In answer to readers' questions, I'm starting a new series of articles, sharing the "stories behind the books". Here's the first. I hope you'll stop by to take a peek, or sign up for my newsletter, where they will be published every month. (Scroll down for sign-up link).
The Story Behind the
Book
#1
Harley Brennan,
Running Back
I’m often asked if my story ideas
come from my life. While I’ve denied a direct connection, there is some truth
to the statement that they come from some of my life experiences and those of
people I know. Something I’m living or wondering about pops into my head. Then
I can’t resist saying to myself, “what if…” and a story idea is born.
This new
section will be a peek into the background that gave birth to my “what if” for
each of my books. I’m starting with Harley Brennan, Running Back, since it’s my
most recent and most controversial book. I’ll be adding these to my newsletters
and posting them on my blog, too.
I’ve long
been a fan of “The Bachelor” television program. In one episode, one of the
female contestants, vying for the Bachelor, had spent the night with a member
of the crew. In his desire to escape
detection, he’d jumped over a balcony and broken his leg. They shipped him and
her home. I wondered what would have happened if the Bachelor, himself, had
slept with a member of the crew? And the kernel for Harley Brennan’s story was
born.
Originally,
this was supposed to by Shyla Hollings’ story and the seventh book in the
Hollywood Hearts series, where Harley had made a brief appearance. But the more
into the football series I got, the more convinced I became that it was Harley’s
story and belonged in the First & Ten series.
Although
the book idea started with them together on the show, “Marriage Minded”, I had to develop more to support an entire
book than simply one encounter. Their stories evolved on many walks in the park
with my pug, Homer, bus rides, car rides, subway rides and strolls through the
City. As their story took shape, my enthusiasm grew. They became real in my
mind.
Two years
later, the story had grown so compelling, I had to write it. It gripped me with
its darker side, with the love, loss, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of Shyla
and Harley –separately and together. The phrase that keeps echoing in my head
when I think about this story is “sometimes
people have to lose everything to find each other.”
If you haven’t read Harley Brennan,
Running Back, I hope you’ll take the time to give it a shot. Harley’s not your
Prince Charming hero, but he’s real. Love him, hate him, want to throw his book
across the room –I hope you’ll never be bored with his story.
Questions? Please feel free to put them in the comments and I'll answer here.
Buy Harley in ebook or paperback here:
