As most of you have heard, some of us are part of the SPLASH! novella collection releasing in just a couple weeks! I was so excited to be among those asked to be a part of it!
The only real requirement was that it involve water. If you read through the descriptions, you’ll see there’s a river in Africa, a lake, beach, all sorts of water related goings-on!
The harder I tried to figure out how to set a story on a nearby lake, the more I wasn’t coming up with anything. But then…
One of my kids asked a question about swim team. And it hit me.
(Are you ready for my epiphany?!)
Pools. Have. Water.
If you’re a follower on my Facebook page, you know the local town pool is my home-away-from-home during the summer (it’s Thursday night…I’ve spent at least fifteen hours there this week – and it’s been a slow week). So why didn’t I think of it earlier? Who knows!!! Now that I had…
The Serenity Landing Aquatic Center is an already established location. It appears in Falling for Mr. Write and is mentioned in Finally Mr. Write (and will play a part in some of the books already written that are set in Serenity Landing).
So… Pool. How to send the characters to a pool and why would two single, kidless teachers be hanging out at the city pool (because at the time, I thought it would be about Samantha and Vince* from Good Enough for a Princess). Yeah. Not working.
Then one of my kids mentioned a favorite lifeguard. Another ton of bricks hit.
And, with that, it all fell into place.
In Finally Mr. Write, there’s a nanny named Alivia, who is also a lifeguard. A year or so after the events of Finally Mr. Write, Alivia is set to resume her duties as a lifeguard for the summer. And guess who she meets at the very first meeting of the year. Yep. Cute, new, boy lifeguard CJ Kenton. And her best friend/boss is doing her best to set them up.
But I needed to know what goes on behind the scenes at the pool.
That’s where being actively involved in your kids’ swim team comes in handy!
Though ultimately not chosen, this picture didn’t have a prayer of working without water in the pool!
A few texts later, I had a lunch date with the real Alivia. We spent a couple hours going over how stuff works and some of the emergencies they’ve experienced since she’s worked there (one of them made it in this novella). I’d write a bit, send it to her for approval. Write some more, send it off. Went out for lunch again to clarify a few more things (and possibly an excuse to have fabulous BBQ again). And soon, a whole novella was written!
Then it was time to look for a cover. It’s not easy to find stock photos of lifeguards that are:
A. Appropriate (while lifeguard suits are perfectly appropriate for a hot summer day poolside or on the beach, notsomuch for the book cover of an inspirational romance)
B. At an outdoor town pool
C. Not just wrong on some level or other
So…another text. And a promise that I could take pics of Alivia and another guard friend for the cover. But the water wouldn’t be in the pool for about another month. You can’t really take pics of lifeguards at a pool with no water. It just doesn’t work!
A couple weeks ago, there was finally water, so Alivia and another guard friend, Adam, met me at the pool one day, and we spent about an hour taking pictures. It was super chilly, but they were troopers! And I got some great shots.
The one I promised wouldn’t be on the cover? Uh…oops ;).
The character Alivia and my friend Alivia aren’t the same person, though they do look a lot alike. Originally, the part was just supposed to be a two line, sort of throwaway character but a hat tip to an awesome friend. In the end, the character was perfect to grow into something more than that. In this one, some of our other guard friends saw their names pop up – and they just might end up with a story of their own before too long.
In honor of the upcoming release of The Lifeguards, the Swim Team, and Frozen Custard, I’m giving one lucky commenter an ecopy of their choice of any of my books, including the SPLASH! collection once it realases! To enter, let me know…
What is the one question you’ve wished you could ask an author about the creation process, but have never had the chance?
*Look for Samantha and Vince’s story later this year!
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
Carol, I’m intrigued by the premise of your story and looking forward to reading it. I’m glad all those hours by the pool have been useful for research :)
Carol, this sounds like another great romance story. Love the scoop you shared in how it all came about. I really can’t wait to read all about it.
I always enjoy hearing how an author finds inspiration for a story. For me it gives me a greater appreciation for the creativity and work put into the telling of it. I have “Splash!” ordered for my kindle. I can’t wait to read it this summer!!!!
Where do your ideas come from? Dreams, life, people?
I was a lifeguard & yes… pools have – need water :)
When you get ideas do you write them on paper or on computer.
Love your books and can’t wait for next one.
Thanks, Narelle! All those hours were good for something :D.
Thanks, Dana! I hope you enjoy it!
I hope you enjoy the stories, Stacey! I love hearing how other authors came up with their ideas too!
Is “yes” a too simplistic answer?! ;) The reality is, they come from all kinds of places – real life, real people, real stories, not too many dreams for me personally. You hear something interesting then twist it and tweak it until it’s something you can’t wait to write!
Hi, Linda! I usually write them down on the computer – in an “idea” file. Sometimes I have more details than others. Or I’ll email them to a critique partner or other friend. I’ll never get to them all :p.
Your novella sounds great, Carol! And I enjoyed reading how it was created and some of the back-story to finding the cover. So glad that your lifeguard friends were willing to help out :-) Funny how a story will come about isn’t it? Just from one of your kids asking about the swim team & talking about a favorite lifeguard! It’s like God orchestrated it all at that perfect moment when you most needed it…awesome! I really need to have this novella collection for myself now! I’ve read each post some of the author’s have written and shared about their novellas and I know I would very much enjoy this! I would love to be entered into win a copy, thank you!
Keep on writing for His glory and our reading pleasure!
Thanks, Trixie! I agree – all of the authors in this group are fabulous!!!! I haven’t had a chance to read all of them yet, but have the file on my Kindle so I can :D. And if there’s an author or twol you haven’t read yet? What a great way to try them out! Like you said, God totally orchastrated it and I love how He does! You’re entered!