People often ask me that when I talk about my books and the characters my muse and I create. To be honest, I love watching movies and TV shows, so I know many actors and actresses. When I introduce a new character, aside from the usual ones in my series, I am open to my mind's suggestions. My muse and I create an outline for each character, including their age, appearance, behavior, and the role they play in the story. However, while I write, a suitable actor or actress might come to mind. From that moment on, I stick to that image and go with it. The bigger the character, the more chances I have to refine the scenes and adjust the character's behavior to my mental image. I still deliver on the character’s intentions, but it’s much more fun when I have a specific person in mind.
Here's an excerpt from Chosen Brothers (Book Four in the series with Jacklyn & Nick). I would like to read your proposals for who should play Joanne.
Have fun!
Excerpt
The door opened, and a lady of about forty years with a fashionable light brown bob entered the room. She smiled amiably as she took off her gloves and adjusted the purse on her left arm.
Mr. Steward’s face lit up with a genuine smile. “Hello, Joanne, nice to see you.”
“You, too, Herb.”
“You’re early today.”
“I guess so. The usual, please.” She pointed toward a table further down the room but came to the bar to stand beside Nicolas. “And his drinks are on me.”
Her smile was an invitation and a challenge—a tempting mix of class and sexiness. Nicolas had seen her from afar, but up close, she was a good-looking woman, neither overweight nor slender, with carefully applied lipstick and eyeliner. She scrutinized Nicolas’s face for a few moments with the interest of an adventurer looking for a new quest.
“Thanks, but…why?” Nicolas asked.
“Come with me, and I’ll explain.” She made a gesture toward her table. Mr. Steward was already on his way to deliver a cocktail with mint on top in a highball glass. Nicolas took his beer and set the glass down quickly enough to move the chair for her.
“Oh, I’m surprised. And impressed.” She sat down and put her gloves and the purse on the side of the table. “I hadn’t expected manners in such a boorish place.” She winked at Mr. Steward, whose forced smile didn’t reach his eyes. She added in a mock whisper, “No, he won’t be my friend tonight.”
Nicolas took the chair on the other side of the small table. “I’m Nick—”
“Murray, I know.” She lifted her glass. “Here’s to you being here with me and not in lockup.”
Nicolas raised his beer, surprised at the revelation. “I’ll drink to that—my savior, obviously.”
“Not really, but I’ll take the compliment anyway.” She licked her upper lip, and he could tell by her glance she was out for more than a quick drink at the bar.
“Would you mind explaining—”
“Of course not.” Her smile brightened the entire room. She put her elbows on the table and rested her chin on her folded hands as she studied him. “I watched you work, as you might’ve noticed, and then the next day, you were gone. I wondered what happened, and I asked around.” She shrugged elegantly. “It wasn’t hard to get the right answers.”
“You’re friends with the staff?”
Joanne waved her hand. “I’m friends with everybody. If you treat people like valuable human beings and not like dirt, they respect you. I needed about fifteen minutes to find out where you’d been taken.”
“You told old man Turner about me.”
Joanne chuckled. “Never call Jacob an old man. He would still father children if Mary was still alive. He considers himself at a fantastic age. Yes, he’s got arthritis, but his mind is sharp as ever.”
“My apologies, Mrs. Turner.”
“Joanne. Jo, for my friends.” She appeared to be enjoying the conversation as she sipped her drink and stared at him. “You might call me Jo.” When he didn’t reply, she set down the glass and cocked her head. “Tell me what happened. And be honest. I put some pieces together, but I’d like to hear the story from you.”
Nicolas frowned. “Why do you want to know anything about me?”
“The circumstances are self-explanatory.” She waved away his question. “Please, tell me what happened to you.”
“I was accused of stealing, but the accusation didn’t hold up. Jebediah didn’t believe me and locked me up in a stall in the old stable.”
Joanne frowned and pointed at his chafed wrists. “That’s a cheap and much too short story. I bet there’s more to it. You look like you caught some punches, and from what I’ve heard, you offered them quite a fight and almost won.”
Nicolas lowered his gaze and exhaled, both hands around the cold beer glass. The memory of the night in the cage haunted his mind like a weight on his shoulder that was gone but still tangible.
“You twisted Tyrone’s wrist. It’s not broken, but bandaged nevertheless. He won’t be using it for weeks.” Joanne shrugged. “He’s whining like an old man. Jeb took some hits, too, but doesn’t talk about it. He runs around bearing a grudge the size of Richmond, and quarrels with everyone.” She cocked an eyebrow. “I’d recommend you lie low for a while.”
“Mr. Turner said he’d talk with Jeb.”
“Oh, that’s good.” She nodded so vehemently that her golden earrings danced. “If the old man…pardon, the lively, vigorous patriarch takes charge, there’s no denial, no back talk, and no delay. Jebediah will follow his order. That means you’re safe.”
“Why does Jacob have such an influence? After all, he’s more than seventy years old, and couldn’t wrestle Jebediah to the ground.”
“No, but it looks like you tried that. Anyway,” she said with a wave of her hand. “He’s the one who leads this family, and he can get really pissed. Pardon my French. He had a disagreement with my husband, and instead of enduring Jacob’s permanent browbeating, Solomon opened a law firm in Richmond. He said it’s for the best to keep a distance. That tells you something about my father-in-law.” She sighed and tried to cover her sadness with her drink. “These days, my husband’s home for about three weeks a year. By the way, this is a Gin-Gin Mule. I learned to love it in New York.” Another, even deeper sigh. “Those were the days. If you want to try one, I can order it for you.”
“I’ll stick with beer.”
“But you aren’t drinking.”
“I’m listening.” Nicolas smiled encouragingly.
Joanne took the invitation like a lost girl in the street that’s cheered by a friendly stranger. “That’s flattering.” Joanne took another sip of her drink.
· *
Later, Nicolas lay awake in his bed, staring at the ceiling, reflecting on the evening.
Joanne hadn’t made her intention a secret. When he crossed the threshold to her rooms, she had taken off her tailored jacket, lost her shoes on the way to the bar, and dropped her purse and gloves on a small table against the wall. She offered him another beer, and when he didn’t follow her into the apartment, she stood, frowning. Then slowly, understanding that he wasn’t about to spend the night with her crossed her face.
“You aren’t coming, huh?” she asked as she pushed back a strand of hair behind her ear. “Afraid of a married woman? Afraid that my husband will show up and try to throw you out?” On the way back toward the door, she made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry. After spending a day here, he’s already on his way home—back to his normal life in Richmond, back to what he calls his fulfillment in life.” She cocked her head. “I can’t convince you to stay?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Oh, it’s back to ma’am? What a pity. I like Jo much more.” She curled her lips to a smile. “A gentleman through and through, huh? Can’t say that I’m surprised. But I’m still disappointed. I did have expectations for the night.”
“You’re too valuable for a one-night-stand, Jo. You’re a wonderful woman and a good wife. You’re also a good daughter-in-law, faithful to the old man. I’m not—”
Joanne put a finger on his lips. “Don’t say you aren’t worth sleeping with me, Nick, because that’s BS. I made advances at you, not the other way around. I wanted you right here—or a little bit closer and with less clothes—and you knew that when you took the seat at my table.”
He smiled and cast down his eyes. The same moment, she stood on tiptoes to kiss him tenderly. Surprised, and yet flattered, Nick returned the kiss, then stepped back and wished her a good night.
* * * *
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