Thank you to Sharon Cermak for inviting me to take part in this Writing Process Blog Tour. There are only four questions, but they'll give a little insight into my writing and how I do it.
What Am I Working On?
I'm currently just finishing putting the final touches on the Heart of Stone novella, Ever After, which is set for release on April 27. I'm also writing the first Club X book, Temptation, which is scheduled for release in late spring.
How Does My Work Differ From Others Of The Genre?
I leave enough of the story to the reader's imagination, so they feel like they're right there in the story. Or at least that's what my readers say. ;)
Why Do I Write What I Do?
I write erotic romance because I've been in love with love for as long as I can remember. The erotic part must just be natural to me because when I began writing romance, I didn't plan on it being erotic. However, by the time my first love scene was complete, I was no longer in the mainstream or sweet category. ;) And the rest is, as they say, history.
How Does My Writing Process Work?
I'm a plotter, which means I know the entire story from start to finish (or the entire series from start to finish) when I begin actual writing. I don't have elaborate outlines, though. I simply know what the focus of each chapter is, and then I write that chapter. My first draft is always the shortest draft because I have an entire draft dedicated to description. I don't describe scenery unless the description is meaningful. For example, if I describe draperies in a story, you can count on the fact that at some point, that will mean something. Perhaps someone will be hiding behind them, or they're integral to understanding the character who owns them.
After those two drafts comes the beta reader draft and then once all those are complete, I do one last draft run through. This is on top of the editor doing her thing and me doing my grammar thing (I taught English for years). So if anyone has ever wondered why my books take a while to come out, this is the reason. :)
Thanks for stopping by!
Next week, look for the following writers and their Writing Process posts:
A.C. James happily pounds out
steamy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror
in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves, sexy witches
and feisty fae. Usually, some handcuffs and chains or whips and
floggers can be found in her unrestrained narratives of their
consuming desire.
Natasha Blackthorne: Escape into the past with intensely erotic, emotionally driven love stories. Natasha Blackthorne writes character-focused historical erotica romance featuring strong internal conflicts played out in non-traditional and unconventional situations. Her stories are most frequently about the intimate journey of the characters as they learn to open their hearts to love.
Her heroines are not perfect ladies. They are wildflowers and wallflowers who enjoy flirting with the forbidden. Whether they are bold or shy, her heroines' strong desires and deep emotions drive the plot and drive their heroes to the point of no return.
Cat Miller was born and
raised in Baltimore, Maryland. An avid reader and fan of all genres of
romance, from historical to contemporary to paranormal, Cat began
writing her first novel on a dare from her eldest daughter. She’s never
looked back. When Cat is not reading, writing, or indulging her
addiction to café mochas, she is a certified medical coder. The mother
of two daughters and a stepson, Cat lives in Maryland with her husband
and their dog. She loves hearing from fans; please visit her online at www.catmillerbooks.com.
