Aven Ellis | A Little Thing Called CONNECTIVITY

It's funny how one little thing you see can create a character. For my hero, William Cumberland in CONNECTIVITY, his beginnings sprang from watching my very first episode of Sherlock on PBS.

When Benedict Cumberbatch, the actor who portrays Sherlock Holmes, first appeared on the screen I was fascinated with his hair. It was wild and wavy and simply gorgeous. And in that moment--taking a six year break from writing--I saw William, a British hero, with dark wavy hair.

My brain began working quickly, fully sketching him in my head. I wanted him to be powerful--a man in control of his social media empire and his emotions. But William wasn't destined to be the typical tortured billionaire--he is a good man, who just chooses to focus on his work to protect his heart. By the next day, I knew how he spoke, what made him tick, the cologne he wore, and the Prada shirts in his wardrobe.

Now I needed the woman who could break through not only William's walls, but her own defenses regarding love. I knew she would be the fire to William's ice. She would be strong, passionate about things she cared about, and just starting out in her career. I knew she would have red hair, and like William, put her career plans way ahead of love. Little did this heroine know that love wouldn't interfere with her plans as she initially feared, but rather make her blossom into areas she never thought possible.

But I didn't have her name. I thought. I scribbled. I slashed through lists of names because nothing was right for this spirited woman from Chicago.

Finally, one night I was flipping channels and stopped on Full House. Suddenly I had it! Mary-Kate. Or MK, as she preferred to be called as she didn't want anyone to know her mother named her after an Olsen twin. And once I had her, CONNECTIVITY was born.

I wrote the manuscript in six months, and it was purchased by Soul Mate Publishing last spring. And I still can't believe it is now a published book. So watching some TV turned out to be just what I needed to create a little thing called CONNECTIVITY.   

Connect with Aven

Facebook | Twitter @AvenEllis | website | Pinterest