The Inspiration Behind Elliot Summers

He turned his entire body in my direction, and let his fingers press hard over his lap. "Miss Miller, I cannot stop thinking about you." It was an unexpected statement, something that caught me off guard for sure.

Thus far, I have never written a character like Mr. Summers. In my historical romance novel "Awakening," Mr. Summers is introduced in the first chapter and the main characters (and even the readers) take an instant liking to him. He is nothing short of a gentleman. A man of honesty, integrity, and possessing a noble nature, it is clear he would be more than worthy to win the hand of Miss Ava Miller. So, what is holding him back? And why can't Ava turn her silly little head and notice that her ideal man is right in front of her?

Human nature has its faults. Mr. Elliot Summers is tremendously proud, and moreover reserved. Being a successful banker he tends to think with his head rather  than his heart. He has no time for romantic idealized fantasies like the woman that has caught his eye. Mr. Summers acknowledges the fact that he finds Miss Miller attractive, but instead of putting on the charm this intelligent man seeks to win over the approval of her parents and Ava's closest companions. Steadily he steps into her life, until Miss Miller realizes that her parents have taken a fancy to matchmaking her with their families banker.

The inspiration for Mr. Summers came about naturally, although I cannot pinpoint its exact origins. Many have compared him to Mr. Darcy and only after publishing "Awakening" was I able to see the similarities between Jane Austen's "Mr. Darcy" and my own "Mr. Summers."

Many have compared him to Mr. Darcy and only after publishing "Awakening" was I able to see the similarities between Jane Austen's "Mr. Darcy" and my own "Mr. Summers."

If you can just ignore the male pen name for a moment, imagine a sixteen year old girl absolutely obsessed with Jane Austen. Yes, that was me! I can still recall the day that I first watched the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice; the scene where Colin Firth emerges from the water with a wet shirt clinging to his chest and dripping down his body. It was from that point on that my addiction with Jane Austen grew in strength, compounding like interest until I could recite certain passages from her novels. So, in a sense it is logical to deduce that Mr. Summers was indirectly inspired by the many love interests from Jane Austen's novels. I see something of the spirit of Mr. Darcy and Colonel Brandon in the shape of Mr. Summers, whereas Mr. Wickham and the infamous John Willoughby emerge into its truest form as Mr. Riley. A happy coincidence! I see no faults in echoing a woman I have ardently admired and worshipped since I was a late teen, especially since I took those ideas and went beyond it to explore the depths of passion, temptation and the miraculous power of the heroine finding true love.

Mr. Elliot Summers is also adorable in the truest sense. At times he can be bold enough to make his intentions known, and others he is uncharacteristically shy and unable to hold eye contact for very long with Miss Miller. Her very presence makes him uncomfortably shy and makes his logical mind churn into mush. He cannot understand the power that Miss Miller has over him, and once his best friend, Mr. Riley, makes his intentions clear that he also wants to begin a sexually romantic relationship with the young woman it only inflames poor Mr. Summers passions for Ava.

With his back against the wall, what will Mr. Elliot Summers do? He has already won the good favour of the Miller family, but he is still unable to obtain the affections of his dear Ava. It feels like everything he says is falling on deaf ears. Can't she see all the things he has done to procure her happiness? Does she not see that he has taken a vested interest in her families bookshop, even offering to lend money to Miller's Bookshop to ensure its success? All of his good intentions are seemingly miscued by Ava, and he finds that her attention is unwillingly being taken away by his handsome and undeniably sexually alluring friend, Thomas Riley. Is there any hope at all for Mr. Summers? Will he be able to conquer this impossible task of winning Miss Miller's heart? You will have to read the book to find it out.

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