Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all….. About our writing of course! Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride!
If you found me via Carrie Elks’ wonderful blog, or you’re just starting your Romance Weekly journey here, welcome. Some probing questions and fun answers lie ahead as you make the rounds.
Jeanne McDonald is the author of this week’s questions:
1. How did you go about choosing the names for your characters?
I wish I knew. Names just kind of come to me when I need them. Occasionally I have to wait a bit, filling in ‘man’ or ‘woman’ in the manuscript, but as the character reveals itself to me, he or she usually tells me their name.
2. Where did the inspiration for your current book come from?
My current work in progress is the sequel to Son of Thunder, entitled Daughter of Darkness. The inspiration came during the writing of Son of Thunder, while writing the scene where Jord and Meghan are joined by Tyr and Nott to fight Loki’s dust demon. It was just supposed to be a cameo by Nott and Tyr, but grew into a whole separate novel, and the logical next phase of the Heavenly War.
3. What methods do you use to ensure you have no plot holes (journal, storyboard, outline, editor, etc.)?
I am terrible at this. As a pantser, I have no outline, and no framework to work from during the rough draft, so lots of dead end scenes and hanging sub plots tend to creep in. I need to read, re-read, and edit extensively to tie everything up neatly. I also have a wonderful editor at Soul Mate Publishing.
I hear you out there. Yes, I have spies all over the interwebs. You’re wondering what the other authors of Romance Weekly answered. Start (or continue) the tour by visiting the wonderful Leslie Hachtel at http://lesliehachtelwriter.wordpress.com
A Writer's Haven 
Love the title of your sequel, Daughter of Darkness. It’s cool how many authors don’t intend on writing a sequel but in the end it has to be done.
I currently have 6 books planned for the Heavenly War series. I just wish I could write them as fast as i come up with the story ideas
I love it when names come to you. Nice blog. I’ll check out your sequel.
Thanks for stopping by, Vicki.
I’m a pantser too, Steve, which means I have to guard against going down rabbit trails that don’t move the story along.
Yup, after the rough draft, I usually have a lot of cleanup, especially in the first part where I had no idea where I was going.
Looking forward to that sequel, Steve. And you did surprise me with the pantster thing. Always had you pegged for a plotter
Nope, it does me no good to plot anything. Those pesky characters just wonder off and do whatever they like. Worse than cats!
I love how some stories beget other stories—fun for the reader, fun for the writer
Yes, it’s always fun to read a story where you’re already familiar with some of the characters. It makes diving into the new story so much easier.
I’m completely impressed. I’m a plotter and have no idea how you can write a complex novel without lots of sticky notes and diagrams.
I just follow my characters around. I know where they’re going, just never sure how they’re going to get there.
Let’s hear it for the pantsers! (Spell check kept making me type painters and panthers, neither of which I am, nor you, I suspect!) I can’t imagine typing man or woman until a character name appeared. But I might try the Nfld equivalently of Buddy and Missus. 😉
I actually used to be a professional house painter. Just one of my many stops on the way to author.
I agree that characters can “pick” their own names. I’ve changed the names of some characters part way through a book because I realized it just wasn’t right. Thanks goodness for “find and replace all”!!!!
Oh yeah. I’d be lost without Find and Replace.
Thanks for the shout out! I’m usually a plotter, but I’m trying to pants a little bit more. I find it helps my character development. But you’re right, there’s a lot of clean up afterward!
Yeah, by the end of the rough draft, I need one of those Swiffer boxes to magically appear on my front doorstep.
I think the best inspiration for stories can come whilst writing another book 🙂 Great answers!