Reflections from The New Jersey Romance Writers Conference

The conference in New Jersey was exceptional. It usually takes me a while to absorb and process new information, and the past few days have given me a chance to understand what I've learned. The authors and presenters were so generous with their knowledge and experience. I was truly impressed and moved by some of the obstacles they had overcome.

    

Sabrina Jeffries was the keynote speaker at breakfast Saturday morning. She shared how she had to reinvent herself as an author at the same time she was facing many personal challenges.  Though she'd published a number of historical romances as Deborah Martin, her career had come to a standstill. She basically had to start over, building her career as a romance author from the ground up. As Sabrina Jeffries she took chances, listened to the advice of others, tried things she'd been reluctant to do before. Gradually, with drive and persistence, she met with success. Success? Hey, she's a bestselling author whose readers clamor for her next book! But it wasn’t quick and it wasn't easy.

     

 I also sat in on a Q & A session with bestselling author Susan Wiggs. Things didn't come quickly for her, either. She worked for years as a teacher, so writing had to be done in the evenings, on weekends, or during school holidays. She had to sacrifice some "fun times" in order to write—but as she put it, "If something's important enough to you, you'll find the time to do it." And it was fascinating to learn that though she was very successful writing historical romances, she wrote her first contemporary romance on spec. She had established such a niche in historicals, she wasn't sure how publishers and readers would react if she moved to contemporaries. How lucky for those of us who love her stories she took the chance!

That's the thing about these successful authors. They take chances, they make changes, they do what they need to do in order to connect with readers. I really came away feeling humbled by everything I'd learned from them.

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A bit of news! My upcoming ffm ménage romance has undergone a title change. It is now called His and Hers and Hers.  It's coming this Fall, so keep your eyes peeled for more information! When I find out, you'll find out.

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

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'Tis (almost) the Season!

I'm very happy to announce that my next book will be out in just a couple months from Loose Id! It is a holiday book, which was so much fun to write. 

I just came up with the title a few days back and I wanted to share it all with you. 

Spicy with a Side of Cranberry Sauce. I'm very excited about this book and can't wait to share it in all its glory with you. Here's the premise...

When Mason goes home to his mother's for Thanksgiving, he's determined to make sure to help her through the first post-divorce holiday without much heartache. Ever since she split from his jerk of a father last year, she's been walking around like the shell of the vibrant woman he once knew. So when she calls him in a panic with a list of things she's forgotten at the store, he braves the only nearby store still open the day before Thanksgiving. He sees the last can of cranberry sauce and is on his way to get it when a beautiful blonde in black biker boots slams into his cart. Boy, did he not see that one coming. 

Amy's a bundle of nerves this holiday season. It's the first time her father's been willing to celebrate since losing his wife over a decade ago. She's thrilled that Dad's finally ready to rejoin the land of the living, but she's terrified that one little misstep and he'll never celebrate anything again. She's praying it wasn't a mistake talking him in to accepting an old flame's invitation for Thanksgiving, and dreading what could go wrong. So when the sexy man she bowled into at the supermarket turns out to be Martha's son, she has no idea how to focus on holiday cheer and keep her desires in check. 

I hope that sounds as exciting to you as it does to me. The book was a lot of fun to write and now I can't wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Guess I'll have to get through Halloween and book edits before then. 

So, what do you think of the title, everyone? Has it intrigued you?? I hope so. Let me know your thoughts. 

Check back soon for updates on the book and don't forget to check out my first erotic romance, An Affair Across Times Square featuring two lawyers on opposite sides of Times Square and a murder trial. 

Talk to you soon, 

~Rach 

Why Times Square? A Q&A with Rach

So someone asked me this weekend why Times Square? She was really curious as to why I set An Affair Across Times Square in NYC, specifically in Times Square. I didn't have to think much about that, since I really had a great concept of where the whole idea for the book came from. 

I was at a conference in NY and staying at a hotel in Times Square and I came back to the room one afternoon to change between sessions and I looked across the street and could see into the office building there! And an idea was born. In the opening scene of the book, Layla Morgan goes back to her hotel room, gets partially undressed and... let's of some steam, shall we say? In full view of the building across the square.  Then she does it again... while he watches! It's a hot opening scene and it was the germ for the whole rest of the book. 

It couldn't have been set anywhere else in the world. I wish I had a shot from inside the room into the building across the street for your viewing pleasure, but I do not. Instead, here's a shot of Times Square that I took about five years back during a trip to NYC. I've always loved Times Square and all the craziness that ensues there. So it was a blast to set a book eighteen stories above the craziness... separate from it, but also so much a part of it. 

I used this photo as part of the promo video for An Affair Across Times Square. Check that out below: 

An Affair Across Times Square is available on Loose Id, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. 

Thanks for stopping by. And don't forget to enter our Three-Way Giveaway Contest - follow us, be entered to win three free books! 

~Rach

Friday Fragments by Nona

***Exciting News! Bestselling romance author (and fellow CNYRWer) Cari Quinn has a new release today! It's NO FLOWERS REQUIRED, Book 2 in the Required Love series from Entangled Books. It's sure to be another bestseller, so be sure to get your copy right away!***

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/no-flowers-required/

 I'm at Cari's blog today with a super sexy excerpt from Uncollared and a book and gift certificate giveaway. All you have to do is stop by and tell us your favorite flavor of ice cream! Two random winners will be selected. Please stop by!

http://cariquinn.blogspot.com/2012/08/welcome-erotic-romance-author-nona.html

***

Three Great Reference Books for Romance Authors

Ugh. Just the thought of reference books makes one imagine heavy, dusty, boring tomes. Well, today I want to share some books that are fun and funny and of great help to anyone writing romance.

How To Write Hot Sex: Tips From Multi-Published Erotic Romance Authors edited by Shoshanna Evers

This book is a great resource for anyone who's writing sexy stories. The above mentioned Cari Quinn has a great little chapter on "Rx for the Sagging Sex Scene".  Delphine Dryden gives advice on how to write BDSM themed stories and Giselle Renard's contribution includes fetish and niche market sex. Male/male romantic erotica is super popular now and Christine D'Abo contributes a chapter on writing for that market. Finally, regardless of what you write, you need to get it published! Editor Shoshanna Evers has been successful with well known publishers as well as self-publishing and has much wisdom to offer. There are a number of other topics addressed in the book as well.  A very well-rounded collection.

Whip Me, Beat Me, Make Me Write Hot Sex by Tymbor Dalton

This book deals specifically with BDSM themed romance and erotica. The author is herself involved the BDSM community and knows whereof she speaks. She gives a breakdown of the terminology used, activities and important safeguards. She also addresses clichés and misunderstandings about BDSM. In other words Dominant does not equal bossy jerk and submissive does not mean doormat. One thing the author makes clear is that BDSM relationships are as individual and unique as vanilla relationships. As long as everything is "safe, sane and consensual", there is no one right way to do it, in spite of what some Judgey McJudgersons might think. A tremendous resource for anyone writing this genre.

The Virgin Widow's Heart Stopped When She Saw The Book That Would Change Her Life Forever by Sophie Gunn and Ellen Hartman

Oh God, this book is so funny. I'm not as familiar with Sophie Gunn's work, but anyone who's read Ellen Hartman's books will recognize the humor that makes her stories so much fun. The authors address the clichés that so easily can creep into an author's work. Clichés make your writing boring and generic, and rob it of individuality. The authors warn you away from the worst (I cringe when I think how many have slipped by me) and brave souls that they are, even include some bad examples from their own writing. The clichés don't simply refer to phrases (such as "her heart stopped"), but to clichéd characters (more cringing) and events in a story. Since reading it, I can't say I've eliminated all clichés, but I've become a lot more aware of them.

I've found all these books enormously helpful, and highly recommend them.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Nona Raines
Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com