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May 28, 2007
Confessions of a Cheater
The love that dare not bark its name.
Before I start, I'd like to wish a happy Memorial Day to everyone, but most especially to our military and their families. Words like "support" and "sacrifice" are nowhere near enough given what it is you people do every day. My thoughts, prayers and gratitude are with you all. Thank you.
All right. Time to come clean: I've been cheating on the LC. But just a little.
It's not that I need another blog. Trust me, between this and that podcast thing, I keep plenty busy. But this side venture was never intended to be what it's become. It started out very simply, when a few months back I became involved in a project that, while it was loved deeply, was just destined to go... nowhere.
It's a collaboration.
I know, I know. I swore I'd never do one. I have discovered, though, through the trials of Lunchables and gag-inducing teeth whitening products, that 'tis better to have just shut up than to have claimed, "I will never do that!" Why was I so against collaborations? Well, one, I'm a control freak, which is why I work for myself creating worlds in which I control everything. No brainer. Two, who would possibly want to work with me? I don't plan, I never have any idea where I'm going in a book, and often I'll write whole chapters only to throw them out later. I am the kind of person other people kill and leave in the woods. Seriously. Plus, collaborations are a tough sell in this business, anyway, and the stars are particularly aligned against this one. But here's the problem:
The book is good.
I mean really, really good.
And I'm gonna write it, damnit.
The only real problem is that it'll probably never get published. For a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that the two other authors involved and myself all need to get solo stuff in the hopper, and the business is cooling on collaborations and we've already had one staff change in just three months, and... and... and... Well. You get the picture.
We should drop it. We just can't. It's too much fun. So we decided to blog it - not the novel, we still hold out hope that someday we'll beat all odds and be able to publish the book, but parts of it. We're also blogging our Sunday night chats about it and we're having posts from special guests and we're doing little confessionals about what it's really like working on a collaboration on a book you love that will probably never see the light of day. It's like a reality tv show, only with writers and not manipulated for maximum drama and no one's taking off their bikini top in the jacuzzi. But trust me, this project has plenty of nature-made drama already, not the least of which is that we love it so much we just can't let go.
Okay. Enough buildup. Here's the basic idea, and you tell me if you would have had the strength to walk away:
Once upon a time, three writers decided to do a novel about three ordinary women who meet at a dog obedience class and discover they’re descended from ancient Mesopotamian priestesses.
Well, you had to be there.
The book is called Dogs and Goddesses, and we’re Anne Stuart, Lani Diane Rich, and Jenny Crusie.
Three writers. One blog. No plan.
Told ya.
Posted by Lani at 5:08 AM | Comments (10)
Comments
Sounds crazy, wacky and a lot of fun! That Jenny Crusie, she sure does get around. ;)
Posted by: Christina at May 28, 2007 8:41 AM
Lani, Lani, Lani. When will you ever learn? I would read your grocery list--what makes you think I wouldn't like a book that you collaberated on? Especially with Jenny and Anne?!
I've already been to the site and loved the first scene that was posted. So have faith! And have fun, because isn't that what writing is all about anyway?
Posted by: Sheri at May 28, 2007 11:58 AM
Gasp!
Lani, how could you?!? It's me, isn't it? I wasn't there for you, I didn't appreciate you enough!
The fellow chicks are always the last to know. *Sob*
Posted by: Beth at May 28, 2007 1:24 PM
I'm lmao already. Off to the website :)
Posted by: Lis at May 28, 2007 2:19 PM
Lani plus Jenny plus Anne = funny as hell. I'm in for sure.
Posted by: Eileen at May 28, 2007 8:13 PM
Sold! I'd buy that book. Maybe twice.
Posted by: Jennifer at May 28, 2007 8:21 PM
Oh please... with those three writers writing it, why wouldn't it see the light of day?! :)
Posted by: Amber at May 29, 2007 9:17 AM
OMG, now *there's* a book.
*updates blog list*
Posted by: Dia ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 29, 2007 9:24 PM
I would SO buy that book. And any publisher who doesn't publish it is an idiot. I say, if they won't publish it, then publish it yourselves! And be sure and let me know so I can buy a copy! Dying here!!!! :)
Posted by: Pamela at May 30, 2007 9:55 AM
I would SO totally buy that book! What a fun concept! And if no publisher is smart enough to publish such a wonderful tale, I say publish it yourself. And let me know so I can buy one! :)
Posted by: Pamela at May 30, 2007 10:08 AM
