When the Story Makes the Characters

Hi, I’m Kris T. Bethke and I want to say a great big thanks to Dani for having me here at Love Bytes today!

Sometimes when I’m writing a story, I start with a character and build the tale around him. His wants and desires, his personality and his love interest. But sometimes it works the other way around where I have the story first and the character comes from that.

Hearts and Hazelnuts was the second one. First I fell down into a rabbit hole of research, learning about hazelnut farming. And after that, I suddenly starting seeing my MC. He was a man who loved the land and the crop, who lived for his farm and his family legacy. Beckett Shaw was born from the story and plot line I was developing in my head. The two began to intermingle, and that’s how the story came to be.

But what about his love interest? Jordan Hart was a combination character. By that I mean, I already had someone like him living in my brain. A mechanic who could fix any engine put in front of him, and who thrived on the work. As soon as I realized Beck’s windrower breaks down in the beginning of the story, I remembered that character. So I molded Jordan into what he is, based on the needs of the story, yes, but also on who exactly Beck needed in his life.

For me, this was one of the stories where all the salient details fell into place. The setting and plot came first, the characters grew from that, and when all the pieces were on the page, I had a complete story. I had to work at the finer details, but it had the kind of bones that makes a story sing.

I really enjoyed writing this story, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading it just as much. Hearts and Hazelnuts is out now!

Blurb:

Mechanic Jordan Hart is down on his luck, so he gladly accepts a temporary job servicing tractors at a hazelnut farm in Newberg, Oregon. He doesn’t expect to be attracted to his boss, Beckett Shaw. Still working on embracing his bisexuality, he’s reluctant to start anything, but Beckett’s gentle coaxing convinces Jordan to take a risk.

Beckett has vowed not to get involved with anyone until he can restore the Shaw Farms name as a leader in hazelnuts. But there’s no denying his interest in the shy mechanic who shows up at his door. Just as they begin to find a balance, outside forces threaten to tear them apart. Job opportunities force Jordan out of the Portland area he loves so much. But when danger comes too close to Beckett, Jordan must decide if he can follow his heart to the Willamette Valley and straight back to Beckett.

Buy links:

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Kris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long.  An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head.  She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project.  Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time.  A classic muscle car will always turn her head, and naps on the weekend are one of her greatest guilty pleasures.  She lives in a converted attic with a way too fluffy cat and the voices in her head.  She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal. Kris believes that love is love, no matter the gender of people involved, and that all love deserves to be celebrated.

Find her on her site https://kristbethke.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Kris-T-Bethke/100014524539852 or on Twitter https://twitter.com/kristbethke

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