One of the most
frequently questions asked of authors is, “Where do you get your ideas?” The
simple answer is everywhere, but that rarely satisfies the curious reader or
aspiring author…but it’s the truth.
Ideas can come from
newspapers, TV shows, snippets of conversation, the author’s life experiences,
their friends and family’s experiences, moral issues, books and films. The list
goes on.
The inspiration for
The Temptation of Laura was already established before I started writing the
novel. Laura is a secondary character in the debut book of my Victorian romance
series with eKensington, The Seduction of Emily. In this book, Laura is a
prostitute who the hero goes to for help in the hope of imprisoning the
villain. The more Laura appeared in the book, the more I learned and liked
about her. I wanted to tell her story…luckily my editor suggested it first!
My Victorian books are
set in and around Bath so I started thinking about famous buildings in Bath
that I could use in my next book. I eventually decided on the Theatre Royal.
How could I use Laura’s prostitution and the theatre?
I started trawling the
Internet for accounts of famous prostitutes turned actresses – that was when
inspiration struck in the form of Nell Gwynn. Nell’s story fascinated me. A
prostitute, turned actress, turned mistress of Charles II who bore him two
children. What a story!
I read a couple of
biographies on Nell’s life and then the novel, The Darling Strumpet by Gillian
Bagwell, which I absolutely loved. Roll forward another 200 years and Laura
Robinson, prostitute turned actress, was alive and very real in my imagination.
The Temptation of
Laura was a joy to write and covers poverty, hope, loss, joy, success and
ultimately, true love. I hope you enjoy Laura and Adam’s journey as much as I
did writing it.
I’d love to hear how
non-fiction and fiction based on real-life people inspires or interests you J
The Temptation of Laura blurb & buy links:
Laura
Robinson has always been dazzled by the glamour of the stage. But perhaps
acting and selling one’s favors are not so different—for Laura must feign
pleasure with the men she beds to survive. Now, with her only friend at death’s
door and a ruthless pimp at her heels, escaping her occupation seems
impossible. Hoping to attract a gentleman, she attends the theater. Yet the man
Laura captivates is no customer, but a rising star and playwright…
Adam Lacey
has been driven to distraction since the moment he saw Laura. She is his ideal
leading lady come to irresistible life—and so much more. Certain they can make
the perfect team on and off stage, he is determined to win her heart—and
discover her story. But that is precisely what Laura fears. And she has no idea
that Adam harbors shameful secrets of his own. Will the truth free them to
love—or destroy all their dreams…?
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