Author Kate Hardy: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?
13 Comments August 17th, 2009 in author, books, writing Posted by Amy
by Kate Hardy, author of Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion (Harlequin Presents, August 2009)
When people find out what I do for a living, one of the first questions they ask me is where I get my ideas.
The answer is: all over the place. It might be a snippet of overheard conversation, or seeing a model with stunning eyes in an ad, or a song on the radio. (Take That gave me a major lightbulb moment recently. It doesn’t work, yet, but it will do when I’ve put it into the crucible with some different elements.) Sometimes it’s a TV programme or film that gives me a, ‘what if…?’ (leading to a whole string of ‘what ifs’, taking it quite a distance from the original inspiration).
For example, when I was working out the background for my hero in Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion, I remembered watching an episode of the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? where Patsy Kensit discovered there were some villains in her family. And that gave me a lightbulb moment about Luke’s family. (Nothing like Patsy’s, of course. But that definitely sparked an idea.)
Other elements in the book were inspired by going to see the Tutankhamen exhibition in London — there’s no Egyptian stuff in the book, but we went to Greenwich by boat, and Luke’s flat overlooks the Thames. Then there was the time I picked apples at Sandringham with my husband (the orchard in the book is in Kent, not Norfolk). Other lightbulbs came from a client from my days as a trainee accountant; from a family holiday in Yorkshire; and from two completely different boat trips, one in Northumbria to see puffins and another to see the seals at Blakeney Point in Norfolk.
(You want to see the cute pic of the seals, don’t you? Here they are. This was last summer, and I’d highly recommend the trip if you’re ever in my part of the world.)
Oh, and then there was St Dunstan’s in London (I owe that one to my friend and Romance author Fiona Harper). And some stationery that my daughter spied in a little gift shop somewhere and persuaded me to buy her. (The stationery in the book isn’t anything like it, but it inspired me.)
And a dog. Specifically, a spaniel who steals shoes. He steals just ONE from every member of the house and piles them on his bed. How could I resist using him? (He’s such a sweet-tempered dog that everyone who meets him likes him; and in book world he definitely melts the hero. And he’s appeared in a few of my books, occasionally disguised as a Labrador — but the little quirks are his.)
So all those got mixed up with a completely different holiday in Greece, the fact that I’m a rubbish sailor, and a business flight on a very small plane (in real life, that was an internal UK flight, but in book world it’s rather different).
Where do I get my ideas? All over the place… and great fun it is, too. Most of the time the inspirations they don’t remotely resemble the originals by the time I’ve finished with them: but that’s what inspirations are for. A journey into the unknown — and it’s great to go along for the ride!
Tagged with: author Kate Hardy • Playboy Boss Pregnancy of Passion • Where do authors get their ideas
13 Responses to “Author Kate Hardy: Where Do You Get Your Ideas?”
- 1 Pingback on Aug 23rd, 2009 at 5:18 am
I think its always fascinating to read about your ancestors. You might find out one was a horse thief, a lawman or any number of things. I have a Great Great (I don’t know how many greats) grandfather that was a Cherokee medicine man. Would love to know more about him.
Linda Henderson
Oh, I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in the very strange workings of my mind.
I wrote an entire book just so I could open with the one line that popped into my head. (My Sept UK book/ Feb US book).
It’s funny though, because folks do often assume that parts of the book are based on real life — and they kinda are, if, like you said here, you take it, turn it sideways, smash it into something else, then look at it backwards.
LOL, I always laugh at that question, my head is full of ideas, it’s making them fit together coherently that’s the problem!
Love those seals, planning a trip to Blakeney soon, with selkie stories too no doubt.
Thanks Kate. It’s amazing where ideas come from! I always love to hear where an author gets their ideas. Thanks. Take care. Caroline x
Love your take on ideas, Kate, especially your comment about your dog. They make great subsidary characters, don’t they?!
I have written a whole book once after hearing the first line of a song sung by the gorgeous Italian quartet El Divo. It set the whole mood for the novel and yes, of course it was an Italian hero. Songs are great, pictures too and sometimes just something someone said about an issue or an event. It’s amazing how a writer’s mind will twist and turn and construct something out of seemingly nothing or at least something other people would think is inconsequential.
Good luck all you aspring writers. I wish there had been all these fabulous contests when I was starting out. The list of hints is wonderful. Even I am going to go back over my opening scene in my wip and make sure I am following orders!
All the best,
Melanie
What a gorgeous puppy!!! I recently started going to gym with a personal trainer. She’s so gorgeous and fit and *tan*, I’m thinking I have to set a story around the health/fitness industry. Now I just have to work out the details, which must, of course, include a totally sexy man worthy enough to win this exceptional gal
Linda – a Cherokee medicine man? Sounds fascinating. (The historian in me is sitting up and quivering, right now.) Do come back and tell us what you found out.
Kimberly – so right. Real life sparks it off, and then it changes and changes and…
Mulberry – hope you enjoy the seal trip. We loved it. (Hmm. Two weeks of school holidays left. Must go to seaside…)
Caroline – they come from the weirdest places. I’m on a research trop this weekend which will set off a couple of lightbulbs, I’m sure.
Melanie – I have to stop my subsidiary characters taking over! Byron is a cutie, though. He’s very soppy and very gentle. How could I resist sneaking him in to a book?
(Like my reindeer… No, dear ed, I am not planning reindeer in the French duo. Or could I…?)
Robbie, he certainly is! He’s actually seven years old, now (and very calm for a Springer).
Love the idea of a personal trainer. (I could do with one in real life…)