Book Releases

Holding On (Colorado High Country #6) —
The Colorado High Country series returns with Conrad and Kenzie's story.

A hero barely holding on…

Harrison Conrad returned to Scarlet Springs from Nepal, the sole survivor of a freak accident on Mt. Everest. Shattered and grieving for his friends, he vows never to climb again and retreats into a bottle of whiskey—until Kenzie Morgan shows up at his door with a tiny puppy asking for his help. He’s the last person in the world she should ask to foster this little furball. He’s barely capable of managing his own life right now, let alone caring for a helpless, adorable, fluffy puppy. But Conrad has always had a thing for Kenzie with her bright smile and sweet curves. One look into her pleading blue eyes, and he can’t say no.

The woman who won’t let him fall…

Kenzie Morgan’s life went to the dogs years ago. A successful search dog trainer and kennel owner, she gets her fill of adventure volunteering for the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. The only thing missing from her busy life is love. It’s not easy finding Mr. Right in a small mountain town, especially when she’s unwilling to date climbers. She long ago swore never again to fall for a guy who might one day leave her for a rock. When Conrad returns from a climbing trip haunted by the catastrophe that killed his best friend, Kenzie can see he’s hurting and wants to help. She just might have the perfect way to bring him back to the world of the living. But friendship quickly turns into something more—and now she’s risking her heart to heal his.

In ebook and soon in print!


About Me

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I grew up in Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, then lived in Denmark and traveled throughout Europe before coming back to Colorado. I have two adult sons, whom I cherish. I started my writing career as a columnist and investigative reporter and eventually became the first woman editor of two different papers. Along the way, my team and I won numerous state and several national awards, including the National Journalism Award for Public Service. In 2011, I was awarded the Keeper of the Flame Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism. Now I write historical romance and contemporary romantic suspense.

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Seductive Musings

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

How slow can you go?




If the person we're talking about is I, the answer is quite slow, indeed. Not by choice. Not because I want to be the slowest writer on the face of the Earth. Not because I don't care that there are readers who want Kat's story now and Connor's story now and Lord William's story now and Joseph's story now. And what about Ruaidhrí and Emma Rose??? Won't I write about them, too???

Yes, I get your e-mails, and I, too, want these stories to be written. I want to lavish you with prose that inspires you and characters that delight you and make you fall in love. Here's the catch:

I'm very, very picky, and I'm very, very busy.

I'm very picky because I don't ever want to put a book in your hands that disappoints you. A fool's hope, perhaps, as I know that has happened. Still, I make it my goal to write books that satisfy with no loose ends forgotten, no chance for heightened emotion overlooked.

I'm very busy because I'm a single mom with a day job. If I could find a corporate sponsor to enable to sit at home and write all day every day, I would gladly wear their T-shirt and paint their logo on my house. Sadly, no one has offered yet, which leaves me in my current situation.

The image at top was taken back when I started Naked Edge. You'll notice that in those days, writers were made to be content with quill and parchment — vellum, mostly.



Time passed, and the quill fell into disuse. Some fellow in Germany came up with the idea of moveable type. (Imagine that!) And my entire manuscript — all 20 pages that were written by then — was printed onto paper using wooden block letters like these.

And still I toiled and labored and worked, hoping to bring you all the best possible story I could, listening to my characters when I ought to have been sleeping, looking at the most intimate details of their hearts and minds, foregoing fun and dates and food and personal hygiene to focus my energy on Kat and Gabe's story.




The seasons progressed, springs and winters without number, and then God created the typewriter. I'm not certain it actually was God — I wasn't looking at the time — but when I saw it, I saw that it was good. It enabled writers to type into the wee hours of the night in their own homes, where they could be have as writers behave — wearing pajamas, drinking too much coffee in the morning and too much wine at night, having conversations with non-existent people, and behaving strangely.

Then, of course, there were "word processors," and now I own a laptop. Yes, a Mac.

The point is that I have been writing this novel for a very long time, and you all have been very patient. I am making progress, and I am working very hard on it. I will be taking time out to see Star Trek because I must, but that's the only real break I'm giving myself. So I am sorry the publication date has been bumped back to February 2010. I hope to turn it in on time so the date doesn't need to be pushed back once more.

I promise to write as fast as I can!

19 comments:

Vivienne said...

Me, personnally....I would rather wait for an "amazing" Pamela Clare book. It will be worth the wait because every book of Pamela's that I have read so far 9and I have read them all) was beautifully written.

Debbie H said...

Pamela, you know I am a patient person and I would rather have to wait longer and get a book that gets me so involved both emotionally and mentally that I forget everything else, than a book that was hastily put together in generic form and thrown out to me. I'm sure we will all be able to wait for any book you write because it will definitely be worth the wait.

There's no getting around the fact that good books take time. They'll get done when they get done, and we'll be here to read them. BTW, are you sure God had something to do with typewriters? I always considered mine an invention of the devil, but maybe that's because I'm a lousy typist.

Heather said...

Pamela, Pamela, Pamela...you, my darling, are WAY too hard on yourself. Yes, we all want a new PC book tomorrow, yes, we all want a new one every few months...that's because we LOVE your books. But the reality is you have a life outside of writing...and truly, we have a life outside of reading. So go enjoy your Star Trek movie FREE of guilt. I shall go watch 5 yo's play soccer (which I have to say is pure comedy) then go out for pizza, and then some ice cream (it's so Americana, isn't it?). Meanwhile...I'll wait patiently, knowing that PC is writing me a great book (in her spare time)! Love ya girl...hang in there.

Ronlyn said...

You're a goof. I love you.

J said...

Now, I was going to go with an Aussie answer along the lines of "HTFU, stop eating, drinking and sleeping and write me the book!"

Then I thoughts to myself that I do loves you and I do loves your books and they really aren't thrown together drivel, so I s'pose I shall be gracious and lets you off the hook.

Woman's gotta eat and sleep...just not too much ah? *big grin*

J xx

Hi, Vivienne — Thank you so much! What a sweet thing to say. I hope Naked Edge lives up to your expectations, as well.

Hi, Debbie H — You are a VERY patient person. What's up with that? And thanks for your confidence!

Hi, Linda — You know the publishing industry might benefit from hearing what you just said. They seem to think that romance as a genre can sustain itself with authors cranking out books in regular four-month intervals. As for the typewriter — you have a point. I guess I can't be sure God made the typewriter. But She definitely had a role in the laptop, don't you think? I remember the days when we put out newspapers with... Well, no one wants to hear about that! LOL!

Hi, Heather — Well, it turns out my brother got sick of waiting for me to commit to a night for Star Trek and so he's going with his work buddies. I'll wait till Benjy's home and go see it with him. But thank you for the support in seeing it guilt-free. I want so much to get books into people's hands, and I don't miss most things that I don't do so that I can write. Really, I'm good. But when I'm this far behind on a book it's hard not to feel guilty. I keep reminding myself that last year was rotten...

That does sound like the all-American time -- kids' soccer, pizza, ice cream. YUM!

And thanks!

Hi, Ronlyn — LOL! Well, you don't mince words, do you? I really wasn't trying to be silly here. I just found out that NE was bumped back (as it should be) and felt really bad about it.

Hi, Joanie — You made me laugh! That is so YOU. LOL! I'll eat and drink just a little. Some sleep, too. When do I get more baby pics?

Thanks, everyone. I think I actually will sleep now. :-)

Luci said...

Well yes we want all those books NOW lol! But really once we get down to it we love a good and satisfying read so whenever you are ready is fine with us. I agree with you that its better to deliver a book you are satisfied with then just dish them out like cheesecakes. (These chesecakes, 'pastizzi' in Maltese are fried pastries filled with irkotta and they are very popular in Malta. Will buy you some when you come to Malta :). Its not the sweet cheesecake we are referring to. Its a Maltese expression, I think in English hotcakes might fit the expression).

And you know, keeping in touch through this blog is fantastic because it keeps us up to scratch. Not knowing what is going on with an author's next book when you are eagerly waiting for one is hard. I just need to know if one is in the works and when its expected to be out. Then I can be patient. I hope.

We know you are super busy and admire you for keeping up with everything, so when the book is ready to be published we will be ready to read it :).

Thank God I love both the genres you write!

Yes, the laptop is definitely an example of providence. I LOVE mine,as it allows me to curl up on the sofa with my furbabies and write. Only I do have a problem with one of the cats wanting to chew on it - she doesn't get why I have THAT on my lap instead of her.

You know, I more or less gave up on romance novels years back because too many of them read like they'd been slapped together in a couple of weeks using a template. I think they're somewhat better now. Maybe with what the industry is going through, publishers will wake up and see that readers can tell if a book has been crafted and well edited and that they will buy those books over the bad ones. Let's hope.

haleigh said...

Love the post - the printing press! LOL! We all understand how life and kids and jobs and families get -- and we're all willing to wait ;)

Anonymous said...

Don't be so hard on yourself! Of course I'd love a new book from you as soon as I finish the current one. But I am a very reasonable person. (Was that a snort? LOL Hey I know you can't possibly write two books a week!!)
Quality takes time. With each book I have read I've been involved on an emotional level. I feel that it is priceless and well worth the wait.
We love you and want you happy. Not guilty and living like a hermit. Go out, see your friends and family, eat and ...well I won't comment on the personal hygiene thing....
oh btw the typewriter wasn't an invention of God. The laptop was.
stef

Jane said...

I will gladly wait the extra months so that you can write us a book that you're proud of and one that we'll enjoy.

Hi, Luci — Thanks very much! You're very sweet! You made me hungry with your description of pastizzi. Mmmm. I want some! Guess I need to find a way to get to Malta sooner rather than later. :-)

That's one reason I have the blog -- to help people stay up to date with what's going on. I still get a couple e-mails a day from people asking about the books. Also, I get to have FUN with you all, which is the best part about it.

Hi, Linda — I bet the laptop is very confusing for your kitty. I adore cats. I can't have them due to allergies, but I love them. The cat is probably thinking, "Hey, I'm fuzzier than that thing, and I purr!" LOL!

I hope that publishers do realize that. Too often it seems these books are just "product." I've had people say to me, "You know, every book doesn't have to be your best book." Um... That's not how I feel. I know every book probably won't be my best book, but I can try to make each one better than that last, can't I?

Hi, Haleigh — Thanks. :-)

And thanks for the blog discussion about UC earlier this week. That was a bright spot in my week.

HI, Stef — Thank you! Let's see... Two books a week. Heck, I can't even write two chapters a week.

Hi, Jane — Thank you so much! I deeply appreciate everyone's support and patience!

Here's something funny, y'all. Go get your copy of SURRENDER (if you have one). Now flip to the last page of the epilogue. That last part from "Annie turned to her husband... " to the very last word took me an entire week. Yes, an entire week.

LOL!

The climax of UNLAWFUL CONTACT from the moment Marc appears to save the day to the moment he's lying on the ground in mortal peril took THREE WEEKS. That's like 800 words or something.

From there through the point where the helicopter takes off took TWO DAYS. Wow, that was really speedy when you think of it.

Those are measures of time I remember. I was almost in a panic at the end of SURRENDER because it was late, and I couldn't come up with the exact right words to say what I wanted to say, even though I knew how it ended. Their quotes -- the dialogue -- is what took so long to get right.

But I sure can put a lot of words into a blog post, right? LOL!

RitaSV said...

Goodness! Do NOT break yourself! I'd much rather wait and have a happy and healthy author. As I mentioned before I've been waiting faithfully for 5 years for one author's next book. I'll be here...

My the way, you get gold stars for having a Mac. I'm working on a Mac, too! :oD

Ronlyn said...

:-)
I'm the queen of getting it said in as few words as possible. That's why I wouldn't be a successful writer: I SUCK at descriptions and painting a picture with words. I love reading it/hearing it. Can't do it.
You're awesome.

Judy said...

Pamela, I would much rather read a book that when I finish I can't pick up another for a few days because I am still thinking about the great book I just read. Take your time and write what you can be proud of. You haven't let us down yet.

Lucy said...

ARGH!!!! Nooooo! Another 8 months to wait?!!! You know, if I die before then, I'll be back to haunt you (lol).

Oh well, don't stress, we can all wait and then it'll make a lovely birthday present to me (g).

Fedora said...

You know, Pamela, this kind of slow is GOOD--we'd much rather wait than have you push to finish something in a way that isn't true to the story you want to tell.

Take care!

Hi, Rita — Another Mac user. YAY! I'm getting one of those weird roll-up keyboards today. Very exciting. Wow! Five years is a long wait. You won't wait THAT long for NAKED EDGE. I am behind my own revised writing schedule that I made last week, but that's because I spent Mother's Day and yesterday with my son, who just got home from college, rather than writing. It was wonderful to be with him and to just have time to talk and such. And thank you!

Hi, Ronlyn — Maybe you're a poet, then. Brief, to the point. These days poetry doesn't rhyme. Who knows? I can see you putting down some fine slam poetry in a coffee shop in downtown Portland. ;-)

Hi, Judy — Thanks so much! I really appreciate the vote of confidence. It means a lot.

Hi, Lucy — LOL! I shall be happy to read it to your ghost if necessary. I promise. Sorry about the wait. I wish I were done now too! I seem to be getting slower, but that's because I'm probably getting picker. Or maybe my brain is just malfunctioning. Who knows?

Hi, flichen1 — Thank you! I appreciate that. I find that I am actually incapable of continuing with the story unless I'm happy with what's there. I just can't do it. So there's probably very little chance I'll ever just rush a story to the ending just to get it in. I never want anyone to feel that they wasted their time or money.

Have a great day, y'all!

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Favorite Writing Quotes


"I am an artist. I am here to live out loud."
—Emile Zola

"I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day."
—James Joyce

"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery."
—Jane Austen

"Writers are those for whom writing is more difficult that it is for others."
—Ernest Hemingway

"When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth."
—Kurt Vonnegut

"The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar is the test of their power."
—Toni Morrison

"No tears in the author, no tears in the reader."
—Robert Frost.

"I'm a writer. I give the truth scope."
—the character of Chaucer in
A Knight's Tale