Romance

well i am happy to see aguy like me who also loves the place so much that u wudn't ask for a better place.
All
we cud do is publish more threads inviting girls to a specific place on
specific days.. like choose the first weekend of every month may be
saturday and all guys show up on time.
Before i get some response
saying that " we were the only guys there " , iknow that might happen,
but one day atleast some girls show up.. and u wull know .. may be
introduce colour codes.. and be decent in all the threads.. make the
places happening..
Choose the same place all the time , and that
will b a place for hooking up soon, i guess Eat street is picking up in
terms of hooking up.. top dating sites

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I just read Brazilian Boss, Virgin Housekeeper by Maggie Cox and all I can say is WOW. I'm hooked. My skin tightened as I turned that last page and when Eduardo threatened Marianne with a spanking my mouth just dropped open and I was left speechless.

Just nipped to your page. Don't know how to access a 'login'. In the pub I talk about joining the NWS you're a member of this group aren't you. How has that worked for you?

I can't wait to join I have a completed Ms for superromance that I'd like to get their opinion on. I've lost faith in myself. I don't know what the heck I'm doing wrong.

I've been getting it's great BUT for over twenty years and I never seem to understand the BUT. I'm hoping someone can hit me over the head and make me see the light.

My own Keeper shelve is stacked with SIlhouette Special Editions. I read and enjoy MBM but don't ever keep them to read again. They are like chocolates to me, you eat and forget reaching instantly for another. I love books with depth and multiple characters I can read again and again.

I don't know why I went off blittering. I'm frustrated I guess.

I really just wanted to welcome Anuska. Great name by the way. Welcome to the home of the terminally confused. Its a great place to hang out.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to start the year on a positive note from a publisher. I wish you the best. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

All we can do is keep trying. You're in the sunshine right now, right?  Could you send some of the sunshine over here please?

Have to admit the sky at night is wonderful at the moment. We've had amazing meteor showers, and I live far enough north to see the Aurora Borealis (sp?) Keep the faith. I believe you can do it, hopefully we all can.

It's been a while since anyone has posted here.  I've just wrapped up my latest book and looking forward to Christmas -- although I already have my present, a lovely pink Sony eReader!

What are you all hoping to find under the tree?

Liz

I think the shift in my thinking came from realizing that while my heroes weren't necessarily what we'd consider "alphas" they have alpha characteristics in varied proportions. 

If you look at Twilight, you can see that Edward is the true alpha.  He's the leader.  Heck, even Carlisle defers to Edward.  But then there's Jacob.  Jacob doesn't WANT to be the alpha.  And yet - he's got certain characteristics of an alpha.  He's strong, competent and good at what he does.  He's also a protector, although we don't fully understand it until Breaking Dawn. 

But he's not Edward.

When it comes down to it, your heroes really simply need to be proactive.  How you execute that for each line is dependent on tone and your own personal voice.

Donna

Barbara Hannay has a great blog about her new surrogate mother book, here.  http://bit.ly/24OXiw

Liz

Donna what a mine of fabulous information. Thank you, only one further question. How on earth do you print the screen. I keep trying and I'm getting the margins beautifully but no text. Anyone know how I can print this essential information to hang on my wall and study?

Thanks.

I read my last post over and it seems I hardly said anything at all!  It's a hard thing to express. 

Mills and Boon only publish alphas, did you know that?  It really goes to show that not all alphas are cut from the same cloth.  But there are characteristics that are common and it is how that character is drawn, or written on the page that determines which line the tone etc. fits.

 Here's what I wrote about Romance alphas on Kate's blog:

asked for a quote - she wrote me an essay. She said I could cut it if I wanted to.
But I didn't want to. I think she make a lot of great points - the sort of points I was hoping would come up. As Liz Fielding said yesterday, the Romance line can be misunderstood and its heroes seen as too 'soft' to be interesting.

Liz added: "Like Modern/Presents, we tend to be a much misunderstood series. Romance with "training wheels" is one description I particularly loath. I beg, very politely -- I'm a Romance author :) -- to differ. The Alpha male makes the perfect Romance hero. And the perfect Romance heroine will match him for courage, honour and passion every step of the way. "

And there are plenty of 'Romance' characteristics in the true alpha hero. But they are perhaps the ones that don't get so much publicity. And again perhaps the definitions of alpha that some readers/writers are working from are too narrow. These are some points that todays Romance writer deals with - over to you Donna

“My” Alphas….

My next book is Hired: The Italian’s Bride (June 09). Luca is definitely a playboy type – but he is also an achiever. Is he an alpha? Yes. Is he ruthless? Never. He is incredibly gentle, but he is the strong protector that Mari needs. It is that strength combined with his gentleness that makes it possible for Mari to start living again.

You can check out all the posts here.  I think there are something like twenty-two!

Donna

How is the Romance hero different to the Modern/Presents hero?

Do I understand correctly that there is more scope for humour in a Romance than in a Modern/Present?

If the answer is simply in another thread, then do just redirect me - I'm not finding my way around very well....

I've just discovered this thread. It suddenly popped up on my screen never having appeared before. I am thrilled. Am I too late to jump in with the serious illness thing? Only I have read literally thousands of M&B and know there have been many with serious illness involved. They tear at your heart strings and give you a good cry before everything in the world goes rosy again. Fabulous M&B. As far as titles is concerned, DUH.

Hope this thread doesn't disappear into the ether again.

Penny, I don't see why that wouldn't fly with Romance.  It's a reality that many women live through and the positive message of being loved through the worst that can happen to you is a very powerful one. 

If you're burning to write it I'd say go ahead -- there are lots of opportunities for strong internal conflict with both H and h, but be careful about using it as a "message", remember to keep the ending upbeat and positive.  And most of all remember that it's a romance.  Good luck!

Liz

I do think it's important for all writers not to get bogged down in one mindset.  It's especially important when you're still feeling your writing feet.  Just the act of writing something different will give you new perspective, new ideas, bring you back to the first love refreshed and excited.

Liz

I think Chris' idea of trying something different because one can write freely without expectations and inhibitions is a good one!

One of my writer friends who has been targetting Romance is entering, Chris. She was originally aiming at Presents/Modern, but had feedback from the Instant Seduction comp suggesting her voice fitted Romance better.

As she's presently waiting to hear back on a requested Full that's been with Romance for about 6 months, she's going to try a change of pace again for the new contest.

I waver back and forth, not sure if my voice fits Romance or Modern Heat best! My bookshelf is an equal mix of pink and blue.

I'm certainly giving the comp a try. I entered Instant Seduction last year, but not Feel the Heat, just had too much else going on at the time and writing had to take a back seat.

This year is different, and making time for writing has been a key priority!

I was going to be "good" and finish editing the very messy first draft of my last story, but all the talk about the comp has a new story idea bubbling up. I think I'm going to stop resisting this particular temptation and start work on this new one. I know there are issues with the conflict in the current story, so it may be all the better to leave it sit for a while and come back to it.

Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

How about you?

Heck, the first time I saw my name listed under the title of a personal essay published in a magazine I was thrilled. LOL, I don't think it would matter to me if my offspring published something in a totally different genre--it is still something to be thrilled about. Congrats to your son.

and finally taking my new born for walk around it in his pram.  (His first book is being published this year!)

 How exciting for you and for your son! Thanks for your comments about writing a place you know so well. Three different responses to my question.

Hi Suman

Always great to meet a fan of HMB "Romance"

Sorry to have been so long to respond.  Troubles with my connection and a very busy week.

You'll find loads of stuff about writing for Romance on the authors' individual websites --  I've got one about "beginnings" but if you look around you'll find tons of stuff.  There are also some articles on the Harlequin Romance Authors Blog at http://harlequinromanceauthors.blogspot.com -- plus links to the all the authors.

If you have any specific questions, I'm sure you'll get plenty of help here, too.

 Good luck!

Liz

Nancy, FWIW, I think the better you know a place, the harder it is to write about it. I've led quite a nomadic existence, and find that anywhere between 5 - 10 years is required before I can really get to grips creatively with a place where I've lived. Before that, things feel muddled up with the details of my real life there.

With holiday spots you've visited, maybe even several times, it's much easier to approach a place in a 'new slate' way and make it convincing, though of course it's harder then to give the reader a powerful and authentic sense of that setting.

A baby in a storm.  I love stories with babies in.  Especially when they're included on the cover --that has twice the pull.

Interesting point. Does writing about a place you used to live make you homesick, or do you write about it because you miss it? Whether it is the next book,  or several books away, I'm psyched. It gives this woman a chance to visit a place I've never been.

Hi Jane, great to see you here!

 Best, Liz

Hi Liz, great to see you here!

Here's hoping the internet gremlins clear up soon or ship out. I've had 'em too. Teething problems, I think.

I love Saturdays.  

Hi, I've finally found my way here thanks to Nancy. I look forward to meeting you all and chatting now and then - more then than now, unfortunately, as I have a book due in 4 weeks - the first of an exciting new Outback series. More details soon!

Melissa