Archive for February, 2010

February 11, 2010

The RNA awards shortlist has just been announced for the main prize and the shorter length romantic fiction prize.

I’m doing a happy dance to see that Nell Dixon is on the list for the Love Story of the Year with her LBD novel, Animal Instincts.

I’m choked up at seeing the news made official because I’m so happy for Nell. She’s not only a good friend of mine who has given me a lot of practical advice and support, but one of the most hard working and focused writers I know. Those of you who know her will also know what a warm, down to earth person she is and that her books reflect every ounce of that warmth and humanity.

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the RNA, there are some exciting new categories for Romantic Comedy and Romantic Films.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors in all categories, particularly writer friends, Nina Harrington, Louise Allen and Jill Mansell, who’ve all helped me on my writing way at some point or another.

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February 9, 2010

That’s Sam Tonge from the addictive Strictly Writing blog, not some perma-tanned snake-hipped bloke in a sequinned unitard.

Sam jokily expressed a wish to be interviewed last week and I was delighted to oblige. She writes chick lit and doesn’t have a publishing contract yet (though it can’t be long.) So I thought she was the ideal person to give a perspective on the publishing process from a ‘pre’ point of view. After all, this was me a few years ago – and I know a lot of visitors to the blog will empathise with her journey.

So, Sam if those thumbscrews are comfortable, here’s the first question:

Why and when did you start writing?

I started writing seriously five years ago, when my youngest started school. During my twenties I made a half-hearted attempt at a novel, based on my time working at EuroDisney – I think I completed three chapters. As I child I recall writing stories and doing the illustrations myself. I was a prolific reader but it never really hit me that I wanted to be a writer until my late thirties.

Why do you want to be published ?

Where to start! Fundamentally, I suppose, it’s for two reasons. Firstly, I crave the validation of someone in the industry saying I am good enough to be read by other people and by putting the necessary funds behind my book to prove it. Secondly, heaven for me would be to have an audience. At the moment my only avid reader is myself (and on occasion, my daughter, which is lovely). My husband reads from time-to-time, his interest having initially been sparked by my request that he check out my sex scenes!

Do you think there will be a downside to being published?

Um… yes! I am lucky enough to enjoy the company and advice of many online published friends, which also means I have learnt much about the pitfalls of being published. Meeting deadlines, for example, or becoming obsessed with one’s ranking on Amazon; compromising one’s prose for editors; trying not to weep at harsh reviews; praying for a renewed contract despite the recession; keeping a lid on envy regarding other writers’ awards, talent and well-paid deals. For my type of writing, chick lit, there is also the added downside of snobbism against the genre. None of this however, puts me off and despite everything, I don’t think any of my online friends would have rather remained unpublished.

What made you start SW and what benefits do you feel it has it brought you as a writer?

I decided to really push myself, writing-wise, at the beginning of 2009 and as a novelist thought that my short-piece writing skills were poor. And I have to say that a year of blogging has really focused my attention and for the first time this January I completed a short story and entered it for a competition! I also liked the idea of creating a forum where I could meet like-minded writers keen to discuss the craft with a good dose of humour. Lastly, I wanted a web presence, something I feel is important for all unpublished writers who are submitting work. Yet I didn’t want to blog on my own as I knew I would end up writing about what the cat ate for breakfast.

Any favourite blog posts or debates on SW?

I keep coming back to this question but can’t answer! We publish such a variety of posts – fun takes on the writing process, serious advice about submitting; tips on how to cope with rejection, insights from guest bloggers on the publishing business; reading habits, ways to plot or choose characters’ names… I could go on. I do like our Quickfire Questions interviews though – especially when we ask writers what their favourite desktop snack is. I am always suspicious of anyone who doesn’t answer “chocolate.”

Your favourite romantic novels?

In recent years I have read more chick lit than straight romance – although the best chick lit for me does have some sort of love story running through. But forbidden love is a favourite theme, a la Thorn Birds, and the best example of this I have read recently is the Twilight Series.

Valentine’s day is coming up – who would be your date from hell?

Cheesy answer, I’m afraid, but anyone other than my husband. He has never doubted my talent (even though I regularly do) and from one year to the next has insisted that I don’t give up on my dream – despite my mood swings at rejection and more poignantly, my widening writer’s arse!

Thanks Sam, for being such a good sport!

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February 7, 2010

Whew. Slight kerfuffle on Facebook and Strictly Writing this weekend. I got on my soapbox (aka going ballistic) about women’s rights to enjoy fantasising about Alpha heroes and women’s commercial fiction in general.

And after that heated debate, I hope you won’t mind me sharing this story that RNA member, Jess, posted. It sums up the reason why I love writing and romantic fiction in particular.

Phillipa. I spent the afternoon with my best friend N and we were talking about what we’re both reading at the moment. She said her sister, J, texted her at 11.30 last night, at which point N was immediately worried because her sister never texts that late. J’s message said she’d been reading a book all evening that she hadn’t been able to put down and that N should read it too. J said she had fallen that much in love with the hero that she felt she could see him and even smell him so clearly in her own mind and she couldn’t wait til today to tell N about it. N rang her to ask the name of the book. Answer? “It Should Have Been Me” by Phillipa Ashley x

Jess. I’ve never had a hero that a reader could smell before but I’m really happy.

Tomorrow, I’m off to a writers lunch with Nell Dixon and Elizabeth Hanbury and this time, Lizzie Lamb is joining us. Nell has promised to help reduce my blood pressure with her soothing and practical advice. I love these lunches. They’re always invaluable for sharing the latest industry news (aka juicy gossip); and swapping ‘technique’ tips. Did you know a bar of Cote d’or chocolate with raspberries counts as one of your five a day? No? There you are then.

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February 5, 2010

My dear friend and RNA member, Rosy Thornton (and when she bought me that latte yesterday she didn’t tell me this was coming!) has written a very thought-provoking post for Strictly Writing today

Rosy writes romantically themed novels – and if you write romance you should take a look at her post.

I’ve quoted a bit of here that’s relevant to romance but please read the whole post – I don’t want to take this out of context.

Even though much of my work is romantically themed, I would never write a story in which a female character relied for her self-worth, her entire happiness, her ‘redemption’, upon finding a man. I would not write a moody ‘alpha’ hero who is mean and even cruel but whose meanness is portrayed in a sexy light – even though there are whole swathes of genre fiction pedalled to young women which are based on precisely this scenario. I would only ever write female characters who are strong and independent and follow their own ends, and are in control of their sexuality.

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