August 4, 2010 | 2 Comments

Editing your first draft manuscript is never easy – after all, how do you gain the necessary distance from your precious ‘baby’, after spending months (or even years) on it?

Multi-published historical author, Elizabeth Bailey, is giving her Five Top Tips on editing your manuscript on the RNA blog today.

These are all very useful tips and I particularly like numbers 4 and 5. When I’ve had revisions, I always start with the smaller changes in the editorial letter (or agent’s email) as it helps me feel I’m making progress. Along the way, I find I begin to see ways of making bigger changes that work for my book, in my own way.

Killing your darlings…

At the end of the process, I’ve found the courage to ‘kill’ cherished scenes that just have no part in the book – like a helicoper rescue scene in one of my books. I’d researched it to death, interviewed RAF personnel and an ex MSF-doctor and I wanted to use it. Unfortunately, it did not move my plot along. It took me ages to find the nerve to delete it and replace it with a much smaller incident later in the book, that led to the deeper character development I needed.

Sometimes I think you need to go quite a way along the wrong path, to realise what the right path is. I’m always wandering off anyway!

Conversely, post-editing, there will also be points that I just ‘know’ are right and should stay. After a thorough round of revisions, I’ve usually got the confidence to keep them. Most editors or agents don’t want to be dictatorial (!), they would rather you worked out how to strengthen your book in a way that’s true to your own voice.

But everyone edits differently – any tips uou find helpful?

Liz is also launching a critique service for authors – all details on the RNA blog.

August 3, 2010 | 2 Comments

Yes, everyone seems to be on holiday, or about to go on holiday, especially if they work in publishing so anyone waiting for news (which is most writers, at some time) is going to have to be patient.:)

I’ve been away from the blog, working and Having a Real Life, rather than a virtual one. We went bodyboarding over the weekend, in Croyde, Devon and Widemouth Bay, Cornwall – I even caught some good waves this time, unlike my first attempt last year.

We had really great weather and visited Clovelly and Hartland Bay – we walked down to Hartland Quay to see the cottage used as the Dashwoods’ home in the recent BBC adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. It is beautiful, quaint and remote – and looks nothing like the cottage in the movie! A local lady told us that the film crew had added a complete new facade to the house.

We’ve bought a tent so we can get away more often in the summer weekends. I’m a fair weather camper who hasn’t slept under canvas (actually, it’s nylon now) for a squillion years so I’ll let you know how I get on!

And the above picture of Mr August from 12 men of Christmas has nothing to do with my decision!

July 16, 2010 | 3 Comments

Woke up this morning to a howling gale and an email from Sourcebooks to say, ‘Yay! Here’s the full jacket of Dating Mr December.’

I’ve seen the front cover but never the Full Monty so here it is. It was a PDF so Ms Bennet (who’s here for the weekend, double yay) turned it into a png for me.

Its very different to the original artwork cover for Decent Exposure which was great fun. Although I’ll never forget the shock when I first saw it and thought: “OMG, there’s a naked man on the cover.” Naively, as a first-time author, it had never occurred to me that if you write a book based on a nude calendar, the designers might just pick up on that theme. In fact, I still hadn’t come to terms with writing romance at all but I’m gradually getting there.

So it’s fascinating to me to see the wildly different takes on the same book. I confess that this photographic cover just has the edge for me.

Still, neither of the covers are pink and fluffy which should please a certain person. OTOH, they do feature half naked men. Oh dear. I fear I am beyond redemption and will probably burst into flames any moment now!

I hear some authors complaining that their covers are too fluffy and girly, when, in fact, they write serious women’s fiction. This is misleading the reader and I understand where they’re coming from. I however, can’t complain because my books are sexy, fun, upbeat – and (gulp) romantic – and I think this cover reflects just that.

July 15, 2010 | 2 Comments

Ms B and I were giggling over two posters in the window of Claire’s Accessories on Saturday. They featured two Twilight themed ‘looks’ that were designed to attract either Edward or Jacob (or maybe both!) I haven’t read the Twilight books yet, though I’ve seen the first movie. Ms B has read and seen them all.

This look, according to Claire’s, would appeal to Edward.

A new look for the Jacob fans.

It left me wondering what type of makeover would appeal to some other fictional heroes. John Thornton, for instance. Maybe you’d need a naive social conscience, something to cure your chronically sweaty palms (the real reason she refused to shake his hand) and a Victorian cleavage of Jordanesque proportions? (I’ve been trying to find a picture of Daniela Denby Ashe in *that* gorgeous dinner party dress. No wonder Mr Thornton seemed aloof, he was dumbstruck.)

How might you attract Mr Darcy? You’d definitely need fake tan (a natural consequence of your travelling in the summer,) 1000 calorie mascara (to enhance your fine eyes) and a realisation that you’d be willing to put up with a great deal to be Mistress of Pemberley.

Yes, I’m being very silly. Call it distraction therapy.

You can read the feature on Sugarscope here.

I dunno. What would attract *your* hero?

July 14, 2010 | Comments

Check out the shoes at the RNA Conference here. Now I wish I’d been able to go, even if only to drool in awe at all those gorgeous kitten heels, stilletos and bondage sandals. I do hope, however, that the RNA blog doesn’t start attracting the Wrong Sort of Shoe Fan.