Romance Writer’s “Research”
May 30, 2017 by A Slice of Orange in category From Isabel Swift tagged as Isabel Swift, romance, writing
Can we address the absurd queries about romance authors doing “research,” nudge, nudge, wink, wink? Does anyone ask mystery or horror writers how many people they had to disembowel before they could write their story? I don’t think so.
(And of course, there is the fact that if they answered, they’d have to kill you).
It’s also delightfully contradictory, as others often accuse romances as being utterly unrealistic stories–that also apparently must be based on personal experience. Hmmmm. You must choose one or the other, but you really can’t have both those complaints simultaneously.
There is a dictum: write what you know, but luckily, it’s not a requirement.
Write what you can imagine.
Write what you think about, care about, fantasize about, dream about.
Write to explore what you don’t fully understand.
Write to open minds, to touch hearts.
It’s called fiction because you make it up…
Writer on the Verge of Deadlines
May 29, 2017 by A Slice of Orange in category Writer on the Verge by Kate Carlisle tagged as deadlines, Kate Carlisle, Writer on the VergeFrom A Slice of Orange Archives
Deadline Hell. I’m there.
It’s my first trip and I’m not liking it much. In fact, I’m going a little crazy.
I wish I could blog about something happy and carefree but I’m harried and nervous and can’t sleep, can’t think of anything but the book and how much more I need to write and how little time I have to do it. I’ve lost all peripheral vision. I can only focus on one little page, nothing else.
I’ve lost track of what’s happening on all my favorite TV shows.
I can’t read anything new. I’ve taken to re-reading old favorite books because I already know what happens and don’t have to focus too much on the story.
And I’m living on TV dinners. That can’t be healthy.
I spend most of my time in sweatpants, a big old work shirt and comfortable shoes. It’s not a good look for me.
So why am I always smiling? 🙂
Kate Carlisle is always smiling because her first book, Homicide in Hardcover, from NAL, is now available everywhere!
Since this column was originally posted in February 2009, Kate as gone on to publish over 20 books. You can get a complete list of her novels at Kate Carlisle Bibliography. Four of her newest titles are available below.
Romantic Comedy author Horse Sense for Your Characters with @sdwriter: June @OCCRWA Online Class
May 23, 2017 by Linda McLaughlin in category Online Classes tagged as history, Horse Sense for Your Characters, horses, OCCRWA, research, Shannon DonnellyJune’s OCC/RWA Online Class is Horse Sense for Your Characters
with
Shannon Donnelly
June 12 – July 7
About the Class:
Most folks today have limited experience as mounted riders, even less for side saddle, or driving a carriage, or training a horse for the movements once used by knights. This workshop provides some basic horse sense through the ages so your horses act more like characters who enrich your story and less like cars or other inanimate transportation objects.
We will cover:
- General Horse Sense – Habit and herds: Horse Personality, Basic gaits, Useful Terms
- Carriage and Riding Horses – What’s the difference?
- Quick Trip Through History: Ancient Times, Palfrey/Destrier, The West: Knights of the Plains
- England: Town and Country – Hunting season, ladies’ mounts, side saddle myths, Rotten Row
- Basic Transport – Times, distances, and comfort, public transport of the coaching era
- The Racing World – The sport of Kings; The sport of Queen
- Special Breeds – Arabian, Lippizan, Akhal-Teke, Fresian, Viking’s Horse: Islandic Ponies
About the Instructor:
Shannon Donnelly and Drake
Shannon Donnelly’s writing has won numerous awards, including a RITA nomination for Best Regency, the Grand Prize in the “Minute Maid Sensational Romance Writer” contest, judged by Nora Roberts, RWA’s Golden Heart, and others. Her writing has repeatedly earned 4½ Star Top Pick reviews from Romantic Times magazine, as well as praise from Booklist and other reviewers, who note: “simply superb”…”wonderfully uplifting”….and “beautifully written.”
Her Regency romances can be found as ebooks on all formats, and with Cool Gus Publishing, and include a series of four novellas.
She also has out the Mackenzie Solomon, Demon/Warders Urban Fantasy series, Burn Baby Burn and Riding in on a Burning Tire, and the Urban Fantasy, Edge Walkers. Her work has been on the top seller list of Amazon.com and includes Paths of Desire, a Historical Regency romance.
She is the author of several young adult horror stories, and computer games. She lives in New Mexico with two horses, two donkeys, two dogs, and only one love of her life. Shannon can be found online at sd-writer.com, facebook.com/sdwriter, and twitter/sdwriter.
Enrollment Information
This is a 4-week online course that uses email and Yahoo Groups. If you do not have a Yahoo ID you will be prompted to create one when you join the class, but the process is not difficult. The class is open to anyone wishing to participate. The cost is $30.00 per person or, if you are a member of OCCRWA, $20.00 per person.
Things That Make Me Go Mmmrrh … My Hero
May 23, 2017 by A Slice of Orange in category Things That Make Me Go Mmmrrh . . . by Geralyn Corcillo, Writing tagged as arlen black, awards, book boyfriends, chick lit, Contests, queen of the universe, romance, romantic comedy, Summer reading, summer reads. beach reads
Last week, I blogged on a special day to introduce you to Arlen Black, the hero of my romantic comedy Queen of the Universe. He was one of 30 contestants up for Book Boyfriend 2017. I am blogging again today on a special day to announce …
Arlen won!!! ARLEN BLACK won the title of Book Boyfriend 2017!
At my very first RWA meeting over a decade ago, I won that month’s first chapter critique from the incomparable Susan Squires, and when they called my name in the meeting, I screamed out from the back of the room, “Oh, my God!” It was my first meeting and I learned in later meetings that the drawing for 1st chapter critique is usually a bit more sedate. But I was EXCITED! And I was just as excited when I got the news about Arlen Monday morning. “Ron, Arlen won! Arlen won!!” In my
exuberance, I spilled my coffee all over my cat, Debbie. I cleaned her up, but she kept her eye on me.
Thank you to you all! To everyone who voted for me, cheered me on, and everyone who’s been loving book boyfriends over the years. This award thrills me because I have been loving books and book boyfriends all my life, and to have written some books that others find delightful just makes me so happy! Who are some of your favorite book boyfriends? Nat Eaton? Captain Wentworth? Michael Moscovitz? Ranger? Mmmrrh …
To see the Slice of Orange post that won Arlen the title, click here.
First and foremost, Geralyn Corcillo loves reader reviews! In other news…When she was a kid in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Geralyn Vivian Ruane Corcillo dreamed of one day becoming the superhero Dyna Girl. So, she did her best and grew up to constantly pick up litter and rescue animals. At home, she loves watching black & white movies, British mysteries, and the NY Giants. Corcillo lives in a drafty old house in Hollywood with her husband Ron, a guy who’s even cooler than Kip Dynamite.
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