What are you working on now?
That question pops up a lot in conversation with family and friends. Sometimes I think they ask to be polite. Sometimes I think that what they really want to know is if they're going to see themselves pop up in print any time soon. The answer is, I'm always working on something.
I can't remember a time when I wasn't working on at least one book and more often than not, three or four as well as several short stores or a multitude of short-shorts as I like to think of them. Often, an idea begins and ends very quickly, playing itself out in a paragraph or two and that's fine with me. When I begin writing, I never know where the story will take me. I'm not a planner and a plotter; I don't prepare chapter outlines or devise story arcs; I don't define my characters or try to keep them on a short leash. For me, writing is more fun when the characters tell the stories, when I can open up to the possibilities and just let myself be surprised.
So, this is a preview of what I'm working on.
The Plan was written for my daughter who is both terrified and fascinated by zombies (and vampires although there are no vampires in this story).
Happy Birthday to Me is another story that takes place in or around Center City, the home of Mary Margaret Carmichael (A Solitary Life), Fitz Cummings (Martin Vane Says Hello) and Moe Shelley (Ripple).
Alfred and the Prince of Wode is the story of my companion of many years, Alfred the gargoyle. At this point, this feels like a children's story--but that could change in an instant, depending on which way Alfred wants to turn.
I can't remember a time when I wasn't working on at least one book and more often than not, three or four as well as several short stores or a multitude of short-shorts as I like to think of them. Often, an idea begins and ends very quickly, playing itself out in a paragraph or two and that's fine with me. When I begin writing, I never know where the story will take me. I'm not a planner and a plotter; I don't prepare chapter outlines or devise story arcs; I don't define my characters or try to keep them on a short leash. For me, writing is more fun when the characters tell the stories, when I can open up to the possibilities and just let myself be surprised.
So, this is a preview of what I'm working on.
The Plan was written for my daughter who is both terrified and fascinated by zombies (and vampires although there are no vampires in this story).
Happy Birthday to Me is another story that takes place in or around Center City, the home of Mary Margaret Carmichael (A Solitary Life), Fitz Cummings (Martin Vane Says Hello) and Moe Shelley (Ripple).
Alfred and the Prince of Wode is the story of my companion of many years, Alfred the gargoyle. At this point, this feels like a children's story--but that could change in an instant, depending on which way Alfred wants to turn.