Ideas - they come in the strangest places at the funniest times. A writer’s life is never dull that’s for sure!
Mr. Munro and I were catching an Air New Zealand flight from San Francisco to Auckland. We hadn’t been on the plane long and I was settled back with my inflight magazine. It’s always the first thing I read when I get on any plane since they have interesting travel articles. Air New Zealand have this new products section and one of the items shown was a vibrating condom.
“Oh,” I said to hubby in a loud voice. “Look!” (and I have to point out hubby is always growling at me for muttering. I don’t but that’s another story. Anyhow, I spoke rather loudly.)
“What?” he asked.
“It’s a vibrating condom. Hmmm, I wonder how they test them?”
“Shush!” he said glancing at our neighbors who WERE looking at us.
“But it’s a vibrating condom!” I said. “Let’s buy one. How do you think they test them? Do you think people test them?” I asked, full of questions. The muse was at a full gallop, considering all the possibilities.
“Shush,” hubby said again. “I’m trying to read.”
“Oh, but don’t you think it would make a great story?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“All right,” I said, a trifle grumpy now. “I’ll think to myself about how they test the vibrating condom.”
“Good idea,” hubby said.
So, I did. All the way back to New Zealand I thought about condoms and how they’d be tested. I thought about the possibilities of a girl inheriting a condom company and the rest, as they say, is history. I wrote Fancy Free, a story about a girl who inherits a condom company and is heavily involved in testing…
If you’d like to learn how my twisted mind works Fancy Free releases from Ellora’s Cave on 7 March 2008 - next Friday!! And meantime, if you’d like to read the blurb and excerpt go here.
That’s a great anecdote you can share with your grandkids someday. I guess one never knows where an inspiration might come from.
by Jane February 27th, 2008 at 4:10 amAnd they wonder where we writers get our ideas from… EVERYWHERE — you just need a healthy dose of imagination to go along with the inspiration.
by Wylie Kinso February 27th, 2008 at 6:42 am:)
Wait. A vibrating Condom????
Seriously?
I think that just broke my brain a little. Obviously I need to brush up on the new condom advancements. Ah hem. ;)
by RD Solange February 27th, 2008 at 8:01 amWhat an interesting concept for a book! Sounds great.
by Estella February 27th, 2008 at 2:18 pmI am giggling over your “ah ha” moment on the plane.
by pussreboots February 27th, 2008 at 4:07 pmI’m going to have to add this to my to buy pile! It sounds really good and what an interesting topic! :)
by Jambrea February 27th, 2008 at 4:34 pmJane - at least I had pen and paper handy. Usually I have my best ideas while in the shower.
Wylie - yep, they didn’t stint with me when they were handing out imagination.
RD - yes, they really have a vibrating condom. Check out the Durex website.
Estella - thank you!
Pussreboots - It was funny at the time. You should have heard the tone of my husband’s voice when he said, “shush!”
Hi Jambrea - thank you. I hope you enjoy the story.
by Shelley Munro February 27th, 2008 at 5:18 pmVibrating condoms!!!
I am so out of condom loops!! I can’t wait to read fancy free :D
by Amy Ruttan February 27th, 2008 at 5:38 pmI think I missed a few steps somewhere. Let me get over to the Durex site and see what we’ve been missing.
Oh and my hubby would be shushing me, too!
by Janet H February 27th, 2008 at 5:59 pmI can’ t imagine how one gets a vibrating condom. Hmm.. maybe something to look into. :)
by Ann M. February 27th, 2008 at 8:55 pmNero and Caligula want to know how time travel works. They say those parties in Rome have grown dull.
by Gabriele February 27th, 2008 at 10:26 pmAmy - I learned quite a bit while writing Fancy Free.
LOL Janet. Men, eh?
Hi Ann - as I said, I learned some interesting stuff.
Gabriele - let them timetravel and drive cars. That would be fun. Or at least a ride in a car
by Shelley Munro February 28th, 2008 at 1:58 am