This Writer's Perspective...on writing THE LAST DANCE

This Writer's Perspective....when I talk about my thoughts on writing...

When you look at the big scheme of things, I'm fairly new to the world of writing and publishing.  I've been writing seriously for about six years now. I have friends who have been writing ten, fifteen  years and more, some who are still trying to get published.

There was a steep learning curve the first few years and I count myself lucky every day that I got published.  One of the things I was told by those in the 'know' was not to switch genres for a few years. However....I've never been good at following the 'rules'. ;-)

As you probably know, I started my career writing fantasy - The Faerie Ring Series - but I like to read a variety of genres, so I wondered - wouldn't other people, as well? I mean, if they like my writing in one genre - they might like it in another, right?

I guess we'll find out when my YA contemporary, THE LAST DANCE, releases after the first of the year.

I write for the love of the story I want to tell and I love this story! I hope, even if you love fantasy, you might give it a try, too.  It's the story of a boy (Kellen Peterson) who 'has it all' only to have many of the things he's taken for granted all of his life taken away after he suffers a traumatic brain injury in a football game.

Here's a short passage from the book after Kellen's been injured and he's still in the hospital.  His best friends, Ollie and CJ, have just been allowed to see him:


     “Hey, buddy. How ya doin’?” Ollie sauntered in with that easy walk of his and leaned over the bed guardrail to grab my left hand and shake it. I wondered if they’d told him about my right hand because he’d never grabbed my left hand before in his life.

     “You’re lookin’ good, Kell, won’t be long before they kick you outta this joint,” CJ said as he stepped up next to Ollie. His hair was picked in a ‘fro today which made him look even taller than he already was. They both looked so good — so strong and healthy.

     I just nodded and gave them a thumbs up. I hated to admit it, but I didn’t want to try and talk in front of them and sound like an idiot because my speech was still messed up. So I just nodded and said ‘yeah’ occasionally, and hoped that maybe they wouldn’t notice.

    “Coach is letting Carter start, but just as a filler until you get back,” CJ said. “We really needed you last week against Northside. Hansen’s field goals were the only thing that saved our asses.”

     Ollie leaned his elbows on the bed’s side bar, the muscles flexing in his arms. “And Jazzy said to tell you hi.” He mock-punched me in the shoulder. “She wanted me to give you a hug and a kiss, but I’m gonna pass on that one.”

      I pressed my lips together and tried to hold back my smile, because the right side of my face was totally messed up and my lips didn’t move like they were supposed to anymore. Something flickered in Ollie’s eyes and then he blinked to hide it.  I think he could tell.

That's it from here! Check back because I'll be giving signed bookmarks away, well as some ARCs.

Also tell me this - if you read fantasy, do you read contemporary too?

Happy Wednesday!

~Kiki