Posts Tagged ‘Before the Storm’
Titles: Your Opinions?
My publisher has decided, wisely I believe, that the title for my June ’09 book, After the Storm, is problematic. It is the sequel to Before the Storm, and even within the publishing house itself, the title has given rise to confusion as people try to recall which book they’re talking about. In addition, it’s a title…
Read MoreCuss Words Revisited
We’ve talked before about the “colorful” language sometimes used in novels and my readers represent many different opinions on the subject. My opinion is and always has been that such language should not be gratuitous (same with graphic sex and violence), but it’s sometimes necessary. (note: those of you easily offended had better skip After the Storm, the sequel…
Read MoreWhat Do You See?
The last time John and I were on Topsail Island, we were having dinner in a restaurant when John suddenly said, “Do you see that waitress over there? That’s Dawn.” I figured he must mean the character Dawn in my latest book, Before the Storm. I turned to look at the waitress. She was a little…
Read MoreSympathy for the Devil
Those of you who’ve read Before the Storm know that one of the main characters, Laurel Lockwood, develops post partum depression after the birth of her baby Maggie. With the depression undiagnosed and severe, she begins to drink as a way to escape her sadness and shame. She continues to drink wine coolers even after learning she’s pregnant…
Read MoreThe Other Side
Do you believe we can be in touch with the other side? Ever since Before the Storm was released, I’ve been hearing from people who relate strongly to seventeen-year-old Maggie. Maggie “connects” with her father who died many years earlier in a collision between a boat and a whale. Maggie seems to have touched a chord…
Read MoreGood News, Bad News
Well, this is all good news, although I know some of you won’t think so, so I’ll get the semi-bad news out of the way first: After the Storm won’t be published until June 2009. Ack! I know. A long time to wait for a sequel. My publisher, Mira Books, calls the shots on the…
Read MoreThe Challenge of Revisions
“It’s never too late — in fiction or in life — to revise.” Nancy Thayer I love that Nancy Thayer quote, but I’m not sure how accurate it is when it comes to either fiction or life. I have about a week left to go in revising After the Storm, and then…
Read MoreThe Book Launch for Before the Storm
Wow, what a great night! Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh provided two scrumptious cakes, I was able to talk about my favorite topic (writing), the audience was attentive and appreciative, and they bought books by the armload. . .which led to the only negative of the evening: we ran out of books! I was so sorry…
Read MoreBefore the Storm
Finally, June first, the actual release date for Before the Storm, is here (well, it will be tomorrow), so I thought I would share with you some of my thoughts about this book. The idea for Before the Storm initially came to me in two parts. I was thinking about a story idea involving a teenager who appears…
Read MoreHome Again, Solid Food, and a Desperate Need for an Assistant
I had such a lovely ten days on the west coast! It was beyond wonderful to visit my brother and his family on their home turf for the first time in nearly two decades (!) and to meet my beautiful granddaughter and spend time with her and her parents. CC is one gorgeous, good-natured baby! Having…
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