Its time to celebrate LOVE and WINTER with the Winter Warm-Up Blog Hop sponsored by www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com

Hops with Heart Rafflecopter

To enter the Hops With Heart Rafflecopter giveaway, simply click this link and you could win the Grand Prize of a $75 Amazon Gift Card!

But wait, there’s more! You could also win a free copy of The Pleasure Hound Part I and Part II. Read on to learn how.

I’m not a fan of the cold. Winter means writing time for me. I stay inside, light scented candles that remind me of spring, and burn frankincense on coals.

This winter I’m working on the third full-length novel in my bestselling Pleasure Hounds series. As you read this, I’m fast drafting Act One. Here’s how my writing process goes.

The first time I tried to write a book it took me one year to write the first three chapters because I agonized over each word choice. Now, I believe in fast drafting. Vomit the story onto the page without a care for comma placement. All told, it takes me about six months from the first drafted word to the final polished manuscript.

I take three to four weeks for the first draft, which I call The Dirty. I let The Dirty breath for as long as I am able to be parted with it -usually a week or two. Then I come back and Sweep up the grammar, spelling and plot holes, which usually takes another three to four weeks.

Next, I send The Swept draft out to my trusted critique partners. When it comes back I Clean it up for another three weeks focusing on my weaknesses which is setting. I’m a screenwriter, and so for years, setting only consisted of a Scene Slug. For example:

INT. BEDROOM -DAY

The Director would take it from there. But fiction readers seem to like more details, so I’m constantly working on giving them more setting description.

Finally, I send The Clean manuscript off to the copy editor for two to three weeks. When it comes back I Polish up all the commas and rethink my overused words. Then I hit publish, and start all over again!

If you’re interested in seeing the fruits of my labors, post a comment. I’ll pick a random commenter and send them a free copy of The Pleasure Hound: Part One as well as a free copy of The Pleasure Hound: Part Two.

In the comments, tell me: What book is keeping you warm this Winter? I’ll announce the winner on December 22nd.

Good luck!

[update: December 22, 2014] Contest is closed. The winner has been announced! Please sign up for the mailing list to learn about future giveaways!