Insomnia, Imagination, and the Rise of the Motorbike Hottie

 

Good evening my lovely friends. Come in, take the weight off your feet. I have just opened a lovely bottle of Provencal Rose, perfectly chilled. Lady Cora cat may or may not join us later.

My research trip to Prague has been very productive, I have enjoyed some of the best jazz and yes, the green fairy was, shall we say mischievous. Now tell me something, do you sleep deeply? Uninterrupted dreams, the required eight hours? You do? Please, tell me your secret.

Get comfy my lovelies, I have a confession to make, and please don’t hold it against me.

It Started Respectably, I Swear
When I started writing as a professional writer, I always knew the importance of research, especially for historical fiction. Dates, events, and characters would have to be accurately portrayed. I would read voraciously on the subject I was writing about.

Twenty plus years ago, the internet was a resource that arrived and possibly saved a lot of time, and possibly my sanity.

I still have reference books, historical accounts, all kinds of books on the subject. They grace my bookshelves in the scriptorium, along with other artefacts that have found their way into the Militiverse.

As I have said, starting out writing a new book, my research is always done just after I outline the story. Some of you have asked, how I begin the book.

There’s no deep ritual. No incantations, I open the page and stare at it for a while, then I look at mood boards and images, it all starts respectably…

I swear.

Research vs. Distraction: A Blurred Line
My series, Tempus Militibus is based in historical epochs. The characters Luca, Peo, Karl, and Remy are all from history. The research that I did on their time, when they were mortal, took me from books written by ancient historians, and trips to Paris, Rome, Ariminum and Germania.

I wanted the series to have that authentic feel, especially during their mortal lives. So, I drew on my photographs from my travels, and…Pinterest!

Ah yes. Pinterest.

Mood boards are dangerous things, aren’t they? Lots of inspiration. According to my search history, I adore the gothic aesthetic, I love travel and it seems, more specifically, leather.

Men with long hair…In leather.

That’s a pure coincidence, obviously.

Somewhere Along the Way, a Pattern Emerged

When the Tempus Militibus made themselves known to me, they were from different places, different times, but they were always immortal.  I could see them clearly, how they looked. How they spoke, their accents. Their style of clothes, even down to their aftershave. Yes, I researched aftershave, in Dubai airport duty free. Don’t judge.

During rewrites, a pattern was slowly emerging. I was carefully researching fashion, hairstyles, and tans. What was becoming increasingly obvious to me, about this research, it would appear that I had developed... a type.

Blond hair. The longer the better. Bare chest. Tight abs. Accents. Don’t get me started on those…

It was… very distracting research.

The Motorbike Problem.

In my other author persona, it was no surprise. It was expected as rock stars and leather go together like bad decisions and tour buses.

My Tempus Militibus Vampires also wore tight leather trousers, bare chest and they rode the most beautiful, sleek, black Ducati panigales!

When I was growing up, my father was very mechanical. He was well known in our village as a motorbike restorer. One of the bikes that he restored was a 1959 BSA 350, I remember it well, it broke his heart when he sold it on.

I grew up around motorbikes, and motor racing, so it was inevitable bikes would make it into my writing.

Then I saw the Ducati panigale. Such a beautiful motorbike. That was the moment when I knew that I had to have my Tempus Militibus riding, this exquisitely stunning motorbike.

Yes, my vampires, tall, gorgeous, leather clad ancient warriors riding the beautiful panigale motorbikes. I embraced it, how could I not?

In My Defence: It Was 3AM
It’s well documented on my socials that I party hard with insomnia, she’s very committed to our relationship. So, at 3 AM, when even the corvids hadn’t considered breakfast. there I am, laptop open, at the dining room table (How very appropriate). I absolutely wasn’t ogling inspirational material for my book. I was just researching. I am very thorough when it comes to it.

But in my defence, I had been sleep deprived for three nights and no HRT to speak of.

That should come with a warning label.  

On Why Sleep Deprivation Should Come with a Disclaimer

It was that night that something clicked.

A man with long flowing luscious locks, wearing a leather jacket, sitting on the most beautiful bike ever designed that my gorgeous French vampire, (one of them, anyway) was created.

 His smile could charm the caffeine out of a coffee.

So, here’s the real confession. Sleep deprivation should come with a disclaimer. Something like:

‘May result in immortal warriors, wearing tight leather, perfect hair, and riding Ducati Panigales, (Imagined or otherwise)’

Join me next week, my lovelies, for part two of ‘Insomnia, Imagination, and the Rise of the Motorbike Hottie.’

Until then, keep the coffee strong, and get a good night’s sleep.

Anna