There aren't a lot of authors whose upcoming releases I absolutely cannot wait for...and whose books subsequently never disappoint. Loretta Chase definitely tops the list and after reading the RT review of her May release, I want it NOW! Although not having it right now is good, because I need to be writing. And Chase's stories are not ones I can sip a chapter at a time. I tend to devour them in one sitting. I'm hoping I can put my greed for this one on hold until after my May deadline passes and my book is gone.
Here is how RT summarises the storyline of NOT QUITE A LADY.
"Many wonder why Lady Charlotte avoids marriage, turning suitors away and remaining in the country. It's because long ago she loved with great passion and was betrayed, forced to give up her newborn child. Now, she strives to be the perfect lady -- and she is until Darius Carsington takes over the property next door.
Darius prides himself on his cool head and his studies of the mating habits of animals. When he takes a woman to his bed, it is more as a study than a grand passion. But his icy demeanor begins to melt after meeting Charlotte, and he can't understand how she's immune to him. She's the challenge he's been missing, and he's intent on enticing the very good girl to be just a bit wicked. He's in for a surprise when she meets him head on, but it isn't until a young boy enters their lives that they learn the greatest lessons in love."
Are you counting down the months/weeks/days until the release of any particular book? Is there an author whose books you MUST HAVE! as soon as they're released?
Last weekend in Toronto, Harlequin held an open casting house for "real men" who wanted a chance at becoming a Harlequin cover model.
"We're looking for some guys that are not your usual models, but have that iconic look that women go for--sexy, sensitive, beautiful and fit," said Harlequin spokeswoman Marleah Stout. According to this article, 200 men answered the call and several were called back for cover shoots.
"Some of the heroes are captains of industry, billionaires," said Deborah Peterson, a Harlequin creative designer and a judge at the audition. "A lot of the models were too young, men in their twenties...and our audience likes men a little bit older, a bit bigger, than the runway models."
Hear, hear, Deborah! Although this dude on Michelle Celmer's upcoming Desire pretty much fits the bill, don't you think?
The finalists in Romance Writers' of America's 2007 RITA Awards were announced this week. There's been an amount of blog talk recently (and not so recently) about the relevance of the RITAs to readers. Apparently most readers couldn't care less, but to the authors this is meaningful, a thrill, an honour, so congratulations to all listed finalists with a special shout-out to my Aussie friends Barbara Hannay and Sara McKenzie and RITA goddess Marion Lennox, already a two-time RITA winner and is a double-finalist again this year.
I'm also thrilled to see my friends and fellow Desirables, the mega-talented Kristi Gold and Emilie Rose and Cindy Gerard and Roxanne St Claire amongst the finalists. (Readers, anyone on the list whose books you love and adore???)
If you've taken the time to pore over the list of finalists, you may have noticed what appears to be an oddity. Like, why are books from the same Harlequin/Silhouette series finalists in both Short and Long Contemporary categories? What gives? What is the difference?
The difference between the two categories comes down to word count or length of the books. Books of 70,000 words or less are eligible for Best Short Contemporary. This covers series such as Silhouette Desire, Harlequin Presents, M&B Modern Extra, the Harlequin Romance and Medical titles with premises and/or sensuality that don't fit the Best Traditional Romance guidelines. Category romances of more than 70,000 words go in the Best Long Contemporary Romance section. In the past this included Harlequin SuperRomance, Silhouette Special Edition, Silhouette Intimate Moments and Harlequin Intrigue (although some authors choose to enter Best Romantic Suspense.) Harlequin Blaze has always straddled the two categories, with finalists in previous years in both long and short categories. Harlequin American -- I'm not sure.
But last year there was a shortening in word count requirements for many (all?) of the longer series lines. So, some books published late in 2006 became eligible for the "short" category, while longer books from the same line published earlier in the year were over 70K and so "long" contenders. Hence, finalists from Special Edition and Intimate Moments--as well as Blaze--appear in both long and short categories, and the list of eight short category finalists includes just three books from what used to be considered "short" lines. All clear as mud? No? I don't blame you.
An RWA committee is currently looking into the contest and the relevance of all categories. I'm hoping they don't combine all category romances into one section, although that is a possibility. I'd love to see both short and long contemporary categories retained, but with a cut-off that doesn't straddle any series word count...which isn't an easy ask given the range within any one line. Looking at the current guidelines, I'd say the cutoff should be 55-56K. But then I write for one of the shorter of the short lines and so I might just be a wee bit biased...not to mention rather glad I didn't enter this year.
I love the marriage-of-convenience storyline. I was reminded how much when I treated myself to Lisa Kleypas's Devil in Winter yesterday. I chose this title pretty much on spec, and because Kleypas has rarely let me down in the past. When I opened the cover and read this excerpt, I was sold.
"It's not a love match," St. Vincent said in a clipped voice. "It's a marriage of convenience, and there's not enough warmth between us to light a birthday candle. Get on with it, if you please. Neither of us has had a proper sleep in two days."
Silence fell over the scene. Then the blacksmith's heavy brows lowered over his eyes in a scowl. "I don't like ye," he announced.
St. Vincent regarded him with exasperation. "Neither does my bride-to-be. But since that's not going to stop her from marrying me, it shouldn't stop you either. Go on."
Naturally, there turns out to be enough warmth between the unlikely couple to light that candle in a hurricane...although that doesn't surprise them as much as the fact that they do get along. The dislike doesn't last a tiresomely long time, as happens in some books (the ones that leave me wondering how long the happy-ever-after can last, when there's only lust and belatedly-professed love, but no like.) He ignites the quiet strength in a previously shy, stammering wallflower. She brings out the best in the previously indolent, spoiled rake. And that's the kind of romance I always enjoy, where character growth comes out of the relationship. Where they're both better people because of each other.
Have you read a marriage of convenience story recently? Are you a fan? Do you think they still work in contemporaries today?
Australia has a handful of icons that are instantly recognisable. Uluru, kangaroos and koalas, the Opera House, Hugh Jackman, the Sydney Harbour Bridge (affectionately known as the coathanger.) This weekend just passed saw Sydney, a city that just loves an excuse to party, celebrating the bridge's 75th Anniversary. Hundreds of thousands walked the bridge (see picture) and after sunset watched a cool light show from vantage points around the harbour. No fireworks this time, a good call since they've been done already this year for New Year's and Australia Day. Apparently a crowd of 750,000 turned out for the opening 75 years ago. Now THAT'S a party!
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before, once or twice, how much I love my PDA as a reader. It's so portable. I can read without the light on. I can buy o/s releases without the postage cost. And, just this month, I've discovered that the Harlequin eBook Boutique is selling new releases a month in advance. I've just bought a few April releases I was keen to get my hands on; now I just need the time to read them. :-) Now, if only all publishers would release all the books I want to read then I'd be an extra happy camper.
In my previous post I mentioned that I collaged the story I'm about to start writing, which is the first book in a 2008 Desire continuity series titled DIAMONDS DOWN UNDER. That's the series title, not my book's. I refer to it as "my diamonds book" and I've worked up a reasonably detailed synopsis to go with the bible of background and research information which the six-author team has put together.
I thought I knew my characters very well. I had compiled a decent mental list of scene ideas and lots of juicy conflicted conversations between Ric and Kimberley. And so it's somewhat of a revelation how much the collaging process added to that compilation. I found a better picture of Kimberley (see the smiling brunette in the center of the collage) than any I'd collected earlier. She even has the widow's peak thing happening, a family trait. I discovered that the book is going to be dark and rich and sensuous and intense; the words and phrases I gathered have much significance. They helped me zero in on character and the central conflict, when I'd been eddying around that all through my plotting and synopsis-writing.
But the richest return, I think, is on a subliminal level where the relaxed and prolonged process of flicking through magazines and letting my mind drift over the story created a deeper understanding and awareness. I'm rip-roaring ready to start writing this one; I'm even considering including one of those worm things here to track progress as I go. I've resisted until now and maybe I'll end up resisting again. We'll see.
I spent last week on a writing retreat with ten fellow authors whom I'm lucky to call my friends. We took over this gorgeous Victorian guesthouse on the Bellerine Peninsular, an hour and a half south-west of Melbourne. Eleven bedrooms, eleven authors, eleven laptops, and eleventy hours of talking, brainstorming, sharing wisdom, and an equal number of fall-down-laughing moments as we relaxed in the evenings over a quiet wine or three. For me this truly was a retreat from reality: I turned on the television once, checked my email once, didn't have to think about cooking or housework even once. I've returned home rejuvenated about my writing, with two new storylines synopsised and also chomping at the bit to start my next book after an inspiring collaging session (more on that tomorrow.) What is it about a morning walk along the beach that sparks energy and inspires relaxation in equal and paradoxical measures? I don't know there's anything to match, although I'm willing to listen to alternatives. What is your favourite re-energiser? How do you recharge your tired muse?
Hundreds of nominations have been tallied into lists of finalists in eHarlequin.com's Readers' Choice Awards for 2006. If you read lots of Harlequin books, then go take a look and cast your vote for your favorites before March 14.
