My guest today, Terri Brisbin, is a wonderful author I’ve known for ages. We actually were roomies at BookExpo this year, and spent some time trying to figure out exactly when we did meet. We never figured it out, btw, beyond narrowing it down to the late 90’s. Terri is yet another of those fun, funny, smart women writers I know and admire, plus she gets more stuff done than most. She does a ton of volunteer work for RWA, as well as working a day job and writing a whole bunch of great romance every year. So, please welcome my friend, Terri Brisbin, to Alive & Knitting!
Hello everyone! First I want to thank Deb/Claire for inviting me to blog with her. I’ve called her Deb/Claire for a long time – she was one of the first Harlequin Historical authors I met and was “Claire Delacroix” in those days. Then she moved into different sub-genre and became this “Deborah Cooke” author. Being easily confused, I just call her ‘Deb/Claire’ so I know I’m speaking to all of her personalities.
Well, in looking at the title of this blog, I should admit I can’t knit (though I do crochet a little) so I can’t talk about knitting things! Or maybe I can? Isn’t writing a story a little like knitting?
I never thought of it that way but I guess a writer is like a knitter working on a project!
Some knitters work with patterns and some go freestyle or see the finished piece in their minds. In writing we call that either plotters or pantsers (as in writing by the seat of our pants!). Some writers do not ‘see’ the finished story, they can just plan it out step-by-step, scene by scene, chapter by chapter, until they reach the end and say ‘A HA!’. Those are the plotters, focused more on the steps of the writing journey that will get them to the end they want or need. Others can ‘see’ the ending, know the beginnings and the basics about the story and characters and then just write the middle. And yes, some writers, like knitters I suspect, are a combination of both styles – they plan a little, they plot a little and they ‘wing-it’ a little, too.
I always thought I was strictly a ‘pantser’, writing stories out of thin air, but I’ve developed more plotting skills – especially when working on a connected series of books.
And that happened when I decided to write my STORM series for Brava.
I had an idea that was based on an old Scottish folktale about a poor woman who stalked a faery to catch him and get her wishes granted. Apparently, if you can catch a faery while he washes his clothes (aka NAKED!), he must grant your wish. She wished for power and wealth for her seven sons…but the faery, scheming, deceitful as faeries usually are!, twisted her wish and it ended in heartbreak for her and her sons.
Well, I liked the premise but this would be a series of romances and I needed a happy-ever-after ending, so – I wove that premise, pulled in various threads and strings, and came up with a series of three brothers – triplets, born to a woman who was caught by a Fae prince and then betrays him. He gifts each son with a power that humans do not have, but curses them to lose their humanity (and their lives!) each time they use their gift. Only the freely-given love of someone they’ve betrayed or who is their enemy can break the curse and save their lives!
Once all the word-and-plot-and-character weaving was done, I had Connor who can see the past, present and future, but is going blind with each vision he has; Gavin who can hear the truth in a person’s heart and mind, but is going deaf and mad from the voices in his head; and Duncan who is a healer but is losing all emotions and sensations! Each of them have enemies who’d see them dead or who want to use them for their powers. And each of them has a woman who is their enemy or whom they’ve betrayed in some way.
It was difficult for me to keep all the threads untangled, especially since all three stories happen at the same time, making me have to develop time/place charts and maps to follow the time frame I needed – one connected to the phases of the moon! This all made my pantser mind hurt – LOL!
In the end, A STORM OF PASSION, A STORM OF PLEASURE and MISTRESS OF THE STORM are emotional, sometimes dark, intense, steamy romances. Oh, I even got the chance to tell the mother’s story in a novella entitled A STORM OF LOVE! So, I was able to use the old Scottish folktale as my pattern, which I then changed up a bit and wove three stories and a novella that each tell a part of a story that begins unhappily but all end well!
So, I guess I do knit or weave. . . but with words and not textiles!
What project are you working on now – knitting, sewing, weaving, crocheting or even just reading a good romance? Post a note and let me know and I’ll let Deb select two who will receive a signed copy of one of my STORM stories. . .!
Terri hopes you’ll try out her STORM series while she is busy weaving words on a new project or two and on a new Harlequin Historical release for September 2012. Visit her website at www.terribrisbin.com or her FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/terribrisbin for more info!
Deborah Cooke: Author 
13 responses to “Visit from Terri Brisbin”
Hi Terri, I love how you connect knitting and writing. My mom is a fabulous knitter and I think her greatest disappointment is that I don’t do it. I always say I have no motivation, since she knits me anything I want! But I do write, and I credit her with making me tell myself stories at night if I couldn’t fall asleep as a child. So, now I see the connection!
I love the premise for your Storm series and they each sound fascinating. Have to add them to my “to be read” list!
And Deb/Claire, this is a coincidence, but I’m in the middle of reading your The Beauty Bride, which I’m really enjoying!
Good luck to both of you!
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Hi Jennifer –
Thanks for posting. I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying BEAUTY BRIDE. (That Rhys. Hmm.) I’m having a lot of fun getting new covers done for my medievals and sending them out in the world again. It’s great to know that other people are enjoying them too!
d
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Terri, I like your knitting and writing connection, and I agree with you. Interestingly, as a writer, I’m mostly a pantser; as a knitter, I’m about half and half, depending on whether I’m knitting something I designed or something designed by someone else.
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Hi Terri,
I tried knitting and crocheting with my grandmother growing up, but something in my hands turns the metal sticks black after I use them awhile. Wierd huh? My aunt had the same issue. I know, I can use plastic tools. 🙂
Right now I’m reading Christine Feehan’s, “Dark Preditor,” and am editing a Scottish vampire story for an anthology to be released next year. I’m enjoying both.
I’m a huge fan of your books, so please don’t enter me in the drawing. I’d love for another reader to be exposed to your fabulous writing! Take care, thank you for being a friend as an inspiration over the years, and I wish you continued success! *Hugs*
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Thanks for stopping by.
I did learn to crochet but it was difficult since most instructors (and friends and family who do it) are RIGHT-handed and I am LEFT-handed! But I learned.
Diana — try the wooden crochet and knitting hooks — very comfortable and they don’t react to your skin like metal ones do.
SusannahC – it never surprises me how weird we writers are! Our brains are just not connected the same way as others’ are — great for creating, not so great for doing normal stuff!
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Why does it not surprise me to learn that you two ladies are good friends? Tell me, which one of you keeps the other one out of trouble? 🙂
Terri, your STORM stories sound amazing, and I love, love, love that cover!
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Terri G –
We’re supposed to stay out of trouble? Who made up that rule? LOL – thanks for stopping by! Terri’s covers are awesome, aren’t they? (Actually, yours are amazing too. Great Terri covers all around.)
d
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Hi Terri. My goodness you’ve put your heroes through the wringer! I’m intrigued by all your heroes. :::adds your titles to her wish list:::
I’m afraid my knitting and crocheting efforts are a huge disappointment to the talented women in my family, but I can bake. So I look upon writing as a blending of ingredients — some necessary, others more for flavor and spice — and try not to make the mistake of over-thinking (over-mixing) in the early stages. Speaking of baking, right now I’m eating up Lori Wilde’s The First Love Cookie Club. It’s yummy. 😉
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Hi Terri,
I can’t knit or crochet. Luckily, my mother-in-law can and makes us the softest blankets I’ve ever felt.
I’ve already read the first two in the Storm series and loved them. The third is in my to-be-read pile just waiting for me to have the time. Can’t wait.
I’m trying my hand at writing a novella right now. Thought I’d give it a try and see if I can write something shorter.
Great post.
Jen Sampson
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Terri G — you saw me in action at RomCon last year — do I look like someone who keeps someone else out of trouble! LOL!
Bonnie – I like comparing writing to cooking or baking…it works!
Jen — I think writing a novella is harder than writing a novel…. Good luck with yours!
Terri B
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Hi Terri. I absolutely agree with you; writing is definitely like knitting, especially when you’re doing a series such as yours. It never fails to impress me when writers weave several stand along stories together into on magnificent tale. I’m looking forward to reading your finished piece(s). And yes, writing a novella is so much harder than writing a novel, at least for me. I’ve yet to master the craft of telling a story in 20,000 words or less, but I’m still trying. 🙂
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I LOVE the premise behind your Storm series, Terri! Coupling the gift with pain would make every use of the gift a heroic act. That’s brilliant!
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Okay, I’ve chosen two winners for those copies of Terri’s book. Both Jennifers, please check your email and/or spam folder.
Thanks everyone for commenting and thanks to Terri both for visiting and giving away those books.
d
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