Make em laugh; make em cry; make em wait.

The parallel story within Jennie  has grown.  I've called it Carol, and have written its first chapter, set it in Chester, where Carol & Brian are having a pleasant weekend, seeing the sights, dining out, and having fun in a converted stable...  They don't even mention Rhoda yet; I'm leaving that for chapter 2 or 3, which should tie well with Rhoda announcing to Jennie that Carol's invited her to stay, in chapter 4 or 5 of Jennie.  I don't propose to alternate the two strands exactly (yet!) but it allows me to leave cliff-hangers dangling while we catch up with what's happening to the other characters (see the title to this post).

I've started a chronology; necessary for any novel with a story, but vital where two stories are to weave together.  I used one extensively for Rhoda, so that I could know which Friday would precede the August Bank Holiday and work towards it.  Virginia used one as well; set on a farm, the seasons are important!

Jennie is only a working title: I have to call it something.  Perhaps I need an overall title, so I can refer to the strands within it as Jennie and Carol.  My latest two books are Rhoda and Virginia, but since Jennie contains BDSM perhaps a Garden title would be appropriate.  Suggestions invited...

The picture is of the Jubilee Clock on the Eastgate, Chester.  I wonder if  Elizabeth II's jubilee will merit a similar monument?  The title quotation is from Charles Reade (1814-1884).

A Gift of Time

I was going walking today but since it's decided to rain I'm treating this as a gift of time and will get on with my writing.
I've got a scene planned where Rhoda tells Jennie about her adventures at the weekend, and since she's spending it with a couple of my favourite characters I decided to write the scene from their point of view then I know what Rhoda can tell Jennie from her point of view.  The 'back story' scene won't be wasted, because I'll be able to use it somewhere else, perhaps in a 10,000 word Sexy Short.
I did this with A Rose Without Thorns, where references are made to a meeting between Jennie and Rhoda, but to find out exactly what happened you need to read Everyone Gets Frisky at Weddings (Torrid Tales #56).  BTW, Whiskey Creek Press Torrid has changed its name to Torrid Books.
I'm setting a scene in a hotel we stayed in last year where we had a room in the converted stable block,  but with the en suite bathroom from somewhere we stayed last month.  There had once been a rather short bath but they'd replaced it with a lovely big walk-in shower, plenty big enough for two.  Well, you know I can't resist something like that...

Virginia Cover

Here's the cover for Virginia, to be published mid-June by Torrid Books.  The original version of this cover was more explicit, but since I distribute my publicity material widely, I asked the artist to change it for me, which I'm grateful she has.  She still looks pretty  & sexy, though.
I've just had the release information for Hand in Glove, which comes out in August 2012, so a lot's happening on the publishing side.  I just wish the writing was going a bit better...

Contract Signed!

Just signed the contract for Hand in Glove, a Sexy Short (10,000 words), with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.
Progress on Jennie slow.  I've been gadding about having a good time, taking photographs.  Here's a clue to where I've been:

Now that's what I call a shoe!  In Jenners, Princes St.
Making some progress with Jennie: mapping out scenes and getting them into order before writing them.  I know when we first meet Rhoda, and how, having lost everything of value, Jennie loses everything else.
I might just be ready for Nanowrimo!

Just received the galley for Virgina.  This is the final stage in the editing process.  I've compared it with the checked version and have reported no errata.  Next (and final) version I receive will be the published PDF.

A Way Forward

I planned to write Jennie as two narratives, inleaved: (1) Jennie; (2) Carol, and bring them together for a finale.  The problem being to write Carol without letting the cat out of the bag.  Today on a walk, I realised I don't have to write from Carol's POV; I merely need to keep the Carol narrative going vicariously, having relevant scenes retailed to Jennie by Rhoda.
If this sounds mysterious, then I'm afraid that's the idea.
Currently, I'm struggling to get Jennie out of the shower with her honour intact.