Playing Favorites

   I don't have children, so I can't say if this is true, but I'm told mothers 'have no favorites when it comes to their kids.

   I don't think that's the same when it comes to stories, because I'm definitely more partial to some of my five books than others.

   Is that wrong? I don't know. Is it common?  Again, I don't know, but if my fellow authors want to weigh in on the subject, I'd be glad to entertain their comments.

   Why does it happen?  I think it may have to do with 'where' I was when the story was penned -- what was going on in my life -- did the 'birth' of the story, and its subsequent 'upbringing,' end up being a peaceful process with few painful trips to Dr. Editor?

It's a toss up for me, "The One He Chose", and "Haste Ye Back."

"Chose" was the second story Decadent Publishing contracted from me. I got an awesome, threatening acceptance email from the submission specialist and from then on out the process was wonderful. The first line of the book came to me in a dream and the title bantered about over beers with my fellow-DP author, Deanna Wadsworth. "It'll probably be something overly sweet and uber-cheesy, like The One He Chose," I said with a slight slur. Yes, my non-author friends, this is how books get titles! When she swiped a character in the story for her own 1Night Stand, well, then we both knew we were on to something.

"Haste" pretty much wrote itself within days of returning from a vacation to Scotland. Although, it began as a much longer work, again Deanna stepped in and insisted it be a 1 Night Stand. (Damn, she's gonna want an agent's cut pretty soon!) The locale was imprinted in my mind, and I go back and read "Haste" every now and again, just to remind myself of the scenery on my vacation, which really isn't captured properly in photos.

In some ways, I'm a bit fonder of Ian and Bryn's 'situation' than that of Jake and Grace's in The One He Chose. But, there's also something about Grace and Jake's 'innocence' of their situation I'm drawn to, compared to Bryn and Ian's 'revenge,' so to speak.

I love each of the characters. Now, I guess, I'll get an email from Deanna forcing the two couples to meet!

When not playing with the people in her head, Wendy has a full time job behind the scenes in television, a part time job in radio and an even 'parter' time job trying to keep her house clean. She lives with her cute chef husband and three fuzzy felines in the Great Lakes region of the Mid-West. You can holler at her: wendyburke1994@bex.net.