A new idea

This is the first time in over 5 years that I haven't been actively working on a novel. In fact, it was in August of 2004 that I began to write my first novel. In my naivety, I was certain that once finished, I would be able to obtain an agent and easily sell the book.

Well, life didn't quite work out that way. It was several books and several years later before I was able to catch the attention of an agent, and that first story has been revised 4 times since. Perhaps it will be 'ready for prime time' one of these days.

Since I finished novel number 5 ("The Between") in the early summer, I have been between projects. It's not for lack of ideas. In my drafts folder, I have the start of 2 potential novels and brainstorming for 3 others. I also have plans for sequels for at least 2 of my completed novels.

No, I held off jumping into a new project so I could head out of the country in August for 3 weeks in Kyrgyzstan without any unfinished writing business. Then when I returned home, I walked into a bathroom leak which necessitated the grand destruction. Hard to write with the pounding of hammers and wrenches on pipe and when plaster dust is snowing down on your head.

But with the basic repairs made, the children back to school, the trip photos organized, it began to feel like time to get back to work.

Last night, I started making a list of all the ideas I had simmering. None of them felt right and if I am not totally committed to a character or a story, I'm not going to want to spend the year with it that the novel will require. Then just before I fell asleep, the word 'runaway' popped into my brain. And then, like flashbulb firing off, other words joined it to form the core of what I think is a viable story idea.

I'm not going to talk about it--it's not far enough developed to share, not even with my husband who is my first and best sounding board. I'm going to let this idea simmer and season in the subconcious until it's ready to serve.