by Lynne Graham, author of Desert Prince, Bride of Innocence (Pregnant Brides book 1 – Harlequin Presents, January 2010)
Life can often be tough and I like my protagonists to have suffered at some stage in their lives because I think it makes them more real. My lead characters in DESERT PRINCE, BRIDE OF INNOCENCE both have unfortunate backgrounds and this has affected them in different ways.
Jasim was rejected as a child because his mother left his father for another man and his father was very tough on him. Elinor lost her mother young and her father was an intellectual who treated her as though she was stupid and denigrated her career as a nanny. Elinor was left with low self-esteem while Jasim’s various experiences make him too quick to distrust women.
In many ways all of us are shaped and marked for life by our upbringing, sometimes positively but just as often negatively. In common with many other writers I draw on some unhappy childhood experiences of my own when I write and sometimes I do wonder if the sad memories are the most effective at firing our creative energy. I know that I will often use pieces and feelings inspired by those recollections to illustrate and explain my characters’ strengths and flaws in greater depth.
Here is an excerpt of Desert Prince, Bride of Innocence where some of Elinor’s past is revealed — but Jasim is skeptical of her motives…. To read more, use the book browse widget at the bottom of the post to view Chapter One.
‘
Are you fond of horses?’ Jasim enquired.
‘I’ve been mad about them since I was a kid,’ Elinor confessed with a rueful laugh. ‘I started riding lessons at the same age as Zahrah. A neighbour kept stables and I used to go there and help out after school.’
‘Have you ever had a horse of your own?’
Elinor tensed and her face fell. ‘Yes, from the age of nine to fourteen. My father sold her then. He thought the time I spent with Starlight was interfering with my studies—’
‘You must’ve been upset.’
‘I was devastated.’ Elinor folded her lips, unable to find adequate words to explain just how shattering a blow that sudden loss had been to her. Her father had not even warned her of his intentions and she had not got the chance to say goodbye to the horse she’d loved. Starlight had also been her last link with her late mother and her only real friend, the one element in her wretchedly unhappy teen years that had kept her going through thick and thin. ‘But she was still a young horse and I’m sure she went to some other girl to be absolutely adored all over again.’
‘It sounds as though your father was very strict,’ Jasim remarked, keen to extract more information from her. He was not at all surprised that the very first thing she should tell him should be a sob story guaranteed to paint her in a sympathetic light.
‘Too strict. After that, I wasn’t allowed any interests at all outside school. It was a relief to leave home,’ Elinor admitted ruefully, thinking of the release of no longer having to live daily with constant wounding criticism and reproaches for her unacceptable exam results. Although greater maturity had enabled her to appreciate that she had simply been an average student rather than a completely stupid one, her father had made her feel like a hopeless failure at the tender age of sixteen years and her self-esteem had still to recover from his abrasive style of parenting.
Jasim’s sculpted sensual mouth tightened as once again she confirmed his suspicions about her true nature. He recalled the widening invitation of her expressive and artful eyes as she met his gaze, the revealingly taut points of her nipples that were currently showing through her T-shirt. She was certainly very responsive and he found her inability to conceal her reaction to him very, very sexy.
A decent parent, however, would naturally have sought to impose restrictions on so free-spirited a daughter, he reasoned, expecting to feel disgusted at the mounting proof of her probable promiscuity. Instead he tensed at the heavy arousal stirring at his groin and cursed the ready sexual heat that afflicted him in Elinor Tempest’s company. Only sexual satisfaction would take care of that problem and he had no intention of practising patience, nor even the suspicion that patience would prove necessary. Mindful of his niece’s presence, he concentrated on not thinking about how thoroughly Elinor would be persuaded to ease the demands of his high-voltage sex drive.
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Lynne
First off I want to say that I’m A HUGE, HUGE FAN of yours. I have everyone of your books and have reread all of the them. Sometimes more than once. I’ll definitely be reading this next one. When my husband’s at the store, sometimes he calls home to see if I’ve picked up your latest because he KNOWS you’re an auto buy.
Keep up the awesome work. You rock!
Gibb
Hi Gibb,
Wonderful to know my books are an auto-buy. Just what every author wants to hear!
Thanks for dropping by
Lynne,
Happy New Year!
I love reading your books! In this one it appears that both have issues from the past that made them into the people they are today. After reading the first chapter I get the impression that Jasim will need to do some groveling — can’t wait to read the book.
Hi Lynne,
Happy New Year to you and your family.
I love your books too! My favorite was a story about Hope and Andreas, the title escapes me right now. Also another one was Vivienne and I believe the Hero was Lucca. Loved Jock the three legged dog. You’re definitely an auto buy for me.
Chris.
Jasim comea around slowly.
Hope you enjoy the book
Hi Lynne
What I love about your books is that the difficult times your characters go through ultimately makes them better people in the long run. When the characters work through their issues, open up to each other and move forward it makes your stories richer.
Where do the ideas for your characters come from and how do you develop and evolve your characters?
Happy New Year
Great post Lynne.
As an aspiring writer it’s great to see how you trawl the depths of human emotion – it brings an authenticity and realism to your writing which connects in a real way to the reader.
Best Wishes for 2010.
ChristineX
Lynne, you genius, I’ve adored so many of your sparkling, witty, superbly preposterous, absolutely brilliant books! For me they’re the gold standard of Presents!
Hope they never stop coming!
anna
Lynne, my admiration and enjoyment of your work knows no bounds – especially the complex and many-layered characters you create. And yes, our childhood experiences are what shape us all – with sadness and loss seeming to etch much deeper grooves into our psyche than happiness and joy.
But love is the healing balm, isn’t it? It’s what makes our characters whole again and able to put their tough past lives into perspective.
You are the Queen of believable internal conflict and powerful emotions – a very happy new decade to you.
You’ve got another real winner here, Lynne. You’re right about difficult memories powering the imagination – who was it said: ‘happiness writes white’?
Hi Lynne
Living in the UK I was lucky enough to get this book last year (seems odd to write that !). It’s great and I really enjoyed it. Lots of misconceptions based on past experience and yes Jasim has to do some serious grovelling. In fact thinking about it now I must read it again and re-enjoy some of those lovely scenes you do so well. I can also say that the second book in the series is just as riveting.
I love your new website layout too and the Twitter bites.
Can’t wait for the next one.
Happy New Year to everyone
Ellie
Lynne, I love your books. I eagerly anticipate each new one. I especially appreciate your heroes.
Lynne, it’s great to see you here. I adore your books – and your gorgeous heroes. The emotional intensity in your novels is fabulous. Can’t wait to read Jasim’s story and sooo looking forward to Sergei’s story next month. Happy New Year!
Sharon, Anna, Ellie and everyone, have a wonderful 2010. I love creating complex characters and particularly tortured heroes with heroines who force them to reconsider their ways. As Sharon says, love sorts us out. The very fact that you are the most important person ever to another person is a deep source of happiness and encouragement in a world that can often seem hostile
Hi, Lynn
I am a huge fan & buy all your books! I just read this one & its one of the best ever. I loved Jasim & could see him so clearly in your descriptions & for me his eyes were so sexy. I loved his passion.
I am in the library & only have 2 mins left so have to get off. but just love your writing!
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Oh, I can’t wait for this. I am slowly working my way through your backlist–I have a stack of nine books I’m hoping to read soon. I’ll have to add this in!