I am in a quandary and I wanted to share it with y’all.
As those of you who follow me on FACEBOOK and TWITTER have probably seen, I have said a few things about A Santini in Love. Something hit me Wednesday when I heard a Billy Joel song, and I knew what the prologue would show the reader. It is something I am excited and worried about writing. Excited, mainly because I think Madison, the heroine in the book, is going to be a woman I will definitely admire. She’s tough, even after everything she has been through, and no matter how many times she falls, she gets back up and forges ahead. And, well, it is a Santini. Kind of hard not to be excited about that.
But, then, I am worried. First reason for that is because the book is much darker. I loved writing the first five Santinis because they were fun. Short novellas and lots of comedy. There were some serious moments, especially in Vicente‘s book and A Santini Christmas. But this one will deal in detail with PTSD and the ramifications to a person’s every day life. So, it is going to be much darker. At least, the prologue feels that way to me.
Why am I worried about that? A couple of reasons. First, I want to make sure I do the character justice. Madison Baker is…well, I think she might end up being one of my favorite characters. There is something about her that is pushing me to write this story. I had planned on doing the book this fall but I am really thinking I might not have a choice, but to write it now. Secondly, and just as important, I want to make sure the people who already love the Santinis are cool with this shift. I can’t say that it will stay that way, although Falling for a Santini is set to have some suspense in it also.
What do you say readers? How do you feel about a little shift? Of course, many of you wanted longer books and this one will be longer, more than twice the word count. So, let me know what you think.
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I say go for it! I like a heroine that doesnt let anything keep her down and life isnt always sunshine & lolipops.
WOOT! GO SANTINIS!!!
We have ups & downs…. some people do get a worse shake in life than others or so it seems… but then again, most of us have crap in our lives that no one else ever sees.
We got a taste of Dante and I know I loved him. Honestly, this was the same type of shift when you went from the Harmless to the Harmless Military. The love didn’t change… It just grew! We all love the Santini’s and we know they can’t all be the same. But they can all be gray!
I meant they can all be GREAT! DARN auto-check!
I say do it to it!! I love all the Santini’s. We all have issues to deal with in life. I think a shift is good! Looking forward to it!
Who better deserves a HEA than someone with obstacles to overcome?
Go for it. Life isn’t always peaches and beaches, sometimes we meet, and fall in love with others who have deeper issues. It’s good to see that in the literature we read for pleasure as well as in the media that reports in the public domain.
Sounds like a great book. Will read just about anything you write. Go for it!
Write what your muses show you. Life isn’t all sugar and roses. Deep dark stuff happens to real people. If you write it, I will read it.
Sometimes a little darkness helps us connect better with a character because they are more relatable to us readers and real life. So if the force is strong I say go forward with it. Anything you write I will read and no doubt love.
I love the concept. Let’s face it, PTSD is something that most people only hear about in passing. But for military families that have had service members deployed, it is a reality. I commend you for making it something real in a book.
My son has deployed 7 times already, 4 to Iraq and 3 to Afghanistan. My father did 2 tours of Vietnam. For Dad, Vietnam is a closed subject. He will be 80 this year and come home from his last deployment in ’72. Our military have seen and done things that isn’t always visible to the eye, but buried deep in their hearts and soul. TELL THEIR STORIES! Thank you.
It’s a tough subject but I’m sure you’ll do the character justice. You always do and that’s why I love your stories.
Go for it! Life has bumps in the road it’s good to show them.It may help someone along the way.
You write it Mel I will read and love it.
Sounds good – it can’t go wrong, it’s written by you and it has Santinis.
If you write it, I’m going to read it, and you cannot fight or dismiss the story that must be told. I believe, because you are concerned about telling the story “right” you will take all the time and attention needed to make sure Madison and Dante’s story is perfect.
I say go where the character is taking you. As you know, trying to change that is always disastrous. We support whatever route you choose to take. PTSD is reality so why not deal with it. I look forward to reading the story.
Belinda G
Anywhere the story goes, I think it will be great. I have not read a book of yours that I didn’t love! I’d say, go for it! Staying true to what the character dictates even though it is different, is better.
I say go with you instincts and take the book where you believe it should go. I love your books and I am sure that this one will be no different.