February 3rd, 2009 | by Delilah Devlin |
***Be sure to check my blog tomorrow for the winner announcement!***
Due to a scheduling glitch, I find myself playing host to two loops today. So, I’m inviting you to learn about the inspiration for the opening scene for my new book, coming out February 24th, and then asking you to join me at the Access Romance blog to read the excerpt. And since I’m asking you to follow me there, I’m offering a bribe! But you’ll have to read to the bottom of this post to find out the juicy details!
Last spring, just before I began writing Texas Men, I struggled with coming up with a concept for the opening. Openings are important for a book because you want to grab a reader’s attention from the very start so they don’t close the book and put it back on the shelf.
A friend of mine who lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas invited Shayla Kersten and myself to attend a charity bachelor auction. I knew it would be fun—I didn’t know the experience would write that opening scene all by itself.
We arrived at the hall, stood in line with a couple hundred women, some dressed to the “nines,” paid our entrance fee and received strings of Mardi Gras beads and paddles with a plumbing company’s logo pasted on them. We took seats at a pizza-sized round table and waited for the hunks to entertain us.
I said hunks, right? Ahem. A few of them were actually attractive. Not a one of them could dance, but most tried a bump and grind as they strutted across the stage. Some looked to be in excrutiating pain, but maybe that was just how they look naturally when they have to dance in front of a crowd of screaming, laughing women.
The room was so ripe with sexual tension and energy that I pulled out my notepad and began to write. Eight pidgeon-scratched pages later, I had my opening scene, complete with dialogue, thanks in great part to the wonderfully descriptive auctioneer.
Did I mention that both Shayla and I “purchased” two fine gentlemen? She won dinner with a local deejay—a tall, skinny dude with dreadlocks. I won an evening with a conservative judge up for re-election. You can bet I never mentioned once what it was I did for a living. 
How about a reward for following my directions! If you post to this blog, you will be in the running to receive an autographed copy of Texas Men before it’s even available in the stores. If you’d like a second chance to win, follow this link: Access Romance
Good morning Delilah.. what a fun story. I have always wondered what a bachelor auction would be like, i think it would be awesome material for a romance writer..You didnt think a conservative judge wanted to know you write steamy books? roflmao.. so cant wai to read Texas Men.. your books are always HOT..
by Jolene · February 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 amThanks, Jolene!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 amAnd no, I didn’t tell the conservative judge, who wanted to talk politics all evening, that I wrote erotica. Although it might have been fun to see his expression.
I dont know about buying a judge, but id empty my bank account for dinner with the cowboy on the cover…
looks like hed know a thing or two about erotic..hehe..
by Jolene · February 3rd, 2009 at 11:56 am
That is too funny. I would have loved to have seen that judges face if you had told him. He’s probably a closet erotic romance reader.
by Brandy W · February 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pmBrandy!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 12:17 pmHe would have been horrified and run for the hills.
Enjoyed the story looking forward to the release!
by Teresa W. · February 3rd, 2009 at 12:33 pmTeresa!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 12:38 pmThanks so much!
I love cowboys1 But I have to say that 99% of the ones I’ve met look nothing like the guys on the covers of ours LOL
by Kate Pearce · February 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pmDD I remember that trip! So glad you decided to use the auction for this book. Good luck with the release
by Rasha · February 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pmThat is one sexy cover- if all cowboys did look like that, I might have to pack up and move to Texas myself
by Cheryl McInnis · February 3rd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
You crack me up. I love your sense of humor. Bet that “conservative judge” would have loved to hear one of your juicy stories. Yeah, for Texas men.
by Paula · February 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pmI’ve never been to a bachelor auction, but it sounds like it could be a lot of fun. It certainly makes a great opening for a book
by Eimy · February 3rd, 2009 at 2:58 pmI smiled so much reading about your experience with those “hunks.” I can just picture them doing the bump and grind.
Thanks for sharing this. Texas Men sounds awesome!
by Lori Ann · February 3rd, 2009 at 3:03 pmKate!
LOL! My daughter brought home a cowboy or two when we lived in ranch country. I couldn’t tell you what their faces looked like now because those tight Wranglers kept my gaze glued elsewhere!
Rasha!
I did blog about that excursion, didn’t I? Told you it was ripe for story ideas!!
Cheryl!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 3:13 pmIf ever you do make the trip, i’d recommend finding a rodeo to attend. You’ll be drooling.
Paula!
If you’d seen that buttoned-up man, you’d have wondered how he ever got up the nerve to offer himself at an auction.
Eimy!
It’s fun just for the experience. Many of the women who came arrived with married friends. It was just a chance to have a great laugh.
Lori Ann!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pmI’m glad I made you smile.
I’d love to meet a cowboy looking like this one!
by Eva S · February 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 pmThis book sounds great, it will be on my wishlist.
Great story!
LOL! How fun, Delilah! Did you enjoy your dinner together?
Thanks for sharing that story!
by Fedora · February 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pmHi Delilah, I’ve never been to a bachelor auction myself, but have this great mental picture of you scribbling away in a corner, while a stage full of hunks tries to grab your attention, lol.
by Cathy M · February 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 pmSo Delilah did you try to enlighten the conservative judge?
by Susan · February 3rd, 2009 at 5:50 pmWhere are these charity bachelor auctions happening? I would love to attend one.
by Jane · February 3rd, 2009 at 6:37 pmSounds like a blast! What was the charity? Did they raise a lot of money? BTW, what did you pay for your judge?
by Janet H · February 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 pmI can’t believe you went to a bachelor auction and behaved.lol I would have liked to be a fly on the wall if you would have told him what you do.
by Sheila F · February 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 pmHi Delilah! Love your cover! Texas Men sounds awesome!
by Margie · February 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 pmDD, I love that story. I can just see you getting all inspired!
by Masha · February 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pmThat auction sounds like it was a blast. Can’t wait for those Texas Cowboys to comeeeee.
by Jodi Olson · February 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 pmJodi
All the possible conversation you had with your judge running through my head made me smile as I read the end of your post. I’ve never been to an auction like that, but I think I would probably enjoy it. It just sounds like so much fun, even if not all of the guys are attractive.
by Karin · February 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 pmThe judge probably signed up because it was public exposure & charity – looks good for the voters. He (and his handlers) probably didn’t have a clue about what was really going to happen *snicker*. He probably would have stuck around and acted just as stiff and scared as he did. But don’t you just wish you could have heard him ream the person who suggested he participate in this auction? *VBEG*
by bookdragon3 · February 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pmHi Delilah! LOL! Thanks for sharing that story! I loved Down In Texas and can’t wait to read Texas Men. It sounds fabulous!
by Deborah · February 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 pmWell here I am following you around, and let me tell you what a hardship it is to do so. I have to stare at that ungodly hot man on the cover of your book twice. I do believe I may need to the the showers after the this second round ( a cold one I might add). I hope you have a great day and COngrats the cover is fantabulous!!!!!!
by sara hurt · February 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pmEva! Sometimes, truth is just as crazy as fiction!
Fedora! Sadly, the dinner wasn’t so much fun, except that I did have a naughty secret I couldn’t tell a soul!
Cathy! You’re imagining it just as it happened.
Susan! I played nice. It was a charity auction after all.
Jane! I wouldn’t have known about the auction at all if someone in my Arkansas writers group hadn’t sent me the invitation. I’m sure if you keep your eyes peeled on the social section of your local paper, you’ll find your own auction to attend. Then I will expect you to tell me all about it! Be sure to take some girl friends along–you’ll have more fun!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 pmJanet! It was to raise money for cancer patients, and the judge came cheap. I think I spent $75 on him. Some of the younger and better looking dudes went for several hundred dollars though!
Sheila! Yeah, I behaved. It was hard, but I didn’t manage to shock a single soul.
Margie, Masha and Jodi! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Karin! Honestly, it didn’t matter to that crowd whether the guy was cute or not, their attitudes sold them!
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 pmBookdragon! Yeah, I’d be shocked if that judge ever did that again.
Deborah! Thanks for letting me know how much you enjoyed Down in Texas!
Sara! Sorry it was such a hardship!! LOL
by Delilah Devlin · February 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 pmCool on the auction! Looking forward to the new book!
by Amy S. · February 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pmDelilah, that sounds like such fun! I would love to attend a bachelor auction. Even if I did get “stuck” with a conservative judge. Nice. Were you laughing on the inside? I would have been.
by Karen · February 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 pmYour new book sounds great!
Hi Delilah! I love cowboys but I have to ask, amy chance of another Kronaki warrior book?
by Lynda · February 4th, 2009 at 12:58 amAmy, Karen and Lynda! Thanks for stopping by, and Lynda–I’d love to write Serit and Gerion’s story!
by Delilah Devlin · February 4th, 2009 at 2:26 amDelilah,
This was a blast to read. How fun. I hope you grill your judge for more interesting tidbits for future novels.
by Elizabeth Amber · February 4th, 2009 at 6:17 pmI am like the rest of the ladies who left comments. If there were men like the ones on the covers of your books, there would be no single women left in the world. We would all be in Texas with the COWBOYS. There is nothing better than a sexy cowboy.
by Frances Frame · February 4th, 2009 at 6:53 pmElizabeth!
Even though I didn’t come clean about writing erotica, I think I scared the judge to death anyway. I don’t think I’ll be speaking to him anytime soon.
Frances!
by Delilah Devlin · February 4th, 2009 at 11:58 pmTexas women would just as soon keep those boys to themselves anyway! LOL
Yummm to the hunky guy on the cover, how much input do you have over the covers? Yummmy yummmy yummmy
by tina · April 1st, 2009 at 6:27 pmWow, tina! Took you long enough to notice! LOL
by Delilah Devlin · April 1st, 2009 at 6:35 pmAnd no, I don’t have any input whatsover. I was very lucky this time.