I’ve been doing a lot of work on a side project lately that has involved examining some of the common characters in romance (cowboys, billionaires, athletes, law enforcement, etc). One of the characters that I have been spending some time studying recently is Widows and Widowers. I love these stories, but I only recently understood […]
The Smell of a Story
Pop quiz! What do these items have in common: Apple pie Skunk Lemon Campfire Lilacs Rotting garbage Answer: They all have strong smells. And at least some of those smells probably call up strong memories in your mind. I feel like our sense of smell is one of our most under-appreciated senses. But it’s also […]
Character Interview: Meet Toni Wakefield from Muskoka
Today I’d like to welcome Toni Wakefield to the readers of Inspy Romance. Toni is a mother and an artist based in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Welcome, Toni. Thanks so much for having me today. So, let’s begin. Tell us how long you’ve been living in Muskoka. My brother and I moved […]
What’s in a character’s name?
In my upcoming novella collection, We Three Kings, I’m writing a contemporary story to follow two historical stories. It’s basically three billionaire romances where the heroes come from the same family, and they make their money from gold in the 1800s, frankincense in the 1900s, and myrrh in modern day (my story). The family name […]
Where Do I Live?
When authors write a story, they have to build the world in which the characters live. For most of my stories, I create a fictional, small town near a real, large city. Besides making a town where my characters live, I have to decide where they call home. Will it be an apartment, a bungalow, […]
Loving the Unlikable Character
A few years back, there was a certain novel people couldn’t stop talking about (I won’t name the book, but it was secular, not Christian and not romance). The reviews were fantastic and everyone seemed to love it—so I decided to give it a read. I have never been so disappointed in a book in […]
Shoulders, Jawlines, and Pecs, Oh My! Beneath the Hero’s Surface & Giveaway
Poor, poor men. They’re always being judged on their appearance, shape, and size instead of their personality. The pretty ones have it the worst because people assume they are all beauty and no brains. Just imagine how unappreciated romance heroes feel with their broad shoulders, thick hair perfect for a good hand rake, and ideal […]
Makings of Beloved Supporting Characters
I love my main characters. Most of the heroines and heroes I’ve written feel like dear friends. I’ve cheered them on, celebrated their happily ever afters, and even prayed for them (yes, really!). But something dawned on me recently. While I love my leading men and women, it’s some of the supporting characters I’ve penned […]
What’s Your Name? What’s Your Story?
Characters are the most important element in the story for me as a writer and a reader. So getting to know my characters tops the list. Often the actually writing helps me know my characters. I know some writers interview the characters to learn about them, but that doesn’t work for me because I am […]
Quiz: Could You be a Heroine in a Romance Novel?
It’s wedding season! I love hearing all the stories of how couples got together. It inspires me to write better because, really, there are a lot of overused tropes out there. I’ve overused them myself. Though I’m happily married, and I feel like my love story would make good fodder, do I really have what […]