Inspiration

I've heard authors talk about being asked where they get their ideas and I've been asked that question before. And truthfully, ideas just seem to come to me most of the time. Sometimes there's a jumping off point that has a definite source but those times are fewer than I would think.

My post today deals with the jumping off points.

Probably the biggest inspiration for Orion and Balt in Settler's Mine: The Rivals was an old Fox show called Brisco County, Jr. In the show, Bruce Campbell aka Brisco and Julius Carry aka Lord Bowler played rival bounty hunters who throughout the course of the series become friends. I took that friendship one step further in the Rivals, but the foundation of Orion and Balt bickering and then developing a relationship definitely started with Lord Bowler and Brisco.

Settler's Mine itself was inspired by the thought of a mine on the outskirts of space and what could they possibly mine there. That random thought led to the concept of heartstones determining your mate in a world where menages were common and spawned six stories set in that world.

In the first romance novel I wrote, which may eventually see the light of day :>), the story's sound track is Deuces are Wild by Aerosmith. That song just seems to be for the hero and heroine. Every time I hear the lyrics, I want to rewrite Darryl and Lindsey's story. One day!

I'm currently working on a whirlwind romance set partially in Paris. Yesterday, I needed to write a passionate interlude between my hero and heroine. I was having trouble with the quick encounter. So...I went and watched the end minutes of the season 4 finale of Castle. I don't want to give away spoilers but I don't know if I've seen such desire expressed so eloquently and succinctly. The scene gets me every time. Needless to say...my rendezvous got written.

The past few weeks, I've been watching the BBC show Primeval. The last couple of episodes I've watched, I've become enamored of Abby and Connor, two characters in the show, especially Connor. Connor starts off as this bumbling nerdy guy. And he stays that way to a certain extent but he also displays awesome growth of character to show this inner strength as well. The actor, Andrew Lee Potts, is spot on in his portrayal, especially in season 3 when a major event happens and Connor must step up to the plate. I like to write "geeks" (ala Geek Love and Code Monkey). I see a Connor inspired hero in my future :) and perhaps a pal romance ala Connor and Abby.

I never know when inspiration will strike me and what it will be. There have been shows/songs/etc I thought would inspire me that haven't and other things I never dreamed would (Brisco and Primeval) and yet they did.

Here's to you finding your inspiration.

Mechele Armstrong

www.mechelearmstrong.com