Writing the beginning of a book always takes me so much longer than any other part. The way I explain it to people is that it's like building a house. You have to get the foundation down right or everything else you add on top of it will be out of kilter.
Wicked Temptation is no exception.
I know this happens and I try to be patient with the process, but I'm used to the speed I was writing on the previous book. As I'm heading into the end, my speed picks up.
Going back to starting speed? It's painful.
Book 8 of the Paladin League series is Callum "Baggs" Baggnell and Iona Desmond. Baggs has been around for a few books, so I know him fairly well, and because his heroine was mentioned so much in the previous book, I know Io pretty well, too.
But then I never start writing a book until I know the characters very, very well. It doesn't mean the start of the book will go any faster.
Cal is the hero where it took forever to get his name. I don't get to pick my characters names--they let me know when we have it. There's a reason why Cal was only referred to by his handle for a while. There was a stretch where I thought his name was Callan. It just felt a little off, and after the torturous route we went through to get this name, I was frustrated. And then we got to Callum and it was an ah-ha! moment. I had a name!
Io was easier. She and her sister told me their names right away. Ayla and Iona. The only (brief) debate was whether her name was Ione or Iona. It didn't take long before that was settled.
I'm not sure I ever told the story here about their names.
The plan for the Paladin League series has changed many, many times since I first had Finn and Zo from Wicked Intention come in and talk to me. One of these later plans was an eight book series--two quartets: The Musketeers (Ryder, Finn, Griff, and Kyle) and The Lost Treasure. Only it became clear early on that this would need more books. The Lost Treasure became six books.
And I knew I had a character named Ayla hanging around. She showed up when I heard the name Isla. The two names are pronounced the same, but Ayla made it clear that her name was not spelled Isla.
I have long since given up arguing with my characters about names or spelling of said name. Whatever they want, I roll with. I used to attempt to guide them a different direction, but they always ended up with the name they wanted anyway, so why waste the time and energy?
Surnames are easier for me to get them to change. They're not as stubborn about those.
Once I realized the Paladin League Lost Treasure arc was six books and not four, it became clear that Ayla was on of the heroines. And when I learned she was a twin, I knew who the heroine in the second added book was, too.
But beginning a book is hard and takes me so long to write. I'll just keep getting the foundation down solidly, no matter how slowly it goes.
