Happy New Year, everyone. Hope your holidays were wonderful. I got to see a lot of family, which filled me with the joy of the season.
Since we seem to be on a theme here, beginnings stuck in my head when I sat down to blog. Probably because I've started writing a new book, "beginnings" to me means the first line or first chapter. So I looked up some of my favorite books to see if their first lines drew me into the story. Of course everyone knows the first line of REBECCA by Daphne DuMaurier because it's quoted so often. Here's a sample from my shelf.
Father must protect me or I am dead. From HER ONE DESIRE by Kimberly Killion, Kensington Zebra.
It was a proposition that would tempt a saint. From MOON IN THE WATER by Elizabeth Grayson, Bantam Books.
"I ain't hirin' no baby killer to work in my store." From MAN WITH A PAST by Kay Stockham, Harlequin SuperRomance.
Each of these uses a different technique, but all drew me in. Whether it's a direct thought, narrative or dialogue, they effectively made me read on. These are on my keeper shelf because the stories are as wonderful as their first lines.
When I buy a book, I notice the front cover art, title and author's name. If I'm interested in one of those, I'll flip to the back or cover flap to read the blurb. Seldom do I read the first line to determine whether to buy a book. But when I'm reading, the impression that first line makes sticks with me. Did it grab me? Draw me on? Make me eager to find out the answer?
What about you? Do you have any favorite first lines? Or don't you think they're relevant?
Megan Kelly
megankellybooks.com
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Interview with Lisa Ruff
Please welcome Lisa Ruff a new author to the Harlequin American line. Her first book, Man of the Year debuted June 2008 and her latest release Baby on Board hits store shelves this month.
If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?
Read! Which is what I always do when I am lazy for any amount of
time at all. I read all kinds of stuff--romance, fantasy, biography,
adventure, history. But to complete the day-long fantasy, I'd eat
chocolate and drink tea, too. While lying in bed. A handsome man would
have to bring me the tea and chocolate, of course, for it to be a truly
lazy day. And can he massage my feet when he's not doing that?
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Sail on my 40' sailboat, Thalia. I've lived on a sailboat for
fourteen years. My husband and I spent five years sailing from Seattle
down through the Panama Canal, around the Caribbean, then up the east
coast to Maine. I like the feel of the boat responding to the wind and
sea. And there's the satisfaction of harnessing the forces of nature to
discover new places and new experiences. Absolutely nothing compares to
sailing the ocean at night with the vastness of the star-strewn sky
overhead. You are insignificant and immense, both at the same time.
What is your writing routine?
Up in the morning, breakfast and a bit of procrastinating before
I sit down at the keyboard. I usually re-read and edit what I did the
day before, which often turns out to be just more procrastination! I
have a hard time actually typing the first few words, but after that I'm
a 8-10 page-a-day writer. Lunch is in there somewhere--my least
favorite meal, since it's just an interruption--then back to the
keyboard for a while until I reach whatever goal I've set for myself on
a particular day. I'm very goal-driven, and I work best if I set a
definite end-point to work toward, like finish a chapter or scene.
If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?
The ability to write a clean, clear sentence that says precisely
what I mean, the first time I write it. That seems nearly unachievable
most days, but the elusive goal keeps me writing.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Creating the "Black Moment," where the two characters are on the
verge of destroying the love they have for each other. I like my
characters and, after 50,000 words, I don't want to torture them. But
the conflict of a story must reach a climax, a point where the main
characters teeter on the brink of failing and losing what they most
want. Or they end up torturing each other even though they intend to
love each other. Their worst side comes out. They might even be mean.
I don't like it when the people I create turn mean and small and reveal
their dark side.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I got the idea for Man of the Year from watching Little League
and wondering what happened to those young boys when they grew up. Then
I started following my local Major League team. Have you seen how tight
they wear their pants? Mmm. Very inspiring.
How long have you been writing?
Fourteen years. I wrote my first book--which was actually Man
of the Year, my first book published with Harlequin American--in 1994.
I submitted it to a couple of publishers and an agent, but there wasn't
a market for sports-themed romance back then. So, I put it into the
proverbial "magic drawer" for the future. Then my husband and I went off cruising in the Caribbean for five years. I continued to write, but didn't try to submit anything until 2006, when I noticed a lot more romances with sports themes. I polished Man of the
Year and sent twenty-two query letters out to agents on the day before
Thanksgiving, 2006. One agent decided to take a chance on me and
offered me a contract. She sent the manuscript out that week to
Harlequin American Romance. A year later, after one revision, they
accepted and here I am!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An interior designer. When I was six, playing with Barbie was
not so much about the hair and clothes. But my gosh, all that
furniture! I found my calling. When I got a little older, I drove my
mother crazy rearranging the house all the time. Nothing stayed in one
place for more than about three months. The dust bunnies under the sofa
got cleaned up fairly often, so how much could she complain? I went to
college to study design and did commercial design--restaurants and
offices--for 10 years before discovering writing. Suddenly a whole new
world opened up. A world that I could create. That was way better
than moving furniture--I could arrange people and design their lives.
What got you interested in writing?
I've always loved books. My father read to me every night when
I was young. The Wind in the Willows, Kim, The Wizard of Oz you
name it, he read it. There was virtually no television reception in the
small mountain-locked town where I grew up, so books were my escape to
other worlds. When I was out of college and working in Seattle, I met a
few writers—some struggling, some successful—and had an “I can do that”
moment because of them. Then I learned why they were struggling. It's
hard work writing a book! That made me admire the successful ones all
the more.
What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?
Have you lost weight? I wish everyone would ask me that, even if
it's not true. I hope I never get asked about how to calculate the
square root of some number. I'm an art major; I don't do math. Though
I am the person who can always calculate the tip on a bill. How strange
is that?
What's a saying you use a lot?
"It could have been much worse." That's from Sir Francis
Chichester's book, Gypsy Moth Circles the World. Sir Frances was one
of the great solo, 'round-the-world sailors. This was his stock phrase
when disaster struck, anything from running his boat aground on a reef
to having his mainsail shred in a gale. Sailing on the ocean always
seems to entail close calls and disasters of one degree or another. So
when things go wrong on my boat or in my life, I invoke Sir Francis'
spirit and remind myself that the situation could be much worse. He
also poured himself a cocktail when things went wrong. He figured that
by the time he was done drinking it, he'd either have thought of a way
to fix the problem, or the problem would have fixed itself. Not a bad
way to go about life. Sometimes I do that, too.
What's your favorite dessert?
Flan. One of the first phrases I learned in Spanish was: ¿Hay
Flan? We sailed down the coast of Mexico and Central America and I
asked that question in every restaurant, no matter how tiny or
primitive. And you know what? The answer was "Si", nearly every time.
I've eaten flan in Tijuana, Panama City, Panama, Mazatlan, Mexico, Playa
del Cocos, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Columbia, and Puerta La Cruz,
Venezuela. All of it different textures and flavors and most of it very
delicious.
Do you have any talents readers might find interesting?
I can wiggle my ears. That's pretty cool, if you're a
ten-year-old.
Are you a cat or dog person?
Definitely a cat person, since I'm allergic to dogs. I don't
have one right now, though. My beloved 18-year-old Mali died three
years ago and I haven't been ready for another cat since. She had a
long, good life. Against her will, she traveled to 19 countries by
sailboat. She was never much impressed with any of them. She survived
four gales at sea, one swim test, innumerable baths and one falling
over-board. She was a good cat, though she was never interested in
being good. She was more interested in being what she was: difficult,
funny, loud, affectionate, obnoxious and demanding. I still miss her,
but she started haunting me immediately after she died. She still
does. Her ghost pops around the corner or lurks in the dark, watching
me, wondering how I'm getting along without her.
If someone gave you a million dollars what would you do with the
money?
I've always loved to travel, and I would do more of that. The
thing I like best about cruising on a sailboat is going to a foreign
country and staying there. When you can stay for months, rather than
days, in a town you get to be part of the community, not just a
tourist. I love Spain and I've always wanted to go to Chile and
Patagonia, too. Last winter my husband and I spent four months in
Woodstock, England, in a cottage built in 1780. We got to be know the
people and had "our" local pub that the neighbors on our street
frequented. We felt like we belonged there, as much as a foreigner can
belong to a place for four months. With a million dollars, I would look for more experiences like that.
Lisa Ruff
Baby on Board (Jan 2009)
www.lisaruff.net
If you could be lazy for an entire day what would you do?
Read! Which is what I always do when I am lazy for any amount of
time at all. I read all kinds of stuff--romance, fantasy, biography,
adventure, history. But to complete the day-long fantasy, I'd eat
chocolate and drink tea, too. While lying in bed. A handsome man would
have to bring me the tea and chocolate, of course, for it to be a truly
lazy day. And can he massage my feet when he's not doing that?
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Sail on my 40' sailboat, Thalia. I've lived on a sailboat for
fourteen years. My husband and I spent five years sailing from Seattle
down through the Panama Canal, around the Caribbean, then up the east
coast to Maine. I like the feel of the boat responding to the wind and
sea. And there's the satisfaction of harnessing the forces of nature to
discover new places and new experiences. Absolutely nothing compares to
sailing the ocean at night with the vastness of the star-strewn sky
overhead. You are insignificant and immense, both at the same time.
What is your writing routine?
Up in the morning, breakfast and a bit of procrastinating before
I sit down at the keyboard. I usually re-read and edit what I did the
day before, which often turns out to be just more procrastination! I
have a hard time actually typing the first few words, but after that I'm
a 8-10 page-a-day writer. Lunch is in there somewhere--my least
favorite meal, since it's just an interruption--then back to the
keyboard for a while until I reach whatever goal I've set for myself on
a particular day. I'm very goal-driven, and I work best if I set a
definite end-point to work toward, like finish a chapter or scene.
If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?
The ability to write a clean, clear sentence that says precisely
what I mean, the first time I write it. That seems nearly unachievable
most days, but the elusive goal keeps me writing.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Creating the "Black Moment," where the two characters are on the
verge of destroying the love they have for each other. I like my
characters and, after 50,000 words, I don't want to torture them. But
the conflict of a story must reach a climax, a point where the main
characters teeter on the brink of failing and losing what they most
want. Or they end up torturing each other even though they intend to
love each other. Their worst side comes out. They might even be mean.
I don't like it when the people I create turn mean and small and reveal
their dark side.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I got the idea for Man of the Year from watching Little League
and wondering what happened to those young boys when they grew up. Then
I started following my local Major League team. Have you seen how tight
they wear their pants? Mmm. Very inspiring.
How long have you been writing?
Fourteen years. I wrote my first book--which was actually Man
of the Year, my first book published with Harlequin American--in 1994.
I submitted it to a couple of publishers and an agent, but there wasn't
a market for sports-themed romance back then. So, I put it into the
proverbial "magic drawer" for the future. Then my husband and I went off cruising in the Caribbean for five years. I continued to write, but didn't try to submit anything until 2006, when I noticed a lot more romances with sports themes. I polished Man of the
Year and sent twenty-two query letters out to agents on the day before
Thanksgiving, 2006. One agent decided to take a chance on me and
offered me a contract. She sent the manuscript out that week to
Harlequin American Romance. A year later, after one revision, they
accepted and here I am!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An interior designer. When I was six, playing with Barbie was
not so much about the hair and clothes. But my gosh, all that
furniture! I found my calling. When I got a little older, I drove my
mother crazy rearranging the house all the time. Nothing stayed in one
place for more than about three months. The dust bunnies under the sofa
got cleaned up fairly often, so how much could she complain? I went to
college to study design and did commercial design--restaurants and
offices--for 10 years before discovering writing. Suddenly a whole new
world opened up. A world that I could create. That was way better
than moving furniture--I could arrange people and design their lives.
What got you interested in writing?
I've always loved books. My father read to me every night when
I was young. The Wind in the Willows, Kim, The Wizard of Oz you
name it, he read it. There was virtually no television reception in the
small mountain-locked town where I grew up, so books were my escape to
other worlds. When I was out of college and working in Seattle, I met a
few writers—some struggling, some successful—and had an “I can do that”
moment because of them. Then I learned why they were struggling. It's
hard work writing a book! That made me admire the successful ones all
the more.
What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?
Have you lost weight? I wish everyone would ask me that, even if
it's not true. I hope I never get asked about how to calculate the
square root of some number. I'm an art major; I don't do math. Though
I am the person who can always calculate the tip on a bill. How strange
is that?
What's a saying you use a lot?
"It could have been much worse." That's from Sir Francis
Chichester's book, Gypsy Moth Circles the World. Sir Frances was one
of the great solo, 'round-the-world sailors. This was his stock phrase
when disaster struck, anything from running his boat aground on a reef
to having his mainsail shred in a gale. Sailing on the ocean always
seems to entail close calls and disasters of one degree or another. So
when things go wrong on my boat or in my life, I invoke Sir Francis'
spirit and remind myself that the situation could be much worse. He
also poured himself a cocktail when things went wrong. He figured that
by the time he was done drinking it, he'd either have thought of a way
to fix the problem, or the problem would have fixed itself. Not a bad
way to go about life. Sometimes I do that, too.
What's your favorite dessert?
Flan. One of the first phrases I learned in Spanish was: ¿Hay
Flan? We sailed down the coast of Mexico and Central America and I
asked that question in every restaurant, no matter how tiny or
primitive. And you know what? The answer was "Si", nearly every time.
I've eaten flan in Tijuana, Panama City, Panama, Mazatlan, Mexico, Playa
del Cocos, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Columbia, and Puerta La Cruz,
Venezuela. All of it different textures and flavors and most of it very
delicious.
Do you have any talents readers might find interesting?
I can wiggle my ears. That's pretty cool, if you're a
ten-year-old.
Are you a cat or dog person?
Definitely a cat person, since I'm allergic to dogs. I don't
have one right now, though. My beloved 18-year-old Mali died three
years ago and I haven't been ready for another cat since. She had a
long, good life. Against her will, she traveled to 19 countries by
sailboat. She was never much impressed with any of them. She survived
four gales at sea, one swim test, innumerable baths and one falling
over-board. She was a good cat, though she was never interested in
being good. She was more interested in being what she was: difficult,
funny, loud, affectionate, obnoxious and demanding. I still miss her,
but she started haunting me immediately after she died. She still
does. Her ghost pops around the corner or lurks in the dark, watching
me, wondering how I'm getting along without her.
If someone gave you a million dollars what would you do with the
money?
I've always loved to travel, and I would do more of that. The
thing I like best about cruising on a sailboat is going to a foreign
country and staying there. When you can stay for months, rather than
days, in a town you get to be part of the community, not just a
tourist. I love Spain and I've always wanted to go to Chile and
Patagonia, too. Last winter my husband and I spent four months in
Woodstock, England, in a cottage built in 1780. We got to be know the
people and had "our" local pub that the neighbors on our street
frequented. We felt like we belonged there, as much as a foreigner can
belong to a place for four months. With a million dollars, I would look for more experiences like that.
Lisa Ruff
Baby on Board (Jan 2009)
www.lisaruff.net
Monday, January 05, 2009
Cell phone novels
It’s 2009, and technology continues to race forward, presenting us with amazing new innovations.
I read a fascinating article in the Dec. 22-29 New Yorker (I Heart Novels, by Dana Goodyear) about cell phone novels in Japan. This craze has swept the nation and resulted in paperback and Manga books, movies and massive sales for those who write the stories. Amazing! Critics say the books are badly written, more like diary entries anyone could write than well-crafted stories. That may be true, but the authors don’t care. (They’re crying all the way to the bank.)
I wonder if this craze will catch on in the U.S. I’m not just talking about reading published novels on your cell. That’s already happening. What I mean is the practice of anyone, including those with no writing background and no idea how to develop characters or plot or theme, writing a book on their cell phone for a group of readers eager to read every word.
What do you think—will this craze sweep the U.S. and Canada?
Curious and wonderingly yours,
Ann
www.annroth.net
I read a fascinating article in the Dec. 22-29 New Yorker (I Heart Novels, by Dana Goodyear) about cell phone novels in Japan. This craze has swept the nation and resulted in paperback and Manga books, movies and massive sales for those who write the stories. Amazing! Critics say the books are badly written, more like diary entries anyone could write than well-crafted stories. That may be true, but the authors don’t care. (They’re crying all the way to the bank.)
I wonder if this craze will catch on in the U.S. I’m not just talking about reading published novels on your cell. That’s already happening. What I mean is the practice of anyone, including those with no writing background and no idea how to develop characters or plot or theme, writing a book on their cell phone for a group of readers eager to read every word.
What do you think—will this craze sweep the U.S. and Canada?
Curious and wonderingly yours,
Ann
www.annroth.net
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Happy New Year!
Without even checking, I’m sure I won’t be the only author here using the above title for her blog post--but, hey, when you’re sending out a message within four days of the new year, how can you not acknowledge it?
How can you not be excited about turning the page, beginning with a clean slate, making a fresh start? And, best of all, about being lucky enough to do things over and finally get them right?
A new year is so special because it allows us to make improvements in any and all areas of our lives. Don’t know about you, but I’m ready--though I won’t bore you with my long list.
What I will share with you are my wishes for 2009.
For the readers: many wonderful new books and time to kick back and enjoy them.
For the writers: fabulous story ideas and publishing contracts to go with them.
And for you all, good health and great fortune every day of this happy new year!
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
How can you not be excited about turning the page, beginning with a clean slate, making a fresh start? And, best of all, about being lucky enough to do things over and finally get them right?
A new year is so special because it allows us to make improvements in any and all areas of our lives. Don’t know about you, but I’m ready--though I won’t bore you with my long list.
What I will share with you are my wishes for 2009.
For the readers: many wonderful new books and time to kick back and enjoy them.
For the writers: fabulous story ideas and publishing contracts to go with them.
And for you all, good health and great fortune every day of this happy new year!
All my best to you,
Barbara
~~~~~~
Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Saturday, January 03, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Hi everyone!
Well, today's post kind of snuck up on me, so I don't have anything very interesting to say. Did everyone have a nice New Year?
Last night we watched my daughter cheer. Today I'm hoping we'll finally go to the movies. I want to see Tom Cruise's new one. Has anyone seen it? Tonight is church. Tomorrow will be tough--we're going to have to get organized. That will involve lots of laundry, homework, nagging, and packing. On Monday, the kids will go back to school, my husband will fly out of town, and I'll need to wake up at six again.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and a great Monday morning, too.
Shelley
Well, today's post kind of snuck up on me, so I don't have anything very interesting to say. Did everyone have a nice New Year?
Last night we watched my daughter cheer. Today I'm hoping we'll finally go to the movies. I want to see Tom Cruise's new one. Has anyone seen it? Tonight is church. Tomorrow will be tough--we're going to have to get organized. That will involve lots of laundry, homework, nagging, and packing. On Monday, the kids will go back to school, my husband will fly out of town, and I'll need to wake up at six again.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and a great Monday morning, too.
Shelley
Friday, January 02, 2009
DECEMBER WINNER!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Our December winner is Rachel Bailey!!!!!! Congratulations, Rachel!!! To get your free, autographed books, please contact Kara Lennox and Victoria Chancellor through their websites.
Tell all your friends to visit us. To enter the drawing, simply comment and your name is entered in our drawing.
Good luck!
(Magdalena, if you're reading this, please email me: ann@annroth.net. You won the November drawing and I never did hear from you. I want to send you your autographed book!)
Our December winner is Rachel Bailey!!!!!! Congratulations, Rachel!!! To get your free, autographed books, please contact Kara Lennox and Victoria Chancellor through their websites.
Tell all your friends to visit us. To enter the drawing, simply comment and your name is entered in our drawing.
Good luck!
(Magdalena, if you're reading this, please email me: ann@annroth.net. You won the November drawing and I never did hear from you. I want to send you your autographed book!)
Thursday, January 01, 2009
On the first day
In the blogosphere, where the old year dwells
Eternally in cyberspace,
Let’s grab the rope and ring the bells
To welcome the … human race … happy place… smiley face…
Too much sparkling apple-cranberry juice last night. Let’s try again.
There once was an old year, ’08,
That no one would dare celebrate.
It dashed all our hopes,
Threw us on the ropes,
And left my head in a terrible state.
Forget that! Who needs more gloom and doom?
Deck the mall with cards of folly
Tra la la la la (etc etc)
The banks are hoping you’ll be solly
Fa la la la …
Wait. Solly? Honestly! Once again into the fray:
While we wait for the economy to rally,
Let’s chalk up a personal tally:
One family well met,
Our home’s not foreclosed yet
And there’s plenty of lilies in the valley.
Sorry – I seem to have a poetic deficit this year. What I’m trying to say is:
To all my readers and fellow authors, Happy New Year,
Best of luck and love in 2009.
And may it be a much better year than ’08!
Eternally in cyberspace,
Let’s grab the rope and ring the bells
To welcome the … human race … happy place… smiley face…
Too much sparkling apple-cranberry juice last night. Let’s try again.
There once was an old year, ’08,
That no one would dare celebrate.
It dashed all our hopes,
Threw us on the ropes,
And left my head in a terrible state.
Forget that! Who needs more gloom and doom?
Deck the mall with cards of folly
Tra la la la la (etc etc)
The banks are hoping you’ll be solly
Fa la la la …
Wait. Solly? Honestly! Once again into the fray:
While we wait for the economy to rally,
Let’s chalk up a personal tally:
One family well met,
Our home’s not foreclosed yet
And there’s plenty of lilies in the valley.
Sorry – I seem to have a poetic deficit this year. What I’m trying to say is:
To all my readers and fellow authors, Happy New Year,
Best of luck and love in 2009.
And may it be a much better year than ’08!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
