My characters always have songs—theme songs, if you will—that, while I’m cleaning the house and such, will evoke the underlying emotion of the characters for me and help put me in the mood to get in their heads. In Undeniably Yours, Kevin has “Fall” by Clay Walker, Beth has the “You Light Up My Life” remake by LeAnn Rimes. Sam and Paulie have “What Can I Say” from Carrie Underwood and Sons of Sylvia.

But I’ve never had a flower bring to mind one of my heroines before. This is my poor little columbine:

Once upon a time, it stood a lot taller but it’s taken some hard knocks. One year I was outrageously neglectful and the weeds choked it. The next, somebody weed-whacked it (more than once). Last year, some little four-legged creature kept eating the leaves in the middle of the night. It’s had a rough life.

So it doesn’t stand as tall as it used to. It’s a little more humble. And it’s not the most stunning flower in my garden. But it’s strong and it’s a fighter and, with a little bit of love, it blossoms.

Like Beth.