Sebastian Cox, the hero of The Big One, is a tortured soul. Like most creative types, he pours his sorrows into his music. By nature, I don’t plot out my stories. I let the elements come to me as they’re being written. Without giving too much away, Sebastian’s backstory gave me chills.
According to Ghosts and Gravestones of Savannah, Georgia, “Few things terrified the Victorian public more than being buried alive. Accidental burials in the 1800s were often the result of limited understanding of comas and high fevers where victims would appear to be lifeless and were quickly buried by mistake” (p. 87). When surveyed, most people rate being “buried alive” as one of the worst ways to die.
Being trapped in an underground bunker during an earthquake feeds off those fears. When I first started writing The Big One, I thought, “There doesn’t have to be a reason why Sebastian doesn’t like being underground, it’s natural.” Plenty of people feel that way, right? I mean research shows it.
But in fiction, that backstory can make it all the more poignant. When all the pieces came together, it totally resonated and clicked. Readers will probably be amazed that the connections were not planned out, and therein – to me – lies the beauty of not plotting. When it all comes together, it feels like magic.
Tell me: What are some other common fears humanity shares?
Thanks so much for hosting me!
Excerpt
“You want out of here? Fine, go for it.” Kayla pointed toward the doorway. “Be my guest and try to break the lock. If you succeed, I make no promises to your safety out there. We don’t know what’s happening. Maybe this was a minor shaker, or maybe the real thing, but what’s it going to hurt to sit tight and figure it out?”
“You plan on helping me pass the time in a more enjoyable manner?” He wagged his eyebrows at her, and despite herself, and her promise to have a strong will, a flutter started low in her belly. She couldn’t be attracted to him. He was such a neophyte. People like him never understood her.
“You watch yourself there.” She turned around and stalked to the other side of the room. Okay, given they were in such a small space, there wasn’t any getting away from him at the moment. He—and people like him—made her so mad.
“What about being optimistic?” he asked. “Thinking about the best in people. Self-fulfilling prophecies and life affirmations?”
“You can be positive all you want, and it’s not going to fill up your tank of gas. Having money, in smaller bills, hidden in case the banks crash and your ATM card doesn’t work—that’s being prepared. Just because I believe in reserving some supplies doesn’t mean I willed all this to happen. It did, and I’m ready for it.”
“‘Reserving?’ Is that what they’re calling it nowadays? I thought it was more akin to hoarding.”
Hoarding? He really didn’t get it. His comment hung in the air, and she did her best to ignore it. No matter what she said, the scorn from nonbelievers hurt. She grew up with her father being harassed by family members. It was only a matter of time before it was her turn. And her sister? Well, forget about telling her anything about being prepared. Maybe as destruction hit and a certain segment of the population was taken out, they’d be all gone. All that would be left would be those who’d taken the necessary precautions.
A wave of dizziness at the implications hit her, and she sat back down.
Right. As if life worked like that.
Blurb:
The last thing marketing assistant Kayla Morgan expects to do on a Friday morning is give a tour of her emergency shelter to a flighty rock star. When her boss orders her to play nice, she acquiesces.
Sebastian Cox, lead singer of The U.K. Underground, finds the American bird with the bunker in her backyard more than wacky, but the band’s looking for a location to shoot their latest video.
When an earthquake strikes, the unlikely couple gets trapped and finds a few ways to keep themselves busy. Once reality sets in, will their differences leave them on shaky ground?
Available via Amazon, Decadent Publishing, ARe, Barnes & Noble and other eRetailers.
About Louisa Bacio
A Southern California native, Louisa Bacio can’t imagine living far away from the ocean. The multi-published author of erotic romance enjoys writing within all realms – from short stories to full-length novels.
Bacio shares her household with a supportive husband, two daughters growing “too fast,” and a multitude pet craziness: Two dogs, five fish tanks, an aviary, hamsters, rabbits and hermit crabs. In her other life, she teaches college classes in English, journalism and popular culture.
Visit her online at: http://www.louisabacio.com, http://www.facebook.com/louisabacio
and http://www.twitter.com/louisabacio
Contest:
1) 3-book bundle of 1Night Stand titles: A Date with Death, A Dance with Death and A Duel with Death.
2) $15 gift card to Amazon
3) Grand prize: Emergency kit and swag pack (shipping to U.S. only).
Contest ends: Aug. 11
Thanks again for having me here today!
It’s always a pleasure to have you over, Louisa! And congratulations!