Start Here: February 2006

Friday, February 17, 2006
            Scott’s birthday is January 17—honest—and my gift to him this year was a travel package for the two of us to see the Daytona 500, because he’s always wanted to go. I booked the trip in October, before we knew Kid Rock was coming to town. (The day I bought the concert tickets, Scott didn’t know I’d planned a weekend away, but the timing was perfect.) Anyway, the morning after the concert, we packed up for our four-day weekend and drove to Orlando, which is where our hotel is. On the highway, we passed a black and smoke-gray bus with the same Made In Detroit logo we’d seen at the concert the night before. We suspected it was Kid Rock’s tour bus, so we jokingly cranked the music up and gave a brief wave (with the windows UP because we’re not teenagers). I think we were listening to Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp at the time, but it could have been anything. We checked into our hotel—where I was amused at the Mickey Mouse bedspreads—had dinner, then occupied ourselves at Pleasure Island until one or two o’clock in the morning. Some out-of-town friends called while we were there to invite us to meet them the following night for drinks.

Saturday, February 18, 2006
            We spent the day at Epcot—in eighty-degree weather—still amused at passing Kid Rock’s tour bus the day after his concert. (I realize the guy’s gotta get to the next show, but what are the odds?) When our friends called to ask if we still wanted to meet up for drinks, we told them we’d decided not to go because we were tired and the Daytona shuttle leaves at six in the morning. So, knowing what big fans we are, they tempted us by saying, “your boy Kid Rock’s playing there tonight.” We still declined, but now we’re getting a little freaked by the coincidences.

Sunday, February 19, 2006
            Neither of us follow NASCAR, but our first Daytona 500 was really cool. Both figuratively and literally. In the gift shop—where we bought sweatshirts to replace the ones we left at the hotel because it was hot yesterday—I noticed a paperback book display near the register. It was a work of fiction, but had something to do with NASCAR racing, so I made a mental note to think of venue ideas for marketing Immortal Bonds, my first novel, in a similar fashion (i.e., approaching venues mentioned in the book to help sell it). We wandered the grounds, marveled at the garages, the pits, and the fans. I normally take notes everywhere I go (yes, it’s nerdy, but you never know), but I assumed I’d never be back again, so I just tried to take it all in. Then we spotted a few roadies near the hot dog stand. (It’s a dead giveaway when you look like a biker and your leather jacket has KID ROCK embroidered on the back.) Later, after we’d returned to our seats in the stands, the track announcer mentioned that racer Tony Stewart was hanging out before the race with his buddy Kid Rock. This truly is bizarre.

Monday, February 20, 2006
            Scott and I talked about the trip for the entire three-hour-drive home. Never turned the stereo on. We’ve been chasing Kid Rock for four days, in four different cities, and—although it was coincidental and not intentional—I can’t help but feel like a groupie. But, I’m a firm believer in the saying, “Everything happens for a reason,” and we both agree there’s a book here somewhere. Unfortunately, I’m already working on the prequel for Immortal Bonds (I’ve got the outline and the first drafts of the Prologue and Chapter 1), so I don’t want to start another project.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006
           It took forever to fall asleep last night, despite being home and in my own bed. The idea of writing a book with Kid Rock in it is enticing, but the tangent doesn’t seem practical. Immortal Bonds is a paranormal novel, so I should follow it up with another paranormal novel because I’m a new writer trying to establish myself. I’m also obligated by contract to give my publisher the first shot at my second book and he’s expecting a prequel, not a “groupie” manual. Plus, to be perfectly honest, I’m new at this and not at all ready to write a book with big potential. I’d rather get better first. So I stared at the computer for hours today, trying to focus myself on my current project, but I can’t get this Kid Rock thing out of my head. It’s impossible to concentrate on anything else. How can I combine Kid Rock, Disney, NASCAR, Orlando, and Daytona? It most definitely couldn’t be a story about a married couple following a band around, because if I DO decide to write this book—whatever it is—it can’t be blah. It’s gotta be worthy, meaning “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” all the way. And it would have to “go Platinum” or it wouldn’t do Kid Rock justice. But how do you do all that and NOT look like a groupie? I’m forty-fucking-years-old for Christ’s sake. And I’m trying to be a serious writer. I didn’t mean to follow a rock star from Ft. Lauderdale to Daytona. I didn’t know he had a gig in Orlando. I didn’t know he was a friend of Tony Stewart’s, the driver of the orange #20 Home Depot Chevy Monte Carlo. I didn’t even know who Tony Stewart was before Sunday. (Okay, I’d heard of the guy, but still…) Why won’t this idea just go away?

Thursday, February 23, 2006
            Working on the prequel is impossible and I haven’t slept well since we got back from Orlando. I fall asleep around two or three in the morning thinking something like, “What if a couple of friends went to the Daytona 500 and…,” then I wake up the next morning thinking, “on their way to Daytona, they could stop in Orlando and go to a bar,” then that thought leads to, “no, not a bar, a strip club,” and then I’m wide away and thinking of nothing else but the story of two or three guys who’ve grown up together in South Florida. One of them, the main character, is going through a divorce. Wait, maybe his wife should ask for a divorce at the beginning? And he definitely doesn’t want the divorce. Should they have kids? It’s all still percolating in my mind, but I know one thing for certain: the main character has to be a guy. In order for the book to be worthy of the Kid Rock name, a few things have to be said and I can’t say them as a chick. I just have to figure out why the characters would go to Orlando and Daytona. Or if they even need to. (But, if everything happens for a reason, shouldn’t I weave in fact with fiction?) And I don’t want a coming-of-age story. Maybe something about friendship or relationships in general. But how much of Kid Rock should be in it? Should he be a character? Or would he simply be part of the storyline? And should I put his name in the title? Would I need permission? Can I use song lyrics? But, if I do need permission for stuff, how the hell am I—a housewife from South Florida—supposed to get to Kid Rock? I’m not even a published author yet (IB isn’t due out until October), so I would think that even my agent would have a hard time. This is a crazy idea, and one I’m not quite ready to share with anyone yet. So, when I went to my writer’s group meeting tonight, I told The Bloody Pens all about our trip, but decided to keep the nagging story idea to myself for now.

Friday, February 24, 2006
            Again no sleep last night, so, although I don’t normally write on Fridays, I started the story outline and the first two chapters of what I’ve decided to call “Chasing Kid Rock.” (As work progresses, I’ll share bits and pieces and inside info with you in BOOK NOTES and CHAPTER CLIP sections.) Hopefully putting something in writing will calm my restless mind tonight so I can get back to my real project. And, on another note, Scott’s buddy called today and said he had tickets to Daytona’s Pepsi 400 in July if we’re interested. Scott’s hooked now—I’ve created a monster—so I guess we’re going. (His things are fishing and NBA basketball, specifically the Miami Heat, and I’d prefer he not add another thing.) But I’m okay with going because I’d like to get a better look at the Daytona track and the surrounding area. Maybe take some notes, so, if I include the race in the book (and why wouldn’t I?), the scenes at the track will be more authentic.

BOOK NOTES: The second chapter opens with the main character looking down at concert tickets he’s holding in his hand and the seat numbers came from my tickets to the Seminole Hard Rock show. The book will likely use a different venue, but I’m thinking very few readers will know the difference. As for the timeline, I had to fudge a little with the concert date to make the story work, so the events and coincidences that happen to the main character are slightly different than what happened to Scott and me.

CHAPTER CLIP: He wasn’t as high as he could have been, but the look on his wife’s face said he was high enough. (First sentence of the first chapter—as of today.)

Sunday, February 26, 2006
            I try not to write on weekends, but I finished Chapters 1 & 2 yesterday and started Chapter 3 today. I’m still working out the specifics, but I’ve got a pretty good idea what’s going to happen and how it ends. Basically, it’s the story of a guy who spends a long weekend with his two best friends, but he can’t enjoy it because his wife’s just asked for a divorce. From past experience, I’m sure the outline (and the dialogue, and the descriptions, and…) will change a hundred times before this is over. I’ve also gathered pictures and started short bios (birthdays, place of birth, height & weight, hair & eye color, etc.) for my three main characters: Ted, Alex, and Jimmy. To help with references, I cut and paste pictures from the Internet (magazines, newspapers, etc., work, too) and start a bio page for each character. It’s a trick I learned from fellow writer & Bloody Pen, Graeme Johns, and it’s great for keeping info together, especially while I’m still getting acquainted with my characters.

BOOK NOTES: I’m having a lot of fun with the dialogue between the three best friends, but it’s a challenge, considering I’m not a guy. And I’m tickled that I was able to use excerpts from a radio show script I’d written a couple years ago, which should be a lesson to all: Never throw anything out, even if you think you’ll never use it.

CHAPTER CLIP: “What the fuck do I care about some long-haired asshole’s tour bus?”

Monday, February 27, 2006
            Having completely forsaken my IB prequel for now, I went to KidRock.com first thing this morning to get story ideas and a little background information on the guy I’ve named this book after. I didn’t join the fan club because I don’t think I’ll need that much detail and because I’M NOT A FUCKIN’ GROUPIE! I did, however, spend the entire day online searching for information on Kid Rock and NASCAR. I had no idea there were Kid Rock racecars (see photo below). Even a Formula 1 and a dragster! They’re incredible. How awesome would a guy feel as a racing fan to see his picture on the side of a car? And the more I learn about Tony Stewart, the more I like him.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006
            Started Chapter 4 today, but, despite making considerable progress, I’m still not sleeping well. Immortal Bonds didn’t give me this much trouble. My children didn’t give me this much trouble. Okay, that’s a lie, but I really need some fuckin’ rest.

CHAPTER CLIP: The corners of the valet’s mouth turned up like Angelina Jolie had just grabbed his nuts.