♥Romance—Why do I Write it?
Romance makes the world go round. Just think about it—what would the world be like without romance? Imagine never feeling that spark, never looking into someone's eyes and having your heart miss a beat, never experiencing that breathless anticipation…
No wonder more readers choose romance than any other genre.
People often ask me why I chose to write romance. The truth is, romance chose me. I honestly didn't sit down and mull over which genre to write in.When I first decided to write a novel, the story and characters were all there in my head. It was as if they came alive and dictated the story to me. I was just the scribe.
When the story was complete—there it was. A love story. When people asked what kind of book I was writing, that's what I told them—a love story.
That first full length book manuscript was never published—I was satisfied with the fact that I had been able to write it. And I found that another story was bubbling over in my head, just begging to be written. When I wrote it, it turned out to be another love story.
That was when I first had the idea that I might be a romance writer, and I read up about the genre.
In those days, the publishers were like gods. Self-publishing and small presses were not an option. The publishers set their own "rules" that had to be followed if you had any chance of ever being published. It seemed to me that the lovers never actually had sex and never cursed; and they had to live happily ever after. There were other rules. I remember thinking they were very strict. If your book didn’t fit into one of the pre-set parameters, it was not a romance and could not be called a romance. My stories always had an edge to them—scary, suspenseful, exciting things happened in them—and some of the characters used bad language, which was frowned upon in the romance genre. So for a while I really didn't know what to say when people asked me what genre I wrote in.
Was it romance—or something else?
When I completed my novel, REDNECK P.I., I sent it to several publishers, complete with a query letter and whatever else they requested in their "Submission Guidelines." I received a few rejection letters, but when Uncial Press contacted me to say they would like to publish my story, I was ecstatic. Now I had a wonderful professional editor and mentor, Jude. She told me I write romantic suspense. I finally knew what I genre I was writing.
I actually kind of think REDNECK P.I. is a cross between romantic suspense—excitement, tension and suspense are most certainly thrown into the mix—and romantic comedy. It could be classified as romance/romantic suspense/romantic comedy—but as far as I know, sub/sub genres have not yet become a reality. My character Twila is redneck—and proud of it. She has to choose between two hunky twins while helping to solve a murder and bring a pedophile to justice, ably assisted by her Harley-riding, weed-smoking great aunt Essie and her master hacker neighbor Gasser Cunha.
The up-coming sequel, KICKASSITUDE is also funny as well as suspenseful—and of course, sizzling hot. Twila works to find her mother's murderer, and a dog named Scratch adopts her, and rides with her on the back of her Harley. Sexy young cowboy, Tanner Ferrano is determined to get her into bed with him...
My recently released WAY OUT OF LINE is more serious—purely a romantic suspense, about a couple of kids who get it on. Hal doesn't know Trent is underage, and goes to prison for statutory rape. Trent beats herself up for ruining his life. Their love survives through some very difficult events and they are eventually reunited in Mozambique, Africa, when Hal rescues her from a militant group, and has to get her back to civilization.
IMPASSIONED—the novel I'm working on at the moment is also more serious. Riley Slater is happy with her life. She has her own veterinary practice in a small town in Colorado—and no one asks her about her past. Until gorgeous Powell Stewart shows up and her assistant, Jamie is murdered. Horse wrangler Randy, with his six-pack abs and a butt to die for is courting her at the time...
I love reading romance and suspense, and I guess that's why I write the way I do. I'm hoping to get other romance authors who write in different sub-genres to guest blog for me so my readers and I can learn more about their stories and what drove them to write.
No wonder more readers choose romance than any other genre.
People often ask me why I chose to write romance. The truth is, romance chose me. I honestly didn't sit down and mull over which genre to write in.When I first decided to write a novel, the story and characters were all there in my head. It was as if they came alive and dictated the story to me. I was just the scribe.
When the story was complete—there it was. A love story. When people asked what kind of book I was writing, that's what I told them—a love story.
That first full length book manuscript was never published—I was satisfied with the fact that I had been able to write it. And I found that another story was bubbling over in my head, just begging to be written. When I wrote it, it turned out to be another love story.
That was when I first had the idea that I might be a romance writer, and I read up about the genre.
In those days, the publishers were like gods. Self-publishing and small presses were not an option. The publishers set their own "rules" that had to be followed if you had any chance of ever being published. It seemed to me that the lovers never actually had sex and never cursed; and they had to live happily ever after. There were other rules. I remember thinking they were very strict. If your book didn’t fit into one of the pre-set parameters, it was not a romance and could not be called a romance. My stories always had an edge to them—scary, suspenseful, exciting things happened in them—and some of the characters used bad language, which was frowned upon in the romance genre. So for a while I really didn't know what to say when people asked me what genre I wrote in.
Was it romance—or something else?
When I completed my novel, REDNECK P.I., I sent it to several publishers, complete with a query letter and whatever else they requested in their "Submission Guidelines." I received a few rejection letters, but when Uncial Press contacted me to say they would like to publish my story, I was ecstatic. Now I had a wonderful professional editor and mentor, Jude. She told me I write romantic suspense. I finally knew what I genre I was writing.
I actually kind of think REDNECK P.I. is a cross between romantic suspense—excitement, tension and suspense are most certainly thrown into the mix—and romantic comedy. It could be classified as romance/romantic suspense/romantic comedy—but as far as I know, sub/sub genres have not yet become a reality. My character Twila is redneck—and proud of it. She has to choose between two hunky twins while helping to solve a murder and bring a pedophile to justice, ably assisted by her Harley-riding, weed-smoking great aunt Essie and her master hacker neighbor Gasser Cunha.
The up-coming sequel, KICKASSITUDE is also funny as well as suspenseful—and of course, sizzling hot. Twila works to find her mother's murderer, and a dog named Scratch adopts her, and rides with her on the back of her Harley. Sexy young cowboy, Tanner Ferrano is determined to get her into bed with him...
My recently released WAY OUT OF LINE is more serious—purely a romantic suspense, about a couple of kids who get it on. Hal doesn't know Trent is underage, and goes to prison for statutory rape. Trent beats herself up for ruining his life. Their love survives through some very difficult events and they are eventually reunited in Mozambique, Africa, when Hal rescues her from a militant group, and has to get her back to civilization.
IMPASSIONED—the novel I'm working on at the moment is also more serious. Riley Slater is happy with her life. She has her own veterinary practice in a small town in Colorado—and no one asks her about her past. Until gorgeous Powell Stewart shows up and her assistant, Jamie is murdered. Horse wrangler Randy, with his six-pack abs and a butt to die for is courting her at the time...
I love reading romance and suspense, and I guess that's why I write the way I do. I'm hoping to get other romance authors who write in different sub-genres to guest blog for me so my readers and I can learn more about their stories and what drove them to write.
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