Clee Hill: Blog

Just a quick heads up that the next chapter is in the submission queue.

Another long chapter, this time Stef gets to see something new, Luke gets to try something new, and Leri is very willing to embrace the new.

Much fun, some verbal gymnastics, a smattering of Welsh, and a warning about the consequences of using ice water.

Oh, and The Thing has something going on with it, too.

As ever, if anyone spots a goof that got past me and my proof-reader, let me know for a gold star and a fix.

Cheers...CH

No, not that way.

Leri is proving to be an interesting injection into the narrative of Luke and Stef.

On the one hand, she is certainly a dynamic force that is making the Rowdens re-think certain things in terms of sooner rather than later.

It's also fun, as the author, to write a second female protagonist for Luke who shares characteristics with Stef, but is not 'Stef lite'. Moreover, not only is it fun to write Luke's differing responses to the two women, but that those two women are also best friends adds a certain frisson to every encounter because, as we all 'know', women talk.

However, my subconscious seems far too willing to give Leri her head and come up with all kinds of scenarious that could work, but that would derail the plans set down for the remainder of Book One. To make matters worse, it's not that the ideas are bad per se, but they would mean the remainder of Book One would head into some of the territory that was being held back for Book Two. Or just new territory altogether.

The solution for this, which works for plot and internal coherence even if it is an authorial cheat, is that she's away for the weekend, able to reach the Rowdens by phone, but she's not there.

Going forward into Book Two, I can see her arc will need to be plotted down carefully, carved into stone, set in iron, and then encased in bullet-proof glass to stop her from acting up, disrupting, and distracting.

Don't get me wrong, I like the personality I have created for her and I fully understand her utility in terms of the narrative, but she is also a very seductive perspective to take.

As a friend observed when discussing the process of writing with them, there is a sometimes staggering amount of thought, sweat, and sheer hard work that goes into writing a story. In Leri's case, times two.

Ah well, at least the back-breaking draft of chapter thirteen is done. A day or two off, a day or two editing, then to the proof-reader ahead of publication, likely the middle of next week. As for the content of chapter thirteen, beware of dancing in a rainstorm.

CH

New chapter in the queue, next chapter awaiting my not having a cold so I can write without hallucinations.

CH

Just to let those who read my blog know, the latest chapter is with my proof-reader, and should be up by this weekend, if not sooner.

If you're this far into the story, you're not going to be surprised that it's more of the same, a fun mix of comedy, character, and a dash of naughtiness, too.

And all the while, The Thing goes tick, tick, tick...

CH

The latest chapter of the Luke's and Stef's story is in the submission queue, this time with the added benefit of a proof-reader having gone over it and found my goofs. Of course, some things got changed afterwards, so there may be one or two new ones.

This was a fun chapter once I got the 'voice' of Leri right, and she is an interesting spin on the dynamic between Luke and Stef, something that will continue to jump and twist around as the plot unfolds. Initially she was meant to be held back for Book Two, but she makes sense in terms of the plot of Book One to bring in ahead of schedule, though her presence will be much the lesser in Book One compared to Book Two.

Also, in case anyone questions what they three teens get up to in the garden, it is not of character, but it may be out of keeping, in the same way that Chapter Ten's scene in Jensen's was far more in keeping and far more critical to the on-going plot than might be imagined.

Anyhoo, I hope everyone enjoys this early upload, and time for me to mess around with Luke and Stef as I get into the meat of Chapter Twelve.

Cheers...CH