My Own BLOGFEST 2009!

Simon & Schuster is running BLOGFEST 2009 -- a promotional blog where 40 well-known authors answer 14 questions over two weeks. And, never one to be left out, I decided that, as an author, I should totally answer these questions, too!

So, starting today with the first two questions, I'll answer one per day in tune with BLOGFEST 2009. Read along, leave your comments and email me (amplante@gmail.com) if you'd like to know more!

PS -- After the two weeks, I'm going to update you all on my current progress! A teaser: My new archaeological horror short had four published authors and a real publisher on the edge of their seats at a reading this past weekend! Yay!

What made you start writing?
There wasn't a concious decision to 'start writing' -- I've kind of always had the knack. My dad writes these fantastically creative Christmas letters every year, and when I got married, I wanted to continue the tradition.
There is nothing like a fabulous book, and I've read too many to count. My impetus for writing novels came after reading a wildly popular series and thinking to myself, 'You could have written that -- and you could have written it better.' As an editor, I'm constantly working with authors and words, and this was the first opportunity where I could create something of my own.
My dreams are these incredible stories that have plots, subplots and fully formed characters. All I get when I'm asleep are short passages, scenes and moments; and, after I translate them from my midnight scratches, they explode in my conscious.
I never thought while writing those first Christmas letters that I would love writing this much. It's completely addicting.

What was the first thing you wrote?
All sorts of stuff while I was in school ... papers and creative projects; I even tried to keep a diary multiple different times.
My very first writing that I shared with more than just a teacher were my Christmas letters. Full of deliciously purple prose and gorgeous verbosity, these letters boosted my confidence and were the lighter fluid of my future writing endeavours.
The match came in the form of my own desire to prove I really could write a better novel. I'd read so many in the recent past that I just didn't like, and 'Manas' was my answer -- full of mystery, adventure, romance, technology, danger ... all of my favorite things, and everything that makes a great read.
With the drive to prove to myself that I really could do it, I started writing 'Manas' in Aug. 2008 and finished in Feb. 2009 -- 80,000 words and a lot of humble learning later.

... Check back here once a day for the next few weeks while I answer another question in BLOGFEST 2009!

One down, another begun

Summer is certainly full of lazy days, and I'm afraid that I've been afflicted big-time, even though I hate the muggy, hot weather. I long for the shorter, crisper days of fall, full of apple picking (with lots of apple treats afterwards) and carving pumpkins... Alas, only a few more weeks :)

But, summer this year brought a great treat with it -- I've completed my second full-length novel, Arcane. And, it's awesome. Weighing in at a lean, strong 70,000 words, it's full of adventure, mayhem, magic, chaos -- and yes, it is a kissing book.

Can you say, 'Reason to celebrate?' :)

Here's the back-page preview:

"Drew Morgan is just a normal girl, really. She shyly lusts after her downstairs neighbor, Nick, and enjoys quiet nights at home with her ancient cat. Except for her vivid fuchsia eyes, Drew’s life in Boston couldn’t be more mundane … Until a glowing stranger shows up in her living room and pulls Drew into Enna, a separate realm of existence ruled by the flow of magical energy called arcana. Her gorgeous neighbor Nick – a caustic spy for the Enna resistance – and his band of magical rebels fight against a chaotic regime hell-bent on rebooting the Arcanic Conductor and taking control.
Could normal Drew be the legendary prophet meant to restore the flow of arcana to Enna, or has there been a huge mistake? Drew’s vivid eyes are the key to finding the three shards of a broken medallion hidden in places only she can see. Family secrets are revealed, and new love blooms amid the desolation of Enna’s industrial decay, dangerous wilderness and fairy-tale castles. Drew must unlock her hidden arcana if she wants to restore Enna – or risk the realm falling under the rule of an evil chaos god working behind the scenes. A frenzied race to the Arcanic Conductor is eclipsed only by a climactic love scene between Drew and Nick – but nothing ever ends up the way it seems, especially when the whim of the gods is involved."

Sound interesting? Hopefully! Keep your fingers crossed and I promise to personally sign a copy for all of you when the book hits shelves :)

Moving forward, as is always the case, I've begun work on my third novel, tentatively titled GLOW.

This one is going to be a bit different (re: challenging) for me in that it's mostly a love story with a fierce paranormal twist.

Sundae de Silva's life is being lived for her. She's got a great job, great friends and a great home... but something is missing. When she stumbled into a Fenway bar to escape a rainstorm, little did she know the key to unlocking her future lay inside the lime green eyes of Brendan, bartender and superhero.

But Brendan's not a superhero. He's much more vivid and full of life than a silly drawing -- and the secret identity he's hiding has a much broader impact on humanity than anyone can guess.

Ehhhh not a great way of saying it, but I don't want to give anything away until the precise moment! :)

So, I'm having another writer's issue that I'd like some help with: I'm lost in the middle. I've got a killer beginning and a shocking, awesome end, and I know the climax of the story and the back story ... I've got everything I need to start ... except a clue what's going to happen in the middle.

Perhaps this is how you write a love story. Relationships aren't planned, thus a fictional relationship can't be planned either. I don't know what Brendan will say until he says it, and I don't know Sundae's reactions until she makes them. So perhaps this feeling of meandering is a byproduct of the type of story I'm writing.

I'm currently in the midst of writing chapter 2, and the story is yanking me along for the ride. I guess I can see it as my own writing adventure that I honestly don't know what's going to happen the next time I open up my file and start typing!

In other news ...

My writing group is going wonderfully! I highly (and with a humble head shake) advise any new or old writer to join one -- it's so supportive and the ideas that are tossed to and fro make for the most inspirational evenings!

I've finally got a web developer/designer ready to tackle my site, so hopefully I'll have more on that later...

My home office is in the works! As a brilliant friend of mine pointed out, creativity needs a home. And a home office filled with only the things that you love is the perfect place! I'll post pics once it's in good working order :)

Until next time, my friends, keep moving forward!