Where’ve I been – and what have I been reading?
Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting today. I’ve been awol from social media since the launch of Tough Going. I’ve been busy plotting out the end of the series. When I started this year, I’d never published anything other than a couple of poems. Now, as we bring in fall, I’m trying my darndest to get that final book out before year end. It’s unlikely that I’ll hit that goal, and frankly, I expect the third book will come out in February, but I’ve got my heart set on finishing this year for some reason and I can’t seem to let that idea go. We’ll see.
Tough Going is a bit different from Tough Sell, the plotting is more straightforward and that’s OK – I wanted to tell Derrick and Allison’s story and I’m so glad I did. If you are interested in ironworkers, I can highly recommend the non-fiction book High Steel: The Daring Men Who Built the World’s Greatest Skyline – by Jim Rasenberger. I adored the book, the writing is engaging, the pictures are amazing. Be forewarned, the Kindle version lacks pictures.
Now, however, I’m moving on. I’m reading up on organized crime and cryptocurrencies. I’m trying to figure out how a man who doesn’t know how to love and a woman who can’t believe that anyone loves her are going to complete each other. My early mornings and late nights are filled with visions of Tough Enough and I’m working hard to bring the series to a tight ending, tying up the loose ends from Tough Sell and Tough Going for my readers. I’ve been reading up on story structure and how to create even more page turning scene changes. I’ve plotted this thing out using story beats, romance beats, and the “snowflake method”. I think I’ve got it lean and mean, just like the hero. Next up: make it smart and sexy, just like the heroine.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a good read, check out Mia Hopkins – Thirsty. There are sections of that book that are absolutely sublime. The characters are fresh and smart and the writing style is terrific. I would have liked a bit more trouble for the hero but you can’t have everything.
And OMG, if you haven’t checked out Sarah Castille’s Naughty Shorts series… the box set of 3 came out August 14th. Just pay for it now ’cause you won’t be able to stop at just one. I’m such a sucker for second chance romance when the second chance is for a married couple that never split! Come on! Who doesn’t want a honeymoon redux?
There! I did it – I came out of my cave for a minute to blog. Good for me. Now? Back to work! Oh, and if you read Tough Going and left a review, thank you, thank you!
~Hugs, Trixie