Out in Paperback Today! Click cover to learn more.
There’s a sense in which writers are always “on.” Eavesdropping at a mall food court to get teen dialogue right. Reenacting fight scenes with friends so as to correctly portray body movements. Sneaking a few photos while at the ER with a friend, knowing a hospital scene is coming up in the next book.
But often, using personal experience isn’t a planned thing. Rather, as we’re writing, some earlier life experience floats up from the subconscious to make a scene more realistic or emotional.
Here are a few examples from Secret Christmas Twins, out today (Today! Hooray!) at your bookstore or big-box retailer.
Pushy Dog Love: Jason and Erica, the book’s hero and heroine, get some very sad information. They’re sitting outside on the back stoop trying to process it, despite the winter weather. Since they’re angry with each other, they’re not sitting close. But then the dog they’ve just rescued whines to come out and pushes its way in between them, giving them a laugh and a little comfort.
What dog lover hasn’t had a canine companion push in close when we’re feeling emotional? Dogs sense our feelings and respond with the only kind of compassion they have to offer: physical closeness. Very often when I’m writing—especially on deadline—my little Maltese mix senses my anxiety and squeezes into my writing chair beside me.
Grief without Words: During a quiet moment, the heroine glances in the window at Papa, the hero’s father, who’s recently lost his wife. He’s standing in the front room, which the hero and heroine have decorated for Christmas in order to cheer him up. Papa walks from crèche to crèche, picking up figures and putting them down. It turns out his wife collected them, and each one brings Papa a flood of memories.
Way back in my teenage years, I remember watching my dad study a little rose knickknack he’d bought my mom a few years ago. He put it down, took a few steps, picked up a photograph, and stared at it, his shoulders just a little hunched.
My father had never shared his feelings about my mother leaving him. But in that moment, with no words spoken, I understood the depth of his loss. When I was seeking a way to show Papa’s grief, that moment floated to the surface and got included in my book.
Babies with Delays: The twins in Secret Christmas Twins have verbal and motor delays; they require early intervention and cause the heroine a lot of worry. Will they catch up? Are the delays permanent?
That concern comes from real life, too. When our daughter came home from China at age one, she had both gross motor and language delays. I worried, especially when she was around other babies her age who’d sailed through the developmental milestones she hadn’t yet reached. We were so fortunate to have early intervention services here in Pennsylvania, and the professionals who worked with her will always have my gratitude, both for the help they gave her and for the reassurance they gave me that, yes, babies are resilient.
They were right! My daughter is now an outgoing teenager who loves to talk and who excels at running and gymnastics. So the sense of hope about the Christmas twins’ ability to catch up, conveyed in my novel, is rooted in real life, as well.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into how real life gets transformed into fiction. And I hope you’ll love Secret Christmas Twins! To celebrate its release, I’m doing a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card, chosen from people who comment below TODAY about connections between real life and fiction.
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
I’ve just finished your book and loved it! Fiction is so much closer to life than we give it credit, isn’t it? I remember reading “Sushi for One” by Camy Tang and thinking that her portrayal of the immigrant family, even ones that have been rooted in this country for awhile now, is so spot-on funny and sobering at the same time.
Hi Lee, so true about the connections between fiction and real life! I remember reading a story about a teacher and an experience the heroine had at school, only to go to work (I’m a teacher) the next day and think “oh my goodness, did [the heroine] work at my school!!”
Your daughter sounds like a blessing from God:)
Blessings:)
I’m so glad you liked the book! And Camy’s great–so funny!
Oh yes! In my Christmas book last year, the hero had a disastrous experience helping at his son’s school Christmas party. That was directly from my experience helping (badly) at my daughter’s Easter party.
And you’re right… I thank God every day for bringing our daughter to us.
Love to read these love inspired books! Uplifting spirit for sure!
Hi Lee! As a reader, I think I connect with stories where I can make connections between fiction and real life experiences. Several examples are: As a whole I enjoy Arcadia Valley Romances since the setting and the people’s attitude toward sustainable farming is similar to SW Michigan, but Elizabeth Maddrey’s Baxter Family Bakery series is my favorite. As a teen, I worked in a bakery which made me an early riser. I also relate fiction with real life in Jackie Castle’s Madison Creek Town series. Madison Creek is a small community in Michigan similar to many small communities in SW Michigan. Just finished reading Candy Lane. Candyce returns to her home town and deals with her past and hateful gossip. Many of my former students have experienced the same attitude in our small community. People watching is fun and makes for good writing or telling a good story. Best wishes and thanks for sharing. Amazon gift cards help avid readers with limited funds with their reading addiction.
Lee, I loved the Sacred Bond series. Thanks for writing it. I just finished Christina Coryell’s Backroads series. She really nailed living in a rural setting. I could relate since I grew up on tobacco farms and have recently moved back to my hometown. It’s interesting to read about scenes and the inspiration behind them. I’m so glad your daughter was able to get past her early difficulties. I can only imagine the anxiety you must have experienced back then.
I love the Baxter Family Bakery books, too… they always make me hungry!
Thank you for reading the Sacred Bond books, Sherri. I need to check out Christina Coryell’s books… I love reading about rural settings, though not necessarily living in them!
Lee, I love all of your books, with the Sacred Bond series being my favorite! I find it interesting all that you do to gain information in order to make your story real. I also find it interesting how much you put into the books from your own experiences and past history. Thanks for all of your hard work and for using your story talents to write Christian romance. You are the best!
Fiction mimics real life in stories that grip your heart.
Fun post! I love that your writing was influenced by real life! I think stories like these are more believable, and even more fun to read, maybe because of the connection the reader feels when we can relate to the story. There’s just something about seeing that we’re not alone in life and what we are going through, that we’re not unique. I can’t wait to read this story! The twins are so adorable on the cover!
So many things in real life are also in fiction books. I think for me that this is why I enjoy fiction so much. A lot of what happens in fiction can also happen in real life. I like how you used some of the reality of your girls to go off of into a book of fiction. This sounds like a great book.
I enjoy when I read something in fiction that connects to real life, I identify with the character more and kind of feel like I could know them and could be friends.
Sorry you and your daughter had to go through worries in early life, but I’m really glad you had the chance to do early intervention. Working with preemies I know the difference early intervention can do to someone’s life.
I love this post! I will read it over and over…it is so uplifting! Can’t wait to read your book! Thanks for sharing it and your real life, too!
Blessings~~
A gift card would be verrrry nice! Thanks!
I know that when a book deals with a subject that I’m dealing with, I identify well with the characters, and have often learned good spiritual lessons!
I enjoy reading fiction with real history portrayed. I also enjoy Biblical stories fictionalized.
We lost our little 14 yr old yorkie Sunday so I understand how a dog gives love. It’s so hard to lose them.
You would be a new author for me, so I would hope that we could make connections through your writing. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.
I love how Real Life bubbles into my stories, too. You’re right – it’s often not planned, but little bits do edge in often!
How fun you have TWO books about twins releasing so close together! Loved the little girls in Wise at Heart, too.
I love reading how authors put their real experience into their stories. Somehow it seems to make them more real.
What comes to mind about connections between real life and fiction is the writing of Irene Hannon. I lived in St. Louis for twenty years . Irene wrote about places that I frequented: the little bookshop in Maplewood, the tearoom/ shop that featured products that women made — across the street from my Church in LaDue, the Bread Companies in Kirkwood and Brentwood. Just lots of places I could actually go to. That made her stories more real to me. I emailed her to tell her about them and she said that I had the most connections of anyone she had heard from.
Remember to communicate with your favorite authors. They like to hear from you!
true about the connections between fiction and real life! I am looking forward to reading Secret Christmas Twins . Thank you for the opportunity to win. I enjoy reading your books.
Twins are fun! Yes most babies do catch up. They are sometimes on their own developmental plan though!
Oh no, Gail, I’m sorry for your loss! Dogs are so much a part of the family. I can only imagine how you must be feeling.
My daughter’s been on her own plan throughout her life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a great kid and there’s never a dull moment. :)
Yes, authors do like to hear from readers!
Thank you so much for the encouragement, Debbie–I really appreciate it.
Let me know how you like it, Becky.
Bless you for your work with those vulnerable babies.
For me I don’t read for real life connections, my life has sucked so much for so long that I read to escape my reality.
I see quite a few similarities between real life and fiction from my point of view is God speaks to me from
the fiction point. Whether its from a quote or circumstances. I love that.
I understand… books have gotten me through some very rough stretches. I hope things look up in the near future.
I agree that God speaks through stories… one of Jesus’s favorite ways to get a point across.
I have worked with special needs kids and even if they never reach the goals that others do, they are still precious in God’s eyes as well as mine
I think I relate more to books that have real-life connections to me, whether it be in experiences, settings, or character traits, etc. For example, I love small towns and live in one, so I enjoy books that are set in small towns. Thanks for sharing about your book. It sounds wonderful!
Great post! I love fiction books that share a deeper message or explores themes through the story, using the lives of the characters as examples I can learn from. A book I recently read that really stands out is Just Look Up by Courtney Walsh, and it really touched me with the importance of getting out of our devices and putting more effort into connecting with the people around us.
You are so right.
How big is your town, Winnie? Do you think small towns are portrayed realistically in romance novels?
So true, Heidi. I know I spend way too much time on my phone and computer, and I need to put them away more often.
Congrats on your release. It sounds like another good one.
I’ve often enjoyed reading about babies, and my heart goes to all pregnant women who have experienced worries during their pregnancy. I’ve read a few books with scary moments, but all with happy endings (of course). When I was pregnant I actually read about a mom who fainted.. and guess what, I ended up in the hospital too, just like her. I didn’t have to stay overnight like her (for which I’m extremely grateful), but the scare is there.
I want to praise you for the release of your new book. Looks to be a good one.
I enjoy reading about babies and small children. These type of books bring out real life situations and how they are handled by the individuals. I never had any problems with my pregnancies, only had one miscarriage though and that was a difficult time for me. But my other children gave me much joy in life.
God looks out for all of us especially the little ones that come into this world.
Bless you
I’ve heard that authors can take real life situations and make a scene in a book from it. I think anything can be fodder for a story :-)
There are often times that I can relate to a character in a book because they are going through something I am or was. It can help me in ways I never thought of. Another reason I love reading Christian fiction is how the faith element is played out in the story. God has spoken to me through the authors words on the pages and often through the characters themselves. I love finding those little reminders :-)
Lee what a great post! Thank you for the gift card giveaway chance.
I was once (over 25 years ago) told that “your characters are you, in major and minor ways. Don’t ignore it.” As I write, I find that increasingly true, as does real life help me to _be_ realistic in dialogue, and scenes.
When we moved back here in 2001, there were about 7,000 people. It’s grown a lot since, and there are now about 10,500 people. A lot of the open fields are being sold for houses and apartments, and it’s losing a lot of the rural feel, which is sad. There are a lot of authors that portray small town life very realistically. RaeAnne Thayne, who is a best-selling author on NY Times, US Today, and Publishers Weekly, lives in about 5 miles from me in another small town. She does a great job of writing realistic small towns. It might be kind of hard to portray small towns realistically if you’ve never lived in one, though. They have such a different feel. My husband came from a small town of about 250 people. That’s a bit too small for me.