It’s an occupational hazard. Authors don’t mean to spy and eavesdrop on people but it happens. Recently, I found myself at a restaurant for a Sunday lunch with my family. It was an upscale microbrewery/sports bar. All dark wood, brass, and plasma TVs everywhere. Great food, too. But even with all that going on around me, I was riveted by a couple two tables away. I couldn’t hear a word they were saying. But their bodies were talking- shouting. I just couldn’t help myself from “listening”.
He was huge. I live an area that a lot of pro football players call home, so he may have been one. Regardless, he was at least 6’ 4”, blond ponytail, hulking shoulders. Gorgeous, frankly, with this interesting untamed air. Normally, he would have been enough all by himself to snag my attention. But he was sitting across the table from a woman. She was short and petite with dark, pixie hair. She had this interesting guarded expression. Gorgeous was leaning literally halfway across the table as he spoke, shoulders forward, eyes on Pixie. Whatever he was saying, he meant it. And his attention was nowhere but on her. She looked at her fingernails, her cell phone, her food, the table, and occasionally up at him with a shy glance. I don’t think she had a clue that I could actually see longing on her face. He must have seen it; I doubt the guy was blind. Every time she sent him one of these stares, he leaned a bit more toward her, until I swore he was going to climb across the table to get to her. And when they stood up to leave, he was all protective, possessive touches. She seemed a little jumpy and unsure, but finally settled against him. He honest-to-goodness smiled like he’d won the lottery. Then she moved away again. They walked out the door, her with car keys in hand.
Where am I going with this? Well, anywhere, really. For me, this is one way ideas are born. It was clear this couple knew each other, though my guess is not terribly well. I never heard a word they were saying. So in order to assuage my curiosity and fill in the blanks, I had to make SOMETHING up. The resulting story that’s brewing in my head is so delicious, I can’t stand it. A lot of deadlines are in-between me and this idea, but just seeing these two sent my head in a totally unexpected and thrilling direction.
There’s a saying: “Caution. What you do may appear in my next book.” So true. Even if you don’t know it, I might be watching. And you could wind up immortalized in fiction.
What kinds of events or people do you notice when you’re out? Do they make you wonder what their lives and conversations are about?
Shelley Bradley – Sizzle from the Heart
A PERFECT MATCH ~ Samhain ~ May 13, 2008 (e-book)
www.blogger.com/www.shelleybradley.com
Shayla Black – The Wicked Edge of Romance
DANGEROUS BOYS & THEIR TOY ~ Ellora’s Cave ~ May 28, 2008 (e-book)
TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS ~ Pocket Paranormal ~ August 26, 2008
www.shaylablack.com/ www.doomsdaybrethren.com/
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