This June my husband and I returned to our timeshare in Mexico for our vacation and being that my book was released in print June 1st, I was excited to bring a copy to donate to the resort’s guest library. I was traveling with a bunch of family, so of course my first print release was a topic of conversation with them and the time-share-week friends I hadn’t seen since my last trip.
Inevitably, the subject of where writers come up with our ideas wasn’t far behind, along with the not so flattering “Oh, you’re a writer? I have a great idea for a book…” (This time, it was followed by “I dreamed it, just like Stephanie Meyer did.”)
Usually my response is a simple “no thank you,” but I’ve found people are more offended by that than if I ask them “why don’t you write it?” or “sorry, I have a waiting list of ideas stacking up in my head. What’s that Lord Montcliffe? Yes, your story is next.”
It seems the no-thank-you is received as snooty disinterest, but to ask them why they’d present it to me or, (groan) more about their idea, they’re engaged in conversation, and people love to talk about themselves.
It’s hard to explain to non-writers where my ideas come from. Their minds just don’t work the same way. Like Kinsey Millhone says, all it takes is a pulled thread and everything unravels from there. Honestly, my ideas come from the most miniscule sight or event, and from there I build on them with my rampant imagination. (I’m going to be a hoot when senility hits)
In The Midnight Effect Lily Brent is trying to save her niece Annie from a power-hungry mad scientist, but in truth Lily needs to be rescued just as much, if not more, than Annie. Miles Goodwin is a retired cop trying to heal from a personal tragedy and he isn’t in any shape to rescue them, let alone himself. But the events throwing them together are inescapable, and Lily and Miles have no choice but to join forces to survive.
The idea for this woman in peril story came when I was driving home on a remote mountain road in the Santa Cruz mountains. I was driving fairly fast for the winding two-lane road dark in the shadows of tall pine, but out of nowhere another car went shooting around me. Behind the wheel was what a very crazy looking man with wild eyes who could have been Christopher Lloyd’s brother.
I started driving slower after that. Nobody would find me for days if I drove off one of the sheer sides. And what if someone was after me? Would anyone see if I was attacked by that crazy man? Not likely. They’d just find my car with the door standing open…
That quickly, The Midnight Effect was born. Does it always happen that fast? Most of the time, yes. Of course those small ideas that spark, flash and burn need to be nurtured, plotted, and outlined. That’s the nature of the business. But for the most part, I really should wear that t-shirt that says, “Careful, you might end up in my next book.”
The Midnight Effect is now available at your favorite local bookstore, or online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Awesome blog! That’s so funny that someone wanted you to write thier dream
people are funny.
I find myself getting a lot more pressure to put themselves in my books rather than their ideas. My sister, my mother, my coworkers, my friends…and even the lady who makes my morning coffee. It seems every one wants me to write a book about them, or at least give them a cameo. It cracks me up.
In some cases, I’m sure they wouldn’t like the results. Like the teller at my bank who is so slow that I’d do almost anything to not get in her line, or the receptionist in my dr.s office who has checked me in for the last 16 years, but still can’t remember my name…these people have no idea what I would do to them if they were a charactor in my book…Did I mention that I’m working on a murder mystery? A greusome, bloody, serial killer mystery? If they only knew…
I love it when writers tell where they got the idea for a story or book from. I just enjoy watching how that tiny spark developed and knowing that I’m not the only one who thinks that way.
Recently, my husband was in a very bad accident and spent some time in the hospital. The doctor followed me down the hall one day and told me to go home and rest. I declined so he blurted “don’t you have a day job to go to?” I explained that I was a freelance writer and also had my first novel due to an editor the end of summer and that I had a laptop with me and wrote when my husband slept. He was flabbergasted. The next day he told people I was going to put him in my book. As I was a bit irritated with him that day, I replied that if he wasn’t careful he’d be the one who died horribly. (I write horror fiction)
And yes, I’ve gotten many offers to ghost-write the “best idea ever”. Lol. No thank you.
That’s so funny! This is exactly what I’m talking about.
Non-writers just don’t understand the minds of writers and those people probably wouldn’t like to hear they were considered for ‘most horribly murdered’ in a book.
I once worked with a lady who was a real wild child in the 70’s. She got into a lot of trouble and did a lot of drugs, and thought I should write her life story because other people would find it that interesting. I guess, though, she wasn’t too far off because look at the new tv shows we have now like Intervention and Bad Girls Club.
The fact Lainey’s dr.‘s receptionist doesn’t remember her is just unacceptable. She sounds like an expendable character for sure.