Founded in November 2004, Romance Divas is an award winning, free writer's resource website and discussion forum dedicated to the romance and writing community. Our vision is to provide a fun place for writers to learn about the craft and business of writing in a supportive environment, where our members share in the personal and professional journey with other aspiring and published writers.
Come join us, explore the site and Unleash your inner Diva!
Miranda Neville is the author of historical romances set in Regency England. She grew up in England and spent her youth devouring historical novels. After studying history at Oxford University, she spent several years writing catalogues of rare books and original letters and manuscripts for Sotheby’s auction house in London and New York. Later she worked as a journalist and small business owner before discovering the delights of writing fiction. Always a sucker for happy endings, a few years ago she decided to try her hand at romance. How hard could it be? Several manuscripts under-the-bed (or deep in the hard drive) later, HarperCollins bought Never Resist Temptation, published in 2009 by Avon Books. The Wild Marquis appeared in March 2010 to be followed later this month by The Dangerous Viscount. She now lives in beautiful rural Vermont with her daughter, a college student and confirmed drama queen.
**Miranda will be giving away 1 copy of her latest release here on the RD blog and 1 copy during her workshop on the Romance Divas FORUM. Please comment to be eligible for the random drawing. Winner will be contacted via email so please provide this info if it is not attached to your user link. **
We love stories about “the Call”, what were you doing at the time and how did you feel when it happened?
I always feel my call story is rather undramatic. My agent called one morning to say a couple of editors had turned down my book. Later that afternoon I was sitting at my desk, feeling depressed and trying to write, when she called again with the news that Avon had made an offer. I was kind of numb at first, then of course I called everyone and screamed and drank champagne.
Please tell us a little about your current release.
THE DANGEROUS VISCOUNT is the second in my Burgundy Club series. Sebastian Iverley is not your typical hero. To be blunt, he’s a bit of a nerd, Regency style, and he has always avoided women until he falls for Diana Fanshawe, a beautiful widow. When he learns Diana has been using him to attract his hated cousin, the nerd swears revenge. With the help of his fellow club members (lots of opportunity for male banter) he gets an extreme makeover. Sebastian cleans up well, turns into a real hottie and the sparks fly. I loved writing this couple: Diana is much less sophisticated than she thinks, while Sebastian is much less clueless than he appears.
Do you think you’ll branch out and write other genres other than historicals?
I haven’t any plan to do so, but never say never.
What should we expect to see from you in the future?
I’ve just finished the third Burgundy Club book, to be published next summer, and there’s one more for me to write.
If you weren’t a writer what would career path would you choose?
I have to laugh! Being a writer has been almost an afterthought careerwise. I came to fiction relatively late. But writing historical romance is my best job yet. Now I’ve always wished I could be an opera singer, but I never had the necessary talent (like a basic ability to sing in tune!)
What is the biggest misconception you’ve come across about being a romance author? I find people are interested in what I do and curious to know more about the business of romance writing, about which they know absolutely nothing. I am often asked if I have to write to a formula, if there is a set of rules that we all have to follow. You know, there are days that the Muse isn’t cooperating and computer screen frighteningly blank when a formula would be nice (“I’m on page 42 so it’s time for the first kiss”)
If you were a lipstick color, what would it be called and why? Oh boy! That’s a difficult question. OK, here goes: Crimson Rose Twist – deeply romantic with a touch of sarcasm.
What are you reading right now?
A medieval historical by my CP, getting it ready to send to her agent. She isn’t published yet but it won’t be long! For entertainment I’m reading Katharine Ashe’s Swept Away by a Kiss, a really fun high-drama Regency.
What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I’d rather eat fruit than chocolate. And yes, I know this fact could get me thrown out of the romance writers’ guild.
What advice do you have for unpublished writers? Finish your book. The one novel that is absolutely never going to sell is an unfinished one. And when you’ve finished it, start the next. Every book you write will be better than the last. One day you may be pleased your first manuscript didn’t sell (I am). Or you may be pleased when it does sell and you have the follow up book already written.
Any words for your readers?
Thank you reading my books. And please feel free to tell me what you like or don’t like (particularly the former!) or ask me any questions. All writers know a huge amount about their characters that never get into the book. I love chatting about them. Send me an email: miranda (at) mirandaneville.com
AOTM WORKSHOP: DATES: SEPTEMBER 21-23
TOPIC: Motivation and Voice: Character Autobiographies
Ever got to page 75 and wondered who the heck these people are? Get your characters ready to drive your plot. Establish their motivation and conflict from page 1. Develop a distinct voice for each of them. Avoid Back Story Dump. Learn how to write your characters’ autobiographies and do all this, plus clean your bathroom and achieve World Peace.
**Workshop is featured in our FORUM. Required registration. Become a member and participate for free.**
Title: Wicked Surrender
Author: Jade Lee
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Reviewed By: Jax Cassidy
* * * * * *
This Regency historical takes you on an emotional journey with Scher Martin, an actress and proprietor of the Green Room playhouse and tavern. From page one, you can feel the heated attraction between Scher and Lord (Brandon) Blackstone. Although the physical desires cannot be met, it’s not the only source of their troubles. It’s evident that Scher yearns for marriage and respectability due to circumstances stemming from her past, yet when she has the opportunity to marry Brandon’s cousin Kit, she realizes that everything she ever wanted isn’t what she wanted at all.
If you want to read a story about a sharp-witted heroine, an exceedingly sexy and brooding hero, WICKED SURRENDER is the right choice. Jade Lee is a strong writer and creates an intriguing ensemble cast that includes potential in-laws you’d want to run far away from, and a fiancé that you can’t wait to see grow into a man. Although I enjoyed the book, I felt the pacing picked up in the second half where the storytelling provided a juicier bit of drama and action. The Epilogue (and sneak peek) made me look forward to WICKED SEDUCTION, the next installment in this series.
* * * * * *
The daughter of an actress, Scher Martin feels she’ll never fulfill her dreams of acquiring a good home and having a respectable family, so she agrees to be the mistress of Brandon Cates, Viscount Blackthorn.
But when Brandon’s cousin proposes marriage, Scher finds herself torn between the propriety she craves and the love of a dark and troubled man.
R.G. Alexander has lived all over the United States, studied archaeology and mythology, been a nurse and a vocalist, and now, a writer. She is happily married to a talented chef who is her best friend, her research assistant, and the love of her life.
**R.G. is giving away copy of POSSESS ME. If you’d like to be added to the random drawing, please post a comment and provide your email address if it is not linked to your username. For US Residents only.**
We love stories about “the Call”, so how exciting was yours? Being a Romance Diva member, how did you share this news?
Honestly it was kind of like my wedding-it all happened in a blur and its hard to remember everything. Every email or phone call was something new and exciting, including names I’d hardly dared imagine would be used in connection with mine. Harlequin Spice, Berkley etc. My one small novella suddenly became 3, and I was contracted for an actual book. I do remember being on the phone a lot with Eden Bradley as she reminded me to breathe. And that none of it felt real or complete until I’d shared it with the divas.
How has it been for you to jump from ePublishing to NY print? What are you doing to prepare yourself?
Well, there has been a lot of nail biting and hair loss–lol. No, actually its wonderful. I’m a big proponent of having my cake and my e-cake too. *wink* The biggest difference are the time lines and the control factor. With e-publishing your hand is in your book from start to finish, cover to blurb, and you have a fairly quick turn around for book releases and responses. NY print you have deadlines, and some input on cover and blurb. You get to panic for a year before it comes out, and write proposals (something I’m admittedly stinky at). But you also get to work with AMAZING people. I love love love Kate Seaver, my editor. Its a crazy process, all of it, but now that I’ve done it, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What do you think is the most important thing to focus on when your first novel POSSESS ME drops on August 3rd, 2010?
My upcoming deadline August 9th. And then the one after that. After all the promotion online, and the heeding of publicist advice, in the end there isn’t a lot you can do. Something you created is out in the world and it will sink or soar depending far more on reader’s reactions than on any creative media blitz… I do a lot of positive visualizing and my husband gives me chocolate. That helps.
Your new book focuses on the world of voodoo. How were you able to make it sexier versus the normal misconceptions of it being scary?
When I first got the idea I was truly hesitant for that very reason. Wasn’t voodoo about zombies and being buried alive? Then I thought about vampires-traditionally they are ancient corpses who live off human blood to survive. When you say it like that it doesn’t sound very sexy, does it?
And yet, vampires are some of the sexiest romance heroes out there.
Thankfully, my characters were persistent and I found out through my research that–as with every religion–voodoo has layers of light and dark. It isn’t as scary as it appears, it is actually a fascinating amalgam of tribalism, animism, catholicism and ancestor worship. And there are more similarities to old folk legends and myths we all know than most would imagine-so I stayed away from some of the more graphic rituals, and focused on that. I think it stayed sexy because Bone Daddy (the voodoo spirit, or Loa in question) can’t help but be anything but.
Can you tell us a little bit about POSSESS ME?
Well, let me give you the blurb.
In the Big Easy, there’s a legend women long for: a sexual voodoo spirit who can fulfill their darkest fantasies. And in these three steaming-hot novellas, he helps two New Orleans couples achieve the ultimate satisfaction…and may even find it himself.
In Release Me, Allegra heads down to New Orleans to heal her wounds, but she never expects to lose her heart to such a quiet, troubled man as Rousseau. She’s even less prepared for the scorching, sexual spirit within him-and what he can do to her…
In Reclaim Me, Ben has loved Michelle as long as he can remember. But his beautiful artist has a way of running away from life-and what the pair could be. Leave it to the infamous spirit to help Ben prove to Michelle where she belongs: in his embrace…
In Redeem Me, it’s All Saints’ Day, the one day the voodoo spirit can walk the world in the flesh. When he bumps into Bethany, she might just be the reincarnation of a girl he once loved. Passion ignites, but can the couple overcome past mistakes and have a real chance at love?
What should we expect to see from you in the future?
Well, I have several ongoing series with Samhain Publishing online, WICKED BAD-the sequel to WICKED SEXY-comes out in September, and MY DEMON SAINT-the sequel to MY SHIFTER SHOWMANCE comes out in November of this year. Next year I will be very busy writing in anthologies with other wonderful authors like Eden Bradley and SL Carpenter, and I should have two more books out with Berkley Heat: my Sedona anthology about three friends and THREE SINFUL WISHES, and the sequel to POSSESS ME called TEMPT ME.
Hopefully I will continue to be blessed with work for the foreseeable future.
What is the biggest misconception you’ve come across about being a romance author?
That it isn’t hard work. That it’s not real writing. That it’s not a viable career choice. You name it. No one knows until they try to write one story, and after the first keep writing, write on a deadline, write when you’re sick or your husbands sick or someone in your family is dying. No one who hasn’t tried it can understand. Is it worth it? Without a doubt. But its not easy.
We always think this gives our readers insight on the author…If you were a nail polish color, what would it be called and why?
Barely There. haha. I’m not saying I’m flighty or anything. But without my husband I would no doubt be walking around blind, shoeless and locked out of my house. I’m a little too lost in my own head. I’m more of a clear polish kind of girl anyway. Except for conference *wink*
What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
Despite my forgetfulness, I have an insane memory for song lyrics, television themes and commercial jingles. Once a song gets in my head, I usually remember it forever. I so could be on Name That Tune.
What advice do you have for unpublished writers?
Keep writing. It took 7 months for me to get a response to my first submission. A year for it to release. I am NOT a patient person. But Crystal Jordan, a fellow diva, told me to keep writing. You get faster, ideas flow, you learn-plus it helps distract you from the fun waiting around part of being a writer. I’m not sure who said it first, but I heard it from Nora Roberts. “You can’t edit a blank page.”
Also seek out readers. Other authors you can critique with. Editing yourself is like singing in the shower. You may think it sounds amazing, but before you go on American Idol, you should probably get a second opinion from someone who isn’t a blood relative.
Oh and last but not least, be persistent. Take NO in stride. If it is what you want, go after it and don’t hold back until you get that YES.
Any words for your readers?
THANK YOU. Seriously. Thank you for the emails, the support, for caring about what happens to the side characters. Thank you for letting me share my imaginary friends with you. It means more to me than you could ever know.
♦ Crista McHugh’s steamy Regency novel, Lessons From A Scoundrel, won First Place in the Ignite the Flame contest, First Place in the Weta Nichols Writing Contest, and is a Finalist in the Windy City RWA’s Four Seasons Contest. Her Erotic Science Fiction novel, Tangled Web, won First Place in Passionate Ink’s Stroke of Midnight Contest. And her Historical Paranormal novel, Once in a Coyote Moon, won Second Place in the Ignite the Flame Contest.
♦ Eden Bradley’s erotic contemporary e-book, SUMMER SOLSTICE, Book Three in her Celestial Seductions series, will be out from Samhain Publishing on August 10th.
♦ COMING CLEAN, by Inez Kelley, Book #3 in the erotic novella series ‘Dirty Laundry’, releases August 30th from Carina Press.
♦ Kate Pearce’sfirst book in The Tudor Vampire Chronicles,KISS OF THE ROSE, releases August 3rd from Signet Publishing.
♦ Katie Reus signed a contract with Carina Press for a hot romantic suspense.
♦ Kim Knox’s erotic science fiction romance, PAINTED PROMISE, will be released on 18 August from Ellora’s Cave. And her winner of the Loose Id Hot Hooks Contest, TOUCH OF A DRAGON, releases 24 August.
With over 50 original novels, published in more than twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestselling author with more than six million copies sold. She is a winner of the 2008 National Reader’s Choice Award, four time finalist for the RWA Rita Award, a finalist for the Reviewer’s Choice Award, the Bookseller’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion and appears regularly on the Waldenbooks bestsellers list. Ms. Quinn writes for Harlequin and MIRA Books.
Ms. Quinn is a Past President of the Romance Writers of America and served for eight years on the Board of Directors of that association. She has a wide range of experience as a public speaker and workshop presenter for writers groups around the country. You can visit her on the web at www.tarataylorquinn.
**Tara will be giving away copies of her latest release(s) during her workshop on the Romance Divas FORUM. Registration is free.**
You have a long history of writing for Harlequin and have published over 50 books in their category and single title lines, how has your journey been with them?
A dream come true. When I was fourteen I used to tell people I was going to write for Harlequin some day. And here I am. Some days I can still hardly believe it. I read every single Superromance that had ever been published before I submitted to them. I knew what they wanted. What I, as a reader, wanted. To me, giving it to them was as natural as breathing.
We love stories about “the Call”, so how exciting was yours?
Very! It was mid-morning. I was home with my young daughter, in the room I used as an office. I’d been writing while she played in the room behind me. I remember answering the phone. I remember hearing the voice. I remember who called. I can remember her tone of voice. And I remember not breathing. I was very calm. Didn’t say much. Because I couldn’t. I wasn’t breathing. I simply and professionally agreed to sell her my book. I agreed to the terms. I thanked her. I hung up the phone and screamed and then started to cry. I couldn’t sit still. Couldn’t think. Eventually I started to breathe again.
Please tell us a little about your current release.
I have a series coming out this fall – The Chapman Files. It starts with four back to back books. The First Wife is a Superromance out in September, 2010. That’s followed by three MIRA suspense titles. The Second Lie, 10/10; The Third Secret, 11/10; and The Fourth Victim, 12/10. The series is centered around an expert witness psychologist, Kelly Chapman. Each book is one of her files – one of her cases. The fourth book is her story. Each book stands alone, as each case is separate from the other, but there are continuing elements that readers will recognize in each book.
What should we expect to see from you in the future?
I’m currently working on a new Superromance. It’ll be out in 2011. I wrote a series of books several years ago set in a fictional town we called Shelter Valley. The 2011 Super is going back to Shelter Valley. The current heroine was nineteen in one of the previous books. I’m also hoping to continue with more from The Chapman Files.
If you weren’t a writer what would career path would you choose?
Can’t think of one. I had my first professional writing job when I was sixteen. I worked as a stringer for the Dayton Daily News in Dayton, Ohio. I’ve known since I was in first grade that I was a writer.
What are you reading right now?
One of my old Shelter Valley books, Nothing Sacred. I’m doing research for the book I’m writing!
What is the biggest misconception you’ve come across about being a romance author?
I thought once I got published I wouldn’t worry anymore about my validation as a writer. I still worry. Every single book. The clothes the worry wears change. But the body of worry does not. Is this book as good as the last? Will the numbers be good enough? Will the publicity I’ve done be enough? Will the book get shelf space? A good cover? Will anyone like what I wrote? Will someone decide I’m not good enough anymore?
Now for something fun–If you were a nail polish color, what would it be called and why?
Deep Burgundy. A shade of red to symbolize intense emotion. Deep because I live, write, talk think and breath deep. Burgundy because I’ve got a bit of darkness in me. I’m no ordinary red.
What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
I have no idea. I don’t know how other people see me. I’m surprised to know that I’m an avid roller blader. I never saw myself as the athletic sort. I never thought I had it in me to love the hard work, the sweat. I certainly never thought I’d crave it.
What advice do you have for unpublished writers?
If you have to write, write. Just write. Don’t listen to the rules. Don’t set yourself up with an awareness of rights and wrongs regarding your writing. Just write. Allow what is within you to flow freely without boundaries. When the story is told, you can always go back and work on grammar,etc. You can pay attention to the rules after the art has been created. You can’t create art by paying attention to rules.
Any words for your readers?
Please join Kelly and I as we reveal The Chapman Files and let us know what you think of them!!!
AOTM WORKSHOP: DATES: AUGUST 16-18
TOPIC: “YOU HAD ME AT HELLO” – How to Stay Driven in a Time Crunched World
Getting what you want IS within your control. We all have the power within us to make our dreams come true. Come and participate in this hands on experience to find out what you have and how to use it to get what you want.
**Workshop is featured in our FORUM. Required registration. Become a member and participate for free.**
Since 1993 Craig White Illustration has been providing illustration services for the media industry. Craig’s work has appeared on the covers of best-selling authors such as, Carrie Vaughn, Ellen Byerrum, Marjorie Liu, Glynnis Campbell, Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, Clive and Dirk Cussler, Laurell K. Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon and others. Craig’s work has also appeared on national magazine advertisements, packaging, outdoor, and web sites.
An avid surfer and snowboarder, Craig resides in southern California with his beautiful wife and constantly amazing daughter.
How did you get your start doing covers?
My first freelancing illustration job (about 17 years ago) was doing artwork for Marvel, illustrating comic book trading cards. Through that job, I met my agent Peter Lott. After Marvel stopped doing the cards, Peter got me a series called ‘Give Yourself Goosebumps’ in a similar style. That series led to more young adult series and I started doing more photo manipulation style illustration. Over the years, those styles evolved into what you see today… but I’m always trying new things to try and stay fresh– trying to evolve and keep up with what’s cool and current.
Who’s been the biggest influence on your art?
I would have to say Cliff Nielsen. I fell in love with his work back when I started. I sort of tried to imitate his look at first and then just developed my own style out of that. I still love his work… really amazing.
How much input do you get from the publisher/author when doing a cover?
I don’t know how other artists work, but for me, the publisher and art directors dictate what they want for the cover. It’s rare that I get a manuscript to read. Sometimes it happens, but not very often. Usually the Art Director already has the general idea of what they want and it’s up to me to fill in the details or just make the idea viable. I actually prefer this as I do several covers a month and I don’t have the time to read everything that I work on. The big publishers have their own marketing departments who specialize in what they do and I think they have a lot of influence internally. They do know which books sell and which don’t and hopefully which covers work and which don’t. There are only a few authors that I do covers for, that I know for a fact, have direct influence/approval in the cover art– for better or for worse . As a new author, it must be scary to have limited control on the cover of your book, but I guess the system seems to work.
What’s your creative process like?
I get a synopsis of what the Art Director wants via email. At that point, sometimes I’ll do some pencil sketches and get approval to proceed. Other times I’ll just set up a photo shoot with approved models and get started on the illustration. Many times the Art Director will site samples of previous covers I’ve done as a guide to what they would like. I’ll do the illustration and then we go back and forth with revisions until everyone is happy. Then I send the high resolution to the publisher and several months later it’s on the shelves.
What’s the one thing you’d like authors to know about the creation of a cover?
Hmm. I’m not sure if this is what you mean, but I want them to know that I give 100% effort to every cover I do, no matter what the budget or time frame. I will try with all my might to produce art that I would be proud to put on my own book cover (If I could write ).
With the rise of self-publishing, people will want to know – do you do freelance covers? If so, what’s the starting price?
I sometimes do commissions. It just depends on how busy I am. I believe the range traditional publishers pay for cover artwork is $2500-$7000. I also realize self-publishers are reaching into their own pockets to pay for cover art, so I might not be an affordable option. If I was going to work with a self-publisher, the price would be dictated by how much time is involved or in other words, how complicated the desired imagery is to create. If backed against a wall, I would probably say $500 is a good place to start for a self-publisher. Model fees and props are an additional expense.
What book are you currently reading? What music are you currently listening to?
I just started ‘Good Omens’ by Neil Gaimen and Terry Prachett… which is hilarious. On the music front, I just bought BT’s latest ‘These Hopeful Machines’ as well as ‘Broken Bells’ self titled release, both fantastic.
What inspires you?
Music, movies, books,… anything creative really gets me going. Visual art is a big one for me though. I recently got inspired to start painting with oils again after watching a Greg Manchess instructional dvd. Wow, I love his work. For me, I obtain real inspiration from amazing “illustrators” more so than “fine artists”… from Leyendecker to Rockwell to Frank Frazetta and John Buscema, to all the current crop of amazing illustrators living today giving us fantastic visuals everyday. They inspire me to continually strive to become a better artist. And, last but not least. Fans! I love hearing from people who like what I do… it warms my heart and makes me try even harder the next time I sit down to create another cover.
Ella has also accepted a contract for her Science Fiction Romance novel, Silver Bound, from Carina Press.
She’ll be signing her August 3rd print release from Samhain Publishing, The Forbidden Chamber, at the RWA Literacy Signing in Orlando, July 28th. She’ll also be attending ReaderCon in Burlington, MA, July 8-11th.
♦ The second novella in Crista McHugh’s Kavanaugh Foundation series, Angelic Surrender, releases from Samhain Publishing on July 20.
♦ Imogen Howson announces the sale of the second book in her Volcano series, Blood of the Volcano, to Samhain Publishing.Blood of the Volcano is the stand-alone sequel to Heart of the Volcano.
♦ Inez Kelley’sMYLA BY MOONLIGHT releases in print from Samhain Publishing July 6th. The stand-alone sequel from Carina Press SALOME AT SUNRISE earned 4 stars from RT Book Review.
Inez Kelley accepted a contract for her full-length contemporary romance MONSTER LOVE from Carina Press.
♦ Jennifer Leeland and Mima sold their novellas “Bitter Gold” and “Commanded To Mate” as an anthology called “Bound Among The Stars” to Liquid Silver Books.
♦ Jodi Henley is doing five de-construction seminars for savvyauthors, details to be announced.
Whipped Cream Reviews gave it 4.5 cherries! Tiger Lily says “If you want a story that packs an emotional punch, steams the computer screen, and is one you won’t soon forget, then you need to read Picture This.” To read the full review go here.
♦ The first of Kate Pearce’s Tudor Vampire Chronicles, Kiss of the Rose will be published on August 3rd by Signet Eclipse.
Her erotic Regency historical romance, Simply Wicked finaled in the Passionate Pen contest.
♦ Kristen Painter announces the sale of her steampunk romance novella, MISS BRAMBLE AND THE LEVIATHAN, to Samhain for October release. Her Samhain paranormal romance, All Fired Up, comes out in print on July 6th.
♦ Mima’s short erotic romance Light on the Water releases as a solo title at Total E-Bound July 16. It recently released as an audio title as well.
♦ Stacia Kane’s UNHOLY GHOSTS, first in the dark urban fantasy Downside series, is a Summer Fantasy Pick in the July 3, 2010 TIMES OF LONDON! The second book in the series, UNHOLY MAGIC, will be released July 6, with the third, CITY OF GHOSTS, following on July 27.
♦ The Italian translation of The Moonlight Mistress by Victoria Janssen, Carezze Di Luna, comes out July 9th. She also has a story this month in the Spice anthology Alison’s Wonderland.
Having written since dir was new, Vonna Harper knows where most of the bodies are buried. Thanks to her nearly useless sociology degree, she became a social worker but escaped her legitimate job when her first child was born and gave into her dream to write. With some 50 published stories under her belt, she’s still trying to figure out how its done. Vonna lives in beautiful Oregon with her husband and is blessed to have her sons and grandchildren in the same valley.
**Vonna is giving away copy of FALCON’S CAPTIVE. If you’d like to be added to the random drawing, please post a comment. Please provide your email address if it is not linked to your username. For US Residents only.**
How long did you write before you got published? What made you decide to write erotic romances?
My “writing” career began as a child when I wrote and illustrated my own comic books with the Lone Ranger’s horse as the protagonist but in reality, I’ve been in the right place at the right time at least four times. My first serious try at writing a book was a bust–forgot to include conflict. Then I cut my teeth on confessions so had learned a lot before category romance in the U.S. took off. Thanks to a friend’s nudge, I was one of the early American writers.
Do you think the erotic market is slowing down or do you feel it’s going to stay around to a little while longer?
I don’t see it slowing down but I do see a crowding of the market. Ebooks remain available forever which means current releases vie with stories that are years old for the reader’s money. Evolution is part of every genre so I’m interested in seeing what new trends might be. For me, I’m working on marrying erotica with suspense.
Can you tell us about your upcoming release? What inspired you to write it?
Falcon’s Captive which comes out July 27 was the first in my latest contract with Kensington Aphrodisia. I love that my editor lets me loose to write what turns my crank. I’ve done a lot of capture (as opposed to BDSM which I can’t wrap my mind around) and there are elements of that in FC. Because I’m drawn to wide open spaces, I settled on a remote desert area and threw in some shape shifting. Not sure what inspired me beyond wanting to explore characters with the wild in their souls. Man against nature elements.
What do you like best about the writer’s life? What do you like least?
I love, love, love when something new starts to perk, the honeymoon stage where all things are possibile, characters are becoming multi-layered and I’m diving into research. The least fav is probably when life keeps me from the computer. I get mean.
When you purchase a book, what grabs your attention the most, the cover or the blurb? Or what helps you make a decision to buy it?
Its probably a combination of cover and blurb. The cover of course makes the first hit but in a blurb I’m looking for conflict both among characters and in a strong plot.
If you were a nail polish color, what would it be called and why?
I don’t wear nail polish so that’s out of my comfort zone. I love earth tones so maybe brown.
Have you ever done anything that is out of character or impulsive? What did it teach you about yourself?
Oh yes, there’ve been several times but since I don’t want to wind up behind bars–seriously, the older I get the more comfortable I am staying with what’s true to me.
What advice would you offer to the unpublished romance writer?
Its easy to say read and write and keep on doing those things but I’ve long put knowing the business at the top of the list. Reality is that in today’s business world, there are limits to what unpublished writers can accomplish. I’m not trying to discourage anyone, just saying that I’d be mighty surprised if a new writer would break into the Big Apple publishers right out of the chute. Fortunately, there are many small hungry publishers–if the unpublished writer is professional in what she offers those publishers.
Vanessa Kelly was born and raised in New Jersey, but eventually migrated north to Canada. She holds a Master’s Degree from Rutgers University, and went on to attend the Ph.D. program in English Literature at the University of Toronto. While there, she spent many happy hours studying the works of 18th century British authors and writing about the madness of King George III. She left graduate school to work as a researcher and writer for a large public sector organization. She now writes Regency-set historical romance for Kensington Zebra.
**Vanessa is giving away, MASTERING THE MARQUESS and SEX AND THE SINGLE EARL. If you’d like to be added to the random drawing, please post a comment and provide an email address if it is not linked to your username.**
Readers love hearing about “the call”, tell us about your experience. How long did you write before you got published?
I was only writing fiction for about two years before I acquired an agent and sold my first Regency-set historical romance. To this day I can’t believe it happened so quickly. That book was Mastering The Marquess, the second I’d written and my first historical romance. I’d been working with my agent for a few months when she called with the offer from Kensington. Of course, I was out with my husband when she made the call. She left a cryptic phone message, telling me to call back later in the day since she had important news. That was it. Hours later, when I was finally able to reach her, she put me on hold! Fortunately, it was only for a few minutes because by that time I was a nervous wreck.
Seems like historical romances are making a comeback, how do you feel about it? What do you think contributed to this?
Naturally, I’m thrilled that the historical romance market seems to be fairly robust these days, although it’s not as strong as writers in the genre could wish for. Regency romance and Highland historicals still dominate, and Victorian and Medieval romances have their followers. The Western romance also has a slice of the historical pie. But it’s a crowded and competitive market, with lots of really great writers competing for limited shelf space. So even though things are getting better, it’s not the easiest genre to get published in—or stay published. But there are encouraging signs. There are several good e-publishers like Carina Press, who are actively seeking historical romances, especially those that take place in unusual settings or time periods. I also think that writers like Christina Dodd and Karen Robards returning to the genre is a very good thing. And there have been some really great new authors the last few years who have helped raise the profile of historical romance.
As for what contributed to a renewed interest, I think the Jane Austen craze certainly helped. And historical romance has always had great world-building, so those qualities which attract readers to popular genres like paranormal romance are also now attracting them to the historical.
Did anyone or anything influence you to choose the genre you ultimately wrote or have you always known you would write historicals? Do you write any other genres?
My love of Regency romance began in high school when my sister turned me on to Georgette Heyer. I also loved Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and all kinds of historical fiction, so that became my natural reading bent. I studied English literature in university, and went on to spend several years in graduate school studying the writers of the Georgian and Regency eras. My thesis subject was Fanny Burney, a very popular novelist during those periods. So when I turned my pen to romance, Regency-set historicals were a natural fit.
I do, however, write in other genres—with my husband! We write contemporary romances and romantic suspense under the pen name of V.K. Sykes. Our first book, CaddyGirls, will be released by Carina Press on July
It’s a really fun, sexy contemporary romance, the perfect read for a hot summer day.
What do you like best about the writer’s life? What do you like least?
I love the fact that I can disappear into my writing. No matter how crappy I’m feeling on any given day, the very act of entering my fictional world and playing around with my characters makes me feel good. I think writing—any kind of writing—is a deeply therapeutic and empowering act. What I like least? Deadlines. Most writers don’t like deadlines.
Most writers are consumed with deadlines but when you have time to read, what genres and/or which authors are on your auto-buy list?
There are so many! For historical romance, I auto-buy Eloisa James, Teresa Medeiros, Lisa Kleypas, Loretta Chase, Anna Campbell, and Joanna Bourne. All of them are spectacular and innovative writers who really deliver the goods. For romantic suspense, I love Karen Rose, JoAnn Ross, Christina Dodd, and Bronwyn Parry. Parry is a recently published Aussie author who is phenomenally talented. For contemporary romance, I love Toni Blake, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Mallery, and Jennifer Crusie. For paranormal and sci fi, Linnea Sinclair and Angela Knight.
If you weren’t a writer what would career path would you choose?
I did do other things before I started writing romance, one of which was working as a union researcher. I loved that job. It was hard work, but the satisfaction that came from helping people in the workplace was tough to beat. When I was kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist but I was terrible at math and mediocre at science, so that was out.
If you were a lipstick color, what would it be called and why?
Clear gloss. I know. Boring, but I can’t stand the taste of lipstick.
What advice would you offer to the unpublished romance writer?
Be patient and be courteous. Learn your craft. Publishing is a game of endurance. If you want to achieve your goals, you have to be in it for the long-haul. And do unto others as you would have them do unto you. There are great people out there in romancelandia who are very giving of their time and advice, and who can really smooth out the bumps in the road. But I’ve also run into some people who make me want to hide under a rock. Trust me. You don’t want to be that kind of person.
What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
Probably that I wrote romance with my husband. That earns us a lot of funny looks.
AOTM WORKSHOP
DATES: JULY12-15
TOPIC: TECHNIQUES FOR HISTORICAL ROMANCE
**Workshop is featured in our FORUM. Required registration. Become a member and participate for free.**
on Sep 1st, 2010 
Miranda Neville is the author of historical romances set in Regency England. She grew up in England and spent her youth devouring historical novels. After studying history at Oxford University, she spent several years writing catalogues of rare books and original letters and manuscripts for Sotheby’s auction house in London and New York. Later she worked as a journalist and small business owner before discovering the delights of writing fiction. Always a sucker for happy endings, a few years ago she decided to try her hand at romance. How hard could it be? Several manuscripts under-the-bed (or deep in the hard drive) later, HarperCollins bought Never Resist Temptation, published in 2009 by Avon Books. The Wild Marquis appeared in March 2010 to be followed later this month by The Dangerous Viscount. She now lives in beautiful rural Vermont with her daughter, a college student and confirmed drama queen.
3 Comments »
. As a new author, it must be scary to have limited control on the cover of your book, but I guess the system seems to work.
