Writing The Book Of Your Heart

Writing the Book of My Heart

Editors will tell you to write the Book of Your Heart.  Whether it be in a workshop at a conference, an online class, or even a conversation, they all say don’t follow the trends, because it’s only a trend when you start writing the book.  Months later when you are ready to submit, it’s passé, old hat, and last week’s news. 

I have to admit that every book I write IS the Book of My Heart.  Take a minute and think about it.  Every book you write comes from your heart.  You created that book out of your love for the craft.  Your laughs and your tears go into it, and just like a baby you gestate and give birth to it.  It’s all yours.  Don’t you love it unconditionally?  I know I do.  And like a bratty pre-teenager don’t you want to just strangle the life out of it at times?  I know I do.  (G)

But it is the Book of My Heart while I am writing it.  My next book will again be the current Book of My Heart until it’s finished and out the door.  Ok, now you’re probably saying “She’s not making sense.  Every book can’t be THE Book of Her Heart.” 

To that I say, oh yes they can.  For example, my latest release The Laird’s Lady from The Wild Rose Press, http://www.amazon.com/Lairds-Lady-Patti-Shenberger/dp/1601543727/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228952250&sr=1-2 was a real Book of My Heart. It evolved from a song, How Do I Live Without You by Trisha Yearwood.  The first time I heard the song, I envisioned a woman standing on a cliff mourning the loss of the man she would love for the rest of her life.  Days later, I had an opening chapter.  Months later a completed book.  I poured my heart and soul into creating the new Lady Devin and the old Laird Kyle, who can’t leave the Castle.  They lived with me, ate with me, slept with me (ok, keep your mind out of the gutter here) and were part of my life for 6 months.  When it came to writing the black moment for them, I cried my eyes out.  And when I wrote the last page of the book, I had the song on the cd player blaring through the house.  Of course I was crying again, but for a good reason.  I had finished the book and it was a Happily Ever After. 

Or The Captain’s Wench, my ebook release in May 08 from Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasyBooks, http://devinedestinies.com/shopdevine/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=ebook_flypage&product_id=40&category_id=23&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=52 .  I love the old black and white movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.  Anyone remember that one?  Or even the TV show in the 60’s.  Yes, I’m showing my age.  I created The Captain’s Wench off that movie.  Now my version is definitely a sexy, spicier version, but nonetheless has a handsome sea captain Alexander who has died and a romance novelist Meg who starts out wanting him to go away and ends up wanting him to stay.  What better place than to throw them together in Massachusetts.   Again I gave them a Happily Ever After, but as my author friends and also readers know, I tend to put a spin on the HEA’s so that you get to the end of the book and go “Ah, that is so cool.”  Or something like that. (G)  But you know what I mean.

So for me writing the Book of My Heart starts all over with each new book.  Come on, you know you do it too.  Every book has its own special hold on you.  Because if they didn’t, you probably wouldn’t be a writer.  Or even a reader.  But in either case, enjoy whatever Book of Your Heart that you prefer. 

Please stop by my website at www.pattishenberger.com and look around.  I have trailers for both books mentioned above if you’re interested.  I love hearing from both writers and readers.  Thanks again!