Tag: real-life

Posted in promo, writing inspiration

Billy and Tracy, the inspiration behind the characters

Posted on by Sherri

When I wrote Chrome Pink Billy was just Rae Lynne’s bossy older brother.

He’s had a few bit parts in other books, but I never really stopped to think about who he was as a character.

Working on Red Steel, I had to learn more about who Billy Grimes really was. What made him tick. Why did he act and react they way that he did? Somethings were obvious as they tied in with Rae Lynne’s story, especially their mother leaving when they were so young. What else would affect him, carve him into the person he is?

My youngest son, Blake is a volunteer firefighter. A few months ago, knowing I was going to be working on Red Steel, I asked him about giving a workshop for my writer’s group on being a firefighter and first responder. As he spoke, I got a clearer picture of my character Billy Grimes and he became my muse for Billy.

I often use my friends and family to help me better understand my characters. One of the fun things about writing is taking a little bit from people you know and throwing all those bits and pieces into a blender on high and add in a stray thought or idea and wham, you have a character. I tease Blake about being the muse for Billy, I think he’s okay with the idea but then, he’s not read the book (insert evil laugh).

There is a lot about Billy Grimes that fits my son, but he is still a fictional character. There are other times that one of my other sons or one of their friends gives me an idea for the character. While Blake is definitely the body type for Billy Grimes…okay y’all, no drooling over my baby son, he’s married and she’s crazy, just ask her, she’ll tell you…there are things about my son I don’t want to know and things I can’t know because he probably doesn’t know them about himself. That is one of the powers of fiction, being able to know your character’s thoughts, desires and deepest fears. So, while Blake may have inspired Billy Grimes, please do not confuse the character with the real-life person. As his wife will tell you, Blake is no gourmet cook and while he may be great at taking care of his family, the one who is always trying to feed everyone is his wife Katelynn.

Katelynn asked me if she was in any of my books. It’s funny, I didn’t make a conscious choice to fashion Tracy Harrell after Blake’s wife but after she asked me, I thought about the character and realized without even trying, Billy’s love interest was a lot like my daughter-in-law. She’s tough, beautiful with that Katherine Hepburn girl next door quality, and she’ll go toe-to-toe with Billy, law enforcement, her boss and her family. She is a no non-sense woman, a reporter, which is really close to what Katelynn does since she is an awesome photographer (check out her website at http:katelynnhollisterphotography.com/ ). Tracy is a modern woman who has had to work hard and fight to get where she is. She doesn’t back down. So, yes Katelynn, you really are in my book.

Billy is a bit of a lady’s man, all the women old and young seem to have a crush on him except Tracy and his friend Brenda, the paramedic whom they teasingly call Blade. While Tracy is attracted to Billy, she isn’t going to give him a chance. If he wants her, he’ll have to work for it. Blade is in love with her husband while she thinks Billy is a charmer, she doesn’t pay his flirting any mind. Billy likes them more because they are immuned to his charms.

So there you have it, my inspiration behind my characters for Red Steel.

A special Thank you to Hello Honey Photography for allowing me to use the photos of Blake and Katelynn for this blog. https://www.facebook.com/hellohoneyphotography/

Posted in Book Review

Ruby Moon by Jenny Knipfer

Posted on by Sherri

I believe it is important for readers and especially writers to read outside our normal comfort zone. As you can see from many of my reviews, I read an eclectic variety of books.

Ruby Moon reads at times like poetry. This debut novel is a blend of Ojibwe and 1890s Canadian society, with Biblical and other famous quotes to add thought or subtext to the story.

“God has destined me for a purpose?” Young Janay asks as she wanders the fields with the medicine woman, Maang-ikwe. Her affinity with plants and desire to learn the ways of her mother making her unique among the citizens of town.

Raised by her indulgent widowed father, Janay walks a fine line between the two worlds.

“Remember, what you leave and tend will grow. Weeds will not produce a harvest of good things.” Jacques’ father admonishes as he teaches him to pluck the weeds from the family garden, though the lesson will be one he will use throughout many areas of his life.

As secretary to Janay’s father, Jacques is known to be a good, honest man.

When Janay attracts the attention of a man who believes there is nothing he cannot possess for a price, it is Jacques who is tasked with seeing her safely away.

It was her father’s hope and prayer that she and Jacques might find love, and in the trials to come, it is the love and support of her family that sees her through.

A copper or ruby moon is one of joy. I am so thankful this story ends with a song of joy.

Strong female characters, Godly characters and realistic characters. A lovely story.

Posted in my books, Thoughts

I Need a Hero

Posted on by Sherri

What Makes a Man a Hero?

I have six sons, a loving husband and several male relatives, all could be romantic heroes, at least to those who love them. We have military men, construction workers and volunteer firemen, first responders, dedicated fathers and Scout leaders, all embody the manly men who set feminine hearts aflutter. They are all good looking too, of course I’m probably a bit prejudice in saying so.

When writing the characters for my stories I don’t set out to use a certain person as a model. Often, traits, events or actions from friends and family members drift into my stories. If you are looking closely, you can see a piece of one son or another, my husband, my best friends, but unlike the characters in my stories, I do not know what is in the heart and heads of real people. In truth, I find it more liberating to create my characters and play inside their skins until I feel I have a real person on the page. While I don’t purposely steal my characters from real life, I am well aware that those around me influence my writing, my building of characters and worlds.

It wasn’t until I was preparing to publish Chrome Pink that I realized how much I’d borrowed from real life. Logan, the hero in Chrome Pink was difficult to write. I wanted him to be understanding and kind, but not wimpy. He had to be strong enough to hold up against a character like Rae Lynne. To find the balance between masculine charm and alpha-male, I looked to the men around me. My sons, husband and assorted relatives are mostly alpha-males. They are strong willed, opinionated and ready for battle but they are also gentle fathers, romantic husbands/lovers, and kind friends. From each of them I was able to see how a man handles the baggage of a traumatic childhood with the strength and character of a man who wants to do and be his best. I hope that I have captured these elements in my characters. I want them to feel real but they are not, they are characters from my imagination, influenced by those around me.

I have thrown everything into this story but the kitchen sink, oh wait, I have that too. My friend has a plaque over her kitchen sink, “No man was ever shot while doing the dishes,” it influenced one of my scenes. What could be sexier than a man doing dishes?

What do you want in your fantasy lover? What makes a man a romantic hero?

 

 

Posted in Book Review

Aftershock by Jill Sorenson

Posted on by Sherri

Jill Sorenson’s 2013 novel Aftershock is an intense adventure into human nature. What makes some people heroic and others villains? When faced with the destruction and danger of a major earthquake, Garrett and Lauren unite to save a small group of survivors trapped in a collapsed freeway. Fighting dangerous conditions and a gang of convicts, as well as the attraction that pulls them together like a force of nature, Garrett and Lauren are willing to sacrifice even their own safety to rescue those depending on them.
Amid the worst conditions a person’s true character rises to the surface. Honed by danger, commitment and honor, this band of misfits unites for survival, discovering their own strengths and weaknesses along the way.
Discovering the truth about yourself is more frightening than finding out the people you trust aren’t exactly what you expect them to be. Can Lauren and Garrett’s fragile connection withstand the shock of returning to their real lives?
This story is one of the most exciting romances I’ve ever read, the real-life drama and the surreal world beneath the freeway are a great stage for this amazing love story.