InsaneJournal

But my fear and my pride left a shadow inside with a note on the floor, and a card on the door like a hundred times before. I will spare the details of the rocks and the nails, the times that I've lied. Can't lay down tonight. I've already tried a hundred times

Iris September Boyd

d.o.b. September 25, 1976.
birthplace. Kiltimagh, Ireland.

*
The Beginning.

Iris September Boyd was born September 25th, 1976. Named after her mother's favourite flower and the month she was born, Iris certainly did not inherit her creativeness from her mother's side of the family. Cecilia Thompson had been a child herself when she met Nathan Boyd, eight years her senior, on a trip to Dublin, Ireland with her classmates shortly after graduating high school. She and her friends had gone into a pub to get properly drunk, and Cecilia only had eyes for the tall, dark, and handsome man behind the bar, paying no attention to the ale.

After a night of conversation over the bar, Nathan had taken Cecilia back to his small apartment once he was off work, and the rest was history. The two married four months later in a small ceremony in Dublin attended by their family and closest friends.

While Nathan spent his nights slinging beer, he spent his days sitting at the desk in his bedroom, scribbling and typing away short stories, poetry, and a novel he'd been working on for a number of years. Cecilia would read his works and fall in love with him all over again, the words flowing so fluidly off the paper it was as if she had been swept into another world. Nathan's own nervousness kept him from submitting his work to publishers.

A year later after their wedding, Cecilia, then eighteen, and Nathan, twenty-six, welcomed their daughter, Iris, into the world. Iris was a playful and happy child, the apple of her father's eye. Nathan had grown up wanting a son when he eventually did have children, but Iris made him positively thrilled to have a daughter. He relished in telling her stories before she was even old enough to understand them, the girl growing accustomed falling asleep to her father's voice spinning fictional accounts to her.

Following in her father's footsteps, Iris began making up stories of her own as young as the age of five, putting pen to paper years later when she was old enough to write. Her teachers often told her parents that Iris was at least two grades ahead mentally than the other children, and this was attributed to all the books she read, and all the stories that she wrote.

Writing had become Iris' life. She aspired to become a published author, and with her father's encouragement, began writing her first novel at the age of sixteen. Nathan proof-read his daughter's novel as she worked on it, and she would give newly written pages to her friends for critique. After two years of hard work and attempting to get it published, Penguin Books pubished Nights of Black Water, Iris' first novel. It did well in sales, but it wouldn't have made much of a difference to Iris if it hadn't. She was a published author now, with her whole life still in front of her.

That same year, Iris departed from the green fields of Ireland to attend NYU. She, of course, majored in Creative Writing. Iris excelled in all her courses, and at the end of the two years, have completed her second novel, The Professionals, a story of two American hit men paid to assassinate a number of world leaders - and each other. It was published a year later.

Putting Pen to Paper.

Iris Boyd was slowly on her way to becoming a literary great. Most were surprised to discover the author of their favourite page-turner, was a twenty-year-old woman from Ireland. Iris' novels did not stick with one particular genre. Although she was known for her suspense writing, she also published a book of short stories in 1997 titled Stories My Father Told Me, a collection of amusing and romantic tales Nathan had told her while growing up. The book was published under his name as well, Iris insisting that the cover always list his name first. That same year, Iris signed a five book deal with Little, Brown and Company.

In 1999, Iris' first romantic novel was published. Purple Purses & Platinum Wrist Watches did not do well. Some said it was too romantic for Boyd, others said it wasn't romantic enough. Either way, Iris decided after that particular flop that her romance contained within the pages of her books was better suited as a backdrop to her suspense and thriller novels.

Aside from her recent "literary failure" as she liked to call it, Iris Boyd was immensely enjoying her life. She split her time between her loft in New York City's Greenwich Village, and a small cottage in Ireland, where she did most of her writing when she was suffering from writer's block.

The Story of Iris and Dylan.

Iris had dated since she was fifteen, but had never had a serious boyfriend. That changed in 2000 when she met Dylan Sampson. Dylan was a cabinet maker and aspiring novelist. The two met one evening in December at a jazz bar. Iris had been sitting at the bar waiting for friends, and Dylan had come up behind her trying the most appalling of pick-up lines, "What's your sign?" Half tempted to roll her eyes and simply walk away, the other half of Iris was intrigued as to what would possess someone to use such an awful line. When he informed her that his friend had dared him to do it on the assumption that it wouldn't work, Iris asked him how much money he would get in return if it did work. Telling her that there was no money involved, he just needed a push to talk to the most beautiful woman in the bar, Iris had both laughed and been flattered.

Her relationship with Dylan flourishing, Iris received the inspiration for her next attempt at a romantic novel. Bachelors and Bachelorettes of Arts was very well received by the critics, and its sales surpassed that of The Professionals which had been Iris' best-seller up until that point. The novel was well loved by both women and men, and there was a large enough response that Iris' publisher insisted she go on a tour to promote it even further. Iris and Dylan spent a month in 2002 touring various cities around the country on the book tour, spending their free time sight seeing and into their hotel rooms.

Iris' literary heart still belonged to suspense thrillers and mysteries, and while elated that she had written a well-received romance novel, she was happy with two of those under her belt and began working on her next book. Iris took a page from her father, and spent most of the time she didn't spend writing helping Dylan write and put together his own novel. It pained Iris to watch the man she loved struggle, and she didn't have the heart to tell him that his writing was not that fantastic. Taking half year off from her own work, Iris devoted her time to proof-reading and correcting Dylan's novel. When contacted by her publisher's regarding her own work, Iris spent those conversations trying to push Dylan's novel, but they weren't interested.

Farewell to the Patriots was a difficult book to sell. Despite attempting to capture the emotion of a modern day man waiting for his wife to come home from Iraq, no one seemed to want it. Not even Iris' publisher. Dylan shrugged it off, but Iris could see how hurt and defeated she was. She took Dylan's novel, and spent a month rethinking, retooling, and rewriting it. Iris tried for a second time to submit it to her publisher under Dylan's name, and this time they loved it. Dylan had been absolutely thrilled when he'd received the news, and Iris didn't have the heart to tell him that she had made a copious amount of changes to his work. When he read the final draft, Iris had convinced him that publishers and editors often did a lot of editing and additions to books before they were published.

Iris had exhausted herself helping Dylan to get his own novel published, and when Little, Brown and Company came calling, wondering where her next novel was, she was spent. It was 2004, and she hadn't written anything significant under her name in two years. Retiring to her cottage in Ireland and taking Dylan with her, the two spent a year away from televisions, the internet, and society. Iris managed to complete a novel entitled Blizzard Conditions, and while not fantastic, it wasn't her worst. It kept her fans happy, but she knew she could do better.

Downward Spiral.

Spending most of their time in Ireland did nothing to curb Iris' writer's block. The cottage that inspired her so many times before had gone dry, and no amount of pacing its rooms aided her in any way. Since the release of Blizzard Conditions, Iris and Dylan's relationship had become strained. Dylan still had work and a job in New York City, and only had so much vacation time to use for his "literary escapades" as his boss called their time in Ireland. Iris insisted on staying in Ireland, saying that nothing could inspire her like her home, while Dylan suggested they both return to America, maybe Iris would find some inspiration there. Iris refused, and Dylan left the Emerald Isle in a sour mood.

The two spent a year apart, Iris going to America once every couple of months to see Dylan, and hoping that perhaps the inspiration she desperately needed would come find her. It never did. Their time apart did nothing to help their relationship, and when Iris informed Dylan that she was moving back to Ireland for good, Dylan was not willing to give up his job, having recently been promoted. The two broke up after six years of dating, and Iris returned to Ireland.

2006 was not kind to Iris Boyd. She had broken up with the first man she had loved, her publisher would not relent in their telephone calls and emails, and she lost her beloved father to cancer. Lung cancer had claimed the life of Nathan Boyd, years of working in a smoke filled pub deemed to have been the cause. It had been detected too late, and Nathan was given two months to live. He made it three, passing away just days after Iris' thirtieth birthday. Iris had spent those three months with her father during every possible moment, and when not with the first man she had truly loved her, she wrote. She desperately wanted her father to read what would be her great novel, but everything ended up in the trash.

Block.

Having become a recluse in her cottage, Iris spent her days sipping tea and glaring at her monitor, willing the words to dance from her fingertips as they once did. She busied herself with cleaning most days, having not paid attention to the place since she and Dylan had stayed there together.

Iris spent the remainder of 2006, and well into the year of 2007 simply floating about the streets of Kiltimagh, not accomplishing much in the way of her writing. Concerned with her daughter's well-being her mother, Cecilia, suggested that she needed to get away to some place where her mind wouldn't be plagued with thoughts of Dylan and the mourning of her father. Agreeing, but not entirely keen to leave her cottage, Iris bought a plane ticket back to America, and after arriving at JFK International Airport, purchased a ticket for the first flight out of New York. That flight took her to Philadelphia.

The Streets of Philadelphia.

Iris currently lives in Declaration Hill, firmly believing that that spacious yard and abundance of rooms in her home are far too much for just one person. She liked the layout of the neighborhood, hence her reason for purchasing a home there, and she could easily afford it.

Since her arrival in Philadelphia, she hasn't completed much in the way of anything she feels is worthy to submit to her publishing company. There are short stories here and there, a snippet of an unfinished novel on scraps of paper, but nothing substantial.

When she isn't tapping into all the creative outlets of her brain, Iris takes the time to enjoy her new surroundings, often walking or taking her bicycle about town. She frequents a lot of book discussion groups, and is looking to start a book club.

Facts

Iris always carries a notebook around with her, which is often tattered and has seen better days. She fills it with ideas for stories, diaglogue, and anything else that pops into her mind.

She is somewhat of a music fanatic, often listening to artists from the 1970s and 1980s, but listening to more modern music as well. Her favourite bands are U2, Duran Duran, and Coldplay. She actually met U2 singer, Bono at a release party for her novel The Professionals. Iris refers to it as one of the best moments of her life.

While she was raised in a small town in Ireland called Kiltimagh, County Mayo she owns a cottage quite a distance from there in Caherdaniel, County Kerry.

Iris' father inspired her to write with his stories, but Iris lists some of her other inspirations as Jeffrey Archer and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Food from the Emerald Isle always warms her heart, and one of Iris' favourite dishes is Irish Stew made from mutton.

Iris constantly wears a claddagh ring, which her father gave to her when she was a young girl. She wore it primarily as a sign of her relationship status, but wears it more now as a reminder of her father and how much she loved him.

When Iris isn't writing, she likes to spend her free time partaking in some of her other hobbies. These include long walks that lead to nowhere in particular, riding her bike, and partaking in a few beers or martinis at pubs and clubs with her friends.

Iris had been in talks with her publisher about turning The Professionals into a screenplay shortly after its release. Those plans had fallen through years ago, but Iris is not opposed to seeing her novel turned into a movie, so long as she is given creative control.

Iris' home is simple but elegant, with little to no mess. She is somewhat of a neat freak, and her study is filled with her favourite novels, copies of her own, and neatly stacked notebooks and sheets of paper filled with ideas for future novels. She's not big on technology, and aside from her laptop and a DVD player, not much else is high-tech.

She owns a car, though not because she wants to. Iris sometimes finds it difficult to commute simply by walking or on her bike. When she absolutely has to use a car, Iris can be found behind the wheel of a navy blue 1997 Volkswagen Golf.

Storylines

Mel Jetter (meljetter)
Iris had been on her way to the mall to get a birthday gift for her mother when her vehicle was rear ended. A little shaken, but otherwise okay, she had gotten out of her vehicle to find Mel Jetter already outside his own, immediately apologizing profusely and asking if her neck was sore at all. Already prepared to shrug it off and tell him not to worry about it, Iris spent the next couple of minutes listening to Mel's account of how he was rushing to a crime scene, that he truly was sorry, and if she needed any money to fix the paint job he'd happily write her a cheque. Eventually able to get a word in edge-wise, Iris had smiled and told him not to worry about it, that the car cost much less than the potential paint job. What had caught her attention though, was Mel's profession. After he had given her his card and sped off, Iris spent the next few days trying to find a reason to call him other than "What you do is absolutely amazing and I want to write about it," or "Are you doing anything Friday night?"

Kim Yew (yew)
Jonathan Collins (jcollins)
Joanna Newsome (joannanew)
Paul Kerr (paulkerr)

DESCRIPTIONS COMING SOON.

Potential Storylines

Case of the Ex.
Male. Iris and Dylan Sampson dated from 2000 to 2006. The two met in a jazz bar in Manhattan after Dylan attempted to use some cheesy pick-up lines on Iris, actually doing so in order to win a bet with his friends. When asked how much money Dylan was doing this for, he informed her that there was no money involved, and he just needed a push to talk to the most beautiful woman in the bar. The two began dating soon afterward. Dylan was a cabinet maker by day, but also aspired to become a published author. He and Iris would spend their time between their apartment in New York and Iris' cottage in Caherdaniel. While their relationship flourished, Iris secretly edited Dylan's first novel in hopes that it would get it published. She never had the heart to tell him of the extensive edits that she made. After six years of dating, the two split, primarily because of Dylan's job in America and Iris' unwillingness to move there permanently. The two haven't talked in two years, save for pleasantries exchanged here and there via email. Note; If you are interested in doing this storyline, please contact me first!