Writing Blogger Challenge – Day 1


I must admit, I’ve been thinking my blog is/was a little stale recently. So this morning when I was reading blogs and having a major catch up I noticed that one of my favourite bloggers, Hunter Emkay is hosting a Writing Blogger Challenge which will run for 10 days. Ok, well that sounds interesting.

So I’ve signed up πŸ™‚ (you know me, I like to be stretched lol).

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So today is Day 1 of the challenge and the prompt is…

Introduce your latest writing project with an elevator pitch or maximum 250 words.

Now you all know everything about two of my novels (Still & Tangled) but I have a 3rd one lol. During Nano last year I decided to write, or rather, try to write a Mills and Boon novel *sniggers* I managed it, but, in just under 22,000 words, which is well short of the 50,000 that is required. So it will need some major editing, I need to add more angst, and add two sex scenes *blush*

So here is my 250 word pitch for Sorrento Sunrise

Kate works for a travel magazine and when her boss asks her to visit a hotel in Sorrento to interview the owner, little does she know that the sexy, dark Italian will become more than just another assignment.

After a hellish journey and mistaking him for a bellboy, Damiano initially thinks that Kate is a typical arrogant journalist, but he soon changes his mind as they get to know each other intimately on the hotels private beach and over the course of her stay.

Damiano asks Kate to meet him in the bar on her last night where he is planning to ask her to stay on, but when Kate arrives she see’s him with another woman and flees back to England.

Damiano tries to contact Kate but she refuses to speak to him or respond to his e mails, having now researched him online and discovering the string of Italian models he’s been photographed with over the last few years. Already having arrangements to visit London Damiano goes to Kates house with a huge bouquet of roses but as he gets out of the taxi he see’s her hugging a man who is holding a toddler.

Angry, and thinking he has been lied to he continues with his business in London, the purchase of a new hotel and decides to get on with his life, trying to forget about Kate.

Several months pass and Kate is given an assignment to attend a new London hotel opening. She is shocked and embarrassed when the owner gets up on a podium to make a speech and it is Damiano. Their eyes meet and Damiano realises that he can’t get on with his life unless Kate explains herself. Having traditional family values he is shocked that she could have been the way she was in Sorrento knowing her husband and child were waiting at home.

After a small “scene” at the party Damiano finally manages to drag Kate to his office and demands an explanation. Kate is shocked and after explaining that the child is hers but she is a widow and that the man was her brother Damiano feels an idiot. But Kate doesn’t let him off the hook easily. She demands to know who the woman was that she saw him draped all over in the bar. Damiano explains that she was his cousin.

Ha ha ha….that’s 394 words and I haven’t even told you how it ends! But it is a Mills and Boon, so I’m sure you know lol

Oh well, I think I’m gunna need to work on that.

Any guesses as to how it ends? πŸ˜‰

WIP Challenge


I’ve been tagged by Shannon M Howell with the Work In Progress Challenge. As I haven’t got a WIP, as such, I’ll try to answer the questions about my Mills & Boon novel idea I’m working on…..which will be my WIP come November πŸ™‚

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Image courtesy of Pixtawan/FreeDigitalPhotos

1. WHAT IS THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK/WIP?
Sorrento Sunrise- It’s a bit naff I know, but have you seen some of those Mills and Boon titles? Lol

2. WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR THE WIP COME FROM?
I’m going on holiday to Sorrento in June. I love Italy, and Italian heroes are very popular.

3. WHAT GENRE WOULD YOUR WIP FALL UNDER?
Romance, Mills & Boon Modern

4. WHICH ACTORS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS IN A MOVIE RENDITION?
Well, I tend not to think in terms of actors/actresses, as I think it influences you when it comes to thinking about your characters personality. Sooooo, my hero Damiano, looks like David Gandy and my heroine, Kate, sort of like this πŸ™‚

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Image courtesy of imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos

5. WHAT IS THE ONE-SENTENCE SYNOPSIS OF YOUR WIP?
A romance set in Italy that starts with mistaken identity, and finishes with a wedding lol

6. IS YOUR WIP PUBLISHED OR REPRESENTED?
Nope, it’s not even written yet lol

7. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE?
It will be started on the 1st November, and finished by the end of the month πŸ˜‰

8. WHAT OTHER WIPS WITHIN YOUR GENRE WOULD YOU COMPARE IT TO?
Ha ha ha, well I’m aiming for it to be a typical M & B book.

9. WHICH AUTHORS INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS WIP?
Kate Walker and Sharon Kendrick

10. TELL US ANYTHING ELSE THAT MIGHT PIQUE OUR INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT.
Well, I’m actually considering adding a few more sex scenes and perhaps going for one of the more raunchier M & B lines πŸ˜‰

So now…..who do I tag?…….

Peter Germany
Karen at karcherry
R E Hunter
Kitty Hietala
Cat at No Written Words

if I haven’t tagged you, please feel free to share anyway πŸ˜‰

Does Your WIP Need A Bible?


One of my favourite bloggers, Hunter over at Hunters Writings recently included a link in one of her posts to a very interesting article:

Making A Writing Bible is an article that appeared on The Write Thing’s web site.
Edited to add: This link appears to be down 😦

Hunter has also been talking about The Novel Journal

So that’s what I’ve been working on, in preparation for Nano, my WIP Bible πŸ™‚

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I’ve decided to use a notebook rather than my Netbook as I can add things as and when I think of them. Even carry it around in my bag if inspiration strikes.

So, I’ve got the hero (although he’s changed a bit since you last heard about him….thank you for all your comments and suggestions!!!!). His name is now Daminano Moretti πŸ˜‰ harry is still knocking about, and I’m sure i’ll find a use for him later πŸ˜‰ Kate Walker suggested that we find a photo of what we envisage our hero to look like. So after some extensive Googling I have a couple of pics!

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Then this section is for notes on my heroine, who is still Kate πŸ™‚ I’ve also found a couple of pics of what I imagine her to look like.

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I have a section for the minor characters. There won’t be many, as, in a Mills & Boon, its all about the hero and heroine.

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The setting…..ahhhhh…. *day dreams wistfully* It’s Sorrento in Italy. So I’m collecting pics and info.

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Chapter breakdown is a suggestion made by Sharon Kendrick at Swanwick. Because Mills & Boon books generally have a pattern, it’s a good idea to have an outline of where things need to happen, such as “the black moment” and that way you know where you are πŸ˜‰

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Notes and ideas is basically the section for everything else….title ideas, ideas for scenes, back story etc…..

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I’ve never worked like this before (I was a pantster lol) but I can really see the benefits. And now, I have 2 whole months to collect all the info I need before I actually start writing on the 1st November! And I have to say….I’m loving it! πŸ˜‰

Have you ever created a WIP Bible? And if not, would you consider it?