focus

It feels like the world’s going to blow away…all night the wind was raging, and it’s still tearing stuff up today.  The golden leaves on the tree in our back alley are just about gone, and I wonder what the garden looks like—might have to head over and find out.  Something in the turkey, ham, collard greens, sweet potatoes, turnip, and stuffing worked its magic on me; ever since Thursday night I’ve been glued to the computer—WRITING at last!  I think it started on Wednesday when I finally sat down and wrote—by hand—a structural outline for my novel.  Then I looked at the files I’ve had since 2003 (when I first started writing Judah’s Tale), and discovered I already had a synopsis hammered out!  So now I’ve got my blueprint, my road map, and all that’s left is for me to fill in the blanks.  I’m working on about 4 different chapters right now, but the most exciting is the brothel scene, which introduces us to a new character.  I’m hoping to finish the sequel before the new edition of Wish comes out in February; don’t want to be swayed by what critics or fans have to say.  The advance review copies are being sent out now, and I’m thrilled that my publisher is giving fifty books to the teachers’ union; if anyone deserves a free book it’s NYC public school teachers!  They’re also loaning me a Flip camera so I can make a short video for my author page; I’m hoping to interview a girls’ reading group to get their take on books, writing, romance, and Wish.  What’s the difference between reading Twilight and a book like mine?  Have you seen Neesha’s great post over at Racialicious?  She links the purity cult and princess obsession to the Twilight phenomenon and the sexual tension revealed but never consummated in Bollywood films…check it out!