Issue #24
December, 2006
Dear Romance Writer:
It’s December, and like you, I am up to my ears in projects. It seems everything is an effort this time of year. There are gifts to buy, cards to send, decorations to put up, parties to attend, and (yikes!) I’m on deadline again. Everyone wants a piece of me, and there just isn’t enough of me to go around.
I want to say, “Enough already,” but I can’t because I’m expected to get into the holiday spirit. If you have kids, this is especially difficult, because this time of year means the world to them. This is when your organizational skills come into play, to avoid being a “Scrooge” or a “Grinch.”
To help manage my life, I allot time for specific tasks each day. I carve out time for writing, sending cards, as well as shopping. I make daily lists and check them periodically to make sure I’ve accomplished what I’ve set out to do. If I accept an invitation to a gathering, I allow myself two hours to attend and make nice. If I am feeling particularly overwhelmed, I politely decline the invitation and send the host or hostess a lovely note (please, no email messages) with some small holiday token.
Which brings me to my next topic: ‘Tis the season to be gracious. Graciousness never, ever goes out of style, and is remembered for a long time to come. I still believe that one single act of graciousness several years ago resulted in my getting a several-book contract with my publisher today. (A story for another day.)
In a world where people frequently forget to say “please” or “thank you,” and thank you cards seem to have gone the way of dial-up, you will stand out. Your thoughtful, well-written cards will gain you points. They send the message that you care enough to acknowledge this person. Sincere, personalized notes written from the heart are always appreciated and will be treasured by those on the receiving end.
‘Tis also the season of good cheer. So get in the spirit and give to someone less fortunate than you. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, watch a neighbor’s kids, donate gently used clothing or toys to someone in need. If you work in an office, join together and adopt a family.
Happy Holidays! Happy Writing! Make this a blessed and memorable season!
Thanks for your support!
Romantically Yours,
Marcia King-Gamble
Editor of Romantically Yours
www.lovemarcia.com
P.S. If you’re still looking for a holiday gift, pick up my January release, All About Me (Harlequin/Kimani).
TOOLS OF THE TRADE:
Award-winning, best-selling author Linda Conrad contributes her wisdom to this month’s “Tools of the Trade” section.
Linda has written for both the Silhouette Desire and Silhouette Intimate Moments lines. Linda’s novels have been translated into 16 languages and are sold in over 22 countries. She has received numerous awards for her work, including both the prestigious “Maggie Award” and the “Reviewer’s Choice Award,” and was a finalist in the “Book Buyers Best” contest. The last four books in Linda’s exciting Night Guardians series are scheduled for 2007, marking her 18th published novel.
Linda gives workshops for fellow writers and loves giving back. She lives happily in south Florida and says the best things in her life are writing emotional love stories and hearing from readers. To find out more about Linda, read excerpts from her books and sign up for her contests, visit: www.LindaConrad.com
See It, Taste It, Smell It, Hear It, Touch It – Write It!
By Linda Conrad
When I got my first “revision” letter for my first published romance, the editor asked me to ramp up the sexual tension. I had no clue what she meant, but a friend suggested that I try adding more of the five senses.
So what are the five senses? And what can we do with them to add sexual tension to our writing?
Sight – includes what our characters see and observe, in their “point of view”
Taste – the flavor of love… savor, tang, hunger, thirst
Smell – scent and fragrance (and what emotions those smells represent)
Hearing – the sounds of love… speaking, tones, music
Touch – what our characters feel, finger, hold, handle, stroke, and caress
After many years of writing and rewriting, I now think of the five senses with every word. Can my reader hear what I hear? Feel what I feel?
Since I “see” my story in my head like a movie, I’ve had to train myself to put all the senses into my writing so others can “see” it too. I’ve found that adding the senses makes a romance novel that much more sensuous and alive to the reader. When the hero says to himself, “She smells like flowers. Roses, or maybe something spicier. Whatever the scent, it sneaks into my gut and makes me crazy.” We can all smell it too. And know what he means. That’s what we want for our readers.
Here are a few thoughts on the subject of the senses from other authors:
On the difference between “category” tone and “single-title” tone:
“Category prose is softer in nature, more sensory-oriented, spends more time on description to enhance the ‘feeling’ of the story. The focus is on the emotional aspect of everything the H&H go through in the story. The writer’s words are chosen to evoke feelings... the category reader expects to feel the emotions the two experience and to have their longings and desires strongly emphasized.”
By Dani Criss, author for Silhouette Books
On the difference between “sensual” and “sexual”:
“A truly memorable scene evolves only if the reader becomes a participant. Coerce her to join in the experience by appealing to the senses – taste, sight, smell, touch, and hearing. Present a familiar, identifiable image, but make its delivery unique:
His warm breath fanned her cheek.
His breath whispered like a summer breeze against her cheek.
Her long blonde hair swished across her shoulders.
He admired her long golden hair, how it shimmered like a satin scarf.
Skin the color of fine alabaster, it felt like polished marble.
His lips tasted like a mint julep with a dab of honey.”
By Judy Ballard in “The Art of Wordsmithing: Sensual vs. Sexual,” an article from Lyrics, the newsletter for the Land of Enchantment Romance Authors (LERA).
Example of the proper use of sensual and compelling words vs. plain and boring ones:
This sample paragraph is from the Prologue to Nora Roberts’ Enchanted (Silhouette Intimate Moments, November 1999, ISBN 0-37307961-3) and is reprinted here only as an example of an excellent way to add the five senses to your writing.
“The wind from across the sea spewed across the pines, sent them singing songs of the ancients and spilling their scent into the air. Small creatures with eyes that gleamed hid and watched the sleek black shape bullet through the lacy layer of mist that shimmered down the beaten path. He knew they were there, could smell them, hear the rapid beat of their blood. But he hunted nothing that night but the night itself.”
Can you see it, taste it, smell it, touch it? Now you can write it!
HAPPENINGS:
February 2-3, 2007
The Mystery of Suspense 2007
Sponsor: Heart of the West, Utah Chapter
Location: Airport Hilton, Salt Lake City, Utah
Fee: $130-140
Featuring: Karen Robards
Keynote Speaker: Christina Skye
www.utahrwa.com
mary@marymartinez.com
hylliscampbell84302@yahoo.com
February 23-25, 2007
Fun in the Sun 2007: Miami Heat
Sponsor: Florida Romance Writers
Location: Dadeland Marriott, Miami, Florida
Fee: $210-$235
Keynote Speaker: Sherrilyn Kenyon
www.frwriters.org/conferences.html
March 3, 2007
The Write Business Workshop
Sponsor: Indiana Romance Writers
Location: Radisson Hotel, Indianapolis Airport
www.indianarwa.com
March 2-4, 2007
Roar in Like a Lion Conference
Sponsor: The GRRRWA (Grand Rapids Region)
Location: 28th Street Hilton, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.grrrwa.org/conference.html
March 30-31, 2007
Southern Magic’s Romance in the Magic City
Location: Wynfry Hotel, Riverchase Galleria, Birmingham, Alabama
www.southernmagic.org/conferences.html
March 30-31, 2007
Pasic Power Conference (for published authors)
Location: New York Broadway Millennium Hotel
www.pasic.net/conference.html
March 30-31, 2007
Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference
Sponsor: New England Chapter RWA
Location: Crown Plaza, Natic, Massachusetts
www.necrwa.org/Brochure/conference.htm
INTERVIEW WITH U.S.A. BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, KAREN ROSE
This month, U.S.A. best-selling author and RITA winner, Karen Rose, gives us a peek into the writer’s life. Karen is an inspiration, having attained the success that many authors seek in a relatively short time. Here’s what this chemical engineer turned writer has to say about career, family and her life.
RY: What inspired you to become a romance writer? How did you make the transition from a chemical engineer to a writer of romantic suspense novels?
KR: I read a lot for pleasure as a kid, but when I got to high school, I stopped – I spent all my spare time studying and reading textbooks. After college, I took a job that required me to fly frequently, and at the time I really hated to get on an airplane. At the beginning, I read every genre – anything to forget I was at 30,000 feet. But once I read my first romance (LaVyrle Spenser’s Years), I was hooked. From then on, I was a romance reader exclusively. I loved the happy endings! When I started seeing book scenes unfolding in my mind, they were romances. I guess I didn’t really “decide” to be a romance writer. It just was what filled my mind.
I never was entirely a left-brained engineer, anyway. My expertise was finding connections in work processes. Why do people do things? In what order do they do them? How are their activities dependent on or related to those of others? Believe it or not, the plot of a book flows well from this train of thought!
RY: And now you’ve achieved a level of success most in the industry aspire too. How do you marry your left and right brain to come up with such intriguing stories?
KR: I’m not really sure. The two sides of my brain kind of just get along well together. Seriously, the logical left is looking at the details, planning, keeping everything ordered. The right asks “Why?” and “What’s the worst thing that could happen to this character?”… then sniffles when all those bad things happen!
RY: I assume you have an agent now. Would you recommend a newbie get an agent or try to sell on their own?
KR: Although it’s said that it’s harder to get an agent than an editor, I’d recommend focusing on finding an agent first. Agents know the market and can get above the trees to see the forest, providing perspective most authors don’t have on their own. Besides, many editors won’t accept unagented submissions, so not only is an agent necessary for guidance and negotiation, they’re critical for basic entrée. I sought an agent before I tried to sell my work – it was well worth the investment of time.
RY: I also read somewhere that you’re taking karate. What made you choose this discipline?
KR: I’ve always wanted to study martial arts, and when I began writing full-time I finally had the time to do so. In addition to the self-defense benefits, it’s wonderful exercise and empties my mind. It’s de-stressing and I enjoy it. I’ve been testing for my yellow belt (the next belt up from white) and hope to earn it before the holidays are over.
RY: You’re a RITA winner (an award given by Romance Writers of America to its published authors) and a USA Today best-selling author. Did your success come as a complete surprise, or did you set specific goals and have a marketing strategy to get there?
KR: Every big success still comes as a surprise to me. My husband is never surprised, which is so sweet – he’s my most faithful cheerleader. Seeing Have You Seen Her (my second book) hit the USA Today list was a shock because I never expected it to happen! When my editor called to tell me, I was speechless (or as speechless as I ever get, anyway). Winning the RITA was a moment I’ll never forget. I still have to lift my eyes at times – the statue sits on the shelf above my computer – to prove it really happened. As for goals and strategies, of course I always wanted to win a RITA, but I’m not sure there’s much more strategy to it than writing the best book you can.
RY: And now that you’re a best-selling author and a winner of prestigious awards, is their enormous pressure to stay at the top? What do you do to manage your stress level?
KR: I think my biggest pressure is not to disappoint anyone – my readers especially. There are times I stress, worrying if the next book will be as good as the last. I usually have to step back and remember why I started writing in the first place, then let the characters in my head have the floor. Ultimately, they tell the story. I’m along for a very enjoyable ride!
Managing my stress level is not easy, although it’s become easier since I started writing full-time. It’s a wonder what a good night’s sleep can do for your stress. When I was a high school teacher, I’d go weeks on 2-3 hours of sleep a night, and my stress levels were high. Now I sleep more, try to exercise regularly, and the karate really helps!
RY: How do you research your stories? Do you interview people with similar backgrounds or professions as your hero and heroine? Or do you use the library or depend on the Internet?
KR: I’m lucky enough to meet people who have really cool jobs, and I ask a lot of questions. When I need to know something specific, I first try the Internet, because I’m basically pretty shy. Nobody ever believes that, but it’s true! If I can’t find it on the Net, and if I don’t know the right folks, I pick up the phone and call. I always get a stomachache before I call, but most people enjoy talking about what they do. By the time I hang up the phone, I’m really glad I made the phone call.
RY: Is it a struggle juggling family commitments, motherhood, and writing? What words of advice do you have for those aspiring writers holding down day jobs, managing families, and trying to write?
KR: Don’t give up! And I hope you have a husband as terrific as mine. My husband does the cooking and the laundry, and his domestic skills are much better than mine. I can make three meals, all of which require Bisquick (ha!). Holding down a day job while I tried to write was hard, I have to say. I did it for 13 years, and though I was scared to give up the salary (meager as a school teacher’s pay was), I’m thrilled to know I can write all night without having to worry about working a day job the next morning.
RY: Count to Ten, your latest book, is scheduled for release in February of 2007. This is your fifth book, or am I wrong? Can you give us a sneak peek as to what to expect?
KR: Actually Count to Ten is my sixth single title. (I’ve also written a novella.) Count to Ten is homicide detective Mia Mitchell’s story. Introduced in I’m Watching You in 2004, Mia has also helped save the day in Nothing to Fear and You Can’t Hide. In Count to Ten, Mia is paired with Chicago fire investigator Reed Solliday when Reed finds a homicide victim in one of his fire scenes. Together they race to catch a serial arsonist who has an insatiable desire for revenge and will ruthlessly kill anyone who gets in his way. Reed and Mia know they must combine all their skills to stop him, and in the process realize how much they truly need each other.
RY: What are your plans for marketing Count to Ten? Will your publisher support your marketing efforts? If so, how?
KR: At this time, my marketing plans focus on communicating with readers through my website and with booksellers through mailers. A solid, attractive yet efficiently functional website is worth gold. I’m fortunate to have a fabulous web designer who keeps mine running well. My publisher is very supportive in everything from offering ideas, to producing cover art that jumps off the shelf, to publicity. Of course, an integral part of the team is the sales force – their support is critical to getting books into the hands of booksellers and librarians, who then get them into the hands of readers.
RY: Any parting words of advice to our aspiring writers as 2007 appears on the horizon?
KR: Don’t write to be published. Write because you love the characters and because the story unfolds in your mind until there isn’t room for anything else. When you’ve written that story, do your homework – find out who is specifically interested in representing or publishing what you’ve just written. Above all, don’t give up!
RY: What can we expect from Karen Rose in 2007?
KR: Well, there is Count to Ten in February (Mia Mitchell’s story). Then in September, 2007 we’ll release Die for Me (Vito Ciccotelli’s story). Vito is Tess’s brother from You Can’t Hide. Set in present day Philadelphia, Vito meets archeologist Sophie Johannsen when he brings her in to consult on a puzzling case. The clues reach back to the Middle Ages, but the crimes are firmly grounded in 21st century technology.
And of course, I’ll be writing more books. Right now I’m still working the proposal for my eighth novel, but will keep readers apprised through my website as I get moving on this story!
For more about Karen, please visit: www.karenrosebooks.com.
WHO’S ACQUIRING:
Silhouette Nocturne
Length: 70,000-75,000 words
Editorial Director: Tara Gavin
Nocturne is looking for stories that deliver a dark, very sexy read designed to entertain readers and take them to a complex, paranormal world. These stories will be fast-paced, action-packed and mission-oriented, with a strong level of sensuality. The hero is a key figure – looking for stories of vampires, shapeshifters werewolves, etc. Please submit a query letter with a detailed synopsis and three chapters with a SASE large enough to hold the entirety of your work to:
Tara Gavin
Silhouette Nocturne
233 Broadway, Suite 1001
New York, New York 10279
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historicals
Length: 75,000-85,000 words
Editor: Melissa Endlich
Editorial Office: New York
Steeple Hill imprint is a series of historical romances featuring Christian characters facing the many challenges of life and love in a variety of historical time periods. Open to manuscripts set in the following time periods: biblical fiction, Americana (e.g. Westerns, post-Civil War, etc.), European historical eras (e.g. Tudor, Regency and Victorian England, 18th-century Scotland, etc.) and 20th century (turn-of-the-century through World War II). Also interested in stories featuring missionaries abroad in exotic locations during various historical periods. Looking for authors writing from a Christian point of view and conveying their personal faith. Stories should touch the hearts of believers.
Kimani Press/Harlequin’s African American Imprint
Seeking for:
Kimani Romance
Kimani Inspirational
Kimani New Spirit
Kimani Sepia
Kimani Arabesque.
Log onto www.eHarlequin.com for guidelines.
HarperCollins Publishers
Currently looking for historical romance, contemporary romance (including romantic suspense), and African-American romance:
Historical Romance:
(100,000 words/approximately 400 ms. pages)
A man and a woman meet – she’s like no other woman he’s ever known. She tantalizes him in ways he never thought possible... and he’ll stop at nothing to make her his – forever.
Seeking deliciously romantic historical novels for all parts of the list – Avon Romance, Avon Treasure and Avon Superleader. These are love stories set primarily in Great Britain and the United States before 1900, and they are filled with all the promise – and passion – that Avon readers expect.
Contemporary Romance:
(100,000 words/approximately 400 ms. pages)
We seek stories of emotional complexity, written by authors with unique voices. Books with humor, drama, romantic suspense – all types and tones.
African-American Romance:
Avon Romantic Treasure
(90,000 words/approximately 380 pages)
Actively seeking romance with African-American heroes and heroines. These should be contemporary love stories of approximately 90,000-100,000 words, set in the United States. Each author will be packaged, and developed, individually. So, if your manuscript has the unforgettable emotion, irresistible characters – especially the hero – and sizzling sensuality that are hallmarks of Avon romance, please send it right away.
How to Submit a Manuscript:
To submit your historical, contemporary, or African-American romance, please query by sending an email to avonromance@harpercollins.com. (Please use the word “Query” as the subject of your email.) Your query should be brief, no more than a two-page description of your book. Do not send chapters or a full synopsis at this time. You will receive a response – in approximately one to two weeks.
COMING NEXT MONTH:
New York Times best-selling author Joan Johnston, attorney turned romance author, gives us her perspective on writing romances.
ABOUT ROMANTICALLY YOURS
Romantically Yours is a FREE monthly newsletter for members of American Writers & Artists Inc.’s romance writing program – “Writing for Love & 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
memberservices@awaionline.com
© 2006 American Writers & Artists Inc.