Mellie's Books

People often ask where I get the idea for a particular story and how I develop it. And that can vary from one to the next. Sometimes it will start with a dream or recurring dream. Sometimes a random “what if” thought.

One of my books started with a song and a “what if” moment.

One which is in the works was an idea my husband had.

Now, I have tried to outline and get all the bits worked out ahead of time, but it doesn’t work for me. My characters have minds of their own and take off on wild tangents, leaving me in the dust.

My characters talk to me, in their own unique ways and choose their own path.

If you are a “seat of the pants” writer, you probably know what I mean. If you aren’t…

Imagine you are conducting a musical ensemble. You have the music there in front of you. You know how you will guide these musicians to have the sound you want. It will be marvelous.

And then, all of a sudden, the whole ensemble decides to take Beethoven for a romp through Bourbon Street blues. Or Bach into death metal. You have completely lost control.

I’ll be writing along, thinking I know where I’m going, and all of a sudden they’re doing something else.

“What are you doing?” I ask. “I didn’t say you could go there.”

They just smile and shake their heads.

“Phfft… Right. We’re trying to tell our story here. Do try to keep up.”

Yeah. Sort of like that. With attitude.

I normally don’t have trouble getting my characters to talk to me. But I do have times when I wish they would shut up for a while.

Like at 2 am when I want to sleep and they want to write. They can be completely unreasonable. Especially when they gang up on me.

I’ll have characters from two different books, two different series, vying for my attention.

Would you take turns? Please?

And then there are the stories which want to be told right now. It doesn’t matter that I’m working on three other ones. I have to begin this one, too.

Case in point–the one under the working title Unwilling Soulmates. Would not leave me alone, so I promised that as soon as I finished Lady Calloway, I would at least begin on their story.

So I did. I chose names, got the opening scene in my head and began to write. But every time I tried to write his name, I tried to type something else and gave up for the day. Later, when I was drifting off to sleep, another bit of the scene came to mind, using a different name than the one I’d chosen.

It seems his name is Trevor, not Stewart, and he would like it changed.

So we now have Trevor and Theresa, tapping their toes impatiently and waiting for me to take up the story again.

That’s how my weekend is shaping up. What are your plans?

You can find my books on Amazon, Smashwords, or at any major bookseller. With two series and a stand alone, there is plenty to choose from.

Don’t forget to check out the podcast at Anchor.

And as always…

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…