National Treasure - Patt Milhailoff

Patt Milhailoff, Me and Chris Keeslar after he received his award

I'm a little hungover and from celebrating the lovely Hope Tarr's birthday last night. I didn't watch the debate but I did read the transcript in today's New York Times. It's interesting to read what they said without being guided or mesmerized by watching them on television. No Sarah Palin trying to look adorable or Joe Biden looking like a professor, just the facts ma'am as it were. I found that reading it, Sarah Palin came off okay. I find her folksy manner, that she's just regular people to be such a joke after reading about how women were forced to pay for their own rape kits and taking a per diem from the state so that she could work from her house.

So instead I'm posting this last picture from the GAA because it is a lovely one of member Patt Milhailoff, who is like the crown jewel of RWA NYC. She is one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders for the genre and for our members that you could wish for. She's also a multi-published author with Cerridwen, but success has not gone to Patt's head. She is still as down to earth as ever, always there with the tough love, trying to get people to write and submit there work. Every year she makes the award certificates that we give out to our honorees, and she used to raffle off goodie baskets as well at the GAA's. We don't get to see enough of her.

And despite the fact that we've tried numerous times to give her Member of the Year or to get her to run for office, she won't hear of it. That's a great member, and I wish that I had 80 Patt's as chapter members (that's not to say that we don't have amazing members in our chapter). It's just that Patt is a National Treasure. I'm sure that a lot of chapters have members like Patt, someone who goes the extra mile without being asked.

We love our Patt!

Interview with Hope Tarr

Being President of RWA NYC has been a great honor and privilege for me, and I was so pleased when author Hope Tarr joined our chapter when she moved to New York several months ago. I recently asked Hope if she would sit down and answer some questions in honor of her new Harlequin Blaze release, a historical called BOUND TO PLEASE which was awarded 4 1/2 stars and called 'a not-to-be-missed book' by Romantic Times.



He's not going to take this treatment lying down. At least, not for long…Fifteenth-century Scotland is a tough place to be a woman in charge. Brianna MacLeod, new laird of her clan, needs a child to establish her position. And the best way to do that is to demand the sexual services of her sworn—and very sexy—enemy! Ewan Fraser never foresaw being kidnapped, tied up and expected to perform stud service. Yet being bound for the delicious Brianna's pleasure isn't all bad. In fact, the more time he spends in her bed, the more he's determined she'll be the one who ends up enslaved….



Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published.
Ever think how much smarter we were as kids before all the should-do’s and must-do’s fogged the crystal clarity of our perfectly formed brains and completely open hearts? As a child I didn’t only want to be a writer when I grew up; I knew I was a writer. Flash forward to my freshman year of college and a surly English Composition professor, who read my impromptu essay aloud to the class and had the ballocks to announce, “You, Miss Tarr, will never be a writer.”

In your face, George!

I went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education only to ultimately make peace with the fact that I wasn’t really interested in analyzing people or teaching them, at least not in a classroom setting. What I wanted—longed—to do was write about them. In 1993 on a week’s break between consulting assignments, I wandered into a mall bookstore and meandered over to the Reference Section where my gaze snagged the spine of a small pink paperback shoved onto the very top shelf. It was Kathryn Falk's 1989 edition of “How to Write a Romance Novel and Get It Published.” I bought Kathryn’s book, wrote my first book, and then wrote a second.

That second manuscript, a Regency-set historical ultimately titled A ROGUE’S PLEASURE, was my first sale—to Berkley as one of the launch books for their Seduction romance line. It took me six years to achieve publication but it was well worth it. Fifteen years and a dozen or so books later, I’m still here, still writing the stories I love and that I hope readers will love, too.



Q: Tell us about when you got “the call”
I’m going to skip this one if that’s okay. It feels so long ago, *I* almost don’t remember. ;)

Q. Your latest book is entitled BOUND TO PLEASE and is the first Harlequin Blaze historical! What sparked the story idea?
The short and completely true answer is my wonderful editor at Harleqion, Brenda Chin. The idea for bringing the historical to Blaze is Brenda’s brainchild entirely. When she rang me up and offered me the opportunity to write the first book, I didn’t hesitate. I said yes on the spot. I don’t think I stopped smiling for the next twenty-four hours. When I woke up the next morning, my face hurt!

Being invited to be the launch was and is heady stuff but after twenty-four hours of floating on air, it was time to come back to earth—and get down to business, namely coming up with a story concept. Because the book would still be a Blaze, historic or not, there were certain elements of characterization and plot that were musts. The Blaze heroine is, to put it mildly, no one’s fool. She’s strong, goal-directed, and in-touch with both her sexuality and the world. At the same time, I wanted to make certain that the book didn’t become a costume drama with modern people wearing period clothes.

The Scottish Medieval setting was a no-brainer for me. The raw beauty of the landscape, the tumultuous history, the sense that the regular rules of society don’t quite apply there—all filled the bill for infusing what would be a relatively short book with an epic historical sensibility.

Bride abduction is a classic romance set-up as well as a Scottish courtship ritual that survived into the 1920’s in custom if not actual practice. But somehow having my Blaze heroine abducted, even if the book was set in the Scottish Highlands, didn’t feel right. Then it hit me: take the abduction theme but twist it so that it’s not the heroine but the hero who’s snaffled away! And while I was at it, since the book is a Blaze, why not make the heroine the laird, the Scottish Medieval equivalent of being the CEO of her firm. And the rest is well…history. ;)



Q. Is there anything about this period that constrained your story? What did you like least about it?
No constraints really, quite the opposite in point. Because of the time period, I had a lot more freedom with the erotic aspects of the story, notably the um…chain. ((blushing)) In all seriousness, the abducted hero, the binding to the bed and so forth would simply not play in a contemporary set romance, no matter how steamy. In pure erotica perhaps but even then there would be consequences for any actions not consensual.


Q. What kind of major research did you have to do for this book?
BOUND TO PLEASE is set in the 1460’s, so it’s Medieval but only about thirty years from the Renaissance. I did quite a bit of research, much of it on personal and family life, including hygiene because no matter how many leagues or slippery turret steps the washing water must be carried, By God, my main characters would be clean!

I’d read somewhere that Medieval people weren’t really as dirty as we make them out to be and the research I did on hygiene certainly bore that out. The wealthy practiced a fairly impressive level of personal care. Online as well as in books I found fascinating and very practical recipes for tooth powders and soaps and shampoos, many of which I’ve included in the book. It was also fascinating to learn about the items that served as tooth brushes and primitive dental floss/tooth picks. Historically accurate and minty fresh—can’t beat that. ;)



Q. You are known for putting animals in your story, particularly cats, and you are also involved in feline rescue as well as The Pet Overpopulation STAMP OUT campaign. How did you first get involved with the cause?
My signature “thing” is to put one of my rescued cats in each of my books. I broke with that tradition in UNTAMED where I featured a horse instead but otherwise I’ve held true. On my website at http://www.hopetarr.com/, the Best Friends page provides a photo and brief bio for each feline muse along with links to animal welfare resources.

As for how I got into advocacy, I come from a family of “animal lovers” and I’ve always had an enormous affection for the four-legged “Little People of God,” cats especially. Added to that I’m a Libra, so when I see what I believe to be suffering and injustice, I have a tendency to swoop in and try to balance the scales, so to speak.

Pet overpopulation is a national problem in this country and by rights it should be a national embarrassment. It isn’t. There have been enormous strides made over the past decade in reducing both the population and euthanasia rates, still literally millions of healthy and otherwise adoptable dogs and cats are killed each year—at taxpayer expense.

The good news, though, is that unlike so many crises pet overpopulation is completely preventable. As pet owners, all we need do is spay or neuter our pets to prevent unwanted births. Pretty simple, yes?

For years there had been attempts to win issuance of a US postage stamp to raise the public’s awareness of the problem but more importantly, the solution. I launched the Pet Overpopulation STAMP OUT Campaign as a national grassroots effort in 1996 with zero budget, zero supporters, and zero infrastructure beyond a closet-sized spare bedroom and my personal pc. Initially there also wasn’t much encouragement from the big nonprofit animal welfare organizations, many of whom had run sporadic letter writing campaigns in the past only to meet with defeat.

But unlike those organizations, which have multiple missions, I would focus on this campaign exclusively. In the course of six years, exactly the same time it took to publish that first book, our support base grew to include several hundred animal welfare and veterinary medical organizations. Not only animal welfare folks but also veterinarians, celebrities (Bob Barker, Mary Tyler Moore, Alex Baldwin, Kim Bassinger, Betty White etc.), politician from both major parties and yes, breeders came on board. Senior citizens on fixed incomes stood outside grocery stores passing out copies of our form letter to the Postal Service, photocopied at their expense. Elementary school classes sent letters and suggested artwork to the Postal Service’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, showing that kids really do care. In the course of the campaign, the Postal Service received more than 200,000 pieces of mail (snail mail, not email) requesting that a Spay/Neuter stamp be issued. The outpouring of positive spirit and action was—and—is mind blowing.

In late 2001 the US Postal Service announced it would issue Spay/Neuter. The artwork would feature a soulful photograph of an actual shelter kitten and puppy. Even better, Postal officials allowed us to include the web site and toll-free English/Spanish telephone number for Pets 911, so that pet owners throughout the US could access low-cost spay/neuter programs in their local areas. Long-time animal advocate, Bob Barker, introduced the stamps to the American public on his nationally televised game show, “The Price is Right.” The First Day of Issuance ceremony took place in September 2002 in Denver with the new Benji officiating as emcee. J

Released to 38,000 post offices nationwide, Spay/Neuter proved to be a record sell-out. The humane educational stamp, which sold out its 100 MILLION print run, is one of the top-selling social awareness stamps in U.S. postal history. Talk about a storybook…beginning.

Given the state of the world today, it’s easy to become jaded, even pessimistic. Sometimes the temptation to throw our hands up in the air and walk away feels almost beyond resisting. And yet not even the worst economic or political situation can rob us of our free will, not unless we let it. No one and nothing can take our power from us unless we give it away. Whoever we are and wherever we come from, we all share equally in the Universe-given choice: to do good, to do evil, or to do nothing.
Q: You write both single title historicals for Medallion and shorter, sexy books for Harlequin Blaze. Do you work on more than book at a time? How easy is it to move from the historical world to contemporary?
Yes, I started my writing career doing single-title historical romances, and my “Men of Roxbury House” trilogy came out with Medallion Press. These are long historicals set in 1890’s England except for UNTAMED which is also set in Scotland.

I generally work on about two books at once, three if you count the edits on previously turned in works. It’s how I imagine juggling must be but you know, I find I’m actually more productive working on multiple projects than I was back in the day when it was one book at a time. Go figure.

As for moving back-and-forth from historical to contemporary, I thought it would be really hard but frankly it’s a cakewalk. I find writing the short contemporaries energizes me for the more intense, formal prose of the historicals and vice versa.
Q: What do you think is the most effective way for a writer to promote his/her books?

My first book, A ROGUE’s PLEASURE, came out in 2000 and I did a lot to promote it, including b0ook signings and related events, sometimes two to three a week. It was a lot but fortunately I loved it. Even though I appreciate solitude, I am a hands-down people person.

Today, I rarely do book signings unless, like the recent Romance Writers of America Literacy Autographing in San Francisco last month, it’s a well-orchestrated, well publicized event. Where I do put my time and promotional dollars is my web site at www.hopetarr.com. Fortunately the wonderful staff at Wax Creative Design manages the content for me and to anyone looking to either launch a new site or revamp an existing one I can’t recommend them highly enough.

I also do what started out as a “Semi-Blog” and now has morphed into a twice weekly regular blog, nothing “semi” about it. Until someone offers me a column like Carrie Bradshaw’s fictional “Sex and the City” (*hint, hint), my blog is my chance to pull out my inner Single Girl in the Big City and let her strut her stuff, three plus inch platforms and all! Since I moved to Manhattan last winter, I’ve had a fair amount of…material shall we say, and I write about anything from cool museums and restaurants and clubs I’ve visited to quirky conversations I’ve had with characters on the streets, to well, you guessed it, shoes!

I also do a fair bit of guest blogging—thank you Elizabeth—which is a really fun and time effective way to broaden my reach and connect with different interest groups within the romance publishing world.

“They” say that the Internet undergoes a major shift about every two years. For sure “social networking” has seen a boom. Online communities like Facebook.com aren’t just for kids anymore. I like Facebook a lot because it enables me to reach not only friends and colleagues but potential readers who might not otherwise find their way to my web site. At the moment, I have a pretty active presence there, sometimes so active I have to remind myself it’s past time to leave. In point, I just posted vacation photos from my trip to Ireland and yes, you can expect to see the Emerald Isle featured in future Hope Tarr books.
Q. What/Who do you like to read?
The short answer is “everything” and the easier question to answer would be what don’t I like to read. The answer to the latter: not much. That said, I read mostly fiction but I used to be very keen on biographies of historical figures especially. These days, I don’t read as much of anything as I would like. I finally broke down and read EAT, PRAY, LOVE. Emotionally raw, unsparingly honest, and wryly witty, Elizabeth Gilbert is just…well, just brilliant. I can’t praise this book enough. I also recently read Claire Cook’s charming MUST LOVE DOGS, a fictionalized but no less true account of a forty-something starting life over post-divorce. I like to mix things up, so who’s to say what I’ll pull out of my to-be-read bin next.


Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to “fly in the mist?” Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?



I think of myself as a hybrid, not a plotter or pantser but what another author, someone cleverer than I, coined a “puzzler.” As a puzzler, I start out with a pretty detailed outline or synopsis, which I think of as my road map. That said, once it’s written—and don’t hate me, but I love writing synopses, really I do—I rarely look at it again.


But it gets even better…


Once I start writing, I write the book completely out of order. The dialogue comes to me most strongly and so I will write whole scenes with no notion of where they fit or even if ultimately they fit at all. This is where the “puzzler” part of me really takes over.


The last two weeks of a book are this mad time where thanks to the miracle of word processing, I’m cutting and pasting my little heart out, meshing and melding scenes, tossing some out that don’t fit, writing new ones to fill the self-imposed holes until finally it all comes together into a close-to-perfect fit. Once it does, I pretty much hit “Send” and go to bed.



Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?



I do, and the best part is it only takes three words. Write your book. Seriously, just “write your book.”


I’ve been in this business for coming on fifteen years, the first six as an aspirant, and I’ve seen a lot. One of the things I’ve noticed is that writers and especially new writers love to talk about writing. They love to attend workshops, conferences, and yes, chapter meetings. They love to read how-to book after how-to-book about process and craft and yes, marketing—especially marketing. Some in fact spend so much time working out the marketing plan for their first book that they never get around to writing it.


Before anyone gets excited, let me back track and say there’s nothing wrong with attending meetings and workshops or educating yourself about the market. I’ve done and continue to do all of those things, including reading the occasional advice book. But what I see happen all too frequently is that these activities push their way to front and center and the actually writing takes—you guessed it—the backseat.


Writing a book, writing anything, is scary stuff. To do it even close to well requires putting yourself out there on that proverbial limb while the rest of us waive and sometimes jeer at you from the safety of the ground. Writing a book means exposing your hopes and fears and fantasies, your worldview which will not be everyone’s worldview, your light and yes, your shadow side to not a few trusted confidantes or special friends but to virtually everyone. E-v-e-r-y-o-n-e. I think bestseller Jennifer Crusie put it best when she said, “To write is to dance naked on the page.” But if you want to be a writer, you have to be willing to go there, to boogie in your booty, to look ahead, not back and never ever down.




So, in keeping with the three-word them, Get a room--and then sit down and write in it!





Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels," Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?
Empower women, definitely. That article must have been written by a man—or a woman desperately in need of a good…romance novel. ;)


Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?
Well, if I may pontificate for a moment, the romance genre involves largely if not exclusively women writers and historically female-dominated professions have never been respected or rewarded by society. And women writers have always taken a hit, the criticisms ranging from personal attacks that the very act of writing made them unnatural and unfeminine to professional i.e., their work was illogical and “emotional.” Women like George Elliot and George Sands (what was it with those Georges) didn’t take male pseudonyms for the fun of it. They did so to have a shot at their works being evaluated fairly. Finally, post-modern society is so sadly jaded on so many levels that books celebrating love and happiness and self-worth and yes, perfect union make an easy target.

Q. What are you planning to work on next?
Oh, I’m so glad you asked! Next on the um…horizon for me is EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE, a contemporary Blaze due out January 1st. Set in Manhattan where I live now and Belize (where I now aspire to vacation), it’s a second-chance-at love story, my personal favorite. Former FBI special agent turned private bodyguard Cole Whittaker steps inside his new client’s Manhattan office suite and finds himself face-to-face with his “principal”—Alex Kendell, the woman he was forced to abandon at the airport five years ago whom he’s never gotten out of his head or his heart.

Two more Blazes are set to follow, a paranormal coming out in October 2009 in time for Halloween and a Blaze historical coming out in 2010. I’m not sure what the historical will be but enough readers have written asking for a sequel to BOUND TO PLEASE that I’m strongly considering giving Alys and Callum a sexy romp of their own.

Thanks so much for having me, Elizabeth.


You can purchase BOUND TO PLEASE at eHarlequin or at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com

Interview with new author Leanna Renee Hieber

Got It Goin On is pleased to welcome new author and fellow RWA NYC member Leanna Renee Hieber to the blog. Leanna's first book, the novella Dark Nest has just been released by Crescent Moon Press and has garnered rave revews.

Praise for Dark Nest: "Fabulous read! Once I started, I couldn't stop until I reached the very satisfying end!" - Isabo Kelly,

award-winning author of Marshall's Guard

Chief Counsel Ariadne Corinth has just found out her long-time lover, the powerfully gifted Chief Counsel Kristov Haydn, has died. Newly evolved psychically gifted humans have been sent by the Homeworld on a space mission aboard two distinct “Nests”. Relationships between the Light Nest and the Dark Nest have faltered and Ariadne is sure there’s something insidious behind it. In a matter of hours, Ariadne must find out what really happened to Kristov, unite her people to discover vast new powers the Homeworld denied them, or else submit to genocide.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published.

A: I can’t remember not writing. I grew up in rural Ohio with an overactive imagination. As I mention on my website, I started writing my first book (never to see the light of day, don’t ask) between the ages of 11 and 12. I started actively pursuing publication just after college, where I graduated with a BFA in theatre performance and a minor in the Victorian Era. When opportunities in playwriting and essays presented themselves, I actively pursued them and received my first publication credits. But I’ve always been a novelist at heart. The year after college I started writing the first of my dark fantasy trilogy. Once I had a complete manuscript, which took a couple of years, I started what would prove to be a long process of querying agents.

Q: Tell us about when you got “the call”

The first “call” was from my agent. Due to the nature of my fantasy novel, I felt I needed an agent to help me navigate the publication waters. It took almost four years to land an agent, after a huge and growing stack of rejection letters had been corroding my resolve. But I churned out more queries all the same. Finally I landed Nicholas Roman Lewis, head of a small agency looking to branch into fantasy representation. Nicholas has been a fierce champion of my work and we’ve got some great prospects on the horizon. As for my first book acceptance, that came in the form of an email from Crescent Moon Press, where I’d had previous experience publishing a short ghost story. Both the call from Nicholas and Crescent Moon’s acceptance have been vital validations to keep me going towards my next goal; a New York publishing house.

Q: What made you choose romance?

I always have a romantic through-line in my stories. While I’m not solely a romance author, (if I had to limit myself to a label I’d say I was a fantasy author); all of my ideas begin with love stories and expand to larger worlds from there. My close friendship with Isabo Kelly (multi-published and award winning author), one of my first friends in New York, who I met by a twist of temp-job fate, helped me define how I thought about and pursued various fiction markets; among many things, she told me about RWA and I’ll always thank her for her influence, generously shared knowledge and friendship.

Q: What you do love about writing romance? In particular futuristic and paranormal romance?

Romance is my “ hook” into the heads and hearts of my characters. The surrounding story, however large and high-stakes, seems meaningless without the love. It’s what drives me as a writer and drives my characters. I can’t seem to write about stuff that isn’t ‘weird’, paranormal is my normal. One of my favorite themes is when characters come together in a sense of community and love against backdrops and situations that are far from average. Whether it’s Victorian England, in space, or in ghost-riddled New York, love keeps things human in inhuman circumstances.

Q: Your first release Dark Nest from Crescent Moon Press is a futuristic psychic novella. How did you come up with the idea? Any behind the scenes stories that you’d like to share?

A: This may be my most amusing “inspiration” story since the initial thought process is so utterly far-removed from the end product. After the last Harry Potter, I, a HP fanatic, was sad that other than Severus Snape, no other Slytherin House characters seemed redeemed. I wondered if Slytherins, as a group, were misunderstood (I’m always interested in the misunderstood characters). What if they weren’t as bad as they were made out to be? So my initial thought for Dark Nest, a futuristic, psychic story set on space ships, stemmed from the idea of taking two separate, distinct “Houses” into a situation of my own innovation; i.e. into space, with psychic powers, and on two elaborate ships. Much like how the Hogwarts houses are separate “cultures”, I liked the general idea of playing with a love story crossing a cultural divide between two misunderstood groups that have to unite as a whole against a much larger threat. Once I established the characters and the world, it started to run away with itself and I was just along for the ride and enjoying it immensely.

Q: You also have a blog. Do you think that it will help get your name out there and generate new readers?

A: I sure hope so. A blog is a tool that our modern culture has provided, and I think we need to use whatever tools are available to cultivate a readership. I’m never going to be someone who blogs religiously, but it’s a fun forum, a more interactive platform between writers and readers.

Q: What do you think is the most effective way for a writer to promote his/her books?

A: I’m still learning. I welcome any and all strategies. (Seriously, contact me at my website and tell me your sure-fire methods). I’m trying to be on-line, at conferences, establishing web presences not just at my site but other online forums and yahoo groups, and doing video and written interviews like this, thank you Elizabeth! Since this is my first foray into really trying to “sell” a book, I’d have to get back to you on that one.

Q. What/Who do you like to read?

A: Harry Potter changed my life, it jolted my inner writer into high gear, transitioning me away from theatre and back to my childhood pastime of novel writing. I like to keep track of other YA works stirring up the magic, like Libba Bray’s trilogy. I just finished Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight this weekend, loved it. I read all over the place, and in all kinds of genres, from Jane Austen to Stephen King (two major influences), from graphic novels to romances. I’m also trying to catch up on reading the books written by my friends. There’s also research. Now I’m reading “Spook” by Mary Roach, a book about science and the afterlife.

Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to “fly in the mist?” Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?

A: I’m a “pants-er” through and through. I don’t really know exactly where I’m going till I get there. I have sweeping cinematic glimpses that sit me down to type, and the rest of the story is filling in connective tissue between each scene. My process has maintained a similar bent since I was 12, it’s just that I’m so much more diligent about the craft than I ever was before. I try and write straight through and clean up later. If it’s not a ‘movie’ in my head I have a hard time writing it. When I’m really stuck with plot or have hit a wall, I go take a hot shower and ask my characters what to do, or wait until a scene begins to cinematically play out and then I’ll just take dictation. Generally the answer will come in quiet, solitary spaces. If not, I’ll ask writer friends if I’m stuck, and generally the process of discussion leads to a fix.

Q: You have a background in acting. How do you think that has helped your writing process?

Each day I realize more and more how theatrical training helps me write. Character, dialogue, an inner sense of cinematography, instinctual arcs and motivation; you’re trained to pay attention to each of these things in theatre. There’s a bit of translation to be done between theatrical training and a writer’s craft but it translates well if you trust your instincts. But never settle for your own instincts alone. The tricky thing with being a writer is that you have to be the characters and the director at the same time, and that’s hard. Once my characters are solid enough to stand on their own legs, then I can begin directing them. My characters take direction very well, and so do I, which is why I’m proud to say editors enjoy working with me.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?

I still think I’m aspiring. I’ll always say tenacity is your most valuable asset. Believe in yourself and your work, but not so much that you think you shouldn’t be edited/improved. You shouldn’t believe everything an industry professional says about your writing, but you should at least think about it. The best fixes for my books have come from editors telling me what was wrong with the book. Even if they didn’t express the problem in a way that I agreed with, it got me thinking enough to fix the problem with alternate solutions. Be flexible. And tenacious.

Q: Do you think that the market has become saturated with paranormal romance or do you think the market is finally opening up to other kinds of stories besides vampires and werewolves?

I don’t think paranormal romance is going anywhere anytime soon, but I think we’re starting to see some shifts. Make way for the psychics and ghosts! Yay! My turn!


Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels," Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?

Depends on the characters and the year the book was released; romance changes as our culture changes. There are a lot of kick-butt, confident and self-assured heroines these days, their empowerment and choices reflecting our complex society, so the ‘harm’ aspect is a bit out-of-touch. I think there’s much more harm in desensitizing to violence rather than reading love stories. If I read a romance novel where women were consistently disrespected, I wouldn’t keep reading that author, and I would give it a vocally bad review. But I can’t recall an example off-hand; I like alpha male heroes that are good team players and aren’t afraid to be beta if the situation calls for it. I stick to the unusual, sensitive but strong heroes, the ones who make a great partner for the female and I don’t find any harm in their love stories at all. The genre has been great for female writers to emerge and grow.

Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?

A: Part of me thinks that the other markets are just jealous they can’t make as much money, but I don’t think that’s the only factor. Sure, some romance novels are poorly written. But I’d say the same of every single genre, literary included. None of us writers should take ourselves too seriously. I’d love to figure out how to create a culture of more respect between the genres; we all know how hard it is to write a good book. Let’s just try and write well and get along. I hope that in our modern culture where writers are more in front of the camera and media than ever before, more alliances and respect will be gained across the board.

Q. What are you planning to work on next?

A: I need to complete the manuscript of the YA proposal my agent is shopping around; a magical time-travel adventure set in Central Park.

Thanks Leanna for stopping by! You can purchase Dark Nest here at Crescent Moon.

Love Bites in the Big Apple

In celebration of Valentine’s Week, the Romance Writers of America/ New York City Chapter presents LOVE BITES IN THE BIG APPLE – short love stories written by chapter members located in the Heart of New York City.

The seven stories in the “Love Bites in the Big Apple” will appear on consecutive days on RWA/NYC’s MySpace site --- www.myspace.com\nyromancewriters -- starting on Monday, February 11, thru Sunday, February 17.

Four of the stories are written by published romance authors: Margaret Birth, Leanna Renee Hieber, John Lovelady and Isabo Kelly. The authors and their publishing dates are as follows:

Publishing Date Title, Author
Monday, February 11 A New York State of Mind by, Leanna Renee Hieber*
Tuesday, February 12 Negotiating by Katrina Snow
Wednesday, February 13 A Time to Love by Margaret Birth*
Thursday, February 14 Never in the Back of a Cab by John Lovelady*
Friday, February 15 The Man On Her Right by Lise Horton
Saturday, February 16 Love is in the Air by Maria Ferrer
Sunday, February 17 The Trouble with Muggers & Demon Dogs by Isabo Kelly*

* published author


Readers are invited to visit the RWA/NYC MySpace site daily and post comments on each story. Those readers will be entered into a random drawing for a grand prize of chapter books and goodies.

So head on over to www.myspace.com/nyromancewriters and check them out. You'll be glad that you did!

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Houston, we have lift off!

I'm so excited. My chapter just launched its new web-site today. You can check it out at here. Not only does it look slick and professional, but we have videos and profiles of our published authors. Our lovely web-mistress, Morgan Doremus really took our site to the next level.

We've been extremely lucky in our chapter with our web-site. Since the beginning, the site has been designed by chapter members. First by Darlene James, then by Sapna, and now by Morgan.

What I'm most excited by is the videos. Visitors to our site can get a real glimpse of our published as well as our unpublished authors. The plan is to have a new video up on the site every week.

Visitors can also preview a copy of our newsletter as well.

So mosey on over and check it out. I'm dying to know what people think!

Thanks for reading,

EKM

Welcome Kathleen O'Reilly

The Lady Novelist is very pleased to welcome RWA NYC
member Kathleen O'Reilly to Got It Goin On.

Kathleen O'Reilly wrote her first romance at the age of eleven, which to her undying embarrassment was read aloud to her class. After taking over twenty years to recover from the profound distress, she is now proud to announce her new career - a romance author. Kathleen lives in New York with her husband and their two children who outwit her daily.

Her latest book is a Blaze Anthology called A Blazing Little Christmas.

Dear Santa… When a secret Santa invites Rebecca Neumann for a holiday getaway, she jumps at the chance. And when a sexy blast from her past appears, she's tempted to jump him, too…




Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published.


I never wanted to be writer, because I wanted to be rich, and writers were poor, but everyone told me, “Kathleen, you’re going to be a writer.” However, I didn’t listen. I went into technology (to make money) and they were looking for technical books, and I thought, hey, I can do that. So, there were three of us that wrote a book together, and it did pretty well. Unfortunately, my technology skills got obsoleted by the Evil Empire (Microsoft, in those days), and thus, I needed to find something new to write about, so I decided to try writing a romance novel. Now, I have ALWAYS loved romance novels. I started reading them when I was about ten, and I have no idea how many romances I have read over the years, but it’s well into the thousands. I started writing romances in 1997, and it took me about 3 years before I sold. I have 1.5 manuscripts stashed away, which are actually not that bad, but alas, they are Russian-based historicals, which is a huge taboo… Oh, well, someday when I’m rich and famous.


Q: Tell us about when you got “the call”

I have two critique partners, who had been published for about two years before I got published, and I was feeling very turtle-esque in my publishing career, but things were starting to pop, and I knew I was getting close, and sure enough, my first call came from Harlequin, who wanted to buy my Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, for their Duets line, and the second call came less than a month later from Berkley, who wanted to be my one (and currently only) historical, Touched By Fire. I’ll never forget talking to my editor at Harlequin the first time. She kept telling me all the things that I needed to change about the book, and never said a good thing, and by the end of the convo, I’m thinking, “And you want to buy this book, why?” Eventually, I realized that my editor is just “that way” and I’ve learned to accept that, although recently she’s been trying very hard to be nicer. She put in a smiley face in my last manuscript (her first smiley face ever), but it was a circle, two eyes, and no mouth. Beggars can’t be choosers.


Q: What made you choose romance?

I adore romance. I adore happy endings, and some days, I just really need a happy ending. I know a lot of people who not only need, but deserve a happy ending. In a romance, you know coming in that you’re guaranteed the promise of hope by the time the book is over. The world needs more hope. The world needs more love. Especially now.


Q: What you do love about writing romance?

Gee, this is a hard one. Pretty much everything except the deadlines. I think my favorite thing is telling people that I write romance novels. The people I have told don’t get all huffy or poofy about it, they think it’s really cool, which I think says a lot about my excellent taste in my friends.


Q: You just completed a trilogy for Harlequin Blaze called the Red Choo diaries. Any behind the scenes stories or the idea that you’d like to share?

LOL. Okay, I actually got the idea for the first book from my husband. He got stuck in Washington DC, and planes weren’t flying, so he was going to rent a car and drive back to NYC. There was a lady behind him who wanted to hitch a ride, so they ended up sharing a car-ride back into the city. Transit emergencies can always cause lots of problems and thrust people into situations that they ordinarily wouldn’t be put into. Anyway, I thought it was a hoot. Tthe lady worked for a magazine and told him all sorts of fun magazine stories (which will probably end up in a book at some point in time), so I scarfed the idea for the first book in the series. Also, I will say that Sam (the hero in the third book) is loosely based on Stephen Colbert, whom I have a secret crush on.


Q: You started out writing historicals and now you write sexy romances for Harlequin Blaze as well as single-title for Downtown Press. What has that been like? How do you juggle multiple projects?

I’m a mother of two school-age children. That explains so much of my juggling talent. J. Actually, I write all my books pretty much the same way. I get very tied to my characters, so when I’m writing a story, each one feels very different and unique. I will say that I had to stop working on a book in mid-stream and then switch to another manuscript before switching back, and it was difficult, but I managed. I don’t think I could write two books simultaneously, though. My head gets very tied up in the current characters life. It’s like a mini-soap opera, I think.


Q: Tell us a little about the anthologies for Berkley (Hell with the Ladies, Hell on Heels) along with Julie Kenner and Dee Davis. What was the genesis of this project?


Julie and Dee are my critique partners and BFF’s and we were sitting at conference one time, talking about the bad boy craze. We decided that the ultimate bad boys were the sons of Satan, and started laughing about it, and then realized, it was a pretty durn good idea. Berkley liked it as well.


Q: You also have a blog. Do you think that it’s helped get your name out there and generated new readers?

I think so. I’ve been quoted in USA Today because of my blog, and I know that when I was posting regularly I got tons of traffic. However, I’ve stopped updating it, because I got stuck with a lot of very tight deadlines and knew that something had to give, and so I put it on hold. If life calms down, I’ll probably blog again, but I’m not sure if life will ever calm down.


Q: What do you think is the most effective way for a writer to promote his/her books?

Keep writing. Seriously. I know some people who are really good at promotion and do it well, and it makes them happy, but I’m not sure that it does anything other than make the author feel like they have some level of control. I send out ARCS to booksellers and make up bookmarks for booksignings and run an ad for Romance Sells, and it’s enough to make me feel like I’m not a total black hole when it comes to promotion, but in the long run, you’re known by your books. And in today’s world, people expect a lot of books from their authors, and it’s very difficult to deliver consistently, especially when your time is occupied with other things. Stepping off my soap-box now.


Q. What/Who do you like to read?

I love James Patterson, Stephen King, and Harlan Coben. In romance, I adore Nora’s romance trilogies, Harlequin Presents (especially Sara Craven), Lori Handeland, J.R. Ward (that’s pretty much the extent of my paranormal romance reading), Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jill Shalvis, Julia Quinn, and Julia London. And of course, I’ve read everything that Julie Kenner and Dee Davis have ever written, because it is, the best.


Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to “fly in the mist?” Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?


LOL. I want to have a process, I really do, because the beginnings of the books are usually painful, painful experiences for me. But alas, I have no process. Eventually though, after I beat my head against the brick wall long enough, I crash through it. I usually write tons and tons of character notes until I get my characters into what I call “the cool phase” which is the moment when I know that I can hang with these people and have a good time. After they become “cool” then the plot stuff starts to fall into place. And when that doesn’t work, I call Julia and/or Dee and make them help me.


Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?


Keep plugging away. Writing is hard, and you have to have a thick-skin to do it. Eventually, I think you’re a happier writer if you cocoon yourself into a little island where rejections, bad reviews, and low sell-throughs do not exist. Those things will happen to everyone at one time or another, but there’s always good stuff, too. Kinda like if you hang out in the sun too long, without sunscreen, and you get burned. Being on the beach, in the sun is fun, but you really need to have that SPF 4000 to handle the burning rays of the bad stuff in writing.



Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels," Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?

You know, I think there’s probably a study that says that little puppy dogs can do harm to people, too. Seriously, they think chocolate is good, then chocolate is bad, then chocolate is good. Pshaw. Anything can be a problem if it’s perceived in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons, but the truth is that everyone is unique, and all these studies are whacked. For the most part, I think romance novels are great, but I’m sure there are four women out there (and one of them is Oprah), who have been traumatized by reading Barbara Cartland at an early age.


Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?

I think for a long time all popular fiction got a bad rap and I do think that’s changing because of money. Publishers have become more focused on the bottom line (a double-edged sword), but because of that, the books that make money get more attention, and romance = ka-ching. I think it’s definitely changed, although it’d be nice if it could change a little bit more, IMHO. Hollywood does the same thing. Look at the films that are hitting the theater now. A ton of “important” war films, and yet this weekend, it was the vampire movie that hit the #1 slot, far and away. Sometimes people want and need serious, classical, weighty tomes and films, but they also need a chance to relax and simply have a good time, and romance is a great way to fill that void (no bawdy pun intended).


Q. What are you planning to work on next?

I’m just finishing up the last of four books -- WHEW! -- and then I’m going to take a shower, get some sleep, and begin speaking to my family again. I have a new trilogy coming out in March, April, and May 2008 for Harlequin Blaze, called Those Sexy O’Sullivans. It’s about three hot, single brothers in New York, and they own this bar… The first book is Shaken and Stirred. I think people will like this trilogy a lot. And then I have a book in the Thoroughbred Legacy continuity from Harlequin, Courting Disaster, due out in November of 2008. It’s been my first experience with a continuity, and I have to confess, I thought it was a lot of fun. Difficult, but fun. And that’s it for now. I’m sure I’ll have other stuff to announce, but right now, I just really want to relax.


Thanks for stopping by Kathleen!

You can purchase Kathleen's anthologies with Dee Davis and Julie Kenner Hell with the Ladies and Hell on Heels from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. And A Blazing Christmas will be in stores next month.

Monday, Monday

It's Monday morning and boy am I bushed. I worked again for the third night at my night job until 2 am, so needless to say I wasn't at my day job by 8:00 am. Fortunately, my boss is traveling on business, so I'm taking full advantage of his absence. I'd have an Irish coffee in the morning to celebrate, if I didn't worry about getting fired. I'm also behind on NaNoWriMo which is not good. I know we're not supposed to try and make up the word count the next day but somehow I need to add an extra 14 pages to this week's turn out. Wish me luck!

This past weekend was my birthday weekend (I tend to celebrate my birthday the entire month of November if I can get away with it). Friday night, I had a drinks party at a really nice wine bar called Wined Up near the Flatiron building. It was all wood paneling and the wine wasn't served in wine glasses which was really interesting. About sixteen friends showed up to help me celebrate. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures because I was too busy yacking, particularly about cutie pie author. Had to have the garlic fries through and a delicious salmon tartare. The evening was great until the end when one of my guests felt the need to yell at me for checking my messages to find out why two of my guests hadn't shown up. Kind of put a damper on the evening, and I certainly will never be inviting this person to any event I throw again. I found it rude and insulting.

The other thing I found obnoxious was that my boss didn't bother to wish me a Happy Birthday or take me out to lunch. Nor did anyone else that I work for. He also had a party at his house for the marathon which he didn't invite me too. Talk about not making me feel like a valuable member of the team. I would totally quit this day job if I had a book contract, and just keep my night job.

Saturday was our monthly chapter meeting where I raffled off a lovely basket full of goodies to celebrate my birthday. Received many lovely gifts from people who couldn't make the party Friday night. Also our chapter is revamping our web-site and creating some really awesome content over the next few weeks. I'm really excited about it, and I can't wait to see it up and running.

I also discovered a groovy new CD by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss thanks to AOL Music. They have these CD listening parties once a week where you can listen to a whole album instead of just clips from it. These week they were previewing the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss collaboration which I listened to in between writing questions for America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back, the show that will make you think that everyone is a criminal. Seriously, if you are even remotely paranoid, don't watch this show. You will never leave your house.

So after listening to the CD, I went out and bought 4 copies for friends, because I loved it so much. I gave one copy to ex-sweetie pie as a thank you for taking me out to brunch to celebrate my birthday at One if by Land, Two if by Sea, a lovely restaurant housed in what used to be an 18th Century carriage house that Aaron Burr owned in the Village. Normally neither one of us would be able to afford to eat there (the prix fixe menu is $79 a person) but they have a brunch on Sundays for $20 that includes a mimosa, bloody mary and bellini. And the food was really good. I highly recommend it if you are in New York on a Sunday, because it's a very romantic restaurant. And the end of our brunch, they brought out a plate with a candle that said Happy Birthday in chocolate with 2 tiny oatmeal raisin cookies, marshmallows and a mini tart. It was a wonderful end to the weekend.

I hope to be able to post my interview with Blaze Author Kathleen O'Reilly this week. Stay tuned!

EKM

Welcome Dee Davis!

The Lady Novelist welcomes Dee Davis this week to Got it Goin On. Her highly acclaimed first novel, Everything In Its Time, was published in July 2000. Since then, among others, she’s won the Booksellers Best, Golden Leaf, Texas Gold and Prism awards, and been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award, the Holt and two RT Reviewers Choice Awards. To date, she has sold fifteen books and three novellas. Her most recent novel, Chain Reaction, was a Golden Leaf finalist for Best Single Title at the New Jersey Romance Writers conference this October.

A town destroyed…A sole survivor…A terrible secret…
Artist Mia Kearney has the perfect life: A successful career, a home she loves, amazing friends…until her world explodes one hot August morning. Lone survivor of a nuclear accident, Mia awakens in a government facility, faced with Homeland Security agent Nicholas Price, a man who wants answers she knows she doesn’t have.

When Mia escapes, Nick has a choice to make. The CIA wants him off the case, but instinct tells him not to let Mia out of his sight.

Now the web of deceit that’s woven tightly around them is about to unravel, and someone out there won’t be satisfied until Cedar Branch’s last surviving resident is dead…


Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published.

Q: Tell us about when you got “the call”

I was actually asleep. And was so excited by the news that I hung up on my agent before I realized that I had no idea who I’d actually sold the book too. Had to call her back to find out for sure. And then spent the rest of the day shaking with amazement and excitement.

Q: What made you choose romance?


I’m a sucker for happy couples and could never get enough. Wanted more with Meg and Calvin, cried when I didn’t get to see Cinderella get married (TV version), thought Aragorn and Arwen should have had more “screen” time…you get the idea. Basically, I love a happy ending. And as a romantic suspense writer, I love the idea of integrating the suspense plotline with the romance.

Q: What you do love about writing romance?

The riding off into the sunset moment, and the moment when the hero and/or heroine realizes they don’t have to go through life on their own.


Q: Your new book A Match Made on Madison is kind of a departure for you, being more women’s fiction. It also involves professional matchmakers. What sparked the idea? Was it a character? A scene you just couldn’t get out of your head?

The idea actually came from an article in the New York Times that my agent sent to me. From there the idea of Match evolved. My love for Jane Austen’s Emma also played a part in that evolution.


Q: Did you have to do any major research for this book? Did you stumble across anything really interesting that you didn’t already know?

Unlike my suspense novels, I really didn’t do major research for the book. Although I did call on my experiences in Manhattan and of course on my favorite places in the city. Hence, many of Vanessa’s favorites are in actuality also mine.


Q: You started out writing time travel, and now you write romantic suspense for HQN, and anthologies for Berkley (Hell with the Ladies, Hell on Heels) along with Julie Kenner and Kathleen O’Reilly. What has that been like? How do you juggle multiple projects?


I like writing different kinds of projects. Although to be honest, both the time travels and the anthologies are romantic suspense at their basic core, which means that it’s not as much of a departure as one might initially think. Juggling projects can be tricky. Good time management is the key. And a lot of BIC (butt in chair).


Q. What/Who do you like to read?


I read a little bit of everything really. Madeline L’Engle was a favorite. Also C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Mary Stewart is my favorite author. I am currently into Emily Giffin, and Barbara Samuel. And I always buy Michael Crichton. I tend to love books more than authors, although I do glom when I find someone new. My favorite book is probably To Kill A Mockingbird. Although My Brother Michael and A Wrinkle in Time are close seconds.


Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to “fly in the mist?” Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?


I like to think of it as a road map. I know where I’m starting and where I’m ending. And a few main points along the way. The rest tends to develop during the journey. I think my process has remained pretty much the same over time. But I will say that each book is a little different. Sometimes the plot comes wholly baked and sometimes it’s a bit more sketchy. But with suspense there has to be at least some idea of plot right from the get go. I pretty much write one draft and clean up as I go. I have to know what’s happened pretty much as is in order to be able to know what’s going to happen next. It’s anal, I’ll admit it. But there you have it.


Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?


Write something every day, do your homework, treat writing as a career not a hobby, listen to others—but filter that through your own common sense, trust your instincts as a writer, and believe that dreams can come true.


Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels," Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?


I think it’s too easy to try and label things one way or the other. It’s a trap we’ve fallen into of late. A book, movie, game, whatever – does not have the power to do any of that. It can inspire us – but ultimately the choice is ours. So I’d argue vigorously with those who say there is harm – because the truth is that it’s a story. And at the core, its purpose is simply to entertain.



Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?


I know that a lot of people believe it’s improving. But personally I haven’t seen any change at all. But the truth is that all genre fiction is degenerated. And pretty much always has been. I think there are a multitude of cultural reasons for that. And in all honesty, it’s not particularly fair, but also not likely to change.


Q. What are you planning to work on next?

I’m currently working on Set-Up in SoHo, the follow-up book for A Match Made on Madison. And playing with new ideas for my next romantic suspense.


Thanks Dee! You can purchase both of Dee's books Chain Reaction and A Match Made on Madison from Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com.

Welcome Anna DePalo!

The Lady Novelist is pleased to welcome RWA NYC member and Silhouette Desire author Anna DePalo to Got It Goin On today. Anna's June 2007 release, An Improper Affair was recently nominated for New Jersey Romance Writer's prestigious Golden Leaf Award in the short contemporary category, and was 4 on Borders' series romance best-seller list and #36 on Nielsen BookScan's romance best-seller list. And her latest release, Millionaire's Wedding Revenge reached #1 on the Borders Group/Waldenbooks series romance best seller list and was awarded 4 Stars by RT Book Club.





Don't deceive a man with money.
The Miami Millionaire could have any woman--but Stephen Garrison intended to have newly returned Megan Simmons. She ended their sizzling affair years ago.... leaving without explanation.... leaving Stephen determined to seek his revenge. But his plan to seduce his ex-lover, was met with an unexpected discovery: she'd had his child. And now it was no longer enough to seduce Megan back into his bed. Stephen had decided marriage would be the ultimate payback.












Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published.









I was an intellectual property attorney for close to seven years. I joined Romance Writers of America soon after I graduated from law school. So, I was working my way to publication between 1998/1999 and 2001, when I pitched my first completed manuscript to a Harlequin/Silhouette editor at the New Jersey Romance Writers conference. That book saw publication as Having the Tycoon’s Baby (Silhouette Desire, August 2003) and went on to win the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best First Series Romance.


Q: Tell us about when you got “the call.”


It was soon after my wedding in 2002. I came home from work and there was a phone message from the Harlequin/Silhouette editor that I’d pitched a manuscript to months before at the New Jersey Romance Writers conference. She wanted to buy the book! The rest is kind of a euphoric haze for me , but I recall jumping up and down, grinning like a fool, shouting “yeah!” and then calling my husband at work to share the good news.



Q: What made you choose romance?

I’ve always been a voracious reader and never more so than with the romance genre. I’m a fairly optimistic person, and I like happy endings. I can always count on a good romance novel to make me relax and unwind, laugh and be entertained. I don’t think there’s much more to it than that!


Q: What you do love about writing romance?


I like to write generally (it seems to go hand in hand with loving to read!). But I especially enjoy spinning upbeat, entertaining stories of the sort that I prefer reading. Plus, I have an active imagination, and writing gives it a necessary outlet!

Q: Your new book, Millionaire’s Wedding Revenge is set in Miami. What sparked the idea? Was it a character? A scene you just couldn’t get out of your head?









Millionaire’s Wedding Revenge is part of the Dynasties: The Garrisons continuity series from Silhouette Desire (which features six books about different Garrison family members). Part of the idea for the series was that it was to be set in hot Miami Beach. I have to say, I was happy to go along! I’ve generally set my books in trendy urban settings (Boston, New York and, for next year, San Francisco), so I was pleased to explore another area with its own unique and yet identifiable culture.
Q: Did you have to do any major research for this book? Did you stumble across anything really interesting that you didn’t already know?


Well, I delved into Miami Beach’s interesting Art Deco architecture. I love Art Deco myself, and since my heroine was an interior designer, I needed to explore Miami Beach’s cultural scene even more. In the process of researching dialogue for my heroine, I picked up design tips from the newly redone White House Situation Room, believe it or not.




Q: You’ve written continuity books for Silhouette Desire. What has that been like? Anything that constrained you or that you had to plot carefully around?



I’ve enjoyed writing all the continuity books that I’ve participated in for Desire (Cause for Scandal, March 2006, part of Dynasties: The Elliotts; An Improper Affair, June 2007, part of Millionaire of the Month; and Millionaire’s Wedding Revenge, September 2007, part of Dynasties: The Garrisons). I enjoy working with other talented authors. Sometimes the broad outline of a continuity story will present some challenges as far as making everything fit together, but that’s the challenge and fun of working on a continuity. For example, in Cause for Scandal, according to the continuity idea, the heroine was supposed to be engaged to another man when she loses her virginity to the hero; it was a little tricky to make the heroine a sympathetic character, but I think I succeeded .
Q. What/Who do you like to read?


There are so many! Within fiction/romance, I like Regency historicals (Lisa Kleypas, Madeline Hunter, and so many others!), contemporary romantic comedies (Susan Elizabeth Phillips) and category romances. Just now, I’ve dipped into paranormals with J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. But I’d put Jane Austen at the top of any list!

Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to “fly in the mist?” Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?



I have to do a synopsis for my editor, so I always have an outline to work with. I usually breeze through the first three chapters of the manuscript, but then I have to stop to regroup and take stock. At that point, if I haven’t already done so, I do a sketch for each chapter (listing each scene with its main action and point of view). I make sure I know where the main points are supposed to occur (dark moment, climax, resolution, etc.).





In the past, I’ve also done rough character sketches of my hero and heroine, listing each character’s name, occupation, age, hair color, build, likes/dislikes, and personality traits. The character sketches helped me when I got stuck: I’d go back to them and see if there was any detail I could explore and use to move the story forward. These days, those character sketches tend to stay in my head rather than getting written down.






I write a fairly clean first draft. In the past, I’d circle back and edit what I wrote again and again until I reached the end. Now, I try to get as close to finishing as possible before doing much editing (I find that’s a time saver; since story details always change as I write, leaving the editing for later saves me from unnecessary work).

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?

Keep writing! You will get better! Writers are made, not born. Also, write what you are passionate about. It’ll make a better story.


Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels," Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?

It amazes me how often this question comes up! I can think of many things that “harm women” in this world, and I doubt romance novels are even in the top 100. And for the record, I like to give romance readers a little credit: romance novels are entertainment, and the readers know it. Does anyone think a (male) reader of thrillers is going to go out and attempt James Bond-like stunts? Of course not!
Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?

I think the bias against the romance genre stems from the fact that it’s mostly entertainment by women for women. Things of that variety are generally undervalued and derogated, unfortunately. Some people might sniff that the romance genre is unrealistic, but the same can be said of science fiction and mystery, for example, and yet those genres don’t face the same prejudice. Other people might point to the sex (these are relationship books, after all), but how many esteemed male writers have had articles in Playboy and been none the worse off for it?
Q. What are you planning to work on next?


I just finished a stand-alone book for Silhouette Desire. CEO’s Marriage Seduction will be out in March 2008. It’s about a tough CEO who butts heads with his favorite heiress…until things take a turn for the steamy . After that, I’ll be wrapping up a 2008 continuity series for Desire, Park Avenue Scandals, with The Billionaire in Penthouse B in December.

Thanks Anna for stopping by! You can purchase Millionaire's Wedding Revenge from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Eharlequin.



Stay tuned for more interviews with RWA NYC authors, Jule McBride, Dee Davis and Kathleen O'Reilly in coming weeks.

Welcome Catherine Greenfeder

The Lady Novelist is proud to welcome RWA NYC author and charter member Catherine Greenfeder to Got It Goin On this week. Catherine's second novel Wildflowers came out in June to rave reviews including 4 stars from RT Book Club who said, "Greenfeder's western romance is filled with the trials of settlers going west. The author pulls no punches, and the dangers are graphic to say the least, but very realistic for that era. The villain is a nasty piece of work; the heroine strong-willed; and the hero brash but lovable and a bit clueless when it comes to matters of the heart."










Ryan Majors, trapper, mountain man, and half Nez Perce Indian, is down on his luck. Trapping is in decline. In St. Louis, Missouri, he learns of his brother Chet’s murder and swears revenge. He also promises to help his sister-in-law and her children. Luck appears in the form of an opportunity to lead a missionary wagon party to the Willamette Valley. Ryan would rather teach a mountain lion to dance than lead a missionary, but the money and the minister’s spirited daughter, Johanna Wade, persuade him otherwise.



Johanna Wade left her native Boston to join her father’s missionary wagon to Oregon. She didn’t count on meeting the ruggedly handsome mountain man-turned trail guide, Ryan Majors, who would teach her not only how to survive in the wilderness but a reason to love again.

Together their journey along the Oregon Trail meant danger, opportunities, and the chance for love.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published?

I'm a full-time language arts teacher and a part-time novelist. I'm married and have one son in college. I've been writing a long time; I published short nonfiction including travel articles, book reviews, and poetry before having my first novel published last year.


Q: Tell us about when you got "the call"?


I received an offer for a contract for Angels Among Us in July 2004 from Wings e Press. It was the second time that I submitted the manuscript to them. The first time they rejected it with the advice to revise and resubmit which I did. After trying to publish a work of fiction for so long, I was overjoyed.


Q: What made you choose romance?

I've enjoyed reading romance novels since high school; however, I really got interested in writing a romance much later in my adult years. I enjoyed the happily ever after endings, the sensuality, and the characters who engage my emotions. Even the classics that I read for English classes -- Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Lady Chatterly's Lover, and Shakespeare's plays have romance in them. I found that one of the most compelling parts of the plot.


Q: What you do love about writing romance?


I enjoy telling stories where the characters overcome obstacles that challenge them and their relationships, creating characters whose lives touch the reader on an emotional level, and where "true love" wins out in the end.


Q: Your book, Wildflowers is a Historical Romance, set along the Oregon Trail during 1848 has received rave reviews. What sparked the idea? Was it a character? A scene you just couldn't get out of your head?


Wildflowers had been the first romance that I wrote. I think the idea for the book came from my love of westerns, my interest in Native American culture, and my respect for the pioneers. A psychic told me that in one lifetime I'd been a homesteader on the frontier and in another a Native American. I'm not sure about that, but I did feel a strong affinity with both the time and places I wrote about. I also have family in Oklahoma which is the home of the Five Tribal Nations. So, visits there gave me an opportunity to research for the book.


Q: Anything that constrained you or that you had to plot carefully around?


When I edited Wildflowers, my editor had been a native Nebraskan. She had been very helpful in editing details on the forts which were stopovers for the wagon party. I had to plot carefully around the setting and the time it took for the pioneers to travel across the country from Missouri. I did extensive research including consulting the National Parks Service and a woman who participated in a reenactment of traveling on the Oregon Trail.


Q: Did you have to do any major research for this book? Did you stumble across anything really interesting that you didn't already know?


Yes, I have boxes of books and research notes that I took before, during, and even after I wrote Wildflowers. I loved to research, so it wasn't that difficult. I learned a lot and used some of it. Pictures, diaries, and maps came in handy. I also viewed documentaries and listened to music of that era. I had never realized how difficult it was to travel across the country, and most pioneers did so by foot. The wagons were used mainly for supplies. The elderly, the very young, and the sick rode the wagons. I learned how they forded the rivers, descended steep mountains, and dealt with the daily obstacles they faced. It was very hard on the women, and quite a few of them were pregnant as they traveled. Many of the pioneers had been farmers so they were used to hard work, but this was an extraordinary and difficult journey. Johanna, the heroine, is the minister's daughter. She used her skills as a teacher and to care for the sick and injured. I learned about home remedies and Native American cures for all kinds of ailments. Ryan, the trail guide, was brought up among his mother's Pawnee people. So, he knows how to hunt, to survive in the wilderness, and is familiar with the tribes they meet on the trail.


Q. You've also written a paranormal romance, Angels among Us, also from Wings E-Press. What sparked that idea and how easy or hard is it to switch from writing contemporaries and historical?


The idea for Angels Among Us came to me while at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I always had an affinity with angels, and I've been collecting them (statues, pictures, etc.) for years now. Whenever I see the Neapolitan tree at the museum I am in awe. A few years ago I went to see it, and I swear that one of the angels "spoke" to me. She said something like "When are you going to write my story?" So, I thought about that. I wanted to write a romance novel with an angel as a main character. Hence, Eviance Angelique, guardian angel to Kay Lassiter who happens to be a psychic seeking the truth about her parents' deaths. The romance part had been more difficult as I focused more on the paranormal. Yet, I knew that Kay had returned to her native New Jersey home for a few reasons -- to start a business, put the past behind her, and to make peace with what happened to her. In the process, she also rekindles a romance with her high school love, Jake O'Malley, local science teacher.


I found writing historical very time consuming in terms of research. I've written a mainstream woman's book which required research on the Great Depression and W.W.II years. At this point, I prefer to write contemporary and paranormal romances.



Q. What/Who do you like to read?


That's a tough question. I like to read a variety of books including mysteries, romances, and nonfiction. Early on I liked Janet Dailey, Danielle Steele, Sydney Sheldon, and Mary Higgins Clark. I'm trying to read more current books. We have a lot of really wonderful writers in the RWA chapters I've joined. So, I've read some of their books, and I've learned a lot from them. I also read a lot of YA books because I teach middle school students.


Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to "fly in the mist?" Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?


I think that my writing process varies depending on the book. When I worked in Manhattan, I had an hour commute by bus. Rather than read a romance novel, I decided to try to write one. So, I drafted Wildflowers in a notebook (pre-laptop days) on my commute. I did everything with that book -- research and write, outline on index cards, keep a notebook, use clippings, and so on. That book went through a few critique groups. A former member, Rita Rinaldi, had been a big help with revisions.

I wrote Angels Among Us quickly and researched after the draft. RWA/NYC chapter member Kathryn Hayes had been invaluable with giving me feedback on the draft. As I said, my agent has the other two books. She's actively working on getting them published. She has given me helpful critique. Former member Michael Powaznik acted as my critique partner for the mainstream novel.

I just finished the rough draft for my third paranormal romance novel. I'm working with a critique group to revise the book. I hope to have it done in a few months then send it off.


Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?

Yes, never give up! Years ago at an RWA/NYC chapter meeting I had the chance to listen to Alice Orr speak about writing. She handed out a paper which I keep near my computer. It reads "Do It Anyway". Through the years of rejection, writers' block, and struggling with putting words on the page, I often think of her advice. Also, I view writing as a craft, one that you learn as you do. I'm always learning. Hopefully, the writing gets better.


Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels,"Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?


In general, I think that if they portray strong female characters, romance novels provide role models for young women. They also can show ideal images of relationships and romance. It's something to aspire to. When I write my hero, for instance, I think of the qualities that I'd admire in a man. I "fell in love" with Ryan as much as Johanna did in Wildflowers. He was courageous in the face of danger, protective, and very romantic.

Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?


I think that romance novels have gotten a bad rep for different reasons. First, I find that people who don't read romance are quick to criticize those who do or those who write them. Secondly, some of the book covers don't do justice to the author's work. Finally, there's an elitism. I teach middle school students. Not surprisingly, the girls (aged thirteen to fourteen) enjoy the teen romance novels. So, I've been sure to include books by such authors as Mary Kennedy, Meg Cabot, Nicholas Sparks, and others in their book club selection. By the way, I've "come out of the closet" about being a romance writer at work. My students are proud of my accomplishment, and I think it inspired a few to go off and write their own books.


Q. What are you planning to work on next?

I'm currently revising Ghost Writer, a paranormal romance novel that I drafted over six months. It's in the "rough" stage, and I feel it will take a few rewrites to get it up to submit. It's a ghost story set at the Jersey Shore. It involves parallel plots with ghosts from the Victorian era and the present occupants of an inn. I'm having fun writing it.





Thanks Catherine for stopping by! Catherine will be at the New Jersey conference this weekend at the booksigning but you can order both Wildflowers and Angels Among Us from Wings ePress now.

Coming up an interview with Silhouette Desire author and RWA NYC member Anna DePalo!

EKM

Welcome Isabo Kelly!

This week The Lady Novelist talks with RWA NYC member Isabo Kelly about her newest releases from Cerridwen Press.





To heal a magical rift that could rupture the very essence of time, Arlana Von Fordin and Lord Commander Oric of Browan face a treacherous journey. Assassination attempts, warrior goblins, telepathic attacks, a cryptic dragon and the jealousy of a deadly blood sorcerer stand between them and finding the answer to a centuries old riddle that will force them both to face their destiny.




Q: Tell us a little about yourself, what is your background and how long have you been writing before you were published.





Well, I’m one of those strange ducks who grew up in Las Vegas. I studied zoology in college and got my Ph.D. in animal behavior (studying deer mating J). There was about 3 ½ years between getting my bachelors degree and starting my Ph.D. during which I spent a lot of time writing. I’ve been writing since I was a little kid, but I didn’t think I could actually be a writer until my first year in college. Even then I thought it would be a hobby and science would be my career. But before the first year of my Ph.D. was finished, I knew I wanted to be a writer more than a scientist. I still wanted the degree, so I finished the program. But science became my hobby and writing my main focus.



How long was I writing before I got published… Well since I’ve been making up stories all my life, it was a long time before I got published! If you count from the time I actually started submitting my work, it took me about 8-9 years to get my first anything published.




Q: Tell us about when you got “the call”




My very first “call” was an email from a small but prestigious new e-book company called Dreams Unlimited. They were actually one of the first e-book publishers, and they published Sherrilyn Kenyon’s first paranormal romance under her own name as well as a novella by Diana Gabaldon. So it was pretty thrilling they wanted one of my books. I was still in Ireland in the middle of my Ph.D. and living with a house full of Irish (and one Scottish guy). I had to do a happy dance around my room, but no one was home from work yet to celebrate with me! That was back in 1999.




Q: What made you choose romance?




I always adored the love stories in books. And when I discovered romance, I realized what was missing from my fantasy and science fiction reads—sex and a focus on the relationship! So I decided to write what I wanted to read but couldn’t find at the time—a real mix of fantasy and romance.




Q: What you do love about writing romance?

Happy Endings!! I can guarantee a happy ending. I also love the focus on character and all the emotions that get churned up in a developing relationship. And I’ll admit it, I love writing sexual tension.

Q: You write for two different e-publishers. Can you tell us a little bit about what it’s been like working with both Cerridwen Press and Samhain?

Actually, I’ve had a pretty good experience with both companies. I adore my Cerridwen Press/Ellora’s Cave editor. She’s really easy to work with, but she doesn’t let me get away with sloppy writing, logic errors or anything else I might be embarrassed by later. She’s a good champion for me in the company. There have been some hitches in the road when it comes to print runs and distribution of print books. It took about a year and a half for Marshall’s Guard to come out in print, and around the same amount of time for Thief’s Desire’s print release. But that seems to be getting ironed out. And to be honest, there’s always going to be issues no matter what house you work with. Overall, though, I’m happy enough to keep writing for EC/CP.

I’ve only just started working with Samhain, but so far, I’ve really been enjoying the author-friendly environment of Samhain. Chrissy (the owner) is a very savvy businesswoman, so I’m hopeful Samhain will have a good future as a publishing house—which can only mean good things for its authors. My former editor was a doll, so she gave me a good introduction to the company. I was really sorry to see her leave. I just got a new editor in the last month, and she’s been really good to work with so far. So I can see continuing to publish with Samhain as long as they keep taking books from me.

I’ve had about three small press publishers close on me since I started publishing, so I try not to take anything for granted. But I’m hopeful both these companies still have a long future ahead of them.

Q: Your book, Destiny’s Seduction is a Fantasy Romance, and it’s also a sequel to Thief’s Desire which has just been released in paperback by Cerridwen Press. What sparked the idea? Was it a character? A scene you just couldn’t get out of your head?

I was editing my first novel (a fantasy romance which is still in the drawer) and found myself totally head over heals in love with one of the secondary characters—Jacob Marin. I decided he needed a book of his own. Then I was reading something totally unrelated and suddenly, the perfect woman for Jacob introduced herself—she was playing cards in a smoky pub and cheating the other players out of a fortune. That was how Thief’s Desire started. Events in Thief prompted the direction I went with Destiny’s Seduction. For Destiny, I knew the heroine and the bad guy first, and had an idea of the opening scene (the very opening of Chapter 1). The hero came to me as I thought more about the heroine’s journey.

Q: You write fantasy and science fiction. How do you go about world-building when you write?

I’m supposed to say here that I spend a lot of time world-building before I start writing. And I do spend some time developing aspects of my worlds before I launch into the first sentence. But I don’t do a lot. I usually can’t wait that long! I start with a character or two—almost all my stories have started with characters first—build enough of their world to get started, then plunge into the story and learn more about the world as I write. This does mean I have to pause a lot during the writing to daydream and mull over my worlds. But as anyone who knows me will attest, I LOVE world-building. I love traveling through new places in real life and in my imagination. So the exploration factor of world-building really appeals to me.

Q. What/Who do you like to read?

I obviously love reading science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romances J I enjoy non-romance science fiction and fantasy, too. Then there’s Regency historicals, romantic suspense and the occasional mystery. As for authors, the list is probably too long to do justice here but my auto buys in no particular order are Linnea Sinclair, Susan Grant, Julia Quinn, Rhonda Thompson, JC Wilder, Stacey Klemstein, JD Robb, Mary Janice Davidson, Janet Evanovich (the Plum books), Rachel Caine, Eileen Wilks, Eloise James, Terry Pratchett, Jennifer Crusie, Robin Owens, Michele Hauf… The list goes on and on, really. One of the great things about being a writer is I have a good excuse for my book habit—I can always call it work related research. Oh I also read a lot of popular science books, particularly stuff about cosmology and physics (there’s a reason I write science fiction).

Q. What is your writing process? Do you plot extensively first or do you tend to “fly in the mist?” Has your process changed over time? Do you write multiple drafts or clean up as you go?


As you can tell by my world-building process, I’m a real “fly in the mist” kind of author. I actually prefer writing that way because I get real excited when things I didn’t expect to happen do. I start with some sort of opening scene, a couple of characters and a general idea of how the book will end and then I run with it. The problem with writing this way is that I usually have a lot of re-writing to do when I’m done. I don’t clean up much at all as I go. I have to give myself permission to write the shitty first draft. If I didn’t, I might not ever finish a book! I do have to figure out some plot details, usually about a third of the way through the book, but I find a lot of my plots develop out of what’s happening in the story on the way to the ending I’ve envisioned.

Recently, I have started writing synopses before writing the book. And I’ll admit, I do find this really helpful, particularly for short stories so I know I’ll have enough room to tell the story I have in mind. But even with synopses, I still give myself room for the story to surprise me and grow as it will. In my really rough synopses, I usually say things like “and something exciting will happen here” when I’m not sure what that something will be.



Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?


First and foremost, be sure to finish the novel! If you’re getting bogged down in editing and trying to fix the book before it’s finished, stop editing immediately and just bang the remainder of the book out. You can always fix it later, but it’ll never be finished if you keep tweaking the earlier chapters. The other best advice I know is to just keep at it, persist, no matter what gets thrown your way. This can be a tough business, with a lot of frustrations, annoyances and heartbreaks. It can be easy to give up on submitting to avoid those disappointments (and even after publication, you can—and probably will—still get rejections). So you do have to be persistent.



Q. There was a recent article called "Harm in reading romance novels," Do you think romance novels harm or empower women?


Empower—especially modern romances with heroines from every walk of life, experiencing all those things women go through and coming out strong and happy at the other end. Obviously, like every work of fiction, there’s a lot of fantasy involved in romance novels. You rarely have a heroine complaining about the hero’s socks being thrown on the floor. We don’t really want that much reality in these stories. But what we do get is stories of redemption, the power of love, and the way loving and trusting the right person actually makes us stronger, even if we’re strong to begin with. Romances let us explore how powerful we are as women. How could that be harmful?


Q: Romance has garnered the biggest market share in genre fiction, yet it gets the least respect in popular and literary culture. Do you have any thoughts on why that is? Do you find this prejudice changing?


Well Romances are written for pleasure and it’s a female dominated audience/business, so I think that traditionally garnered a lot of disparaging comments. Most genres have had to take their share of criticism from literati types at one point or another. If it entertains and sells well, obviously it can’t be good! LOL. Personally, I’d prefer to write something that entertained and sold well than something hard to finish that sold four copies!

Is the prejudice changing? That’s hard to say. Most of us who read romance novels don’t bother hiding the covers anymore. And romance or romantic elements are sweeping through all the other genres. Personally, I’m proud to tell people I read and write romance novels, but that could just be me.

In the end, though, I don’t think the prejudice of the literati matters that much. I certainly don’t care if they poo-poo romance. And obviously that huge market share of readers doesn’t care either. They just keep buying the books, getting great reads and setting books down with a happy sigh. Long live the most flexible and diverse genre on the market!


Q. What are you planning to work on next?


This could be a long answer. I have two science fiction romances submitted to Samhain at the moment, and if they decide to take the books, there’s a third in the series I’ll have to write. The science fiction romantica novel I just sold to Ellora’s Cave is intended to be the first of a series, so depending on scheduling, I have the second book in that series to write. I have two paranormal series I’m working on, and the sequel to my Samhain fantasy novel to write. And those are just the more pressing possibilities. LOL. What takes priority will depend on contracts and my publishers. But for the moment, in between edits, I’m working on the first book of one of my paranormal series because…well it’s fun and I don’t get to work on it as often as I’d like. (Btw, this is how I deal with the submission process—I keep writing while I’m waiting to hear back from publishers and agents, to keep my mind off the submission. But it means I end up with an awful lot of books going at once!).


Thanks very much for the excellent questions, Elizabeth! This was fun.


Thank you Isabo for stopping by the Lady Novelist!


Look for the following coming from Isabo Kelly in 2007:
BONFIRE NIGHT ~ Ellora's Cave, Oct 24 2007
LACHMUIRGHAN: HALI'S RESCUE ~ Samhain Publishing, Dec. 2007


And you can purchase THIEF's DESIRE, and it's sequel DESTINY'S SEDUCTION as well as MARSHALL'S GUARD now from Cerridwen Press.