I sent out the ebooks to the winners yesterday (except for Her Counterfeit Husband because it isn’t out yet). If anyone on the winners’ list didn’t get their copy, let me know. 😀
Now for updates on what I’m doing…
1. Her Counterfeit Husband
I’m at chapter 8 in the preliminary edits (which is what I call a run through before I send it off to the editor). I’m going slower than the pace I usually do, but summer is a hard time to do much when it’s too hot to get outside so the kids can play at the park. The last couple of years, I got spoiled because the highs were only in the 80s and low 90s around here. Now it’s 100-degree weather, and when it’s that hot, there’s no way I can go outside with a computer.
So the book is coming along, just at a slower pace than what I normally do.
2. Bound by Honor, Bound by Love
I’m almost at 40,000 words, which is getting close to the end. I now realize my block on that book is that I’ve been trying to make it longer than it’s supposed to be. As soon as I adjusted the word count goal to 50,000 (which is still a full-length novel), a lot of pressure was lifted off my shoulders. I can’t force a word count. Some books are longer than others, and Citlali and Onawa’s story isn’t that complicated where 65,000-70,000 words (my usual novel length) is necessary.
As a reader, I hate sagging middles. I believe the story should compel me to keep reading. If I force this book to be longer that it’s supposed to be, it’ll drag. I don’t want to write books that people skim over when they read it. I’ve read enough books that I skimmed through to find out where the action picks up again. Since I make it a habit of reading my books (I got into writing so I’d have books I wanted to read), I make my books the way I want to read them. So while the story is going to be shorter than normal, it’s going to keep me (as a reader) interested. That’s how I judge the pacing and action in a book. If I lose interest, I toss it out. 🙂
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Right now that’s all I’m working on. I’m off to see if I can get some writing and editing done today. Wish me luck. 😀
Ruth Ann Nordin's Author Blog 
Thank you again, Ruth! I just started Her Sudden Groom. I laughed til I cried at the description of Olivia with the rainbow feathers and her “wardrobe malfunctions”! I can tell this book is going to be great!. Thanks for your generosity!
I loved Olivia. She was the perfect “bad guy”. A lot of people hate her, but she provided so much laughter and was so great as a mean person that she was a character I loved to hate. I love Rose Gordon’s books. 😀
Thanks for including my books in the giveaway, Ruth! 🙂
As soon as I stopped worrying about how long my books were going to be, the writing became easier. A book will be the length it’s supposed to be. You can’t force it and still have a great story.
It was my pleasure, Lauralynn. 😀
You’re right about writing being easier when the length of a book isn’t the focus. I also need to stop worrying about things I can’t control. If someone doesn’t like the length of the book, that’s not something I can fix. Ultimately, it’s the characters who run the show and determine how the book plays out.
Yes, thank you again, Ruth! Can’t wait to start on Her Sudden Groom. Sounds interesting.
It’s a great book. I especially love the fact that the hero is dense. LOL