Wednesday, January 11, 2012
NEW INTRIGUE AUTHORS BLOG
Please go to http://intrigue-authors.blogspot.com/ for the NEW Intrigue Authors Blog.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Calling Intrigue Authors
What's happened to the intrigue authors' blog? Are we all too deep in deadline hell? Maybe that's a good sign.
I've been seeing questions about Intrigue's direction again. Isn't it interesting how often this question comes up?
When I sold my first book to Intrigue, my editor was very excited about the romance in my story. She indicated that many Intrigues were heavy on plot and that the romance often suffered. In my limited experience, that attitude has definitely changed.
As Patricia said a couple of months ago, the emphasis now seems to be on dark stories with plenty of action and constant danger. I love dark stories, the darker the better for me. And I've found that action begets action. Once I'm in the 'zone,' writing a suspense-filled action scene seems to lead to the next action scene and the next. It can be great fun to see how many ways the hero and heroine can tempt capture or death and still survive.
I recently received one of the most meaningful compliments I've ever received on a book. Someone said that although she knew the hero and heroine would survive and be together at the end of the book, she couldn't put the book down because she was scared to death that they might not survive. How great is that? Intrigue readers know they're going to get their happy ending, but they love to be held in suspense up until the last possible moment.
I'm enjoying writing edgier books, with badder villains and more hair-raising escapes, but I also love the romance. To me the most fun in writing Intrigues is the interweaving of the romance and the suspense. While the books are more plot-driven than they used to be, I don't want to sacrifice one bit of the romance. That wonderful 'aww...' ending when it's obvious the hero and heroine will live happily ever after is what I live for, in my reading and my writing.
I've been seeing questions about Intrigue's direction again. Isn't it interesting how often this question comes up?
When I sold my first book to Intrigue, my editor was very excited about the romance in my story. She indicated that many Intrigues were heavy on plot and that the romance often suffered. In my limited experience, that attitude has definitely changed.
As Patricia said a couple of months ago, the emphasis now seems to be on dark stories with plenty of action and constant danger. I love dark stories, the darker the better for me. And I've found that action begets action. Once I'm in the 'zone,' writing a suspense-filled action scene seems to lead to the next action scene and the next. It can be great fun to see how many ways the hero and heroine can tempt capture or death and still survive.
I recently received one of the most meaningful compliments I've ever received on a book. Someone said that although she knew the hero and heroine would survive and be together at the end of the book, she couldn't put the book down because she was scared to death that they might not survive. How great is that? Intrigue readers know they're going to get their happy ending, but they love to be held in suspense up until the last possible moment.
I'm enjoying writing edgier books, with badder villains and more hair-raising escapes, but I also love the romance. To me the most fun in writing Intrigues is the interweaving of the romance and the suspense. While the books are more plot-driven than they used to be, I don't want to sacrifice one bit of the romance. That wonderful 'aww...' ending when it's obvious the hero and heroine will live happily ever after is what I live for, in my reading and my writing.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Big Sky Bounty Hunters mini-series
Anybody out there reading the Big Sky mini-series?
It's off to an exciting start with Amanda Stevens's GOING TO EXTREMES, and I'm anxious to read Jessica Andersen's BULLSEYE (1, I'm a fan of Jessica's medical thrillers, and 2, her hero, Jacob, plays a key supporting role in my book, so I want to see if I got the essence of his personality right).
The last three books in the series are
WARRIOR SPIRIT by Cassie Miles (October)
FORBIDDEN CAPTOR by Julie Miller (November)
RILEY'S RETRIBUTION by Rebecca York (December)
At www.eHarlequin.com, they're having a discussion on the series--guessing who mystery villains are, heroes they like/love, and so on.
What do you guys think?
Julie Miller
www.juliemiller.org
It's off to an exciting start with Amanda Stevens's GOING TO EXTREMES, and I'm anxious to read Jessica Andersen's BULLSEYE (1, I'm a fan of Jessica's medical thrillers, and 2, her hero, Jacob, plays a key supporting role in my book, so I want to see if I got the essence of his personality right).
The last three books in the series are
WARRIOR SPIRIT by Cassie Miles (October)
FORBIDDEN CAPTOR by Julie Miller (November)
RILEY'S RETRIBUTION by Rebecca York (December)
At www.eHarlequin.com, they're having a discussion on the series--guessing who mystery villains are, heroes they like/love, and so on.
What do you guys think?
Julie Miller
www.juliemiller.org
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Saturday, July 23, 2005
RWA Conference in Reno, NV--Julie Miller
Okay, so how many of you are going to be in Reno, Nevada, next week, attending the ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA conference? Authors and readers and aspirings alike. I know some of you are doing workshops. Such as?
I'm heading out there and dive into things almost as soon as I arrive. It should be fun!
Julie Miller
I'm heading out there and dive into things almost as soon as I arrive. It should be fun!
Julie Miller
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
The changing world of Intrigue -- Patricia Rosemoor
Several lists are afire with the fact that Intrigue might be heading in a new direction. I personally think Intrigues have changed directions several times over these many years since I sold my first book to the line back in 1985. But then, the times have changed and so have what readers are looking for in their entertainment. Even so, there were no overnight changes. They came a bit at a time until they evolved into what we write now. And I expect they will evolve forever.
My first Intrigues were very much romantic mysteries filled with clues, clues, clues. My first Intrigues were pretty spicy, but I soon let the heat take a back seat to the mystery. Then we were asked for more romance in our Intrigues and they heated up again. Traditional was the hallmark. Now it's not. The heroines are stronger. The danger is darker. For me, the darker the better. Especially if it's paranormal.
In GHOST HORSE, my July Eclipse/Intrigue, my heroine Chloe Morgan is drawn into a gothic story of a ghost horse who leads her to the truth of a friend who disappeared. I was able to cast doubt on hero Damian Graylord (it's a gothic -- a hero-in-doubt is traditional!). Is Damian really divorced or did he kill his wife? And who is making all those noises in the attic over Chloe's bed. Very fun to write.
As a reader, how have Intrigues changed for you? Do you feel the backlist still works or do you want something fresh? What would you like to see in an Intrigue?
Patricia Rosemoor
My first Intrigues were very much romantic mysteries filled with clues, clues, clues. My first Intrigues were pretty spicy, but I soon let the heat take a back seat to the mystery. Then we were asked for more romance in our Intrigues and they heated up again. Traditional was the hallmark. Now it's not. The heroines are stronger. The danger is darker. For me, the darker the better. Especially if it's paranormal.
In GHOST HORSE, my July Eclipse/Intrigue, my heroine Chloe Morgan is drawn into a gothic story of a ghost horse who leads her to the truth of a friend who disappeared. I was able to cast doubt on hero Damian Graylord (it's a gothic -- a hero-in-doubt is traditional!). Is Damian really divorced or did he kill his wife? And who is making all those noises in the attic over Chloe's bed. Very fun to write.
As a reader, how have Intrigues changed for you? Do you feel the backlist still works or do you want something fresh? What would you like to see in an Intrigue?
Patricia Rosemoor
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Virgin Blog -- Adrianne Lee
Okay, this is my first time. I am just dipping my fingertips into the blogging waters and swirling them a bit. Want to be sure whatever ripples I create don't cause any tidal waves before I venture in completely.
Life has give me a few good slams in the past couple of years and I don't have an Intrigue coming out any time soon. But, I am working on a couple of romantic suspense ideas and have visions of a new contract in the near future.
Adrianne Lee
www.adriannelee.com
http://adrianneleeu.blogspot.com/ (coming soon)
Life has give me a few good slams in the past couple of years and I don't have an Intrigue coming out any time soon. But, I am working on a couple of romantic suspense ideas and have visions of a new contract in the near future.
Adrianne Lee
www.adriannelee.com
http://adrianneleeu.blogspot.com/ (coming soon)
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