Thank you Devika Fernando for inviting me to jump onto #the writing process blog!
I'm glad you accepted my invitation, and it's interesting to see how you go about writing.

1.   What am I working on?
I am currently working on CONSECRATION, Book 2 of the Wizard Queen at Sixteen Series. I am releasing this series as a serial, so right now I am working on Part 1 of CONSECRATION. I’m very excited about these books because they are set within their own unique wizarding world that is pretty much upside-down. Girl wizards have no power, magical or otherwise, until my main character’s 16th birthday, where she (Addie) finds out she has her very own magical powers. This means big-time trouble for her. The story is fun with lots of adventure, suspense, romance, and more, but at its core it is about empowerment of girls and that is a topic that makes me very excited (very passionate)!

2.   How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Well, one thing that makes every author’s work different is their own unique voice. Also, I think the wizard world I’ve created has a unique world-building that is different from others primarily due to the social structure and inner-workings of a backward society, and it’s hidden from humans in today’s modern world.

3.   Why do I write what I do?
Before I wrote this series, I wrote paranormal romance and the one theme that seems to be pervasive in my work is one of transformation, of becoming something bigger, and learning how to become your own hero. I also am very drawn to writing in the paranormal and fantasy genres. Every writer is a big reader – that is almost universally true, and I write what I like to read. I read to escape into magical, strange worlds, and so that’s what I write! I have a very active inner child!

4.   How does my writing process work?
There are two pervasive methods of writing. One is that of the “plotter” and the other is called the “panster.” A person who plots will create a detailed outline of everything that is going to happen in their book. This may include flow charts and character development documents, etc… A “panster” writes “by the seat of their pants”. I fall somewhere in between these two methods. I usually know what my important plot twists are going to be, but then I fill in everything else as I go along. My favorite analogy is that when I begin to write, I have a roadmap and I take meandering detours as I head toward my final destination. Sometimes as I am writing my story, the characters will take everything in their own unexpected direction, and I have to create a completely new roadmap. Also, each day when I write, I start by editing the prior day’s writing (usually 1-3 chapters) and that pulls me back into the story before I start writing the next few chapters.

Hadley Holt, author of paranormal, and fantasy YA (Young Adult) has always loved to write. She also nurtures an incurable fascination with all things supernatural and fantastical. From a young age, she imagined stories about dragons, wizards, witches, ghosts, shape-shifters, vampires, and other magical creatures. As life often does, it blessed Hadley with family - a hunky husband and amazing children, and with family came a rewarding career. Hadley spent many years in the not-so-magical world of finance and mortgage banking, but the stories were always there in the back of her mind, demanding to be set free.
Thanks to the housing market crash, Hadley finally realized her dreams. She now breathes life into her magical tales of reluctant young heroes finding their inner power to stand up against terrible creatures and even more terrible odds.
Hadley just published her debut YA Fantasy (with lots of romance and adventure) DESECRATION, Book One of the Wizard Queen at Sixteen Series which is now available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Hadley Holt
www.hadleyholt.com
Email:
DESECRATION, March, 2014
3 Part Serial – Part 1, 2, & 3
Book 1 in Wizard Queen at Sixteen Series

My writer friend Reet Singh has tagged me to be part of the "My Writing Process – Blog Tour". So, here are my two cents, or rather, four lengthy answers. Personally, I find it fascinating to read about how other authors ‘tick’. There are so many similarities, but also tiny yet significant differences.

1. What am I working on?

Two books, actually.
I hadn’t even finished my debut novella, When I see your Face (WISYF), when an idea formed itself of a series I’m tentatively calling the “4 Elements of Love”. The first book, Playing with Fire, is 60 % written. It revolves around Felicia, who lives with fire inside her that she struggles to control. Joshua, appearing mysteriously and carrying ice inside him, tries to help her before either she or the people around her will pay the high price for playing with fire. This will be my first foray into paranormal romance, and I really enjoy writing it.
The second book with the (admittedly boring) working title Second Chance is in its early stages of four chapters. It will be a contemporary romance novel that was loosely inspired by one of my favourite books, Jane Eyre.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Huh, good question. I think WISYF isn’t all that different – but it sure is more on the sweeter side. I opt for real romance instead of only steam and between-the-sheets action. For me, it is important that there isn’t just sudden attraction but also a believable process of getting to know each other and actually falling in love, as opposed to just falling in lust. As for my paranormal work in progress, it differs from the usual because it doesn’t deal with vampires or werewolves or other mythical creatures. Normal people with special abilities are at the heart of it.

3. Why do I write what I do?

I’ve always liked romance books, and writing them just comes natural to me. The same goes for anything with a connection to fantasy. I couldn’t NOT write that way… Both contemporary and paranormal romance novels suit me fine, but one day, I want to try my hand at science-fiction, too.

4. How does my writing process work?

For a long time, there was no process to speak of. I just wrote what popped into my mind and seeped out of my fingers. When I decided to actually become an author, though, I read a lot of advice and finally pushed myself to include a system. Now I outline the plot and from then on, I construct at least the first few chapters in a short list. Quick character sheets with facts on their looks, jobs, situation and wishes as well as problems help me to focus, though I find that sometimes, the protagonists take over and end up doing what I hadn’t envisioned. With my current WIP, I also planned ahead for the other parts of the series. Most of the time, I write in the logical chapter sequence. Sometimes, however, the final chapter or some decisive moment way ahead bullies its way to the front and demands to be written down. I like writing in a semi-organized way of sorts because it allows me a little more freedom to see where the story itself will take me.

Enough about me. I’m handing over the keyboard to 3 wonderful authors for keeping the train going.

Hadley Holt
Hadley Holt, author of paranormal and fantasy YA (Young Adult) has always loved to write. She also nurtures an incurable fascination with all things supernatural and fantastical. From a young age, she imagined stories about dragons, wizards, witches, ghosts, shape-shifters, vampires, and other magical creatures. Hadley spent many years in the not-so-magical world of finance and mortgage banking, but the stories were always there in the back of her mind, demanding to be set free. Thanks to the housing market crash, Hadley finally realized her dreams. She now breathes life into her magical tales of reluctant young heroes finding their inner power to stand up against terrible creatures and even more terrible odds. Her novel Desecration is now available!

Jadie Jones
Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went. She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. Moonlit, book #1 in the Moonlit trilogy, is her first book. The sequel is due for a summer 2014 release.

Christianna Caeliss
Christianna, founder of Unleashing Aphrodite, works with creative soulful women who desire great soulmate love but haven’t yet found it. She helps them to discover their secret hopes, wishes and true beauty inside and out, and know to their very core that they're irresistible and deserve their Happily Ever After. Christianna, the Heart Liberator, is unapologetically both a personal development author and a romance novel writer. She uses the power and magic of story to help you awaken your inner heroine, so that you effortlessly attract breathtaking love and create your own romance novel life!

Call me crazy, call me old-fashioned, call me illogical - but I do believe in ghosts. No, not in the kind that look like bedsheets with holes for a face, rather in the kind that could be called a roaming spirit of somebody who has passed away and is still in some way connected to this earth.
Maybe that is why GHOST LOVER by Liza O'Connor caught my eye and I'm all too happy to feature her book on my blog.

Blurb

Two gorgeous English brothers. One irresistible ghost. Who would you choose as your lover?

Completely broke and with a criminal record to boot, Senna Smith is one day from eviction from her apartment when Brendon, her promiscuous roommate from London, suggests she go to England, marry him, and manage his fortune. With few other options, she agrees to an open marriage. But she’ll never, ever share his bed with him, knowing if she falls in love with him, he’ll break her heart.
As trustee of Brendon’s family fortune, there is no way Brendon’s older brother, Garrison Durran, is going to let him marry a self-professed American gold-digger. As Senna tries to embrace castle life and English society for Brendon’s sake, Gar discovers Senna is the perfect woman for him--beautiful and intelligent, kind and caring. Now, if she wasn’t already engaged to his brother…
The ancestral ghost of Durran Castle has to intervene if the Durran brothers have any chance of an heir. He can’t leave them to fix matters on their own. They are useless buggers when it comes to love. As counselor to Gar, matchmaker for Brendon, and lover to Senna, a ghost’s work is never done.

CONTENT WARNING: Allergy warning: Ghost cat in book.  

For more information about LIZA O'CONNOR
Liza's Blog and Website   Facebook   Twitter

I really love it that in this novel, there aren't just two men trying to woo the heroine, but actually three, if you can call the Ghost Lover a man. Also, including such a gorgeous cat, as well as a castle as the setting sounds like exactly my piece of cake.
If this is your piece of cake - pardon, choice of book - too, then don't hesitate to grab a copy.

AMAZON
Ghost Lover is 50% off
March 21-23

From today onwards, I want to share author interviews on my blog in regular intervals. I just find it so fascinating to read about their lives and their writing. It's all about finding things in common and marveling at the differences, making friends and getting inspired - and supporting each other.

One of the author friends I most look up to is Christina Cole. She has played an important role in my journey to becoming a self-published romance novel author, and to me she is also the good soul that keeps us all together.
Thank you for letting me bug you, and for answering with such interesting details, dear Christina!

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?

I grew up in a home where reading was not merely encouraged, but celebrated. I lived with my grandfather, an incredible man who had little formal education, yet who understood the adage that “Knowledge is power.” He lived this philosophy in his life and taught me its value as well. He’d read the entire set of the original “Book of Knowledge” and could converse on any topic. It was my grandfather who taught me to read. Holding me on his lap, he would read to me from volumes of the “Book of Knowledge” encyclopedias—mostly poetry, at times articles about space, transportation, or stories from classic literature—or from “Little Golden Books” for children, or from the daily newspapers. I quickly fell in love with words and soon began telling—and writing—tales of my own.

Who or what has been your biggest influence as a writer?

Again, my grandfather. In addition to giving me the world through the gift of reading, he showed me that the world was a marvelous place filled with fascinating people and interesting places. He told stories of his own war-time experiences, stories of his childhood on the Kansas prairies, and he shared his dreams with me. He opened my eyes to wondrous possibilities. That's what I hope to share with others through the stories I now tell.

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

For me, it's always about the characters. Drama is only meaningful as it affects people. A good story delves into the characters' emotions, reveals their weaknesses as well as their strengths, and allows a reader to relate to the events in a personal way.

Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?

I love developing characters. To me, the characters who appear in my stories are as real as anyone I've ever met. They have their own stories to tell, and mostly, I listen. I'm especially curious about their past experiences because I know the past shapes the present. My characters are who they are because of what's gone before in their lives. It's important for me to step back in time with them, dredge up their back stories, and uncover all the emotions attached. That's what characters are really about for me -- emotion. When we understand their emotional needs, their goals are clear, and their actions become credible.

My favorite character to date has been Katherine Phillips, known by her friends as “Kat”. She’s young, she’s innocent, and she’s quite a “tomboy”. Those qualities combined to make her a fun character to write.

The most challenging character was Linn Sparks from Summertime. She was difficult to write because she was a “difficult” person, a woman whose desperate need for affection and attention had made her into a self-centered, demanding woman who looked down on others. I had to show Linn as she was, yet give readers a chance to see the “real” character inside -- not Linn Sparks, star of the stage, but Linnie Mae, the girl from rural America.

Please tell us about the projects you are currently working on; what can readers expect to see in the coming months?

I'm excited about my recent release, Not the Marrying Kind. It's western historical romance, Colorado Territory, 1872, and it’s the first in a series of stories set in the little fictional town of Sunset. I've recently signed a contract with Secret Cravings Publishing for the four-book series. I have more stories in my head, and "The Sunset Series" could continue to grow. Each story is a stand-alone. No unfinished endings... no leaving readers hanging at the last page. What ties the stories together is the town of Sunset. It's a growing town, with changes happening. Among those changes, of course, are new romances. Characters readers have come to know as friends from early books will return to share their love stories in later books.  I truly enjoyed writing Not the Marrying Kind, and I’m delighted that I’m able to share the town of Sunset—and its quirky residents—with my readers.

I’m currently working on the second book of the series, Keeping Faith. I don’t want to reveal too much about the story yet, but it involves two people brought together by love yet torn apart by anger, fear, and hatred. Between them is a precious little girl whose future they hold in their hands. Will she be enough to keep them together?

Where can readers find out what's new and how can they contact you?

The world of romance-writing is a busy place, and there’s always a lot going on. I publish a short newsletter, Keep Up With Christina, which helps me connect with readers at a personal level. Each issue provides a little inspiration for meeting life’s challenges, a bit of information readers might find useful, and special opportunities available for subscribers only. The newsletter is scheduled to go out twice a month, but it’s sometimes a bit late if there are a lot of other demands on my time with book deadlines, edits, or other obligations. Readers can subscribe by visiting my website. 

I always love to hear from readers! My email is [email protected]. I also have an author page on Facebook, "Christina Cole's Love Notes." Readers can visit my blog at Christina Cole Romance (christinacoleromance.com) or check me out at Goodreads. Please follow me on Twitter, too, @KCChristinacole

Do you have a strict writing schedule? How do you balance your personal and writing time?

I don't work with a strict schedule. I write because I love doing it, so I spend most of my time at my computer, either writing, blogging, or networking with other authors. How do I balance my personal time and my writing time? I don't. I'm fortunate to have a loving, understanding husband who knows how much I enjoy writing. He encourages me and doesn't get upset or feel neglected when I spend time in my little writing room.

If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Daniel Sickles, and Thomas P. "Boston" Corbett. I'm sure most readers will quickly recognize Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton who each played an important role in the founding of our nation. The last two—Sickles and Corbett—were from the Civil War era. Trying to explain my reasons for choosing these men would be difficult and would probably only be of interest to other history fanatics. If anyone really wants to know...email me. Let's talk history!

When you're not writing, what do you like to do to just kick back and have fun?

When I'm not writing...well, when I'm not writing professionally, I'm usually writing purely for the fun of it. Nonsense things. Silly poems. Impromptu scenes. Writing is what I love to do, so that's how I kick back and have fun. Other than that, my only "fun" activities are watching an occasional football game, cooking, and pursuing my interests in history through "war-gaming".

If there were a soundtrack to your latest novel, what genre/songs would be included?

I listen to classical, so it would something similar to  Aaron Copland's "Rodeo"—very American with a slightly western flavor.