The origin of every story is unique. Whether it's inspired by personal experience, the news, or a work of art, the seeds of a story can come from anywhere. The mystery of the writing process leads us to ask every author the inevitable question: "How did you come up with the idea?"

In the case of Vampire Perfect, it's origin story is somewhat far-fetched, but fortunate. The opening scene, theme and main characters were the result of a long and vivid dream. When I woke up, I immediately scribbled in my notebook everything I could remember.

Whether the dream was a gift from the writing gods or my wiser subconscious, I decided to finish writing the story that began in my sleep. Of course, hashing out the plot and details was another thing. I knew my heroine was a musician who was madly in love with a billionaire, but what I didn't know is why she was leaving him. That puzzle fascinated me. If he was so great, what was the problem?

Spoiler alert! For those who haven't read the book yet, you might want to skip the next two paragraphs.

As I worked on Rory's background, I realized that she was a foster kid with trust issues, who'd never had a real home. Although she loved Ethan, she didn't care a whit about his wealth or power - as a matter of fact, it was part of the problem. Rory was an artist who lived for her music, not diamonds and Dior. She felt out-of-place and suffocated by the trappings of a super-rich lifestyle.

In contrast, Ethan Worthington was all about a well-crafted image and having the best of everything. His love for Rory made him want to give her the world and he was confused when she threw it back in his face. Finding out why Ethan was so status-obsessed was a process. As I rewrote the scenes between him and Lizbeth, the extent to which he'd been damaged and twisted by the impossible expectations of the first woman he'd loved was an ongoing revelation.

A dream gave me a puzzle to solve and I searched for the answers along with my characters as I wrote their story. Even though Rory and Ethan were forced to endure a painful breakup and face trials that tested their commitment to one another, they ended up with a deeper understanding of each other and a love that will (hopefully) last an eternity.