As I get close to the release of Ticket to Ride I am reminded of how it came about. Earlier this year, I volunteered with several other authors to work on a story with a song title. It would become one of five stories that become an Amber Quill Pax, basically you can purchase all five stories at once or you can buy the stories individually.
As someone who has always been a Beatles fan I wanted to use a title from one of their songs. For some reason I chose Ticket to Ride. At first I didn’t even have a clue what the book would be about, and then, eventually when I did start writing it…well the two heroes were Malcolm and Dusty.
That’s right my heroes from The Best Gift were originally the heroes for Ticket to Ride. But as I wrote the beginning it just didn’t seem to go where I wanted it to go.
Then in early June, I went to Las Vegas with my friends. We usually drive from Cali but for that particular trip we flew out of Burbank. On the way home, we were sitting in the airport waiting for our flight when my friend leaned over and asked, “Isn’t that the Nelson twins?”
For those who don’t remember in the early 90s (I think), Ricky Nelson’s twin sons, Gunnar and Matthew formed a band called Nelson. They did sort of glam rock and had long blond hair.
Anyway, I checked out the two guys sitting a couple rows away and noticed one of them had a guitar with them. Sure enough it was the twins. They were now in their early forties with short blond hair.
What does this have to do with Ticket to Ride? Out of this sighting, Chad Storm, former lead singer of Lightening was born and suddenly Ticket to Ride became a different book. Chad’s hero became a tough homicide cop, Jack Reeves.
Ava March, who some of you may or may not know, is my critique partner of a couple of years now mentioned to me that she had liked Malcolm and Dusty and hoped I would consider writing a story for them even though they were not right for Ticket to Ride and The Best Gift was born.
So these stories have always been connected really. It seems appropriate they release within a week of each other.
As someone who has always been a Beatles fan I wanted to use a title from one of their songs. For some reason I chose Ticket to Ride. At first I didn’t even have a clue what the book would be about, and then, eventually when I did start writing it…well the two heroes were Malcolm and Dusty.
That’s right my heroes from The Best Gift were originally the heroes for Ticket to Ride. But as I wrote the beginning it just didn’t seem to go where I wanted it to go.
Then in early June, I went to Las Vegas with my friends. We usually drive from Cali but for that particular trip we flew out of Burbank. On the way home, we were sitting in the airport waiting for our flight when my friend leaned over and asked, “Isn’t that the Nelson twins?”
For those who don’t remember in the early 90s (I think), Ricky Nelson’s twin sons, Gunnar and Matthew formed a band called Nelson. They did sort of glam rock and had long blond hair.
Anyway, I checked out the two guys sitting a couple rows away and noticed one of them had a guitar with them. Sure enough it was the twins. They were now in their early forties with short blond hair.
What does this have to do with Ticket to Ride? Out of this sighting, Chad Storm, former lead singer of Lightening was born and suddenly Ticket to Ride became a different book. Chad’s hero became a tough homicide cop, Jack Reeves.
Ava March, who some of you may or may not know, is my critique partner of a couple of years now mentioned to me that she had liked Malcolm and Dusty and hoped I would consider writing a story for them even though they were not right for Ticket to Ride and The Best Gift was born.
So these stories have always been connected really. It seems appropriate they release within a week of each other.
Ahh, I can remember Nelson's "Love & Affection." I was probably around 13 or 14 and thought they were so hot with that bleached, long hair. Yummy.
ReplyDeleteI love it when you get inspired! It's great how such a simple thing turns into another fabulous book.
ReplyDeleteI was a Bon Jovi fan myself, but I remember Nelson very well. They were very cute and Eyre's right, they had some good hair!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great way to get inspired. Thanks for sharing that:)
I see I'm going to have to google Nelson and download "love and affection" to see who you ladies are talking about.
ReplyDeleteTerrific post, Shawn! It's awesome to see how your mind works.
OH MY GOD, Drew! You just made me feel so old! LOL!
ReplyDeleteBON JOVI is HOT! Jon Bon Jovi still looks as good as he did when he had eighties hair. SO SEXY!
I had a crush on the guys from Duran Duran myself...lol!
Shawn you are very cool! I can't wait to read this book.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Nelson brothers but I thought they were goodie goodie, so I wasn't a big fan.
I was a Cure fan myself, although Bon Jovi was hot. Duran Duran looked good in liner, so you know I liked them, too!
Drew if you say you have to google the Cure or Duran Duran I'm going to beat you!
Bon Jovi is still smokin' hot!
ReplyDeleteDrew, you're such a little cutie. Goggle Nelson. If I hadn't been such an innocent child at the time, they would have probably made up my first twincest fantasy.
I'm going to blushingly admit a serious crush on Brett Michaels from Poison--not Brett as he is now, but the Brett from way back then. Also, we can't leave out George Michael. Yummy, yummy!
I actually thought the two of the them (Nelson) looked better this year when I saw them than when they were popular. And neither of them are even close to being as cute as Ricky, their dad.
ReplyDeleteAh, The Cure. Love their music. Why am I not surprised by that Maggie? lol.
And I agree, Bon Jovi is still babelicious.
There, I published a picture of them from those days for the young and curious
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving some insight on how one of your stories come to life!
ReplyDeleteThey are quite stunning when you look at this picture in all of their eighties glory!
I loved Pearl Jam, but I can appreciate Jon Bon Jovi, Too!