Hello! First, thank you to Babette for inviting me to hang out here. Today I’m bringing along some details about my book, DANCE AWAY, DANGER. My heroine’s brother, an awesome cop who goes missing, has a secondary storyline in this book I never intended. In my rough draft, Jason actually didn’t even have a scene. He was just supposed to go missing and never be heard from again. But he wouldn’t go away.
As I worked on draft after draft, and no matter how many times I tried to get rid of him, Jason refused to be pushed aside. I thought maybe if I gave him a few scenes so the reader knew what happened and why he died, that would solve the problem. But he wouldn’t stop nagging me.
I tried to work around him, to forget my struggle with taking charge of the story creation. Didn’t work. And then…you know what happened? The harder I tried to get rid of him, the more he pushed back. THEN the hero and heroine of DANCE AWAY, DANGER, Matt and Tessa, also joined in the fight. They refused to allow me to consider killing him off.
After several weeks of writer’s block, I reluctantly accepted that I was not in charge of this book. Nope. I was the translator, expected to share the story the characters had put together for me. And in their version, Jason lived.
Once I started adding scenes and getting to know him, I found my hero and heroine’s characters also became richer with Jason’s presence. And the scenes with his future heroine…wow. The sparks flew, and my fingers danced across the computer keys as if they had taken over my brain.
Now, I’m so excited Jason refused to die. He has some great scenes in DANCE AWAY, DANGER, and he will get his own book later…with his woman from this book.
Thanks again to Babette for letting me share Jason’s journey with you.
A Giveaway! Read the excerpt below and tell me whether you think he and Brenna deserve their own story. From today’s commenters, I’ll choose 1 to win a prize!
Excerpt:
Jason prayed for the leather seats to stop spinning. Plastic bags crinkled under his feet. He removed his gun from his waistband and stared at it. The metal held the heat from his fingers and the weight of his choice. Survival or chivalry? The idea of using an innocent woman cut into the core of his being, but he’d find a way to make it up to her.
He’d come too far. Even shot, he’d managed to escape his crooked partner. Truthfully, Dave’s own arrogance was responsible. If he had just shot Jason instead of standing over him to gloat, Jason wouldn’t have been able to knock him down and out before his own injury stole his senses. As it was, it had been a miracle he’d been able to grab his car keys and drive away. His survival was imperative. Someone had to stop Dave and however many others followed his lead.
The driver’s side door opened and the young woman froze, clutching her purchase against her chest. Her eyes flickered from his to the gun and back to his face. The paper bag crunched as she gripped it like a shield.
She was even younger than he’d first thought, just out of college, maybe, and the fear in her crystal blue eyes made him feel like a dog. I’m sorry. He set the weapon by his thigh. “Don’t say anything. Get in.”
“T-take the car.”
“I don’t want the car.” He wouldn’t be able to drive it while seeing three of everything.
“W-what do you w-want?”
He kept the gun by his side. “You. Inside.” Please.
Hands shaking, she slipped behind the steering wheel and dropped her bag and purse on the passenger side. Cold air floated around the interior, bringing with it a whiff of gasoline.
“Shut the door and start the car.”
“P-please don’t h-hurt m-me.” Tears broke her voice and threatened to bring up his dinner.
Her keys jingled, and the engine roared to life.
Jason braced his weight on his good shoulder and propped himself up, but not without a teeth-grinding grunt.
She gasped again.
“Turn around.”
She eased to her side. Immediately, she glanced at his gun. A crapload of emotions swam behind her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her teeth grazed her bottom lip.
No, he wasn’t cut out to be a villain. There had to be a better way to gain her cooperation. His conscience won. He pushed the weapon into his coat pocket. “Look, what’s your name?”
“Brenna.”
“Brenna, I’m a cop and I need your help.”
Dance Away Danger is available at
Amazon.com in Kindle and Print
Bio: Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance and is thrilled to have the chance to share her love of Great Britain with readers everywhere.
When she’s not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising.
Website: www.alexabourne.com
Blog: http://alexabourne.blogspot.com
Twitter: @AlexaBourne
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaBourne
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5818611.Alexa_Bourne
babettejames.com 
Don’t you love characters who have a mind of their own?
Yep! Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my gosh, you have to give him his own book. It would be wrong not to after he fought so hard for it. Lovely cover.
Yeah, I’m kinda loving him and can’t wait to get to his book! Thanks for stopping by!