Bedroom Eyes

The concept for writing my Bedroom Eyes series came from my friend, Alicia. We were hanging out together, and she said “I have an idea for a book.” She pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of Charles Wesley as a young man.

He is one of the founders of the Methodist religion, and composer of thousands of hymns. Most people know “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” or, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” My husband and I had “Hark” sung at our December wedding because the Peanuts gang sing at the end of the Charlie Brown Christmas TV special.
Alicia said, “don’t you think he has bedroom eyes? He didn’t marry until in his forties. There was no way he remained celibate until marriage.” According to her and another friend who has seen the painting in person, he has mesmerizing eyes despite the 18th century wig.

So began a tickle that morphed into the concept for the novel, Song of Love. I took some inspiration from Charles’ life by giving my hero, Nate, a strong relationship with his brother, but reversed the roles and made him the older brother. In no way do I imagine my story as having any similarities to the Wesleys, but the kernels for stories come from the oddest places.
When I stumbled with Song of Love‘s plot, I wrote a novella as the Bedroom Eyes book one, Gambling on Love. Since all my heroes must have bedroom eyes, I gave Jasper jade green peepers which enchant the local young ladies at the Barnsley Cross Dance. Ultimately enchanting the heroine, Edith Hadley.
In honor of my friend, I named a character after her. She has given me the green light to write an entire story about Alicia Vane in future.