Hope you’ve already visited Jeanne McDonald on this week’s Romance Writer’s Weekly: My Biggest Inspiration. A.S. Fenichel wants two know who has been most inspirational in my writing life. It’s probably odd, but my biggest inspiration came from a movie character. Bazaar maybe, but it’s true.

As teen, I loved to write, but the red pen stole my joy. No cultivation for story, my teachers’ only mission was to hammer home grammar and punctuation. No wonder students hate writing. After school, life happened and work, marriage, bills, and my son. Before I took up writing again, I’d lost a close friend to suicide. Looking back, I honestly believe I was searching for an outlet to channel my feelings.

At any rate, I was struck by the Maximus character in the movie Gladiator. From there I researched Roman history and culture and wrote a 100k plus novel titled Will of the Gods. Even though the writing sucks, I still love the story and boy did I “pants” some twists and turns in that baby.

Since then, I started writing contemporary and paranormal romances that reflect my love of the beach and are usually set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, or closer to home in Virginia Beach. In my first full length novel release, Hot as Blazes, I acknowledge my first beta reader, Karen V who is my second inspiration. An avid reader of all genres, she encouraged me keep writing. Thanks to her belief, I persevered. I found the guts to join a writing group and with their great support, I had my novella, White Doe, published by New Dawning.

My newest release, Hot as Blazes, is published by Lyrical (Kensington) and I recently signed another contract with Lyrical for two short novels in my Seaside Heat series. The first novel, Sand and Sin is about a Navy SEAL and will release in December.

A movie changed my life. What has changed yours?  Now let’s see who’s A.S. Fenichel‘s inspirations as she’s next on the hop