They're here!

Picture the scene: you return from a gruelling four-hour shift manning the desk at your local library, only to find the postwoman has left you a card. She tried to deliver a parcel while you were out. And your author copies of Frozen Heart, Melting Kiss are due any day. But you've a deadline tomorrow, and no time to head down to the village and back.

This was me, last Thursday....

So I wait Friday until morning, when the proofs I've been correcting are finished, and head to the post office, full of anticipation of paperback loveliness. I head up to the counter with grin on face and bounce in step, and deal with business first, getting my proofs in the post so they arrive on time. And then I hand over the red card, practically dancing now with anticipation. The lady in the post office digs round behind the counter, picking up and looking at different parcels in turn. It's not that one! I want to shout. It'll be a bigger box than that. But what's this? She's heading back to the partition, with a unfeasibly small parcel. It's got my husband's name on it. No parcel. No books. An electrical connector for a Golf GTI alternator. Sob.

So I trudge home (actually, I drove -- I'd bought the car with me, anticipating a great big heavy box) and get on with some chores, have a bit of lunch. The doorbell goes, and I open it to find a UPS guy with a great big box ...

They're HERE! They're BEAUTIFUL! They're ALL MINE!! OK, so this last part isn't true. They'll be winging their way shortly to reviewers, as giveaway prizes, and to some of the fabulous people who helped me get this book written. So maybe next time you get a card from the postie, Will and Maya will be waiting for you.

Ellie

On plot holes ...

Things are a little quieter this week in Darkins HQ now that Hiding from Hollywood is off being subjected to eBook production magic, which has left space in my brain to think about other projects on the go.

I have various manuscripts in different levels of completeness, but just recently I've been starting on a brand new project, as in 'Page 1', 'Chapter 1', 'hundreds of blank pages ahead of you' new. It's been a while since I've been here, and although I found it a little intimidating, I was actually really enjoying getting to know these new characters, rummaging around in their heads and their lives until I worked out who they were and what they were up to. It doesn't have a name yet, but between us, let's just call it ... Beach Bum.

Well, I was telling my very good friend about Beach Bum when she -- quite rightly, and very accurately -- pointed out the whopping great big plot hole right there in Chapter 1.

So now I have a decision to make: go back and rewrite, or 'just keep swimming'. If I get caught up in the first few pages, I might never make it till THE END. If I get to THE END and the hole is going to require major structural work to fix, rather than the subtle tweaks I'm hoping will solve it, I'm not going to be best pleased!

And that's what's going to be occupying my brain between now and 13 Jan (P-Day for Hollywood!) -- if you see me muttering to myself over the next few weeks, don't be overly concerned. I'm just constructing scaffolding.

Ellie
xxx