The USA Network uses the title of this blog as the channel’s slogan. It’s a truthful one. The shows are generally a simple concept, but filled with interesting characters that keep viewers coming back, because we care what happens to them. I think this is perhaps the most important aspect of writing. The challenge is creating sympathetic characters. USA has a stable of them from shows such as Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, Burn Notice… the list goes on.

Your gratuitous hero -- Timothy Olyphant plays Marshall Raylan Givens on FX's 'Justified.' A less than perfect man and a fabulous character.

In my book When Seducing a Duke, I set out to create less than perfect characters. The hero — Grey — is a man who has done awful things, and if he hadn’t been injured, he probably would have continued on his path. Readers had two reactions to Grey: love and hate. Some thought he was fabulous and others thought I should be burned at the stake for writing such a man. To me, these intense reactions mean I did my job. I made him real. Was he sympathetic? Obviously a few people thought so, but even people who told me they tossed the book on several occasions admitted to coming back, because they had to know what happened with Grey and Rose. So, I won some and I lost some, and I’m okay with that.

I find perfect people very uninteresting. Luke Skywalker didn’t become interesting until the Dark Side started working on him. Han Solo on the other hand, was interesting right from the beginning. Jack Sparrow is interesting. In fact, anyone Johnny Depp has ever played is interesting, because he makes them 3 dimensional people.

Right now I’m working on a project where the heroine is… different than those around her. Because of how I’m setting her up, there needs to be aspects of her that might be unsettling to some readers. I realized I was hesitating to do this because I’m worried readers might not like her.

Here’s the thing — I don’t think readers need to *like* a character, they just need to be able to *understand* the character. My job is to bring them deep enough into the heroine’s head to make that happen. I’ve often thought that to be a writer a person has to be something of a psychologist as well. A great example of this are the writers of the show Dexter. I say the ‘show’ because I haven’t read the books. Clearly they know what they’re doing if they can make a serial killer into a hero, but Dexter’s first person narrative is crucial for getting inside his head and seeing his struggle with his own nature. I find him fascinating.

Another way to make characters more realistic is to give them friends and family — even if it’s only one or two people. Parker on Leverage didn’t have a family growing up, and she’s aware that she’s broken in many ways, but now she has people who care about her and vice versa, and the writers are doing a great job of exploring how that character reacts to these relationships. This is why I watch so many cable shows now. I think the smaller networks take more care in building characters than trying to build platforms for their advertisers. But that’s a different soapbox.

So, as I visit my family (and take notes! lol), I want to know who some of your favorite characters are (TV, movie or book) and why these creations are like real people to you.

Meanwhile, look for new characters from me next June with the release of When Tempting a Rogue.

When I first read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, it was way back when the second book had only been in stores a few months and most of the world hadn’t yet been bitten by the HP bug. It took a few chapters, but when we got to Diagon Alley I knew I’d stumbled upon something special. I remember feeling like I witnessed history in the making, feeling assured that once the books caught on, we’d have another Narnia Chronicles on our hands. The most vivid emotion though was that this book was the first time I’d read something as an adult that made me feel like books used to when I was a kid. I realize that is a terrible sentence, but hopefully you know what I mean. In short, I was mesmerized.

I quickly devoured the book, then the second, then waited impatiently for the third (which totally blew me away) and about this time word started spreading and the world was about to catch HP fever. It was the first time I remember ever dreaming about characters from a book and it happened more than once. The characters, the world was so real to me that when I was intrenched in one of the books I was completely surrounded. I remember catching myself before telling a friend that the next time I went to England I wanted to make a special trip to Hogwarts.

This last month, that silly fantasy of mine came true. Or as true as it can within our Muggle world. While in Orlando for the RWA conference, me and Emily and my mom made a side trip to Universal Studios to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We got up super early, we hired a car to take us to the park and we walked the long way to the entrance of the park. But we’d been smart and we’d pre-purchased our tickets so we were able to just walk right in. We made a beeline to the HP area (mostly we followed the crowd because that’s where everyone else was going too!)

And then we rounded a corner and there it was, across the way, but Hogwarts rose up from a hill just like I’d seen in my mind so many times. I’ll admit it, I got a little misty and giddy and started snapping pictures. We kept our trek through the park, passing by some really cool looking other areas, but we were on a mission.

Suddenly we were there, right up to Hogwarts door. There’s a ride in the castle, but I had read enough stuff on-line before hand to know that my motion sickness would probably cause trouble, so mom and I headed into the tour line where we were able to just walk through the castle while Emily went on to the ride. (she’ll have to tell you about it when she returns from her family vacation) Inside the castle we saw the hall of portraits where some of the pictures moved and talked. Then we saw Dumbledore’s office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and the entryway to the Gryffindor common room with the Fat Lady’s picture. It really was totally magical and my only complaint was that I wanted it to be longer. I wanted to see the Great Hall with the floating candles and I wanted to see the actual common room and the floating staircases.

But never fear once we were out of the castle (dumped conveniently into Filch’s Emporium, a gift shop where I purchased my own copy of the Maurader’s Map) we walked strait into Hogsmeade. Now technically this was a mixture of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, but it was just fantastic. We bought wands and we had butterbeer (so tasty!) and we saw the Hogwart’s Express (another misty moment for me!) and we bought chocolate frogs in Honeydukes and went into the Owl Post. And I have to take a moment to personally thank all of the English families that were there that day, their lovely British accents really added to the experience for me. Then in the bathroom (which they called “public conveniences”) you could hear Moaning Myrtle whine and cry.

All in all, it was, well for lack of a better word, magical. I loved every minute despite the fact that it was like 1000 degrees outside. I can’t wait to go back again someday with The Professor.

So how about you, what fictionalized world would you like to see come to life? If you could step into any book you’ve ever read, which one would it be? One lucky commenter will win a collection of books I brought back from the conference.

“People often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder.”
— Salma Hayek

Since the audience for most romance novels is mainly women, I often think of our images of ourselves as key to my heroines. I started reading romance novels when I was 13 years old and I know that those books I read and the women in them in part shaped the woman I am today.
I knew that a woman should expect certain things from the man who loved her and she shouldn’t compromise herself to get him. And though in the media it is often said that heroines in romance novels are all beautiful, I think that is misconstrued. Everyone has a glow about them when they are in love and it makes them more beautiful to anyone who sees them.
Finding beauty in us is harder and harder all the time. The media spends a lot of time showing images of “Hollywood” beauty both in image and in size and yet seldom does that reflect the reality of people I see every day.
I strive to make the women in my books real, with issues that make them more human and after reading this quote I realized how much power we have over ourselves. I hope that whenever you go you feel out you realize that you are beautiful.

Happy reading!
Katherine

I’m an admitted chocoholic, especially the dark rich kind.   But I won’t turn my back on milk chocolate either.  Though I really try not to overindulge, I almost need that little bit of chocolate every day. It makes me feel good. Satisfied in that deep hmmm way.

Best part.  It’s a feel good treat that is also good for you, at least the dark chocolate is with its increased antioxidants.

Ok, so what is the connection between chocolate and love? (Besides the, come-on, who doesn’t love chocolate?)

Scientifically speaking, true love is a chemical alteration of the brain when adrenaline-like neurochemicals surge to fuel the attraction between a couple. Let me get technical for a moment. Those chemicals are phenylethylamine (the same chemical in chocolate–yes!), dopamine (which makes you feel marvelously good), and norephinephrine (the thing that makes our hearts gallop when with are with that special someone) Sigh

Those three little chemicals have the power to suspend logic in the brain, hence the assurity that one has truly fallen head over heels in love. These babies are the infatuation chemicals, and you can blame them for getting you hooked up with Mr. Wrong in the first place. Finally a reason!

How long does this infatuation stage last? Experts say this rush of chemicals can end anywhere from six months to three years. After that you either take a look at your partner and go eck!

Or you have landed on genuine, real love. Congratulations!!!

Christi!  Congratulations!  You won a signed copy of one of my books.   Christi, I sent you an email about your win, but wanted to give you a hearty congrats here on the blog!

Please don’t forget to scroll on down to read Cindy Kirk’s  post on “Close Encounters of the Carnival Ride.”

Our county fair started today and as I was driving by the Events Center, I couldn’t help but notice all the Midway rides. Brightly lit against the night sky, the rides called to me.

Which is odd since I’ve had a few “unfortunate” encounters on carnival rides. The first occurred when I was in grade school. I was on a ferris wheel and the bar across my lap came loose! I scrunched back in the seat, worried that if I sat too far forward I would tumble out.

My second encounter of the negative variety happened again on a ferris wheel. The ride broke down when I was at the top!! But I was a teenager and nothing worried me. Beside, my boyfriend was beside me and the way I looked at it back then, the more alone time with him…the better.

The last time was on a….no, not a ferris wheel but rather at Disney World on the Tower of Terror. If you’re not familiar with this ride, it’s drops and then drops again. Well, when I was on it, it dropped…then froze. So, there we were, waiting and waiting and waiting for the chance to plummet again. Still, I’d go on it again in a heartbeat.

I’d like to hear the story of YOUR close encounters with a carnival ride. And, if you haven’t had one yourself…tell me about a friend’s adventure.

I still have plenty of books to give away from the Romance Writers of America conference, so everyone who comments this weekend will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a free book! I’ll announce the winner Sunday night, so be sure and check back to see if you’re a winner!

When I heard via my writing loops that Romance Writers of America’s national conference would be in Orlando this year, I was thrilled.  With the conference hotel just a 45 minute drive from my home, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to network with fellow writers and editors and agents, attend workshops and in-depth publisher spotlights, and soak in the wonderful creative vibe that goes along with every writing conference I’ve ever attended.

Last week—July 28-31–I plunged into the hectic but exciting atmosphere of the conference, and came home with lots of great up-to-date information about the industry and fun memories, including breakfast with Goofy and Donald Duck!  And, of course, there were lots and lots of free books.

Before I delve further into the delicious excitement of free books (what writer doesn’t love free books?), I have to say, one of the highlights of my conference was having dinner with the Jaunty Quills authors.  I will never forget those yummy crab nachos from Todd English’s BlueZoo that Cindy Kirk and I shared!  My one regret is that the JQ’s and I didn’t have more time to chat, because they’re all amazing, talented women and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the JQ community.  I have resolved to add at least one book by my JQ friends to my current TBR pile.  To start.

Which brings me back to books.  In terms of my own novels, I discussed my current projects with my agent, Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency, and strategized where to focus my writing time.  I took part in the 500-author book signing on Wednesday, July 28, that raised over $55,000 for literacy and was delighted that so many friends stopped by to say hello or bought my Knight’s Series books.  I eagerly snatched up the free Nora Roberts books on my chair at the Thursday luncheon, and the titles by Jayne Ann Krenz at Friday’s lunch.  Added to the free books that came in my conference registration bag, I was already on my way to days of great reading.

I started a book box in my hotel room, to hold my growing stash of novels.  By the time I left, it was full, plus I’d got hold of a second box of novels left by a conference attendee who couldn’t take them all home.  I have yet to go through and pick out the ones that I will slip to the top of my to-be-read (TBR) pile, the ones I’ll reserve for later, and the ones I know my friends would love to get their hands on, and will thus set aside for them.

It’s tough, to decide what goes on the top of my TBR pile.  Do I read a book by a New York Times best-selling author, who is obviously brilliant and still has a strong career ahead?  Or do I read a novel by an author who is new to me, but whose writing is highly marketable right now, so much so, her publisher is actively promoting her work and helping to build her future career?  What a difficult choice.

What’s on the top of your TBR pile?  What makes you decide what book should go on the top of the pile?  Leave a comment, and one winner will receive a book from my backlist.  Winner chooses the book!

***

Speaking of books, my latest medieval, A Knight’s Persuasion, Book 4 of my Knight’s Series, is still available.  If you’d like to read an excerpt from this novel, or learn more about my previous books in this series, please visit my website.

It’s only August and already I’m seeing back-to-school commercials. It seems every year school starts earlier and earlier. This year my little one will be going to “school” two days a week for a few hours. I can’t believe what a big girl she is getting to be!

I know when I was a kid, the weeks before school began were always filled with thoughts about who my teachers would be. Would they be nice or mean? Would they give lots of homework or none at all (hey, I could dream!)? Would they be funny and playful or serious and boring?

I suppose in all my years at school I had just about every kind of teacher. My favorite was also one of the nicest. Her name was Mrs. Fannett, and she taught eleventh grade English. The class was not easy. Mrs. Fannett was not easy. We had to learn about infinitives and gerunds (something I never understood until I taught 10th grade English myself!) and read books like The Scarlet Letter and Faulkner’s The Bear. Now I love a lot of classic literature. I adore Shakespeare and Dickens and Twain and many, many more. I did not, and never will, love Hawthorne and Faulkner. I respect them and their talent, but they’re not fun when you’re sixteen and would much rather be hanging out with your boyfriend or shopping for earrings than reading about some lady with a red A on her dress.

But somehow Mrs. Fannett made those books accessible. Somehow she got me to read them and, if not enjoy them, understand them. She pushed me to be a better writer. She pushed me to go deeper, work harder. Writing was easy for me. I could get an A with very little effort. Mrs. Fannett made me want the A+.

When I taught middle and high school English I tried to be a teacher like Mrs. Fannett. I don’t know if I succeeded. The most frequent comment students gave me was about how calm I was.

Hmm. Well, I guess calm is a compliment of sorts, considering some of the chaotic places I taught. I would have preferred inspiring or fascinating, but kids tell us the truth, not what we want to hear.

Do you have a favorite teacher? Give him or her a shout of appreciation today!

Congratulations to Elaine and Laurie G!!! You are the winners of a selection of books from the RWA conference. Please e-mail me your snail-mail address at nrobardsthompson@yahoo.com.  

Here are the answers:

1. What was the original name of the RWA contest that “recognizes outstanding published romance novels and novellas”?  The Golden Medallion
2. What year was it first awarded? 1980
3. How many categories did it first have that first year? There were no categories, only 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners
4. How many categories did the Rita have in 2010? 12
5. What year did the contest’s name change to the Rita Award? 1990
6. For whom is the Rita Award named? RWA founder and first president Rita Clay Estrada
7. What significant honor is bestowed upon authors who win three RITA Awards in a specific Rita category? They are inducted into the RWA “Hall of Fame.”

 Terri Brisbin has posted a fun blog below. So please keep reading.

First — speaking of pretty — I want to congratulate fellow Jaunty Kristan Higgins for bringing home the beautiful RITA statue with her from the recent RWA conference in Orlando! Huzzah, Kristan!

And also pretty were the new fireworks in the newest fireworks show in Disney World – Nightastic! in Magic Kingdom. Though first reports (from our son AKA Mr. Little Walt Disney!) were less than stellar, I was thrilled by the new show! It focuses on fairy godmothers then brings in pirates (Captain Hook AND Jerry Bruckheiser music….not bad!) and then in comes Tinkerbell to save the day! And, having stood in front of Cinderella’s Castle before, Tink is a real person who ‘flies’ down a wire to set off the fireworks.  Stunning!

I’m going to the parks with a friend who has not experienced most of them before — her last visit was more than 20 years ago — so I get to see it through her eyes. Fun! She asked me if seeing the various shows again was boring and I realized that my answer to her about returning to WDW is the same as my answer to anyone who asks why I read my favorite books again:

When I know what to expect, I can look for the unexpected!

By that I mean that once I don’t have to focus on the main story before me, I pick up on more details — little things I’d not noticed before…little bits of the story (or show) that enhances the main plot or scene, but that I’d been too busy to notice before.

For example, during the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we watch as a Harrison Ford-stunt double faces the same kind of  action scene that the ‘real’ Indiana Jones faced in his movies. But sitting there today, I noticed where all the ‘actors/cast members’ stood and moved and what they did while ‘Indie’ was facing wooden stakes and snakes and explosions and more.

When I recently re-read one of my favorite books, I noticed the way the author drew me to focus on some dialogue while all the time she was weaving the plot in a different direction that I’d expected! Like listening to a favorite song and finding a note or instrument never noticed before, I love these little surprises I discover when I no longer have to focus so closely and I let the whole picture flow before me.

So, I’m spending the next few days, picking up on all those new things — things I’ve missed while watching and listening before. Things I didn’t know were waiting for me. Things I will enjoy even more because they were completely unexpected joys…. and all in the Happiest Place on Earth and one of my favorite places — Disney World!

Terri is still celebrating the release of THE MERCENARY’S BRIDE, her July 2010 Harlequin Historical romance.Barely surviving the wonderful, busy, informative, rejuvenating RWA conference, she is enjoying a few more days of vacation before returning to her real life and more deadlines! She’ll be revealing the results of her death-defying experience (she had new author photos taken at the conference!) on her website soon! Visit it at www.terribrisbin.com