Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Prov 16:3

I just handed in the final book in a series. While it feels good to finish the project, it’s sad to say goodbye to characters I’ve lived with for two years. They became a part of my life and I visit them every day, so letting go is bittersweet. But once I finish, it means my readers then get to meet these wonderful characters and the story lives on.

I will now be getting ready to work on another project. It’s always exciting to get started on a new book, while at the same time, daunting. I primarily write romance and mystery, but the next three books will be women’s fiction. Learning curves are scary and satisfying. Will I be able to bring my ideas into fruition? Will readers enjoy my characters? It’s never easy to start those first pages, but thankfully once I get in the flow, things start to make sense.

The end of my current Harlequin series also brings with it another task, coming up with new story ideas for a future series. I know a few things so far; like the location where I’m going to set these stories and the overall premise, but I still must come up with compelling  characters and plot lines. I have a notebook with ideas already laid out, but the process is slow going. That’s a good thing, because I want to get it right.

After handing in my last book, I needed a few days off to clear my mind. I was out on my deck the other morning and noticed some of the potted plants blooming.

My daughter got me this plant a few years ago for my birthday and to be honest, I don’t have much of a green thumb. It never bloomed so I stuck it outside and forgot about it until spring rolled around and these beautiful, colorful petals took me by surprise. Now, each year, more buds blossom and I have a delightful surprise after winter turns to spring.

Writing is like this. You have ideas, and after nurturing them and working hard to make the best story line possible, they blossom into a book. I love being a writer, including the different stages of the writing process, from the vague kernel of a story idea to the finished product and every part in between. I’m amazed at the outcome when I finish a book, just like I am every time I see these beautiful flowers on my deck. They’re a reminder of the work I love and the promise of beautiful stories to come.

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, TRUSTING HER HEART, available August 2019.  Visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a link to download a free digital book.