Stephanie Bond | Writing a Letter to Yourself

In this day of faxes, e-mails, instant messages, and texting, what a treat it is to receive an old-fashioned hand-written letter! The pleasure of unfolding crisp pages of stationery..ahhh. But what if you received a letter one day, and it was a letter you'd written to yourself ten years ago!

My husband had a high school instructor who asked his students to write a letter to themselves about the things they wanted out of life and where they thought they would be in ten years. Then he sealed the envelopes and ten years later, sent them to the last address of record the school had for each student. My husband's parents forwarded his letter on to him and I remembered how amazed and thrilled he was when he realized what he was reading. It was like a time capsule into his teenage mind, and he must have reread it a dozen times. It was a time of self-evaluation for my husband, comparing where he thought he'd be with where he was. As it turned out, my husband's achievements had surpassed what he'd thought himself capable of
only ten years earlier, and he said that revelation alone reinforced the idea of never underestimating what he could do.

I loved the idea of writing a letter to yourself, and used it as the premise for my Harlequin Blaze Sex for Beginners trilogy: The women at an all-girls college who took Dr. Michelle Alexander's Sexual Psyche class (fondly dubbed "Sex for Beginners" by students) were given the optional assignment of writing a letter of their sexual fantasies and sealing them, with the promise that the letters would be mailed to them in 10 years. Now 10 years later, the women are at pivotal points in their lives. When they each receive their fantasies letter, it takes them on a sensual path they never imagined!

The idea is that the women were 22 when they recorded their fantasies. When they receive their letter, they are in their early 30's and at a sexual peak-it's the perfect time to relive the things about sex they were curious about, what things turned them on, and what they were hoping for in a partner. Their letters help them reevaluate where they are in their lives in general-have they settled? And if so, can they redirect their destiny?

Do you remember what you were doing and thinking ten years ago? How much do you think you'll change in the next ten years? Writing a letter to yourself is an enlightening exercise for taking stock of your relationships, achievements, and hopes, and would be a great project for family or best friends, book club members, school mates, etc. (And hey, if you want to
record your sexual fantasies, no one's stopping you!) Have fun with it-happy writing.and reading!

About the author: Stephanie Bond is the author of over 40 humorous romance and mystery novels, including the BODY MOVERS sexy mystery series and the Harlequin Blaze Sex for Beginners trilogy: WATCH AND LEARN (Oct 2008), IN A BIND (Nov 2008), and NO PEEKING. (December 2008). Learn more about Stephanie and her books at www.stephaniebond.com/.

Stephanie Bond

Samantha Hunter | Television is Good For You – At Least, it’s Been Good for Me

We find our inspiration in different places. Some of us sit on sidewalks and people watch, some listen to music, some do writing exercises and talk with friends. I think I’ve done all three from time to time, and one of the most fruitful sources of creative inspiration for me is television. It was one of my favorite things as a kid, and it still is.

I’m always amazed at the current idea that letting kids watch TV is bad for them. I grew up pretty much physically connected to the TV – my parents didn’t hover over me every moment of every day attending to my every need because they were working, and working hard. It was good – it was how I learned to be independent and develop my own work ethic. It never stopped me from reading, from achieving academically, and it remains a huge source of inspiration for me, as well as relaxation.

Movies and TV shows (though mainly TV – I rarely find movies I enjoy any more) are fertilizer for my imagination. The only thing better is travel, but I can’t do that as often as I’d like.

I can actually feel something creative in my mind being stroked when I hear a certain line from a favorite movie or watch a favorite character, and I think my love affair with the TV screen has always influenced my use of dialogue as a writer. Every time I come across a particularly twisty Buffy phrasing or listen to how Brenda Lee Johnson’s character in The Closer is created by how she talks, (“Thank you, thank you very much,” in those sugary sweet southern tones). It reminds me how powerful finely-crafted dialogue can be, and this can kick in my urge to write more than just about anything.

I nearly died during the writer’s strike this past year, but it pushed me to watch some shows that I might not have discovered otherwise, most notably Veronica Mars, which was timely as I have been working on my first mystery novel. I watched every detective show the 70s and 80s had to offer (and also read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden), so Veronica Mars really reminded me how much I love mystery. Monk is a show I have watched for years that does the same. These characters can’t help but inspire.

I just started catching up on Burn Notice so I can catch the new season (thank you, TiVo, you have changed my life…), and I’ve had a bit of a dry spell for new ideas lately, and a day after watching several Burn Notice epis back to back, I popped out a new 10 page synopsis in 2 hours. Doesn’t matter if it sells, that would be nice, but the important part is the ideas spun off… My idea had nothing to do directly with that show, but something about it just triggered the idea factory in my brain.

So, do you have favorite TV shows? Do you think TV rots your brain, or is a great source of creative inspiration? Chat, and I’ll pick a winner to receive a signed copy of my summer Blaze anthology, What I Did on My Summer Vacation.

Tawny Weber | What If and Why?

What if and why are two of my favorite things to ask. I'm notorious for asking them in writing and in life. (I think I ask often enough I drive my husband a little nuts, to be honest). I've what if'd everything from the idea that we are really all just microscopic beings on the thumbnail of a giant (hey, I was twelve) to the slightly-obsessive emergency kit I packed for the drive through a snowstorm for a family emergency (hey, I'm a California girl... how was I supposed to know those flutters weren't a storm? and we MIGHT have needed those empty tuna cans and tealight candles for heat... really, we might have). And I ask why more than an eight year old. Just ask my eight year old, she'll tell you!

A psychologist might refer to it as catastrophic thinking (taking what if to its highest degree of drama) but for a writer, it's mighty handy. After all, the question of “what's the worst thing that could happen” is what provides me with plot and conflict. Better yet, what if is what keeps the reader turning the pages. When I read a book, I'm always wondering, always asking -what's next? Why? When I'm writing, I love to think what if, and use that to keep tossing conflict and issues at my poor characters for them to figure out. Why is always in the back of my head. Why do they do this, why don't they do that?

This what if process can apply to any type of story, from paranormal to historical to suspense. My stories are pure fun... of the sexy kind. But that what if angle is always there. For instance - in my May 2007 Blaze debut I asked myself what would happen if a cop went undercover for the first time and was totally out of his element. Why would he be so uncomfortable? And what if, at the same time, a bad girl was dared to prove she was still just as bad as always. Why does she care what her friends think? What if she ended up with the wrong guy? Tada... DOUBLE DARE was born. I kept asking why, pushing the what if's and why's, playing with the idea, but that core question was the premise of my first sale and the heart of Audra and Jesse's story.

For my upcoming January release, DOES SHE DARE? I asked what would push a gal with major goal setting tendencies to create the ultimate Man Plan. Not only was it fun to ask the what if's for this story, it was even more fun to keep adding to them. What if this goal-setting gal wrote a Man Plan? Why did she think she needed a plan to hot up her sex life? What if the hottest dream guy she could imagine showed up on her doorstep? What if he got his hands on her plan? What if he was the one guy who could ruin everything she'd worked for... would she risk it? Why? (See how that works?)

What if and why -they are my favorite writing questions. How about you... do you ever ask what if? Do you make up stories to go with the question? When you're reading, do you ever ask yourself why on earth the character is doing THAT???

I know I do...

http://blog.tawnyweber.com/main
http://www.myspace.com/tawnyweber

Lori Wilde | A New Series, Martini Dares

I have a book coming out in September, called My Secret Life from Harlequin Blaze. But it’s not just any book. It’s the first book in a series I’m with my writers pals, Carrie Alexander, Isabel Sharpe and Jamie Denton.

This series is particularly special because about the time we conceived of the idea, Jamie was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. We’d sent the project to our editors, but because Jamie was going through chemotherapy, we all decided it was better to back burner the project. Jamie gracefully volunteered to back out and let someone else take her place, but we wanted Jamie and we wanted her to know we believed in her recovery.

I’m happy to report Jamie came through chemotherapy with flying colors and we went on to write the stories. Her bravery, optimism and all around darn good storytelling abilities make this a fabulous success story.

So to give you a sneak peak into the Martini Dares, here’s the series proposal we sent to the editors.

SERIES SET-UP
The Premise

Desperate Housewives meets Sex in the City in this series featuring four desperate career women, four dark secrets, four steamy dares and four very sexy men.

THE BACK STORY

Once upon a time, in a stately brick house on Hawthorn Lane, in an affluent suburb of Boston, resided the three Winfield sisters, who lived a fairytale life with their homemaker mother and strict Naval Commander father. Brooke, Joey and Katie were schooled in the proper rules of conduct set by their father’s traditional Brahmin family. Even after their father passed away, the sisters never questioned the status quo. That is until their mother’s deathbed confession dropped a bomb on their perfect little world.

A MYSTERIOUS INVITATION

The sisters receive an intriguing invitation to join Martinis and Bikinis, a club that encourages female empowerment through raucous good times and sexy dares. As part of the program, members draw slips of paper that make up a challenge they must complete (such as wearing a bikini to the beach or dancing on the bar). Mysteriously, the Winfield sisters’ supposedly “random” dares pinpoint their most intimate fears.

DEATHBED CONFESSION

Each book begins in Desperate Housewives fashion with a brief prologue from the deceased mother’s point-of-view, as she narrates the situation each daughter finds herself in. Her words of wisdom prove her deep love and understanding of her children.

To my daughters:

I always did what I believed was best for each of you. Maybe this will be difficult to understand now that my many secrets have been discovered. After the shock has lessened, you must find a way to understand and go on as the loving sisters you are and the happy, fulfilled women I know you can become.

Darling Katie, you are the youthful me. Accept yourself, overcome your impetuous mistakes, and love will be yours.

Sweet Brooke, my quiet child. Step out of place and learn to be brave and bold. Be your own shining star.

Dearest Joey, always living by the rules like your father. Risking your heart will lead to your greatest success.

My own Lindsay, daughter of darkness and secrets. Come out of hiding and believe that you are well and truly loved.

Love, Mother

If you want to have some fun, read the books and then compare them to the series outline and see how far we strayed or stayed true to our original vision.

I hope you enjoy the Martini Dares. It was truly a labor of love.

Lori Wilde
2008 RWA Conference Workshop Chair
MY SECRET LIFE Sept 2007 Blaze
http://www.loriwilde.com/
http://myspace.com/loriwilde
Instructor: http://www.ed2go.com/

Kelley St. John | Cajun Cousins not to be Missed

I’m so excited to be guest blogging on Fresh Fiction today! Thanks so much for having me! I’m Kelley St. John, and I write sexy, sassy contemporaries for Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner) and Harlequin Blaze. This year, I’ve begun The Sexth Sense, my Harlequin Blaze series about six Cajun cousins who happen to have an interesting family legacy – helping ghosts find their way to the other side. All of the current Vicknair mediums are in their twenties, at the peak of their lives, and to-die-for sexy. Oh, but don’t think that the sizzle stops with the family; those ghosts have plenty of heat going on as well. I’m having a ball writing about the Vicknair family and am thrilled that Harlequin has also purchased the next three books in the series to come out in 2008.

Here is the book trailer/teaser for the series, if you want to check it out:

See this video at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Oh, and if you like the Louisiana plantation setting, be sure to register for the Louisiana plantation vacation giveaway at my website. I can’t wait to give one reader a trip to the gorgeous Oak Alley Plantation in the heart of Cajun country.

After the ghost stories hit the shelves, my fourth book this year comes out in November from Grand Central (Warner). TO CATCH A CHEAT is about a woman who has a pattern for dating the “terminally unfaithful” and starts a website to oust cheaters. Trouble is, one cheater fights back, creating an opposing website for ousting women who lie. The websites in the book, www.theguycheats.com and www.thegirllies.com are actual up and running. Check them out to find out more about their web battle and to register for a $500 spa getaway.

Let me know what you think about ghosts, cheaters, or hey, anything else you want to chat about. And when the day is done, one commenter will receive autographed copies of REAL WOMEN DON’T WEAR SIZE 2, KISS AND DWELL and GHOSTS AND ROSES.

Happy Reading…and Blogging!

Kelley St. John
www.kelleystjohn.com