Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books, the home of Romance Novels!
Today we are welcoming Lynn Reynolds to the blog. She has a new book out, Love Capri Style, and Goddessfish Productions is touring her and her book around the blogs. She is giving away a $15 Amazon gift card along with a copy of Colbie Caillat’s CD Coco, featuring the song “Capri” to one random commenter from the tour. To increase your chances of winning, click HERE to find out the tour stops. The more blogs you leave comments on, the better your chance to win!
When preparing for this tour stop, I asked Lynn to talk about where authors get their inspiration. I am completely fascinated by this topic, and everyone has a different story.
Without further ado, let’s welcome Lynn to Sugarbeat’s Books and find out what she has to say:
Thanks so much for hosting me here at Sugarbeat’s today. I know you mentioned that you’re curious about where writers get their inspiration. And guess what? So am I! I really mean it. Ideas 
come to me all the time, but often, I have no notion where they came from. My current book, Love Capri Style, was simply inspired by the fact that I’d like to go to Capri someday. Other stories can be inspired by conversations I’ve overheard in restaurants or by incidents that have happened in my own life or the lives of friends.
When I write, I usually start with a very rough idea about plot – an inept young reporter gets sent to Capri to do a story about a sexy, jetsetting playboy. Beyond that, I definitely don’t have a detailed plan for what’s going to happen. However, I usually do have a clear idea about at least one or two of the main characters.
For me, the characters and their personalities drive the development of the story. I feel like most of the characters just seem to show up, like actors showing up for an audition. Like the director, I just pick and choose the ones that seem like the best fit for each other. Sometimes I like a character so much, I reuse him or her. There’s a guy named Martin that has popped up in about four unpublished stories I’ve started and never finished. I love Martin, he’s a really sweet guy, but now I get worried when he tries to insert himself in a story. I think he’s kind of a jinx! Or maybe he just hasn’t shown up for the right audition yet.
Eric Greyford, the wealthy playboy publisher featured in Love Capri Style is another recycled character. He showed up in the first novel I actually finished, about seven years ago. I had no clear notion of what genre I was writing, so that story is basically a mystery-thriller-steamy-romance-psychic detective-chick lit-literary detective mixed mess. Needless to say, I don’t ever plan to publish it. But I do like several of the characters from the story, and I especially liked Eric. So when I was looking for a new leading man for Love Capri Style, I invited Eric to the audition. And he got the part!
Recently, I’ve been wanting to focus less on romance and more on mystery novels. I started working on a historical mystery set in France around the time of the Three Musketeers. I’m not really sure where I’m going with this story, but Martin showed up again in a village outside Paris. I don’t know whether this is a sign that the book is doomed or that Martin has finally come to the right audition. It should be interesting finding out the answer!
Amanda Jackson only took the job with Fame magazine to get closer to her estranged father, billionaire publisher Peter Tate. Instead of welcoming her, Dad sends her out of the country, to cover a music festival on the magnificent isle of Capri. There Amanda finds herself up close and personal with her dad’s leading competitor – dashing British playboy Eric Greyford. Can she get an exclusive on Eric’s hectic love life, or will she wind up as just another item on the gossip pages of his newspaper?
Lynn Reynold’s Bio
I’m a writer, a wife and a mom – although not necessarily in that order. I’m a city girl trapped in Green Acres.
In my other life as a journalist, my feature articles have appeared in major daily and weekly newspapers. Remember those? My short stories and poetry have been published in a few obscure literary mags that you’ve never heard of. At various times in my life, I’ve also been a child model, an actress, a stagehand, a secretary, a seller of ladies’ lingerie and – in a brief fit of practicality, a computer programmer. My secret ambition is to be a wench at the Renaissance Faire.
I write romances because I truly do believe in Happily Ever After.
Visit my website at http://www.lynnreynolds.com
I’m on Facebook way too much of the time. Friend me there at https://www.facebook.com/authorlynnreynolds
I don’t blog often, but I am a regular contributor to the PopCultureDivas blog at http://www.thepopculturedivas.com/
My own blog can be found at http://lynnreynolds.blogspot.com/
I’d like to thank Lynn for dropping by and chatting with us on the topic of Inspiration. Please visit Lynn at one or more of the points above! Remember to leave a comment for the chance to win!!
I’ll leave you with an excerpt from Love, Capri Style:
Amanda turned her attention to the array of dishes spread out before them.“What’s this one?” She pointed her fork at some little yellow dumpling shapes.
“That, my dear, is saffron gnocchi with shaved truffles.”
Amanda gaped at him, then let loose with a full, throaty laugh. “Wow, you pull out all the stops to impress a woman, don’t you?”
“Only some women.” He looked away again, at the tablecloth, as if he’d embarrassed himself.
Amanda pretended she hadn’t heard him and concentrated her attention on the food. “That sounds decadent. I’ve got to have it.”
The gnocchi melted in her mouth, leaving a savory tang on her tongue. Amanda gave a little shiver, her eyes flickering shut with sheer delight. The food, the starry sky above – even if she went home without a story and got fired, at least she’d always have the memory of this night and this dinner. With this man. When she opened her eyes, Eric’s gaze burned into her own, his blue the cold, deep color of the ocean that lay beyond their little haven amongst the fairy lights. He stared at her with an intensity that made her feel naked and defenseless.
Oh, he would be fierce in bed. Maybe even a little rough, domineering. Sometimes being a control freak could be a good thing, though. Amanda struggled to swallow past a lump in her throat.
Eric leaned forward and spoke, his voice low and husky with restrained desire.
“I told you you’re a woman of strong appetites. I intend to satisfy all of them.”
Often I get my inspiration when the title for a story pops into my mind. I’ve done a number of stories based on old (40’s-50’s) pop songs. For me, the characters come later.
Hi KLynn,
i am looking forward to reading the book and i have enjoyed following your blog tour.
sorry about the typo on your name Lynn my fingers are still asleep
Hi Tammy,
Thanks for stopping by!
I suggest coffee:) It helps my fingers 🙂 oh, and my brain…..
Tammy – no worries! Sounds kind of cool, like a Hip Hop DJ name. Maybe I can create an alternate personality for working in nightclubs- DJ K-Lynn rocking the house 😉
Hi Lynn!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m quite interested in your book. It’s added to my wish list…..
That is interesting how one character keeps coming to the forefront, Martin seems to want his story told *s*. Your next book the historical set around the time of the Three Musketeers sounds interesting.
Aww, I hope Martin finds his way and has a fabulous story! 🙂
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Loved the excerpt! Eric sounds like a sexy character….lol at poor Martin continuing to audition for parts in your stories and not fading away…..Congrats on the release!
junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, ladies. I’ll let Martin know you’re rooting for him to finally get a story!
I loved the excerpt, too, and now that my you have whet my appetite I am definitely going to have to read the book! I’m really glad you still believe in happy ever after, Lynn, because if you didn’t, I imagine your books would be very different indeed! Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Julie. Yes, I definitely still believe in those happy endings – having a great hubby definitely helps me keep believing!