Summons from His Grace

Summons from His Grace
Regency Anthology

A Scandal To Remember

A Scandal To Remember
Regency Romance

Crazy For You

Crazy For You
romantic comedy

To Love and Protect

To Love and Protect
Romantic Suspense

Dangerous Kiss

Dangerous Kiss
short story

Kisses Of Fire

Kisses Of Fire
contemporary romance

Spanish Eyes

Spanish Eyes
American Historical

Queen Of Hearts

Queen Of Hearts
Historical Western
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

My Inspiration

Please welcome a fellow Bookstrand author to my blog. I'm excited to have her as my guest because she writes stories about PIRATES!  Oh baby....my favorite!

Also, Laurie wants to let you know that if you leave a comment, your name will go into a drawing to win her ebook, Pirate's Promise. Just send an email to - laurieryanauthor@gmail.com


Laurie Ryan writes sensual stories of real-life characters thrust into extraordinary situations. 



Inspiration



I’d like to thank Phyllis Campbell for having me here today. It’s release day for Pirate’s Promise, the second of three books in my pirate saga. As I wind down on edits for the third installment, I’m finding myself very nostalgic. It got me to thinking about how this series began mulling around in my brain. Inspiration can come from anywhere. However, my personal belief is that it is triggered by one or more of the five (or six) senses.


Inspiration can be visual. For instance, take this blog. I love the color Phyllis has used here. It’s calming, yet it draws me in. The striations in the background make me feel like I’m traveling to another place. Hmmm. And it makes me think of purple satin sheets. So I make a mental note to use satin sheets in a love scene. Thanks for the idea, Phyllis!

Ideas can be audio-induced. How many times has a song brought you to tears? Or inspired you to write a poem? Or to hug someone? Some songs, like Faith Hill’s This Kiss can remind me to slow down that kiss in a scene. Celine Dion’s I Drove All Night can amp it up and help me remember how far someone will go for love.

The sense of smell is a too-often ignored avenue of inspiration. I can walk through the grocery store, smell the fresh bread baking, and envision some muscle-bound, blond Adonis, elbow deep in dough, kneading away. Of course, then my imagination takes it to the next step and I’m thinking about other things he might knead. About that time, I remember that bakers need to wear hairnets and pop! There goes the illusion. Still, if the idea has merit, it goes into my idea book for a possible future story.


And let’s not forget the sense of taste. There’s a bit in my third book where the hero feeds a bite of deep, dark, sinful chocolate cake to the heroine. Can you envision this?


In real life, touch can invoke a distant memory or a strong desire. When my husband was in the hospital, I couldn’t stop stroking my hand along his back. He said it made him feel taken care of and relaxed. For me, it was reassurance. That memory reminds me of the power of touch and I try to use that in my stories.



For my pirate series, I think the sixth sense, an unconscious thing, kicked in. This series was inspired by a local Tall Ships Festival I attended. Walking amongst those gallant vessels, seeing them raise sail, tasting the tang of the seawater in the air, smelling the oils and polish and canvas, touching the well polished teakwood, and hearing the crews banter back and forth got to me. I knew there was a story here. As it turned out, I found three of them.


I’ve been anxiously waiting for Pirate’s Promise to be released, as it explains why tall, blond, hunky Hawk turned to a life of crime. Sparks fly when his hot tempered attorney, Julia, gets drawn into the mix, her career in jeopardy thanks to his stubborn, single-minded plans.

For more information, feel free to ask a question or visit my website at: http://www.laurieryanauthor.com/

6 comments:

Phyllis Campbell said...

Laurie, I love pirates, so you know I'm going to buy your story. (grins) Have fun today! Thanks for being a guest on my blog!

~Phyllis~

Fedora said...

Laurie and Phyllis, thanks for the lovely interview! Laurie, great words on inspiration--I'm glad you followed that spark where it led you--Pirate's Promise sounds like a terrific read!

--Fedora

Lavada Dee said...

This is my first visit to Phyllis's blog and I'm going to bookmark it. I agree Laurie, I love the colors she's used.

I've read Pirates Promise and envy those that still have it in their TBR pile. And, I am so ready for the next story in the series. So write fast Laurie.

Thanks for the reminder of the senses. The way you've written this blog they will stay with me for my own writing.

And, a very Happy Release Day.

Laurie Ryan said...

Thanks, Phyllis. I'm very grateful to be here. Since we've been talking for the past few days, you and I share an affection for pirates, eh? :)

Laurie Ryan said...

Thanks Fedora, and LDee. I wrote this blog kind of to remind myself about the senses, also. I've gotten emails from you, so will be entering you in the drawing for a free copy of Pirate's Promise.

Phyllis Campbell said...

Laurie, I adore pirates. I love Captain Jack too...but I could do without the bad teeth and the dreadlocks. hahahaha I can't wait to read your modern day version of a pirate. It may inspire me... (wink)

~Phyllis~

About Me

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Phyllis Campbell is an award-winning, multi-published and best-selling author of romance; from the dark and mysterious hero who sends shivers up your spine to the fiesty heroines who somehow manage to keep them in line. She's published with Bookstrand Publishing, Champagne Books, The Wild Rose Press, and most recently, The Dark Castle Lords Publications. Most of her reviewers have given her the title of “Queen Of Sexual Tension”. Married with kids (and three grandchildren), Phyllis has lived in Utah all of her life and enjoys family activities when she’s not writing her next sensual story.


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