Ch-ch-changes

Sabrina Jeffries is a long time favorite of mine. I read and reread and reread her books. All of them have things that are distinctly SJ and yet display her amazing growth as a writer with each new book. I was talking to Stephanie about this the other day and I came to the conclusion that growth doesn’t have to mean exorcism-author doesn't have to jump through hoops to write in a whole new way. If it ain’t broke... ya know?

I’ve read a few authors say that the reason people don’t like their new books is because they’re ‘growing’ as authors. I don’t think writing a new style of book always equals growth. I don’t think switching genres even equals growth 100% of the time.

Improving and growing is expected, of course. For me it’s even celebrated! But SJ is my example of what growth truly is at its finest.

There are things I have come to expect from an SJ novel. There will be hot sex, crackling sexual tension, some hilarious jokes and masterful conflicts for the hero and heroine to overcome.

But SJ changes and, yes, grows with every single one of her books without sacrificing who she is as a writer. Without throwing out her ‘voice’ , if you will. Without changing what makes her unique and distinctive. I would know an SJ book even if there were no title and name attached to it.

Her newest book, Wed Him Before You Bed Him, blew me away. I was shocked by who Cousin Michael wound up being. And she had seeded hints everywhere in the preceding School For Heiresses series. I just missed them. Missed them by A LOT!

SJ has grown in the types of characters she constructs. They’re deeper and some of them are downright dark. They have unique backgrounds that are a joy to learn about. She weaves more and more complex plots. You won’t find many two-dimensional characters in her books and situations are always more complex than you’d expect. And further, her newest example of growth is in her ability to keep the continuity of a series and not let it get stale. She also, as previously stated, managed to keep a character's identity secret while offering clues until said character's book over the course of the whole series. Wow.

In WHBYBH Charlotte has a lot of baggage that keeps her from realizing a relationship with the 'one'- the love of her life- for far more years than it should have taken.

The hero(I won’t give his name because I want to hear back from you if it surprises you or not) is so in love, but it gets so mixed up in hurt and resentment and hate(in the beginning of their break) that he doesn’t act for years on what he’s truly known all along: she is it for him.

This is a reunion tale and it’s probably the most well done one I’ve come across in a long time(other than EJ's TDOM!!!). Recently a reunion story came out that I had been anticipating for years. Seriously, YEARS! And it was such a huge disappointment that I couldn’t even finish it. So I came into this story knowing that after a five book and two novella setup, this book stood to fail miserably. Thank goodness it didn’t!!

I recommend this book so highly that it actually makes me feel awful to think I’m setting this book up for failure. Offering this much praise and hype can only lead to others being completely disappointed. But no matter what angle I look at this novel from, I can’t find a flaw.

Another you all need to read is What Happens In London… JQ’s newest masterpiece. I won’t review it because I know many haven’t read it yet and I don’t want to spoil ANYTHING!It's not that there are any shocks to the plot, the jokes are just more fun if you experience them firsthand with fresh eyes. JQ is another example of an author that grows but still maintains the magic that all of her books own. If after reading the first chapter of WHIL you’re not hooked, I’ll be shocked. So amazingly good.

Happy reading!

Any books you’re anticipating? Any books you want to gush about? This Tuesday is a big one. Lots of fantabulous new books coming out. Good luck finding me online during this week. I’m pulling a 24/7 reading session. lol. Not really, but the books are deserving.

PS: Anyone else have a David Bowie song stuck in their head?

Friday Round-Up

Here it is, another Friday! This week saw one of our own traveling the southern U.S. (Mary clocked in 9 states this week! Yikes!) and some tremors cutting through the entertainment world. But what about our own little corner of the web?

It was a fabulously eventful week for Maggie Robinson - not only does she have a saucy new pen name (Margaret Rowe) and an official title for her first release (Tempting Eden), but she has a new book deal, as well! From Publisher's Marketplace:

Maggie Robinson's MISTRESS BY MISTAKE, a Regency-set historical romance and the first of the Courtesan Court series about the women who inhabit London's infamous mistress row, to Megan Records atKensington Brava, in a four-book deal plus two novellas, for publication in Summer 2010, by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Congratulations, Maggie!

Over at Romance Vagabonds, Janga did her own yearly round-up of her favorite reads from the first six months of 2009, complete with reviews of her ten picks. It's a great list, with many of our Write Chic favorites making up its ranks. Be sure to check out any you haven't picked up yet!

The pirates from Romance Writer's Revenge welcomed Julie Rowe aboard this week, where she talks about the art of creating the perfect synopsis. It's a great article for anyone who dreads this part of the writing process! So, you know, all of us.

Author Justine Larbalestier reviewed The Demon's Lexicon, one of our featured picks from last week's What's Out, What's Buzzing. She particularly responds to the two qualms people have had when buying the book, with suggestions and explanations from a writer's point-of-view.

Elsewhere on the web, Sarah Rees Brennan, author of The Demon's Lexicon, was featured in John Scalzi's blog series The Big Idea. She gives great insight into her intriguing main character and the behind-the-scenes of her original book idea.

Also on John Scalzi's blog this week, he delved into an interesting literary phenomenon: why new novelists are kinda old.

Casey McCormick continued her indispensable Agent Spotlight series with a profile of kidlit agent Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Brown Literary.

National Public Radio ran a great article about what people were reading during The Great Depression - an interesting slice of Americana or just fun research for anyone thinking about setting a story in the 1920s.

Tweeting writers have something to be joyful about this week: agents Jessica Faust and Kim Lionetti from BookEnds have entered the Twitter fray! You can follow them at @BookEndsJessica and @BookEndsKim. Jessica also confronted the concept of the "prequery" and why they should never be attempted.

Agent Nathan Bransford and his commenters discussed the validity of audio books as true reading. In her own discussions of it this week, Steph had a really great comparison of audio books to teachers and parents reading aloud to children. The children may not be actively reading the books, but anyone can tell you those books from their childhood are some of the most beloved. Enter the commenting fray and add your own opinion!

That's all for this Friday's round-up. Did we miss any great blogs or articles from this week? Leave a tip in the comments!

Have a wonderful Friday night! If you need more Chic, check out our own Twitter feeds to see what mischief we're getting into this weekend:

Kelly @KellyKrysten
Mary @MaryBDanielson
Steph @ohsostephanie
WriteChic @writechicblog

Trumped…

I’m not talking Donald Trump(Thank, God!). I’m talking about how I got trumped yesterday.


My niece is writing a short story for the 2009 Girls Horse Club Fiction Competition. The beautiful,talented, and totally chic Jessica Burkhart has been plugging this contest on her blog.

It’s a really cool contest for girls 17 and under(Further rules here) and here’s the kicker, one of the key characters must be a horse. Yup, a horse. It’s so cool!!lol.(I'm a nerd*g*)

This contest couldn’t come at a more perfect time because my niece(who constantly tells me how beautiful Mer is-even when she's green!:-0) told me a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to write YA novels(after she learned Mary writes YA.*sigh*). And then I saw the ad for the contest. She got crazy excited and has already voiced concerns that her word count will be too high(max is 6000). This kid apparently has big plans-ah, but it’s just proof that she’s mine.

And today she pulled me over to the computer(*snort* like I’d have to be forced to go to the computer) and showed me an initial scene she'd written in her story. And, um, I was gob-smacked.

And so goes my trumping.

The kid is way more talented than I am. I’m considering tossing her out on her ear.*g* But in the end, I will keep her because as special as it is for me to share books with her, it’s even better to share writing with her.

Um...I just realized I was trumped twice. Mer trumped me in my nieces affections.*g* I think I can handle it. I’ve got three more where she came from.

Have a little one in your life that you share writing with? Or is there some other talent that you admire in a family member? Today's blog is apparently about family-how did I end up here?*shrugs*

PS:Broader example of family: Mer and Steph are my family. Proceed.:)

Prompted

Does anyone else out there have an aversion to writing prompts? They've never really been my thing but I picked up Writing Basics by Writer's Digest a couple weekends ago and I'm giving prompts as part of my goal to hone my craft. I can't say the prompts thrilled me at first glance: Write an essay describing your fondest summer memory; Write a 20-line poem about your favorite meal and how much you enjoy it. ::groan:: but I thought I'd give them a chance. Plus, I have 52 options I can work with.

Enter: Aha! Moment.

Why can't I alter the writing prompts to fit my preferred genre? They could get the creative juices flowing in a way that's far more specific to my WIP and my own goals than recounting my fondest summer memory.

Take a look at the below prompts from WB and how I reworked them for my own needs.

"You're in a public bathroom when two strangers come in. They obviously don't know you're there, as they start discussing an elaborate plot to murder a famous musician. Recount the conversation to the police, explaining the plot, the place, and the motive. Oh, and don't forget to name the musician."
Reworked: You're taking a break from a ball in a private alcove when you hear two strangers not far away. They obviously don't know you're there as they start discussing an elaborate plot to steal a valuable piece of artwork from a well-known society figure. Recount the conversation to your group of friends, explaining the plot, the place, and the motive. Oh, and don't forget to name the society figure.

"You're out with some old friends and they're all rehashing amusing holiday stories. You tell them you have one to top them all. In telling your story there are two rules: You must begin with, "I remember that Thanksgiving like it was yesterday," and end with, "And that's how (fill in the blank) got stuck inside the turkey."
Reworked: You're taking tea with some friends and they're all rehashing an amusing story from the dinner party last night. You tell them you have one to top them all. In telling your story there are two rules: You must begin with, "I remember that picnic like it was yesterday," and end with "And that's how (insert person) fell into the River Thames."

If you're writing a YA, contemporary romance, historical fiction, paranormal, sci-fi, or any other novel this could be a great exercise to try. Not only is it interesting to write the actual prompt but even the act of reworking the prompts can get the creative juices flowing.

If you have the time, find a writing prompt and rework it in the comments for your genre of writing. You might give others some great ideas!

YAY! A contest!

Alrighty then, Ladies and Gents(assuming there are some lovely men reading us-which we'd love!:)), Courtney Milan is having a lovely contest for one lucky person to win an ARC of Tess Dare’s Goddess Of The Hunt.
This is part of my entry for the contest but I'm also going to tell you how you can enter(I am ever selfless.lol).:)
Here are Ms.Milan's official rules:
Post on your blog, or post a tweet, about Tessa Dare’s Goddess of the Hunt.
Post a comment on this blog post( 'this' being Ms.Milan's blog post in case of confusion), with a link to your blog. If you are entering a tweet, mark your tweet with the hashtag “#goth” to enter and make sure to reference the author of GOTH by including @TessaDare.

Enter by Thursday, June 25th, at 6 PM EST to win.


One winner will be chosen by random drawing to receive the truly coveted ARC of Goddess of the Hunt. Two other winners will be chosen, also by random drawing, to receive slightly less-coveted proof copies of “The Dangerous Book of Excerpts.” “The Dangerous Book of Excerpts” contains an excerpt of Goddess of the Hunt (longer than the one on Tessa’s website), an excerpt from Surrender of a Siren (longer than the one on her website, which is nonexistent). It also contains excerpts from my own works, but pshaw; those are not coveted at all! These exhibit some signs of wear and even have scribblings in them, as they really were used as proofs.


Anyhoozles, you must enter. GOTH sounds, like, ten thousand kinds of amazing. Ms. Dare has received starred reviews from the Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly!

PS: Read Tessa's The Legend Of The Werestag. It's a Samhain short story but it's also available through Amazon. It's not, contrary to what the title may lead you to believe, a paranormal at all! But there's passion, intrigue, and, um, love-weird, right?lol.

PPS: Be sure to check out Ms.Milan's excerpts for her first short story, This Wicked Gift and her first full-length novel Proof By Seduction

Friday Round-Up

Wow, can you believe it's Friday already? It looks like it's time to relax and take advantage of that fresh mind to crank out some word counts. Is anyone with me? Before you take off for the weekend take a look at what happened this week:


J Perry Stone guest blogged over at Romance Writer's Revenge and posted about the struggle to overcome your inner critic. And today there's a fun follow-up today about killing the inner critics and enjoying it. I don't know about you but I can always get on board for this sort of thing.

Casey McCormick continued her Agent Spotlight series with Daniel Lazar.

If you're interested in creating more dynamic and interesting characters Sandra Elzie over at Petit Fours and Hot Tamales had a great post about the importance of deepening your characters. There's even a great Star Wars reference in there!

Elyssa Papa posted about a request she got which is just another example of the power of perseverance.

Check out this post by Janga from Romance Vagabonds about censorship of romance novels and join in the conversation! She dishes about Wal-Mart, Amazon, and the struggle that romance still faces.

If you're at all interested in process, goal-making, and general writing effectiveness then Gretchen Rubin's Writing Tips are a must-read over at Vauxhall Vixens. Check out Tip #6...

Sage at Yapping about YA posted about why YA which reminded me of past post by Mary about why you should write Young Adult. This genre still has a lot to offer for both established and aspiring authors.


Here at Write Chic we introduced a new feature and debated the whiny heroines:

Kelly posted about Piners and Whiners in romance.
Mary kicked-off our bi-monthly feature What's Out, What's Buzzing and gave us a run down of recent releases as well as those coming up.
Steph had no post but had great fun making the rounds of industry and author blogs...

What's Out, What's Buzzing

It's said that the best thing a writer can do for her craft is to read - anything and everything. But in the world of modern publishing, when new books are releasing all the time, it's nearly impossible to stay up on all the books garnering praise. Well, we're going to try to help. With our new bi-monthly segment - What's Out, What's Buzzing - we'll give you the run down on all the new releases people are talking about, as well as the ones just around the corner.

WHAT'S OUT

General Fiction:

The Jewel Box by Anna Davis - British novelist Anna Davis follows up the 2007 success of The Shoe Queen with another 1920s-set novel. This one revolves around Grace Rutherford, a London sophisticate and anonymous newspaper gossip columnist, who must choose between two darkly intertwined American men, while finally dealing with her own secrets from the past. Davis pays admirable attention to historical detail and fans of this oft-overlooked period of history will adore being swept up into Grace's raucous world.

The Secret Speech by Tom Rob Smith - This sequel to Child 44 once again features Leo Demidov, a homicide detective in 1956 Soviet Union, who this time targeted by the vengeful leader of a powerful criminal organization. Publishers Weekly called it "a memorable portrait of post-Stalinist Russia at its dawn," my mother called one of her favorite books so far this year.



The Sweetness At The Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - Move over Nancy Drew, there's a new sleuth on the block. Flavia de Luce is the heroine of Bradley's debut novel - an 11 year-old chemistry enthusiast with a penchant for poisons, listening at keyholes, and making her flighty older sisters miserable. But when her beloved father is caught in the center of a murder investigation, Flavia must put her talents to more practical uses - discovering not only the true criminal, but quite a few family secrets as well. PW thought it "enormous fun for the reader," and I quite agree: a rollicking, engrossing whodunit.

Romance:

A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore - In this debut Historical Romance, Haymore has taken the old deciding-between-two-men plotline and turned it on its ear. Seven years earlier, Sophie, the Duchess of Carlton, lost her beloved husband at the battle of Waterloo, but she has finally moved on with her life - right into the arms of his cousin and heir, in fact. But when the Duke comes back, which man - which husband - will she choose? The emotional depth of this story makes it a strong first novel. the reader will agonize and pine right along with Sophie as she tries to decide between her two true loves.

This Duchess of Mine by Eloisa James - The fourth book in James' Desperate Duchesses series, this novel features the highly anticipated reunion of Jemma and Elijah, the Duke and Duchess of Beaumont. Wedding bells rang for the happy couple long ago, but when a young and thoroughly in love Jemma found Elijah with his mistress soon after that blessed day, she fled the county and their marriage. But now Elijah's health has deteriorated and the title needs an heir, but can Jemma forgive her husband? Can their love face the greatest test of all - their own mortality?

Urban Fantasy:

Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge - Pete Caldecott, a London detective, thought the man she loved was dead - killed by one of his own spells years ago. However, when investigating the kidnapping of a young girl, she's shocked to learn an informant is none other than her long lost love, Jack Winter. Strung out and emaciated, Jack is no longer the man he once was, but he may be the key to helping Pete solve this case. The first of Kittredge's Black London series, this book is already getting great reviews - proof that an author with passion for her story will win over readers every time.

Young Adult/Children's:

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen - Despite her pretty covers, Dessen is known for emotionally deep, realistic portrayals of teen relationships. Her latest lives up to that reputation - the story of a socially awkward girl who goes to stay with her father and his new family. Over the summer Auden must face the fallout from her parents divorce and her own burgeoning feelings for a charmingly reckless cyclist.



A Taste For Red by Lewis Harris - Svetlana Grimm is a vampire. She's also a sixth-grader who just moved to a new school, one filled with jellybean-eaters and other people she has nothing in common with. But soon Svetlana has more than just social issues...like that fact that her science teacher seems to want her, well, dead. And not in the sparkly way.



Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine - Book six in the popular Morganville Vampires series, Corpus opens on heroine Claire Danver's seventeenth birthday. But happiness and parties aren't exactly on the agenda - her beloved Shane is imprisoned and her friends all scattered, while the evil Bishop from previous books tightens his grip on their small town. Can Claire and her friends finally band together to take back Morganville? Critics are calling this the best entry of the series so far, and readers are guaranteed all the tight pacing of a Caine novel, as well as a big emotional payoff.

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan - Brothers Nick and Alan have each other, that's it. They live on the run, toting their empty-shell mother across England and avoiding the evil magicians and demons who have been after the pair all their lives. But when their routine is interrupted by another pair of siblings - Mae and Jamie - who need their help outwitting those same magicians, everything they've built will be tested - including their own brotherly bond. My summary doesn't do it justice, just trust me -this is the best YA book you'll read all year. Quite possibly the best book of any genre.

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter - Third in the much loved Ghallagher Girls series, readers once again follow Cami "The Chameleon" Morgan and her friends through the world of teenage spies. This time she's visiting her roommate Macey in Boston, there to watch her friend's father accept the nomination for Vice President. But when a kidnapper threatens both girls, Cami must not only outwit the villain, but find out the shocking truth behind the attacks. Ally Carter is a brilliantly consistent writer and fans of the first two books, as well as smart non-paranormal teen fiction, will love this newest in the GG lineup.


WHAT'S BUZZING

June 23, 2009:

Alyzon Whitestarr by Isobelle Carmody - (Young Adult) This award-winning Australian author is bringing her newest creation stateside, in the story of a normal girl stuck in a very eccentric family. But when an accident leaves our heroine, Alyzon, more unique than she could ever imagine - with extrasensory perception of a peculiar sort - she is forced into investigating the dark secrets surrounding her family. Will her discoveries destroy her family? Will her abilities prove more of a blessing or a curse?

Wed Him Before You Bed Him by Sabrina Jeffries - (Historical Romance) Readers of Jeffries will be highly anticipating this sixth and final book in The School for Heiresses series, centering around headmistress Charlotte Harris and the mysterious Cousin Michael, her anonymous benefactor. The pair have an ongoing conversation through letters that has framed the previous books, leaving readers and Charlotte with one question - who is Michael? Now that Charlotte desperately needs his help, which will he reveal himself to be: the villain behind her troubles, or her own personal hero?

June 30, 2009:

Bound By Your Touch by Meredith Duran - (Historical Romance) This is the second novel by the very talented Gather.com contest winner, Meredith Duran, and has been receiving even better reviews than her stand-out first novel. The hero and heroine clash over an fake Egyptology find that her archaeologist father tried to pass off as the real thing, but soon band together to tackle not only a deeper mystery, but their own unique personal issues. Guaranteed to be a fantastic read for anyone looking for an out-of-the-norm historical romance.

Don't Tempt Me by Loretta Chase - (Historical Romance) The ever-brilliant Chase's latest is about a scandalous miss, Zoe Lexham, whose time in exotic eastern locales has made her virtually unmarriageable in the eyes of society. Can the most popular bachelor in town save her reputation? Or will they both be tempted into something more scandalous...



Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter - (Paranormal Romance) Seventh in the Alien Huntress series (counting Showalter's two YAs and one novella in the same world), readers follow Bride McKellis, a vampire on a mission to find more of her own kind. One man has the answers she needs - Devyn, a known warrior and womanizer, the leader of his people- but when Bride is surprised by her growing feelings for this man, she must choose between their fledgling relationship and her own greater destiny.

What Happens In London by Julia Quinn - (Historical Romance) Olivia Bevelstoke, a beloved character from Quinn's earlier work, has a new neighbor...one whom rumor-mongers claim murdered his fiance. Naturally, Olivia doesn't believe them, but there is something odd about Sir Harry Valentine: when he's not toiling away over mysterious documents, he's popping up everywhere she goes and baiting her into saying the most horrid things. Mix in a Russian Prince, the War Office, two conveniently located windows, and you've got all the ingredients for a classic Quinn romp. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of WHIL and it's now in my top three JQ books, high praise indeed from a reader who has loved absolutely everything Julia Quinn has written.

July 1, 2009:

Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley - (Young Adult) They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but I was taken in by the unique look of last year's Ghostgirl - a book which lived up to its exterior promise of a quirky paranormal romp. This year's sequel follows our heroine Charlotte further into the afterlife, where she now must intern at a hotline for troubled teens. Can Charlotte get over her own anxieties and lack of confidence to save the lives of her former classmates?



Start Me Up by Victoria Dahl - (Contemporary Romance) Dahl is always a sure bet, so her latest contemporary promises to be another keeper. Lori always meant to leave home, but familial responsibility has left her in the same tiny Colorado town and with the same sparkless love life. She needs some excitement. Enter Quinn Jennings, a serious architect with an agenda of his own - he'd like to skip all the messy romance and love and get right to the, er, excitement. But when this tiny town turn dangerous and their feelings start to grow, this pair is in for more than just excitement of the physical kind...

July 7, 2009:

Blue Moon by Alyson Noel - (Young Adult) The sequel to last year's engaging Evermore, Blue Moon recounts the journey of Ever Bloom, a teen who's not only discovered her own incredible powers, but an incredible love to go along with them. Yet just as Ever's powers grow stronger, her boyfriend Damen's seem to be waning - threatening not only their relationship, but his very life. Ever must cross into the Summerland, learning secrets about Damen's past and the nature of her own gifts, where she is faced with a life-alter decision: turn back time to save her family or save Damen in the here and now?

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev - (Young Adult) This inventive debut, the first act in the Theater Illuminata series, takes the world of YA fantasy and intertwines it with all the drama of the stage. Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, but the theater is her world. She strives to become invaluable to her theater in this play-within-a-play story, caught up in the lights from the stage and the magic that she may hold within. The reviews have been fantastic so far and just the snippets I've read have lived up to the buzz - definitely a book to watch out for.

Wicked Little Game by Christine Wells - (Historical Romance) The setup of Wells' newest is an intriguing departure from the normal romance plots - the Marquis of Vane as always wanted Lady Sarah, but is shocked when her husband makes him an offer he can't refuse...one night with Sarah for 10,000 pounds. But neither Sarah nor Vane imagine their affair would grow into something more, or that it could set the stage for a murder most foul... Wells' previous two novels have proven her a new author to watch and I have high hopes for her latest work, especially with such a unique take on the genre.


That's a lot to look forward to, just in the next few weeks. But summer is made for reading, after all. Cue the lounge chair and cool glasses of iced tea, please! What about your own reading lists - which books are topping your TBR piles? Any release dates you're marking the days until?

More Unrequited Love Stories(Heroines’ Edition)

I wanted to add to my earlier post that just because I didn’t list an author that wrote this theme does NOT mean it’s one of the ones I don’t like.:) The blog just couldn’t handle that many names and book descriptions. It was already extremely long after the few that I did include!

I’ll add a couple other ones that are randomly springing to mind right now:
The Kiss by Sophia Nash
To Seduce A Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt
This Duchess Of Mine by Eloisa James
And sooooo many more that my brain aches from trying to think them all up.*g*

So do me a favor and remind me of/introduce me to some of the best unrequited love stories you’ve ever read! Thanks!

Piners And Whiners!

I am not a piner. I am not a whiner. Or, at least, not in my reading life. Not IRL either…um, maybe.

I’m talking about what I DON’T love in romance novels. It’s not something I can apply “ALWAYS DISLIKE” to, though, because there are exceptions (the old phrase ‘there’s an exception to every rule’ is dead on in this case).

But in romance, I really don’t enjoy the trope of the girl who has wasted years of her life pining, miserable and, you guessed it, whining over the hero.

Steph and I were actually discussing this the other night. I feel that, to some extent, it can make the heroine come off as weak.

I think that you can be in love with someone who doesn’t love you back and not be miserable. In fact, I don’t think you can’t be in love with one person while you’re in love with another. And-my personal belief again- love that is cultivated by a couple is more intense than love that you feel alone.

I don’t want to read page after page about how my poor heroine has cried herself to sleep every night since they’ve been apart. I don’t want to hear that she stopped going out, quit her job(yes, I read one where the heroine quit the job that she had worked her whole life for, had dreamed of(actress)- prior to meeting hero)),and sat on the couch eating Twinkies for a year.
I don’t want to hear that the heroine has never had sex or never had enjoyable sex because it’s 'just not right' without the hero.o_0(PS: Do love the trope of the lover not attaining the 'wonderfulifickness' of being with hero(like when heroine is best shag for hero, too) but, come on, it can still be enjoyable. Allowances ARE made for virgins in historicals. And I grant you that in contemporaries it can work because some girls do hold out till they feel intense love or they're married))

Now, I am no expert on the human heart or the lives of forsaken lovers the world over. Maybe people really do quit their jobs and eat their way to comfort. (Okay, I have done the ‘comfort eating’. Okay, I DO the comfort eating.)

But the bottom line is that I just don’t ‘get’ it. And the thing of it is, the authors usually makes these heroines so amazingly wonderful that it makes the hero look really dumb because he hasn’t figured it out. And if he knows she loves/loved him, he looks even dumber. But I do like the heroes that call themselves idiots. That works because this awesome woman could only be passed up/cheated on/broken up with by an idiot.

Now, tropes are tropes for a reason. They work for the majority of the people. And it’s awesome that we’re involved in a field in which there is something for everyone. But what’s even cooler is that when done right, for me, it’s hard to pass on ANY trope.

So today I’m going to talk about some books with pining heroines(no heroes. Am working on a whole other post on pining heroes) that work so well for me, that I keep reading the trope time after time in the hopes of finding it so well done again.

Okay, first up is the quintessential pining heroine story. NO ONE dislikes this book and if they do, they keep quiet about it because the author is so awesome. I’m talking RMB. And so many people love this book that I usually stop at that. But for any others, I’ll decode. lol. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn. Wow! What a story. Penelope pined forever. Years and years and years and never-NEVER- once did she whine. And never did she come off as weak. In fact, she was exceptionally strong. She didn’t know that but the signs were all there even before Lady D tells her that there’s something more about her than Penelope even realizes(should have asked Mer for the exact quote. She probably knows page, paragraph, line number and how many words are in said line.lol). Penelope did not mope-I don’t think she even knew how to mope. And Penelope did not get jerked around by the hero. She stood up for herself and would argue back, especially when HE was-oh ,noes! I’m about to say it, and Mer will hate me FOUREVAH!-whining. And, okay, Colin really only whined, like, once but I so enjoyed her putting him in his place when he complained about his life….*Sorry, ellipses was for the amount of time that passed while I cracked up from just thinking about that scene!* Throughout the story, they both grow and change and I never felt like Colin was the biggest idiot on the planet, because how could he have loved her when he didn’t know himself? How could Penelope have received his love properly if she hadn’t realized that she was worthy of it?

On to book number two Again The Magic by Lisa Kleypas. It is hands down my favorite romance ever! And it didn’t go first under ‘pining heroines’ because this story wasn’t exactly the classic pining heroine trope. When they were teens they were worlds apart. She was the eldest daughter to an Earl, he was a lowly servant. They shouldn’t have ever spoken, but they did. Shouldn’t have been friends, but they were. Shouldn’t have fallen in love, but they hadn’t any choice in the matter. And in this story Aline sends McKenna away harshly, cruelly when her father threatens to ruin McKenna if she doesn’t. She is strong. She never stops loving him. It’s unquenchable, but she does not lay around. Does not subside into being maudlin. She is not miserable. She has a good life. Even a happy life. She is close with her brother and sister and has a cute sense of humor. But the role of savior fits too heavily, and too well, on her shoulders. After over a decade apart when McKenna bursts back into her life angrily seeking revenge for her cruelty,(and, yeah, he pined quite a bit but he actually lives a very good life without her. The pain from the loss of her lacerates him. But it's not constant pain, it's more like an old injury that still smarts when the weather changes) she still has one last thing to protect him from. She uses her past cruelty as a wall to keep them apart. She doesn’t set him straight on what really went down. She does fall into his plan quite willingly, though. He intends to seduce her and then be the cruel one when he leaves her this time. Aline’s secret isn’t a secret to the reader but I want you to read what happens to her along with her. It makes the import of her need to keep him away more understandable. But Aline comes close to missing out on the 'magic' that never left. So this one worked for me because the heroine did the rebuffing for a 'greater good' kind of thing. And if things hadn’t gone exactly the way that they did, they never would have had the opportunity for the ultimately fantastic life that they wind up with- a big part of their new life involves the fact that when McKenna left Aline, he went to America and became one of Kleypas’ classic self-made men. Fantastic!

Third is Julia London’s The Book Of Scandal. They broke up after losing their baby. Too much pain. Too much silence. Hero doesn’t cheat but turns to another woman to console himself with. Heroine feels alone but won’t let the hero close so she leaved and joins the queen’s court. When rumor comes to Lindsey(hero) that Evelyn(heroine) is going to be listed in the controversial Book Of Scandal, which people are getting into HUGE trouble over,he goes to London and collects her and returns to their country home. It doesn’t take Lindsey long to realize his feelings for Evelyn never went away and he fights to keep her. They finally talk and air out their dirty laundry ,so to speak, and they fall into a deep love-the kind that, had they felt it originally, never would have allowed them to be torn apart. Evelyn moves on during her time away from Lindsey and replaces him in her heart with another man(she never cheats in act though!). Lindsey did cheat but he always loved Evelyn, which is totally cheesy to read here but works, for me, in the book.

These next two are Novellas and are from dear friends of the girls here at Write Chic. This makes it very special to get to mention them, but it should be noted that I wouldn’t list them if the stories weren’t TRULY a cut above other stories in the game...

The Legend Of The Werestag by Tessa Dare. In this story the pining was sweet and mutual, but the heroine doesn’t wallow in sadness even when Luke returns and, to all appearances, doesn’t want her. She’s one tough cookie and actually goes out and distracts herself from the pain that comes over her. She’s waited for him while he’s been away at war, yes, but she thought he was coming back for her. Thought that they would pick up where they’d left off years ago. Luke returns changed, feeling like a... Werestag? Not quite,( lol ) but a beast. He thinks Cecily’s too weak to handle him. But after some pretty interesting and mayhap(yeah, I’m slipping into Regency-speak. She’s that good at setting me up in the time period!) terrifying and maybe even really peculiar events, they begin to talk. She’s done things over the last years that have made her as strong as tempered steel and so much more than capable of handling anything he has to offer. Loved Luke too but, again, am not discussing hero-pining in this post-but you should watch for Luke and McKenna in the follow-up post. This was a very satisfying read. And- okay, I iz teh not good gurl- I really liked the heat level of this story. For some reason I got it in my head that Tessa wouldn’t put detailed lovemaking in her books. Maybe because she’s so cute? Sweet? Adorable? But she delivers in ALL the ways that make a romance satisfying.

Next is a novella in Jackie Barbosa’s Behind The Red Door anthology. It’s called Sinfully Ever After, the last novella featured in the book. Wow! Just let me 'wow' for a minute while I gather my thoughts! “Talk amongst yourselves!” (Am so tempted to give you a topic just like that old Mike Myers SNL skit.lol.) Okay, this book’s heat level is boiling- possibly could give you third degree burns just from holding it in your hands(I got lucky, ladies! And I‘ve grown to love my shriveled pinky.*g*This story is, in fact, an erotic romance from Kensington. Love them!). Jane is the kind of heroine that really jumps inside of you. There was just something about her that I related to so well. Gerard is one of those heroes that calls himself an idiot-and he should!(would like to note that these are idiot 'moments' he is a very intelligent man)- but he’s tender and handsome and, yeah, has flaws, but he warms the reader up...in more ways than one.*g* I liked the ‘secret identity’ plot- the one where the hero goes to a brothel and sleeps with the 'heroine in disguise' and DOESN’T figure out on his own that the two women he is falling in love with are, um, the same woman. lol. But this worked incredibly well because the hero, though he had been friends with the heroine for years, NEVER knew her. And in many ways she’d been hiding parts of herself from him. They’re engaged from the beginning of this tale and if the idea of the hero sleeping with someone else bothers you too much, you can put it down but, I mean, it was the same chick. lol. And Jackie does an excellent job of conveying the fact that Gerard knew from the beginning that it was Jane but wouldn’t allow himself to believe it- yeah, this is one of the parts where he calls himself an idiot.(Why do you think I enjoy heroes calling themselves idiots?lol.)

And finally, I’m going to leave all historicals behind and go to a contemporary. Most heroines, in the contemporaries I’ve read, do the crazy pining that involves wracking sobs and percocet. Well, those heroines wouldn’t be good friends with Molly Jennings. Oh, she’s wanted Ben for forever, but she doesn’t mope or cry or even really pine in all actuality. She goes out and has the kind of amazingly fun and energetic life that a lot of us(Me? Never!*g*) wish we had. She’s an e-erotica author-her pen name is Holly Summers. I only mention it because (okay, finally got the opportunity to say who wrote this and I might work in the title by the end. Damn non-linear writing style!) Victoria Dahl wrote the ebook that Molly is writing in Talk Me Down(score!). It’s called The Wicked West and has a naughty sheriff. And Ben just so happens to be a sheriff...yea, he’s naughty but he fights it. Molly has had lovers. I got the impression that it was a goodly sum of lovers(still pretty new territory for a romance heroine). She even makes a confession about something she did in an ally, in one particularly funny scene in the Sheriff’s office... in front of everyone...including Ben.(lots of 'INs' used in that sentence.*g*) There’s a lot more to love in this story but I have written a lot already and shan’t(OMG! I talked about too many historicals!It's tainted me!lol) keep you any longer.

So, how do you feel about piners? Whiners? Is there a trope that makes you pick up a novel that purports to have it every time? Have any book suggestions? Alright you Chic ladies, discuss!

Friday Round-Up

It's Friday - time to hit a happy hour with your friends, start in on weekend writing goals, and, if you're a Write Chic reader, the day we look back on what happened this week in publishing blogworld:

Casey McCormick continued her Agent Spotlight series with Marietta B. Zacker

If you haven't checked out agent Nathan Bransford's blog, today is a great time to stop by. His Writing Advice Database post has links to past writing-related posts and will come in handy for many of us. Earlier in the week, he also delved into how to know when your manuscript is fully revised...with quite a bit of input from his legion of smart commenters.

Also today, the smart and enviably talented Justine Larbalestier (who is currently taking Lindyhop lessons as a fundraiser for the NYC library system) responded to a particularly insulting New York Times article about women writers and "girl books." Be sure to check out the comment trail, with some of YA's best authors throwing in their two cents - including John Green and Rachel Vail.

Jessica Faust, one of the agents from Bookends LLC., tackled an especially tough topic - whether every writer should be seeking publication.

And, I can't for the life of me remember where I found this one on my blogroll, but photographer Kyle Cassidy spent the first part of this year taking pictures of writers' inner sanctums - the offices, living rooms, and basement hideaways where they spin their tales. Looking inside writers' worlds is always so interesting.

Agent Kristin Nelson, blogging at PubRants, posted a list of what books editors bought or wanted to buy lately. This is a follow up to last week's post about what is a hard sell in the market right now.

Over at Romance Writer's Revenge, the pirates had Christie Craig as their onboard guest this week, who posted a wonderful blog on authenticity when writing quirky characters.

Author Diana Peterfreund gave some insight into her creativity process for her upcoming YA release, Rampant, with two blogs on how she visualized and created the monsters her heroine faces in the book. And by monsters, I mean killer unicorns. Yes, I know - that book is going to be so cool.

Here at the home base, we started our week off with a new look and explored some our favorite parts of the industry and our own bookshelves:

Mary posted about Publisher's Marketplace and how it's the best tool for unpublished writers.
Stephanie chatted about the epistolary and documentary literary styles, along with giving some great book suggestions for lovers of this structure.
Kelly discussed how special sharing the journey of reading with your loved ones can be.

Exciting features are coming up in the next few weeks on Write Chic, so stay tuned. What were your favorite sights and sounds of the web this week?

Sharing The Journey

I often think of the act of reading as a journey. So many times you hear a heroine in a book or a character in a movie or maybe a reviewer, publisher, agent, writer, or ,of course, the most important of all, the reader share this sentiment.

When you read you lose yourself. The walls in the room around you dissolve and your pajamas turn into a ball gown. You're dancing in the arms of(insert EJ hero name here) in a grand ballroom with the music from the violinists filling the air. You're not assaulted by the stench of unwashed Georgian era bodies crammed about you because Eloisa James has assured you that in her Georgian England they all take regular baths.

Then you’re whipped forward in time to find a man with a demon inside of him from Pandora’s box. Turns out poor Pandora has been wrongly accused over all of these years and the real unleashers of evil are the Lords of the Underworld. Gena Showalter is up to the challenge of bringing the real truth to the light. But you love your hero anyway, even though he’s got a pain fetish, can’t stop lying, or causes everyone in his vicinity to doubt themselves(this would be the hardest one to deal with, I mean, as women don’t we already doubt ourselves enough?).

Suddenly you’re in high school, it’s your first day at this school and you're the new kid. And you know no one. But to make it even worse, your grandma doesn’t let you wear the clothes you’re used to, the ones that make you feel confident and reflect your unique sense of style. No, you are stuck in your grandmother’s huge sweater with a unicorn plastered across the front. And if that isn’t bad enough, your grandma walks you to class and on your way, completely mortified, she delivers the coup de grace when she recognizes the most popular boy in school and completely embarrasses him in front of everyone. Now you’re on his short list of people to torture and you just so happen to have the dubious honor of topping that list as well. But no worries, young Gamer Girl, Mary Mancussi’s got your back.

Then you’re in an unbearably hot courtroom watching your father, Atticus, argue a case that has the entire town in an uproar. If he can’t save the poor black man, no one can. The man is wrongly accused and it brings a lump to your throat. You know things won’t end well. You know that in this time period there’s no hope for a fair trial in a town full of racists. And it breaks your heart when the dear man meets his end. But Harper Lee won’t let your story end there. She guides you through the most terrifying night of your life and your salvation comes at the hands of the man you’ve been terrified of and spun stories about your whole life.A recluse. A truly pure heart. And in the act of saving you he ended the life of your attacker. The law has to look the other way on this one for they know that the court system would not be kind to him. And he is the mockingbird. And it would be a sin To Kill A Mockingbird.

And then you look into your youngest sister Beth’s eyes. Your Beth who has always been just the tiniest bit sickly. The sister that has always been the heart of the family. And she tells you with far too much wisdom in her eyes that where all of them had left her behind when they’d gone out on their own to take on the world and do the things they loved, this time she was leaving and going on her very own journey. And when she got there she would be waiting for you. As Little Women you hadn’t ever seen this coming. But as women now, you’re left to deal with it.

For me, reading is a fully emotional experience. Even if I’ve hated a book completely and utterly something about it will stick with me. I have a very long memory where books are concerned and can tell you where I was when I read each of these books. I can tell you what moved me and encapsulate a story to make someone else want to read it to. And since reading is so emotional for me, I want to share the joy of a good read and occasionally the disdain or aggravation brought on by a very bad read.

I come to this post with a full heart. I of course dissect and discuss and gush and bemoan books I’ve read with friends and probably have with all of you friends of ours reading this now. But my eldest niece and I can finally share books. She’s reached the age where she can read YAs(no romance for her, she’s still just on the cusp of 12). We were talking about Gamer Girl last night and she loves it and today I was sitting and having one of my long silent stares that I fall into when I’ve just woken up and my mind is in full revolt at me being awake, and she wrapped her arms around my neck and started telling me what part she was at in the story and who she thought Sir Leo(a character in a game the heroine plays-people choose characters and play the game with other people all over the world) is IRL. She nailed it and the story never even attempts to hide it but it was sweet. She’s actually the one that got me reading Shannon Hale’s books and I’ve gotten her into Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle and, of course, Meg Cabot.

It’s really cool and I should add that the coolest thing in the world has happened. My mother, who is proud of her prudish ways and is a mass of contradictions because, well, among other things, the woman only thinks she‘s prudish.;)lol. I tell her about the books I’m reading from time to time and she just doesn’t read them because she doesn't like romance. Which is cool. No big deal. To each their own. But I was telling her about The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley and at the words ‘the hero has Aspergers’ she immediately said, “When you’re done let me read it.” Win!!! I’ve wanted her to read romance for forever. So I’m excited and we’ve agreed to talk about it together after she finishes it.

And in the interest of connecting this all to writing, I just hope that one day someone picks up one of my books and allows everything to drop away except for my story. This is my hope for your stories too.:)

So, tell me about you. Do you love to go on those wonderful safaris from your very own comfy chair, bed , couch, bath, etc.??(Okay, so the answer here is pretty freaking obvious .lol.) Do you love sharing your books as much as I do? Are you writing something I’ll be adding to my shelves/Kindle someday?(I’ll bet you are.)

Epistolary Excitement

One thing you typically don't expect is for a group of tattooed, smoking, beer-drinking people to be interested in what you're reading at the pool. You also don't expect that same group to get into a discussion about epistolary style in literature. But that's exactly what happened over the weekend!

I was reading the women's fiction book Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham and the sheer size of it (think Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ) caused a few people around me to ask about the book. When I explained that the book was written in the format of emails between the main character and her family, friends, and coworkers it sparked a lengthy discussion. We debated emails versus letters, the need to split the story into chapters, how long they should be, and the appeal (or lack of) of the epistolary or documentary format.

Considering the current interest in everything reality, Facebook, and various other social networking forms I find it surprising that I'm not seeing more books published in a documentary style. We are a curious people and most of us enjoy a peek into the lives of others. We like to know how our lives differ from or mirror others. Plus, we're getting our information in shorter and shorter snippets (Twitter, anyone?). Based on all this I wouldn't think we'd see true letters, per say, but rather documentary books written with a combination of emails, text messages, memos, IM conversations, and more.

I do see that there are obstacles to overcome with this style. Many people have a problem with anything in an epistolary format because there tends to be a lack of chapters and they prefer to read novels in manageable sections. Others find the short snippets jarring and lacking a sense of continuity. Still others simply find it difficult to keep track of the events.

I'd like to see the opinions of young adult authors on this subject. There's not a lot of this in romance, I see a book or two in fiction, and one finds books of letters helpful in historical research but I believe this would be a style appealing to the younger audiences who are more accustomed to viewing a variety of written communication.

If you're interested in different examples of the E/D styles:


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows






Nothing But The Truth by Avi






The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot






Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot







Holly's Inbox by Holly Denham






The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

Web Spotlight : Publisher's Marketplace

You've finished your book - the writing is tight and typo-free, your characters are three-dimensional, and all the hours you spent toiling seem worth it in light of your lovely new manuscript. So, the question begs, what next?

The answer: find an agent. With the advent of the internet, one would think this has become an easy step in the process. You have a good book, you e-mail a few queries, and some lucky agent represents you! But what if the agent still only accepts snail mail queries? Or worse - has closed her submissions? Heck - how do you even know which agent is right for you?

Don't worry. Publishers Marketplace is here to help.

PM bills itself as the "biggest and best dedicated marketplace for publishing professionals" and, as a member, I can say it fully lives up to the boast. There's a little something for everyone in the industry here. Reviewers can post their latest articles, those looking to break into the business can haunt the job listings, and you - the future literary giant - can find all you need to know about agents and publishers. Some highlights of the resources you can access:

1. Who Represents (found on left sidebar) - One of the most addicting sections of PM is the Who Reps search, where you can search your favorite authors and find out whom they've chosen to represent their books. Search enough and you'll find a pattern. Does one agent represent a few of your favorite authors? This makes sense, as what agents already represent is the best indicator of their personal tastes. If they represent an author of paranormal were-alligator romances, there's a good chance they'll enjoy your new were-gila-monster series.
2. Top Dealmakers (left sidebar) - Publishers Marketplace serves as a perpetually updated database of industry deals - which agents are selling what books to which publishers - and with this search you can find the agents who are most active in your genre. How many in-genre deals an agent has made is another great indicator of her potential interest in your work.
   
3. Member Pages (quick search on right sidebar) - Once you've made a list of possible agents, you can check out their personal member pages. Not every agent has a PM page, but the ones who do use it as a reference for potential clients. Here you can find what the agent is currently interested in, if they are open to submissions, and the url of their agency website or blog. Before querying an agent, you have to know this information, so finding it in the same place you did your research is not only efficient, but invaluable.
4. Industry News (in the main body of PM, as well as the daily news lunchbox e-mail) - Now that you're moving onto the next phase of publishing, you probably want to keep up with what's going on in the industry. Reading the new bulletins on PM will not only keep you in the loop on the kerfuffles and gossip swirling around the publishing business, but will also give you the inside scoop on news that may affect you, such as one of your target agents setting up her own agency.

The only downside of joining Publishers Marketplace is that all this information comes at a cost - being a member is part of a $20/month subscription. When I first joined, I was skeptical that any website could be worth this, but PM delivers. Much of their information isn't readily available on the internet at large, notably the top dealmakers and the database of sales. If you're agent hunting, your greatest asset is how informed you are about the industry, so joining for a month while you research is well worth the investment. Plus, it's cheaper and more user-friendly than those weighty and archaic "How to Get an Agent" tomes you'll find at the bookstore. In the future, I'll be spotlighting other helpful websites for unpublished authors, but nothing is as all-inclusive as Publishers Marketplace, which tops the list for industry resources at any stage of your career.

Go Forth And Read

Jackie Barbosa(whose books I am reading now and am so in love with!) wrote an awesome blog today.The blog post is in reference to a letter from RWA president Diane Pershing published in this month's RWR. I will say no more. Go read it if you enjoy getting very angry and ranting. Those are two things I love!

But seriously, Ms. Barbosa does an excellent job covering this issue.

Also, I should tell you to go get Ms. Barbosa's debut novel from Kensington Aphrodesia, Behind The Red Door. It consists of three novelas.

Here's the description of BtRD from Ms. Barbosa's website:

Forbidden fantasies and hidden pleasures are waiting. Enter the Red Door, a most exclusive brothel, where men enjoy all the sins of the flesh and women surrender to their own secret desires…

“Wickedly Ever After”

Known for his wicked ways, the Marquess of Grenville is far from marriage material. But when Miss Eleanor Palmer tries to tell him so, she quickly finds the heat of his kiss melting her determination to say “no” into an uncontrollable desire to say “yes…”

“Scandalously Ever After”

Most men who visit the Red Door brothel enjoy sampling the variety of feminine delights, so Calliope is surprised when Captain Jack Prescott claims her for a week of passion. But satisfying his every sexual desire provides them both with complete carnal pleasure…

“Sinfully Ever After”

Lady Jane St. Clair loves her fiancé, but Gerard Nash is a notorious rake who likes adventurous women. Wanting to show him just how bold she can be, Jane masquerades as a young ingénue at the Red Door where she and Gerard experience sinfully erotic ecstasy…

Enjoy! And if you would like to rant, go ahead!:)

Remember My Love? And a Book Pimp!

Anyone who reads this blog has probably figured out that I have a deep and abiding affection for Victoria Dahl's work(in the NON stalker way of course.lol.). She is such an amazing writer and she is the funniest woman online(she's on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and she has an awesome blog and website!) other than Jane at Dear Author and the Smart Bitches.

Well, today is the release of her first erotic ebook from Harlequin, The Wicked West.How could anyone say no to a book with a title like that? I bought it today and am tearing though it. It is absolutely divine.

So run out...well, it's an ebook so type really quickly over to buy it. (Aside: I'm not sure just how many vendors are selling it. Certainly Harlequin, though.)

The Wicked West is actually even more awesome because it's the ebook that Dahl's amazing character Molly in Talk Me Down wrote.

Okay, Originals, don't forget what great taste I have in books!lol. Hope you love it as much as I do.:)

PS: Gah, would you look at that book cover? I want a naughty sheriff to call my own!