Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Falling with Grace Under Pressure by Jody Vitek



Please join me in welcoming Jody Vitek as our guest Rose today. Jody will be drawing two lucky readers to receive an eBook of Florida Heat. Thanks, Jody!
I’d like to thank The Roses for letting this water lily pop in for a visit. I’m so excited to announce the release of my third book, Texas Two Step, by Melange Books. Texas Two Step is a follow-up to my debut release Florida Heat. You first met Chad and Chloe in Florida, but now you get to read their story. This is a stand-alone book and has nothing to do with dancing.
My journey to publication for this book wasn’t my usual trek. Generally, I write at my own pace and submit the book to my publisher when it’s finished, but this time I was looking for a little help to pick up my slow writing pace. I wanted another book released by the end of 2015, so I contacted my publisher, Nancy, to see what it would take to light the fire under my butt.
The fire quickly turned into a bonfire and the panic set in.
Nancy had an opening available for a late November 2014 release in their new Satin Romance line. She asked if she should send a contract.
Holy Smokes!
I’d never written under pressure before. Although I had some of the story written, the completed manuscript would need to be turned in by August first to be released at the slated time. Could I finish a manuscript worthy to send to the editor within the next ... how many months? I had four and a half months to finish writing the book.
Contract signed, it was time to look at how I was going to actually finish by the deadline. I took my goal word count of 60,000 and subtracted the number of words I already had written. Then I printed the next four months of our family’s calendar and crossed out days I could not write, including weekends, and counted the number of days, for two out of the four months, I planned on as writing days. I took the word count number I needed to achieve, divided by the number of days devoted to writing and I had to write a minimum of 500 words per writing day. The other two months would be devoted to editing time to polish the manuscript. I could do this! My minimum daily word count was basically two pages.
Although the story had been started and I basically knew how it was going to end, I didn’t have the ‘in-betweens’ planned out. So I brainstormed the remainder of the book and got to work on writing. The story took off and I was exceeding my daily word count by the hundreds. Having rewards, such as delicious chocolates, for meeting daily goals helps. The manuscript was completed, turned into Nancy ahead of schedule and Texas Two Step is scheduled to release on November 6.
To
Bio
Born and raised in Minnesota, Jody has remained close to home living with her husband of twenty plus years, three children and a cat named Holly. Growing up, she enjoyed reading V.C. Andrews’ the Dollanganger series, starting with Flowers in the Attic, S.E. Hinton, and Stephen King to name a few. Today her tastes run across the board in fiction and non-fiction, in all genres.
She has traveled throughout the United States, to the Bahamas and Cancun, Mexico. Between watching her son’s soccer games, maintaining one of the many scrapbook albums, gardening and being the COO of the Vitek household, she writes contemporary romances.
Contacts and Links
Twitter: @JodyVitek
Buy Links for Florida Heat:
Amazon  Melange Books  Barnes and Noble
Watch for the Florida Heat special from Oct. 25 through Nov. 1 - $3.99 at Amazon, B&N and Smashwords. 

Texas Two Step Blurb
Old family ties broken, childhood pain healed and true love revealed—one step at a time.
One phone call sends Chad Rogers back to the one place he’s been avoiding—home. Being at his mother’s side after she was shot, he faces the younger brother who tormented him during childhood and his ex-lover, Chloe Atwood. The reality of his feelings for her is stronger than ever and he confesses his love to Chloe.
Chloe Atwood is engaged to marry a family childhood friend. Chad Rogers steps back into her world, spinning it off its axis. His presence has her seeing her fiancé in a different light, leaving her to question their future life together. (Check Jody's Web site for where you can get Texas Two Step on November 6)
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16 comments:

Leah St. James said...

Thanks for stopping by, Jody, and sharing your journey to publication for the new release! I tend to write like you were, on my own pace, but I think I need to figure out a way to light my own bonfire! Congratulations on achieving your goal! Do you think you'll go back to your previous time-table now?

Liz Flaherty said...

I wrote my last book that way, with a contract already signed, and have to say I loved it. I never figured up what word count I needed--it would have scared me too much. :)

Congratulations on the new release.

Jody Vitek said...

Good Morning Roses! The suns orange glow is cresting the horizon here in MN and it will be a cool but sun-filled day. Thank you for having me here!

Leah-I thought about joining the Nano crowd to write my next book, but decided against it because it would add to much stress. I am back to my old take it easy schedule but when I figure out the basic plot, then I may set daily goals.

Liz-I can understand not wanting to see what the word count would be, but you'd probably be surprised at how low the count would be. Not only that, but the feeling you get when you achieve or go beyond the count, is a great feeling. You could figure the word count out and then tuck the sheet of paper away.

Thank you for the congrats ladies.

LizbethSelvig said...

Hi Jody! I'm so excited for your new book! I loved Florida Heat and Rescue Me (which is unrelated to the Florida and Texas, I know, but still a winner!)and I can't wait to read Chad and Chloe's story. I HAVE to write under a deadline or I'll never finish a book--as you know. I agree totally, though, that knowing and then exceeding your word count on any particular day is a boost and a little thrill. It takes so little to keep a writer happy, doesn't it? LOL. Best of luck with Texas Two Step!

Jody Vitek said...

Lizbeth-Thank you. I could never write under deadline like you. Too scary! Chocolate, coffee, wine and I'm a happy writer. ;^)

Jannine Gallant said...

I like to set daily goals. 1000 words is doable. When I exceed my goal, I'm a happy camper. :) Congrats on finishing on time and learning a new writing strategy!

Jody Vitek said...

Thanks Jannine. I guess I've stayed away from daily goal making because I think it will cut off my creative thinking. But yes, when you meet or exceed that goal, it is a great feeling.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Welcome, Jody. I applaud your 'I can do this' attitude. Nothing like a bonfire to get one moving. Best of luck with your latest.

Jody Vitek said...

Thank you Margo! Yeah, a bonfire will get anyone quickly moving.

Alison Henderson said...

OMG, Jody! I've never even tried to write to a deadline, but I admire your organized approach. (I probably would have done something similar, since I need structure to finish on time.) Congrats on Texas Two Step!!!

Nan Dixon said...

You are so very organzied, that I would never worry about you meeting a deadline! Congratulations!

Alicia Dean said...

Ah, I know the feeling. I have written under fire before, and it does tend to make you productive. But, it also makes me a little panicky. I have an impossible deadline right now. :) Unfortunately, the story isn't clicking. I have another impossible deadline after this one; a full 70,000 word MS by the end of December, and I haven't started. I work a full time job, too, so...yeah... Well, I enjoyed your post, but it got me to thinking about how REALLY far behind I am. Uh oh! :) Your books sound wonderful. Best of luck!

Nancy Dow said...

Hi Jody!! Wish I were a tweeter too but alas am not. I am however...always up for free book giveaways!!

Jody Vitek said...

Alison-I could totally see you doing something similar to what I did.

Nan-You know me too well. ;) But I think you're up there with me in the organized number configuration thing.

Alicia-I hate to say it but I'd be panicking too. But it sounds as though you've done this before and will pull through. I'm going to send your luck back your way for finishing your MS by the New Year.

Nancy-Wish you luck in the contest for the free book.

Tara Fox Hall said...

Congrats on your new release Jody! :)

joyce said...

So excited to see this book published. Congrats on working so hard and fast. A whirlwind writer. Good luck and looking forward to future projects.