Dear Friend,
Some days you’ve got it, some days you don’t! What is inspiration, anyway?
For me, it’s a feeling, a positive idea. I’ve written that the entire concept for my Louisa’s Vineyard Series came to me after visiting vineyards and “sleeping on it.” The next morning, the ideas came to me as I woke up. So, my busy brain worked on it as I slept.
I’ve found that if I think about a concept, as I’m lying in bed getting ready to sleep, the idea I’ve thought about will often manifest itself in my dreams.
Some nights, an idea or inspiration wakes me up. I often keep a pen and paper by my bed so I can jot it down before I lose the thought. In the dark, I can’t promise that my handwriting will be legible in the morning.
I love that when I wake up, I often find inspiration. It makes waking up a more pleasurable experience. (As opposed to – “no! I’m not getting up.” Then, turning over and going back to sleep.)
For my characters, since they’re like real people to me, I want them to experience inspirations, too. Their inspiration comes from my inspiration. I was researching purchasing new sheets since my type of sheets isn’t always available. Online, I looked at various vendors and finally found sheets in the type and colors my husband and I prefer.
What do you know? That search for sheets became part of my new book.
Louisa inspired Will with a passing comment about sheets. Will ran with the idea. In two months, he came up with six different colorful designs. Then he researched sources for cotton, suppliers for elastic (for the fitted sheets), manufacturers for fabric, companies to create the sheets with his designs, and promotional approaches.
Will is a genius in disguise! He’s also a whirlwind of energy when he becomes inspired.
I wish we all could reach that level of inspiration!
However, hang in there. I’m putting the finishing touches on The Greatest Thing’s manuscript before I send it to ARC readers. I plan to launch the book by summer reading season. I’ll let you all know first when you can pre-order The Greatest Thing.
Meanwhile, consider Love at First Sight, which is available now. Click here to learn more and purchase it. It’s a true Valentine’s Day treat, steamy and romantic, for yourself or someone you love. It’ll also make you laugh, a worthy source for inspiration.
Happy Valentine’s Day (next week!) and Happy Reading!
Shelley Sommers
