Monday Morning Musing: The Model Man

 

For the next few weeks, as I countdown to the release date for Chocolate Chip Christmas Wishes I will be revisiting some of my older stories. This week I am talking about my first full length published story, The Model Man.

Single mom and romance novelist Kelly Michaels has no time for a man in her life. But when mega-famous cover model Derek Calavicci puts the moves on her at a romance writers' conference, she succumbs to temptation. Common sense prevails, however, and after a few passionate kisses she turns him down; she has impressionable teenagers at home, after all, she doesn't need a one-night-stand with a much younger man, no matter how hot he is. When photos of their passionate moonlight kiss hit the tabloids, her agent has to do some fast footwork to save her reputation. Will the notorious bad boy go along with her scheme?

Derek rarely hears a woman say "no" — it's been that way his entire life. If Kelly isn't interested, he's not going to push her-- even if she does melt like ice cream on a hot sidewalk every time he touches her. But when an unexpected opportunity falls into his lap by way of Kelly's scheming agent, he jumps at the chance. Pretend he's in love with Kelly Michaels for two weeks? No problem. After all, the lady may say she's never going to sleep with him... but he's got two weeks to convince her otherwise. 

~*~

 

Publication date: 3/28/08

Buy link at Amazon:

After finally getting published, I was hooked.  This whole writing thing was definitely for me!

 

I was writing an historical story in my spare time; it was really my dream to write westerns. But I wasn’t brave enough to submit it just yet.

 

My next story idea began with a dream.  It involved a handsome actor and me in a rather steamy situation.  But even in the dream all I could think was –what’s he doing with me??

 

So I began to toy with the idea of a regular girl and a hot guy.  At the time the idea of an older woman/younger man story was a bit unusual.  And I knew I didn’t want my hero to be an actor. 

 

They say to write what you know, so my heroine was a mom.  And a romance novelist.  But who should her hero be?

 

Why not a romance novel cover model?

 

Usually for me once I put the two characters on a page together they take it from there.  But Kelly, my heroine, took a little time to warm up to the whole idea.  Derek was very strong from day one, he sort of strode onto the scene, over confident as always and took over.  Kelly was much slower to begin talking to me.

 

Once I added Kelly’s side kick, her best friend Sharon, into the story, Kelly began to loosen up a bit.  Turns out she’s pretty introverted (like most authors) and it took Sharon to pull her out of her shell a bit.

 

So where for the two characters to meet?

 

A romance writer’s conference, of course!

 

Turns out Derek has always wondered about this mysterious romance novelist who likes to keep him as naked as possible on the covers of all her books.

 

Kelly, on the other hand, liked to keep pictures of Derek around when writing about her heroes.

 

Only when they meet she is unimpressed.  He’s conceited and nothing at all like she imagined.  He is also pursued constantly by the paparazzi, and she begins to suspect he likes that.

 

A bit too much champagne and some heady moonlight finds her defenses down and his lips on hers—only to have the paparazzi find them.  After that Kelly’s agent capitalizes on the idea and the two are forced to pretend they are having an affair.  Derek only goes along with it because he’s pretty sure he can get her to sleep with him. 

 

This story was written in 2007/8 before we had social media and smart phones so in some ways it feels a little dated to me, but I still love this story.

 

As it turns out, The Model Man was my last contemporary story for a while.

 

Throwback Thursday - The Model Man

For Throwback Thursday, one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite stories.  This scene was so much fun to write...

This is from chapter 3--my hero isn't used to being turned down, especially by a woman he knows wants him...

The Model Man by Nicole McCaffrey

Earlier this morning he’d decided to forget about Kelly; she’d made her lack of interest clear enough last night. Somewhere along the way he changed his mind. “I sent roses, dammit.”

He reached the atrium. Looking relaxed, happy and gorgeous, Kelly chatted with her fans. He was struck once more by her fresh-faced beauty and mesmerizing blue eyes, especially with the sun’s glow on her pale blonde hair and her face alight with humor.

The memory of her in that red dress and the soft, sweet smell of her perfume rushed back to him. The way her nipples stood at attention when she removed his jacket. He knew he’d affected her, every bit as much as she had affected him.

“If she isn’t interested, she can damn well tell me why.”

Behind him, Frankie warned. “Derek, don’t do anything stupid.”

He never slowed his pace. As he made his way to Kelly’s table, an audible hush followed in his wake. She was so engrossed with the fans she didn’t seem to notice the change in the atmosphere.

At the table, the women waiting in line stepped aside for him. Bright sunlight streamed through the glass walls and ceiling, casting his shadow as he loomed over her. She stiffened before she looked up. He heard a slight hitch in her breath when he shoved a book beneath her nose.

Without a word, she quickly scrawled her name, then handed it back to him. “Who’s next?”

He stepped to the side, blocking her view. “Why?”

Her gaze flickered over the loincloth he wore since that was at eye level. A delicate flush crept over her face as her gaze slowly moved upward. When at last their eyes met, he was fighting the stirrings of an erection—and she seemed barely able to speak.

“I—I told your...” she waved a hand in circles, “zoo keeper, or whatever she is, I have plans.”

He folded his arms over his chest, uncaring if he sounded like an arrogant ass. “Change them.”

“I can’t.” She peered around him and gestured for the next person to come forward.

He leaned closer, covering the books spread out before her with both palms. “Why not?”

The glance she spared him was as prim and proper as a schoolteacher. “Because I don’t want to.”

“Then meet me afterward.”

“No.”

Knowing he was invading her space, he moved even closer, his face inches from hers. “Don’t make me beg, you won’t like it.”

“Then go away and stop asking.”

A wicked thought came to mind. Before he even had time to second guess it, he moved around to her side of the table and scooped her up in his arms.

“What are you—?”

“You left me no choice.” He lifted her high, tilting her toward him until she had to put her arms about his neck to hold on.

“Ladies,” he said, turning to face the room of startled onlookers. “Don’t you think if a man spends the night making love to a woman, the least she can do is have dinner with him?”

“Oh God,” she moaned. “Don’t do this...”

“I warned you you wouldn’t like it,” he said in a low voice.

****

Single mom and romance novelist Kelly Michaels has no time for a man in her life. But when mega-famous cover model Derek Calavicci puts the moves on her at a romance writers’ conference, she succumbs to temptation. Common sense prevails, however, and after a few passionate kisses she turns him down; she has impressionable teenagers at home, after all, she doesn’t need a one-night-stand with a much younger man, no matter how hot he is. When photos of their passionate moonlight kiss hit the tabloids, her agent has to do some fast footwork to save her reputation. Will the notorious bad boy go along with her scheme?

Derek rarely hears a woman say “no” – it’s been that way his entire life. If Kelly isn’t interested, he’s not going to push her-- even if she does melt like ice cream on a hot sidewalk every time he touches her. But when an unexpected opportunity falls into his lap by way of Kelly’s scheming agent, he jumps at the chance. Pretend he’s in love with Kelly Michaels for two weeks? No problem. After all, the lady may say she’s never going to sleep with him... but he's got two weeks to convince her otherwise.

Blog Overhaul

The sun has been rising earlier and staying around longer and the birds in the many trees around my house have been singing their little hearts out each morning.  So I've been thinking-- spring!! Even though the calendar says we still have a full month to go until it's official, I have a raging case of spring fever!

Spurred on by the songs of friends such as Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal and my favorite little black capped chickadees, I've been cleaning out closets and sorting through drawers. I also decided it was time to overhaul my long neglected blog.  I'm thrilled with the new version of Blogger that allowed me to add pages.  Some of them are still under construction but I hope you'll poke around and stay for a nice long visit.

As for that writing thing..... I'm getting there.  I'm back in the saddle and working at it every day.  Bear with me!

Everything you never wanted to know.... and then some

Today is my day to post on the Sweethearts of the West blog and August is sort of a "getting to know the Sweethearts" month where we post about ourselves (gulp!!)

It took weeks to write and still feels way too long and boring, but you can learn more about me than you ever cared to know, LOL.  Stop on by and say hello!

Nic

Monday Morning Musing

I'm musing, LOL, but only about one thing. I just found out this morning that my 2008 contemporary release The Model Man will be out in audio book on May 12!

TWRP, my publisher, chose only those books that had sold exceptionally well and received great reviews to be among the very first offerings for their new audible book feature. I'm so tickled mine is one of them!

It's exciting and a little scary to think of someone actually giving a voice to my characters!

So that's all I'm musin' 'bout this sunny Monday morning!

Pretty cool, huh?

To Judge and Be Judged

A recent conversation on one of the loops I belong to got me thinking about contests. Love ‘em or hate ‘em , they’re a necessary evil in this business. And they don't stop just because you finally grasp that brass ring -- publication.

They just get more expensive. *G*

But the conversation wasn’t about post-pub contests, it was about entering contests as a pre-pubbed author. It seems that in the early days of a writer’s career, when her work needs a little guidance, the judges are kinder. But for the more seasoned writer who has polished her style and her voice, it seems the claws come out.

Developing a thick skin is a must when you’re a writer but that doesn’t mean unkind comments don’t sting. While I threw away all those old scoresheets a long time ago, there are one or two comments that have stuck in my mind over the years.

“This guy is really pissing me off.”

LOL. This was about Derek, the hero in my 2008 release The Model Man. Years away from that painful barb I can say at least my writing brought out strong emotion in the judge, LOL. But I think the reason I remember that one so clearly is because the comment had absolutely nothing to do with my writing and everything to do with the judge’s personal taste. It was really unprofessional.

Some are just plain amusing and this one has always stuck in my mind:

“Is it supposed to be day or night?”

This one was on the opening scene of Wild Texas Wind. After reflecting on how exhausted he is, how hard he’s worked, how he’s looking forward to a little R&R, my hero, upon learning the size of the reward being offered for a missing heiress, climbs out of a hot bath, hands his cigar and brandy over to the soiled dove he was planning to –er—keep company with and leaves, (telling said prostitute he’s going after that reward money). If that’s not enough to tell you how this man doesn’t give a damn if it’s night or day, rain or shine, or even if there’s a blizzard raging, I don’t know what it’s gonna take, LOL. And this poor clueless judge wanted to know if it was night or day! Oi!

Of course, it goes without saying that the nastiest comments are more than made up for by the glowing remarks of a judge who does like your story, only critiques your skill and gently encourages you on your career path. But it’s funny how some of those comments linger .

What are some of your more memorable comments –good or bad-- from contest judges?

Friday Fun: Hangin' with Isabel

Isabel Roman reviewed The Model Man on her blog on Wednesday; today she's interviewing me. Stop over for and visit!

Here are excerpts from the stories mentioned in the interview:

This Moment in Time

Wild Texas Wind

The Model Man

Interview with Regan Taylor

Well I did it. After spending the day being nauseous and nervous, I did it.

I talked to Regan Taylor of Talking Romance. And lo and behold, I had fun! Regan is a wonderful interviewer, she put me right at ease and cliché as it sounds, it felt like we were just two old friends enjoying a chat on the phone. Never mind the potential for thousands of others listening in, LOL. There were a couple of places where maybe I could have said more or where we both paused and maybe I giggled too much, but I felt good about it afterward.

Afterward of course, came the “shoulda coulda’s.” At one point Regan asked me about my guilty pleasures, what I read in my down time. I rattled off the list of authors on my keeper shelf: Maggie Osborne; Jodi Thomas; Linda Lael Miller; Johanna Lindsey; Pamela Morsi. Then we started chatting about e-publishing and e-readers and I meant to come back and name some of the TWRP authors and other e-pubbed authors I’ve come to enjoy (Paty Jager; Carol Spradling; Leanne Tyler; Ashley Ladd; Sarita Leone) But as conversations do, we veered onto something else and I missed my chance to promo some of my favorite authors you may not have heard of.

Then later we were talking about what I have in the works and I was so focused on my historical offerings I totally forgot to mention Sons of Summerville, the contemporary anthology I’m working on with three other TWRP authors.

But the bottom line: I had a great time and look forward to talking to Regan again soon. I’m also going to try and listen to her show more often, it’s at an odd time of day for me (Sunday afternoons at 5 pm EST) but once we get into summer vacation, that won’t be such a busy time of day.

Meanwhile, if you want to listen to me giggle and stumble over my tongue and probably sound pretty darn foolish overall, click here. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ReganTaylor/va/2008/06/08/talking-romance-with-regan-and-faith-from-the-wild-rose-press. Don’t mind the name, my friend Faith was kind enough to swap dates with me since my last interview didn’t work out.

Til next time!

Nic

It's in print!!!

The Model Man comes out in print today!

Nearly a month ago I ordered copies from the TWRP author store, so I've had plenty of time to hold this book in my hands and get used to the idea that it's finally real.

The Model Man can be purchased either at the TWRP website www.thewildrosepress.com or from Amazon.com, where you can read a lovely review left by a fellow TWRP author who read the book and was kind enough to leave me a review. (Thanks, Leanne!)

It's definitely a day for celebrating!

BTW please bear with me as I adjust to this new blog template from Pyzam. I love it, but a lot of my settings are messed up. Comments don't always show and in the "Friends I Visit" section only one name appears--though if you scroll through the box, the others mysteriously pop up. I'm working on it!!