CHANGE IS IN THE AIR

You may have noticed I have been away from my blog life for a while. I’ve been busy working on two novels at the same time. My writing buddies call me insane, but, like the trees that are in the state of changing their leaves, I find it exhilarating to live in two worlds at the same time.

When my Creative Muse runs dry on one story, I hop on over to the other, and “wham, bam, thank you m’aam”, I’m off and running again. Of course, if I don’t pay strict attention to the change, the name in one story might stroll on over to the other, and take up residence there. That’s when I’m able to cackle gleefully: “They’re right. I am insane.”

But then the little button called “find and replace” comes galloping in, and I’m redeemed.  And of course, then I’m off again, finding love, romance, and spiritual intrigue wherever I can find it. And isn't that what writing paranormal romance stories should be? The magical journey of two souls—writer and reader—sharing an exhilarating experience with two heroic characters, and like them, being changed by the experience?
                                         
What makes writing multiple stories so engrossing? For me, it’s because I’m a hopeless romantic who loves manipulating words.  I love finding the magic of writing in the arms of two star-crossed lovers seeking forgiveness, or redemption, or a love to last a lifetime—or maybe, a love to last through many lifetimes. I love how with each book I write, I’m changing, and growing, and discovering new and wonderful things about myself.   

Yep, the key words here are: I’m changing, and just like Sonny Blake, the heroine in my new novel, “The Empath”, I can “see, touch, and feel” a life devoted to love and magic, with some healing properties thrown in for good measure.  After all, when we effect change in the outer world, it’s a proven fact that our inner world will mirror that change. Our thinking is literally transformed from “not doing”, to “doing.” Ah, the beauty of words.

Summer Blues equals Creative Muse

Here it is the first of August and the summertime blues have caught up with me. It's blistering hot where I live, and the humidity is off the charts. Is it any wonder that my brain is frazzled and unable to make heads or tails of the new novel I'm writing? It's just too damn hot to concentrate--or is it?

As usual, my Creative Muse enjoys making a fool out of me. Just when I think, I'll never write my way out of the story/plot dilemma I've put myself in, the characters solve the problem for me. For weeks, I've been wondering how to get my characters from A to B, and using psycho-babble to get them there (the dialogue really sucks, folks). And then, they take over and begin writing where THEY know I should go. They literally hi-jack the novel, and begin writing the story for me.

Suddenly, the Creative Muse is hot--as hot as the blazing sun outside my windows. I find the spine of the story at last, thanking the characters for their love and support (and putting up with all my fervered "damns" and "hells"). If nothing else, it's clear, they want their story told, NEED to have it  told.  And isn't what we paranormal romance writers live for? A chance to let our readers experience the lives of ordinary people, struggling through extraordinary circumstances? As my mother used to say instead of a simple yes: "You bet your sweet bippy".