Before I put a book out I am very aware
of what will turn some folks off. Now, Double Dare...sigh. I was on
Southern Fried Chicas and we were talking about the romances we
weren't fans of and another commenter mentioned how she hated the
girlfriend romances. You know, the ones where it seems like it's
really a love story between the X amount of friends. I totally
commiserated because I've read those books before.
Soon after, guess what plot bunny came
hopping along in my mind? A series with three best friends. Mind you,
at this point in time I didn't write connected books. Lynne was a
fluke, but Lynne is the kind of character that doesn't sit around
quietly. I didn't want to write these books, but then Emma, Abigail
and Sasha got to chattering in my head. I'm not exaggerating the
chatter part. I figured if I ignored them they'd eventually fade and
I could write a book that didn't have trouble written all over it
from the get-go.
Weeks later they were still talking and
driving me half insane so I decided to go with Emma's story first.
She seemed sweet, uncomplicated and wouldn't it be funny if she's
doing a naked dare? Boom, right out of the gate I'd have her meet the
hero. And I always wanted to write a pastry baker. Even had a story
sitting around my harddrive, that never worked, that would be a
perfect starting point.
And then I started to write it and ten
pages later Emma, Sasha and Abigail were still talking. I kid you
not. Even the folks who ended up with those first drafts had to
suffer through six pages of chatter. Nothing broken up with
narration, but six pages of dialogue.
So, needless to say Double Dare has the
most chatter of the three friends. Yes, it's absolutely a romance
between Tobias and Emma. I play on the fact that in any given scene
with the three woman together Emma's the normal one who could easily
be the wallflower. I made sure whenever the three woman are together
and Tobias is there, all he can see is Emma. And in a much more
profound way all she can see is him. Her friends fade to the
background.
Yes, I did that on purpose. I made her
friends a huge part of her world. Really, out of the three books this
is the most stage time all three woman have on the page. Because the
thing is Emma is all about family. Not by blood but the one she
chose. She's the one they all turn to. She may not be the loudest,
the most extravagant, the sexiest or the most obscene. She's the
quiet one, that you should totally look out for by the way. And
Tobias needed a family.
This may drive folks nuts. This may
make them go, Emma who? when all three are together doing their usual
shenanigans, but I promise you when it's just her and Tobias...well,
you know it's them in their own world.
So if you hate this kind of romance
steer clear. No, seriously, the chatter may drive you nuts. You may
fall in love with Sasha or Abigail first and rather have their
stories. They have that kind of flair. Their books will come out so
you'll just have to wait. Just know Emma is the foundation of this
world. That kind of person is quiet, unassuming, interesting once you
really get to know them. And I totally did that on purpose.
Abigail Johnson would use three words
to describe Drew Carter: lush, loafer and womanizer. When he struts
into Adtivity, the advertisement company she works for, her world
tilts on its head. He's been hired as a consultant to help her ad
account team go to the next level. She’s suddenly faced with a man
who is a consummate professional, considerate and kind. It’s must
be a farce, because he’s there to decide the fate of her career.
When things heat up between them, she refuses to let those brief
glimpses convince her to entangle herself in a relationship with him.
Her career and heart is on the line.
