A Book that Went Askew

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. It's back to the grind today, but no worries! This post is lighthearted and fun. I'm gonna talk about some characters that pushed me around and took my story in a different direction than I'd planned. Ready? Grab your coffee or tea, and let's get going!

I spent the weekend revising the first half of Utterances (you can read an excerpt here). I'm at 30k words now, and I have about 30k more to write. I like to take a pause at this point in a novel and re-read to make sure everything is flowing as it should, details aren't regurgitated, and my timeline works. Also, I check to make sure my loose outline is moving forward as it should.

Needless to say, I found a few holes.

Once I'd gotten them filled in, I took a minute to build a timeline I'll be able to send to my editor so she can double check me. Everything was flowing smoothly, and then I whipped out my suggested chapter outline that I wrote at the beginning of May.

It was off by nearly six chapters! Several of the things I'd planned never happened, and many more have yet to happen. My characters dictated where the story was going, and they took it over, making it their own.

Why?

Because there are things I can't outline--like how a character will show who they are and what their core values (those things they refuse to bend on) are. Sometimes, a character needs a moment to overreact to something, and I hadn't planned it in advance. That's when my books take on a life of their own.

So, I threw my original plan out and jotted down a new one. Still the same ending, I'm just taking a different path to get there.

Right now, I'm figuring I'll introduce you to my MC and her supporting cast. SURPRISE! Check it out! Images are how I picture them in my head.

Name: Simone Alice Bookhart
Age: 18
Height: 5' 7"
Career: Cashier at grocery store
Great quote: “I know, and I love you for trying. But I had to be my own grownup around here, and I’ve changed in ways I can’t explain.”

Name: Tristan Joseph Cardre

Age: 22

Height: 5' 11"

Career: Runs one of the family restaurants & college student studying business management

Great quote: “I didn’t do anything! I just asked her if she wanted to order, and she went all cavewoman on me.”

These two have a lot of hurdles to leap over, but I think y'all are gonna like Tristan. He's as much of a hot mess as Simone is. Together, I think they're incredible.

What do you think? Looking forward to getting to know them?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Hell School: Fresh Meat - Blog Tour - Character Spotlight: Wes Johnson

Happy Thursday, everyone! I have an awesome blog tour stop for you all today. Get comfy, get your clicking fingers ready, and let's get going!

Character Spotlight: Wes Johnson

Book: Hell School: Fresh Meat

Age: 18 years old
Wes is the captain of the football team, and every girl’s dream crush, but he just wants to be a regular guy. Despite his popularity, he is a shy guy, but as the oldest child feels the need to step up and fulfill the role expected of him. His popularity makes him uncomfortable, and he likes that Sam doesn’t treat him like an object, but like a regular person.

Who I see playing Wes? I searched and searched for a modern day teen to play Wes, but from the beginning I saw him as Michael Schoeffling and despite my hours of research, I just couldn’t find a better modern actor so since this is just for our entertainment, I stand by my choice!

Now, some information about the book Wes is in:

Author: Heidi Angell
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 224 pages
Buy Links: Amazon $4.99  ~   Smashwords $4.99

Blurb:
High school is hard, especially when you're a freshman in a new town, surrounded by people you don't understand and who don't understand you. Sam was overwhelmed just trying to fit in. Then she is singled out with the first letter.

While some girls envy the “romantics” of this unknown admirer, Sam can tell something isn't right. Sam wanted to just blend in, but someone's eye is fixated on her. As the letters and bad poetry continue, so does the nagging in Sam's stomach telling her this is not normal.

When things escalate from strange to creepy, Sam's world becomes a nightmare. Twisted admiration is stalking her around every corner in the high school from hell…

Join the Geek Street Squad to help promote the book!

Heidi Angell is a bibliophile, lexicomaniac and wordsmith! She is the author of The Hunters Series, The Clear Angel Chronicles, and The Hell School Series. She also created Royal Prince Vince, and Creative Exercises to Inspire.

When she is not reading and writing, she can be found spending quality time with her lovely family camping, hiking, swimming, or watching movies. Learn more about her and her books at HeidiAngell.com

Heidi's social media links:
Facebook
@HeidiAngell
Heidi’s Blog
Google +
Pinterest
Linkedin
YouTube

Join the Thunderclap campaign to promote the book tour automatically to your fans: Share with your fans and ask them to join as well. We need 100 supporters to get the message sent out on the day of the tour starting.

Hell School: Fresh Meat Tour - Schedule

February 21st- March 31st

February 21st – Heidi Angell’s Blog, tour announcement.
February 22nd – Book review by Amanda Lim on MyBooksOpinion
February 23rd – Character Spotlight for Clint Glover
February 24th – Sample Chapter on figment
February 26th – Poetry on stalking
February 27th – Hell School: Fresh Meat Facebook Party
February 28th – Ama Bemma interview
February 29th – Book review by Justin Schiavone on Jersey Guys Can Read
March 2nd – Top 3 interview with Kai Strand on Strands of Thought
March 3rd – Character Spotlight of Sam Havre and book review by Kala Hammer Reading Like A Fool
March 6th – Guest post on Stalking with Mary Okeke
March 7th – 1st in a four part interview series with Nancy Christie, one on one
March 7th – Guest post on Stalking for Abiola Olatunde’s Biola-epesus
March 8th – Top Ten on Krystal Larson’s Live to Read
March 10th – Wes Johnson Spotlight on Jo Michaels Blog (You're there now)
March 14th – Nancy Christie second interview
March 15th – Character Spotlight for Mike Wells Reviews by Page Turners
March 16th – Character Spotlight for Jill on I Heart Reading
March 18th – Author interview on Jersey Guys Can Read
March 21st – Nancy Christie part 3
March 22nd – Book review by Shelea at That Bookshelf Bitch
March 23rd – Book review on 5 Girls Book reviews
March 24th – Author interview with Courtney Wendleton on Books and More
March 28th – Last of Nancy Christie's 4 part series 

There will be a live panel toward the end of March with several YA authors talking about writing. Stay tuned for more information. 

For information on live events, check in often at Heidi Angell’s website.

What do you think? If you have questions or comments for Heidi, drop them down below. She'll be by to chat you up!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo