One thing I love about writing stories, is that regardless of the similar plots there, everyone has their own take on life, story, theme, etc. So many incredible VOICES in Club Book Therapy. Rachel and I spent the morning collecting all the ideas, sifting them together and trying to incorporate as many as we could to develop story ideas that we could possibly write!

Recapping, you picked the Everyday Hero, and the Celebrity, (which I love).

Some of the riveting ideas/themes were:
Military guy-turned-Park Ranger, Celebrity being chased by Paparazzi, Previous Missionary turned Photographer, carrying dark secrets, Museum curator, Singer who did a USO tour, War in Iraq, town secrets, person connected to hero who died in the past….and the list goes on.

I wasn’t easy, let me tell you, and here’s a disclaimer: We tried to incorporate as many ideas as we could into these two choices. Even if you don’t see your idea represented in the premise, probably it is in the back-story or in the substance of the story.

We also added our own tweaks – trying to weave in the theme of human trafficking, just a smidge so we could connect it with the charity we’re trying to promote.

So…here they are. Think of them as two book jackets. Which one would you like to read? The stories aren’t fully fleshed out – we’ll do some more plotting next week after we have picked our premise. For now, which one strikes your fancy? (and I didn’t give them fancy names, either, sorry, because, well, my brain is mush…)

Premise One: Actress and the Park Ranger

She’s a movie star with a cause – fighting to stop human trafficking. In fact, she’s so gone far as to write, produce, fund and star in an independent film about the horrors of human trafficking. Except – someone doesn’t want it shown, and has bad-mouthed the movie onto Hollywood’s black list. Not only that, but she’s been publically dumped by her mega-star boyfriend, and her finances are in the red. She just wants to get away and figure out what to do next – take the action-flick, mega-bucks next role, or fight to get her indy film shown on the big screen. Is she actress, or activist?

He’s a park ranger who just wants to stay out of trouble. He’s seen enough of it, thanks, while serving as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan. More than that, his past haunts him, and he just wishes he could break free of the memories of his own actions. He’s trying hard, from working with the youth at his church, to delivering meals on wheels to world war two veterans. He’s even agreed to keep an eye on his talent-manager brother’s high-faulting celebrity, although the last thing he needs is a high-maintenance movie star hiding out on park property, treating him as if he’s the butler. It would help if she actually believed the threats against her life…

When threat becomes attempt, can he find the hero he’s tried to forget? And can she stop playing a role, and decide just who she wants to be? It’ll take facing their mistakes, and holding onto truth to outwit a killer in this big screen story of secrets and revenge.

Premise Two: Teacher and the Talk Show Host

History Teacher (Hero’s name) has come a long way from his mistakes as a young assistant professor at Columbia University, when he ignored the warning signs of a student who vanished into the dark world of prostitution and later committed suicide. He’s been back home in his East TN town for years, telling stories as the local yarn-spinner, helping his ailing former-missionary grandfather, and investing in students’ futures by helping them understand their past. And, he’s thrilled that his Teacher of the Year award might net the town some desperately needed renovation money for their school, not to mention preserve a historical landmark and keep their fledgling tourist industry alive. The last thing he needs is a nosy wanna-be reporter poking around his past, threatening his town’s future. But, he’ll play along with the interview, as long as it helps the town… Except, what happens when he’s forced to revisit his past? Can he finally create the future he’s always longed for?

Celebrity Talk Show host (insert Heroine’s name here), has made a name for herself digging up the dirt in other’s lives. Probably it’s so she can hide the pain in her own life – a childhood bouncing from one foster home to another, and mistakes in her adult life. She’s covered it up well with her television persona – so well, she’s forgotten the person inside. In town to highlight the Teacher of the Year, she just knows there’s a dark past inside that golden boy’s exterior. And with ratings and her reputation at stake, she’s going to stop at nothing to find it.

Even when her life is threatened, and strange events start happening. Is it the hero, trying to derail her investigation? How about the town’s people, protecting their investment? Or, could it be someone from her own past, finally getting even? What’s worse, as she gets to know the hero, she desperately hopes her instincts, this time, are wrong. Just how far should she dig for the truth, and will it cost her the one thing she’s searched her entire life to find…herself?

It’ll take learning to trust the each other, despite the fear of betrayal, to stay alive in this small town, down home, romantic suspense.

Those are our choices. If you want to think about it for a day, tomorrow I’ll put up some of the details of each – the Greatests, the GMC, and the Lies they Believe – elements that will help us understand them, and build our plot further.

And, don’t forget to submit your ideas for the CAST of our story. Go to Voices, and add yours to the Casting Discussion!

Hmmm…..now which one do I like best….

Don’t Forget to Vote! Every Voice Counts!