As a very special treat in honour of Valentine’s Day, an e-copy of ErRatic has been sent to everyone who participated in the contest!

Congratulations, and thank you for participating.

Cheers, and best wishes,
ND|Melody

It was so very nice hearing from all of you -

Regards, and best wishes,
ND|Melody

Since ErRatic contains a variety of ghosts, I pulled information on everything from poltergeists to orbs to ghostly appearances, joined a ghost society, and even researched how rhabdomancy (dowsing), clairvoyance, telepathy, and PK could be applied to parapsychology. I also explored the type of equipment used now in “ghost chasing” and the procedures used to verify phenomena. There were various other things in the book I needed to check, too (police procedure/terminology, ice skating, rat behaviour). Basically, if I want to go somewhere with my story, I try to figure out how to make it sound as though it’s believable - and find a precedent for the event.

Cheers,
ND|Melody

Discipline is so difficult at times, but I tend to agree. I steal Nike’s slogan and apply it to myself - “Just do it!” Sometimes writing is plain hard work while at other times the words flow.

Research always interests me. What research did you do for ErRatic?

Regarding ErRatic ~
I think ErRatic was one of those books which helped on my way to being a romance writer. I suppose it would best fit into the paranormal category, because even though it features a romance, it also is quite scary in places, and has a full cast of quite active/reactive secondary characters. The woman in it, Emma, has terrible paranormal problems. When she is not luring in psychotic ghosts, she is summoning in masses of rats. For years she has managed to maintain a life and friends, despite these “drawbacks”, but now things are spinning out of control. Harley, a policeman, is drawn in by the barks of Emma’s dead dog, the appearance of a deceased murderer on her lawn, and threats by Emma’s stepbrother. Harley soon finds himself desperate to lay all Emma’s ghosts…to rest.

Regarding productivity:
I hate to use the “D” word - really, I do. I think the answer (*cringe*) is Discipline - oh, and generous portion of Insanity.
The truth is, I get up at 4 am or just before every morning, and commit myself to the task at hand. I know that must sound to most people as though it’s I who should be committed, but for years, around other jobs, I wrote a minimum of 1000 words a day. Now, that seems way too low, but it’s still my minimum. I prefer to see myself at 2500 to 3000 per day. I’m not a very patient person, you see. I don’t like my book writing to seem interminable.
Other things: I’m a research fanatic. I LOVE it, and every book has scads of the stuff! I never plan ahead (pantser), so when I come up with an idea, it’s VOOM! Off to research it. I read enough so I have a feel for the slang, the job, the interactions, then I’m off typing again.
So, my recommendations? Set standards for yourself, but don’t kill yourself if you can’t meet them. Self-challenge and fulfilment can prove a reward in themselves, though. Finishing a full-sized novel in a month can keep your ego shining for years…because you did it for YOURself, and met your own expectations.

Cheers,
ND|Melody