The Imperfections of One's First Book...

We've all heard writers remark about their first novel gathering dust in a drawer or closest, the tone of their voice laced with a sense of love and a strong degree of embarrassment. As writers, we love out first novel, proof to us that, yes by golly, we could create and finish a good story.

I was in the shower the other day when an idea hit me as I shampooed my hair. Perhaps it was the massaging of my head that set my brain waves in motion--a rare occurrence for me, I admit. I'd been wondering what to do with an inspirational story I'd written and shelved after my agent could find no takers, Indigo Blooms. Obviously, it needed revamping--badly. Wait, what if I pulled out my first novel, blew the dust off it and rewrote it? I could make it the first in a series I'd call the "Love Song Trilogy." Then I could redo the book about Indigo and make it the second in the series. The third would be my partially completed one about Gracie and Brody. Sounded like a great plan to me. I flew it by my agent at Blue Ridge Literary, and she said, "Go for it!"

So I pulled Rain is a Love Song from my old computer and installed it on my laptop. Since then, I've been reading, wincing and scowling. Gee, and I thought it was so perfect at the time.

I'd written it in the omnicient point of view; a style that is frowned upon today. Folks, I did more head hopping than a bunny in a field of lettuce. If six people were in the room, you knew what everyone was thinking. Sigh. (This puppy's gonna need a lot of work!!) There's too much back story and not enough inner conflict. I've told more than I've shown. Still, beneath all the imperfections lies a good romance between the new pastor of a church and an older, world-weary woman who does not want to be romanced. My job is to salvage it; move it from a small community in Maryland to the mountians of Virginia and set in place the characters that will be in all three books. Sounds like fun, right? Can I get an amen?