Writing Projects -- Present and Future

Typically, I write my Friday post the night before. I contemplated my subject matter through the week. I contemplated really hard yesterday. But nothing sparked. As of this morning, I still wasn't inspired to write about a particular subject. Desperate for a topic, I decided (five seconds ago) to fill you in on the writing side of my life. Where I am and what's in the works.

*OUT OF EDEN, my next rom-com adventure for HQN (Harlequin) will hit shelves April 1st. At this point, my job is to pre-promote that book. I've learned over the years that not all promotional efforts (on the author's part) are cost-effective, so I'm very picky. This entails brainstorming new ideas and researching established opportunities. I've actually been doing that for the last couple of months and am now in the process of implementing some of those promo efforts. On that front--shameless hawking here--if any one's interested in a guest blogger in March, I'm available!

I'm also keeping a keen eye on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The publisher hasn't upload the cover and excerpt yet. I'm curious as to if I'll see a lift in pre-sales when they do. I'm also mentally preparing myself for 'reviews'. They should start trickling in another 90 days or so.

*INTO THE WILD, my September release with HQN, is written and turned in, but I'm waiting for the revision letter from my editor. I already know that I'm short on word count, but, even though I have the free time now, I hesitate to tinker with that story until I get the revision letter. My editor may require specific changes that may or may not be time intensive. Rather than expanding on something that she may want drastically altered or even deleted strikes me as a waste of time and energy. So I'm in waiting mode.

Meanwhile, yesterday I received a PDF of the cover for INTO THE WILD. It's quite lovely! Fun and sexy. Unfortunately, I can't share it with you yet. Soon though.

*Book Proposals. Currently, I have met all of my contracted obligations. Which means I'm 'out of contract'. Which means I need to supply my agent with a book proposal so she can try to sell that book to a publishing house, garnering a new contract. A book proposal typically consists of the first three chapters of a story and a 6-10 page synopsis. A synopsis, for those who don't know, is a condensed version of your story--beginning to end. This is always a tough one for me. As a 'seat-of-the-pants' writer, my stories often unfold as I write them. But a synopsis is a necessary evil, so I've learned to suck it up and to create them . . . even though the actual story almost always veers away.

I've spent the last two weeks working on the first three chapters of a series idea that's been simmering and morphing in my brain for several months. I hope to finish polishing that today, but still need to write the synop. Bleh.

I also have two other proposals in mind. My goal is to bring one of those two life over the weekend so that I have two full proposals to submit to my agent this coming week. It's an exciting time because I'm tinkering with fresh ideas. It's also a nail-biting time, because what if neither of these proposals sell? Then it's back to the drawing board and the longer I'm out of contract, the longer between published releases. So... I'm feeling a wee bit of pressure. That said, I should get cracking on that proposal!

What about you? Where are you in past, present and future projects?

SIS Beth