Rolynn Anderson's Blog, page 2
September 2, 2019
The Poignancy in an Author’s Acknowledgement Page
Every time a writer finishes a new novel and sends it out to readers, she holds her breath, hoping readers enjoy the story as much as she loved writing the book. On tenterhooks, she waits for the first reviews and e-mail comments from those who delved into the fresh plot and unique characters. She put so much time, effort, and heart in the book. To prove it, just look at her acknowledgement page. There she bares her soul. Her soft spot. Her vulnerability.I’m especially excited about my new release, When Mountains Fall, which means I’m particularly nervous about its impact. And yes, my acknowledgement page is soul-baring:DEDICATIONTo all our B.C. friends in Port McNeill and the Broughton ArchipelagoACKNOWLEDGEMENTSMy husband, Steve, and I co-captained boats starting in 1980, even if we had never owned or operated large vessels before that year. Ro-ven, a 34 foot Tollycraft sedan-with twin gas engines, took us around Lake Washington, Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, the Gulf Islands, and Desolation Sound. More ‘extreme’ adventures began in 1999 when we bought Intrepid, a Kadey-Krogen trawler, 42 feet, and powered by a single diesel Lehman. We cruised up and down the Inside Passage, two times making it all the way to Alaska and back. Transformative, unforgettable experiences.I wrote about the isolated reaches north of Vancouver Island, B.C. in my first novel, Last Resort. Lie Catchers is my paean to the amazing town of Petersburg, Alaska. And here is When Mountains Fall, the first of my Women at the Helm Mystery Series reveling in the people and places around the Broughton Islands. Truth is, the settings are so grand and the people living in the Broughtons are so special, that capturing their essence is not easy. I encourage you to witness the rustic beauty yourself, cruising the fjords, stopping at marinas, fishing for salmon, cod, prawns, and crab. Sublime experiences!Since my passion is writing page-turning mysteries, I took great freedom in changing names and places, and I ramped up local conflicts to darken my plot. Still, I hope I captured the loveliness of the area and honored the hardy, friendly folks who live and work in the Archipelago. My husband and I have fond memories of many good times in Kwatsi Bay (Anca & Max, Marieke & Russell), Echo Bay (Pierre & Tove), Lagoon Cove (Bill & Jean), to name a few of our favorite marinas and owners.Many generous people helped me with this story. My faithful book group, Barbara Wyckoff, Marti Valley, and Sue Ratty-Seeman critiqued the polished draft before my talented friend and editor, Laura Kelly, helped me make the story shine. Beta readers, Bev Protopapas and Barbara Cutshaw gave my story a close reading for the spit-polish stage.
To my husband, Steve, my biggest cheerleader, and to all of you who inspire me to publish my stories, a heartfelt thank you.Readers, I hope you enjoy this book of my heart, When Mountains Fall, out in October!
August 5, 2019
Books of Our Hearts
Lie Catchers: Welcome Home!
Writing any novel is a story in itself. Why am I writing this book? Where did the characters and plot come from? What makes its development such a tangled, fits-and-starts journey?A few months ago when my publisher reverted the rights of the novel to me, I polished it and provided a spanking new cover to it. But most important, I revisited all the reasons I loved writing the book. No project has taken me in more interesting directions than Lie Catchers.First. I named most of the characters in the novel for my Norwegian relatives, living and deceased. The idea of my family ‘living’ forever in a story, has immense appeal for me.Second. The story emerged almost by chance. It was 2011 and we were cruising from Washington State to Alaska on our trawler Intrepid (see picture below). Never have we covered that distance, much less navigated such difficult stretches of water.
But when we arrived in Petersburg, Alaska, all the strangeness of a scary virgin voyage fell away. Petersburg is FULL of Norwegians, looking a lot like my husband and me. The little fishing town felt like home to us…relaxing me to the point I began to enjoy our cruise rather than stress over it.
What’s more, Petersburg came with an unsolved crime from 1932 and a rich history of Norwegians, Tlingit, Haida, Chinese and other folk trying hard to make a living centered on fishing.
I had a novel churning in my brain by the time I left the dock. When we returned to Petersburg on our way south, I had a plot in my mind and research to do. From then on, writing a suspense novel set in Petersburg, AK, became my new passion.A year later, I returned to Petersburg, by boat, published books in hand. Never have I had a more successful book signing!I had so much fun writing Lie Catchers, and I hope you enjoy reading my newest version. My reviewers say they had no idea who the villain was until the ending. Let’s see if you guess correctly!
Writing any novel is a story in itself. Why am I writing this book? Where did the characters and plot come from? What makes its development such a tangled, fits-and-starts journey?A few months ago when my publisher reverted the rights of the novel to me, I polished it and provided a spanking new cover to it. But most important, I revisited all the reasons I loved writing the book. No project has taken me in more interesting directions than Lie Catchers.First. I named most of the characters in the novel for my Norwegian relatives, living and deceased. The idea of my family ‘living’ forever in a story, has immense appeal for me.Second. The story emerged almost by chance. It was 2011 and we were cruising from Washington State to Alaska on our trawler Intrepid (see picture below). Never have we covered that distance, much less navigated such difficult stretches of water.But when we arrived in Petersburg, Alaska, all the strangeness of a scary virgin voyage fell away. Petersburg is FULL of Norwegians, looking a lot like my husband and me. The little fishing town felt like home to us…relaxing me to the point I began to enjoy our cruise rather than stress over it.What’s more, Petersburg came with an unsolved crime from 1932 and a rich history of Norwegians, Tlingit, Haida, Chinese and other folk trying hard to make a living centered on fishing.I had a novel churning in my brain by the time I left the dock. When we returned to Petersburg on our way south, I had a plot in my mind and research to do. From then on, writing a suspense novel set in Petersburg, AK, became my new passion.A year later, I returned to Petersburg, by boat, published books in hand. Never have I had a more successful book signing!I had so much fun writing Lie Catchers, and I hope you enjoy reading my newest version. My reviewers say they had no idea who the villain was until the ending. Let’s see if you guess correctly!
July 3, 2019
Something old is NEW again!
Last Resort is Reborn!I learn something new every day, sometimes to the degree of epiphany! Listen to this story:
First: A neighbor who’d read eight of my books, bought Last Resort from me. She had yet to read Last Resort, my very first published novel (2011). I was a little nervous after getting so much praise from her about my writing. Would she think my first book was good enough?Second: Last Resort was languishing in the hands of my publisher, Wild Rose Press. Another novel, Lie Catchers, no longer in the Encore stable of Amazon, would probably also sit too quietly in Wild Rose’s bookshelf. I petitioned Wild Rose to revert the rights of both books to me. I GOT THEM BOTH BACK!Third: It was like two grown-up children returning to live at home. What would I do with these two books to ‘smarten’ them up for rebirth? New covers (Created by my cover artist Kris Lynn)? Yes! Polish the text (with my beta readers)? Absolutely! Modernize some details (example: no more Fax machines)? Indeed!
My neighbor finished Last Resort, claiming it as her favorite of all my novels! Now I was energized to create great covers, give extra polish to my stories, and format them perfectly.Fourth: This month, I launch the sparkly second edition of Last Resort. (Lie Catchers gets its second debut in August). I now have the freedom to advertise my book as I wish to…and take whatever royalties the book earns. My deepest thanks to Wild Rose for believing in these two books and helping me launch a career as an author. And thanks to my readers, who gave Last Resort great reviews and made me believe in myself as a writer. Firsts are always special!
First: A neighbor who’d read eight of my books, bought Last Resort from me. She had yet to read Last Resort, my very first published novel (2011). I was a little nervous after getting so much praise from her about my writing. Would she think my first book was good enough?Second: Last Resort was languishing in the hands of my publisher, Wild Rose Press. Another novel, Lie Catchers, no longer in the Encore stable of Amazon, would probably also sit too quietly in Wild Rose’s bookshelf. I petitioned Wild Rose to revert the rights of both books to me. I GOT THEM BOTH BACK!Third: It was like two grown-up children returning to live at home. What would I do with these two books to ‘smarten’ them up for rebirth? New covers (Created by my cover artist Kris Lynn)? Yes! Polish the text (with my beta readers)? Absolutely! Modernize some details (example: no more Fax machines)? Indeed!My neighbor finished Last Resort, claiming it as her favorite of all my novels! Now I was energized to create great covers, give extra polish to my stories, and format them perfectly.Fourth: This month, I launch the sparkly second edition of Last Resort. (Lie Catchers gets its second debut in August). I now have the freedom to advertise my book as I wish to…and take whatever royalties the book earns. My deepest thanks to Wild Rose for believing in these two books and helping me launch a career as an author. And thanks to my readers, who gave Last Resort great reviews and made me believe in myself as a writer. Firsts are always special!
June 12, 2019
Where Do You Create Your Art?
Where do you create your art? What do you like surrounding you when you compose? How does ‘place’ affect your art?
I’m lucky to be a writer, because I can create anywhere. My laptop computer is portable and so are the ideas in my head. Since I travel a lot, I must adapt to a variety of environments, some perfect for creating stories, and others quite challenging. Uncomfortable chairs, weird hotel smells, the noise of planes taking off, people talking…I try to write through such distractions. Most of the time, I’m visiting places that are interesting, comfortable and inspiring.In Hawaii, I grab a lounge chair out on our patio and with a cup of coffee at my side, I write like the wind. With a view like this, creating is easy.
Here at my brother’s house in Louisville, I have this lovely backyard scene to inspire me, with a pair of cardinals singing praises for the day.
As much as I love to travel and as flexible I am to adapting to every writing environment, I yearn for home: my desk with a huge monitor, my files and my flip dictionary at my side, my view of oranges and grapefruits dangling trees with a flurry of purple Mexican sage as backdrop.
For this artist, there’s no place to create like home.
I’m lucky to be a writer, because I can create anywhere. My laptop computer is portable and so are the ideas in my head. Since I travel a lot, I must adapt to a variety of environments, some perfect for creating stories, and others quite challenging. Uncomfortable chairs, weird hotel smells, the noise of planes taking off, people talking…I try to write through such distractions. Most of the time, I’m visiting places that are interesting, comfortable and inspiring.In Hawaii, I grab a lounge chair out on our patio and with a cup of coffee at my side, I write like the wind. With a view like this, creating is easy.Here at my brother’s house in Louisville, I have this lovely backyard scene to inspire me, with a pair of cardinals singing praises for the day.As much as I love to travel and as flexible I am to adapting to every writing environment, I yearn for home: my desk with a huge monitor, my files and my flip dictionary at my side, my view of oranges and grapefruits dangling trees with a flurry of purple Mexican sage as backdrop.For this artist, there’s no place to create like home.
May 10, 2019
A Conundrum: What book cover designs appeal to readers?
Authors published by the big five consult multiple cover artists and promotional experts to determine the graphics on the cover of their next big release. Staffs also take over decisions about an author’s story elements, blurb, taglines, and marketing strategy. We staffless Indie authors decide how to present our unique stories to readers using research, peer advice, and gut instincts.The process is scary and exhilarating.
My design for Cézanne’s Ghost, begged for a pen/pencil drawing of my heroine. I knew I wanted to use one of Cézanne’s paintings for part of cover and I wanted my heroine’s ghostly face in the picture as well. To blend those two elements, I needed an illustrator. So I found an artist willing to draw a face for my heroine, in charcoal. Negotiated a price. Worked with my cover artist for a brilliant presentation. I loved the result, and readers did too!I hired a different illustrator for my Woman at the Helm series, continuing to pay two artists to bring my stories to life in cover design, one who draws a scene and another, who manipulates the art into a dynamite cover.Drumroll here, please!I present to you the first in the Woman at the Helm Series, When Mountains Fall. Kris Lynn (Kristallynndesigns.com) is the Cover Designer; William Silva is the Illustrator. Story Summary:Running a marina in isolated Waka Bay, British Columbia was her husband’s dream, not hers. But now he’s dead and a prime suspect in a murder.Shattered by grief, Camryn Hudson must return to the bay to exonerate her husband, protect her seven year-old son, and save a failing business.Loner Finn Barrow’s mission seems equally impossible. He left a top job in Seattle to work in tiny Port McNeill. Fulfilling a bargain with his ailing mother, he must sail to Waka Bay every weekend.He never imagined the danger of cruising into Camryn’s heart while withholding a secret.When a killer roams the land and vultures demand possession of the marina, can they solve a crime and survive in Waka Bay?STAY TUNED. When Mountains Fall should be available to readers of e-book and print by July or August! Until then, read my latest novel, released in late 2018, Fire is Nice. 
FIRE is NICEAmazonMy Website
April 7, 2019
Busting the Myths about What it Means to be a Fiction Author
Reasons why you might care about these Myths:
1. You might want to write fiction, so you’re interested in the process/challenges.2. You’re a patron, a reader. You want to understand and support authors (We definitely need you!).3. You’re thrilled to see someone working as hard as you do. J3. You’re wondering if you’d enjoy reading the books I’ve produced after all my hard work.Reasons why I can burst Myth Bubbles:I’m a former high school and college English teacher, spending my last 7 years in education as a high school principal. As a principal, I opened a brand new high school…I know a lot about mythbusting from that experience. After 30 years in education, a career I loved, I can surely speak to you about adversity. My decision to write suspense novels certainly wasn’t an obvious second career. I was adept at teaching students how to write essays and teachers how to design riveting lesson plans, but I chose to write fiction! Contemporary. Intricate suspense/mystery. To cap it of, I used romance to complicate my plots. A small New York Press snapped me up in 2011 and I’ve been publishing more than a book a year since then…books 9 and 10 come out this year. I’m called a hybrid, backed by a small press as well as independently publishing some books…the term for me is ‘Indie.’ I’ve employed the same editor for all my books.10 books in, I’ve got some Myth Doozies!Myth #1 Authors are born, not madeNope. I’m not the kid who read at two and started writing short stories at four. I began writing fiction in 2000. In order to build skill, I took courses, went to conferences and retreats, read exhaustively about the craft, read hundreds of books in my genre, and joined clubs and loops. My author friends are golden, mentoring me regarding the craft and the career. And I kept writing, because writing is the only way to improve. Remember, I started writing in 2000, but didn’t get published until 11 years later! This is not a sprint. It is a cross country race across miles of rough terrain.Myth #2 Stories take over an author’s brain(almost) fully formed Not for this writer! See Myth #5.I grab my storylines from illogical and unusual places…always unplanned. Often my cover design and my blurb and loglines come early in the process, because both the cover image and my blurb center my story-writing. I sit in front of the computer and let my imagination and my fingers guide me into the story. Once I have a decent plot going and a cast of characters who interest me, I research like mad, and rewrite until my book takes on a whole new look/feel. My book club gets my completed MS next, and their suggestions make me rewrite the story another time. Now, off to my editor, a very picky woman with her own ideas about how my novel might be improved. When the commented-on text comes back to me from my editor, it undergoes yet another transformation. By me. Alone. Once she’s given me another round of feedback, I go back to heavy revising. Next come my beta readers. After that, the book goes to readers, now fully formed. Yup, it’s more like making sausage than something romantic or linear.Myth #3 Best Selling authors have muses Forget about this concept. Don’t believe it, adopt it, or give it credence, or you’ll hurt your career. Write every day. Do not wait for inspiration or energy or some sort of creative burst. If you take a break for anything or anyone, living or dead, to get you charged up about writing, you will not be an author. Bursts of writing are okay. Retreats where you write for hours, lubricated by wine, are fine. But never wait to write, thinking the timing will be better. Write. Every. Day. Period. Know this: Muses do not exist!Myth #4 You have to be a follow rules Write what you want to…what thrills you…what charges you up when you think about it.Don’t try to predict the reader market or tie your career onto the existing ‘popular’ genre. For my book, LIE CATCHERS, which takes place in Petersburg, Alaska, where hundreds of Scandinavians settled back in 1920, I decided to juxtapose that period with contemporary Petersburg. In a romantic suspense novel. First time at portraying two historical periods…first time in Petersburg. I took enormous risks with this book, and it’s one of my bestselling novels!Myth #5 Inspiration is something an author plans for Definitely fake news.I never know where my ideas come from or what I will do with them when they smack me in the face. For CÉZANNE’S GHOST, I watched a woman in a cowboy hat for three minutes at a French train station. She became my heroine. Inspiration for FIRE is NICE, came to me from an NPR segment about a woman who was born without fear. For some reason, I was bound to, doomed to, energized to write about a heroine who didn’t experience fear!
I have Five more Myths to go. Stay tuned next month for the Final Five!
1. You might want to write fiction, so you’re interested in the process/challenges.2. You’re a patron, a reader. You want to understand and support authors (We definitely need you!).3. You’re thrilled to see someone working as hard as you do. J3. You’re wondering if you’d enjoy reading the books I’ve produced after all my hard work.Reasons why I can burst Myth Bubbles:I’m a former high school and college English teacher, spending my last 7 years in education as a high school principal. As a principal, I opened a brand new high school…I know a lot about mythbusting from that experience. After 30 years in education, a career I loved, I can surely speak to you about adversity. My decision to write suspense novels certainly wasn’t an obvious second career. I was adept at teaching students how to write essays and teachers how to design riveting lesson plans, but I chose to write fiction! Contemporary. Intricate suspense/mystery. To cap it of, I used romance to complicate my plots. A small New York Press snapped me up in 2011 and I’ve been publishing more than a book a year since then…books 9 and 10 come out this year. I’m called a hybrid, backed by a small press as well as independently publishing some books…the term for me is ‘Indie.’ I’ve employed the same editor for all my books.10 books in, I’ve got some Myth Doozies!Myth #1 Authors are born, not madeNope. I’m not the kid who read at two and started writing short stories at four. I began writing fiction in 2000. In order to build skill, I took courses, went to conferences and retreats, read exhaustively about the craft, read hundreds of books in my genre, and joined clubs and loops. My author friends are golden, mentoring me regarding the craft and the career. And I kept writing, because writing is the only way to improve. Remember, I started writing in 2000, but didn’t get published until 11 years later! This is not a sprint. It is a cross country race across miles of rough terrain.Myth #2 Stories take over an author’s brain(almost) fully formed Not for this writer! See Myth #5.I grab my storylines from illogical and unusual places…always unplanned. Often my cover design and my blurb and loglines come early in the process, because both the cover image and my blurb center my story-writing. I sit in front of the computer and let my imagination and my fingers guide me into the story. Once I have a decent plot going and a cast of characters who interest me, I research like mad, and rewrite until my book takes on a whole new look/feel. My book club gets my completed MS next, and their suggestions make me rewrite the story another time. Now, off to my editor, a very picky woman with her own ideas about how my novel might be improved. When the commented-on text comes back to me from my editor, it undergoes yet another transformation. By me. Alone. Once she’s given me another round of feedback, I go back to heavy revising. Next come my beta readers. After that, the book goes to readers, now fully formed. Yup, it’s more like making sausage than something romantic or linear.Myth #3 Best Selling authors have muses Forget about this concept. Don’t believe it, adopt it, or give it credence, or you’ll hurt your career. Write every day. Do not wait for inspiration or energy or some sort of creative burst. If you take a break for anything or anyone, living or dead, to get you charged up about writing, you will not be an author. Bursts of writing are okay. Retreats where you write for hours, lubricated by wine, are fine. But never wait to write, thinking the timing will be better. Write. Every. Day. Period. Know this: Muses do not exist!Myth #4 You have to be a follow rules Write what you want to…what thrills you…what charges you up when you think about it.Don’t try to predict the reader market or tie your career onto the existing ‘popular’ genre. For my book, LIE CATCHERS, which takes place in Petersburg, Alaska, where hundreds of Scandinavians settled back in 1920, I decided to juxtapose that period with contemporary Petersburg. In a romantic suspense novel. First time at portraying two historical periods…first time in Petersburg. I took enormous risks with this book, and it’s one of my bestselling novels!Myth #5 Inspiration is something an author plans for Definitely fake news.I never know where my ideas come from or what I will do with them when they smack me in the face. For CÉZANNE’S GHOST, I watched a woman in a cowboy hat for three minutes at a French train station. She became my heroine. Inspiration for FIRE is NICE, came to me from an NPR segment about a woman who was born without fear. For some reason, I was bound to, doomed to, energized to write about a heroine who didn’t experience fear!I have Five more Myths to go. Stay tuned next month for the Final Five!
March 4, 2019
An Elephant in the Room: Women Authors (Especially Romance Writers) Get Less Love
Here are some observations, statistics and questions about dichotomies and inequities regarding Women Authors and the Romance Genre.
Women purchase 80% of the books in the U.S.-presumably some are buying for a household, children & spouses - LOOK AT THE POWER WOMEN HAVE! So that’s positive…not everything is negative about what’s happening to women authors today!1/3 of mass market fiction purchased are romance novelsRomance books bring in a billion bucks a yearYet Romance Books Don’t get much Love!Let’s look at this dilemma from the point of view of the reader as well as an author. Why in the world would readers feel embarrassed about enjoying romance stories? Why would romance authors hide their genre under a bushel? Like I used to. Readers have kindles now…no one can see the cover of the book they are reading. Easier to hide the fact you’re reading romance. But Hide It? Why?1. Let’s get down to answers to the quiz I gave you. What are the two essential elements of any romance? (This one will really surprise you)1. A central love story 2. An emotionally satisfying and optimistic endingNo one is telling the author how dominant the love story must be. There is no one dictating heat level. A wedding at the end is NOT a requirement. HEA (Happily Ever After) is not the measuring stick.We authors get the freedom to write what we want within this vague parameter. But we luck out, because the reader who wants these two elements knows she can find them in our books! This is positioning…so readers can find stories they love!Get ready for more good news as well as some bad news:
2. Who is buying and reading romance? Caveat here…hard to put #’s to all Indie sales (some even sell on their own websites!)Women 82% of Romance readersEthnicity: 73% Caucasian; 12% African American; 7% Latino/Hispanic; 4% AsianSexual orientation: 86% heterosexual/straight; 9% bisexual, pansexual or other, 2% gay/lesbian.The romance reader is fairly young AVERAGE AGE: 35-39; she is reading on a tablet and/or a smartphone. She likes romantic suspense (GOOD FOR ME!), followed by erotic and paranormal. She reads fewer contemporary romances (where focus is on the relationship) than older readers. Most readers borrow from the library or make purchases in bookstores. Next comes purchasing in print via online stores. 92% buy print, 64% are ebook readers, and 35% are audiobook readers.3. Who is writing romance? White women (only 6% nonwhite…Beverly Jenkins…African American trailblazer; two other exceptions as bestsellers: Jasmine Guillory and Nalini Singh)4. Is romance women’s literature/fiction?If ‘by women about women’ is women’s literature…then yes, romance is a subcategory of women’s literature/fiction. Is it literature? _Eye of the beholder & reviewer. E.L. James wrote 50 Shades of Gray…she published something that wasn’t polished, but she did open a gate for a whole new generation of romance writers/readers. And she got a better editor, later. And her books got made into movies! She’s made $12 million!5. Can/do men write it? If you’ve never written it, can/should men?Did you know that the best selling romance novels were written by men in the 1950’s? Women took over in the 60’s (think the beginning of the feminist movement)…by the 1980’s female authors dominated. Today, 85-90% of romance is written by women. Nicholas Sparks outlier makes millions from his romance books even if he says he writes love stories, not romance. He argues his love stories end tragically or bittersweet; romance has the optimistic resolution. He also says romance books are about ‘taming a man.’ We romance writers beg to differ.6. Where’s the sexism around romance writer/reader/genre?Check out my next blog!7. How many categories of romance novels are there? What are they? And who says so? How much sex would you expect to find in the following genres on a scale of 1-5 (And, yes. This is a trick question): The answer is, steam levels vary in all of these categories. There are no rules!-Contemporary 1 2 3 4 5-Erotic 1 2 3 4 5-Historical (prior to 1950) 1 2 3 4 5-Paranormal 1 2 3 4 5-Religious/Spiritual 1 2 3 4 5 Usually very little steam here-Romantic Suspense 1 2 3 4 5-Young Adult 1 2 3 4 5 Usually less steam hereBUT WAIT…THERE ARE MORE CATEGORIES! Gay/Lesbian…other bi + identities; Cozy romance, chick lit, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Regency, gothic, time travel, Cowboy (historical west) romance, Nascar romance, SEAL romance…and other Military romance, vampire, shape shifters, Scottish romance, werewolves, pirate, Viking, MM, MF, MMF, FFM…the list goes on! IT’S WILD AND RICH!NOTE: Far from calling this quirky or even obsessive, think of these diversity-driving categories as useful to a writer. She knows how to target her books (Amazon and FB ads easily point toward her readers). HER READERS CAN FIND HER EASILY!In next month’s blog, I’ll talk about inequities and prejudices against women writers in general and romance writers in specific.
Women purchase 80% of the books in the U.S.-presumably some are buying for a household, children & spouses - LOOK AT THE POWER WOMEN HAVE! So that’s positive…not everything is negative about what’s happening to women authors today!1/3 of mass market fiction purchased are romance novelsRomance books bring in a billion bucks a yearYet Romance Books Don’t get much Love!Let’s look at this dilemma from the point of view of the reader as well as an author. Why in the world would readers feel embarrassed about enjoying romance stories? Why would romance authors hide their genre under a bushel? Like I used to. Readers have kindles now…no one can see the cover of the book they are reading. Easier to hide the fact you’re reading romance. But Hide It? Why?1. Let’s get down to answers to the quiz I gave you. What are the two essential elements of any romance? (This one will really surprise you)1. A central love story 2. An emotionally satisfying and optimistic endingNo one is telling the author how dominant the love story must be. There is no one dictating heat level. A wedding at the end is NOT a requirement. HEA (Happily Ever After) is not the measuring stick.We authors get the freedom to write what we want within this vague parameter. But we luck out, because the reader who wants these two elements knows she can find them in our books! This is positioning…so readers can find stories they love!Get ready for more good news as well as some bad news:2. Who is buying and reading romance? Caveat here…hard to put #’s to all Indie sales (some even sell on their own websites!)Women 82% of Romance readersEthnicity: 73% Caucasian; 12% African American; 7% Latino/Hispanic; 4% AsianSexual orientation: 86% heterosexual/straight; 9% bisexual, pansexual or other, 2% gay/lesbian.The romance reader is fairly young AVERAGE AGE: 35-39; she is reading on a tablet and/or a smartphone. She likes romantic suspense (GOOD FOR ME!), followed by erotic and paranormal. She reads fewer contemporary romances (where focus is on the relationship) than older readers. Most readers borrow from the library or make purchases in bookstores. Next comes purchasing in print via online stores. 92% buy print, 64% are ebook readers, and 35% are audiobook readers.3. Who is writing romance? White women (only 6% nonwhite…Beverly Jenkins…African American trailblazer; two other exceptions as bestsellers: Jasmine Guillory and Nalini Singh)4. Is romance women’s literature/fiction?If ‘by women about women’ is women’s literature…then yes, romance is a subcategory of women’s literature/fiction. Is it literature? _Eye of the beholder & reviewer. E.L. James wrote 50 Shades of Gray…she published something that wasn’t polished, but she did open a gate for a whole new generation of romance writers/readers. And she got a better editor, later. And her books got made into movies! She’s made $12 million!5. Can/do men write it? If you’ve never written it, can/should men?Did you know that the best selling romance novels were written by men in the 1950’s? Women took over in the 60’s (think the beginning of the feminist movement)…by the 1980’s female authors dominated. Today, 85-90% of romance is written by women. Nicholas Sparks outlier makes millions from his romance books even if he says he writes love stories, not romance. He argues his love stories end tragically or bittersweet; romance has the optimistic resolution. He also says romance books are about ‘taming a man.’ We romance writers beg to differ.6. Where’s the sexism around romance writer/reader/genre?Check out my next blog!7. How many categories of romance novels are there? What are they? And who says so? How much sex would you expect to find in the following genres on a scale of 1-5 (And, yes. This is a trick question): The answer is, steam levels vary in all of these categories. There are no rules!-Contemporary 1 2 3 4 5-Erotic 1 2 3 4 5-Historical (prior to 1950) 1 2 3 4 5-Paranormal 1 2 3 4 5-Religious/Spiritual 1 2 3 4 5 Usually very little steam here-Romantic Suspense 1 2 3 4 5-Young Adult 1 2 3 4 5 Usually less steam hereBUT WAIT…THERE ARE MORE CATEGORIES! Gay/Lesbian…other bi + identities; Cozy romance, chick lit, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Regency, gothic, time travel, Cowboy (historical west) romance, Nascar romance, SEAL romance…and other Military romance, vampire, shape shifters, Scottish romance, werewolves, pirate, Viking, MM, MF, MMF, FFM…the list goes on! IT’S WILD AND RICH!NOTE: Far from calling this quirky or even obsessive, think of these diversity-driving categories as useful to a writer. She knows how to target her books (Amazon and FB ads easily point toward her readers). HER READERS CAN FIND HER EASILY!In next month’s blog, I’ll talk about inequities and prejudices against women writers in general and romance writers in specific.
February 5, 2019
Romance Novels-the Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room
Romance Novels-the Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room by Rolynn AndersonWhy Can’t Romance Books Get Some Love?
1. What are the two essential elements of any romance? (This one will surprise you)2. Who is buying and reading romance? (Gender, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Age, on what devices) _________________________What is the % of romance in the fiction market?___3. Who is writing romance? _________________4. Is romance women’s literature?________ Is it literature? _______________5. Can/do men write it? If you’ve never written it, can/should you?6. Where’s the sexism around romance writer/reader/genre?7. How many categories of romance novels are there? What are they? And who says so?8. How much sex would you expect to find in the following categories on a scale of 1-5 (And, yes. This is a trick question):-Contemporary 1 2 3 4 5-Erotic 1 2 3 4 5-Historical 1 2 3 4 5-Paranormal 1 2 3 4 5-Religious/Spiritual 1 2 3 4 5-Romantic Suspense 1 2 3 4 5-Young Adult 1 2 3 4 59. What evidence do we see showing prejudice/inequity against women writers?What are the look for?http://www.rolynnanderson.com rolynnwriter@earthlink.netRolynn Anderson writes contemporary mystery/suspense novels, spiked with romance and enhanced by exotic settings. In her previous life she was a high school English teacher and principal in Washington State. She writes/markets, golfs, gardens, reads, and travels. Anderson delights in creating imperfect characters faced with extraordinary, transforming challenges. Her hope: You'll devour her ‘makeover’ suspense novels in the wee hours of the morning, because her stories, settings and characters, capture your imagination and your heart.
Resources:10 Critical Texts about Romance Novels: https://bookriot.com/2018/09/29/criti... Vida Count: Women in Literary Arts: https://www.vidaweb.org/the-count/Books by women priced 45% lower than men’s books: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..., She Wrote…Gender Bias of the New York Times Best Seller List: https://pudding.cool/2017/06/best-sel... Changing Face of Romance Novels: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/bo... Eclectic list of Romance Novels to sample: https://bookriot.com/2018/05/10/best-... Selling Romance Authors (Listed by Amazon): E.L. James, Courtney Milan, Julia Quinn, Jayne Ann Krentz, Sara Maclean, Nicholas Sparks, Elizabeth Hoyt, Judith McNaught, Jennifer Crusie, Danielle Steel, Jessica Bird Ward, Christina Lauren, Eloisa James…and many more. In my mystery/suspense/romance category, Sandra Brown, Linda Howard and Lisa Scottoline are my favorites (Sidenote: E.L James, Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel earned over 10 million dollars)Goodreads Ten of the Twenty Highest Reviewed Romance Books: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell; It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover; Me Before You by Jojo Moyes; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough; Outlander by Diana Gabaldon; The Hating Game by Sally Thorne; Dark Lover by J.R. Ward; Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines; Bared to you by Sylvia Day… (Charlotte Bronte and Nicholas Sparks appear on this list of 20)When you ask romance writers what author sparked their desire to write romance, many mention Kathleen Woodiwiss (The Flame and the Fire). Jude Devereaux, LaVyrle Spencer, Judith McNaught and Katherine Neville are big influencers, as well.
1. What are the two essential elements of any romance? (This one will surprise you)2. Who is buying and reading romance? (Gender, Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, Age, on what devices) _________________________What is the % of romance in the fiction market?___3. Who is writing romance? _________________4. Is romance women’s literature?________ Is it literature? _______________5. Can/do men write it? If you’ve never written it, can/should you?6. Where’s the sexism around romance writer/reader/genre?7. How many categories of romance novels are there? What are they? And who says so?8. How much sex would you expect to find in the following categories on a scale of 1-5 (And, yes. This is a trick question):-Contemporary 1 2 3 4 5-Erotic 1 2 3 4 5-Historical 1 2 3 4 5-Paranormal 1 2 3 4 5-Religious/Spiritual 1 2 3 4 5-Romantic Suspense 1 2 3 4 5-Young Adult 1 2 3 4 59. What evidence do we see showing prejudice/inequity against women writers?What are the look for?http://www.rolynnanderson.com rolynnwriter@earthlink.netRolynn Anderson writes contemporary mystery/suspense novels, spiked with romance and enhanced by exotic settings. In her previous life she was a high school English teacher and principal in Washington State. She writes/markets, golfs, gardens, reads, and travels. Anderson delights in creating imperfect characters faced with extraordinary, transforming challenges. Her hope: You'll devour her ‘makeover’ suspense novels in the wee hours of the morning, because her stories, settings and characters, capture your imagination and your heart.Resources:10 Critical Texts about Romance Novels: https://bookriot.com/2018/09/29/criti... Vida Count: Women in Literary Arts: https://www.vidaweb.org/the-count/Books by women priced 45% lower than men’s books: https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..., She Wrote…Gender Bias of the New York Times Best Seller List: https://pudding.cool/2017/06/best-sel... Changing Face of Romance Novels: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/bo... Eclectic list of Romance Novels to sample: https://bookriot.com/2018/05/10/best-... Selling Romance Authors (Listed by Amazon): E.L. James, Courtney Milan, Julia Quinn, Jayne Ann Krentz, Sara Maclean, Nicholas Sparks, Elizabeth Hoyt, Judith McNaught, Jennifer Crusie, Danielle Steel, Jessica Bird Ward, Christina Lauren, Eloisa James…and many more. In my mystery/suspense/romance category, Sandra Brown, Linda Howard and Lisa Scottoline are my favorites (Sidenote: E.L James, Nora Roberts and Danielle Steel earned over 10 million dollars)Goodreads Ten of the Twenty Highest Reviewed Romance Books: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell; It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover; Me Before You by Jojo Moyes; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough; Outlander by Diana Gabaldon; The Hating Game by Sally Thorne; Dark Lover by J.R. Ward; Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines; Bared to you by Sylvia Day… (Charlotte Bronte and Nicholas Sparks appear on this list of 20)When you ask romance writers what author sparked their desire to write romance, many mention Kathleen Woodiwiss (The Flame and the Fire). Jude Devereaux, LaVyrle Spencer, Judith McNaught and Katherine Neville are big influencers, as well.
January 7, 2019
What Drew Me to Writing Romance and Suspense Novels?
I’m Being Interviewed prior to a February Talk on Romance Writing. Here are my responses:
I can think of nothing more mysterious and complex than budding (or renewed) relationships. How and why couples ignite, their curious contrasts in personality, elements of the forbidden, biological urges…the tension/suspense could kill you! To this recipe add villains causing chaos in the lives of our struggling hero and heroine. Now, we’re talking about a page-turner.People grow because of turmoil and risk-taking. We learn who we are and what we can manage as individuals and as couples when we take on unimaginable challenges. After the dust settles, the villains are dead or imprisoned and the hero and heroine take a measure of what they’ve accomplished…that’s where I want to take my readers. To resolution. To justice. Love prevailing.Oh, what I put my characters through! These are flawed women and men teetering on precipices, suddenly challenged to fight for themselves and the people they love. Likely, one person’s dead and others are threatened. Mysteries have to be solved and criminals collared, but in my small communities, it falls on regular folk to do the sleuthing. And because the situation demands intense collaboration, love and danger bloom. Naturally, because my characters have weaknesses and are new to detective work, they make mistakes. Still, by working together, strengthened by their love for each other, they persevere.It seems you are an avid and adventurous traveler. Do any of your protagonists share your sense of adventure?They do! Many of my heroines have their lives shaken to the core by forced moves. In my newest release (FIRE IS NICE), Sable Chisholm, an FBI agent, must leave bad memories in SF behind and begin a stint as a ranger in Sequoia National Park. In my boutique funeral planner series, the heroine leaves the tech world of Seattle for a little town in Central Coast California. I was an Army brat, so I know what it means to travel, to move to new homes, to adjust to new cities/countries. Change is tough for everyone, but it can also be transformative in a good way.Location and setting are important elements in your writing. What suggestions can you make to other writers to help them develop a sense of place in their stories? Good question. My preference is to go there. I visited Sequoia National Park (FIRE IS NICE) twice; I’ve been to Petersburg, Alaska (LIE CATCHERS) three times; my setting for LAST RESORT, a fishing village in B.C., I’ve visited many a time. Connecting via internet is not enough. Best, rent a VRBO and stay on the site awhile, taking in all the senses of the place. Aix en Provence? I spent a month there before I was ready to write CEZANNE’S GHOST. (Note to writers: this kind of immersion is not a chore!)My Presentation Title: Romance Novels - The Billion Dollar Elephant in the Room
By the end of Rolynn’s talk, you will be able to answer with alacrity:1. What are the two essential elements of any romance? (This one will really surprise you)2. Who is buying and reading romance? Why? What is the % of romance in the fiction market?3. Who is writing romance?4. Is romance literature? (I had to ask this one)5. Can/do men write it? If you’ve never written it, can/should you?6. Where’s the sexism around romance writer/reader/genre?7. How many categories of romance novels are there? What are they? And who says so?8. How much sex would you expect to find in the following genres on a scale of 1-5 (And, yes. This is a trick question):-Contemporary 1 2 3 4 5-Erotic 1 2 3 4 5-Historical 1 2 3 4 5-Paranormal 1 2 3 4 5-Religious/Spiritual 1 2 3 4 5-Romantic Suspense 1 2 3 4 5-Young Adult 1 2 3 4 59. You will also be able to describe Rolynn’s bumpy road (2001-today) as a hybrid (small press published and self-pubbed) author. Supporting her are the world’s best editor, cover artist, formatter, beta readers, author friends, readers, friends and relatives. She has a bundle of hard-scrabble experiences to describe on her journey as she finishes her 10th novel!Short Updated Bio:Rolynn Anderson writes contemporary mystery/suspense novels, spiked with romance and enhanced by exotic settings. In her previous life she was a high school English teacher and principal in Washington State. She writes/markets, golfs, gardens, reads, and travels. Wild Rose Press is her publisher for two novels, LAST RESORT and LIE CATCHERS (also an Amazon Encore novel). Self-pubbed are her boutique funeral planner series: FADEOUT, SWOON, and FAINT; three more stand-alones are FEAR LAND, BAD LIES and CÉZANNE’S GHOST. Her newly released FIRE IS NICE, is the first of her National Park Sable Chisholm Mystery Series. Out in 2019: WHEN MOUNTAINS FALL, the first of her Woman at the Helm Mystery Series. As a writer, she delights in creating imperfect characters faced with extraordinary, transforming challenges. Her hope: You'll devour her ‘makeover’ suspense novels in the wee hours of the morning, because her stories, settings and characters, capture your imagination and your heart.
I can think of nothing more mysterious and complex than budding (or renewed) relationships. How and why couples ignite, their curious contrasts in personality, elements of the forbidden, biological urges…the tension/suspense could kill you! To this recipe add villains causing chaos in the lives of our struggling hero and heroine. Now, we’re talking about a page-turner.People grow because of turmoil and risk-taking. We learn who we are and what we can manage as individuals and as couples when we take on unimaginable challenges. After the dust settles, the villains are dead or imprisoned and the hero and heroine take a measure of what they’ve accomplished…that’s where I want to take my readers. To resolution. To justice. Love prevailing.Oh, what I put my characters through! These are flawed women and men teetering on precipices, suddenly challenged to fight for themselves and the people they love. Likely, one person’s dead and others are threatened. Mysteries have to be solved and criminals collared, but in my small communities, it falls on regular folk to do the sleuthing. And because the situation demands intense collaboration, love and danger bloom. Naturally, because my characters have weaknesses and are new to detective work, they make mistakes. Still, by working together, strengthened by their love for each other, they persevere.It seems you are an avid and adventurous traveler. Do any of your protagonists share your sense of adventure?They do! Many of my heroines have their lives shaken to the core by forced moves. In my newest release (FIRE IS NICE), Sable Chisholm, an FBI agent, must leave bad memories in SF behind and begin a stint as a ranger in Sequoia National Park. In my boutique funeral planner series, the heroine leaves the tech world of Seattle for a little town in Central Coast California. I was an Army brat, so I know what it means to travel, to move to new homes, to adjust to new cities/countries. Change is tough for everyone, but it can also be transformative in a good way.Location and setting are important elements in your writing. What suggestions can you make to other writers to help them develop a sense of place in their stories? Good question. My preference is to go there. I visited Sequoia National Park (FIRE IS NICE) twice; I’ve been to Petersburg, Alaska (LIE CATCHERS) three times; my setting for LAST RESORT, a fishing village in B.C., I’ve visited many a time. Connecting via internet is not enough. Best, rent a VRBO and stay on the site awhile, taking in all the senses of the place. Aix en Provence? I spent a month there before I was ready to write CEZANNE’S GHOST. (Note to writers: this kind of immersion is not a chore!)My Presentation Title: Romance Novels - The Billion Dollar Elephant in the RoomBy the end of Rolynn’s talk, you will be able to answer with alacrity:1. What are the two essential elements of any romance? (This one will really surprise you)2. Who is buying and reading romance? Why? What is the % of romance in the fiction market?3. Who is writing romance?4. Is romance literature? (I had to ask this one)5. Can/do men write it? If you’ve never written it, can/should you?6. Where’s the sexism around romance writer/reader/genre?7. How many categories of romance novels are there? What are they? And who says so?8. How much sex would you expect to find in the following genres on a scale of 1-5 (And, yes. This is a trick question):-Contemporary 1 2 3 4 5-Erotic 1 2 3 4 5-Historical 1 2 3 4 5-Paranormal 1 2 3 4 5-Religious/Spiritual 1 2 3 4 5-Romantic Suspense 1 2 3 4 5-Young Adult 1 2 3 4 59. You will also be able to describe Rolynn’s bumpy road (2001-today) as a hybrid (small press published and self-pubbed) author. Supporting her are the world’s best editor, cover artist, formatter, beta readers, author friends, readers, friends and relatives. She has a bundle of hard-scrabble experiences to describe on her journey as she finishes her 10th novel!Short Updated Bio:Rolynn Anderson writes contemporary mystery/suspense novels, spiked with romance and enhanced by exotic settings. In her previous life she was a high school English teacher and principal in Washington State. She writes/markets, golfs, gardens, reads, and travels. Wild Rose Press is her publisher for two novels, LAST RESORT and LIE CATCHERS (also an Amazon Encore novel). Self-pubbed are her boutique funeral planner series: FADEOUT, SWOON, and FAINT; three more stand-alones are FEAR LAND, BAD LIES and CÉZANNE’S GHOST. Her newly released FIRE IS NICE, is the first of her National Park Sable Chisholm Mystery Series. Out in 2019: WHEN MOUNTAINS FALL, the first of her Woman at the Helm Mystery Series. As a writer, she delights in creating imperfect characters faced with extraordinary, transforming challenges. Her hope: You'll devour her ‘makeover’ suspense novels in the wee hours of the morning, because her stories, settings and characters, capture your imagination and your heart.
December 3, 2018
Fire and Ice releases Dec. 4th. What inspired my 9th Suspense Novel?
Here’s the Robert Frost poem and the Bruce Lee quote that inspired my title: FIRE IS NICE: Fire and Ice By Robert FrostSome say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice.From what I’ve tasted of desireI hold with those who favor fire.But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction iceIs also greatAnd would suffice.***Love is like a friendship caught on fire. – Bruce Lee***FIRE IS NICE, presents my most challenging character to date. Hang on to your preconceived notions!FBI trained, Sable Chisholm, suffered a permanent 
brain injury while on duty. A poisoning by carbon monoxide affected her fear center, the amygdala. After yearlong therapy and burnt bridges on the force in San Francisco, she’s assigned to Sequoia National Park, hunting down poachers.She’s a ranger with no fear, searching for bone and truffle thieves. Pitted against vicious criminals, who will stop at nothing…even murder. And a summer staff of rangers unready for crime on this scale.
With her burro, Wheezer 
and her miniature pig, Chopper.Partnered with a brilliant Park numbers guy who’s best friends with his computer and four monitors. Carter Glass, a recluse with the bearded good looks of a country music star.This story has so many confounding elements, my brain was close to exploding as I wrote it. But I think I caught the drama, the romance, the danger, the animals, the damaged fearless woman, and the almost agoraphobic statistical whiz…just right. In fact, I had such fun writing about Sable, she’ll appear in at least one more novel!Do tell me if you enjoyed the story and characters. (We authors really, really need reviews on Amazon to get noticed…please help us out J)
Some say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice.From what I’ve tasted of desireI hold with those who favor fire.But if it had to perish twice,I think I know enough of hateTo say that for destruction iceIs also greatAnd would suffice.***Love is like a friendship caught on fire. – Bruce Lee***FIRE IS NICE, presents my most challenging character to date. Hang on to your preconceived notions!FBI trained, Sable Chisholm, suffered a permanent brain injury while on duty. A poisoning by carbon monoxide affected her fear center, the amygdala. After yearlong therapy and burnt bridges on the force in San Francisco, she’s assigned to Sequoia National Park, hunting down poachers.She’s a ranger with no fear, searching for bone and truffle thieves. Pitted against vicious criminals, who will stop at nothing…even murder. And a summer staff of rangers unready for crime on this scale. With her burro, Wheezer and her miniature pig, Chopper.Partnered with a brilliant Park numbers guy who’s best friends with his computer and four monitors. Carter Glass, a recluse with the bearded good looks of a country music star.This story has so many confounding elements, my brain was close to exploding as I wrote it. But I think I caught the drama, the romance, the danger, the animals, the damaged fearless woman, and the almost agoraphobic statistical whiz…just right. In fact, I had such fun writing about Sable, she’ll appear in at least one more novel!Do tell me if you enjoyed the story and characters. (We authors really, really need reviews on Amazon to get noticed…please help us out J)
