What do you want to read about?

[annabelle]

So my new release, Like a Boss, is publishing next week, and I’ve got next week off from work. I don’t have any particular motivation about what I want to work on next. So I thought I would take suggestions.

What sort of devvy story would you like to read? Ideas??

[rebeckers84]

I’ll admit, I’ll love every single one of your books but to remember them all at once I’m drawing a blank so if youve covered this already feel free to ignore me
😉

What about something that details the journey through accident & post accident ? Rehab etc... romance of some kind, maybe in a relationship already and they stick together (or break up...🤷🏻‍♀️)

Or

Maybe pwd navigating the wonderful world of online dating and the joys of that 🙄 but ultimately finding a dev that has been swiping left on millions of dudes to find him! Haha

[lisa]

I'm looking forward very much to reading Like a Boss!

What I usually enjoy most about devvy romance is the getting-to-know-part. And I would really like to see in detail how this opening up about different things that come with his disability and how she learns about it and goes this extra mile to show him how she embraces all of that. I know, it's kind of cheesy, but this always warms my dev heart ;). And maybe you wouldn't consider this, because it's not really fitting for a wider audience, but I'd really like to read another story about a dev and some of the struggles that come with that.

[annabelle]

I’m listening. Any more thoughts? Maybe I’ll do some shorter stories too....

[Inkdevil]

You could write anything and I’d read it, as you know

Dev-wise, I love the stories where girl meets guy and doesn’t realise he’s disabled. He’s sitting on a plane, or behind a table at a restaurant, or they meet over the phone/online. They’re attracted to each other and get close before his disability is revealed. This concept never grows old for me. I just love it.

Ideally the leading man will be an SCI - preferably a para guy. I know you’ve written about a whole range of disabilities and I find all of the stories captivating, so I don’t mind reading outside of my real life interests when it’s you doing the storytelling.

My favourite book of yours is The Ugly Duckling. I think you had the characters just perfect in that book. I’ve read and reread it many times. But I also like the one (can’t remember the name now) about the guy playing Santa Claus at the shopping centre. Again, it was the fact his disability was initially hidden that got me I think.

Have you ever written a book with a dev as the main female character? I know you write about women who aren’t devs, but it would be great to have a story from the POV of a female dev. Even if she was an unaware type. Or even from a dev-aware PWD.

[blueskye101]

Really like the idea of online dating struggles. Also love everything you’ve written and love the idea of a dev main character but if for mainstream, I’m sure this could be trickier. Also agree with the hidden disability idea til after they talk a bit. Any hurt/ comfort sounds good with issues on both sides like you did so well with MS & OCD.

[annabelle]

I did write an entire novel about my experiences a dev, partially true. But it wasn’t published, just on the blog. And I took it down.

I wish I felt more inspired. Part of me just feels like every potential situation is something I’ve already written.

[raindrop]

Correct me if I am wrong, but usually your characters are good people. Good intentions. I can’t remember all your books, but what about a girl who truly does meet a guy like Thayer, and really is in it for the money. More like Rachel - if I remember her name. The girl who broke down crying when they were going to be intimate.
This character starts out as a big lie. Pretending to be this perfect girlfriend. Maybe she has a really hard time with the hero’s disability. She can’t stand him, and is embarrassed to be in public with him, but she needs the money, or desperately wants to be rich.
It would be interesting to see how her character develops as she starts to enjoy her boyfriend, tolerate him and eventually love him. Also would be interesting to see how your character would react when he finds out his girl friend lied to him the whole time.
Good luck!

[ej]

I, too, would love to read a story from a dev perspective. I think they’re so fun! It also gives unabashed excuses to explore things that I think interest us all the most. I agree with @inkdevil about the unexpected reveal of disability...as cliche or trope-y as it might be, makes me grin in delight every time.

I like to read stories about higher quads and everything that goes along with it - that’s why I loved My Ex’s Wedding so much - but, like everyone else, I’ll happily gobble up whatever annabelle story I can get my hands on!

[Manda2212]

What I feel like I have been missing is the story going past the point of them getting together and then happily ever after. You did it with Baby Crazy, but I would love more of that. I always feel a longing to hear more detail about their sex lives, etc. I do appreciate though that you are writing for a larger audience than just devs.

I most recently read My Ex's Wedding and was suuuper hoping for we steamy love making hahaha.

[annabelle]

Thanks for the feedback so far!

Manda2212 I actually had some of that in all my sequels, like the sequel to My Perfect Ex and The Ugly Duckling.

ej I have the same preferences

raindrop It’s an interesting idea but one thing I have learned during my writing career is that people do not want to read an unlikable protagonist. And if she is hating on some poor guy because he’s disabled, she’s not going to be likable at all. I would get skewered for something like that.

[Celeste]

I also agree with the others... I love a good dev story! I really want to read a story about an unapologetic dev. Someone who knows exactly what she likes and is just trying to find a good match. Plus, something that is always on my mind: how will the dreaded "I'm a dev" conversation go when the protagonist finally tells him??

You can always flip the script on the situation where the woman doesn't realize. Someone points him out and she's like nah, no way. But then she finds out he's disabled and changes her mind immediately.

Maybe I just want to read a story about how I wish my dating life would go lol.

[annabelle]

Thanks for the suggestions! The muse is making me revise something I wrote years ago. To be continued....

[rebeca]

Aug 7, 2020 6:19:33 GMT -5 annabelle said:

I’m listening. Any more thoughts? Maybe I’ll do some shorter stories too....

one hero with Blindness and SCI? If anyone can do it justice, It's you.

[devogirl]

I'm glad to hear you're feeling inspired again! I agree that I'd really love to read about a dev. I get why you might hesitate if you're trying to reach a mainstream audience but there's got to be a way to do it with mass appeal.