The Writing Year Ahead
Happy New Year!
Here’s what’s ahead of me in 2014:
The fourth book in the Three River Ranch series, because, hello: cowboys! I’m also working on a couple of new ideas, including:
a) a gritty brothers-and-dogs series, set in a small mountain town where search-and-rescue and MMA-style fighting leads each guy to the love of his life. While helping Aunt Mabel train Cupcake-the-Killer-Chihuahua.
b) A series of novellas set in a San Francisco no-kill animal shelter, where hard hearts open and lives are saved. Plus sourdough and Pier 39.
c) A reunion/secret-baby/amnesia story that is mostly done but not submitted anywhere yet. I know, I know, it sounds cliché. It totally is. BUT. It’s also plausible, with a gorgeous half-Hawaiian hero, a damaged but determined heroine, the sweetest island-child ever, and a woolly-mammoth-style service dog. And it’s set on the warm, sandy beaches of Maui. Mai-tais, anyone?
As you probably know, I write romance, a genre with established reader expectations, ie: happily-ever-after endings. But mine usually involve a deep, dark undertow for my characters to overcome to earn that HEA.
Why do I write romance? I’m fascinated by relationships, the change and growth that occurs when two people struggle through to their happy ending. Plus, it’s fun. Real life can be tough. Romance makes readers feel good. Sometimes that’s all you want.
How does my writing process work? Mostly by sheer panic. I’m a crush-writer, a deadline-smasher, an under-the-threat-of-death kind of author. I don’t write every day. However, every day I’m thinking about my books, my characters, my storyline, what makes a great grand-gesture, what kind of jeans they wear, snappy come-backs they might make… I try to write these things down, so that when the deadline approaches, it’s there for me.
Thanks for joining me today! If you have questions or suggestions about upcoming books, drop me a comment. I LOVE comments!! Enjoy New Year’s Eve and here’s to a wonderful 2014.
-Roxanne
PS: On January 6th, visit the following authors as they discuss their processes:
Annie Seaton lives on the east coast of Australia where, besides working as a publicist and editor, she’s also a writer of contemporary romance. She’s been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them. She and her own hero of many years are living their own happily-ever-after with “Bob” the dog and two white cats. Annie relaxes in her garden or on the beach…or most likely at sunset on her deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of wine in hand. She loves to meet readers on Facebook and Twitter, too.
EJ Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she became a financial manager, database designer and business intelligence consultant. Now, her daily commute stays in-house, where she writes with a cat draped across her wrists and a dog attached to her hip. Her stories include gay and straight characters because her life includes gay and straight characters – as does everyone’s.
Nora Snowdon has lived in New York and Toronto, where she worked in the financial market, gambling dens, environmental protection, food service industry, sold shoes and either appeared in or directed over 25 plays. Then Nora moved to the wet West coast and became a Writer of Elegant Smut. She has five novels available on-line and many others on the way. Check out her quirky romances (and read the first chapters) here!
A special think you to Sheila Crosby, who invited me to participate in this blog-hop! Sheila is British, but lives on the island of La Palma, just off the North West coast of Africa, where she originally came to work at the astronomical observatory. Sometime during her three-year contract, she met the tall, dark, handsome local man who became her husband, and ended up staying. Lucky, or what?
Most Charming Cowboy?
I guess I’m not really objective, but I think all my cowboys are pretty charming. Irresistible, even. A little dark and tortured, but willing to let love lead him into the light.
But the most charming? Readers think it’s Zach Gamble, the hero of His Reluctant Rancher. I have to tell you, I may be just a bit partial to Zach, myself. After all, he’s holding his family together through a really rough time, while dealing with his own personal demons. He’s got a couple of border collies that adore him, and you can’t argue with the judgement of a dog, can you? Plus, he takes an orphaned kitten in out of the cold. YES, HE DOES!!
(Rumor has it that he looks like Joe Manganiello, which doesn’t hurt.) So, if you think Zach’s a Most Charming Cowboy, please vote for him. Voting opens on December 15, 2013. Tell your friends!
Why My Husband Shouldn’t Read the Books I Write
- At August 28, 2013
- By Roxanne Snopek
- In Life, Roxanne Writes On
- 2
And no, it’s not because it’ll besmirch his lily-white mind. I don’t write those scenes. Well, not really. (Not under this name, at least!)
It’s because we’re happy together and I’d like to keep it that way!
(Also, it’s because we could both be secret agents ready to turn on each other in a second.)
From the interview at Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews:
Welcome Roxanne. Thanks for stopping in today. I’m thrilled with this chance to chat.
Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
He gripped the doorframe, unable to meet her eyes. “If I don’t say this now, I’ll lose my courage. Maybe you don’t want me. Maybe you can’t wait for me to leave. Maybe I’m the worst thing that ever happened to you. But maybe not. It seems to me like we’ve moved past all the old stuff, but maybe it’s my imagination. Tell me if it is and I’ll go. I’ll never mention it again. But.” Now he met her eyes, those sparkling pools of endless blue. “If it isn’t…”
“Luck is just the beginning.” He poked a finger in Mitch’s chest, but not maliciously. “It takes work. And a hell of a lot of courage. Hardest thing a man can do is look at himself honestly.”