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Sunday, October 26, 2014

My Eyes Get Blurry

Vonnie Davis
I really don't know what to write about to grab your interest or entertain you today. Odd, isn't it? I mean, I'm a writer for heaven's sake. I just can't seem to keep my mind focused on one thing. I've got so much to do--and don't we all? How did life get to be so busy?

Right now, I am over-scheduled with contracts, which is a good thing, a grand thing. But ladies, it's all I do. From nine in the morning until one the next morning, my laptop and are I attached at the thighs. There are emails, self-promotion, facebook, twitter, street team management and writing. Around three in the afternoon, my eyes are so tired, I take a nap for an hour, so I can see the print on my computer screen. My eyes get blurry. This is pretty much the life all writers live, especially if they're retired like I am. It's not glamorous. To move forward, it has to be our main focus.
 Right now, I'm writing book two of my "Wild Heat" series about firemen for Harper Impulse--For the Love of a Fireman. At the same time, I'm also going over the edits my editor at Random House Loveswept wants in book two of my paranormal "Highlander Beloved" series. I'll be honest. Signing contracts with two publishers at the same time was not the smartest move on my part. I thought I could handle the stress, the time drain, the mental confusion of switching from writing in a Scottish burr to firemen's lingo in Florida. Just call me foolish...sigh.

I'd love to be able to show you the cover of book two -- A Highlander's Passion, but I'm not allowed. Random House has contracted an exclusive cover reveal with a large blog. But here's the cover for book one, which is already out.


My editor at Random House also wants me to send along chapter one of book three of my next highlander book to insert as a teaser at the end of book two. To be honest, I really haven't given much thought to that book yet. I was hoping for a week of brain rest before I started it. Random House has asked me to write exclusively for them. For self-preservation and to get part of my life back, I agreed.

My editor called the other day to brainstorm on my next series. I was so brain-fried, she did all the brainstorming. I could barely pull together a puff of wind. I just took notes and said, "Okay" a lot. She went over what types of stories were going out of style and what readers are looking for now.

I kept asking myself, how do they know what the average woman wants to read? And, please God, don't let her saddle me with a story concept I can't get behind. So in the later half of 2015 and 2016, I'll be writing three books about returning servicemen -- wounded and with PTSD -- who band together in a small town for the quiet, the remoteness, as they adapt to society again...and, of course, the women they meet. All I have to do is send her four paragraphs about each book, like what you read on the back of a book cover, only in more detail for her approval.

When someone looks at me and says, "I'd like to write a book someday." I want to reply with, "You'll work harder than you ever have in your life."...."You'll also have more fun than you've ever had."

And you'll need to grow a thick skin because some reviewers can be brutal and downright cruel. For example: "Really? This is the piss-poor book you wanted to write?" I bawled. Some can make your day shine like one I got recently. "Vonnie Davis is a modern-day bard of romance. Her mastery of writing mechanics is sublime, elevated to such a high standard that I don't have anything to say about it." I think I'll focus on it instead of one I once received "This woman can only write on the third grade level. I could only stand to read one chapter. Avoid her." Oh, if she only knew how hard I worked to get my bachelors in English while working in a factory at night and raising teenagers as a single mom. Couldn't she just have said, "This book was not my cup of tea?"

Have an awesome day, ladies. Guess what I'll be doing?

4 comments:

  1. Vonnie, I cannot imagine anyone finding fault with your wonderful writing. Like you, though, no matter how many good reviews I receive, the one I remember is the bad one. Looking forward to your new series and your special touch.

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    1. Thank you, Caroline. Odd how the bad reviews always eat at us, isn't it. Honestly, it's as if someone walked up to your baby stroller, peered in and said, "Lady, that's a mighty ugly baby you got there." You just want to reach out and choke them. LOL

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  2. Vonnie,
    I love your blog posts. They're very honest. Take care!

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  3. Sounds as if you need some down time, Vonnie! Don't take the joy-stealers to heart.

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