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*** SPOILER ALERT ***
If you're not up to chapter 46 with your reading, you may want to skip this blog post. There are references to things that you likely would prefer discovering in the story instead of here.
When KK and I began thinking about writing a story together back in 2002, we really didn't have a specific plot in mind. I was hoping we could blend our strengths as writers to come up with a fun story. We weren't thinking about a writing a very lengthy story at the time. The idea was to alternate writing chapters. In order to write a seamless story that didn't look like two separate writers throwing chapters together, we needed to develop a plot and characters we both understood the same way. So, we began sharing ideas.
The basic premise we settled on involved two young teen girls who are best friends exploring sex for the first time with each other. They would be discovered by one of their mothers. The mothers would talk about it, and then one of the mothers would seduce her friend's daughter. She would then expose the girl to other things, such as swinging. The woman would even admit to having had sex with her older brother, and encouraging the girl to have sex with her own older brother. That would lead the girl into exploring a number of sexual things with the woman. The story was to generally revolve around secrets that the girl was learning about and keeping. The mothers would underestimate her desire to know more and more, which would lead her to stumbling into bigger things that the parents were involved with.
KK offered to write the first couple of chapters with the input I'd given him about the two best friends and the best friend's mother. Then I would write the next few chapters, and go back and forth like that. He ended up posting the first four chapters. So, I started work on the next few chapters. I did share those with him (chapters 5 & 6). KK liked them, and so I posted them. After that though, KK decided that he really couldn't offer too much more for the plot and characters. So he turned the whole thing over to me to finish. I then proceeded to plot out the whole story in detail, which I thought at the time would be about 20 good sized chapters. Of course, that was a major underestimation. I also came up with most of the other major characters at that time. I've since added more characters over the past two years as the thought of a Book 2 has come into better focus.
In 2004, I began to get burned out from everything going on in my life -- school, marriage, work, etc. etc. The story had a sizable following and I was feeling the pressure to post something regularly. I had a lot of great things planned for the rest of the story. I was anxious to get them all written, which turned out to be my downfall at the time. The time I had to write was becoming very scarce and I became very frustrated.
Finally, I started rushing to finish the story. I started deleting whole planned chapters and storylines. The backyard campout was gone. Mrs. Thomas was gone (which really bothered me at the time). Anything to do with the church was gone. The revelations from Andrea's college days were gone. The relationship with Peter was gone. Jennifer was gone. The nudist campground was gone - No Donkey Dick or Mr. Pervert. Tammy was gone. Most other things yet to come at the time were gone. I was basically gonna have Mel, Sarah, and Pam discovering a few more things together ... which I hadn't clearly defined even for myself. Andrea and Mel would get closer, but not to the degree the college days' revelation allowed things to become. There wouldn't have been any sexual involvement between Mel and her parents until the last chapter. Then Mel would discover the big secret - end of story.
Looking at what was left, I just decided to completely stop writing it. I didn't want to end it like I was planning. So, the story sat for six years. I wasn't even checking my "Pookie" email because it was just reminders from readers that I shouldn't abandon the story. I didn't have the time to even seriously think about the story, much less do any writing.
With my time freeing up (for good reasons) in early 2011, I dusted it off and started writing again. I added some things back, but not all, which almost tripped me up when I had Mrs. Thomas originally say that she and Andrea had never taken money for sex. When I finally decided to add the prostitution revelation back in, I had to go back and revise the earlier chapter with Doris and Mel's discussion after some readers noted the continuity problem.
I started posting chapters again in June 2011. The reaction was great. I began having fun again with it. I was pacing myself too. I still am! So, I decided to add everything back in, and even added a number of new things. Book 2 began to really take shape as an idea over the past eight months. Even a Book 3 looks very promising.
And that more or less brings us up to today.
KK's version of the characters Colleen, Bob, Sarah, and Pam have remained as he wrote them. The original portrayal of Melissa didn't quite sit well with me though. She didn't come across quite as spunky, daring, and determined as I wanted her to be. She was really curious about things, but was just a little too passive for me. So, I slightly revised some of her earliest dialogue and introspective style to accomplish that. She still comes off as a little passive in the first two chapters, but not enough for me to fret about. I actually use that to justify to myself her tendency to be passive at times. To me, it's her excuse for how she can brush off some things others see as important while focusing on what she thinks is really important. That's where it rubs some readers the wrong way when she doesn't demand to know everything all the time, or become confrontational more often. That's how she can stay so obsessed with the big secret and anything she strongly feels will lead her to discovering what that is. She doesn't let what she considers to be the less important things bog her down.
So, that is the basic origin of the story, and a bit of how it got to where it is today. KK occasionally emails me and says he likes where our creation has gone, and plans to go. He knows the rest of the basic plot for Book 1. Nick, my editor, knows it in great detail.
Have a fun weekend!
Oh, and Chapter 47 will be posted on September 7 as planned.
Pookie
8/17/13
I've been thinking about some possible things I could share with everyone while on my hiatus. I figured that I could share some extras and behind the scenes stuff regarding "Melissa's Secrets". The first thing I've decided to share is a part of a scene from a recent chapter that didn't make it into the final version before it was posted. This actually happens more often than you might think. For those who recall, I did go back and add a deleted scene as a separate "extra" chapter (what is now "Chapter 25 - Mothers on the Phone").
Usually a part of a scene is cut because it is either overkill, serves no useful purpose, or a distraction to the intent behind the scene. One instance occurred early in Chapter 43 during the talk involving Mel, her mom, Mrs. Walcott, and Mrs. Preston. Below is the deleted part. The first two sentences are in Chapter 43, along with the very last sentence.
"She is precious when she blushes," Mrs. Preston added. "I'm glad we are still on good terms then, Melissa."
I gave her my sweetest smile.
"So, what is everyone up to this coming weekend?" Mrs. Walcott asked.
Mrs. Preston replied, "We're leaving tomorrow to spend the weekend with Carl's parents."
"Will Jennifer be back in time Mrs. Thomas's party on Sunday?" I anxiously asked.
"We'll be back late Sunday morning. My parents are coming by one day next week on their return from their vacation."
The mention of Jennifer seeing her father's parents suddenly reminded me I had never laid eyes on my own father's parents. I really hadn't thought about them for some time. Mom's parents had always been 'my grandparents'.
"Do you guys see Mr. Preston's parents a lot?" I asked.
I noticed Mom cutting her eyes at me for just a brief moment. I suddenly wondered if I had said the wrong thing.
"We get to visit with them about as much as my parents. I think Jennifer and Derek rather enjoy having their grandparents almost competing with each other for their grandkids' attention," she said, chuckling.
Mom cut her eyes at me for just a brief moment again. I then figured she was curious how I was reacting. Neither she nor Daddy had talked about my other set of grandparents. Were they some kind of outlaws or something? I didn't even know if they were alive! The last I had seen of anyone from Daddy's side of the family was when his brother and his wife last visited with their son when I was ten. That was the time my cousin and I had fooled around some. I couldn't remember us ever visiting them though.
Daddy's whole side of the family was a real mystery to me. It was about time I fixed that, but now clearly wasn't the time. But I couldn't resist throwing out a reminder to Mom about my absent set of grandparents.
"It's cool Jennifer has all those grandparents."
Mrs. Walcott glanced uncomfortably at Mom.
"From what I hear," Mrs. Preston said, "your grandparents just adore you. I think you're just as lucky as Jennifer."
"You're very lucky, Mel," Mom concurred. "Both your grandparents think you're God's special gift to them. I think they would both jump over the moon for you."
I blushed again. I felt really rotten though for not spending any time with them this summer. I was determined to more than make up for it this coming weekend.
Mrs. Walcott then blurted out, "Tell Andrea and Mel about the time Carl was early to a visit with his parents a few years ago."
"You two are gonna love this story," Mrs. Preston began. "Carl had been at one of the offices for the business he works at for several days. The drive took him through the town he is originally from. His parents still live there. The morning of the day he was to leave, he called his mother and talked with her. He discovered his father had left with a friend to go fishing over the weekend. He offered to stop by around three that afternoon to visit with her for a few hours.
"As it turned out, he was finished earlier than expected and would arrive at his parents a few hours earlier. He decided to just surprise her and take her out to eat if she hadn't had lunch already. When he arrived, no one was home, but his mother's car was in the driveway. He was sure she likely was visiting with her neighbor next door. They had been good friends for many years.
"Having been over at the house practically every day as a kid, he was used to going to the backdoor and knocking. Their family room was at the back of the house, and was where he expected they would be. When he reached the door, he glanced into the room through the door's window. The curtain covering the window did little to block the view of the whole family room.
"What he saw stunned him. Inside he saw his mother and her friend naked on the couch. He didn't have to worry about their noticing him as their faces were buried in each other's pussy."
"Oh wow!" I exclaimed.
"My thoughts exactly," Mom said, grinning at me.
"From what Carl told me, neither lady showed any hesitation with what they were doing. They changed positions a few times. His mother sat on his neighbor's face and wiggled her hips as her friend at her pussy. They alternated that position, but his mom's friend also used one of several vibrators and dildoes lying around to fuck her with it while his mom went to town licking her."
I asked, "Your husband didn't get caught watching all that going on?"
"He was careful. The curtains gave him some cover."
"I suppose he didn't know his mother was into women before then." I said.
"He never suspected his mother was into anything like that. He still doesn't know if his father is aware of it."
"So his mother doesn't know Carl is aware of her being bisexual?" Mom asked.
"If she does, she's never let on."
Then Mom surprised me. "Did he jerk off while watching his mom and neighbor?"
"He admitted he unzipped and played with it some. He was afraid of cumming on the backdoor or patio though. He knew his mother would leave out the backdoor as well. Either of the ladies could've easily noticed it."
"That is so awesome," I excitedly said.
"I figured you'd get a kick out of that," Mrs. Preston replied, laughing, which got us all laughing.
"How long did he watch?" Mom asked.
"He thinks it was about thirty minutes. He left when he figured he was taking a huge risk being behind the neighbors' house for so long with his car in his parents' driveway. So he left and drove to a coffee shop to kill some time before he went back at about the time he would be expected. His mother was home when he returned, and looked just like she normally did during the day. When he hugged and kissed her, he didn't detect any scents of his neighbor's pussy either. So, anytime we go to his parents' house, we make a joke about knowing where to find his mother if she isn't home."
Mom then mentioned, "I'm taking Mel to my parents Saturday and coming back Sunday." She quickly looked at me, and added, "In plenty of time for the party."
I smiled.
"I bet you'll miss Peter," Mrs. Walcott said. "But at least you'll be able to celebrate your one week anniversary tomorrow."
"Any plans with Peter for tomorrow?" Mrs. Preston asked.
"We're gonna hang out late tomorrow afternoon. We'll probably see a movie or something."
"I'm betting on 'or something'," she teased.
Mom then told both of them about the picture I gave Peter as his birthday present. Mom even surprised me when she retrieved a small print from her pocketbook.
"When did you get that?" I asked her.
"Lori Taylor dropped by yesterday afternoon and left some additional prints for you. I forgot to mention it this morning. They're in my bedroom, so remind me when we get home."
"She didn't charge you for them?"
She shook her head. "She said they were too lovely to only have a few prints of. Andy insisted on making additional copies. Lori said Andy was very taken by how easily you posed so beautifully in such a rushed situation."
I was totally surprised. I was sure Mr. Taylor had photographed many beautiful girls and women. I was certainly flattered he and his wife would go out of their way for me like that. Peter and Pam obviously weren't at the house yet when Mrs. Taylor was there. Peter would have told me about it.
"Anna was with her. She hated that she missed you."
I was seriously thinking of calling her when I got home. I so needed to talk to that chica. I wasn't sure if she would reveal anything to me, but I had to at least try. She was the one person my age I knew of that probably could tell me about some of the others involved with my parents.
The ladies gushed over my picture for what seemed like an eternity. I didn't mind though. Here were three grown women drooling over a picture of me ... with my clothes on even. It was a pleasant change for once.
As their praises began dying down,
I asked, "Aren't you guys ever afraid that people will find out that you're swingers, and do sex stuff with underage kids as well?"
While I liked what was going on in the above scene, Nick and I agreed that it was just out of place - a distraction - to what I was attempting to accomplish. In a different time and place in the story, it could've worked well. Unlike with chapter 25, though, this scene doesn't fit well with any of the remaining chapters, and likely would need a lot of revision to be included. So, instead of it getting buried for eternity in an obscure folder on my hard drive, I decided to share it with everyone here.
I hope everyone is having a fun summer!
Pookie
7/12/13
With school being out for the summer, and everything that goes with it, I've been struggling to find blocks of uninterrupted time over the past month to focus on my writing. While I love writing, it's still a hobby. Real obligations always take priority when there is a conflict. Also, I have a vacation planned in July that will keep me from writing anything for several weeks. My editor, Nick, will be unavailable for a significant amount of time over the next two months as well. It only makes sense to slow things down for a few months.
So, instead of forcing out chapters that likely would be filled with errors, I've decided to put posting any new chapters of Melissa's Secrets on hiatus until September. I'll continue writing as my time allows and get back to a regular posting schedule then.
The story is reaching a number of critical points. Based on the Prologue, at a minimum sometime over the upcoming two weeks of the story, Melissa will be talked into becoming a cheerleader again by Ms. Stanton, Jennifer will become a cheerleader as well, Tammy will have her back-to-school party, and Jennifer will steal Melissa's boyfriend. Also, I can tell you that the big secret will be uncovered by Melissa and one other person. Who is that other person though? Sarah? Jamie? They're logical candidates since the secret affects all of them, but who knows? Maybe someone else?
In the meantime, I plan to do some blogging about some things that have appeared in prior chapters. I also plan to post some things related to questions I've gotten through feedback. Hopefully most readers will gain a better understanding of some of the various characters. There are a lot of clues to many things within what I've written so far. Some are very easy to overlook. I rarely put anything into a chapter that doesn't support a storyline occurring in the current chapter ... or future chapters.
The feedback I've gotten regarding the chapter titles has been very interesting. A few of you have come very close to figuring out what the titles foreshadow. However, few have even attempted to guess at "Chapter 54 - Cheap Sunglasses" means. I'll admit that there was nothing really to go on to guess anything about that one. It's a very obscure reference. But surprisingly one person's guess was in the ballpark. To be fair, here is a little more to go with - the "cheap sunglasses" belong to Melissa, and she is having a great time riding in a car wearing them.
Of course, "Chapter 51 - The Other Box of Books - Sunday, August 6" foretells of something very important being discovered, especially with only a few more weeks left in the story for Book 1. The guesses have been pretty good about Melissa finding something in this "other box of books", but just who's other box of books is it referring to?
Here is another chapter title for your consideration - Chapter 55 - The Best Laid Plans Of Mice And Girls - Thursday, August 10
Have a wonderful weekend!
Pookie
6/22/13
The posting of Chapter 47 will be delayed until sometime between June 22-29. I'm hoping it will be closer to the 22nd, but it's not looking promising at the moment. It's summertime and the amount of time I've had for writing lately has shrunk, especially with school out.
Below are some tentative titles for upcoming chapters. I'll be curious if some of you can figure out what those titles may be portending.
Chapter 47 - Best Friends Share Everything - Friday, August 4
Chapter 48 - Resistance Is Futile - Friday, August 4
Chapter 49 - The Back Row, The Back Seat, And The Back Door - Friday, August 4
Chapter 50 - Getting There Is Half the Fun - Saturday, August 5
Chapter 51 - The Other Box of Books - Sunday, August 6
Chapter 52 - Home Alone - Monday, August 7
Chapter 53 - Take Your Daughter to Work Day - Tuesday, August 8
Chapter 54 - Cheap Sunglasses - Wednesday, August 9
Hopefully the weather is nice where you are. Have a fun weekend!
Pookie
6/14/13
Chapter 32 of Melissa's Secrets has been posted. Thanks for being patient.
Chapter 33 should be posted on 6/30/12.
Pookie
6/16/12
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