Checking In

This is just a quick update to let you all know I’m alive and well.

I got back about a week ago from a signing in Rome, Italy (and it was amazing). L’INFINITO TRA ME E TE (aka Winnie) was released in Italy and from what my publisher told me, it was #1 in the country. (I’m not sure if it was just in Romance, just on iBooks, or what, but regardless–woo hoo!)

I’ve been getting back into the swing of things. Writing is *finally* coming along. At this moment, my next book is about 90,000-ish words in. I got to about 70,000 words and realized that the trope I wanted to write wasn’t working, so I had to go back to the drawing board.

And it hurt my soul.

Some readers have asked me what the book is about and even though I’m really secretive about things up until about a month or two before I hope to release something new, it’s always because I’m not sure how the book and the characters are going to turn out. This happens pretty much every single time. It isn’t unusual for me to change my mind about something 2 weeks before a manuscript is supposed to go in for editing and then I’m stuck pulling all nighters to rewrite and rework.

What I will tell you is that all the characters are new.

What I will also tell you is that it’s a contemporary romance.

The last thing I’ll tell you is that this book is fucking killing me. I’m 99% sure I’ll end up with an ulcer over the next couple of months, haha. Writing to me has always been more like a game of Jenga: trying to figure out pieces that fit, moving them around and hoping they don’t make the story fall apart; all with the end game of putting together this mismatch of scenes into a tower of words.

What I’m trying to say is this: the book is still a hot mess, but I’m trying to mold it to a story that I love and feel strongly about.

Pray for me.

On one positive note: I’m pretty sure I have the title figured out at least.

Anyway, that’s all for now. I’ll be in Denver for Book Bonanza later this month and hope to see some of you there. If you’re in the Asheville area, there are still tickets available for August 4th’s Asheville Author Event (and my pre-order for it is still open). Wink, wink.

Hope you’re all having a great summer.

xxx

mariana