Revealing Our WIPs

For the last few weeks, I’ve asked my fellow bloggers to reveal their WIPs by answering a series of six questions. The first week, I interviewed WWK alum Jim Montgomery and Alex Morgan, who now blogs here every other Wednesday. Last week, former Thursday blogger Pauline Alldred unwrapped her WIP, along with Linda Rodriguez, whose manuscript won the St. Martin’s contest and whose book will be released this April. Today, Gloria Alden and Kara Cerise tell us about their work.

 1. What is the title or tentative title of your WIP?

THE BLUE ROSE is the first one. I’m busy reformatting it for publication, but I’m also working on the third in my series. It’s called, LADIES OF THE GARDEN CLUB.

2. Do you have a jacket blurb for your WIP?

During a large reception at Elmwood Gardens introducing the first true blue rose, Augustus Chatterton is found dead with a garden fork in his back. Many at the reception don’t believe he had the expertise to propagate a rose like this, but if not him, who did? Was the true propagator the murderer? Catherine Jewell is drawn into the mystery trying to prove her friends and co-workers are not guilty of murder even though many of them had good reason to want him dead.

3. In what stage of progress is your WIP.

It’s done and I’ve sent it off. Now I’m waiting to hear if it will be accepted.

 4. How many hours per week are you able to devote to your writing?

 Not enough. With family and other commitments, there’s never enough time to satisfy me. I try to write at least a little every day even if it’s only in my journal. I do get more writing done in the winter when there are no gardens to plant or weed or lawns to mow.

5. What are your aspirations for your work?

To get it published and get readers who like my books, and to validate the years I’ve spent on writing. I guess you might say to prove to others I really am a writer, and it’s more than just a hobby.

 6. In relation to your WIP, where do you hope to be by the end of this year?

 I hope I have the first two books in my series out there; THE BLUE ROSE and DAYLILIES FOR EMILY. I’m also hoping I have my middle-grade mystery published as well, and that I’m having book signings and selling books.

Who is the main character of your series?

 Catherine Jewell is the owner of a small nursery, Roses in Thyme and also a part time botanist at Elmwood Gardens. Another important a character is John MacDougal, the police chief of Portage Falls, who becomes her romantic interest.

Because you are a gardener, I can understand your series. What subject did you choose for your YA novel?

It’s a middle-grade mystery based on a writing activity that went on for a whole year in my classroom. I brought in a suitcase claiming I’d found it on my back steps. That started a series of letters written by the elderly Alice Van Brocken, who claimed the suitcase. She was on the trail of two jewel thieves and sent letters from around the country telling of all her adventures and her near escapes from death. My students wrote back to her with their advice on what she should do. Two days before the end of school – after helping the police capture the thieves in Seattle. (She was also good at karate) – she showed up at my school to meet the kids. My sister, Elaine, who was considerably younger, pretended to be her, but kids think anyone older than their parents are elderly so she pulled it off and signed autographs.

1. Name the title or tentative title of your WIP?

The title for my screenplay is KILLER MAKEOVER.

2. What is your blurb? 

The log line is: Accused of murder during a reality show, a betrayed and mistrustful single mother must work with her competitors to prove her innocence.

3. In what stage of progress is your WIP?

It is finished for now although my instructor, Sally J. Walker, advised me to complete five screenplays in order to learn the unique format before submitting one. After I write four more, I will rewrite KILLER MAKEOVER, have it critiqued and submit it.

4. How many hours per week you able to devote to writing?

I wrote the entire screenplay in a little over three months and used every spare minute. It was intense, exhausting and so much fun!

5. What are your aspirations for their work?

I would love to see KILLER MAKEOVER on a women’s television cable channel.

6. In relation to your WIP, where do you hope to be by the end of this year?

By the end of the year, I hope to have written another screenplay based on one of my short stories. This will bring me one step closer to my goal of completing five screenplays.

Regarding my new writing project, my plan is to have a strong outline of one book by the end of the year.

Why screenplays, Kara?

I tried writing KILLER MAKEOVER as a novel but realized it was better suited to a movie format since I envisioned over-the-top comedy/action scenes as opposed to thoughtful, internal dialogue.

What subgenre have you chosen for your novel? Traditional, cozy, paranormal, romantic suspense?

At the moment I’m torn between two ideas: a lighthearted cozy or a YA novel. I plan to write short stories for each, pick the one that excites me the most, expand on the short story and develop it into a novel.