The ongoing series: writing yourself into (and out of!) trouble

I think one of the funniest early-draft comments on NIGHTKEEPERS (The Novels of the Final Prophecy: Book 1) was when my agent, Deidre Knight, said (and I’m paraphrasing here, with apologies): “It’s big. It’s huge! How many POVs do you have in there, anyway? I kept waiting for the freaking tree out in the picnic area to have a POV.”

The series follows a group of modern-day men and women who learn that they are the last descendants of an ancient group of mage-warriors destined to defend mankind against the rise of Mayan demons and the doomsday predicted for December 21, 2012.

In NIGHTKEEPERS, I introduced most of the series’ characters, trying very hard to make each character stand out as an individual. However, I didn’t always know their backstories. I had a firm

Doing my best, I hammered out character sketches and wrote an exploratory draft of the first few chapters. Then I threw out what I had written and tried again. And again. Even after my editors had approved the synopsis, I was still hitting walls trying to get inside Michael’s head. In fact, the story didn’t really click for me until I realized that those walls were actually part of Michael’s character. Once I figured that out, I knew why those mental defenses were there, and what would happen if they were breached. And SKYKEEPERS was born.

Since its release earlier this month, SKYKEEPERS has gotten the strongest fan response of the three books, with readers almost universally saying, “I love Michael!” I find this fascinating because he was such a challenge to write.

If you had asked me nine months ago, I would’ve said that you shouldn’t be too detailed when describing secondary characters who might not be fully developed in your head. I felt that I had painted myself into a major corner with Michael. Now, though, I’d say that you should give as much or as little secondary-character detail as you see. Even if a particular detail becomes a story roadblock later, just think how much stronger the writing will be once you’ve worked around the problem with an answer that is consistent with the world …and completely unexpected.

To learn more about Jessica Andersen, visit www.JessicaAndersen.com.

QUESTION: What sort of story are you hungering to see right now? Any particular genres, themes, etc?

PAMELA HARTY : I would love to see a really smart and edgy romantic suspense as well as a historical with a paranormal element.

LUCIENNE DIVER : Having attended a bunch of writers conferences and conventions this year, I feel like I'm up to my eyeballs in submissions already! However, I'm always on the look-out for something that blows me away in voice, concept and pacing. It's the overall package more than a particular genre or theme that calls to me. That said, every work I represent seems to have either

mystery/suspense or the paranormal, sometimes both in the same book!

NEPHELE TEMPEST: In general, I’m looking for writing that will knock my socks off… But specifically, I’d love a great big (idea-wise, not necessarily page count; no doorstops, please) women’s fiction novel. Something thoughtful and engrossing, but not too depressing. Sad is fine, but I’d prefer not to read about lots of death or illness. I’d also love a meaty historical—something commercial but with a literary touch to it, like THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL or even along the lines of THE THIRTEENTH TALE.

ELAINE SPENCER: I am hungry for something fresh and new. I would really love a great women's fiction project, I love strong emotion and I love strong characterization. I also like smart and funny. Last week I read MECURY IN RETROGRADE and was really impressed with this example of "grown up" chick-lit. I would really enjoy adding some romantic suspense to my list as well. Something original and smart, a real "Aha!" story. I also am really interested in finding a clever, high concept young adult manuscript that isn't based around some fantastical element.

*Please remember that you can participate in Agents of the Roundtable. Send a question you would like our agents to tackle to info@knightagency.net, and we might feature it in an upcoming issue!

SKYKEEPERS: A NOVEL OF THE FINAL PROPHECY
by Jessica Andersen | Penguin

In this sexy series based around the Mayan doomsday prophecy, a group of magic-wielding warrior heroes called the Nightkeepers is ready to fight the demon creatures of the underworld to prevent annihilation.

CAPE STORM: A WEATHER WARDEN NOVEL
by Rachel Caine | Penguin

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin and her new husband, David the Djinn, are running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her. Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn onboard a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit.

SENTINELS: LION HEART
by Doranna Durgin | Harlequin

Joe Ryan's lion heart is as rocky and impenetrable as the Arizona mountains he protects. Although no one could ever prove that the muscular Sentinel agent was involved in his former partner's death, Ryan's dark reputation--and ferocious cougar form--spells danger to the unwary.

Lyn Maines is a woman on a mission. The dark-eyed shape-shifter has come to root out corruption, but she quickly discovers she's vulnerable to Ryan's leonine power. As they hunt the rocky peaks, seeking proof of Joe's innocence--or guilt--can she trust her instincts about the proud, tawny loner? Especially when her judgment is overwhelmed by the wilder urgings of her heart...

BELOVED VAMPIRE
by Joey Hill | Penguin

Escaping the depraved servitude of a vampire master she killed, Jessica has found her way, with three nomadic guides, to the sun-baked desolation of the Sahara only to slowly perish. Then she hears the tale of Farida, an enigmatic beauty lost as well to the Sahara three centuries ago, whose ancient desire for the legendary vampire Lord Mason is stirring the same desires in Jessica. But the more Jessica's fatal curiosity reveals of Farida, the closer she gets to Lord Mason's irresistible and forbidden secret.

THE KNIGHT
by Steven James | Revell

In the third installment in the bestselling series of thrillers featuring FBI criminologist Patrick Bowers, the stakes have never been higher. Agent Bowers is used to tracking the country's most dangerous killers, but now it looks like a killer is tracking him. When he realizes the murderer is using clues from an ancient manuscript as a blueprint for his crimes, Bowers faces a race against time to decipher who the next victim will be and to stop the final shocking murder--which he's beginning to believe might be his own. Gritty, chilling, and intense, this psychological thriller is guaranteed to keep readers up all night.

PITCH BLACK: A BLACK CATS NOVEL
by Leslie Parrish | Penguin

Former profiler Alec Lambert would give anything to catch The Professor, a serial killer who lures his victims with Internet scams. Now working with reclusive scam expert Samantha Dalton, he finally has his chance. Soon, however, Sam becomes the psychotic killer's new obsession--and possibly his next target.

SIERRA BRIDE
by Jenna Kernan | Harlequin

Powerful Sam Pickett is used to getting his way. So he is baffled when Kate Wells, a feisty little hellion who steps between him and a bullet in the back, isn't remotely interested in becoming his latest plaything--despite the fact she's poor, with an aunt and blind sister to support!

Sam's life is transformed by this compassionate, hardworking woman--who is strangely cynical for one so young. He fully intends to make Kate his bride, but that could prove to be the greatest challenge of his life!

WHEN GOD TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS
by Cecil Murphey | Gospel Light Publications

Every devoted Christian experiences periods of time when God seems far away, when the light of His face seems to have turned away and left His child to fumble in the darkness. During periods of spiritual blackout, when God seems to be silent, we feel as if we've been put on hold: We wait and wait for God to get back on the line. We know it will be wonderful when the light comes back on and drives away the darkness, but we want it now--not later. Award-winning writer Cecil Murphey has journeyed through this darkness three different times during his many years following Christ, and each time was more difficult than the last. He suggests that believers have three choices when the lights go out: (1) Give up, (2) examine ourselves for sin or failure, or (3) accept that God's face is hidden with His purpose in mind. In When God Turned Off the Lights, readers will learn how to make the most of their time on hold by pondering the mysteries of God's character, confident that He will turn the lights on once again.

BUNDLE OF TROUBLE
by Diana Orgain | Penguin

The first novel in a new series introduces first-time mom and private investigator Kate Connolly. After she receives a call telling her a body pulled from San Francisco Bay may be that of her brother-in-law, Kate finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.

RAMPANT
by Diana Peterfreund | HarperCollins

Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns . . .

Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.

Or not.

Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend--thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom--Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to--perhaps most dangerously of all--her growing attraction to a handsome art student . . . an attraction that could jeopardize everything.

INTERTWINED
by Gena Showalter | Harlequin

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him: One can time-travel. One can raise the dead. One can tell the future. And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die. He's so over it. All he wants is peace. And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late; somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist. Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger-but not everyone will come out alive

THE DARKEST WHISPER
by Gena Showalter | Harlequin

Bound by the demon of Doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern...until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.

Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she'd fall for a kind human who wouldn't rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora's box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love...