Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Writer Routine Wednesday: Tricia Mills

Hey, all you writers and readers!
It's another week of my new blog segment: Writer Routine Wednesday, where every Wednesday from now until September 8th, I will host an author.
We'll get to know them better and their books as well as hear them describe their usual writing routine
Maybe you'll pick up an idea they use for yourself!
Lots of great prizes are scheduled too!
Yes, only two more authors left! What will I do with myself after this blog segment is done? We'll cross that bridge then. :)
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Please welcome author Tricia Mills today and hear about her writing routine!

BIO: I began writing romance when I was in college, but I got serious about writing and trying to get published when my local RWA chapter was formed in 1996. It took me 11 years and lots of manuscripts before I finally sold two young adult novels to Razorbill in July 2007 (written as Tricia Mills) and two contemporary romances to Harlequin American in October 2007 (written under Trish Milburn).
In the years leading up to selling, I finaled in RWA's Golden Heart contest (the top award for unpublished romance novels) eight times, winning twice. My second Harlequin American, Her Very Own Family, recently won the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, which was very exciting.

FMI please visit her website.


Thanks for stopping by, Tricia!


**Describe a “typical” writing day for yourself. For example: Do you get up have your coffee, check e-mail, then write to a certain time? Do you have a set word or page goal when you do write?
I'm not normally a crack-of-dawn riser, so I typically get out of bed around 8 when my husband goes to work, fix my breakfast (typically some fruit) and sit down to read e-mail and read/comment on blogs until around 9. I just recently joined the YMCA, so depending on what I want to do there on that day (certain classes at certain times), I work around that. For instance, if I go to the noon yoga class, I might get in a couple of hours of writing/editing and then check e-mail again for anything pressing before I head to the Y.
Really, after that first hour of my day, the rest of the day is flexible depending on what I have to do -- write, edit, freelance work, yard work, house cleaning, travel, RWA board duties, etc. I typically take a lunch break and watch something I've recorded on my TiVo while I eat.

**Do you have another job outside of writing? (Being a mommie definitely counts!!) If the answer is yes, describe how you balance the two and how much time you devote to each.
Until early 2005, I worked as a magazine writer and editor. I still do freelance work for them, but I mainly work on my fiction writing. We don't have kids, so no mommie duties.

**Are you a laptop, PC, Alphasmart, or by hand kind of writer?
Laptop. It's kind of funny, but I do most of my Internet, e-mail, blogs, Facebook, etc., on my desktop computer, but I don't write on it.

**Plotter or panster? If you’re a plotter, how much time do think you put into plotting before writing.
I'm somewhere in between. I have to plot some because I have to do outlines and partials to sell to my publishers.

**Some writers make collages or listen to or create music soundtracks for their work-in-progress? Do you do any of those or have you thought about doing one of them?
I do like to collage. And I didn't think I would, but I did one at a retreat I was at once and loved it. I don't typically listen to music when I write. I'm too easily distracted. I love movie and TV soundtracks though, and those can inspire story ideas.

**What’s your favorite book on writing?
Hmm, it's been awhile since I've read one, but I'd say Stephen King's "On Writing".

**What’s your favorite fiction book you’ve read so far this year?
Can I mention three? :) Lover Mine by J.R. Ward, New Blood by Gail Dayton and Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. That's two paranormals and a young adult post-apocalyptic.

**What’s your favorite way to reward yourself after you’ve finished writing a book?
Going to the movies (I love seeing movies on the big screen) and getting a massage (to get out all the kinks from sitting at the computer).



Thanks so much, Tricia! I think I'm about due for a massage too! :)

Guess what? Tricia has a new YA release this month!

It's set in Alaska and is entitled WINTER LONGING.

Here's a little bit about it:

Winter Craig finally gets up the nerve and tells her long-time friend Spencer that she likes him as more than a friend. The best part? Spencer likes her as more than a friend too. With the perfect boy to love and be loved by, she begins her senior year at her small Alaska school and indulges in the dream of becoming a costume designer for the movie industry.
Life is perfect — until tragedy strikes.
Winter’s perfect life turns upside down as she deals with an unbearable loss, doubts about her future, a best friend whose home life is getting worse by the day, and unexpected feelings for an unexpected boy.


Check out the trailer!




Available at Amazon.com


CONTEST: Tricia has generously offered to giveaway a copy of her first YA book HEARTBREAK RIVER to some lucky commenter!






Please leave a comment below to be entered to win. The giveaway contest will run from now until Thursday 11:59PM (EST). I will announce the lucky winner this Friday!






Good luck and get into your own writing routine!

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jennifer, great interview!

It was nice meeting Tricia Mills and learning about her writing routine and the different books she writes. I checked out her website and I like how she has it set up to incorporate her writing under both names.

Thanks for sharing about Trisha's new YA release, Winter Longing. I liked the trailer for the book too.

MJFredrick said...

Don't include me in the drawing--I have this book and it is AWESOME. I think I cried the first three chapters! Read it read it read it!

Karen Baldwin said...

Great interview. I too checked her website. Such a creative way to show that she writes with two names. Loved the trailer.

Terri Tiffany said...

I love the cover! Thank you again for sharing a little about this writer. I love reading about their routines:)

Jenny said...

It's fun learning a bit about Tricia and her writing routine. Thanks!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

She had me at waking up at 8:00! And yeah for On Writing.

Another great interview.
~ Wendy

Unknown said...

I love learning about a full-time writers day. Working out is a great way to keep the day going and the sound of doing yoga at noon makes me super jealous!!

Stephen King's On Writing truly rocks!!!

These sound like some awesome books!!! Another awesome interview!! Can't wait for your interview on mine ;)

Looking forward to seeing if I snagged Georgie on his mind!!! Still in romance land over here :)

Linda Kage said...

Hi, Trisha and Jennifer. Your book covers are simply beautiful. And I have to agree On Writing by Stephen King is the best. I read Lover Mine this year too.

Here's to many more sales coming your way!

Jaydee Morgan said...

I'm going to be sad when these writer routines are done. Loved hearing about Trisha's routine!

Laura S. said...

Great interview, as always! Tricia's novels sound terrific. And what a fantastic idea for getting a massage after finishing a book. Hmmm, I'm thinking I might need one before starting a new project... and after finishing chapter 1... and chapter 2... :)

Jennifer Shirk said...

MJ: will do! I'm placing an Amazon order today--or at least tomorrow. :)

Laura Pauling said...

Sounds great! I'm in. And it's inspiring meeting authors that didn't get published with 3 years! Way to go!

Tana said...

Wow these books look great! It's nice to meet you Tricia!

Angie Ledbetter said...

Great Writerly Wednesday post! Enjoyed.

Elana Johnson said...

Awesome interview. I'm adding these books to my list.

Aubrie said...

Please enter me for the giveaway! This book looks awesome! I love Stephen King's book "On Writing".

Matthew MacNish said...

I have no recollection of how I ended up here but I am now your newest follower so ...

Nice to meet you!

Great interview. Sounds like a wonderful story.

Jemi Fraser said...

Movies and a massage - sounds like a great idea!! :)

Jennifer Shirk said...

Hey, Matthew! however you got here...welcome!

Robyn Campbell said...

Excellent interview, chica.

Nice to meet Tricia. Massage after finishing a book. Tricia and I would SO get along. Her books sound wonderful. Even if I don't win, I'll buy her books. :)

Patti said...

Great interview. It's nice to see how other people do it. Like robyn I like her idea of a massage.

Meg said...

What a great idea to interview an author every wed! The book looks wonderful! Great Interview!

Meg

CMOM Productions said...

These sounds like great books! :) Nice interview. Congrats on your new release Tricia!

Lydia Kang said...

Great review, and good luck with the release, Tricia! Nice to meet you!

Carol Kilgore said...

I love meeting other writers. I really like these Writer Routine Wednesdays.

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Terrific interview - great to learn about Tricia.

Jennie Englund said...

Yoga! Fruit! Fiction!

I love this woman!

Unknown said...

wow, Alaskan boys are hot!

Thanks for the interview, ladies!

R.M.Gilbert said...

Tricia, I love the blurb for Winter Longing! And will definitely add it to my TBR pile. I belong to a YA crit group as well and will be sure to mention it to them. And your trailer, I wanted to cry. But agree with Elle @ 10:53--Alaskan boys ARE hot!! :)

Jennifer, thanks for inviting Tricia by, you've added to my must reads again!

Trish Milburn said...

Wow, such fantastic comments! Thanks so much, everyone. Sorry I didn't get by here yesterday. I have literally been a day off all week. Can't figure out why.

As for the massages, my goal in my writing life is to become successful enough to get one a week! :)

Dawn Simon said...

I enjoyed reading the interview. WINTER LONGING sounds great and the cover is beautiful. Tricia, thanks for sharing with us. Jennifer, thanks for bringing us the interview. :)

Kimberly Franklin said...

Great interview! I always love reading interviews with authors, so much insight. :)

Ann Best said...

I really enjoyed this interview. She sounds like a good writer. YA is one of my favorite genres.
Ann

Unknown said...

I really like this blog, It's always nice when you can not only be informed, but also get knowledge, from these type of blog, nice entry. Thanks




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