In Memoriam - Michael J. Powazinik

Today I found out that our previous President of RWA NYC passed away suddenly. Michael was president for 4 years before I was, and I served as his Vice-President. He's partly the reason that I'm now Presient of the chapter. He pushed and prodded and encouraged me to run, telling me that no one else could take over his crown and scepter after him.

Michael and I bonded over our love of royalty. He was the first man gay or straight who knew as much about European and British royalty as I did. He was exuberant and funny, loved Jackie O, and had an encylopedic knowledge of most of the First Ladies. He adored Hugh Jackman as anyone would, and loved musical theater. He once bought me the most beautiful old book on Marie Antoinette from the Strand bookstore, because he knew that she and I shared a birthday and that I was fascinated with her. I was so jealous that he actually had the Barbie Marie Antoinette doll that I coveted.

He worked for RT for several years as a publicist as well as Berkeley before he founded his own magazine Romance Forever which lasted for several years in the early 90's. The magazine was his dream, that I'm so glad that he got to fulfill, even for a little while. It was full on glossy with color, long before RT went that route. He had wonderful articles on royalty in the magazine. I think the day the magazine died, is the day that Michael died a little inside. He never seemed to fully recover from that blow.

He was one of my first friends in RWA NYC. I regret that we had a falling out several years ago over what now seems like something extremely silly but at the time there were hurt feelings all around, and we were never able to make the first move towards getting back our friendship. We both behaved badly.

And now he's gone, but he will always be remembered for the joyous way he used to greet new members and his funny stories that he used to tell at meetings. We will all remember the way that he used to serve as host of the now GAA awards while he was President.

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 Stacey Agdern!

This week the Lady Novelist is pleased to welcome Stacey Agdern from Posman books here to Got it Goin On.

Q. Can you share a little about your background and how you came to be in charge of the romance section at Posman Books?

I had decided that I was going to try to make a go of it as a writer, but needed a ‘day job’; something I could work at during the day and yet not have to bring my work home. The immediate choice was retail, and I’d always enjoyed bookstores, so what would be better than working at one? Once I started, I learned a great deal about the store and my colleagues. They were fabulous! However, as nice as they were, they didn’t read the genre. And so I began making suggestions…which eventually got noticed, because, of course, the management team knew how best to use their available assets. Less than a month after I started working at the store, I was in charge of the section.

Q. What does being in charge of the romance section at Posman Books mean? I.e., what exactly is it that you do?

I like to think of my job as ‘the last line of defense.’ I do a great deal of research on many different levels, speak to customers and use the knowledge that I’ve gained to fill in the gaps in both backlist and current titles. I also look at various publisher catalogues and assist the buyer in choosing new releases.

Q: What do you love about the romance genre?

I love the freedom! A romance can be set anywhere and pretty much do anything, but yet as long as it tells the story of a relationship(and ends with either a happily ever after or the promise of forever) it’s a romance. I don’t think that any other type of fiction can afford that kind of creative freedom.

Q: Are the one to whom the marketing people at a publisher’s house gear marketing strategies? In other words, if you order a ton of vampire romances, would the marketing people tell the editors to push authors to write more of the same? Or do you just get presented with tons of vampire romances because something else pushes editors to push authors to write these?

I think that what happens is that when publishers see the success of one writer, they go on an increasing search to find similar concepts. However, my personal involvement in this whole process is on an entirely different level. That’s where the concept of ‘last line of defense’ comes in. It’s my job to tell the books of the heart from the imitators; the original stories from those that were pushed by some other force. Because for every number of, for example, succubus romances, out there by authors following trends, there’s a series that’s original by someone who’s been toiling for years, waiting and hoping for a time when, as a notably fabulous and brilliant speaker called it ‘the market meets their muse.’

Q: Generally, what sub genres seem to be selling well? Where do you see market growth/contraction for sub genres in the future?

I’m not quite sure that I see contraction; I see more variations, wider steps people are taking. It’s amazing; this is a time where innovation is key! But at it’s core, no matter how many different variations of something do exist, readers can and do tell the difference between imitators and books of the heart.

Q: There have been reports that historicals are in a decline. Is this merely cyclical? Or asked another way, is there still hope for the historical?

Historicals are definitely not dead despite rumors to the contrary. What people continue to forget is that the current generation of up and coming readers grew up on Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Stephanie Laurens as the previous generation grew up on Johanna Lindsay and Kathleen Woodiwiss before her. As long as there are strong stories, there will always be a historical market.

Q: What do you think is the reason behind the push for more erotic sex scenes in all books, other than inspirational romances?

I think that mainstream publishers were confounded by what, to them, seemed like the sudden rise of erotic romance as a subgenre. So when e-publishers caught a great deal of the market share, the mainstream publishers ran to meet the needs of the market. The more erotic sex scenes are a direct result of that, but they’re also the result of what happens when the stars of erotic romance move into the mainstream. They’re used to writing more erotic scenes, and the mainstream publishers want the reading public to discover them at their best.

Q: What covers do you think have the most impact on readers today? Ie., the stepback, the clinch, the male chest, the female back?

Faces, when done well, can bring in readers. In fact, after having spent most of my reading life ignoring covers, within the last two years I’ve bought two different books simply because I couldn’t get the face on the cover out of my head. However, there are a few other rules. If there’s going to be a clinch, PLEASE make it a stepback. Male chests might work but that depends on the chest. Same with the female back.

Q: What books are you looking for to stock in the store? How can readers affect what is stocked in the store?

I don’t think you can stock a romance section, or really any section of a store or library, without taking into consideration reader tastes. If you don’t, I think there’s something fundamentally wrong. Whenever I look at a publisher catalog, or come across a title that seems interesting in my research, if I can’t come up with at least three regular customers who will by it? I don’t recommend it to be ordered. I also talk to customers(regular or non) about what they’re reading and get suggestions from them. At the moment, I’m looking for chicklit(a la Emily Giffin, Meg Cabot, Alisa Valdes Rodriguez) and romantic comedy written in the third person(methodone for those who finished SEP, Rachel Gibson, Julia London, Deidre Martin, Katie MacAlister, Jenny Crusie….).

Q: Do you think the internet, such as blogs, websites, and email are having an impact on romance book sales?

Absolutely! It helps me to choose titles that customers will enjoy, it helps the customers to be more informed about what they’re reading and what to expect from authors in the future.

Q: What do you think of the hybridization of romance or the marketing of books not really a romance as romance? For example, Jane Lockwood’s new book, Forbidden Shores is marketed as a historical romance, but it leans more towards erotic romance.

I love the hybrid/cross genre stuff that’s coming out ! So much creativity in those books! (Down Home Zombie Blues, Moongazer, Wired, Driven….) Mismarketing is not much of a bother for me as a bookseller because that’s something which is easily fixed. But that’s just another example of where the blogs, websites and emails come in handy. They allow me to do research; a great deal of research, on new and upcoming titles. As a result, I’ll know where to shelve the book…even if the spine says otherwise. For example, in the specific case of the Jane Lockwood title, a little research will uncover that Jane blogs with a group of erotic-historical writers. And so the book is shelved under the erotic romance label in the romance section.
My personal pet peeve is writers who swear up and down that they don’t write romance, but yet the core of their books is a)which ‘hero’ is the heroine going to end up with or b) the relationship between the hero and the heroine. My advice is plain and simple. If you don’t want to be sold/marketed as a romance DO NOT write one.

Q: You are also a writer. What kind of romance do you write?

My current wips are both paranormal; one an alternate reality series that incorporates my first attempt at a historical, the other a paranormal political romantic thriller series that uses a UN like organization as a backdrop. But I’ve written romantic comedy and a romantic political thriller.

Q. What/Who do you like to read?

I think it’s easier to talk about what I don’t read. Mysteries, with a few exceptions, Inspirational fiction/non, literary fiction(with a few exceptions), poetry, erotica. Everything else is pretty much fair game. I’m a sucker for a good writing style. If you can give me a well written story? I’m a happy person.

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


Those individuals who are the genre’s biggest vocal critics seem, more often than not, to have something to prove. The critics who refuse to touch the genre with a ten foot pole, constantly emphasize how much of a literary bent they possess; the mystery author who created a longstanding romantic subplot only to kill off the male lead is attempting to present herself as a ‘crime novelist.’ The author who famously bemoaned chicklit whilst reviewing another writer’s work was actually attempting to explain why her own best selling novel was not, and could never be, classified as chicklit. But those people who pick up a romance novel? They’re saying ‘Here I am. I love these books. I enjoy these books. And I dare you to question me.’ If that’s not empowerment, I’m not sure what is.

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 a lot of it has to do with the fact that the genre serves as an easy target for those people who need a quick boost. Unfortunately, these days, if you actually look at the current state of the market, there are many easy targets. For example, take this quote from Maureen Dowd.
“The blood-red high heel ending in a devil’s pitchfork on the cover of the Lauren Weisberger best seller might as well be driving a stake through the heart of the classics. I even found Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar” with chick-lit pretty-in-pink lettering. “Penis lit versus Venus lit,” said my friend Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic, who was with me. “An unacceptable choice.”

When I first saw this article, and this quote, my eyes couldn’t help but fall upon the cheesy cartoon soldier cover on the most recent translation of the Aeneid(which has been followed by the pretty much identical soldier on the trade paperback of Paul Cartelege’s ‘The Spartans). What’s next? A full blazing cover, complete with a Macho Roman soldier that would otherwise belong on a Clancy novel? It was just the most recent step in a thrillification process that is putting a proverbial sword through the heart of the classics. Penis Lit? Venus Lit? What about Mars lit? You know…god of war? Infusing the common thriller into gorgeous works of epic poetry? I’d rather read ‘The Devil Wears Prada’(which I don’t like for other, unrelated, reasons) than ‘Songs on Bronze’ which juxtaposes modern interpretations of the classics and the very noble, naked back of a Roman or Greek Soldier. Even though I adore both the classics and thrillers(and have actually read some of the most obvious examples of the thrillification process), this should serve as an example of how easy it is to find a target…if you only look.
Unfortunately, despite the prevalence of other easy targets, I don’t see this prejudice changing.

However, ever once in a while I do see signs of encouragement. In a recent interview, Michael Chabon said “There’s nothing inherently inferior about … romance novels,” and proceeded to explain how his novels are infused with romance, to the point where he believes that the core of one of his recent books is the relationship between one of his main characters and his ex- wife If you look at Dean Koontz’s website, you’ll see that he’s characterized some of his recent novels as ‘Romantic Suspense’(http://www.deankoontz.com/books/genre/romantic-suspense.php).

Q. What books are you most looking forward to in the upcoming months?

Do I have to list them all?:) I think the major problem with the fact that I read sooo many authors is that my to be bought list is rather large….but yet I’m never without something to read by one of my faves.

Thanks Stacey for stopping by. And if you're an author or even a reader, when you're in New York, stop by Posman Books in Grand Central Station and say hi to Stacey!

Contest Queen

"Contest Queen, Young and Sweet, Only Forty-Three, Contest Queen, hear the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah!"

Well, I'll be forty-three after my next birthday, but you get the idea. All of a sudden after having avoiding contests for years, I've now entered 3! Yes, I have added the Golden Heart and Amazon's Breakthrough Author Award to my list of contests which include the Brava Novella Contest.

I'm not sure why I've avoided contests, the only reason I can think of is that I've been so focused on writing, and querying agents that I just haven't had the chance to enter. Also, the contest has been a deterrant. Up until two years ago, I was living from paycheck to paycheck temping while I pursued writing and acting. Much of 2003 was spent unemployed. I only had enough money to pay rent, pay my therapist and take yoga classes five days a week. I was down to eating like two meals a day or sometimes one in order to have money. Unemployment only pays $364/week.

But now I'm a little flush, so I thought what the heck! Of course, sending 6 partials, 6 synopses, and the full is not going to be cheap, but I'm sending the full on a disk, so that should make it lighter.

Now I just have to figure out what my next step is in terms of writing. I have two chick-lit romantic comedy paranormals to rewrite, and I still have to finish the YA that I started several months ago. Of course, since coming back from NJRW, my mind has been teeming with ideas, including two erotic romances. MF and I came up with a fun idea, which actually might work better as a screenplay where you have the visuals.

So right now, I have one YA partial, one YA idea, 2 full length novels that need to be rewritten and a chick-lit paranormal that needs to be researched and written. Since NaNoWriMo is coming up, I thought I would finish the YA to see if it actually works as a novel, and just plug in later the stuff that I need to research.

Unless I change my mind.

EKM

Oh, and I went to see the Jennifer Lopez/Marc Anthony concert on Sunday. If she's not pregnant, then she's lost whatever fashion sense that she had, because her costumes all consisted of variations on a caftan! They were so beyond fugly. He was electrifying, she needs to stay away from ballads because she has a hard time staying in tune. But they looked very adorable together when they sang their two duets at the end.

More Golden Apple Awards

I thought I'd share some more photos from Tuesday night's GAA awards reception that my chapter RWA NYC threw at the Pen & Brush Club here in New York.

This is the photo I had hoped would run on Galley Cat, me with all the honorees!

This is me looking on as one of our honorees accept their award. God, I look really thin don't I? I love this photo!

Here's a photo of me after I finished presenting all the awards!

Here are our members, Barbara Einstein who writes as Barbara Gale, Irene Weissman and past president Sylvia Baumgarten who writes as Sylvia Halliday.

And finally here are the lovely Leanna Renee Heiber, Katrina Tipton who writes as Isabo Kelly and Stacey Agdern, our bookseller of the year from Posman Books (check her out if you're in Grand Central Station).

Thanks for reading,

EKM

GAA Makes Galley Cat!

I'm so psyched. Our Golden Apple Awards reception made media bistro's Galley Cat page.

"Elizabeth Kerri Mahon, president of the New York City chapter of the Romance Writers of America, sent me some pictures from Tuesday night's reception honoring the winners of the chapter's annual Golden Apple Awards. Here, from left to right, are Kensington Books editor-in-chief John Scognamiglio, Lifetime Achievement winner Wendy Corsi Staub, Dorchester Books publisher John Prebich, author of the year Caridad Pineiro, bookseller of the year Stacey Agdern from Posman Books, and librarian of the year Joanne Tropiano of Nutley, New Jersey."

I'm so excited, I'm not even bummed that they didn't use the picture with me in it!

Welcome Caridad Piñeiro!

This week, The Lady Novelist welcomes RWA NYC's Golden Apple Author of the Year Caridad Piñeiro, author of the popular The Calling vampire series from Silhouette Nocturne and The South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man out now from Pocket Books to rave reviews.

Four single girls + Four sexy men = Trouble for one confirmed bachelorette who just wants to hang with her amigas!
Reporter Sylvia Amenabar loves her vida loca. Just months ago, she and her three best friends—Adriana, Juli, and Tori—were happily single, hoisting mojitos at their weekly get-together. Now, everything’s changed. All four women have sexy men in their lives—and Sylvia’s not sure she likes it that way.

Ever since handsome cop Carlos Ramirez took a bullet for Sylvia after an investigative report went south, she’s been fighting their intensifying attraction. Sure, he’s gorgeous and great in bed—and nearly died for her—but Sylvia has sworn never to let a man be in a position to break her heart that way her father did by abandoning her and her mother.

Besides, who has time for the whole the relationship dance? Sylvia’s got a reputation to maintain as Miami’s hottest new journalist. But when her latest assignment threatens to smear Adriana’s boyfriend, Riley, and too-good-to-be-true Carlos, and her mother is hell-bent on reuniting with her father, Sylvia finds that life and love and family aren’t things you can control!

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


I wrote my first book in the fifth grade when the teacher assigned a class project – to write a book that would be included in a class lending library. I went home and started writing and my poor mom had to type 120 pages. It was no surprise that the book was a romance since even at that age, most of what I had been reading had strong romance elements. I kept writing through junior high and high school by becoming involved in the school literary magazines, but after my graduation from high school, I set out to write my first novel. I kept at it through college and law school and thanks to Fern Michaels, a version of that novel went to Kensington. Unfortunately it wasn’t acquired, but a few years after that I sold Kensington my first contemporary romance, NOW AND ALWAYS.


Q: What made you choose romance?

I’d been an avid reader and one summer, after reading SHANNA, I realized that what I was reading was romance. I began devouring every romance I could find on the bookshelves and it occurred to me that what I was writing was also romance. There was never any doubt in my mind that the stories I wanted to write were within the romance genre.


Q: What you do love about writing vampire romances?

I love the dark and turbulent emotions of not just the vampires, but the humans in THE CALLING novels. Writing my vampire romances lets me explore those dangerous elements of human nature that I might not be able to do in one of my women’s fiction books. It lets me play off the danger of the humans against that of the vampires. What that ultimately shows is that there is good and evil in all kinds of mortals and immortals. The vampire novels also let me push the envelope sexually at times, since the vampires have sometimes had centuries of experience and what they need to please them may differ greatly from what a human needs. Or then again, it may not, which is why there are so many aspects that I can explore in THE CALLING vampire novels.

Q: What do you like least about it?

I don’t think that it’s a question of not liking it, but rather that after a number of books dealing with the greater levels of violence and emotional pull in THE CALLING series, it demands a break to doing something different. That’s why I love writing the Chicas books and romantic suspense stories. With sexy settings and totally different themes, I can rejuvenate from dealing with the darkness of THE CALLING and the Manhattan local for the series. Nevertheless, there is something about THE CALLING that always pulls me back and has me thinking of ways to continue to build that world and explore the many characters within it.

Q. What sparked THE CALLING Series? Was it a character? A scene you just couldn’t get out of your head?


I was a Buffy and X-Files fan and thought, “What would happen if I combined the basic elements of both of these shows?” THE CALLING was born – a blend of the vampire world, supernatural and real-life suspense together with the mortal demands of being a kick-ass FBI Agent and having a non-human lover. What could be better? Once the initial germ of the idea came to me, Diana Reyes was the first character to pop into my head. Actually, she had been popping into my head for quite some time while I was trying to finish up a series of baseball books for Kensington. No matter how hard I tried to shove her aside, Diana always returned and I knew then that I had to write her story, which was released as DARKNESS CALLS in March 2004.


Q: What did you do that made your vampires different from what we know of about vampires in fiction?

Since I wanted my vampires to play a real role in the suspense elements in the stories, they had to be able to venture out during the day and also, there had to be a risk factor for their participation, namely death. When I researched existing vampire lore, I realized I would not be the first to allow vampires to venture out into the sun, but I was careful to explain the why of how they did it. When it came to the death part, I wanted more than just the traditional stake through the heart/beheading kinds of deaths. Because of that, I made them more physically vulnerable. They could survive traumas that a human could not, but immense trauma would still begin a cycle that could kill them if they didn’t feed. I also dropped a secret into DANGER CALLS about vampire blood. That secret has blossomed into an ongoing story arc with Diana Reyes beginning in DEATH CALLS. I won’t spill more about it, but let’s say that the vampire blood secret will result in major changes in this character over the course of the next THE CALLING novels in 2008 and 2009. Plus, there’s another little secret that will emerge in HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE which includes FATE CALLS, another novella in the series. HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE will be released in December 2007.


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


I did have to take into account the existing vampire mythologies and not deviate from them too greatly. When I did my own spin on things or did a change from something accepted, I made of point of explaining it carefully so that vampire purists would not be upset by the changes I had made and incorporated into the mythology of THE CALLING.


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?


I’m always doing research for THE CALLING. Some of it was scientific so that I could realistically create that vampire blood secret I mentioned. Sometimes it relates to other vampire mythologies. For example, DEVOTION CALLS featured a spin on a Latin vampire legend – a chupacabra or goat sucker. In an upcoming 2008 release, FURY CALLS, you’ll meet an Asian vampire and see the differences between them and our mostly European concept of vampires. I try to do these things so that each book in THE CALLING series is fresh and different for the readers. HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE features Hadrian, a vampire from Ancient Rome. There are flashbacks to Ancient Rome as well as information about the pagan celebrations and beliefs that have been incorporated into some of our Christmas holiday traditions. I enjoyed researching those aspects of the story since I love history.


Q: Vampire romances in recent years have exploded. Do you think the market is becoming saturated?

I am asked this question often. I think that surviving in a crowded marketplace is a matter of not only good writing, but getting the word out there about your work. The existence of many other similar books makes it harder for a writer in that genre. They need to find a way to rise up out of the crowd. If you’ve established a following, it is sometimes easier to survive when there’s a glut of similar books, but you’ve still got to deliver a good book. As for the market becoming saturated, there are certainly quite a number of vampire romances out there now.


Q: As well as writing for Silhouette Nocturne, you also write romantic suspense. How do you balance writing paranormal, chick-lit and romantic suspense?

I adore the change of pace and locale that writing in multiple genres provides. It lets me try something different with each book and also helps to keep me from using “writing crutches” when I find myself in a bit of writer’s block. I also find that tackling the specific elements of the various genres sometimes helps me look at the elements in the other genres in a unique way. Hopefully that keeps the books fresh and possibly brings new ideas into the other genres.


Q. You’ve also branched out into writing women’s fiction for Pocket Books with the South Beach Chicas series. How has that been different for you than writing category?

Writing a longer book is quite different because you have the time to add secondary plots and characters as well as explore the complexities in the characters’ personalities with greater depth. That has provided me with the opportunity to build the basic world of the South Beach Chicas with just one book. In comparison, to build the basic world in THE CALLING, with all the secondary characters that visit in the various books, took several novels. I love writing about the South Beach Chicas because much like Diana Reyes, they are all strong and successful women who know what they want out of life and are determined to get it. What I also love about the Chicas is the humor and lightness that comes with setting the books in South Beach. It lets me create an entirely different world and provide my readers a glimpse of another side of my writing and also, my Miami culture which is worlds away from my Manhattan culture.


Q. You have a full time job, a family and you publish several books a year. How do you balance your time?


It is a juggling act to balance all these things and occasionally there is a bobble. What I do try to do is to always prioritize, although I must stress that for me, family always comes first. They are the reason for everything else that I do. As for the full-time job (attorney) and the writing, they are both careers that are mentally and physically intensive. I know it sounds weird to say physically intensive about jobs that involve a lot of sitting, but anyone who has spent four or more hours in a chair while concentrating on their computer will know what I mean. It does drain you. For that reason, I try to keep my weekday writing to the train commute to and from Manhattan. On the weekends I will schedule to do three or four hours of writing. However, if there’s a deadline or a change in publishing schedules, I will work at night to finish a manuscript. I guess the key to finishing all those books is – I write as often as I can and nearly every day. By doing that I am able to write a few books each year and prepare proposals for future books.


Q. What/Who do you like to read?


I love urban fantasies and romantic suspense. My favorites right now are Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong and J.D. Robb. I also make it a point to read my fellow authors at Silhouette Nocturne, Silhouette Romantic Suspense and an assortment of Latina writers, like Tracey Montoya, Lara Rios and Berta Platas.



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 write every day usually. When I begin a book, it’s always the characters that come to my head first. I then create a story around what will allow me to challenge them with their greatest fears. For example, in BLOOD CALLS, the hero is a vampire who was once a Spanish Lord who had been betrayed by his wife and recently lost a lover. What would be the perfect foil for a vampire like that? A terminally ill woman with secrets.


After I decide on the characters, I lay out the start, middle and end of the book. I fill in everything else while I’m writing the novel. Lately, I have been forced to do the dreaded synopsis first, but I really prefer going with a looser idea for the book and letting the story and characters to dictate what happens.


Q: What are some of the changes in the romance genre since you’ve started writing?


For starters, romances are definitely sexier and the heroines seem to be more alpha. When it comes to the sexiness factor in modern romances, I love a book that has good sex scenes, but I think that it’s important that those scenes don’t overwhelm the romance in the story. As for stronger women taking charge in romance novels, I think this is absolutely wonderful. I’m glad that I’m able to show women like that because I think it reflects the changing roles of women in today’s world.


Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?


I would advise them to learn about the craft and the business either before or while they write their first book. I didn’t do that and found that the revisions I had to make and the many awkward steps I took toward getting published were as a result of my not knowing about either the craft or the business. Another piece of advice would be to not take rejections too seriously. Every writer, even one who is multi-published, deals with rejection since not every story sells. If you can take something positive from the rejection do so and most importantly, NEVER GIVE UP! If you love to write, keep on writing.


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


I have no doubt that reading romance novels empowers women in many ways. Many romances show women in positive roles and taking charge of their lives. That’s definitely a good thing. Reading romances helps take women away from the stress and issues of their every day lives and we all know that reducing stress is also a good thing. Sharing books with friends or discussions about the novels or online at the various romance websites likewise helps to build a sense of community and hopefully, enlighten women as well.


As for those that think that women can’t discern the fiction in romance novels from real life – they are chauvinists and that term is not limited to men. There are many women that I’ve met who have adopted chauvinistic opinions about romance. Would these individuals ask the same question about a man who reads James Bond? Do they worry that men who read such spy novels will believe that they, too, are sexy spies? Do people ask non-romance male authors if their readers cannot discern the fiction in their novels from the reality of their lives? I think 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 truly believe the prejudice against romance is based on a general societal denigration of things that are important to women. Look at how women are treated differently in virtually every aspect of our culture, from salaries to health care to basic car repairs. I remember going to buy my car and the salesman wanted to explain about the wood in the dash and the stereo system while I wanted to know if the car had a standard H shifting pattern and the availability of a six cylinder model. Presumably the latter were “guy things” that he thought me incapable of understanding.

While there are many romance writers and publishing professionals struggling to change the perception of romance, in my opinion it is still an uphill battle. Despite that, I am hopeful that the prejudice will change as more and more people take notice of the number of people reading romance, including men, the popularity of the genre, and the varied and accomplished backgrounds of so many romance writers.


Q. What are you planning to work on next?


I am at work on the next three novels in THE CALLING vampire series. I am also considering the next SOUTH BEACH CHICAS story, namely, Adriana’s story. I think that so many women have male best friends who could or do become lovers that Adriana’s story will resonate with many women and I hope that I will be able to write that story. Beyond that, I’m developing some other romantic suspense stories as well as two paranormal single titles.




Thanks Caridad for stopping by! SOUTH BEACH CHICAS CATCH THEIR MAN is out now today, and you can still order her Silhouette Romantic Suspense SECRET AGENT REUNION (4 Stars from RT) from Eharlequin or Amazon.com.


Stay tuned for more interviews with our RWA NYC authors in the future as well as our Lifetime Achievement winner Wendy Corsi Staub.

Thanks for reading!

EKM