By Susan Lyons/Fox
Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? Not for me, because I have a brand-new release—THE NAUGHTY LIST, Brava’s 2010 holiday anthology. This is my first multi-author anthology for Brava—and I’m thrilled to be there alongside stars Donna Kauffman and Cynthia Eden.
When Kensington asked me to be a part of this holiday anthology, I immediately started playing with ideas.
The last Christmas story I wrote, “Unwrap Me” in UNWRAP ME, was set in Vancouver, BC. I live in Vancouver and love it, but we’re not exactly known for snowy Christmases. This time, I wanted a holiday story set in snow country.
And the setting was obvious, because I was brainstorming this novella in the build-up to the 2010 Olympics in Whistler. Whistler, when the Olympics aren’t happening there, is perhaps an even more intriguing community. It’s a small town—yet it’s an international resort.
As I started thinking about characters, I realized it was the small town aspect I wanted to focus on. I love “going home” stories, such as “you can never go home again” or “you have to go home again.” In “Tattoos and Mistletoe,” I chose “you have to go home again.” In other words, if you’ve had a really rotten past, you have to come to terms with it before you can be a truly whole person and move on to build a happy future.
So I found (because characters and I find each other, it’s not like I actually “create” them) Charlie Coltrane. The girl from the wrong side of the tracks who…well, I’ll let her say it in her own words, if you’ll pardon the language.
People had assumed the kid of two loser drunks had to be a loser, too. That gave Charlie two choices: let them know she gave a fuck, or tell them to fuck off. She’d had enough pride that the first choice wasn’t an option.
A graffiti artist, arrested, suspended from school, almost raped by her date at the Christmas dance, orphaned at Christmas, then shunned by her remaining relative, no wonder she dropped out of school, left town, and vowed never to return.
Of course, I had to force her back there—courtesy of the aunt who’d shunned her, who at the end of her life was suffering from guilt and, just maybe, the urge to matchmake. How the aunt and I finessed this… Well, let’s just say there’s one very hot tool-belt guy involved! A guy who just happened to play a role in Charlie’s past.
Don’t you think high school geeks deserve happy endings? Those genius science nerds whose brains were overdeveloped but who kind of lagged behind in other areas? The ones who had crushes on the very baddest girls—like Charlie Coltrane? Yeah, that’s LJ Jacoby, and man, did he grow up fine!
As I had fun getting to know Charlie and LJ and the two of them got to know each other, we all found out that sometimes, if you work through the baggage you’ve dragged around from your teens, you can envision a brighter future than you’d ever dared dream. Especially if there’s a sprinkle of Christmas magic, and a big bunch of mistletoe!
What’s your view on baggage from the past? Should a person just toss it off the bridge and forget all about it? Could you do that? Or do you figure that, at some point in a person’s life, they’re going to have to come to terms with it? And, as a second question, if that one’s too heavy for you, when do you think publishers should release their holiday books? Is late September too early?
Someone who comments will receive a copy of THE NAUGHTY LIST—autographed by all three authors!
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To read the back cover blurb for THE NAUGHTY LIST or to read Susan bio, see yesterday’s post. Visit Susan’s website to learn more about her and her books.
Sounds like a story I need to read, Susan! You managed to hit a bunch of the buttons that make me sit up and take note — old emotional baggage, the “bad” girl, the geek guy…. I’m all over it!
With the temperatures dropping and the leaves starting to fall, it’s not too early for me to think ‘holidays.’ Charlie sounds like a great character. I’m looking forward to reading her story! Congratulations on the release!
Ooh, I love hitting those buttons, Norah! As you can probably tell, I had a lot of fun with these characters.
Thanks, Laura. I love Charlie. As a YA author, I know that you know how important teen experiences are in shaping personality. The grownup Charlie has that vibe of “I’m tough; I’m a self-made woman and I’m doing great” – and yet underneath that self-protective shell she’s built up over the years, there’s a core of emotional vulnerability and longing for love. But of course it’s very tough for her to acknowledge it, and to let herself be vulnerable. (A story that many of us, I’m sure, can relate to…)
I love holiday books, even in October. I’ve really been looking forward to reading this book.
The character Charlie sounds fantastic….can’t wait to read and see how she deals with her past. As for when seasonal (Christmas) books should be released? I say September/October sounds perfect….some folks ARE starting their Christmas shopping. Best Wishes, Lisa
Hi Linda. Glad it’s not too early for you, and how lovely to hear you’ve been looking forward to The Naughty List.
Thanks, Lisa. Christmas shopping? You really had to mention Christmas shopping, did you? LOL.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Susan.
Susan, your story sounds great and I love the cover.
No way do I think a person should toss their emotional baggage and forget about it. If you don’t work through it, it usually comes back to bite you in the butt later on. I’ve seen this happen to too many people I care about. That said, it’s easier to work through baggage if someone who cares about YOU is pushing you (which is often the case in romance novels). Sometimes we need to get jogged out of comfort zones to get a fresh perspective on an aspect of our lives and pasts.
I admit, the end of September “sounds early” for a Xmas release, but like Lisa says, an earlier release means you can order early, especially if you like to give Christmas-themed stories as gifts.
Cindy, you’re so right about having someone who cares about you push you. That’s exactly what happens in “Tattoos and Mistletoe.” LJ, the hero nudges and seduces, and when that still doesn’t get Charlie to confront her demons, he gives her an ultimatum. But also, becuase of her, he’s confronted a demon of his own (parental judgment and disapproval) and stood up for what he believes in. I love seeing growth and change in both the hero and the heroine in a romance.
At think that at some point in a persons life they will need to face it. Its often hard but a needed thing to get over it and move on.
Late September might be as early as I think it would be ok to release. October/November though are perfect times.
Thanks, Donna. It’s tough to be “whole” when there are things you haven’t faced.
The past has a way of catching up to all of us, whether we are ready or not. Sometimes the thing we fear doing the most actually turns out to be the best thing we could have done. I can’t wait to read Charlie’s story and find out how she rises from the ashes of her past.
Elizabeth, I love the symbolism of the phoenix rising from the ashes. That’s very true for Charlie. And yes, the thing she swore she’d never do – return to Whistler after the town was so mean to her – is the thing that’s the key to her future. Hope you enjoy the story!
Your story sounds great! Just from the short excerpt, I want to read more about Charlie. I’m eager to read it.
Thanks, Edie, I appreciate that.
Thanks, Susan, for a great blogging day. And congratulations to Laura Langston! You won the copy of THE NAUGHTY LIST. Please look for an email from me in your inbox.
Cindy has notified me that the winner of a copy of The Naughty List is Laura Langston. Congrats, Laura, on your early Christmas present. Hope you enjoy it.