Monday, February 23, 2009
Gina, this was so much fun! Here’s my ‘go’ at it!

1) One romance book you've read more than once.

Pretty much every one I own. Honestly! I am an inveterate re-reader of books; it’s impossible for me to pick out just one.

2) One romance book you want on a desert island.

Faking it by Jennifer Cruise. Awkward first-time-together sex, lots of laughter, and many secrets. Plus how to pull a con, what more could you ask? Wait, maybe I should go with Mary Balogh’s Slighty Dangerous. The Duke of Bedwyn shows he’s human after all, to his discomfort. Or maybe … this is hard!

3) One romance book that made you laugh.

The Corset Diaries by Katie MacAlister. Barking Spiders. Enough said.

4) One romance book that made you cry.

I cry at the drop of a hat so any scene that has pathos gets me going. I re-read Fancy Pants by Susan Elizabeth Phillips recently, which had several heart wrenching scenes.

5) One romance book you wish you had written.

The Species Imperative series by Julie Czerneda. Not technically a romance, but a sci-fi series with a romance. The characters and world building are amazing and so well thought out and interwoven that it all makes sense. And the hero is strong but flawed. Gotta love it.

6) One romance book you wish you could alter the ending of.

Oh! I know just the book! I can’t put my hands on my copy but it’s a Harlequin Regency from the early 1990’s. The title had something about a Vicar?? Well written and really enjoyable but then very abruptly wrapped up in the last five pages. At the time I was so confused why the author ruined the plot lines she’d developed as well as the story (my sister and I *still* kvetch about the ending, ten years after reading it!). Knowing what I do now, I would guess someone (an editor?) told the author the story was too long and to cut the final scenes, thus wrap it up faster. I’d love one day to read the missing scenes!

7) One romance book you are currently reading.

LOL, I assume you mean a NEW book, not a re-read :-). I’m in a YA fantasy phase right now, so the most recent (new) romance I read was probably Austenland by Shannon Hale. What a fun book, even though I didn’t get nearly all the references. The piano recital was hysterical. My sister got it as a book on tape and had to pull over she was laughing so hard.

8) One romance book you have meant to read.

I *still* haven’t read Pride and Prejudice, despite having started it twice. I think I’m worried it won’t live up to my expectations.

9) One romance book that changed you or your views in some way.

The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye. I read this in my teens and I’ll always remember it as a book with characters from different cultures over coming trials and tribulations all the while leading up to a great romance.

10) One romance book made into a movie that you liked both the book & the movie.

I’m not a big movie person. If I do see a movie, it’s to see something new, not something I’ve read (except Harry Potter!). Given that, I’d pick Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. The book and the movie have only a little in common; however, I really liked both. And yes, there is romance!


Thanks for suggesting this, Gina. I look forward to seeing what others list!

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posted by Ellie Heller at 6:58 AM | 1 comments
RWU Quiz: The One Romance Book Meme
Sunday, February 22, 2009
In my Internet playtime I came across the following Meme. I don't know how it's missed me until now, but I immediately realized it would be perfect to bring my fellow RWUers out to play. Come on, kids. Let's hear your answers. These are mine:

1) One romance book you've read more than once.

The Kadin by Bertrice Small. My first Bertrice Small and still a classic, imho. What a heroine! And the storyline was amazing. I never tire of studying the history, the turns of phrase, the beauty of that plot.

2) One romance book you want on a desert island.

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb. The ultimate hero who wins the heroine's heart with a gift of real coffee. Oh, the brilliance of these characters. I could read that book every day and always find some subtle nugget I missed before.

3) One romance book that made you laugh.

Nobody's Baby But Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. The cereal killer scene is one I use in my humor workshops to show how easy a one-liner can be. Perfection!

4) One romance book that made you cry.

The Dream Thief by Shana Abe. In the gym, no less. I wept like a hysterical idiot.

5) One romance book you wish you had written.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. But I probably would have stopped at one book. I never liked the rest of the series.

6) One romance book you wish you could alter the ending of.

The only books I can think of for this weren't romances, which is what I'd change. :-) Oh, wait. Maybe Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Blasphemy? Maybe. But I would have loved a little more insight into why the heroine fell for the hero to begin with.

7) One romance book you are currently reading.

Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Though, I admit, I'm so busy with my own wip, I haven't even cracked open the binding yet.

8) One romance book you have meant to read.

I'm kinda eager to get my hands on Carrie Lofty's What a Scoundrel Wants. I've heard great things about it and I love the premise! Next trip to the bookstore, that one's going into the cart.

9) One romance book that changed you or your views in some way.

Skye O'Malley by Bertrice Small. Before Skye, I never read a romance where the heroine truly loved more than one hero.

10) One romance book made into a movie that you liked both the book & the movie.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding. The lead roles in the movie were exactly perfect for the characters in my head.

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posted by Gina Ardito aka Katherine Brandon at 10:23 AM | 1 comments
Interview With Gina Ardito
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Today, RWU is speaking to author of lighthearted contemporary romance, Gina Ardito. Gina's first book, The Bonds of Matri-money was published in February 2007 through Avalon Books. Her second, A Little Slice of Heaven, was recently released in e-format through The Wild Rose Press with a paperback slated for release in January 2009. For more information about Gina, visit her website. Be sure to stop by her blog before August 1 for the opportunity to win a free copy of her latest e-release. Check out the details on the Help A Redhead Out Contest here.

Q. Where are you from?

A. I'm a born and bred Long Islander, baybee! And no. Despite the way Hollywood sometimes treats us, we don't all talk with Brooklyn or Queens accents. There is a difference!

Q. Tell us a bit about your family.

A. I was the ultimate middle child. I grew up with two much older sisters, two much older brothers, and twin younger sisters. I always felt lost in the crowd growing up, which is probably why so many of my heroines have that trait. So I spent a lot of time on my own and was a voracious reader. My parents had the entire collection of Readers' Digest Condensed Books and I ate up classics like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Even then, I loved the big sweeping historical romances.
Now, however, I'm married for the last twenty-plus years to my best friend, I have two fantastic children, a bionic dog, a cat with a foot fetish and a recently acquired skitten. These days, I'm the center of the crowd, and while it's often exhausting work, I wouldn't trade my own personal chaos for any other life!

Q. When and why did you begin writing?

A. When I was in first grade I had to produce a play with my classmates as performers. The play my teacher assigned me had a hero who had to kiss the heroine at the end. Needless to say, no six year old boy was willing to kiss a girl, even for the starring role. But my teacher told me, as producer, I had to get the play done, no matter what it took. So I rewrote the play, added a dragon that kills the hero and suddenly, everyone wanted the role of hero or dragon. Even boys in other classes lined up to participate! From then on, I knew I wanted to be a writer.

Q. How long does it take you to write a book?

A. It depends upon the book and the amount of research I have to do. Some books flow so easily from my fingers to the keyboard that I can finish 300 pages or so in a few months. Of course, those are the writing jags where the kids eat frozen pizza and wear dirty clothes for a few weeks. And even when I stumble into bed at night, I don't stay there. The book (or my muse, Gertrude) keeps talking to me until I finally get up and head back to the computer to write "...just one more chapter."
Other books can take six months or more, and allow my family the opportunity to actually see me dressed and focused on them for minutes at a time.
I'm constantly editing as I write so it may take me a while to move from one chapter to the next. But the benefit to this madness is that when I finally type The End, I've got a completed manuscript that needs few revisions before I send it out.

Q. Do you ever suffer writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

A. I do, occasionally go through a dry spell. The first time it happened, I wondered why my muse had abandoned me and how I could get her back. That's when I realized I'd never given her a name. It's hard to call someone back to your side when you haven't bothered to name them in the first place. I opted for Gertrude (Don't ask me why; I have no idea...except maybe it's because it was a name that held no special significance to me--I'd never known a Gertrude so would have no preconceived notions, and I doubted the name would ever show up in one of my books.) Sometimes, Gertrude takes off for a while, but these days, I don't panic. I read, do word puzzles, take a little downtime, catch up on movies and television shows I've missed. Sometimes I even (cringe!) clean the house. Before long, Gertrude and I are in synch again and we're pounding the keys for a new story.


Q. What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

A. Absorb everything you can! Read and write every single day. Join a critique group and a writing group. Don't be afraid of criticism.
Writing is like skiing. No one walks into this business a professional. You want to learn how, you have to start on the bunny slope. And you're never perfect. Even the experts fall occasionally. No matter how many books you've written, keep learning. There's always a new technique, a new idea, a new challenge around the corner.
Most of all, though, believe in yourself and don't give up!

Q. Which is your favorite of the books you've written?

A. Every book is my favorite while I'm writing it. I'm totally in love with my latest WIP, a romantic comedy set in the Afterlife. It's a little dark, a little quirky, and I'm really excited about my main characters. Last month when I was working on revisions to four other manuscripts, I'd find myself re-reading the entire story for each one and thinking, "Oh, my God. This is sooooo good!" You have to allow for a certain amount of ego in this business. Between rejections and critics, you can get pretty banged up. Be your own number one fan (even moreso than your mom).

Q. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

A. I actually have two: Bertrice Small and Nora Roberts. Both ladies are successful in the field, with an endless supply of business savvy. They're both extremely generous to their fans, and always conduct themselves with decorum. I'm a disciple of WWND (What Would Nora Do?). But before Nora, there was Bertrice, the idol of my youth. I'm fortunate to know Bertrice personally and I'm still tickled every time her name pops up on my Caller ID. I've been reading her since my teen years! (And I'm determined to have her adopt me one day. All she has to do is sign on the dotted line. Come on, Bertrice. We can make this work!)

Q. Do you see writing as a long- or short-term career?

A. I am definitely in this for the long haul! Each book I write, I feel my skills grow stronger. And as time goes by, the genre itself changes. I can't wait to see what we'll all be reading ten years from now.

Q. What is romantic to you?

A. I'm a hopelessly romantic sap. I love roses for no reason (even from one of those roadside stands), dancing to special songs, finding greeting cards when I least expect them, movies where the hero does something extraordinary for the heroine, watching a sunset with a glass of wine, and all that sentimental guff. I'll allow you a moment now to reach for the Pepto Bismol before continuing this interview...

Q. Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

A. You know, I once attended a workshop on Theme. And I discovered I often come back to the same ideals over and over again. For me, it's about the power of love. Love is our creation, our inspiration, and our salvation. Despite the opposable thumb theory, love is what truly makes us human. Do I really need to tell my readers to grasp that? Somehow I doubt it. But the message is there, nonetheless.

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posted by Gina Ardito aka Katherine Brandon at 5:18 AM | 8 comments
Interview with Ellie Heller
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Today’s interview is with Ellie Heller, an up and coming writer of fantasy and suspense. She currently lives in New Jersey with her kids, cats and Bob, the dog who was supposed to only grow to be fifty pounds.


1. Where are you from? I grew up in the city in Chicago, excluding a two year break around second grade when I lived in Philadelphia. For high school I went to a very bohemian boarding school in the middle of Iowa corn fields, which was a bit of a culture shock! As for college, I dropped in and out of college because of my finances, so I was all over the Midwest at several small liberal arts schools.

2. What do you do to unwind and relax? LOL, I write and read to unwind and relax. Makes ‘work’ a lot more fun. Although completing and finishing novel is hard work, the beginning - figuring the characters and plot out and putting everything on paper - is relaxing and fun for me. The editing, though, well let’s just say I know everyone has parts of their job they like less than others.

3. Tell us a bit about your family. There are four of us, my older brother, me and my twin and a younger sister. My parents split when I was in second grade. My mother remarried twice before she passed away five years ago. My father remarried once to a wonderful woman he is still very much in love with.

4. When and why did you begin writing? This is one of those I don’t remember ever not writing! I love stories and ideas and find fiction a much more interesting way to express myself than nonfiction. The only A+ paper I got in one college class was for a ‘letter’ I wrote as my essay piece. I guess I should have known then that fiction was the way to go!

5. Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way? That’s easy, the ladies here! They are honest and up front and wonderful for making you see what needs work, what does work as well as what your strengths and weaknesses are. My twin sister has also been a big influence. We used to write together and even have a complete YA comedic novel done. However, it needs a LOT of that dreaded editing.

6. What genre are you most comfortable writing? I find I write mostly fantasy with romances in them. Whole worlds and societies with customs and taboos which the hero and heroine have to work around. Fun!

7. What is your current project? I am working on a contemporary fantasy; that is a story set in today’s world but with fantasy elements. Think Diane Duane So You Want To Be a Wizard or JKR’s Potter series. I’m also working in the first person for the first time, a challenge in and of itself.

8. Can you share a little of your current work with us? Um, since you ask, sure! This is from the beginning of the piece mentioned above, whose working title is Maven’s Choice:
While I watched traffic more closely than a state trooper short of his ticket quota, the sense of need reaching out to me across the distance was thrumming in my veins. I suffered sharp pangs of death as some of those calling out to me suddenly stopped. Being unable to get where I needed to go and feeling the results tied my stomach in knots.

I had to deal with the loss of human and Folk life later; I could not allow myself to be overwhelmed by sadness now. I do not know why humans have the misperception that elves do not have feelings. All crap, part of a female elf's nature is to help people. I simply had to get to the collapse and help there.
9. What is the hardest part of writing? You mean besides the editing? LOL! Probably being able to take a step back and understand that critiques and comments about your work are about the piece and not about you. You need a thick skin when someone says ‘this fell flat’ on a section you worked very hard to make work!

10. What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing? Readability and engaging the reader. They go hand in hand in my opinion, because if the reader has to puzzle through what you mean they aren’t going to be engaged!

11. What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers? A good critique partner/group. Someone who will be honest with you about what works as well as what doesn’t and who helps you become a better writer.

12. What does your family think of your writing? Everyone has been very supportive of it; even my late husband thought it was cool and interesting that I could come up with these people, places and things.

13. Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. Outside of RWU? Let’s see, I took a wonderful creative writing course as part of an evening program and the great people there helped me realize that fiction was really my genre. Not Andy Rooney type social commentary. Although I do truly wonder why I spend so much effort on getting the grass to grow only to spend so much time cutting it!

14. What is romantic to you? My late husband used to hate Valentines Day. His point was, why is there a special day to show someone you love them, when you should be showing them everyday that you adore them? He was very big on spontaneously buying me flowers or earrings or kitchen gadgets (he knew me well!) to show me he loved me. It was always very sweet to get an unexpected demonstration of his feelings for me. I thought it was very romantic, even the kitchen gadgets.

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posted by Ellie Heller at 3:57 PM | 4 comments
Okay, Ms. Vix.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
She's tagged us all with queries, that sly gal and asked us all to respond.
Here I go: (Yes, it is ten in the morning, but hey, it's the LAST day of vacation!)

1. You're feeling: Tired, where the heck are the coffee filters??
2. To your left: My six year old daughter is playing a game on my I-pod and soliciting a lot of advice. I am squinting at the screen over her shoulder bleary eyed.
3. On your mind: C-o-f-f-e-e
4. Last meal included: Beer and pretzels.
5. You sometimes find it hard to: um, wake up? Get over the fact today is the last day of vacation? Sigh…..
6. The weather: is cool and drizzly and damp and makes me want to go back to bed.
7. Something you have a collection of: Erle Stanley Gardner's Perry Mason novels that were my husbands.
8. A smell that cheers you up: My daughter's cheers of success.
9. A smell that can ruin your mood: Cat or dog pee. Guess who has to clean up the mess?
10. How long since you last shaved?: Yesterday morning.
11. The current state of your hair: Unwashed and uncombed and oily. I think it's a perimenopause thing but, yuck, can I please get over this oily phase?
12. The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): LOL, my empty (because what goes in there is in stacks on the corners) bill sorter.
13. Your skill with chopsticks: Excellent, actually. Really.
14. Which section do you head for first in a bookstore?: Sci-fi, because in my favorite store it's in front of the Romance, which I hit up next.
15. Something you're craving: um, C-O-F-F-E-E and caramel.
16. Your general thoughts on the Presidential race: I like that there is still some undecidedness.
17. How many times have you been hospitalized this year: Whew, NONE, thank you very much.
18. Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: My room, curled up on my new cushy-yet-firm mattress.
19. You've always secretly thought you'd be a good: Diplomat, I can be very calming, except, of course, that I hate confrontations!
20. Something that freaks you out a little: Unexplained noises in the attic
21. Something you've eaten too much of lately: MATZOH
22. You have never: Been South of the United States.
23. You never want to: Clean out pig stalls again.

Okay ladies, TAG, you're it, what are your responses?

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posted by Ellie Heller at 8:58 AM | 1 comments
Writers whom I like who aren't "Romance" Writers but have "Romances" in their books.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I write 'Romances'. I also, like many of my fellow RWUers, write in other genres. I write stories that are fantasy, suspense, and what I think would be termed urban or futuristic fantasy. However, all of my works have a romance in them. But…and you knew that was coming, didn't you?…the tales I write in others genres are not 'Romance' stories. In my 'other' stories, the story arc is not about the relationship and romantic love between two people. I do admit they do have, mostly, an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Hey, I am a 'glass is half full' kind of person! (I should thank Wikipedia for helping me with a standardized 'romance' definition!)

Many, many 'main stream' and/or 'literary' novels, new and old, have romantic love in them. Nicholas Sparks is clearly an author who incorporates romantic love in his novels. As for F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hello? What crib sheet doesn't list 'romantic love' as a main theme in The Great Gatsby? Anna Karenina, please, do we need to go there? Of course, not all these stories have the emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending a 'Romance' novel does. However, they *do* have one key element, a romantic love which enmeshes itself so firmly around the story line that the novel would not exist without it.

In other genres romance is also a frequent element. Fantasy novels are rife with 'life bonding', 'soul mates' and other pairings. In these stories the pairings are not the main thrust of the story arc. However, the romantic relationship (or forced non-relationship) between lead characters can intertwine intimately with the development of the plot. Here you more often have the second element, the 'happy ending', that you don't always with literary novels.

I could go on, but I think you see my point: within many 'non-Romance' genre books are romances. There exist outside our 'genre' stories where the relationship and the romantic love between two people impact the story line.

To that end, I'd like to share with you, and I hope you share with me, some favorite 'non-Romance' genre writers whose 'romances' you have enjoyed. Or at least found memorable. ;-)

My list to start us off:

Piers Anthony: Many of the Xanth Series

Kristen Britain: Green Rider Series (with only two out, I'm still on tenterhooks how the romantic element in this will be resolved!)

Julie Czerneda: Particularly the Species Imperative Series

Sharon Shinn: Particularly Summers at Castle Auburn

Mercedes Lackey: The stand-alone By The Sword

Hawthorne: The Scarlet Letter

Elizabeth Peters: Any Vicki Bliss Novel, although as I recall all have a romance element

And, of course, Jane Austen (a preemptive strike to avoid getting sixteen posts about her :-) ).

I could go on, but what novels or authors would you list?

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posted by Ellie Heller at 11:24 AM | 4 comments
In Honor of Julie Czerneda
Sunday, February 17, 2008

We all have authors we admire, usually for their craft in writing, but sometimes for more. Who can't help but admire JKR for her perseverance and dedication to writing the Harry Potter novels? (No, I do not want a discussion on the merits of said novels). Or Stephen King for creating The Haven Foundation, a nonprofit organization which makes grants to freelance writers and artists experiencing career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or other emergency or personal catastrophe?

Those authors deserve our admiration, without a doubt. However, for me, the authors I admire as much are ones that are kind and helpful to novice writers as well as those that extend a sympathetic ear to a new author's worries, trials and tribulations. Clearly some of my admiration simply has to do with the more personal level of interaction I have observed and experienced.

Thus, this week, I want to pay my respects to a favorite author known as much for her thought provoking 'what if' scenarios as her kindness and support to writers: Julie Czerneda.

I was recently reading the forward to a novel by Ms. Czerneda. Yes, I read forwards, I am geeky that way, and I was struck, yet again, of why I admire her, not just as an author of fiction, but also as a chronicler of the writer's life.

As I read the passage below, I thought: Yes! I need to put *this* in the blog. Not only because of how well she has phrased what being writer is like; but also due to how well her sympathy and understanding of a writer's life extends out to the reader in this piece.

The book I am referencing is the ten-year anniversary edition of A Thousand Words for Stranger issued by Daw. In her new introduction, she says, and I quote:

Writers are a curious species; the writing life even more so. We tell ourselves stories,not the way regular people do, but with word-by-word effort. Dreams become insufficient. We're compelled to lock them down, polish them, hoard them on hard drives and paper. We dare to compare them to the work of others. Worst of all, after months and years of labor, we hand our most treasured fantasies to strangers. And wait.

Yes! That's it! Working to make all those stories, ideas and dreams into real, solid, precious wholes. Then, argh, the agony of letting go and waiting…and waiting.

So here I am, given a chance to voice my opinions and thoughts on the RWU Blog; however, when someone else has expressed something so well, so eloquently and so compassionately, I daren't do more than share her words. Particularly when I admire her so much.

Julie, I bow to you. Not just for your wonderful, thought-provoking writing, but also for the kindness, understanding and encouragement you give to new writers (and established ones as well).

And before you ask, no, I do not have a professional relationship with her. This is fandom, pure and simple.
So..who do you admire as a writer/chronicler/mentor?

And please, remember, NO FAN LINKS. People who know her know where to find her.



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posted by Ellie Heller at 9:40 AM | 5 comments
Rhett and Scarlett met at my grandmother’s house!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
I’ve discovered something fascinating about the writer vs the reader in me. As a WRITER, I research the heck out of places in which my characters will be lovingly placed. I jump in with both feet, figuring out the smallest facts, or using some unique architecture of the area, I also try to include an interesting landmark or two to make it really authentic.

Now, having said that… and understanding how much time and energy goes into painstakingly learning all the fine details and explaining them to the reader in some sort of narrative or pages of beautifully-worded description, as a READER, I have a problem going to “those” places the author describes.

In my mind, I place the characters and the settings in a familiar place. Always. I have always done this and I guess I’ll always do it. No matter how many meringue-topped castles the author described in her historical romance set in 18th century Russia, to me, they’ll be somewhere I can walk in and out of in my memories. It doesn’t take away any of the enjoyment I have reading the book. As a matter of fact, since it IS a familiar place to me, I find it comforting and find the story even MORE enjoyable since I can almost imagine myself sharing the scenes.

As a reader, I go along, learn the characters, catch up on their lives and fall in rhythm with the plot, the time period, the backstory, etc. As the descriptions come into play, I follow them until I know what all the surroundings in the story actually look like. But, after the initial set up is complete in my head, they’ll suddenly change to a place where I’ve either lived, or a family member’s lived, or maybe a place I’ve visited -- sometimes even a school I went to, etc.

I remember reading Gone with the Wind in eighth grade. Tara in all its antebellum splendor, so beautifully described by Margaret Mitchell suddenly morphed into my grandmother’s house. Granted my grandmother had a large house (it used to be an old boarding house in the 30’s) but it wasn’t anywhere close to the mansion Ms. Mitchell described. But in my mind, it was the perfect setting for Scarlett to meet Rhett.

My grandmother’s front room with its hardwood floor, fireplace and floor to ceiling windows was always the perfect place to stage fancy balls. The “ton” of every Regency I ever read had their ball hosted by Grandma. Every strong-willed heroine who was ordered to go upstairs to change her daring ball gown used Grandma’s flight of wooden stairs that looked down on the entryway, in full view of every arriving guest to the home. No matter how hard I tried to relocate the characters, they always felt at home at Grandmas. BTW, she’s 90 yrs old now and no longer lives in this house, but don’t tell the new owners I’m still using it, ok?

Although Grandma’s house was my favorite stage, I used other places as well. My old childhood home had a lovely study that I consistently used (and still use) for any and all offices used by any and all handsome, brooding heroes (and the wayward heroines that were discovered in there amongst hundreds of books). There weren’t REALLY stacks and stacks of books in there – it was just a simple study with a roll top desk and a few built-in bookcases, but my mind embellished it with rich wood panels and 12 ft ceilings filled with fascinating tomes. Sometimes there was a cozy hearth in the middle of the room with a velvet settee beside it and a snifter of brandy being carried by an aloof manservant…

See what I mean?

Do you generally “see” the story unfold in places that – though embellished - are familiar places to you?

PLEASE, tell me I’m not alone in this!


~hugs,
Paisley





Paisley Scott is an author for The Wild Rose Press’ Scarlet Rose line.

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posted by Paisley Scott at 6:46 PM | 5 comments
Makin' Babies
Monday, February 11, 2008
Heh. Bet that got your attention, didn't it? LOL! Well, I mean it -- in a way. As writers, all of us are faced with "creating our characters" or "makin' babies' of a sort. Honestly, it's one of my very favorite parts of the process. I'm very much a character-driven writer, and as such, I'm extremely careful with the entire process, from conception to birth. Some come into being very easily, while others -- whew -- others are real pains in the neck. But just like children, you're going to have some that are just better behaved than others.

I was asked for some advice earlier this this month about how to direct characters that have made cameos in earlier works and now are the stars of their own stories. These folks can either be a piece of cake to deal with -- or if left unattended for awhile, they can be the most difficult S.O.B.'s to deal with, bar none.

"But how can they be so difficult, Leslie?" you ask. "You've already molded them and given them motivation and we as readers have grown to love them from those other books they randomly appeared in. Remember?"

Argh. Yes. I remember. But think about how you'd feel if you were that character I'd lovingly created, mollycoddled and then...deserted. No, no, not on purpose. Of course not. I'd never willingly neglect my baby. But sometimes... well, sometimes there are other stories that cry out to be told and, well, the one that hollers the loudest gets my attention first.

Alas... this is where we run into trouble. It starts when we pick that character up again and put him/her into a starring role. Holy bull in a china shop, it's near-impossible to direct these folks now. Why? Simple. You see, after you gave birth to them, you released them into a world you created and guess what? They've continued to live and interact in this place without you! (gasp!) And how dare you come in and try to tell them what to do, when to do it and with strangers they've never met before? They've been getting along perfectly fine without you, thankyouverymuch. Hmph!

Er... you see what I'm saying? Basically, our little babies are now all grown-up and, as you probably know, grown-ups are so much harder to raise then kids. These characters can be guided though. Oh, yes... it can be done, but you have to conjure up a pretty hefty dose of patience. Keep that in mind when you're thinking of writing a series. When Peter Jackson decided to film all of the Lord of the Rings movies at once, I thought he was certifiably cuckoo, but now I get it.

As difficult as your characters can be, however, you always love them and you always want them to be the best they can be. Even if their best is to be a horrible, wicked villain. Hey, it happens. It's like that old commercial where the guy goes, "No one ever says: I want to be a drug dealer when I grow up." Shyeah, whatever, dude. I've had a couple of kids that were major drug runners, an embezzler and -- permit me to brag -- a pretty saucy crack whore. Oh, those crazy kids, they'll grow up to be anything! (And hey, every story needs a little flavor).

Have fun makin' your babies! Keep in mind the newer ones are generally more willing to listen to direction and can be manipulated easier than their older brothers and sisters. Heck, they're just thrilled for the attention, y'know? But enjoy it while it lasts. They grow out of this cute stage fast and before you can turn around good, they're off on their own, doing their own thing, living their own life -- without any help from you.



*sniffle*

Oh, my precious babies....!


Leslie Ann Dennis is the author of Reason to Believe, coming soon to The Wild Rose Press.

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posted by Leslie Ann Dennis at 12:29 AM | 8 comments
Thursday 13: Thirteen Reasons I Love Writing Romance
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Thirteen Reasons I Love Writing Romance
1. The "spark": You know what I'm talking about. The idea that wakes you in the middle of the night, the scene that gets you excited to get back to your story, that piece of dialogue you have to write down on a cocktail napkin so you won't forget it.
2. The "promise": Ever get in the zone? Where words pour out of you faster than you can type? And when you finally sit back, drained, there's so much hope inside you--for the story, for your characters, for tomorrow. God, what a great feeling!
3. The research: I'm a geek. Always have been. And I love doing research for my stories. For The Bonds of Matri-money (available now), I researched the island of Bali, survivalist techniques, bats, senile dementia and a host of little things that fascinated or repulsed me. For A Little Slice of Heaven (coming soon), I spent time at a local pizzeria and shopping in Bergdorf Goodman's. Every day brings a new adventure.
4. The community: No writers are more generous, supportive, or fun than romance writers. Don't believe me? Come to a meeting with my local chapter, the LIRW. Go to RWA's National Conference. Join us here at RWU or at the Romance Divas. Romance Writers Rock!
5. The sub-genres: No matter what sub-genre you love to write or read (comedy, suspense, inspirational, sci-fi, paranormal, erotic, etc.), you'll find a story in Romance.
6. The fans: Whether it's someone you know, or someone you've never met, is there any more satisfying feeling than when a reader tells you she loved your story, your character, your favorite line of dialogue?
7. The End: Ah, those two words! That sense of accomplishment. That feeling of success and hope and excitement when you realize you've finished a story and are ready to take the next step on your journey.
8. The hope: Okay, so it sucks to get rejections. But there's always that promise. This time the editor or agent will like your story, this time you're going to win the contest, this time you'll finally get The Call, this time your story will propel you to the next level. Whatever the dream, we keep reaching.
9. The Call: Or the email. That moment you hear, "Yes, we want to acquire your work." It's like winning the lottery. A moment to be celebrated, whether it's for the first time or the hundredth.
10. The Cover: It's another one of those butterflies in your stomach moments where you can't wait to see what the art department has conceived for you. Whether you rush to click on that jpg or do so slowly, holding your breath, the moment is filled with possibilities.
11. The Release Date: You count the days, your friends count the days, your fans count the days. The only other event that can possibly compare is giving birth. It's exciting, nerve-wracking, and something to remember for the rest of your life.
12. Your book in a store: You see your name on a shelf or a website. Or better yet, an acquaintance or family member sees your name on a shelf or a website. Or even better, someone who's mistreated you (an ex, those high school bullies, an estranged family member) sees your name on a shelf or a website. Oh, the joy!
13. Happily Ever After: Are there three nicer words in the English language? I think not.

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posted by Gina Ardito aka Katherine Brandon at 5:26 AM | 17 comments