Today my guest is Regina Rudd Merrick. Regina Rudd Merrick is a writer, church musician, wife, mother, and former librarian. Having lived most of her life in Western Kentucky, she dreams of the sound of crashing waves and sandy beaches. Married to her husband of 35+ years, she is the mother of two grown daughters, and the keeper of a 100-year-old house where she lives in the small town of Marion, KY. She is the author of three books: Carolina Dream (Apr. 2017), Carolina Mercy (July 2018), and as of Feb. 5, 2019, Carolina Grace in the Southern Breeze Series.

I simply asked Regina, what goes on in her mind as a writer, and here’s what she has to say.

What DOES go on in the mind of a writer?

Frankly, often times it’s the same thing that goes on in anyone else’s mind, but with sparks and twists!

I am committed to writing a novella, releasing in September, for a collection with three other Mantle Rock Publishing authors. I knew the connection between the four stories, knew the genre, and knew the point of view we all agreed to, but I didn’t have a CLUE as to what to write about.

So, I chose the setting. It’s all I had. Hmmm . . . must think of more things. Okay, if the story is going to happen THERE, what if . . .

And I was off!

On the drive home from my writing group meeting, where I had announced that I didn’t have any ideas yet, the plot fell into place with one simple question – WHAT IF?

Most authors would tell you that this simple two-word question is the jumping off point for most stories. In my first book, Carolina Dream, I literally had a dream that I couldn’t shake. There was an antebellum mansion, deserted, and I was walking through it as if I had just acquired it in some way.

I wrote the dream down, and then started the “what if” process. What if I was a young woman from Kentucky who inherited a mansion from some unknown relative? What if my fiancé broke off my engagement, and then I received a wedding invitation from the new bride-to-be? What if I met someone who was hurting as badly as I was, who rightfully should have inherited this house?

And thus became a novel entitled Carolina Dream. From there, I “what-if-ed” through two more novels, Carolina Mercy, and most recently, Carolina Grace.

The novella coming out in September? It came about as the result of a “what if” that happens after Carolina Grace!

So, when you have an idea that won’t leave you alone? Ask that idea one simple question: WHAT IF?

You can check out more about Regina Rudd Merrick on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Regina-R-Merrick-512257938964888/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/trmerrick64

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reginamerrick/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rmerrick/

Website: https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com

Publisher Website: https://mantlerockpublishing.com/

Sales Links: My author page – https://www.amazon.com/Regina-Rudd-Merrick/e/B072JMWPWD/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1544132482&sr=8-1