Top Five Things I Learned From My Editors

By Inara Scott

I have a confession to make, Romance University: I don’t have an MFA. I don’t have a degree in English, either. Oh hell, I’ve never even taken a class in creative writing. Truly, I have no idea how I sold a book. I can only assume it was a temporary act of insanity on the part of my editor.

However insane it was, she did buy my book, which meant that eventually the poor thing had to edit it. In fact, since I sold my young adult series Delcroix Academy, back in 2008, I’ve inflicted myself on three different editors. (They are slippery beasts, those editors. Hard to keep in one place.) And then there were the poor, long-suffering copy editors. They had to deal with me too.

Now that I’ve been through the editing process on the first two books of my series, I believe it’s safe to say that I’ve learned more about writing from my editors than I possibly could have by suffering through years of English classes and creative writing seminars. And now, I want to share what I learned with you. This is practical stuff, folks. No big picture conflict and theme stuff here. You probably learned that doing your MFA. This is the nitty gritty.

Ready? Here goes:

1) Vary your scenes: As Editor One gently pointed out, most of the action in my book took place in the same three or four locations. I had to break it up. Send my characters outside. Create a basement for my school. Add some weather. Make the setting COUNT.

2) Add relevant blocking: We all know that we’ve got to keep our characters moving. Talking heads are boring, and adverbs are a no-no. But Editor 2 told me to add movement that also serves to develop character. A shy character shifts her skirt to cover her knees. A nervous character fiddles with a pen. This may sound easy, but now try putting this stuff on every page. Try making every gesture count. Wow. Now that’s hard.

3) Make sure readers can “see” your characters. I’m not big on describing clothes. Never have been, never will be. And that’s okay – but readers still need to see the characters. Editor 2 lamented at the beginning of several scenes that she could not remember what the characters looked like. Do you do this? Do you have a grounding visual for each character in each scene? I sure didn’t. The challenge here is not to resort to adding a mention of blue eyes, blonde hair, and broad shoulders every few pages. You need to mix it up and make it count. Don’t overwhelm the reader, ground them. And do it creatively.

Scared yet? Yeah, this writing business is much harder than I thought. But there’s more…

4) Vary your sentence structure. I will never forget how embarrassed I was when a copy editor noted in the margins that all my attribution tags seemed to be following this pattern: “He said, shifting in his seat.” “She said, pulling back her hair.” “He said, standing up and…” You get the picture. Make sentence structure something you look for in final revisions and make sure you are mixing it up. Though we have all been beaten into submission about the passive voice, you also can’t structure every sentence to read PRONOUN, VERB, CLAUSE. Variety is key.

5) Word repetition and buzz words: This is the hardest thing to fix, but so important. You need to find those nasty repeating words that show up twice in the same sentence, the same paragraph, and the same page. (See? There’s one now.) It’s so hard to catch this yourself, because we tend to tune out our own writing. I have my computer read my book to me because I find I can hear repetition better than I can see it. Then there’s the closely-related problem of buzz words. These are the annoying little writerly tics that we all have. Some of my buzz words are: just, horrible, turning, looking, and the dreaded sighing and shrugging. Your buzz words will vary. Before you inflict your book on an editor or critique partner, do a search and destroy. Your readers will thank you. 

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Now that I’ve given you my top five pieces of advice, how about you share some with me? Please, make me a better writer! And if you have questions, I’m happy to answer them. Just remember, I’m making this up as I go along. 

For your viewing pleasure, here’s the fabulous book trailer for THE CANDIDATES – DELCROIX ACADEMY.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Join us tomorrow at 8 p.m. CST for a live author chat with Lori Foster.

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Inara Scott is the author of Delcroix Academy: The Candidates, and the forthcoming sequel, Delcroix Academy: The Watchers. She tries not to take it personally that editors keep quitting after working on her books. You can find her on the web at www.inarascott.com. She is also known to hang out on Twitter (@inarascott) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/inarawrites) far more than is healthy.

It’s my pleasure to invite Beth Daniels, who writes as Beth Henderson and J.B. Dane, to visit today.  I read about Beth teaching a class on steampunk, a genre of romance and mystery that fascinated me and was thrilled when she agreed to share what she knows with RU readers.  Whether you’re just curious about the genre, want to write in the genre or want to read more about it, this blog’s for you!

Beginning to feel like everywhere you turn you’re hearing the term Steampunk? It certainly appears to be the case.

If you watch CASTLE on Monday nights on TV, you were treated to an episode last Fall where the victim was killed with a 200 year old ball – not a bullet, a ball – that it appeared had been fired from a dueling pistol. The victim was dressed in Victorian style clothing and once the trail lead to a particular club in Manhattan, Rick Castle began spouting information about how Steampunk was a society of like minded individuals who liked socializing in a 19th century sort of way. A get away experience since most were involved in super geek type “real life” jobs.

If you go looking for information on the Internet, you might come up with a designation that I particularly liked, although it didn’t fit me personally: “Steampunk is what happens when Goths discover the color brown.” I always liked brown.

Actually, Steampunk is that as well as what Rick Castle said. It’s a lot of things and you’ll find all those things, many of them for sale, at a Steampunk convention because Steampunkers like getting together and donning their alternative personas just as much as Renaissance Faire (or STAR TREK and STAR WARS) folk do. A web search will supply at least eleven Steampunk gatherings around the US (San Jose, San Diego, Seattle, Tucson, Denver, Wichita, Philadelphia, Waltham, Massachusetts, Santa Clara, Roanoke, Virginia, and Oklahoma City). Some cities have Steampunk communities (Seattle’s Steam Rats, San Francisco’s Bay Area Steampunk Association, Sacramento’s Steampunk Society, and Philadelphia’s Dorian’s Parlor could well be just the tip of the steamburg).

But what we’re most interested in here is that Steampunk is a market for readers and thus for writers.

I must admit that I discovered Steampunk through an article in RT. A year later I presented my first workshop on Steampunk. Since then I’ve needed to create other Steampunk workshops and slip it into the Alternative History workshop because so many participants were interested in it. This is slowing down production on my own Steampunk tales…yes, I have more than one in progress, but that’s because I like more than one style of Steampunk.

Reading Steampunk equates to a part-time job because new titles are surfacing at a rapid rate. Steampunk is a subgenre of a subgenre in Fantasy, because it is alternative history. But saying that’s all it is is like claiming Urban Fantasy is just another name for a book with vampires in it.

Steampunk does the same thing that Urban Fantasy does, only with an emphasis on taking the steam-driven past and incorporating some more modern marvels – things like computers and regular air travel and robots – all steam powered, of course. It can add doses of time travel, magic, paranormals (vampires, werewolves, golems and ghosts are always popular), mystery, and then wrap it all up in an action-adventure.

Steampunk can take place in London or the British countryside under Victoria. It can run amuck in the American West (a subgenre of the subgenre of the subgenre, if you will, known as Weird West). It can cross dimensions, enter into alternate universes, visit other Earths, as long as the mechanisms in these various and sundry places is either powered by steam or leans toward Victorian mores, it’s Steampunk. Heck, if it does that, Steampunk can even be set in the future.

One thing that you need to do if the inclination to investigate Steampunk hits you is read, read, read, in the genre. There are so many different styles of Steampunk to choose from, narrowing in on one to make your own can be daunting – at first.

Steampunk can lean more toward the horror realm, as China Mieville’s novels do. It can be rather erotic, whether you’re going for Steampunk erotica (most turning up as e-books, some looking decidedly self-published) or an adventure with touches of erotica worked in, such as THE GLASS BOOKS OF THE DREAM EATERS.

Looking for romance where the steam isn’t necessarily describing the temperature of what’s happening in the bedroom? Katie MacAlister flung her 21 century scientist hero into a parallel Steam universe and the arms of a female airship captain in her romantic adventure STEAMED. For a delightful excess of humor with a plethora of paranormal characters engaged in running the British Empire for the Queen, you really shouldn’t miss Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, of which I believe the 4th book is about to be released.

If you work better having a visual concept of something, look to the movies and TV. Flix with Steampunk elements are SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE PRESTIGE, VAN HELSING, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, THE WILD, WILD WEST, TIME AFTER TIME, THE TIME MACHINE, and even to some extent THE BROTHERS GRIMM. The small screen has supplied THE WILD, WILD WEST (no echo, but the original series in the 1960s, I believe), BRISCO COUNTRY JR. and the difficult to find and also quite extinct series THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF JULES VERNE. Many DOCTOR WHO episodes lean toward Steampunk.

There are also quite a number of Steampunk graphic novels…series, even! In fact, this is the market that fueled the new enthusiasm for the genre…no, subgenre of a subg…well, you know.

Someone interested in writing Steampunk should be interested in history, particularly that of the Industrial Age, the 19th century. Themes deal with expansion, with invention, and frequently with taking over the world (isn’t that what the British were doing with their Empire?) for political, economic or just plain selfish reasons. It’s the manifest destiny of Steampunk characters. Their ancestors appeared in the tomes of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Conan Doyle’s Professor Challenger tales of the Lost World, in Oscar Wilde’s DORIAN GRAY and Robert Louis Stevenson’s DR JECKLE AND MR HYDE. Let’s not forget Bram Stoker’s DRACULA or Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN…yes, even a tale penned during the Regency (or a story set in the Regency) qualifies. It’s the Industrial Age.

But the writer considering writing Steampunk should also enjoy warping things – like history.

Beth Daniels
aka Beth Henderson, J.B. Dane
www.RomanceAndMystery.com

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RU Crew, do you have any burning reader questions for Beth? For our writers out there, have you branched out into steampunk? If so, what challenges did you face?

Join us Monday when Romance University founder Adrienne Giordano shares what she has learned in the first months since signing her contract.

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Bio:  Beth Daniels currently writes as Beth Henderson and J.B. Dane, though she answered to Lisa Dane and Beth Cruise in the past as well. She has worked with editors at Berkley, Zebra, Leisure, Harlequin/Silhouette, and Simon and Schuster’s Aladdin Paperbacks, done e-books for a now defunct company (not her fault, she says), and began her writing life with hardcover books slated for library use with a publisher that got out of the romance business (again, not her fault). More recently she’s had a number of articles about writing picked up by e-zines, saw a short story published in a mystery and suspense magazine that turned up its toes the next year (really, really not her fault), and has a story in the MOTHER GOOSE IS DEAD anthology slated for publication by Dragon Moon Press in 2011.

For over a dozen years Beth taught college level composition, both in the classroom and online, and a credit course on Novel Writing.

Twenty-six of Beth’s manuscripts have appeared in print or e-book format, and in 12 different languages in over 20 countries. At the moment she is working on various manuscripts, some fiction, some non-fiction but related to writing. Her current fairly consuming project is a little thing she calls WRITING STEAMPUNK!

She is a member of Romance Writers of America, and an active member and volunteer with the Kiss of Death Online romantic suspense chapter, and a fixture at SavvyAuthors.com.

Website: www.RomanceAndMystery.com

Take it away, Kevan and Anjali!

Adrienne: How would you define this genre?  What are the plot elements that make a book a women’s fiction versus romance?

Kevan: This is probably one of the most difficult genres to define, because it is so broad and covers multiple “sub-genres” as well.  In the loosest definition though, it is a novel that appeals to women readers and touches on issues that are important to women.  Of course, women read all types of fiction, so I believe you could get a different definition for the category from almost anyone you ask!  Not terribly helpful I realize, but if you are writing “women’s fiction” then it means you can write a story that you believe women will love and write the story that inspires you.

When I read queries for women’s fiction I am always looking for a story that intrigues me personally – whether it is historical fiction or contemporary, I am looking for a story that I would pull from the bookstore shelf to read more about.  I am also looking for that elusive “hook”, the primary plot element that is going to set this story apart from other books on the shelf or that will cause a reader to pause a minute longer to read more about the book.  Often authors will use comparable titles to position their story in an agent or editors mind, i.e. here is an example where we used a film to immediately position a book we sold recently, Dog Days a Freaky Friday story with a canine twist in which a small, town café owner is struck by lightning and switches bodies with the lost dog following her, then must struggle with her new canine instincts to overcome her fear of dogs and learn how to live and love with the carefree perspective of a dog. In one rather run-on sentence you immediately have a sense of the “hook” and the story itself.

The plot elements that make a book women’s fiction versus romance is, in my view, based on whether or not the romance is the primary plot element driving the story.  If it is primarily about boy meets girl, falls in love with a happy ever after, then you are falling squarely in the world of romance.  While much of women’s fiction has a romance element in the novel, it is not usually the primary story theme driving the plot and characters’ motivations.

Anjali: Wikipedia defines women’s fiction as “an umbrella term for a wide-ranging collection of literary sub-genres that are marketed to female readers, including many mainstream novels, romantic fiction, ‘chick lit,’ and other sub genres.” So the term is pretty all-encompassing. But I think of women’s fiction as a category separate from romance. In women’s fiction, a woman’s life is the central focus of the storyline. Romance may or may not be an element of the story, and a happy ending is not guaranteed. Women’s fiction could be literary or commercial, dark or light.

According to the author Lisa Craig, “Trying to wrap a definition around women’s fiction is a little like trying to put a fence around a band of wild mustangs.” She quotes Nora Roberts as saying that women’s fiction centers on the woman’s story – not necessarily the romantic relationship.

Adrienne: What is your opinion of the state of women’s fiction?

Kevan: I think the market is strong.  Editors are actively acquiring women’s fiction and even asking us for strong, “book-group” type women’s fiction (novels that are the type of book that are often discussed at book groups or clubs—i.e. generally have strong emotional, relationship or family elements in the story).  At retail it can be challenging to break a new author out and to get readers’ attention, but it can be done.

Anjali: I don’t have statistics at my fingertips, but I believe it’s alive and growing.  There will always be a market for wonderful stories that women love to read.

Adrienne: What do you like best about women’s fiction? The least?

Kevan: I love the diversity of stories and topics that women’s fiction can cover.  I am a huge historical fiction fan of all types – straight women’s fiction and romantic historical fiction.  I also love a good contemporary story that captivates me and that I can lose myself in.  I really don’t have a “least favorite” thing, other than it can be very difficult to tell an author exactly why something doesn’t work for me.  All the elements can be in a manuscript, i.e. strong writing, good hook, etc.  but if I don’t fall in love with it, then it just isn’t right for me.

Anjali: A recent Salon.com article suggested that women have to write to a higher standard than men. If a man produces a mediocre novel, it’s just mediocre. If a woman writes a mediocre novel, it’s “what’s wrong with women’s fiction.” Women’s fiction has been accused of being all about misery (bereavement, child abuse, rape) or too fluffy. I like the ‘heavier’ books if the narrative voice is strong and the darkness is punctuated by moments of levity and quirky insights about life. I like a hopeful, if not necessarily happy, ending. As I get older, I find I’m less attracted to relentlessly grim women’s fiction. We get enough of the grimness in real life.

Adrienne: How do you think this genre has changed in the last five years?

Kevan: Other than the demise of the “chick-lit” type stories, I don’t think things have changed all that drastically because this genre is so broad and covers so many types of stories there is always something new to talk about, which I think has always been the case.  For example, with a book like THE HELP we have seen a resurgence of southern novels, and interest in them from editors and readers.  Every year there are exceptionally memorable books that seemed to dominate the lists and readers’ attention.  These are the surprises we are all hoping will happen to one of our authors!

Anjali: I believe that trends come and go. Right now, interest in anything labeled “chick-lit” is waning, but even this trend is difficult to pin down. Women still love to read stories of new love, heartbreak, new careers, and so on – stories that chick-lit encompassed. In my view, people will always love a good story that addresses deep, universal themes – love, loss, the meaning of life and family. At its core, women’s fiction is always about fresh new stories that appeal to primarily women readers.

Adrienne: What advice do you have for writers trying to break into this genre?

Kevan: You have to write the story that you are passionate about, but do your homework and submit to agents that based on your research are a good match for the type of story you are writing.   Then, be realistic about your work and if you aren’t getting interest in this book, then set it aside and keep writing.   Write because you must and don’t be discouraged, it is a very difficult process ahead of you, but not impossible.

Anjali: I say write the book of your heart. If you try to force yourself to write in a certain “genre” for marketing reasons, readers will know. They know whether or not your writing is authentic. Be true to yourself. Develop your voice. Your distinctive voice is what separates you from other writers. As is true for writing in any genre, take the time to hone your craft, work with mentors, and revise, revise, revise. Writing is a profession like any other – it requires constant learning and lifelong apprenticeship.

Adrienne: What genres/sub-genres do you feel are hot right now?  What’s not?

Kevan: This is a tough question! 

• I think paranormal romance remains hot, hot, hot
• Southern women’s fiction is popular
• Contemporary women’s fiction or romance that is set in unique small towns, with emotional elements driving the plot are selling well
• A well done, historical novel that features real historical figures is one that I generally find editors are eager to read.

Then, something completely new and original may come out and we will all be pointing to that particular type of story as “the” hottest thing in fiction!

Adrienne: Do you see any trends writers should avoid? Move toward?

Kevan: It is always smart to avoid “the latest trend”, because by the time you write a story based on this hot trend, submit it to an agent and possibly sell it, the trend is long in the rear view mirror and readers are moving on!  Write the story that is speaking to you, get lots of feedback from critical readers that you trust to give you honest advice and revise, revise, revise!

Adrienne: Do you have any additional thoughts you would like to share?

Kevan: Just to re-emphasize something that I mentioned above, which is to approach this process with realistic expectations, recognizing that it is very challenging.  You write because you must write, it is what you do for pleasure and it is your passion.   Realize that you probably won’t be able to make a living at your writing, unless you are lucky, for quite a while.  I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I try to make sure my clients are realistic about the process and why they are doing it.

Anjali: Don’t be afraid to write a crappy first draft. Be open-minded, flexible, willing to revise based on feedback from trusted readers. Don’t give up. Be persistent. Keep writing.

Seek help in many places. As I’ve said, find mentors – brilliant people who know more than you do about various aspects of writing craft. Learn from them. Be humble. I’ve found great help from my editors, agents, and writing group partners. I’ve also found help with story structure in an unlikely but wonderful place, from a screenwriting coach named Michael Hauge. He works with many Hollywood directors and screenwriters, but his insight has helped me hone my work in an entirely different field – writing women’s fiction!

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RU Crew, Kevan and Anjali will be popping in throughout the day so get those burning sub-genre questions ready! Anjali’s upcoming release Haunting Jasmine won’t be out until February, but Kevan and Anjali have offered to give one lucky commenter an advance copy that will be available in January.  Let’s see those comments, gang!

Thank you to Kevan and Anjali for being with us today.

Kevan’s Bio: With over 20 years in the publishing business, including 5 years as a Literary Agent with the Dijkstra Agency and 17+ years on the wholesale, retail and distribution side of the business, Kevan Lyon brings an informed and unique perspective to her work with clients. Her background on the buying and retail side of publishing affords her helpful insight into what types of books will sell and how to market them.  Kevan holds an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.

Kevan handles women’s fiction, with an emphasis on commercial women’s fiction, young adult fiction and all genres of romance.  Her particular interest is historical fiction of all types.  She is particularly drawn to stories that draw the reader in and loves a sweeping, complex story with strong female characters.  Her authors in women’s fiction span a broad range of genres from more literary, commercial projects to all genres of romance including historical, contemporary, suspense and paranormal.  She loves to be surprised by a unique plot or characters and is always looking for a new, fresh voice or approach.  A few of Kevan’s recent and soon to be published books include UNFORGETTABLE, by Laura Griffin (Pocket Books); SCOUNDREL by Zoe Archer (Kensington); LEGACY by Cayla Kluver (Harlequin Teen); CATFISH ALLEY by Lynne Bryant (NAL), THE GENTLEMAN POET by Kathryn Johnson (Morrow); THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS by Lynn Sheene (Berkley Publishing); HAUNTING JASMINE by Anjali Banerjee (Berkley Publishing);THE GUARDIAN by Margaret Mallory (Grand Central Publishing) and EARL OF DARKNESS by Alix Rickloff (Pocket Books).

She is also interested in non-fiction, representing authors in the areas of current events, narrative, memoir, environment, parenting and pets/animals.  With non-fiction projects she looks for topics that she is passionate about or that speak to issues of particular concern to women and families.

For more information visit the agency web site at http://www.marsallyonliteraryagency.com/,  visit their Facebook page, or follow Kevan on Twitter!

Anjali’s Bio: Anjali Banerjee was born in India, raised in Canada and California and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. She has written five novels for youngsters and three for grownups, and she’s at work on her next novel for adults to be published by Berkley/Penguin. Her books have received accolades in many review journals and newspapers. The Philadelphia Inquirer called her young adult novel, Maya Running (Wendy Lamb Books/Random House) “beautiful and complex” and “pleasingly accessible.” Publishers Weekly praised her upcoming novel for adults, Haunting Jasmine (Berkley/Penguin) as a “romance that spins refreshingly into a quirky, surprising denouement.” To see the full review of Haunting Jasmine click here.

Mon, 12/20 - Crafting Your Career – Literary agent Kevan Lyon and author Anjali Banerjee give us the low-down on the women’s fiction market.  Anjali will also be doing a giveaway of her upcoming release.

Wed, 12/22– 12/31 – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Romance University!

Want to know the deep, dark dirt on the RU faculty? Join us during the week of December 22 and 27 to find out what the RU crew likes best!

Note: RU will begin sending the lecture schedules every two weeks. Just call it our special gift to our wonderful readers because you will have one less email to open every week.

All Romance University lectures are generously provided by our Visiting Professors. RU is a tuition-free zone!

Best regards,

Carrie Spencer, Adrienne Giordano, Tracey Devlyn, Kelsey Browning, Jennifer Tanner and Heather Long

PS–Permission to forward lecture schedule is granted and encouraged! Want RU’s bi-weekly lecture schedule in a cool new email format straight to your in-box? Sign up on RU’s homepage or any of the lecture posts!

Welcome, Allie!

Kelsey: Allie, What’s your opinion of the state of inspirational romance today?

Allie:  This is actually a very exciting time for inspirational romance.  It’s one of the strongest markets out there right now.  The spectrum of books in print has broadened and deepened into sub-genres and diverse publishing houses, and readership is definitely growing.

Kelsey: How do you think this sub-genre has changed in the last five years?

Allie:  If you think about what happened in Christian music about twenty years ago, the same thing is happening in inspirational fiction now.  There’s not just the staple mainstream romances anymore; we’ve got mysteries, suspense, young adult, speculative, and just about every other type of story you can imagine.  As an author, this means I can stretch myself in a variety of directions.  For example, I’ve written first person chick-lit, novella, classic category romance, women’s trade fiction, and historical in several time periods–all within the same publishing house.  The diversity of what’s out there broadens our reader base because there’s something to suit everyone’s taste.  And you’re just as likely to find these books in all kinds of traditional retail outlets, not just the “Christian book store.”

Kelsey: What advice do you have for writers who want to break into this sub-genre? Any trends writers should avoid or embrace?

Allie:  Number one:  Don’t fake it just because this is a strong market.  If faith isn’t part of how you view the world, this isn’t where you should be querying.  It must be authentic.  Having said that, don’t think that because what you write is outside the mainstream, there’s no place for you at this table.  A wide variety of publishers and styles are out there now.  Professional organizations like American Christian Fiction Writers (acfw.com) can give you access and information–utilize them.  Like any publishing endeavor, quality is what gets you in the door.  A good story well told is the single dominant factor in your success.   And, because we believe in a God of amazing possibilities, we believe lots of things are possible for new talented writers no matter what a statistician would tell you about the odds against you!

Kelsey: Do you have any insight on “inspirational romance friendly” agents and publishers?

Allie:  There are agents who deal solely with faith-based publishers and those who work both the secular and Christian markets.  There are publishers who have inspirational lines within a secular parent company, and companies that only work in faith-based fiction (and non fiction).  It’s best to take some time and think about what your goals are as a writer.  Do you want to write only inspirational?  Or do you see your career spanning both markets?  The answer to those questions–and they are highly personal answers–will drive your choice of agent and prospective publisher.

Kelsey: What do you love about writing inspirational romance and what do readers tell you they love about your books?

Allie:  I love being able to be so personal about my characters’ lives.  They run to prayer when I would.  They experience doubt when any woman of faith would be doubting.  I think I might feel as if something were missing if I were writing about a life where faith wasn’t a part.  And faith in inherently a transformational business–what could be more emotional and dramatic than that?  Readers tell me they like my quirky take on life, my humor, the unusual premises and characters I dream up even in recognizable settings like the small Kentucky town where my 5-book “Kentucky Corners” series was set.  I’m always happy when someone writes me saying they didn’t realize they’d picked up “one of those God books” but were delighted to be touched (and not bludgeoned as they expected) by the faith inside.  Someone said to me recently, “You’re just as bubbly as your books!” and that was a lovely compliment to receive.  I do write deeply emotional stories–my most recent historical MISSION OF HOPE is set in the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake, which is hardly a cheerful setting–but they have a hopeful lightness to them that I think many readers crave.

Kelsey: What do you think it takes to be a multi-published author of inspirational romances?

Allie:  Hmm…a lot of coffee and even more chocolate.  Seriously, you need to think of yourself as an entrepreneur.  I was self-employed most of my adult life before I became a writer, and those skills serve me well.  Yes, it’s art, but it’s art on a deadline, so you’d best learn how to deliver quality product on time. Authors are no longer just artists, we’re much closer to a small business; promotion, development, networking, and sales all come into play as much as the actual banging out of pages on the keyboard.  You need know which balls you can keep in the air while you write, and which it would be smarter to outsource.  I’m often at writers conferences teaching my infamous “Chunky Method” of time management for writers because I think those planning and task management skills need to be mastered as much as elements of craft.

Kelsey: What are your predictions for inspirational romance in the next one to three years?

Allie:  Allie Pleiter will write the break-out novel of her career?  Seriously, I think we’ll continue to see the strong growth even in these difficult times (maybe because of these difficult times, actually).  The digital revolution will change the face of all publishing–not just inspirational–in ways we don’t yet imagine but will open us up to new audiences that haven’t looked to reading for entertainment before.  It’s going to be a bit of a wild ride for all writers in the next few years.  I heard someone say that we’re moving from “writers of books” to “crafters of content.”  Whether that frightens or excites you, it’s important to remember that story is still story.  It’s only the story-telling mode that is in flux, not the value of story.  I read standard books, listen to audiobooks, and read e-books as well.   That mode diversification is happening in the inspirational market just like in all other markets.  As for a distinction in inspirationals, well, any person of faith will tell you that God is ultimately in control, so I’m more curious to see how it unfolds than worried.  I’m ready to see what new adaptations will be asked of me to continue my role as His storyteller.

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RU Crew, now it’s your chance to ask Allie questions about inspirational romance and her books!

Do not miss debut author Laurie London’s post tomorrow. She has talked with numerous writers about their revision processes, but best of all, Laurie will share her first book cover! And take it from me, that hero is hawt!

Allie’s Bio:

An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction.  The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, buying yarn, and finding new ways to avoid housework.  Allie hails from Connecticut, moved to the midwest to attend Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois.  The “dare from a friend” to begin writing has produced two parenting books, twelve novels, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing.  Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com or her knitting blog at www.DestiKNITions.blogspot.com.

Mission of Hope – No one knows who he is or where he’s from.  But witnesses throughout San Francisco report a masked man in black is bringing supplies–and badly needed hope–to homeless earthquake survivors. Some believe that the city’s gallant rescuer is a gentleman of wealth.  But others whisper that he is a working class man with courage as great as his faith. And rumor has it that one of the city’s most spirited society belles is helping him against her family’s wishes.  What can be confirmed is that the masked messenger will need more than a miracle to escape those on his trail–and win the woman risking everything to save him…

We hope you’ll join us for another week of creative and informative ways to assist you on the road to publication. Allie Pleiter will talk about Inspy romance. Laurie London reveals the necessary evil, the revision process. Is your muse on a hiatus? Jessica Inclan explores techniques to boost your creativity. What goes on in the mind of a teenage boy? B.A. Binns will give us tips on how to write from a teen boy’s POV.

Mon, 10/25 – Crafting Your Career – Join us for another sub-genre segment where author Allie Pleiter will chat about the Inspirational romance market. Allie will give away a copy of Mission of Hope.

Tue, 10/26 – Debut Author’s Journey – Revisions – Our fantastic Debut Author’s Journey continues with Laurie London talking with first time authors about the revision process. And don’t miss the SNEAK PEAK at the cover of Laurie’s debut book!

Wed, 10/27 – Anatomy of the Mind – Stuck? Try writing a poem! Author Jessica Inclan talks about how to use other writing techniques to jump-start your creative process.

Fri, 10/29 – Chaos Theory of Writing – Writing in the Teenage Boy’s POV – Debut author B.A. Binns gives the deets on how a woman can effectively write in a teenage boy’s point of view.

All Romance University lectures are generously provided by our Visiting Professors. RU is a tuition-free zone!

Best regards,

Jennifer Tanner, Heather Long, Carrie Spencer, Adrienne Giordano, Tracey Devlyn, &Kelsey Browning

PS–Permission to forward lecture schedule is granted and encouraged! Want RU’s weekly lecture schedule in a cool new email format straight to your in-box? Sign up on RU’s homepage or any of the lecture posts!

This week RU brings you author Merrie Destefano, radio show host Bruce Sallan, and author Amy Atwell. A little something for everyone! Stop by and see us!

Mon, 9/27 – Crafting Your Career – Authors Merrie Destefano and Elizabeth Naughton chime in on the state of the urban fantasy sub-genre.

Wed, 9/29 – Anatomy of the Mind: Radio show host Bruce Sallan returns to tell us how a young girl prepped him for parenting and what giving back has taught him.

Fri, 10/1 – Chaos Theory of Writing – Amy Atwell updates us on her publishing journey.  And she has good news to share!

All Romance University lectures are generously provided by our Visiting Professors. RU is a tuition-free zone!

Best regards,

Adrienne Giordano, Tracey Devlyn, Carrie Spencer, Jennifer Tanner, Heather Long & Kelsey Browning

PS–Permission to forward lecture schedule is granted and encouraged! Want RU’s weekly lecture schedule in a cool new email format straight to your in-box? Sign up on RU’s homepage or any of the lecture posts!

So let’s get to it!

Tracey: How would you define the young adult sub-genre?

Simone: Young Adult literature is such a broad category, which is what makes it so exciting to be a YA author.  I have infinite possibilities; every day more sub-genres are added to the genres you typically find adult literature (romance, mystery, science fiction).

Amy: From books of all lengths, graphic novels, enhanced e-books and video game book-tie ins, there is something to capture the attention of all young adults these days.  Mostly a YA book will have a main character who is a YA, or is non-fiction on a subject of interest to young adults presented in a teen friendly format.   The Young Adult Library Services Association (www.ala.org/yalsa) defines young adults as people ages 12 – 18, but it’s a little harder to define the genre, as it has as many formats and subjects as adult materials.

Tracey: What is your opinion of the state of this sub-genre today?

Simone: Young Adult literature is really on the rise.  It’s so great teens are reading more and being so passionate about books they love.  I think teens are finding that their opinions about books really matter, and authors are trying to write what they’ll like.  It’s also great that a lot of teachers and librarians really know what teens want to read, so definitely ask them their opinion because they are a great resource.   I’m so lucky to be writing teen romances and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Amy: We are in the golden age of young adult literature. The Michael Printz Award (www.ala.org/yalsa) for Excellence in Young Adult Literature has been around for over ten years, and YALSA also has awards for debut authors, nonfiction for teens and impact of a book or author. There are also lists of graphic novels, teen favorites and more. The Harry Potter series drove hardcover sales of books for young adults into a new tier for publishing, and was followed by the popular Eragon series, Twilight and now the Hunger Games. Subjects cover issues of interest to all teens – from GLBTQ and racially diverse teens to every literary genre and titles in settings all over the globe (and beyond). While SE Hinton began to bring teens powerful issue type books with gangs and lower income teens decades ago, many new authors are writing now about the realities of today’s teens.  (By the way – 5^th graders read SE Hinton now…)

Tracey: What sub-genres do you feel are hot right now?

Simone: Vampire Romance seems to be very popular right now.  The supernatural romance is also a big sub-genre right now.  Thanks to the wonderful book The Hunger Games, Dystopian literature is also a very hot genre for teens.

Amy: I see more and more nonfiction readers among teens, as more publishers are offering interesting things for them. I still see a lot of paranormal romances, but more with new creatures like werewolves, zombies and angels.  Maggie Stiefvater and Lauren Kate are frontrunners among those. There are a lot of dystopian futuristic titles that are pretty grim but still popular.  I’m writing a reference book on teen mysteries, and I’m happy to see that we are finally seeing more mystery and suspense titles even for older teens. The Pretty Little Liars TV show is helping there too.  And I’m also really thankful that more diverse characters and cultural storylines are heading into the forefront. My teens at the library are happy to see themselves in books.

Tracey: Do you see any areas of this sub-genre writers should avoid? Move toward?

Simone: In writing for teens, I try to keep my language as natural as possible – I write how I talk.  I remember that one of the reasons I hatedreading as a teen was because the language of the books I was required to read was so flowery and BORING.  I have a short attention span, so I write what I think I would have liked as a teen.  Writers should avoid writing for teens if they are not young at heart and don’t have a passion for it.  Don’t force it.

Amy:  There are definitely genres on their way out. But keep in mind that teens are usually only reading YA from about 7^th grade – 10^th grade, so new teen find trends all the time. I believe publishers are getting tired of vampires for now.  The designer chick-lit gossip girl type of books seem to be growing up into better plots and less superficial titles now, too.

A while ago I interviewed some editors from Simon and Schuster, Candlewick and Harlequin Teen on what is coming up for a YARWA newsletter. All three were interested in steampunk, horror but not vampire (read the excellent Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey), angels, realistic teen stories and more. Everyone is looking for something different. New writers should read recent award winners and best sellers and think how to approach subjects in a new way.

Tracey: What do you like best about this sub-genre? The least?

Simone: Teens are the best fans!   They are passionate and the emails I receive definitely inspire me to write more books.  When I get an email saying a teen hated to read but because of my books now loves to read it really is amazing and surreal.   What do I like least?  Nothing, really.  There are so many books out there for teens, there’s something for everyone!

Amy: Many adults are finding YA books great pleasure reading as YA authors have to capture readers’ interest quickly and sustain it. I have given The Hunger Games to many happy adult readers. I like that YA literature is always reinventing itself. I do wish there were more quality mystery series for teens now though, more books with intelligent teen boys that aren’t fantasy, science fiction for girls and definitely more diverse characters. I wish more publishers would develop bigger nonfiction lines for teens too that include intelligent, thought provoking subjects and not just Cosmo-type quizzes.

Tracey: How do you think this sub-genre has changed in the last five years?

Simone: I think book trailers are really revolutionizing the entire book industry, but especially in YA literature.  Teens are very visual.  They might not read a book critique to find out what books they might like.  But, if they find a book trailer on YouTube that catches their interest, they’re probably going to read the book and tell their friends about it.  I filmed a book trailer for Rules of Attraction (the 2nd book in my Perfect Chemistry series) that looks just like a movie trailer.  It’s been a big hit on youtube with over 70,000 hits!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhEx0kaUlrU

Amy:  Paranormal stories really grew, and graphic novels gained acceptance. Everyone is doing them these days – from Meyer to Evanovich to Patterson. Television and movies have really boosted mainstream interest in YA books also, both graphic novels and traditional print titles. Five years ago I got a lot of challenges from folks who wanted me to remove graphic novels from the library. Now we hear more about video games!

Tracey: Advice you have for writers who want to break into this sub-genre?
Simone: I will give the same advice I give any aspiring author.  Don’t give up!  It took me 5 years to get published, and believe me, I got plenty ofrejection letters in those five years!  Now I’m on the NY Times bestseller list.  It’s been an amazing journey and I hope it will last for a long, long time!

Amy: People who want to write for teens should strive to learn about the books they read and what interests them, and try to write in a realistic way about their life.

I see a lot of new YA writers who contact me at the library wanting to ‘teach teens writing.’ Most libraries have longstanding teen advisory boards as well as writing and/or drawing clubs already. Try and market in a new, creative way – not just a facebook, but facebook trivia and games. Or design a craft program based on something in the book. There are many reference books in creative teen programs for ideas (I’ve co-written two…). Offer libraries something special for Teen Read Week or Teen Tech Week. If you don’t know about those, go to www.ala.org/yalsa and learn more.

Get to know some teens and have them check your writing to see if dialogue is realistic or if terms are dated, and get their opinion.  Remember they don’t hold back! Respect very smart and savvy teen readers and do not try to teach something with your writing other than how to enjoy a book!

* * *

Thanks Amy and Simone!

RU Crew, what is your take on the YA sub-genre? Share with us your favorite book(s) and why.

Be sure to stop back on Wednesday when Tracey Devlyn shares a personal story about emphysema, courage, and love.

Amy’s Bio:

Amy Alessio is a Teen Librarian at the Schaumburg Township District Library, where she has enjoyed teen input for over 12 years.  Nationally known, Amy has given over 80 presentations, including programs at RWA, ALA, PLA and RT. She co-authored A Year of Programs for Teens (ALA Editions, 2006) , with another volume to be published in 2010 and a guide on teen mysteries for 2011. She reviews teen titles for Crimespree Magazine and Teenreads.com, and is currently on the 2011 YALSA Margaret A. Edwards Award Committee. She has edited other professional titles, including Excellence in Library Services for Young Adults (YALSA, 2008). Amy is the author of two adult romantic suspense short stories. Her first Young Adult mystery is being published in 2013. Her first young adult mystery is under contract for 2013.

For over four years, she has also blogged about Vintage Cookbooks, her passion. She now enjoys talking about the fun food and recipe trends she sees in her collection of over 350 titles.  She is training her two young sons to bake and cook with her (or instead of her…) .Find about more about her, the blog and the schedule of her programs at www.amyalessio.com.

Simone’s Bio:

Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Her funny way of looking at life and the world around her has an effect on the people she hangs out with. If you hear people laughing, you’ll probably find Simone not far away.

Simone has also been voted the Illinois Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English.

Simone went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and received her Bachelor’s of Science there in Psychology in 1992. She continued her education at Loyola University-Chicago where she received her Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Relations while working for a manufacturing company creating diversity programs for their employees.

She loves animals (she has two dogs – a labradoodle and a German Shepherd), kids (she also has two of those) and her family.  In her spare time she’s the Hockey Mom for her kids hockey teams and is an active Girl Scout leader specially trained in outdoor education.  She also spends time mentoring other teen and adult authors. (she also loves sushi, which you can probably tell by reading her books).

Simone writes about teens because she was a teen in the 80’s (when spiked hair and blue eye shadow were “rad”) and she loves writing about those exciting teen relationships and romances.

For more information, please visit her website www.simoneelkeles.net/

We’ve snagged three wonderful visiting professors for today’s lecture. Please welcome New York Times bestselling author Angie Fox, best known for her Accidental Demon Slayer series, and debut author Erin Kellison! Dorchester editor Leah Hultenschmidt will also stop by throughout the day to respond to comments and questions. RU crew, you’re in for a treat!

Kelsey: Ladies, what’s your opinion of the state of paranormal romance today?

Angie: Paranormal romance is hot, hot, hot. I keep hearing that it will slow down, but I haven’t personally seen that yet. As a writer, I just sold a new paranormal romance series. As a reader, I’m having a great time finding new authors and keeping up with favorites I’ve been following for years. There are so many authors out there creating fantastic new worlds. You have your authors who write darker, like: JR Ward, Laurell K Hamilton, Sherrilyn Kenyon. As well as those of us who pepper our stories with lighter moments and humor, like Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister and MaryJanice Davidson. My books are more in that vein as well.

The wonderful thing about paranormals is that there aren’t any limits as to the kinds of characters and worlds a writer wishes to create. As long as you make me believe, as a reader, that something is possible, I’m on board.

Erin: A stroll past the romance section at Wal-Mart will tell you paranormal romance is doing great. The genre is explosive. Why? Paranormals, to me, have it all. The subgenre allows for new world building limited only by the imagination, while tapping into and heightening basic human concerns and fantasies. Tone varies hugely as well, from light, comedic turns to dark fantasy, and everything in between. Even time period varies. Further, paranormals have a cross-genre appeal, even hopping the aisle at the book store. For example, my debut Shadow Bound is shelved in the Barnes and Noble fantasy and sci-fi section, while elsewhere it’s romance. Go figure. I don’t think demand is going to ebb any time soon. The main concern, I think, is how to stand out in a market where there is an abundance of fantastic authors.  

Kelsey: Why do you write paranormals, and do you write in other sub-genres?

Angie: I had someone ask me the other day if I ever planned to write about good ole humans and I had to think. Humans? Hmm…wait. There have to be a few humans in my books somewhere. The biker witches are human. They might count if you forget about their spell work. Seriously, though, I’m having too much fun with the paranormal right now. I love creating entire worlds where I get to make up the rules.

There are so many interesting things you can do. For example, when I sat down to write the Accidental Demon Slayer series, I had no notes about a sidekick for my heroine. But in the first book, when Lizzie learns she’s a demon slayer and there are some very scary, very angry creatures on her tail, she takes comfort in her dog. As I was writing, I thought, ‘This is a sweet moment. Now how do I throw her off?’

I made the dog say something to her. Nothing big. After all, he’s only after the fettuccine from last week. And he knows exactly where Lizzie can find it (back of the fridge, to the left of the lettuce crisper, behind the mustard). It amused me, so I did it. Thanks to her unholy powers, Lizzie can now understand her smart-mouthed Jack Russell Terrier. I had fun with it. Pirate can say and do things that Lizzie can’t. He’s such a kick to write. And that’s the beauty of a paranormal.

Erin: I love and have always loved fantasy and sci-fi.  I grew up on Tolkien and Star Trek. Then, in the sixth grade, I read my first gothic romance, Jane Eyre, and I was changed forever. Combine the two and I am in heaven. Right now I just write paranormals, but I can see myself doing romantic suspense because I love danger and have a murderous streak J. Eventually, I’d also like to try my hand at YA.

Kelsey: Angie, how do you think this sub-genre has changed in the last five years?

Angie: Paranormal romance has expanded with the imagination of its authors. I’m convinced vampires will never go out of style, no matter how much readers enjoy delving into other things. It seems like fresh, different takes on vampires will always sell well. In addition, authors are writing some great books about werewolves and other types of shifters, mermaids, Greek gods, witches and even fallen angels. I think the genre will continue to grow and change and become even more interesting.

Kelsey: Erin, we’re hearing that even paranormals are becoming a harder sell to editors. What do you think made your writing stand out and ultimately sell?

Erin: When I started Shadow Bound, I was looking for a mythological figure with the same kind of pathos so popular in vampires, but with opportunities for fresh world-building. I found it in a banshee, who became my heroine. (Banshees are heralds of death.) She let me have fun playing around with the concepts of life, death, and immortality. My best guess is that the premise resonated with what was already selling, yet offered a different take and a new world to explore.

I sold out of an RWA contest. I’ve heard people praise them and dismiss them. I’m in the first group. I received hugely varying scores for the exact same submission. In fact, the day I got The Call, I got some first-round scores back, too. One judge had given me a don’t-quit-your-day-job kind of score, so I understand the frustrations of contests. However, they are a viable way to get your work in front of and read by an agent or editor. I was fortunate enough to find myself on the desk of an editor at Dorchester.

Kelsey: Angie, what do readers tell you they love about your paranormals?

Angie: The characters. I write about a reluctant demon slayer, a gang of geriatric biker witches and a talking dog – and I let them do what they want.

Like in A Tale of Two Demon Slayers when Pirate the dog finds a dragon egg. The thing hatches and he decides he has a pet. I mean, how fun for a pet – to own a pet. Lizzie the demon slayer is not happy about that. She has enough going on and doesn’t think her dog needs to own a pet.

So she tells Pirate to find a new home for Flappy the dragon (Pirate named him, not Lizzie). So Lizzie is battling evil people and losing track of what Pirate is doing. He keeps promising to find a new home for the dragon, but instead Pirate is hiding the dragon, and loving the dragon and teaching him tricks. Every time Lizzie realizes the dragon is still there, it’s gotten bigger and bigger and, well, it’s just one more thing she can’t quite control.

Kelsey: What do you think it takes to be a NYT bestselling author of paranormal romances?

Angie: Make the story big. I had an agent tell me that if I wanted to sell, my characters had to take bigger chances, have more to risk and lose. It’s easy to say, but a hard thing for a writer to do. It’s a vulnerable, risky place to be. I knew my first book was big enough when instead of ending my writing sessions thinking, “I hope that’s good enough to impress an editor.” I ended them thinking, “No. I didn’t not just write that. I did not just make my character defend herself with a toilet brush and a can of Purple Prairie Clover air freshener.”

Also, you want to have a plan going in, but also be willing to let the story take you where it wants to go. When I began the Accidental Demon Slayer series, I started with a kernel of an idea that amused me. What if a straight laced preschool teacher suddenly learns she’s a demon slayer? And what if she has to learn about her powers while on the run from a fifth level demon? And wouldn’t it be interesting if she’s running with her long-lost Grandma’s gang of geriatric biker witches?

I started writing and let the story evolve based on the characters and that central issue of what happens when a reluctant heroine is thrust into a series of extraordinary situations. And I knew the story was working when I couldn’t wait to get back to the keyboard every day.

Kelsey: What advice do you have for writers who want to break into this sub-genre?

Angie: The key ingredients are: a love of books, a dedication to telling the best story possible and lots of determination and drive to keep writing, writing, writing.

I wrote three books that didn’t sell before I wrote The Accidental Demon Slayer. Those three books were rejected by everybody in town, with everything from written notes saying things like, “your death scenes are too funny,” to “not for us” rubber stamped on my original query. But if I’d have quit after any one of those three books, I never would have written my fourth book, which sold and ended up hitting the New York Times list.

Erin: Go for it. Trust your voice. Understand the basic elements of your subgenre and the industry. Write your heart out. Pursue every avenue to get your work on an agent or editor’s desk. When you finish one book, begin another. And most importantly, protect and nurture the joy of writing.

Kelsey: Angie, what are your predictions for paranormal romance in the next one to three years?

Angie: I think it will continue to grow. There are a lot of people writing paranormal romance right now, so the stories that sell will be the ones that are fresh and different. And that is great news for paranormal readers.

Kelsey: Erin, please feel free to share any other comments on paranormal romance or publishing in general.

Erin: I recommend to authors on the verge (who have a complete manuscript, are actively sending it out to agents/contests and pitching at conferences) to be already working on acquiring information on the business side of publishing. For example, I had begun a messy file of marketing tips. When I was putting together my marketing plan, I was so glad that I had amassed that information. Similarly, I had an idea about the process the manuscript would go through to publication and was basically familiar with each phase. There are so many firsts and so much to learn that having a little background is vital. 

Also, paranormals often sell as a series. I recommend having a good plan for the scope of any following books, with blurbs and/or outlines prepared. One of the first questions asked by my agent and editor was, Do you see this as a series? Do you have plans for subsequent books? My agent requested blurbs on the next two books immediately. It was a tremendous relief to go into this situation at least somewhat prepared and with a basic working knowledge of what to expect.

Strong plots are a necessary part of a good novel, but I think it is the characters and the fun things we discover with them that keep readers coming back.

***

RU Crew, now it’s your chance to ask questions about paranormal romance or anything else the strikes your fancy. Erin and Angie will pop in to chat. Also – don’t forget to grill Leah Hultenschmidt from Dorchester!

Come back on Monday when writer Sally Bayless will continue her series on Confessions of a new writer.

Angie Fox is the New York Times bestselling author of the Accidental Demon Slayer series. She claims that researching her books can be just as much fun as writing them. In the name of fact-finding, Angie has ridden with Harley biker gangs, explored the tunnels underneath Hoover Dam and found an interesting recipe for Mamma Coalpot’s Southern Skunk Surprise (she’s still trying to get her courage up to try it).

Angie earned a Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. She worked in television news and then in advertising before beginning her career as an author.

Visit Angie at www.angiefox.com. You’ll find freebies galore and answers to burning questions, like What is Your Biker Witch name?

Erin Kellison is the author of the Shadow Series, which includes Shadow Bound and Shadow Fall.  Stories have always been a central part of Erin Kellison’s life. She attempted her first book in sixth grade, a dark fantasy adventure, and still has those early hand-written chapters. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in English Language and Literature, and went on for a masters in Cultural Anthropology, focusing on oral storytelling. When she had children, nothing scared her anymore, so her focus shifted to writing fiction. She lives in Arizona with her two beautiful daughters and husband, and she will have a dog (breed undetermined) when her youngest turns five.

You can contact Erin though her website, www.ErinKellison.com, where you can also sign up to receive her newsletter.

Janice and Lucy will both be stopping by to answer questions, so get ‘em ready. 

Here’s Janice and Lucy!

Adrienne: How would you define this subgenre?  What are the plot elements that make it part of the medical subgenre?

Lucy: Thank you so much for having me here at Romance Universtiy. I absolutely love Medical romances so it’s a real pleasure to chat about them with you all.

I would say that Medical romance is open to absolutely any medical specialty. Maternity, pediatrics and the hospital emergency room are always well-loved but we’ve had quite a few naturopaths (often teemed up against the most cynical of alpha hero doctors!) and other different occupations too.

What we really want to see are all those enduringly popular hooks in Medicals (Miracle babies, gorgeous paediatricians, midwifery) given a fresh and contemporary twist. For example, think of the advances that have been made in the medical world in the last ten years with practises such as IVF – isn’t there just a wealth of tales just waiting to be told?

We encourage a wide variety of settings, so let your imagination run wild. Use the setting wherever it may be to add flavor, but don’t let it take over. Again, just keep in mind that the essential ingredients of a Medical Romance are your characters, their internal emotional conflicts and that magic of watching the love story between the hero and heroine develop. After all, that’s why readers come to Harlequin!

Janice: Medical Romances are just that–romances with a strong medical element whether in setting or characterization or plot.  Medical romances often combine all three elements, and certainly this makes for a stronger story.

For the Harlequin Medical line, there has to be medical scenes where the hero and heroine are taking care of someone.  There is a lot of scope within the line as to occupations and scenarios, but the medical scenes with the two main characters interacting have to be there.  

Adrienne: What subgenres do you feel are hot right now?  What’s not?

Lucy: I don’t think there’s anything we’d say isn’t hot within Medicals – the beauty of the line is that it’s so varied – there’s something there for everyone! Medical TV dramas are enduringly popular, and we really try to tap into what readers love about them – heroes such as McDreamy & McSteamy in Grey’s Anatomy and George Clooney in ER are just some of my personal favorites!!!!

We’re open to stories that take whatever tone suits the author’s voice best, be it vibrant, funny, sexy, intense, heart-wrenching, exciting, uplifting, unexpected, warm, community-focussed… If you think about it, even within shows such as Scrubs,  House or Nip/Tuck, different episodes can have very different tones – some are deeply heart-wrenching, and others fluffier, flirty and fun.  As I’ve said above, there’s huge scope for variety within the line, which makes it so diverse and interesting to read. If you’ve got a great idea and have strong characters and interesting emotional conflict in place – go for it!

Janice: I’m not really sure on this.  Twilight seems to be the biggest thing going currently, so I guess vampire stories are a hot subgenre.  I’ve no idea what’s not hot.  I know I’d love to see Romantic Comedies make a strong come-back as I love to read them and struggle to find new ones

Adrienne: Do you see any trends writers should avoid? Move toward?

Lucy: There are some specialties that will always be popular with our readers; surgeons (especially heart-surgeons – very romantic!), children’s & NICU doctors, midwives etc. – we’d love to see more of these, so have a think about what you can do with these themes that hasn’t already been done! And if there’s an area of medicine you’re particularly interested in then give it a go; as long as you’ve got an intelligent, compassionate heroine and a hero we’ll all be raving about in the editorial office then anything goes!  It’s all about finding the romance, the emotion, the drama rather than the edgy realism of medical life – really it’s about the fantasy of a romance between a lovely, smart heroine falling in love with a drop-dead gorgeous doctor.

Janice: I don’t recommend writers move toward trends, unless it’s to write what they love and to write, write, write.  As far as things to avoid, avoid trends that are detrimental to one’s muse, avoid trends that aren’t something you want to write but are doing so because you want to make a sale.

Adrienne: What do you like best about this subgenre? The least?

Lucy: Well, in terms of what I like least within the Medical line, sometimes we see too much focus on gory medical drama, or on hospital politics or the administrative ins and outs of running hospitals. Remember that first and foremost these are romances – just within a medical setting

Otherwise we see many of the same challenges as with many of our other series’ – character, conflict and clichés! At the heart of all great romances are two strong, appealing, sympathetic and three-dimensional characters. Emotional, character-driven conflict is the foundation of a satisfying romance - conflict spawns tension and excitement. Last but most definitely not least we want new authors to innovate, not imitate – throw those clichés out of the window!

And as for what I love love LOVE about Medicals – it’s got to be the heroes. All Harlequin heroes are super-sexy, but Medical heroes are dedicated, attractive, honourable, and human – men who will move mountains to save a life – the kind of man who we all dream of having on our side in an emergency.  They are strong, intelligent and successful and respected. Oh, and deliciously gorgeous as well…!

Janice: The thing I like the most?  The romance, of course.  I love the falling in love journey couples go through in a romance novel and this is definitely true within this line.  Some of the first romance novels I read were old doctor/nurse stories that were my grandmother’s.  I’ve never quit loving that storyline.  The thing I like the least.thinking.thinking.can’t think of anything at the moment.  So far, I feel that I’ve had a lot of flexibility within the line to stretch my wings, so to speak.  I think it’s a great Harlequin line to write for and would recommend it to anyone who loves Medical Romances.

Adrienne: How do you think this subgenre has changed in the last five years?

Lucy: Medical Romance definitely moves with the times…long gone are the days of being limited to doctor heroes and heroines who are only ever nurses. Now our heroines are every inch the professional match for the hero. Stong, independent heroines – another reason I love the Medical line!

Janice: I sold to the Medical Romance line in December 2006 and I’m not sure I can say how the line in general has changed during that time.  For my writing specifically, I’d say my Medicals have grown more sensual and have more humor than my first few releases.

Adrienne: What advice do you have for writers trying to break into this genre/subgenre?

Lucy: Many of our Medical authors also write for other Harlequin series – Harlequin Presents and Harlequin Romance to name a few, which just goes to highlight that the heart of the story MUST be a romance.

As well as the highs and lows, warmth and passions of medical life, Medicals promises heart-racing romance, with the added bonus of pulse-raising medical drama that throws our heroes and heroines together…even when they might not want to be!

For the doctors, surgeons, nurses, paramedics and midwives between our pages, it’s all about overcoming the challenges and obstacles of finding love under pressure in the demanding world of modern medicine.  Readers enjoy falling in love with top-notch docs and hot-shot surgeons from around the world, and experiencing love and life in the shoes of smart, caring and beautiful medical heroines.  Our stories can be intensely passionate or warm and tender; if you want to write a scorchingly sexy tale – go right ahead…or if you’d prefer to keep it warm and sweet and tiptoe away as the bedroom door shuts, that’s absolutely fine too!

Ultimately we’re looking for a range of emotionally intense reads, from the traditional to the ground breaking and promise our readers contemporary romantic relationships – set against a compelling medical backdrop. In a nutshell, we want to give the women who pick up our stories a big read in a 50,000 word book!

Janice: Write.  Submit.  Write.  Submit.  Read the line (I’d recommend my books. )  Know what the line is looking for and what has to be there for the book to be a Medical.   But mostly, write, submit, write, submit, and keep honing your craft.

Adrienne: Do you have any additional thoughts you would like to share?

Lucy: We’re often asked if you have to be a medical professional to write for the Medical line. And certainly the books include some medical drama as part of their promise in that it helps to firmly set the stories in the medical world and help us to learn more about the characters. But primarily it should be used to help drive the hero and heroine’s emotional conflict forward.

Some authors do come from a medical background, although increasingly many do not! The internet allows contact with the medical world and a wealth of personal experiences can all be utilized to help you achieve believable and realistic medical drama. Medical details should be kept to a minimum, we don’t need masses of medical drama, what there is should be both contemporary and correct. We are essentially looking for romance writers rather than medical professionals to write our stories.

It’s important to remember all medical drama is within the context of a romance – therefore we are not looking for a great deal of detail.  Readers are looking for an escapist read rather than a medical textbook!

And finally, I’d just like to say that we’re most definitely looking for exciting new authors; from the US, Australia, the UK – or absolutely anywhere in the world – what we want are talented writers with unique, fresh voices who create compelling characters and fabulous stories that will keep readers turning the pages!

Janice: Just that I appreciate everyone stopping by and that if you’re looking for an idea of the vast range of writing styles within the Medical line, order this month’s.  Each one of the authors with books for sale at http://www.eharlequin.com/ this month have very unique writing voices and our sensuality levels vary.  That’s a really cool thing about the Medical line, you aren’t boxed in by sensuality level.  The level can truly be dictated by the characters, plot, etc.

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Thank you to Lucy and Janice for visiting with us today. 

RU Crew, here is your chance to get answers regarding the medical subgenre.  Go to it!

 Join us on Wednesday when three men give us their opinions on the definition of manliness.

Bio:Lucy Gilmour is an Assistant Editor for Harlequin Mills & Boon and works in their London office.

Lucy joined Harlequin five years ago after finishing her classics degree and spending two glorious years working in the French Alps. She works across all of the UK acquired series giving her the chance to work with some of her favourite heroes – the Alpha males of Harlequin Presents and Harlequin Romance, devilishly handsome doctors of Harlequin Medicals and Harlequin Historical’s Regency Rakes!

Lucy dreamt of working for Harlequin since she spent her first-ever allowance of pocket money on a much treasured Presents at the age of thirteen. Reading (and editing!) romance is still utterly delightful – what could possibly be better than falling in love with a new hero every day?!

Bio: Award winning author Janice Lynn has a Master of Science degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University and works full-time as a family nurse practitioner in a small, rural town in the southern United States. Juggling the aspects of day to day life and her life-long dream of writing happily-ever-afters, Janice lives with her husband, their four children, their two dogs, twenty-two 4-H chickens, and a lot of unnamed dust bunnies that have moved in since she started her writing career.