The second question I get asked about my books is whether they are based on real people. 99% of the time, the answer is no. The characters are always drawn from my own imagination, people who pop into my head as real as the people next door, the relatives at the family reunion, etc. But sometimes, I get an idea for a story that comes from real life people.

RESCUED BY MR. RIGHT, for instance, which came out last October, tells the story of how my grandparents met. My grandfather was a boarder in my grandmother's house, where she was caring for her ill mother. It is also set in the city where my own parents met. The characters, however, are totally unlike either my grandparents or my parents, and any other similarities to my family ends with that little snippet of "the meet." My grandpa didn't even have a Chihuahua :-)

MIRACLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE is also based, in a tiny part, on two real people. One of my best book fans, the very first book fan I ever met who had read EVERY one of my books, works with her husband as a real life Mrs. Claus (and he looks just like a real-life Mr. Claus). When she told me that, I became fascinated with the whole process. How it works, what it's like for Santa and Mrs. Claus in the "off-season," etc. Then I wondered what it would be like for either Claus if they lost their Christmas spirit--and the idea for MIRACLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE was born.

The book is dedicated to Janice and her husband, because they inspired the story, and also because she gave me such great information about being a Claus. And because Janice unwittingly made my entire year (maybe my career) when she became the very first person to have all my books. When I was first published, I remember going to a book signing with Suzanne Brockmann. If you ever go to a signing with a mega-star like that, you kind of feel like the forgotten stepchild ;-). But Suz is awesome, and fun, so it's a great time all around, really.

Anyway, there are DOZENS of women in line with the entire Suz book collection and I remember sitting there thinking HOW COOL would that be to someday have a reader who had read every one of my books. So my first book comes out, my second, my third, and so on and so forth, until I get to my 11th. I do signngs, and no one comes with every book. Lots of readers who have several, but no one who has them all.

Until Janice, who arrives at Don's Books in Kokomo, IN, with an armload of books to be signed. It was the most thrilling day I'd ever had. I'll never forget it. It's happened a couple times since, but that day was still THE best ever. So, it's like a double dedication for her :-)

Shirley