Hot-blooded, Hot-tempered, and Fiercely Protective — Meet Chantelle Shaw’s Newest Hero!
13 Comments February 3rd, 2010 in Greek Tycoons, revenge stories Posted by Amyby Chantelle Shaw, author of Proud Greek, Ruthless Revenge (Harlequin Presents, February 2010)
Each time I finish a book I’m convinced that I’ll never write another one. My creativity has dried up and I’ve lost ‘it’ – whatever ‘it’ is! Does anyone else ever feel like that?
I find writing an emotionally draining business, and for a few days after I’ve submitted a manuscript my brain is a barren wasteland (some say it’s always like that!)
But gradually ideas start to form; tangled threads of thought at first, maybe triggered from an article I’ve read in a newspaper or, just recently, a photo of a gorgeous Italian villa set beside a lake which seemed a perfect setting for a romance.
That’s when the magic begins, those little nuggets of ideas start to grow, and that all important question What if? gets to work.
The idea for my latest book PROUD GREEK, RUTHLESS REVENGE came in a strange way. My teenage daughter had an unhappy experience with a boyfriend who treated her badly and hurt her feelings. Of course I dispensed tissues and sympathy, but what surprised me was how fiercely protective my four sons were of their sister. They might yell at her when she hogs the bathroom in the mornings, but they weren’t going to stand for any other guy upsetting her!
Happily my daughter’s heart soon mended and she met a new boyfriend. But I was intrigued by the protective brother idea. I imagined a Greek hero — Thanos was hot-blooded, hot-tempered, passionate and fiercely protective of his younger sister.
What if someone had hurt his sister in some way? I wondered. But what if that person had done so unwittingly and felt terribly guilty – but facts were stacked against her and she couldn’t convince Thanos that she had never meant to cause his sister pain?
Soon my ideas for PROUD GREEK, RUTHLESS REVENGE were growing thick and fast.
Tahlia Reynolds would never have dated James Hamilton if she had known he was married. She was horrified when James’s wife Melina discovered them together, and she immediately ended her relationship with James.
Tahlia’s father’s jewellery business is facing bankruptcy, but Greek billionaire Thanos Savakis offers salvation – or so Tahlia thinks. She is devastated when she learns that Thanos has tricked her into trusting him. He believes she broke his sister’s heart and was responsible for Melina’s terrible accident. He knows Tahlia adores her father, and he plans to take his revenge by pulling out of the deal to save Reynolds Gems.
But the best laid plans can go wrong, and Thanos’s fierce attraction to Tahlia is an unexpected complication. He is torn between his loyalty to his sister and his desire for a woman he despises. Following an alleged affair with a well-known actor, Tahlia has earned a reputation in the tabloid press as a party girl and a marriage breaker. Thanos decides to bed this treacherous English beauty. He will save her father’s company, but in return he wants her at his beck and call, day – and night!
But Thanos soon discovers that Tahlia is not the heartless husband-stealer he believed her to be. She was an innocent pawn in his brother-in-laws games – and a virgin. In his quest for revenge Thanos dishonoured Tahlia, and now he must marry her. He won’t take no for an answer, but Tahlia won’t marry a man who she is sure doesn’t love her!
So there I had it – a new plot and characters, all thanks to my daughter’s ex-boyfriend! Panic averted, until I’d finished the book and was wondering about the next one. Luckily my writers block (or ideas block) never seems to last more than a few days – and gives me time to sort out my tax forms and do some much-needed housework!
Are you ever stuck for new ideas? And how do get your imagination working again? I love the image that writers lie around on silken cushions, scoffing chocolates and waiting for the ‘muse’. Sadly I’m more likely to be clearing out unidentifiable objects wrapped in cling-film from the back of the fridge!
Best wishes,
Chantelle
Tagged with: author Chantelle Shaw • Proud Greek Ruthless Revenge
Wow, Chantelle, your Proud Greek sounds a sizzler! It’s a shame we have to do without the handsome young male secretaries feeding us chocolates while we recline and they take notes, isn’t it?
The book sounds fabulous, Chantelle! You asked if anyone else ever feels like they’ve just dried up, will never write another book? Only all the time. LOL And lots of my friens who have been writing for 20+ years say the same. What is it with writers that we doubt our creative well so much when in fact it runs deep enough to see us through the ordeal of selling that first book? And second, and so on and so forth.
Chantelle, I have this book by my bed and ready to read and I can’t wait to get into it now, it sounds delicious! And yes, I’d imagine a lot of writers have that bleurgh moment of, can I do it again?! I definitely get it, and then just like you say, something sparks out of nowhere and then you’re obsessed all over again with a plot or idea…
xx Abby
Thanks Christina, Lucy and Abby.
How scary that the book sounds fabulous. I hope it is and that you enjoy it. That’s the other big fear, isn’t it? You write a book, re-write chunks of it (in my case usually big chunks), it’s finally accepted – but will anyone like it??
I wish I could say that I’m obsessed with a new plot, but right now I’m obsessed with Creme Eggs. Why is it that the minute supermarkets stop stocking mince pies, Easter eggs take their place!
xxx Chantelle
Thank goodness for inspiration, Chantelle, although I’m sure your daughter would rather not have been the spark that lit the flame of your imagination
Hopefully her broken heart is now mended. She’s lucky to have big brothers watching out for her. I agree that Proud Greek, Ruthless Revenge sounds fabulous. Can’t wait to read it!
x
Chantelle,
The title does it for me. It speaks volumes and implies exciting read!
Hmm, ending a book thinking that’s it: void . . .
I tend to mourn the loss of my characters when I finish a novel, and end up wandering aimlessly through the garden. It’s an emotional moment or two of saying good bye to them, then moving on with life in general, a weed here, a bush needing pruning there, whatever!
And, usually, within days I dream a dream, a cinematic dream in which new characters introduce themselves and tell me their side of a story, which unfolds dreamlike. I do make a few hasty notes on waking, but for the most part the story is there locked away in the story vault part of my brain.
A flower, a piece of jewelry found in the garden and a swivelling CD disk (bird scaring) featured in three of my stories. The subconcious is a wonderful thing!
best
Francine
LOVE that synopsis, Chantelle – lots of fire and passion and obstacles to overcome before they can find true love…..
You make plot finding sound so EASY and have made me hunger for a Cadbury’s Creme egg!
Oh I’m so hooked! Can’t wait to read this one. And so glad your dear daughter has found a new and improved boyfriend too!
Mira
Dear Chantelle,
this book sounds wonderful, I can hardly wait! Thank goodness for the Ereader to speed up the process–will download immediately!!
I’m sure you’ll never lose ‘it’ or at least I hope you don’t, your books always deliver as far as I’m concerned.
I’m with you on the cling film in the fridge sort of glamour–am currently splattered with ketchup. Kid’s tea time, I hasten to add, not fetish!!
Lots of love,
Rach.
XXX
Ha! Yep, Rach, I agree…am about to go and load this onto my ereader…Sounds wonderful, Chantelle! Oh those overprotective brothers…I have one of my own. He’s only twenty one but he still thinks he’s got to protect me.
Chantelle, congrats on the new book! I can’t wait to read it!
As for feeling that you’ll never write another book? Every. Single. Time. And often while writing the new one, for that matter. Each book is an entirely new mountain to climb. But maybe that’s why they’re so much fun.
Argh, my comment just disappeared.
Chantelle, I just wanted to say that I love a protective hero so having an alpha Greek hero who’s motivated by the need to protect is sister works beautifully for me. I’m looking forward to reading it. I’m always amazed at the ways inspiration hits. Here’s hoping for a doozy of an idea for your next one too.
Chantelle, I have almost finished this book and it is fabulous! I also loved Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child. You are quickly becoming one of my faves and I can’t wait to read more books authored by you.