Thanks so much to the Ruby Slippered Sisters for having me here today! For those of you who don’t know me, I write romantic adventure and paranormal novels and was a 2007 GH finalist in RS. My GH finaling manuscript – STOLEN FURY - went on to sell in 2008 and was released just a year ago in January 2009. Since then I’ve had three books release and have two more scheduled later this year.

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.