After I came down off the *I SOLD* high with a thump, the reality of having to write the followup book to BOND slapped me a good one. The good news is I’d done a lot of research and characterization on Gil’s story. The bad part (which is really a good part) is that I’ve grown as an author and more than a few glaring plot holes yawned before me.

Now I’m not an intense plotter–in fact my process is part planning and a good part trusting my instincts on the fly. But with a deadline facing me, I convinced myself I’d be more comfortable with a working plan, even if it was a loose one.

The three act process makes the most sense to me. I can tell pretty quickly if my idea is going to work, or if I’m climbing a icy hill in flip-flops.

I’m looking at my white board littered with post-its and what I have looks solid to me–at least solid enough to get that first draft done. Good news is I’m on schedule. Now if it’ll just stay that way–

All unpublished authors live for the day when they can announce they got The Call from an editor.

And my day finally came. (insert deliriously happy scream here)

Of course, since I’m the queen of out-of-the-ordinary things, I got the call moments after I left a store and got in my car. The editor’s first words–I want to buy BOND–literally shocked me speechless.

Words are my best friend yet I couldn’t thing of a damned thing to say. I looked out the windshield at people milling around and thought is this a dream? I can’t even begin to describe the emotions colliding within me at that moment.

The contracts still have to be signed. The revisions done. The second book turned in by deadline which seems awfully close yet awfully far away.

Once I know specifics, I’ll let you all know. But for those who keep tabs on me here, you’re the first to know I’m on my way to being a published fiction author, lol!

Tomorrow I’ll post a longer account of the call on WriteMinded,the blog I share with four other published authors. Yes, we’re all published now.

Hey, thanks for dropping by, and do come back for updates. The ride has just begun. 🙂

I’m a year older now. Don’t feel it, sure don’t act it.

Hmm, I’ll take that back. Last week was a rush one with an editor requesting the full of COMMON BOND, getting it printed, off to her, then the wait. You can read the blow by blow on my March 8 blog on Writeminded.

As I was reading BOND, I couldn’t believe so much time had gone by since I’d first written this story. Seems a lifetime away since it finaled in contests, yet the book is so much better after my last rewrite. Even now it felt fresh to me.

Not perfect, mind you. In my opinion most novels benefit from editorial imput. Mine are no exception.

The majority of writers have trouble letting go of their work, me included. I can always see something else that should be done. I’ve woke up in the middle of the night with a better way to say or do something in a work that I entered in a contest, or submitted to an editor or agent.

I listen to my published friends describe their editorial revisions and hope I get the chance to improve my stories as well. Only time will tell.

That’s the thing about the writing life. Age isn’t a barrier. Neither is location or health (for the most part). Time often stands still while we’re deep into putting words on paper.

Writers write and submit to agent and editors. And then start the next book so they won’t go crazy waiting for a reply.

Readers hear of the overnight success stories. Those first books that are snatched up and the writer becomes rich and famous overnight.

Writers know it’s generally a long hard road to publishing. We write. We submit. And we wait for the call.

However long it takes.