Where Do the Ideas Come From?

“Where do you get ideas for your books?”

I am asked that question often – at book clubs and book signings, and in just talking with people about writing. For me, the answer is an easy one. I live in a place that is brimming with story lines. It’s the location on a barrier island, it’s the area’s rich and deep history, and it’s the myriad number of people who live and/or visit here.

It all started, of course, with “Storm Season.” The genesis of that book is probably pretty unique. In October of 2022, I was preparing for my first knee replacement surgery and was having difficulty sleeping. I would find myself awake in the middle of the night, wondering how painful it would be, how I would be able to climb the steps to get in and out of our home, and how my poor husband would survive without my cooking. (Turns out he managed just fine!)

But I knew I had to get sleep to prepare for the surgery. I wanted to be in the best shape possible for a good outcome. So, one night, I decided to make up a story in my head. I tried to think of what really shapes life on Hatteras Island, and the first thing that came to mind was a hurricane. I thought of fishing boats, and storm preparation, and the name SeaAnna. So many boats have double names, and this one just popped into my head. It was amazing to me that the story just flowed. I had never thought of writing a novel, and I certainly don’t read romance on a regular basis. I usually read police procedurals based in the UK!

But this story took root in my brain and started to grow. After a few nights, I shared with my husband Dave that I was “writing” a story in my head each night. Each morning, I would share a bit more, until finally I had the essence of the entire plot rolling around between my ears. By the time the surgery had come and gone, and the holidays had passed, he convinced me to sit down at the computer and get the story on paper.

My original idea was to take the completed manuscript up to Staples in Nags Head and make a few copies to share with friends and say, “Aha! Look what I wrote.”

As it turned out, a friend of a friend who writes for a living, was able to help me actually format the book, find an editor, and design a cover so that I could self-publish. “Storm Season” was born.

Other book ideas soon followed. Fishing tournaments play a big role on the island each year. And what could be crazier than fishing in a tournament with no fishing experience? So “Hooked on You” came along. I thought of it as a totally separate book, but soon my old characters snuck their way into the background, and I realized perhaps I was writing a series. My readers agreed, encouraging me to tie up the loose ends with JoBell and Dare. So, “Tangled Lines” brought their story to a conclusion.

The inclusion of jellyfish in the story came to me one day on a beach walk. And the secondary location of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, was included because my dad had spent time there many, many years ago, and his stories of the institute stuck with me. It seemed the perfect place for JoBell to try to spread her wings. Another coastal community, with its own personality. Similar to Hatteras in some ways, but miles, literally and figuratively, apart.

When I typed the last line of “Tangled Lines,” those characters became quiet in my head and I knew that the trilogy was complete. But there was still another story line in my head. I wanted to explore the dynamic that exists between and among all the stakeholders on the island, and “Building a Little Love” began to take shape. Having has plenty of knee issues in my life, I had real-life experience to draw from with orthopedic surgery resulting from an accident. I’ve also lived here as a tourist, a visitor to the home my parents built for retirement, and now, for the past eleven years, as a permanent resident. Working at the Cape Hatteras Motel with Dave for the last eight years of his more than fifty years at its helm as owner, gave me a lot of insight into all the relationships that happily, and sometimes not-so-happily, co-exist.

There are likely more story ideas waiting to be uncovered, and I am already considering at least one of them seriously. What could it be? I’ll keep you guessing for a little while longer. But there’s no doubt, ideas for Hatteras-based romance novels are as plentiful as shells on the beach. And as you probably know, that’s a lot of ideas!