February 19, 2006

Instincts

I’ve been discussing the genesis of Kiss From A Rogue, how I developed the ideas, how they evolved. It came as a surprise to me how much the story deviated between the proposal my editor accepted and the manuscript I turned in. I was a bit worried, but it turns out a lot of writers deviate from the plan, and editors are used to our idiosyncracies.

The first change was the heroine’s name. It seemed fine in the synopsis, but when I sat down to write the story, I realized it was the same first name as a famous author – someone I’ve met several times, who does not bear any resemblance to the character, and this was quite distracting. So she became Sylvia instead.

Another change concerned the villain. The bad guy in the synopsis insisted on being the comic relief in the manuscript, and the real villain didn’t exist until he walked onstage and introduced himself. (A similar development just happened in the manuscript I’m working on now, but I didn’t freak out this time.)

As I was working up the idea of my smuggling story, my agent had pointed out that someone had to be the voice of reason – we can’t have our beloved hero and heroine engaged in illegal activities indefinitely. Inspired by the quality of the optics in their spyglasses, I decided they’d set up a glass factory, thereby giving legal employment to the entire village. I put together the proposal quite quickly, so I only did the most rudimentary research before sending off this brilliant solution to my editor. By three months into the project, I’d done tons more research on Dorset – its geography, geology, industry, natural resources, etc. — and realized a glass factory was out of the question. It was two months from my deadline, and I was writing as fast as I could, toward a complete abyss. What could they possibly do instead of smuggling, that would support the villagers, was legal, and actually believable to anyone who knew anything at all about Dorset?

I wrote right up to the edge of the abyss, the very line where a character opens their mouth to announce the solution, and still that solution eluded me. My critique partners joined me for an emergency plotting party that night. We tossed out all sorts of ideas, the sublime as well as the absurd, until we were ready to howl in frustration. Nothing seemed right. All the usual writer neuroses were screaming for my attention. I’d written myself into a corner, and couldn’t find a door. The manuscript was due in six weeks.

As a sanity-saver, we started going off on tangents, discussing all sorts of things, writing related or not. Someone pointed out something that had been annoying her about the story, but she hadn’t mentioned it prior to this. It was a throwaway line that appeared in several places. That throwaway line turned out to be the solution, the legal alternative to smuggling that could support an entire village. The door had been there all along, and I simply hadn’t recognized it.

With some very minor revisions, its importance became more evident, and it’s a “well, of course that’s what they do,” in retrospect but is still a bit of a surprise when they come up with the plan. (I’d tell you what is, but then you wouldn’t need to read the book to find the answer.)

The moral of this story is, trust your instincts. You know more than you think you do. Sometimes you just need help in recognizing your own brilliance.

February 18, 2006

Teachers by Cindy Kirk

Every year a local radio station runs a “Thank You Teacher” promotion. They encourage the public to nominate a teacher who has made a difference in their life. There are several different categories (elementary, middle school, high school, college and retired). For years I’ve been thinking of nominating my first grade teacher (who is now retired) but never got around to doing it.

Yesterday, I wrote the letter and mailed it! If she wins, we get to go to lunch with the other category winners to a special appreciation luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion. But, while I’d like to see her win, I’m just happy that my nomination letter will be forwarded to her and that she’ll finally know what a difference she made in my life.

She was a fabulous teacher who instilled in me a lifelong love of learning as well as the love of the written word. One of my fondest memories is of these 4×6 cards she had where she would write the titles of ten books we’d read and then give us the card along with a…..drum roll please….very cool animal sticker at the top!! My first grade year I got 10 cards! Doing the math, that meant I’d read 100 books! By the end of that year you better believe I was a very good reader.

Do you have a story about a teacher who made a difference in your life? If so, I’d love to hear it!

February 17, 2006

The Happily-Ever-After

My career is built on the happily-ever-after. A baseball wouldn’t be a ball if it wasn’t round, and a Shana Galen book wouldn’t be a romance if it didn’t end with the hero and heroine happy and in love.

People buy romances because they want that satisfying ending. They want to know that something in their live is certain. If I read 378 pages of this book, then at the end, I am going to sigh and smile and feel all glowy inside. It’s okay if on page 370 everything seems gloomy and doomed. Romance readers know that a lot of glow can happen in eight pages.

How I wish life were a romance novel. How I wish I could know that even though things look bad on Monday, by Friday all my conflicts and sub-plots will be tied up. How I wish we could count on love.

After blogging with this group for several months now, I’ve come to the realization that I’m the cynical one. Well, actually, I knew I was the cynical one. When I first started writing romance, people I knew were like: “YOU write romance? But you’re so cynical!” So it’s no surprise to me that three weeks before my wedding to the most awesome guy on the planet (even though he does like sports), I still get panicky thinking about the big day. And how I wish that panic had to do with my shoes not looking right or my makeup being too orange.

I panic about love. Will it last? Will my marriage last? Will we live happily-ever-after? Am I writing my own romance or literary fiction with a deceptive first three chapters?

I don’t have any answers. I can’t see that I’m any more in love than anyone else who married (only to divorce a few years later). I can’t see that I’m smarter than any of these people, and I can’t see that my guy is any more terrific — okay, well, he is more terrific, but I bet they all thought that too. So how do I warm up the cold feet?

Does any one really live happily-ever-after? How? Is it fated or do we write our own endings? Does love really conquer all?

February 16, 2006

Dark vs. Light Historicals

This past Saturday, I took part in a booksigning with authors Elizabeth Bevarly and Susan Crandall at a Louisville, Kentucky Barnes and Noble. (Which, btw, went very well even if we weren’t bombarded with attendees. *G*) After it was all over, I took a few moments to browse through the romance section, where I was stopped by a lady who hadn’t attended the signing, but apparently recognized me and had read my first book.

“It’s not that I disliked it,” she told me, “but it was much darker than I thought it would be. When I pick up a historical romance, I expect it to be light and fun, especially when it’s from Avon, and I was a bit surprised.”

Now, I have always believed that each person is entitled to his or her own opinions, and the lady I spoke to wasn’t rude or out of line in any way by simply stating that my style of writing wasn’t for her. But her words got me to thinking. Is this what most readers expect from a historical romance? Light and frothy fun? She is not the first person who has said they don’t like darker reads when it comes to historicals, and this is of particular interest to me, as my fellow Quills and I will be presenting a workshop at RWA National this summer and one of the things we will be discussing is the rise in darker historicals. I know I am not the first person to introduce this sort of writing. Just look at the success of authors like Amanda Quick, Brenda Joyce, and Lisa Jackson. Perhaps this is publisher related and not genre related. Is it more that readers don’t expect that sort of story from Avon?

So, this leads me to the question, what do you expect from a historical romance? Or do you have any specific expectations? Do you anticipate a certain sort of read from any given publisher and are disappointed when you don’t get it? Or is it all the same to you, dark or light?

February 15, 2006

Frequently Asked Questions:

Romance authors (as I assume most authors) are now so accessible on the internet that it is quite easy for readers and fans to reach us. In doing so, readers ask a myriad of questions. Here are a few I’ve collected over the past year, and my answers, of course.

Is that your real name or a pen name?
I hear this one all the time because DeHart – I mean, come on, that’s too perfect for romance. And it is my married and legal name. I actually sold and we went to cover conference with my maiden name, but when I became engaged (shortly before the cover went into production) my editor asked if my soon-to-be married name would look good on a cover. I told her, “you’re not even gonna believe this one…”

Where do you get your ideas?
This is one of those questions that sounds like it will get a really fascinating answer, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. Least of all from me. Many writers have notebooks full of unwritten ideas, snippets of dialogue, character sketches, etc. stashed away in their office. Me, not so much. So far I have yet to not have an idea when I need one, but on more than one occasion, I’ve had to manufacture one (aka brainstorm) because I simply didn’t have an idea waiting in the wings. Courting Claudia was one such idea.

Do you know or have you met the people who pose on your cover?
This question always surprises me. I think it probably stems from the fact that often times authors are as mysterious to readers as actors and rock stars are. This makes me chuckle, because I’ve met tons of romance authors and while I think we’re a real hoot, very few of us are all that mysterious. But cut the sass, no, I do not know nor have I met any of the cover models. Although The Professor insists he’s posing for mine on the sly. Hmmmmmm.

Are you ever going to write a book about Poppy?
This is probably the number one question I’ve received over the past few months. And I don’t know. I have an idea for her happy ending, but as to whether or not I’ll revisit her in book form, I’m not sure. But I’ll certainly let everyone know (via my website) as soon as I do. In the meantime, I’m very busy working on the Ladies’ Amateur Sleuth Society.

Do you worry about your Great Aunt Lucy reading all your steamy love scenes?
I wondered this myself before my book came out and the answer is, no. I really don’t worry about it. Romances aren’t for everyone, just as some people don’t care for the grit in horrors or the weird in science fiction. My father bought so many copies of my first book and sent them to everyone in the family – even cousins I didn’t know. My in-laws told all of their family and friends and I’ve received e-mails from people I’ve never heard of that bought and read the book. But at the end of the day, I’m writing romance for romance readers. Readers who know and love all that comes in romance novels. I’m not out to recruit new readers (although that would be nice) so it doesn’t hurt my feelings if someone reads the book and doesn’t care for it for any number of reasons (consummated love scenes included). I love to read romance, I love to read love scenes (when they’re done well) and I love writing them when they’re true to the story and characters at hand.

Why do you write romance?
The easy answer for this is because it’s what I love to read. Plain and simple. I find it so ironic that love and honor and truth and happiness are not given critical acclaim in our culture the way that heartache, pain and sorrow are. Look at the Oscars. It is so rare these days to find comedy nominated for any of the major awards. They’re not deep enough or serious enough – therefore, they’re not worthy of acclaim. That’s bunk! I remember once on one of Oprah’s shows, shortly after introducing her bookclub, she had a show where they aired questions from viewers, either in the audience or videotaped. One such viewer was a romance author and she asked Oprah why she never included romance novels in her bookclub. Oprah’s response was that those books were unrealistic. Well, fantasy, though they might be, I know more people who are happily married in monogamous relationships than I do who are bulimic, depressed, or any number of other social issue. That’s not to say that we turn a blind eye to these issues or that they’re not real and painful – they are. But to say that love and happy endings aren’t realistic. That’s simply not true. I write romance because it affirms the strong beliefs I have in love and growth and trust and honor and sacrifice and strength and hope and perseverance and yes, happy endings.

Are you ever going to write something else (or, when are you going to write a “real” book?)
This really goes back to the above question. I write what I love and right now have no plans to write anything else. But if I did write something else, it would more than likely be another form of genre fiction. I’m a firm believer in books and movies being entertainment and I think anything that falls into the genres fill this better than the so-called literary or artsy types.

What about you, Quills, what say you on these questions (obviously, you won’t be writing a book about Poppy – you’ll have to fill in your own character. )

Only 13 more days until A Study in Scandal…

February 14, 2006

More Movies

My husband and I have been seeing quite a lot of movies lately, and our tastes are eclectic. Loved Batman Returns (although I’m not a great Christian Bale fan), but I thought the story was well-done and very compelling. We saw Pride and Prejudice and I thought it was ok, but I really enjoyed the Masterpiece Theater version (with Colin and Jennifer) so much more. Well, duh - it was six hours long - lots more detail and characterization.! So we saw the new P&P a second time and I liked it much better. I think maybe I was able to turn off my inner critic and enjoy it as a truly different interpretation of the book. Loved the music, too. I might have to buy the soundtrack.

Tristan and Isolde was very good in some respects - the scenery and sets were fabulous and so were most of the characters. Very medieval! But Tristan’s brooding started to bug me after awhile. Seems like there should have been more depth to the character - or not. Tristan was probably all of 16 years old :-). A funny bit about this … we saw the movie in a fairly small showing room that was FULL of high school girls. The only other viewers besides us was one mom-type and two teenage guys (dates, I guess). We started worrying about the film we were about to see (you know - judging it by the audience) and my husband asked one of the girls why they’d come to see T&I. (He thought maybe the book had been assigned in English class and this was an easy out - I figured they must like the guy who plays Tristan). The girl replied that they just thought they’d like it … and that the actor is hot. (And here I was thinking a whole new generation of Medieval-lovers had been born!)

We are probably going to see Nanny McFee, even though we don’t have any little kids to take with us. I think it’ll be fun.

Did anyone see King Kong? In my estimation, it was about 2 hours too long but the first half hour was spectacular. That was the part when the characters were first getting together - it was during the depression, and the scenes were just excellent. Same with the scenes of the ship they were on to get to KK’s island (very reminiscent of Joseph Conrad). After that, it was just one big monster movie - waaaaaay too much of KK battling this dinosaur and then that dinosaur, with Naomi Watts looking pretty and worried and … Well, you get it.

I would love to see the new Pink Panther, but I’m afraid it won’t be up to Petter Sellers’ standards. Don’t get me wrong - I love Steve Martin, but who could possibly do Inspector Clouseau like PS? I probably won’t see Brokeback Mountain - These days I’m not so much in the mood to go to the movies for a good cry …

Can’t wait for the summer releases - there hasn’t been a lot to get excited about in the past six months or so. Doesn’t Pirates of the Carribean II come out this summer?

February 13, 2006

Movies

What movies have you seen lately? Anything good to recommend? And if the cinema has you yawning, what about a recent rental? Or an old favorite?

For me…two thumbs up for Batman Begins. If you haven’t seen it…I highly recommend a viewing.

#1 reason: deft plotting, very creative use of the supernatural aspects of the other Batmans - but keeps everything within the realm of possibility, tortured hero (really tortured), excellent casting (Christian Bale? Gary Oldman? Liam Neeson? Michael Caine? Morgan Freeman? Rutger Hauer?), and this Bat tale just plain works. I love that this movie is gray, gray, gray.

#2 reason: Christian Bale (or should I make this #1?)

February 12, 2006

Behind the Scenes, part 2

First, a shameless plug for a friend’s blog site, www.StephanieRowe.blogspot.com. For her blog, Steph often interviews other writers, editors, agents and other interesting folks, and yours truly was the subject of her interview on Friday, 2/10.

Now part two of the story behind the story for KISS FROM A ROGUE (in stores now!). Last week I gave the back story for Tony, and the baggage he had to contend with before he even set foot on the page. To become a hero, he needed a heroine. Enter Sylvia, Lady Montgomery.

I can trace the genesis for Sylvia as far back as brainstorming notes titled “Jane Austen Does Pirates of the Caribbean.” From there, the high concept became “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs meets Pirates of the Caribbean.” (Are you sensing a trend here?)

Since the story is set in England, however, smugglers were more likely than pirates. Most smuggling tales I’ve read have men at the head of their operations. I like to take the conventions, the expected, and tweak or twist them. Bend, fold and mutilate them when possible. So, the smugglers had to have a female leader, and she had seven dwarfs, er, helpers.

Why would a woman take on such a dangerous role? If there’s no other way to support herself, why not just leave, and go back to her family? I had to make Sylvia’s alternatives so bad she’d have no choice but to stay and help the villagers. In EARL, Quincy was trying to save her sister, but in ROGUE, Sylvia is trying to save an entire village. Avoiding melodrama became a big priority.

Figuring a way to get Tony embroiled in Sylvia’s smuggling ring, without undermining her authority or making her seem weak and needy, was tricky. Once he was involved, what was to keep him from trying to take over the operation, or leaving her? Taking care of this had more to do with tweaking their personalities than the external plot.

During the brainstorming process, I had to figure out things like, why is he the perfect man for her, and why is he also the absolute worst? In what ways are they alike, and how are they polar opposites? What keeps them together? When the going gets rough, why can’t they just throw up their hands in disgust and walk away from each other? What finally does drive them apart at the black moment, and how do we get past that to the happy-ever-after?

One of the recurring themes that kept popping up when we brainstormed was mild vs. wild. (That’s not the royal “we” – I’m lucky to have brilliant critique partners whom I only occasionally want to strangle.) Tony wants to act wild. He wants to become a rake. Sylvia is mild at heart, but she’s reluctantly doing something kind of wild. As part of her growth, she has to willingly do something really wild before the end of the story. Coming up with that wild task was great fun, and writing it was even more fun. The essence of Captain Jack Sparrow got to make an appearance in the story after all.

During the course of the story, Tony has gone to such great lengths to appear to be wild — a rake — has done everything with the end goal of trying to seduce Sylvia. Yet by the end he has to convince her that he really is mild and will stick around through good times and bad. Deep down, Tony’s inner bad boy is actually a nice guy. To show his emotional growth, before he and Sylvia could have their happy-ever-after, he had to do something at the end that he’d never have done at the beginning of the story – something that required great intestinal fortitude. (After you’ve read the book, you’ll appreciate the pun. Trust me.)

Next week, I’ll share some of the ways the final manuscript veered way off course from the proposal, and what it’s like to write at full speed toward an abyss.

February 11, 2006

Website by Cindy Kirk

Okay, I know my first book for Avon won’t be out until June 2007 but I simply had to have a website and I had to have it now!

Plus the Jaunty Quills are having a scavenger hunt this Spring and we’ll be sending all of you to each of our websites for clues….and…well… I didn’t want to miss out on all the fun by not having any place for you to come to visit ME.

Sooooo, check out my new site www.cindykirk.com and if you want, sign my guestbook (so I know you’ve stopped by) I have some pictures out there of my husband, daughter, favorite cat (who loves to sit by me when I write or am at the computer). Eventually I hope to have some of Erika Tsang, my editor and Annelise Robey, my agent.

The coffee is on– hope to see you soon!

Oh, and BTW, I hate booksignings too!

February 10, 2006

Why I Hate Booksignings

The first thing people asked me when I sold my first book was whether or not I was going to do a book tour. Apparently, a book tour means that you have arrived. Probably because they are so dang expensive and don’t make up for their cost with sales. So, after I explained how I wasn’t important enough to warrant a book tour, the next question was: but you’re going to do a signing, right?

Well, of course I was going to do signings. I promptly made arrangements to do several signings and skipped off to the bookstores full of excitement.

Which did not last.

See, the thing is that even with media coverage, not that many people come to book signings. I’ve had a few good ones, but the majority have been such a disappointment that I left feeling like a loser.

I cannot explain to you the misery of sitting by yourself for two hours, surrounded by a ton of books, which no one is buying and which the bookstore is going to return as soon as you walk out the door. I cannot explain the embarrassment of reading an excerpt from your book to a room full of chairs with only two people sitting there listening (your fiancé and your sister). I cannot explain to you what it is like to have to try and hand-sell your book and get treated like a used-car salesman. These experiences are not fun, and I honestly don’t think that by torturing myself with them, I sell more books.

So I’m not doing it anymore. That’s right. I don’t do individual booksignings anymore. Not that booksellers are clambering at my door, but there have been a few offers, and I’ve turned them down. I tell the booksellers that really I’m doing them a favor. I’m saving them the time and effort of coordinating the event with my publisher, setting up, ordering books, working that evening, and then returning all but the two books I do sell. I mean, really, most of my closest friends have never even been to one of my signings. If I can’t get them to support me, why would people I don’t even know?

That said, I am signing tomorrow. It’s a multi-author signing at a B&N in San Antonio. It’s a Valentine’s Day event, and my RWA chapter mate Barbara Dawson Smith and I are both signing. This is really a win-win for me. Not only do I not have to sit there alone, I get to sign with a big name like Barbara. Maybe I’ll sell a few books to the people who come out to see her.

Even more exciting for me is the DARA conference in Dallas at the end of March. I’ll be participating in a huge signing event with lots of other authors, including my fellow Quill Robyn DeHart. All the proceeds go to literacy, a cause near and dear to my heart.

So that’s my take on signings.

Quills: Booksignings. Love them? Hate them?

Readers: Ever been? Was the author like you’d thought she’d be?