February News!
February is Creative Romance Month!
February 7, 2025
The first news item is about my work in progress, Bourbon Neat. The writing continues with Maggie and Connor's story. I'm happy with the status. I'm into Chapter 20 and over 30,000 words.
Thanks to the Fiction Analyzer, a feature of AutoCrit that I wrote about in January, I'll be writing additional scenes for Connor's hospital stay and increasing the roles of secondary characters. Bourbon Neat is meant to be romantic suspense, so I'm happy to report the genre analysis identifies some chapters as crime fiction or mystery and other chapters as contemporary romance or romantic suspense. With that feedback, I figure my story is on track.
The old challenge story, Resolved Regrets, is on the shelf until I finish Bourbon Neat. I plan to make it a short story of 5,000 – 10,000 words to serve as the anchor story in an anthology of my short stories, including the five I already have a contract for: Avocados vs Mangos, Never Mess With a Grandpa, A Deathbed Request, Rush to Adoption, and True Treasure. Of course, I'll keep you informed on all developments.
My blog post for this month focused on adverbs as bad guys. Yes, they are one of the many things I pay attention to while writing and editing.
I think it's time to conduct another character interview. Any requests? So far I've done Garrett Dane, The Consequential Love Series; Avis Cole, Sparks Fly; Mayor Paul Roebel, Playground Antics; Mitchell Tobias (Uncle Mitch), Restoration; and Tracie Braun, Green Eyes & Dimples. Let me know if you'd like additional insight into a favorite character, including who you think should play them in a movie!
The last item of news is that I received a surprise call from my Neurology Office. They asked if I'd mind if they gave their social media person my name and number. They're thinking of doing a post about me and my books! Another way to get the word out to a new audience.
Keep reading!
I'll keep writing!
Elaine