Run Wild

by Shelly Thacker

  One of the biggest changes I made involves the heroine’s childhood. In the Avon paperback, Sam’s parents are killed during a violent home invasion—where she also witnesses a horrifying and bloody gang rape. Yikes! Dark much? What in the world was I thinking? Those scenes felt excessive and unnecessary, and took the book much too far into melodrama. In this new edition, I eliminated the home invasion and rape scene, and her parents’ tragic death now takes place “off stage.”

  The other significant change I made involves the last three pages of the book. In the 1996 edition, the Epilogue takes place in South Carolina—and it felt like a lackluster letdown to me. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it, until I started revising the book.

  For Nicholas, South Carolina represents a place of suffering and isolation, very much a self-imposed prison. Sending the characters back there at the end of the book sucked all the Happily out of their Happily Ever After. I also worried about what might happen to Masud in the future—the American South was not exactly an ideal location for an African man to be living in the 18th century. Finally, I didn’t like the fact that the heroine gave up so much of her dream. I wanted her to go live in the sun and make lace in Venice.

  So in this new edition, she does. I moved the whole Epilogue to Venice and I like it much better. The happy ending feels genuinely happy to me now.

  Future Sequels

  Looking back over my first outlines for Run Wild, I’m surprised to see that I originally intended to kill off both Clarice and Foster. I’m so glad I didn’t. They both deserved to survive, and we might just see them again sometime. Clarice ended up getting some of my favorite lines in the book, and I love her snark and brassiness. She would be an “older” heroine—a first for me—and I like the idea of exploring that, pairing her up with a man who could show her the true love she’s never had.

  As for Foster, yes, okay, he was a villain in this book. But it might be interesting to continue his journey of redemption and give him a story of his own. I’ve never taken a character all the way from villain to hero... but I just can’t resist a good challenge.

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  I hope you’ve enjoyed this little trip behind the scenes of Run Wild. Be sure to subscribe to my free e-mail newsletter at http://www.shellythacker.com/contact.html to get the latest news, sneak previews of upcoming books, and exclusive giveaways.

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  Until next time, best wishes & happy reading,

  Shelly

  About the Author

  Reviewers use words like “exquisite” and “stunning” to describe Shelly Thacker’s unique blend of powerful emotion, edge-of-your-seat adventure and sizzling sensuality. Shelly’s historical romances have earned her a place on national bestseller lists and lavish praise from such diverse media as Publishers Weekly, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Oakland Press, who have called her books “innovative,” “addictive,” and “powerful.”

  A two-time RWA RITA Finalist, Shelly has won numerous other honors for her novels, including a National Readers’ Choice Award, several Romantic Times Certificates of Excellence, and five straight KISS Awards for her outstanding heroes. The Detroit Free Press has twice placed her books on their annual list of the year’s best romances.

  When she’s not at the computer, you’ll find Shelly reading with her kids, knitting in local cafes, or kickboxing at the gym. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. For the latest news, monthly giveaways, and sneak previews of upcoming books, subscribe to Shelly’s free newsletter: http://www.shellythacker.com/contact.html