The Other Side of the Page

by Terry Odell

Finding the perfect hero and heroine for a romance novel can turn a writer’s hair gray—that’s why I advertise for them. Interviewing characters can be exhausting, and getting them to stick to the plot? Well, it doesn’t always work that way. And then you find out they’re talking about you behind your back…Meet Randy and Sarah, the hero and heroine of Finding Sarah and Hidden Fire, in a funny and illuminating look at what goes on behind the scenes of the romance writing process.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

22 pages, ebook

First published July 1, 2009

About the author

Terry Odell was born in Los Angeles and after living several decades in Florida now makes her home in Colorado. An avid reader (her parents tell everyone they had to move from their first home because she finished the local library), she always wanted to "fix" stories so the characters did what she wanted, in books, television, and the movies. Once she began writing, she found this wasn't always possible, as evidenced when the mystery she intended to write rapidly became a romance.

However, her entry into the world of writing can be attributed to a "mistake" when her son mentioned the Highlander television series on a visit home. Being the "good mother" she began watching the show and soon connected with the world of fanfiction, first as a reader, then as a critique giver, and then, one brave weekend, she wrote her first short story.

Things snowballed (if one can use that analogy in central Florida!) and soon she was writing her first original novel. Much later, she mentioned something about a recent Highlander episode to her son, and he said, "Oh, I've never actually watched the show, I just thought the concept was cool." Little did he know what he'd started.

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Reviews

[Angela Benedetti]

Short and fun, this is a great fictionalized look at how writers develop, use and abuse their characters. I've often thought that if I ran into some of my own characters in a dark alley, I'd probably end up messily dead, and some of that attitude -- that reality, really, because we do put these poor people through the wringer, and sometimes the wood-chipper -- is shown here. Definitely recommended for fiction writers, and readers who might be curious about what goes on backstage.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting... The storyline was like behind the scenes of two books this author wrote as if the characters had a mind of their own. After talking with some authors I've realized that this happens a lot. They develop the characters and realize they have to change the ending or the plot, etc. It was a quick easy read. So I liked it and it was entertaining but it wasn't a favorite.

[Mojca · Rating 2 out of 5]

An author is casting her new book, conducting interviews with possible heroes and heroines...

Not much of a story, more like a sneak peek into the true book she's casting for. It didn't make me itch to read that one, though.

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough to make me curious about the full length books with these characters.