New Ideas?

Hi everyone, Janet Lee Barton here. My last post was about how my Boardinghouse Betrothal series came to be and how the ideas took a while to simmer before coming to a full boil where I had to begin writing. Well, I think something like that MIGHT be happening again.

When we downsized, I didn't think I had room for the Christmas village I'd put up for years, so I had it put in the attic for my daughter to use when she has grandchildren. But not long ago I found out that my husband and daughter and her family missed it.

Still I wasn't sure where to put it and wanted a 'place holder' for it. And then I wondered if I could find a year around village and began to search for what could become just that. I was so thrilled to find just want I wanted. It's mostly spring and summery, but I've ordered some fall trees to add to it and we're going to put tiny pumpkins out come October or so.  Then for Christmas, I'll pull out my Christmas village and change it out for the season. I love having a year round village! For now, it looks like this:

This is a day shot with the lights on, but it's truly beautiful at night! 

So what does this have with ideas? Well, as I sit in my chair across the room and study it, I find myself imagining people living in each house, going to church, or out and about. I can almost see them going from room to room--although I think I might have to draw floor plans for each one. But I think before long, I'll have a few new stories to tell. I've found that ideas can come to us anywhere and at anytime, but it pays to let them bubble up and then simmer for a while. I can't wait until these fully take shape.

For you writers out there--what pulls things all together for you?

Letting Story Ideas Bubble and Simmer

With my sixth Boardinghouse Betrothal book, A Nanny for Keeps, out this month, I've been thinking

about how this series began. When 9/11 happened, my heart went out to the people in New York City as I'm sure was the case with most people in our country. As I watched them help each other while grieving over what had happened, I became more and more interested in the city and the history there.

As a writer I kind of knew I wanted to set a story there but it took years for the idea to expand into what the series has become. We lived down south at the time and after Katrina, when my husband retired in 2006, our family moved to Oklahoma. It was there that the story ideas began to bubble to the surface. Here and there, in bits and pieces. A character here, a plot there. A profession added in, then a backstory--or the other way around.

One thing I knew for sure was that I wanted these stories set at the turn of the century when women were coming to New York City from all over to join the workforce, but I wasn't sure just how to connect them.  And then in 2010, I saw a book advertised in Victorian Home magazine. It was called A New Light on Tiffany- Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls, and I quickly ordered it.  Among so many other things, I learned that Clara lived in a boardinghouse and even met her husband there. The book and the photographs in it gave me such a feel for the city at that time--ideas for all kinds of work women could be doing began to simmer and I knew a series was in the making. I'd have a Tiffany girl in one for sure--and I did, but she didn't stay there long. She and Clara showed up in A Place of Refuge, book 2 of the series.
But at that time, I still wasn't sure just how to connect the stories.

And then, as most writers can relate to, just before I fell asleep or woke up--I can't remember which--only that I was in bed, it was as if the Lord was nudging me, telling me what should have been obvious by now. The connection was with the boarding house!
Oh my, I can't tell you how thrilled I was to have those pieces fall in place and I couldn't wait to get started! And I did, writing with joy and enthusiasm I hadn't experienced for a while!

I've so loved writing this series and although my editors have decided that they'd like me to move on  to something else and the Love Inspired Historical series stops with this book, the series will continue on. Instead of Boardinghouse Betrothals, they will now be called Heaton House and I'll be able to 'link' them to the LIH series. I hope my readers will be glad to know that the series will continue as long as there are stories to tell. Next up is Julia's story. It's about time, don't you think? I have ideas for more, of course, but if you have any ideas for more Heaton House stories you'd like to read, I'd love to hear them!

And for those writers out there who have an idea that hasn't come together yet, but just thinking about excites you, don't put it away--just let it keep simmering until it does!

Oh, and I could use some ideas for new LIH proposals as I haven't come up with anything that excites me just yet. Anywhere you'd like to see a new series set?  City life, out west or where? Time period? Late 1800s, early 1900s, or something else? I'd love to hear those, too!

Until next time,

Janet Lee Barton

Planting, Writing, and Proposal ideas.

I can't believe it's actually summertime! This spring flew by with much rain in Oklahoma and many of my plants look a little worse for it. But they are trying their best to make it. Except for these. The petunia and marigolds I wanted to plant disappeared in one afternoon. I'd put them out on the patio to water them and the next thing I knew--this little critter was having them for lunch! Ate all of them and let me take pictures too! So tiny and cute!

 

At least she didn't seem to like the Dahlia's,  Hydrangea or Clematis! 

But now the planting is done, it's time to get back to work on the next  Boardinghouse Betrothal story.

Oh and I did get a glimpse of the one coming out in November-The Mistletoe Kiss! I can't show it yet, but it is beautiful and Christmasy! I love it and I'll show it soon as I can.

Once I finish the story I'm working on now, it will be proposal time. Any suggestions for new careers for my heroines? What do you think you would have wanted to do in New York City in 1898-99? What about the hero? The book I'm writing now has a widowed Englishman needing help with his two young daughters. Can you guess which Heaton House lady is the heroine in this story?

I'm ready to get back to it! Happy Summer all!

Janet Lee Barton 

Spotting That New Release

• Hi Everyone,

I was so excited to see my newest release, A DAUGHTER'S RETURN, in my local Wal-mart along with the other LIH's that came out this month! I think that's as exciting as receiving the first copies of my book. I'll be looking at the other two Wal-marts I sometimes go to this week to see if they are on the selves there, too. And I'd love to know if you've seen it in your area.

This story was special to me because we've known about Rebecca since the beginning, and wondered what happened to her. Even after she was found, we didn't know everything and this is a new beginning for her.

I love writing the Bordinghouse Betrothal series for LIH! And I so enjoy doing research for them. I just turned in the next story in this series (no title just yet) but it will be a November release. I was thrilled to write Christmas into it and much of my research revolved around Macy's. I loved finding out that they were doing their Christmas windows long before my story which takes place in 1897. They had a Santa Clause in their store before then, too. And they were very good to their employees. One of them, Emily, lives at Heaton House and I think she may have to have her own story one of these days.  Do you think a window dresser would be an interesting occupation? I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for occupations you'd like to see represented in this series!

Until next time,
Janet Lee Barton

It Started With Family

Hi everyone, Janet Lee Barton here.
Over the years I've found all my stories are about families or groups of friends who become family to each other. It's the same with my Boardinghouse Betrothal series for LIH. With Mrs. Heaton's guidance, her boarders become friends and family to each other.

My mother came from a large family. She was the oldest of seven children and the youngest of her siblings is only seven and a half years older than I am, born a year and a half before my older sister. The women in my family can all talk at once and keep track of all the conversations going on around us. I'm sure many of you can relate to that. It's something most women are good at.

So what a joy it was when my ninety-two year old aunt, her two daughters and their husbands, and one of their son's and his wife, came through on their way to a wedding to visit with us going and coming this past month. It reminded me once again why I love writing about families and friends. The closeness that is always there no matter how long we go between visits and the fun of it all. Sweet memories to share are such a blessing.

This is my sweet aunt on her great nephew's lap with five great nieces surrounding them--so  precious.

And we found that downsizing doesn't mean you can't have company. We had 24 over for supper on their last night, back through. All you have to do is let them help themselves, have an expanding dining table, a patio for the men to get away from all the noise of those conversations, and a living room to take the overflow!

What a blessing this family is to me! I love being able to  draw the closeness into my writing!

Look for the 3rd book in the Boardinghouse Betrothal series coming in September.

Elizabeth's story in: A Home for Her Heart

Real Strength Comes Through Enduring Hardships

Janet Lee Barton here--Can you believe the winter we've all had? From coast to coast, border to border, I think this is one of the worst winters I've seen in a while. Between freezing temps, snow and ice, horrible traffic jams and electrical outages, one can begin to wonder if Spring will ever get here.

I planted pansies in the fall, but before they had a chance to really get going, in blew the winds of winter! Then it warmed up and they perked up. Then it got really cold again...blanketing them with snow or ice or both, over and over again. I watched as they peaked out from it all and then hid again--numerous times. But with the above normal temperatures we've had in the last few days, they have begun to perk up,  even opening a few new blossoms.

These delicate flowers are so much stronger than they appear. Kind of like some of our heroines from our hero's point of view.  But give them some hardships and watch them blossom! 

That's what I try to show in the stories in my LIH Boardinghouse Betrothal series. Women who've become stronger for what they've gone through in their pasts. Look for Elizabeth's story, A Home For Her Heart, in September and Rebecca's story, no title yet, next spring.  I'm working on it now and loving every minute of it.

I hope wherever you are, Spring comes quickly!