Monthly Archives: November 2009
Writing from Real Life by Karen White-Owens
I’ve been a published author for approximately seven years. Since I started to write, I’ve exploring subjects that intrigue, puzzle or upset me. Circles of Love was a book that examined a painful topic. For years I pondered the idea of having no clue as to “where you came from”. The heroine in Circles of Love went in search of her mother after realizing she couldn’t marry the hero until she knew who she was. The story earned me a 4-1/2 Gold review from Romantic Times Book Club.
While negotiating my latest contract my editor suggested that I write connected books. I didn’t want to write about another large or extended family so I opted for stories connected by a large company. Living in the Detroit area, ideas swirled around the automobile companies since Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler Corporations headquarters are all located in metro Detroit.
French-owned and operated Gautier’s International Motors was born after I rejected the ideas of the Detroit based companies. I had no idea that the auto industry would stall, fail or file for bankruptcy protection to stay in business and start new. Chrysler would offer the hand of partnership to Fiat and my little story would follow some of the events that marked the news in the Detroit area.
As an undergraduate student at Wayne State University ,I worked as a nursery aide at a day care center. Many of the parents also put in several hours a week of work to lower their tuition costs. One mother in particular stayed in my thoughts for years. Kim was the parent of two little girls, Heather and Sarah. Both girls were under the age of three.
I soon learned Kim was going through a bitter divorce with her husband, Bill. As part of their separation agreement, Bill had visitation rights for the girls every other weekend. One weekend Bill didn’t return and I later learned that he disappeared with Heather and Sarah and was never seen again.
Today, things are very different. We have laws and options that weren’t in place at that time. Amber alerts and the procedures used by the police to handle these cases are different. There is a great chance of a parent having their children returned to them.
That idea has haunted me over the years. The concept of losing your children for life seemed so painful and cruel. Never knowing if they were alive or dead was beyond anything I could comprehend.
When I became an author/writer this kidnapping was a topic that I wanted to explore and try to make sense of. Hence, I Can Make You Love Me began to take shape.
Let me know your thoughts on the subject. E-mail me at karenwowens@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you. Remember, don’t be a stranger.
You can find me on facebook and myspace, or check me out at my website: www.karenwhiteowens.com.
November’s Member News
Romance Divas would like to recognize our members for their good news!
Please congratulate them on their writing achievements and success.
**We’ll post updates as they come in for the month of November.**
♦ On November 19th, Adelle Laudan’s book TRIAD OF HOPE will be available from Red Rose Publishing.
♦ Angela James has joined Carina Press as the Executive Editor. She brings with her seven years of experience in the digital arena, after working for various digital publishers (most recently Samhain Publishing). Carina Press, an extension of Harlequin Enterprise, is a digital-only publishing house that will operate independently of their traditional publishing businesses.
♦ Belle McClain’s menage TRIO was released on Nov 2 from Liquid Silver.
♦ Crista McHugh was a double finalist in the On the Far Side contest and won the paranormal category of the Emerald City Opener. She also sold her second paranormal romance novella, ANGELIC SURRENDER, to Samhain for publication in 2010.
♦ Jax Cassidy sold her erotic contemporary BRUSH STROKES to Amber Heat, an imprint of Amber Quill Press. This story will be available January 2010.
♦ Jennifer Leeland released MARKED FOR PLEASURE November 3rd from Loose-Id LCC.
♦ Jerri Drennen’s romantic suspense Grace Under Fire will be available November 18 from The Wild Rose Press.
♦ Kelly Jamieson’s erotic romance SEXPRESSO NIGHT, will be available 17 November 2009 from Ellora’s Cave.
♦ Jeannie Lin sold a historical short tentatively titled WARRIOR BRIDE to Harlequin Undone.
♦ Jennifer Colgan’s[/url]paranormal vampire novella, LA VIDA MUERTA will be available November 15th from Amber Quill Press/Amber Heat.
♦ Kim Knox’s SF erotic romance novella, WARFLESH, will be available 13 November 2009 from Ellora’s Cave.
♦ Marisa Chenery’s Paranormal/Cat Shifter Quickie, Goddess Revealed-BAST’S PERFUME, will be released at Ellora’s Cave on November 18th.
♦ MG Braden released LOVE’S BLESSINGS on November 5 from Red Rose Publishing.
♦ Natasha Mooore’s erotic fairy tale remix, THE BETTER TO EAT YOU WITH, released from Red Sage November 1st.
♦ Nell Dixon has HIS DARLING NURSE releasing from Freya’s Bower on 17th of November.
♦ Portia Da Costa’s erotic novel SHADOWPLAY will be reprinted in a new cover on 10th November – her last ever Black Lace release.
♦ Rhiannon Leith sold erotic sf novella WITH A TOUCH and erotic paranormal novel EDGE OF HEAVEN to Samhain Publishing for publication in 2010.
♦ Rowan Larke’s debut, a dark, paranormal, erotic romance, A LOVE NEVERENDING, releases November 17th from Loose Id.
♦ Seeley deBorn got an A on her Computer Programming midterm and her vehicle for Engineering Design got the highest performance score in the class.
♦ Shelley Munro’s contemporary novella, Soldier of Fortune will be available November 18th from Ellora’s Cave.
♦ Stephanie Adkin’s contemporary erotic romance suspense novella, Between Heaven and Hell, will debut from Liquid Silver Books on November 16th.
♦ The French translation of The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover by Victoria Janssen, Lecons de plaisir, is available beginning November 2009 at Amazon France and Harlequin France.
