A witty and inventive comedy about sex, creativity, fame, and love Claud Bannister is a struggling twenty-something writer when he meets the woman who will transform his life. Independent, strong-willed Laura Thornby is used to manipulating artistic men. But from the moment she decides to become muse and inspiration to Claud, she begins to change in ways she never imagined.Maybe it's Claud's larger-than-life characters--people more genuine to him than their real-world counterparts. Or it could be Claud himself. He is awakening complicated feelings in Laura, who is haunted by a secret that prevents her from committing to a man. As Claud's novel progresses, so does their affair. Laura must confront the one thing she never expected: falling in love.