Sunday, February 11, 2018

If Only I Could Just Begin and Be #amwriting…Again by Margo Hoornstra



Brothers in Blue is my latest four book series from The Wild Rose Press. Brad, Vince, Adam and Luke are four heroes who met at the police academy and became lifelong friends. The drop out, the straight arrow, the movie star and the maverick; all have a passion to serve and protect, each in his own unique way.

On The Surface, Book 1 is released and available on virtual shelves everywhere.



On The Force, Book 2 is completed, submitted and Ally, my editor, LOVES the finished product. 

YAY!

Now it’s on to write and finish Book 3, On The Make. Right? Sit down and let my fingers fly as the story flows freely from my brain to page after printed page.

Yeah, I wish. For whatever reason, or reasons, I’m having a really challenging time getting started on this one.

I know quite a bit about the hero, Adam Hollingsworth aka Adam Pride, since he was mentioned in On The Surface and made an actual appearance in On The Force. He’s a police office by profession and, after moonlighting as technical advisor to the stars, becomes a super hero movie idol by chance. Adam’s at a point in his life where, while the adoration of fans is nice, it pales against the elusive dream of having a family of his own to have and to hold.

I know the heroine, Madison Clark no longer believes in heroes. Not after being widowed amid scandal and left with two adolescent boys to raise. Even the so called super hero who's come to town to make a movie. The one her oldest son, in desperate need of a father figure, seems to worship. The same hero who happens to arrive at various points in Madison's life at precisely the right time to save the day.

I know any kind of happily ever after fantasy is nowhere near being on either of these wounded souls’ radars. ***wink, wink***

I even have Madison’s evil villain ex brother in law all figured out, too, and waiting in the wings to spread his hate and discontent throughout Madison’s life. Then there’s Tina, a groupie gone mad to complicate Adam’s.

I also know how this one begins…

“Let us pray.”

Madison Clark dutifully lowered her head, along with scores of others in the huge, impersonal auditorium as memories of a previous, and similar, life changing event swirled. It was bad enough three years ago, when she’d had to bury her first husband with his sons, and hers, on either side of her.

Somehow, she’d gotten through it. Even when Dak, the sensitive one, sobbed so loudly during an acapella solo of Amazing Grace, it was nearly impossible to make out the lyrics. At eight, he’d been old enough to understand, and process the events that had happened since his father’s unexpected and lethal leukemia diagnosis. While not being able to make any sense of it at all.

She’d survived, even when older brother Cameron, stoic, silent and long suffering like his dad, didn’t move a muscle during the entire, grueling forty-five minutes of the service. Then got up and walked down the aisle and straight out the door of the funeral parlor without so much as a word or glance to anyone. She could hardly blame either of her boys for their reactions when they were thrust into the heartbreak of losing their father. The man who loved them more, much more, than life itself.

Now, a mere thirty-six months later, front and center in the jam-packed and impersonal amphitheater, she prepared to bury spouse number two. Though Dak and Cameron were a few years older and supposedly, more mature, this time they exhibited no more emotion than simple and detached boredom as the accolades went on and on and on for their mother’s late husband.

From then on, I’m pretty much stuck…for now.

If it’s always so gratifying to bring a book or books all the way to THE END. Why is it always so difficult to get started on the next one?

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, along with some free downloads, please visit my WEBSITE.



18 comments:

Vonnie Davis said...

You've got a very heavy beginning. Bringing moments of light will be difficult, especially for the boys who are scared. Your focus will need to be on the friendship/hero worship of the boys for the new guy in her life. And that you might have to write one page at a time. Of course, that's easy for me to say. That's how I write everything. Keep at it. I know you can do it and be a stronger writer for it.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Hmmmm. I think you nailed it for me, Vonnie. The hero definitely will have to bring in that light this family so needs. One thing you made me think about is to not focus too heavily on the boys, either. After all, this is their mother’s romance. One page at a time for sure. One word, one sentence at a time and I’m there.

Leah St. James said...

All I could think was how sad at being widowed twice at such a young age (or relatively young, I presume). Then I wondered if she's some kind of black widow or something. :-) (That's my mystery/suspense brain "speaking out.") It is a dark beginning, but that's real life for some, too. I think Madison is ready for some light! (Love her name, by the way.) Like Vonnie said, keep at it. It will come. (I tell myself the same thing every day, Margo.)

Margo Hoornstra said...

Thanks, Leah. As a matter of fact, she thinks of herself as a sort of jinx with men, hence one of her conflicts about getting involved with the hero. Oddly enough, losing two husbands in a row, as it were, has made her grow as an individual. Yep, one word/sentence/page at a time.

Rolynn Anderson said...

Yup, best advice is to take small steps. But I'm like Leah; what's going to surprise/intrigue the reader about this widow's story, different from so many other widow stories? The second thing to think about is theme. If this story isn't about moving through grief, what is it about? One trick is to put this first scene from the point of view of the hero...or one of the sons. Maybe the sons will sabotage any new relationship Madi has from now on...to avoid more pain. One of my tricks is to deconstruct...make a list of what the story isn't about...to get to what it is about (this energizes me, usually, to get cracking). Good luck, Margo. And thanks for asking for help from your sisters...makes us feel more capable for our own projects. Wink...wink!.

Jannine Gallant said...

Too much introspection in the open. You need to cut it down and feed the boy parts in later. Have something happen at the service to make her stand up for herself and be determined not to be a victim. Maybe the BIL makes a black widow comment. Show grace and strength in response. My two cents. You know I’ll have plenty to say as you go along. LOL

Alison Henderson said...

Wow, you've given her a heavy load. My two cents? Listen to Jannine.

Andrea Downing said...

For me, there's too much back story for an opening--I don't feel drawn in. Guess I'm saying more or less what the others are saying (I hope!) I'm sure it'll be wonderful when you finish and that you'll figure things out.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Ooooh, good idea, Rolynn. The hero could be observing everything from afar (he's already met the oldest son) then her story could come out as we go along. Excellent. Thank you. Ha! If you can't turn to your own sisters for help, I mean, where else would you go?

Margo Hoornstra said...

Ah, Jannine, how did I know you would say that? Saves you the trouble of messing with...uh...assisting with this scene when I get this one finished. Standing up for herself...heck yeah! Her momma didn't raise no wimps. The BIL does come into this scene with his meddlesome ways.

Margo Hoornstra said...

We have learned, Alison, haven't we?

Margo Hoornstra said...

Good point, Andi. Too much, too soon. Got it. Maybe the story doesn't even start here after all. Hmmmmm.

Brenda Whiteside said...

Jannine's input sounds great to me. I love the characters. So much to work with. You'll get it or you wouldn't have such a great handle on the characters.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Thanks for the pep talk, Brenda. I do know these people, so onward, right? (Plus, Jannine does know a thing or two after all ;-)

Diane Burton said...

I like the idea of the hero observing the funeral. You've gotten so many great ideas here. My thought as I read the comments was his suspicions that she is a black widow. Lots to think about, I'm sure. Good luck.

Alicia Dean said...

Your editor DOES love Book 2 - Can't wait to read this one as well. I know you'll get in the groove. You have a lot of great suggestions here. But you don't have to have the beginning figured out to finish the novel. Just keep moving forward and at some point, you'll figure out how your story should begin.

Margo Hoornstra said...

That is something to think about, Diane. Change to hero’s POV. Except he has noreason robe there. Hmmmm.

Margo Hoornstra said...

So good to hear the LOVES part, Ally. Wise counsel, too, per usual. A derivative of Just Do It! I get that ;-)