This is a question I get asked a lot: where do you get your inspiration and ideas for stories? And my answer is usually simple, if not very helpful: everywhere. It’s true, though, and I’d like to illustrate with some examples.

The Idea for the No Shame Series

My No Shame series started during a trip to Boston, where I fell in love with the city…and with the thick Boston accent. I read a little about the history and culture of Boston, especially the infamous South Boston culture, and it sparked an idea. What if…? That’s how stories start, with what if. In this case, it was “What if a young man escaped from a south Boston crime lord?”

That’s how Indy, the main character in that series, was born. It was supposed to be one book, but then Josh showed up right alongside Noah, and I got confused. I thought Noah and Indy were supposed to be together, but Josh was adamant he played a part in Indy’s life as well. And so one book became four and the No Shame series was born.

The Idea for The Time of my Life

This book started when I was watching The Voice, and I mused what a great setting that would be for a book, if two men met on a TV singing competition. That’s how Judah and Denver came into existence. I did a little research into The voice and the timeline for auditioning and the TV shows, and wrote the book in that same timeline.

The Idea for Irresistible Omegas

This one was even more of a coincidence. I’d posted a short review for a book with a poly relationship with five men, and we were lamenting that there were so few good books with more than three in the relationship. A few of my readers challenged me to write one myself, and I started wondering: how would four men come together in a natural way where they all needed each other, but also complemented each other?

Even though I’d never written mpreg before, the idea came instantly that it had to be about an omega who needed an alpha to be healed…and to be protected. That’s how the love story of Vieno, Palani, Lidon, and Enar came to me, and it turned out to be one hell of a ride. The third book in that series, Beta’s Surrender, will come out July 30 by the way.

The Idea for Project X

After visiting The Netherlands for the awesome EuroPrideCon, I experienced quite the travel woes when my flight got delayed for over twenty-four hours and we basically had to riot before the airline started taking care of us. What was a massive frustration at first turned into drama gold, and I actually wrote down notes and descriptions of my fellow passengers because it was too good to forget. I’m sure the results of that bout of inspiration will show up. Soon. *rubs hands together in glee*