I’m not exactly sure when or why I decided to write a romance about a television actress and a makeup artist who work together, because I’m not a big TV or movie person. I think my main idea was “two women who work together,” because a huge part of romance is giving your characters time together—if they work together then that’s half my creative battle done. Easy, simple, job done. Right?
Wrong, wrong, so dead wrong, E. J.
I soon realized that having my characters working on a television set for 10-ish hours every day still isn’t enough interaction, and I was back to square one of “how can I shove my leading ladies together more?” The solution (after a bunch of failed attempts to answer my own question) was a charity tennis match that my actress, Steph, got voluntold for. Luckily, my makeup artist, Harper, happens to be an amazing tennis player. Thus, the great “I’m a bad at tennis and you’re not, please help me and we’ll start spending more time together” was born. Thinking on this now, I think it really shows how my ideas evolve and adapt to book needs, because an actress, a makeup artist, and…tennis? What an odd combo.
When I have an idea for a novel, the first thing I usually start with is: How do my leading ladies meet? Most of the time, I want an amusing situation that I can turn into a story, because if there’s one thing I love, it’s being amused. For Make or Break, I kind of robbed myself of that amusement, trading it in for two women who have been working together for a while, are comfortable with one another, and have been a lil (lot) bit flirty over the years. I consoled myself with the fact that I didn’t have to introduce my characters to each other, spend time with the getting-to-know-yous because they’re basically there—they just needed a kick in the pants to get beyond the “people who work together” to the “hey, I think you’re hot, wanna kiss?” And that’s where I came in. I’ve never considered myself a pants kicker for my characters, but it makes perfect sense and sounds far more fun than author.
I don’t think it’s a secret (at least not if you’ve read any of these rambles before) that my true love is characters, and all their gorgeous dialogue and interactions. Plots and conflicts can go kick rocks. Unfortunately, I don’t think my “talking heads with some sex scenes” book will ever take off, so…I needed plot, which means I needed information on things I had little or no information on. Once again I turned to good ol’ Google, and a lot of very helpful people who responded to my plaintive wails about what happens while filming television shows and is this what you’d call that place and why can’t I just go this way to get from Point A to Point B in Los Angeles?!
Seriously though, could I get away with a “talking heads with some sex scenes” book? In the meantime, while I’m pondering that, I hope you enjoy Make or Break as much as I enjoyed creating Steph and Harper’s story.
Sincerely,
E. J. Noyes, Pants Kicker for Characters