Some days the writing road is lined with ledges. Ledges perfect to climb up and then stand and ponder the “why” of my existence in the writing universe. And yes, these ledges are ideal to throw myself off of when my hopes are dashed, my dreams seem nothing more than taunting specters, and my efforts seem … wasted. (I need …
Contemporary Romance Writer: How Do You Define Happily Ever After?
Every self-respecting romance novel or movie ends with a happily ever after, or HEA in writer-speak. But if we were all sitting around my family room talking romance (lovely idea, that!) and we tried to determine the components of a HEA … well, I’m not sure we could. Spoiler Alert: I give away the endings to some books, so …
Contemporary Romance Writer: What is the appeal of Christmas Romances?
A blog post or two ago, we chatted about how romance sells. Side note: I love when the conversation flows on this blog. I read every comment and am determined to respond to every one. After all, if you take time to read and comment on my post, I want to respond in kind. Back to today’s topic: ‘Tis …
Contemporary Romance Writer: What’s Your Inspiration?
Over at my author page on the Simon & Schuster website, someone in the editorial department wrote a blurb (great word, that!) about my debut novel, Wish You Were Here.* Within the blurb is this phrase: “WYWH … is sure to be a pleasure to inspirational romance readers.” Ah. Yes, it’s true: WYWH is categorized as an inspirational contemporary romance …
Contemporary Romance Writer: Romance Always Sells — But Why?
Reader alert: The publishing industry has experienced nonstop upheavals for the past five years or so. Some people would say the industry is convulsing. Others would say it is dying a slow, painful death. (I’m mentioning this for those of you who’ve been walking around in some sort of daze. Or who never read the news–not even just the headlines.) No …
Contemporary Romance Writer: Do You Read Debut Novels?
How do you feel about debut novelists? Not personally … I mean, do you read a novel by a debut author? I’m not asking for myself. Really. I have other friends wearing the title “debut novelist” too: Lisa Jordan (Lakeside Reunion, available now!) Camille Eide (Savanna’s Gift, available Dec. 3, 2011!) Gina Conroy (Cherry Blossom Capers, January 2012) …
Contemporary Romance Writer: Disaster-ed to Death
Most stories have a certain rhythm to them — I’m thinking of something beyond the basic beginning, middle, end structure. Most stories, whether in novel or movie form, have a bad-badder-baddest structure. In other words, as the story progresses, things go from bad to worse to really, really, really bad for the characters. However — and this is a key …
Contemporary Romance Writer: Today or Yesterday?
Historical romance is hot — or so say the publishing pundits. My debut novel, Wish You Were Here … um, it’s set in the here and now. As in Colorado. Today. Did I know readers wanted historical romance when my novel was nothing more than a work in progress? Yes. Yes, I did. Then why, if I was really thinking …
Contemporary Romance Writer:That “Can’t Put It Down” Book
We lose sleep for lots of different reasons. Illness. Anxiety. Sometimes we even stay up into the wee small hours because we’re celebrating something fun. But how often have you stayed up too late because of a book? You start reading a novel and you get so caught up in the story — the conflict between the hero and the …
Contemporary Romance Writers: Telling the Truth
I love the characters I run into when I read a novel. It doesn’t matter whether I’m reading a romantic suspense, a la Susan May Warren, a low country romance, a la Rachel Hauck, an historical a la Siri Mitchell, or even a contemporary romance, a la … well, all three of those authors (and even my upcoming debut novel, …