Writing Process Blog Hop

What is my Writing Process?

Today I’m participating in the Writing Process Blog Hop, where you’re tagged by a fellow writer to answer some questions. In turn, you then profile 2-3 other writers to do the same.  The person who started this is Charlie Ray (http://redroom.com/member/charles-a-ray). 

1) What am I working on?

I am working on a new series called, The Love List. The title is, Uncorked and In Love. I am writing the first in the series. The other 3 books will have a common theme but written by different authors. I always have fun with a new series to get it off the ground. I just finished with the first in The Places to See series, The Empress of Ireland.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

In many of my stories and series I like to tackle heroes and heroines who are dealing with bigger life issues. In my Dog Tails Christmas series, The Christmas Gift that Keeps Wagging the hero had a little boy who has grand mal seizures and needs a seizure dog to predict when the seizures come on. In my Regimental Heroes, the men were struggling with PTSD which would not have been diagnosed in Victorian England. In my novel, Shot in the Dark, the police detective has been shot and his leg crippled.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I write romance, because in the romance genre you have a happy ending. The end. J There is too much unhappiness and grief in the outside world. I like to bring people a bit of escape and happiness. Let them escape and know that not everyone is going to die in the end.

4) How does my writing process work?

I don’t have a ton of free time to write, so when I do I need to stay focused. I am a linear writer. I have an idea with the beginning, middle and the end. I start and write through. I read, reread, then reread, send through my critique group, rewrite, have Beta readers read it, then send it to the publisher’s editor and then rewrite again and start the editing process again!

I keep a list of story ideas I may hear on TV or newspaper and a list of character’s names to pull from Ask anyone, I TRY and come up with unique character’s names.

DV Berkom is a slave to the voices in her head. As the author of two bestselling thriller series (Leine Basso and Kate Jones), her love of creating resilient, kick-*ss female characters stems from a lifelong addiction to reading spy novels, mysteries, and thrillers, and longing to find the female equivalent within those pages.

Raised in the Midwest, she received her BA in political science from the University of Minnesota and promptly moved to Mexico to live on a sailboat. Many, many cross-country moves (and several years) later, she now lives just outside of Seattle, Washington with the love of her life, Mark, an ex-chef-turned contractor, and writes every chance she gets.

For more information, please visit her website at http://www.dvberkom.com.

Darlene Panzera writes sweet, fun-loving romance and is the winner of the “Make Your Dreams Come True Contest” sponsored by Avon Books, which led her novella, THE BET, to be published with Debbie Macomber’s FAMILY AFFAIR. The full length novel, re-titled, BET YOU’LL MARRY ME, released December 2012 and her bestselling series, THE CUPCAKE DIARIES, released its first installment in May 2013. Born and raised in New Jersey, Darlene is now a resident of the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her husband and three children. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her family and her two horses, and loves camping, hiking, photography, and lazy days at the lake.  http://www.darlenepanzera.com/

Chris Karlsen is a retired police detective who writes time travel romances populated with 14th century knights, and thrillers featuring a nautical archaeologist and Turkish agent. She spent twenty-five years in law enforcement with two different agencies. The daughter of a history professor and a voracious reader, she grew up with a love for history and books. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Near East, and Northern Africa satisfying her passion for seeing the places she’s read about. A Chicago native, Chris has lived in Paris, Los Angeles, and now resides with her husband and five rescue dogs in the Pacific Northwest.  http://www.chriskarlsen.com/

Sharon Kleve: She loves romance. She loves reading romance, living romance, and especially loves writing about romance. She gets no greater feeling than watching her characters come alive in each other's arms. Most of all, she loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve—with a few bumps and bruises along the way.

One of her favorite things to do is picking up a new book and sinking into the story, immersing herself in the emotions between the characters. She hopes to inspire her readers the same way her favorite authors have inspired her.

When not writing, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cat and a good book, or in the kitchen baking sourdough bread or bagels.  http://authorsharonkleve.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

Joanne Jaytanie: I was born and raised in Sherburne, New York, a small village surrounded by dairy farms and rolling hills, and a wonderful place to grow up and call my hometown. During my college years I slowly crept across the country.  Stopping along the way in Oklahoma, California and finally Washington State, which I now proudly call home. I am married to a wonderful man and have two step-children, a boy and a girl, along with three dobermans - what could be more perfect. My husband and I live in a beautiful home that is located on the Kitsap Peninsula with a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.  Just a ferry ride away from Seattle. http://www.joannejaytanie.com/about-me.html

I have a Bachelors Degree in Business. I spent a number of years in business administration, thirteen of which involved owning our own forensic engineering firm.  For the past thirty years I have trained and shown dogs.

I love stories and thrive at figuring out "whodunit," just ask my husband. I drive him crazy telling him what's going to happen in a tv show before it actually does. 

I am very involved in the dog world.  I have been the president of my local All-Breed Dog Club for a total of nine years. Also the first AKC Delegate for this club. Along with member and past officer of four other dog clubs.