Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Originally posted on September 17, 2011

Over the years, I’ve questioned why I return to the same themes, similar situations, and conflicts in my writing. The practice has continued in the Nicki Sosebee books.

I can only come up with one answer: repression.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet (and you might not believe it if you’ve read my books), I was raised in a strict Christian household. Not only did we have the usual kid things to avoid (no lying, cheating, stealing, hitting, etc.), but we had more rules. Masturbation was a sin. Premarital sex was a sin. Cussing might not have been a sin but it was frowned upon. Makeup, clothing, and jewelry had to be modest.

Hell, I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until high school (although I purchased some Avon blue eyeliner on the sly in the eighth grade and was convinced my mom couldn’t tell I was wearing it), and I wasn’t allowed to date until I was seventeen. I attended church regularly. And, if you’ve ever spent any time reading Paul’s epistles, you know how I felt. Women were not as important as men, and men were better off without them. So not only was I repressed, I had some slight self-esteem issues as well.

I guess I should be in therapy. I chose to write instead.

So I guess part of my writing explores a girl—women in general, actually—unfettered. I ask myself what I would have been like had I not had restrictions placed upon me by religion and a conservative atmosphere.

The answer is Nicki Sosebee.

She is a young woman who comes from the same sort of background as I, but she hasn’t let it stop her from enjoying herself. Cursing? She drops more F-bombs than an entire football team on the night they’re losing the championship game. Sex? She plays it safe, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t enjoy herself wholeheartedly. Throughout her life, she isn’t bound by excessive rules.

So Nicki is the way my subconscious decides to play. What would life have been like if…? Let’s find out! Why should men have all the fun cursing, drinking, and having sex?

They shouldn’t!

That said, the latest Nicki installment, No Place to Hide, veers a little off that path. Nicki finds herself unexpectedly in a serious relationship. I had fun exploring that with her. I tried to capture that feeling of newness. Do you remember that? When you’d stay up late, talking and making love, then talking some more, then making love again and realizing the sun’s coming up? Do you remember wanting to know everything about your lover…his likes and dislikes, his favorite things? Do you remember wanting to etch that cute little look he gave you into your brain, even though you knew your memory would never get it quite right?

Cyndi Lauper had it right—“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Nicki is the epitome of that girl, whether she’s in a fun, flirty relationship or something more serious. I hope you have as much fun spending time with her as I do. If nothing else, maybe it’ll help you reduce your therapy bill. 

COMMENTS:

Gillian says:

November 7, 2011 at 6:50 am

Gillian,

Thank you for your kind words! I just finished my latest release, Worst Mother (something totally different), but I’ve already written the first six chapters of One More Time. My goal is to have it finished by or before Thanksgiving! It’s funny you mention the Stephanie Plum books, because a friend of mine just told me the other day I must read that series. I have to tell you (and you probably already know this), Jesse was just going to be a throwaway character, but he refused to be. I’m glad because I think I’m crushing on him more than Nicki!!! I promise you will see much more of him.

So glad to have you along for the ride!
Jade