Romance Novels in the Rockies: A Writer’s Inspiration

Hello, dear readers!

I hope this post finds you well and cozy wherever you are. As some of you might know, I recently made a big move from the bustling streets of Washington, DC to the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado. It’s been quite the adventure, and I’m excited to share a bit of this new chapter with you!

Leaving behind the historic charm and vibrant energy of DC has been a bittersweet experience. But as I settle into my new home amidst the majestic Rocky Mountains, I can’t help but feel a wave of fresh inspiration. The crisp mountain air, the endless blue skies, and the serene natural beauty are already weaving their way into my writing.

The Writing Journey

As I transition into this new environment, I’m also deep in the midst of crafting two romance novels. It’s been a slow and steady process, but each day I’m finding new pieces of inspiration in my surroundings. Whether it’s a serene sunrise over the mountains or a quiet moment with a good cup of coffee, these experiences are subtly influencing my stories.

In one of my novels, I’m exploring a romance that unfolds in a small, charming town—something that feels a little more real now that I’m living in a place that resembles that setting. The local color and community vibes are providing a rich backdrop for the characters’ journey.

For those who are curious, here’s a little sneak peek into one of my current projects: a romance that delves into the complexities of finding love in unexpected places. As my characters navigate their own paths, I’m excited to see how the unique elements of Colorado might influence their journey. Expect moments of stunning natural beauty, heartfelt connections, and of course, a touch of romance that will hopefully leave you yearning for more.

I’m incredibly grateful for your continued support and patience as I work through this transitional period. Your encouragement means the world to me, and I can’t wait to share more of my work with you. Here’s to new beginnings, fresh inspirations, and the never-ending magic of storytelling!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Warmest wishes.

So….

How did ChatGPT do?

Pretty cool, isn’t it? The prompt I gave it: I am a romance writer who keeps a blog. I recently moved from DC to Colorado. I’m working on two romance novels but it’s slow. Help me write a blog entry.

What you read above was the result. On its very own it came up with the piece about the complexities of finding love in unexpected places (which is kind of true if you read my books) and took liberties to assume my new romance story unfolds in a charming small town (it does not). Stylistically, it’s not my writing, but overall, I thought it was good and believable.

Could you tell it’s AI or were you fooled?

And, the main question is, does it matter?

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about AI and the role it’s gaining in our everyday lives, particularly the lives of the authors. As a concept (and the implementation with caveats) AI is great. Every college student knows it. Every software engineer knows it. It helps with research, with coding, with those pesky math problems that involve decimals. All sorts of stuff. It’s built into my blogging/website software.

Can AI write a whole book? It can, too. It has.

Can it write a good book?

Hmm.

But wait – I hear people saying – if not today, then tomorrow! AI is constantly getting better! Remember the algorithms? They keep improving. The models undergo bigger and better training (yes, including on works of fiction that are not expressly released to be used in AI training, but that’s a question for the lawyers).

What’s important in writing? A plot, yes. Good grammar. Language style appropriate to the audience. Characters, pace. If you have all of these ingredients, you’re guaranteed a great piece of work…not. Unfortunately, not at all.

So, what makes a page-turner? (Lots of questions in this post, I know.)

I’m sure you’ve heard the words “a compelling story.” Also, “relatable characters.” Immersive. Atmospheric. Unique voice. These are the sorts of things that literary agents cram into their wish lists in hopes of hooking up with the next Bronte sisters or JK Rowlings or Sarah J. Maas. It’s that elusive quality of writing that’s hard to quantify. Like charisma, it’s everything at once and nothing specific. It’s also very different from book to book. Sure, vivid descriptions and a realistic dialogue help, but some compelling, memorable books aren’t even that great in terms of the proper plot-characters-writing thing that they teach at the Departments of English. (Not all, but some.)

Back to the AI and writing. It is my firm belief that as an author’s replacement, AI is not great, to say the least. It will develop in the coming years to be sure, but it will always struggle with producing an original, organic story. AI lacks imagination. In fact, it takes the word “formulaic” to the whole next level with how unoriginal the content is.

So, to answer my original question, it does matter. Simply because quality and artistry matter, because “a compelling story” matters, and so does a unique voice.

No, not everything can be automated. 🙂

That said, a small but important caveat is in order: I don’t use AI to write my books, in whole or in part. I write for fun!

But enough about that. I’ve just done the philosophizing to last me another year. Whew! Back to my cave. Back to my writing.

Speaking of which, it’s going, with two books at once. As you’ve already surmised from the post, I did move to Colorado from the DC area (Maryland, to be exact). It’s a big move and that distracted me for a bit. It’s a welcome change but folks, change is hard. I’m slow to adjust.

I get questions from time to time on whether I plan to write more installments in the Rix Universe or the Planet Zero world. The answers are yes and yes.

I’m currently working on the third Rix book tentatively titled Seven Oars (don’t hold me to it, I’m not sure the title with stay). It’s a story about Rosamma who has no choice but to follow her brother across outer space to a new place but – oops – gets kidnapped by lowlife Rix pirates, the leftover dregs from the defunct pirate haven planet, the birthplace of Lyle from Sky Song. Lots of stuff happens to poor Rosamma who is the opposite of independent when it all starts. It’s a rather grim story. I’m debating on including some grim scenes or leaving them out.

This is very likely going to be the last book about the Rix Universe, capping it at three. I’m not a fan of series in general and of long series in particular.

When Seven Oars is finished, I plan to write a second book set on Planet Zero. I have a plot in mind, the characters, everything. Just need time and self-discipline to write it. I’m thinking about a third installment there as well, just to make things even with the Rix books. There’s beauty in symmetry.

Anyhow, this is all for now. I’ll be posting something from Seven Oars soon – stay tuned!