The American Library Association’s Booklist has published a list of the “New Stars of Historical Romance,” and its got quite a few gems. I’ve read and loved The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne, Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan, and The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran. Joanna Bourne (who is fabulous) called out Katharine Ashe on facebook, so I’m assuming she is equally fabulous. I’ve added her book to my TBR list.

A Big CONGRATULATIONS to all the Greater Seattle RWA members who made the list!

Passionate by Anthea Lawson

Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory

In for a Penny by Rose Lerner

Which books from the list should I try next? Which have you read?

Title: Some Like it Wild
Author: Teresa Medeiros
Publication Info: Avon March 2009
Genre: Regency/Scottish Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

When I want a good dose of happily ever after with a dashing hero and a clever heroine I always turn to Ms. Medeiros. She never disappoints. Her latest tale is particularly excellent. Pamela and Connor are a matching set: both devious and crafty, but with hearts of gold. Their banter surprises and delights. Their chemistry sizzles.

Plot:

Pamela Darby and her younger sister Sophie are down-on-their-luck orphans who seek the long-lost son of a Duke to claim the reward money. Their mother trod the boards of Drury Lane before it burned to the ground with her inside it. All they have left is a letter that claims the son is in Scotland. They dress in their finest costume jewelry to search the Highlands, only to be set upon by a notorious highwayman. Pamela decides that with a little stage polish this prince-of-thieves could pass for a Duke’s son. Connor Kincaid is only too happy to swindle an English swine out of his money.

When they arrive at the Duke’s door, the feeble old man is won over by Connor’s charade, but his wily sister and her son (the displaced heir) are not so easily persuaded. Pamela hoped to get the reward and run, but Connor announces that she is his fiancee. What woman could say no to a devilishly handsome Scotsman in a kilt? In staying, she risks her neck to the handman’s noose if the ruse in uncovered. She may not have a choice; this thieving blackguard has already stole something far more dangerous: her heart.

**swoon!!**

Discussion:

I love Ms. Medeiros’ books because they always fill my chest with that warm glow of love, true love. Oh! Love. Connor and Pamela are my favorite pair yet, especially the dashing Scot. He’s like a much handsomer version of Liam Neeson’s Rob Roy. Medeiros even recreates the dueling scene between the broadsword and the epee. Connor is delicious, and Pamela is a smart heroine worthy of him. (No TSTL here, thank goodness!) Just when I think I know the dialogue she’s going to say, she surprises me.

I hope Sophie gets her HEA next with similar bravado.

If you want a great book for lounging in the summer sun, drinking mint juleps and dreaming about happily-ever-after, this is it!

Title: The Dream Thief
Author: Shanna Abe
Series: The Drákon book 2
Publication Info: Bantam, August 2007
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3

The sequel to the excellent SMOKE THIEF follows Rue and Christoff’s youngest daughter, Lia, who is born with the rare Drakon gift of dreaming the future. Her hero is Zane, her mother’s street urchin sidekick, who has grown up to be a dark, powerful criminal in London.

Plot:

There is a legendary diamond that has the power to enslave the Drakon’s minds. Lia hears it calling her from a very young age, accompanied by disturbing sexual dreams of her mother’s dangerous apprentice Zane. No one believes her, so she grows up hiding her future-telling dreams and her slow-to-come Drakon powers. Her parents learn of the diamond when Lia is off at finishing school in Scotland and send Zane–a human–to find it. He runs into Lia, who has escaped school to find the stone herself. She has dreamed this. Regency road trip!

After a number of misadventures, they find the legendary Drakon castle and its twisted lord. Lia knows that Zane cannot have the diamond, because she has dreamed he uses it to kill her parents and everyone close to her. But she is Drakon, so the diamond enslaves her. Is there enough goodness in Zane’s black heart to set her free?

Discussion:

Ms. Abe’s writing is very good. I have always been a big fan of road trip books, especially when the protagonists get stranded out in the middle of nowhere and must tough it in the wilderness.

There is a lot more of that airy, poetic narration in this book. In The Smoke Thief it was only a long prologue. In The Dream Thief it comes every other chapter or so. I skimmed it.

The hero/heroine age difference bothered me. Zane is 12 in The Smoke Thief, when her parents meet. Lia is 19 in The Dream Thief. Lia has dark, sexual dreams of Zane since childhood. Does she actually love him, or is she merely obsessed? Does Zane take advantage of her youth and inexperience? Should maybe he have woken her up first? These and more questions weighed on my enjoyment of the book. In the first book, I felt Ms. Abe did a good job on coming right up to the forced-seduction line, but not crossing it. In this book, well, you’ll have to make up your own mind. I enjoyed the book, but certain parts made me a little morally squeamish.

I enjoyed The Dream Thief and plan to read book 3. Ms. Abe is a masterful storyteller. I just hope the heroine in The Dragon Queen finds healing and psychotherapy from what she endured in book 2. Maybe she should talk to Hardy Cates?

Title: The Smoke Thief
Author: Shanna Abe
Series: The Drákon book 1
Publication Info: Bantam, Oct 2006
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

Ms. Abe combines my favorite two romance genres, Historical and Paranormal, for a delightful adventure that soars through the star-strewn sky and delves deep into the fire of the human heart.

Plot:

Clarissa Rue Hawthorne was born an outcast, a half-blood in the mysterious and sheltered clan of dragon shapeshifters. She will never fit in, so she breaks the clan’s laws, fakes her own death and escapes to London. She spends nine-or-so years building a secret life for herself: the proper widow by day and a Smoke Thief at night. But her past catches up with her in none other than the dragon king himself, Christoff, Marquess of Langford, who comes to London dangling the most precious jewel of all as bait. She can’t help but visit the stone and is caught up in Christoff’s deadly claws.

Christoff has been raised for one thing: to rule his people with an iron fist and keep them safe from the human Others. He is the Alpha and must marry the Alpha female of the tribe, but no woman in generations has been able to Turn into Drakon. When he lays a trap for the outlaw who dares expose their secrets by stealing the Ton’s jewels, he never imagined he would find a female who could Turn, or the lost little girl who caught his notice so many years ago.

But there is another rogue drakon theif in London and he steals the drakon jewel from under their noses. Rue makes a devil’s bargain: her freedom for his. She must join forces with the indomitable Christoff to find the jewel before the week is up. Christoff is injured in their search. Rue has the chance to escape to freedom, or to try to save the Alpha. She might have won her freedom, but she lost her heart.

Discussion:

Christine has been telling me about this book for over a year and I don’t know why I didn’t get around to reading it until now. I couldn’t put it down! The attraction between Rue and Christoff burns red hot and their cat and mouse chase keeps the pages spinning. I loved the descriptions of the dragons flying through the clouds. This is a Cinderella story: Rue’s childhood crush comes to fruition, bringing the now all-grown-up domineering Alpha male to her feet.

The one thing I would have changed is the long airy prologue. I think that backstory could have been communicated through the book, or in a shorter prologue. I’m excited for the next one, The Dream Thief, which stars Rue & Christoff’s daughter and Rue’s street urchin companion Zane.

Title: Crooked Hearts
Author: Patricia Gaffney
Publication Info: Signet, Dec 2001
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: <3 <3 <3 <3

A delightful, crafty romp with two crooked souls who are perfect for each other. Picture George Clooney in Brother Where Art Thou or Ocean’s 11 and give him a female counterpart of equal cunning and skill. This book is refreshing; forget honor, forget morals, forget all those “typical” heroic traits we read about over and over again. These two con artists will steal every reader’s heart.

Plot:

1880′s, San Francisco. On a roadtrip to swindle poor shmucks out of their fortunes, Grace Russell runs into a con artist who could give her a run for her money. She may be dressed as a Catholic nun, but Reuben Jones knows a fake when he sees one. Though to be fair, without his disguise as a blind man, Grace would never have let down her guard (and her clothes). When bandits attack the stagecoach, the two must band together to escape before anyone uncovers their disguises. Who needs trust? Grace and Reuben join forces to recoup their lost money, despite the mountain of lies between them. They concoct a plan to sucker the mob boss of Chinatown for money. Instead of handing over the cash, the mob boss kidnaps Grace, and it’s up to Reuben to save her. They escape to Grace’s farm outside San Francisco and plot an even better revenge. Hijinks ensue.

Discussion:

This is my second Gaffney book (WILD AT HEART was the first), and I’m a fan. Fast paced plot, funny, playful dialogue and absolutely charming characters. Grace and Reuben’s sharp tongues are equally as intriguing as their sharp minds. I like especially when Grace makes fun of Reuben talking about wine. What’s with the cover though, really? Tasteful, but very booooring. The book is not boring. For a fun, fresh read, I highly recommend it!

Romance is the most maligned genre of literature, despite being the highest grossing. How do publishers afford multi-million dollar contracts for first time literary fiction authors? On the backs of romance. We, romance readers, are the most loyal fans. We are powering through the recession, earning even more profits for Harlequin despite the buying downturn through the rest of the economy. Unfortunately, most people who criticize the genre as “bodice-rippers” and “crotch novels” have never read one. I’ll leave the eloquent arguments to Smart Bitches who Love Trashy Books and Dear Author. Check out the stats on romance readers from the Romance Writers of America to see that we’re a highly diverse, highly educated bunch. Escapist fantasies? What book, besides a textbook, isn’t an escapist fantasy? That’s what reading is. That’s what TV and movies are. ENTERTAINMENT.

Romance novels are delicious. Nom…nom…nomnomnomnomnom.

What I want to share with you now is the time honored wisdom: Don’t Knock it till You’ve Tried it

Here are 13 recommended books (all of which I’ve read and loved) in each subgenre of your reading persuasion. Go ahead, try one. I double-dog dare ya.

1. Contemporary: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
2. Paranormal: Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
3. Historical: It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
4. Regency: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne
   
5. Science-Fiction: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
6. Fantasy: The Moon Witch by Linda Winstead Jones
7. Suspense: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
8. Young Adult: Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (sigh, or Twilight…but who’s left who hasn’t read it?)
9. Women’s Fiction: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
10. Erotica: Go Fetch! by Shelly Laurenston
11. Contemporary Category Romance: Marriage at the Millionaire’s Command by Anne Oliver
12. Paranormal Category Romance: Raintree Inferno by Linda Howard
13. Suspense Category Romance: Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

Please join me in welcoming historical romance author Carrie Lofty. Ms. Lofty’s newest release WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS is in book stores now.

In Sherwood Forest, outcast warrior Will Scarlet rescues a blind woman who dreams of fire.

Now, to defeat the new Sheriff of Nottingham, he’ll need to become a hero for the ages. It’s amazing what a scoundrel will do for love…

Ciara: What a Scoundrel Wants stars Will Scarlet of Robin Hood fame. What attracted you to Will out of all the merry men?

Carrie: Initially, I was attracted to Christian Slater’s portrayal of Will Scarlet in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He’s angry, young, petulant, and very hurt. As I dove into my research, I learned that the character of Will Scarlet has always been flexible. He’s served whatever purpose the story required: a cad, a thug, a dandy, an inexperienced youth, a confidante. I wondered what sort of hero he would become, given a little time, the right set of challenges, and the right female motivation.

Ciara: The heroine, Meg, is blind. What challenges and benefits did you encounter writing without using the sense of sight?

Carrie: One of the first scenes I imagined for the book is where Meg is nearly burned for witchcraft. I saw it all: the angry villagers gathered below, torches against the dark night, the smoke and flames coming up from the pyre. But then I realized that Meg wouldn’t be able to see any of that. Every scene then became a matter of translating what I saw in my mind into what Meg would be able to take in with her other senses–the smell of burning wood, the heat against her legs, the frantic shouts. So it was a challenge, but it had the benefit of sinking me deeply into her point of view.

Ciara: Whose point of view was more challenging to write: Will’s or Meg’s?

Carrie: Meg, by far. She’s very angry and hurt by circumstances from her past, but she’s also heartbreakingly vulnerable. Delving into her was an emotional journey. Will was just a piece of cake. Fun, snarky, sarcastic, brave, he’s a hero I could imagine from the very first page.

Ciara: Why do you think the legend of Robin Hood has had such staying power captivating the common imagination over so many retellings?

Carrie: The best legends and myths are not about the actual stories, but about the function they have at any given moment in society. I studied this same phenomenon for my master’s on the societal impact of gunfights legends after the Civil War. There’s just enough history to give it credence, but then a dearth of details. We can fill in the blanks to make the story relevant. For example, ballads from before the 16th century portrayed Robin Hood as a devout Catholic. He risked life and limb to take money to the nuns. After the Protestant Reformation, however, his stories became more adamantly anti-Catholic, to the point where bishops and nuns were villains in disguise. The change reflected the times.

Ciara: Which version of Robin Hood is your favorite? (Men in tight tights? *grin*)

Carrie: As I mentioned above, I was inspired by Prince of Thieves, even though I know it’s the best sort of utter crap. I’m enjoying the new “Robin Hood” series from the BBC, slowly catching up on what I’ve missed with that one. And although Men in Tights was terrible (or brilliant, depending on who you talk to), it featured a very nice Will Scarlet-ish character played by Matthew Porretta.

Ciara: Are you a plotter or do you write by the seat of your pants?

Carrie: I use a method I call telephone poles. I brainstorm a series of images, scenes, themes, or bits of dialogue I’d like to seen in a particular story, then arrange them in roughly chronological order. Roughly. The wire connecting these plotting telephone poles is the story itself, which I pants. That’s where unexpected things happen, generally to the betterment of the story.

Ciara: What was the first romance novel you read and how old were you?

Carrie: Santana Rose by Olga Bicos, an historical spy/white slavery thriller set in 19th century New Orleans. I think I was fifteen. It opened up a whole new world to me. History and romance?? Fantastic!

Ciara: If you were stranded on a desert island and could choose six books to be stranded with, what would they be?

Carrie:

1. The Complete Shakespeare (I might finally finish it)
2. Atonement by Ian McEwan
3. The Siege by Helen Dunmore
4. The Time-Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
5. Night in Eden by Candice Proctor
6. Fire & Rain by Elizabeth Lowell

Ciara: What was your path to publishing? When did you get “the call”?

Carrie: My husband took a three-month internship position in Virginia in the summer of 2006, while I stayed in Wisconsin with our two young daughters. I needed a creative and professional outlet for myself, and for the first time, I took my writing ambitions seriously.

That summer, I finished my first manuscript, Serenade, in with a widowed violin prodigy in 1804 Salzburg falls for a composer who stole the symphony he’s most famous for. (I’ll be posting Serenade as a serial on my website beginning in January. Visit www.carrielofty.com for details.)

I began What a Scoundrel Wants shortly thereafter, then pitched it to Hilary Sares of Kensington at Nationals in 2007. She bought it in September, along with the late 2009 sequel, Scoundrel’s Kiss, in which a Spanish warrior monk falls for the opium addict he’s sworn to cure, but she tempts him to abandon his vows of obedience, non-violence and chastity.

Ciara: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Carrie: Set a manageable daily goal and meet it. When you can meet it consistently, push a little harder. Find reliable critique partners to help you see where you’re stuck or where you can best improve. Take your career intentions seriously, especially if you expect others to honor your ambitions. And most importantly, trust that you have a story worth telling. Good luck, and thanks to Ciara for letting me stop by!

Ciara: Thank You!

Watch the Book Trailer for WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCVX6xDyOp8&eurl=http://www.carrielofty.com/WaSW.html]

TITLE: Only With Your Love
AUTHOR: Lisa Kleypas
PUBLICATION: Avon, February 1992
GENRE: Historical Romance – Pirates!
RATING: <3 <3 <3

I considered entitling this post “In which I discover an Old Skool Romance that I actually liked.” A few pages in, I thought to myself, “Oh NOOOoooos! This can’t be Lisa Kleypas!” but I continued reading…and continued reading…and read right to the end in one sitting. I quite enjoyed it. This book has every romance trope you can think of: Purple prose! Virgin widows! Forced Seduction! Honorable pirates! Mistaken identity! Irritating nicknames! Anachronistic sensibilities! But somehow, despite it all, I fell for the characters and was swept away by the adventure.

***Ahoy Spoilers!***

PLOT:
Celia Vallerand, 24-year-old french former-spinster, is on her honeymoon, on a ship bound for her husband’s family in New Orleans. Shy girl that she is, she has begged her husband to delay consummating the union until they know each other better. His seduction plans are interrupted when the ship is attacked by pirates. Everyone is killed except Celia, who is kidnapped as a prize for the eeevil pirate captain’s brother. Brought to the secret pirate island, she pleads for help from a rival pirate captain (ahoy hero!) who fights a duel for her and wins. They flee for their lives from eevil pirate captain #1.

The hero wears a scraggly full beard and long hair to hide his appearance (yuck). He has his own secret agenda for rescuing Celia, but he is attracted to her, despite her skinniness, boyish hips, and childlike face. He is still and evil pirate, despite being the hero, and plunders her treasure, inspiring hitherto unknown feelings of desire from her. He is shocked and angry to discover that her bounty had never been stolen before (hehheh). Celia is, understandably, upset.

Arriving in New Orleans at the Vallerand family plantation, Celia is dismayed to find that the evil pirate captain who stole her innocence is none other than Justin Vallerand, her dead husband’s twin brother. Fortunately for her, he leaves immediately as there is a price on his head and he has a revenge to carryout. The Vallerand family accepts her with open arms and fattens her up. (I was so sure when she started complaining how all her dresses were too tight that she was preggers and we’d get our secret baby. But I was wrong. Biggest disappointment of the book.)

Four months later, Justin shows up at the plantation half dead. Despite her hatred, Celia nurses him back to life and, in the process, forges a bond with the difficult patient. When the authorities come sniffing around, the family passes Justin off as the dead brother, Philippe. Justin regains his strength and ravishes Celia some more, this time with her consent and cooperation.

The super eeevil pirate captain #1 shows up with the news that Philippe is alive!

Justin agrees to be traded in return for Philippe’s safety. Celia, in her one TSTL moment, follows to the trade point and is kidnapped. Justin and Celia and bad pirates return to secret pirate island. Justin’s crew springs escape. Battle! Fighting! Explosions! Mayhem! Good guys win and live Happily Ever After.

Discussion:
One can’t take this book seriously. I completely recommend it to die-hard romance fans, because you will be able to appreciate the silliness. Please do not give this book to your non-romance-reading friends. It is a Bodice Ripper.

Let’s start off with the cover. My cover has two swans on the front. There are no swans in the book. Swans, as far as I know, don’t even live in the carrebean or New Orleans or any other setting covered in the book. They are not mentioned anywhere in the book, nor is any character described as being swan-like. Why the cover? I. Have. No. Idea.

Secondly, the forced seduction. Y’all know how I feel about forced seductions. Why then did I not throw this book against a wall? This is the first book I’ve read where the rapist-hero actually goes through a believable character transformation over the course of the book. He is truly a different person who regrets his actions by the end of the book.  He recognizes his vile acts and seeks to make amends. He is redeemed and gives his life in exchange for others. In addition, both the hero and the heroine realize that the forced seduction for what it is: BAD. The heroine hates the hero afterwards, and goes through her own transformation coming to terms with her rape, healing, and forgiving the hero.

This book would have been better with a baby epilogue. I was so sure the heroine was going to get knocked up. I was very disappointed when she didn’t. Not even in the epilogue! Come on Lisa – this book had everything but the baby! It’s my favorite cliche.

Irritating nicknames: the hero calls the heroine “infant,” which is so incredibly not sexy I can’t even begin to describe…grrrrrrr.

I recommend this book especially to all the Desert Island Ladies, because it’s set on a desert island, has lots of pirates and rum and fun.

Seattle author Gerri Russell launched her new book WARRIOR’S LADY yesterday at the Bellevue Barnes & Noble. Highlights included a kilted bagpiper, photos of her trip to Scotland, and a dramatic reading of the book in costume. I was lucky enough to attend and meet Gerri. She will also be at the Emerald City Writers Conference Book Fair next week.

WARRIOR’S LADY is Gerri’s third book. She writes historical romances set in medieval Scotland, which means, ahem, Men in KILTS. Her first, THE WARRIOR TRAINER, won the American Title II contest. Her next project is Indiana Jones set in Braveheart. Please wipe your drool off the floor.

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Those of you just joining us might not know – I have a thing for men in kilts. Who doesn’t? Not Utilikilts. Real kilts. Gerri’s husband was at the signing in a kilt, and I have to say I was terribly jealous. Someday Mr. Wonderful will relent to wear the cloth of his ancestors, and it will be the happiest day of my life.

The photo to the left is the bagpiper who set the mood for the Scottish-style signing. He is playing either the Irish Ulliean pipes or the lowland/parlor pipers in this photo. They are quieter, indoor pipes, as opposed to the Great Highland pipes, which are Martial and intended to march the troops into battle and intimidate the enemy. Sadly, he was unfamiliar with the music from Rob Roy (best movie ever! well, second to Last of the Mohicans).

Members of Bellevue Youth Theater attended in period dress and presented a dramatic reading of WARRIOR’S LADY. It was lots of fun. Gerri donated part of the proceeds from the event to the troupe.

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Win a free book! Christina Arbini is hosting a givaway of Gerri’s trilogy today on her blog. Leave her a comment for a chance to win.

WARRIOR’S LADY

Camden Lockhart vowed to eliminate the Ruthven clan after they had destroyed his family. All he had left was a small niece and the legacy of the Charm Stone she carried, but no one knew where they little girl was. Rhiannon Ruthven came to the abbey to escape the brutality of her brothers and find solace. Instead she found the orphaned Violet Lockhart in need of an escort to her uncle’s castle. Rhiannon didn’t know it, but she would be walking straight into a nest of assassins. Watching Rhiannon nearly sacrifice her own life to save another’s, Camden knew he could not condemn her to death. He’d have to protect her from the very men he’d hired to kill her. Scottish legend said the Charm Stone had the power to heal, but was it strong enough to unite two wounded hearts?

These are my notes from the Historical Romance Writers Conference in San Francisco put on by the Beau Monde and Hearts Through History RWA chapters. I did my best to capture their comments word-for-word. This was one of the most controversial workshops I attended that week (including those at the RWA National Conference).

WORKSHOP TITLE: Sell that Historical
PRESENTERS: Kensington editor Hilary Sares & Michelle Buonfiglio from Romance: B(u)y the Book
DATE: July 31, 2008
BLURB: Where the genre is and where it’s going! If anyone knows, it’s these two women. So if you’re looking to sell or interested in what is selling, this is the workshop for you.

HILARY SARES told her audience that “Historicals never went away. The rumor that they are dead was never true.” She said that publishers are looking for intensity & complexity and held up MIRA historical Deanna Rayborn as an example of a great historical. She said that she is looking for stories where men are men and women have to outwit them. Strong, aggressive heroes sell romance novels, which is why men are now on covers. It is really hard to sell a sweet regency (no sex). She wants characters to be historically accurate for the time period. The hero shouldn’t have a conscious, because the idea didn’t exist. Instead say “his mind was troubled.” Clarity and passion are the most important.

MICHELLE BUONFIGLIO loves Historical Romance best of all. She urged the audience to “Stay off line. Don’t pay attention to anything anyone says on the loops. Your friends don’t know anything about what’s going on. Readers love historicals.” For her, the most exciting thing is the Authentic historical, one that is extraordinarily historically accurate and makes no nods to political correctness. She said that readers don’t want to see feminist views in the sensibilities of the time. “Readers crave forced seduction.” She upheld Anna Campbell’s CLAIMING THE COURTESAN as the type of non-PC, historically accurate book that readers love.

Q: Is it still difficult to sell obscure time periods? Ancient Egypt, for example

A: Hilary said that it doesn’t make her eyes light up, but if you have passion and emotional characters you can do anything.

Q: What about multicultural historicals?

A: Hilary said that the civil war is hard to sell. Michelle said that romance readers are the best audience for multiculturalism because they just want a good story.

Q: What other time periods are popular?

A: American Historical became popular after the Iraq War. Medievals are always popular.

Q: How does one put passion and intensity into one’s story?

A: Hillary answered “don’t get too tripped up on the plot. Readers want emotions. Every scene must have an emotion reason to be there. Every scene must have a beating heart. Try reading your book backwards to get yourself out of linear thinking. Is there something of emotional interest in each scene? Especially in the first 5 chapters. Won’t sell on ingenuity of plot. Books are entertainment. Great story is about strong emotion always.”

Michelle said, “I want to feel emotions that non-romance readers are afraid of. Never forget about hero and heroine – everything in the book leads up to them breaking up and getting together again. A romance is a love story first and foremost. We don’t want a thriller that is too thrilling, or a mystery that is too mysterious. We want emotions. We read it to feel.”

Q: How much sex should be in a book?

A: Hilary said that sweet romances don’t sell (except Avalon publisher). If you want to write sweet romances, you must write inspirational. That said, sex must fit the plot. Doesn’t mean you have to write thundering three-ways or high ick factor. She said that “Women buy romance for the MEN.”

Q: How tortured can the hero be?

A: Hilary doesn’t want to read a book about a hero who abused his wife and saw the light. Heroes never hurt dogs, women or children. They can be tortured but must be gallant to the bone. Readers want commitment. The hero cannot be flawed in a way that he has ever, ever hurt anyone else. Editors would put the manuscript away immediately.

Michelle said that readers enjoying a not completely redeemed hero. Readers don’t want a completely reformed rake. The hero doesn’t need to say “I love you” if he acts in such a way that he obviously loves the heroine, because we “don’t want him emasculated.”

Hilary disagreed. She said that readers love the emotional payoff of a hero who falls and falls hard. She will never buy a romance where the hero doesn’t say “I love you.” She told us, “I’m dating every romance hero I’ve ever bought.”

Q: What makes you really excited and want to buy a book?

A: Hilary answered: Talent! A clear passionate story. I know I can buy more books from that author. Readers buy big, bold men. Heroine is secondary. “Just make sure she isn’t irritating.” Intensity is important; Historicals are more intense than they have ever been.

Q: What about violence?

A: Hilary said that it depends. If you have a sex scene right on top of violent scene it can seem awkward. She doesn’t want gratuitous violence. It must fit the plot. Nursing scenes are hot. But she also said that “Politically correct is boring.”

Michelle jumped in to say that readers crave Authentic romance – “when men were men.” And my note taking went down hill as I became upset at her assertion that “The real true romances are bodice rippers.”

Hilary said “We don’t want to see the heroine. We only want Heroes. He should be a MAN. If the hero is fabulous, you have a good shot at being published.”

DISCUSSION:

Most of you know that I strongly disagree with Michelle that “readers crave forced seduction.”

So my questions for you are: What is a hero? What is your definition of a “real man?” Is there a hero archetype that you like best? What is your favorite historical romance hero and why?

(Please be respectful in your responses. This is a loaded topic.)

*Singing*

We’re men, MANLY men, we’re men in tights. Yeah!
We roam around the forest looking for fights.
We’re men, we’re men in tights.
We rob from the rich and give to the poor, that’s right!
We may look like pansies, but don’t get us wrong or else we’ll put out your lights.
We’re men, we’re men in tights (TIGHT tights),
Always on guard defending the people’s rights.
When you’re in a fix just call for the men in tights!
We’re butch.