WIP Challenge Day 3: What was easy about the book?

Today, I am sharing the easy aspects of writing The Edge of Springwood series, and The Next Page.
Really, as they always say nothing worth anything in life is easy. This is very true for writing as well. But luckily, not always.
What has been easy about The Edge of Springwood so far, is I am already using characters I developed years ago in another series I never published. So, to a certain degree I already knew them, the only challenge was putting them in another setting, and another storyline. Sure, they changed some, but for the most part it was an easy adjustment.
A lot of the writing, once you subtract the occasional writer's block and other obstacles and annoyances, really flowed like it was meant to be and already there, just needed my fingers to make it happen. So that, plus the fact that I already loved everything about the storyline and the characters has made it easy, as well as something to look forward to whenever I do actually get to write. I'll tell you, when you get a feeling almost like Christmas morning when you get to work on a novel you are definitely doing something right!

Working on The Next Page has been a similar experience. The characters are a combination of people I have known in life, as well as some that I wish I had known. The storyline and background involves much of my past as well as what I wish could have happened. It's like living out your dreams and nightmares in fiction, which is cool and why I will always be a writer, whether I am published or not. It's what gets me through life.

So, when you have a great idea with some characters you feel very connected to, it can be very easy to write an amazing book that you can feel proud of.

WIP Challenge Day 2: What was difficult about the book?

Hello everyone, and Happy Labor Day. Hope wherever you all are it is someplace fun and cool. It's just another humid day here in my neck of the woods.

For day 2 of the WIP Challenge I am discussing what has been difficult in my journey with my upcoming release, as well as my new work in progress. And the timing couldn't have been better as things have progressed up to today.
Some of you may already know I was previously published through a company called No Boundaries Press. The company went under in June and I was lucky enough to have Nevermore Press pick my series back up after "re-booting" it.
Well, since then I have been awaiting payment. And awaiting payment. And I continue to wait. As it currently stands I along with several other authors have been given at least two or three different dates as to when money will start rolling out. All of these dates have come and gone, resulting in excuse after excuse why there will be a new date we have to wait for money that is legally due to us.
It was a rough road with NBP to begin with, when my book was first released last year and I started sending it out to reviewers. I got complaint after complaint that it was hard to read due to faulty formatting. So I had to end up gifting out the book through Amazon and Barnes & Noble for contest winners. I wasn't about to let a horrible formatting job prevent someone from enjoying my book. And it didn't bother me paying out 5 dollars per book, knowing the person would have no problem reading it and I would get that royalty money back.
Of course that never happened. As it stands, if you are reading In Jen's Words right now, keep in mind I never received one dime of money from that sale. And the person behind the company is going on with another company while she leaves behind unfinished business and unpaid authors.
Nevermore Press will be the third publisher I have gone through for my book and I feel more optimistic now since several changes have been named and it's been given a new makeover.
So those have all been my difficulties in getting this book and series off the ground. It's been a hell of a battle, just like writing can be for me. As the only licensed driver in my house, and some days feeling like others just don't get or respect what I do, it's always a struggle to get writing in. You have good days where the writing just pours from you, then there are those days where you can't seem to do anything. It's a stressful, emotional, spiritual experience and it can be frustrating and gratifying.
In my new series, The Next Page, I have been using some rather nightmarish experiences from my real life and past which can be therapeutic too. The only difficulty I have encountered with it, besides finding the time to write is the fact I only do character outlines, not story outlines. In other words, I am a pantser. I get the idea and just run and sometimes I end up snagged. But to me outlines are a waste of time, when a lot of what you write will end up changed anyways. Plus I have little patience. I like to jump right in to a storyline.

WIP Challenge Day One: What's it About?

Happy September everyone, and welcome to day number one of the WIP Challenge I have decided to take part in. My wonderful friend and fellow writer Ellie Potts is behind creating this month long challenge where we hope to bring you more information on our upcoming releases as well as what we are working on. This is going to be fun and interesting so I hope you all look forward to it and have fun as we introduce you all to our work.
Today, I'd like to share the blurb of my upcoming November release with Nevermore Press, Twisted Revenge. It is the first of a series and if you like suspense, and psychological based fiction, with a hint of mystery, terror and romance thrown in you will love my series The Edge of Springwood.

The Barnes family has seen tragedy, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to face.

Tragedy forced Jacob Barnes to step in at the age of 22, and raise his younger brother and sister. Years later, as the Barnes family is finally on the verge of recovery the past comes back to haunt them.

It's election time in Springwood, and Jacob is a candidate for Mayor. Having proved himself as a successful business man, Jacob feels he is ready to take on Springwood and tackle the city's many issues. Little does he know the extent of the issues he is about to face.

When it becomes apparent someone is out to sabotage Jacob's campaign, Jacob begins to realize the past is far from behind him and his family. Two murders reveal dark secrets in the Barnes family, as they come to terms with a harsh reality.

Keep in mind this is the unedited version of the blurb for Twisted Revenge. But this is an ongoing series, with the sequel being released in January.

Now, I'd like to tell you a little about the NEW series I have begun work on. It's titled The Next Page, and introduces readers to Jamie Brooks and her family. She is a struggling author with a past that continues to haunt her. When she decides to open a used book store with her brother, something unexpected turns up in a donation box for their store. The diary of a young girl who turned up missing years before. The Brooks are unwillingly thrown into a case, which in turn gives their store plenty of publicity. 

With this new series I am putting a lot of myself into Jamie's character. It's a combination of my experiences, my creativity, and what I wish could really happen. I'd love to have my own used bookstore someday. As an only child, I'll never have the family in this story (Something I hope to get into more in the month) but that's the enjoyable thing about fiction. You can always live the life you wanted in fiction.

Where Inspiration Strikes....There's Another Story.

Where do your ideas come from? It's a very common and loaded question authors are constantly asked. Everyone has their own personal muse made up of experiences, people, and places. For some writers, it is a spiritual experience. As you are writing, the ideas just flow into place in a way that words will never describe, which is what happens with me most of the time.
Every major WIP that has been through my hands at one time or another since I have been writing has been a simple idea that has just jumped out at me. The rest of the storyline has just eventually flowed as I started writing it. Characters get developed, I sometimes see different people in my past and present in one character. Then there are other characters that are based on one specific person who inspired me in one way or another.
What got me thinking about this particular subject? That's a funny story. Kind of.
I've been working on rewrites for the third book in my Edge of Springwood series. Been trying to come up with a title but not really concerned with it at this point, with trying to get the story polished off.
So what pops into my head last night while I am in the bath of all places? A title. It always amuses me where some of my best ideas come to me. I could sit before a computer for three days straight and feel like bamming my head into a wall and ideas will not come to me. It gets annoying and amusing at the same time.
I am sure all authors deal with this type of frustration and amusement. So let's share, shall we? I want to make October a fun promotional time for other authors to come share your funny stories about how an idea for one of your published books came to you. There's a funny story behind every book, and I want to know where you were and what you were doing when the idea hit you for one of your favorite books. The stranger and funnier, the better! Share away!
And don't forget, in November I am hosting authors here who want to give your advice on writing as well as promote your book(s) in honor of Nanowrimo. If you're interested, send your post along with links, and cover photos and/or author photos to JenniferBrownAuthor@gmail.com. Giveaways are also welcome and encouraged!

Fall, Rewrites and Interesting Research.

Where did this summer go? It seems unreal that kids are already back to school, and Halloween merchandise is already out in stores, with Halloween recipes and DIY decor ideas floating around on Facebook.
I am really looking forward to this Fall even though the Summer was not what I expected. The first book in my suspense series is due to be re-released by Nevermore Press in November, and the next one will be out in January. The third book is also complete, and I am in the process of working on rewrites and edits and other touch ups before I submit it as well.
I am at a place now where I feel more secure about where my series is going and when it will end. I am very surprised at the direction the storyline took, and was feeling quite uncertain for a while, but at the same time excited. That's the magical thing about writing, when you are truly connected to a storyline and the characters they really do tend to take over the story.
So, since Friday I have been going through rewrites, and it's been work. There has been several points I had to reconsider, and add to in the book. And I have had to look up some rather interesting subjects for research as I iron out all these aspects.
And the variety of what I looked up led me to wonder what the strangest things have been that other authors have ended up typing into their search browser for research along the way as they complete work on their novels. I can tell you my list has been quite interesting considering I have to write about a character with D.I.D, better known as Dissociative Identity Disorder.  During the course of my rewrites I have looked up abacus,  computer and laptop parts, & types of buildings. And that's just been lately, since completing the third book in The Edge of Springwood series.
So feel free to share the weirdest items that have been added to your search browser history, all for the sake of bringing more intriguing storylines and characters to the world of novels. And stay posted for more on The Edge of Springwood coming soon!