[Guest Post] The Balancing Act...15 books in 3 years?!

The Balancing Act
~Jacqueline Paige

I’m always asked day how I’ve managed to write fifteen books in the past three years and the system I use to keep myself organized and productive.

The first part would be having the ideas to write about.  I actually have a note book filled with ideas and partial plots. This way I never run out of stories to write.  If a scene pops into my head I scribble it down so when I get to that point it’s there and I’m not struggling to remember.

When I’m racing with the keyboard to get a story finished (not usually as fast as my muse would like) if I come to a part that doesn’t work or I’m drawing a blank on where to take the characters at that point, I leave it blank to come back to later.  Most times there are two or three scenes missing in each story when I’ve reached the end.  I close the file and set it aside for a month or more and then when I go back to sigh over the silly typo’s and mistakes it’s easier to put those scenes in after reading the entire plot.

I have also abandoned a story I’m working on if another one keeps distracting me with scenes and plots.  It just makes more sense to run with one that is playing out in your head from start to finish.  As a result of doing this I have written complete books in a month that just kept flowing for me.

The great part to having all these ideas and hoping from one to the next is I never get tired or frustrated with one particular set of characters.  If they’re not co-operating and helping me get them on the page then I have several other options sitting on the side lines waiting for their stories to be told.

The downside to doing this is I always end up with multiple books signed and edits due one right after the other.  If I could just figure out how to get through that editing crunch of having releases close together in a smooth, stress free way I’d be a much happier me. J  In 2012 I had one release in January, March, May, June, September and two in November.   Editing mayhem…

Would I do it again?  You betcha!



Title: Heart
Series: Book I in Animal Trilogy
Author: Jacqueline Paige

Buy it here!

Three women without knowledge of their true heritage...

Three men that have waited for their mate all of their lives...

Hearts and tempers collide with wild passions and animal instincts

in the Animal Trilogy

Book Description:
Torn from her sheltered life, Rayne is alone and scared after she discovers her fiancé is not the man she thought he was. Unable to accept the corrupt world he belongs to, she flees to the furthest possible location she can reach on her own. Nothing could ever prepare her for the journey and what she finds out when she arrives.

Is she strong enough to survive on her own?

The epitome of the lone wolf, Devin stays in the wilderness and far away from people, avoiding the decision of whether to accept his title as leader and alpha of the pack. One alluring woman stirs up his resolve and passion when she disturbs his solitary world. The man inside is tempted in a way he can’t understand but his wolf knows he’s found his mate.

Can he have her without succumbing to the responsibilities waiting for him?

TBR November 1st at Eternal Press http://eternalpress.biz/people.php?author=428



Excerpt:
If nothing else she was warmer now. How long would the rain last? Do I want to wait it out and then try to find a washroom – in the dark? Rayne shook her head before she could go any further with that thought. There was no way she was getting out of this car until it was light out, rain or no rain. How many hours until daylight? She debated very briefly whether she could squirm around and reach the purse to get her phone. Highly doubtful. Besides being cocooned in the puffy material, the phone was off for a reason and turning it on just to check the time wasn’t worth the risk of Aiden being able to trace the location. Truthfully she didn’t know if that was possible even though all the movies referenced it being so, but understanding what type of man Aiden was and what he was capable of, she wasn’t taking any chances.

Working one arm free from the bag, she shifted far enough forward to reach the ignition; he couldn’t track the cars clock. Turning the key, her heart sunk when she noted the time, there were too many hours left until dawn. She looked out the windshield and froze, her heart jumped into her throat. Afraid to so much as breathe, Rayne stared at the animal a few feet away from the headlight. Her brain first said dog, but that was no dog. That was a wolf; it had to be a wolf. Were wolves that big? It seemed bigger than in any pictures she’d seen.

She sat there looking at it, not sure if she should honk the horn or just sit and try not to get hysterical waiting for it to leave. The car may be metal, but the roof was something this animal could probably get through. As she continued to stare at it she couldn’t help thinking it was a beautiful creature. It’s grey and brown fur looked soft and thick, not that she’d ever be able to find out if it was. It was the way the haunting grey eyes watched her that made her decide not to honk the horn or scream as loud as she could, which had crossed her mind briefly. Rayne was fairly certain it was as surprised to see her as she was to see it. Didn’t wolves travel as group? A pack? She wanted to look around and see if there were more in the trees, but the logical part of her brain said she was better off not knowing. Never argue with the logical part.

She was sure she stopped breathing all together when it took a step closer to the car and then turned quickly back towards the trees. As she was reaching for the keys it stopped and looked back at her for the length of two heart beats before it bolted into the trees and disappeared.

Turning off the key, she sat in the dark leaning back against the seat while she tried to remind her body how to take air in. In this moment with her heart beating so loud she could hear it, or at least it felt that way, Rayne reached the decision that she was not getting out of the car until daylight, and even then was questionable. One more conclusion was also not turning the lights on again; her mental state was much better not knowing what else was outside of the car. She checked to make sure the door was locked, she did know a wolf wouldn’t just walk up and use the door handle, but she felt better knowing that she was locked in and more importantly other things were locked out.

Pulling her arm back into the sleeping bag, Rayne shuffled down as far as she could and closed her eyes. The sooner she slept, the closer daylight was to getting here. Over the noise of the water beating off the car, she thought she heard a howl.




Title: From Beltane Magic
Series: Book I in the Magic Seasons
Author: Jacqueline Paige
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Class Act Books

Amazon Class Act Books

Step into a world of magic and passions....

Take a dash of spice, heat it

Add a flash of magic and watch the sparks fly

 

Toss in a killer that's targeting women

 

Add a handful of witches from all paths to stir it all together...

 

Each were willing to spend their lives alone and safe; until they’re touched by Beltane Magic.

Can they survive their pasts to be together as they struggle to find a killer before the wheel turns again?

Book Description:
Leena is a woman that is gentle in everything, her personality and moods. She always feels maternal with her closest friends and would go out of their way to look after any one of them. Her ability of controlling the elements and knowledge of plants make her magic abilities strong and unbreakable. She is a leader at work and in life, always working hard to keep those around her close, but never allowing anyone to get too close.

To the outside world she is just Leena Duncan, a quiet woman who works a normal job and lived a quiet life.

A few times a year she can openly use her magical gifts at celebrations within a small community of people she calls friends.

Having lived through the horrors that can come from the hands of someone you thought loved you; she decided never loving again would prevent more emotional scarring.

It takes one man at a rainy Beltane celebration to change everything she is comfortable with and one killer to change her safe world.

Owen is a man that reflects humor and cavalier vibrations to others, he is gentle and caring as is his ability to draw negative and heal others. If you didn’t know him, you would never realize he came from violence. Knowing how the real world can be, he has vowed to never put himself into the position, or allow anyone else that could open up the world he has carefully sealed shut forever.

He creates worlds and puts them on paper to entertain others. After years of using his imagination he finds out his friends can do things he thought only his mind created.

For his entire adult life Owen Grey has always played it safe and kept to his own world of writing, never getting too close to anyone.

Having lived a nightmare growing up he would never take the chance of repeating history. He may write about happily-ever-after, but knows it is pure fantasy and doesn’t exist.

Until her . . .





EXCERPT:
Owen found himself placed between Dade and Chris among the drummers. He was caught up in learning the rhythms and watched either Chris or Dade’s hands to pick up the beat. This he found was also a good place to be as the dancers stopped often and danced right in front of the drummers or brought them drinks.

After an hour his arms were tired and he honestly had a new admiration for the men beside him who were still going strong, moving effortlessly from one rhythm to the next.

During a slower beat, he noticed several of the dancers moving through those at the edge of the circle and through the drummers. He watched as the dancers took their wreaths off and placed them onto a male’s head. He was sure the males didn’t realize how silly they looked wearing flowers and ribbons, although when the dancers gave them a kiss, he was also sure they didn’t care how odd they looked.

Kasey paused in front of the drummers and began to weave her way toward them, slowly taking off her wreath. She smiled in a shy, nervous kind of way at the drummers. Neither Dade nor Chris paused in their drumming, but Owen could feel them both waiting to see who she was going to place her wreath on. When she passed Dade and went to Chris, Owen noticed and enjoyed the grin on his new friend’s face.

Chris actually missed a few beats in the rhythm as he raised a hand to place behind her head to receive the kiss. Owen didn’t see steam, but he felt warmer just witnessing their kiss.

He found himself wishing some woman would make him look like an idiot and place her wreath on his head. He turned to watch the same with Doc and Rachel. He was sure Steven was blushing after it, or maybe it was just from the heat of it.

At the point when Cora began seductively dancing her way into the drummers, his heart stopped. She was far too exotic a woman for him to handle, but if she placed her wreath on his head, he would certainly try. He felt like a schoolboy wanting to jump up and say, “pick me,” but he dug deep and found his dignity somewhere.

She passed him by and held the eyes of the man beside him. When she placed the wreath on Dade’s head and leaned her mouth down to his, Owen was sure the sparks that flew between them somehow burned him. In his own amazement, he realized it was a kiss out of a movie that made your heart speed up. Dade didn’t miss a single beat on the drum, though the kiss seemed to last more than just a few moments.

He found himself wishing for mistletoe or a cute puppy, anything that would bring one of them to him. His heart tripped and almost stumbled when he noticed Leena was dancing toward the drummers. He fought the urge of wanting to look around and make sure he was the only one in the area without a wreath on his head but held onto what adult-like composure he had left.

When she stopped in front of him, it was all he could do to not stand and meet her halfway, so he held the drum in front of him tightly and stayed seated. As the wreath touched his head, she smiled a smile that made his insides burn. He reached up to gently guide her head down to his.





Title: The Solstice Heat
Series: Book II in the Magic Seasons series
Author: Jacqueline Paige
Publisher buy link: Class Act Books


Book Description:
Passion and magic that burns

Kasey is a woman that exudes energy and brightness; she is as equally passionate when angry as she is when she’s happy. The energy she carries from life comes through in all her magical workings with spells and stones, giving them great magical strength. She is a dreamer and often wishes she could re-write her own story so that she was charming and sophisticated enough to be with a certain wealthy male lawyer she wants more than anything else.

Chris is a force of strength and experience that is carefully hidden behind the easy mannerism he has adapted so carefully. There is nothing he cannot do where magic is concerned and he has tried all manner of things, whether right or wrong. His fortune has left him wanting for nothing else in life, except the one thing money can’t buy him, the woman he feels too unclean to approach.

Separated by two different life styles yet their passion and magic ignite sparks hotter than the Solstice heat.

Can they work out a way to be together as they try to stop a killer from striking again?




Title: Harvest Dreams
Series: Book III in the Magic Seasons series
Author: Jacqueline Paige
Publisher buy link: Class Act Books



Book Description:
Armed with magic and a plan ...

Armed with magic and a plan for the Lammas festival as a group they are determined to stop the killer from harming anyone again.

With a plan of his own, Steven decides to persuade Rachel that they’re meant to be together.

Rachel is a woman that lives carefree with a buoyant recklessness. She loves being a flirt and has spent many years indulging that side of her personality. Her energy draws others; her character is to protect all those that cannot protect themselves. When she’s not riding on life, she is helping children less fortunate then herself. 

Steven is man that gives more than his energy usually allows. He is a highly respected pediatrician that always goes that extra step to ensure all in his care are receiving his utmost attention. He often sacrifices sleep to spend time with his friends, and he can’t seem to help affably chasing the skirt of the one woman that breaks his easy going charm and makes him forget he’s supposed to be the jovial. He hides his strength in body and magic, never letting others know that he is more than the carefree man with everything he needs.

Armed with magic and a plan for the Lammas festival as a group they are determined to stop the killer from harming anyone again. With a plan of his own, Steven decides he’s done waiting for Rachel to see that they’re meant to be together and takes things into his own hands.



Excerpt:
When they were well out of sight Steven stopped and looked back towards the cabin.

Chris hissed out a breath as he looked around. “This should be far enough.” He looked at the trees overhead and then to the ground. “How do you want to do this?” He sent him a wary look. “Who are you going after?”

Steven rubbed his jaw. “Not Kasey, she’d just zap my ass and I’d probably have burn marks.” He noted the pride in Chris’s eyes as he tried not to smirk. “I’m going to aim for Rachel or Leena, definitely not Cora. If she so much as made a sound, Dade would thump me into the ground.”

Chris grinned. “And you don’t think Owen would?”

Steven shook his head. “Leena wouldn’t let him.” He let out a deep breath and then held up his hands, palms facing Chris. “Here goes nothing.” He closed his eyes and took slow breaths as he reached deep inside to the magic he held tightly within his body. He felt it climb through him and warm his skin. When Chris’s finger tips touched his, he felt a powerful boost to the magic gathering.

He pictured Rachel inside his mind and focused on her for a few seconds, testing. A heat spread through him as he felt the connection to her aura pass over his own. He searched for the way into her thoughts and felt her mind click open as if he’d turned a lock. Taking a deep breath he concentrated harder.

His hands shook until he felt Chris funnel some of his own power into the sight he was trying to grasp. He could see all of the women and a multitude of colors as they moved around inside the cabin. He could feel nervousness and anxiety. Furrowing his brow his held onto the link as it started to change. He couldn’t sense what it was now, it had somehow changed quickly. It was as if …

A blast of power shot through him and sent him sprawling to the ground. His hands were burning suddenly and it felt like he’d been hit across the head with something made of stone. He opened his eyes slowly and looked up at the leaves on the trees above him. Lifting his head carefully he looked around and spotted Chris lying flat on his back as well.

“We are in a lot of trouble, Doctor.” Chris sounded out of breath.

“Yeah,” he agreed and then turned his head towards the steps coming from the direction of the cabin.




Title: Autumn Dance
Series: Book IV in the Magic Seasons series
Author: Jacqueline Paige



Book Description:
At the autumn gathering twelve angry and determined witches use their power to draw out the killer before anyone else can become a victim.

With his magic ability Dade has control like no other— if he had that in his everyday life he could have the one thing he wants.

Coralee is a woman that represents grace and simplicity. She has the skill of being able to feel emotion, aura and see beyond the now. The pain sometimes associated with this gift has forced her to live her life from a distance. She decided early in life what she wanted, and returned from her years away at school set to obtain her biggest dream. Unfortunately she has found the past few years lacking just that as she waits for the man she wants to stop and look at her instead of every female that throws themselves in his path.

Dade is a man that follows life simply, yet his charitable personality brings him a wealth of satisfaction. He is the first to lend a hand, the last to stay and help and the one everyone calls when something goes wrong. Even though his own generous nature fills his life, he still manages to find time enough to get himself into a mess at every turn and spends most of the time imploring forgiveness from the one sexy voodoo woman he can’t seem to get close to.  


 
Excerpt:
Steven slumped down in the seat as Dade drove them back to Cora’s to unload everything. Closing his eyes he sighed. Sleep! Soon!

“Do you know where I can get a horse?”

He opened his eyes and looked at Dade. “There’s a horse on the list?”

Dade looked at him and frowned. “What? No!”

Steven sat back up. “Should I even ask what the hell you want a horse for?”

Dade smirked. “You said you wanted to see me top all of you guys.”

Steven pinched the bridge of his nose for a second. “And you need a horse to do this?”

Dade nodded. “Yeah, a white one.”

Steven put his head down and chuckled. “Do you even know how to ride a horse, I’m assuming you planning on riding it.”

Dade shrugged. “How hard can it be?”

“Oh! I can’t get in shit for taking pictures this time.” He took a calming breath trying not to laugh again. “I have a patient, well his parents own a horse farm, if you’re serious.”

Dade grinned. “I’m serious.”

He leaned over towards him. “You’re not going to ride a horse into Cora’s house are you?




About the Author:
Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker being a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and having a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance —with just a touch of suspense.

Jacqueline lives in Ontario, Canada and avoids the ever changing weather of the region she lives in by creating other worlds to fall into in her stories of all things paranormal.


Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published ten. She is always writing and currently has more than a dozen stories in one stage or another of the writing process.

You can find all of Jacqueline’s books at: www.jacqpaige.webs.com