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I don’t know about other authors, but to me, writing the first book in a series is like falling in love. It’s that time of discovery, when we meet the characters and many of them meet each other. Subsequent books are loved just as much—if not more—but they fall into the “deep, mature love” category. There’s nothing like the rush of that first time.
Last fall I was on the way to speak at a book club, mulling over my rewrite of BRING ON THE NIGHT (WVMP Book 3, coming out July 27). In this installment, events take a dark turn, and the emotions become more complex. The heroine, Ciara Griffin, is forced to ask and answer some hard questions about what she wants in life, and discovers that much of it is out of her control.
So as I was driving, “Read My Mind” by the Killers came on the radio. This song appears near the beginning of the WICKED GAME playlist. I chose it to be the “latest Killers song” (as described in the text of Chapter 3) blaring in the background at the Smoking Pig, the bar where Ciara’s best friend Lori works. Ciara stops by after a really crappy first (and last, or so she thought) day at her new job.
Here she has her first conversation, then first adventure, with Shane McAllister, the man she’ll later fall in love with, a man who happens to be a vampire and, even more problematically, an obsessive-compulsive (later that night he’ll pause his seduction to alphabetize her CD collection).
Hearing “Read My Mind” made me ache for the “good old days.” Hearing it again and again and again (I have satellite radio and can replay songs for up to half an hour) made me ponder that innocent beginning. Back when all Ciara had to worry about was earning tuition money and evading the attack of a vengeful bachelorette. Back when she was merely a recovering con artist and Shane was just a hot, mysterious DJ. Before a communications conglomerate and later a group of anti-vampire vigilantes tried to destroy the station. Before the vampire dog came along needing a new owner. Before the zombies arose. Before the infamous dishwasher scene.
It’s dangerous to fall in love with falling in love. When I was in my teens and early twenties, I tended to abandon relationships when they evolved into long-term situations, because I was so addicted to the rush of romance. When I started writing, I shied away from creating series, for the same reason.
Luckily I’ve grown out of that infatuation with infatuation, in both real life and in writing. I stick with things now, even when they’re not all flowers and fun and bouncy songs. Even when they require change and growth and a melancholy tune. And yes—even when the dishwasher is improperly loaded.
Because long-term love is worth it.
The stars are blazing like rebel diamonds cut out of the sun
When you read my mind.
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Jeri can’t read your mind, but she would love to read your e-mail! Come visit her at www.jerismithready.com, or even better, at www.facebook.com/jerismithready or http://twitter.com/jsmithready.
Don't forget to comment to get more entries for my Favorite Firsts contest where you can win Wicked Game (or if you already have it you could chose Bad to the Bone or a pre-order of BOTN)! What moments do you love going back to - the first meeting, the first fight, or the first time making up? (I'm naughty and go back to re-read the smexing scenes ;)
8 comments:
Rock and Roll and an OCD vampire? I need to read this series. :)
You'll love it Melissa! One of my fav book scenes in book 2 is when Shane writes a multi-page note to Ciara about how to load the dishwasher even though he is a vampire and doesn't eat food. Vamps + OCD = win (unless you're living with one ;)
I really want to read this series! I've recently discovered Jeri through Shade and have chatted with her a tad (she's so sweet!) and this is a series I really want to read now that I know her style (though I realize this series is completely different).
I love going back to the first meeting when two characters meet. Seeing the magic for the first time is the best!
@Candace - I still need to read Jeri's Aspect of Crow series - once I find an author I like I run off to read all their books ;)
I've had this series on my wish list for a while now but vampire dog & an OCD vampire - I have got to bump it up the list to a must buy soon series LOL. Sounds like so much fun :o)
Great guest post Jerry, there is nothing like starting a fab new series or reading a great book for the first time. Although I do re-read my favorites it never quite compares to that first ever time you read the story
Great post. I've read all of the books in this series and am looking foward to Bring on the Night
A vampire dog, radio station and an infamous dishwasher scene. As if I don't have enough to do writing my own stories now I have another series to start reading. I must be nuts.
I haven't read any book by Jeri yet, but she sure got to the top of my TBR list due to so many friends praising her novels. I agree with Jeri, usually not only does the 1st book in a series make me a fan of the series, but it also remains my favourite book in the series. I don't know because it was the first time I discovered the characters, or enjoyed the author's writing style, or became entangled in their universe, but it sure makes me nostalgic how I discovered that series. And weird thing is: I can always remember when and how I read the 1st book in a series :-D
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