I love this lady, seriously. She has beta read for me on both A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION and the upcoming A LADY AND A SPY and her comments are wonderful and insightful and perfect every time. I've been pumped for her book, A CHANGE OF PLANS, for a while and jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour.
A Change of Plans
When
twenty-five-year-old Lyn sets off on her cruise vacation, all she wants is to
forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a
diversion uncomplicated by romance. What she gets is Braedon, an intriguing
young surgeon. He's everything her fiancé wasn't, and against the backdrop of
the ship's make-believe world, her emotions come alive.
Unaware
of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship
beyond friendship—on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget.
Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.
But
it's hard to get away from someone when you're stuck on the same ship. Things
are bad enough when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling
excursions. Then paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped, and
Lyn's fear of a fairy tale turns grim.
Title:
A Change of Plans
Author:
Donna K. Weaver
Release
Date: June 1, 2013
Pages:
327
Rating: **** (Really liked it)
Review: This book! Let me say: beaches, hot doctors, pirates, shipwrecks ... twists and turns that kept me turning pages -- and even messaging Donna. I love that while some pretty fantastic things happen, the book still has a realistic feel to it. I loved Donna's vivid descriptions and the way I felt I was right beside Braedon and Lyn for the ride.
...AND, we even have all the things on the blog today! An interview and an contest!
First question -- What inspired you to write a pirate-shipwrecked-adventure-romance?
I wrote the book to see if I could write a full-length novel. I decided to include stuff I like, things I would like to read. I'd had a dream about a man and a woman shipwrecked and finding a tree house. My challenge was to figure out how they got there. After brainstorming with my family, I decided that it would be less likely for the entire cruise ship to be hijacked but that a small excursion could be vulnerable.
So, is A CHANGE OF PLANS the first novel you ever wrote then? How long did it take you?
It is. I'd heard about NaNoWriMo, but it was too late to join that year, so I did my own the following January. Cranked out 80,000 words in 30 days. They were very rough words, obviously. I had a lot to learn. I have a lot to learn, yet.
Exciting! I don't think I've ever heard of any publishing a NaNo novel. {Mine all suck way too much. It scares me to think about editing them. ;) }
Do you mind telling us your publishing story? How did you end up with Rhemelda?
I was taking my time and sending out a certain number of queries each week and had even had a full request from an agent. I'd had my eye on Rhemalda for a while since I know a couple of their authors and had heard good things about them. If I remember correctly, they routinely ask for the first fifty pages with the initial submission, so I was thrilled when I then got a request for a full.
Funny story. After I emailed the full, I posted about it on Facebook. I happened to notice later that evening that the name of one of the people who liked my post seemed awfully familiar. So I went to her FB page and saw it was one of the people I'd sent the full to--Emmaline Hoffmeister, Rhemalda VP. She posted that she had spent the day reading a manuscript that she'd really enjoyed. She then mentioned some features that she'd enjoyed in the story: cruise, sailing, tropics, love story. Pirates.
Um, I had those things in A Change of Plans. I about came out of my chair with a squeal. I read the comments to my husband. "That has to be my book. Tell me that has to be my book."
It was. But they rejected it
However, it was the best kind of rejection an author can get, a revise and resubmit. I worked on it for three months and resubmitted. They made an offer. I had a couple of attorneys check out the contract, we negotiated back and forth a bit, and I signed. I've loved working with them. There are so many horror stories out there about publishers who walk all over their authors and bully them, making decisions and never involving them. That's not been my experience with Rhemalda. I was a part of everything all along the way.
The editing still kicked my butt, but I knew to expect that--and even then, the editors weren't asking me to change the essence of my characters or my story. For that I am grateful.
That is the best kind of rejection! What has been the best part of the experience?
I'm all about lifelong learning, and the last three years have been filled with it. Along with the knowledge I've gained, I've also met tons of wonderful people. Who knew authors could be so fun and supportive? The trippiest experience, though, was coming in my front door and seeing a box full of my books--to actually hold it in my hands, open to the inside pages, and see MY words inside. *shivers*
I LOVE that part of being a writer, all the awesome people I have met. And SO much to learn, all the time! Thanks for taking the time to do the interview with me--parting question, favorite flavor of ice cream? ;)
That's easy: Moose Tracks
Mmmmm. If I wasn’t a staunch lover of Cold Stone’s cheesecake flavor with a brownie mix-in, I think that would be my favorite too!
Thanks, Donna! You’re a great writing friend and I loved being part of your blog hop!
Now, for the contest!
About Donna K. Weaver:
Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the
Army and has lived in Asia and Europe.
Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.
Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.
At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.
After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.
Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.
Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.
At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.
After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.
Ranee, thanks so much for having me over. I'm glad you enjoyed my little story. :D
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny it was the same person reading your manuscript on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteNaNo books can be successes. My second book was written during NaNo. (And third during BuNo.)
Congratulations, Donna!! Enjoy this day.
Congrats once again Donna. Your story makes me think that there's hope for me...
ReplyDeleteWriter In Transit
This post is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing! xo
ReplyDeleteAmy