tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post7060275048339081498..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Michele Dunaway on When a Story ClicksBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74174372227620313332007-12-16T11:41:00.000-05:002007-12-16T11:41:00.000-05:00Jennifer,I hope you like it! BTW, I am featured ov...Jennifer,<BR/>I hope you like it! <BR/><BR/>BTW, I am featured over at The Motivated Writer.com discussing my creative space. <BR/><BR/>Here's the addy:<BR/><BR/>http://www.themotivatedwriter.com/12december.htmlMichele Dunawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683297130591848826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-62613377356298578162007-12-15T14:35:00.000-05:002007-12-15T14:35:00.000-05:00I just bought the Christmas Date and I can't wait ...I just bought the Christmas Date and I can't wait to read it!Jennifer Shirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16970585847385511795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-74104827863453133942007-12-14T15:37:00.000-05:002007-12-14T15:37:00.000-05:00My students always inspire me. People in general d...My students always inspire me. People in general do as well. Tyler Nichols is actually inspired by Nick Kenig, a real life photo journalist who is now in grad school in NYC. I met him once in Atlanta (the first location of the Christmas Date) and listened to all his future plans. A mutual friend has kept me abreast of what Nick's been doing, but it was his hopes for the future that led me to create Tyler. When Tyler came about, Nick ceased to exist and Tyler became his own entity, if that makes sense. Nick came from Austin, not Orlando. And they don't look similiar either.<BR/><BR/>MicheleMichele Dunawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683297130591848826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-55143859130912263872007-12-14T14:21:00.000-05:002007-12-14T14:21:00.000-05:00Michele,You are amazing! I'm not sure I will ever ...Michele,<BR/>You are <B>amazing</B>! I'm not sure I will ever write 20 books, but you are proof that it can be done and an inspiration to us all.<BR/><BR/>We at MORWA are fortunate to have you as a member to learn from. <BR/><BR/>~KimberlyKimberly Killionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15796301977852855121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-91442781348670694322007-12-14T12:21:00.000-05:002007-12-14T12:21:00.000-05:00Congrats on 20!!!I love how your students inspire ...Congrats on 20!!!<BR/><BR/>I love how your students inspire you, just as I'm sure you inspire them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-44228233909470077332007-12-14T11:56:00.000-05:002007-12-14T11:56:00.000-05:00{Do you find you have to cut out character traits ...{Do you find you have to cut out character traits or plot points because you've already used them in previous novels? Do you discuss in detail what you are going to be writing with your agent beforehand or just spring it on her? Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants?}<BR/><BR/>People who know me call me Superwoman. The truth is, I haven't had much of a life this year. I teach, go home, and write. I hang out with my kids. My poor significant other wonders where I am. He works nights and I work days, so we only have Saturday in common together anyway. So we might only see each other twice a month. <BR/><BR/>As for books, I actually see the characters first. They are people talking in my head. It's like watching a movie and I'm directing. I have to sell on synopsis, so I do have an outline. But the characters often do things that they aren't supposed to, like kiss earlier or something. <BR/><BR/>That's a key thing. The plots are really all the same. Girl meets boy, they fall in love, they have issues, they break up, they discover they can't live without each other, they get together and live happily ever after. That's a romance in a nutshell. It's the characters who keep things fresh. The more real I can make them, the better. <BR/><BR/>Little things trigger each character. I have a student who is now a pilot. The moment I made my boring stuffy lawyer also a pilot of single engine planes, the sky literally opened up and added a fresh angle onto the whole boy next door story. That will be the April, The Marriage Recipe.<BR/><BR/>Thanks Angie! I love feedback! This is one I'd been dying to see publish!Michele Dunawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683297130591848826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6718867740220711242007-12-14T11:45:00.000-05:002007-12-14T11:45:00.000-05:00Congrats, Michele, on 20 books in eight years! Wh...Congrats, Michele, on 20 books in eight years! What an awesome accomplishment!<BR/><BR/>FayeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-72836551841823275482007-12-14T11:35:00.000-05:002007-12-14T11:35:00.000-05:0020 books while working fulltime...I am in awe, Mic...20 books while working fulltime...I am in awe, Michele. Congratulations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-16783497268118923942007-12-14T11:15:00.000-05:002007-12-14T11:15:00.000-05:00Michele, I was going to email you privately, but w...Michele, I was going to email you privately, but what the heck. Might as well tell you here - The Christmas Date is simply wonderful. I snatched it up after hearing about it during the "Christmas books" discussion. I'm about 3/4 of the way into it and am drooling all over Tyler. He's such a wonderful hero. I love how Kate pushes his buttons. You have a real winner here. <BR/><BR/>And congrats on reaching 20 books! That's an incredible milestone.Angie Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05843918280581285622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-88267519263324568862007-12-14T10:47:00.000-05:002007-12-14T10:47:00.000-05:00Ya know what I love about your post, Michele? Your...Ya know what I love about your post, Michele? Your love of what you are doing and what you write shines through in every word. I think that's what makes good books even better--when the author truly loves what they're writing, that joy comes through for the readers, too. Congratulations on twenty books! What a terrific milestone!!!Kate Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05486916548114546095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-50931158544257561062007-12-14T09:54:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:54:00.000-05:00Congratulations on 20 Michele! What an accomplishm...Congratulations on 20 Michele! What an accomplishment!Jolie Mathishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00989596973794504609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-6762491752585069102007-12-14T09:20:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:20:00.000-05:00What a wonderful success story, Michele.Many congr...What a wonderful success story, Michele.<BR/><BR/>Many congratulations and well deserved.<BR/><BR/>--mariaMaria Zanninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604862636922299273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-65007906536523078582007-12-14T09:17:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:17:00.000-05:00Can I first say congratulations and then ask how i...Can I first say congratulations and then ask how in the heck you manage to write (and sell) 20 books in 8 years? <BR/><BR/>There may be no answer to this, but as a YA writer I struggle (greatly) to come up with one good plot/character/situation a year, I can't imagine having written even 10 books, much less 20.<BR/><BR/>Does your brain ever turn off? Are you Wonderwoman in disguise? <BR/><BR/>But more importantly, I'm interested in the process... Do you find you have to cut out character traits or plot points because you've already used them in previous novels? Do you discuss in detail what you are going to be writing with your agent beforehand or just spring it on her? Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-67472560648820294682007-12-14T09:09:00.000-05:002007-12-14T09:09:00.000-05:00Thanks Christie! One thing these two books really ...Thanks Christie! One thing these two books really taught me were the power of timing. The Christmas Date was something I'd originally tried to sell over six years ago, but I put it on a shelf. Later, I could see the flaws in it, so I took it out, dusted it off and changed it around, and lo and behold, Harlequin loved it.Michele Dunawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11683297130591848826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-83651456504056627432007-12-14T08:31:00.000-05:002007-12-14T08:31:00.000-05:00Michele, First, congratulations on number 20. Wh...Michele,<BR/> First, congratulations on number 20. What an accomplishment! Especially, considering you also hold down a full time job. You have my respect.<BR/><BR/> My daughter is a teacher so my heart clutched at parts of your blog. Also, I loved hearing about how Karma worked its way into your book. I'm a big Karma believer myself. Thanks for the great post.<BR/><BR/>CCChristie Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13838947086349600665noreply@blogger.com