Where to my idea come from?

Author Spotlight: Diana Baxter's Beach Heart Cottage Series - Book one

Get to know where Diana Baxter and her most beloved beach romance novel, Beach Heart Cottage came from.

Find out what makes her stories a must-read for the summer season.

Ideas? Well they are all around us. All of us.

It's vacation time and you are heading to the ocean for a week or more of paradise. You step out of the car and inhale the briny air as you stretch and look around. You have arrived! The hush of the ocean fills you as the silky sand greets you.

As soon as your toes find the sand a smile finds your heart!

In another blog I wrote how a set of four dishes inspired the title and that was five years ago! I knew that BEACH HEART COTTAGE was going to be something But what? A poem, a place to visit? Afterall, the woman who gave me those dishes said I had a beach heart.

Most of my books come from dreams, or if I have a bout of insomnia, the images and storyline seem to come to life as I toss and turn. I am not one to get up at 2:00 a.m. and sit in front of my PC. Nope. I jot down what I can as many ideas float off into the early morning air.

Beach Heart came to me in scattered pieces and once I pulled them together is was complete. I was able to sit down at the keyboard. I don't do story blocks or an outline. It just flows as if a movie is playing and I have to catch the action. The characters names in the books, Ida, Marie, and Dorothy are all from great aunts who lived in Brooklyn, NY. This may sound a little different for some of you but I know they guided me. Ida was so strong in feeding me ideas. I know it! When it came to my main character, Caroline that was easy. While listening to Pandora radio Neil Diamond's song came on, Sweet Caroline! Perfect for North Carolina. As far as the rest of my characters they names just came to me!

Crafting a story involves numerous revisions, deletions, and the addition or removal of characters. I imagine their clothing, voice, and mannerisms with my eyes closed, allowing the story to develop from there. An agent once suggested I read many romance novels since mine was almost complete. I declined because I want my voice to remain genuine. There are already many formulaic books out there, and I refuse to be one of them. As an artist and designer, for those who may not know, why would I create landscapes that are mere replicas? You blend into the crowd and lose your unique voice and vision.

I believed it was necessary to transport readers back in time. Today's world is chaotic and unsettled in many respects. I found solace in revisiting this enchanting cottage by the sea. The warm wooden walls, uneven pine floors, a cozy brick fireplace, and vintage lace curtains. A cottage brimming with love, compassion, and generations of women who celebrate life, along with the mystical mermaid, Seraphina!

A time characterized by greater innocence and imagination. No phones! What did three sisters do before chores? As I envisioned, they would explore the shore after a storm in search of treasure, which became the foundation of the story.

As a romance novel, I needed to develop a charming and kind character who, upon meeting Caroline, instantly knew she was his soulmate. One major challenge was her ex, the president-elect. That’s quite a formidable obstacle! Interestingly, I didn't write this during a presidential campaign; the idea just struck me. Who could be more powerful than a president? Enter Dillan, the kind-hearted new neighbor. Are there conflicts? Absolutely. Is there a cast of quirky characters? Yes! My romances steer clear of sudden deaths or dark secrets.

When I write a beach romance, living near the ocean certainly helps. I aim for the reader to feel present, experience the cottage, and connect with the characters—to laugh, cry, and momentarily believe in the magic as these women dance around the beach bonfire with sparks reaching for the stars. The sea oats whisper into the night, and as the foaming waves touch the shore, perhaps there's a mermaid searching for her sailor. At least, that's what my characters hope to believe.

Escape into this world and join the women of the Beach Heart Cottage, and just believe!

Enjoy!

Diana

P.S. Here is one of the dishes that inspired me to write the BEACH HEART COTTAGE!