Lilliana Anderson has prepared a guest post for me today. :D
Finding Inspiration for Writing Romance
Thank you to Brenda for having me on the blog today! It’s an honour to guest post for you. Thank you Lilliana! :-)
While I was working out what to write about in all of my guest posts for this tour, I asked all of my facebook and twitter buddies what they’d like to hear from me.
This topic comes from Aurora, who wants to know where my inspiration comes from.
Firstly, just in case someone in my family is looking over my shoulder as I type this I am going to say that the love I feel for my husband and four children are by far the ONLY inspiration I need to write romantic fiction.
Now, I’ll send them all away and tell you the truth. My inspiration comes for all over the place, for example, I was walking to the shops the other day and a car slowed down to stop and the driver asked me directions – it got me thinking that something like that could be the ‘meet cute’ for a couple in a story. Then I start wondering what would happen after that, what is their obstacle and how do they overcome it.
So really it’s simple things that give me ideas, I forever people watch and wonder what their story is too – developing them in my own mind until they become something more tangible. And when those people I’m watching are really hot guys – well, that just makes the story a little easier to swallow for me (wink, wink).
Admittedly, some of the real life things that have happened in my past tend to creep into my books as well. For example, the reference to Indiana Jones in A Beautiful Struggle was something I said to a guy once who did the same thing as Katrina in that scene.
Australian born and bred, Lilliana Anderson has always loved to read and write considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer. Besides writing Angelien's biographical trilogy, she also writes contemporary romance and drama all set within Australia.
When she isn't writing she is a wife, and a mother to four children. She has worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities before transferring to commerce/law at university.
She currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.
Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads
Blurb
Katrina Mahoney has a very full life attending university to study a law degree, training for triathlons and now she is working part time as well. She couldn’t possibly find time for a relationship, especially after her last one ended so catastrophically.
Right now she is content focusing on work, study and training while hanging out with her best friend David Taylor, a womaniser with a heart of gold that would do anything for Katrina – except watch her get hurt again.
That is, until the dashing Elliot Roberts, a junior solicitor from her work, shows an interest in her despite their office’s ‘No Dating’ policy.
Katrina struggles with following her heart or following her mind and has trouble seeing where her heart truly lies.
Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language which may be considered offensive to some readers.
by Lilliana Anderson
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self/Indie
Release Date: January 1, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count: 64,000
Purchase Links:
Amazon US / Amazon UK / B&N / Smashwords
Here's an excerpt:
Elliot was already there when I reached the sports bar, leaning up against the wall outside it looking at his phone. He was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans and a white v-neck t-shirt. His hair was sticking up and messy from sleeping - he looked positively delicious.
The corridor we were in was pretty quiet so the clack of my heels could be heard as I walked towards him, alerting him to my presence. He stood up properly and gave me the most brilliant smile I have ever seen on him. It made my chest swell, and I impulsively started to run to him, jumping into his arms as he captured me in a passionate kiss that had me melting on the spot.
He broke away and smiled at me, brushing my hair out of my face. “I was dreaming about you when you called me,” he murmured.
A little ripple skittered through my stomach and shot down between my legs. “Good dreams I hope,” I purred, leaning into him.
“Let’s get out of here, and I’ll show you”
My Thoughts:
This book was a pretty quick read. I feel that it is only appropriate for adults! It was a story about two people who were meant to be together but don't seem to know it.
Katrina just started a new job when she meets a very attractive Elliot. Her new boss quickly points out that there is a no dating policy. She is not looking for a relationship of any kind because she just went through a horrific ordeal with her last boyfriend. Seeing her contemplating what he feels is sure to be a big mistake, David, her best friend, starts to pull away from her and they begin to argue.
This was a story that had some sadness, anger, humiliation, happiness, romance a lot of steamy scenes. I liked it. I read it straight through without a break!
There were some really sweet moments too. I especially liked David. ;-)
I recommend A Beautiful Struggle to everyone who likes their book hot and emotion filled!
I received a copy of this book from CBLS in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought it was good. I liked it a lot.
Would you give up your best friend if your boyfriend asked you to?
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Thanks for hosting me Brenda, so glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thank you for the guest post, the good story, and for stopping by. :-)
DeleteIt's seem to be a lovely read, and i can't resist David already. ( so evident sometimes^^)
ReplyDeletewould i give up my best friend of my boyfriend asked me to... definitively no. First real friends are hard to come back... boyfriend not sure is that lasting but more important... my best friend would have been there for me first and it would n't be fair to suddenly think he is bothering me just because my boyfriend doesn't like him or is jealous... if my boyfriend really loved me it would wish for me to be happy and the best friend is helping for that since we can confide in him etc so if he so jealous he doesn't want me to keep my friend then he can leave! the one for me will love me and accept my friends!
You read my mind! Those are my thoughts exactly.:D
DeleteSounds like a great read. And heck no! Their my best friend for a reason and if they really love you they wouldnt ask you to choose and lose a person that means that much to you!
ReplyDelete-Amber
I feel the same way Amber! :D
Delete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI would see it as a red flag. If I realised on my own that an old friendship and a new relationship were so adverse to each other that I'd have to drop one, that would be one (very sad) thing. But if someone--whether the best friend or the boyfriend--were to demand it, that would be something else.
On the other hand, I've actually been in David's position and pulled away from a good friend because I didn't like the guy she was dating at the time. She was very hurt by that and couldn't see why I (and he) didn't try to get along better for her sake. But I really couldn't stand him and was (silently) cheering when they broke up. =P
Now, I may have never demanded that my friend choose between him and me, but I certainly implied it, didn't I? This is why I don't see David's and Elliot's reactions to each other as any different; both of them are putting pressure on Katrina, albeit in different ways. Having said that, I don't think they are the only ones with the potential to be unreasonable in this triangle. If Katrina demands that they get along so that all three of them can hang out together, just because it's her idea of an ideal life, despite what the two men feel about each other, then that's not fair, either.
I see your points!
Deletei understand too well though i don't see how it's not possible to make both work i mean i think you can do thing swith your friend and other woth the boyfriend no need to do everything as a big group
Deletenow it's true it's egoistic to want the relation as We want for her to want you to get along it's not fair it's like the children who said " if you are friend with her then you are not with me" or you are friend with me so with her"... no all relationship are special and depend on thing tangible but also emotion.. if you couldn't stand him you didn't have to suffer for her it's not that being a friend ( though i understand why you think you put pressure on hert....even if it's not really true)
you didn't do bad for me so keep smiling ^^ ( and the boy didn't stay so in a way you were right too)