Work in Progress: My Novel Freshman Experience

There's a term that writers use...work in progress.  It's the book we're currently writing.  For instance, for all you Maid in LA lovers, I'm working on a second cozy mystery series right now.  That's my WIP.

But I think that WIP really describes all of us.  I think that going back to school this year has really reminded me of that.  I'm still loving ceramics.  But I started to think about decorating and realized I needed to have better painting skills to do realize some of my designs.  So I've been playing with painting.  Since what I do has a very folk art feel, that's what I wanted with my painting.  I started decorating some clementine orange boxes, and today I was working on an actual painting (the pictures at the top of the blog).  It's a (oh you know what I'm going to say) WIP, but I'm heartened by the fact that the elements are at least a bit recognizable.  I'm happy with my trees, which is a big goal, and I'm pretty happy that the quilts look quiltish.  I think it's clear that I have spring on my mind!

And quilts for that matter.  Remember those ceramic tiles I made?  Himself (my husband for those who don't hang out with me a lot) put together the frame for me today.  I hope to get them all mounted this week. 

I like to think that not only are the crafts I enjoy WIP's, but  that I am as well.  Every new craft I learn, every book I write, every book I read, all the people in my life, everything I do reshapes me in some way.  All of them alter my perception—some just a little bit, and some profoundly.  I like the idea that I'm not the same person I was years ago.  Oh, maybe some basics are still there, but I hope that all the years and experiences have added depth and layers.  Yes, I like thinking of myself as WIP.  I hope you do as well!

Holly

PS My love of crafts shows through in books like Christmas in Cupid Falls, A Simple Heart and Just One Thing.  I hope you'll pick them up!

Holly Jacobs' October 2014 Newsletter

Christmas in Cupid Falls A new town. A new legend. A new Christmas romance Happy Fall!  This is my favorite season! Everything smells of apples and cinnamon, and the weather is cooler, so I’m back in my jeans and sweaters!  And while fall might mean things are slowing down, things are moving in high gear for me! If you’re not on any of my social media, you might have missed my first movie about my trip to the Romance Writers’ Conference in San Antonio this year. You can check it on YouTube.  I know, you can hear me say the word ‘three’ a couple times.  I’ve said it before…Spielberg isn’t nervous!  I’ll try to get better! Okay, onto book news!! Last year's, A Valley Ridge Christmas won a Holt Medallion Award and I found out on Monday that it won a Golden Leaf Award! This month, the first book in a new series hits the stands.  Here are a few things to know…there really is a statue of George Washington in Waterford, PA.  Wait, I make movies now.  I can show you! YouTube Yes, I can hear you agreeing, Spielberg isn’t nervous. I'm so excited to introduce you to Cupid Falls…but let me give it a shot: Christmas in Cupid Falls by Holly Jacobs October 21 (TODAY!!) A new town. A new legend. A new Christmas romance. Kennedy Anderson loves Cupid Falls, Pennsylvania. Ever since moving there as an orphaned teenager, she’s worked hard to carve out a place for herself in the tight-knit community. Now she’s mayor and owner of the town’s flower shop. But she also has a big secret…and months to figure out how to break the news to the father. Lawyer Malcolm Carter has always been the golden boy of Cupid Falls—until he discovers the one night he spent with the girl-next-door turned out to have a lifetime of consequences. Now, the mother of his child wants nothing to do with him, and he’s gone from someone who is admired to persona non grata as the town rallies behind its mayor. Malcolm has always known what he wants. But now as Christmas approaches, he’ll have to discover a way to show Kennedy that she could find the only thing she’s ever really wanted—a true home—with him. Convincing her will take the help of Cupid Falls’ quirky residents…and a bit of holiday magic. My other big news  all four Maid in LA Mysteries are now available in one boxed set for 50% of what they’d all cost individually!  The bundle includes: 1. Steamed  2. Dusted  3. Spruced Up: Novella 4. Swept Up  Harlequin has reissued Unexpected Gifts this Christmas in a new volume called The Baby Gift.  If you never read this first book in my Whedon, PA series, you've got another chance! The story was inspired by all the years I volunteered with our local Teen Parenting program!

Your text caption goes here Finally, I want to thank everyone for the amazing support for Just One Thing.I know that a few book clubs are featuring it…locally I’m a guest speaker for a couple!  Thank you everyone who bought, read it and reviewed it.  Thank you everyone who passed it on to friends and relatives.  Thank you…well, just thanks!  I’m so lucky to have so many people who’ve followed my books from comedy, to sweet romance, to comedic mysteries, to books like Just One Thing which is women’s fiction-romance (I’m using the term WOMANCE.  Yep, you heard it here first).  I am so very lucky! Holly Would you like my newsletter?  Subscribe to the mailing list * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Email Format html text

Spruced Up: A Maid in LA Holiday Novella

Thanks to everyone who's picked up the first two books in my Maid in LA series, Steamed and Dusted!  Quincy Mac is a character who I dreamed up years ago.  I loved the idea of a normal woman thrown into extraordinary circumstances.  In Steamed she accidentally cleans (and steams) a murder scene, and in Dusted, her business is at risk because an employee (Theresa, the worst employee ever!) has dusted an expensive work of art and broke it.

But neither of those mysteries has prepared Quincy for her Christmas mystery, Spruced Up…she's going home to Erie, PA for Christmas!  

Spruced Up is on sale at Amazon this week!  

Now, this is not a huge mystery…maybe that's not the best thing for a writer to admit, especially a mystery writer! LOL But it does move Quincy's character forward, and I think it's a heartwarming holiday story.  I wanted to be sure that Quincy doesn't become one of those amateur sleuths who falls into giant mystery after giant mystery.  I also didn't want her tripping over dead bodies in every book—I think that if you're finding a dead body around every corner, your party invitations might fall off quickly!  With Quincy, I wanted to portray a real woman.  She's got teen sons, so there's rarely any food in her refrigerator.  She comes from a family of physicians and has always felt as if she was a slight disappointment to them. She frets and worries and is a mom, a friend and a daughter. She worries about her 'baby-pooch' and about her romance.  She frets about her friends and her family.  She excited about going home for Christmas and seeing family and old friends!

I hope you enjoy Quincy's homecoming and holiday!  

Holly

PS A Valley Ridge Christmas is out this month, too!  I guess I'm in a Christmas state of mind!