Today I am so pleased to welcome Isabelle Adler to Joyfully Jay. Isabelle has come to talk to us about her latest release, A Touch of Magic. She has also brought along a great giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Touch of Magic Tour Banner

 

Hi! Today I would like to talk a bit about my writing process. There are as many approaches to writing as there are writers. Different routines work for different people at different times, and those routines evolve and change all the time to suit the current stage of the author’s career and personal life. So of course there is no one true-and-tried way to write and plan stories. That being said, I’m always interested in learning about other writers’ approaches to their craft. There is a ton of useful information out there and tips to try.

The basic question for every writer is “Am I a plotter or a pantser?” Some authors painstakingly outline every scene of their new novel, while others let the words flow and do their best to sort out the plot later. As for me, I’m a mix of both—leaning a bit more toward the pantsing side. I usually start with an idea and a set of characters (a main character and the love interest, or two main characters if I use a dual POV, as is the case in A Touch of Magic). Then I ask the “what if” questions—What if the main character dabbles in forbidden magic? What if someone tries to take that away from him? What if the two heroes have opposite goals? The answers slowly reveal a very general plot for the story; however, at this stage I’m still not sure where the characters are going to end up.

I start writing when I’m clear on the inciting incident. Once I put it on page, other bits begin to fit together in my mind like a puzzle. For example, I didn’t know who the “big bad” (and his ultimate goal) was until I was halfway through the first draft of A Touch of Magic—but once the idea came, it all fit together, like it was meant to be there all along. The foundation had already been laid, and I only needed to build up on it.

When I’m feeling stuck, or can’t think of a particular plot development, I usually let myself jot down ideas (again in the form of questions) or draw a flow chart to organize the sequence of events that need to happen at that juncture of the story to move things along. So, basically, I let the story sort itself out as I go rather than plan everything in advance—but I make several stops along the way to make sure it’s all going in the right direction. It may seem like quite a rambling way to go about it, but it works for me!


Touch of Magic Graphic


Blurb

Atouchofmagic-f500After returning to the straight and narrow, Cary Westfield hopes to rebuild his life as a stage magician. Only thing is, the success of his new show is entirely dependent on a strange medallion inherited from his late grandfather—an amulet that holds a rare and inexplicable power to captivate the wearer’s audience.

Ty prides himself on his ability to obtain any item of magical significance—for the right price. When a mysterious client hires him to steal a magical amulet from a neophyte illusionist, he’s sure it will be a quick and easy job, earning him a nice chunk of cash.

As it turns out, nothing is sure when greed and powerful magic are at play. When a mob boss with far-reaching aspirations beats Ty to the snatch, Cary and Ty form an unlikely partnership to get the amulet back. The unexpected spark of attraction between them is a welcome perk, but each man has his own plan for the prize.

All bets are off, however, when it is revealed the magical amulet holds a darker secret than either of them had bargained for.


Bio

A voracious reader from the age of five, Isabelle Adler has always dreamed of one day putting her own stories into writing. She loves traveling, art, and science, and finds inspiration in all of these. Her favorite genres include sci-fi, fantasy, and historical adventure. She also firmly believes in the unlimited powers of imagination and caffeine.


Giveaway

Isabelle has brought a $10 NineStar Press givft card to give away to one lucky reader on her tour. Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

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