Character Inspiration…

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.
- Herman Melville

The inspiration for my characters in “Perfect Planning,” is not so much a person, but an event. A moment in time that changes the lives of everyone involved. When this moment happens, what do the participants do? How will this moment change them? Will they rise to the occasion or will they falter?

I wanted to see what could happen to all those involved and how they would deal with it. I needed to show how some would react to a change that is both monumental and every day in it’s simplicity. I also wanted to show the dark side of being unbendable, of not acknowledging that sometimes what you think, your beliefs, are wrong and if you don’t change, you run the risk of being left behind. I do touch on racism in this story, as it often comes up in interracial relationships. As much as we want to deny it, it happens and it hurts all those involved. I do put in a twist to this story, because racism is not always black and white, there are layers and hidden feelings that have to be explored and I needed this story to show it.

Perhaps, on a deeper level, this story does reflect some of my history in interracial dating and relationships. I can’t that I being some of the feelings and experiences to this story, but a true writer always does.

 

My writing drug of choice is…

Research…who’d have thunk it?

First, let me say that I LOVE research. Digging and hunting and finding that little nugget of information is just…exhilarating. I love it and can often spend hours just looking and reading. Which can lead to problems. I get easily distracted and this can be an issue if I have a deadline. One thing leads to another and I’m off on another track, completely somewhere else. I often have to tell myself to stop and get back on track.

So, how do I do my research? What magic do I perform that pulls all my little details together? I start with what I know, branching off from there. Usually I’m just looking for a little information, perhaps something to round off a scene or back up something that I’ve said. Sometimes though, especially when world building, I need more. I start with the internet, since it’s right there. I use google search, going to trustworthy sites for my information. I do use Wikipedia, but only if it has been verified. If the information is not enough, I want to go deeper, its off to the library with me. Now, this is dangerous territory for me, since books are my love. Reading, getting engrossed in a story…mmmmmmmmm…nothing like it. If this is the case, I gotta come prepared with a list of what I need and a deadline. Can’t spend the day dawdling.

I know some people are like why research if you are world building? Just put what you want. For me, I need a basis, something to work away from. If you don’t know something, how can you build away from it? Maybe what you think is new…isn’t. That’s why you research, so at least you know what it is you are railing against.

Sometimes, I may do an interview. I find somebody in the field that I’m writing about, maybe my character is a police officer and I find someone willing to answer a few questions. I usually do this if I want to add that personal touch or if I’m basing the character I’m writing about on the person I’m interviewing. Makes things a lot more personal.

Okay, so it’s not really magic, but it is satisfying to find some tidbit that maybe I didn’t know and perhaps my reader doesn’t know either.

All in the name of writing.

Next week, we are going to talk about my character inspiration for the novel I talked about earlier, “Perfect Planning”

Inspiration strikes

I have got to get back into writing and blogging. I post and then nothing for months. There has to be a better way to stay motivated and on track. Let’s start easy: We’ll talk about my current book and go from there. Should be simple enough…*fingers crossed*

The latest book that I’m working on is titled…for now, Perfect Planning. I can’t really say why I’ve titled it that, but I’m sure that I’ll probably change it later. But that is not why we are here today. We are here to talk about the inspiration behind the story and why I chose to write it.

The story starts with the heroine in high school, having just discovered a life changing fact. This fact alters the rest of life and forces her to start over in a place far from loved ones and anyone that would know her. But she’s strong, unwilling to let it destroy her. Things are starting to look up for her when a blast from the past comes into her life and takes her back to that place in her youth. From there, we follow her journey of loss, forgiveness and her path back to love.

To be honest, I don’t know where this idea came from. Maybe from playing Sims, a little from soap operas, some from primetime TV. I wanted to write about love lost and what the road would look like if someone wanted to travel it. All the trials and tribulations that would come with trying to rekindle a lost love with deep secrets between the main characters. I didn’t want it to be pretty or easy the way that some of these stories can play out, but I did want it to be beautiful and touching.

So right now, I’m working hard to get this story done. Some days are better than others and I admit, I struggle to put words to paper.

Review

I should really turn on my notifications or something in Amazon. I had a review on “You Can Always Go Home” and I didn’t even know it. EEEk!!!!

So, I’m not sure if this is okay or not, but I’m going to post it anyway.

“This is the first time that I've read anything by this author and I'm glad I took a chance. She did an excellent job developing the plot and the characters - so much so that I thoroughly disliked Alexina. To say she was annoying and too wishy-washy is putting it mildly. However, kudos to the author for getting me so engaged and invested in the characters. The story had a nice pace and refreshingly was without typos - excellent editing. I would highly recommend this read and I will definitely add Ms. Rogers to my watch list.”

By Katiebell

I have to say, I’m flattered. And very appreciative that this woman to the time to write this.

Whoot whoot!

I have published another story on Amazon. This time it’s a short story, titled “A Secret’s Hunter”

Don’t you love the Cover? Click it to go to the page in amazon

A nice little blurb to wet your appetite:

Alan is immortal, born in a time of mistrust and hatred. Even now, hundreds of years later, there are those that despise him and hunt him as a freak of nature, an experiment.
Now, as a behind the scenes CEO of a medical research company, he is on the brink of changing history, when in walks the woman of his dreams, Josceline. Everything he could want in a woman and he’s finally ready to pursue her. Only trouble is, someone is watching him, threatening to tear down his carefully built façade.
Can he protect her and keep his secrets safe?

Very excited at this piece of news. It just got old, waiting for someone to want to publish my story’s, to get the green light from some publishing company with no face. Doing it on my own feels better and I’m more in control. Though I don’t have the PR backing, it’s okay. I can do this

I also have an Author Page live on www.Amazon.com if you want to check me out:

https://www.amazon.com/author/desireerogers

It’s not done yet, (the page) but I’m working it slowly and surely.

This is going to be a fun ride.

New release

I bit the bullet a few days ago and self-published on Amazon. It was the most exhilarating, scary, nauseating, bone chilling thing I’ve done

I wanna do it again!

If you look to the right ---------> you’ll see the book cover for ‘You Can Always Go Home’ and a link that will take you to the page to purchase it on kindle.  I just have my fingers crossed that it goes well. I have so many other books that I want to put out there, I’m just chomping at the bits.

Let the changes begin…

I’m back…

So I took a long break. Way long, longer than I ever thought. went through a lot things on my break. a divorce, a move home and a move back, but things seem to coming back. the need to write, the urge to be creative is bubbling up and you know what that means…

Writing and other cool stuff.

I’m very excited to try new things, finish my stories and put them out there for others to hopefully enjoy. With that said, enough babbling and on to the good stuff.