Real life is stranger than fiction. This statement is generally true, and Iβm
glad, because a lot of my story ideas are sparked by headlines/posts/comments I
see on social media. I have a document pinned to my desktop, and its sole
purpose is to collect the random things I see and thoughts I have that could one
day blossom into stories. Iβm inspired by stuff my friends post on Facebook,
like: βEntire Family Lives in a Giant Tree Houseβ or headlines on Yahoo! like:
βWhat Would You Never, Ever Do Again, Even for a Million Dollars?β
The tree house oneβ¦okay, I have to admit that premise would be a stretch for a
contemporary romance novel, even though I write humor. But the second one? I
think the million dollars challenge would make a great romance novel, because I
can put a hero or heroine in that scenario and ask what if?
I saw this article the other day about an app called Tinder. Apparently, itβs
for singles who want to meet people while traveling. Sightseeing, dinnerβ¦.fill
in the blank. It could be completely innocent, or not, depending on the
traveler. Judging by the comments at the end of the article, most people thought
it was a horrible, dangerous idea and/or just an excuse to hook up with a
stranger. Howeverβ¦given the right angle, it would make a great romance novel!
Iβm not saying Iβm going to use the tree house, a million bucks, or Tinder as
isβand maybe not at all. But when two or three great headlines + imagination
come together, a romance novel can be born. For my latest release,
PERMANENT INK, my heroine
Blair is trying to win a state-wide parade Fourth of July parade contest so she
can make a name for herself as an event planner and propel herself out of tiny,
weird Celebration, NY. When she meets sexy Ben, whoβs hosting a tattoo festival
the same day as her parade, all bets are off the table. Part of what inspired me
to write about a parade is, of course, the name of the town where the novel is
set. The other part was an article I read about confetti at the Macyβs Day
Thanksgiving Parade. Some of the confetti (not official Macyβs confetti) was
made up of shredded police reports and other confidential information. Oops.
There isnβt much confetti in Celebrationβs parade, but thereβs a lot of crazy
stuff going on behind the scenes.
How about you? What do you think would be a great romance novel? And Iβm SO
curious to knowβ¦what would you never, ever do again, even for a million dollars?
© 2003-2026