This year has been a wild ride, with three books out in quick succession, plus one getting a paperback print run within those same months. On top of all of that, I’m back ‘home’ in Australia for the first time in seven years. It’s been a lot to process.
Well, today is the third of three publication days for this year. All three books, An Italian Wedding Adventure, Head Over Wheels and A Winter Wedding Adventure have come out within four months because that’s how these things sometimes happen between two publishers, one of which can have quick turnarounds.
Dealing with a prickly heroine in this book, I had to tread carefully, even though I love her to bits, to make sure readers could sympathise with her. The second book in a series, where I absolutely adored the first book, was also a challenge to write as well as I wanted to. But thankfully, the two characters and the way they bounce off each other made it a joy to write, even when I got in my own head a bit about how readers would relate to them.
I’ve been spending too much time in my own head over the past few months, actually, which definitely affected my joy in writing. I think it’s impossible to second-guess readers while drafting and I’m learning to just follow my own instincts with my characters, because that’s the only way I can write authentic people.
But I managed to finish the first draft of the third Adventure Weddings book (Toni’s book – it’s mistaken identity and a lot of fun) and now I’ve had a few weeks mostly away from my desk, which has done a world of good.
I haven’t been away from stories or romance, because they’re hard-wired into me, but I have found the mental space to dream up new ideas and just have fun with characters in my head, while I haven’t been able to write much down.
It doesn’t hurt that I’m now in Far North Queensland and I really want to write a book set here!
A Winter Wedding Adventure is out today anyway! And now for the nerve-racking bit: seeing how many people will want to read it.
Leonie Mack 
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