My first book! It’s something I have dreamt of since I was old enough to write.
To be honest, I had my sights on something more literary. Both this book and how it came to be written took me completely by surprise.
It began while talking to a couple of my single friends about alternative relationships and dating sites, and I heard the term “unicorn hunter” for the first time.
A unicorn is defined as someone perfect and rare. In alternative relationships, a unicorn is often the term used to describe bisexual women who are open to dating a heterosexual couple.
To be clear, there are people who successfully manage arrangements such as open relationships and triads. It’s not easy and it takes a lot of work among people who are wired for that type of dynamic, but it is possible and it’s not hard to see why people would find the idea appealing.
But as with everything in life and love, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. And, when I heard about unicorn hunters, I began doing some reading on the topic.
Once you know about unicorn hunting it becomes easy to spot. It boils down to unrealistic expectations on the part of a couple who develop a shared fantasy of a woman who will meet all their relationship wants and needs but doesn’t have any wants and needs of her own, except what they are willing to provide for her.
My friend Trent summed it up this way:
“Essentially they are expecting a toy that can be played with at their leisure who is up for anything and can then be put back in the box.”
In all fairness, most unicorn hunters probably don’t realize that they are being unrealistic and insensitive. Many of them think they are being altruistic by offering to share their lives and homes with someone.
But that’s part of the problem, they are looking on another human being as something akin to a child or a pet that they will adopt and care for and who exists to make them happy.
As a writer, this unique dynamic sparked my imagination and as I turned this new information over in my mind, I was surprised to find bits and pieces of rhyme popping into my head.
I was busy that day, so I jotted the rhymes down and a few days later, I turned them into a story and showed it to a friend of mine.
His reaction surprised me. He thought my little story was great and urged me to find an illustrator and turn it into a book.
Nervous, but thinking I had nothing to lose, I contacted Rachel Ivanyi whose work I had come across in one of my books. I was shocked and delighted when she told me she liked my story and was willing to make time in her busy schedule to illustrate it.
The opportunity to work with someone of Rachel’s caliber was irresistible, and when she introduced me to the very gifted designer Pia Zaverukha it seemed the stars had aligned, and I took on the daunting task of creating and publishing a book.
Waiting to see what the character of Elsie would look like made me feel like an expectant parent, a mixture of nerves and anticipation. And just like a new parent, I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.
Rachel asked good questions about Elsie and offered her own view of who Elsie is. She saw Elsie as “feminine, strong, vulnerable (another strength), and independent.”
I added to that description and noted that Elsie is sex positive but mostly about relationships, especially friendships. She is also inquisitive, sensitive, compassionate, and very loving.
And that’s when it hit me. I had finally achieved the goal that had eluded me for so long. I had created a fictional character and a life for that character.
The plan is for this book to be the first in a series with the hope that Elsie will delight, inspire and spark a dialogue on topics related to modern life and relationships.
Inspiration is like luck, you never know when it will strike, and it is important to be open to all kinds of possibilities and opportunities and to follow where they lead. In the days to come, I will share some of the things I find inspiring and hope to hear about the things that inspire you.
Thanks for reading,
Eileen Blake
