My writing process…

I was invited to do be part of the  “My Writing Process Blog Tour” by the lovely Ella Martin. Prep school survivor and Southern California native Ella Martin writes sweet romances with a spunky cast of characters. Her debut, Will the Real Prince Charming Please Stand Up? will be released in Summer 2014. Unwilling to brave snowy winters, she now resides in Florida with her husband and son.

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You can also like Ella on Facebook.

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1) What am I working on?

On 3 different projects. The one which has most of my attention right now is my YA contemporary romance novel coming out on June 26th: ONE, TWO, THREE…I´m also working on ALWAYS SECOND BEST (the companion novel of ONE, TWO, THREE…) and on DADDY´S LITTLE GIRL, my YA thriller which I am planning to publish in February 2015. Oh, and I have an idea for a NA thriller…but I´m not allowed to start working on that one before ONE, TWO, THREE is polished and ALWAYS SECOND BEST is at the first draft stage.

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

The romance plays a pivotal role in ONE, TWO, THREE…(and I´ve been told that it is as intense/hot as the romance in Simone Elkeles´ books and that I can build up a relationship like Stephanie Perkins – yes my CPs and beta readers are the best :-)), but the friendships in Natalya´s life are vital to the story and to her. I remember how important my friends were to me in high school (and still are), so that may have influenced that part a bit.  Becca, Natalya´s best friend, is really a big part of the story and plays a big role.

Oh, and Natalya´s Russian heritage. It is an inherent part of the story.

3)  Why do I write what I do?

That´s a very good question. *gains a bit of time* *get all dreamy*

I usually have an idea that doesn´t let go and then I start writing. I fall in love with the characters in my head, and then I want their story on paper.

I write what I want to read now (which is also what I would have wanted to read as a teen). The idea can come from everywhere. For ONE, TWO, THREE…I was talking about CENTER STAGE and re-watching it. It got me thinking about a ballerina who lost everything. How would she deal with that? It reminded me a bit of SAVE THE LAST DANCE, but then Natalya started “speaking”…and her story unraveled from there.

4) How does my writing process work?

I usually have an idea and a voice. and then I take it from there. I sometimes plot a little bit, but I´m a pantser at heart.

So my first draft has a tendency to need a LOT of work…

But I also see the potential, and I´m just excited to work on it even though the revision process kicks my butt…usually after a lot of work and help from CPs and beta readers….

I usually write early in the morning and then during my commute (in the train).

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And that was it 🙂 And now I pass the torch to three wonderful wonderful writers, who I´m very lucky to have “met” online and who all have books coming out in the next few months. They will be sharing their writing process with you all next Monday…

Meredith McCardle  is a recovered lawyer who lives in South Florida with her husband and two young daughters. Like her main character, she has a fondness for strong coffee, comfortable pants, and jumping to the wrong conclusions. Unlike her main character, she cannot travel through time. Sadly. Her debut, THE EIGHTH GUARDIAN, will be published by Skyscape/Amazon Children’s in Spring 2014.

Jennifer Ellision spent a great deal of her childhood staying up past her bedtime with a book and a flashlight. When she couldn’t find the stories she wanted to read, she started writing them. She loves words, has a soft spot for fanfiction, and is a master of the fangirl flail. She lives in South Florida with her family, where she lives in fear of temperatures below 60 Fahrenheit. She’s also one of the bloggers behind the book blog The Bevy Bibliotheque. Her debut YA epic fantasy, Threats of Sky and Sea, will be available May 20, 2014

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy. Juliana already published several books, and her next one BREAKING FENCES (a NA contemporary romance) is coming out in June 2014.