Time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, a monthly blog hop to exchange ideas and inspire each other. Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating the group–join us here.
Grateful hugs to today’s co-hosts: Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster,Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!
Because June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month, my latest release about healing from PTSD is on sale for 99 pennies. Check out Low Water.
I’m excited to meet readers at BOOKS IN CHARLESTON this month, joining 50+ authors at the Drury Charleston on June 20 from 12-4. Free tickets at Eventbrite.
Charleston, South Carolina is a mere 90 minutes north of me, and my sister’s family and I are turning the book signing into a fun weekend getaway.
June 3 question – Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?
My unlikely start as an author began with penning fan fiction for my favorite TV show, Prison Break. Writing stories about ready-made criminal characters was a helpful launchpad for learning how to express ideas and structure coherent plots. Even in fan fiction, I gave my characters mental health issues and threw them into therapy, and my psychologist career has continued to inspire my writing for the past 20 years. Family dynamics fascinate me and compel me to focus on connection and dialogue in relationships.
Speaking of relationships, I’m a sucker for all the feels from great romance, so my favorite genre is not a surprise. The thrum of UST (unresolved sexual tension) keeps me turning the pages. I also adore happy endings, which are hard to come by in real life sometimes.
In addition to the intriguing worlds of therapy and romance, my experiences with sports have sparked story ideas. The striving, suspense, and competition inherent to swimming, volleyball, and other sports offer rich potential for tragedy and triumph. It’s a blast to write sports romance in particular. One of my favorite sports romance series, Off-Campus, is now a TV series on Amazon that I devoured. I also found that Heated Rivalry sprinkles provocative characterization between the plentiful sex scenes.
Writers, I hope you have a fun and productive June!
Jennifer Lane Books 
Reading books with happy endings is pretty much therapy for me.
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Hi, Liza, I can’t seem to find your blog–would you provide the URL?
Romance + happy endings = therapy for sure!
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Have fun at the book signing event! It’s great that you use your experiences as a therapist and your love of sports to come up with story ideas.
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It’s a challenge to sell many books at events like these, but I enjoy meeting other authors and of course readers.
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I included a swimming rivalry subplot in the book I’m editing. It’s a fertile ground for sure. Romance not my strong point though!
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You had me at swimming rivalry, Nick! I’d be up for beta reading if you need it.
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Good luck with the event!
What sports did you play when younger?
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Thanks, Alex. I started year-round competitive swimming at age 8, including two practices a day through high school and college. But I also played volleyball and to a lesser extent slow-pitch softball. One year I threw shotput and discus. I didn’t really know what I was doing, and one time I threw myself out of the ring while trying to execute the spin move to throw the shotput farther! 😀
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I LOVED Prison Break. Such a good show! I think each of us has probably dabbled with borrowing characters to get our start. I know I did.
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I was all in for Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and a huge Michael-Sara shipper. We all have to start somewhere, I guess.
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I can definitely see how being a psychologist would inspire story ideas and help you understand your characters.
Good luck with the book signing event!
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I do enjoy analyzing characters and their motivations, Sarah! ❤
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Have fun in Charleston!
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Thanks, Ronel!
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I didn’t know about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month until I read your post. Thanks for letting us know and how nice that ties in with your story.
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That was recent news to me as well, C. Lee! Too bad it seems that Draft 2 Digital doesn’t influence the price on Amazon like I hoped.
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Those two shows are in your ballpark for sure.
Congrats on the signing event. Remember to have fun. hehehe
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Heated Rivalry is basically gay porn, and I’m surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did!
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That I didn’t know. hehehe
Ah, love is love….
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I love how your passions have inspired your writing. I’ve been inspired a lot by my career, or former career, in special education. One of my short stories was based on an issue I kept seeing coming up with the high school girls I was working with. Although I was a swimmer, I only included it in my current project, and it’s the antagonist’s passion. But I love including nature, another passion of mine.
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That’s great you’re writing something new, Jenni. What is it about?
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I hope that you have a great time at Books in Charleston, Jennifer. Romance and UST is always fun to read about. All the best to you!
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Thank you for the positive vibes, Louise. 🙂
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I love a book with a happy ending too. Nothing else like that, that could turn the worst of days into the best!
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Happy endings rule! Just listened to a 29-hour audiobook, The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, and the characters went through hell, but I was quite satisfied by the ending. Would you provide your blog URL, Rida?
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I think I’d enjoy writing sports stories, romance included of course. Have a fantastic, successful time with 50 authors! Wow that should be a crowd of readers visiting your table. Best wishes.
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Thanks, J.Q.!
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PS I can’t find your post for this month on your blog. Would you provide a URL?
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