Inspiration comes in many ways: a dream, a desire, a need, a wish.

But where ever, however, and when ever inspiration strikes us, we should listen to that little whisper from deep within our soul and follow its lead. Don't worry about the journey, simply enjoy the ride!

A few years ago, (at an age some would label as 'no longer young'), I decided to give in to that little whisper that had been calling to me for so many years and sat down and began working on a story that I was determined - nay driven - to finish. (I had several unfinished works that spanned over nearly 20 years.) A year and a half later, I completed WHISPERS ON THE ICE, my first 'official' novel.

The inspiration for WHISPERS ON THE ICE came from 4-time World Champions, and 2-time Olympic Gold Medal Winners, pair figure skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, whose perfection on the ice and fairytale love story off the ice, guided me to search my heart and soul and lead me directly to Aleksei and Jordan. In my story I was able to create the happy ending we were all denied that November 20th, 1995 when Sergei Grinkov died of a heart attack at the age of 28 and the team of G&G were lost forever. The many months I spent with Aleksei and Jordan as they came to life on paper, restored my faith in happy endings. This book turned out to be more than I ever imagined it could be, and despite numerous rejections from traditional publishing houses, I turned to modern technology, and the Internet, and was able to self-publish and see my story in print, and my dream fulfilled.

A lesson learned, and a lesson taught to my children: if you believe in something strongly enough, anything is possible!

It's so very easy to play it safe and avoid risks; after all, putting a story you've created out there for all the world to see is a very scary proposition. Questions abound: Is it as good as I think it is? Is it entertaining? Will the characters be someone people will remember? All these questions, and a thousand others, swirled through my mind continuously as my story came to life on the pages before me.

Yet, I believed in my story, and characters, so fully, I took a leap of faith, and put it on the Internet for all to see. The response I received was overwhelming! To have strangers sending me letters of encouragement and pleading for more was a dream come true. Jordan and Aleksei became as real to my 'readers' as they were to me and, together, we all wished for love to overcome all (which, of course, it does).

Suddenly, requests (and demands) were being made for the story of the Rocmanov's to continue and suddenly I was pounding out DESTINY'S WHISPER, the second book in what was quickly looking more and more like a trilogy. All I could think was 'what a great job'!

And so, finishing DESTINY'S WHISPER on January 23, 2001 (my 44th birthday), a week later I began work on WHISPERED PROMISES, the final book in my skating trilogy. (Already, demands are being made the skating stories cannot stop here. And - WHY is it taking so long to finish the third book? I love insistent fans!) FYI - WHISPERED PROMISES has been completed and is now in the 'editing' phase.

I have had so many people ask how my stories come together, how I am able to paint such a clear picture with words, how I am able to give my characters such full bodied personas. I wish I could answer those questions, but I can't. All I can say, is they come from somewhere deep within my soul and imagination and I find myself simply a vehicle for setting them free and allowing them life. I'm along for the ride - nothing more - and like you, I anxiously await the outcome of each story.

To those of you who have offered me support and encouragement (and nudged me along), you're jewels in my treasure chest. You've brought me joy, and laughter, cried along with me and threatened to do the dirty work to see the villain pays his dues (emotion's a wonderful thing). Hang in there, we're not finished yet!

To those of you yet to meet the Rocmanov's, and those within their circle, I invite you to join the fun. You don't know what you're missing!

And to those of you, who I somehow inspired and gave the courage to take your own leap of faith and pound out that story that you've always wanted to write, I say, welcome to the magic of the written word. I look forward to reading every story you write!

To romance, laughter, love and passion... What would life be without it?

Beth

For another wonderful figure skating romance story, please visit Cassondra Smother's site, and read her first completed novel, HERO'S DREAM!

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