Saturday Surprise-Plotters Vs. Pantsers

This Saturday, we have a chat about your writing style.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Personally, I'm a plotter from way back.
When I first started writing, the first thing I did was jot my first few chapters on paper.

Ah...the thrill! The joy! I was actually, physically writing!

However, I cottoned on pretty quick that by writing first and typing later, I'd be writing on average a book a year so ditched this method in favour of a trusty PC.

My paper and pen fetish has never left me and while I had no idea what I was writing with that first book (a Medical based on a physiotherapist, of course. Write what you know and all that...not!) I soon learned I could write much faster if I plotted a rough outline of my story before starting.

Suddenly, ideas were flowing faster than I could write down and when I got stuck, all I had to do was refer back to that treasured bit of paper and there it was, more inspiration!
For my first 4 books, I used elaborate character charts and art briefs, finding it comforting to write down every minute detail about my hero and heroine.

These days, I've changed.

While I still roughly plot the book by jotting down a few key points, character names, occupations, etc. in a 3 page synopsis, I've become more of a pantser.
(And yes, this is a gratuitious photo of a male model in pants!)

I find the combination works well, allowing me to delve deeper into the story by getting to know my characters as I write them. Of course, I always resort to my trusty pen and paper when I get stuck, which inevitably happens in the dreaded sagging middle.

So which are you? A plotter, a pantser or a combo like me?

Nicola's next release is INHERITED: BABY, a Harlequin Romance out in December.

To find out more about her plotted characters, check out her website and blog.

Film on Friday - Stage Beauty

This week at The Pink Heart Society's Friday Film Night, our very own Natasha Oakley is inducting Stage Beauty into the Pink Heart Movie Hall of Fame...

This month my choice is not exactly a Romantic Comedy - although I do think 'Stage Beauty' is both romantic and funny.

When it was first released I avoided this movie because it seemed unrealistic to hope Billy Crudup and Claire Danes could *both* pull off an English accent that would sound convincing to my ears - but I was so wrong. They're truly fabulous at it.

'Stage Beauty' is set in 17th century England at a time when woman were barred from acting and men played all the womens parts. Young boys were apprenticed to theatre companies, much like any other trade, and played the girls until their voices broke.

Stretching the point a little, Billy Crudup plays Ned Kynaston, one of England's most celebrated 'actresses'. Claire Danes is his dresser, a woman in love with both Ned and acting.

Watching from the wings Maria studies Ned's every move, gesture and inflection. Then, illegally, she gives a copied performance of his Desdemona at a nearby tavern.

Studying him so closely she also gets to see the grim realities of Ned's life as an 'actress'.

It's a time in English history when rich patrons could demand what they liked. As the lover of the Duke of Buckingham, played by Ben Chaplin, Ned must wear a blonde wig and pretend to be woman. For women he is also a fascination .. and equally used by them.

When news breaks that Maria is acting, a woman playing a woman, it is scandalous and thrilling. But very quickly the climate and laws change and Ned is left confused about his identity and his career is in tatters.

Maria, now known as Mrs Margaret Hughes, takes London by storm despite appalling performances.

Meanwhile, Ned is drinking heavily and reduced to singing bawdy songs in a tavern - which is where Maria finds him.




What follows is an erotically charged gender-switching sex scene during which Maria asks him, 'Why won't you play a man?'. His answer is all about beauty.


Billy Crudup gives a billiantly complex portrayal of a man who, quite literally, doesn't know who he is anymore.

Claire Danes makes a luminous Maria and is entirely convincing as both a seriously bad stage actress and a very good one.

True enough 'Stage Beauty' is full of historical inaccuracies. I believe Nell Gwyn was about 8 in 1660 and, of course, the realistic style of acting Ned coaxes out of Maria is a twentieth century phenomenon.


But, setting that aside, 'Stage Beauty' is a beautifully filmed romance with a dark heart and I can guarantee you won't feel neutral about it.

Giving it a Pink Heart Fuzzy rating is a little more difficult as it's quite a complex film dealing with very complicated issues. Maybe 7/10?

Natasha

Natasha's latest release is: Accepting The Boss's Proposal a Harlequin Romance.

Check out more about this book at her website!

Or check out what Natasha is working on now at her Blog.

Thursday Talk-time with Gail Martin

Award-winning author of forty novels, Gail Gaymer Martin writes romance or romantic suspense for Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her Writers Digest book, Writing the Christian Romance, will be released in December 2007, and her next island book, In His Dreams, will be released next August.

Islands always seem to hold a romantic image for me. Perhaps they do for you, too. I suppose we think of the Caribbean Islands or the South Pacific Islands - Fiji, Bora Bora, Tahiti. Hula skirts and coconut drinks. Perhaps you’ve been to some of these, but have you ever been to any of the wonderful Michigan islands?

Since we are surrounded by the Great Lakes, carving out our state by the great glaciers eons ago, Michigan is covered with lakes, rivers, streams and ringed with islands, all shapes and all sizes. Michigan itself is divided in half by two Great Lakes - Huron and Michigan, and we use the famous five mile suspension bridge, the Mackinac Bridge, to gain access to the Upper Peninsula.

Always looking for interesting locations for my books and loving to write about my home state, I decided to do a series set on the islands. When I began the Michigan Island Series, I thought about the islands I know and decided which ones I would use - Harsens, Beaver, Drummond and Mackinac Island.

I knew I wanted to include Mackinac Island, one of my favorite places to visit. The island offers the sense of going back in time because no motorized vehicles are allowed there except two emergency vehicles and snowmobiles in the winter. The island is only reached in winter by an airplane, and in the other seasons, a passenger ferry. Once the Straits of Mackinac freezes over, year-round residents can use snowmobiles to get to St. Ignace in Michigan’s upper peninsula but only after the ice has been tested and approved, often in late January or February. The snow bridge as it is called is marked by the island resident’s undecorated and saved Christmas trees, a wonderful old tradition.

While my first island novel was set on Harsens Island, motivated by a real-life experience, Mackinac Island was motivated only by the beauty and romantic setting. I’ve been on the island in all seasons, except winter so when I began to write the book, I had no idea about life on the island after the ‘Fudgies’ are gone. Fudgies is the fond word for the tourist s who crowd the island in the summer and always go home with the famous Mackinac Island fudge.

I began the book, then realized I didn’t know what I was talking about. I’d done some Internet research and had a book of facts written by the school children on the island, but other than that it was a guessing game. So I decided to get smart. I contacted the bookseller I know on the island who always invites me up for a summer signing, and I asked her if she knew a year-round resident who would be willing to answer a few questions. ‘Few’ was a slight understatement. A mountain of questions would be more accurate.

Tamala came through and sent me the telephone number of a woman who was willing to work with me. I began making lists of questions and finally called the resident, Kaye Hoppenrath. She was delightful and provided all kinds of facts as well as corrected some of my misconceptions. For example, I assumed everyone had a horse and buggy since winter for the elderly seemed like a difficult time to get around. Wrong. They use snowmobiles, too, and if they are too feeble or ill, the horse and carriage taxis are always available.

She told me which hotels and restaurants stay open in winter (not many of either), what the people do for entertainment, and the island’s traditions and festivals. The information provided me with a wonderful realistic backdrop in which to plop my career-oriented heroine and my laid-back hero. I sent them on a journey from November to January, struggling with their opposite personalities, but both finding delight in the beauty of the island and eventually in each other.

Gail Gaymer Martin

Gail’s latest novel, WITH CHRISTMAS IN HIS HEART was a Romantic Times Top Pick!

Gail would love you to drop her a line and let her know if you enjoyed the book. Write to Gail at gail@gailmartin.com. And her website has loads more info too!

Writers' Wednesday with Annie West

This Wednesday we bring you Annie West's story of her road to publication as a brand new Harlequin Presents author...

ABOUT ANNIE

Annie grew up wanting to be an archaeologist or a national parks ranger or a bookseller, so of course she became a public servant. In the meantime she travelled and read books. Now she enjoys fantasising about wonderful men and their love lives. Oh yes, and she writes about them too.

HOW SHE BECAME A WRITER

Can I call myself a new writer? I FEEL like a new writer. There’s so much I don’t know about the publishing processes, even about writing blogs! I’m nervous that my next manuscript won’t be good enough. I go to writers’ events and am in awe of so many authors and wonder if someone has made a mistake, including me in the group. I’m thrilled by the sight of my book cover and recently when I received my first (complimentary) reader feedback on my first Modern Romance release, I was over the moon. I can’t wait to stand in a store beside my book and reach out to pick it up. Yes, I’m definitely a new writer.

But it’s taken me a long time to become one of the newbies on the Harlequin Mills and Boon shelves. That overnight success (literally – I woke up one morning to the news that changed my life) came after 10 years of writing and dreaming.

I discovered romance books in my teens. At the time I was discovering Georgette Heyer, Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart at the library, I found the rose cover on a stack of category romances in my best friend’s house. Her mother read them voraciously and soon I did too. I loved the fantasy element, the exotic far-away locations, the fact that the heroine got exactly what she wanted and (yes, of course) the wonderful heroes. What did it matter if the guys at school were spotty, immature or dull when there were Spanish aristocrats, sexy Italians and other fascinating heroes just waiting to steal a girl’s breath away?

Through school (English classics and romances) and university (Homer and romances) and work (parliamentary reports and romances) there was a common thread. I love a happy ending. I read a wide range of books but that always includes romance. Inevitably I wanted to write them. As my first attempt at a book, when I was around thirteen, was an Amazon adventure distinguished by its improbable plot and small readership, I didn’t have much of a track record. But romance writers are optimists.

I joined Romance Writers of Australia – one of the best things I’ve ever done. That put me in touch with other writers and provided a valuable source of know-how, inspiration and great friends. My first manuscript was over length, full of problems and immensely fun to write. Inevitably it was rejected but I learned so much from writing it.

Over the next several years I wrote contemporary category stories, but not for my favourite line: Modern/Sexy/Presents. I loved them but – what? Me write them? No way could I do it half as well as the authors I read. And my heroes – I was sure they weren’t alpha enough. My skills improved and I received positive feedback from editors but my stories didn’t quite hit the target. I was asked if I’d tried writing for Presents instead. It was about then I almost gave up writing - I was convinced I didn’t have what it takes to write such stories. But life without writing wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. For a start - what excuse would I have to go to those fabulous writers’ conferences?

One weekend I went to an all day writers’ workshop. It was fabulous and I felt the buzz of excitement as romance writers shared their enthusiasm. In the afternoon Miranda Lee and Emma Darcy spoke and inspiration hit. By the time I left I had an idea for a story.

I recall vividly sitting to write ‘A Mistress for the Taking’. It was like coming home. The words flowed and I knew I was in my zone for the first time ever. I felt the story in my bones. Though you know what ‘home’ is like – lots of housework – or polishing! I entered it in a contest and even got a placing for the first kiss but to my disappointment there was no request for the manuscript. I sent it anyway – straight to the slush pile.

I was immersed in another story when Tessa Shapcott requested the full manuscript. I sent it and tried to repress those effervescent hopes – I’d had full books rejected before. A month later I received an email asking for revisions. At the end of November 2005 I sent a revised story. Of course I knew that busy editors don’t read whole manuscripts overnight and contact breathless authors the next day. But that didn’t stop me hoping. I avoided using the phone, in case there was an overseas call coming through. The days dragged and after a sudden rush of long distance phone calls by thoughtless friends who hadn’t realised I was waiting to hear from the UK, I realised that I should be looking at the letter box instead, because that’s where the rejection would arrive.

I still remember December 8^th – waking up and not following my usual routine of heading to the computer to check my emails and write. Why bother? There’d be no news. Finally I checked the mail. There was a message from Richmond. It was long so I started skimming ... thanks for the revisions ... (no ‘but’ yet) ... they worked well ... (where was the ‘but’?). I looked for the inevitable ‘but’ and couldn’t find one. I read it twice before I realised that the editor really meant it when she said she wanted to buy the book. It must have taken me five minutes for the news to seep in, despite the fact that the attachment was called something like ‘Mistress for the Taking acceptance doc’.

To my amazement I didn’t squeal with delight – the children were still asleep. Instead I dragged my husband over to read the news. He was just as excited as I was. After all, he’s lived with my writing obsession for years. The next days were a haze, punctuated by sudden bursts of glorious delight – ‘hey, they want MY book’! It’s a good thing I spoke to my editor after the news had sunk in a little – or I wouldn’t have made any sense at all.

That first acceptance was everything I’d dreamed it would be – and far more. Now I’m learning what it means to be a working author. Wish me luck!

Annie’s first book ‘A Mistress for the Taking’ is on sale in the UK now, then in Australia/New Zealand in December and North America in January.

She’s had 3 other books accepted, the next one being ‘The Greek’s Convenient Mistress’ (a January 2007 UK release).

You can visit her website at http://www.annie-west.com

Temptation Tuesday...Spring Racing

PUTTING A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

The Spring Racing Carnival is always a huge deal in Melbourne, the fashion and cultural capital of Australia. The same way you can tell Christmas is on the horizon when shopping centre Muzak changes, or when you catch tinsel out of the corner of your eye for the first time in months, when Spring Racing is nearing, one's shopping experience alters dramatically.

After a long icy cold winter, gone are shop windows filled with winter coats and ugh boots as they make way for glamorous dresses and feathery hats. We girls head out to the shops preparing to spend as little as possible on an appropriate outfit which will only be worn once, and the next hundreds of dollars are spilled from our ready credit cards as we are blinded by the choice of colour and hem-length and netting and flowers.

For Aussie women who year round are most happy in jeans and t-shirts, frou-frou becomes the order of the day. Spring Racing means fake tan, bright lipstick, and champagne for breakfast lunch and dinner. Spring Racing means a flutter bet on a long shot or a favourite, or heck, why not both? Spring Racing means you can wear the most beautiful dress you have ever seen, a hat bigger than your head laden with feathers that touch the sky and ridiculously expensive high heels that you know won't last past that one day at the races as they fight against mushy turf, spilt beer, and stomping hooves of man and horse alike.

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is something that has permeated not only our fair city but the whole land. As we are a nation that counts Phar Lap - a gangly, underdog, blighted horse who died seventy odd years ago - as a national icon, the biggest month in the horse racing calendar always creates a buzz.

But last year for Spring Racing, there was a very particular hum in the air. The Melbourne Cup, the biggest race in the yearly calendar, the "race that stops a nation" for three minutes every year on the first Tuesday in November, wasn't just about the hats and celebrity cleavage.

Last year, a glorious mare by the name of Makybe Diva had the chance to do what no other horse in history had done - she had the chance to win her third Melbourne Cup in a row. Not even our Phar Lap, so beloved he now resides, stuffed and on show, in our state Museum, had done such a feat.

The day dawned, hot and sunny. And in Melbourne at that time of year such weather is notoriously hit and miss. The Melbourne Cup day is as likely to be hit with flooding rains as it is to be scorched with 40 degree heat. But on that rain-free day last year, would the ground be too hard and dry for the Diva who prefers the wet? Would her owner and trainer even let the great mare race?

She was the talk of the town, the front of the newspaper for a good week leading up to the big race. And every Australian tall enough to hold a dollar coin to a bookie's window put a bet on her that day. Her odds were so low it was hardly worth it, but that wasn't why we bet.

She sat back for the majority of the race, behind the leaders and against the fence. Her glittering red white and blue colours the only ones any of us watched through the whole race. Would she be stuck against the rails? Or was her experienced jockey exactly where he wanted her to be?

They rounded the straight, the thudding hooves creating a primal soundtrack to the excited musings of the race caller. And then she came. Strong, fast, the wind at her heels and fate guiding her home to slide past the winning post in first place. Strangers hugged strangers. Defeated punters threw their losing betting stubs into the air in delighted resignation. Every Australian shed a tear of pure joy for the elegant lady winner.

Makybe Diva, a legend, retired after that race. Which leaves us with a wide open field for today’s big race. So who will be the new favourite? The new darling?

And more importantly what will we wear?

Ally has a book out in North America this month, HOW TO MARRY A BILLIONAIRE released through Silhouette Romance, in which the hero and heroine spend a day at the Melbourne Cup.

Ally's books often feature the many delights of her home town, including the row of French Pastry shops in beachside Acland Street St Kilda, the outdoor movies at Federation Square in the middle of the city, and the fabulous Melbourne Zoo.

For more about gorgeous Melbourne, check out Ally's website.

Male on Monday-Wentworth Miller

Our latest Male on Monday is none other than Wentworth Miller, currently of PrisonBreak fame.
Wentworth was born on June 2, 1972 in Chipping Norton, England, and gained notoriety when he starred in the Mariah Carey videos, "It's Like That" and "We Belong Together".

His father is half African American, one quarter English and one quarter Jewish, while his mother is of French, Dutch, Syrian and Lebanese descent. And aren't the results sensational?

Though Wentworth has had roles in Buffy and gained attention there, it's his current portrayal of Michael Schofield, a guy who gets himself sent to prison deliberately in order to save his innocent brother from death row, that has grabbed the world's attention.

Personally, those piercing blue eyes, brooding expression and exceptional body grabbed my attention along with his acting ability but hey, that's just me!

So what's the background behind this rising star?

He was raised in Brooklyn, though he was actually born in the UK where his father, a Rhodes Scholar, was studying.

He later graduated from Princeton University, and his stage time during college was spent singing, and he traveled the world performing with the school's famed a capella group, The Princeton Tigertones.

When he travelled to Los Angeles to pursue a behind-the-scenes career in the entertainment industry...well, the rest as they say in the classics is history!


In 2003, he made his feature film debut as the younger version of Anthony Hopkins's character, Coleman Silk in "The Human Stain" and hasn't looked back.

Wentworth is the inspiration behind my current hero Tyler James, a Navy SEAL who is 'bought' by his ex at a man auction and gets to be her slave for a week.

I originally wrote this book a few years ago but it's undergoing a total overhaul for the Modern Extra series and when I was mesmerised by Season 1 of Prison Break, I knew I'd found the perfect guy to play Ty.

Maybe it's the buzz cut, maybe it's those blue eyes, maybe it's that killer toned body, but Wentworth Miller encapsulates Ty perfectly.
Can't you just see him running covert operations and winning the heroine in the end?

Enjoy!

Nicola's next release, INHERITED: BABY, is out in December and encapsulates all the excitement of the Melbourne Cup!
To find out the inspiration behind more of her heroes, head over to her website and blog.

Sunday Spotlight on Sharron McClellan

This week's spotlight is shone upon Bombshell Sharron McClellan...

About Sharron:

I always planned to be a writer of some sort. However, when I went to college, I took journalism and creative writing and sadly, had the love of writing sucked out of me. It happens! So I turned to my next love--science. At first, I wanted to be a marine biologist, but there was the whole shark issue. Frankly, they freak me out.

Instead, I discovered the joys of playing in the dirt-a profession more commonly known as archaeology. For years, I focused on excavating ancient sites that included projectile points, burn pits and the occasional burial.

My focus returned to writing when I took a position during the archaeological off-season and ended up answering phones for Princess cruise line AKA The Love Boat. Which, when you consider I write romance, is somewhat ironic. It was during that time that I took to reading romance. It wasn't long before I fell in love with the genre and returned to my first love-writing.

Five years later, I sold The Midas Trap to Silhouette Bombshell.

Today, I live anywhere my feet stop for more than five seconds (currently Los Angeles). I write full time, butcher the Spanish language whenever I can, and blog about my travels and as angryromancegrrl. I believe in hard work, beer with ice, picking my friends brains for information, that Thrill of Brazil by OPI is the best color for my toes, and I swear that my Muse spends most of her time in the bar down the street drinking gin and tonic with extra lime.

Spotlight:

Where do you get the inspiration for your books from?

Lots of places.

Articles. The Internet. Conversations I have with friends and family. My critique partner and I are always batting snippets about. I also eavesdrop on total strangers. I know, it’s probably wrong (okay, very wrong) but people say and do the most interesting/bizarre things. How can I not pay attention?

What makes you mad?

Never mess with my family, friends or my money. And in that order.

What’s the most romantic thing that has ever happened to you?

My current boyfriend and I dated over a year ago, broke up and then got back togetherwith me a few moths ago. So picture this...I haven't seen him in over a yearand the thought of a reunion is NERVE-WRACKING. My stomach swarmed withbutterflies. I walked up to the door, shaking, and before I could evenknock, he flung the door open, pulled me inside, cupped my face with hishands, and kissed me.It was the perfect action. The perfect kiss. Perfect timing. And he's hot.

What in a hero makes you drool?

Tall is good. Broad shoulders are yummy! But in the long run, I want a man who does the ‘right’ thing—not the ‘easy’ thing. The kind of man you know would take on an army for you. I also like men who are upfront. While a ‘charmer’ is fun, I’d rather a man be honest. If a man is too charming, it makes me wonder what he is up too.

If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

I have Bachelors in Anthology and spent a number of years as an archaeologist—so I’d go back to that. I just spent four months in Oaxaca Mexico, and on my days off, I visited the archaeological sites. One of my favorites is Monte Alban. Now deserted, it was built by the Zapotc Indians. What I found amazing was that this huge stone complex was constructed by a people who had not yet invented the wheel or the forging of hard metal. It doesn’t sound like much but when you wrap your brain around the fact that they moved and cut stone without the help of either it’s mind boggling.

What do you do to relax and wind down?

Watch movies, drink red wine, and eat dark chocolate. If I’m dating a special man, I am not adverse to snuggling. In fact, I say ‘yay’ to snuggling!

How do you get out of a writing rut?

I’ll admit it…I goof off for a day. You know, clean, call my friends, work on my website, etc.--anything to procrastinate! Then I sit down and just start writing. It might suck at first, but it get’s me going again.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

A warm water beach and good SCUBA diving. I’m thinking the Caribbean or Australia. I’m one of those people who would rather be under the water than on top of it.

Who would you most like to give a hug to for a fabulous book you’ve read?

Madeleine L'Engle for writing A Wrinkle In Time. It was the first SF book I read, and I still have my copy from childhood. An amazing book and I recommend it for all YA readers. Aw heck, adults should read it too.

What music do you listen to when writing?

Each book has a different soundtrack that I write too. When I was writing BREATHLESS (an Athena Force Book) I listened to a mix that ranged from Shakira to Evanescence to Linkin Park. My current WIP (not sold yet so no name!) is being written to the new Evanescence album, The Open Door.

Tell us a secret nobody knows about you?

I cannot curl my tongue. Not exactly a secret but no one really knows about it either. Oh, and I have a serious aversion to sharks. Add that up with my love of SCUBA diving and you get a sense of my conflicting emotions when I enter the water.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I’d tell you but the current boyfriend would NEVER forgive me!

What have you had to celebrate in the last year?

Quitting my day job and traveling. I just spent five months in Oaxaca, Mexico, two months in Hollywood, CA and am now on my way to New Jersey. Life is amazing!

I’ve also celebrated books sold (BREATHLESS) and released (HIDDEN SANCTUARY).

What’s beside your computer when you’re writing?

Meals I can eat with one hand. Coffee. A stack of books that range from The Writer’s Journey to the Describers Dictionary.

If you could kiss anyone in the world who would it be?

Besides my current boyfriend? I’d say Gerard Butler. He is totally H.O.T. And that Scottish accent…YUMMY! (Sorry Mr. Clooney. Maybe next time!)

What are you working on now?

I just finished BREATHLESS (the Athena Force book) and am taking a breather. Once thing I’ve learned about myself is that after I finish a book, I need a week (or two) to clear my head of the information before I start a new work. This break was timed well as I am leaving for the New Jersey coast in a few days. After I get settled, I’ll work on my proposal for a Silhouette Romantic Suspense. No idea if it will sell but the optimistic part of me thinks, “Of course it will!” And there’s this erotica idea I’ve been tossing about…

Sharron's latest Bombshell, HIDDEN SANCTUARY, Book five of the Madonna Key series, is on shelves in North America from November 7th!!

For more about the book, check out her website and her angryromancegrrl blog!