Sandi Layne's Blog

So I've been working for months, off and on, on the Regency Trilogy.

Some of you would even correctly say that one of the books has been with me for YEARS. It's true.

However, I am determined to write the story again. To write it well. To share with you these people that have been in my head and part of the nagging chorus of "Don't forget about us!" that echoes with each new project I undertake.

Sounds melancholy, perhaps, or defeatist, but I don't mean it to, I promise!

I've been working on a few other projects of late as well, some writing, some editing, and some home improvement! So, getting back to Robert and Georgiana takes some re-reading to remember where I left them.

And may I say, that being able to do so is enlightening!

I've left them here, as it happens. The Abbey. In my head, I am using Lacock Abbey as a reference.


Image taken from https://foxtalbot.co.uk/history-of-lacock-village-and-lacock-abbey/

In the current scene, there is an, ahem, difference of opinion between my hero and heroine—big surprise, I know—and I shift from one perspective to another. Which is fine, right? But just now, as I was going back to catch my train of thought, I had a spark of an idea which will open up the character of the hero a bit more, make him a better man, I think, than he would have appeared to the heroine.

Since the days of Jane Austen, certainly, the hero has been mis-estimated by the heroine during the course of romance, no? And vice-versa!

Writing a book is a process. Sometimes, I catch fire and can produce a novel in a month or maybe even two. Sometimes, it can take a year of diligent research and typing, forging ahead on a certain path.

And sometimes, the process ebbs and flows like an unhurried tidal pattern. I do enjoy watching the tide come in. :)

Once again, I did not sign up to participate in NaNoWriMo. I fully encourage and support the concept and organization and recognize that it serves as the impetus for a LOT of creative expression and publication. This is fantastic.

On my own, I have many times written 50K or more in 30 days. 60K, 77K, and even 100K one memorable time, back when I was first starting out writing and stayed up for hours and hours in the night, typing my newbie heart out. I was a lot younger, then.

Warriors! Shieldmaidens! Norsemen, all!
History Channel has announced the beginning of the sixth and final season of VIKINGS!

In case you can't see the graphic, it's to begin on Wednesday, December 4th, at 9p Eastern (you know the drill)!

At press time, I am definitely planning on continuing the live-tweet tradition with my compadre, Lissa Bryan, at the #ShieldGeeks hashtag on twitter!

Bring mead! It's gonna be a cold winter.

Once upon a time, authors Tami Franklin and Sandi Layne were chosen to write in the same series, The Sweethearts of Country Music, published by Sweet Promise Press.


Upon choosing instruments for their characters to play in the band, Tami chose the drums and Sandi chose the bass guitar. In bands, the drummer and the bassist are often called upon to work closely with one another, as they carry the weight of the underlying beat and feel for many works of musical expression. So, the authors decided to make their characters friends in the book series. 
It meant that their characters needed a back story, especially as it was decided they came to audition for the band at the same time.


Tami Franklin's story is Cecilia's Soulful Heart , which was released on September 20, 2019. Sandi Layne's story is Mac's Daring Heart , which will be released on October 11, 2019.
Here is the story of how Mac Meets Cecilia. Their Origin Story. Co-written by Tami and Sandi. 
(This is not in ANY of the books! And I'm not really sure why I wrote all that in the third person...)
The Origin StoryIt had been a brisk winter morning when Mac had first seen C.C. DeVera. The usual crowd of indie musicians was out and about,  guitars in secure gig bags strapped to backs, amps being pushed or pulled on handcarts, a set of sticks peeking out from a pocket. It wasn’t yet ten, and the sun was angling over the sidewalk on Lower Broadway outside of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville—one of the local spots. The shadows along the walk looked like a railroad track, and Mac had made the impulsive decision to follow those tracks until something caught her eye. Or ear.

At Outlaws—a small place with accordion windows that let music escape to the street while bringing fresh air into the bar-slash-diner—a drummer was driving a catchy rhythm to a popular song a local band was surely covering, so Mac stopped to listen. She’d heard of a new band looking for members. A couple of women had been talking at an open mic night just last week and Mac had shamelessly eavesdropped on them. They mentioned not having a bass player or reliable drummer. But they were all girls . . .“Well what can we do?” The voice was not encouraging, but Mac poked her nose into Outlaws anyway, moving to stand where she could see the band but not be right in their business. She saw a petite woman with dark hair and brown skin lift a drumstick with confidence. “I can carry the backbeat,” the drummer-apparent stated without fanfare. “I mean, we can still play without a bass.”Without a bass? Mac snorted softly. Sure they will, but who’ll dance to it? she wondered. Then again, not too many folks were up for dancing at this hour.  Her own bass guitar—a Yamaha—was in its gig bag but she slung it off her back as she stepped into the shadowy establishment. There was a placard propped on a rail-back chair that stated that the band would be performing at eleven o’clock that very morning, as well as the location’s website and phone number. It was a common happening in Music City, after all—local venues giving floor time to up and coming groups or solo artists. The drummer pushed a pair of sunglasses up her nose and muttered something before taking her place behind the drum kit. There was an acoustic guitar player and a singer who took their places as well, and they did a bit of rehearsal to compensate for the lack of a bassist. The drummer—called C.C. by the lead—did a good job with the rhythm and kept the trio moving pretty well. Her focus was sharp and she had definite confidence, keeping the other two in time but not overpowering them.Impressive.After they had run through a few numbers, with commentary from one of the wait staff and the manager, the trio took a break and moved to straighten up the small area they’d be using to perform in less than an hour. Mac cleared her throat, took a breath, and approached the sunglasses-wearing drummer. “Hey, good set.”“Meh,” she said, gripping her sticks so that her knuckles were white. “It was all right.” Common enough response, as was the nod that went with it. “At least Marco didn’t ask to ‘play the drums’,” she added with a glance toward the guy in the uniform t-shirt. “Ugh. That has to be annoying.” The drummer bit her lips and rocked back a bit, as if wanting some space so Mac gave it to her, watching her carefully before saying, “So, did I hear right that you go by C.C.?” Dark eyes narrowed. “Who says?”“I just heard,” Mac assured her with her free hand upraised. The other hand gripped her guitar. “I’m Mac, by the way. And I play bass. Not trying to muscle in on your group or anything. I just came in to listen.” The other woman seemed to relax more if Mac wasn’t looking directly at her—reminding Mac of a former roommate—so Mac kept her eyes on the drums with occasional looks out the window to the passersby. “Thought maybe I’d listen to your set and then get some lunch.”“Okay. Do you have a group you play with or do you just drop in here and there?”Mac brought up the Yamaha, still in its bag. “Haven’t found a group yet, but I heard of someone who’s looking to start a new one. Entirely female. Even the manager.” Mac ventured to smile at C.C., and nodded when the other woman lifted a brow in silent question. “How about, after you’re done here, we go get a coffee? There’s a Starbucks around the corner. Or maybe some lunch? Playing a gig always makes me hungry, anyway.” Mac knelt and unzipped her gig bag to withdraw a sheet of paper with the information she’d gleaned from her eavesdropping the week before. “Here’s what I heard about them so far. They’re still looking for more musicians. I wanted to audition, but a bassist really oughta know her drummer, yeah?” C.C. took the offered paper, pulling off her sunglasses. She blinked rapidly as she met Mac’s eyes for a split second. “You mentioned lunch?”“Sure. My treat,” she added with half a smile. “After all, I’m kind of recruiting you.” She knew that the phrase “starving artist” applied to far too many musical artists and Mac herself was in no way hurting for funds—her twin was an intuitive day trader. “Your drum kit?”Turned out the drums belonged to Outlaws, so there wasn’t any kind of delay for them to go find some lunch. More tourists were out and the sidewalk along Lower Broadway was getting a bit crowded, so Mac suggested they take a right at the corner and find something off the main drag. “How long’ve y’all been playin’ the drums?”
***“Just about forever.” C.C. wasn’t sure why she’d said yes. Maybe it was Mac’s persistence—enthusiastic, but unthreatening. Maybe it was the offer of a free lunch.Or maybe it was simply the fact that she needed a regular gig . . . needed a band. Sure, studio gigs paid well, and she was earning a reputation for reliability as well as her talent, but there was nothing that belonged to her. The music was someone else’s notes—the lyrics, someone else’s thoughts. And although C.C. could lose herself in the rhythm—the steady beat that kept her grounded and focused—lately, she’d just wanted . . . More.So she’d tucked her ever-present drumsticks into the back pocket of her jeans, slipped her sunglasses back on, and followed Mac out into the chilly sunshine, answering questions she usually avoided. Well, C.C. avoided most questions, but for some reason, Mac’s easy manner made it a little easier to respond. To seem somewhat normal.“My mom started me with piano lessons when I was four,” C.C. told her as they bumped shoulders, avoiding a man pushing a cart loaded with sound equipment. “We all had to take them.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste.“All?” “I have five siblings. One brother, four sisters.”“Wow.” Mac’s hazel eyes widened. “Big family.”“Yeah.” C.C. shrugged. “Anyway, I got my hands on a pair of sticks when I was seven, and I never looked back.” She glanced at the other woman. “How about you?”Mac smiled, hitching her bag higher on her shoulder. “I never played the piano,” she replied. “The violin was my first—and I still play—but there’s just something about the bass, you know?”And C.C. did know. She’d heard it from bass players before. “It’s the groove,” she said.Mac’s eyes lit up as she stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Exactly. It’s not the lyrics or the melody or any of that stuff on the surface. It’s the thing down deep that makes people want to dance.” She gave a little hip shake and C.C. laughed.“Yeah,” she said. “I get it.” It’s the same reason she loved the drums, after all. “So, lunch.” Mac turned in a small circle, scanning the surroundings. “Any suggestions?”C.C. reached for her sticks and tapped them idly on her legs before she spotted a familiar neon sign across the street. “Sally’s is pretty good,” she replied. “Decent burgers and the milkshakes are real ice cream.”Mac’s nose wrinkled slightly, but she nodded. “Sally’s it is.” C.C. slid her sunglasses up onto the top of her head as they entered the diner, dimly lit by
flickering fluorescents gleaming off the faded red vinyl booths and Formica table tops. Whether it was a nod to the kitsch of days gone by, or an actual fifties diner that had endured through the years, C.C. wasn’t certain. But the food was decent and cheap, so it was a popular choice of the local musicians. They slid into a booth near the back and the waitress showed up, pouring them both coffee and taking their orders. “So, what’s C.C. stand for, anyway?” Mac asked as she frowned at the black sludge in her cup. “If you don’t mind me asking.”“I don’t mind,” C.C. replied. “It’s Cecilia Clemente.” She frowned. “Kind of a mouthful.” Her shoulders hunched up a bit as she waited for Mac’s response.To her surprise, the woman huffed out a laugh. “You think that’s a mouthful? Try Mira Annice Cunningham.” She said the name with a haughty expression, her nose lifted as she peered down at C.C.It took her a moment. “Mira Ann—ahhh,” she said, nodding slowly. “Mac.”Mac tapped her nose before perusing the little tub of sugar and sugar alternatives. “Hmm,” she said with a frown, choosing a packet of C&H and dumping it into her coffee. She took a sip, then shoved it away and gulped down some water.C.C. tasted her own coffee, and it seemed fine, if a little strong. She decided not to say anything about it.“So, about this band,” she said instead, smoothing out Mac’s list on the tabletop. “You think it’s the real deal?”“I think it could be,” Mac replied. “It will be. With you and me bringing the groove.” She winked, her eyes looking more green under the fluorescent lights.“An all-girls country band.” C.C. leaned back and fiddled with her drumsticks, tapping them lightly on the rim of her cup. “Could be fun.”“It’ll be epic,” Mac said. “I have the number. I can call and set it up so we can audition together.”The idea of auditioning made her a little nervous, but somehow the idea that Mac would be there eased it a bit. Maybe this could work. A band. She eyed Mac carefully.A friend. “So what do you say, Ceece?” she said. “Come on. It’ll be fun. And I think they need us.”C.C. felt oddly warmed by the nickname, and a flicker of something twitched in her stomach. Not anxiety. Not really.No, it was something more. Something like anticipation. Excitement.She chewed her lip as Mac watched her, waiting. Then she grinned.“Okay,” C.C. said. “I’m in.”
(And the rest, as they say, is history. You can read about their audition in Rissa's Rebel Heart by Sydney Logan!)

So, I had a plot bunny.

There is somewhere, I am sure, a cottage industry for breeding and selling plot bunnies to distracted and unsuspecting writers. One was pawned off on me.

(Okay, I thought of it while driving!)
Anyway, I considered this plot bunny, thought it would make a cute series of contemporary romances, and jotted down notes.

(Awww, I'm so CUTE.)
Thing is, there's a lot of "setting" necessary when thinking of a series. If I were writing fantasy or sci-fi, I'd have to make it all up. Which is HARD, and likely why I don't write fantasy or sci-fi! Right now, it's in a real place (gasp!) and contemporary (gasp!) and so I have sources upon which to call.

Because for me? I can't just say, "My Hero is this kind of fellow, who lives here and has for this frame of time." There has to be a reason for everything, right? Why is he that kind of fellow? Where is here and what kind of home does he have and why? How much does such a home cost? What kind of job does he have that will enable him to live at the level I have decided that he should?

All of this is just getting me in his head, understand. If he's an oral surgeon at the age I want him to be, he would have spent considerable time learning that skill and establishing himself and I don't know if he could have done that WHILE being the person I have envisioned as My Hero in this story.

So I have to give him another means of earning the requisite income, etc..

Does this make any sense?
I am employing Google Maps, this afternoon. And Zillow. And sites for the school district in which he resides (no, he's not a teacher), and the community profile so I have a clue.

At press time, I'm still not all together sure of everything. But I've got a better frame of reference.

And now, I have to do all the same for...My Heroine! (Thankfully, she'll be moving in from out of the area so I don't have to have her roots in the area all mapped out!)

And when I get all this done for this book, I have to slide in the Heroes and Heroines for the other books in the series. And figure out how they will all manage to live and work and have their being in this real place on the map. And decide how each of them will exist in the first book.

It can be stressful. It is enormously engrossing for me. It is what I love to do with my time.

I am blessed to be able to do this with my days. :)

I also write for a comic: Hotspur , by Robb Roy for Rampant Studio.


Today, this means I am writing a sequence of scenes taking place in different locales but all in the same issue of the current story arc. The boss, Robb, gives me an outline as to his idea for the story progression, pages of biographical notes and backstories, and where he wants the issue to go.

I weave the pieces together. I believe I'm also termed a "character wrangler".

...okay, not THAT long ago. But several months ago, I submitted a sample of my work to Sweet Promise Press to endeavor to be accepted to write for a sweet, clean romance series.


As you are well aware, that project was a "go" for me, and I enjoyed the research, the Nashville tour, the acquisition of Country Music on my iTunes playlist (go, Florida Georgia Line! Yay, Jo Dee Messina!), and the opportunity to work with authors I hadn't met, before.

We met in a private Facebook group. Hammered out who our characters were, what instruments they played, and the order in which the books would be released. This last was very important, because the series will be dropping in chronological order. And though the books will be released every Friday for six weeks, the timeline of the series covers about a year and a half in "Sweethearts Land" and we each have a certain block of time along the way to make it work.

We had to figure out "our band's" first #1 hit, who the group's lawyer would be, what our band might wear on stage, any rituals the ladies engaged in as a group, and so on. It was a highly interactive process, made even more engrossing by the fact that all the stories were "due" at the same time.

I personally interviewed bass guitarist Gerry Punongbayan, watched tutorials for early violin lessons, watched videos of Suzi Quatro—another bass guitarist—and read up on road tour etiquette for a traveling band. I had SO MUCH FUN. Really. It was great.

And starting next week, we'll all get to share our efforts with you! We hope you enjoy meeting Rissa, Taylor, Cecilia, Katie Lyn, Cinnamon, and of course Mac.

The first book to drop is Rissa's Rebel Heart , by Sydney Logan . It will be available on Sept. 6th!

Rissa Walker dreams of making it big in country music, but after seven years in Music City—and with very little success to show for it—she’s beginning to lose hope. When she’s offered the chance to join an all-girl country band, Rissa finds herself surrounded by five of the most talented musicians in Nashville, a tough-talking manager with a heart of gold, and her manager's son. A son who happens to be a handsome single father whose kiss leaves her weak in the knees.
Jake McCann grew up in the business, so he knows a thing or two about country music. When he hears Rissa perform at a wedding reception, he thinks she’d be the perfect addition to the all-girl country band his mom hopes to bring to Nashville. What he doesn’t know is just how hard he’ll fall for the beautiful songwriter. And he really doesn’t know how he’s going to live without her when she and the band go on tour.
With a hectic tour schedule, and hundreds of miles of highway between them, can Rissa and Jake’s relationship stay in tune? Or, will Rissa have to choose between her music and her heart?
⬇⬇⬇
What? A book tour did you say? Well, in a virtual manner, sorta. Watch this space for days and times next week!

When six musicians come together to form an all-girl country band, The Sweethearts of Country Music are born. But can they balance their musical worlds with their personal lives?

Life is crazy for a touring band in the springtime, but Mac knows what she wants, and she decides to make a play for the handsome redhead who shocked her right out of her boots upon their first meeting. Can they maintain a relationship with midnight text messages and press-beset picnics?Mac’s daring to bet they can! The Sweethearts of Country Music series includes six books by six different authors. Each novel features a member of the band as she struggles to balance music and love.

I am a planner, when I write. As I have no doubt mentioned before, I outline. I have a goal in mind when I begin a story, and I go there.

But I also, traditionally, give myself a few chapters before I begin the outline and this is why:

Sometimes, in the first chapter or two, my Hero and/or Heroine go their own ways while I write them. I have a thing, a trait, a feel I want to develop but somehow they don't cooperate at first.

When this happens, I have choices: 1) Scrap what I've written and tuck it away into the Story Start File; 2) Go with the way the story is unwinding for those first few chapters and then figure out how I can still get to the desired goal for the final chapter; 3) Growl at the uncooperative characters and rewrite the scenes as written and MAKE them behave.

If I am not under contract, each one of these is a viable option. However, my tendency is to go with #2, here.

I let the characters have their way. At first. As I am getting to know them better. After those first chapters, I then develop an outline that will get me to The Desired End in a way that suits their personalities as well as hitting the main themes for the book as it should be.

Retroenvintage.blogspot.comToday, it is Option Day for the current Regency Romance. A man whom I thought was a rake (for that was what I had intended) is instead an ambitious fellow who seeks to attain and use influence for the good of his district. Admirable, practical, but he'll take some time to be lovable, I think.

Still, perhaps a man with ambition is preferable to a fellow who has romanced his way through the Ton during a London Season, yeah?

If not, I could always move on to the next book in the series!