How does my writing process work?

I don’t have a full-blown process. I write, and let the characters tell me what’s next. At some point, I will be working in the garden or walking the dogs and whole scenes will play in my head and I’ll try to outline them when I get home before they dissolve. Then I’ll work to flesh out the outline.

Time for Tag, You’re It!

Shawna Romkey
http://www.shawnaromkey.com/
Jody Kessler
http://jodyakessler.com/
Constance Phillips
http://constancephillips.com/
Lindsey Loucks
http://www.lindseyrloucks.com/

P.S. If anyone else wants to play along, feel free to grab the questions and tag yourself! Go on - it's fun!