WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?



Author Maeve Greyson

 Maeve Greyson is my guest today on The Wild Roses Valentine’s Blog Tour. Maeve writes paranormal romances from her cozy little home in western Kentucky. Tucked away in the middle of nowhere, her stories spark with magic and love, where anything might happen to get to that happily ever after.


Her writing partner, Jasper –the rat terrier/Chihuahua mix, critiques all her work. Under his sharp eye and the endless support of her husband of over thirty-one years, she snuggles back in their secluded wood and pours her daydreams into the keyboard.

Her debut novel, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER, releases from The Wild Rose Press on February 18, 2011. She hopes you enjoy reading the tale as much as she enjoyed writing it. Today, she’ll tell us where she gets story ideas.


                WHERE IDEAS COME FROM


It could be something as simple as a few lyrics of a song or a picture of a weather-beaten castle. A scrap of a conversation picked up while walking through the mall or the sight of an unhappy woman sitting alone on a bench. I never know what’s going to trigger my muse and start her chattering in my ear.


All I know is that I become a prisoner to my muse when it happens. Heaven help me when something nudges her into gear. I’ve been known to drive past exits when she grabs an idea and takes over all controls. I’ll see or hear something that perks her interest and dialogue starts streaming through my head.



Available February 18th
from The Wild Rose Press

 My debut novel with The Wild Rose Press, BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER evolved from a recurring dream. Another work (the ink’s not dried on the contract yet – so it’s still a bit of a secret) sprang to life while reading a book about Celtic gods and goddesses.


ETERNITY’S MARK climbed out of the creative soup between my ears while I enjoyed the movie, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. Yes. I know it’s a cartoon. But I LOVE IT and still cry when Toothless has so much trouble flying.


What about you? What gets your creativity flowing? Remember your comment enters you in this week's drawing for prizes.

Maeve isn’t finished sharing with us yet! Here’s a blurb from BEYOND A HIGHLAND WHISPER:


A beguiling Scot from the 1400’s, Latharn Mackay is cursed into a crystal orb when a seductive witch rages against his withheld love. But there’s hope. The woman destined for him can break the curse by whispering her love aloud. There’s just a few minor problems to overcome. Nessa is six hundred years in the future and Latharn can only visit her dreams with a silent presence. If he speaks, the curse will shatter his soul into bits. And then there’s still the matter of the sorceress. You know an enraged woman is going to have the final say…unless love proves more powerful.


The last time Latharn MacKay walked among his kinsman was in Scotland of 1410. Sensuous and charismatic, all the women wanted him, but none could capture his heart. Latharn's charm became his curse when a dark sorceress didn’t take rejection well. She snared his soul into a crystal globe until the one woman destined to be his love whispered his release. Now all Latharn has to do is find her and guide her to him without speaking a word.

One of the youngest archeologists in St Louis of 2010, Nessa credits one thing for this achievement: the recurring dream of a heart-stopping Highlander since the summer she turned eighteen years old. Little does she know, he's not some fantasy cooked up by her subconscious. He’s a trapped soul determined for Nessa to end his six centuries in hell. Can love prevail over the dark magic of a woman scorned?

Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? Here’s her excerpt to further whet your appetite:

Latharn stared across the room, flattening his hands against the frigid walls of his prison. It was her. She had arrived at last. His Nessa stood in Scotland, sharing the same room as the accursed globe. She was beautiful. The sight of her stole the breath from his lungs. He clawed his fingers against the glass, itching to touch the silk of her hair. He yearned to caress her, to take her into his arms. She was so close. She was almost within his reach.


“Nessa,” he whispered.

“Excuse me. I was wondering if you could give us some directions? I must’ve gotten an out-of-date map at the airport.”

A flustered redhead stood tapping her fingers on the counter where she’d already spread out a several-times refolded map. Her face was dark as a storm cloud; it was obvious she and her companion had been having a heated discussion. The elfin brunette stood just behind her. The brunette was not happy. She leaned against the counter glaring at the redhead. A disgruntled look upon her face, she rested her head on her hand as though she’d rather be anywhere but standing beside the redhead.


Latharn tore his eyes away from Nessa long enough to sneak a glance at Brodie. “God’s teeth, Brodie.” The man’s cock stood at full attention making a pup tent of the front his kilt. If they were outside, Latharn would call up an icy rainstorm to help the man bring things under control. Scrubbing his face, Latharn chuckled to himself and leaned against the crystal wall. Well, the lad was on his own, he’d just have to keep his randy arse behind the counter.


Brodie coughed and adjusted the front of his kilt as he edged closer behind the waist-high counter. His voice a bit strained, he cleared his throat and smiled at the two young women.

“Where might ye be headed? I’ve not seen ye here in town before. And from your accent, I don’t believe ye’re from anywhere near Balnakiel.”


The tiny brunette grinned, her face lighting up with a victorious smirk as she nudged the redhead in the shoulder. “I told you we overshot Durness an hour ago and you should’ve turned right at the last burial cairn!”


“That’s my girl,” Latharn purred. He loved it when Nessa showed her fire. She looked tired. What he wouldn’t give to massage all the aches and pains from her body. She worked too hard. Well, that would soon be over. When he was free of the globe, she would work no more. He would take care of her. She wouldn’t have a care in the world. Her life and her happiness would be in his hands. He would take care of her every need.


“Don’t start with me, Nessa,” the redhead hissed in irritation. “We always end up where we’re headed.” Her voice softened as she turned to face the politely smiling MacKays. With a nod toward the map, she added with a tight-lipped smile, “We just sometimes take the scenic route. Besides. I didn’t realize this was a race.”


“Hmm…that one there is going to be the undoing of some poor man,” Latharn noted with a grin. He had been watching Trish’s friendship with Nessa for years. Latharn missed the camaraderie he’d once had with his clan whenever he watched the two women together. It reminded him of just how isolated he was. He swallowed hard as he pushed the memories of his clan aside. Enough of this senseless bickering. It was time to put on a little show.

To learn more about Maeve and her writing, check these links:
Website: http://www.maevegreyson.com/
Blog: http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com//
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson OR http://www.facebook.com/maeve.greyson#!/maeve.greyson.page
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/maevegreyson
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2816642
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/maevegreyson
The Wild Rose Press: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=maeve+greyson

And now for the news of our tour. Marci was the first week’s winner a $15 TWRP gift card from Kat Duncan + $5 Samhain gift card from Lynne Roberts totaling $20.00.


For today's portion of the tour, please check these sites:
Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/

Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/

Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/


Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/ PLEASE DON'T FORGET ME!!


Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/


Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/


Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/


Meet author AJ Nuest at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout


Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://lindakage.blogspot.com/


Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/


Meet author Amy Corwin at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/

As the ads on TV shout, “But wait! There’s more!” There are still three opportunities to win and here’s a refresher of the prize breakdown:


Week 2 (this post) - $15 TWRP gift card (from Amie Louellen) + $10 TWRP gift card (from Lilly Gayle) = $25.00


Week 3 - $15 TWRP gift card (from Caroline Clemmons) + $15 TWRP gift card (from Jennifer Jakes) = $30.00


Week 4 - $15 TWRP gift card (from Linda Kage) + $20 TWRP gift card (from Amy Corwin) = $35.00


Grand Prize - $15 TWRP gift card (from Maeve Greyson) + $25 TWRP gift card (from Jill James) + Bath Set (from AJ Nuest) = $40.00 + bath set

Whew, that made ny head hurt! Anything involving math always has that effect. LOL

Please join me Friday, February 11, when author Mary Ricksen will be my guest.