In my blog post “How Not To Start A New Book” I announced that I was writing on a book outside my ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series’.
I’ve been excited to tell that story ever since I started to write it. That’s one reason why I didn’t prepare as carefully as I usually do.
I needed help in the middle of writing to create the plot realistic since this time, my readers won’t face magical creatures, wings, and whatever makes my series unique.
The story faces reality, and so do my characters.
I’m not going into details at this time; after all, we are talking about me writing the first draft of the book.
I ended the first draft of my new book last night. And today I’m celebrating. There are so many reasons…one of them is, celebrating hard work. Many people seem to imagine us typing for a few weeks, then magically, a new book shows up.
As I explained to a friend today: ‘The fun part is over, now the work begins.’ And I stick with that! Writing is the fun part; now we’re going to typing into the computer, a process that gives me the possibility to catch mistakes, plot holes, confusion, and a few other things, and then…. Oh, wait! I’m not going there yet! Today is a day of celebration!
Please raise the glass with me: “Here’s to the next steps in the process to turn this into a readable story!”
As many of you already know, my writing process is a bit unorthodox. With the books so far written in my ‘The Council Of Twelve’ series, I generally worked as follows:
1. Preparation (develop characters and update character sheets)
2. Draft plot and take notes
3. Start writing the first draft of the book by hand
4. Read the first draft, make necessary corrections in red
5. Type the corrected draft into the computer
6. Personal editing I
7. Personal editing II
9. Send book to the editor
10. Additional steps after the book is returned to me, fully proofread, edited, and formatted…
‘The Council of Twelve’ series is published with four books, and books 5 and 6 are written and prepared to be published. I have an additional book connected to the series currently with my editor. Book 7 is in my personal editing; books 8 and 9 are written and need to be typed into the computer. Since I got ‘The Council of Twelve’ series so very well prepared, I permitted myself to write a different story; one that has been in my head for quite some time already.
I have my ‘The Council of Twelve’ plot and character sheets updated and carry them with me constantly in the form of ‘Microsoft OneNotes’, which is a wonderful writer’s tool, at least to me… It allows me to take notes and write down ideas at any given time, on either my phone, my computer, or my tablet, and I have nothing else to do than to sync the program to have access to the latest version on any of my devices. Additionally, after nine books in the series, I know my characters quite well and rarely need to peek at my notes.
Now, I sit here, working on my new book. It’s a remarkable story and wonderful to work on. As soon as my pen touches the paper, it writes. I’m writing, drafting, plotting, writing again… And today I realized that, except a few notes on tiny paper sheets at the beginning and a hand-drafted family tree, I hadn’t done much preparation. In my excitement to start the book, I forgot to prepare correctly.
And now, in my handwritten draft, I’m paying for my omission. I forgot how often I have to flip to the pages to check on descriptions, characters, colors, and names. I discovered two ‘Davids’ and two ‘Peters,’ which angers me to no end.
I’m a very reliable person, and I don’t generally neglect my duties, not even those I have set up for myself, except in the preparation of this particular book. I decided to write a book outside the YA Fantasy genre, where I feel ‘home’ with my series. I should have known that careful preparation to write that book was necessary. But here I stand and could kick myself for not doing what should have been done quite some time ago.
I would therefore strongly recommend to new writers, like myself, to carefully prepare what needs to be prepared before starting the new book. Otherwise, they will find themselves in the same situation I am now, with a few mixed ideas, two very similar conversations, and two Peters and Davids. At least, I find myself discovering my mistake now. I can still work on fixing the problem. But I know I shouldn’t have let it go that far. At least next time, I know what I have to do. Go back to the well-prepared, reliable writer I am.
What kind of advice would you give your fellow writers? What mistake have you been making that you had to correct? What problem were you facing that needed to be fixed? Let us know in the comments.
I seem to have disappeared after my book release, but I haven’t. I have been taking classes, writing feverishly on five submissions for writing contests, and preparing my marketing plan for Turn The Light On so that I could get it into motion. There were many things that I had to learn also about YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook that I hadn’t known before the book was published, and I have had fun learning these things most of the time.
Today, I am revealing the book trailer for Turn The Light On. Many thanks to 4WillsPublishing. They have been marvelous in setting my desires into the type of book trailer I wanted to have.
I was informed that the fourth book in ‘The Council of Twelve’ series, Bounty Hunter, has another 5-star review on Amazon. This is so exciting.
Also, the author of the review has published a second, a bit more detailed, but wonderfully great review on her website. I’m permitting myself to show them both here.
I adored this book! When you feel sad when the book is over that is a sign it’s a good book. Bounty Hunter is giddily delicious! So much fun to read! Alexander instantly welcomes you back into her luscious world with characters that are phenomenally created big or small. Alexander locks your eyes in at first sentence and you fall easily into her world and get lost. You do not want to put the book down. It was pure happiness on my Kindle.
REVIEW
Bounty Hunter is 4th book in ‘The Council of Twelve Series’ If you have not read the other three, I advise you do such. Especially if you happen to by chance start your introduction into the Council of Twelve Series with this book. It’s the perfect YA fantasy/ paranormal romance book that adults will gobble up as well. In Bounty Hunter, we meet Centriel the youngest Arch Angel in the Council of Twelve. A bit forlorn as the others have found their consorts or at least have a “someone” he decides to take a flight to clear his thoughts. He finds a clearing to land and rests on a rock only to stumble upon a scene as we meet Simin Arnatt a petite, but fierce bounty hunter with a secret. She bursts through with her prey and Centriel is stunned. Centriel steps in when her bounty the dangerously charming shadow demon Rapha Golden requests the Council of Twelve asylum. This very act throws Simin and Centriel into a fire that instantly ignites them in more ways than one.
Bounty Hunter is giddily delicious! So much fun to read! Alexander instantly welcomes you back into her luscious world with characters that are phenomenally created big or small. Alexander locks your eyes in at first sentence and you fall easily into her world and get lost. you do not want to put the book down.
Yesterday I found another wonderful exciting surprise in my mailbox! Bounty Hunter got its second 5-star review. I’m so happy, I’m about to burst. It is such an exquisite emotion to know that the books I write are loved! Thank you so much for a wonderful review!
This may be my favorite installment of this series to date. Between this one and the two previous books I’m feeling like the series is maturing as a whole. The first book “Soul Taker” did a good job of introducing us to the author’s vision of this world, while “Sundance” and “Demon Tracker” started fleshing that world and its characters out more and more. In “Bounty Hunter” we dive more deeply into this series and get a new perspective from one of the actual members of the Council of Twelve.
This time we start out seeing things from the perspective of Centriel who having seen how the world’s of his fellow Archangels have changed, and wondering if he will ever find such happiness. Then he meets Simin a Demon Hunter and soon both their worlds’ are turned upside down, and we are soon drawn deeper into the manipulations of Hell and it’s many minions.
Finally, I want to say I loved the interactions with Simin and Zei, our heroine from the last book. I also enjoy how well the author integrates characters and dangers from the previous installments series, like the fact that Sundance is still trying to deal with problems from her time as a prisoner in Hell.
In short, this latest book like it really fit nicely into the world we’ve been introduced to, while at the same time expanding it at the same time.
A really great read. Can’t wait for the next volume.
I’m dancing and jumping around in excitement about the wonderful first 5-star review my new release ‘Bounty Hunter’ got yesterday! This is thrilling! Thanks for such an amazing review! I’m over the top happy that the book is liked!
REVIEWED BY LINDA TONIS
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD REVIEW TEAM
Archangel Centriel is having a bad day so it was suggested that he get out and fly,
something that he excels at. After a while he sits on a rock and looks out around him only to find a man running with a beautiful woman right behind. Centriel recognizes that the man is not human and when he gets down on his knees begging not to be killed his true appearance of a minotaur shows.
Simin Arnatt is a bounty hunter with secrets and once again Centriel knows he is not dealing with a mortal but is unable to detect what she truly is. The connection between the two of them is instant and Centriel realizes without a doubt that he has found his consort. She can hear his thoughts and touch his soul.
Now that Simin’s assignment is over Centriel takes her on a holiday to Bali where they can get to know each other better. The vacation is cut short when she is called for a new assignment, one ordered by Beelzebub. Rapha Golden, a demon has disappeared and Beelzebub wants him back. Zepheira is the best demon tracker and agrees to help since everyone knows that Simin is Centriel’s girl.
Knowing that this would not be an easy case since Rapha is a shadow and hard to track down both Zye and Simin are shocked when he turns himself in asking for asylum. He wants to turn to the good side and defect but is he telling the truth it will be up to the archangels to find out.
I loved the bond that Simin and Centriel formed and her acceptance by everyone else as a part of the family. Of course we touch base with other archangels and their consorts that we met previously which was nice and we still get a follow up on Sundance. I would suggest that this series be read in order just for your own enjoyment.
When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.
Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.
Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…
When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.
Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.
Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…
Mark your calendar – Release date is March 13, 2021
When Centriel roams the Earth in a dark mood and atypical despair, in a mountain clearing, far from humankind, he unexpectedly discovers a runner, followed by a petite hunter. The way the woman treats the giant fugitive amuses the Archangel, but he quickly learns that neither of them are what they seem to be.
Simin Arnatt is an extraordinary woman. Her occupation as a Bounty Hunter takes her all over the world, as she follows her prey to the most unusual places. She would have never expected to meet the famous Centriel while on a hunt. When he offers to help her, she feels the enormous attraction, but she knows, with the secret she holds, she could never dare to hope for love.
Neither of them could guess that with her next assignment, Hell is breaking loose…
GRAB YOUR ‘BOUNTY HUNTER’ EBOOK TODAY FOR $2.49 AT THE PRE-ORDER SPECIAL PRICING!
Amazon U.S.
You must be logged in to post a comment.