Storylines
Oftentimes I’m asked where do I get the ideas for my books. The answer is an easy one.
Everywhere.
Ideas spring from a song on the radio, a book I’m reading, a dream, a movie, or a conversation between two people while waiting in the line at the store.
The idea for The Elusive Wife, the first book in my Marriage Mart Mayhem, series came from the name of a little girl sitting in front of me in church. Once I heard her mother call her “Olivia” the entire story came to me. Instead of listening to the pastor preach, I outlined the book on the back of a blank check.
My most recent release, The Duke’s Quandary, book number two in the series, was somewhat planned when I wrote the first one. Drake, the Duke of Manchester is best friends with the Earl of Coventry in The Elusive Wife. I knew when I wrote that first story that Drake would have his tale next.
But how could I torture him in his story? He had to have a heroine the exact opposite of him. He was a really nice guy in The Elusive Wife, but I didn’t want a nasty heroine. So—I made circumstances in Drake’s life different, therefore, he was different. A bit high in the instep, unsure of himself, and trying hard to hide it. Now I could create a heroine who would be his nemesis.
Years ago I saw a movie with Elaine May and Walter Matthau, called A New Leaf. Elaine May played the bumbling, unsophisticated botanist Henrietta Lowell. I 
rented the movie to refresh my memory, and halfway through I knew I had my heroine—Penelope Clayton, shy, accident-prone botanist.
The Duke’s Quandary is nothing like A New Leaf (in that story he marries the botanist with the intent of killing her—that would never work in my story), but the female characters are similar.
I learned more about botany that I probably wanted to, but in the process of my research I corresponded with a very nice lady from The Linnean Society in London—which is woven into my story. She gave me some very interesting information about the society. Including the fact that author Beatrix Potter wrote a paper for the organization, but was unable to present it because women were not allowed membership.
Coming up with story ideas is easy enough, it’s finding the time to write them all that’s a challenge!
~Callie Hutton
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I am so excited about these books! I really enjoyed The Duke’s Quandary! I will be devouring The Elusive Wife this weekend and posting my review. I love when I find new authors to drool over!!
Loved both Elusive Wife and Duke’s Quandary! Can’t wait to read more from Callie!
This sounds like a fantastic read. Thank you so much for the contest too. 🙂
Interesting post and the cover looks really lovely.
I loved A New Leaf; haven’t seen it in years, though! The books sounds like it will be fun.
I would love to have Kindle paper white to read your books with. I would give a fair and honest review also
Sounds good, thanks for a great giveaway!
I cannot wait to read this story…it sound so cute. I read the beginning and I am hooked, I just need to finish the book I am reading now.
This book sounds quite interesting.
Sounds really good
Sounds great! It on my TBR list.
I downloaded both & moved them to the top of the to-read list.
sounds really good.
love this series
It sounds like a wonderful book.
🙂
Thanks for a chance
Thank you for sharing, Callie! I enjoyed The Duke’s Quandary. Penelope was a different kind of heroine than I usually read and I loved her character. 🙂
Great giveaway! my wife gifted me copy of book…I am enjoying it so far.
I have read both of these and just loved them. Thank you for sharing how the story lines got thought of.
I haven’t read this series but I’m curious enough to read this series. Thanks for the book description and interview.
I love historicals, would love to read these!!
Hi Callie,
thank you for the chance at such a great contest. i love the cover of the book, it’s beautiful and the book sounds wonderful, i look forward to reading it. 🙂
i have it at the top of my TBBN list!
tammy ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
Love the sound of this so just bought it thank you
This looks good, I love historical books. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for this wonderful contest! The book sounds great, so I just bought it. Can’t wait to read it!
This book sounds great. I cannot wait to read it.
Thanks for the chance to win this book. Sounds like a good story.
I am so use to signing up to receive books if I win I didn;t realize this is for a Kindle paper white. That is a fantastic giveaway.
This sounds great, can’t wait to read it!
I’ve attend the RT convention twice. It’s loads of fun and I came home with lots of books. Make sure to leave extra space and weight for those books or ship them home.
It sounds great,thanks for the giveaway as well!
You know this is just the same with everything in life.
You’d think history teaches us anything, but that’s so rare.
Feel free to disagree but the world is changing, and none of us have no control over it.
For instance, imagine Obama had enough balls to put Putin to his place, but it seems like it’s not happening, welcome third world war.
A truly inspiring post, thanks!
I love it when you learn something new in a book. It reminded me of reading a series because the heroine knew her plants and was a nurse. I learned more than I wanted to but it keeps me young!
Thanks for the great giveaway, looking forward to reading this book it sounds awesome. Thank you
new author to me; they sound good. thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Callie! I loved The Elusive Wife; you sure know how to make a bad boy learn his lesson 😉
The newsletter is looking great~thanks for the tip about this great opportunity.
Love the blurb. Sounds like a book for me and thanks for the chance. Love your blog and page.
Sounds wonderful, thank you for the chance!
sounds like a great book!