I’m happy to report that last week I got a glimpse of the first sketch of cover art for my upcoming release, Look To The East. And it’s gorgeous! There are a couple of tweaks Tyndale wants to make before unveiling it, though, so for right now all I can say is you’re going to love it. The faces portrayed of Charles and Julitte (my hero and heroine) are absolutely perfect. I’ve seen some disappointing book covers on books I’ve read, but once again I’m saying PTL! Praise The Lord, what fun to have another great cover! Come back for a sneak peek soon.
This week I’ll be working on my newest work-in-progress. As I mentioned, it’s tentatively called Will-O’-The-Wisp, and I wrote a first draft of this book several years ago. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been writing nearly all my life. I had three secular historical romances published when I was in my twenties, but when life took some turns (a divorce, single-parenthood, remarriage, becoming a mom to a special needs child) I stopped writing for a number of years.
Right around the turn of this new century I started writing again. Will-O’-The-Wisp is the first book I wrote when my life settled down enough to realize I wanted to seriously pursue writing again. It was quite an experience to write this book, even in its rough form. Words flew onto the screen. I felt God reading the words over my shoulder. Everywhere I turned I saw elements of life that could be incorporated into this story, despite the fact that it was set in the First World War and here I was living in a new century. I felt affirmed by my creator that I was doing exactly what He’d wired me to do.
Have you ever felt that way? Discovered what it was He wants you to do, and then do it? I can’t tell you how many times I felt like nudging God sitting next to me, pointing to the screen with a smile, enjoying the gift He’d given me. I sensed we both enjoyed the process.
We’re all born with gifts from God, but when we use them for His glory, with Him at our side . . . well, can anything top that?
So you’d think the next few months until its due date should be a piece of cake for me. I can lounge around and eat bonbons. The work is done.
Well, aside from the fact that I’m revisiting Weight Watchers in hopes of shedding the Christmas Cookie weight I added over the holidays (so no bonbons for me) there are a few facts about this book that I must mention.
For one thing, I was having so much fun with the first draft years ago that I just wrote and wrote and wrote. And wrote. I’d been neglecting my writing urges for years, you see, and yet occasionally I’d dabbled in researching this favorite time period. I had lots of ideas.
When I finally sat down to write, boy oh boy did I write. One hundred fifty thousand words—in three months. This is rather a miracle all by itself, except if you were to read those original 150,000 words you probably wouldn’t call it a miracle. You’d call it an indulgence. Some nice research, a solid plot, but wordy. Sloppy. A writer who clearly enjoys the craft, so much that she can’t bear to part with a single word, whether it belongs in the story or not.
I always say it’s important to achieve a fresh eye when editing your own work. I think more than a half-dozen years away from this project qualifies. And during those years I’ve learned at least once vital lesson: how to cut.
And goodness gracious but does this project need it! I’m pulling out my scissors right now.
Join Me!