L.A. Frazier's Blog: Two steps forward, one step back!

I broke my elbow and for a while have not been able to watch Vicky's world develop. I have actually missed it quite a bit.

However I saw my doctor today and though my elbow is still broken - I can drive, and type! (Ok so I have been doing both for a while... but the doctor doesn't know that.)

Now for the best news. Vicky is vacationing on the Outer Banks - where her oldest son and his girlfriend have found a body. They might have noticed the body sooner, or even possibly the killer, had they not been a little too busy on their own...

Luckily Vicky is there with her mom protection mode on high. Add to that her elderly neighbors who have decided to go on a road trip and will be stopping by.

Life is chugging along with a lot of smiles, a few laughs and a little mystery!

Have you ever had a character take off on their own? Suddenly you find yourself writing a totally different story then the one you thought you were going to write?

I am sort of having that problem right now. Book two in the series is well under way. However I could not sleep a couple nights ago and got out my computer (it was that or eat another piece of the chocolate cream pie my sister had brought for dinner ... ok so I did both...) and started writing.

I couldn't get into the current story line so I started outlining notes for a future Vicky Andrew's book. One where she goes on vacation to the beach. Before I know it, it is 6 am and I have outlined most of the story, come up with a title and finished the first chapter.

This would make a great Beach read (come on - who doesn't want to solve a mystery while on vacation!) but there is no way it could be out in time for this summer. (Unless I convince PageSpring to lock Rebecca in a room to edit it non-stop!).

So I'm stuck. Write the book I am supposed to be working on - or go with the one that seems to be writing itself? If I leave it, will I be able to pick it up again? - actually that goes for both story lines...

Here it is, a few days later - I still haven't made a decision and I am working on both stories. Meanwhile the laundry still sits in the hamper, dinner has been a tour of the local take out restaurants and my son has started doing the dishes out of desperation (ok - so that's sort of a plus!).

Tonight I decided I'll get hold of Rebecca (my editor) and ask her opinion. Meanwhile - I'm open to thoughts and suggestions!

There is nothing like getting a review from a complete stranger. If you know it's coming you try not to hold your breath.

Lets face it, your mom, your best friend and your writer's group told you the book was good. An editor and a publishing company liked it enough to publish it. So it must be good. Yet... there is this tiny little seed inside you that thinks...maybe they were biased - your mother and best friend for sure!

Then a review comes, from a complete stranger, with absolutely nothing to gain (and your mother doesn't know her/his phone number...). AND IT"S GOOD - THEY LOVED IT!!

Then suddenly you can breath again (not to mention the huge smile that stays all day!). Well that just happened to me. Lisa from BOOKSINTHEBURBS just published a review of Back on the Market. She has a great blog (and not just because she gave my book a great review). I suggest everyone go check it out
http://booksintheburbs.com .

And Lisa, if you read this - THANK YOU!

As a main character, Vicky has always sort of written herself. She seems to know where she wants to go in a story and who will offer the most support.

For the last week though - she seems to have gone off on vacation and left me here alone with my computer.

I have done all the usual things to end writer's block - free association writing, taking a break, doing research on things covered in the book and of course - chocolate .
So far none have worked. So I am seriously considering washing my kitchen floor - not only does it need it (I have two dogs and a muddy backyard) but maybe the threat of physical labor will spark something in my subconscious and get the story rolling again!

Wish me luck!

I approached Cup of Tea Books about giving away a few copies of BACK ON THE MARKET. They were very supportive and immediately sent me 3 copies to put up as a give away.

So tenuously I put up the post with some input from Rebecca (my editor). After the first two hours I had 10 requests. I was thrilled!

Now it's been one whole day and I have 116 requests! 41 people have added BOTM to their 'to read' list.

I think this just shows how great a program the Giveaway program is here. Kudos and my heartfelt thanks to the GoodReads staff that came up with it!

My first book was published in December - and now they are talking a second in the series. Well to be fair that was mentioned as a possibility from the start. But this is still such great news!

Of course two days after I got that wonderful call my son came home with a runny nose. Three days latter I came down with the bronchial flu!

2 weeks and I am back to feeling better and work out the first chapter of book two. Then comes an upset stomach - and oh yes... the stomach flu.

One week later it is making its way through the family. I have washed my bathroom floor so many times - you could eat off it! (Not that I would - we all have the stomach flu and it's contagious enough through regular means!)

But I look at it this way - we have gotten all types of the flu out of the way early this year. Next week I'll start chapter two. I promise...