Molly O'Keefe's Blog, page 25
January 10, 2013
What's old is new again - the Alpha-Ahole
Molly and I were recently having a conversion about some trends we’re seeing in romance recently. Certainly we’re seeing explosions in self-publishing success where authors are now receiving big time traditional publishing contracts, hitting lists etc. I’ve read a number of these breakout authors and while I still have my issues with content and copy editing, I do get why these books are attracting readers.
Now it took me a while, I will admit. I was so focused on what I considered to be flaws that I forgot what can be inherently compelling to readers. Especially women reading romance for that fantasy/escape element.
The absolute, dominant, no messing with, very large, very handsome, well hung (let’s face it, it’s true) Alpha-Ahole. Now, he’s been featured pretty dominantly in paranormal. There I think we gave him a pass because he was literally a monster. Or a vampire, werewolf, dragon etc. But now he’s made his way into straight contemporary. Who is this man? This man will make you sign a contract saying he can do anything he wants to you in bed. This man will have conversations with you by lifting your skirt to your hips, carrying you to a desk and laying you flat on it while he explains that it’s his world and you are just living in it.
This man is an absolute dick to the heroine for basically ninety percent of the story until he figures out she is his one true love. This man is good in bed, if a little crude. He usually likes to talk dirty. This man has no softness, unless it’s for animals or children (certainly not the heroine). Yet, this man is protective to the ultimate extreme. Don’t come home ten minutes late unless you want to get yelled at for making him worry. Don’t drive a car that gets a flat tire, (or do) because he’s probably going to buy you a new really expensive car (because most likely he’s a billionaire too) with run flat tires.Now you may be thinking I’m only talking about recent books featuring the Alpha-Ahole, but that’s when I figured it out. When I started looking at the qualities of the men in these books, and let’s face these books are all about the men, I remembered so many things from my past.
I knew this guy. Elizabeth Lowell perfected him in her late 80’s Silhouette Desire books. Linda Howard made a career for herself featuring this guy. Diana Palmer’s ranchers and businessmen – could those guys be any meaner to those twenty year old virgins they were always abusing?
I knew this Alpha-Ahole and I loved him. The meaner the better. Hello Judith McNaught, Double Standards anyone? Linda Howard’s Sarah’s Child? I mean these guys were A-HOLES. But I still remember them.
But then right about that same time something happened. This other author – you might know her – her name is Nora Roberts – she was also writing books at that time. And her men were strong, and smart, but they also tended to be funny and fairly laid back. And she featured women. Strong women, smart women, broken women. Woman who didn’t take “stuff” from anyone. Women who could kick butt. Women who had careers. Women who could solve crimes. I fell in love with those books too.So I guess there is no real moral to this story. Other than as I saw all these major deals I started to worry where I (and my heroines) would fit in. Could romance only support the Alpha-Ahole and the placeholder heroine leaving the meatier – I don’t mean fat here - heroines by the wayside? The answer: no. There always has been and there always will be a place for both.
But I do wonder if there isn’t some sort of deep psychological twist happening here. That as women statistically are becoming more independent, wealthier, staying single longer, not marrying again after divore, etc. that our Alpha’s need to be even MORE Alpha. Not just hot, but the hottest. Not just rich, but the richest. Not just dominating, but completely and utterly controlling. In real life most women I know wouldn’t walk but would RUN from this man. But romance isn’t real life and there is no shame in liking what you like. We just have to hope that all this testosterone is sometimes countered with books about incredible women. Because I want to read her story too.
January 9, 2013
Winner of Back to The Good Fortune Diner
Rashada and Sarah! You're it. I'll be contacting you shortly!!
January 7, 2013
Interview With Vicki Essex - Author of Back To The Good Fortune Diner and Smart Bitch Sarah's January Book Club Selection
Oh man - talk about great timing! Not only do we have a fantastic interview with Vicki Essex whose Jan book Back to the Good Fortune Diner is Smart Bitch Sarah's January Book Club selection - but she is giving away three copies - digital or print to one lucky commenter. The winners will be selected on Wednesday - just include your email address on your comment.
How have you adjusted to the longer Superromance word count? was it a tough learning process? Or are you better with a longer word count?
At first, I was worried. An extra 20,000 words was a lot of writing. But then I discovered the magic of secondary plots. In the case of Back to the Good Fortune Diner, I got to approach the conflicts my main characters, Tiffany and Chris, faced from a different angle through Tiffany’s brother, Daniel. I actually enjoy secondary plots for that reason. You can explore different aspects of a theme through other characters’ perspectives. Or you can further complicate the main plot with more involved external pressures. It was challenging and a little scary to have to write 25% more, but that’s probably just because there’s so much more you can say in that space.
You have a bi-racial couple in this book! Was that something you've wanted to include in your romances? Did your editor embrace it?
I was set on writing a character of Chinese descent when I started writing. Being Chinese Canadian myself, it was hard to find romances featuring characters with my background. I was hesitant at first—I wasn’t sure it would sell. The simple fact is, you don’t see a lot of diversity in romances. But the more I explored Tiffany’s characterization, the more I realized there was nothing about her experiences that wasn’t like anyone else’s. Many of us grow up with parental disapproval, a sense of not belonging. The thing that made this story “the same, but different” was that Tiffany had the additional challenge of growing up as a minority in a small town in America, and that’s something she has to come to grips with.
After we worked on it together, my editor fully embraced my story. The important thing to understand about a good romance—and particularly, Harlequin Superromance books—is that root of the romantic conflict has to be embedded in the characterization. Back to the Good Fortune Diner does delve into the challenges of interracial relationships, but the main conflict deals with Tiffany’s absolute belief that moving back to the city is vital to her success, while Chris’s life is on the farm. The romantic conflict is tied to who the hero and heroine are, rather than what they are. This was important in building the story because interracial relationships aren’t as taboo as they were twenty or thirty years ago. Race does still play a factor, of course, and it was important that I touched on that, as well.
How much have you learned between your first book and your second book?
Craft wise, I learned a lot. Victoria Curran, who was my editor for my first book, Her Son’s Hero, taught me a lot about simplifying, resisting the urge to explain, showing and not telling. Megan Long, my editor for Back to the Good Fortune Diner, really helped me grasp the idea that story happens when choices lead to unexpected consequences.
What's next?
I’m working on another book featuring mixed martial arts, based in the same world as Her Son’s Hero. It stars Kyle Peters, a wrestling and MMA coach, training a female MMA fighter bent on going pro against the wishes of her family. I’m hoping to go back to Everville at some point, as well—there are a lot of stories to tell in a growing, evolving community.
Vicki’s giving away three copies of her latest book, Back to the Good Fortune Diner. Leave a comment below and she’ll randomly draw a winner of a hard copy or ebook version of her book.
Vicki Essex is an author for Harlequin Superromance. Back to the Good Fortune Diner is her second book. For more information, visit www.vickiessex.com. You can also find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vickiessexauthor and on Twitter @vickiessex.
How have you adjusted to the longer Superromance word count? was it a tough learning process? Or are you better with a longer word count?
At first, I was worried. An extra 20,000 words was a lot of writing. But then I discovered the magic of secondary plots. In the case of Back to the Good Fortune Diner, I got to approach the conflicts my main characters, Tiffany and Chris, faced from a different angle through Tiffany’s brother, Daniel. I actually enjoy secondary plots for that reason. You can explore different aspects of a theme through other characters’ perspectives. Or you can further complicate the main plot with more involved external pressures. It was challenging and a little scary to have to write 25% more, but that’s probably just because there’s so much more you can say in that space.
You have a bi-racial couple in this book! Was that something you've wanted to include in your romances? Did your editor embrace it?
I was set on writing a character of Chinese descent when I started writing. Being Chinese Canadian myself, it was hard to find romances featuring characters with my background. I was hesitant at first—I wasn’t sure it would sell. The simple fact is, you don’t see a lot of diversity in romances. But the more I explored Tiffany’s characterization, the more I realized there was nothing about her experiences that wasn’t like anyone else’s. Many of us grow up with parental disapproval, a sense of not belonging. The thing that made this story “the same, but different” was that Tiffany had the additional challenge of growing up as a minority in a small town in America, and that’s something she has to come to grips with.
After we worked on it together, my editor fully embraced my story. The important thing to understand about a good romance—and particularly, Harlequin Superromance books—is that root of the romantic conflict has to be embedded in the characterization. Back to the Good Fortune Diner does delve into the challenges of interracial relationships, but the main conflict deals with Tiffany’s absolute belief that moving back to the city is vital to her success, while Chris’s life is on the farm. The romantic conflict is tied to who the hero and heroine are, rather than what they are. This was important in building the story because interracial relationships aren’t as taboo as they were twenty or thirty years ago. Race does still play a factor, of course, and it was important that I touched on that, as well.
How much have you learned between your first book and your second book?
Craft wise, I learned a lot. Victoria Curran, who was my editor for my first book, Her Son’s Hero, taught me a lot about simplifying, resisting the urge to explain, showing and not telling. Megan Long, my editor for Back to the Good Fortune Diner, really helped me grasp the idea that story happens when choices lead to unexpected consequences.
What's next?
I’m working on another book featuring mixed martial arts, based in the same world as Her Son’s Hero. It stars Kyle Peters, a wrestling and MMA coach, training a female MMA fighter bent on going pro against the wishes of her family. I’m hoping to go back to Everville at some point, as well—there are a lot of stories to tell in a growing, evolving community.
Vicki’s giving away three copies of her latest book, Back to the Good Fortune Diner. Leave a comment below and she’ll randomly draw a winner of a hard copy or ebook version of her book.
Vicki Essex is an author for Harlequin Superromance. Back to the Good Fortune Diner is her second book. For more information, visit www.vickiessex.com. You can also find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vickiessexauthor and on Twitter @vickiessex.
January 4, 2013
Even more resolutions
I'm always conflicted on resolutions. I start them so gung ho in January and by March, I'm back to my old habits.
But I guess putting them in print helps to ensure I actually follow through, so here goes
1) Read more in various genres. I want to read more great books, all great books. I got caught up in a YA warp this past year and need to break from that and find women's fiction, and mysteries and urban fantasy.
2) More focused - I get distracted so easily. A shiny light, a loud noise, and my head is elsewhere and I don't finish my goals for the day. This year, I will be focused and finish the projects I start.
3) Exercise and eat well - It is a new years resolution after all... and I know personally exercising helps me clear stress and helps me focus and makes me feel better at the end of the day.
4) Regain the joy and excitement - I remember at a time, when reading a great book made me so excited to talk about it, and understand what makes it great, and incorporate that into my own work. I got a little jaded this past year and I'd like to reverse that and find the joy again.
That's it. I'm trying not to create resolutions I won't keep and stuff like drink less, or cut sugar from my diet, are probably not going to happen.
But I guess putting them in print helps to ensure I actually follow through, so here goes
1) Read more in various genres. I want to read more great books, all great books. I got caught up in a YA warp this past year and need to break from that and find women's fiction, and mysteries and urban fantasy.
2) More focused - I get distracted so easily. A shiny light, a loud noise, and my head is elsewhere and I don't finish my goals for the day. This year, I will be focused and finish the projects I start.
3) Exercise and eat well - It is a new years resolution after all... and I know personally exercising helps me clear stress and helps me focus and makes me feel better at the end of the day.
4) Regain the joy and excitement - I remember at a time, when reading a great book made me so excited to talk about it, and understand what makes it great, and incorporate that into my own work. I got a little jaded this past year and I'd like to reverse that and find the joy again.
That's it. I'm trying not to create resolutions I won't keep and stuff like drink less, or cut sugar from my diet, are probably not going to happen.
January 3, 2013
Resolutions/2013 List Continued...
Since Maureen started hers yesterday I figured I would follow up with mine. I like doing resolutions or just in general Things To Do List for 2013. I didn’t do a list in 2012 and now I can’t go back and check off all the things I did do. Which believe it or not has given me a lot of satisfaction in the past even if I only check 5 of the 10 things I wanted to accomplish. I never feel guilty about the things I didn't do, just happy with the the things I did.
To Do For 2013
1. Finish current book (which is 6 weeks late) FAST.
2. Finish my next contracted book (which the first 3 chapters are now officially 3 days late) FASTER.
3. Start my 1920, never going to sell historical mystery romance – because truly I’m a glutton for punishment.
4. Do what Molly says… this is pretty much for everything in general – but in particular sign up for Writer’s Space.
5. Attend a Writers Retreat (say when and where guys!)
6. Lose Weight – I know so boring – but so necessary this year in particular. My digital scale is an unforgiving bitch, but I trust her.
7. Drink Less, Write more. My thought process is that if I’m not having wine at night, I’ll be more likely to get up early to write in the morning. (See Fast and Faster above) Day 1 so far was a failure. But I’m hopeful.
8. Buy a new house… I know crazy. Like you have this nice little list going with all the usual things and then BAM! I throw this on. I just feel like I’m ready for something new. Some new space. Some new change. Something that will throw my life into upheaval - why I have this need I have no idea, but it’s there. We’ll see.
January 2, 2013
2013 -- The Year of Awesome
I don't remember when I've started out a calendar year so full of hope. And I'm not sure why.
I'm under a lot of personal stress right now. Things actually aren't going all that well in most areas of my life. Plus, I came down with a horrible New Year's cold that has me knocked off my feet at a time when I have A LOT TO DO.
But... I feel hopeful. I feel like the 365 days (okay 363 1/2 days) stretched ahead of me are full of opportunities and possibilities. For me and for my friends.
I stopped making resolutions years ago, but I think this year I'm going to try.
Here I go:
1. Eat better (For me, a lot of this is eat out less often, which will also help with the financial woes).
2. Stretch every day (Yes, I want to exercise more in general, but I'm such a tight ball of pain and stress right now and I know that, as painful and uncomfortable as stretching is in my current condition, I always feel better after I do it.)
3. Stay on the sunny side. (This one will be hard for me. As positive as I feel today, I know myself. I get blue. But I have a few ideas and strategies in mind to keep the brightness alight.)
4. Don't second guess as much. (Okay, now I'm starting to sound as if my plan for 2013 is to entirely change my personality. LOL. But I think what I mean is, especially in terms of my writing, that I just want to go for it, again. Like I did in the early days when I believed all of my ideas were awesome and marketable and worth reading. Having been hit on the head by the sledge hammer that is publishing, a few too many times, I've started to assume my ideas suck, or are derivative or boring, before I even start them--and that seriously saps all the fun out of writing.)
5. Write more proposals. (This is related to the one above. Back in the day, I could write, say 35-50 pages of something new in a week, maybe two. They'd be a mess, but they'd be done. And sometimes it's hard to get the feel of a story or a character or figure out whether an idea has legs by brainstorming ideas with friends or writing notes and outlines. Sometimes you just need to start. And it's not a failure if it's something I never finish. I think that's the key. I have a fairly lengthy list of ideas. I want to turn several those "ideas" and combinations and permutations of those ideas, into 50 page starts and use those beginnings to figure out which ones might be worth finishing. And not put this HUGE PRESSURE on which idea to tackle first. It's just 35-50 pages, for frack's sake!)
I do feel hopeful about this year. I think, one way or another, 2013 is going to be a year of change for me.
Change is scary. But at least I feel sure that a year from now my world won't look the same to me as it looks right now.
I'm under a lot of personal stress right now. Things actually aren't going all that well in most areas of my life. Plus, I came down with a horrible New Year's cold that has me knocked off my feet at a time when I have A LOT TO DO.
But... I feel hopeful. I feel like the 365 days (okay 363 1/2 days) stretched ahead of me are full of opportunities and possibilities. For me and for my friends.
I stopped making resolutions years ago, but I think this year I'm going to try.
Here I go:
1. Eat better (For me, a lot of this is eat out less often, which will also help with the financial woes).
2. Stretch every day (Yes, I want to exercise more in general, but I'm such a tight ball of pain and stress right now and I know that, as painful and uncomfortable as stretching is in my current condition, I always feel better after I do it.)
3. Stay on the sunny side. (This one will be hard for me. As positive as I feel today, I know myself. I get blue. But I have a few ideas and strategies in mind to keep the brightness alight.)
4. Don't second guess as much. (Okay, now I'm starting to sound as if my plan for 2013 is to entirely change my personality. LOL. But I think what I mean is, especially in terms of my writing, that I just want to go for it, again. Like I did in the early days when I believed all of my ideas were awesome and marketable and worth reading. Having been hit on the head by the sledge hammer that is publishing, a few too many times, I've started to assume my ideas suck, or are derivative or boring, before I even start them--and that seriously saps all the fun out of writing.)
5. Write more proposals. (This is related to the one above. Back in the day, I could write, say 35-50 pages of something new in a week, maybe two. They'd be a mess, but they'd be done. And sometimes it's hard to get the feel of a story or a character or figure out whether an idea has legs by brainstorming ideas with friends or writing notes and outlines. Sometimes you just need to start. And it's not a failure if it's something I never finish. I think that's the key. I have a fairly lengthy list of ideas. I want to turn several those "ideas" and combinations and permutations of those ideas, into 50 page starts and use those beginnings to figure out which ones might be worth finishing. And not put this HUGE PRESSURE on which idea to tackle first. It's just 35-50 pages, for frack's sake!)
I do feel hopeful about this year. I think, one way or another, 2013 is going to be a year of change for me.
Change is scary. But at least I feel sure that a year from now my world won't look the same to me as it looks right now.
January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!!
Wishing you the very best for 2013. May we all have health, happiness and prosperity. To begin the new year with a smile, I give you a picture of my critique partner as he edits my latest manuscript:
December 28, 2012
WINNER OF THE HOP GIFTS!!!
Sorry guys - we were a little late getting back to everyone about the winners. I blame the cookies. I got distracted by the cookies. And then I got distracted by the wine. And after that it's just a blur!
Thank you so much to everyone who commented and joined our little blog. We have exciting things planned in the future - including a face lift, lots of contests, interviews with new and interesting authors and of course, lots and lots of talk about movies, television, books and food. We're thrilled to have you join us for the conversation!
Now, our winners!
Winner of the VISA card - crystaley73
Winner 1 of a whack of books - (digital or paper your choice) - traveler
Winner 2 of a whack of books digital or paper - CAROL L
Thanks again and here's to everyone's healthy and happy New Year!!
Thank you so much to everyone who commented and joined our little blog. We have exciting things planned in the future - including a face lift, lots of contests, interviews with new and interesting authors and of course, lots and lots of talk about movies, television, books and food. We're thrilled to have you join us for the conversation!
Now, our winners!
Winner of the VISA card - crystaley73
Winner 1 of a whack of books - (digital or paper your choice) - traveler
Winner 2 of a whack of books digital or paper - CAROL L
Thanks again and here's to everyone's healthy and happy New Year!!
December 20, 2012
It's a HOP!! Or perhaps here at Drunk Writers, a stumble?
#XmasGIVEAWAY
Gifting Books Christmas hop was organized by Reading Romances!
The best books I've ever given or received? That's a tough one, we're a big book giving family. My husband is awesome with the cookbooks, the big fancy ones with pictures of food no one in my family will actually eat. My brother is a genius in the bargain bin and picked up one of my favorite books of all time: Brady Udall's genius book of short stories - Letting Loose The Hounds. There was the year my mom gave me the Little House On the Prairie Box set - that's a treasured gift. And this year, I'm giving the new Springsteen Biography - to MYSELF! I look forward to hiding from my kids stealing time to read that gem.
What you can win here: A $50 Pre-paid Visa card to help with your holiday shopping and a whole whack of books
Number of winners:One grand prize winner (The Visa card) and two winners of the whack of books
Open to US and Canada and winners will be chosen Monday Dec 24 and notified through this blog:
How to enter: Leave a comment below about your favorite holiday gift and follow us -- it's just that easy
December 17, 2012
Breaking the rules
I've been trying to say yes to things lately. I'd gotten a little set in my ways. I'd started having too many rules. I don't like books about World War II. I don't like to see movies based on books that I've read. I don't like Christmas and all the Christmas-y stuff. I don't wear horizontal stripes or socks with sandals. I only wear one pair of glasses at a time.
I went to see Cloud Atlas after having read the book and liked it. So I'm starting to break some other rules. Instead of shunning Christmas, I attended SantaCon this past Saturday. This is what Union Square looked like at about noon:
This is what I looked like:
This is what I drank at our first stop (we were damn classy Santas):
The experience was, in a word, awesome. Totally awesome. I loved it. If I'd stuck to my usual rules of avoiding all things Christmas that I'm not forced to participate in, I wouldn't have gotten to experience that. It would have been a shame.
I'm also considering breaking some of my writing rules. I've been a pretty strict POV task mistress with myself. No head hopping. If I'm in 1st person at the beginning, I stay in that person's head for the whooollllleeee book. If I'm in third, only one head per scene. You know, the drill.
I'm not saying I'm throwing it all out the window, but I'm considering writing one character in first person and the rest in third. Crazy. I know.
So what rules are you considering breaking in 2013?
I went to see Cloud Atlas after having read the book and liked it. So I'm starting to break some other rules. Instead of shunning Christmas, I attended SantaCon this past Saturday. This is what Union Square looked like at about noon:
This is what I looked like:
This is what I drank at our first stop (we were damn classy Santas):
The experience was, in a word, awesome. Totally awesome. I loved it. If I'd stuck to my usual rules of avoiding all things Christmas that I'm not forced to participate in, I wouldn't have gotten to experience that. It would have been a shame.
I'm also considering breaking some of my writing rules. I've been a pretty strict POV task mistress with myself. No head hopping. If I'm in 1st person at the beginning, I stay in that person's head for the whooollllleeee book. If I'm in third, only one head per scene. You know, the drill.
I'm not saying I'm throwing it all out the window, but I'm considering writing one character in first person and the rest in third. Crazy. I know.
So what rules are you considering breaking in 2013?
