November 16th, 2009 | by Devyn Quinn |
There are two things I hate doing in this world. The first is starting a book. The second is…finishing a book. One of the hardest things in the world for me is to sit down and write page 1. I will literally fiddle for months, allowing time to burn away and deadlines to rush near before I finally sit down and write. Why? The opening scares the living poo out of me. My biggest fear is that I will bore the reader from page 1, and that my book will get tossed into the trashcan by page 2. I struggle for months to get the opening of a book just right, and even then I’m never really satisfied.
The middle of a book is great for me. By time I hit chapter 3, I am in my zone and cruising along. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and it isn’t the oncoming train.
And then it happens. The end arrives. That happened this weekend on Siren’s Call, the first of my NAL books. That book was hard to start and now that it’s done, I find myself wondering what to do next. It’s gone. It’s over. The characters I’ve invested myself in for months have suddenly moved out, leaving my brainspace all empty and bereft. Yes, I know I was frothing at the mouth to write those two tiny words that signal a job well done. But now that I’ve tacked “the end” onto the first book, I feel a little bit let down. Why am I depressed? The book is FINISHED! But now I’ve got to worry. What if it sucks??? (Yes, it tested well with readers, but still…) Just looking at the massive 504 page behemoth I’ve now got to print and proof is giving me hives!
On another note, I received the page proofs for Soul of the Wildcat. This novella will be in the Sexy Beast 8 anthology, which I am in with Kate Douglas and Kathleen Dante–both writers I admire very much. The book’s out April 2010. Originally Heart of the Wildcat was to appear in SB 6, but a scheduling glitch caused me to miss the anthology–which is why the follow up, Soul of the Wildcat is out first. I’m hoping readers doing Soul of the Wildcat first will still want to read Heart of the Wildcat, which begins my stories about the lost Cherokee tribe of cougar shifters. I have to admit I enjoyed creating this shifter world and hope to revisit it someday.
To get readers started, I’ll post a bit from Heart of the Wildcat. (The entire first chapter of which appears in the back of Soul of the Wildcat):
Chapter One
Kathryn Dayton didn’t like the looks of the men walking into her camp. Sometimes you could tell with a glance that certain people in this world were bad news. She had no doubts about these two.
They definitely weren’t up to any good.
Gaze steady and unflinching, Kathryn stayed down in a crouch, leaning in closer to her campfire, establishing her territory. She didn’t say a word, nor make a reach toward the hunting knife strapped at her hip. She just watched as the men casually ambled into the perimeter she’d staked out as a place to roost after sundown. Other than members of her own crew, she hadn’t expected company this far into the back country.
One of the men stepped boldly up to the fire. “Howdy.” The second man lingered a few steps behind, as if watching his partner’s back. One hand wrapped tightly around the strap of the rifle slung over his back.
Kathryn’s gaze narrowed. “Howdy.” Both wore backpacks and bedrolls and walked with the gait of men who spent a lot of time on foot in treacherous terrain. Hardcore mountain men, right down to their ruddy skin, shaggy beards, faded jeans, flannel shirts, jackets and heavy hiking boots.
But that wasn’t what disturbed her.
The guns did.
Both carried hunting rifles. Both had dangerous looking knives strapped on for ease of access. More horribly, each man carried a set of claw-tooth traps commonly used for large game such as bear. Illegal traps.
A chill scurried down her spine. Shit. She was all too familiar with those vicious creations. Once an animal got a limb in, it didn’t get loose. Men carrying weapons and traps meant only one thing.
Poachers.
They were fairly safe from prosecution because of the remote location. No towns existed in the immediate region, and it had taken a helicopter to get her and four crewmates into the remote area. An isolated remnant branching off the Appalachians and carved out of the Blue Ridge by erosion, much of the South Mountains of North Carolina were almost as pure as the day God created them. Even the rush of gold fever in the eighteenth century hadn’t inflicted much of an impact on the old growth forests.
Still, snakes lingered in paradise.
Kathryn ran a quick mental check of her own supplies. Aside from basic food and water, she carried a few hunting knives, a walkie-talkie, a small tent and sleeping bag. She’d deliberately turned her radio off, detouring away from the rest of the crew to spend the night alone. She’d needed some time to herself. The recent news her team had received hadn’t been encouraging.
Her mouth quirked down. So much for time alone. The knot of automatic distrust settled deep in her guts.
Kathryn had no respect for men who committed brutal crimes against nature. There were plenty of other places to hunt throughout the state. Legal places. Not that she condoned killing wildlife for pleasure. She found nothing sporting in shooting down beautiful animals through the sights of a high-powered scope.
___
So this post won’t be all boring, I’ll give away a copy of Soul of the Wildcat. Just leave a comment to be entered. I’ll draw a winner on Nov 18th and announce it here–as well as inform the winner via email.
I know as a reader, even if the excerpt of the book attracts me, those first few pages might take me a bit to let myself relax into a story and really enjoy it. So I can understand your anxiety, and I agree, seeing those words ‘the end’ does leave me depressed as much as it does you!! I know we as readers have a tenth of the emotional connection you writers have, but I hate to have these characters leave my life when I reach the back cover.
Great Excerpt! Thanks for sharing it with us!
by Stephanie · November 16th, 2009 at 3:21 pmGreat excerpt! I love big cats, will look for your books!
by Eva S · November 16th, 2009 at 3:51 pmHi Devyn,
For what it is worth, I have always loved the openings *and the rest* of your books. They want me to keep on reading–which is why I end up not sleeping through the night. *L* Prime example is what you posted above–I need to read this now! *L*
Hugs,
Maithe
by Maithe Ortiz · November 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pmHey Devyn!
I can understand what you are saying about starting and finishing a book. I’m not a writer, just a reader but starting at pg one would scare me to death. Where to start, how to introduce your story…daunting stuff. I know some readers give a book 25 pages to capture their interest. Me…I always finish a book that I start. Too many times a beginning has only been so-so, but by the end I love the story. That being said some books never redeem themselves. Thankfully this does not happen very often
And finishing a good book feels like leaving treasured friends behind, so I can only imagine what it feels like for a writer. …unless there is a sequel or series to look forward too (hint hint)
Soul of the Wildcat sounds so good. Shifters are my favorite type of paranormal read. Can’t get enough of them. I’m sure everyone who reads Soul will want to read the beginning of the story in Heart.
Congrats!
by Booklover1335 · November 16th, 2009 at 6:41 pmI always like a book to start out with a bang but sometimes a slow beginning is also a great one. As long as the book grabs me by the 2nd chapter I’m in all the way.
Your books are so wonderful to read and I can’t get enought of them. You must keep writing. I need more books from you and so does the library. We can’t keep them on the shelves.
by Tracey · November 16th, 2009 at 8:16 pmDevyn, your books are always enjoyable and I loved this excerpt! It left me wanting to read more. Also love the cover for Soul of the Wildcat – it’s gorgeous!
by annalisa · November 16th, 2009 at 11:47 pmThanks, all, for your terrific comments. I’ve been fighting printer problems. Got halfway into printing Siren’s Call and the printer went FRITZ! Had to run to WalMart and buy a new one so I could finish getting the book from hell printed. Managed to get 7 chapters edited. Not bad. I’m trying to finish it up this week, knock wood!
by devyn quinn · November 17th, 2009 at 12:20 amHi Devyn, I’m not a writer so don’t have all the worries and joys of writing a book but I definitely share your feelings when I am doing some beads work – hard to start, mad rush middle and once its finished, I’m drained!
I like your shapeshifter books and Soul of the Wild Cat sounds good!
Keep writing!
by Tamsyn · November 17th, 2009 at 7:38 amTamsyn
Thanks for sharing the excerpt, Devyn
Looking forward to your release!
by Ali · November 17th, 2009 at 9:42 amThanks for blogging, Devyn! Sounds like you’re making great progress on writing *and* editing! It must be hard as an author because you don’t get immediate feedback for finishing something–you have to send it off and wait and wait and wait before your book’s finally in the hands of readers! (I know you have your editor and some readers along the way, but it probably isn’t the same!) I’m thankful you keep persevering and know that once your books get to us, we love them!
Looking forward to your next one!
by Fedora · November 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pmDevyn, I have yet to read a book of yours that did not grab me from beginning to end. I understand where you’re coming from, though. When I’m checking out a new story and most of the time, a new author, I look at the back of the cover and the last chapter in the book before buying. Hope that made sense.
This fear that you have seems to work for you cause your books are fantastic. Remember me when choosing someone to receive a copy of Soul of the Wildcat. A fan. Mo
by Mo · November 17th, 2009 at 6:51 pmSometimes I do not start books because I do not want to come to the end and have to wait for the next book. Since there is another story coming soon I do not have to put this one aside but can read it quickly. Congrats on finishing another book.
by Lindsey Ekland · November 18th, 2009 at 2:54 amI am glad that you are very careful about how the book starts. I never put a book down on page one and never throw it away by page 2. I will wait until I get to at least the 3 chapter if I can get there. I have only had 1 book so far that I couldn’t get past the 3rd chapter. I thought I would be ok with the book just from reading the back, but once I got to reading it, I wasn’t getting hooked in. No it wasn’t your books. I ended up giving the book to my sister-in-law and she loves it. Oh well I guess. Good luck with all of your future writing.
by Gina · November 18th, 2009 at 11:11 amCongrats on finishing another book. I totally understand your feelings on this. I get sad when I finish a book that I love. Its almost like you are losing a real friend or something.
by sara hurt · November 18th, 2009 at 4:43 pmHI, all,
Sorry I am late announcing the name drawn for a copy of Soul of the Wildcat. Dad put the ditcher through my sewer line yesterday and it’s been a mess! I honestly forgot about picking a name. Anyway here it is:
Fedora
by Devyn Quinn · November 19th, 2009 at 7:15 pm