#WriteWed Inspiration for Tommy in ONE SPECIAL NIGHT

It’s been a while since I wrote DANGER CALLS in The Calling Vampire Novel series. The hero in that story, Sebastian Reyes, is a computer specialist and definitely not the kind of big, bad ass alpha hero that you see in a lot of paranormal romances.

That was a tough call for me, but I knew that Sebastian was the perfect man to deal with the heroine in that book, Dr. Melissa Danvers. She needed a sensitive man who could understand her and be supportive. A man who wouldn’t mind being younger and dealing with a woman whose profession required a lot of time away from home.

Not to mention a lot of time being the keeper to vampire Ryder Latimer.

Sebastian was very much a beta hero when I wrote him, but morphed into a slightly more alpha hero during revisions on the book.

Jasmine “Doc” Reyes is very similar to Melissa Danvers in some respects. Driven, compassionate and not above risking her life for others. Serious, maybe too serious, at times.

I knew she needed a man who would make her smile and could help her heal. She needed someone strong and protective, but not in that big macho alpha kind of way.

Enter Tommy de Salvo with his big smile and even bigger sense of humor. Tommy is the kind of man who can take away the shadows in Jasmine’s eyes and help her feel whole again.

Tommy is the kind of hero that I wanted Sebastian to be, but just couldn’t get away with in a dark paranormal story.

In ONE SPECIAL NIGHT, a sexy tale of two strangers coming together, it was totally possible to finally explore a very different kind of hero. I hope you’ll take a chance and check out this novella.

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Sharing My Weekend Writing Retreat

I wish that Google+ photos actually allowed you to do a slideshow. For the life of me, the little create slideshow link just isn’t showing up! So, you can go to visit the album here, but in the meantime…

I headed out on Saturday with my friends Melinda Leigh and Rayna Vause for a writing retreat weekend! Our destination: The Inn at Boonesboro and the Turn the Page Bookstore where we got to meet Nora Roberts as well as a number of authors.

I got up at 5, was on the road by six and picked up my friends shortly after 7. We hit the road and got to Boonesboro just before 11. It was the open house day at the Inn so we got to visit all the rooms, but first we met my friend Lora and then headed to the book store to pick up our books and get ready for the signing. Here’s a picture of my buds in front of the Inn.

Rayna Vause and Melinda Leigh

At the bookstore, we got our purchases and since Vesta’s pizza was packed, headed to Crawford’s Guns, Ammo and Restaurant for a bite before the signing. Where else can you pick up ammo, check out the rifles and get some delicious sweet potato fries?

Crawford's Guns, Ammo & Restaurant

Then it was time for the signing!! I had my books for research (nothing better than Eve and Roarke to get me inspired!). I also had a J.D. Robb “book lamp” that I had made and Nora was so nice and signed it as well. Here’s me and Nora!

Nora Roberts & Caridad Pineiro

Then we were back to the Inn for the open house. Such gorgeous rooms and bathrooms. I loved the Galahad pillow on the chair in the Eve and Roarke room! The rooms were totally romantic and did any of you guess which room I would choose for Rey and Paola from AMAZON AWAKENING?

If you guess that it was the Westley and Buttercup room you were right. I could so imagine a big bed like this made of a sustainable rainforest wood like Ipe.

Westley & Buttercup Room

After that we headed for a walk through Boonesboro and then to dinner. We returned to the site of the Inn with all its lovely Christmas trimmings.

Inn at Boonesboro

Ducking inside the inn to take off the chill, we had some wine and cheese and also celebrated my friend Melinda’s debut book (more on that on Thursday!).

In the morning, we headed to the Antietam battlefield for a bit of history and research. Since Ryder from THE CALLING/REBORN Vampire Series was a physician during the Civil War, I’m toying with the idea of bringing back someone else from that era. You may remember that Samantha Turner from TEMPTATION CALLS knew Ryder back then (and was the one who turned him). Not sure whether this someone is a hero or villain, but walking/driving the fields of Antietam certainly gave some ideas for a new character.

I even managed to climb the Observation Tower! The trip up was quite a hike, but the trip down was interesting as my fear of heights kicked in. Luckily Rayna lent me her shoulder to hold so I could keep my face to the wall and not see the big open scary hole in the middle of the stairs!

Antietam Observation Tower

I hope you enjoyed this little travel journal!

Also, if you need some tips on writing short fiction, come and play with me today at my friend Catherine Bybee’s blog where I am talking about how to move from writing long fiction to short!