New Partner In Crime…

Most of you know that I’m a wicked type-A and insist upon doing far too many big things at once.  So it shouldn’t come as a surprise when I mention that on top of writing two series concurrently, I decided to co-write one with a fan/now friend, Shannon Morton.

To introduce her to my fans (and get her used to writing blogs), I asked her to do a guest blog about her writing experience thus far.  She’s far too modest to mention that she’s been writing for years, and has been encouraged to do so by friends and professionals alike.  After nagging her to send me an unfinished work, she begrudgingly forwarded me a chapter or two of a young adult novel she started years ago.

I loved it.  I needed to know the story immediately.  Unfortunately for me, there wasn’t one…but there is now 🙂

Here’s Shannon to tell you more about her adventures in writing, creating, and working with a drill sergeant author…

(Shannon Morton)

Let me preface this with a small disclaimer: I’m not a blogger.

I am however, a huge fan of CAGED and Amber Lynn Natusch, which is how our crazy co-writing adventure began. The first time that Amber said something about the possibility of writing a series together, I thought she was crazy. I blinked, and we were brainstorming the prologue for Tempted by Evil.

The writing process is more fun than I could have ever imagined. Sleep deprivation, binge drinking, pill popping… Just kidding. My favorite moments usually come when Amber and I are having an instant messaging conversation and the letters OMG appear several times in succession. It means that some kind of breakthrough idea that has the power to alter the story completely is about to come my way and I’d better get my notebook ready…OR Amber finally bought a Kindle.

Our phone conversations are just as productive, chatting for hours about the characters (I can’t wait for you to meet Aspen!), the setting (New England is lovely…), the plot (not a chance!), music, books, interesting high school experiences, and anything else that may or may not be relevant to the story.

Thank goodness for free long-distance.

But it’s not all superfabulous. There was a time I wanted to quit writing during this process. Yep, already. I’m not a quitter and not even typically a whiner. I’m just a very detail oriented girl, and I was feeling overwhelmed by all the minutia involved in making the story unfold brilliantly. It lasted about 5 seconds before Amber laid the verbal smackdown. Needless to say, there will be no quitting. Besides, I couldn’t now if I wanted to…this story MUST be told.

So I’m now that girl. You know, the one who carries her notebook everywhere she goes in case some nutty and/or possibly genius scene pops into my head and becomes more important than say, listening to an actual conversation. The one who comes to dinner with her family, laptop actually attached to her lap as if the name was meant to be taken literally. The one listening to music I haven’t heard since high school because it creates the right environment for me to develop a character (and simultaneously gives me an excuse to dance around my living room).

Seriously, I am having WAY too much fun.

Thanks to Amber and the CAGED fans for allowing me to pop in and chat about the surreal experience of writing a book with an author whose work I adore. Hopefully, this crazy redhead will be welcomed back for another blog to keep you posted on the status of Tempted by Evil…