Guest Post: A Character is Born by Cheryl Douglas

Author: Cheryl Douglas

Book: Shameless, Book One in the Nashville Nights Series 

For me, the most exciting part of being a writer is watching the characters come to life. My current series, Nashville Nights, was inspired by my love of country music. I enjoy all types of music but the romance writer in me is drawn to country music when I’m looking for inspiration. Every song tells a story and many of those stories revolve around lost love or people who’ve triumphed over adversity to experience love. Sounds like a romance novel, doesn’t it?

The first book in this series, Shameless, delves into the life a country singer who’s finally ready to face his demons. He hopes his journey of self-discovery will help him re-kindle a relationship with the woman who left him a broken man, his ex-wife.

When I first started to write this book, I already had a clear picture in my head of who the hero, Trey Turner, would be. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with each of the secondary characters as well. I was so enthralled with these supporting characters and the outcome of their individual journeys that I had no choice but to give them books of their own. As a result, a single title became a six book series with characters whose lives are inextricably linked.

At the start of each book, I start out with an idea, an outline and a prayer. By the time I’ve finished, the manuscript rarely resembles the outline and the vague idea of who the characters might be has evolved into something completely different. They face challenges I never expected, have reactions I never would have predicted and have developed personalities all their own.

By the time I type the words ‘THE END’, I’m never quite ready to say good-bye to these characters. Unfortunately, I have no choice because another character is waiting to be born.

 ~~~~ Check out my review of Cheryl's book: Shameless early next week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~