BRING THE HEAT by Bethany Crandell

(The slightly-less than inspiring inspiration behind my title: SEE JANE SNAP)

I have a lot of hair. 

It’s thick. And curly. And thanks to the temperate San Diego climate looks pretty darn good most days. (For a frame of reference, one friend refers to me as, “Shakira”. Rest assured, the only viable comparison between the two of us is our hair. Ahem) 

But on the occasion the weather gods team up to destroy me and other helpless humidaphobes in the area, I end up looking like a blonde Monica on that trip to the Bahamas episode. 

To achieve my distinct style, I use a combination of two products—one to enhance the curls, the other to hold them in place while still offering relaxed flexibility—then I blow it dry. From start to finish, the whole process takes roughly twenty minutes, with a solid fourteen of those spent under the heat. 

Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking: “Heat will cause damage!” and, “Who’s got twenty minutes to spend on their hair?” but the truth is, I’d happily carve out twice that much time if needed, simply because the results I end up with are too good to pass up…and I’m not talking about my reflection.

Over the years, my muse has grown accustomed to all the beautiful, relaxing white noise my Revlon dryer provides, which in turn yields some of my greatest ideas that I affectionately refer to as: Blow Dryer Epiphanies.

Whether it be a character choice I was uncertain about, a cool plot shift I didn’t see coming or, as was the case with SEE JANE SNAP, a title that came to mind long before the story had even begun to form; I definitely do my best thinking under the dryer.   

So, the next time you’re feeling a little brain-blocked, try letting your muse run wild beneath some white noise and a little extra heat…you might be surprised by the results. (Unless you’re bald. Those results probably wouldn’t be as encouraging)

*Please note, my hair is blown straight in my headshot so you can actually see my face ? My mom made me do it. 

—

Bethany Crandell lives in San Diego with her husband, teenage daughters, and two destructive puppies. She loves guacamole, afternoon naps, and eye rolls.

Follow Bethany on Twitter https://twitter.com/bethanycrandell

Find out more about her on her website http://www.bethanycrandell.com/

SEE JANE SNAP

Handsome, successful husband. Adorable daughter. Chairwoman of the PTA. Security for her ailing mom. Jane’s got everything life has to offer. Including the lie that could destroy it all.

See Jane smile. Thirty-nine-year-old Jane Osborne appears to the world like she has a charmed life. Her daughter attends private school. Jane chairs the PTA. Even her marriage to Dan, the handsome, prominent surgeon, is blissfully happy. Her universe is stable, and her future is fixed…just like that smile. Because it’s all a ruse. Unbeknownst to anyone, after eighteen years of marriage, Dan’s revealed that he’s been living a double life and is in love with a man. But for the sake of his career, Jane must keep that secret, secret.

See Jane lie. With their livelihood on the line, Jane agrees to maintain appearances. But soon the weight of Dan’s deception and the pain of his betrayal get the better of her. Something’s got to give.

See Jane snap. Quite publicly. And a bit unlawfully. With brutal honesty, Jane must confront her choices head-on and determine―for herself―if the facade of stability she’s been protecting is worth the price of her own sanity and happiness.

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing