Miranda's April Musings

How Do You Choose What To Read Next?

Part One!

It's a problem, isn't it? You read a super good book, sigh, cry, hug it to your heart, kiss the cover (er, not that I'm admitting to that...), etc. etc., and put it on the keeper shelf. (Maybe stuff it somewhere on the keeper shelf might be a better description. Or make space where there is none and ruthlessly shove it in, aha...) Oh, the desolation at having finished! Will there ever be another book so wonderful, so moving, so thrilling, so romantic?

My gorgeous new mug, ooh ooh.

The answer is, and I'm not making this up, of course there will. Take heart, mes amies, there is always a teetering tottering tower of romance to choose from. Thank you, romance writers, I love you all!

The very second, and even before (don't you love that pre-ordering function from Amazon?) one of the marvellous ladies from this blog - Marilyn Forsyth, Cassandra Samuels, Karen Davis I'm looking at you - publishes a newie, it's pre-ordered in a flash. Happy day when it arrives on my Kindle as Marilyn's book recently did; and I'm anticipating Karen's book eagerly. Sharon Burke and Enisa Haines, it won't be long now... 💕💕

Photo credit: http://marilynforsyth.com.au/

Photo Credit: http://www.karenmdavis.com/books.html

And when I simply and utterly love a book to bits, I also love the function on Amazon that says: Customers who bought this item also bought - and there's your reading list for the next two months. Or two years. Scroll down and see it here, for Marilyn's first book. There's also the Top 100 Bestselling Romance feature on Amazon, which is fun to browse through. Total clickbait for me.

In my neck of the woods, Sydney, Australia, we have some fabulous bookstores which draw me in as shiny diamonds attract others. I'm talking Dymocks, Abbey's, Berkelouw Books, and Harry Hartog. If you're drawing a blank about what to read next, pay your fave local bookshop a visit, stay a while, drool a little, and you will come out with treasures.

Me? I just have to scroll through my Kindle (overstuffed, ridiculously so) or my shelves (ditto), and I'm spoilt for choice. I never seem to have a problem about what book to read next.

Funny thing, that.

What about you?

Love from Miranda xxx

Love to love: Easter eggs. I think I've just consumed my body weight in them plus hot cross buns. Love this time of year!

Love to laugh: At my TBR list. Psst, confession: I think even if I live to be 1,000 years old I'll never read all the books waiting for me. But I'll give it a jolly good shot.

Love to love: Knowing all those excellent reads will happen. I am ever the optimist.

Back to the Drawing Board...

By Karen M. Davis

So, I finished my third Lexie Rogers novel, Fatal Mistake, in the middle of July and I've now done everything on my "To-do-when-I'm-finished-the-novel-and-have-some-time" list.  I've done spring- cleaning, gardening, exercise etc and should really get back into writing before the first edit comes back to me, but I  must say, my motivation is lacking. Starting again with a whole new story seems somewhat overwhelming.

Image courtesy of friendsofcavecreekcanyon.com

Deep breath... I sat down the other day and thought and thought and thought, waiting for inspiration. When this didn't happen straight away - I am not overly patient - I asked myself, "What do you want to write about next?" And myself answered... "I want to write something other than crime fiction. I want to write about new characters in a different setting with a whole fresh set of dramas and conflict."

Image courtesy of pinterest.com 

The problem was: where to start? Then I thought - in one of those few moments when an idea comes out of nowhere - I want to write a murder mystery slash psychological thriller. I sat at the computer and just started to write. I pictured an old house full of secrets perched on a hill overlooking lush countryside. Byron Bay - perfect setting, I thought: twin girls with a tragic past - one good, one not so good, living in this house with their grandparents. Add into the mix a couple of ghosts, a rekindled romance, a bit of jealousy and greed, and a wicked stepmother... Not quite, but a wicked somebody... and all that's left to do is fill in the rest...

Image courtesy of ghostgirlparanormal.com

If only it was that easy. I'm open to any ideas, by the way...

How do you feel about the prospect of starting again when one manuscript is complete and it's time to start afresh?

Image courtesy of blogs.vancouversun.com

I love to love being outside in my garden this time of year.



I love to laugh as often as possible.




I love to learn about how and where other writers get their inspiration.

Image courtesy of newhottopics.blogspot.com

How I Survived Post-Manuscript Blues

by Karen M Davis

There is a rumour that writing and depression go together. In fact some documents I have read state it is a fact. Is it any wonder? Writing is an isolated profession. You are alone in a room with a computer and imaginary characters for endless hours, sometimes going without exercise, direct sunlight, enough sleep. Not to mention the ever-present pressure of the deadline looming forebodingly in the back of your mind.

But I'm not talking about depression while writing. That is a whole other subject. I'm talking about post-manuscript depression... When your precious manuscript has left you and is in the hands of others... the publishers. Does anyone else out there worry will it be good enough? Could I have done more? I do. It seems hard to let go of the baby I've been working on for so long, yet at the same time, I know if I had to read through those pages one more time it could be detrimental to myself and anyone around me.

I have just finished my third "Lexie Rogers" novel, Fatal Mistake, and I have to say I found this book harder than the others. Or maybe my memory is fading... Wanting to make it better than the last, I devised a complicated plot that speared off in many different directions to eventually come  back together. Well that was the plan, and after many hours re-plotting, tweaking and slowly going crazy, thankfully that's what happened. Since Fatal Mistake is the third in a series I also had to keep revising my first two books to ensure continuity of characters and storyline. For example, I thought I'd killed off someone's father in the second book but was not sure so I had to read it again and discovered that I didn't. This happened many times - even though I took notes - which was time consuming and draining.

I found that deadline drawing closer with too much left to do so, after a mild panic, I did what I had to do and locked myself in my study, hardly left the house, did no exercise and hardly spoke to anyone other than those who live with me. I  lived on frozen dinners and did minimal housework - everything  I promised myself I would not do - until it was finished. What choice did I have? No one could write the book for me...

Then, to my surprise, when the manuscript was sent off I felt flat. Which was not at all what I had expected. Now what was I going to do? I thought. What was my purpose? I could start another manuscript but I knew I needed a break.

So I made a list...
   
On my list were things I could now do since my work was done. Firstly, I would not feel guilty for having time out. I could relax... spring clean...go for long walks... and catch up with much neglected friends and family. So that's what I'm doing, although it does feel weird. However, ticking off items on a list gives me a sense of accomplishment. I intend to enjoy my down time because before I know it the first edits will be upon me and it will be back to the computer.

What do you like to do, or how do you reward yourself once your hard work is done and the manuscript you are working on is complete?

I love to love... to sit and relax by reading a book.

I love to laugh... at my crazy animals.

I love to learn... about social media because I am sadly lacking.