29 January 2009

Hearts pounding - not

Hooray! The tweaks went off yesterday. I swear, if I ever have to see the phrase 'her heart pounded' again I may just scream.

I won't hear back for a couple of weeks, so I now find myself kicking up my heels and doing things that need doing: getting a hair cut, filing, replying to emails, maybe setting up a website, signing my M&B contract...

I have an idea for the next book, but don't really see much point in jumping in until I've had a chance to chat it over with my editor and that won't happen for ages. Instead I'll do some thinking and throw a few ideas around my head. It's due in June. And this time I managed to refrain from saying 'June? How about the end of Feb?' (See, am learning.)

11 comments:

Michelle Styles said...

To a certain extent, an author needs to be a self starter. You can start doing the research and thinking about what hooks you want to use, and looking up hero material before you speak to your editor.
But do not worry. They want to buy. If your editor thinks more tweaks are needed, she will not hesitate. Otherwise, you will get to see it again when the copy edits come through...

Jackie Ashenden said...

Well done, Lucy! I'm sure she'll love them.

Now's the time to have a bit of a relax and soak up the glory eh? :-)

Lorraine said...

How exciting to be thinking about your next book already. :-)

Do you have any idea what the publishing schedule is -i.e. roughly how long you have to wait to see your book on sale?

Rachael Johns said...

I just sent mine off too!! And although I don't think I had any hearts pounding, can you believe I wrote 'trekked' about twenty times?!?

Anyway relax, ponder ideas and enjoy the serenity while you can :)

Lucy King said...

Well done, Rach! You, me and Jackie are all in the same waiting boat :) (Felicity too?)

I did have one character idea, but then I read another MH author's blog and she had pretty much the same idea. How annoying is that!?!?

No publishing schedule yet (is that worrying??). Re the heart a-pounding thing, there must be other bodily responses to all those MH emotions. Any body language book recommendations...?

Rachael Johns said...

If you find the body language book, let me know!!

Lorraine said...

Re. the publishing schedule I'm sure it's not worrying at all (!) I was just wondering about the process...

The only body language books I've come across seem to be from the point of view of how to use body language to pull!

I'm just editing a ms to send off to the RNA and my characters keep feeling something tightening in their gut - and no it's not supposed to be a stomach bug :-)

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Great news. Well done Lucy.

Michelle Styles said...

Body language book -- Desmond Morris People watching.

You have a contract. The editors will schedule it. DOn't worry. They will tell you.

Also, you will aproach your characters in a different way to any other author. Part oe dark art of scheduling is making sure that the entire month is not made up of the same hooks,but really ty do encourage you to thnk about hooks and themes and then to write what you want...so for example a makeover hook, one night stand hook, or Cinderella or King Thrushbeard hook or Beauty and the Beast. Everyone approaches them differently. Make a list and choose the one that is calling to you most.

Lucy King said...

Thanks for the book tip, Michelle (I've heard of it and will def check it out on Amazon) and for the advice.

I must say I'm intrigued by a King Thrushbeard hook - no idea what that is, but Google will no doubt enlighten me!

Lucy King said...

Ah, don't you just love Google. A Grimm story.

And that's another word that I over use - grim. Usually in conjunction with my hero's expression.

Lorraine, my characters too have churning/clenching/tightening guts.

It must be exhausting being a romance hero(ine).