One year ago today, on April 26, 2017, Dark Terror released. I have never, in my entire career, taken over a year to write a book. For years I wrote, at a minimum, two novels and two long novellas a year for my NY publisher while still managing to write shorter stories for smaller presses.
We (my husband and I) didn't realize that my issues with writing began with our move out of the mountains and into town. We have lived in rural areas for most of our 46 year marriage, but the last six years, living in a very nice, quiet neighborhood in a 55+ community has made us both absolutely nuts. I've struggled to write ever since we moved off the mountain, but it wasn't until I had my contracts with St. Martin's Press and was trying to finish the six books and one novella I was contracted for that I realized just how badly things were going. I managed to write the books and meet my deadlines. They turned out surprisingly good, considering the fact I was going quietly insane surrounded by houses and people. So, as much as we love living close to our daughter and grandchildren and our daughter-in-law's family who feel as much a part of our bunch as our own blood and bone, (and where our son and his family stay when they visit) we are moving back to the country.
What's really strange is that, the moment we made the decision to put our house up for sale and start hunting for a new home--with some property!--my joy in writing has returned.
For those readers of mine who have not given up on me, my sincere thanks. You will never realize how much I appreciate your encouragement and truly thoughtful and kind notes. And now, enough about me. I've not moved yet, but it's going to happen as soon as we sell, so I think it's time to tell you a bit about this new book.
I use models, actors, people who embody the visual I have for my characters. I've long thought of Leo as a stuffy attorney, but I know he's got that leopard inside. He may run as a wolf, but he's marked like his sister with dark rosettes against a pale coat, a reminder that the snow leopard is his primary animal. Just to give you an idea, here are the photos I've got when I'm writing. They're two separate men, but they embody the different sides of Leo for me.
We (my husband and I) didn't realize that my issues with writing began with our move out of the mountains and into town. We have lived in rural areas for most of our 46 year marriage, but the last six years, living in a very nice, quiet neighborhood in a 55+ community has made us both absolutely nuts. I've struggled to write ever since we moved off the mountain, but it wasn't until I had my contracts with St. Martin's Press and was trying to finish the six books and one novella I was contracted for that I realized just how badly things were going. I managed to write the books and meet my deadlines. They turned out surprisingly good, considering the fact I was going quietly insane surrounded by houses and people. So, as much as we love living close to our daughter and grandchildren and our daughter-in-law's family who feel as much a part of our bunch as our own blood and bone, (and where our son and his family stay when they visit) we are moving back to the country.
What's really strange is that, the moment we made the decision to put our house up for sale and start hunting for a new home--with some property!--my joy in writing has returned.
For those readers of mine who have not given up on me, my sincere thanks. You will never realize how much I appreciate your encouragement and truly thoughtful and kind notes. And now, enough about me. I've not moved yet, but it's going to happen as soon as we sell, so I think it's time to tell you a bit about this new book.
I use models, actors, people who embody the visual I have for my characters. I've long thought of Leo as a stuffy attorney, but I know he's got that leopard inside. He may run as a wolf, but he's marked like his sister with dark rosettes against a pale coat, a reminder that the snow leopard is his primary animal. Just to give you an idea, here are the photos I've got when I'm writing. They're two separate men, but they embody the different sides of Leo for me.
See what I mean? The guy on the top is the stuffy attorney, the one I first saw as Leo. However, the more I got to know him, the better I liked the guy, and I realized there was passion beneath that suit. Remember, Leo is the son of Oliver, a troubled but important member of the pack, an African man with a painful history from Barbados. Leo's mother is Mei Chen--an Asian woman whose snow leopard is dominant. She's a fiery, passionate woman, while Oliver, in private at least, is more submissive.
And their unusual dynamic in a matriarchal pack is what makes Leo the troubled man he's become.
And their unusual dynamic in a matriarchal pack is what makes Leo the troubled man he's become.
Leo will always be a conflicted soul--his parents' unusual relationship insures that--but the difference between Leo and his father is that Leo is willing to change and grow. This second photo is how I saw Leo by the end of the book. The model on the cover is close, but we're limited to the bodies we have to work with in covers, and I must admit, I do like this one.
I'm currently building the page for Dark Captive, and should have an excerpt ready before too long. I'll post a notice on my FB page when it's up, but I'm waiting on edited copy from my editor before going live with it.
I won't be doing a contest this month--my books are all packed so I haven't got any for prizes, and I've got to get a lot of work done in the yard this week so that it looks good for showing. But, I will get the excerpt up asap, and hope to have information about preorders within a day or two.
Thank you again for being so patient. Now I need to get that excerpt edited so I can get it up for you!
Kate
I'm currently building the page for Dark Captive, and should have an excerpt ready before too long. I'll post a notice on my FB page when it's up, but I'm waiting on edited copy from my editor before going live with it.
I won't be doing a contest this month--my books are all packed so I haven't got any for prizes, and I've got to get a lot of work done in the yard this week so that it looks good for showing. But, I will get the excerpt up asap, and hope to have information about preorders within a day or two.
Thank you again for being so patient. Now I need to get that excerpt edited so I can get it up for you!
Kate
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