Tag: Fiction

Favorite Books: Common Elements

Favorite Books: My Historical Romance Keeper Shelf
A partial view of my Historical Romance keeper shelf. Click to enlarge.

This week my accountability group’s How I Write series asks, “What are your types of favorite books? Do you write those elements into your own? Or do you do something different? Why?”

I’m a pretty omnivorous reader. I’ll read cereal boxes if left with nothing better. If you saw how many books we have. Ok, so we have well over 300 linear feet of books (not counting the kids’) in our house. Oh, did I mention I need a new book shelf? Oh, right, my favorite types of books.

In looking across all the books I hold dear, there are three common elements that draw me to them: a coherent world I can escape into, an emotional journey, and a happy ending. This is one reason why romance appeal to me in general and historical romances provide a much needed escape from every day first world problems.

My Favorite Books Have a Coherent World

I love series that continue to build and add depth to the setting with a familiar cast of characters. I like revisiting old friends. It doesn’t have to be the real world, but one of the things I adored about Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern books were how closely tied together everything became the farther you got into the series. I love how a very minor secondary character can repeatedly show up, and each time we learn a little more about them, and end up stealing readers’ hearts. The idea of a coherent world is definitely one of the things I’ve been trying to do in my writing. The main characters from one will show up as secondary characters in another story. They frequent many of the same places which makes research easier and reusable.

My Favorite Books Take Me on an Emotional Journey

I like to laugh, to worry, to think, and yes, to cry over a good book. Now before you go thinking I’m a huge Nicholas Sparks fan, lemme tell you it has to be natural and inevitable, but it can never feel contrived or manipulative. That creates wall-bangers for me. Kat Cantrell is an up and coming author who does this well for me. Suzanne Enoch is an example of an established author who did this extremely well with her Lessons in Love Trilogy. Some days I think this will be my hardest element to conquer, but I’m going to keep working at it.

My Favorite Books Have a Happy Ending

There’s enough doom and gloom in the world. I read for escape. I want something that’s going to restore a little hope to the world and comfort and reassure me that certain truths are universal and the bad guys always get what’s coming to them in the end. I’m writing, historical romance, so duh! This element is non-negotiable for me in my own writing as well.

I don’t find it very surprising that these elements keep showing up. They’re pretty basic, but they’re also pretty universal in their appeal.

Now, if I just had more time to read, I’d go curl up with an old friend (a specific book or author) and tune out the world for a while.

YOUR TURN: What are some of the common elements in your favorite books?

And if you’d like to check out the rest of my accountability group, you can find their blogs here:

* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Susan Saxx *

Comfort Reading

This week my accountability group’s How I Write series asks, “When you need some comfort reading, who do you turn to?”

Comfort Reading: Julia Quinn's The Viscount Who Loved Me

I took a run at this topic back in 2008, with a Thursday Thirteen post where I listed 13 Repeatedly Reread Books in our personal library. But in looking back at that post, the only one of those books that I’ve reread in the last 5 years (HOW is THAT possible and where did they GO?) is Julia Quinn‘s The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgerton Family)

Maybe what I’m looking for from a comfort read has changed. It’s not that I don’t think I’ll never read any of those books on that list again. I’m pretty sure I will. However, I’d like to share a few of the authors I’ve discovered over the past 5 years and will keep buying in the future. Disclaimer: I’m friends with several of these authors and have met many others, but I stand behind their books after having read more than one of them. In no particular order…

Great Contemporary Reads

Comfort Reading: Caitie Quinn's THE LAST SINGLE GIRLCaitie Quinn • Tamara Morgan • Christie Ridgway • Christie Craig • Louisa Edwards • Kat Cantrell (Yes, even though she only has one book out so far, I also got to read a WIP of hers that made me cry.)

 

Great Historical Reads

Comfort Reading: Jillian Stone's AN AFFAIR WITH MR. KENNEDYJoanna Bourne • Tessa Dare • Heather Snow • Jillian Stone • Jeannie Lin

 

 

Great YA Reads

Comfort Reading: Danielle Joseph's SHRINKING VIOLETDanielle Joseph • Rosemary Clement-Moore

 

 

Great Fantasy Read

Comfort Reading: Jim Butcher's CODEX ALERA seriesJim Butcher – Yes, Dresden Files, but REALLY loved the Alera Codex series.

 

 

I have to say that I’m reading more in ebooks these days because some of these authors are only available that way, but also I find myself pulling out my phone or my iPad to read while I’m waiting. I still prefer reading a paperback in bed and think they’re MUCH better for getting authors to sign. =)

There were a couple authors I really wanted to add to this list, but since I’ve only read one book by them I didn’t think it would be quite fair to include them yet. But I don’t doubt they’ll remain favorites.

YOUR TURN: Which authors or books do you turn to for your comfort reading?

And if you’d like to check out the rest of my accountability group, you can find their blogs here:

* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Susan Saxx *

What’s Your Self-Editing Process?

Steaming Hedge - Version 1 before self-editing process
Raw image as downloaded from camera.

I’m trying to develop/discover my self-editing process and this week in my accountability group How I Write series was asked, “Do you have an editing process? If so, what?”

This is one of the things that I’m honestly struggling with as a writer. I do not currently have what I would term a self-editing “process” and have just sort of flown by the seat of my pants in this area. But this year, I decided I needed a process that I could follow and would cover the necessary bases instead of just getting lost in an endless circle of line edits as my internal editor argued with itself.

So, what did I do? I started researching it. I’ve read through Cathy Yardley‘s Rock Your Revisions, by Renni Browne and Dave King‘s Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, and Noah Lukeman‘s The First Five Pages. However none of them really felt like a good fit with what I have in my mind as what an editing process should look like. Just call me Goldilocks… cause they’re either too vague, too fluffy, or too small and only cover a particular part of the self-editing process.

Now, that’s not saying I don’t recommend any of these books. I absolutely do! They are ALL great books, they’re just not what I’m looking for right now. They may have PART of what I’m looking for, and I haven’t discounted that either. I have one more to read through that I have high hopes for that Danie Ford recommended: Alan Watt‘s The 90-Day Rewrite: The Process of Revision. On the surface it sounds like it has the stuff I’m looking for.

So what is it I’m looking for that I haven’t found yet? Something that’s kinda like a checklist, but organized in a logical fashion. Something that details not just what I should be looking for, but how to address any problems I find. Something that holds my hand through the process and doesn’t just say, “G’won! The water’s fine! Just jump in!” Something that’s a comprehensive game plan to tackle these projects. Tall order, right?

I think I’m also looking to clarify in my mind what I should be doing at this point to get a manuscript to a state that is “good enough” to send out and hopefully one that better matches what’s in my head.

As I sat down to write this post, I immediately started thinking about what photo I was going to put with it that would be illustrative of the self-editing process. As I was looking though my digital collection, I realized I do a lot of preliminary editing “in the camera” as well as a bunch of post-processing, especially on my close-ups of flowers to get them to pop.

By “editing in the camera” I mean that I take several shots of the same subject. Often with identical settings, but sometimes I purposely try several different ones to get different effects. Then once I download the photos from the camera, I’ll sift through the multiples and pick the ones that appeal to me. Sometimes, it’s a no-brainer — blurry, badly composed, and/or poorly lit ones get tossed. But I’ve found some that had lots of potential, but it hadn’t been captured in a very flattering way.

Take the photo at the top of this post, for example. Lighting and composition were the first things that jumped out at me at problematic. In writing, this would probably translate to tone and structure. If that photo were a book, I’d say it had a lot of extra irrelevant scenes and odd tone choices that were detracting from the overall story I wanted to tell.

Steaming Hedge after self-editing process
Final image after cropping/resizing, desaturation & additional affects applied.

I’m not sure if I tackled the lighting or the composition first. I suspect I probably played with the lighting first, trying to minimize the glare from the morning sun and then added a few special affects to get the hedge to pop more visually. In that process, I’m sure I decided to play with the saturation levels and the black & white struck me as the best way to show off the contrast between the hedge and the steam rising from it. Then, a quick crop (re-framing the picture and cutting away parts of it) to fix the composition and further eliminate the big ol’ glaring sun from the top left corner.

I guess my next question is, how do I take the ideas of what I do instinctively (now?) for photography into something usable for writing.

YOUR TURN: Do you have an editing process? If so, what?

And if you’d like to check out the rest of my accountability group, you can find their blogs here:

* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Susan Saxx

Staying Positive Despite Rejection

Staying Positive Despite Rejection: Wildflowers blooming in the scrub by Kristen KosterThis week in my accountability group’s How I Write series we were asked, “Every writer goes through ups and downs. What do you do to keep positive about what you’re working on?” I chose to interpret this as “How do you focus on staying positive despite rejection?” Because, we writer’s know, there are different forms of rejection that must be faced and overcome on a regular basis.

Staying Positive Despite Rejection from Our Selves

This is the hardest one for me. I am definitely my own worst critic. So, how do I deal with this?

Work with a timer.
This gives me something to beat. It’s that competitive streak. Also, I know I have to write until the timer goes off, but then I get a quick break.
Stuff the internal editor in a box.
Ok, so some days the visualization is more like stuffing her into an iron-bound chest and shipping her off to Timbuktu, but I’m sure you get the idea. She’s NOT welcome for first drafts.
Reread Old Stuff
Yup, pull out that ms that’s been hidden with the dust bunnies under the bed and see just how far my writing’s come. Who would ever start with a daydream where the heroine’s looking in a mirror. Cringe and be glad you’re not that writer any more.
Revisit the Praise
Reread some of the good comments from feedback from crit partners, beta readers and contest judges.

Staying Positive Despite Rejection from Our Peers

Writing is often a solitary pursuit, but many don’t think you should remain completely in a vacuum for the entire process. It took me a long time to build the confidence to show my work to others. When I did, I told myself that I wanted the feedback and that it wasn’t personal and that the people giving the advice wanted the same thing I did, to improve the story.

Critiques
Take what you can use, and ignore what doesn’t make sense or doesn’t work. It’s your book/story/etc, don’t write by committee. But do remind yourself that people have the story’s best interests in mind. Sometimes, when you come back to it later, you may see the comments from a different perspective.
Contests
Again, you’re not going to please everyone, but save off the stuff you do well and sift through for the useful stuff. Remind yourself that people have the story’s best interests in mind.
Reviews
I’m not lucky enough to be in this boat yet, but I’d like to think I could handle truthful ones.
Comments/Corrections
This is a more general space. This could be in email, on your blog, or even facebook or twitter.

Let It Sit
This is good for all of the above: read it, let it sting, bask in the praise, whatever. Then, put it away! Come back to it at least a day or two later and look at it with a fresh perspective.

Staying Positive Despite Rejection from the Industry

I don’t have a lot of experience with the publishing industry beyond querying some agents and editors, but here’s what I’ve learned so far and from watching others go through similar situations.

Hit Send & Move On
After hitting send, I try to jump into the next project and ignore the fact that it’s out there.
What’s the worst they can say?
No, right? Ok, there are probably worse ways they could phrase that “no thanks”, but really, it’s not personal. Move on to the next person on your list. Besides, you’re liable to get pleasantly surprised with a “yes!” at some point.
It’s all Subjective!
Look at how many books/movies/tv shows/paintings/photographs/dances/sculptures that you’ve either loved or hated. Or even just been “meh” over. Everyone has their own tastes and no two people will ever read the same book.
Keep Going/Keep Learning
This may sound similar to the first one, but it’s more specific. Keep practicing, don’t stop if it’s something you love. I don’t know who originally said it, but I love the quote, “Failure leads to success (unless you quit trying.)”. So true.

Your Turn: What do you do to keep positive about what you’re working on?

And if you’d like to read what the rest of my accountability group is expanding out their comfort zones, you can find their blogs here:

* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney * Susan Saxx

Another Interview with Historical Erotic Romance Author: Sorcha Mowbray

Cover for LOVE REDEEMED, by Sorcha MowbrayPlease welcome Sorcha Mowbray back to the blog today! We’re celebrating her upcoming release of LOVE REDEEMED, which will be available on November 27th from Decadent Publishing.

*** UPDATE: THE WINNER OF THE EBOOK
COPY OF LOVE REVEALED IS:
JEAN!!
CONGRATS! ***

Blurb:

Love Redeemed (Book 2, The Market Series)
by Sorcha Mowbray

Brennan Whitling wants for nothing but the love of a good woman. He has a close family, good friends, and a successful textiles import business. But, a beautiful and elusive young woman he has only seen from afar haunts him. Until a chance meeting leads to far more than dinner.

Serena Freemont has only ever known the life of a prostitute. When an invitation to dinner by a handsome gentleman provides her an opportunity to experience life as a young lady, it’s too tempting to pass up. Much like the man issuing it. After a night of passion she must disappear or face his reaction when the truth is revealed.

To find happiness Serena must shed her past long enough to realize she is worthy of a future. To win her heart, Brennan must show her the redemptive power of love.

Excerpt:

“Are you all right, Miss?”

For a moment, for this moment, she was a normal young woman experiencing the attentions of a handsome young man. Heat crept up her cheeks as he held her hatbox out, and the burning had nothing to do with the sun. “I-I— Yes, I am. Thank you.” His blue-gray eyes seemed to bore into her.

“I am so glad. I was sure you were a goner there for a moment.” He flashed a brilliant grin liquefying Serena’s insides instantly. “Please let me introduce myself. I’m Mr. Brennan Whitling of Whitling Textiles Importers and Wholesalers.”

“How do you do, Mr. Whitling?” Serena allowed her lips to curve up ever so slightly. “I am Miss Serena Freemont.”

“It is a pleasure. Might I interest you and your”—he glanced around the bustling street as his grin faded in confusion— “chaperone in a cup of tea?”

A wave of horror swept over Serena. Chaperone? Harlots did not require one of those. “Oh, Aunt Henrietta is in the bookstore, and I fear she will be in there a very long time. I am certain she won’t notice if we slip off for a quick spot of tea.”

“Excellent! There is a lovely little shop just up the street.” A beautiful smile spread across his face, causing her pulse to quicken.

He escorted her up the block where they stopped at a quaint little teashop. They settled in at a table and ordered a pot of tea.

“What has you on Bond Street today, Mr. Whitling?” They sat in semi privacy at the back of the shop.

“Oh, I was visiting some of my customers and taking new orders. I am very glad I was there to help you, and by virtue of said assistance make your acquaintance.” Did his already deep voice grow huskier? Their tea service arrived, dispelling the moment.

“As am I. Landing on my backside in the middle of the street would have been rather embarrassing. But in truth, thank you for your assistance today, and now the tea.” She lifted her freshly prepared cup to her lips and took a dainty sip from the delicate china. Through lowered lashes, she watched his graceful movements as he prepared his own.

“It is my pleasure on both accounts. You seem familiar to me. Have we met somewhere before? A ball perhaps?”

Gotta have it? You’ll be able to buy it from Decadent Publishing on Nov 27th!

If you missed my previous interview with Sorcha, you may want to read it first for some background and to see where some of these follow up questions came from. Don’t worry, we’ll wait for you to read it and then come back…

So, now that you’re all caught up, let’s put Sorcha back in the hot seat and grill her with some new questions!

1. Last time you visited, you mentioned you had a minor in history in college and that you loved doing research. What are some of your favorite research resources?

I don’t really have particular books I go to all the time. I use the web A LOT mostly because it’s so handy.

2. What’s the strangest question you’ve had to get answered in the name of research?

Oh definitely the questions about sex toys. It’s fascinating to consider how long they’ve been around and in use. Our modern civilization does not have the corner on the kinky market. LOL! For the series I needed to use a dildo and well, frankly some of the materials used in early dildos was downright terrifying. For example wood. All I can imagine when I think of wooden dildos is a really awful splinter in the wrong place. *shudders*

3. Do you plan to make use of your discovery of the Victorian’s fascination with tattoos in your Market series?

No. Strangely, I have not tattooed any of my characters in this series. Maybe in a future book, if I write any more set at The Market, or in another Victorian era series.

4. Where did you get the idea for The Market as a high class bordello? What was the biggest challenge in accurately portraying life in such an establishment and still managing to write the story you wanted?

I needed a brothel and I love naming things in kind of obvious ways at times. It is rather like a meat market, and I just kind of went…oh! I like it! Also, I guess I like the idea of writing a story (or series of stories) that makes prostitutes more accessible as people. Yes, they sell their bodies for money, but they are people too. They have hopes and dreams, and long to fall in love just like anyone else.

5. You said before, your favorite type of hero was an alpha. How is the hero in Love Redeemed different from your typical alpha hero?

Oh, he came scary close to being beta. I remember at one point as I was writing it wondering who the hell this guy was and how did he wander into my damn story! Then his alpha tendencies came to light and I breathed a lot easier. I guess he’s a kinder gentler alpha than I am used to writing and liking. And that was hard to get used to. I kept reading the book and thinking, everyone is going to hate this story. Eventually I got to a place where I felt better about Brennan as my hero and so did Serena. 🙂

6. How would you describe your heroines? Do they have similar traits that drew you to them? Would they get along well together or would they dislike each other?

I don’t think they would dislike each other, but I am not sure they would get along famously either. Kat is rather bookish, and while Serena is intelligent she is more street smart. I mean, she likes a good book too, but not so scientifically oriented. I think all the heroines I write are strong women. Maybe not always in a blatant way, but every one has a core of steel that helps them survive all the things I do to them.

7. Do you find there are any recurring themes in your books that you seem to keep coming back to?

No. In fact, Love Redeemed (book two of The Market Series) was surprisingly different from Love Revealed (book one). And book three is different yet again. I guess the one common theme is that love really can conquer all, but that is such a broad theme and really, it generally applies to the whole genre of romance.

8. I have to ask, and I’m sure people out there want to know as well, will we get to read Madame Marchander’s book at some point?

Ha! Of course you will. She’s book three and it is with the publisher right now for review. I have to say she was something of a challenge to write, but I will save that conversation for later.

9. What next? More stories set around The Market or something new?

I’m actually working on a post-apocalyptic m/m/f/m romance. It’s in the super early stages…plotting, writing a scene or two to get a feel for everyone, etc. I also have a second short story in the One Night With A Cowboy series I hope to get edited and released in the next few months. But, I am not anticipating anymore Market books for now. Doesn’t mean forever, but I need a break from writing historical for a bit.

10. Are you excited about reading an excerpt at the Lady Jane’s Salon San Diego in November?

I am! I always love to share my work with readers, and to have the opportunity to do it in person is pretty awesome. Let’s just hope I don’t blush too much as I read. I’m actually pretty shy about reading the sexy parts. I suppose I’ll get better at it as I do it more often. LOL!

Sorcha Mowbray - scorching the sheets one page at a time.Sorcha Mowbray is a mild mannered office worker by day… okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.

She is a long time lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!

Be sure to connect with Sorcha Mmowbray online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pintrest | GoodReads | Kindlegraph
She’s also got more dates for her blog tour listed under EVENTS on her website.

Love Redeemed Blog Tour Banner
At each stop of the blog tour, Sorcha will give away a copy of Love Revealed (Book 1 of the series). At the end of the 11 day tour, a grand prize of a $25 All Romance eBooks (ARe) store gift card and one copy of her back list will be given away to one lucky winner.

Rules (Cause you know there have to be rules!)
1. Winners of the individual blog stops will not be eligible to win the grand prize
2. One comment per stop will be eligible for the drawings (so be sure to answer my questions!)
3. The contest is open internationally
4. Commenters must include a valid email so they can be contacted (Just in the form is fine, don’t have to share with the world!)
5. Any prize not claimed within 48 hrs will be subject to forfeiture and a new winner drawn

YOUR TURN: Sorcha asks, “Do you prefer alpha heroes, beta heroes, or some combination thereof?”

Interview with Regency Romance Author Valerie Bowman

Cover for Valerie Bowman's SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHTI originally met Valerie Bowman online through the Beau Monde’s RWA Chapter and Twitter. Then I got to meet her last Christmas while I was in Florida visiting family. Time just flew by as we sat in Starbucks chatting about writing and our experiences so far. It was great catching up with her at Nationals and watching the buzz and excitement grow as her release date approached.

So to celebrate her debut novel, SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT, I’d like to welcome Valerie and thank her for taking the time to answer some questions. I hope you guys find her answers as interesting and informative as I did.

AND we’ll be doing a giveaway! One random commenter today will receive a copy of SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT!

*** UPDATE: THE WINNER OF THE COPY OF
VALERIE BOWMAN’S
SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT IS:
MAY!!
CONGRATS! ***

1. What drew you to writing Historical Romances in general and specifically to setting stories during the Regency Era?

VB: I’ve been a life-long fan of historical romance and a total anglophile so when I decided to write a novel, there just wasn’t any question. Every romantic story in my head was based in the Regency. Despite the Napoleonic wars, it was such a time of fun and revelry. To me, it’s the perfect backdrop to stories of love and romance.

2. What’s the strangest bit of historical trivia you’ve picked up in your research?

VB: I’m not sure if it’s the strangest but one of my favorites (and I intend to write a blog post about the details of this for www.DashingDuchesses.com soon) is the fact that the Prince Regent himself married a woman, Maria Fitzherbert, and everyone knew it and was strangely ok with it, but she was Catholic so it wasn’t technically legal and so when he married Princess Caroline no one batted an eye. I just find that so crazy.

These next few questions assume that time travel is possible. And I know you were recently photographed by the New York Times as part of the Beau Monde’s soiree at the RWA National Conference in Regency garb, so I know you’d be able to handle dressing the part. So, if you could go back to Regency England…

3. What modern conveniences would you miss most? What would you miss least?

VB: Oh, what a fun question! Without a moment’s hesitation I have to say I’d miss air conditioning the most. I grew up in Illinois in a home without it, but now that I live in Florida, I’m strangely addicted to it.

4. What would be the hardest for you to adapt to in the Regency Era?

VB: The hardest thing to take would be assuming without question that men have all the knowledge, power, and rights and that women are weak and need to be taken care of. I’m pretty sure they’d kick me out of Regency England. Hopefully not before I asked a lot of questions and learned a lot though. : )

5. Where would you fit into the society? Where would you like to visit most?

VB: Wouldn’t we all like to be duchesses? But given my family name, Bowman, I’d probably be working class. And life was absolutely awful for those poor people. That’s why all the stories are about the nobility. No one wants to write about the scullery maid who spent twelve hours a day scrubbing kitchen utensils in the basement and cleaning out chamber pots. I’d most like to visit Bath (I’ve been there, but to see it during the Regency would be such a treat).

6. How long have you been writing? What advice would you go back and give yourself as a beginning novelist if you could? Would this advice differ from what you’d say to an aspiring author now?

VB: I’ve been writing since June 3, 2007. Yes. I remember the exact day. : ) If I could go back, I’d tell myself to come up with a better “hook” for that first novel and the second one, frankly. It wasn’t until I’d written two that I realized that just writing the same old story about a girl falling in love with her brother’s best friend wasn’t going to get the attention of agents and editors. I’d definitely give an aspiring author now that same advice. I’d also add to write to the market. I’ve had so many friends who are writing American Civil War historicals or other time periods that don’t tend to sell well. It’s difficult enough to break into publishing but if you’re writing a story that’s not popular in the marketplace, you’re upping the odds against yourself just that much. Of course that assumes that your goal is to be published by certain houses and that you’d rather be well-published than write the book of your heart. If those things aren’t true, then ignore that advice completely. : )

7. Which character (Lily or Devon) or which situation came to you first that made you realize you had to write Secrets of a Wedding Night?

VB: The truth is, what came to me first was the title itself. I’m pretty sure I thought of it in the middle of the night. Isn’t that always when the best ideas strike? I came up with the title and THEN I worried about the plot later. I just thought it was such an intriguing title. Soon after I realized SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT was going to be the title of a very scandalous pamphlet that was selling like hotcakes about the <em>ton</em>.

8. You recently became engaged (betrothed?) and are planning a wedding of your own, any secrets to share with us? Just kidding, what describes your perfect Romance Hero?

VB: Ha! I’ll never tell. (wink) My perfect hero is TDH (tall, dark, handsome), uber smart, compassionate, and a bit humorous. And he’s almost always tortured by his past. But aren’t they all? : )

9. Are you reader? What are some of your favorites?

Perhaps not surprisingly, I’m a huge fan of historical romance. All of Judith McNaught‘s historicals, anything written by Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Suzanne Enoch are some of my favorites but the list is too long, really. My all-time favorite romance novel, however, is McNaught’s Once and Always. Just absolute perfection as far as I’m concerned.

10. What is the most challenging part of being a writer?

The most challenging part is to make myself better, every word, every book, every story. I listen to workshops, read craft books, and study other authors’ techniques every chance I get. But I always know that my work is right for me because I can honestly say that if I won the lottery—and I mean the BIG one—I would still wake up every single morning and write romance novels. And that is a true gift, to know what your calling is in life. I’m so lucky to have found mine.

About the Author

Valerie Bowman writes Regency-set historical romance novels with a focus on sharp dialogue, engaging storylines, and heroines who take matters into their own hands! Publishers Weekly calls SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT, an “enchanting, engaging debut that will have readers seeking future installments” and Romantic Times Book Reviews says, “This fast-paced, charming debut, sparkling with witty dialogue and engaging characters, marks Bowman for stardom.” Booklist gave it a starred review!

Valerie lives in Jacksonville, FL with her rascally dog, Roo. You can find Valerie on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com and on Facebook and on Twitter.

About SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT

HOW TO STOP A WEDDING

Young, widowed, and penniless, Lily Andrews, the Countess of Merrill, has strong opinions on marriage. When she spots a certain engagement announcement in The Times, she decides to take action. She will not allow another hapless girl to fall prey to a man—particularly the scoundrel who broke her heart five years ago. Anonymously she writes and distributes a pamphlet entitled “Secrets of a Wedding Night,” knowing it will find its way into his intended’s innocent hands…

HOW TO SEDUCE A WIDOW

Devon Morgan, the Marquis of Colton, desires a good wife and mother to his son—someone completely unlike Lily Andrews, the heartless beauty who led him on a merry chase five years ago only to reject him. When Devon’s new fiancée cries off after reading a certain scandalous pamphlet, he vows to track down the author and make her pay. But when he learns it’s his former fiancée Lily, he issues a challenge: write a retraction—or prepare to be seduced—to find out how wonderful a wedding night can be…

“Secrets of a Wedding Night is the most charming and clever debut I’ve read in years!”

—New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas

Publication Date: Sep 25, 2012
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN-10: 1250008956
ISBN-13: 978-1250008954
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Length: Novel

Buy SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books a Million

Your Turn: What would you include in such a pamphlet? What do you wish someone had told you to expect on your wedding night or if you’d like share a secret about your wedding night or your hopes for that night (PG-13 please!).

Don’t forget, one random commenter today will get a copy of SECRETS OF A WEDDING NIGHT.

Research: Where Ya Wanna Go?

This week for our How I Write series, my accountability group was asked, “If you could do anything for writing research, what would you do?”

Honestly, this was a no-brainer for me. I’d head over to Suzi Love’s blog and pull up her category of posts for the Best Places to Visit that relate to Regency England and start mapping out an itinerary. Since the question seemed to imply that time and money weren’t obstacles, I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about leaving anywhere off the list.

Oh, and I’d definitely take my camera. So I could go back later and revisit everything. Although I might have to invest in a few more memory cards.

I’ve never been to England, but as you can imagine, would love to go. Getting me to come home might be a problem. Hopefully, I wouldn’t fall through a time portal or anything so melodramatic while I was there, but I’m sure I’d come home with a whole flock of plot bunnies.

Your Turn: So what would you do for research on your creative project?

And if you’d like to read how the rest of my accountability group would like to do in the name of research, you can find their blogs here:

* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney

Kissing Games at LuvYA Today!

A Guest Post on Kissing Games

I’m talking about the history of Kissing Games on Bria’s LuvYA blog today. This is part of the celebration of Bria Quinlan and Valerie Cole‘s Month of Kisses and Kiss-Offs.

A Contest to Enter

Bria and Valerie have planned a whole bunch of fun ways to lead up to their KISS / KISS-OFF CONTEST and I’m tickled pink to be asked to join in! I hope you’ll stop by and check out the contest too, which opens on August 31st!

Do You Adopt Character Traits?

Character Traits: Photo of a man reading a book.This week for our How I Write series, my accountability group was asked, “There was an article a bit ago about how readers take on character traits of a favorite character from the book they’re reading. Do you do that with your own characters? Do you find yourself doing something your character would do?”

I have to admit I was more curious about the article than thinking about the question itself. I may have tracked down the original article or one very similar, and I wanted to include it here for reference, so you could understand where my thinking on this topic was coming from. The article, “Psychologists Discover How People Subconsciously Become Their Favorite Fictional Characters” by Christine Hsu ran at the site MedicalDaily.com on May 14, 2012 and focuses on the phenomenon of “experience taking”.

The article concludes that in order for readers to make the connection to the character, details that help readers relate to the character need to be shown earlier rather than later in the story. Gee, as writers, don’t we hear that  all the time? This effect is why, suck the reader in, keep them in the story and you might also have a temporary effect on the reader’s daily life. And we can hope it’s a positive one!

So… Most people talk about a writer’s characters from the other direction. What real life experiences and what parts of your life do you put into your characters? Which are the autobiographical parts? But this question turns that concept on its head. What parts of our characters that we’re writing, do we reflect back into our daily lives?

I suspect that a lot of my new found courage and willingness to step outside of my comfort zones is a combination of those two things. I want to be more adventurous and more social, therefore, I write about those types of characters and in turn maybe exploring their lives they have inspired me to venture out of the safe zone. Other than that, I can’t think of any specific traits or characteristics that I’m consciously borrowing from my characters that I write.

Honestly, I’m not sure I could consciously (and I suspect that’s a key word here) pin point any characteristics that I’ve adopted from characters written by other authors. Do I think I happens anyway? Probably. Both in fiction and non-fiction. I mean, part of our job is showing characters learning and growing after dealing with huge-to-them experiences and readers read for the emotional experience, putting themselves in the protagonist’s shoes.

I also remember my husband telling me recently about something he read and it might have been the NYTimes opinion piece by Annie Murphy Paul, “Your Brain on Fiction“. Apparently there are studies that show that when reading about someone doing an activity if it’s well described causes the same parts of the brain get used as when the activity is done for real. The article mentions relating words for smells to the memories in the same ways that actually experiencing the scent triggers. That’s pretty strong stuff…. vicarious experience is nearly equivalent to actual experience! Mind-blowing stuff. Makes you want to go read some more of those inspirational success stories, right?

If you didn’t go read those articles, I think you’ll find them interesting and thought provoking. The concepts should definitely make writers stop and think about their choices and whether they’re being morally responsible in their portrayals of their lead characters.

YOUR TURN: What do you think? Does it make sense? Think it’s a bunch of hogwash? What about the last book you read? Did you want to be more or less like the protagonist? Do you think you may have subconsciously picked anything up from them? Did you feel like you were vicariously along for the ride?

 

And if you’d like to read how the rest of my accountability group answered this question, you can find their blogs here:

* Alexia Reed * Kimberly Farris * Danie Ford * Emma G. Delaney

The Beau Monde Soiree

I’m going to stray a bit from the typical Tuesday Regency Primer post, today. Last week, I attended the annual National Conference for the Romance Writers of America. The day before the official conference started, my online chapter The Beau Monde held its annual mini-conference which included breakfast, a general meeting, a variety of workshops. But the best part of the day was the Beau Monde soiree that evening, complete with refreshments, period dancing and card tables.

I managed to miss the breakfast and general meeting but made it for Candice Hern‘s workshop on Accessories in Regency Era fashion prints for everything from bonnets and caps to ridicules to muffs and shawls. I loved how it was organized by year and we got to see how the styles changed over the years. Everyone was laughing over the bonnet brims that looked like mail boxes around 1807.

After that, came lunch and Delilah Marvelle (she of the A Bit o’ Muslin blog fame) was our keynote speaker. Her story was amazing and emotional, but while I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room, she also inspired and encouraged each of us to work through our struggles and convinced us that they can only make us stronger, as people, as writers.

Image of Apron-Front gown before show & tell started =)After lunch, Isobel Carr’s presentation was on How Clothes Worked, and included a bit of show and tell. She passed around a pair of stays, which really were nothing more than a long bra/foundation and were much softer in construction than I had originally imagined, except for the busk (the ivory, bone, or metal insert that insisted on correct posture at all times). When we got to gowns, the static photo of an apron-front or drop-front gown with its multiple layers and numerous ties proved too much for pictures and a simple verbal explanation.

Isobel Carr dressing Delilah Marvelle in an Apron-Front GownDelilah volunteered to be dressed in one that Isobel had brought along. Her white dress caused a few to remark how she already had her chemise on and would be perfect for the part. The inner bodice pieces tied in the front in a double-breasted fashion. Then, the front of the gown has two long ties that go around the back and tie in the front, but get tucked inside the front of the gown.

 

Almost done, just need some pins! Finally, the part hanging down like a bib at that point, would be pulled up over those ties and the inner bodice pieces and pinned into place. This, Isobel explained, was most likely the type of gown worn by ladies who needed to dress themselves and the most easily lent type as it was very forgiving in matters of size, although length was more of an issue for Delilah than anything else. If you see the dress in pictures from the soiree, another member, Suzy Kue, is wearing the dress. She’s much taller than Delilah and said she was taking notes on what all she could and couldn’t do while wearing the stays with the busk under the dress.

 

The Beau Monde SoireeThat evening, we regathered for a soiree. As all good ton events must be, this was quite the crush. A dance mistress was brought in to teach and lead several country dances while a string ensemble played in the corner. Several tables were set up around the room and multiple games of cards ensued. A table of refreshments was also provided, and thankfully not a drop of weak lemonade was in sight.

The Beau Monde (Chapter) SoireeActually playing whist against three other humans instead of computer AI’s was exciting. Next time, I definitely need to be able to describe the why’s and how’s of strategy while playing, otherwise it’s a bit much like a modern game of SlapJack to see who had the highest card and take the trick. But all in all, it was a fantastic experience to be surrounded not only by over 2000 romance writers, but to mingle, rub elbows and socialize with that many Regency Romance writers who all had similar knowledge and appreciation for the genre.