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Most people don’t think of writing as a team anything. We carry the image of the writer alone, struggling with unyielding pages, or tap-tapping into the night, driven by inspiration and caffeine. Writing is a solitary profession, right?
Not if you’re married to your co-author!
As a couple writing romance together, there is nothing lonely about it. In fact, sometimes we could each wish for a little *less* input into the process (grins). But like any other team sport, we each take the role we’re best suited for. Anthea is our historical researcher and the one that stares down the blank page and powers through first drafts. She also writes the spicy scenes (it is woman’s fiction, after all). Lawson is the plot fixer, dialogue shaper, and the sneaky inserter of quirky characters like the man in the bottle-green coat in our first book Passionate and the villainous sportsman in All He Desires. Always we talk, talk, talk about the characters and the story, growing it through a dialogue that stretches over weeks and months. It’s not always easy, but even when we disagree, we know that together we write better books then either of us could alone. Our goals are the same: to write in the big leagues and tell stories that sweep readers away to another place and time.
Our writing process is a social one, but we are not alone in that. We know many writers – published and pre-published – who have all kinds of players on their team. Critique groups, writing partners, RWA chapters, on-line loops. And yes, sometimes even spouses.
We’d love to give away a copy of our brand new book, ALL HE DESIRES, to one lucky commenter. Tell us — Who keeps you going, who is on your home team?
Anthea Lawson is the pseudonym for a husband-wife team who write spicy Victorian romance. Their debut novel, PASSIONATE, was nominated for a Best First Book RITA in 2009, and their newest book, ALL HE DESIRES, is being called “luscious”, “sweeping” and “a powerful love story.” Find them on FaceBook (Anthea Lawson), follow them on twitter (AntheaLawson) and visit their website (www.anthealawson.com) for all their latest news!
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Nov 21st
2009
9:25 am
Kirsten Said:
My sister keeps me going. She has been there for me through some of the toughest times in my life. She’s stood by my side when I had to have some surgery, when my boyfriend of two years dumped me and I cried for days. When my beloved cat died and I thought I was losing it, when my wallet got stolen and I had no money for groceries. Never short of a hug or a shoulder to lean on. Never complaining about having to listen to my troubles. Never saying I told you so even when she did. She was there all the time helping me emotionally and supporting me. She’s the best sister a girl can have, so thanks sis for always being on my team!
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Nov 21st
2009
10:03 am
Cindy Kirk Said:
Kirsten,
What a sweet post. What a fabulous sister. Color me envious.
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Nov 21st
2009
10:16 am
Emily McKay Said:
Welcome to the Jaunty Quills!
My hubby is definitely on my team, but there’s no way we could write together. He has the worst ideas! (Shhh … don’t tell him that!)
But he’s always there for me, no matter what.
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Nov 21st
2009
1:17 pm
Shana Said:
My husband is definitely on my team and keeps me going. He’s always encouraging me when I feel discouraged and he even helps me plot. But we could not write together! I’m too much of a control freak!
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Nov 21st
2009
1:32 pm
catslady Said:
I have to say my two grown daughters. It’s such a wonderful thing that they have grown into two fantastic women. One is newly married and the other is still going to college but it still amazes me that my little girls are now all grown up.
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Nov 21st
2009
5:03 pm
Amber Said:
My family is what keeps me going. I don’t know what I would do without them. No matter what happens their always right there encouraging you along the way with endless love.
Congratulations Anthea with the release of your new book!
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Nov 21st
2009
5:07 pm
Jane Said:
Congrats on the new release, Anthea. I’m really close to my two cousins. They’re both several years older than me and I know I can count on them for sound advice and encouragement.
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Nov 21st
2009
7:36 pm
Gail Said:
First, I have to say, I really enjoyed reading Passionate. I have it on my keeper shelf. My only complaint . . . write faster, faster, faster! I have had a hard time waiting for this new one.
My husband keeps me going. We will be married 25 years this December. Our love story was an “opposites attract” one that has stood the test of time.
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Nov 21st
2009
8:34 pm
Catherine Kean Said:
Anthea, I loved reading about your writing partnership. Sounds like you’re the perfect team! I count myself very lucky to have wonderful support from my husband and daughter; my parents, who love to give copies of my books to their friends; my sister; and my talented critique partners, who are so generous with their suggestions and help me refine my stories. I couldn’t manage without any of these folks.
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Nov 21st
2009
8:38 pm
Anthea Lawson Said:
Such great comments and inspiring stories! It’s great to be here at Jaunty Quills – how lucky that Anthea sat beside Cindy at a recent booksigning and got to chatting.
Thanks on the congrats – we’re really excited to have All He Desires out on store shelves. Gail, I’m afraid it will likely be a book a year for us – sorry for the wait! We’ve been asked to contribute a short story for the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance, out next summer, so that’s the next book on the horizon.
Keep those comments coming!
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Nov 22nd
2009
2:02 am
ladydawgfan Said:
My family also keeps me going, especially my mom and my sister. When I was in college, both used to send me encouraging cards in the mail and they always seemed to arrive when I needed them the most. My mom also used to send me a HUGE care package at the end of the semester “to get me through finals.” It was filled with “good for you” stuff, and “not so good for you” stuff to eat for those late nights studying, and always an encouraging love note. I doubt I would have made it through college without the support of my family.
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Nov 22nd
2009
9:09 am
kristan higgins Said:
I’m thinking of getting a life-size cutout of McIrish, maybe with a tape recording of him saying, “You’ll work it out. You’ll work it out.” He’s a brick! And he cooks, too…
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Nov 22nd
2009
11:17 am
Quilt Lady Said:
My family is what keeps me going! My sister’s is about all thats left in my family and we are always there for each other.
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