Story idea brewing...time to reef the main a bit

I love dilemmas. Well, good ones like the one I'm facing. I'm "behind" schedule on the writing of two children's books (The Mermaid's Tale, the second in the Mystery at the Lake House Series -- I've written the first chapter and outlined a good bit of the book, and know the ending; and Jock Avery's first book ... he's a downgraded version of Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider, and features a bit of mystery, action, and a touch of history).

Blame it on summer approaching, wanderlust rearing its fantastic head, or a change of schedules with the end of school.

Or I could just be honest and say I had another fantastic idea for a novel after reading an article. And this idea just won't sit still until I start developing it. The characters are starting to talk to me, too. Do you have any idea what it's like to have characters beg to be developed? If you've ever had that weird buzzing in your ear when dehydrated, that's what it's like. Only much, much louder.

That's what happened with the idea for Leaving Lukens. It was the same for The Pirate's Bastard. Now I'm facing the dilemma of getting through the children's works, or diving in to the adult fiction that is wooing me from the sidelines like some heart-throb lacrosse player does to a cheerleader while she's on the field during halftime. (Just for the record, I was the lacrosse player. It was an all-girls school. And there were no male cheerleaders. The imagery is tantalizing, though.)

True, if I focused, I could finish the two children's stories in record time if I had a challenge. I do so much better with deadlines (self-inflicted or otherwise). So, since it's got to be imposed by me, I'm going to set my deadline for The Mermaid's Tale for the end of June. Of this year. Regardless of what comes up next. The Jock Avery story ... that could be done as early as August, right before school begins. Sure. That's doable. Right?

Before I scratch the deadlines in stone (or fill up the slots on my calendar as I usually do), I do feel compelled to at least jot down my "next" story idea in rough outline form. And it's going to be awesome. It's an adult story, and it's going to be a twisting turning ride just like Leaving Lukens is ... just you wait. I'll keep you posted on the progress, as soon as I know it. Time to batten down the hatches and reef the main sail. It's going to be a stormy summer.