Samhain Publishing

As the mother of three, one of whom is a twenty-month-old diva who doesn’t want to miss a minute on either side of midnight, I have plenty of time to daydream. Sometimes it’s about a self-cleaning house or a deserted stretch of beach with an ever-full margarita machine, but usually I ponder whatever story I’m trying to get on the page between naptime and after-school pick-up.

I take my characters with me to the gym, the grocery store, doctors’ offices, bakeries – heck I’ll even play with them while I’m stuck in traffic. It’s the everyday things that make characters real to me. It can also put them in some pretty interesting situations.

MSN.com had a headline about exploding toads and WHAM, they found their way into Par for the Course. Thank goodness there was a golf course with a few water hazards, or it might have been awkward. Good Morning America ran a piece about new exercise routines – aerobic striptease, couples yoga…and then The View had someone on talking about using Kama Sutra to reenergize your sex life. The two ideas blended together in my why-won’t-this-child-sleep-through-the-night haze and VOILA, Compromising Positions had a Sensational Sex yoga class — couples yoga to ease the more demanding postures from the Kama Sutra.

Characters drive the story, but having fun is what keeps me writing rather than giving in to the call of the afternoon nap! I looked forward every day to seeing how Ben would handle the toad carnage, how David would deal with Sophie’s advances. Just as I hope the stories keep a reader turning the pages, they kept me writing to see not what would happen next (I had that part plotted out) but how it would unfold.

My next story blossomed in much the same way. I was watching Beauty and the Beast with my boys while cleaning out old college files. I couldn’t seem to let go of any of my notes and papers on Jane Austen and her stories — Elizabeth Bennett and her preconceived notions, Emma Woodhouse and her sheltered devotion to her father. The Beast roared from the television and the boys demanded it be turned off, and so while they turned out attentions to Hot Wheels, my mind spun a story that combined Beauty & the Beast, Emma and Pride & Prejudice. Hey, it happens! It was such a joy to watch Lily’s vision of Jake change from a beastly ogre to a handsome reflection of love. Pride & Passion will be available next week.

Writing takes effort, don’t mistake my enjoyment for sheer entertainment. But even writers can glean entertainment from their work. You never know what might weave its way into a story…you’ve been warned. I can’t be held accountable for being inspired by anything you might say or do!

Jenna has a new ebook releasing next week. Pride & Passion comes complete with a hero used to getting what he wants, a heroine determined not to give in to him, some indecent proposals, a fair amount of pride, and enough passion to burn up everyone’s control.To find out what Jenna is up to …check out her website