Back to writing that 'hunky demon slayer/ghost talker dude'

I had to take a hiatus from writing this summer — that extended into fall — for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons were because I was so exhausted, too dang busy at the day job, and (hangs head in shame) I had lost my writing mojo.

It happens occasionally to the best of us. The idea of picking up where I’d left off on my next manuscript — or any new story — struck me with a combination of writer’s block and dread, which was a sure sign I needed to take a break.

It’s interesting what can trigger creativity again. In this case, it started with a conversation with my father about my books. I showed him a copy of “On the Scent,” which is available in paperback in the UK (and which my wonderful editor Charlotte sent me a copy of), and my you-need-to-get-your-head-out-of-the-clouds-and-pursue-a-real-career 82-year-old dad actually looked impressed. For the first time, he revealed something to me that actually put a lot into perspective. My retired police office father, the man who has always been practical and encouraged me to be practical and get my head out of the clouds, was a dreamer in his youth. As a young man, he pursued songwriting and even had aspirations of being an author himself.

“I always wanted to write a Western novel,” he told me. “But to print it, they said I had to pay them money. There was no way I could afford it.”

A little younger than I see him, but meet Connor.

Well, now I know where I get it from, at least.

I’ve also been using my writing hiatus to do more reading (or listening, considering my reading these days comes courtesy of audiobooks) and movie watching, mostly thanks to Netflix. Nothing makes me want to write more than experiencing a good story, and I’ve been lucky to have found some good ones in both book and movie form lately.

For the past few weeks, I’ve actually been itching to get back to my unfinished manuscript. For anyone who has read my psychic detectives series, yes, this is Connor’s book. Almost every review “Spirited Away” has received has mentioned the “hunky demon slayer/ghost talker dude” who those readers are anxious to learn more about. Talk about pressure.

This past weekend, I made time to sit down and enter his world again. Connor is one of my favorite characters to write, and it feels good to be giving him his own story. I have no idea if readers will like that story; the book also isn't contracted, so I have no idea if my editor will want to publish the story, but I hope to finish it by the end of January. Sorry — I have too much overtime at the day job to bump that deadline up.

In the meantime, I sure am having fun Googling images of hot, young men to match the image of Connor that's in my head. So far, these are my favorites! Slap some tats on the guy, and he pretty much nails it.

Readers: What about you? How would you describe Connor based on the glimpses you've had of him in "Something Wicked" and "Spirited Away"? Pictures in the comments are more than welcome! 

Fun Friday Q&A with author Eve Devon!

Eve Devon

I'm thrilled to have fellow HarperImpulse author Eve Devon here to chat with me today, especially after learning we share the same superpower (read her answer below). Eve writes about sexy heroes, sassy heroines and happy ever afters and says "I kind of secretly believe it’s not too late for me to train as a professional dancer, MMA expert, or get asked to be Angelina Jolie’s body-double. I know. This is why writing fiction is for me!" Doesn't she sound awesome? Her latest release is "The Love List," which you can and should go buy right now because.

Without further ado, let's get this chat started.

Angela: Welcome to my blog, Eve! Tell us about your new book.

Eve: The Love List features Nora King, a woman who eats, sleeps and breathes the family business KPC. After the death of her father it’s easy to convince herself that work will see her through, and so she allows it to stand very firmly and safely between her and her grief.

Enter sexy laid-back disaster relief worker Ethan Love. He’s in town to ask her a special favour but soon his charm and perception is crashing through her barriers, dragging her out of her self-imposed state of suspended animation, and making her want to put him on her To Do list!

You can read The Love List as a standalone or straight after Her Best Laid Plans which is about Nora’s big brother Jared King and his plan-phobic PA Amanda Gray.

Angela: Why should readers pick up a copy?

Eve: If you love your romance contemporary, sexy, and packed with emotional punch, then The Love List is definitely for you. Oh, and then there’s the whole “shoe love” thing!

Angela: Where did you get the inspiration for this story?

Eve: When Jared King, the hero from Her Best Laid Plans, finally admitted to me that he’d walked away from his birthright at twenty-one, I realised his actions had to have impacted on his two younger sisters, Nora and Sephy, too. I’m very happy to have had the chance to write about that fallout and also see them both get their own HEA.

I love writing about family dynamics as it’s something we can all relate to. With Jared, Nora, and Sephy, I was inspired by how a life-changing decision made by the eldest ‘responsible’ child then alters the stereotypical role of the middle ‘peacemaker’ child Nora and the youngest ‘rebel’ child Sephy.

Angela: Let’s get to know you a little better: What’s your dream vacation destination?

Eve: Ooh, well I guess I’ll always have a soft spot for Tobago but I’m also sure there are many places I haven’t even heard about that would be the perfect vacay destination. For me I guess it’s not so much a specific place as a feeling. If I can get off a plane, or a boat, or a train, or out of a car—lift my face to the sky and no matter the climate or weather, feel relaxed, excited and ready to explore all in one breath…that’s the place for me.

Angela: What book do you most recommend to others?

Eve: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Buy it, read it and you will see. That is all :)

Angela: If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?

Eve: I’ve actually been given a super-power already. Uh-huh. It’s the power to walk into doors—I literally can’t pass through one naturally. I have to either pull it open when I should push, or get it open and then bounce off the frame, or get my clothes caught up on the handle. As yet I haven’t worked out how to use this super-power of mine for good but I’m thinking my costume should come with elbow pads for protection.

If I actually got to choose my own super-power I guess I’d go with invisibility. What a fab way of hiding those bad hair days. I think I’d go around flicking the ears of every person I saw dropping litter until they picked it up. Also, I’d be able to attend those fly-on-the-wall conversations everyone wishes they could be in on, and no one would see me struggling to come to terms with my other super-power (you know, the door thing!).

Angela: Thank you so much, Eve, for dropping by today. The rest of you can learn more about Eve at her website www.EveDevon.com. And don't forget to pick up The Love List today. Still need convincing? Read the synopsis. Then go buy it here:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOOGLE PLAY | iBOOKS KOBO

Falling in love is just not on Nora King’s To Do List…

Neither is accidentally super-gluing her shoe to her hand right before the biggest presentation of her life! With all the hard work she’d put into securing the family business after her father’s death, Nora has no choice but to accept help from a knight in shining armour.

Disaster relief worker Ethan Love is still haunted by his last deployment, and desperate for distraction. He’s in town to ask Nora for a major favour, and swooping in to save her presentation is a sure way to get her on side.

As Ethan sticks around and helps Nora through her grief, her barriers tumble down…but will she dare to swap her To Do lists for a How to Fall in Love list?