Issue #04
April, 2005
Dear Romance Student,
The place to be this April is at AWAI’s Romance
Forum. Please log on to www.awaistudents.com/forums for
more details. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends and begin exciting
exchanges. As an added bonus, you may even find a critique partner or two. (Having
one is a sure way to stay motivated.)
Topics on the Forum so far have run the gamut. You’ve told us about everything
from your favorite authors to what you’re currently writing. You’ve even provided
your thoughts and ideas on which subjects our e-zine should cover. Special thanks
to Diana Barnum for suggesting (drum roll please!) our new feature, “Tools of
the Trade”:
Tools of the Trade
How to remain disciplined when writing:
- Resolve to write every day, regardless of what’s going on in your life.
- Pick a time that’s not only convenient but also relatively quiet. (Veteran
author Brenda Jackson, a health care executive, starts writing at 3.00 a.m.)
- Block out that time on your schedule to do nothing but write.
- Establish a comfortable writing nook.
- Play soothing music.
- Hang a do-not disturb sign on your door or on your computer monitor.
- Let the answering machine pick up all phone calls.
- Start by writing the first thing that pops into your head. Remember, you
can always go back and clean it up later.
- Sit and dream if nothing else will come. The fantasies in your head will
translate to paper.
Good luck!
Conferences this Month
9th Annual Mountain Laurel Conference
April 22 - 24, 2005
‘Romance Through the Ages’ -- Smoky Mountain Romance Writers
Knoxville Airport
Hilton, Alcoa, TN
Stella Cameron, Keynote. Luncheon speaker, Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Reception Friday night open to readers. Bookfair, Book Signing, Appointments
For more information: www.smrw.org
Authors are invited to submit their ink pens, book covers, books, and other
items to be given away during the conference. Promotional items may be shipped.
For more information about submitting promotional items, please contact Mishel
Abbott at mishel_abbott@yahoo.com.
2005 Sleepless Writer’s Retreat -- Peninsula Chapter
April 22 - 24, 2005
Pilgrim Firs Retreat Campus, Port Orchard, WA
Jill Barnett, Kristin Hannah, Agent and Editor Appointments.
For more information: www.penrwa.org
Retreat from Harsh Reality -- Mid-Michigan RWA
April 22 - 24, 2005
St. Ives Resort, Stanwood, MI
Elizabeth Grayson, Book Sale, Signing
For more information: www.midmichiganrwa.org
Looking for donations for their Book Basket Raffle & Auction. 100% of
the proceeds go directly to the Kalamazoo YWCA’s Domestic Violence Program.
They are also accepting promo items for their conference goodie bags. 50 attendees
expected. For more information, visit: www.midmichiganrwa.org
Carol Quinto Spring Mini-Conference -- Volusia County Romance Writers
April 23, 2005
Best Western Deltona Inn, Deltona, FL
Gayle Wilson, Linda Winstead, Book Signing, Workshops
For more information: www.jcj.net/verw
Accepting autographed books for raffle baskets and promotional goodies for
approximately 50 attendees. Check the website for more info about shipping.
Romantic Times Booklovers Convention -- Romantic Times Magazine
April 27-
May 1, 2005
St. Louis, MO
Bookfair, Parties, Workshops, Weminars, and more
For more information: http://www.rtconvention.com
Kathryn Falk of Romantic Times Magazine is planning a special day-long “Salute
to Military Spouses” at the April 2005 convention in St. Louis. Approx 200 area
military spouses will be attending. Published authors are invited to donate
books and promotional items. For more info, contact Cathy Mann at rwcathymann@aol.com
And now ... it is my pleasure to share with you my interview with seasoned
veteran Sandra Kitt.
Sandra is considered the foremost African-American writer of romance fiction.
She was the first black writer to ever publish with Harlequin. In 1994, she
launched the successful Arabesque line from Kensington (now a part of BET) with
SERENADE. She received a Waldenbooks Award for her second Arabesque novel, SINCERELY,
in 1996. Twice nominated for the Best Contemporary Novel of the Year from Romantic
Times, Sandra is the recipient of its Lifetime Achievement award, and was presented
with the 2002 Service Award from Romance Writers of America.
I consider her my mentor as well as an all-around good person.
Romantically yours,
Marcia King-Gamble
Director of Student Services and
Editor, “Writing for Love and Money”
Interview with Sandra Kitt
RY: Sandi, you’ve written over 30 books. That’s impressive.
Can you tell us how you got started?
SK: I’d have to say it was a total surprise to me that I began writing. The
first three books I wrote were just to entertain myself. The ideas kept coming,
so finally I began to think of getting published. The first editor I approached
purchased two of my stories.
RY:In addition to writing, you also enjoyed a successful career as a media
specialist at an organization with a major presence in New York. How did you
juggle both? What tips do you have for the writer who still has an obligation
to the corporate world?
SK: I believe in that saying, “Don’t give up your day job.” I loved what I
was doing, but I found that I also loved to write. I think the primary key is
to be disciplined and to stay focused on whatever job you’re doing at the moment.
Each of my careers had a built-in set of responsibilities that I made sure I
met – i.e. deadlines.
RY:You’ve been called the Grand Dame of the “Multicultural Market.” A little-known
fact is that you wrote white characters while at Harlequin. Do you think shared
pigmentation is a prerequisite to write about a particular character?
SK: When I first began writing, I considered myself a “switch-hitter,” in that
I was capable of and comfortable with writing characters that were African-American
or white. I wrote stories to reflect the world that I knew and lived in, which
was ethnically mixed. No one else was doing that at the time.
RY:I’ve noticed in the last few years that many of your storylines deal with
interracial relationships. Why is that? What do you hope to convey to the reader?
SK: I wanted to write honestly about what two individuals might experience
between each other, and the rest of their community, when their relationship
crossed ethnic lines. I travel quite a bit and began seeing more and more couples
who were visibly “out there” with their feelings. Basically, I wanted to say
to readers that love is such a universal concept that when one person finds
another person that they feel emotionally attached to, color is not going to
be an issue.
RY:What has been your bestselling book so far? And why do you think it remains
your best seller?
SK: Without question, it’s THE COLOR OF LOVE. This year is the 10th anniversary
of its publication and it’s still selling! The story is about an interracial
relationship, and readers (from all over the world, I might add) feel passionately
about the story and the characters. This tells me I succeeded in creating characters
who fall in love that readers believe in and want to see stay together.
RY:You lecture, conduct workshops, travel extensively, and have an active
social life. Some say you live the dream. How do you make time for writing?
Can you share your time-management tips?
SK: I mentioned before about being disciplined. I’m a Gemini and we’re the
original multi-taskers! I have a lot of energy, and I’ve always been very good
at juggling my responsibilities and time. Writing the book(s) comes first, so
everything else has to fit in around meeting deadlines. But it’s a good thing
I don’t need more than five hours of sleep a night ... and that I hit the ground
running in the morning!
RY:It is said that there are some basic components to writing a page-turning
romance. Are those components really “goal,” “motivation,” “and conflict”?
SK: I think motivation and conflict are key. Motivation speaks to character
and why they do what they do ... or won’t do. A writer has to know his or her
characters well enough to know their motivation. Also, there’s no story unless
there is conflict. Story characters, as in real life, are struggling toward
a goal (revenge, forgiveness, enlightenment, love) and the reader needs to see
that struggle in order to root for the outcome.
RY:Many authors make it clear that they do not write “romance,” they write
“mainstream.” Can you explain the difference in the genres?
SK: I think this started because writing romance used to have a stigma of not
being “legitimate” fiction, and it was perceived as being formulaic. Saying
you were writing “mainstream” suggested that you were writing outside of that
romance box and that the story was about much more than the romance. I think
those distinctions have shrunk quite a bit over the years. I don’t hear editors
or anyone in the industry talk about “romance” or “women’s fiction” or “mainstream”
as being different.
RY:Walk us through the process from sale to writing that first chapter. How
do you prepare?
SK: For me, the most critical part of the story is the opening. I don’t rush
to begin writing when I get an idea and I have a contract. I give myself time
to really think about who the characters are and what is their story. That first
chapter not only introduces the reader to the principle character(s), but also
gives the reader a sense of who these people are. What do they believe in? What
do they want? Are they ready for change? Once I have that first chapter down,
I begin to pick up speed in laying out the journey (the story) the characters
will make.
RY:This Summer, BET’s Arabesque line will release its “Ports of Call” series.
You’re the lead author. Can you tell us about this series and about your story?
SK: I think it’s a terrific idea for a series. Each book takes place in an
exotic and romantic location around the world. The idea is to stimulate the
reader to want to travel somewhere other than to places they would normally
visit, and to broaden their worldview. My book, THE NEXT BEST THING, takes place
in Venice, Italy. I had the most fun writing that story. Of course, I went to
Venice to do research!
RY:How many projects are you effectively able to juggle at the same time?
What are you working on now?
SK: Typically, I’m working on at least three projects at once in various stages
of completion. I’m either actually writing a story, or editing another one,
or I could be fleshing out new proposals for my agent. I’ve just finished editing
a novella and a short story, both of which will be published early next year.
I’m about to start a new story that I have to finish writing by late summer.
I’ve also just recently completed proposals for three other projects.
RY:And, finally ... you have been an inspiration to many writers. You’ve selflessly
mentored a few. I count myself lucky to be among them. What encouraging words
can you give to those wishing to make writing a career?
SK: I tell writers to, first and foremost, concentrate on the writing. That’s
where their career begins. Concentrate on creating believable characters and
telling a story that will hold the reader’s attention. Write something that
hasn’t been done over and over again. And READ. See what’s already out there
in the marketplace. Believe in your work, be persistent – and if writing is
what you really want to do, don’t give up!
For more about Sandra, log on to www.sandrakitt.com
WHO’S ACQUIRING:
Harlequin Intrigue – Actively recruiting new authors
Avalon Books – Accepting submissions for romantic comedy
Mills & Boon Medical Romance – Actively recruiting new authors
COMING NEXT MONTH:
In May,we’ll interview a male romance writer – and hear his take on getting
published in a primarily female-dominated genre.
ABOUT ROMANTICALLY YOURS
Romantically Yours is a FREE monthly newsletter for students of American
Writers & Artists Inc.’s Romance Writing Course – “Writing for Love
and Money.”
We want to hear from you. Please send comments, news, research, or story
ideas directly to Marcia King-Gamble at romanticallyyours@awaionline.com.
American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
studentservices@awaionline.com
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© 2005 American Writers & Artists Inc.