Ramblings from Rhianna
With only three weeks before my first book appears in e-publication form, I’m almost glad that Christmas and the holidays are able to distract me. I am excited at the idea of Shaking Off the Dust being out there for public consumption but after the work of edits, and believe me that was eye opening, I ended up spending the last several weeks in a sort of writers limbo.
I have several works in progress that I hoped to finish or make an impact on, but I found myself writing a paragraph here and there. I promised myself that for the completed manuscript and sequel to SOTD, I would use everything I learned in edits and apply. And I would start to make appearances in the chat rooms to help promote my name and book. Oh yea, and then there’s the whole preparing for the holidays and my day job. Pesky thing, they want my full attention when I’m there.
I failed miserably at all those things, except my day job. My office mate doesn’t allow me to slack off…much. Thank God for her.
Now if I only had a writer mate, who would also demand deadlines and talk me down when I’m circling the computer like a coyote. It took me until this last week to pull out that manuscript and begin the new edits. I had some POV issues I needed to work out in my head before I started. You see this sequel is more of an action/thriller and less so a romance. Yes, there is a love story that continues and two new ones that begin, but it brings together all those sexy men from the first book . As each character is pulled back into this story, they have a unique POV.
As for the WIPs (works in progress), there are three and each one is very unique. One is a Novella and started out as a comedy and is turning into something more intense. I love humor in books, but I find it hard to keep the threads of real life out. In real life we try to laugh when it gets hard. Humor is there even in the saddest places. But, I wanted something light hearted, so I am letting it sit for a bit, until I decide if it’s straight romantic comedy or not.
The historical is kicking my fanny. I have a fair bit done, but I am using some historical events as background to the plot and I wonder if I should just change it into a parlor, party and seduction, like so many current historical. I don’t mean that as an insult, not really, but it’s easier not to worry about historical accuracies when you keep a smaller landscape.
As for Christmas, I will put down the pen and computer at the end of next week to welcome family and the holiday spirit into my heart. It’s been such a remarkable year for me. (This is the part where you assume I’m going to remark on the past year. Sometimes you are too smart for your britches.) I learned about changes, life and a little about writing. I would advise anyone to follow their heart, but you must know your heart a little too.
What did you learn in 2007? What advice would you offer to anyone based on what this past year has taught you?
Rhianna Samuels
Rhiannasamuels.com
Begin the New Year by
“Shaking Off the Dust”
amount in your bank account. When I am poor, which is more often then not lately, the idea of the holidays no longer has the effect of excitement.
The hero of Shaking off the Dust is Takeshi Shimodo. He is quiet, disciplined and not sure how to respond to Hannah when she comes knocking on his door with news his friend is a ghosts and wants his help. As you read, you learn what kind of man he is from his interactions with all of those around him. You will also learn of an event that has touched his life. Meeting Hannah makes him realize what has been missing for far to long. Hannah takes no prisoners in her dealings with everyone in her life. She has to keep finding the absurd and amusing in order to move through each day, which is one of the things that draws Takeshi to her as a friend. It doesn’t take long for him to discover he wants more that friendship from her. There is a certain amount of jealousy between Takeshi and Tom Mecurio as they both learn to care for Hannah. That envy becomes an issue and creates humorous moments in the story. Takeshi tries to keep a Zen like attitude about his relationship, but that changes as he finds other men are drawn to Hannah. You will enjoy seeing how that all plays out until the end. In the blurbs and excerpts, there is a focus on the romance between Takeshi and Hannah. It is the foundation on which the building suspense unfolds into what I hope is a thrilling ride to find the ones responsible for placing a bomb on board Toms’ plane in Madrid. Along the way is humor, drama and adventure. Start your New Year by “Shaking Off the Dust.”
