
Thanks, Diana! Check Diana out--she's a wonderful person, a gymnast and has a book that sounds awesome due out next year.
What am I working on now?
I've just finished the final pull on FIERCE, and am preparing it to be sent for formatting. Pretty much, I've been living in Tori and Max land to the point of delusion.
Soon, once I get a few more things finalized for FIERCE, I will work on two different projects. They are both very different from FIERCE and the companion novels (in the works) to FIERCE. For one, they are a different genre.
How does my work differ from others in its genre?
Oh man. In so many ways. Since FIERCE is my current blackhole, I'll discuss that.
The biggest difference, I think, is the authenticity you'll find in FIERCE. MMA and other combat sports aren't one dimensional, as I often see them portrayed in fiction. Neither are fighters. I hope that I show the complexity involved. I do combat sports, and it's something I am very passionate about.
There is romance, but it isn't the only focus. At times, it is the center of the scene, but in others it is in the background. Overall, the character has an arc that is not related to romance.
It can be light and heavy, funny and serious.
Why do I write what I do?
I write a lot of speculative (paranormal, fantasy-urban and dark) fic, and some contemporary. I don't know that I have a simple, brief answer to this. Really, it just comes down to this: I love it. I love writing the spec and the contemporary, and while they both have different pros/cons, overall, I love it.
How does my writing process work?
Well. Ummm. Once again, I don't have a nice, easy answer. It an change depending on the work. But, in general, it goes something like this:
-Scene idea (or character idea, or "atmosphere" idea)
-First scene
-An idea of a scene I want to be at around the mid point.
-Sometimes, I'll know where I want it to end or the overall series arc if it's a series. Sometimes, I have no idea.
-And then I write.
Occasionally, I plan, but I'm more of a panster. If I do plan/outline, I only do an act at a time. I may have an idea where I want it to end (though not always- I don't for my next project), but I only will outline one act if I do want to do some planning. I don't do much "character planning" until I have a few chapters done.
In short, I have to get something down. It's weird, because in daily life I'm a huge planner, but it changes when I sit down to write.
FIERCE started with me wanting to put into words the beautiful and amazing art/sport/culture I had found; I wanted to combine two very important things in my life. I knew Tori was tough--after all, she had to be to make it where she did. I knew that something shook her core and the foundation of her life, but I didn't know why--I didn't know her story--until I started writing.
Up next...
My fantastic friend and CP Bailey Knight. (Remember you saying you would bribe me, Bai? A blog post for a blog post? Here you go!)
Bai and I chat frequently about the writing process, but I always want to know more about what she's up to and I think you all should check her out, too. She's got a story I can't wait to get my hands on.