Inspiration in the Details
Before setting down to get my blog on, I took a quick Q&A on my Facebook page. Turns out people were curious about two things. My obvious doggy love and where my inspiration comes from.
Since I aim to please, I thought we’d discuss both topics. In my debut release, Morning Light, we meet Bo. A yellow Labrador our heroine Tennyson has rescued. When I sit down with a character, I like to develop them into someone I’d actually be friends with. All of my favorite heroes and heroines are people I’d actually like to know, and I use this rule of thumb when writing them as well. Also, if Jim Butcher is reading this, I’d really like to meet Harry Dresden—just sayin’.
Tenn is a likeable chick; she’s downright awesome, and I certainly didn’t need to work hard to make her more likeable. She was a fully formed heroine from the moment she popped into my head. More importantly Tenn has a heart of gold, she’s certainly the type of woman that would feed and rescue an abandoned dog.
When Bo arrived on the page, I knew Tenn would take him in and love and pamper him. Abandoned and neglected pets are my weak spot. Ask my husband, he’ll tell you all about how I’m a total sucker for a needy animal. He likes to grumble, but when it comes down to it he’s the one on the floor wrestling and rough housing with them. He’s all bluster. With four dogs ranging in size from one hundred ten pounds all the way down to eleven, he’s quite the expert at my soft spot.
When we bought our home, many moons ago, it was a matter of a few measly days before I came home with my very own yellow Lab mix. No furniture to speak of, freshly painted walls, and a brand new puppy. We named him Truman and he’s still kicking, just a bit slower than he used to in those early days. He’s a rock star. And I’m totally biased.
But there’ll be a day he’s not with us and I’ll be a heartbroken disaster. So, when the time came to write a big oaf of a Lab into my very first book, it only made sense that Truman would be my inspiration. I mean, really, it wasn’t even a conscious decision. He’s just that awesome.
I loved Bo so much in the first book that he’s making quite the appearance in the second in the series. I also have it on good authority that he’ll be around in book three.
And you can expect to see appearances from my other three heathens some day too. With a chocolate Lab mix that looks like she’s part brown bear-beaver, a Husky mix that outweighs every other dog in the house, and a little runt Doxie that’s all big dog attitude, I’ll never run out of inspiration for fun dog characters.
We might be maxed out on rescues at our house, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love a good pet story. Leave a comment telling me all about your pet(s) and their personalities and I’ll give away one free ebook of Morning Light to a lucky reader! Contest will end September 14th at midnight and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced the next day.
You can find me at: www.coracade.com or join me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CoraCade.
*****
His toughest battle is ahead—the battle for one woman’s heart.
A Day of Pleasure, Book 1
During Noah Harper’s ten years as an Army Ranger, Tennyson Sharpe’s letters were his lifeline. With each mail call, the bright and vibrant girl of his youth slowly became the woman of his dreams.
Now he’s home—and he’s in hell. The problem? Tenn is his little brother’s best friend. Claiming her risks all kinds of collateral damage.
Tenn is getting nervous. Since Noah came home, they’ve been circling each other, neither willing to risk the status quo. It’s time to kick things up a notch and make a play for the man she’s loved since she was sixteen—before someone else does.
Dressing to impress works better than she could have dreamed. After a scorching interlude leads to a steamy morning wrapped in each other’s arms, reality comes crashing down. Shining a devastating light on Tenn’s deepest fears…and forcing Noah into scramble mode to convince her forever was always on his mind.
Warning: This book contains some serious foreplay in the great outdoors; stand-up sex with a hot, stand-up guy; and a wounded Army Ranger who’s determined to leave no heart behind—especially the one belonging to the girl of his dreams.
