It's Said the Third Time's the Charm

The third time's the charm. Or at least that's what the saying promises but the 'charm' didn't quite happen when I wrote the third book in my New Beginning Series. Lost Then Found, Book 1, came to me in two large pieces, one after I read an email and the second a few days later on Sunday morning...in the middle of a Bible study class. The email gave me the basic idea, plot and theme, during the class the characters names, their conflict and the ending rolled through my mind and I almost couldn't write fast enough. The story of Renee and Jonas Knight, ex-spouses and former business partners in a skip-tracing firm, now working with--and against--each other on a common case had the words pouring out of me. I loved writing this book. It was the start of a new series, and a new genre for me inspirational romantic suspense, and had a message I felt was important.

 

For Led Astray, book two, I had a little trouble getting the beginning just right, but I knew the characters and also the faith message I desperately needed to put into the book. There was a lot of editing before I sent it to my editor as I had 'lecture mode' turned on when writing some of it but I worked it all out. I loved seeing how Danita Ballinger and Riley Coole came not only to understand about each other--but themselves as well.

 

The basic plot for book three Safe and Sound (coming Nov 1, 2012), came to me in the middle of writing Led Astray and I had to take a short break from book 2 to jot down the ideas for book 3. I couldn't wait to dive into it. I was itching to write the story. I started off strong, but soon learned the book wasn't going to be the 'breeze' writing I had assumed. I struggled with this book. The way I envisioned and mapped out wasn't working. It was like the images in my head didn't quite match the words on the screen.

 

As it had a Christmas time setting, I had Christmas music in the background. While it helped create the mood, I found myself not knowing what came next at many times. It wasn't until I fought through to the end that I discovered it was my preconceived ending that kept the book off balance. The story and the characters needed a different ending then the one I planned. Even knowing what I needed to do to make the book work, I was still hesitant. It was such a different ending. Not just from what I intended, but also from how suspense books usually go. After asking for advice on the change, and getting some thumbs up, I went for it.

The third time wasn't the 'charmed' writing experience I had dreamed it would be. But, it was the writing experience I needed it to be to grow as a writer.

 

--Christina Freeburn

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