Bombshells... where did it come from?

Bombshells is a nuclear coming of age story. The protaganist, Melanie Adams, turns twelve in 1962 during the threatening times of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I was living in Jacksonville during this time, and the city buzzed with activity from the three Navy bases in the area. Like Melanie, I had to take water, food and blankets to school. We ordered dog tags and wore them to class each day and participated in evacuation drills and “duck and cover” drills. It was enough to give a kid nightmares, and it did.

So I thought, what if I combined the terror of impending nuclear war with the tension of a young woman just beginning to explore her sexuality? It seemed like an explosive combination to me. The burgeoning sexual revolution of ‘60’s combined with the iconic female bombshells of the time provided me with vibrant archetypes for my character to examine in her search for self.

I’ve always loved coming of age stories. Sharing a character’s awakening, not matter what she discovers, is always fascinating. No matter what the reader’s age, I think those innocent epiphanies in coming of age stories always reveal something about ourselves that we didn’t know before. I don’t believe we’re finished “coming of age” until we’ve ended our life on earth.

I have high hopes for Bombshells, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading it.

Bombshells...

where did it come from?

Friday, April 6, 2007

My office--where the magic happens