It’s always exciting when I have a new book come out. After many months cloistered in my room working alone I finally produce a first draft. Usually, when I read that first draft I think it’s the worst book ever written. 

For the next few months, I go line by line, page by page polishing, changing and buffing. It gets better but it’s never where I want it to be. That’s when my first readers give it a look. I’m too close to it. With their fresh eyes, they can see things I don’t or choose not. Sometimes when I’m feeling lazy, I tell myself…it’s good enough. That laziness only last for a while before I go back and fix whatever is bugging me. 

After the first readers give me their input, it’s back to the drawing board. I continue to change and smooth out the rough spots. Finally, off it goes to my publisher and my fingers are crossed hoping they like it. Now it’s their turn to edit and change. We go through several more rounds until everyone is happy. Birthing a novel takes a very long time and involves a lot of talented people from editors and cover designers, to marketing and social media folks. As Hilary Clinton once said, “It takes a village”. I believe she was referring to democracy, but it also takes a village to bring a novel into the world. 

I’m particularly proud of this THE SECOND HONEYMOON because it is the book I set out to write. I wanted to write a murder mystery set on a cruise ship taking the reader to far flung places where they meet interesting people. To do that, my husband went on a cruise so this story would be as authentic as possible. I had no idea what the plot would be before I left. But once I was on the cruise and had an opportunity to look around and talk to some of the crew, an idea started to form. By the time I got off the ship I had plenty of notes and a clear direction for the story. And, I discovered what I thought was a totally unique way to pull off a murder and get away with it.

After I got home, the words flew onto the page. It was practically writing itself. But once I finished the first draft, I began to worry. What if the idea I had could only work on that one cruise ship? That would blow a hole in my whole story. So what’s a girl to do? We went on a second cruise in a different part of the world on an entirely different cruise line. And guess what? Getting away with murder would work on that ship as well. Nice. 

So now, many months after completing the final draft, my book baby is about to enter the world. This is published novel #11. The villain in The Second Honeymoon is also the most despicable and narcissistic character I’ve ever written. This is a villain you love to hate. Enjoy!