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.
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I’m ALL about the doggy love :). I have two golden retrievers – the old girl is 12 & we call her “The Fluffy One”. The young one is one, and we call him “Demon Dog” (he aged out of “Piranha Puppy”). I love ’em to death, but they definitely have their own little quirks & personalities LOL! The Fluffy One is notorious for eating things; all I have to do is call the vet’s office & tell them my name, and they’ll ask, “What did she eat NOW?!!!?” I always say that I’m surprised she is still alive. She’s eaten a grease pan (& all the grease) out of a smoker… the gas line to the grill… a full chocolate sheet cake… a dozen hard foil wrapped chocolates… 3 whole rose bushes (down to the ground, mind you)… the cover off of an outdoor electrical outlet (woulda thought she’d get electrocuted, but noooooo)… at least 4 dryer vent flaps… chicken wing bones… corn cobs (did you know that those are REALLY dangerous for dogs & require a 3 day stay at the vet’s office??)… among other things. But I love them 😆 !!!
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Aww! What a wonderful family! Our little dachshund (Baby) thinks she’s a cat because that’s all she’s ever been around. She has an eating disorder (much like her human mother) and she would eat non-stop if allowed. She’s as bad as a toddler, if it will fit into her mouth, she will attempt to eat it, whether it’s food or not. Our oldest cat Joy is about 7 and she’s the sweetheart of the family. Oreo is a little over a year old and she’s the ultimate independent cat. You pet her when she allows you to, and if not, then prepare to get bitten. The new baby is Tabby who is about 5 months old and she is that baby of the family that knows she’s cute and knows she can get away with things because she’s cute. (And it works for her.)
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I LOVE hearing about all of your awesome furry families! We don’t (obviously) have any cats, the hubs is severely allergic, but I love a good cat cuddle!
Thanks for commenting, ladies! 😀
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We are at our rescue limit also. We have 2 Great Danes, a Dane/boxer mix, and 2 cats. Our newest Dane is a 158 lb 3 year old who will pout on our walk if I don’t let him decide which direction we’re going to walk in. Literally like a 3 year old child, he drags his paws, hangs his head and walks as slow as he can. I’m sure he’s thinking I’ll change my mind and we’ll go his way! LOL! It’s always an adventure on our walks. For some reason he thinks going after a skunk is a good idea on our 5 am walk. Yeah, I don’t think so! LOL! In our neighborhood I’m known as Tig’s mom by all the little kids because he know every house in a 6 square block area.
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I have two blue Chihuahuas named Ellie and Dante. They just turned 2 last month. We call them the twins because they were from the same litter. Ellie is a spoiled princess 😀 and she is cute and she knows it. Dante is a spoiled prince ;D and also knows that he’s cute. They both have special little tricks that they do, when they know you’re looking, to try to convince you to give them a treat. If you said the word ‘bone’ to them, they completely freak out and start running in circles and jumping all over the place until you give them one. It’s hilarious. They also have to share everything, even when we give them each their own of stuff. They will still share, sometimes more like fight over than share, whatever they have. They also sleep curled in a ball together every night and bury themselves under their blankets. Final thing about them, they will actually cry if they aren’t getting their way…You will really see tears in their eyes and rolling down their cheeks.
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I have three cats, all male. They get along really well. Drew, #1, is the nominal alpha and loves to hunt bugs and birds on the balcony. He’s caught 100’s of cicadas over the years, 2 birds and 1 bat (eek). Kevin, #2 loves to play with foam ear plugs and spends a long time playing with them on his own and with me throwing them and fetching (Drew would fetch sticks as a younger cat). Alex, #3 is huge, a little over weight, but his frame is twice as wide, a couple of inches taller and longer than the others and is the gentle giant type and the omega of the group and loves to be held which is hard with his size. I’m slowly (after 7 years) getting him to lay in my lap instead of being held high on my chest smothering me. Surprisingly, it’s Kevin who wants/needs little attention who sleeps with me at least part of the night on a pillow along my side. Of course when it’s winter, we all fight for space on the bed. Alex still tries to lay on my head which was cute when he weighed 4 lbs., not so much at 20, so I’ve almost got him trained to drape over my hips.
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My animals are my babies! I have an 11 yr old Jack Russell ~ Nebo that rules the roost…well he thinks so anyway. Nebo may be tiny but he sure can take up or destroy a king size bed where I have to fight for space 😆 He’s my baby though so Momma here often sleeps on a little patch on the edge of the bed. As for my other 2 babies they love to be around people but love their cages at nap time. I have a beautiful Blue & Gold Macaw ~ Dink who is about 5 years old now & he is very vocal 😯 Now my other baby ~ Peep is a 1 year old yellow male Indian Ring neck Parrot. He’s the sweetest baby ever! He says I love you, give me a kiss (with those cute kissy noises too). I would be lost without my babies. They are the truest form of entertainment when they get to playing with their toys. They have provided me with hours of laughter.