What to write next: An author's journey

Did you know the writing community is the best? I enjoy writers, editors, illustrators, designers, and now my readers, as much as I enjoy writing, and that is saying a lot. I released my debut novel a month ago, and much to my delight, it hit several Amazon Bestseller lists, domestic and internationally. (Thank you, Canada, Australia, and UK readers, for the support!) The entire process has been thrilling and joyful, and I am beyond grateful.

So what happens next as an author? I was surprised many of my readers requested a sequel since I wrote the book as a stand-alone and "tied up" all the loose strings. My marketing team agreed that a prequel for the physician characters was a "brilliant idea." However, as I wrote the first chapter, I realized I could not relive my medical school years in any shape or form. Readers, it was traumatic enough the first go around. No joke. I scratched that idea off after one day's attempt. I wasn't going back to medical school, dear readers, no way no how.

What to write, what to write. I stared at my screen. "Try a short story," my best friend suggested. "That's what you did the first time." Now, this was gold. Writing an entire novel again was too daunting, but writing a short story? I could do that! 

I began with a new male character as my protagonist. Having written in the male perspective for my debut's villain, I've experienced how fun writing as a man can be. It is quite freeing, ladies! So I made him handsome, dashing, and Persian. Yes, he's Persian. My husband figured out immediately I'd fashioned the character from a college crush. I was busted. But still, who doesn't want to write this character? If I am going to live with him for the next entire book, why not make him sexy too? Also, I've learned from experience that I enjoy writing sex scenes. Some readers called my last book "salacious" and "racy." I will let you decide.

Once I started writing, new characters popped into my brain faster than I could type them out, and lo and behold, an actual premise formed before my eyes. There’s an entire new world in my brain, keeping me up again and demanding my attention. And it is sheer joy.

Write on. And stay safe. (And vote!)