When I wrote my first romance novel, Revelations, the story came to me in a dream. A dream that I wasn’t in at all. So, I pulled myself out of bed and sat down at my computer — it was 2 a.m. in the morning. And yes, I had to be at my day job at 8:30 a.m.
But I sat at that computer and wrote down everything that played out in that dream while it was fresh in my mind. Next thing I knew it was 6:45 a.m. and I needed to get showered, dressed and take that 20 minute drive to the office. At the time I was a police reporter in Covington, Ga. You’d think that romance would be the last thing on my mind. But as an avid reader of the genre, I was glad to dip my toe into writing a love story about people I’d want to hang out with.
Revelations was born and I signed with my first literary agent after I finished my first draft. All I asked my muse was to let me sleep. For years, she did. That is until this morning. My alarm was set for seven — one because that’s what time Nate Burelson is going to grace my TV screen and two I do yoga to start my day.
The alarm became a non-factor when a strange woman started talking to me. She had been a hair stylist who was kidnapped by a killer. But she got away and wanted revenge. Shooting up in the bed, I grabbed my MacBook and opened Word. Did I see Nate this morning? Nope. Did I do yoga? Not at all. I wrote down everything this woman said. Her story was frightening and exciting. And there was nothing I could do but listen for the next hour and a half.
So, what does this mean? Who is this woman who got away from a mad man? At 10:01 a.m., I still don’t know. But join me on this journey to tell her story. Also, on a side note, maybe I should stop watching old Dateline episodes as I go to sleep at night.
Cheris Hodges 