Blog Tour - Sharing Our Writing Process

I've never been invited to a blog tour before, but this sounds like an excellent way for bloggers to collaborate. I'd like to extend a great deal of thanks to Callie Colbert for inviting me to participate. After you learn something about my writing process please go visit her blog and websites, listed below. She has some really cool advice from her genre and perspective on writing about Inspirational Business Practices. At the end of the article there will be three more authors to recommend who also will be participating in this tour shortly. Stay tuned for an update to this entry with their info!
 Website:
www.callieccolbert.com


Twitter:
twitter.com/callieccolbert 


Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/Callie-C-Colbert/592002060876415


Blog:
http://marsocialauthorbusinessenhancementinspirational.wordpress.com/


KSBT Radio:
www.ksbtradio.com

And now for my answers to this neat little tour:

What am I working on?

My third novel, String Theory has a manuscript completion date by the end of August, and an Amazon release goal by the end of September. I’m also an active blogger and freelance writer in the areas of independent music and veterans issues. 

2)     How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My science fiction always searches for the epic journey, and though I love gadgets and technology, you will always find a fantasy root to my science fiction. My espionage is fun and clever, and an amazing thrill ride, but mostly this latest novel will inspire the artist in all of us and teach us to move forward without holding on to the past too much.

3)     Why do I write what I write?

I write to reduce fear. Fictional stories, and the heroes we all look up to, have the power to guide reality when we realize that triumph over evil, understanding over bigotry, and freedom over tyranny are not mere fantasies. They are true and obtainable, by holding onto hope and acting through faith.

4)     How does your writing process work?

I turn real life into fantasy. And then I build a world around this fantasy. I make my characters my friends, and if they don’t feel like I have known them all my life by the time I finish a story then I have not succeeded in the story I wanted to tell.

I don’t write by outline, but rather piecemeal one idea at a time. I keep a notebook with me wherever I go (when practical) and jot down ideas whenever they strike me. In this way I find my stories begin to come together. Then I find as many beta readers as I can and put my writing to the test – readers who don’t hold back and don’t sugar coat their impressions. I build on some (but I must stress not all) of their advice, and build the best book I can.

5)     Add a little example of your work.

Please enjoy this musical battle with W.A. Mozart in my upcoming “String Theory”

Crystal grinned at the Mozarts in the awkward silence where the only sound was Mozart rummaging about in his room. Leopold scrutinized her. Mozart’s sister had a hopeful twinkle in her eye mixed with the doubt draining color from her cheeks, and the mother seemed to not care one way or the other. She was simply delighted to have company at all.

Mozart returned with his Violin out of breath and his wig slightly askew.

“I vill start us off and you join me in the second bar, yes? We will have a charming duel.”

She nodded and readied her bow. Mozart started perfectly, the upbeat cheerful stride of the opening sang to her so beautifully she almost forgot to answer with her accompaniment, but once she began she was in the moment. It was just her and the master himself. He would frolic through the flowers before her, and she gave chase. He danced and twirled like an Olympic floor dancer in her mind to the music. Birds flew before her. Doves and Ravens. Light and dark. Lovers gazed into each other’s eyes in a boat together on a placid lake, the man holding an umbrella. Sunsets and falling stars swirled in her mind as the music built in intensity between them. Happiness with deep undertones of longing for true romance filled the air.

The musical piece nicknamed the Turkish had her dancing around Mozart in a twirl. She hefted her leg high above her head like a ballerina as she played, and she heard Nannerl clap with glee as Mozart beamed at her and swayed to his own tune. 

  And then Mozart finished, made ready to bow to her, but she continued on her own into the final movement. The stillness, the swirling sorrow, the fade out to quiet—all leading to the feeling a lonely heart has when it beats in silence waiting for a lover to return. Then a burst like a firecracker, a spinning sparkler or the drop of a five second cliffhanger ride an amusement park —swirling, twirling, spinning into oblivion. She emphasized it all with a musical exclamation point and whipped her bow down to her side like a duelist with a sword. Breathing hard, she smiled at the Mozarts.

Nannerl and Anna Marie erupted into cheerful applause.

“Bravo! Oh, Bravo. You two were amazing. You must play something else.”

Leopold stared at Crystal, and gave a few soft claps, then looked at his son. Mozart was also staring, but his mouth hung open and he hunched forward gawking like a poor soul who had just fallen in love.

Uh oh.

“That was . . . magnificient,” Mozart sighed. He straightened and took a step towards her. Crystal fidgeted. “But how . . . how did you know that last part? You got it perfectly, but it was still in my head. I hadn’t finished the last movement yet.”

Smooth move, Crystal.

Crystal shrugged helplessly. “I. . . I don’t know. It just seemed right. I mean you think it’s right if you had it in your head. Maybe it’s only natural?”

Crystal felt like she was only digging herself into a deeper hole.

“I think I’m in love,” Mozart said, grabbing his chest. 

So now that you know something about me, please also visit the blog of DM Andrews. He. like me, is an avid fan of independent music. His excerpt alone is amazing and he really is an expert at creating fantasy worlds. You can find his blog here:

http://www.writers-and-publishers.com/?p=402