Some people have asked me if my stories ever evolve into something different than I was expecting. Or if my stories ever change as I’m writing them. Sometimes they do slightly, other times quite a bit.
Did you want to see what the changes for one story look like?
I give you Through the Tunnel!
This story wasn’t supposed to be a novel. It wasn’t even supposed to be a short story. You see, I was stuck. All my stories were stuck and I couldn’t seem to get into writing anything. I knew I needed something to break the ice, so I grabbed a calendar off the wall and started flipping through the pictures. I found one that looked like it would be fun to paint a word picture of and sat down to write a description.
It became more than a description because a character appeared.
So I kept writing and another character showed up. I decided I’d just write a short story. After all I could write short stories.
Ha! The story kept going, and I kept writing until it was no longer a short story. The characters pulled me in and I had to know more about them.
Then I reached what I thought was the ending. I told my editor that I was writing the ending. Only the ending wasn’t the ending.
The story kept going for a few more chapters, and I was beginning to wonder if the story was ever going to stop. Finally it ended. So much for a simple descriptive paragraph.
The cover for this book was the first one I had designed completely on my own. Front, back, and spine. After spending I don’t know how long searching for a picture of Lissa, I found her and purchased the photo. The only problem was, her eyes were the wrong color. And I needed her on a different background. It was quite an experience learning how to change eye color, and how to crop someone and keep their hair looking natural. But I love how it turned out. Don’t you?
And if you look on the back of the book, you might notice that it is actually one of the windowpanes from the front cover.
Have you read Through the Tunnel? If not, does it sound like a book you’d enjoy? Have your stories ever decided to become a novel instead of a short paragraph?
Hands down this is one of my favorite books you’ve written!
Aw, thanks, Ry. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy it so much. (It’s one f my favorites too, but don’t tell my other books that.)
We are halfway through reading Through the Tunnel aloud right now, and we are loving it. When we got to the scene when they’re decorating for Christmas, we felt like, “Did she peak into our house and write this scene just for us?”
It’s a lovely story, and we are really enjoying it!
I’m so glad you all are enjoying it! 😀
I want to know if you do gingerbread men in your kitchen. 😉
YES! That cover is AMAZING!!
l love Through The Tunnel! I’m so glad that paragraph turned into what it did 🙂
Thanks, Lydia. I’m glad the paragraph kept going too. 😀
“Through the Tunnel” is one of my favorite books! I’m so glad you wrote the book!
Aw, I’m honored to hear “Through the Tunnel” is a favorite book. 🙂
Wow, you did such a great job with the cover!!
Thanks, Katja. It was rather fun. 🙂
I have Through the Tunnel on audio and it is definitely one of my favorites! 🙂
Glad you enjoy it, Ruthann!
Well I’m glad your description turned out to be a whole novel! “Through the Tunnel” is one of my favorites!
Aw, thank you. I’m rather glad too, though at the time I was trying to get something else written. 😉
I haven’t read it (yet), but I love the story behind this book!!!!
Two of my three WIPs weren’t “supposed” to turn into full-blown stories, either, but stuff happens! 😀
–Abby Elissa
https://abbyelissa.blogspot.com/
Yes, sometimes stories have a mind of their own when it comes to how long or short they are. 🙂
I hope you get a chance to read “Through the Tunnel” soon. Maybe you’ll enjoy it.