Posts tagged with: romantic suspense
Posted by Dani Wade Apr 30 2013, 1:34 am in Dani Wade, Finding Her Rhythm, inspiration, muse, romantic suspense, Ruby Release, taking risks, writer's journey
One of the joys of my Indie-publishing endeavors is being able to write a book how it wants to be written– let the characters lead me and follow them without restraints (or into restraints, if that’s where they want to go). My editors have led my Harlequin books in great directions, strengthening them and my skills. But there are just certain things Harlequin books don’t do. So Indie publishing lets me explore different aspects of my creativity.
In this case, I was able to follow the leading of my hero – my rock star hero.
When I first envisionsed Michael Korvello, little voices nagged at me. There’s a long-held rumor that editors don’t want Rock Stars. They aren’t popular enough. But still he hung around – that bad boy, brooding rocker attracted to the anti-thesis of his high profile lifestyle, his nanny.
I just couldn’t get him out of my mind, and before long, despite the push and pull of my first print release and new proposals, I had the full-blown story of a man who was lonely but afraid of revealing his true nature. And a woman so battered by life that trust had been all but obliterated – especially for a first rate performer.
So I chose to follow my characters and discovered a world beneath a world. The performer who wants to be seen and loved as a real man. A family who misses him. A woman who learns to trust him to protect her. A brother who teases and torments him, but who always has his back – on and off the road.
They took me on a journey and I enjoyed every minute! (Well, until I reached revisions.) A journey of a family trying to find each other again, and a man hell bent on using his sexual talents to teach a woman everything that she’s capable of, and everything they can be together.
So let’s celebrate those fun journeys we get to take when we follow wherever our characters lead! Share the last “fun” discovery you made about your book/characters while writing!
One commenter will win a giftie! An Amazon or B&N giftcard for a new journey of discovery.
Dani
Posted by Laurie Kellogg Feb 13 2013, 1:00 am in Laurie Kellogg, new release, romantic suspense, Valentine Reads
This year Valentine’s Day falls on the same day as our Winter Writing Festival check-in, so I’m celebrating a little early. Happy Valentine’s Day!
People in young relationships traditionally do something romantic and often extravagant on Valentine’s Day. However, as a relationship matures and becomes settled, we frequently become complacent and neglect to observe this holiday for lovers.
Sometimes it’s because we’ve become overly practical and decide we don’t need to be romantic on cue. As a result, some of us celebrate some other day when there’s no wait for a table at a good restaurant, roses only cost $9.99 a dozen, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are marked down to 50% off. And then there are some who have trouble thinking of ways to be romantic and simply don’t do anything. If you’re like me and you married one of those individuals you might want to read a Ruby blog I wrote in 2010, Valentine’s Day Encouragement for the Romantically Challenged, for a bit of consolation.
In my opinion, rescheduling your personal Valentine’s Day to a more opportune time is great as long as you don’t ignore spending time with your sweetheart and showing him or her the depth of your love. My family moves holidays all the time to accommodate everyone’s schedule. We’ve permanently moved Mother’s Day to the Saturday night before to avoid the mobbed restaurants, so is it any surprise I moved Valentine’s Day?
I must confess, the WWF check-in day wasn’t the only reason I wanted to celebrate today. The other reason is I officially launched my debut novel, The Memory of You, last year on Valentine’s Day here on the Ruby Blog, although, the book was actually published on February 6th. (Incidentally, that book is presently FREE at Amazon to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Operation Homecoming.)
This year, I (and my alter ego, L.L. Kellogg) pushed hard to publish our seventh novel by February 5th, simply so I could say I published seven books in one year. Silly, I know, but it was my goal. And anyone who’s participating in the WWF knows how good it feels to meet an especially challenging objective.
The third reason I wanted to officially launch this book today is because the story actually opens at eleven p.m. on the night before Valentine’s Day. So without further ado (drum roll please), I’m proud to announce my alter ego, L.L. Kellogg, has just released The Naughty Never Die, Book 2 in the Seduction series.
Anyone who’s read Book 1 of the series, Hypnotic Seduction, knows there was a minor suspense element in the story, however, it wasn’t substantial enough to categorize the novel as suspense. This new release was originally called Finding Trouble (the title under which it won the Ignite the Flame and Touch of Magic contests and became a Daphne DuMaurier finalist). It was SUPPOSED to be strictly a romantic comedy, too.
Much to my dismay, however, L.L., in her usual obnoxious way, took the story places I really didn’t want to go, because I DON’T WRITE SUSPENSE. But would L.L. listen to me? NO WAY. She insisted on bringing out the inner Snookie in my uptight, prissy Jersey Girl heroine and threatening her life.
(So maybe you can understand why I locked L.L. in her room today and refused to let her attend this launch party. You should’ve seen the floozy outfit she planned on wearing.)
Anyway, we once again ended up writing a fence-straddling plot. The romance half of the book is laugh-out-loud funny, whereas the suspense subplot is dark and edgy and scandalous enough to make our philandering politicians seem like choir boys. It’s still a Red-hot Romance that’s a Little Naughty and a Lot of Fun, but it’s definitely different than my other novels.
If only the good die young,
then New Jersey’s virtuous First Lady should be a cinch to kill.
Unless….deep down she’s really quite naughty.
The Beauty—a chronic people pleaser who’s had enough of her goody-two-shoes life
Since her mother’s untimely death, crusader Josephine Callahan has served as New Jersey’s First Lady. Acting as her father’s official hostess in the governor’s mansion is tantamount to living in a fishbowl, which makes S-E-X extremely difficult. On the brink of a nervous breakdown, frustrated Josie loses her usual good sense along with her cool and lets her assemblyman boyfriend sweet-talk her into an impromptu romantic getaway–something she would never consider if she had a clue someone is trying to kill her.
The Beast—an incurable bad boy who refuses to admit beneath his scars lurks a hero
A deliberately twisted message, via the governor’s spiteful assistant, misleads ex Special Forces officer, DJ Ryder, as to the true objective of his freelance assignment. He’s told to, not only track down the governor’s classy daughter and hold her in protective custody, but to also teach her a lesson by letting her believe she’s been kidnapped.
When Josie discovers the scarred, but still sexy, badass has played her for a fool, she retaliates by feigning a raging case of Stockholm syndrome, teasing the brute until all he can think of is the ‘hold her’ part of his orders. How can Ryder concentrate on keeping Josie safe when he’s busy avoiding the danger she poses to his heart?
Now that I’ve shared what my heroine, Josie, will be doing for Valentine’s Day, how about you? What plans to have with your sweetheart?
Do you ever have trouble keeping your plot from going places you’d prefer not to visit—like the sick mind of a psychopath?
Leave a comment to be eligible for a drawing to win a $25 American Express Gift Card.
Posted by Autumn Jordon Dec 6 2012, 12:01 am in Autumn Jordon, CIA, Coast Guard, FBI, research, romantic suspense, US Marshals, writing romantic suspense
Romantic suspense readers are savvy. They know their stuff.
Some RS readers enjoy reading stories set on foreign soils. The unfamiliarity of the setting might add to the reader’s intrigue. Or, this reader feels more comfortable knowing the danger the characters face is far away from their safe world. Others, on the other hand, might get an extra charge knowing the dangerous world unfolding between the pages could be set in their own neighborhood. These are the readers that sleep with their lights on and double check their locks. You the author must decide what is the best location for your novel, and know stuff.
What stuff? Well, besides general setting, which is a no-brainer, and since we’re discussing romantic suspense, you need to know what law enforcement agencies are found in the region you’re using, and, very important, which agencies would be involved in your case at the particular time frame of your plot. Nothing is more annoying to a savvy RS reader than the author using the wrong agency.
Has it happen? Yes. It did for me and I promptly returned the author’s work.
Did you know…
…most cases are initially handed at a local level. Under certain circumstances state or federal agencies are involved. There are many partnership tasks forces in place. That is not saying the state and federal resources and data banks are unavailable to the local agents. Those data banks are always available. Always check state and local procedures to involve federal agents.
…the CIA and FBI are both members of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The CIA, however, is not a law enforcement organization. Its function is to collect information only regarding foreign countries and their citizens and analyzes the information vital to the formation of U.S. policy, particularly areas that impact USA national security. It is said, that the CIA is prohibited from collecting information regarding “U.S. Persons,” (U.S. citizens, resident aliens, legal immigrants, and U.S. corporations, regardless of where they are located.)
…The FBI is a primary law enforcement agency for the U.S. government, charged with enforcement of more than 200 categories of federal laws. The FBI task forces have proven to be a highly effective way for the FBI and federal, state, and local law enforcement to join together to address what are called concurrent jurisdiction cases, where a crime may violate local, state, and federal laws all at the same time. Task forces typically focus on terrorism, organized crime, narcotics, gangs, bank robberies, kidnapping, and motor vehicle theft. To learn more about what the FBI investigates visit; http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/what_we_investigate
…Single-mission agencies such as DEA which is in charged with enforcing drug law and the ATF, which enforces federal firearms statutes and investigates arsons and bombings works closely with the FBI on cases where jurisdictions overlap.
…US Marshals Service (USMS) is the nation’s oldest and most multi-talented federal law enforcement agency. The Marshals occupy a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. Its mission is to protect, defend, and enforce the American justice system. It is the enforcement arm of the federal courts, and as such, it is involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative. The U.S. Marshals Service has been designated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the primary federal agency for apprehending fugitives that are wanted by foreign nations and believed to be in the United States. Additionally, the Marshals Service is the primary federal agency responsible for tracking and extraditing fugitives who are apprehended in foreign countries and wanted for prosecution in the United States.
…there were five branches of the armed services. Yes, five. Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army and the Coast Guard. The United States Coast Guard is the one branch of the armed services that does not trace its chain of command through the Department of Defense. It falls under the Department of Homeland Security and as such it is responsible for protecting our shores and inland waterways. As we all know, the Coast Guard does so much more.
When I brainstormed the plot for my most recent RS release, SEIZED BY DARKNESS, I knew three things. One, I wanted the story to be set in my backyard, northeast USA. Yup, I’m a making-sure-my-doors-are-locked-and-gun-loaded kidda of girl. Two, the story was going to be about a kidnapping victim reclaiming her life, which meant the FBI probably had been involved in the case but since years had passed my heroine’s case was probably buried under thousands of others. Finally, I wanted the hero to be a part of an elite division of a U.S. agency. But which agency?
Since I was planning a series revolving around a top task force, I needed an agency that is constantly involved in a wide array of cases and the setting could be anywhere in the world. After some research, which led me to the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act of 2006, the decision was a no-brainer for me. I went with the US Marshals and my C.U.F.F. team came to life.
As a result of the Adam Walsh enactment, the USMS established the Sex Offender Investigative Branch (SOIB) in August 2006. The USMS is the lead law enforcement agency responsible for investigating sex offender registration violations under the Act. This information and more took my story on a different path—a more emotional one.
So far I’ve referred to USA law bureaus, but if you’re writing a foreign setting you’ll need to know the appropriate law enforcement agents there. A simple search, as I posted below, can start you on your way to learning facts that will set your novel apart from others and ensure accuracy.
Did you know…
… it is the French DST, “Département de la Sûreté/SécuritéTerritoriale” (Department of Territorial Safety/Security), commonly referred to as la Sûreté that is equivalent to the American FBI.
…the equivalent to the CIA in China is guó ān bù 国安部. Qíng bào bù 情报部 is military intelligence.
…In Britain SOCA (serious organized crime agency) are the UK FBI equivalent. MI5/ 6 are the equivalent of the CIA. (Enter James Bond.)
Once you know the agency, you can gather details about the organization and their agents that will enhance your story and bring your characters to life. Taking the time to research will earn you the respect of serious RS readers.
Posted by Anne Marie Becker Dec 5 2012, 12:01 am in Anne Marie Becker, craft, romantic suspense, series
Several years ago, when I realized I wanted to make writing a career, “trilogy” was the buzz word. Series were sought-after by publishers because they could rapidly build an author’s name, as well as their backlist. It seemed a logical business move to structure the stories in my head into a series—especially since I’d always enjoyed reading series by other authors, falling in love with their characters and looking forward to “seeing” them again like old friends. But how do you create a series readers will become hooked on?
A TIE-IN
A series, by definition, contains items that are related. Therefore, a series of books has someone or something that ties it together.
A Person
For instance, J.D. Robb’s “In Death” books and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series center around a character (in these cases, the heroine) who is the main character in each book. The romantic elements come from that character’s romantic life, and show the growth of the character over a broader time spectrum.
A Place or Thing
On the other hand, one can center a series around an idea, a family, an agency, or some other entity separate from the characters. In romance, this typically involves the wrapping up of a different couple’s love story in each book. Suzanne Brockmann has several romantic duos in each book of her Troubleshooters series, but one is always wrapped up at the end of each book, and they all center around her Troubleshooters agency.
Because I enjoy books that can stand alone and have a romantic conflict all wrapped up nice and neat by the end of the book, I chose the second route and created an agency named SSAM (The Society of the Study of the Aberrant Mind) that bound my books together. This way, I have the freedom to pick and choose heroes and heroines with different skillsets, different reasons to be tied to SSAM, and different personalities for each book. I didn’t want to be tied to the same characters for an extended time period, though many of my heroes and heroines are secondary characters in past and future books. I like that sense that each book is a family reunion of sorts, where readers can catch up with their favorite characters.
SERIES GROWTH
Just like with individual books, there should be change and maturation over the course of the series. If your series is focused on a primary character, each book should display some growth in that character, with a more extensive growth arc over the series of books. For the second type of tie-in… well, if characters can grow, then agencies, towns, and families can, too. In this case, the central tie-in element is, in fact, a character in many ways.
The growth arc I created for the Mindhunters series is closely tied to the founder of SSAM – Damian Manchester, who has a point-of-view as a secondary character in each book. His past pain, current struggles, and ultimate resolution are revealed gradually, with a piece of the puzzle in each book, until the end book, in which I hope to give him peace at last.
MARKETING
Each book should be able to stand on its own. Readers tend to get irritated when they realize they’ve purchased a book, but will have to go purchase other past or future books to get the rest of the story. The nice thing about a series, though, is that promoting one book often impacts the others. More bang for your advertising buck.
CHALLENGES
- Keeping it straight. As the series continues, it can be difficult for an author to keep all the facts, character traits, family relationships, and events in line with previous books. See Tamara Hogan’s earlier post about creating a series bible.
- Keeping it fresh. The author should create new challenges in each book, but also tie them into previous and future books without being too repetitive.
- Making each book stand alone. Start each book as if the reader hasn’t read the others, and doesn’t need to. This includes “sprinkling” in the series backstory as if it was character backstory. You don’t want the reader to think they’ve missed some key piece of the series, but you don’t want to spend page after tedious page giving the history of the series either.
- Selling early books. I’ve been told that some readers wait until the entire series is available before buying any of them. This can, of course, affect your sales, but if it’s true, it should result in a nice jump in royalties when the final book is released.
- Keeping the tension high. Maintaining that sense of the “ticking clock” and imminent danger is necessary for romantic suspense, but readers expect resolution, too. Keeping both over a series of books can be a unique challenge.
- If you write the same-main-character type of series (a la Stephanie Plum, Eve Dallas, or Harry Potter), one challenge is showing character growth over the course of each book, and then over the course of the series.
ADVANTAGES
- Publishers like series. In fact, with my digital-first publisher (Carina Press), series are sometimes more likely to be put into print form (in this case, by the parent company, Harlequin). I’ve seen this happen with my Mindhunters books.
- Readers like series. At least, this reader does. I like to get invested in the characters I read about, and see multiple aspects of their lives. It’s almost as if they’re part of a family. And if they’re in several books, even if they’re not always the main characters, I get a multifaceted, 3-D picture of them.
- Authors like series. Writing a series gives you a chance to really delve deep into plot and character development, and you don’t have to do character development from scratch if the character has already appeared in a previous book, but you have more space to flesh them out, too.
- As mentioned above, promotion of one book is promotion of all of the books.
What is your favorite series (from any genre – romantic suspense or otherwise)? What common denominator linked the stories within that series? When you read, do you prefer books that are part of a series?
Anne Marie Becker has always been fascinated with people and how they “work”—inside and out—which led to degrees in Biology, Psychology, and Counseling. Now, her roles as wife, mother, writer, and domestic goddess satisfy her curiosity. She explores the dark side of criminal behavior and the saving powers of love and hope through her Mindhunters series. For more about Anne Marie and where to connect with her, please visit her at www.AnneMarieBecker.com.
Posted by Rita Henuber Dec 4 2012, 12:01 am in Rita Henuber, romantic suspense, strong heroines.
In Romantic Suspense there are two distinct stories. The suspense and the romance.
RWA defines romantic suspense as a romance novel in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.
You need a strong suspense story and a strong romance. Then you weave the two together perfectly. Today I’m only going to talk about developing quick physical and emotional relationships.
In this genre the action moves fast and the story takes place over a relative short period. I write contemporary thriller/action adventure and the stories take place over a couple of weeks. BIG PROBLEM. An author has to weave in a plausible romance and bring it to a satisfying conclusion (don’t forget part of a romance definition is the HEA) in short timeframe. Not easy.
If your characters are meeting for the first time on the pages of your story how can that plausible relationship develop so fast? What about the sexual aspect? Characters getting under the covers fast is crazy tricky. Of course if the characters have a history, good or bad as long as they have a touch point of knowledge, it’s less complicated.
If you plan on writing sex for a hero and heroine who just met it is important you know yourself and your own boundaries. Know what YOUR comfort zone is. If you can’t conceive of, or don’t agree with characters getting hot and sweaty together fast, for goodness sakes don’t do it.
For example I’m not comfortable with a 24 year old woman meeting a man, two hours later being in bed and two weeks later being in a happy ever after relationship. Nor am I comfortable with someone that age knowing the man she’s just met is the one that fast. It would be impossible for me to give her the experiences that would allow her to make these decisions. Be clear here. I am NOT saying someone that age is incapable of making that decision, I’m saying I can’t write it to happen fast.
Ergo, I write with heroes and heroines over 35. They have experience. To my way of thinking -my comfort zone- they are more capable of making a decision about going into a sexual relationship after a short time and handling any blow back. A 36 year old woman who has been around and experienced a lot in her life knows the ramifications of hooking up.
You MUST know your characters. What they will and will not do and why. I mean the down deep why. While these issues are vital in every story, it is even more important in the fast pace RS genre. You must know what circumstances will drive your heroine to hit the sheets quickly. BTW I say heroine because I firmly believe she is the one who makes the decision as to the when and where.
In my first book the H&H go home together after they first meet. I totally knew my heroine. What event formed her values and beliefs and was behind all her decisions. The day the H&H met, she suffered two huge setbacks in her story goal. Going with him that night breaks all her personal rules but she decides to console herself with some sexual healing. Give in, just once, to her own needs and the reader knew this. She leaves his bed before he wakes thinking she will never see him again. In a few days this comes back to bite her. It also begins the resolution to her story goal.
As for the HEA in this story, these two people were NOT looking for a relationship but found something in each other that filled a void they didn’t know existed. As the author, I knew it did. Knowing your characters inside and out allows you to understand what they fear, what they want, and what they need. You use it to get them to work out their problems together and rapidly establish a bond. With each other’s help they face their fears, they change, and are rewarded with love and in the suspense novel get the bad guy in the process. This is an over simplification but I hope you get what I mean.
When the H&H have a sexual history getting them into a speedy relationship is always easier. In my third book, two experienced intelligence officers from different agencies have an affair that lasted more than a year. He broke it off for his own misguided reason. They come together again working to find the same bad guy. With their history, the sexual tension lasts for only so long before they give in. Their HEA is very complicated. Again, I know them completely.
Another way is to use what some call survivor sex. After two people share a near death experience sharing the life affirming act of sex is always a possibility. As an author, you can put friends, detective or business partners, who have worked together for years and know each other completely into that death experience and life affirming sex after. The act changes a relationship to full blown love and HEA. On the surface this looks to be the easiest choice. Honestly it’s the most difficult for me to write. To get a good balance of conflict you really have to know your H&H.
I can probably come up with a hundred more scenarios but this is already too long.
Bottom line
- Dig deep
- Know yourself
- Know your characters inside out.
What do you think?
Rita writes books about extraordinary women and the men they love. To find out more visit her web home http://ritahenuber.com
Posted by Vivi Andrews Nov 20 2012, 12:01 am in contemporary, Dani Wade, Military hero, romantic suspense, Ruby Release, sexy
Today I am thrilled to host the fabulous Dani Wade as we celebrate her debut release, Snow Bound. I was instantly sucked into this story as soon as I started to read. The writing was beautiful, the characters nuanced and engaging, and the chemistry just jumped off the page. (Excuse me while I take a moment to fan myself.) This is EXACTLY the kind of book you want to curl up with on a winter’s night (and I’m Alaskan, I know winter nights). A perfect winter’s escape, and I got to grill the author!
So now, without further ado, let’s hear what Dani has to say about her fabulous new release!
Vivi: Damon is exactly the kind of guy you want beside you in a tough spot – or cuddled up in the middle of a snowstorm (yum). Studly ex-military who will protect you no matter what? Who can say no to that? And just because I like daydreaming about him, who would you pick to play Damon in a film of Snow Bound?
Dani: OMG, Channing Tatum ALL THE WAY! Ahem, sorry. I may have a little obsession when it comes to this actor, but he most definitely embodies most of Damon’s studliness and rough-and-tumble attitude. Did I mention his body?
Vivi: Oh wow, excellent call. 
Trapped by a snow storm and stalked by an unwelcome blast from her past, it would be easy for Tori to fall into the damsel-in-distress category, just waiting for a big strong man to save the day, but I loved the way she broke away from the pretty princess image Damon had of her. How did you strike that subtle balance between a heroine who can accept help, but also defend herself with shotgun blazing when she needs to?
Dani: Tori spent her life being typecast by those around her — head cheerleader, abuse victim, orphaned and alone — but she refuses to let those stereotypes change who she really is. She forged ahead to build a profitable business on her own. Supported herself with no family around. She’s not above accepting help, but only when she can’t do it herself.
She’s not a bad ass — more of a woman who does what she has to when the situation arises. A girly girl at heart, she loves skirts and sexy underwear. While she’s not comfortable with a gun in her hands, as us southern women know, you gotta do what you gotta do to survive.
Vivi: Cadence feels so real! I get the sense you really know a lot about small town life. Is it based on a real place? Are any of the characters taken from real life?
Dani: The town’s characters are an amalgam of the people surrounding me as I grew up in the deep South. But the town, it’s definitely based on one nearest my family during my childhood. I grew up on a farm in Tennessee where the nearest gas station was 20 minutes from home and “town” was even further. Everybody knew or knew of everybody else, and southern expectations reigned, whether you attended cotillion or hung out at the local honky tonk.
I loved writing about Cadence, its inhabitants, and quirks, because it felt like coming home in many ways. I can’t wait to revisit it for another book in this series!
Vivi: Tori remembers (in a rather steamy moment, ahem) a harem girl scene from one of her favorite romance novels. I love those little winks to the genre. Were you referring to a particular book? What would Tori’s favorite romance be?
Dani: That particular thought referred to my own fascination with Bertrice Small’s The Love Slave when I first started reading romance. As a small-town bookstore owner, Tori knows what every woman in town wants to hide behind her Sunday School study guide. But her faves are sexy romps that bring spice into her ho-hum romantic life, like Rhonda Nelson and Kira Sinclair’s Blaze books, Lauren Dane, and Maya Banks.
Vivi: I hear tell there are some exciting things in the future for you. After Snow Bound, I’m hungry for more. What can I expect next from Dani Wade?
Dani: Snow Bound was a wonderful Indie project for me to work on, and I hope to bring at least 2 more to readers in the next year. My website will keep readers up-to-date on my upcoming projects. My first print release will debut with Harlequin Desire in August of 2013. The working title is Master Designs, and features a disavowed heir, uptight executive assistant, wedding gowns, prostitution, and a sexy trip to Las Vegas!
Vivi: I’m so excited to hear you have more in the works – and an upcoming release with Harlequin Desire! How thrilling! Would you care to share your call story with our readers? (I always love to hear about an author’s journey to publication!)
Dani: My first call was a long time coming — 8 years to be exact. I was only just coming out of the worst period of writer’s block I’d ever had — one rejection too many took their toll. An author friend, Andrea Laurence (Desire author), had read Designs and loved it. So when the Desire Senior Editor Stacy Boyd put out a request on Twitter for submissions, Andrea insisted I submit it. After all those years, I finally found editors who got my voice. Stacy passed the book on to Shana Smith, who put me through my paces with revisions, and bought the book just 4 days after receiving the latest version. Though I’ve been moved on to editor Charles Greimsman, I’ll always be grateful to Shana for her encouragement and belief in me!
Vivi: Thank you so much for letting me grill you today and good luck with all your upcoming projects, Dani!
And now, here’s a peek at Snow Bound!
The last thing Damon West wants is a trip to his bookish neighbor’s house in the midst of the worst snowstorm Cadence, TN, has seen in a decade. Still, his military instincts warn him that Miss Priss could use a little help. His arrival is met with an attack by an unknown assailant and the sight of Miss Priss in a sexy wisp of nothing-much, confidently wielding a double-barreled shotgun.
Tori Anderson carefully portrays herself as a responsible bookstore owner and capable young woman to anyone willing to look twice. But two men grappling in her backyard called for speed more than decorum. That’s how the guy she’d been secretly lusting after since he’d bought the house next door sees her in a silky robe and panties—with nothing in between. Damon’s sudden interest thrills her, but she can’t help worrying about the unknown threat scared off by her shotgun blast.
Trapped in her house, snow blocking the roads and no way to reach the outside world, Tori finally has the chance to indulge her wildest fantasies. But she isn’t sure which is more daunting—the abusive boyfriend back to punish her for helping convict him of murder or her desire to have more than one night with the town’s most unavailable bachelor.
Buy from AMAZON :: SMASHWORDS
Today two lucky commenters will take home $5 Amazon Gift Cards for your book shopping pleasure. Just tell us who would YOU most like to get snowed in with on a winter’s night?
Posted by Jamie Michele Oct 22 2012, 12:01 am in espionage, laura navarre, moscow, nikki navarre, romantic suspense, Ruby Release, russia, sexy
Q&A with Ruby Sister in Disguise Nikki Navarre
Interrogated by: Jamie Michele
DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Nikki Navarre
ASSIGNMENT: Double Agent
COVER: Diplomat. Playgirl. Author of The Russian Seduction.
Nikki Navarre is the diabolical twin of unsuspecting historical romance author and Ruby Sis Laura Navarre. Her literary credentials are suspiciously similar to those of her innocent sister. Nikki’s notorious adventures in the world of diplomacy will get her in trouble one of these days.
The Russian Seduction may be the last mistake she ever makes.
Posted by Autumn Jordon Aug 31 2012, 12:01 am in Autumn Jordon, Beginnings, craft, openings, romantic suspense
To open a can of flat worms you need a nail, hammer and a flat-head screwdriver. The extraction should be done outside, because flat worms are smelly buggers, and man, can they move fast. You wouldn’t want to find them slithering between the sheets later. They like 800 count Egyptian cotton.
Did I get your attention? Good because that is what this post is about, openings which grab you and hold on.
There is no one set rule for beginning your story. Story telling is an art and as we have seen countless times since woman first poked her man to pick up a chisel and strike rock that the artist who breaks the presumed rules and creates in a heartfelt manner is remembered long after his or her demise. With that said, it is important to remember the purpose of starting a story. A story is a journey. The reason for any passage is to reach a destination. Finding excitement, joy, wisdom, or love along the way, is a huge plus and makes the trip an enjoyable adventure. And who doesn’t love an adventure.
Our job, as an author, is to create a beginning that will entice our readers to come along for the ride. But how do we convince them our story is the excursion for them? From our first line and every line after, we show them that the world we’ve built is interesting, we introduce them to characters they can relate to and root for as they change and grow, and we intrigue them with a story line that lets the reader escape from their own world.
I don’t know about you, but I agonize over my opening. I did for this blog and I’m still thinking I could do better. I think my first line is the most rewritten line of any. A great hook is a must. The line can be action or dialogue or internalization, as long as it is intriguing and sets the tone of the story. And more often than not, my first draft opening (which could be one or more chapters) ends in the trash or finds a place somewhere else in the book. Openings are hard.
The following is my short list for writing a great opening.
1) Openings should introduce the main character because the first character presented to a reader is usually the one they bond with. Connection is key. Characters need to be flawed and they need to do something we could do ourselves. So if you kill that character off, you better be writing romantic suspense and/or have a reason for doing so. The reader will be leery of investing in another character.
However, shocking the reader is another way to drawn them into the story. Choice your POV carefully when writing the scene this way.
2) The author reveals secrets, asks an intriguing question or creates high stakes. GMC, right? I always think of Romancing The Stone when thinking about this one. In the first moments of the movie we learn Jean Widler’s heart’s desire— to have a hero of her own— and that her sister’s life is put at risk. The screenwriter used all three. What’s the third you ask? Will Joan answer the call to adventure?
3) Introduce the reader to a strange new world in little interesting bits, so that they want to learn more. This advice is not just for paranormal or fantasy authors. Every world written is different from the ones in which we live, in some ways. Every section of New York City is unique. Your world could be a planetary station, small town in USA, large city, foreign soil, somewhere in the future or the past. Build the world through different characters’ POV. I see walking through the forest as enjoyable and relish the coolness and peace, but someone else could see it as frightening, looking for snakes and bears and slapping at deer flies. Also, remember we came to learn our world through our senses.
4) An author can briefly start their story in the ordinary world. The optimum word here is briefly. Once, I heard an editor panel discussion where they stated that by page two you better turn the character’s world upside down with an enticing incident or you’re done. Editors don’t have time for more and readers want to escape now. Not after the character gets up, has breakfast, takes the bus to work, greets her co-workers, etc. That is boring. Drop into the story near the moment everything changes and make the disruptive incident so unpleasant your characters will want to turn back time and gain their safe world back.
5) The opening should show your voice. This part of the promise you are making to your readers. You don’t want to open with a comic scene and then the follow chapters turn dark. The dark element should be part of your opening, if that’s the case. If it’s not, you might need to rethink opening POV or ditch the scene altogether.
6) Don’t use the opening for an information dump on character’s backstory. Reveal bits of necessary information over the length of the book.
Okay, that is my short checklist. Does anyone else have suggestions for making openings great? Oh, and FTW, I have no experience with flatworms.
Visit Autumn at www.autumnjordon.com . Her new release Seized By Darkness is available on Amazon and B&N.
Posted by Anne Marie Becker Jul 30 2012, 12:01 am in romantic suspense, Ruby Release
Curves Ahead!
We read, and write, because we enjoy it. And, whether I’m reading or writing, there’s nothing I enjoy more than a good twist. Maybe it’s the suspense writer in me, or maybe I’ve read so many books and seen so many television shows and movies in my life that many plots have become predictable. It’s easy for me to guess the endings. So when a writer hits me with an amazing twist…yeah, I get goosebumps.
As a suspense author, I try to provide that same kind of “I didn’t see it coming” sucker-punch in my books. The twist in the book that releases today (Avenging Angel) actually crept up on me and I surprised myself. I didn’t realize who the villain was until 2/3 of the way through the first draft. And boy, a major light bulb – the wattage of which could have lit a Las Vegas marquee – went off when it hit me.
I love those aha! moments. Those shouts of “Eureka!” that make all the torture worthwhile. I swear, there’s a burst of adrenaline or endorphins that accompany the sudden connections in the brain, the synapse firings that pair ideas in a unique way that pays off big as it creates a new idea, a new concept, or twists your old ideas in a new way.
Today, I’m celebrating the release of AVENGING ANGEL – Book Two in my Mindhunters series – by giving away an e-copy to one commenter. (And you may be pleased to note that ONLY FEAR, the first book in the Mindhunters series, is on sale through 7/31/12 for 99 cents! Print copies of ONLY FEAR are also available through www.Harlequin.com.)
In keeping with the twists and turns this story took as I revised it, below is a “twisted” excerpt where my heroine and hero first meet…and she misunderstands why he’s there. He goes with it because he’s looking to get on her good side.
A knock at the studio’s front door jerked Vanessa out of the creative fog she’d happily sunk into. From her perch in the back corner, the canvas shielded the door from view.
Maybe Fiona had left something behind. But she would eventually dig out her key and let herself in. Despite the work she had yet to do for the auction, Vanessa had finally had a breakthrough on the piece she’d been trying to start for weeks. She just needed a little more time to get the color just right.
A harder, louder knock brought on a flutter of nerves. She debated whether she could simply play possum, but the studio lights were clearly evident from the street. She forced herself to leave her stool and move to the door.
“Miss Knight?” a male voice called through the door. “Someone at the gallery told me I could find you here.”
Not a complete stranger, then. At least he knew who she was. And he seemed polite. Killers weren’t polite, were they? Still, she was hesitant to unlock the door. “Just a minute.” She ran to the back, grabbed her phone and texted Fiona. Did Lance send a guy over?
It only took a minute for Fiona’s reply. No, I did. You’re welcome.
More curious than scared now, she unlocked the door. Vanessa’s breath caught at the sight of the owner of the male voice—and the decidedly male body it belonged to.
“I thought maybe you’d snuck out the back.” In an endearing boyish manner, the man tucked his fingers into the front pockets of his jeans and rocked back on his heels, a half grin on his face. Though his dark blond hair was short and well-groomed, a shock of it fell across his forehead.
But it was his eyes that drew her. As an artist, Vanessa had always found eyes so expressive. The window to the soul, some people said. The light blue ones focused on her now held a certain uncommon crystalline intensity. The shade of sky she’d been working on in her painting a moment ago suddenly seemed drab and gray. This man’s eyes…now there was a blue sky. The edges crinkled. “Are you okay? Fiona said it would be okay to come over…”
“Yes, of course.” She’d been staring. “I’d forgotten I’d placed that ad. It’s been weeks and nobody responded. Please, come in.”
She closed the door behind him. He came to a stop in the middle of the studio and she eyed the specimen. He had definite potential. She walked in a slow circle around him, her eyes taking in the hint of a chiseled chest beneath his gray T-shirt, the lines of a fine gluteus beneath his faded but nice-fitting jeans. His biceps rippled and forearms contracted as he crossed his arms.
“Like what you see?” Amusement laced his husky words. Still, he let her finish her circuit.
“I have to make sure you’ll be a good fit.” The double meaning of her words came rushing at her and she nearly tripped.
His eyebrows lifted. “For?”
“The position, of course.” She cocked her head, her hair brushing a bare shoulder and making her skin turn to gooseflesh as if he’d touched her. She tugged off her paint-smeared apron. “You’re here about the ad I placed for a nude model, aren’t you?”
His nostrils flared, and Vanessa was reminded of the magnificent, proud stallions from the days in her youth when her mother had pushed her into riding lessons. The pleasant smell of hay and warm, fresh-cut grass suddenly came to her, along with a remembered sense of freedom.
She cleared her throat and stepped away. “You’re just in time. I’d given up on getting a response before my class focuses on anatomical sketches next week.”
“Anatomical sketches?”
“Would you mind taking your shirt off?”
The smile that took a slow trip across his lips had her heartbeat stuttering. “Part of checking out the merchandise? I assure you everything’s there.”
Thank you for being here with me today! If you’re okay with giving some spoilers, what twists and turns have surprised you in your own writing, or in the books you’ve read recently? (And if it’s a spoiler for a book others may be reading, please indicate that in the beginning.) And remember, I’ll be giving away a copy of AVENGING ANGEL to a commenter (at random) at the end of the day.
Posted by Elisa Beatty Jun 19 2012, 12:01 am in 2012 finalists, firebirds, golden heart, Jean Willett, romantic suspense, The Golden Network
Today we’re welcoming the wonderful Jean Willett to the blog. Jean’s done great work for all our sakes as President of The Golden Network, an organization she talks about below, so we all owe her a big debt of thanks!
Also, Jean’s post contains some big news about the 2012 finalists: we finally have our group name!!! We’re thrilled to have a symbol to rally around at last.
2012 actually marks Jean Willett’s third Golden Heart nomination, which makes her eligible for the Golden Network’s Hall of Gold status.
A multi-award winning author, Jean loves escaping into a story, whether it’s mystery, romance or women’s fiction. A former chemist, she now prefers the chemistry on the page. Her years as a Navy brat traveling just about everywhere provide a rich tapestry of material for her stories. Her mystery with romantic elements, RESCUING REMBRANDT, is a 2012 Golden Heart Romantic Suspense finalist.
Take it away, Jean!
*******************************************************
I’m sending a boatload of thanks to the Ruby Slippered Sisters for inviting all the Golden Heart Finalists to their Blog for a fun time. I’ve enjoyed reading the heartfelt words of my fellow 2012 GH nominees, the new FIREBIRDS – Forged in fire and flying higher! I am looking forward to cheering for everyone in Anaheim. The connection fostered through our common bond- the Golden Heart – creates wonderful friendships. That said, it’s kind of hard to follow the humor of Romily and the historical savvy of Oberon, but I can offer up tidbits and facts on breaking-and-entering, potential poisons for nefarious purposes and ways to kill someone only on the pages of mystery fiction, of course. Better yet, how about we keep it safe and chat about friendship…
Our GH bond creates a friendship that continues when we go on to join The Golden Network, a chapter established to support all Golden Heart finalists. It was established as the internet was sinking into a writer’s life and used as a way to connect everyone. Each year, the chapter celebrates the new finalists, hosts a retreat and/or cocktail party and provides a networking opportunity for its members.
The individual GH Loops started several years after the chapter as a way to instantly connect all the current GH Finalists. It’s fun, exciting and entertaining. As Past-President of TGN, I’d love to see that same enthusiasm continue on the chapter loop. The Rubies are a shining example of what TGN hoped to become and I think we can get back to those roots. There is a wealth of talented writers within TGN, published and unpublished. If we tap the well, we’ll all benefit.
Last year in NYC, TGN hosted two panels of industry editors and agents. We had a great spirited discussion between the professionals and if you were there, you’ll remember the moment we thought we’d have to open a few water bottles and douse the fire. I could just hear our group gaining the reputation for creating war…ah…passionate debate. The passionate expressions from the industry members were heartfelt and wonderful to see. It means they love their work and we provide the content to keep them happy.
This year in Anaheim, TGN has a panel of industry professionals ready to answer your questions. What would you ask them? What do you want to know? And has the GH helped you find a few new friends? I know I’m mining gold and I can’t wait to meet all of you.
This year in Anaheim, TGN has a panel of industry professionals ready to answer your questions. What would you ask them? What do you want to know? And has the GH helped you find a few new friends? I know I’m mining gold and I can’t wait to meet all of you.
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