JB Lynn

Hijinks, Hilarity and Heart

book series

The Cursed Chicks experiment

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I’ve been posting chapters of ONE FLEW OVER THE RAVEN’S NEST (the first in my new Cursed Chicks series) as I write them. Well, technically it’s not AS I write them. I write them, send them to an absolutely wonderful reader to point out any typos she spots, clean them up and THEN post them.

I decided to do this as my way of helping those contending with the Covid-19 debacle. (I can’t tell you how much the comments and notes I’ve received from readers have meant to me. I’m so glad that my silly little story has offered you a few minutes to escape from reality.)

This has been an interesting experiment on a couple of fronts. First, it feels like flying without a net. If I make a mistake story-wise I can’t go back and fix it in edits. My poor choices are already out there. No take-backs!

Second, this book was scheduled to come out AFTER the release of THE HITWOMAN AND THE EXORCISM which will be out on May 28th. RV, the main character in Raven’s Nest plays a major role in the Hitwoman book and I keep writing things that reference that role…but then I have to delete them because I’m trying to avoid spoilers.

Third, there’s a lot of pressure to crank out these chapters. But they’re not the only thing I’m working on. In addition to the prep work for the release of Exoricism, I’m writing Hitwoman 25 (and another passion project) not to mention all of the other things that go into being self-employed. Plus, just like everyone else, there are days when I get overwhelmed by our virus-ridden new world. According to my Fitbit, I haven’t had a night of “GOOD” sleep since March 7th…and that seems pretty accurate. Hmmmm…maybe I should write a new story about a character who goes to ridiculous extremes to get a decent night’s sleep. What do you think?

Maggie Lee will do anything to protect her family…including participating in an exorcism.

When her niece is threatened by an evil spirit, Maggie and her menagerie (with the help of friends Armani and RV) must find a missing skull and rob a graveyard. As if that isn’t enough, they must also go on a quest to collect a list of magical ingredients (including pumpkin spice coffee, because everyone knows that’s some magical stuff right there). 

God is being snarkier than usual, as Maggie also contends with the demands of a mob boss, the fallout of a killing, and an offer of a job that could be her most dangerous yet.

Will she figure out a way to exorcise the evil spirit to save her beloved niece Katie or will the cursed cloud Maggie’s always lived under finally get the best of her?

Have you preordered your copy yet?

Tour of my writing desk

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I’m always rearranging my desk. Here’s the current view:

Yes, I do have three plants, three light sources (candle, salt lamp, regular lamp) and two drinks (water and coffee). I don’t know if this shows my priorities or my obsessions, lol.

The basket holds my pens, notes, and work tracker book. The salt lamp and palm are pretty self-explanatory and that’s a ginger-peach candle.

A terrarium (more on that in a couple of days) and a fern get the center space to make sure they get enough light.

There’s magic in that there little bowl. Seriously….my inspiration talismans for the Cursed Chicks series are in there. And RV’s a badass so I keep the button on the lamp handy for those moments when I need to hit it.

I’d LOVE to show you what’s in the magic bowl but then I’d have to have Maggie from the Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series do you some serious harm, (Have I mentioned that book 23, THE HITWOMAN and the EXORCISM is available for preorder?)

Water and coffee are always on hand. My rule for myself is that every time I want to refill my coffee mug, I have to drink 10 ounces of water (the bottle holds 32).

So that’s the view of my writing desk this week, where I’m currently working on Hitwoman 24, One Flew Over the Raven’s Nest, and a passion project.

Writing Talismans

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Do you believe in talismans?

Here’s the definition according to Merriam-Webster:

I love calling the objects I use “talismans” not because I believe they’re magical, but because they connect me to the magic of writing. They serve as a constant reminder of what I’m trying to achieve.

So what are my writing talismans?

For the first few years my talisman for my CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN series was a lizard necklace. Now it’s this guy, given to me by an amazing friend to celebrate the sale (or maybe it was the release? Can’t remember it was a long time ago, lol) of the first book in the series. Godzilla hangs in my kitchen so that I see him every day.

For the Psychic Consignment Mystery series, I wore these crystal bracelets (that represent items that figure heavily in the books) and this little fella who is the inspiration for one of the characters was my constant writing companion.

It’s Pim!!!

I had to search for quite a while to find the perfect talisman for the upcoming spinoff series of the Hitwoman books. It’s too early to show you that, I don’t want to jinx it, lol.

I believe that a physical reminder of what you’re trying to achieve (it doesn’t have to be writing related!!!) can be a potent tool for achieving your goals.

Do you use talismans?

Week 1 of 2020 recap

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My writing year is off to a busy start.

I’ve been working on edits for GENTLY USED, STILL WORKS, the second of the Psychic Consignment Mystery series.

At the same time I’ve been going back-and-forth with the cover designer about the cover for Book 3. ( I just love it!!)

I’m also plugging away at the manuscript of Hitwoman 23 and having sooo much fun with it!

I’m also working with the cover designer to develop the logo for a new series…more information about that coming soon.

AND I’m working on my passion project book (which is separate from all of the above, lol).

Unfortunately, because I’ve been working so much, I’ve slacked off on one of my life goals for the year, which is to develop a hobby.

Did you set any goals for the year? How are you doing with them?

A new release means it’s time for a….

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Writers can be a superstitious lot and I’m no different.

Tomorrow morning I’ll be running out to the nearest Panera Bread to pick up a spinach and artichoke soufflé.

Why? Because that’s my release day ritual for the Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series and book 21 THE HITWOMAN AND THE FALLEN ANGEL will be out.

I eat a soufflé from Panera because years ago I was eating one when my dear friend, Cyndi said, “You should write with that voice” because I’d said something snarky. Now it’s my equivalent of a baseball player wearing lucky socks.

I’ve enjoyed writing each and every adventure. There are moments when I laugh, others when I cry, and I’m constantly surprised by the twists and turns Maggie’s life has taken.

Most of all, I’m grateful to the readers who’ve gone on this wild ride with me. Thank you!!

 

!Cover of The Hitwoman and the Fallen Angel by JB Lynn

 

Even a good man makes mistakes…

In Maggie Lee’s topsy-turvy world, Angel Delveccio is one of the good guys, but now it seems he’s gotten himself into some trouble. Can she get him out of it?

It’s not like she doesn’t have enough problems of her own. She’s struggling to pacify both the people and pets of her household — all of whom aren’t shy about voicing their litany of complaints and demands about their new home.

Stretched thin, Maggie attempts to broker familial peace while simultaneously contending with an external threat that revolves around a human skull.

And let’s not forget that a certain mobster has tasked her with keeping his nephew out of hot water.

Can Maggie protect Angel while keeping her family safe and together, or will someone be lost?

 

On this writer’s desk, October 2, 2019

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This is how the desk, where I do the bulk of my creative work, looks today.

(Natural light only, which is why the picture is so dark.).

Today my focus is on the first draft of the second Psychic Consignment Shop Mystery. It’s about a third done and housed in the purple “in progress” notebook.

And there’s my trusty recorder for dictation!

And these are the tiny notebooks I use to track my current projects. Right now in addition to the Consignment Mystery, I’m working on the 21st and 22nd books in the CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN series.

 

I took this picture in the lull between my morning and afternoon pots of coffee. Hence, no coffee mug, lol.

Writing as a passion AND a job

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The other day I took a midmorning break and met a friend at a park (Red Bug Slough if you’ve read One Woman’s Junk) so that we could walk our dogs together.

Toward the end of our visit she asked, “What will you do for the rest of the day?”

And I answered, “I should finish the first draft of Hitwoman 22.” (for the record, I came close, but didn’t finish it until the following morning)

“How do you know?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked, totally confused.

“How do you know you’ll finish it? How do you know when it will end?”

“Because I’m scheduled to do the last few chapters,” I explained.

“You know how it will end?” Her disbelief was evident.

“I don’t start a book until I know how it ends,” I told her. “And I’m scheduled to finish it today.”

I then had to launch into a whole explanation about how writing is my passion, but it’s also my job and I treat MOST of my projects as such. (That said, I’ll freely admit that I’m usually working on one or two “passion” projects that I don’t really expect to ever sell. They’re my “fun” stuff. My reward for doing the work.)

So in case you’re wondering, as of today, I’m currently working on the story edits for the 21st  Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman book, the second Psychic Consignment Mystery and a couple of passion projects. Make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter to keep up-to-date on my new releases.

And check out this great pic my friend took at the park of my tree-climbing dog  🙂

 

 

So many names….so many projects

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There are three index cards on my desk right now. Each of them contains a list of names.

(No, these aren’t potential targets for Maggie to knock off.)

They’re character names for the THREE projects I’m working on right now. I don’t need reminders of the names for my main, or recurring characters, but for those who are minor or new, I need a cheat sheet. Or three.

 

Otherwise someone from the CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN world might wander into a PSYCHIC CONSIGNMENT MYSTERY.

What a mess that would be! Can you imagine the arguments God and Him could get into?!?!

 

Tweaking my writing process

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“Writing is like reinventing the wheel — over and over and over and over again, because each story you tell is different.” JB Lynn

This year, I’ve been using dictation/transcription to get the first draft of my books done. I plot out a book in broad strokes, do a slightly more detailed chapter-by-chapter outline and then dictate it, one chapter at a time.

Some days I swear it’s better than my “old” method, some days the “old” method seems better. For the record, my “old” method was constantly changing too. I’ve handwritten entire books, utilized speech recognition software (MOST frustrating method) used an Alphasmart word processor (still one of my preferred methods if I’m stuck) and of course, written on my computer.

When I get the transcribed chapters back, I edit them. When the book is “complete” I edit them again.

That’s where I am in the process today. I’ve just finished editing the “completed” version of the 21st (!!!) book in the CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN SERIES.  

Now it will go to my story editor. Once I get it back, I’ll edit the story content yet again.

In the meantime, I’m scheduled to work on the second book in the Psychic Consignment Mystery series.

BUT I’m dying to work on Hitwoman 22.

What to do?

If I dictate one and type the other, would it be possible to write some of both each day?

Or is that taking the tweaking a bit too far?  I’m going to experiment and see!