CL
asked
Kelli Ireland:
How much research did you have to do for 'Stripped Down' and on a scale of 1 to 10, how much did you enjoy it? ;)
Kelli Ireland
I have to be entirely honest and say I didn't get to go to a male revue for research. Is it wrong that I'm entirely disappointed by that fact? Fortunately, I'm lucky enough to have a very good friend in Texas who has promised to take me to La Bare when I next visit. I intend to hold her to that offer. Yes, yes I do. :)
As for research, though, there was a TON of it -- all done after I'd written the initial proposal and my agent sold it and a second trilogy that will be released in 2015 after the Pleasure Before Business series. At that point, I watched videos, read a dancer's memoir, set up a Pinterest board of lovely men and, of course, purchased "Magic Mike." On a scale of 1 to 10 on how much I enjoyed the research? I'm going to give it a 7. A live show would have driven the score up, no doubt!
Ironic as it sounds, while I'd seen "Magic Mike" before, it didn't even cross my mind when I was considering this series. My agent asked me for a contemporary romance proposal, so I sat down and started brainstorming. I kept coming back to one question: What two occupations could I have a hero and heroine involved in that would put them at total opposites? The answer that popped into my head? Put a male stripper across from a slightly reserved woman entrenched in corporate America. So I did. The result is STRIPPED DOWN and the two books that follow in the series (WOUND UP and PULLED UNDER).
Overall? The dance scenes, the club setting and the characters are all products of my imagination. Now, if you ask me how much fun I had *writing* the series? The answer is a solid 10, CL. A *solid* ten. :D
As for research, though, there was a TON of it -- all done after I'd written the initial proposal and my agent sold it and a second trilogy that will be released in 2015 after the Pleasure Before Business series. At that point, I watched videos, read a dancer's memoir, set up a Pinterest board of lovely men and, of course, purchased "Magic Mike." On a scale of 1 to 10 on how much I enjoyed the research? I'm going to give it a 7. A live show would have driven the score up, no doubt!
Ironic as it sounds, while I'd seen "Magic Mike" before, it didn't even cross my mind when I was considering this series. My agent asked me for a contemporary romance proposal, so I sat down and started brainstorming. I kept coming back to one question: What two occupations could I have a hero and heroine involved in that would put them at total opposites? The answer that popped into my head? Put a male stripper across from a slightly reserved woman entrenched in corporate America. So I did. The result is STRIPPED DOWN and the two books that follow in the series (WOUND UP and PULLED UNDER).
Overall? The dance scenes, the club setting and the characters are all products of my imagination. Now, if you ask me how much fun I had *writing* the series? The answer is a solid 10, CL. A *solid* ten. :D
More Answered Questions
Carla
asked
Kelli Ireland:
Hi Kelli. I was informed back on March 4th that I was one of our First Reads lucky winners from Good reads. I was told that I would receive a free copy of Raising Cain (The Key Guardians, #1) in the mail. To date, I have not yet received this book. Can you please inform me when I can expect this novel? It would be greatly appreciated.
Hannah Ruth
asked
Kelli Ireland:
Do you have any new books? Maybe you can send me for a review. I can't afford to buy any and Library isn't getting it. And my mom just got out of hospital, from nearly dying on Christmas. Please message me if you can. I loved your books you sent me from "Pleasure Before Business" Thanks so much!
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Feb 03, 2015 05:40PM