HelenKay Dimon's Blog, page 56

Over There

I'm at Access Romance today talking about Jonathan Franzen. What fun.

Workshop Info

Before I get back to more cover talk, I wanted to make an announcement for those in Southern California…

I'm teaching a four-week workshop on romance writing at MiraCosta College in September. Both beginners and advanced writers are welcome. Here's the description:

Approximately 50% of all paperbacks sold are romance novels. The billion-dollar industry is the top performer on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. If you enjoy reading romance or always wanted to write one, this...

Oh Boy….

Every week or so there's some sort of author kerfluffle on the internet. An author will say something to tick off other authors or fans or bloggers or the universe or someone's Aunt Mille, and then the pile-on starts. There are times the author deserves the virtual smack. Other times not. For whatever reason, Laurell K. Hamilton has been at the center of a few of these internet battles. I have a theory as to why. There just seem to be some folks who like this sort of attention.

Well,...

Snippet Saturday

This week's topic is foodies. For whatever reason, the first scene that came into my head was a diner scene in YOUR MOUTH DRIVES ME CRAZY. It's not about foodies or even food, really, but I thought it would work here.

The waitress came over and took their order, leaving a new basket of sugar packets. As she walked away, Kane stared blankly at a spot on the wall above her head.

"She your type?" Annie asked.

"Huh?"

She nodded in the direction of the counter. "The waitress. You're staring a...

Money

Forbes just published its list of the highest-earning authors (calculated however these things are calculated for a twelve-month period ending in June). Here are the top five and their estimated earnings:

1. James Patterson – $70 million

2. Stephenie Meyer – $40 million

3. Stephen King – #34 million

4. Danielle Steel – $32 million

5. Ken Follett – $20 million

Surprised?

I come in at number…yeah, the chart doesn't go low enough to list me.

Covers Part I

I've seen some comments lately about romance covers. One reader told me she prefers to buy digital books because she isn't comfortable holding the print covers in public. I understand but, for whatever reason, being seen with a romance novel has never upset me. One of the first romances I ever read was DANIEL'S BRIDE by Linda Lael Miller. Here's the frilly historical cover of that one:

I still have the book. Just re-read it and the cover made me smile.

The only covers that really make me...

Life Interrupted

I've been a Linda Howard fan since I started reading romance. I had the great fortune to attend a small dinner and booksigning with her last year. Talk about a huge fangirl moment. She was funny and charming and a little bawdy. I loved every minute of meeting her.

In addition to loving her MacKenzie books and many others, two of my all-time favorite romances are Linda's Duncan's Bride and After the Night. Basically, I got my love for damaged alpha heroes from Linda's books. I haven't...

My Hubby

Today the hubby finished another half marathon:

He's wearing two medals because with this race he completed something called the Triple Crown, where he ran three half marathons in San Diego over the course of a few months. I'm so proud of him. Yay hubby!!

I, on the other hand, am exhausted from getting up at 4:30 a.m. to drive him to the race. Didn't run a step. Barely walked.

Snippet Saturday

This week's topic is all about characters interacting with some humor. Seemed like the perfect time to give you another peek at IMPULSIVE, my November release. Eric and Katie started their relationship by having sex in the bathroom at a wedding. No, really. I'm not kidding. That's the first scene. But you'll have to wait to read it. Here they are a bit later in the book, trying to play catch-up…

"I thought we were overdue for a meal together," Eric said as he watched Katie's guard...

Not So Secondary

My November release, IMPULSIVE, has a hero named Eric Kimura. I never intended to write his story. He was the heroine's ex in HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO. My main goal was to show that a romance novel heroine, in this case Deana Armstrong, could have an ex who wasn't an asshat. Eric wasn't abusive or jerky. He did the best he could under very difficult circumstances. Deana dumped him. They were wrong for each other. End of their story. And then I wrote this exchange:

Josh couldn't hold it...