Writing Process Blog Tour

Hello my readers!!

Welcome to the continuing Writing Process Blog Tour where each author answers the same four questions about their writing process. I was invited to this blog by http://kckleinbooks.com/writing-from-the-edge-blog/.

What am I working on?

I'm happy to announce that I've finished writing my adventurous, suspenseful romance, "Amazon Sunset" (book #1 in a three-book series). I'm currently working through edits right now before I release my story to the world!!

Katrina Landon’s life is about to change.  The wealthy father she has never known wants to meet her.  All she has to do is travel from the slums of Boston to Brazil. Her trek begins at the edge of the Amazon rainforest, and she'll journey from there to his rubber tree plantation.  If that's not bad enough, she meets her guide—the handsome, too self-assured for his own good—Mr. Knightly, and immediately, he stirs her temper.

Felix Knightly isn’t looking forward to escorting who he assumes is a spoiled rich girl through the jungle no matter how much her father pays.  He is shocked to find Katrina's distracting innocence, and charming demeanor makes it nearly impossible to concentrate on his job.  He’d rather fight off the fire ants, howler monkeys and crocodiles than risk losing his heart to her.

As they delve deeper into the rainforest, they discover nothing is as it seems.  It's more than the unseen dangers of the jungle.  Someone wants them dead.  Will Katrina and Felix solve the mystery before it's too late?

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

This particular book differs from others because of the journey my characters take through the Amazon Rainforest. I haven't read a romance that takes place in such a setting, and so the topic challenged me to write a romance as well as suspenseful and adventurous story. 

I researched quite a bit on the jungle - fruits, animals, plants (both good and bad), and temperature, and the type of people who live there. I must admit, the only thing attracting me personally to the rainforest were the many beautiful waterfalls. I'm not an outdoors kind of person, and I realized that trekking through the jungle would not be something exciting for me at all. However, it was quite entertaining for my characters. 

Check out the book trailer - 

Why do I write what I do? 

I've always loved romance, even as a teenager. I always wanted that fairy-tale ending to happen. I also enjoy being kept on the edge of my seat, either while watching a movie or reading a good book. That's why I decided to add suspense to my stories. I want to anticipate what will happen next while I'm writing, and believe me...I DO!

How does your writing process work?

Most of my stories start with a dream. I don't dream the whole story, just maybe an idea. So then I ask myself what my characters goals, motivations, and their conflict will be. Who will be the villain, and what is their motivation for trying to keep the hero and heroine apart and ruin their lives. Once that is decided, I choose names for my characters and where the story will take place. Usually, I plot out the first couple of chapters, but after that, I allow my characters to finish the story for me! It's fun that way. By this time, I've contacted my cover artist and writer, Sheri McGathy, to make me a book cover. I love having my covers made before my books are completed because then I can gaze upon my hero and heroine as I write and I can actually see who I'm writing about. (check out the other two gorgeous book covers for books #2 & #3 in this series - http://mariehiggins84302.blogspot.com/p/amazon-stories-paradise-series.html )

It can take anywhere from six weeks to four months for me to write a story. If my characters are constantly talking to me, and the plot is exciting to write, then I will finish in about six weeks - as long as real life doesn't get in the way for too long. After it's written, then I submit the story to my critique partners who will then help me find the errors, plot holes, and other things that doesn't make sense in the story. Now is the time when I put everything together and get the book published!

Thank you for stopping by my blog! If you're an author, I'd love for you to leave me a comment and tell me about your writing process. If you're not an author, please still comment and ask me any question you'd like. :)

I have tagged Sheri McGathy to take the ball next week and tell you about her writing process. Sheri writes Fantasy because she believes in magic...

Also, I've tagged Mary Martinez who will blog about her writing progress on April 21st. Surrender yourself to the wanderlust of Mary Martinez!