Guest Post: Truly, Madly, Deeply You by Cecilia Robert

Today's guest is Cecilia Robert, author of her new book, Truly, Madly, Deeply You. Here is a blurb of this contemporary romance:

          Four days before Valentine’s Day, Liese Hansfeld is determined to shut the door to her house, as well as her heart, for her annual four days of mourning her one true love. Little does she know her best friend Freytag Meier is just as determined to keep her from her ritual. He’s ready to pick the lock to her apartment door and camp in her living room if that’s what it takes.
What Freytag isn’t prepared for is the surge of deep-rooted emotions he feels for Liese, but two things stand in his way: the grief and guilt she still clutches close to her heart, and a man who threatens to snatch Liese from under Frey’s watchful eye. Frey is determined to distract her into forgetting her pain. But is that enough to ease her grief, or help her see he can be more than her best friend?

Cecilia wants to talk to us about story ideas, so take it away Cecilia.

          Where do I get story ideas?
Thank you for hosting me on Jacob’s Beloved’s Books, Rachel.
Ideas for my stories come from everywhere: Walking down the street, in the shower, watching TV…
For Truly, Madly, Deeply You, I was inspired by a couple whom I visited in their home during my home visits – I work as an assistant nurse. The man was 93 years and his wife 88, and while I sat there listening to them, telling me how they were best friends even before they got married, my mind wandered. I began weaving a story: a friends-to-lovers story. Only in mine, the male harbors feelings for his female friend, but she has no idea how he feels. And the woman is so guilt-ridden by the only way she can protect herself: by ‘blocking’ any feelings the hero gushes at her. As I am not an outline person, I sit and just let the characters take over.
In Truly, Madly, the story is more character oriented and less plot; more about friendship, love, and discovery and with a bit of salvation thrown in there. I focused on the two characters, Frey and Liese, and explored their relationship and their feelings toward each other.
In another story I am currently working on, I got an idea after watching X-Files. It began with a ‘what if’, and blossomed into a full blown plot. There is nothing as heady as when ideas blossom inside my mind - intoxicating.

Thanks for coming by, Cecilia!