Pauline's News

Part of me doesn’t even want to admit this ~ but I’m going to anyway. I’ve been writing. Why wouldn’t I want to admit that? Because I totally threw out everything I had written and, with only about 3 months before my deadline, decided to start over. From scratch. Which is more than a little scary.

The problem was that I had created this great plot and this wonderful storyline…for some character other than Carter Anne Kane. Putting Carter Anne into this plot and this storyline was forcing her to act and react in ways she wouldn’t actually do. I tried to keep on writing, forcing us both into boxes that didn’t fit us but it just wasn’t working. Finally, I emailed my love-of-words-and-all-things-written mentor/friend/former teacher and she gave me the pep talk I needed to find the courage to throw it all out and start over.

You know what? The story is flowing better than it has in weeks and weeks. Carter Anne is a character I like, and I think you’ll like. And her story is interesting and romantic without being too heavy or dully written. Hello! Isn’t that what it’s all about?

I’ll try to post more news and not only just the Champagne Life on a Beer Budget posts. If I don’t post often, though, at least you know where I am now.

~ Pauline

I really love writing my blog, Curl Up With a Good Book…and Live a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite parts of my job. It allows me to write fun nonfiction as well as (equally fun) fiction, and it gets me out of my characters’ heads for a little while every other week. However, it also requires forethought, time management, and internet access to keep it current. Right now, for this moment at least, I have pre-published several entries worth. No worries about losing track of what day it is; no worries about having internet connectivity for the next several weeks. Just a sense of accomplishment and relief. Which, wow, feels good. Definitely part of my personal champagne life on a beer budget!

Even when I have a deadline, I have to eat. These days, that means the dining hall at the Galena Bureau of the Interior base. The fires have started up here in Alaska, which means fire crews. Which means smokejumpers. And here, it means the Alaska smokejumpers. This handful of men and women do things most of us, myself absolutely included, would never dream of doing. Going into the Alaskan bush with only what they can carry on their backs. Jumping out of aircraft. Fighting fires. And they do it all at once.

I write good heroes. My fellow authors write good heroes. Yet, sometimes, fiction cannot possibly impress as thoroughly as reality.

Love having deadlines. Seriously.

I write almost everything long-hand. My books, my blog postings, even my newsletters, get written out in long-hand. These are the only things that I don’t compose with pen and paper first. You know what the problem is with this? Transcribing. Good Lord but I loathe transcribing. Especially on the days I can’t even read my own handwriting.

Oh ick. I have been without reliable internet almost since that last post. On the one hand, it’s been good for me. It made me do other things. On the other…oh ick! I have decided I officially like having reliable (and speedy) internet access. You’ll never guess where I have finally gotten reconnected: Clear, Alaska. Honestly, I didn’t even know Clear, AK existed (my apologies to my new friends here!), let alone think it would have such strong internet. But both are true. If you ever get to Clear, stop in at the Fireweed Roadhouse and tell Robin I sent you.

Thanks to Long and Short of It Reviews, you have a great chance to explore other author’s websites and win cool prizes. Does it get better than that? No, I don’t think so either. Be sure to play along. And yes, you’ll find an egg here ~ eventually.

What a really lovely time! The Bookshelf is a small, independent bookstore in Tahoe City, CA, yet they gave me a welcome as warm as any I’ve ever received. They even had pineapple wine and homemade brownies. Who can ever argue with pineapple wine and homemade brownies?  Many thanks to them and everyone who came out to meet me that day. I hope you enjoy your books, as much as I enjoyed meeting you!

I’m heading out for my book signing for FALL INTO ME in a few minutes. It’s still very exciting, I’ll be honest. While I wish I had my briefcase, this time, my trusty black purse will have to do. One day, I recognize, that these will become ordinary, just part of the job. For now, though, I’m still new enough that they are wonderful, even if they come with butterflies. Maybe because they still come with butterflies.

I have a book signing tomorrow (Saturday, March 20th) at the Bookshelf in Tahoe City, CA from 4:30 to 6:00. If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and introduce yourself!