The Write Way Café welcomes Angela Adams, who discusses creative liberties, as in “Can you get internet access and cell phone reception in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean?”
As fiction writers, we sometimes have to be “creative” and ignore common sense, or reality, in order to make things work. The best example of this comes when watching police dramas on television. I’m always amazed how they can get DNA results and autopsies back in 60 seconds.
In my novel, Magic Moment, Chase Donovan heads to the boat he keeps docked in Magic Lake Island, New Jersey. He stumbles upon two men assaulting Laura Roberts, the bookkeeper employed by his father. The men, assuming Chase is aware, refer to his father having approved the use of the boat to kill Laura. Although taken aback, Chase decides it's safer for Laura if he plays along with these men. Insisting he’ll finish the job, Chase runs them off the boat.
After freeing Laura from her restraints, Chase convinces her that his words were pretense. He has no intention of hurting her. He’s bewildered by what’s taking place around him and the implication of his father’s involvement, fears for both his and Laura’s safety, and persuades her they need to leave the area. He decides they should sail to his aunt’s house on the Chesapeake Bay.
While writing this story, I needed Laura to initially be suspicious of Chase and for an act to take place where she eventually became convinced of his sincerity in wanting to help her. I decided to have her find him reading articles from the Internet on how to help a woman who has been assaulted and traumatized. I also needed for Chase to be able to hear voice mail messages from his father on his cell phone.
When I wrote the first draft of this novel several years ago, I posed these questions. “If you’re in the middle of the Atlantic, can you get online? How about using your cell phone?”
The answers I received ranged from “no” to “maybe” to “interesting question.” I searched the internet myself and found, “yes, for a cruise ship, but very expensive.”
As I worked on the scenes, I decided if a cruise ship could have internet access and cell phone capabilities, so could Chase.
And, there goes my “Creative Liberty.”
If you’re curious, here’s a sneak peak at the Internet scene:
As she opened the cabin door, a pleasant, tangy sea breeze tickled her senses. Stiff limbs hindered her movements, but she climbed the stairs to the deck. The sun blazed in the clear blue sky. The boat teetered, alone, in a vast mass of water. A brisk chill nipped the air, and Laura hugged herself.
“Chase,” she called. No answer. She called his name again, this time her voice having an edge.
He wasn’t in the wheelhouse. She darted back down the stairs. If he had been moving around in the bathroom or “head” as he had called it, she would have heard him.
“Chase.” Panic gripped her. “Chase.”
Her heart pounding, she ran through the narrow corridor and stopped dead in the eating area. Propped up on the stool, he was asleep at the bar with a half-filled liquor bottle and an empty glass. His head rested on folded arms, his breathing deep. A laptop was also on the bar. The monitor was dark, but the yellow light blinked. Laura hit the space bar and print appeared on the screen. Several windows had been minimized.
Clicking on one minimized window, she skimmed the on-screen print and gasped, amazed at the words she read. She clicked another window and saw a search engine page. Chase had been reading articles on women who had been assaulted. Her eyes scanned the list of titles. He had wanted to understand, wanted to know how he could help her. From what she had observed of Chase in the last three years, she never guessed he had this sensitive, compassionate side to his personality. Her perception of Chase had been that of a friendly, but overindulged, self-absorbed playboy.
Who would have guessed?
*******
Magic Moment is one of the many Crimson Romance digital backlist titles now available exclusively through Amazon Encore.
For more information on Amazon Encore:
https://www.apub.com/imprint-detail?imprint=4
Paperback edition of Magic Moment
Join Angela on…
Facebook Google Plus Blog
In my novel, Magic Moment, Chase Donovan heads to the boat he keeps docked in Magic Lake Island, New Jersey. He stumbles upon two men assaulting Laura Roberts, the bookkeeper employed by his father. The men, assuming Chase is aware, refer to his father having approved the use of the boat to kill Laura. Although taken aback, Chase decides it's safer for Laura if he plays along with these men. Insisting he’ll finish the job, Chase runs them off the boat.
After freeing Laura from her restraints, Chase convinces her that his words were pretense. He has no intention of hurting her. He’s bewildered by what’s taking place around him and the implication of his father’s involvement, fears for both his and Laura’s safety, and persuades her they need to leave the area. He decides they should sail to his aunt’s house on the Chesapeake Bay.
While writing this story, I needed Laura to initially be suspicious of Chase and for an act to take place where she eventually became convinced of his sincerity in wanting to help her. I decided to have her find him reading articles from the Internet on how to help a woman who has been assaulted and traumatized. I also needed for Chase to be able to hear voice mail messages from his father on his cell phone.
When I wrote the first draft of this novel several years ago, I posed these questions. “If you’re in the middle of the Atlantic, can you get online? How about using your cell phone?”
The answers I received ranged from “no” to “maybe” to “interesting question.” I searched the internet myself and found, “yes, for a cruise ship, but very expensive.”
As I worked on the scenes, I decided if a cruise ship could have internet access and cell phone capabilities, so could Chase.
And, there goes my “Creative Liberty.”
If you’re curious, here’s a sneak peak at the Internet scene:
As she opened the cabin door, a pleasant, tangy sea breeze tickled her senses. Stiff limbs hindered her movements, but she climbed the stairs to the deck. The sun blazed in the clear blue sky. The boat teetered, alone, in a vast mass of water. A brisk chill nipped the air, and Laura hugged herself.
“Chase,” she called. No answer. She called his name again, this time her voice having an edge.
He wasn’t in the wheelhouse. She darted back down the stairs. If he had been moving around in the bathroom or “head” as he had called it, she would have heard him.
“Chase.” Panic gripped her. “Chase.”
Her heart pounding, she ran through the narrow corridor and stopped dead in the eating area. Propped up on the stool, he was asleep at the bar with a half-filled liquor bottle and an empty glass. His head rested on folded arms, his breathing deep. A laptop was also on the bar. The monitor was dark, but the yellow light blinked. Laura hit the space bar and print appeared on the screen. Several windows had been minimized.
Clicking on one minimized window, she skimmed the on-screen print and gasped, amazed at the words she read. She clicked another window and saw a search engine page. Chase had been reading articles on women who had been assaulted. Her eyes scanned the list of titles. He had wanted to understand, wanted to know how he could help her. From what she had observed of Chase in the last three years, she never guessed he had this sensitive, compassionate side to his personality. Her perception of Chase had been that of a friendly, but overindulged, self-absorbed playboy.
Who would have guessed?
*******
Magic Moment is one of the many Crimson Romance digital backlist titles now available exclusively through Amazon Encore.For more information on Amazon Encore:
https://www.apub.com/imprint-detail?imprint=4
Paperback edition of Magic Moment
Join Angela on…
Facebook Google Plus Blog
About Angela: Angela Adams writes and reviews contemporary romances. Her work has appeared in Romance at Heart, Oysters and Chocolate, Whipped Cream and The Long and Short Reviews. Her short story, "Burgers and Hot Chocolate" appeared in the Whimsical Publications' anthology, Winter Wonders. Her first novel Magic Moment, was published by Crimson Romance. This past October, Magic Moment was included Crimson Romance's romantic suspense bundle, limited-time only release, Running to Love.
Angela is a member of Romance Writers of America, and its chapters From the Heart Romance Writers and Elements of RWA.
Where to find Angela Adams:
http://www.facebook.com/authorangela
http://authorangela.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Adams/e/B00D0R03A2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
13 comments:
Hi, Angela! This is interesting about the internet. Having been on a cruise this past summer, we wanted internet. You can pay and can be pricey. If you book a certain room, this might be included. And in the library, it was free, but others shipmates might be ahead of you or not. Depends. Lovely to read excerpt. Hugs.!
I love your post, Angela. And your book!
Thanks for sharing an excerpt and for being with us today, Angela!
Vicki, I'm looking forward to read further postings on your blog about your cruise vacation. Thanks for stopping by The Write Way today!
Lynn and HiDee, thank you so much for the invitation to post today, and your always kind words regarding my book!
Angela, I loved your novel's premise. Excellent suspense! Much continued success!
Deborah, thank you for your kind words and good wishes!
I'm so sorry I'm late! But I'm so happy to see two of my favorite people, Angela and HiDee!!! Hi!
Gosh, Angela, I love how creative you got to make that scene work!!! I love things like that! And I love your writing too! Hugs!
You always have the kindest words, Red. I'm still hoping for you (and those magical muses) to visit historical Philly.
I wrote a series where bears shifted into men. Another where firemen fell in love within a couple weeks. In fact, that's one of my problems, I think. My characters develop feelings too quickly. It always took me months in real life. Readers aren't going to stick around for a long courtship. Not anymore. Great post.
You make a good point, Vonnie. Authors, who write short stories and novellas, need to have their hero and heroine meet, fall in love, and have a happy ending in 10K to 20K words. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Makes total sense to me and love the blurb of your story. I always enjoy a good suspense novel. You've got this creativity and writing thing totally down pat, girl! Hugs...Ro
Thanks, RO, for your kind words and visiting The Write Way Cafe!
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