Where do you get your ideas?

Where do you get your ideas? That's a question that is often asked of writers. As I prepare to begin Book Three, I thought I'd share my process.

I've been wracking my brains for a few months for the next great idea but everything seemed stale and lifeless until a couple of days ago when # 1 Reader mentioned the word cult.

That's all. Just that one word. Cult.

My brain perked up but I didn't have time to think consciously about the concept, and it wasn't until yesterday that things began to gel. This is how it happened. Honestly.

I was driving along thinking about nothing when out of the blue, Signy Shepherd appeared in the passenger seat. I barely had a chance to register that shocking fact when she started talking.

Signy: Hey, writer girl.

Me: Who---?

Signy: Calm down. It's only me. Signy.

Me: What the---?

Signy: (cranking her eyes to heaven) Are you deliberately trying to piss me off?

Me: (with my usual flair for witty dialogue) Eh?

Signy: Get a grip, lady. I have a job for you.

Me: What are you talking about?

Signy: (peering closely at me) Are you really the writer? Cause, I have to say that slack jaw is making me nervous.

Me: (eyes darting) No....I mean yes. I'm the writer.

Signy: Well, start acting like one for God's sake, and pay attention. Something's happened and I need your help.

Me: My what?

Signy: Seriously? You've done this a couple of times now, what aren't you getting?

Me:  (finally twigging to the glint of amused excitement in her eyes) Oh, you mean you want me to write something?

Signy: Give the girl a pink balloon.

Me: (thinking about what on earth a pink balloon has to do with anything) Eh?

Signy: Never mind, just listen up.

Me: Yes Ma'am.

Signy: What do you know about cults?

Me: Um. Jim Jones. Koolaid?

Signy: (shaking her head) Looks like you have some work to do.

Me: Work?

Signy: God, you're annoying. Look, there's this girl. She's being held captive in the wilds of Eastern Ontario. The cult leader is a real piece of work, a manipulative psychopath. No way she can get out on her own and the cops can't help. 

Me: (smiling broadly) Trapped inside a cult, eh? Sounds cool.

Signy: (frowning) I'm not sure the word cool is the right choice.

Me: I didn't mean to suggest-----

Signy:  Look. I can't imagine how or why the average Joe gets drawn in by these charismatic creeps, so you need to get cracking. I'm going to need a lot of intel before I infiltrate the place.

Me: Hold on. You're going undercover?

Signy: Of course. How else will I be able to rescue the girl?

Me: But a place like that would be remote, off-grid. There would be no one around for miles. God only knows what kind of crazy stuff you'd have to face.

Signy: (smacking the dashboard with her palm) That's why I need your help. I need you to find out everything you can about the compound, the freak who runs the group, and anything else you think might be important. (she leans in) And, you have to hurry. I don't know how much time she has left.

Me: (eyes on the road ahead) I can do that. It sounds awesome.

Signy: (smiling at me, her blue eyes flashing) Come on. You don't remember the hipster doofus word for awesome?

Me: Um. I'll ask my daughter.

Signy: (sighing) I won't lie. A younger writer would have been easier to work with, but I'm stuck with you, so get moving on that research, okay? We're running out of time.

Me: You bet. I'm on it. I won't let you down.

Signy: I'm not worried, writer girl. I'm gonna be on your case night and day until we get this situation resolved.

Me: Awesome.

Signy: God, this is going to be a long trip. Quit talking and drive, okay?

Me: (gripping the wheel) Yes, Ma'am. 


AND THAT...is how I get my ideas.

p.s. Hipster doofus word for awesome is SICK. Try and remember that.

What Next?

For me, February 14, 2014 was not just another day of hearts and candy. This year, Valentine's day was the submission date set by Simon and Schuster, Canada, for my second novel.

On February 14, after consuming copious amounts of chocolate, I held my breath and sent the (hopefully) final version of Dark Territory off to Alison Clarke.

Alison had already read a previous draft and provided me with excellent editorial suggestions as well as some confidence building feedback. She liked it! Phew.

I also sent a copy off to Anne McDermid, my agent, who got back to me within a couple of days to say that she had loved the book, and was looking forward to beginning the process of selling the series. Double Phew!

Meanwhile, my youngest daughter was married in a fairy tale wedding, and we sold our current house and bought a new one. Not to mention our wonderful dog, Sophie, who, having just recovered from knee surgery was forced to go under the knife again when her hip gave out. Stress anyone?

Finally, however, the dust has settled, and I can breathe again. It was an exciting ride but now I am ready to start moving forward again.

What next? Supposedly, I will soon receive advance reading copies of my first novel, Blown Red, although to be perfectly honest, I never count chickens until they are hatched.  But, if I am very lucky and everything goes according to plan, then I expect I will have some major work to do over the next many months in preparation of the publication date. I just read a cautionary tale of an author who neglected his self-promotion duties and paid the ultimate price. Few sales....disinterested publisher. As much as I loathe self-promotion, I know I will have to bite the bullet and get cracking - starting with website development and a regular blogging schedule. At least it will be fun to step out of my comfort zone and learn something new.

Book Three is calling me, as well. I only have a two book contract with S and S so my urge to start plotting the third in the Signy Shepherd series has nothing to do with contractual obligations. Rather, the characters are demanding to be heard. Signy wants to know what is going to happen with Ben Tran. Will he be 'the one' or will their relationship fumble along the way? 

Grace wants to know if she is going to recover from her PTSD, whether she and Kim will work things out, and whether she will ever make it back onto the Line.

The Tracker wants to know who killed his mother and stole him away from his sister. He is dying to know whether he and Signy will be able to work together to solve that terrible puzzle, or whether Signy will continue to shut him out of her life.

And, of course, somewhere out there, a young woman is in desperate need of help from the Line. Will Signy get to her in time?

On a totally different note, my DBT skills partner and I, are also ready to get back on track with our online counselling idea. We will be ramping up our efforts on that front over the coming months.
 
I'm looking forward to the brain-rattling challenges of the upcoming year, as well as the inevitable setbacks. Whatever the final outcome of my various projects, I am already thrilled. It isn't the end result that interests me, it is the journey along the way, and 2014  promises to be a whirlwind.

What could be better?