Wednesday, February 01, 2006

What do you really want?

Hi, I'm Jan Darby, and I write stories about what contemporary women want.

No, not the movie, or even Mel Gibson, both of which are very nice, and are wanted by many women.

Instead, I'm talking about what women really want. Not what society tells us we want or what Freud says we want or even what we might think we should want.

I'm talking – and writing – about what we really want, in the deepest, darkest, most private chamber of our hearts.

The answer isn't simple, and it's not the same for every woman, which is probably a good thing for me, or I'd have a one-book career!

Instead, what women want has an answer that's as wildly varied and infinite in its potential as women are themselves. As a storyteller, I get to explore all of these possibilities through the experiences of my characters.

In my first release, What Alice Wants (coming soon), the title character has been denying her wants for so long that she doesn't even know what they are until Chuck gives her a few ideas. By the end, though, Alice knows exactly what she wants, and she isn't going to settle for anything less.

I'm grateful to Liquid Silver Books for this opportunity to share my stories about women who get what they really, really, really want, and I hope that these fictional women reflect, in some small way, what women everywhere really, really, really want.

Meanwhile, how about sharing what you really want? Tell me your stories, and I'll tell you some more of mine.

21 Comments:

Blogger Elizabeth said...

Hmm, hadn't really thought about it. Security, love, comfort, a home, good job, an education... Lots of things. Independant.

What about you?

Elizabeth
www.elizabethsreviews.blogspot.com
elizabethsreviews-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk (join & be entered to win a $5 GC - authors & readers)

6:06 AM  
Blogger jennyowl said...

Hi Jan, I find that what I want changes as I go through the different stages of life. At this time, I want to keep my life simple - a job that pays the bills but isn't too stressful, time and money to travel, a dependable, good hearted man who love me for who I am no matter what a bad day/patch I'm having, friends with whom I can talk about anything in the world and very importantly, good health to enjoy all that life has to offer.

9:28 AM  
Blogger Sherrill Quinn said...

These things change as I get older. Of course. Five years ago, the thing I wanted most was to build my career as a Human Resources professional. Now, having done that and gotten the mega stress that went along with it, I found out it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

As a forty-something, I now want to build my career as a writer. I want to be able to support myself with my craft, find a good and decent man with just a hint of bad boy who will be there in good times and bad, keep my current friends and make new ones.

And be able to eat lotsa chocolate every day without consequences. :)

10:13 AM  
Blogger Meljprincess said...

Freedom

"She's only a bird in a gilded cage,
A beautiful sight to see.
You may think she's happy and free from care,
She's not, though she seems to be."
-Lyrics by Arthur J. Lamb and music by Harry Von Tilzer

11:10 AM  
Blogger ladycat713 said...

10 million tax free dollars.

I could live on the interest for the rest of my life and anything else I could figure out from there. Not to mention I could get mother into therapy or barring that just make sure she lives far away from me.

11:25 AM  
Blogger Trista Ann Michaels said...

As a mother, I want more patience.

As a writer, I want my inspiration to come along more at my schedule...:)

As a wife, I want more couple time with my husband.

As a woman, I'd like just once to be the woman every man stares at in admiration as I walk in the room.

Trista

11:27 AM  
Blogger Mahaira said...

Well, Ok, Oh, hmmmm it has been really long since somebody asked me that question. So, can I get a Male Birth Control Pill?

Mahaira

11:40 AM  
Blogger robynl said...

Great answers so far everyone.

I want peace, love, understanding,
friends, companionship, less stress,
and above all good health.

11:45 AM  
Blogger Vanessa Hart said...

In a word: APPRECIATION.

Nessie

12:44 PM  
Blogger Vanessa Hart said...

Guess I could elaborate **g**.

I once heard it said that women leave men for the same reason women leave jobs: Lack of appreciation. In my case, at least, that was true in both instances.

Nessie

12:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a wife and mother, it seems we always try to satisfy everyone else's wants before our own. My wants are simple - a happy hubby, for my sons to have a happy and prosperous life, no more money worries, good health and to have grand children some day. :)

5:58 PM  
Blogger Darragha! said...

Right now? Okay...

To see with the Buddha's eyes.
To hear with the Buddha's ears.
To love with the Buddha's heart.

Because I am the mother of a teenager.

7:32 PM  
Blogger Darragha! said...

Oh, and to quote Longinus from "Caligula"

Everything and nothing, Caesar.

7:37 PM  
Blogger Darragha! said...

One more post, as I just figured out how to make my display name show that I am a proud LSB author...

I want my invisible virtues to bring visable reward. So there.

7:48 PM  
Blogger bridget said...

I've been touched by what I've read here. Jan, you've really struck a chord. I can't wait to see your new release, because I can tell it's going to hit some deep places in the heart...

8:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think I'd like Rae's 24-year old body, too, cuz mine wasn't that great. :)

8:19 PM  
Blogger Sherrill Quinn said...

Jan, you can sign in as "other", but from what I see, if you do that, your avatar-thingie doesn't show up. :(

8:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good job, Jan! Enjoyed your blog day.

10:47 PM  
Blogger April Martinez said...

I want to actually use the French I’ve learned in school, live in Paris for a year, perhaps learn to cook there, and come home stylish and sophisticated—like Audrey Hepburn.

I want to illustrate books and magazines for a living, and I want to sell original art and art prints on the side.

I want a top-of-the-line PowerMac with everything on it, and I want to be able to pay for it all up front with nary a care for other expenses.

I want to take dance classes again.

I want to learn self-defense.

I want to enrich all of my personal relationships by giving more, listening more, caring more, and understanding more.

I want to play the piano again, and I want to learn how to play another instrument or two.

I want people to take me seriously when I’m serious.

I want people to laugh when I’m joking, too.

I want to be irresistably charming, and I want the power to make anyone smile.

I want to cut my hair short and grow it down to my hips again.

I want to handle stress with an enviable ease.

I want to be the joy in people’s life and not their pain.

I want to master the art of communicating well—to know when to speak, when to listen, what to say, and how to say it.

I want a house I can call my own, with a study full of books, a yard lined with trees, roomy rooms, a spacy kitchen, large baths, a cat, a dog, a two- or three-car garage, and a loving family.

I want those younger and less experienced than me to look up to me, learn from my mistakes, and exceed me in accomplishments.

I want those older and more experienced than me to guide me, share with me their experiences, and help me do better than they already have.

I want to leave this world a much better place than when I came in.

I want a new wardrobe at least once every year.

I want more hobbies.

I want to be closer to my sister and cousins.

I want to meet my online friends and be everything that they ever imagined me to be.

I want my passport to be riddled with visa stamps from countries all over the world.

I want to be thought graceful, even when I’m not.

I want to always have something witty to say, to break the ice at awkward moments.

I want people to be comfortable around me, and I want my smile and my laugh to be contagious.

I want to be more motivated with my career and more enthusiastic in my work.

I want to sing in a group again and perform for the public.

I want to whisper sweet nothings in someone’s ear.

I want to be the rich bitch for once and have things done my way, but I also want to be able to revert back to the old me whenever I want.

I want to be more confident in everything I do, and I want that self-assuredness to show and to work to my advantage.

I want to visit my godmother in Australia.

I want to be more aggressive about the things that I want.

I want people to think of me when asked with whom they’d like to be stranded on a desert island.

I want to be unforgettable in the best way possible.

(These were things I wanted in 2002. I haven't really thought about it much since then.)

12:27 AM  
Blogger Mahaira said...

*I want to be unforgettable in the best way possible.*

Oh, April, you are, atleast for me. I absolutely adore all your cover art and refuse to read/review any book sent to me without the cover art if you designed the cover.

I still want that Male Birth Control Pill ;)

and

I really want to win all the contests that I enter

and

to be the best mom/wife/daughter/doctor there ever was.

and

World Peace ...

Mahaira

2:37 AM  
Blogger April Martinez said...

Mahaira, you are too awesome -- you've just made my day! :)

1:25 PM  

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