Welcome Roni Loren!
An exclusive excerpt, giveaway, and a wonderful guest post from Roni Loren, author of Crash Into You. Romance from an author that spends time putting her characters through hell, thinking of ways to get them into bed...that is straight from Roni's site and I am thrilled to have her as my guest today for her Virtual Book Tour presented by Goddess Fish.
Roni shares her writing process and has goodies for everyone in a giveaway! See Giveaway details at the bottom of this post. Be sure to leave your comment, and say hello to Roni, for a chance to win! Thank you Roni for being a guest of The Wytch's Mirror and for your awesome guest post with giveaway!
The 5 Stages of My Crazy Writer Process
by Roni Loren
Guest Post
by Roni Loren
Guest Post
Being a writer is kind of a bizarre (but awesome) job. And so answering the question “What’s life like when working on a project?” can be a little tough. Mainly because I’m always working on a project. Once I decided I wanted to make this my career and not a hobby, I made the commitment to always being working on something. But there are different phases, so I thought I’d share a few:
The Idea Generation Phase: This is when I’m actively trying to come up with a new book. For this phase, I usually can’t use the computer. New, fragile ideas work better with pen and paper for me. So “working” for me during this period usually looks like me spacing out, wandering around the house, and taking long showers (for some reason, ideas always hit me in the shower.) My husband begins to expect me to answer most of his questions with, “Huh? Did you say something?”
The Drafting Phase: This is when I actually sit down at the computer to write the darn thing. This phase is usually fraught with very manic moments (“I love this story! This is going to be the best thing ever! I can’t type fast enough to get the ideas out.”) and very beat-my-head-against-the-keyboard moments (“This story sucks! I have no idea where I’m going. I may as well trash it and start over.”) Therefore, during drafting, things like housework, laundry, and every day chores go by the wayside as I get consumed by finishing the story. My dear, loving husband starts covertly doing laundry and such because a man can only wear dirty socks so much.
The Stuck Moment: I hit this spot with every single book. There is always a point where I just don’t know where I want to go. Something isn’t working and I can’t move forward. I really, really hate this phase, but apparently it’s part of my process. I start asking hubby to bring home wine for with dinner. :)
The Epiphany: At some point, I get the BIG FIX for whatever has gotten me stuck in the first place and the rest of the draft flows pretty smoothly. I’m a happy girl.
The Editing Phase: I love this part. Once the draft is done, my I’m-never-going-to-finish-this-book anxiety goes away and I can just enjoy working with the bones of what I’ve put together. I turn the book into my editor and the road to publication begins.
Rinse. Repeat.
So basically the answer to what life is like is--it’s kind of crazy, lol. But I wouldn’t trade this job for any other. :) I feel lucky to get up every day and chase my dream.
So what kind of phases do you go through in your life? Does anyone else get brilliant ideas in the weirdest places or at the weirdest times?
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About The Author
Roni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven’t improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. Though she’ll forever be a New Orleans girl at heart, she now lives in Dallas with her husband and son. If she’s not working on her latest sexy story, you can find her reading, watching reality television, or indulging in her unhealthy addiction to rockstars, er, rock concerts. Yeah, that's it. Her debut novel, CRASH INTO YOU, will be published by Berkley Heat January 3, 2012.
Website/Blogs: www.roniloren.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/roniloren
Tumblr (where I post mancandy photos): http://roniloren.tumblr.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/roniloren
Buy links for book: www.roniloren.com/books
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Crash Into You
by Roni Loren
Brynn LeBreck has dedicated herself to helping women in crisis, but she never imagined how personal her work would get, or where it would take her. Her younger sister is missing, suspected to be hiding from cops and criminals alike at a highly secretive BDSM retreat—a place where the elite escape to play out their most extreme sexual fantasies. To find her Brynn must go undercover as a sexual submissive. Unfortunately, The Ranch is invitation only. And the one Master who can get her in is from the darkest corner of Brynn’s past.
Brynn knows what attorney Reid Jamison is like once stripped of his conservative suit and tie. Years ago she left herself vulnerable only to have him crush her heart. Now she needs him again. Back on top. And he’s all too willing to engage. But as their primal desires and old wounds are exposed, the sexual games escalate—and so does the danger. Their hearts aren’t the only things at risk. Someone else is watching, playing by his own rules. And his game could be murder.
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Excerpt
*CRASH INTO YOU is told in chapters alternating between the present and ten years earlier. This is from a “past” chapter.*
“That’s one of the things I like about you. You don’t seem to give a damn about who my family is, so I can just relax around you.”
She laughed. “Yeah, once I found out you couldn’t fire me, you lost all shot of me kissing your ass.”
He slipped a hand onto her hip and pulled her closer, their bodies almost touching. “So what’s your stance on kissing other things?”
Every muscle in her body strained to move forward, to close the sliver of distance between them, but she held still. “Probably not a good idea since we work together.”
He smiled and shook his head. “See, you’re always such a half-empty kind of girl. Working together means we’ll get paid to hang out with each other.”
“And everybody in the office will think I’m hanging out with you for the wrong reasons.”
He shrugged. “That’s why we don’t tell. It’s none of their business anyway.”
She chewed her lip. “I like you, Reid, but I don’t know . . . it’s just complicated. I’ve got a lot—”
He put a finger over her mouth, hushing her. “Stop overthinking things, Brynn. It doesn’t have to be so complex. I know you don’t bullshit, so I’m not going to either. Since the first day I met you, I haven’t stopped thinking about what it would be like to touch you.” He cupped her chin and ran his thumb over her lips. “To taste you. I leave the office every day fighting a hard-on because just hearing your voice sets me off.”
She swallowed hard, the blunt words and his finger on her lips throwing gasoline on the flickering flame of longing she’d been fighting since they’d left the office.
“So in about three seconds, I’m going to kiss you. If you don’t want that, you tell me to stop, and I’ll never try again.” He curled his hand around the back of her neck, his gaze tattooing her. “One . . . two . . .”
ABOUT THE GIVE AWAY
The Author of Crash Into You, Roni Loren is Giving Away :
* One signed set of Romance Trading Cards for "Crash Into You" to a random commenter at every stop.
* A $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
* A signed set of Romance Trading Cards for "Crash Into You" AND a basket of romance novels (approx. $50 value) to the host with the most comments (excluding the author's and their own) including: Switch by Megan Hart, Big Jack by J.D. Robb, Enemy Lover by Karin Harlow, Beyond the Night by Joss Ware, and The Fallen: Raziel by Kristina Douglas.
Be sure to follow the tour and comment on all tour stops; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/virtual-book-tour-crash-into-you-by.html
Good Luck!
12 comments:
The 5 stages were interesting to read, but it was the Rinse, Repeat at the end that struck home with me. It would be a never ending cycle.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks for hosting Roni today!
Fun and interesting post. Like your five stages. I'm sure we all have these kinds of stages, but I can't think of mine. Can't wait to read Crash Into You.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I have really enjoyed following your tour. Your writing sound really fascinating as does your story.
To answer your question: I get my ideas when walking the dog or when trying to sleep. So I carry a small notepad and pen in a coat pocket or a dog-walking purse, and have a notepad with attached light on my bedside table. (I've trained myself NOT to say, "Oh, I'll remember it later/in the morning" -- because I probably won't.)
Very interesting post today. So that's how a book gets written, huh? Love this kind of background info. BTW, do you ever get an idea for the next book (or a different series) while still in the midst of your current project? If so, how do you handle the brain overload?
I like the inspiration phase...and fortunately, I'm a Director. When I have a brainstorm, I pass it along to my staff and somehow it takes form. It's a wonderful thing. I might not like being an author where I had to both HAVE the idea AND bring it to fruition!
catherinelee100[at]gmail[dot]com
After reading your post, I can honestly say I am so grateful that I have always been content to just be a reader. I don't think I could take the pressure of being a writer! I don't know how you authors do it!! I cannot tell you how much I admire the process and the WORK you go through to provide the very product I enjoy so very much. THANK YOU!!!
Gena Robertson
robertsongena@hotmail.com
Thanks for the great info. Now I know I'm not so crazy when I write! My husband too has to pick up a lot of slack and had the occasional one-sided conversations. I get most of my ideas when I'm driving (crazy) and when I'm listening to my ipod doing the dishes or laundry. my mind never seems to stop and it often drives me crazy!
I've had this book on my TBR list for a few weeks and think I should move it up towards the top. I just keep going back to it and I really want to read it.
Best of luck with Crash Into You Roni!
Heather E
hregtvedt@aol.com
I'm so relieved to read that getting stuck is part of your normal process. I'm stuck at the moment, waiting for the 'fix it' phase!
Marybelle, It's definitely a Rinse and Repeat kind of thing, lol.
Joanne, thanks!
MomJane, thanks, I really appreciate you following the tour! :)
Karen, That's a good idea. And you're right about those late night revelations. I never remember those in the morning.
Karen, I do sometimes get threads of ideas for future books while I'm writing one, but I just jot a note so I can look at it later. When I'm writing a story, I try to stay fully immersed in that particular story. Some people can work on a bunch different projects at once, but that's not how my mind works.
Catherine, lol, yes, that is nice that you have people to delegate it to! :)
Gena, Thanks so much. There is pressure to being a writer, especially if you're under deadline. But my guess is most of us would say we can't NOT write. It's some weird quirk of our DNA that compels us to do this crazy job. So thank God for readers who want to read what we write! :)
Heather, thanks, hope you enjoy the book if you decide to pick it up! :) And I get my ideas during those times too. I think when our mind is relaxed (like doing some automatic activity like driving or showering) the creativity can spring forth.
Charlotte, good luck on the stuck phase. I HATE IT. I'm fighting through a stuck moment myself right now.
Hello and thanks everyone for coming by. Roni, it has been a pleasure to feature you and to be a part of your tour. Thank you for coming by. I have not had a chance to get the book and read it yet but I am really looking forward to it. All the best to you, and wishing everyone luck in the giveaway.
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