Note:  My cool writer pal Catherine Holm invited me to become part of a wonderful writer’s project.  The Writing Process Blog Tour was created by writers across the country hoping to encourage other writers and introduce their own readers to new authors.

The result — a creative tapestry of writers across all genres and geographies.  Each participant answers four questions on the writing process and then passes the baton to two of their writing friends.  It’s a fascinating look into how writers of all types approach this magical craft.

My two pals are Angie Bailey, a popular, author, blogger, humorist and cat writer, and Colin Nelson, a mystery writer who calls upon 30 years of experience as a prosecutor and Public Defender.

I’m thrilled to be part of this effort to bring writers and audiences together.  Happy Reading!

What Are You Working On?

I’m currently neck-deep in marketing two books of completely different genres – my novel, The Ghosted Bridge, a paranormal mystery set against the backdrop of Minnesota’s I35W Bridge collapse in 2007, and Finding Home, a children’s picture book about a homeless cat searching for a name and a forever family.

At the same time, I’ve got a profound story knocking about in my head that centers around Minnesota’s thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.  The story follows a woman who has been devastated by a huge loss.  Her move to a broken down horse farm may be just what she needs to learn how to live again.

How Does Your Work Differ From Others In Your Genre?

No matter which genre, adult fiction or children’s books, I draw a great deal from reality.  Even when based in a fictional world, many of my characters are actually real people and creatures.

Why Do You Write What You Do?

I write for a variety of reasons — I’m compelled by stories with powerful themes; I love to explore interesting characters; I am always interested in ways to inspire readers to step out of their comfort zones and follow their passions.

How Does Your Writing Process Work?

I usually spend time with my characters in my mind, learning about their lives, their backgrounds, their idiosincracies, their goals, dreams and fears.  Then I mull over the plot and work out how the story will communicate the certain theme that keeps drumming in my head.

Once I know the characters well I sit down to write and let them have their way with the story.  I close my eyes and let them interact and work their ways through the plot.  I never edit during this stage because I want to stay out of the story’s way.

Finally when I have a rough draft, I allow my inner editing policewoman in on the job and let her clean up the piece.  Once she’s done, I re-read the draft, fix story problems, ask specific character questions and hopefully refine the story more and more.

This usually takes a few months and I try to be patient with the process.  Hopefully, I end up with a story that shares the theme that created it in the first place, brings characters to the reader who are captivating, and delivers a plot that keeps the audience from wanting to put down the book!

Now, please meet my writer buddies, Angie Bailey and Colin Nelson.  While they have disparate styles, they share immense talent and accomplishment!

Angie Bailey is a Minnesota author, blogger, humorist, and professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association. She’s the author of whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds and Catladyland, which won the Best Humor Blog in the 2013 BlogPaws Nose-to-Nose Pet Blogging & Social Media Awards and Funniest Pet Blog in the 2011 Petties Awards.

She is a regular columnist for Catster.com, the creator of Texts from Mittens, and half of the comedy web series production team of 82 South St. Productions, LLC. You can follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angiebaileywriter , Twitter: https://twitter.com/ABaileyWriter . Her site is www.angie-bailey.com.

Colin Nelson has worked for over thirty years as a prosecutor and Public Defender.  He found that his friends loved the stories he brought back from the courtrooms.  That triggered a desire to write about the characters he worked with and to put them in mystery/suspense stories.  He also loves to educate readers so he does a ton of research while writing, not only to get the details right but also to share some really interesting stuff.

He also plays saxophone in a jazz group called Blue Mood.  He has published three novels, Reprisal, Fallout, and Flashover which feature a young prosecutor trying to win her difficult murder cases but, in the meantime, she gets entangled in dangerous plots that threaten in unexpected ways. Visit Colin at http://www.colintnelson.com/.