Like so many in the romance writing community today, I’m mourning the passing of my first editor and friend Kate Duffy.  Like so many in the romance writing community, I was one of the authors she launched.  That was way back in 1987 when she made a multi-book offer for my first books.  Her precise touch with editing and her brilliant sense of humor endeared this naive author to her immediately.  She has a way of making whomever she spoke to feel special, and every situation offered an opportunity for her wit which was as self-deprecating as it was incisive to the world of publishing.

This photo is over 20 years old, and it’s from the party for Tudor Books at the Seattle RWA National conference.  It’s how I’ll always remember Kate.  Smiling and by her author’s side.  Thanks, Kate for all you’ve done for all of us — writers and readers alike.  You’ll be missed because there’s no one else who can take your place.

I was asked that question a few months ago by an editor.  She went on to say that England has lords and ladies while Scotland has men in kilts.  My answer:  Wales has dragons.  Here’s one of my favorites.  It’s actually set in a roundabout (rotary for New Englanders, traffic circle for the rest of the US) in Carmarthen, Wales.

Today I tried sketching out the chapters for my fun project.  Three chapters which will give me an idea if the project is viable or just one of those great ideas that aren’t really meant to be written for publication.  I started Chapter One with a scene that was in my head when I woke up this morning.  Then I made my first mistake of the day.  I decided the story needed to start at a different place.  WRONG!!!  I wrote out most of that scene before I realized it wasn’t the right place to start the story.  The scene that had come out of my subconscious while I was sleeping was the right scene to begin the story (or so I think now).  Tomorrow, I will go back and slice out the offending scene, decide what parts of it — if any — need to be saved for another spot in the ms.   Yes, despite the missteps, this is still fun to work with.  It’s quite different from anything I’ve attempted before, but the challenge excites me.

And in the meantime, I’m having fun reading, too.  Right now, I’m reading Stone Heart by Charlie Fletcher on the recommendation of my writing friend (and new ImaJinn author) Karen Dennen.

I’m working on a project…just for the fun of it.  I have a contracted book I could be working on, but a few days ago I had a character come knocking on my brain.  She told me her name.  Now that’s really unusual for me.  My standard operating procedure is to come up with a concept and then fight for a name for my characters.  Not these.  They stepped right up and told me their names.  Everything in their story seems to be falling into place with ease.  Why?  Because I’m having fun with the characters and the plot.  Will I ever go further with it than writing up a truly bizarre synopsis/overview — not in story, but in structure?  At this point, I don’t know.  What I do know is that I’m glad Miranda and Jack came knocking on my brain.  It’s been a great way to spend a holiday weekend, and it’s a wonderful reminder about why I love my job.  I get to meet new people (if only in my head and on the computer screen) and learn about their adventures, their victories, their failures…and I can let them be all they want to be.  I can be swept away by their enthusiasm for their tale…and by mine.  Who knows what will happen with this idea?  A trunk book or a best-seller or something in-between?  Or just a fun exercise?  At this point it doesn’t matter…because I’m having fun with it!