How far are you willing to go to remake yourself for someone else?
Robin M and Pat T won the copies! Congratulations!!
Red Shoes will be one-year old on Tuesday, August 12 and to celebrate I want to give away a couple of copies of it. It’s simple – just tell me what it is about small town romance that you like, either in the comments on Facebook or here on the page under comments.
I’m always curious about my readers, so please share!
Influences, me? Okay, yeah. I’ve probably already mentioned X-Files along the way here but it was a huge influence on my writing (and dreams and muse). A smart science fiction story that didn’t need humor to offset it. A wish come true!
Okay, I’m still bitter over the Batman TV series. I was so excited to have that air, then the powers that be decided they couldn’t play it straight and turned it into high camp. Enough said. We did finally get Star Trek and of course now we have tons of smart sci fi and paranormal shows. Full kudos to X-Files for sparking that trend (and getting me writing full time).
I was the kid that looked forward to Saturday afternoons, not just because school was out (though that was wonderful), but because that’s when the cheesy sci fi and horror pictures came on TV. I was enthralled! An aside here, I lost my vision and became legally blind watching the original King Kong. I had the measles but hadn’t broken out, so they hadn’t put me in a dark room yet. What can I say, it was worth it. Those of you too young to remember before vaccines be grateful! 
I mentioned X-Files – I remember reading in the TV Guide that year about the upcoming shows and saw that one. I was immediately intrigued (and had a flashback to Batman) but this one delivered. My family and friends knew that this was my hour of the week. I didn’t answer the phone, I didn’t respond to “Mom!”, if the kids were on fire, their father would have to put them out. One hour, really! I can’t thank the creative teams behind it enough for giving me such incredible ideas and courage to share them.
Other influences . . . later
Yes, I’m from the south and we have those things around here. The 31st annual cousins’ reunion is coming up soon and I’m so looking forward to it. These are the people I grew up with. Since I only have the one sister, cousins picked up the slack of not having a large family. So I have an extremely large family. Twenty-six first cousins on Daddy’s side.
About thirty-one years ago we realized that the focal point of the family wasn’t going to be with us much longer and we might all scatter and not see each other again soon. Unacceptable since they’d been such a big part of my life. I had a baby by then and the thoughts of him not knowing all these people was also unacceptable.
So, Sis, closest Cuz and I decided we’d have our own get together. The older generation was welcome but it was for us to get together and make sure our kids had the cousin experience. Sis volunteered her house because of the pool and large carport and we did it. This is ’86 I believe with our kids, but just a sampling that grew.
And now, thirty-one years later – 31! we’re still doing it. We all already know the menu, it hasn’t changed in decades (no reason, we all like it) and fewer of the kids come because they have gone off to college or have families of their own, but they know when and where and that they’ll be more than welcome. And there are unfortunately fewer of the older generation to attend but we love it when they do.
There’s no agenda, we sit around on the carport or dip in the pool and visit with whoever is sitting next to us. We’re all family. We can ask questions about old stories we’re familiar with and compare them to reality and share pictures of the kids that aren’t there. If one of the “kids” does come and brings a friend they get the same family treatment and marvel that we all know each others’ names.
Or, why read series (or write one)? I have to admit I love them. I’m embroiled in several right now between reading and listening to them on my commute. I really enjoy them during the drive. It’s like having an old friend travel with me. 
What’s the draw? For me, it’s the depth you can go to. In a stand-alone you have a cast of characters and a story to tell. I read for pleasure – pure and simple. If I don’t enjoy it, I usually don’t finish it, life’s too short. Fortunately most of the time for me, I find a good one and I enjoy it and then move on. But I do wonder what became of them later. Now that’s a good book–when I want the next story even if it hasn’t been written.
In series the characters become part of my family. I learn their backgrounds, likes and dislikes as though they lived next door. I get to meet their family and friends and become involved in their lives. Yes, the muscular, tall, dark and handsome hero and the buxom yet athletic and incredibly blonde heroine are the main stays of the story, but if I’ve been around long enough I might discover that her best friend is wickedly funny and his cousin is a genius. Series territory and who knows what the second or third or nineteenth book might focus on.
That kind of depth can only be achieved through multiple dips into the story pool. This new story with Harry is really more of a snippet and not from my favorite POV, (absolutely no spoilers) but the point is after being with Harry all these years, I knew the POV and it was spot on. It was like going back to a friend I haven’t seen in months – not years, and visiting.
Suzanne Brockman, Diana Gabaldon, Mary Margaret Daughtridge, Robert Jordan, Darynda Jones to mention a few have this mastered and I know I’m going to see old friends and have a wonderful time catching up and learning more of what makes some of my favorite characters tick.
So I have dipped my toe in the pool. The Melting, Book One – The Infection is only the first, but I’ve worked with these characters and know them so well now that I’m deep within the third book. It makes me want to do it again. 
Tell me, do you enjoy series or stand alones more? Why? Do you have any favorites? Stop by and visit – I might even have a bookmark to give away. See ya!