I made my deadline. :)
With only one day to spare, I turned in book 2, CHECKMATE, MY LORD, to my
editor. Can everyone hear my ginormous sigh of relief? Have a peek at my
pre-deadline office below—yikes!
Many times, I’ve heard authors talk about the difficulty
they had in writing their “sophomore” book. I never really understood the
message they were trying to convey—until this past year. Writing on deadline is
a completely different animal from having years to polish one’s debut. And in
some cases, writing several manuscripts until THE ONE catches an editor’s eye.
If you’re a pre-published author, I’d like to offer you one
piece of advice. Discipline yourself to writing a certain number of words (or
pages) a day, every day. Then, when you do sell (because you will), you can
answer one vital question that your new editor will ask. How long will it take you to write the next book?
It’s an answer
you must know. Because if you get it wrong, you’re not only affecting your book’s
release, you’re probably affecting many others. It’s not a great way to start
your new, shiny career.
Off with the advice hat, on with the squee hat. I can’t wait
to share CHECKMATE’s cover with you. A couple weeks ago, I got my first peek of
the design and, let me tell you, it’s beautiful and lush and fits the tone
perfectly. I loved how the cover artist pulled in certain elements of the
story—a more “mature” hero, who happens to be holding an unfriendly pistol, a
setback of a vast country estate, and an element of danger that penetrates each
vibrant color.
I’m really looking forward to the next few months. Much of
March and April will be devoted to promoting my April 1st release, A
LADY’S REVENGE. Just in the last two days, I’ve enjoyed revisiting Cora and
Guy’s love story. It’s rocky and heart-wrenching. Cora’s been through a lot,
but she has a steadfast man dogging her heels. Why? Because he’s always
believed in her. Lucky girl, huh?
Who’s dogging your
heels? Tell me about the one person who believes in you—even when you don’t.
I have an autographed advanced reading copy (ARC) to
giveaway to one commenter. Please include your email addy below your answer.
I’ll announce a winner at 10:00 pm CST.
If you don’t win today’s giveaway, please hop on over to my website and scroll down to the Goodreads
giveaway for a chance to win one of the three autographed ARCs.
Hugs,
Tracey
* * *
Tracey Devlyn writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey toward the heroine's happy ending). An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekend torturing her characters.
A LADY'S REVENGE, Available 1, 2012
Romancing History One Defiant Woman at a Time
Congratz for your release Tracy! Wish you all the best! Aretha, arethazhen(at)rocketmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSorry forgot to answer the question. The one person is my mom. Cheers Aretha :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Tracy!!!Looks super! Hmm, my dad always believed in me, told the waiter in a restaurant as I was busy scribbling down a scene on a paper napkin that I would be a published author soon. I couldn't write after he died I was so upset. But then I wrote his story--The Thirteenth Mission for Ex-POW Bulletin about his being shot down when he was 16 over Germany on his 13th mission and that was it. I started to write for magazines and then again began to write novels. So Dad really made it happen for me.
ReplyDeletecongrats Tracey,
ReplyDeletecant wait to read this book ;)
Tracey, great advice! Congratulations on making that deadline. I agree, discipline is definitely the answer. Who drives me? I'd have to say my sister. She bought a fancy name plate for my desk years before I was published that says, Carolyn Brown, Author! She's believed in me forever.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! You finished! My husband always believes in me, even when he has no reason to. Sometimes I even have to defend my critics to him. But it's nice he has such blind faith.
ReplyDeleteMy family has really come through for me in the last year. When I moved from Chicago to Seattle, my mom flew out to help me drive the moving truck.
ReplyDeletegeishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com
--> Writing on deadline is a completely different animal from having years to polish one’s debut.
ReplyDeleteSO TRUE. My sophomore book, CHASE ME, is releasing in June, and being a perfectionist, I really wish I'd had time for just one more pass. ;-)
Congratulations! I'm glad to know that your office can look like mine. I loved what you said about the consistent writing on a daily basis
ReplyDeleteAretha--Moms are the best, aren't they? I'm extra lucky in my mother-in-law, too.
ReplyDeleteTerry--Such a great story about your dad! Now I understand your military leanings. :)
ReplyDeleteEli--thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn--Sounds like you have a great sis. I love it when one's sister is also one's best friend. Now you need to have her add "New York Times Best Seller" below your name. :)
ReplyDeleteShana--we are both lucky in our spouses! Love that you get hero material every day.
ReplyDeleteTamara--I'm with you. One more pass would have been ideal. I'm going to work hard to leave myself some extra wiggle room for book 3.
ReplyDeleteRenee--can't wait to clean my office this weekend. It's out of hand!
ReplyDeleteYep, by knowing what we can write in a day, we also know what we can write in a year. Throw in 6-8 weeks for revisions and you'll have a good idea of how long it'll take you to write a book. Don't forget to account for vacations and family stuff!
Congratulations! I would hate to have to write under deadline! My one daughter seems to think I can accomplish a lot more than I think I can or anyone else.
ReplyDeletecatslady5(at)aol.com
Yay for your finishing your book in the nick of time. Time to rest a bit and celebrate. My family is definitely the people who motivate me and keep me going. I trust in them to dog me all the way ;)
ReplyDeleteCambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
The one dogging my heels and believing in me when I feel shakey about it myself would be my husband. Bless him.
ReplyDeletelittle lamb lst at yahoo dot com
Catslady--glad to hear your daughter is there for you. So nice to have a great support system.
ReplyDeleteNa--thanks for stopping. Sounds like you have a great "pack" at your back. :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband believes in me, always has. That's why I fell in love with him.
ReplyDeleteI totally hear you about writing the "sophomore" book. Working on mine right now as well as polishing my debut and it's a lot more difficult than I'd anticipated.
Lil--you have a keeper there! Hold on to him tight. :)
ReplyDeleteThat person would be my husband. Whenever I am feeling down or I can't do something, he is there cheering me on. Congratulations on the release!
ReplyDeletejcalvert719(at)yahoo(dot)com
Congratulations on your sophomore release! You must be so thrilled!!!
ReplyDeleteFortunately my husband and my best friend always prop me up when I am feeling insecure and need a cheering section.
CONGRATS Tracey!
ReplyDeleteI have a big family and they are all very supportive but I'd have to say my mom is my biggest support and has never not believed in me.
yadkny@hotmail.com
JenniferK, Elf2060 & Brooklyn--love seeing so many husband acting as real-life heroes!
ReplyDeleteYadkny--having a large, supportive family is such a blessing. My husband's family is like that. They're all such special people.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to JenniferK! You won an advanced reading copy of A LADY'S REVENGE. I'll be in contact for your snail mail.
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone, for stopping by and sharing a bit of yourself.
Have a great weekend!
Tracey
My adult daughter, of all people, is often my biggest cheering section. She comes out with insights about me that astound me, and delivers them in a way I can hear her. Better still, she calls me when things don't go well for her--and when they do. I'm loving this aspect of parenting in ways I could never have predicted.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new release Tracy! I guess one person that believes in me when I don't would be my sisters and husband and son. They are there when I need them. Anything I go to do the are right there behind me all the way.
ReplyDeletequiltlady110 at gmail dot com
Congrats, Tracey!
ReplyDelete