Wild Card Weekend - You Made Me Cry!

Please welcome Susan Gable to the PHS as she tells us why it's a good thing to reach for the tissues!


Sometimes I get letters from indignant readers. They say, "You made me cry!" - like it's a bad thing. My response is usually something along the lines, "Good. I cried when I wrote it. It's only fair that you cry when you read it." LOL.


I laugh when I write, too.

If the story doesn't move me, how in the world will it move my readers?

I love to roll around in emotionally messy stories. Messy characters. Because hey, aren't we all sort of like that? Don't we find ourselves in certain times of our lives, looking around and shaking our heads? Doesn't it seem like one thing leads to another thing, and another...and your life is sort of circling the drain?

I like being able to offer hope. And a happy ending. But good grief, I like making my characters work for it.

You can emotionally move your readers when you're emotionally honest on the page. Don't be afraid to engage your own feelings. Writing is a form of catharsis for me. I tend to be an emotional "stuffer" in my real life. I don't like to cry for myself. Detest it with a passion.

Crying over characters is different. I've been known to cry over commercials. One of my favorite things as an elementary teacher was reading aloud to my students. And the very best moments? When something intense is happening to one of our now-beloved characters (for example, Robin Hood, as he lays dying in Little John's arms, and shoots the arrow out the window to indicate where he should be buried), and my throat starts to swell. And I'm having trouble reading, forcing the words past the big lump in my throat. And my eyes are misting up.

And I look out at my students, and a bunch of them are crying, too. And I think...GOTCHA. I've shown these kids the power of a really good story.

When we take characters into dark places, it can be hard. But it's in facing things that hurt us the most, in doing the hard writing, that we bring the greatest depth, the greatest richness, to our writing.

There's no crime in crying in front of your computer as you write something intense for your characters. I daresay that passion is going to translate onto the page, and impact your readers.

And isn't that what we want? To move our readers? Whether we make them so angry they hate us, or make them so happy they love us...what we don't want is to be forgotten ten minutes after the book is closed. We want to be designated "a keeper." And to get that status, you have to move them.

Think about your favorite, or most memorable, books from childhood. What stands out to you? For me, one of them is Charlotte's Web. Did you read that book, or have it read to you as a kid? What do you remember most about it?

It made me cry. Here was this fabulous rich character that I was totally invested in. And then...well...you know what happens to Charlotte. There's a book called Stone Fox. I'd never read it before starting to read it aloud to a class. It's the story of a boy and his sled dog, entering a race to save the family home.

Something totally unexpected happens in the book. It was well-done, and powerful...and I could barely get through reading it to the kids. And then we all sat, staring at the book, going, "Are you KIDDING me?" LOL. But it worked.

Now, as romance writers, we're obviously not going to kill off people in our books. Can't kill the hero or heroine, or you by definition no longer have a romance novel. (You have a love story, which...will probably make you a hell of a lot more money and a lot more famous. LOL. So write it if that's what you want to write. ) But you can put your characters into emotionally-fraught situations. Plot situations that lend themselves to emotion.

Emotion doesn't have to mean crying, either. Laughing is a great emotional response. And if you're going to wallop your readers with some heavy stuff, you need to give them some light, too. It not only gives them a rest from the dark, but it also gives the dark a stronger impact.

My new release features a mom whose child is seriously ill. But...that's not really what my story is about. It's about the emotional things that come about as a result of that situation. It's about the relationships in their lives that are impacted by it. My characters laugh, and cry. Sometimes they do both in the space of seconds. Just like real people do in real life.

For more details on how to infuse your writing with strong emotion, I have a handout from a workshop I've given at RWA National posted at my website. http://susangable.com/articles_for_writers.htm

So tell me...what recent book has stuck in your mind? Why? How about your childhood book memories? What book do you remember? Why do you suppose that book has stuck with you?

Susan Gable has sold seven books to Harlequin's Superromance line. Her books have been Rita and Golden Heart Finalists, she's been a Waldenbooks Bestseller, been three times nominated for Romantic Time's Best Superromance of the Year, and she's won numerous other awards, including the National Readers' Choice Award. Her new book, The Family Plan, got 4.5 Stars from RT. It hits shelves on July 13th, and is a savior sibling story - the story of a mom who will do just about anything to save her child's life. In the process she learns that depending on others makes you stronger, not weaker. Visit Susan's website: www.SusanGable.com

Must Watch Friday: The Big Easy and Castle

Must Watch Friday—Much More than Mysteries



Lee McKenzie investigates the appeal of two must-see mysteries: Castle and The Big Easy.

The movie The Big Easy was filmed more than 20 years ago. The television series Castle is right up to the minute. Other than being mysteries with a compelling romance, you might ask why I would link them together. What do they have in common? My answer? Both shows are based on one my all-time favorite archetype pairings—the Charmer and the Librarian.

Let’s look at detective Remy McSwain and writer Richard Castle. These two men know exactly what they want, and they use their wit and charisma to manipulate others into gladly giving it to them. Like all Charmers, they are respected and looked up to by their families, generous to a fault, and often surrounded by a cadre of admiring friends and colleagues.

Enter ADA Annie Osbourne and detective Kate Beckett—two detail-oriented women who are dedicated to their careers and as dependable as the day is long. They wouldn’t dream of using their womanly wiles to get what they want. The Librarian keeps her top button buttoned, thank you very much, and she follows her head, not her heart.

Put a Charmer and a Librarian in the same room and look out! There’s instant chemistry, but there’s also immediate conflict. It’s going to take these two a while to realize they both want the same thing, but even then their approach to getting it will be completely different. It’s when they realize that working together will help them achieve that goal that the two halves become the perfect whole.

Beckett’s common sense counters Castle’s wild speculations about whodunit, and yet they are so in sync, they frequently finish each other’s sentences.

Remy becomes one of the good guys and works with Annie to uncover the corruption in the police department.

There’s an exchange of dialogue in The Big Easy that I think perfectly sums up the Charmer/Librarian relationship.

Annie Osbourne: Never did have much luck with sex anyway.

Remy McSwain: Your luck’s about to change.

The Librarian’s icy self-consciousness is about to be melted by the Charmer’s sweet talk and smooth moves, and as Annie and Remy overcome their differences and learn to work together, luck, and life, changes for both of them in ways they never imagined. Of course, in a film, we get to that point in two hours. Castle fans are still waiting for all the delicious tension between Castle and Beckett to finally bring them together, and the wait is half the fun.

Castle and The Big Easy—two different stories, four very different characters, one perfect pairing. They’re not stereotypes, which sums up why we love stories based on these strongly crafted characters.

If you’re a writer, I highly recommend my favorite writing “how to” book, The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes  by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders.

If you haven’t seen The Big Easy, rush out and rent the DVD! If you’re a fellow Castle fan, I’m sure you’ll be watching reruns every Wednesday night this summer and counting the days till season three returns in the fall.

Lee’s next Harlequin American Romance, Firefighter Daddy, will be in stores on July 13. She has a confession to make, though. Ever since she saw the cover, she’s been secretly calling it firefighter hottie.


You can visit Lee at her website and her blog, The Writer Side of Life.

Thursday Talktime - The RNA Conference

It's conference season and this week Kate Walker will be heading for London where she'll be taking part in a very special Romantic Novelists' Association Conference and celebrating the RNA's Golden Anniversary.

As you read this, I’ll probably be on a train heading for London and the Greenwich, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference which is being held in the Old Royal Naval College there this weekend. This will be my tenth conference and before these there were the one day events the RNA used to have before the weekend-long conferences were set up. I went to two of those – one in the glorious setting of Castle Howard, and the other in the typically Jane Austen site of Bath.

This year’s conference is going to be very special, because 2010 is the year when the RNA marks its ‘golden year’ – the 50th anniversary of the date it was formed. And the Conference is going to be part of those golden celebrations.


The Romantic Novelists’ Association was set up in 1960 by a roll call of notables in women’s commercial fiction: Denise Robins and Barbara Cartland, first President and Vice President respectively; Elizabeth Goudge; Netta Muskett who wrote such scandalously sexy books that librarians hid them; Catherine Cookson, then chiefly known for the Mary Anne books; a very young Rosamunde Pilcher.


The RNA was formed to promote romantic fiction and to encourage good writing In her inaugural address, Miss Robins said that although romantic novels, according to the libraries, gave the most pleasure to the most people, the writers almost had to apologise for what they did. This had to stop.

In those days, lady novelists took taxis and dined in Dior. Robins (black velvet and chinchilla, dramatic contemporary stories) and Cartland (sequins and white fox, strong on virginity) dominated the UK market. The RNA Awards Dinner was black tie and glittering frocks. Guests were addressed by HE Bates and Ian Fleming. The RNA now represents more than 700 writers, agents, editors and other publishing professionals.

I sometimes wonder what those Grand Dames of the romantic fiction world would think of the casually dressed, relaxed but bustling crowds of members who now attend the conferences, dashing from workshop to workshop, discussing writing, books and gossiping over coffee, tea and – later in the day, a glass or two of wine. The RNA's Conference is a lot smaller, less imposing and rather more laid-back than the American RWA National which will take place later in the month and personally I prefer it that way. It's easier to get to everything, to meet up with the people I want to see, and to make friends with the conference 'virgins' - the new members who have never been to a conference before.

There will be plenty of authors there. The RNA Chair this year is bestseller Katie Fforde who gave what I think was one of her very first talks at that event in Bath. Other members include Joanna Trollope, Penny Jordan, Elizabeth Buchan, Nicola Cornick, Katie Flynn, Elizabeth Chadwick, Maureen Lee, Carole Matthews, Adele Parks, and many more. At the conference there will be talks by Kate Harrison, Julie Cohen, Susanna Kearsley, Judy Astley, Joanna Trollope. . . . Harlequin Mills & Boon will be represented by many several editors and writers like the two Kates (Hardy and Walker) will be running workshops too.

The highlight of the conference will be the special Gala Dinner on the Friday night when the 50th anniversary celebrations will continue. This follows on from the glittering Awards Lunch in where the Romantic Novel of The Year Award was presented to Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts by Lucy Dillon with the Love Story of the Year going Animal Instincts by Nell Dixon (Little Black Dress).


To mark this anniversary, the RNA has also published a very special golden book which, in many ways, shows why we read and write romantic fiction. Loves Me, Loves Me Not is an anthology of short stories highlighting the talent of members, young and old, published and unpublished. The book was edited by Chair Katie Fforde and Sue Moorcroft.


Talking of the unpublished members, the RNA is unique among professional writing organisations in its encouragement of aspiring writers. Each year, the New Writers’ Scheme gives aspiring writers a chance for a personal evaluation of their work by an experienced author or editor in that particular sub-genre. I wish I’d known about this scheme when I first started out on my writing career. It has helped many achieve publication and its popularity is evident in the way that this scheme, which has only 250 places available, is almost always totally filled within a month from its opening date of 1st January each year.

I’ve been a member of the RNA for about 17 years now, and I wouldn’t miss the Conference if I can help it. Even when I’m not giving any talk, I’d miss the companionship, the chatter, the laughter, and the relaxation of being amongst friends and like minds. People who understand what the writing world is all about, whether they’ve been part of it for years or are new to everything and aspiring to become a part of it as they work through their very first book.

This weekend, I’m looking forward to being with old friends and making new ones. If you’re going to be in Greenwich then please come up and say hello – specially if you’re going to be at my workshop on Saturday. I know that by the time I travel back home on Monday, I’ll have almost no voice left from all the talking, and my mind will be buzzing from all I’ve learned or been inspired by in the workshops I’m attending. I will have had very little sleep, because it’s much more important to catch up with friends and get to know new writers – some of the very best conversations go on late into the night in the kitchens of the university accommodation where we stay. I always come back re-energised, recharged and raring to get back to work on whatever book I’m writing.

So maybe I’ll see you there? If not , I’m sure there will be lots of blog posts about the event all over the internet and on the RNA’s official web site where you can also learn much more about this great organisation.

And Happy Golden Birthday to the RNA - 50 years young. Here’s to the next half a century!



Kate Walker's current release for Mills & Boon Modern Romance is a little bit unusual. The Good Greek Wife? is part of a four book mini-series that retells classic Greek myths updating and 'modernising' them into a romance form. The mini-series is labelled The Greek Tycoons - Legends are Made of Men like These! The Good Greek Wife? is a retelling of the story of Odysseus and is in the shops now.


The Good Greek Wife? will not be published in The Greek Tycoons collection in Presents Extra until October but Kate's last Presents title The Konstantos Marriage Demand, with another sexy Greek hero is still available .

You can read how Kate approached this challenge of writing The Good Greek Wife? on her web site . And you'll find all her most up to date news on her blog.

Industry Insider: Cover Model Kyli Knaack

This month's Industry Insider interview guest is the cover model from Donna Alward's Hired: The Italian's Bride - the gorgeous Kyli Knaack.  Welcome to the PHS, Kyli, and thanks for taking time out of your crazy schedule to answer a few questions!


How many book covers have you done?


This is the only cover I have done so far. I will be returning to New York soon, so hopefully I will get the opportunity to shoot more book covers.

What was your favourite part about being a model for this cover?

I enjoy trying new things. I had never been a model for the cover of a book before so I found it interesting. When I purchased the book at the store, the face on the cashier was priceless when she realized it was me. My friends and family (especially my mom...a big romance novel fan) got a kick out of seeing me on the cover too.


How much are you told about the character that you are supposed to be portraying beforehand?

I was only give a brief summary of the story. I knew that I was supposed to be the employee and Robert was my boss. I didn't get a chance to read the story until it came out several months later.


Can you describe a cover shoot for us?

For this particular shoot, I did my own hair and makeup. The clothes were provided for me. We were given a quick summary of the story and shown a general idea of what they wanted for the cover picture. We got dressed, took our places in the shot, and proceeded to pose. The look that they want is planned out; it's almost like a science.

After a shoot, how do you relax?

Modeling is a job, just like any other. After work, I like to hang out, eat mexican food, make jewelry, watch movies....the usual things.

How long does a cover shoot take? Is there a lot of waiting around?

The entire shoot took only about an hour. It's so well planned that I basically show up, get dressed, pose, and we're done. It was amazing....very organized, easy, and quick. Everyone was great!

We had your cover partner, Rob Nuzzie, guest with us a while back. Now we’re dying to know…what was he like to work with???? ;-)

Robert was very nice and so easy to work with. He made me feel very comfortable. He has done many covers and so he knew the routine and was really helpful to me. I would love to work with him again!


What are you up to now?

I am planning to move to New York in the next few months in order to be closer to the modeling "action". In the meantime, I am working and making jewelry as well. Please check out my modeling and jewelry sites below!

Do you have a site or blog where we can check out more of your work?

You can see more of me at http://commencequest.com/PORTFOLIO-NewFaces-KyliKnack.html and http://www.facebook.com/kyli.knaack.

My jewelry site is http://www.etsy.com/shop/bykyli

Destination LIfe: Stepping into History

PHS Editor Michelle Styles reveals her passion for Living History Museums and in particular Williamsburg!
In keeping with my Weekend Wildcard post about 1776, I wanted to write about one of my favourite Living History Museums -- Colonial Williamsburg. It is rare for me to encounter a Living History museum that I don't like. I enjoy them and enjoy the experience of seeing the past come to life.
The first time I went to a Living History museum, I was ten and we went to Fort Snelling in St Paul. Since then I have been to a number in the US and in Europe. My local Living History Museum Beamish is celebrating its 40th year and has been extremely inspirational in getting me ideas for my Regency and early Victorian set books.
But the one Living History Museum that stands out is Williamsburg. I first read about Williamsburg in a Barbara Michaels' Gothic romantic suspense novel The Patriot's Dream about a woman who discovers she is falling in love with a ghost. Later still I encountered when my daughter became entranced with American Girl dolls, in particular Felicity. Thus when my mother moved to Virginia, Williamsburg was near the top of the list.
It never disappoints. There are many different paths that you can take when visiting. If you have children with you, it is possible to hire bits of costume. Costumes are a big part of the Williamsburg expereince. they have been recreating 18th century costume since 1934. Because of the American Girl connection, you often see girls wandering around with their dolls.
The entire experience is hands on as the vistor wants to make it. You can ask questions and learn bits of information. For example, at cabinetmaker’s, I learnt about the dragon guarding the pearl symbolism that many 18th century chairs have. Because the cabinet maker makes furniture in an 19th century style, it is possible to see the furniture at all stages.
When we visited the wigmaker, I had a very interesting conversation with the woman who was supposed to be running the shop. Unfortunately she didn’t know how to pronounce Ede and Ravenscroft who remain the premier wig and robe makers in Britain. Ede has a d like dog with a silent e at the end, not a dee. But she was knowledgeable on the day to day care of horse hair wigs ( a subject for a variety of reasons close to my heart).
Through out the day, there are special events where visitors are actively encouraged to take part. For example the drilling of the militia or a tea party. There are programmes for children to *become an apprentice*.
With four different taverns, it is possible to get an 18th century dining experience. In the gardens that are connected to the houses, it is possible to learn about different techinques. for example they use skeps for bee keeping as hives with moveable frames were not yet invented. And the vegetable gardens are different from today's vegetable gardens.
In the shops, they sell a variety of items that harkens back to the 18th century – for example stone ground grits, boules and a receipt book.
Although it is great to spend time in the restored houses, the museums on site also provide a wealth of info about how people lived, the textiles they used and how their rooms were furnished.
My experience with Williamsburg is that it lived up to its outstanding reputation and should be visited. Go and failing that take the time to visit a living history musuem near you. You will learn so much about the past.
Does anyone else know of outstanding Living History Museums? And what was the most memorable bit about your visit to a Living History Museum?
You can find out more about Michelle Styles's books by visiting her website.

Male On Monday : Aaron Douglas

Pink Heart Editor Donna Alward brings a little Canadiana to the Male on Monday theme today with Vancouver native Aaron Douglas.

Aaron Douglas first hit my radar as Chief Tyrol in Battlestar Galactica.  I liked him from the moment he met a very arrogant Apollo and gave a little derisive sniff at Apollo's crap attitude - never mind that Apollo outranked him AND was the Commander's son. I liked him as a union leader on New Caprica and I adored him as a Cylon in the last season.

I was really, really happy for him when I heard he was getting his own series here in Canada called The Bridge.  He plays Frank Leo, a cop turned cop union leader and I love love love the show.  It's been renewed for a second season (hooray!) - I just finished watching the first season and OMG if there was ever a case of who do you trust....

So who exactly is Aaron Douglas? Well, despite the stern, scowly pictures he has a rep of being quite a jokester and easy-going...

Aaron Douglas was born in and currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where he films and stars in the critically acclaimed Sci-Fi television series Battlestar Galactica.

Having gotten his professional acting start later in life Aaron quit his 9-5 workaday life to attend the William Davis Center for Actors at age 27. By the end of the school year Aaron had an agent and was well on his way to becoming one of Hollywood North's most successful actors.

Before becoming Chief Tyrol on Battlestar Galactica, Aaron appeared in many of the television series shot in Vancouver, among them The Outer Limits, Stargate SG-1, Smallville, Andromeda, Jeremiah, and many others. On the big screen Aaron can be seen in X-Men 2, Final Destination 2, White Noise, I- Robot, Catwoman, Paycheck, The Chronicles of Riddick, Butterfly on a Wheel and many others.

Aaron's jersey is the perfect combination
 of hockey and BSG!

Aaron is a rabid Vancouver Canuck NHL hockey fan and has been on skates since he was aged 2. Aaron still plays hockey and is selected by many TV and Film crew teams to play goalie. He can usually be found at Canuck home games screaming at the referees along with his close friends Dan Bacon of Stargate Atlantis, Dan Payne also of Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis and Ryan Robbins of Atlantis and Battlestar Galactica.

If you see him at a game, he and the lads will talk hockey with you all night in exchange for a pint.

Aaron does a lot of work for charities and the majority of his efforts go to the Canadian Cancer Foundation and Canuck Place Children's Hospice.  He has a son and lost his wife to cancer several years ago.

The Bridge is slotted to appear on CBS Stateside in beginning in July.  Now that the season's over, I know it's a really great show because the final episode is sticking with me - I can't wait to see what happens next season.  Meanwhile, I can get my Aaron fix from my BSG dvd sets...

Donna's latest book is a reprint of HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE in the anthology Mediterranean Men and Marriage.