Author Amie Louellen talks about the "What if" syndrome

The "What If?"Syndrome

The "What if?" Syndrome is a common ailment among writers,young and old alike. It has no boundaries, attacks indiscriminately, and willnot let go until the idea is firmly on paper. Computers are the best antidotefor a bad case of the "what if?"s. But the urge to record the "what if?"s is sostrong that the back of a bank deposit slip will suffice. What exactly are the"what if"s? Anyone who writes would say, the "What if?"s  are the forces that drives writers towrite.I was recently asked in an interview where the idea forBrodie's Bride came from. Honestly , it's been a long time since I startedBrodie and Savanna's story. So long that I had to give it some thought. Andthat in turn made me think about how the idea developed. In case you didn't read that post about the initial idea(shocking I know since every word I write is golden, but there may be a few ofyou who missed it) Here's how the story came about. There's an old countrysong by Shelly West (I told you it was old) called Jose Quervo. And one of theverses goes—"Now wait a minute 
Things don't look too familiar 
Who is the cowboy who's sleeping beside me 
He's awful cute 
But how'd I get his shirt on? 
I had too much tequila last night"
Andthat made me think, "What if my heroine goes out on the town, then wakes up thenext morning in bed with a man she doesn't know?"
Well,now that might be very interesting, but this is a romance (originally targeted forHarlequin) and there are certain rules that have to be followed. Is it reallyappropriate for her to go out and completely and knowingly over-indulge? Somemight answer yes, but I thought there needed to be an innocence in my heroinethat most likely wouldn't be a part of someone who tied one on to the extent thatshe marries a man she doesn't love—or KNOW. (Those pesky rules again.) So Imade her drunkenness accidental. She takes allergy medication and orders aniced tea in a bar. She thinks she's drinking regular sweet tea, but it's theLong Island version. Multiply that by three or four and voila—an innocent butinebriated heroine. In case there's anyone out there reading this who has nevertaken allergy medication and drank alcohol afterwards, let me just tell you…nota good idea. But now how come my heroine—whom I want to have a certaininnocence—is in a bar? Has to be a valid reason. Of course she's tailing hercheating fiancé hoping to catch him in the act (so to speak).
Nowour hero. Why would Brodie, a man who believes that love is destined to leavehim behind, marry a woman he doesn't know and at second glance believes to be aprostitute? Tequila. Lots and lots of tequila. It's a double standard, I know,but over indulgence in a man is theoretically more acceptable than the sameactions in a woman. (Rules, rules.) But he can't just go out and party-hardy. He'sa romance hero. There are certain standards. So what would make Brodie feel theneed to drown his emotions in a bottle? Well, how about the fact that his twobest friends in the world have finally, finally gotten married after everythingtheir families have put them through? He's relieved, jealous, happy, anddepressed all at the same time. He's wondering why his own marriage failed, whyhis mother left him when he was young and why, why, why is he the only personin the world fated to be alone? Once he leaves his friends, he decides to stopoff at a bar—just so happens not to be the best little club in Vegas—decides tohave a drink and…the next thing he knows, he's married to a stranger.
Whymarried? Rules again and a sign of the time—remember I started this many yearsago. I thought it might be better to have them get married. They could wake upin bed together not married and leave that afternoon never to see each otheragain.  There has to be somethingto hold them together. My choices were married or baby. I chose marriage.
I'mcertain every writer's thought processes are different. But I do believe whenpeople(read non-writers) ask where an idea comes from, this is what they reallywant to know. How did the writer get from idea to story? How did I get from songlyrics to romance novel?
 A lot of "What ifs"!

Amie Louellen--Brodie's BrideAvailable nowfrom the Wild Rose Press

Amie Louellen loves nothing more than a goodbook.  Except for her family…andmaybe homemade tacos…and shoes. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list. When she's notcreating quirky characters and happy endings she enjoys going to little leaguebaseball games and boy scout meetings. Born and bred in Mississippi, Amie is atransplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband,their genius son, a spoiled cat, and one very hyper beagle.


Amie Louellen--author FaceBookwww.amielouellen.comhttp://amielouellen.wordpress.com/www.twitter.com/AmieLouellenemail  amielouellen@gmail.com
Blurb--Wakingup next to a beautiful golden-haired stranger isn't the worst thing that hasever happened to Brodie Harper, but staying in a fake marriage in order to gaina new construction contract could very well be.
SavannaMorgan just wanted a way out of an engagement to a man she didn't love.  Marrying Brodie seemed liked theperfect answer at the time.  Lessperfect the next morning when she finds herself disowned by her father and flatbroke.  Now she must make itthrough the weekend. Monday they can get it all annulled and forget it everhappened.
The realproblem may be keeping their hands off each other until then.
Excerpt—"On Monday, after our appointment, you'releaving.""I have to go home," she said quietly, turningaway from him to stare into the postage-stamp sized back yard."But we have an agreement for the weekend.  I think we should have some groundrules.""Good idea."  Savanna clapped her hands, then rubbed them together as ifshe were ready to get down to business. "Like what?""We only have two working bedrooms here," Brodiesaid.  "Mine and Nan's.  Do you mind sharing a room with me?"Her pupils dilated, and he knew she was thinkingabout the scarlet room they had shared last night."My room has two beds," he continued.  "We can be like Lucy and Ricky."She smiled.  "If it was good enough for the Ricardos, I'm sure I canhandle it for a few days.""We may not so lucky at the Sullivan's."Sobering, she nodded.  "If there's only one bed there, we can just take turnssleeping in it.""Fair enough." Brodie said.  "Now, as a married couple—especially atthe ranch—we'll be expected to act like a married couple.""Okay. But only around others. When we're alone, we can act like we're not married.""Correct. But sometimes…"  He took astep closer to where she leaned against the porch railing.  "Sometimes married people hold hands."He reached out and took her fingers into hisown.  Her skin was velvet soft andsmelled so sweet, like the mountains after a rain."I—I don't have a problem with that.""Sometimes married couples put their arms aroundeach other."  He placed her handsbehind his neck, then slid his arms around her waist."That's okay," she whispered.  He watched as she swallowed hard."And sometimes married people kiss.  Just a peck here and a peck there.  Are you going to have a problem withthat?""Huh-uh." She shook her head."Maybe we should practice," he rasped, bendinghis head close to hers."Maybe," she repeated before he brushed his lipsacross hers once, then twice.His intent had been the small, nearly chastekiss of old married couple, but once he got close to Savanna, once he couldsmell her sweetness and taste her heady essence, he couldn't stop himself.He pulled her close to him, gathering handfulsof her tank top, securing her to him. Over and over he slanted his mouth across hers.  Over and over, deeper and deeper, untilher whimper brought him back.He released her, his breath rasping in and outof his lungs in hard painful gasps. She grasped the edge of the porch railing,looking as disturbed as he felt.With demonstrations like that, they may not everconvince Blair and Nan their marriage was an accidental twist of fate, but theywould surely convince Red Sullivan their passion was for real.Brodie ran his fingers through his hair, justone more gesture to keep from reaching for Savanna again.    "There," he managed to croak.  "That wasn't so bad, now was it?"