There's Nothing New Under The Sun

 

I have heard authors lament again and again. They were working on a project until they saw or read a story with a nearly identical plot. That leaves them feeling that what they are working on is redundant, even useless. Many end up tossing their work in progress and beginning something else, all because they saw something similar.

 

Well, a few weeks ago I saw something similar. I watched the Disney Pixar animated film, Onward. I had never seen the story before, but I practically wrote it.

At least I felt like I did.

As the movie unfolded, I felt like I was watching an animated version of my 2019 novel, Courage. Fortunately, I could not have tossed my words even if I wanted to. And really, I’d never want to. What I can do is enjoy the similarities in character, plot and theme. Loving mother dealing with two sons who don’t understand how badly they need to reconnect to each other. And a dead father who’s loss makes both boys sad and desperate.

There are also differences. The younger brother in Courage has a talent for swimming and diving that his older brother admires. In Onward, the younger brother discovers he has a talent for magic, which makes his older brother wildly enthused for him. Onward has a Manticore, Courage a younger sister. Both are a little scary, and a lot of fun. Courage has a parole officer keeping an eye on the elder brother. Onward uses a centaur police officer. Thank heavens I abandoned the subplot of having the parole officer fall for my heroes' mother. With the centaur trotting around romancing the boy's mother in Onward, that would have been one coincidence too many.

Both the movie and book have the same core, brotherhood at its worst, and at it’s finest. I am really thankful Onward did not come first. Otherwise I might have ignored the advice I give to others in a similar situation and tossed that manuscript. And that would have been a shame. Both stories deserve to exist and can be loved by any siblings who have ever lost a father and nearly lost each other.

There is no such thing as one and only one way to solve a problem or tell a story. Why else is there an endless stream of versions of Cinderella? Nothing an author can write is really unique. Just because your theme has been used once, or twice, or a thousand times doesn’t mean there isn’t room for your Voice to tell that story one more time.

Comtemporary Romance Author Darlene Panzera - Holiday Themes and Settings

     I loosely based my latest release, THE CUPCAKE DIARIES: Spoonful of Christmas on the famous Grinch story classic. I first made a list of Christmas songs, decorations, and traditions  to incorporate into the story to give the reader a real feel for the holiday. Then when my daughter and I were brainstorming what kind of villain could try to sabotage Christmas for my three heroines who run the Creative Cupcakes shop, we just knew it had to be a Grinch! One of the heroines already had a six-year-old, blond-haired daughter who was perfect to play the role of Cindy Lou Who. After that we introduced a few new characters, including a foster care boy (named Max after the Grinch story dog), and created a different spin on the Grinch storyline.

     Once I had the plot, I did a lot of research into the setting of the story and went to Astoria, Oregon to speak with the locals about traditions and legends specific to the area that readers might not know about. For instance, when it snows the town shuts down eighth street, one of the steepest streets in America, for community sledding. I thought this would be a perfect place for a romantic encounter for my hero and heroine. I also had one couple go to the famed Victorian Flavel House for plum pudding and another of my couples travel over the Astoria-Meglar bridge into Ilwaco, Washington  to see a lighted boat parade and the world's largest crab pot Christmas tree. Of course major turning points in the story also occurred at each of these locations.

     Instead of a chimney, I had to figure out a way for my Grinch to steal presents and local research also provided the answer. Astoria is famous for the pirates who use to "shanghai" unsuspecting people from taverns and force them to join their crew. The Portway restaurant still has one such trap door and tunnel used from that by-gone era. Except in my novella I changed the restaurant's name to 'The Captain's Port' and added a few more of these trap doors and tunnels around town. When combined: holiday tradition, local setting, humorous characters, and a romantic storyline can make a very interesting, sweet, fun-loving Christmas!

 

DARLENE PANZERA

For fans of Debbie Macomber comes Spoonful of Christmas, the fourth installment in the popular Cupcake Diaries series.

Andi, Rachel, and Kim each have their own reasons for wanting this Christmas at Creative Cupcakes to be special. 

Andi is scared that Jake's job offer with another newspaper will move them to a different state. Rachel, set to marry Mike on Christmas Eve, is afraid her cousin Stacey will ruin the wedding.

Kim fears she'll never get a ring and Nathaniel will leave her after the holidays are over.

What they didn't count on was having a modern-day Grinch try to steal Christmas away from them. Can they unmask the culprit before it's too late ... or will this be a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons?

Darlene Panzera writes sweet, fun-loving romance. Her career launched with the publication of THE BET, included in NY Times best-selling author Debbie Macomber's FAMILY AFFAIR. Her current series, THE CUPCAKE DIARIES, hit the top 100 on the Barnes & Noble Nook with a debut at #7 for overall sales. 

Darlene says, "I love writing stories that help inspire people to laugh, value relationships, and pursue their dreams."  

www.darlenepanzera.com

www.facebook.com/DarlenePanzera