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I never question the idea machine that is my brain. That's why when people ask, "How did you come up with the idea for this book?" I usually turn and run away. These things come to me out of the ether, sometimes in dreams and other times in the middle of incredibly stressful or happy times. I never know when I might see something that sends me to the computer typing as fast as my fingers will go.
The one exception for me is the Caruthers sister's series. That series was born out of the watching my kids interact one Sunday afternoon, and wondering what it would be like to come from a big family with lots of siblings. I grew up an only child, and always wondered what it would be like to have that sibling bond.
What I learned from watching my friends and their families, and later on with my own two boys, is that bond is often strong but messy. I know sisters who are the best of friends, and others who haven't talked to each other in years. My own kids talk a lot of trash to one another, but if someone picks on the other one, watch out! I once called them on the rather disturbing way they talked to one another, and they both said, "Mom, this is how we communicate." I find it all immensely fascinating.
The Caruthers sisters are a tight group, but that doesn't mean they are always kind to one another. These are tough chicks, and they don't mix words. They are also very protective of their younger brother Bailey, who has a homing device for trouble. And when someone picks on one of them - well, it's funny but they have the same reaction as my children. *Smile*
I also liked the idea of women who have to live dual lives. To the outside world, the Caruthers sisters look like privileged heiresses, and they are. But they are also Guardian Keys, warriors who protect us from other worlds. They can only share this secret with each other, which makes them even tighter as a family.
So I'm curious about you. Do you have siblings and what kind of relationship do you have with them? Do you have any funny stories you want to share? Tell me, I want to know?
I'm doing a treasure hunt contest on my Big Summer Blog tour. All you have to do to enter is make a comment here, or visit and make comments on any of the blogs on the list at www.candacehavens.com.
Candace Havens, 
Dragons Prefer Blondes, 
paranormal romance, 
Berkley, 
Penguin Books
Siblings
I have 2 older brothers. I am the baby of the family. My brothers liked to tease me and would get me watch the tv shows they liked to watch. I guess the funniest story I can remember when I was kid, is when my brother Gary tried to show me how jump onto a sled. We were at the top of a small hill in our backyard. I was probably only 4 years old and Gary was 9. He grabbed a hold of the back of the sled, started running and the next thing you know, the nose of the sled dipped into the snow, and he flipped over the sled and rolled into the snow! I laughed my head off! Gary came up with a mouth full of snow. He clomped over to me and said, "Stop laughing! Just get on the sled and I will give you a push down the hill." My dad caught this on film, so we have a classic reminder of us as kids playing in the backyard in the winter time.
We all live far away from each other now so we don't see each other often. We get together at Thanksgiving with all the relatives and reminisce and eat to much food!
candace Havens
Me and my brother never got a long as teens but as adults where fine.but my brothers two dauthers are some thing they can be fighting one min and the next back to being best friends its some thing to watch.sasluvbooks@yahoo.com
Siblings
Candace,
I come from a rather large family and I can tell you that there is some truth to that old saying about love-hate relationships. There were times, growing up, when I would look at one of my siblings and think, I don't ever want this moment to end. Then there were others when I would look at that same sibling and think, I can't wait until you move out. Siblings are very interesting people. They are your first friends, but they are also your first enemies. They are the people you learn to share secrets with, and the people you learn to keep secrets from. They are your harshest critics, but also your staunchest supporters. Siblings are the first people you learn to love beyond your parents, and the first people you learn to hate. They are your comrades and competitors. Siblings are your touchstone to the future, but also your conduit to the past. For better or for worse, siblings are the people who get us through the harshest of circumstances and celebrate with us during the most joyous. So as you can see, there are two sides to having siblings, the good and the bad. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Margay
sibs.
I have 3 sisters & 4 brothers.. I'm the youngest, and just 12 yrs younger than the oldest. There was always lots of fighting going on.. too small of a house for that many kids. Not to mention only one bathroom. Now that we are all grown there are some close relationships and some non-existant ones. I think it will always be that way. Even with the close ones sparks fly sometimes but most of us have grown up enough to realize that doesn't mean we aren't still close.
I have one sister, but we're
I have one sister, but we're not close. If we talk on the phone, it's much better than when we get together. But my boys are like yours, Candy - the eldest says he's trying to toughen the younger one up. I have my doubts. But when someone else picks on his little brother the way he does, he goes into uber-protective mode. It's cute to watch and then remind him of it later when he does exactly the same thing as the intruder has done. Talk about stammering ...busted!
siblings
I grew up with five younger siblings. From the oldest to the youngest, there was only 8 years. We fought like the dickens as kids. However, against the rest of the world, we were an united front. We grew to be very close. My two sisters were my best friends.
answer
Wow! The only 8 years apart made me drop my sno cone. Your mom, whew. I just can't even imagine. :-) -Candy Havens
Candace Havens
I am the oldest with 2 brothers..... the one closest to my age and myself are fine but the younger bro gets doted on by my parents and it really causes a big problem. As the mom of 4 boys 10 to 20 the dynamics change daily.... right now if the oldest and youngest are together there are fireworks... screaming beatings whatever.... they just pick on each other. The second youngest has decided it will be good to pick on the youngest too most days.... except now they are in the pool and everything is cool. The 16 yo seems to get along with them all most days but he does have a firey temper.... so it just depends on which combination you get on which day to determine who gets along..... thanks Shell the Hockeyvampiress
Brothers
Four boys? My God, woman, you must be very zen. :-) I wonder how much, with these sibling relationships that personality comes into play. I have an introvert and an extrovert, and they just don't see the world through the same kind of eyes. :-)
Siblings
I have a younger brother and we grew up fighting lol. I pushed him downstairs because he broke my tambourine - it was MINE not his lol. I was 5 and he was 2. We're now closer but will never be completely close, just a boy/girl thing I guess.
My family
I actually have many sibilings. I have 4 older brothers and sisters and 5 younger brothers and sisters. The age ranges from 28 to 2. I am number five so I am half a middle. I have the greatest relationship with my family. I feel like I can tell them anything and go to them if I am having problems or in trouble. They never make me feel little about anything I have to say. We joke around with eachother and have fun times. Now we do have our disagreements and fights and those are tough. When someone gets mad at my house, they get mad. I am probably closest to my oldest sister and one of my younger brothers. My brother and I play World of Warcraft all of the time so we have that in common to talk about. Otherwise, I think it would be hard to relate to him. I love my family and would die for them hands down. I know they would do the same for me.
WOW
Okay, that is a lot of kids. See, I think my two are a handful. Jeez. ...Now World of Warcraft, or as I call it WarCrack, funny you should bring that up. For the last four years that's the ONE thing my boys did have in common. They both played. In fact many times we'll be out to eat and they start talking about the game and my husband and I just stare at each other because we have no idea what language they are speaking. :-) I understand more now. One of my upcoming character plays the game, so the boys helped me do some research. But I thought it was funny that you guys play too. :-) -Candy
Siblings and books
I can't wait to read the next in this series! The first one was wonderful.
I have two younger sisters, and we are very close now although we don't get to see each other much. But when we were kids, there was a lot of mutual torturing going on :-) Still, we had a lot of fun together--I used to write little plays and we would rehearse them and put them on for my parents and their friends. See, even back then I was a writer, inflicting my words on the innocent...
Oh
Oh, I bet those plays were precious and brilliant! :-)
siblings
Candace
you make some good points.
my sister and i did not get along when we were younger but as adults (and perhaps the distance She lives in Ca I live in Mo) we get along fine.
Doni
Blog contest
I have one each - sister and brother. Although we live in separate places and don't have alot of contact, I really don't think our basic relationship has changed. If any one of us were in trouble the other two would be there to help.