Behind the Scenes

A while back, I read a book by Paul Collins called Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books that stated that a writer’s characters can no more take over a story than an eggplant can take over a kitchen.  I had to laugh at the image of a bossy eggplant marching into my kitchen (and I sort of wish it could take over in there, because I’m a terrible cook), but I have to disagree about the characters.

 Sometimes we’re lucky enough to meet a character who comes so vividly to life in our imagination that their story must be told—and they insist it has to be told their way!  One such character for me was Lady Anna Blacknall.

 Anna was the sister of Eliza Blacknall, the heroine of my first “Daughters of Erin” book, Countess of Scandal.  When I started writing that first novel, I knew Anna would have her own story, but I wasn’t sure yet what it would be.  Then I really “met” her, and she was so many things that I wish I could be: blond, tall, extroverted, a good card player.  Even worse—she was really nice.  She practically sat down by my desk and told me what her story would be.  I just had to find the right hero for her, and he presented himself as the dark, strong, mysterious Duke of Adair.  A good match for the passionate and rebellious Anna, and the two of them were more than a match for me.  She told me their love story, and I just had to keep up and write it all down just as she wanted. 

 Writing Duchess of Sin was a wild ride, and I was so sorry to say goodbye to Anna and Conlan at The End!  (Luckily we’ll see them again in the third book, Lady of Seduction.  You can also find excerpts and historical background on the books at my website, laurelmckee.net.)