Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Octoberfest

Jess Lourey


September Fair, the fifth book in my Murder-by-September FairMonth series, comes out this September, though it may be available as early as August. This one is far and away the best in the series, and my plan was to quit on this high note. I’ve got a historical novel in the queue, and I’m hammering out a magical realism story that has completely captivated my imagination and it thrills me to write it.


Plus, I’ve recently fallen in love (first time in eight years!), I have two kids who each just got a new little animal (one puppy and one kitten), and I’ve got a full-time job. All these other draws on my time pretty much guaranteed that the Murder-by-Month series would need to take a break after September Fair.


So why can’t I let the series drop? Why do these Battle Lake plot ideas, character lines, and setting details pop unwanted into that area between my brain and eyes, where they spread like creeping octoberfest Charlie? Sigh. It’s gotten so bad that I asked my agent to ask my publisher if they want another, tentatively titled Octoberfest, even though I’d already told them I didn’t want to write it. I’m waiting to hear back. Part of me hopes they don’t offer me a decent contract so I can get on with the rest of my life. The rest of me wants an excuse to write that damn novel.


And I’ve heard from my readers. They both want me to write Octoberfest, too. Do you have one of those? A story or novel idea that won’t let you go, even though you know your attention is needed elsewhere, the literary motorcycleequivalent of the dark-haired, black-eyed man on a motorcycle, sitting outside your house come hithering you when you know you should be inside cleaning and baking? (p.s. I may have let you too far into my head with that analogy.)

8 comments:

Sue Ann Jaffarian said...

Personally, Jess, I loved that analogy. And, yes, I do have a book idea that keeps beckoning to me which has nothing to do with the two series I'm writing now. I've recently given it its own time slot in my busy week so I can see where it leads. It's like falling down the rabbit hole.

Lisa Bork said...

Jess, congrats on your upcoming release, new love, new job, and new pets! When everything is going so well, do you find you're more motivated and it's easier to write (even if you're short on time)?

Ideas pop in my head, sometimes with a come hither sign, but not often enough with a sit down and stay awhile. I say go with it. You're in demand.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Great analogy! Congratulations with your new release.

Don't you wish there were more hours in the day to do all the things we'd like to do?

Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder

G.M. Malliet said...

I'm just basking in your wonderful news, Jess, all of it!

Terri Thayer said...

Wow, Jess. Talk about an abundance of riches. Enjoy it all!

Jessica Lourey said...

Ha! I love that you love that analogy, Sue Ann. I fear we have the same curtained area in our heads that we let out in our novels. Speaking of novels, your latest is getting AMAZING reviews. Yayyyy!!!!

Jessica Lourey said...

Thank you, Lisa! My life is going pretty well, isn't it? The German in me wants to shut up about that so I don't get jinxed. :) But yeah, the busier I am, the more I can get done creatively. How does that work?

Jessica Lourey said...

Elizabeth, Gin, and Terri, thank you for your support! I definitely have enough good feeling in my life to spread around, so I'll send some back your way over the airwaves. Wait, though--I did get a speeding ticket in Iowa yesterday, in a construction zone (yikes!). Not nearly enough to take the glow off of all the other good things in my life now. Thank you, world!