Wednesday, July 11, 2012

New Ideas

Sometimes I think I’m nuts. 
At the moment, I’m in the middle of writing my next Harlequin Nocturne book, the fifth in my Alpha Force miniseries about a covert military unit of shapeshifters.  As I mentioned last week, I was offered a contract for three more Harlequin novels, and this is the first of them.

I’ll also be writing at least one more Pet Rescue Mystery, and I hope there will be more in that series, too.

I’ve also turned in a proposal for another mystery series.  Nothing may come of it... but I sure hope I also get to write that one.

So what am I complaining about?  Well, my mind has dashed off in a new direction and I’m starting to work on a story that’s quite different from any of those.  Not that I’ll slack off on the stuff I’m already obligated--and definitely want--to write.  But this idea keeps gnawing at me, giving me a sentence here, a plot point there, and I’ve of course started to write them all down.

The only thing I’ll admit about it, for the moment, is that it involves dogs.  But since a good proportion of my stories do have dogs in them, that’s not giving anything away.

I may never finish writing this story.  Even if I get through an entire proposal--a synopsis and chapters--I may be completely unable to sell it.  But it’s there and nagging and potentially a lot of fun.

What do you do when your mind keeps prodding you to try new things?  I’m surely not alone in that! 

Oh, and by the way, my latest Harlequin, a Romantic Suspense titled UNDERCOVER SOLDIER, is available now.  It surprised me by showing up in a Kmart near me when I visited there last week!  Since then, I’ve visited it elsewhere, too.

8 comments:

Betty Hechtman said...

Congrats on the new book! Have fun with the idea that keeps throwing you plot points. Supposedly Stephanie Meyer's idea for the Twilight series started with a dream.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Interesting, Betty. I don't remember my dreams, but my subconscious keeps me hopping while I'm awake!

Mollie Bryan said...

Finding your book in a store--I love those kind of surprises! That new story is intriguing. Keep us posted.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Thanks, Mollie. I will!

Katreader said...

Looking forward to all your new books. When my mind keeps prodding me to do new things-I listen. I haven't done anything with my mystery in progress-but I'm starting a new blog about cozy mysteries. I've been writing posts in advance and I keep getting great ideas, which I actually write down. Nonfiction is much more comfortable for me!

Linda O. Johnston said...

It's always wise to listen to your prodding mind, Katreader! Be sure to keep us informed about your new blog on cozies. Nonfiction is great, too--but be prepared for your mystery in progress to jump into your mind again one of these days...

Katreader said...

I hope it will, I'm hoping to see someone who was part of the inspiration for my mystery the day before my blog premieres, so who knows.

Linda O. Johnston said...

Keep us informed about that, too, Katreader!