How Dr. Frankenstein Inspired Two Totally Hot YA Heroes
Please welcome Liz Reinhardt! Not only is she one of my favorite bloggers, but I’m lucky to have her as a critique partner, too. She just published her first novel, a YA romance featuring snappy dialogue, a love triangle, to-die-for heroes (two of them!), and lots of humor. It’s the first in a trilogy, and is already netting some fabulous reviews. So read and enjoy her guest post, then go buy her fabulous book. Take it away, Liz!
20 or so people may be reading my book this very minute!
My newly published book is bumping around out in the world and, I don’t want to brag or anything, but a whole 20-something readers (I can never remember the exact number…okay, I can! It’s 23 last time I refreshed the sales page!! WHEEE!!) are reading it! And tons of them are total strangers, NOT people who I shared Doritos and poetry and too many secrets with in high school, or who drank cheap keg beer at field parties with me and my husband back when he was my boyfriend, or who danced to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in a fist-pumping-Jersey-girl-dance-athon at my wedding.
Okay, maybe just I wish tons of them were strangers…because as amazing, awesome, generous, fun, sweet, helpful, and gorgeous as all these life-long crazy friends are, they know a lot. And they think they know more! And they’re guessing about people and places and events that are fiction. But, you know, fiction that’s based on reality, because I’m not that creative. And I’m sort of lazy. And my friends know that.
Even in college I was a woman of great mystery. A deep thinker whose musings and philosophies were rare gems, carefully polished and doled out in specifically measured, thoughtful increments. This picture probably depicts a small break from typing my great Western/immigrant/romance/mystery/literary novel instead of doing my Biology paper. Deep.
Even my husband thinks he knows more than he does. When I was writing Double Clutch, I was in love. Like swoony, butterflies in my stomach, can’t sleep, obsessive love…with this book and Brenna, Jake, and Saxon, the main characters who lived and breathed for me, through me! The need to share this love was absolutely undeniable. And I had a captive audience in my loyal, loving husband, who has a very hard time saying no to me when I get that maniacal gleam in my eye. Also our house is too small to hide in, and he could only stay at work until the bosses forced him to go home, kicking and screaming.He wanted to relax after a long, grueling day, watch “Overhaulin’,” work on his truck, and sit on the back porch quietly contemplating life while the stars appeared in a slow speckle across the darkening sky. He wound up listening to me read AN ENTIRE novel in rushed, breathy spurts, stopping frequently to edit sentences that rang wrong in my ears, and often abruptly leaving him alone on said porch under said lovely stars so I could get down the entire scene that had just blossomed in my brain before I lost it.
Is there anything more romantic than star-gazing gargoyles in love? Well, unless she has a chapter to finish. Broadway can totally fend for himself out there, under the stars! If Angela doesn't get it all typed out, she might lose it! And then how will they provide for all their little gargoyle children? How?!
It’s not a stretch to imagine that Frank (my husband) assumed he knew at least something about these characters who I so adored and forced him to adore even as he watched them steal his wife away and leave her completely uninterested in things that had never really interested her very much, like laundry and cooking and attempts to keep the floor from getting so sticky certain spots could pull the sock right off of your foot. My husband knows when he’s come against a force stronger than he is. He wanted to stop having to sniff the armpits of his shirts before work in a desperate attempt to find the least smelly one. And he wanted company for star-gazing, and peace when his favorite shows came on TV. He knew he needed the book to end. So he willed it to end.
This makes perfect sense to me. And Frank is an awesome helper...I don't pull my weight when I have books on the brain. And that's really, crazily often.
“Just have Brenna choose the right guy and end it,” he urged as he stuffed our daughter’s red dress into the washer with a load of his undershirts and socks one night when I was close to finishing. The words hot pink flashed a dangerous warning through my brain, but I was too consumed by the Brenna/Jake/Saxon dilemma to give them any serious notice.
“But who does she wind up with?” I mused, my laptop staring at me with its coolly taunting blue light.
“What do you mean?” He banged the lid of the washer down and narrowed his eyes at me before crossing to the dishwasher. “You know who she ends up with. The right guy.” He picked up the bottle of dish soap in one hand and the dishwasher fluid in the other and looked at them both with a frown.
“But that’s the whole point.” Frank held the bottles up, and I pointed to the one that wouldn’t break our appliance. “It’s not that easy to choose.”
“Sure it is,” he growled, holding up the dishwasher liquid for emphasis. He banged the dish soap on the counter. “One works. One doesn’t.” He squirted half the bottle of dishwasher liquid in the tiny dispenser square.
“No. Each one offers something different. Each guy is awesome in his own way.”
Frank’s face darkened. “Um, no. One guy is a loser. One is a decent guy. Stop pretending there’s any question.”
“You’re simplifying, Frank…” I began, but I was shocked into silence when he banged the dishwasher door shut and glared.
“Fine! Let Brenna pick the dirtbag, okay? If she’s too stupid to know who she should end up with, she doesn’t deserve him!”
There's something about boys I love throwing righteous temper tantrums that makes me smile!
Part of me was foaming at the mouth with excitement! He was so passionate! He was banging the dishwasher shut! He was in a rage! OVER MY BOOK! Part of me was confused. He was in a rage over my book?
I followed him as he stalked across the sticky floor. “Why are you so upset?”
“Because I know who I am in the book, and I know who you are, and I can’t believe we’re not getting together!” he bellowed.
What?
“It’s fiction! I’m not in the book! You’re not in the book!” I insisted.
“Oh really?”
Then Frank listed a dozen examples of interests, mannerisms, sayings, and situations that he shared with ‘his’ character, and he was absolutely right. I had plucked details from the guy I loved and peppered them into a fictional guy I loved.
But Frank was also absolutely wrong. See, he did pick up on exactly how he was like one of the guys. He just conveniently missed how he was exactly like the other guy, too. And he didn’t see the other real life guys who made up Jake and Saxon. Obviously! Because I don’t kiss and tell. Okay, that’s a lie! I totally kiss and tell, but I do it in fiction and I hide a lot of it in layers, the same way, I’m sure, a ton of writers do.
Is that me kissing Chance Crawford? Wouldn't you like to know? (Of course it's not me! And if it was me, it would totally be for research reasons. I write YA romance, after all!)
My past loves aren’t the only ones who made it into my book, either. For example, Frank has a really charismatic, frustrating, good-looking cousin who we’ve laughed with and watched work his magic a million times. We also watched him fall in love with the girl who inspired him to change his life. They’re both in Double Clutch.
I have a friend whose gorgeous, sweet husband was the object of just about every girl in our county’s crush…and he took full and complete advantage of all that admiration. When he met my friend, The One, the girl who swept him off his feet, she had to make peace with his very active romantic past, and she talked to me about how that felt. They’re in Double Clutch.
I watched my little sister, my best friend, my college roommates swoon with love…first love, unrequited crushes, crushes realized, soul-deep-let’s-get-married love, heart-wrenching-long-distance-love. They’re all in Double Clutch.
So is the guy I imagine my husband was before I ever met him. So is the guy I traded sly glances with every Tuesday and Thursday in Art History 105 but never got up the guts to ask out. So is the girl my ex-boyfriend eventually dated after me, and the next girl, who are both extremely nice, smart, funny ladies (hey, he always had good taste!). They’re all in there, wrapped up and taken apart, sprinkled around and put back together.
I'm the old guy on the right. And Brenna, Jake, and Saxon are hanging in the middle! Aren't we cute?! You know, in that creepy, old-movie-monsters way.
I am a little like Dr. Frankenstein. I’ve taken names, personalities, stories, glances, kisses, daydreams and molded them into a walking/talking world all my own but also everyone else’s. So when emails pop up and say, “Okay, is so-and-so based on so-and-so?”, the answer is…yes. And no. And yes. And no.
So I typed the last chapter, and read it to Frank, who crossed his arms and pouted a little, but said that it ended right enough as far as he was concerned. Then I steam-mopped the floor, threw together a fairly edible chili, bleached all of his socks and undershirts white again, and joined him on the back porch after we tucked the baby in. All was right with the world.
Are you in Liz’s book? Go check out Double Clutch and see! It’s available for the Kindle and Nook. The print version and sequel are both coming soon. If you want even more Liz (and who wouldn’t?) check out her blog or like her Facebook page. Have a question or comment for her? Leave it below, and she’ll see it when she checks in.
I am the stay-at-home mother to a toddler nicknamed 
I died a little bit when I saw that you shared that photo with the world.
You have to give me credit. I have not asked you “Is so-and-so based on what’s-his-name”? yet. Some of them are pretty fairly obvious, though. (Devon Conner)
You’re always so funny. It’s a pity there’s not much of a market for family-life novels, because you are practically Erma Bombeck in terms of caracaturing mom-life.
This made me laugh. I’m dreading the day someone says ‘is that me?’ because it probably will be
Love that! I can picture the interaction between Liz and her husband so well.
Maybe it’s a good thing my husband doesn’t read my stuff…
Congratulation, Liz! Double Clutch sounds like exactly the kind of YA I love to read! And your post here is terrific! Thanks for sharing so much “back story” with us. I laughed out loud and am cheering on you (I hope your sales skyrocket) and your characters (which guy will Brenna chose?). I hope you enjoy every moment of this wonderful and exciting time!
I love the way you slip hilarious domestic moments into heated, and seemingly unrelated, dialogue. So, so funny.
And, of course, now I’ll be looking for all those people too…
Oh my goodness! What an absolutely awesome post. LOL You wrote that situation with your hubs perfectly!!! Thanks for sharing and congrats on your release!
PERFECT.
My husband hasn’t read my book. He simply asks, as he has for years, “are you writing about me?”
The answer is a resounding No. And Yes.
LOL this was cute:)
I love this post! So cool that your man got so upset about your book~ how much of a compliment is that??? And I love the Frankenstein comparison for putting together characters
Tames (and the world) – That lovely pic of me from college was taken by the amazing Tamar! And I will diligently work to bring family-life back. I am self-published now, so I can write what I like…or what you convince me to like!
Sarah – It’s actually kind of cool! You will love it! (And feel a little pukey with guilt…probably!)
Lisa – Thank you! I’ve stopped reading to him/letting him read unless I’m really stuck. Now he just eyes my laptop with dark suspicion.
Robin – Thank you! If you get a chance to read it, I hope you like it! It’s been a very exciting journey, and the best part has definitely been having awesome people actually reading my book! (Well, other than my awesome betas/critique partners/friends who I forced to be either).
Courtney – Frank and I are do so much boring stuff, but I try to keep it interesting with my riveting conversation. And my hilarious-ness. Oh, and there’s more than I mentioned in there. Being that you know Frank’s family, you’ll be able to spot traits and examples!
Jessica – Thank you! My husband definitely makes me laugh; you know, in retrospect and when I get to share it on a blog!
LoryKC – They always think it’s about them, right?! Hahaha! Well, at least they’re inspirational!
Lindsay – Thank you! So glad you liked it!
Jess – Thank you! It really did feel like a huge compliment. He’s not much of a reader, so making him that crazy was a feat! And the comparison is kind of gross, but it makes me giggle!
This was great. The Chase Crawford pic made me *snert*. Okay off to click on stuff and things!
I like how this post shows your journey from beginning to end. It was fun to read!
Oh, and your relationship with your hubby reminds me so much of my relationship with mine. Although my hubby reads mostly non-fiction, he’s very supportive of my writing. Thanks for sharing!
Christina – Wasn’t that pic hysterical! I googled ‘kiss’ and when it came up, I couldn’t resist! Thank you so much for visiting!
E.R. – Thank you! I truly think writers with awesome partners are so blessed. My husband’s tome of choice is the Chilton manual, but he loves and respects my desire to write. We’re very lucky!! (As are they!!)
Thanks for posting this, Liz! I loved reading it, and was psyched that you let me share it with everyone.
By the way, my husband is the same way – he doesn’t read any of the genres I’ve written in, though occasionally he relents and lets me share some of my work with him. I think we were both glad when I found some good critique partners and stopped bugging him for his opinion all the time!
I know a number of writers who model the love interest after their spouse. Not me. My exes don’t make the cut either.
Caryn – Thank YOU for letting me sully the funny and thoughtful vibe of your blog with my lunacy! I feel like a celebrity, being a guest on your blog and all! Yes, I agree, Frank thanks his lucky stars I met some cool critique partners who will gladly obsess over imaginary worlds with me!
Stina – My husband pretends it would cause him less anxiety if I did make a completely fictional hero…but I know it would just hurt his feelings! But I plan to be married for a long time, so if I want different heroes I may have to take your path and wander into the realm of pure fiction some day!
Hilarious story. Hot pink doesn’t work very well, does it? lol
“it ended right enough as far as he was concerned.”
For whom?
No, Donna, hot pink was NOT the color he was going for in the sock department! And it ended right enough as far as ‘his’ character. My poor husband was very, very worried about ‘his’ fictional self!
Unfortunately, I am writing about my husband – a memoir. So, yes, honey, it’s you! Anyway, this was a hysterical post! Off to check out Double Clutch. I’m pretty sure I’m not in it…
Hahaha! Samantha, I will tell Frank about your memoir, and he will pass out with relief. I can’t WAIT to read your book when it’s out!! Thank you so much for stopping by, and thank you for checking out my book. You may not be in it, but if we keep talking I have a feeling you’ll end up in something I write!
I dig the passion in the post
Kelly, you would so fit in at our house! No wonder I write YA with all the tempers and emotions flying around! Haha!
Isn’t it so great when someone show passion about our work other than ourselves?
And wow, I’ve had that discussion about the mish-mosh of characteristics in my characters too. I love stealing the juicy traits I see in others.
What a great post! I really think that when we write a book, we bring more of ourselves than even we realize sometimes.
Janet – It is definitely the biggest perk of being an author!! And I’m very glad to know that I’m not the only freak who pulls apart those I know and love and poaches their traits for my books! Thanks for dropping by!
Beth – Thank you! I think one of the things I love most about writing is how much of myself I put into it…it makes it suck when I hear anything negative, but, wow, it feels SO GOOD when other people connect with it the way I did writing it!
LOL- this cracked me up! God, I don’t even bother talking to my hubs about my books. He doesn’t care. I don’t think he even really knows what my books are about. Count yourself lucky!:)
I think my husband would be DELIGHTED if I stopped obsessing with him about them! Hahaha! He’s pretty great about it, though. On the other hand, I listen to A LOT of long, boring explanations about ignition systems and tire rotations and axles!
I enjoy a good story where a guy tries to problem solve a girl’s emotional issue. Will they ever learn? I’m impressed your husband stayed focused enough to get involved in the story conflict. I have so shamelessly lifted characters from my high school that I’ll never be allowed at another reunion.
ONLY because he thought it was HIS PERSONAL conflict! Hahaha! And he will not listen to any of my arguments. I agree about the reunion thing; luckily my sister was very cool and popular and can alert me when I get a character too close to life! Thanks for stopping by!!
Hahaha! That was an awesome post!
Thanks, Peggy! So glad you stopped by!!
This was hilarious! I love that your husband knew your book so well. I love that you have sticky floors and that you bleached his hot pink socks. Thanks for sharing:)
I’m glad you liked it, Jessie! Frank was forced to listen to that one, but I’ve never done that to him again. And my floors are sticky right now! But all the laundry is done and the right color. Hahaha! I’m making baby steps! Thanks for stopping by!
Love this post. So cute and funny.
Sometimes I don’t realize that I’m being a Doc Frankenstein until later in a draft. And I’m starting to get the is-this-based-on-so-and-so questions. Eek!
Haha! Becoming Dr. Frankenstein just sneaks up on you sometimes…before you know it, you’re collecting body parts and hanging out in your creepy lab! I think that, even if you wrote a pure fiction book based on only your imagination, people would still see themselves in it! I guess it’s just human nature to always want to be the center of everything!
I so identify with that! Can’t wait to read the book.
Thanks for stopping by, Liza! So glad you’re going to read it!! I hope you LOVE it!!!
In my latest manuscript I have a love triangle too, and it surprised me that my husband thought that the guy who was most like him was a dirtbag. (Okay, granted, he was like my husband except for the fact that he killed people–the character, that is, not my husband.) But still, I sort of expected my husband to like him because they were so similar in other ways. I guess that killing thing is sort of hard to overlook . . .
Hahaha! I guess it would be! (Unless, of course it was a lovable killer? Like a Dexter Morgan type?) I love that your husband couldn’t see himself. That seems to be a pretty common problem for the people writers write about!
Omigosh, too funny! I torture my husband with plot stuff all the time – and he watches helplessly as I get lost in other men (my characters, of course). I soooo get it. Very fun post! Nice to meet you, Liz!
EXACTLY, Vicki! It’s the best way to crush…they guys are all in our heads, then come out on paper! So glad you stopped by! Nice to meet you!
SURPRISE…this is where you say OMG..just kidding had to check out your blog. you didnt really think i wouldnt did ya.glad to see your people are loving your book. i hope it does really well for ya. im actually thinkin of buyin it cause im really curious about franks charismatic , frustratin cousin, and his awsome wife that in deed prob change his life. oh an for all the people who read this im horrible at spelling. my punctuation is even worse, i havent read any books in twenty years. so dont hold it against me. but i love liz and can a hell of a lot of fish hahah love ya liz talk to you guys soon
OMG!! So glad you stopped by, Tommy! It’s going all right…50 books today! Maybe I’ll be able pay for a fishing vacation for you and Frank next year! You sure are frustrating, but your wife is so completely awesome, and you are a great fisher…and, of course, I love you, too! We miss you guys already! Buy my book…and you better leave an amazing comment on Amazon for me! You’re in it a little…you’ll know who you are! Talk to you soon! (PS Your spelling and punctuation are excellent! You just obviously hate capital letters, but that’s so much better than all caps.)
What fun you are to read. You never know what you’re going to find when you go stumbling around the internet!
Why thank you, Captain Loco! I’m honored to have been your dose of internet fun for the day!
Hi, I hope you don’t mind but I’ve included you in a writing related tag on my blog. Hope you’ll come check it out!
Emily
lmao! That bit about the floor pulling your socks off.. ah memories…
Emily – Not at all! How cool!! I’ll definitely stop by and check it out
!
A. Barlow – Haha! The stickier the floors, the better the book…so true, right?!