Hi everyone! I decided to do things a little differently this week. Instead of an excerpt from the book, I am sharing a recent Q&A with Silver Dagger Book Tours I had about the story.
What inspired you to write this book?
Short answer, I dreamed about a dress, so I wrote the description, characters and then scene.
The long answer is that I did dream about a dress, a wedding gown. I wanted to know more about it, and since I cannot draw one, I wrote it out. Then the woman who was wearing it came forward and why she had it on, which was much more than just a wedding. Then the scene itself played out, where I learned she had been poisoned. From that moment forward Emerald told me what she wanted to say and to whom.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in La Roe’s Curse?
This question is why character sheets are so important…
Emerald is over 300 years old; she was cursed on her wedding day by her groom and has been spending the last several hundred years trying to survive. Curing herself has never really been her focus, as far as she can tell nothing can kill her short of decapitation, and she is not likely to allow that. She owns her business, sets her hours and for the most part is very self-reliant. The only one in her life that knows about her is Katie, her employee and close friend. Emerald does not like asking for help but when Katie is in danger, she seeks out Max, her competitor.
Max is a werewolf who also happens to have his own detective agency. Max has both respect and aggravation towards Emerald. He thinks that she can do more than she has been, and it upsets him when she pulls further away. Max is in for a slight surprise at how little he knows about the woman who haunts him at night.
Stefan, what can we say about him…? He is Emerald’s Husband; he is the one who cursed her. He is also the only one that can save her. Stefan is much older than Emerald and has had a hard life up to meeting her and beyond. He comes across as the villain for much of the story. However, not everything is as it seems.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
I name all my characters based on their characteristics. Emerald La Roe has green eyes and red hair. Stefan has black hair and blue eyes. I scour through baby name books, websites, and meaning of words, until I find the one that matches or slaps me in the face.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
Definitely highjacked! You have met Max, right?
He was never meant to be a main character to the story, but he is and a pivotal one at that. I thought that he would be an antagonist but also motivational to her growth as a character. He is and does, but then he became so much more. I can remember arguing in my head with Emerald stating the fact that he’s getting to close to her. She of course responded… its my story so tell it the way I want.
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I can't imagine letting a man I want dead into my bed. Poor Emerald faces a real dilemma.
ReplyDeleteHi Kryssie,
DeleteUnfortunately for Emerald that is only one of things she faces. Thank you for your comment and stopping by!
Dee
Interesting segment here. Enjoyed reading the interview
ReplyDeleteHi Janet,
DeleteThank you for your compliment and for stopping by!
Dee
Interesting interview -- it was a good idea to share it with us.
ReplyDeleteHi Ed,
DeleteThank you for your compliment and for stopping by! Happy New Year!
Dee
Fascinating origin to the story, Dee. I've had dreams that inspired short stories, but never a novel.
ReplyDeleteI also really like the fact that your "villain" may not be. In the real world, everyone is the hero of his or her own story... and everyone has reasons for what they've done. They feel justified. Bringing that truth to the reader helps make a book ring true.
Hi Lisabet,
DeleteMy second novel was inspired by sitting at the kitchen table one day and watching the rain fall. I ended up writing about the feelings that it inspired and before I knew it Shayla had came to life.
Thank you so much, I really had no idea that Stefan was going to be the hero when I first met him. You are right though, his actions were based on his perceptions of what was 'right or wrong'. Perhaps, I will share a bit more in Stefan's side of the story next time.
Thank you so much for your compliment and for stopping by. Happy New Year!
Dee