Where Do You Get Inspiration For Your Stories? #WriterWednesday

One of the most common questions writers get asked is where we get inspiration for our books. First of all, writers, and all creatives really, have vivid imaginations. It doesn't always take much to inspire us to create. Sometimes a word or a picture can spark an idea that takes on a life of its own.

 

For example, a fellow writer shared a picture with me the other day and almost immediately a scene between two of my characters began forming in my head. Whether or not the scene will make it into a book is yet to be seen, but a simple picture prompted the question of what happens next.

 

The second novel in my Serpent's Kiss series, Longing for His Kiss, was inspired by a song. I was driving to a book conference, stuck in my car for hours, listening to the radio. A country song from Tim McGraw came on about a soldier who'd written a letter to his family. By the end of the son, not only did I have tears streaming down my face, but I also had the idea for a story. 

 

My Finding Anna series was inspired by a news story about a young woman who was rescued from sexual slavery. As I listened to the story, my first thought was that when the woman was ready for a relationship that it would take a lot of trust and communication after what she'd been through. At the time, I was reading a lot of BDSM fan fiction and the main requirement in a healthy BDSM relationship is trust and communication. That's all it took for my creativity to take off and Finding Anna was born.

 

Inspiration really can come from anywhere. It can come from pictures, songs, experiences, or a host of other things. Some of the best ideas come from the most unlikely places.

 

What inspires you?

Something A Little Outside The Box - Review of The First 100 Kisses

I decided to try a new to me author this past week, and I'm glad I did. If you're looking for a romance that's a little outside the norm, then The First 100 Kisses is for you.

 

This isn't your classic 'friends to lovers' romance. Liam is shy, socially awkward, and a total sweetheart. Chloe has a lot more experience when it comes to men, but that's not always a good thing. Sure, she's savy in physcial aspects of relationships, but it's that emotional connection that trips her up.

 

The book grabs your attention right from the gate when Liam asks his much more experienced best friend to help him get ready for a date. We're not talking picking out suits here. We're talking...you guessed it...kissing.

 

Well...it ends up being a little more than kissing.

 

Chloe and Liam's story is sweet with a dose of spice thrown in here and there. By the end of the story, I didn't want it to end. And lucky for me, it won't. The sequel, The Second 100 Kisses, comes out later this month.

 

If you're looking for something that is not your typical cookie cutter romance, check out The First 100 Kisses by Danielle Bannister. 

 

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

 

An Enemies To Lovers Romance Review

 I'm not generally a huge fan of the enemies to lovers trope. I know some readers love it, but it's never been one of my go to things to pick up. Usually when I end up reading an enemies to lovers romance it's because it was written by one of my one click authors and I didn't bother reading the blurb before downloading it.

 

That was the case with Filthy Rich Revenge by Lynn Raye Harris. 

 

I will read pretty much anything by this author. She writes this amazing military romance series, and if you haven't checked it out you need to.

 

Despite my lack of love for the enemies to loves trope, I found myself liking both Rebecca and Alejandro. There were times I got frustrated with them both, but I also understood where their take on the situation was coming from.

 

This is the first book in a series, but it can be read as a standalone, and if you like the enemies to lovers trope, you need to add this one to your reading.

 

 ~

He’s rich and ruthless - and he wants to destroy her. But first he will possess her.

Hotel heiress Rebecca Layton loved Alejandro de Ramirez once. He betrayed her and broke her heart when he married another. Now he’s back, in control of her hotels - and her destiny.

Alejandro claims that Rebecca nearly ruined him, that he’s the one wronged. He wants his revenge. And this time he will settle for nothing less than her soul…

 Amazon

Not The Pampered Princess - An Excerpt From Strictly Professional

Looking at her sitting across from him at her father’s desk, Matthew wondered if his brother would have the same opinion upon meeting her. Cali did have that air about her that said she came from money, but there was also something else. An edge that he couldn’t quite explain. He’d done his research on her and knew she was twenty-eight and had been working as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders for the last two years. And while he knew working outside the US had its challenges, he couldn’t imagine what she would have seen for him to be getting such a vibe from her. But Matthew had learned long ago to trust his instincts and something told him that she wasn’t a pampered princess as his brother had suggested.

 

Haven't read Matthew and Cali's story? 

 

Click on one of the retailer links below to grab your copy! 

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo | GooglePlay

My Review of Out Of Bounds by Kris Pearson

 

I downloaded this book because I've read several of this author's books before. All her books are set in New Zealand and I have a soft spot for Kiwi authors.

 

The cover of this book had me intrigued. It's not exactly your typical contemporary romance cover. But as it turned out, that's because it's not your typical contemporary romance book.

 

The heroine in Out of Bounds by Kris Pearson reminded me of Brianna from my Finding Anna series. She's been through a horrible trauma and is fearful of men and sex. Jetta's emotions and reactions could change on a dime, just like Brianna's.

 

I loved the interaction between Jetta and Anton. He was tender while pushing her boundaries.

 

There were a lot of differences between Jetta and Brianna, of course. Jetta's trauma occurred when she was little and she'd been trying to work through it for years, whereas at the start of Slave Brianna's is fresh. She's had no time to find her footing after what she'd been through.

 

The first sex scene between Jetta and Anton had a lot of similarities to Brianna and Stephan's first time as well. And considering I loved Brianna and Stephan's first time together, I couldn't get enough of the interaction between Jetta and Anton.

 

Needless to say, if you haven't already figured it out, I loved this book. It started off a little slow, but it more than made up for it once it got going. Hmm. Another similarity to my Finding Anna series. 

 

If you've read Out of Bounds, I'd love to hear what you thought of it in the comments.

 

Amazon

What's Next On My TBR List? #FridayReads

I decided to try something new this week and let my reader group pick the next book I would read from my TBR list. If you want to weigh in on what I'll read next, make sure you're part of the Sherri Hayes Book Club over on Facebook. 

 

This week, my book club group chose Out of Bounds by Kris Pearson for me to read. I have to say the cover has me thinking this is going to be an emotional read.

 

Jetta Rivers has inherited half a house. Big problem: she has to share it with co-owner Anton Haviland, and her past has left her terrified of men.

Gorgeous Anton is a confident sexy architect, and he might be exactly who Jetta needs to put her crippling fear to rest.
But can she allow him near enough? And would he even want to try?

A midnight disaster leaves her no option when he drags her off to the only bed left in the now-damaged house.
She’s appalled to find how much she craves the man who plans to smash her inheritance to pieces.
Anton is equally shocked when his sharp-tempered housemate attempts to seduce him.

 

Have you read it?

 Amazon

My Favorite Season

Do you have a favorite season?

 

For me, it's spring. Maybe it's because we're just coming out of winter and I'm happy to be rid of the cold, but there's something about spring that always makes me happy. There's almost this giddy feeling inside when you wake up, knowing it's not going to be cold and dreary out.

 

One of the best things about spring is that everything is coming alive again. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and it isn't dark before dinner's on the table. I love seeing the grass go from brown to green and all the different colors of flowers popping up to say hello after a long winter.

 

Today I was able to go outside in short sleeves without a jacket. It was great! I'm looking forward to long walks and sitting under a tree with my laptop, just enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of nature. It's great inspiration.