FINDING YOUR SPECIAL DREAM PLACE
I am so excited to be writing my very first blog as a newly-published author. Thank you so much to Raine and to all of you for joining me here today!
What makes me crave the thrill of writing erotic fiction? It’s not about the sex, really – it’s about finding that special place where dream-like pictures can spark a storyline or a character dynamic and thereby spur the creative process.
Picture if you will the opening scene of my latest Phaze romantic suspense release, HUNTED WITNESS. In a darkened room, a young woman is focusing her striking blue eyes on the heavy gold watch of a professional hypnotist. As the watch swings to and fro, her awareness dims, and she is cast back to chilling images of a gruesome crime. What did she see? Will she remember? Are the frightening pictures in her head real memories or merely imagination?
A muscular man with craggy features and battered good looks watches with great impatience as the pale, haunted young woman surrenders to oblivion. Obviously a skeptic, he studies the sleeping woman’s slender form with both hunger and recognition. Clearly he has a connection to her past – but why is he here today? Will he protect her, or will he refuse to believe in the power of her memories until it’s too late?
When I first started this story, all I had to go on was the image of the pale beauty being hypnotized, and the rugged male skeptic watching impatiently from the back of the room. Then came the names of my hero and heroine – Adam Black and Jasmine DuMont. A little research gave me a secluded setting, the small and sparsely settled Florida Keys . Adding secondary characters, a criminal conspiracy, a ton of breath-taking sexual fantasies and just a little touch of humor, made the story complete.
Everyone knows it’s important to study the market place, read best-selling authors, and pay attention to style guidelines wherever you choose to submit your work. But don’t forget that your best writing will always begin with images that seem romantic and intriguing to you. Find your special dream place, and let it spark your imagination!
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3 Responses to “Guest Author Day with Carol Storm”
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Hi Carol and congrats. on the first release. I hope you get many sales and wonderful reviews.
Thanks for coming by. What got you interestedin writing romantic suspense?
Raine D.
Hi Raine!
Thanks so much for having me — love your website!
When I was very young my mother’s preferred reading material was Ellery Queen mysteries and Alfred Hitchock anthologies — remember the ones he did with all the over-the-top cheesy titles, like STORIES TO MAKE YOU SCREAM THE NIGHT AWAY? Somehow it seemed the ones I liked best combined a haunted heroine with a rugged, protecting hero, but it took years to discover that romance novels were actually just as well written and delivered the happy ending EVERY time. And the rest is history!
Hello Carol,
Congratulations on your first release. You got my interest with that teaser!