My problem was I didn't know where there was.
First off, I wanted the bear in this bear-shifter book to have more personality. I wanted my readers to fall in love with him as well as his hunky human counterpart. I made him comical, at times and moody, at others. He could go from a petulant cub to a stubborn teenager to an advice giving man. A few times, he even broke the shifting rules and shifted while the hero was asleep--and created a wee bit of mayhem. He became attached emotionally to the heroine and referred to her as Family. Readers wouldn't understand that type of relationship, I was told.
I was told this was a childish idea and to delete this part of the bear's personality. I was allowed to keep a smidgen of it. In the process, I lost over three-thousand words.
Okay, so maybe the book did read better, stronger. But I missed my lovable bear. I justified it by telling myself, I was probably the only person who would see the humor in what I had written. I can be a tad off the wall, after all.
The next email told me to fatten up your heroine. BBW's are in. "Really? You mean I finally get to show a heavy woman is worthy of love too?" Yes, make her a size sixteen. I laughed. I haven't been a sixteen since my youngest was born forty years ago. I mean, I'd go without chocolate for three days to be a sixteen again!
I was told "high humor" like I write is out of style and to take most of it out. I began to show a little stress. A phone call was made and a compromise reached. I was pleased--and relieved.
Now, to make up for the word count I'd lost in deleting my bear's charming personality, I was told to insert two sex scenes (Pounds head on laptop). I struggle with sex on demand. Where would I put these scenes so they seemed natural and appropriate to the situation?
The irony was when my cover arrived. After diminishing the role of Magnus, the bear, look who was also included on the cover?
A Scottish hunter and a French secret agent find themselves on a collision course with danger—and irresistible desire—in Vonnie Davis’s new bear-shifting Highlander novel, perfect for fans of Jennifer Ashley and Shelly Laurenston.
In the pine-dense mountains of the Scottish Highlands, shape-shifter Ronan Matheson is running free when a desperate woman parachutes out of the sky, directly onto his furry, powerful chest. Instead of clawing her to death, Ronan’s inner bear longs to keep her safe. Once he’s back in human form, Ronan is amused by the mysterious beauty’s fearless attitude—and tempted by her voluptous toned physique. But what could she possibly be doing in this isolated stretch of the Highlands?
French intelligence agent Anisa Brosseau never imagined she’d be on the CIA’s bad side—until she’s framed for treason and forced to flee in a stolen drone. Hiding out in a remote cabin, Anisa just needs some time to clear her name. What she doesn’t need is a brooding, muscle-bound Scot in a skimpy kilt to drive her crazy with lust. But when Anisa’s enemies come knocking on his door, Ronan calls on a secret inner weapon to protect his turf and the bonny lass he’s come to love.
16 comments:
Absolutely LOVE that tease, Vonnie. But, I, like you, would have enjoyed the comedy, too. Thanks for sharing your process.
All those demands...grrrr. I'd be tempted to tell Loveswept to drop dead. By the time your book releases, they'll be telling the next author humor is in and heavy heroines are back out. You write a damn good story. Your pub should just freaking let you write it and quit worrying about the latest trend!
Margo, I had some cute scenes where the inner bear and Ronan argued about babies. Magnus wanted children. Ronan did not. Their private arguments were comical and yet touching as Magnus helped Ronan face the pain of losing his own father at the age of six. I have to say it again. I do love your new photograph.
They wanted me to take out Effie, my pink-haired hippie who gets all the great reviews. When I called, I said Effie was non-negotiable. You're right, Jannine, writing to trends can be dangerous. First off, the heroine was military. There are weight to height ratios they expect you to adhere to. How was I to explain that? I couldn't make her a sixteen and still fit in that drone. So I made mention to curves and not size.
Had to jump back in. Blushing here, Vonnie, at your photo comment and thank you. Re the deleted scenes. You saved them, right? To use at another time in another book, right? They sound too good to have fallen by the wayside.
I commiserate, Vonnie. I'm stalled with a book...my editor said the beginning needs to be overhauled, and for some reason, that's got me doing everything else BUT rewriting the beginning. Sigh. You're surprising me about rules on shape-shifting, which is a rule-breaking conceit on its own. I'm glad you fought for and won enough rounds to make the book your own. Hang in there!
Talk about frustrating and stressful! I've never heard of editing to such micro-trends. I guess the publisher can do that when the book's almost out to try to catch the latest wave, but as an author you'd like your stories to last a bit longer. I'm glad you stood up for Effie!
Yup, I save all my deleted stuff. From time to time, I do use it.
But Rolynn, you ARE working on your changes. As you do other things, your subconscious is figuring it out and will surprise you with what it comes up with. My editor kept telling me "readers won't believe that." Oh, as if I believe a man can shift into a bear???? It's called paranormal and in paranormal, we kind of think sideways. I asked politely if I could keep this scene or that one and was able to get my way. By deleting most, I got to keep what I felt really made him different. We pick our battles.
Alison, the book doesn't release until Oct. 27. Thin will probably be back in again by then.
Vonnie, I hope you're right about my creative subconscious. With the time I've had to 'think' about the first 60 pages, they'll be dynamite :-)
Oh ARGHHHHHHHHHH! That would really upset me-- stick in two more sex scenes, make her a size 16 (and she's military?!)and high humor is out? Who says?? That is crazy. Sometimes I think they're getting editors out of kindergarten, no real-world experience. (Apologies to the kindergarteners out there.) Your writing is wonderful and funny. I'm glad you were able to negotiate to some degree.
Oh, it will be Rolynn. Just fuss a bit with your first sentence and then relax and let it flow. I probably rewrite my first paragraph a good twenty times. It's a process and suddenly you find yourself flying along, having a ball.
It was my editor's boss who was making these demands. I think they're trying to decide if they want to continue the series after book three. It was a rough editing experience.
Love your humor, Vonnie! I've no doubt this book will rock even after you had to 'tame' the bear! So sorry you had to go through this stress, though. {{hugs}}
That had to be so frustrating, Vonnie. I'm glad you stuck to your guns with some things. As you say, you have to pick your battles. But humor is popular all the time. I think publishers are running scared and try to micro-manage to justify themselves. Too bad you're on the receiving end.
Post a Comment