Pelican Cove – Finished!

Thirteen months ago I began working on a story. I couldn’t see the end of it, not like I usually can.  Surprisingly, every time I thought I’d found the end, it would shift and surprise. Yesterday, after working on it on and off for over a year I finished writing Pelican Cove and again the end surprised me. I had thought the conclusion would be wrapped up with a big finally, lots of fire and screaming and paranormal shenanigans and found instead a peace falling over my characters. Redemption was found and who I had thought the monster of the tale got a happy ending as well as my protagonists. Everything ended in a way much more satisfying than I could have imagined. That’s the wonder and joy of writing. You never know exactly what the story will do.  You think you do. You plot and write and plan and then it runs away from you. Creating something so wonderful you just want to hug yourself and tell the world all about it.

After thirteen months I finished Pelican Cove and there is so much joy in that. So much pride in such an accomplishment and yet, there is a sadness that fills my heart every time I write “The End” and close out a story. I will miss these characters, for over a year I have loved them and struggled with them.  I have been in love with the male protagonist Van for a year. It’s strange to not open his story and be with him. It’s strange and sad not to learn more about Erin, to see her grow, to spend time with her. Somehow in that year, these characters came to life and I got to know them and now I don’t get to see them again. I don’t get to hang out and find out what happens next. In a weird way it’s like breaking up and moving on. So with the joy of finishing a book there is a time of mourning until I fall in love again.