Notes from the Author: A discussion of my "Process"

Notes from the author: A discussion of my process.

Where are we going? How are we going to get there?

As many writers as I’ve met I’ve seen that many ways to write. Some authors spend a great deal of time outlining their story. Others just wing it. I do a little of both.

When I sit down to the keyboard I know where I am going but not necessarily how I am going to get there. I begin by knowing the beginning and the ending of the story. I’m not always clear about some of the details of the journey until the fingers fly across the keys and reveal to me the story’s secrets.

I’m currently working on the final rewrite of Kusha, and I’m writing the first draft of The Mother of the Galaxy. I have a strong and vivid picture of the last scene in the last book. I eagerly anticipate writing the scene but wont let myself write jump ahead. When I get there I have to have traveled the road the characters have.

I’m not going to tell you what that scene is either. You’ll just have to wait till this summer. In the mean time I’m polishing up Kusha for a winter release.

Kusha is written. There are no new surprises here for me. I just have to clean up the typos (a big issue for me since my spelling is horrible) and make sure there are no time line problems or such. A few characters need a little more flesh on their bones and one or two spots need the drama cranked up a notch. This is an action story after all.

When I rewrite I simply read the story section by section looking for ways to better tell the story. I go back and forth with my life partner and muse,

She reads and shares her thoughts. I incorporate them (or not) and start over. 

As I’m working on the final book The Mother of the Galaxy I do so with the finale in mind but much of the road ahead a mystery. I know our heroin Max Gavaskar will be in jeopardy and that there will be a great political conflagration over planet Harappa. I have good things in store for Earth and my Estonian and Cascadian friends.

I already have the start of the book where she receives her own personal star ship which she will christen the Peter Higgs and the shuttle will be called the Dodje, names from the recent contest. (note to the winners: the books are in the mail, thanks for entering)

So . . . at this moment our little Max is beginning her latest journey across the Milky Way (or as the Fordians know it Galaxy One). Look for it this summer.

Next Friday I’ll offer up a defense of the Gavaskar Field theory over some new discoveries that some think might negate the rotating universe theory. (hint: don’t give up so fast!)

Earth Year 2013

Never mix red wine with Oodo.