The Honeymoon - Donna Alward

Starting a new book is like a new relationship.  At first you see all the possibilities.  Everything is brand new, and you're learning about your characters just like you'd get to know a new boyfriend.  Everything about them is wonderful, even their flaws. You want to spend all sorts of time with them. Then you get engaged...oh bliss!  This is really going to happen.  The idea is now a reality and you're going to write this great story. Maybe you've done character sheets or a synopsis or an outline.  And the glow stays through what I call the honeymoon phase - usually through the first three chapters or so when the hero and heroine meet and yes, there's conflict but there's also simmering tension and the rest of the book lays ahead, blank pages that will hold your wonderful story.

Of course later on it becomes very much the day to day living with it, fighting for words at times, moments of rapture, but, like marriage, a lot of Hard Work.

I love the honeymoon phase.

This summer sees me starting a few new projects and there is nothing better than this "discovery" period. Possibilities is the best word I have for it.  Anything can happen - including magic. In the honeymoon phase I don't have to be overly concerned with arcs and acts and writing myself into a corner. The world is my oyster. And my job is to fall in love with my characters and care about their problems - because if I do, there is a better chance my reader will too.

I've got 2 things on the planning burner right now, and I'm having great fun.  One is a bit lighter in tone, and I'm imagining snappy dialogue and a heroine that isn't going to let the hero get away with anything.  I've pulled a little role reversal and it has me rubbing my hands together with glee just thinking about it. The other is softer, lazier, with a longer character arc and a bigger world.  I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into that one too. I already love my heroine and my heart aches for what she faces at the beginning of the book.  And the hero - he's kinda delicious.  Both have had what I'd call "defining moments" in their lives but neither have really dealt with them.  But in this place - and with each other - they kind of can't ignore it anymore.  And I'm pretty sure they're going to fall in love at the same time.

When I'm neck deep in the middle I know I'll be cursing and grinding away to get things just right. Right now, as I work on the beginnings, I can't stop the sense of optimism I feel as I type the first words that will be their stories. :-)

Right now I have a reprint out - Hired: The Italian's Bride is in the anthology Mediterranean Men & Marriage, and in October my newest Harlequin Romance will hit the shelves in the UK (Feb 2011 US) - Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle.  You can check everything out at http://www.donnaalward.com/