Wednesday, February 01, 2006

So I have my new story carved out now, but I'm still doing research on my major issue and trying to decide what angle to take. What's going to make it the most interesting? Since the issue is surrounding a married couple, I need to ask some of my married girlfriends what they think if.... How would they respond to.... What would they do if.... The thing is, I like to do this without them knowing that I'm asking for the purpose of writing a book. I've notice that when I ask questions of my married friends who think it's for a book, I get textbook or relationship retreat answers. LOL But take the same question, and ask it after talking about the frustrations of raising children and the frustrations and raising a husband, it's like they're caught off guard and the answer is totally different. Until they realize who they're talking to then they sober up and try to clean up the real response. LOL

I've had to stop awhile to try to get my reader's guide questions together for First Fridays. By the way, a lot of people have been asking and my publisher set the publication date for January, 2007. Only 11 more months to go! :-) Gives me the time to write 2 more novels and the 3 short stories I want to get done this year. So, anyway, I'm having to go back and re-read First Fridays to try to pull out deep, gripping questions. It's funny because as soon as I'm done with a story, I'm finding that I don't remember all the details. I actually have to sit down and really READ it in order to consider meaning. I know what's going to happen. But what are the underlying messages that the writer slipped in or was trying to convey? That's what I have to try to capture again. LOL It's not easy. When you're writing, you're in a moment. A different world. On a different level. Then you come back down to earth and have to figure out in your normal mind what the heck the your message was if you had one so that you can explain it to people because, believe me, they WILL ask! Lawd! Book club people had me doing flips at meetings asking me about minor details and what a character was thinking when he/she said or did this or that? They had me going back to re-read excerpts in the meeting because I didn't know and I wrote it. LOL

Well, this re-read is the first of many. My editor told me that I should expect to get the copyedits back February 17th (my birthday weekend!). I must have read Counting Raindrops 25 - 30 times, and STILL don't remember all the details! LOL

Here's a synopsis of First Fridays that I wrote recently:

When Naja Rodgers loses the dead end job she didn’t want, she accepts the invitation of a friend to attend First Fridays networking parties to find a business partner and move her entrepreneural thoughts from dream to reality. At a St. Louis First Fridays event, she finds a sultry and savvy business partner in the form of the handsome Russom King. Despite his good looks and their obvious attraction for each other, out of fear of possibly bringing bedroom drama to the boardroom, Naja vows never to mix business and personal relationships and to keep things strictly professional with Russ. Eventually, however, she falls for his charm and into his arms, and soon finds that bedroom to boardroom drama is the least of her worries. She finds that mixing business and personal relationships could cost her more than she ever imagined.

8 comments:

princessdominique Mon Feb 06, 09:15:00 AM EST  

I'm sold on it Cherlyn! And I know the feeling but if you need some input on married couples let me know. I'll be refreshingly honest!

Peggy Mon Feb 06, 11:30:00 AM EST  

You are becoming most prolific, lady! Can't wait to read First Friday!

Shelia Mon Feb 06, 11:58:00 AM EST  

First Fridays sounds like a winner.

L F Goodwyn Wed Feb 08, 05:23:00 PM EST  

Hi Cherlyn. I've been following your blog for several months now and you are very inspiring! I am a self publisher or soon to be. My novel An Aspirin for a Heartache will be out the first week of May '06 I would love to send you a copy. Feel free to check out my blog. I am a part of the creme-de-la-creme on turboslut also but I can't figure out how to put the ring symbol on my blog!

MsJayy Sun Feb 12, 06:43:00 PM EST  

Oh! A new novel. Yummy! Can't wait to read it. Sounds like a winner to me. If you like, I can pump my married friends for your. Let me know & it's on! Fo' real!

Tee C. Royal Wed Feb 22, 12:52:00 PM EST  

Yayyyyyyy Cheryln, I'm waiting patiently. I like the title too; there's so much you can do with it!

Happy Belated Birthday. I hope it was wonderful!

-Tee

TJ Brown Thu Jun 01, 06:20:00 PM EDT  

I really like the sound of First Fridays. And you can ask me questions about being married anytime. I am going on 18 years. LOL
teri

Unknown Sat Jun 03, 04:11:00 PM EDT  

Hey Sweetie! Just stopped by to see what was going on in your world. Glad to see you have something in the works. First Fridays sounds like it's going to be off da hook!