I love blogging about wine, but it’s not the only writing I
do...
As a writer, I have always been encouraged to write what I
know. It was sometime in December 2011 when I started a novel. Because I was
living in Yountville at the time, it was the logical setting for my story. I wrote
about dating and drinking wine in the Napa Valley—two topics I know well.
In the second draft, I flexed my creative muscles and developed
the main character, meaning I made stuff up. This is not an autobiography; it is
contemporary women’s fiction (yes, that’s a genre!). The third draft was all
about adding wine references and a few wine-savvy personalities to support the
main character—a wine novice—on her wine-soaked path to self-discovery.
The development of this story and the writing process itself
has been inspired and fueled by many glasses of wine. After working with a
wonderful editor, Susan K Cole, I am currently polishing the final draft with
hopes of self-publishing my ebook on Amazon soon. For updates on the official
ebook launch and other fun fiction tidbits, please like my new Facebook Page at
www.facebook.com/AuthorCortney
and follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AuthorCortney.
Who knows where I would be in my writing process without wine. Last night with a glass of the 2010 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet
Sauvignon, I edited the 22nd chapter.
At $25/bottle, this is a tasty weeknight Cabernet and pretty
affordable by Napa standards. The nose offers aromas of dark berries and oak
spice. Concentrated and bold, this Cab has a lush mouthfeel and well-integrated
tannins. With ripe blackberry flavors, dark chocolate notes, and the tiniest
whisper of black licorice, this is a young wine with a lot of potential. Over
the next six months, it will benefit from decanting and don’t forget to give it
a good swirl. Cheers!
Congratulations on finishing the novel and being so close to publishing it!
ReplyDelete