Where Do Writing Ideas Come From--Especially for a Circus Romance?
Readers ask me where I get ideas for stories.
Ideas come from everywhere, and often at times when I least expect them--from
newspaper and magazine articles, dreams, personal experiences, books, and movies--and so forth.
Yet from that germ of an idea my characters have sprung to life, fought their “dragons,” and won the battle!
Okay, now for an example.
One day back when I first started writing, I read a magazine article about a circus family who performed as trapeze artists.
The
son who’d been interviewed for the article said he was always careful
not to make friends with teens “on the outside” because soon the circus
would move on and he might never see that friend again.
What a perfect conflict between an everyday teen gal and a guy who is committed to travel and perform with the circus! I decided.
I told my critique group, “I think I can do this!”
So
I started researching the realities of circus life, trapeze artists,
and circus veterinary medicine. Then I began writing and rewriting.
Several months later
Merry Christmas,
Marcie was born.
Imagine my surprise when I received a phone call from Silhouette’s YA editor
only three days after I’d submitted the manuscript.
I nearly jumped for joy when she offered me a contract!
After Merry Christmas, Marcie was published, a spin-off evolved--Summer Magic. Now an
older Marcie has emerged (I changed her name to Lisa), plus the central
conflict has taken on on a slightly different twist. Lisa,
now a certified veterinarian assistant, accepts a job to work for the
circus vet whom we met in the first story. Although she realizes the
earlier assistants had lasted only a short time because the vet was so
difficult to please, Lisa is willing to take on the challenge. She
needs money to pay off medical bills following a serious snowboarding
accident. Soon, however, Lisa questions her ability to pass her
probation, especially as one calamity with the circus animals follows
another. Even Michael, the
dashing trapeze artist whom she’s strongly attracted to, expresses his
doubts, which disheartens her further. Still worse, Michael will not
follow her if she leaves. Recently, he’d given up circus life to work on "the outside" and was totally miserable. He knew he had to get back to the circus, no matter what. Again a barrier looms between Lisa and Michael: she,
the “townie” who will always most likely end up on the outside again,
and he, the devoted circus performer who will always stay.
Blurb for SUMMER MAGIC
When her fiance calls off their engagement, veterinarian assistant Lisa
Prentice joins the circus in hopes of escaping the everyday grind. But
life under the big top isn't quite what she expected. None of the
veterinarian's former assistants managed to please their short-tempered
boss, and Lisa fears that her days are numbered, too. Michael Figaro, a
dashing young trapeze artist, is also caution about whether Lisa can
stay, and because of that, he tries to keep his distance. Still, Lisa
finds herself overwhelmingly attracted to him. Although Michael is the
aerialist, it is Lisa who is flying on an emotional high wire. What
happened to her safety net? Will their love survive?
R
eviews for SUMMER MAGIC
"This breezy romance follows Lisa Prentice, a veterinarian
assistant, as she begins her new job traveling with the Jessell and
Stern Circus. She is interested in continuing the care of an Arabian
horse named Ebony that she helped to save while the circus was on a
layover in New York. Of course, she has other reasons for "running
away with the circus". Her fiance', a prominent lawyer, has recently
dumped her for another attorney. Lisa wants to heal by concentrating
on her career. Enter Michael Figaro, the star aerialist with the
circus and the son of the circus owner. Immediately, there are sparks
between the two. However, Michael also has a jealous twin, a trapeze
artist named Claudette, and Rita, the pretty aerialist who would like
his attention. When Claudette begins to fall in the ring, Michael
begins to spend more time with Rita, training her for Claudette's
position. Will romance blossom between the two, or will his love for
Lisa prevail?
This book is an example of the perfect romance. I enjoyed Ms.
Voeller's ability to switch between the point of views of Lisa and
Michael. I felt I knew all the characters very well. There were a few
side plots beyond Lisa and Michael's romance, and I found that they
only enhanced the feeling of the story. This is a great story to read
in one sitting and spend a few hours swept away in the magic of the
circus." Bethany Payne, Round Table Reviews
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