Margaret Mayo Romance Author

Only two days left to enter my contest. So if you want to be in with a chance of winning a copy of my latest book The Billionaire’s Blackmail Bargain, just email me your answer to this question. Where in the world is this book set? The answer is on the books page of my website, and the clue is it’s in the southern hemisphere.
Good luck!

I don’t normally welcome proofs, especially when I’m working on a new book. But on Friday the proofs to The Santorini Marriage Bargain arrived – my other MofC story. And when I read them through over the weekend I was happily reminded that it is nothing at all like the one I’m writing now. So my mild panic is over. It doesn’t mean the story is going to be any easier to write, but at least I’m reassured.

Also there were only three minor corrections – which is a first. I’ve known proofs with lots and lots of corrections.

Two chapters in to my current book and I’ve hit a brick wall. Usually if this happens it’s much later in the story, so this is a worrying brick wall. I’m sharing this to give newer authors hope, so that when and if it happens don’t worry. It’s part of the game. It happens to all of us sometimes no matter how long we’ve been writing or how many books we have written.

My first impulse today is to forget the book and go and do something else. (Actually I have a husband at home who I delegate jobs to – he’s cleaning windows at this very moment). But that never works for me. So what I intend to do this morning is give myself a question and answer session. Why isn’t the story working? Do I know enough of the character’s history? Is the hero too nice? (This is so easy to do when you fall in love with him yourself too soon in the story) Do I have enough emotional conflict? Yes, yes, yes, is the answer to this last question. My problem lies in that this story runs along vaguely similar lines to my last one and I obviously don’t want to make it the same. It’s a marriage of convenience where the couple need to marry for the sake of the business.

So it’s head down today and hopefully I’ll sort myself out. I’ve had a busy week this week with not much writing done. I hate interruptions when I’m working on a book, so I really need to get back into the swing of it.

Also, a reminder that there’s only one week left to enter my current competition for a copy of my latest book The Billionaire’s Blackmail Bargain. The question is, Where in the world is this book set? The answer’s on my website so email me here for a chance to win.

I’m blogging over on We Write Romance today about how I became a romance author and the fact that I fall in love with every hero I write about. Do take a look and let me know whether you too fall in love with the heroes in Presents books.

Chapter one completed. Vidal is absolutely dishy. I’m going to have a wonderful time exploring his character, falling in love with him myself. He’s a full-blooded, fiery Spaniard and already he wants Elena in his bed. Whew! I’m expecting my daughter any minute with my adorable grandson and that means writing will stop for the day. On the one hand I’m sorry, on the other I have my new little hero to play with.