NaNoWriMo and new release

Well here it is, November, and that means it's time for NaNoWriMo.

NaNoWriMo, of course, stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it's a chaotic time of pounding out 50,000 words in 30 days. As impressive as that may sound, it's actually quite do-able when it's broken down to a daily word count of about 1,667 words per day. The clincher is it's every single day. No exceptions. If you skip one day, you have to double up the next day ... and that's a lot tougher.

I'm writing my next Amish inspirational novel with the working title "Mail Order Bride." I've already submitted the proposal (synopsis + three chapters) to my agent and editor, and since it's fully outlined chapter by chapter, writing it should be straightforward ... as long as I don't skip a day.

Planning for NaNoWriMo comically coincided with an article I saw recently entitled "How to Write a Book Without Losing Your Mind" in which the author discussed how to overcome procrastination. She often avoids the keyboard by doing useless "busy chores" while waiting for the writing mood to strike, then admits: "But mood is meaningless when it comes to getting things done. ... Getting started – and other small victories – might be all it takes."

Arguably, this is the benefit of participating in NaNoWriMo. If I find I'm stuck, I set a kitchen timer and work furiously for 30 minutes with no break and no interruptions. I'm a fast typist, and sometimes this is all I need to get my day's word count in. It may not be good, you understand, but at least it's forward momentum.

Meanwhile – speaking of forward momentum – I'm pleased to announce the release of my latest book, "The Amish Midwife's Bargain."

This is, hands down, my favorite Amish inspirational story I've written so far. It was a joy to write from start to finish.

Here's the back-cover blurb:

An accident on a stormy night will change the course of their lives…

Grieving after the loss of a patient, midwife Miriam Kemp returns to her Amish roots and vows to leave her nursing life behind. But when she accidentally hits Aaron Lapp on a rain-drenched road, she offers to help the scarred and handsome – if somewhat cranky – bachelor while he recovers. Could this arrangement allow them to heal…while finding a love they never expected?

This is the story my editor loved from the beginning. A year ago, after reviewing the proposal for this book, she wrote me a treasured email as follows: "Happy Tuesday! I've had a chance to read the proposal for Miriam and Aaron's story. Oh my word, I love this book idea! This is so great! I love the whole Beauty and the Beast theme, plus heroine works for the injured hero. I don't know, everything is just so emotional and juicy. The chapters are great, and the story looks great too. ... Thanks so much for your talent and your hard work, Patrice. It really means a lot to me."

I hope you enjoy reading it!

• Amazon

• Harlequin