A previous junior-high science teacher, Elisabeth Naughton now writes sexy romantic adventure and paranormal novels full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her debut release, Stolen Fury, heralded by Publisher’s Weekly as “A rock-solid debut,” was recently nominated for two prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America in the Best First Book category and the Best Romantic Suspense category. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ball park or dreaming up new and exciting adventures.

Taking a Leap of Faith

It’s great to be guest blogging with the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood again! Thanks so much for inviting me back.

You hear it all the time: New York wants books that are the “same” but “different”. What the heck does that mean? From a writer’s perspective that could mean anything. It might mean no thee-eyed alien romances, but it could also mean an alien who looks like us but doesn’t age and falls in love with a werewolf might just be the next big thing. The question for writers becomes—how do you know what ideas are worth taking a chance on and which ones should be under lock and key (forever)?

Humans are creatures of habit. We do things we’ve already enjoyed doing before. The same is true for writing. If you read romantic suspense, you write romantic suspense because it’s the genre you most enjoy relaxing with at the end of the day. Your favorite author writes about vampires and you’re fascinated by them yourself? It makes sense that’s what you should write about as well. But NY doesn’t want to buy a book that’s already been written. And though vampire stories might still be popular in this day and age, in order to get New York’s attention and sell your vampire masterpiece, it has to be different enough to spark interest. It has to be different enough to stand out in the sea of other vampire stories already on the shelves.

How do you do that? Well, first you dig deep. Then you pull out new twists on old concepts. And finally you take big time risks. You write about something you’ve never written about before. You experiment with a genre you wouldn’t have considered when you first started writing. You write darker characters, you up the stakes, you push yourself (and your characters) to the edge and then when you think you can’t push any more, you push again. We all know we get better with every book we write. But here’s something I’ve learned along this crazy road of publishing that most people don’t tell you…you don’t really start to increase your chances of selling until you step outside your comfort zone, believe in yourself and your abilities, and then take a wild leap of faith.

For me, taking that leap has definitely paid off. My debut book – STOLEN FURY (which was recently nominated for two RITAs – Best First Book & Romantic Suspense) was a risk. I wrote about a thief. A good thief; a career thief. And one who wasn’t remorseful about his profession of choice. I added in a snarky, 39 yr old heroine who meets this thief one night in Italy and isn’t looking for more than a one night stand. And then I had him lie to her, seduce her, drug her and steal from her. I thought no way in hell any editor would buy that book. My heroine was too old, too experienced and too sarcastic. My hero was too cocky, too conniving and way too deceptive. But not only did an editor buy it, she loved it. And readers have loved it as well.

The same is true for my new paranormal series, the Eternal Guardians, which launched with book 1, MARKED, on Tuesday, April 27th. This series is based on descendants from the heroes of Greek mythology. Books based on Greek myth have been done before, but no one (that I know of) has written about the descendants of the heroes – at least not in the way I have. My book combines snarky gods, seething demons and a world that exists on the outskirts of our own, and aside from being a total blast to write, it has pushed my skill as a writer to the limit again and again. I never planned to write a paranormal series, but before my Stolen series sold back in 2008, I decided to take a chance on something different. To my surprise, MARKED sold in less than 2 weeks, and my editor loved it so much they made it (and every book in the series) a lead title for my house. If I hadn’t taken the leap of faith and written MARKED, I don’t know where I’d be right now. I definitely wouldn’t be excited about launching a brand new series this week.

How do you push yourself as an author? What are you doing today in your writing that’s taking a risk? And can you name any authors who constantly seem to be pushing the envelope with every book they write?

To learn more about me and my books, especially MARKED and the new Eternal Guardians series, visit me at www.ElisabethNaughton.com.

Diane’s mysteries and romances have been published in Italy, Romania, Germany, Poland, Japan, and the Netherlands, in addition to the US and the UK. A native Texan with a Journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma, Diane finally left the plains of North Texas for the beaches of South Florida, where she now resides with her husband and a small menagerie. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and the South Florida Chapter of MWA. When she’s not writing or at her day job, she enjoys yoga, gardening, and belly dancing. Visit her website www.dianestuckart.com to keep up with all her doings.

Objects in Mirror are Closer than They Appear

One of the perks of getting older is finally being able to use those four little words beloved of codgers everywhere…back in my day. It’s a phrase guaranteed to elicit eye rolls from the youngsters and knowing nods from your peers. Not that I actually qualify for geezer-dom, given that I’m barely into my fifth decade (oops, did I say that out loud?). But I am amazed to realize that it has been almost 22 years since I was a 1988 RWA Golden Heart Award finalist in the historical romance category.

Twenty-two years. In the interim, a new generation was born and raised, numerous wars were waged, several presidents were voted in and out, countless inventions were invented, and a new century even came to pass. Yet, it seems just a blink ago since I attended that special RWA conference one July in the late 1980s. I’ve learned over the years that when it comes to memories, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. But that’s just for me. The question for you is, how have things changed over the years for finalists in the Golden Heart competition?

Back in my day, we didn’t have email and the internet. Only some of us writers had made the jump from our trusty electric typewriters to those newfangled computers with word processing software. Social networking consisted of stopping in at the local bar with one’s writer friends for a few drinks. (OK, in some quarters it still consists of that today.) A support group like the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood could easily have existed, but its members would have gotten together in person, or else communicated by letter or telephone. And that is how correspondence worked between writer and editor or agent, too. Queries required a formal letter, and manuscripts were submitted on paper instead of via electronic files. I still have a few leftover stationery boxes–just the right size to hold a 400-page novel–sitting on one of my supply shelves. In another year or so, I’ll probably break down and use them to wrap birthday gifts, since I can’t see ever mailing a hard copy of a manuscript ever again.

But much remains the same. The stomach-churning anticipation of wondering whether or not you made the cut in the Golden Heart competition never changes, nor does the exhilaration when you find out you were one of the top entries. The camaraderie of your fellow finalists is always sweet, and the support of your other writing friends is to be cherished. And nothing can match the thrill of running around the annual RWA conference with a Finalist ribbon hanging from your badge, unless it’s adding a First Sale ribbon to it.

You’re likely wondering if being a finalist in the Golden Heart competition had any impact on my writing career. Certainly, it did. It was a boost to the ego, and validation that I was on the right path. It opened publishing doors and was likely the reason I sold that finalist manuscript soon after. In fact, on the front cover of the novel that was eventually titled MASQUERADE, it says Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award Finalist. I did go on to sell four more historical romances before that market bottomed out in the 90s. Since I wasn’t interested in making the switch to contemporary romance, I went on hiatus of a sort for a long while, contributing short stories to various anthologies in several genres. It was about four years ago that I reinvented myself as a writer of historical mysteries. Mystery remains my genre of choice, although I am equally proud of the romance novels that I wrote back in my day.

Did my finalist award guarantee me a multi-book contract and a spot on the bestseller list? Um, no. It was only the door opener. I had to walk in the rest of the way, myself, by writing a decent book, and another one after that. Because, after selling that first novel, it didn’t really matter anymore that I’d been a GH finalist. Remember that it is an unpublished writer’s award. Now, my competition was no longer merely other wanna-be authors–talented as they might be–but also multi-selling pros. I had to ramp up my game, or be left behind.

And that is where the danger lies for many contest finalists. Your first three chapters and synopsis have that new penny shine because of the hours you’ve lavished perfecting them for the competition. The rest of your manuscript, maybe not so much. Over the years, I saw more than a few Golden Heart finalists–even some winners–who either never did sell their placing manuscript, or else never made it past the sophomore slump to sell a second one. And I know for some of them, the fact they’d been a Golden Heart finalist became a painful memory instead of a happy remembrance of their early writing days.

Of course, that won’t be you. You’ll sell your finalist manuscript, if you haven’t already, and you will go on to sell other books. Maybe you’ll hit the bestseller list or be one of those prolific types who churn out a couple of novels a year. Or maybe you’ll simply write a few good books that both critics and fans praise. No matter your ultimate fate in the publishing world, for now I offer my congratulations and my very best wishes to you. Your accomplishment is not inconsiderable, and you should be proud of your hard work. And, twenty-odd years hence, perhaps you will share your tale with another generation of Golden Heart Award finalists and tell them how things were back in your day.

Hmm, I think I have a pair of red pumps in the back of my closet. Maybe I’ll go ahead and dig them out, just for fun.

It was a topic that came up on our Yahoo board recently, stemming from the original subject of promotion, and some of the comments/answers surprised me.

As a writer whose agent is shopping her manuscript at this moment, I am naturally looking toward my future, anticipating marketing and promotional tasks.  (Positive thinking here.)  And, honestly, I find it daunting.

There are so many facets to promotion.  Speaking, blogging, social media, advertisement, reviews, book signings, radio, interviews, articles…  The list goes on and on.  And I’ve discovered over the years I’ve been writing and watching other writers go through the promotional process, that publishing’s eccentricity as an industry holds true even in the area of marketing.

Generally, most companies follow their marketing efforts closely.  Often, there are teams and budgets set up just to graph and chart the success and failure of a particular marketing campaign.  In book promotion?  Let’s just throw money into the wind and see where it lands.

Sure, there is some level of measure—say, for example, how many click-throughs and/or sales a particular internet ad produces, but honestly, I doubt most authors know how to (or can afford to hire someone to) follow and/or calculate such statistics.  I’m pretty good with computers, could probably figure it out, but I’d really rather spend my time plotting my next book.

I’ve always believed that the best answer to the question “how do I sell my service or product?” will come from your customer.  So instead of going out there from a writer’s point of view and try to “guess” what would make a reader want to buy my book, it seems only sensible to go straight to the reader and say, “what makes you buy a book?”, then modify your marketing efforts accordingly.  Because, the bottom line to sales is, if you provide what your buyer wants, you’ve been successful.  If you fill a customer’s needs or desires, they will return for more fulfillment.

As an inquiring writer speaking to readers (which is everyone reading this blog and beyond, including all you writers out there and probably some of the most voracious readers), I’d like to know how you choose the books you buy.

Are you influenced by promotional items? If so, which ones? Why?  Is it a book cover, a copy blurb, a title?  Do you stick to a particular genre or two or do you genre hop? Do you buy by recommendation only?  Do you read reviews?  If so, which ones?  Do you stick with the tried and true authors?  What would make you take a chance on a fresh/unknown voice or name?

For writers:  What types of promotional efforts have you employed?  Are you able to track sales related to your marketing efforts?  If so, how?  What types of promotional items have you utilized and how have they worked for you?

Looking forward to all your valuable insights!

At first, I used to laugh and say, “Good luck to them. I sure as hell couldn’t sell it.”

Now, I just explain that I could be hit by lightning TWICE before I could steal and idea and have it turn out even remotely similar to the way the same story would evolve by the hand of a different writer. And vice verse.

Reality check: Even if a writer WANTED to steal another writer’s idea (which is unfathomable when every writer knows–a.k.a. hopes–in their heart of hearts that their own ideas are superior–jiganormous eye roll), the end result would never be the same, not even if the thief had every last anal note of a character’s personality and each and every well-calculated plot thread.

I recently picked up the hobby of reading tarot cards as a creative writing device. (No, I have not wandered off on a tangent. Yes, I swear this relates.) To make a very long story short (which means skipping the entire explanation of the intro sentence), I finished a few private lessons and started with a group of women new to the, um, er, craft for lack of a better word.

Our teacher had us do an excercise to get to know the cards better. We each took one card from the deck and shared various activities with the others at the table: described the card, imagined emotions of a person in the picture, told a mini story of the scene. After we had all done it with different cards, one of the students said, “I wonder what would happen if we all switched cards and did the same thing to see how different people interpret the same card.”

We loved the idea and played along.

To start out with, we already knew the “formal” interpretation of the card and also knew how the other student had interpreted that card.

The result: a completely different and very personal interpretation of each card by each person. Even more wildly varied than I had expected.

This incident reaffirmed my belief that story and all it’s components is shaped drastically and uniquely by the filter through which the writer (or in the tarot case, the reader) saw the information (or in the writer’s case, the story idea).

In a blog post I wrote some time ago, one I may revisit for a fresh 3-part post here, I spoke of filters in developing deep character.

“Each of us sees our world differently based on our personality, our past, our peers, our experiences, our hopes, our dreams, our fears. The reasons for our unique perspectives are as endless as the quirks of our likes and dislikes. When developing your characters, knowing where they’ve been and how it has shaped them into individuals is imperative in creating a unique and believable cast.”  You can read the entire post at my website.

Using the example thread of tarot, another woman and I studied the same card: the Queen of Cups. She saw a Queen surrounded in all her glory, reveling in all she’d attained as she stared at a golden chalice with reverence, contentment and bliss.

In the same card, I saw a woman who had worked and worked to attain everything she had ever wanted, the symbol of which was the golden chalise in her hands. I saw the Queen as contemplating, almost disappointed as she held the symbol of all she’d worked so hard for and wondered, “Is this it? Is this all there is?”

IMHUO (In my humble unpublished opinion) anyone worried about idea or story thievery needs to cultivate security in their unique voice, what only they can bring to the page. Because when it’s all said and done, we all know there are only so many original plots. Making your story unique has everything to do with who you are, where you’ve been, what you need or want to say. It’s all in your own unique perception of the possibilities of a story or character.

Throw your thoughts into the mix. Have you ever had someone steal a story idea? Did it ever amount to anything? Did it ever turn out even close to the way you had (or would have) written it? Have you had experiences where two different people see the exact same thing, but visualize it uniquely based on their own personal experiences?

It’s a rather recent problem, since I went back to work full time and have both more money to spend and more excuses to spend it on anything and everything that might enhance my writing productivity, because, of course, I have less time to write.  I need all the help I can get, right?

Here, I’m going to touch on those little goodies that I’ve tried and share the goods, the bads and the uglies.  But there are so many, I’m going to have to break it up into sections.

In Part I, I’m going to give you my top three picks:  Jott, ClickFree and Liquid Story Binder.  (And, no, I have absolutely no ties to these companies what-so-ever.)

Coming soon, my take on other gadgets such as software, netbooks, music, books and even more techno-thingamabobbers.

Jott: 

This is a really new application for me.  I found mention of it on a blog and went to the website to check it out.  Basically, Jott is an application that “lets you use your voice (via your phone) to capture notes & to-dos, set reminders and appointments, send email and text messages, and post to your favorite web services, all on the go”.

Well, I’m on the go a lot.  I drive about 35,000 miles a year.  That’s just for work and doesn’t include playing taxi for the kids.  So, when I found out about Jott I checked it out, and I have to say, I really like it.  It does everything it says it does.  I’ve been playing with the trial period and have already posted to my facebook, set up doctor appointment reminders, emailed my husband, created and populated lists for possible blog topics and sent myself notes all via my voice over the phone.  Now, I know there are lots of phones out there that can do the same thing…but this does it by speaking the information into the phone, not having to text/type it in, which comes in handy in various situations.

While this is an awesome little treat to use for everything from grocery lists to email construction, I find it incredibly valuable for writing.  Driving for long periods puts your mind in a meditative state.  Similar to when you’re taking a bath or a shower or taking a walk, so lots of great ideas come to me while I’m driving.  But it’s never convenient to write anything substantial.  So, plot twists and character traits can be saved with a ten second voicemail, which is then translated into text and sent to you via email or text message.  Wha-la: saved in black and white.  No more thinking…what was that great idea I had about…? 

I got the JottAssistant, which allows you unlimited monthly messages that do all of the above for $3.95/mo.  The only limitation is how long you can speak.  In this package, you’re speaking time is 15 seconds.  So while you’re not going to be reciting a novel…you can recite a sentence.  And you could conceivably build your word count sentence by sentence, although it’s probably not the strongest use of the application.

Jott has other packages, but they cost more and are directed more for the sales or traveling professional.  Heck, for $3.95 a month? I spend more than that on breakfast every morning.

http://www.jott.com

Clickfree: 

In December, my laptop was stolen out of my car.  We were on vacation, left the laptop in the car, went shopping, and when I got back, the laptop, my DSLR camera, my daughter’s purse and the GPS were gone.

Very difficult lesson: BACK UP YOUR FILES. 

I knew I needed to do it, but I didn’t really “get” the concept.  All I’ve ever known of backing up a computer involved a time consuming process of running software and trading out disk after disk.  And with everything else vying for my attention, I just never got around to fleshing out the details of how exactly to do it.

Painful doesn’t begin to describe the reality of losing my laptop.  Seven years worth of writing (transferred over the years from computer to computer as they were replaced) was on that computer.  And no, no backups.  (If I were a heroine, I’d be too stupid to live.)  Additionally, our desktop at home had recently crashed, so I couldn’t pull anything off of there either.

Long story short, I was able to retrieve the fulls of 3 manuscripts via contests I’d recently entered and 1 I had sent to my agent.  Another 5 manuscripts were lost.  Forever.  5 full manuscripts.  Luckily, they were my first few, which would probably never have seen the light of day.  Still, there was a lot of good stuff I could have used either for reference or for future manuscripts.  REAL bummer, to say the least.

My mom turned me on to ClickFree.  She picked up a heftier version than the one I’m linking to here from QVC.  I ended up finding a more portable version online and then picked it up at Office Max on sale.

It’s nothing but a connector between your computer and a usb drive.  There is a little “brain” in there that holds the software.  You plug it in to your computer and it loads the software.  After that,  evert time you simply attach it to your usb drive, it automatically turns on and starts backing up everything– all your files, all on its own.  You can set up the frequency and/or files directory, or you can simply plug it in and let it copy everything to the usb attached (which is what I do).

It’s slick.  It’s portable.  It’s a no-brainer.  Take it from someone who’s lost everything and lived to tell about it:  BACKUP YOUR FILES.

http://www.clickfree.com/products_transformer.php#

On sale at OfficeMax for $39.95.  Also need a usb, which run between $7 and $20 depending on size.

Liquid Story Binder:

I’ve always found the theory of writing software intriguing, but never found one that worked with my eclectic brain.  I’m not a plotter, I’m not a panster.  I’m somewhere in between.  I’m also very visual, as I believe most writers are.  I sometimes make storyboards for my manuscripts to get a better overall feel for my characters, setting and theme.  I’m also very auditory.  Music lyrics, style and feel play a big part in helping me get into the mood of my story.  And I’m not linear in any way, shape or form.  Therefore, I couldn’t get with the structure of any of the software I’d tried; they were all too rigid and none that I had seen incorporated everything I needed/wanted. Then I was directed by another writing friend to Liquid Story Binder. 

Liquid Story Binder allows me to have multiple windows open at one time (they float and resize) which enables me to see multiple chapters at once and/or chapters with photos of my setting or my characters right there with a customized soundtrack for that novel playing in the background as I write.  And it’s all portable, in one compact little powerful package.  Talk about writing atmosphere…doesn’t get much better, at least not for me. 

Simply put: it’s amazing.  I loved it so much, I bought a second copy for my CP, sure she’d thrive on it.  I’m not sure she’s completely embraced it yet.  I will admit: there is a bit of a learning curve with this software.  It’s not particularly intuitive right off the bat.  But there is a lot of online help in the form of tutorials that are great.  And the powerful applications of this software kept me motivated to get it figured out.  While I’m not utilizing anywhere near the possibilities of this software, even the few items I am using has amped my overall enjoyment of the writing process. 

No, it’s not perfect.  As I said, there is a learning curve, but I believe the learning process has been time well spent.  There are a couple of things I would change from what I’ve seen so far.  But, far and away, the benefits outweigh the downfalls.

Yes, I believe it’s helped me stay in closer touch with my characters and storylines, and thus, made me both more productive and more efficient.

Here are some of its features.  I’ve starred *** the ones that made me fall in love:

Dossiers
Create Dossiers for major characters and settings.

Timelines
Plot your novel by organizing cards along colored timelines.

Storyboards
Combine images and text to create a visual reference board.

*** Journals
Create a writing journal, or even fictional journals for each one of your characters.

Outlines
Create a collapsible tree of plot ideas.

Mindmaps
Link ideas together using lines and text.

*** Image Galleries
Organize your reference images into galleries.

Builders
Organize complex scenes using titles, descriptions, and color indexing.

Position Memory
Liquid Story Binder XE remembers just where you left off.

Manuscript Building
Combine multiple chapters into a single manuscript automatically.

Printing
Preserve your font and paragraph editing with Format Printing.

*** Workspaces
Preserve your favorite window layouts for quick access.

*** Project Goals
Words per day, words left to write, days remaining, multi-document word counts.

Color Schemes
Create the perfect writing environment with your favorite window colors.

*** Recordings
Record yourself reading your own novel. Test for pacing and time.

File Listings
Organize all your files into easy-access file trees.

Backups
Every Chapter has its own backup repository. Never lose a single word with automatic version and session backups. Compress your whole archive into a single ZIP file.

Shortcuts
Quickly access your favorite external software and documents.

*** Statistics
Times, Word Counts, Goals, Sessions, Versions, Days.

Reader
Read over your work in a easy to view columned window, free of editing distractions.

*** Music Playlists
Add your MP3s and sort them into playlists. Set the mood for writing.

External Editing
Open your work outside of Liquid Story Binder.

http://www.blackobelisksoftware.com/

30 day free trial.  $49.95 listed on the site.  I purchased mine during a ½ off fall sale.  You might want to email them and ask if there will be another sale coming up.

Do you use any writing gadgets?  How do you amp your productivity and/or efficiency?

The moving story got me thinking about true love, love of your life, fate, destiny, soulmates, etc. Some people use the terms interchangeably, but I believe that finding your soulmate does not guarantee true love, just as I believe that you can find true love in someone who isn’t necessarily your soulmate.

But when it comes to my fiction: soulmates undeniably exist, my h/h always find the loves-of-their-lives and get their HEA. Every time.

In real life I have a rather moderate perception of the concept of soulmates. I don’t think any one definition would suffice because it is such a personal viewpoint. So here’s my take on the topic.

The explanation that best defines my personal view of soulmates is that of the Twin Flame. This is the most popular type of soulmate. There is usually one twin flame soulmate for each of us. Twin flame soulmates have spent multiple lifetimes together in past lives. There is incredible chemistry and attraction towards each other. They complete each other and only a few lucky people are able to find their twin flame soulmate. If separated, twin flame soulmates suffer enormous pain.

There was one man in my life a very long time ago who I believe was my soulmate. I swore we’d known each other before. We connected on a deep, almost visceral level. We could complete each others sentences, almost read each others thoughts. Of course with that type emotional attachment, the physical attraction is a given. I’ve never had such instant or amazing chemistry with anyone. Unfortunately, as I believe is common with soulmates, circumstances precluded us being together and the relationship ended with significant heartache for both of us.

Subsequently, I met the man who is now my husband. We’ve been married 20 years, have two fantastic daughters and a beautiful life together. We love each other more now than the day we married and I consider him my own personal hero. I have, in fact, found my true love in my husband. And I’d never give him up for anything.  Not even for my soulmate if he were to walk back into my life someday.

Looking back, I realize that my soulmate and I weren’t able to sustain true love.  I don’t believe we were meant to be together forever–at least not in this lifetime.  And it makes me think of that song by Garth Brooks, Thank God for Unanswered Prayers.

I count myself fortunate to have experienced my soulmate and my true love all in one lifetime.

I’d love to hear your views on soulmates, true love, etc. Do you believe? Did you find yours? Are you still with yours? If you’re a writer how do you (or do you not) portray that concept in your novels?  If you’re a reader, are there authors you feel do a particularly good job of this?  From a readers perspective, how do you feel about the concept of soulmates in the fiction you read?

Being busy is a blessing (especially in this economy) but it’s created logistical problems for me. My husband works from home and we have three young kids. The one office we have (hubby’s) is off our bonus room and gets loud when the kids are home. And the more I write and promo and release, the more space I need for…stuff.

We’re getting cramped in our suburban home, so we’ve started house shopping and though we haven’t been totally serious yet, we’re getting there (me, probably faster than anyone else). Friday, after a “scouting trip”, the DH and I found a house that looked like it was abandoned, and I called my realtor to ask her what she knew about it.

Now let me preface this by saying the house sits in a gorgeous neighborhood filled with million dollar homes. 2.6 acres, on a hill, phenomenal view of the valley below. It’s really paradise. The realtor told us the house was in foreclosure and that it’s currently bank owned, but not on the market yet. That piqued our interest because this type of home would normally be out of our price range, but in today’s economy, there are some AWESOME real estate deals out there if you can find them. So yesterday we stopped and peeked in the windows.

OMG, my jaw hit the floor when I looked in the house. The entire inside is gutted. As in, drywall missing, floor GONE, cabinets ripped off the walls. Wiring is exposed, the kitchen is demolished, subflooring is all you can see. My first reaction was, Holy crap. What the hell happened here? It literally looked like a bomb went off inside. Then my writer’s mind kicked into gear.

I envisioned an angry home owner, in the clutches of foreclosure. This was his dream home. He tried to salvage it but couldn’t. In a violent rage, he slashed up walls, demolished the kitchen, shattered the expensive tile work so that the bank – those greedy misers – couldn’t have it. Corporate America might be able to steal his home, but not his dream and he’ll take down anyone who tries to get near it.

Now enter a young couple. The guy grew up around construction (lucky, huh?). He takes one look at the place and says, “This is all cosmetic. I can totally fix that. This house is a steal.” They buy it. Start working. Move in. Think they’ve found heaven. Little do they know, the vengeful previous owner is hiding in the shadows. Watching. Waiting. Planning his ultimate revenge…

Yeah. This is where I think I scared myself out of buying this house. On the drive home the hubby said to me (full of excitement), “Are you thinking about the house?” My glassy-eyed response? “Um. Yeah. Sorta.”

People ask writers all the time where they get their ideas. For me, ideas come from the tiniest sparks, like this. Would I write this book? I don’t know. I’d probably have to kill off the husband, throw in a hot neighbor hero (hey, I write romance after all), get rid of the kids (‘cause you know, they get in the way of all that romance) and figure out a villain motivation more exciting than revenge. (Ooh…some kind of buried treasure? A missing relic? The secret formula for the cure of cancer? Ideas are popping…) I’d then have to figure out a way to put the whole thing in my genre brand – either romantic adventure or paranormal – and that would be hard, but not impossible. So, as far as writing goes, I’ll never say never. But the possibilities? Yeah, those are totally exciting. And they’re what I love most about my chosen profession.

I have no idea what will happen with the house. I do want to get inside and take a look. My writer brain just isn’t going to stop until I see it for myself. And as I can hear my almost-five year old screaming from the other room right now, I definitely DO need a quieter place to work. A lot will depend on what we learn from the bank this week, but one thing’s for certain…at least I’ve got a new idea out of this whole process if nothing else.

How about you? Where do you get your ideas? I’d love to know what spark ignited the book you’re working on now and if your original vision is anything like what it’s turned out to be.

In honor of the release of my current romantic suspense – STOLEN SEDUCTION – I’ve got a copy of book 1 in the trilogy – STOLEN FURY – to give away to a lucky commenter today. Just answer the question above. And if you want to learn more about me and my books, visit me on the web at www.elisabethnaughton.com.