Archive for May, 2012

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Worst Interview Ever (but a GREAT giveaway!)

Christine_Bell | May 30th, 2012

Hello Carina Press blog readers! To celebrate the release of The Bewitching Tale of Stormy Gale, I (semi-regrettably) decided that, rather than blathering on about my (amazeballs, you should totally get it) new book, I’d do something different. I asked someone else to interview me. Not just anyone, because that would be tres boring.

They’d be all, “So, Christine, tell us, what made you want to become a writer?”

And I’d be all, “Wow, hard-hitting question there, Carole (because, let’s face it, there’s a pretty good chance that would be her name). Back when I was a child in New England, I really lov-”

And you’d be all, “Wow! This is so interes-” *head flops to desk* zzzzz…zzzzzz

Instead, I called in my best friend since birthdom, author Mike Wood, to do the interview so he could ask some hard-hitting questions and you could get to know the real me. He agreed, with the caveat that I would answer every question as written, no edits or tweaks allowed. I agreed. Here are the results (and a picture of us back in the day. I’m the cute one in the pink, Mikey is the one on the left that looks like a monkey):/

MW: This is awesome. Seriously, I can’t believe you agreed to this. Were you drinking at the time? Okay, so Question #1: Remember that time you threw a padlock at my head when we were playing Happy Days because I wouldn’t call you Pinky Tuscadero?

CB: Uh, yes. I have a vague recollection of said event. What about it?

MW: Nothing. I just wanted to make sure the readers know the type of person they’re dealing with. Next question: How long was it after your best friend, Mike Wood, published HIS top-selling novel Alchemy that YOU decided to steal his limelight and write a book of your own?

CB: Probably that same day. I think I was like “Well, if this bozo can do it…”

MW: Whatever. Next question: “Mad Men” or “Good Wife?”

CB: Game of Thrones.

MW: As a child, you used to “borrow” your mom’s books and read the dirty parts. Since your books are MOSTLY dirty parts, have you thought about how you’d feel if your kids, or future grandkids, do the same with your stuff?

CB: I will take the liberty of rephrasing this question for you. First off, WE used to “borrow” my mom’s books and read the dirty parts. And I have 14-21 year old boys during the internet age. If they want dirty, my collection of romance novels is a SO MUCH better than what they’re going to get if they Google “butt cracks” (which, incidentally, happened). Second, keep in mind I write under two names. My Christine Bell books are much more adventure romance focused with not a whole lot of *bow chicka wow wow*. My Chloe Cole books are…a whole other story.

MW: Since your book features time travel, I feel obligated to ask: If you could visit any time period, what would it be, and why

CB: I would go back to the summer of 1984 and tell my younger self NOT to play doctor with you in my swimming pool.

MW: If you could only take one of the following with you to a desert island, would it be your husband or Popeye’s Chicken?

CB: The combo meal, like with a biscuit, mashed potatoes, gravy and a soda?

MW: Sure.

CB: I’ll have to get back to you on this one.

MW: Time travel stories, by their nature, tend to be formulaic, with even the best in the genre following similar paths. What makes yours stand out?

CB: The time travel aspect of this series is integral to the plot, for sure, but in my opinion, what makes the books truly unique is the characters. I’m a firm believer that a bang up plot can only take you so far. People have to be able to identify and connect with the characters. I strive to make mine 3-dimensional and give them qualities that people might see in themselves, and also to make them flawed. I want readers to invest in them, to root for them, mourn their losses, cheer their successes, wince at their awkwardness. After the first Stormy book came out a reader emailed to tell me that she wished Stormy was a real person, because she’d love to be friends and hang out with her. That was the best compliment ever because I feel the same way. Stormy is funny, sharp-tongued, loyal and stubborn. Some of my favorite characteristics in a person!

MW: Based on the fact that you once had breast reduction surgery to win a weight loss contest, I assume you must be quite competitive, and am wondering which author you have set your sights on as someone you would like to outsell or out-write.

CB: I had a breast reduction because my back was killing me, dragging those boulders around. The fact that my surgery coincided nicely with our bet was naught more than a happy coincidence, so stop being such a baby. Besides, I would’ve won regardless. The lure of seeing you do the Truffle Shuffle on film was far more appetizing than anything I could’ve eaten. As for authors I would like to outsell or outwrite? I think Nora Roberts is likely getting sick of selling all those dang books. Probably she wants a break or something. I’d be more than happy to step in and toe the line for her.

MW: Next question: have you been saving our correspondence, as I think I accidentally deleted half of your answers?

CB: Yes. In fact, I save all of our correspondence. All of it. Dating as far back as 1981, when you made me that mix tape with “Living Inside Myself” by Gino Vanelli on it along with that note that said “Do you like me? Check yes, no, or ew gross.”

MW: How many questions do we need? I’m getting sick of you.

CB: We’re good I think, unless you have one more.

MW: Nah, I’m done with you.

You heard him, folks. That concludes our interview. So tell me, are any of you lucky enough to have a friend like Mike? The kind that you can count on for sarcasm AND sympathy? The kind that will give you the truth, even when it hurts? Someone who would not only help you hide the bodies, but would also help you hide the heads if need be? Tell me about them, I’d love to hear. And if you want to buy a copy of The Bewitching Tale of Stormy Gale, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. In fact, if you do, I will give you a grilled cheese sammich the next time I see you. Seriously. I will. Just remind me.

But wait…there’s more! If you tweet me “Hey, @_ChristineBell, I want something Stormy!” anytime between now and June 2nd at midnight I will be giving away 25 sets of uber-awesome Stormy Gale trading cards, two copies of the first book in the series (The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale) and one majorly awesome Stormy totebag filled with Stormy swag including a t-shirt, pen, mug, magnet, trading card set, not to mention a “cameo” in my next book! Did I say an Amazon or BN gift card for $25 is also in the tote bag or no? THAT TOO! So get thee to twittah and tweet me, peoples!

Christine Bell is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants and playing Texas Hold ‘Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories as Christine Bell but also writes erotic romance under the pen name Chloe Cole. She hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons. Christine loves to hear from readers, so please feel free to get in touch with her via the Contact Page on her website www.christine-bell.com

Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway | 26 Comments »

BIG LOVE – Is It Possible?

Daire St. Denis | May 29th, 2012

Is it possible to have a loving, lasting relationship with more than one person…at the same time? This is the burning question Tina faces in PARTY of THREE – available now from Carina Press.
Party of Three
After three years of denying herself any sort of physical relationship—if you want to know why, you need to read the book!—Tina is ready to climb back aboard the sex-train. The only problem is, she’s chosen the worst possible partner…Kenton. Her best friend, Des, stops her from making a colossal mistake with Kenton and instead gently coerces her into a threesome romp with her and her boyfriend, Josh. Although the experience blows her mind, Tina is afraid her one night of ‘blissful sin’ will ruin her friendship forever. What she doesn’t expect is to be invited to join Josh and Des again…and again…and again. She should say no, but she can’t.

Soon the affair becomes about more than just sex. The three involved struggle with their newfound feelings and, for various reasons, are scared to share how they feel and what they really want from one another. In the meantime, there is someone who is intent on breaking the threesome apart. Kenton is charming, manipulative, selfish and cruel. He represents the line—the one Tina fears most—that separates healthy sexual exploration from deviancy. Like Des and Josh, he has his sights set on Tina. Unlike Des and Josh, he doesn’t want to love her, he wants to hurt her.

Told from Tina’s point of view, PARTY OF THREE follows her sexual journey and the internal conflict she faces as she tries to make sense of her feelings for both Josh and Des. Tina needs to decide where she draws her line as to what is acceptable in a romantic relationship. But, she is carrying around far too much guilt and she thinks she doesn’t deserve the love of one, let alone two incredible individuals. Because of this guilt, she does everything in her power to sabotage what could be an amazing alternative relationship. To read an excerpt, click here.

I find alternative lifestyles fascinating (probably because I live a very traditional one). I blame my archaeology degree on the fact that I want to know why we live the way we do. After studying ancient cultures and participating in field schools around the world, I’ve come to believe that ‘normal’ is only a construct defined by the society we live in.

I’m interested in the family dynamics exposed in programs like Sister Wives and Big Love. Books like Stieg Larsson’s, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are among my recent favorites, not just because of the original plot and characterization, but because Larsson gives the reader a glimpse into Swedish culture where ideas about fidelity and multiple partners are a little less conventional than here in America. Vicky Christina Barcelona touches on this theme as well. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a wonderfully sensual film where a tempestuous marriage seems to work better when a third person gets involved.

Javier BardemOkay, the real reason I love Vicky Christina Barcelona is because Javier Bardem is in it. Let’s face it, that man is just plain sexy—with the five o’clock shadow, those long lashes and that accent? Mm-mmm! I could go for some of that!

Now, if only I could convince my husband…

So, getting back to my original question. Is it possible to be involved in a loving relationship with more than one person? I’d love to hear what you think.

Daire St. Denis is an adventure seeker and a wine lover. She’s also a seasonal hermit. So, in order to spice up her long, lonely winters in Canada, she pens hot (and sometimes very hot) tales.

You can check her out at www.dairestdenis.com
Find her on Facebook at Daire St. Denis
Follow her on twitter @dairestdenis

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Excerpt | 12 Comments »

Coping with Burnout

Rebecca_Maher | May 29th, 2012

Ever feel like your life has lost its spark? Like you’re just going through the motions and not really feeling anything?

That’s what happens to the hero and heroine of my contemporary romance novella, Snowbound with a Stranger. Dannie’s a nurse and Lee is an oncology social worker—two jobs that would knock the stuffing out of anyone.

Snowboundcoversmall Nurses, social workers, teachers, doctors, child care providers, police officers, firefighters—the people whose dedicated service keeps our community running—they amaze me. Their work is grueling both physically and emotionally, and yet somehow they manage to do their jobs gracefully while still maintaining relationships with other human beings and not collapsing.

How do they do it?

When I was much younger, I worked for community-based nonprofits. There I met people whose commitment completely floored me. Somehow they managed to survive the work we did—which was often unspeakably difficult—with their sense of humor and compassion intact. The same was true when I became a teacher—long hours (before, during and after school) plus the emotional impact of caring for so many sensitive souls, equaled an essentially zombie-like state at the end of the day. Yet many people teach successfully for decades.

Not everyone. In service fields, there are plenty of people who hate their work. Who resent it. Whose personal lives suffer because of it. Who do their jobs woodenly or spitefully or barely at all.

But those people who hold on to the energy and spirit of their work, who show love, compassion and kindness every day to those they serve—how do they pull it off? For twenty, thirty, forty years? How do they manage to not burn out?

This is a question that comes up for Dannie and Lee in Snowbound with a Stranger. Trapped in a cabin during a massive blizzard, with no one to take care of but themselves, they begin to see how caretaking has taken its toll on them. And then they help each other make it right.

They also have sex a lot. (Because they’re stuck in a cabin. And it’s medically necessary. Or something.)

In the coming weeks I’ll be hosting a guest series on my blog in which I ask six service providers—a firefighter, a union organizer, a social worker, an ER nurse, a teacher and a doula—to talk plainly about what burnout feels like and how to survive it. Come check out the discussion every Monday from June 4th to July 9th.

Today, I’d love to hear your stories. Have you ever burned out on a job that required taking care of other people? If so, what did you do to work through it? Did you read a metric ton of romance novels? (That’s what I did.)

A free copy of Snowbound with a Stranger goes to one random commenter, so join in the chat!

Thanks for reading, and remember: you’re important too.

PhotobucketRebecca Rogers Maher lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and children. She is the author of the Recovery Trilogy—I’ll Become the Sea, Snowbound with a Stranger and the forthcoming Fault Lines (September 2012)—from Carina Press. You can learn more about her at her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway, Cover Art | 15 Comments »

You tell us: the best book(s) you’ve read recently

Angela James | May 28th, 2012

It’s Memorial Day here in the US and I’m in the midst of a four-day weekend before I start some wicked travel for the next three weeks. So I’m taking the easy road this week and asking one of my favorite questions to ask (it never gets old).

You tell us: What book have you read recently that you really enjoyed? It can be any genre, any publisher, the only criteria is that it’s a book you liked!

My best most recent read in the past few weeks has been, no lie, a contemporary romance submission that I’m lucky to have also been able to acquire!

Happy Memorial Day to those in the US. Thank you to all of those who serve, to their families and to those who gave their lives so we’re able to enjoy this day, and every other.

Posted in Carina Press | 9 Comments »

Reader Investment and Ownership of Story

Alison Dasho | May 24th, 2012

I wasn’t a gamer until I met my husband. I mean, I’d toyed with Bubble Bobble in my youth, but I never really understood the appeal of video games. Plus I get frustrated easily, so if I hit a level I couldn’t beat, I’d walk away. (Usually to go read a book, which worked out well for me!)

But when Husband and I started dating, once we got past that stage of having to go do “dates” someplace, I was introduced to a whole new world of video games: action RPGs. An action RPG is a story — it’s got fleshed-out characters, insanely detailed worlds, and highly customizable options. It’s basically a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book, but much, much, much bigger. You, as the main character in the game, are given a main quest, and encounter options for many side quests. In order to complete your quest, you need to explore the world, pick up new skills and bits of information, forge alliances with various characters, and vanquish enemies for loot. There are huge portions of the game that are simply conversations — you engage a character, listen to what she says, and then have 5 or 6 options for a reply. Based on that reply, she’ll take the conversation in a particular direction, giving you 5 or 6 new dialogue options, etc. Each choice you make determines how the rest of the game will play out for you.

So I’d spend afternoons hanging out on my Husband’s couch, reading a book or knitting a sweater while he played Mass Effect. He’d explain about the mission Commander Shepard was on, and I’d occasionally help him choose dialogue options. (One of the reasons I fell in love with him was he always chose the good, “paragon” dialogue options, no matter what game he was playing.) I loved that one of the characters was voiced by Star Trek: TNG alum Marina Sirtis (aka Counselor Troi). Slowly, I began to see the appeal, and I picked up a controller. At first, I’d only play through the dialogue sections, passing the controller to Husband during battles. But as I got more familiar with the mechanics of the battles, I became more comfortable with fighting myself. (Though, to be honest, I’m much better at Dragon Age fights than I am at Mass Effect fights. And I got pretty good at Red Dead Redemption, but nearly threw the controller through the TV when my character stumbled upon a rattlesnake and got bitten.)

What drew me in, what kept me interested in the games was the story. I cared about Commander Shepard. I loved making fun of Ashley, trying to draw out Garrus (and I’m not the only one!), and figuring out a way to romance Tali’Zorah. Through both Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, the story grew and intensified, and the choices my husband made for Shepard way back in the beginning had ramifications on the gameplay yet to come. We got invested.

So I’ve been paying attention to the controversy about the Mass Effect 3 ending not only as a fan, but also as someone who makes a living in the world of stories. Without giving any spoilers myself (but if you follow these links, be ye warned), fans are not happy about how ME3 ended. And they put up such a stink that BioWare, the company responsible for the game, is issuing new content. (After a blog post that emphasizes how much they value fan feedback.)

Which brings me to the question I want to ask you: In this age of easily-update-able ebooks and unprecedented author interaction with readers, would you ever petition an author to change an ending, or add a coda to offer more reader satisfaction? Do you expect authors to listen to reader responses about book seven in a series as they’re writing book eight? If an author’s vision for the ending of her series is different from what you expected and hoped, does that invalidate the joy she brought you with her earlier books?

Posted in Carina Press, Random conversation | 4 Comments »

Let Me In: Show Me the Love

Callie_Croix | May 23rd, 2012

PhotobucketI love erotic romance, but I’m very picky about what I read now. My favorites have a careful balance of heat and emotion throughout the story, so that the reader falls in lust and love right along with the characters. Take either of those aspects away, and the magic is gone. At least for me.

After all, it’s the romance that separates erotic romance from erotica, and I think that’s a very important distinction. A story without romance and a deep emotional connection between the characters just isn’t satisfying to me. I want to see the characters falling for each other, building that foundation of trust so integral for a chance at happily-ever-after along with all that steamy smexin’.  Some of my favorite erotic romances that demonstrate these qualities are Liberating Lacey and Under His Hand by Anne Calhoun, Sheltered by Charlotte Stein, and Hearts in Darkness by Laura Kaye.

Let Me In is my newest release. It features Liam Brodie, who you might remember from his rather spectacular introduction in No Holds Barred. While the two books are related, each can be read as a stand-alone. The sex is hot, but there’s more than just chemistry between Liam and Talia. Earning her trust is the key to everything, just as she needs to learn to trust him in return.

PhotobucketBlurb: On leave for Thanksgiving, the last thing marine lieutenant Talia Barnett expects to find is Liam Brodie waiting for her at the airport. He’s had a starring role in her fantasies for the past two years, and although she’d love to make them a reality, she has a dark secret that prevents her from taking things further.

A former Marine, Liam’s specialty is planning tactical operations, and that’s just what he plans to do to win Talia. The woman has kept him at arm’s length for too long, and this time he’s finally going to claim her—body and heart.

What begins as comfort quickly turns hot. When Liam shows Talia a hint of the dominant nature inside him, the submissive part of her flares to life. Though she desires him, she’s going back on deployment and doesn’t want to dump all her drama on him. Will he find a way to break through the protective walls around her heart and convince her they have a future that goes far beyond the bedroom?

There’s enough heat between these two to set your e-reader on fire. And don’t forget–for the month of May, Let Me In is on sale for only $0.99 at most retailers!

Now that I’ve mentioned my favorite erotic romance reads, what do you recommend for the perfect blend of heat, emotion and romance? Leave me a comment to enter a contest for a digital copy of Let Me In.

Happy reading!

Callie Croix

Callie Croix writes erotic romance tales about dominant alpha males that she hopes will curl your toes in the best way possible. She also writes edge-of-your-seat military romantic suspense as Kaylea Cross.

You can find her through her website, blog, facebook, twitter, goodreads, and her amazon author page.

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Posted in Carina Press | 6 Comments »

The Friend Zone, Regency Style

Alyssa_Everett | May 22nd, 2012

One of my favorite party questions (and I’m terrible at parties; I can never keep names and faces straight) is asking people how they ended up with their significant others.  Sometimes as they tell the story, they’ll mention the mistakes they made along the way:  falling for the Narcissist who never called, the Peter Pan who refused to grow up, the bad boy who couldn’t be faithful, the commitment-phobe who kept them dangling for years.  My own near-miss inspired my new regency romance, Ruined by Rumor:  I wanted a nice guy, but when he finally showed up, I put him in the Friend Zone.

I was still in college at the time, and one of my roommates was dating a classmate from a large rooming group.  Over the course of a few days I met his roommates, about a dozen of them, and we all became friends.  They were brash, funny, gregarious guys—all except one.  He was cute but quiet.  He mostly hung back and didn’t join in the teasing, the trash talking, and the noisy conversation.  I mentally categorized him as a math major or a computer geek, someone a bit antisocial.  I certainly didn’t see him as potential date material.

Fast forward three years, and I’d learned the quiet roommate wasn’t really that quiet, just on the shy side.  He wasn’t even a math major or a computer geek.  In fact, I’d had everything about him wrong.  The man I’d ruled out as potential date material turned out to be excellent husband material—witty, principled, charming, and thoughtful.  We got married two years after graduation, and he’s a great husband and father, a handsome doctor, frankly the best thing that ever happened to me.  The point is, it took me far too long to realize just how unfair I’d been to him, discounting his romantic possibilities.  It’s easy to be dazzled by men with quick smiles and smooth lines—the Wickhams and Willoughbys of Jane Austen’s novels—but it’s a man’s character that really counts in the long run.

The sheltered heroine of Ruined by Rumor, Roxana Langley, has to learn that same lesson.  She’s young and inexperienced, since the only man she’s ever loved has been off fighting the French.

Ruined by Rumor cover, Alex and Roxana, the hero and heroine

After waiting five years for her fiancé to return from the war and marry her, Roxana Langley has been jilted! She may have longed for excitement, but this was not what she had in mind…

Who could possibly throw over a woman as beautiful and vivacious as Roxana? Certainly not Alex Winslow, the Earl of Ayersley, who has spent years trying in vain to forget his unrequited love. When he learns she’s been abandoned by her cad of a fiancé, he finds himself offering a shoulder for her to cry on. Comfort soon turns into a passionate kiss—and scandal when they are caught in an embrace.

Only one thing will save Roxana from certain ruination: marriage to the earl. The match may save her reputation, but responsible, tongue-tied Ayersley is a far cry from her dashing former fiancé. She’s convinced Ayersley is merely doing his duty…while he’s sure Roxana is still in love with another man. Are they trading one disaster for another?

Ruined by Rumor received four stars from RT Book Reviews, which called it “…delightful, absorbing…a truly entertaining vacation to the past.” You can buy Ruined by Rumor here.

Nowadays we’re not likely to enter a marriage of convenience before we find Mr. Right, but everyone’s path to romance is special.  How did you meet the love of your life?  Did you sense right away that he (or she) could be The One, or did it take something more to open your eyes? Leave a comment, and I’ll use Random.org to select the winner of a $25 Sephora gift certificate. (Edited to add: I’ll need the winner’s e-mail address to send the prize, so you can either include it in your comment or check back here tomorrow and be prepared to contact me with it if you’re the winner. I’ll post the winner’s name on Wednesday morning 5/23 after 8:00 a.m. Eastern, which is also the cut-off time for entering.)

Alyssa Everett grew up in Florida, where from an early age her favorite books typically had dukes in them. She met her future husband at Harvard University. They currently live with their three children in small-town Pennsylvania. Ruined by Rumor is her debut romance.  Expect her next regency from Carina Press in early 2013.

Website – Goodreads Author Profile – Facebook – Twitter

Ruined by Rumor

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Posted in Authors, Books, Carina Press, Contest/Giveaway | 23 Comments »

You tell us: Do audiobooks count as reading a book?

Angela James | May 21st, 2012

Recently I was in a conversation with an author who was saying she had a friend who didn’t read, but instead listened to audiobooks because the friend had a long drive to commute to work each day and this was the only free time for “reading”. The author felt that this was, in some way, not really reading a book and didn’t “count” or mean her friend had actually read it. She expressed the feeling that it felt a little bit like cheating because it wasn’t as if the friend were reading the book. I should note that she wasn’t trying to be punitive or deliberately exclusionary in her thought pattern, and in fact she said she couldn’t even put into words the exact reason for it, but this was simply a gut feeling she had.

I hadn’t given much thought on my own views on this, until our conversation, but once I did, I realized that I add the audiobooks I’ve listened to, to my Goodreads account just as if I’d read them. I don’t separate out in my head that I’ve read 300 books in a year, but also listened to ten. Instead, to me it’s 310 books read. I argued to the author that people listening to audiobooks are absorbing the exact same content as someone reading the words themselves (assuming they’re not listening to an abridged version) and that the auditory nature of taking in the words doesn’t make it any less impactful than if they’d read them. I also pointed out that there are a number of people for whom audiobooks are the only form of reading, for any number of reasons (vision disabilities, inability to hold books/turn pages, lack of time, as in her friend’s case, or many other reasons–for instance my mother-in-law gets severe vertigo trying to read, so can only use audiobooks) and I would never take away from them the label of “reader” simply because they’re not reading it themselves.

On the other hand, I recognize that if we argue semantics, the word reader does have a very specific definition of “one who reads” with reads being defined as “to look at and understand words” but in the argument of semantics, I’d also say that our visceral understanding of readers is often much greater than just the limiting definition. I think, if you’re consuming a book, whether by audiobook, by reading, or by having it read to you via a digital device/computer, then you’re a reader, even if you’re interacting with the book differently. I’d argue that even those of us who read visually a book all still interact differently with it.

But you tell us: is someone who listens to audiobooks a “reader”. Can you say you’ve “read” a book if you listened to the audiobook version?

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Posted in Carina Press | 24 Comments »

Confessions of a Footnote Fetishist

Elyse_Mady | May 20th, 2012

I have a confession to make and it’s a little bit of an embarrassing one.

It’s something I’ve obsessed over for years.

I tend to tell blurt it out, even when I promised myself that this time, I’ll keep a lid on it.   People on the street, people I get stuck beside in long lines, family, friends, the cats – it doesn’t seem to matter.

*whispering* I have a long standing addiction to footnotes.

footnotes
There.

I said it.

My name is Elyse Mady and I’m addicted to subscripts and itty-bitty fonts, all crammed down at the bottom of the page.  I always read them.  Sometimes, I even read them first.

And don’t even get me started on bibliographies and works cited.  Monographs.  Secondary sources.  My heart beats faster at the thought.

I definitely got to indulge while I was writing my latest book, “The White Swan Affair” because while it’s a romance with not one but two happily ever afters, many of the events in the story really happened.

The White Swan Affair

In July, 1810, there was a raid on a molly house in London and a tailor named Robert Aspinall was arrested and subsequently tried in what was, before Oscar Wilde’s trial in the late 19th century, one of the most notorious prosecutions of homosexuals in modern English history.    Might seem an odd place to go looking for romance, but when I stumbled across a mention of the trial in, of all things, a footnote, my story senses started tingling.  *clang, clang clang*

Something about the event, and the treatment of not only the accused (which I think can be summed up as appalling) but their families, too, who had to partake in their vilification, appealed to me as a writer.  What would it be like to find out that your husband — a grocer from Essex, or a solider or a carter perhaps — has been leading a double life?  What would you do when no one will acknowledge you, because your father or your brother or your son has been identified by name in the papers as committing a crime ‘too unnatural’ to speak of’?  When your business is ruined and the accused faces death by hanging for their transgression?  The injustice of it all made me want to tell something of the story.  I had to.  The character of Hester simply walked into my mind, worried and distracted about her brother’s fate, and demanded that I start.

So for the first time in my writing career, I was delving into real people and real history.  This meant a lot of research.    I read primary sources, like trial transcripts from the Old Bailey and newspaper accounts and studied prints and maps to get a sense of where everything was happening.    Lots and lots of it never ends up on the page and I’m OK with that because a romance novel should be, first and foremost, about the romance.  And some of it is simply the product of my imagination and best guesses, because that’s what a writer does when they’re telling a story.

But it was exciting learning about a Regency world where balls and Lady Jersey and 10,000 a year weren’t the focus – where life was incredibly hard and bravery took many forms and often involved making difficult decisions where the only hope was to mitigate hardship, not escape it.

So that’s what my love of footnotes has led me to.  A story I was compelled to tell and that I hope readers will enjoy immersing themselves in as much as I did, if only to gain an even greater appreciation of a time and a place so many of us love to escape to.

I’ll never underestimate the power of subscript again!

***

Elyse Mady is the author of  “The White Swan Affair”, “The Debutante’s Dilemma”, “Something So Right” and “Learning Curves” , all with Carina Press.  She blogs at www.elysemady.com.  You can also find her on Twitter at @elysemady, Facebook and Goodreads.

In addition to her writing commitments, Elyse also teaches film and literature at a local college. In her free time she enjoys (well, enjoys might be too strong a word – perhaps pursues with dogged determination would be better) never ending renovations on their century home with her intrepid husband and two boys.

With her excellent writerly imagination, she one day dreams of topping the NY Times Bestseller’s List and reclaiming her pre-kid body without the bother of either sit-ups or the denunciation of ice-cream

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Posted in Authors, Books, Excerpt | 7 Comments »

Carina Press Spring 2012 call for submissions!

Rhonda Helms | May 18th, 2012

Note: please note that the submissions guidelines must still be followed in order to submit a manuscript in response to this call. Please visit our submissions page and follow the directions there.

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Hellooooo! So, the freelance editors for Carina decided it was time to do another call for submissions. We love doing these, because we get so many awesome stories in. Of course, PLEASE note that in the end, what we really want is a good story—so even if yours doesn’t fit the descriptions below, don’t hesitate to send it to us anyway! Sometimes we don’t know what we want until we get it in our inbox. You can find out more info on all the Carina freelance editors on this page.

Rhonda Helms: I’m open to almost every genre, with or without romance. But there are certain types of stories I’m eager to read more of right now, including:

military of any genre (esp. romance, thriller, sci-fi), steampunk (haven’t had a good one in a while!), atypical fantasy with great world-building and intriguing rules/uses of magic, westerns (esp. ones that use western elements to blend genres), sci-fi/futuristic with aliens and technology, romance (any steaminess level), stories with a mythological element, historicals (esp. if they feature real historical figures/events), stories set in unusual locales of any genre, super-funny romances that make me laugh until I cry, books of any genre with kick-ass heroines, deep and resonant tear-jerkers that move me but still have a satisfying ending, stories that blend genres to create a fresh and compelling world, and anything with a strong multicultural facet (please—want!!).

Melissa Johnson:

While Melissa is eager to read submissions of any genre, she currently yearns for a romance that crosses class or culture lines—whether contemporary, historical or paranormal. She feels it takes a particularly thoughtful author to make these conflicts deep and sensitive, and is thrilled when someone pulls it off. In general, she loves characters who learn from each other, see and love each other’s flaws, and grow over the course of the story.

Alissa Davis:

I look for books I can’t put down and characters I can’t forget. I edit lots of m/m, erotic romance, contemporary romance and historical romance and would love to see more of those. I also wish authors would send me medical romance, erotic historical romance, and m/m fantasy romance, and runaway bride romance. I have a weakness for geeky beta heroes, but mostly I hope to see sympathetic, well-drawn characters with real issues and a legitimate conflict keeping them from finding their HEA.

Mallory Braus: Mallory looks for characters first. Three-dimensional characters—with depth and vulnerabilities and quirks—pull her into a story faster than anything else. She’s looking for all genres, but there are a few things she’s especially keeping an eye out for:

–A zombie hunter romance!

–Psychics – Especially if you have psychic FBI agents or members of a special government agency…

–I’ve been keeping an eye out for quirky characters. Nerdy/dorky heroines or heroes. Funny relatives. Etc.

–Dark romantic suspense or gritty thrillers.

–Historical Mysteries. I’m especially looking for any late 19th to early 20th century mysteries.

–“Band of Brother” type series. Examples would be Nora Roberts’s trilogies, Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters, or J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. Where an emphasis is on the building of multiple characters’ relationships over the course of multiple books.

–Stories with unique worlds/setting, including, but not limited to: steampunk, post-apocalyptic, futuristic sci-fi and urban fantasy.

Alison Dasho: Alison wants:

–Sci-fi, especially future humanity dealing with first contact, alien class issues, or cyborg/android integration. What defines humanity? Do robots have souls?

–Fantasy adventure, especially lighter, funnier worlds. I’d love to see a manuscript that tells a rollicking quest story, maybe with trolls and wizards and unicorns and dragons, and has superb worldbuilding and a quirky sense of humor.

–Mystery and crime, especially dark tones and morally ambiguous issues. I’m interested in how the victims cope with the crime after the fact, or how the criminal who maybe got away scot-free in terms of legal justice is forced to contend with karmic justice. I tend not to like paranormal elements in my crime fiction, but will make some exceptions. I would love to see kidnapping fallout stories. Is the kidnap victim grown up and how is s/he dealing with those memories? Is the kidnapper in jail, or contacting the victim for some reason? I’d also love to see wrongly-accused stories — not necessarily like The Fugitive, where the protagonist himself must prove he didn’t do it, but more explorations about how the protagonist feels when faced with an accusation. Powerlessness, reliance upon a flawed justice system, etc.

–Contemporary romance, especially complicated. Both hero and heroine with pasts — maybe she’s a widow, maybe he’s got a criminal history. I love stories where everyone is opposed to the hero and heroine being together at all, let alone earning a HEA.

Denise Nielsen: I’ve had a hankering to read any of the following

–Historicals

  • Dark, edgy historical – Victorian or Edwardian era, gothic elements, steampunk, suspense
  • Classic historical – vikings, highwaymen, revolutionaries, sea captains – strong female leads
  • Jazz era historical – think flappers, luxury

–Contemporary

  • Modern reinterpretations of old stories (myths, legends, history) in a believable contemporary setting
  • Unlikely hero-heroine relationships that work out against the odds
  • Open to the interweaving of parallel stories past and present

Jeff Seymour:

In addition to my usual requests (SF/F, unusual romance, mystery, thrillers, horror, anything you’re afraid doesn’t fit neatly into a genre), I’d love to see some short, fast-paced adventures with series potential. Elements of any other genre welcome—just introduce me to a character and a world I can devour in an evening and still want more of.

Deborah Nemeth: I love intelligent writing, stories that make me laugh or cry (or both), and sharp, motivated protagonists. I’m particularly drawn to exotic settings, rule-breakers and multicultural characters.

I’d like to acquire some unusual historicals, m/m fiction, thrillers, and steampunk. In mystery/suspense I’m always looking for an interesting sleuth(s) to build a series on. I enjoy everything from cozy mysteries to romantic suspense to procedurals. I’d also love a mystery series set in the past (any historical era) or in a future space opera/space western setting. I’m also seeking contemporary romance with strong conflict and strong protagonists—SEALs/Rangers, firefighters, cops, carpenters, cowboys, activists—in any heat level. I love epic fantasy that combines adventure with compelling characterization and unique world-building. In paranormal and urban fantasy I’d rather see a fresh twist on ninjas, superheroes, dragons, fae, ghosts, djinn, Norse gods, psychics or fairytales than vamps, werewolves, demons and zombies.

Angela James: My list is mostly full, but I have a few specific things I’m still pretty avidly looking for, and all center around a good story. I will overlook a lot in writing if the voice, characters and story are compelling:

An erotic contemporary novel-length (70k+) stand alone or series, m/f or multiples, but I’m not seeking GLBT only at this point. A space opera or futuristic romp with strong romantic elements, unique, maybe with some of the Western flavor of Firefly, but with a definite adventure feel. Sports-themed contemporary romance, any sports (yes, racing and MMA are sports!) where sports play a role in the book, whether through the characters or setting of books. Novel-length (70k+) contemporary romance trilogies or series (not stand alone contemporaries), setting can be small town, big city or exotic locale, I’m open in that regard. I’m just looking to build my contemporary list in general!

So, if you have anything that fits the editor requests (or just a great book in general!) to submit, visit our submissions page and follow the directions there. You can address your submission to one of the editors above, or the editorial staff in general. Thanks, and we look forward to reading your manuscripts!

Posted in editors, submissions, Writing/Submissions Advice | 20 Comments »

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