Welcome to the A to Z Challenge. This year I’m blogging about the Behind the Scenes for the Echoes Trilogy – a story a started writing about six years ago.

F is for Flirting. Wow. I bet y’all didn’t expect that for the letter “f”…. Probably needless to say, I didn’t expect to use the word “flirting” either.

In reality though, “f” is more about how to avoid having boring dignitaries flirt with you.

If you’re not familiar with the Echoes story, here’s the log line: In a land where twins (echoes) are outcasts, identical princesses masquerade as one girl – Rylie, heir to the throne; a secret not even their father knows.

And, since “Rylie” is heir to the throne, she has no lack of suiters. BUT! Since she happens to be nonexistent, and is actually acted out by the identical princesses, Nicolette and Raquel, falling in love with someone isn’t really something they can afford to do. (Just think of how weird and awkward that would be!)

In one scene in the Echoes book, Nicolette is stuck talking to a diplomat twice her age for the duration of a feast. I thought I’d include the snippet that takes place right after the feast. (Keagan, by the way, is one of their guards who is like a brother to them.)

“Oh my pounding little heart.” I sagged against the door of our Inner chamber as soon as Keagan had bolted it. “Father was practically encouraging Thomas to flirt with me.” I clasped both my hands to my cheeks.

“It was a sight to behold.” I could tell that Keagan was holding back laughter.

“What is it now?” Raquel bounded into the room and wrapped both me and Keagan in the same hug. For once she was in a happy and carefree mood. Well, that was about to change.

“Nicolette was stuck with a flirting dignitary the whole meal,” Keagan hit his leg, his laughter echoing around us.

Instead of the anger I feared would flame up in my echo’s face, she burst into laughter as well. “Now that would have been a sight to behold.”

“Laugh all you want.” I felt like stomping my foot but refrained, knowing it was childish. “I wish you had been the one at the banquet instead of me. Doubtlessly you would have enjoyed making small talk with a man twice your age.”

“Ah, that’s your real bone of contention.” Raquel pulled Keagan and I toward the table and then pushed Keagan down in a chair, “Eat, Keagan, you’re doubtlessly starved.” Then she turned her attention back to me. “You were looking forward to an evening of stimulating conversation and this Thomas treated you as if you had a head full of air.”

“Or no head at all.” Forgetting protocol I stomped my foot. “I asked him about the industries of the east and instead he probably tired to wax eloquent about the fashion of ladies’ gowns.” I shivered recalling the thirty minutes he had droned on and on before I and figured out a way to change the subject. “As if I even care.” I plopped down on my chair. “And his compliments.” I shivered again. “They were over the top. My hair was like spun silk. How unoriginal can you get?” I began pulling the pins out of my hair. “My skin was flawless.” I guffawed. “That is far from the truth.” I poked one of my hair pins at the blemishes that were all too evident on my arms. “My eyes danced like stars.”