Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Forgivable Flaws

Reading some of my old rejected pathetic manuscripts—did I mention pathetic?—has lead to me do some thinking about heroes in romances.

Good Goodies

This weekend I’m at the New Jersey Romance Writer’s Conference, and I’m excited for three reasons.

(Well, MORE than three reasons, but I’m only listing three due to time restraints)
1) I get to attend a three hour workshop with Jenny Crusie. (Woo-hoo!)
2) I finally get to meet my Samhain Editor face to face. (Woo-hoo!)
3) I get to take home lots of author goodies. (Woo-hoo!)

Beyond Jack and Jake: What to Name Your Hero

Something struck me as I picked up yet another romance novel that had Jack as the hero’s name.

1) It’s a GREAT name for a hero. (I confess I used the name, too, in a story) and
2) Romance writers don’t really like to mess with what is already deemed a good, strong hero’s name.

It’s kind of funny how romance writers have no problem seeking out extraordinary heroine’s names, though. I’ve seen Wanda, Sierra, Prudence, and even Tandy. But when it comes to male hero names we tend to stick with old standbys like Jake, Sam, Keith, Mike, Matt, and even Nate.

(I’m over generalizing a bit here, but stay with me anyway)

Why do we contemporary romance writers linger around these names? Because a name carries an image. And we all want our hero to have the image of being strong and masculine.

But what about the in-between names? The names that go beyond Jake but don’t quite reach the Roark, Tyler, or even Brent level. I’m talking about names that according to one baby name book are in “fashion limbo”.

The Role of a Lifetime--coming to PRINT!

Wow! It’s not often an author gets to celebrate her book release TWICE. But here I am very happy to announce that my romantic comedy, The Role of a Lifetime will be released in print this Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

My mom already has a copy in her hands and has told me after reading two pages that she loves it and has laughed at loud.

Yes, that’s right. After two pages.

Needless to say, I have encouraged her to keep reading. I also told her that although I truly believe her when she said what she read was hilarious, she really, uh, hasn’t gotten to the funny part yet.

sigh

I wish all my readers were as easy. :)

I also wanted to thank everyone at Samhain involved in my publication process—especially my editor, Laurie, and Donna, who worked on the galley, and Angie, who did a lovely job on my cover. And of course, the boss, Crissy Brashear. Thanks so much!

CONTEST: Please check out my blog on Tuesday for your chance to win a copy of my book!

Weekend Plans

When the hubby told me he was planning a little getaway for us and the kiddo, I said, “Great!”
He said, “Great!”
I said, “Where we going?”
He said, “Skiing!”
I said…“Oh.”

Finding My Adventurous Side This Thanksgiving

I’ve decided I’m going to do something a little risky this Thanksgiving.

Well, risky for me, anyway. Hmm… Perhaps this wasn’t the most thought out title I could have come up with since MY definition of being adventurous and say…everyone else in the entire universe’s definition of being adventurous is something completely different.

So forgive the brouhaha.

You see, little mild mannered me has decided to buck tradition this Thanksgiving. Yes, I’m doing it. I’ve already decided despite the consequences. After all, what’s a holiday without making somebody in your family mad at you? Oh, and they’re going to be mad all right. Do you want to know why?

Mixed Emotions

Well, it’s that back to school time again for us young mother writers. You know the time—when we can actually have our house stay clean for more than 22 minutes straight. That time when other people’s children stop raiding our refrigerator. And when that Andy Williams song,” The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” pulls that unfathomably joy chord in our summer-beaten- down hearts.

What's Your "How To" of Choice?

At least once a year—maybe twice—I go through a writing phase. Well, more like… an un-writing phase where I feel the need to step back and brush up on some of the finer details of fiction writing. (Kind of like continuing education for writers)

I’ve acquired quite a few ‘how to’ writing books over the years—some good some eh. But Noah Lukeman’s books are definitely on my top ten list. When I go back and reread them, I always find new information that I can use, almost as if I’m reading them for the first time.

Right now I’ve decided to pick up and reread: The Plot Thickens. The reason? I’m struggling with plot (duh) with a story I’m mapping out. You see, I have a story idea but no real theme or plot to go with it. I’m about halfway through the book, but I think it’s been a great help to me already.

How often do you take the time to read “how to” writing books? And what are some that you’ve read more than once?

THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME available today!

Wow, you can’t imagine how excited I am! (Uh, unless you’re having a book released today too)

Everyone involved in the whole process has been so super, and, of course, I must send out a special cyber hug today to my editor, Laurie. THANK YOU so much for all your help!

When I wrote The Role of a Lifetime, I started with one simple scene in my head. It came to me when I was at the playground with my daughter. There were kids going down this big tube slide and one of the mothers was having trouble showing her two year old how to slide down and not to be frightened. So she put her legs in (trying to demonstrate), then quickly turned to me and said, “Watch me get stuck.”

Well, I laughed, and then I thought it’d be even funnier if a father got stuck in the slide. Even funnier if he was single father, trying to “show off” to a woman. Even funnier if he wasn’t a father but a single man, with a large ego, trying to “show off” and got stuck in a slide. Even funnier if—uh, well, you get the idea.

Anyway, that simple encounter stuck with me—no pun intended. So I decided to work with it. I got out my handy GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) book and began to play “what if” and then finally came up with Ben Capshaw, my hero. And the rest wrote itself. (Sort of)

I hope you love Ben as much as I do. :)

If you’d like a chance to win a free copy, please check out my website: HERE

Unexpected Directions

When I first started writing, I had some pretty high hopes of becoming the next Nora Roberts. (Hey, let’s face it, what beginning writer didn’t want to be the next Nora?)