How long does it take?

The single most asked question I get as a an author is "How long does it take you to write a book?"

And the answer I give is "It depends."

Here are the factors:

1. Length of the book - Harlequin Intrigues are 55-60,000 words. A single-title can be from 75-120,000 words. Then you have novella at anywhere from 15-30,000. None of these numbers are set in stone and it depends on what I'm writing. You see, I write for Intrigue, Nocturne, Nocturne Cravings and under my other pen name (Myla Jackson) I write novellas and category-length.

2. Proposal to acceptance - For books written for Harlequin, I sometimes have a proposal to acceptance lag when I'm waiting for approval of a 3-chapter partial submission before I push on and finish the book. I've had up to 3 years between the proposal and acceptance. Do I count that lag time in the time it takes to finish the book?

3. Gutting it out - This is the actual time I spend writing the bulk of the manuscript. It might come in one long stretch or many short bursts.

4. Story flow - if the story is firmly in my head and well plotted in advance, this might be a factor in turning the book in early. If I'm having a problem determining who done it and how...it will take longer, and longer, and...

5. Life happens - Ah the beauty of the ever-diverse and continuous motion of life. Lump everything into this category: vacation with family; medical issues; child demands, husband demands, pet demands, lawn care, house chores, and anything else that comes up.

6. Procrastination - I admit this is one of my biggest slow-downs in finishing a book. The cause can be any of the above.

So the answer to "How long does it take you to write a book?"

It Depends.

She'd been his wife for barely a day and now FBI agent Tuck Thunder Horse was responsible for identifying her body. So he was more than shocked when Julia Anderson turned up very much alive-and on the run. Julia confessed to witnessing a murder and now needs Tuck to help her stay alive...and protect the baby he hadn't known she'd had.

 

Julia and Tuck's marriage might not have lasted, but there was not time for recriminations with a killer on their trail. As Tuck struggles to put their painful past behind them he can't help but find himself overwhelmed by his love for his little daughter...and his still-burning passion for Julia. Unable to trust anyone but each other, they know working together is the only way to safeguard their child. Could their one-day marriage turn into a life-long adventure?

About the Author: Elle James aka Myla Jackson spent twenty years livin' and lovin' in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. She has 29 novels or novellas with Harlequin, one self published novel under pen name Elle James, 36 books or novellas with other publishers including Samhain, Elloras' Cave, Kensington and Avon and eleven novellas or short stories self-published under pen name Myla Jackson. Now living in northwest Arkansas, she isn't wrangling cattle, she's wrangling her muses, a malti-poo and yorkie. When she's not at her computer, she's traveling, out snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new stories.

Copyright 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher
Cover Art used by arrangement with
Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.

My Favorite Things & Giveaway!

AND THE WINNER IS...QUILT LADY!

You've won the autographed copy of FINDING HER SON along with trading cards from IN HER SIGHTS and FINDING HER SON. Please send an email with your snail mail address to robin (at) robinperini (dot) com, and I'll get the book out to you ASAP! CONGRATULATIONS! And thanks everyone for commenting!

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I recently did an interview for the 'Get Lost in a Story' blog. One of the questions was what was my favorite movie? Well, it's actually My Fair Lady, but I went through quite a list. One of my favorite movies is Sound of Music, and one of my favorite songs in the movie is "My Favorite Things." So, I got to thinking about my favorite things. I've been very busy recently, too busy, probably. I want to find a bit of balance in my life, so I wondered, what are a few of my favorite things to do, and when was the last time I did them? If it's longer than six months, I'm thinking I probably need to take a step back. So, here we go. Five of my favorite things.


5. Bubble Baths surrounded by lighted candles and a great book. (Yes! Did this just a couple of weeks ago, but I don't do it enough).

4. Spend the weekend in a mountain cabin with no phone, no light and no motor car. (I definitely need to take a vacation. I can't remember the last time I did this—I'm scheduling it!)

3. Curled up in front of a fire watching a movie with someone special. (Oops…I'm thinking I need to make a bit more effort here).

2. Brownie Sundae at Chili's. (It's 1300 calories, so I try not to order one unless there are at least two to share it with me, but yummmmmy! Went there not too long ago. This one must be in moderation…and accompanied with at least 5 workouts that week!).

1. Christmas with my Family. (Check. I did that this year…the fact that my Christmas tree is still up right now (let's just not go there, shall we?)

That's not the whole list, but I guess I have some work to do. So, dear readers, what is one of your favorite things? Event, food, book, movie, anything. I'd love to know!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. It's truly an honor to be here and get to interact with you. If you're interested in learning more about me or my books…you can read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph on my website at www.robinperini.com. I'm also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. I'd love to hear from you.

Don't forget, one lucky reader who comments on my blog or answers the question will be randomly selected to win an autographed copy of FINDING HER SON along with Trading Cards from IN HER SIGHTS and FINDING HER SON. Good luck!

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About FINDING HER SON

THE ONLY MAN A DESPERATE MOTHER CAN TRUST…

Investigating a cold case is SWAT cop Mitch Bradford’s worst nightmare—especially when it involves a kidnapped infant. But thanks to an injury, he’ll have to settle for following Emily Wentworth instead of breaking down doors and cuffing criminals.

The prime suspect in a mysterious disappearance, Emily has always claimed she was framed. And as he earns the trust of the incredibly desperate—and unbelievably beautiful— mother, every instinct tells Mitch to believe her. Then new evidence unfolds, revealing an elaborate conspiracy and forcing Emily into a deadly spotlight. Now, torn between loyalty to the badge and his promises to Emily, Mitch may have to make the ultimate sacrifice if he’s to bring her little boy home.

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EXCERPT - a brief taste from the beginning…

Icy wind howled through the SUV's shattered windshield, spraying glass and freezing sleet across Eric Wentworth's face. He struggled in and out of consciousness. Flashes of memory struck. Oncoming headlights on the wrong side of the road. Skidding tires on black ice. The baby's cries. Emily's screams.

Oh, God.

Why couldn't he focus? Above the wind, he heard only silence, then an ominous gurgling sound from his lungs. He shifted his head slightly to check on his wife, and a knifelike pain seared his neck. He stopped, staring in horror at the shaft of metal guardrail penetrating his chest. Blood pulsed from the wound, but he couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel anything.

Eric was dying. And it was no accident. He hadn't taken the threats seriously, hadn't told Emily what he'd done. Why they were all in danger.

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AUTHOR BIO

Award-winning author Robin Perini is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe." After seven prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finals, Robin sold seven novels within one year. She won the Golden Heart® in 2011, and that title became her first Harlequin Intrigue, Finding Her Son (March 2012). Residing in the southwestern United States, by day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting.

She is the author of In Her Sights (Montlake, 2011), Finding Her Son, Cowboy in the Crossfire and Christmas Conspiracy (Harlequin Intrigue 2012) as well as the upcoming Montgomery Justice Series (the story of the Montgomery brothers from In Her Sights) from Montlake Romance.

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You can purchase Robin's books at:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

HARLEQUIN

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[Cover Art Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.]

Oh, the glamorous writing life...

To put it kindly, my journey to publication was a little rocky. I got serious about writing for publication in my late twenties but floundered around for a decade, buffeted by the ill winds of rejection and wallowing, for a while, in the fast and easy instant gratification of fanfiction. I kept telling myself that all the odds were stacked against me—I had a demanding day job that left me little time or energy to write, I had family obligations and little fur babies depending on me for food, water, shelter and vet bills, and I didn't even have the money to buy myself a decent desk, writing for years on a piece of lumber laid across the iron base of an old sewing machine.

But the desire to publish was stronger even than my own self-sabotage. Eventually, I figured out that all those excuses were just that: excuses. They weren't really the reason I didn't find time to write. I didn't need hours of undisturbed peace; thirty minutes of lunch hour, when spent with focus and preparation, could result in 750 written words. Do that every day for eighty days and you'd have a 60,000 word book.

I also learned that where you write isn't all that important. You can write on your phone, your netbook, your Alphasmart, a yellow notepad, the back of your grocery list. What matters is that you write. Every day, even if it's a few words. Learn the discipline of approaching your writing as a job.

That's a long introduction to get to the meat of my post. In a recent post on another blog, I gave readers a glimpse of my writer's workspace (and, by extension, my oh-so-glamorous writing lifestyle). So I thought I'd share it with y'all, too.

Here is my laptop computer. It sits on a wobbly TableMate II table that's seen a lot of wear and tear. It once sat in my den, but recently I've moved it to my bedroom. Doesn't really matter, since it's portable. I can really move it anywhere I want.

I also do a lot of writing on my computer at work, during my lunch hour. I don't have a photo of my work computer, alas. But trust me, it's very nice. Huge monitor. Plus I have a nice view of the neighborhood behind our office. It's a residential area, with a lot of beautiful older homes. Plus, I get an up close view of all sorts of birds who land in the trees just outside my office window.

Writers need nutrition. Sustenance is vital. I'd like to say that I eat great, nutritious meals all the time. And sometimes, I actually do eat pretty well,

But sometimes, especially when you're under the deadline gun, there's only one food group that meets your immediate needs: chocolate. (And, okay, a green apple Jolly Rancher lollipop isn't bad, either).


Writers need companionship. Writing is a solitary endeavor, so it's important to surround yourself with friends who'll wait patiently for your attention while you work.

Just be aware, their patience is finite. Be sure to take time to give them some undivided love and attention.

(And plenty of kibble).

The handsome blue-eyed heartbreaker shown here is my sweet Miko, who may look like a high strung Siamese but behaves like an absolute sweetheart.

Be prepared for obstacles. Whether it's an unexpected deadline, edits that arrive at the worst possible moment, or mysterious computer troubles, something will always happen to get in the way of your writing. You can't let that stop you.

(In this case, the obstacle is a sleepy kitten who thinks the heat of my computer is the next best thing to cuddling up with his mama).


You also have to be prepared for setbacks. No writing career runs smoothly all the time. Even after you sell, you'll get rejections, lose your editor, get booted from your publishing house, get a terrible cover or your sales will bomb for no apparent reason. And constantly worrying over the failures is a recipe for driving yourself crazy.

Here's the truth. You don't have to have a beautiful workspace, a glorious view, an unobstructed block of time to write or a meteoric rise to the top of the book lists to be a successful writer. You just have to find a system that works for you and hit the keyboard every day. Sometimes you'll reach the top of the mountain. Sometimes you'll tumble into the darkest valley. But it's all part of the writing process.

If you're a writer, here's my question: what is your workspace like? Barebones and portable like mine? Or do you have to surround yourself with inspiration and comfort?

And if you're a reader, here's a question for you: what's your ideal workspace? Quiet and serene? Active and busy? Where do you do your best work, whatever that work may be?

And while I have your attention, don't forget my next book, Secret Identity, is available now on harlequin.com and comes out next month in bookstores. It's the first book of a brand new series, Cooper Security, so if you want to get in on the ground floor of a new series, here's your chance. The next two books, Secret Hideout and Secret Agenda, follow in April and May.