You are being seduced. Did that get your attention? Well, I hope so!
Writing (and reading) a book is, in my opinion, a seduction. First of all, the writer has to really, really want to write (her) book. Do you see where I'm heading here? She has to see it from across a crowded room, and something gets her attention. Maybe it's a flash of a smile or a twist of the book's broad shoulders or the way his hair falls at the nape of his neck. But something gets the writer-girl's attention and she's drawn to it. She has no choice. She has to see his face, to hear his voice, to be able to touch him. She has to meet him!
She has to lust for her book at first, then love it, and ultimately, she has to want to spend all of her time with it–night and day–until The End is successfully reached.
It all starts with an idea, a spark, or in my case–an irresistible male character. Uh-huh. A hot guy pops into my head and he won't leave. He moves in. Even better? Another male character stakes his claim somewhere else in my brain. So now two men are vying for my attention. What fun!
For my current work-in-progress, one of these men is clad in his tightly-tailored Regency day coat, cravat, breeches and boots. He's clean-shaven with squared-off sideburns. He brings his leather-bound books, his quill and ink, his wooden trunks of other luscious riding-wear-inspired clothes and he really distracts me with his haughty yet gentlemanly ways.
He might very well look something like this, only better, of course:
Which is why I find it difficult to concentrate on freelance work, the dishes, laundry, chauffeuring kids around, paying bills, oh, and taxes.
I want to spend more time with him, to get to know him. Well, wouldn't you?
Then, this other guy? Well, I don't want to describe his attire (yet) because it will give away too much of my work-in-progress, but let's just say he's smokin' hot, witty, funny, relentlessly teasing and yet… a guy you can rely on. Yes, ladies, he will be there for you, through thick and thin, with his sense of humor and his good looks. For some reason, he showed up in my brain looking very much like Johnny Depp. What do you think about that?!
So, daily life with both of these men clamoring around in my head isn't easy, especially once my heroine appears and she starts interacting with them. Pretty soon they have me writing down their goings-on. And, now that I'm on page 100 or so, the entire cast of characters has me under their spell. They've made it so attractive, so interesting, and so alluring to be with them that now I feel compelled to write this book.
I've been very much in lust with this new book of mine!
I find myself thinking about it before I drift off to sleep at night, and, it's the first thing I think of in the morning when I wake up. And, that, my friends, is when you know that lust is turning into love. When you consistently think of something (or someone!) right before falling asleep at night and just as your radio alarm goes off in the morning, you know you're hooked. And resolution must be had.
This is why I love having a new book in my life!
I'm lucky enough at this point to have two works-in-progress going, but one of them is taking a backseat while I work feverishly on this Regency-esque book. This brings me to my proposal to you…
My Proposal to You…
So this is the part where I get down on one knee and ask for your hand in helping with this new book. Without telling you exactly what this book is about, would you like to help me write it?!
If you have had a particularly touching, funny, romantic, dramatic, terrible, or otherwise memorable moment at a Jane Austen Society of North America event or AGM or any other Regency-inspired reenactment such as a ball, or perhaps even something that happened while visiting England or a Jane Austen tourist sight, I would love to know about it! And I will acknowledge you in my book even if I just use a bit of your *moment*! Thank you in advance!
I look forward to hearing from you, and in the meantime, enjoy being seduced by those alluring things called books!
