LARA CONFIDENTIAL - LARA RWA.com

LARA CONFIDENTIAL The Newsletter of the Los Angeles Romance Authors Chapter of RWA® "Promoting Excellence in Romantic Fiction Through Education and Community Service"

2008 Election Results 1 Presidential Prattle 3 Editor’s Talk 3 Hot Off the Keyboard 4 Giving Thanks: A LARA Round-Up 5 Procrastination (Or Why I Don't Have Time to Write) 6 September Meeting Notes 7 October Meeting Notes 8 LARA Bookfair Scrapbook 9 Say Hello to ...Viviane Brentanos 10 An Interview with ... Susan Mallery 12 Critique Groups 101 14 Beware, Don't Compare 16 Flip-Floppin' 17

2008 ELECTION RESULTS Elections for the 2008 Los Angeles Romance Authors Board were held at the October meeting. The incoming board and volunteer positions are listed below. Thank you to everyone who was motivated to volunteer!

Board Positions PRESIDENT: Eden Bradley EXECUTIVE V.P.: Gina Roland SECRETARY: Kim Winklhofer TREASURER: Dana Belfry V.P. OF PROGRAMS: Irena Rafa-Petrovich

IN THIS ISSUE

V.P. OF MEMBERSHIP: Caro Kinkead V.P. OF WAYS AND MEANS: Lynne Marshall

V.P. OF PUBLIC RELATIONS: VACANT NEWSLETTER CO-EDITORS: Tai Shan Jackson and Christine Ashworth PAN LIAISON: Mollie Molay PRO LIAISON: Jodi Gottlieb PAST PRESIDENT: Sandra Kleinschmitt

Volunteer Positions MILESTONES: Jennifer Haymore HOSPITALITY: Christine London

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Los Angeles Romance Authors

LIBRARIAN: Kate Fink OPPORTUNITY DRAWING: Rae Shapiro WEB DIVA: Ellenie Kilpatrick

Chapter #25

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Nov / Dec 2006/Volume 7

October/November 2007

Brenda Scott Royce Editor, LARA Confidential P.O. Box 1184 Covina, CA 91722

For inquiries regarding article submissions, or to request reprint permission, please contact:

President: Sandra Kleinschmitt Executive Vice President: Gina Roland Vice President in Charge of Programming: Irena RafaPetrovich Rafa-Petrovich Vice President In Charge of Membership: Sandra Robinson Vice Pr esident of W ays and Means: President Ways Melissa Jarvis-Prieto

The editor can also be reached by e-mail at the following address: [email protected]

Vice President in Charge of Public Relations: Christine London Treasur er: Maria Seag er easurer: Seager

If you wish to receive the LARA Confidential in hard copy instead of accessing it online, please send your name and mailing address to: [email protected]

Newsletter Editor: Brenda Scott Royce Secretary: Alex Kent PAN Liaison: Linda O. Johnston PRO Liaison: Jodi Gottlieb

Next meeting:

First Sales: Join us for a discussion and Q&A with our LARA members who have had their first sales this year. Following the meeting, LARA member Carol Ericson will sign her new book, The Stranger and I.

December 9 (second Sunday)

Past President: Robena Grant Website and Listserv Div a: Diva: Sandra Kleinschmitt Los Angeles Romance Authors c/o Sandra Robinson P.O. Box 261572 Encino, CA 91316 Assistant Editor: T ai Shan Jackson Tai

LARA Confidential is published bimonthly by Los Angeles Romance Authors, Chapter 25 of RWA®. LARA Confidential welcomes input from all LARA members for requests, original or reprinted articles, ideas, suggestions, and comments. All contributors retain copyright to their original works. This is your newsletter, and it should meet your needs. Please send comments, suggestions, and article ideas to the Newsletter Editor at [email protected]. 2 All views and opinions expressed in the LARA Confidential do not necessarily reflect the acceptance or endorsement of those views and opinions by the LARA membership, the LARA Board, or RWA® at large, and it

Los Angeles Romance Authors 2 copyright and/or reprint permissions.August/September 2007 is further assumed that authors have obtained all requisite Los Angeles Romance Authors

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Presidential Prattle: The End Writing “the end” on the last page feels so good. Getting to a happy ending is just as wonderful. However, the end of the year is considered a stressful time. Much of it is laid at the feet of busy schedules. However, when we get to any ending we evaluate what has happened. Naturally, we judge. People make New Year’s resolutions, usually the same ones they’ve thought about each passing year. Psychologists have been saying for years that the pressure of keeping resolutions can add to depression. But does that apply to goals?

I see goals not as finite, but more as an unending spiral, coming back to a similar place, having to go through the same procedures over and over. There’s an end, but at the same time there’s a beginning which leads to another goal. My mother loved a poem by Portia Nelson titled Autobiography in Five Short Chapters. The poem described a person walking down the street and falling in a big hole, taking a long time to get out, and, after several mistakes, finally walking down a new street. And isn’t that true? We walk down a different street only after three failures and avoiding the hole Angeles successfully once. Authors Los Romance


In a business so full of rejection, it’s easy to feel we’re falling down holes, unable to face doing something one more time to climb out again. I think everyone has a love-hate relationship with some part of writing, whether it’s plotting, regurgitating that first draft, revising, sending submissions out, getting rejections, waiting and waiting and more waiting. And once you have it done, you have to do it again. Ugh! Why? Christina Dodd put it best. “We’re walking,” she said during her keynote address at RWA National conference in Atlanta. Are there holes in the sidewalk that might swallow us? Yes. Are there people walking faster, slower, even skateboarding by? Yes, and I turn green with envy at the ones on the skateboards. The cycle is never ending and your pace is not my pace. But, as Ms. Dodd said, “What are we doing? Stay on the sidewalk. We’re walking.” Fall down seven times, stand up eight, as the Japanese say. Stay on the sidewalk, but climb out of those holes. And keep walking. One goal at a time, one year at a time, one project at a time, one spiral loop at a time. Happy Holidays to each and every one of you. Oh, and one more thing. The End.

Editor’s Talk... A Writer’s Work A few years ago at the dinner table, my stepson asked me, “You're a writer, right?” When I responded affirmatively, he said, “So, you don't really work.” Sensing he’d made a blunder (my indignant, bug-eyed expression may have given him a clue), he backpedalled a bit to explain that he meant that as a writer, I didn’t actually punch a timeclock and report to a “real job.” To him, writing stories didn't seem difficult or drudgerous enough to constitute “work.” Writers, especially those I’ve met through LARA, are the hardest working people I know. Our members have cranked out an amazing number of manuscripts, been brave enough to send them out to editors and agents, and then booted up the computers to start over again. And many of us do so while also balancing a combination of day job, night job, school, children, housework, or all of the above. And even when we get a chance to relax, watch a movie, perhaps, our brains don’t quit working, mulling over plot twists or dialogue, scanning end credits for potential character names. It’s the best work I know, but yes, dear stepson, it is indeed work.

Don’t stop writing,

Keep up the great work, everyone!

Sandra

Sandra Kleinschmitt is president of Los 3 Angeles Romance Authors.

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Brenda Scott Royce is editor of LARA Confidential, Director of Publications for the Los Angeles Zoo, and author of two novels, Monkey August/September 2007 Star. Love and Monkey


Hot Off the Keyboard

WRITING NEWS

(Last-minute news from the grapevine)

TJ Bennett reports that she signed with the Sandra Dijkstra Agency. Ms. Kevan Lyon will represent her.

Monthly meetings

Kate Willoughby’s first Ellora’s Cave book, All In, was released on September 14, 2007.

Angeles Romance Authors

Genella deGrey received a rejection from Margo Lipschultz of Harlequin for her manuscript Remember Me. She also received one form Lucienne Diver of Spectrum. On the bright side she received a positive rejection from Red Sage, with a lovely note.

Noble in Encino, usually on

Christine London’s Sunninghill Snow is up for a Covey (Cover) Award for the month of October!

free. Coffee and chat begin

GOOD NEWS Join us in congratulating the following LARA members who received good news!

Meetings of the Los

are held at the Barnes and

the third Sunday of the month. Guests are welcome to attend one meeting for

at 10 a.m. General meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.

Lynne Marshall sold her fifth medical romance to Harlequin Mills and Boon. The working title is Allergic to Love.

Address:

Leigh Court sold her second novella to Red Sage Publishing. The Bet, a sexy Victorian romance, is scheduled for the Secrets July 2009 anthology.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Jax Cassidy has sold her single title novel, Art of Sensuality, to Parker Publishing. It will launch their new imprint called Lotus Blossom. It is set to be released December 2008. Her novella Miranda Writes in the Fortune’s Fool Anthology (written as Cassidy Kent) will be available in print through Phaze Publishing in December 2007.

(818) 380-1636

Eden Bradley sold a story to Harlequin Spice Briefs. There is no release date or title yet. Carol Ericson sold her second Harlequin Intrigue. It has a tentative release date of August 2008. Los Angeles Romance Authors


16461 Ventura Blvd. Encino, CA 91436

Genella deGrey submitted her historical erotic romance novella, Masterpiece, to Red Sage.

Cross-street: Hayvenhurst

Compiled by LARA member Kaitlin O ’ Riley, author of Secrets of a Duchess, a 2007 Zebra historical release. Her next book will be released in the4 spring of 2008.

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August/September 2007 October/November 2007

Giving Thanks A LARA Round-Up As Thanksgiving approaches, LARA members were asked to share what they are thankful for, in their writing or non-writing lives. Here are three things I am thankful for: I’m thankful for the authors who spend countless hours writing wonderful, imaginative stories and then share them with the rest of us. I’m thankful for the support my family gives me as I pursue my writing career. I’m thankful for the friendships I’ve made as a result of being in LARA. —Ellenie Kilpatrick I am thankful for my RLH (RealLife Hero) Tex. Were it not for his love and support, I would be unable to pursue my dreams. His daily encouragement sustains me during the low times, and even the smallest of my accomplishments are praised and celebrated. I love him passionately. —Genella de Grey I’m thankful for checks for German sales that appear in my mailbox unexpectedly! I’m also thankful for editors who tell me how much they love my work. —Dayle Dermatis

Aside from being thankful for my good health, my family, and my friends, I’m thankful that in spite of a divorce, I’m still a romantic at heart and inspired to write about love. —Kaitlin O’Riley This year I am incredibly thankful for my writing career, and for the family, friends and fellow writers who support me in living my dream every day. I’m thankful for better health after a difficult year. And as always, I’m thankful for the family who will be sitting at my table this Thanksgiving, and for those who can’t be with me—they are an amazing and endlessly amusing group of people and I’m grateful to have them in my life! —Eden Bradley My 11-year-old niece, Devyn, had to undergo emergency surgery last week to remove a growth in her bowel. I am grateful that the growth is not cancerous, especially since both my father and one of my brothers died from cancer within the last five years. —Sue Swift In September I sold my second Victorian novella to Red Sage Publishing (YAY!), but in October I had to deal with the Malibu brushfire, which burned 4,565 acres and came within 25 feet of my back door! Scary stuff, but I’m thankful for both events (particularly that the firefighters stopped the flames before they reached my house)! —Leigh Court

I’m thankful to have met some of my closest friends through LARA and thankful to be part of such a wonderful group of creative, fun, and inspiring people. The support that LARA members offer each other is like nothing I’ve ever seen or experienced before. I like it. —D’Anne Avner I am thankful for my writing gal pals who slap me around when I start to get pessimistic about my writing career. They are also the same gals I’m thankful for who cheer the loudest when I have a success. I’m also thankful that I will finally see the publication of my first novel, The Legacy, in April 2008. From start of writing to date of publication will be seven years. Who says perseverance doesn’t pay off in the end? —TJ Bennett When I reflect at all I could be thankful for, I realize how blessed I have been. My children are safe, my grandchildren are safe, and my husband is comparatively healthy, as am I. At a not so long ago birthday, I decided to resume my writing that I loved so much in my youth but never followed due to family commitments. With the help of my critique leader, critique buddies, and my fellow LARA members, my first manuscript is in the hands of an agent. No matter the outcome, I am thankful to all of you. — E l a i n e Steinberg

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(continued from page 5)

I am thankful everyday, every hour I’ve been given this great gift and responsibility of putting words to paper in such a way as to touch the lives of others. It is through fiction that we are most deeply

moved; its stories and dialogue seeping into our consciousness with the power to uplift and inspire. Even years after reading a good book, its character’s plights and revelations can tumble back into our awareness, enriching our lives beyond measure. —Christine London I am thankful for my wonderful family: near and far, immediate and extended, those chosen by heart and those genetically linked to me. I am thankful for daily work and purpose,

and for my dreams, aspirations and goals. And most importantly, I am thankful for the Internet that allows me to research without getting out of my pajamas, and my sense of humor! —Mia Powers I'm grateful to have a job I enjoy, a family I love, and Starbucks to get me through the day. —Brenda Scott Royce I'm thankful that I am in relatively good health. My contemporary friends seem to be in constant pain, or dying. I am also thankful for my husband and children and their constant support of my writing. I am also thankful for the power of LARA, which constantly reminds me to finish something and get it out there. Thanks, all of you. —Rae Shapiro

Procrastination (Or Why I Don't Have Time to Write) by Leslie Marshman The following appeared in the November 2007 issue of In Print!, the newsletter for the Houston Bay Area, chapter of RWA. Reprinted with permission. I really have a story. It’s living in my head. But getting it to paper is harder done than said. I have a full-time day job that sucks the power from my brain. Two too-long rush-hour commutes that, to be nice, are just a pain. And then there are the errands and all the other household chores, Like shopping, cooking, dusting, doing laundry and the floors.


By then, a little R & R is what I really need. Computer games, some e-mail, time to watch TV and read.

Just seven days on eBay and my AlphaSmart was mine. My digital recorder... (Need to learn. Can’t find the time.)

And then there is the “health” thing, working out and eating right. And on top of this I’m s’posed to get eight hours of sleep a night.

Suggested writing software to help prioritize. But first I have to load it, find my notes and organize.

I go to chapter meetings, join the chats and read the loops, take lots of online classes and hang out with writing groups.

I’ve got some great excuses why I don’t have time to write. The reasons vast and many, some are wrong and some are right.

I glom on to great ideas other writers recommend. But the time I spend researching Isn’t time I have to spend.

I really have a story. And it’s one I want to write. Perhaps I’ll start tomorrow, ‘cause I’m writing this tonight.

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September Meeting 83-21-B0-A8-2F-EE-A2-C8D8 Notes: Brenda Scott Royce on "Love and Other Funny Stuff " © 2007, Dana Belfry E.B. White once said “analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. They both die in the process.” While some people might consider that an apt and intimidating description, LARA’s own Brenda Scott Royce took it as a challenge. Did she do it because she is brave and wise? Quite possibly. The multi-published author of the doubly hilarious Monkey Love and Monkey Star has more than proven her comic skill. However, it could also be that she was so relieved to discover that her young son didn’t actually think she looked like a buffalo, everything else was child’s play. She came, she taught, and she didn’t kill any frogs. In her workshop entitled Love and Other Funny Stuff, Brenda reminded us that “Love and laughter go hand in hand, in life, as in literature.” When listing the characteristics of an ideal mate, women’s magazines consistently rank humor at the top of the list. While we know humor when we hear it, taking it apart and analyzing the pieces is far more challenging. For the sake of simplicity, Brenda created a list of eight ways to inject humor in writing: 1. The Surprise. A funny thing that crops up in an unexpected moment.


2. The Rule of Three. A bottle of wine, a box of chocolates and a gorilla costume. 3. Always put the punch line at the end. 4. Call backs. A running joke is worth its weight in gold. 5. K words are funny. Alka Seltzer, monkey, snickerdoodles. Words in general matter. Underpants, for example, is funnier then underwear. Do you prefer “petrified condoms” or “geriatric prophylactics?” 6. Alliteration 7. Exaggeration

While Brenda’s family may have temporarily shelved plans to hire their youngest out as a Spanish translator, her story reminds us that the best humor comes from life experience. No matter how vital the laugh, the character always comes first. Jokes are a topping, not the main ingredient. Brenda also cautioned her audience against familiar pitfalls when writing comedy. Humor is subjective. Not all jokes work for all readers. If you’re on the fence about whether or not something is funny, it’s better to cut it out then see it flop. Never have your characters react to a funny response by a character by using phrases like “the character laughed.” The reader must decide if something is funny. And above all, she says, less is more. Brenda’s readers are waiting patiently in hopes of a third installment in the monkey series, so we’re guessing she’s right about love and laughter. Buffalo.

8. Misunderstandings and misunderstood words. Here Brenda related a personal story where her young son, over a period of time, would ask her for something and then call her a buffalo. Not wanting to encourage him by reacting negatively, she ignored the insult. One day she overheard her son interacting with her husband during a Spanish lesson. “What do you say?” her husband asked, clearly waiting for the Spanish word 7 for please. Her youngest looked up at his father, eyes full of love, “buffalo.”

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Dana Belfry happily lives near the beach, rollerblades as often as possible and constantly comes up with story ideas. She is currently working on a contemporary single-title. Visit Dana's blog at www. danabelfry.com/ blog/


October Meeting Notes: Carolyn Grayson on "The DOs and DON’Ts of Working with an Agent" © 2007, Brenda Scott Royce “An agent is an author’s advocate,” Carolyn Grayson of the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency told Los Angeles Romance Authors members at the October 2007 meeting. In an informative talk, she discussed what to do—and not to do—when dealing with agents. Most of her advice was tailored to the authors currently seeking representation, as choosing the right agent for you is a crucial decision that could make or break your career. “Know whether you want to be represented by a particular agent before you query them,” she urges. “Don’t wait until you get an offer of representation and then question whether the agent is even right for you. Do your homework first.” Following are a few of Grayson’s DOs and DON’Ts: DO complete at least one book before querying agents. “When an agent says, ‘I want to see more,’ you have to send more,” she says. It’s reasonable to ask for a little extra time to polish a manuscript, but don’t wait too long. DO research into what types of books an agent handles. Target agents who represent your genre or subgenre. Grayson frequently receives submissions in areas that she doesn’t represent, such as poetry. “It Los Angeles Romance Authors


just means that the author hasn’t done enough research,” she says. DO find out what the agent wants to see in a query, and submit exactly according to the specifications. The Ashley Grayson Agency requests the first three pages. They prefer e-mail queries, with the sample pages pasted into the body of the e-mail, not sent as an attachment. DO give enough information in the query to sell the book. Grayson describes the query as “the hook and the book.” When reading queries, she is looking for something fresh, well-expressed, with a clearly defined voice. It should describe the novel’s dramatic question, the main characters, and the story arc. Your query should give a flavor of the writing. If you’re pitching a romantic comedy, for example, your sense of humor should come through in the query. DO let the agent know if you are querying multiple agents, especially when sending a full or partial manuscript. “Simultaneous submissions are fine,” Grayson says, “but it’s nice to know they are simultaneous.” She says there’s nothing worse than to get excited about a book and call the author to offer representation, only to have the author say, ‘Oh, I signed with so-and-so last week.’” DON’T refer to your book as a “fiction novel.” Novels, by definition, are fictional. DON’T include information about your novel’s marketing appeal or 8 movie possibilities in your submission. (Marketing plans8are important in

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nonfiction book proposals, however.) Certainly don’t make casting suggestions for the film version, even if Ewan McGregor is the perfect choice to play your hero. DON’T focus on setting rather than story in your query. Some authors beautifully describe their novel’s locale but omit information about the plot. Once you’ve signed with an agent, the key to a successful relationship is communication. “Make use of written communication,” Grayson advises. “You are writers, after all.” Every working relationship is different, so find out what method of communication your editor prefers. As the author’s advocate, agents represent their clients’ interests in a wide range of matters, from contract negotiation to disagreements over cover art. Since most agents charge the same standard commission (15%) and submit to the same editors, when torn between two agents, go with your gut instinct and pick the one whose voice speaks to you most.


LARA Bookfair Scrapbook The 2007 LARA Bookfair, organized by Vice President of Ways and Means Melissa Jarvis-Prieto and hosted by Barnes & Noble, Encino, was a smashing success. Ten authors participated in the group signing. Sales totaled $2,706.81(up from last year's $2,042), of which LARA receives a 15% contribution ($406.00). Thanks to all who came, signed, and/or purchased books!

Linda O. Johnston

Harley Jane Kozak

Sarah Dale and Carolyn Hughey

Jax Crane, Eden Bradley, Dana Belfry

Thanks to Jax Crane for providing the 9 photos on this page.


Brenda Scott Royce, Kaitlin O'Riley

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Say Hello to LARA Member ... Viviane Brentanos If you have an alias or pen name, what is it? I don’t have a pen name. My friends thought Viviane Brentanos was odd enough—a mix of French and Greek. Tell us about yourself. I was born in Reading, U.K., although my father hails from the West Country. My mother is French, and her mother is Spanish. As my father was in the army, we moved around a lot. The first four years of my life, I lived in Singapore, which is where my coquette French mother behaved in a truly Gallic fashion and had an affair with a young Scot. Subsequently I spent the next 14

years of my life in Glasgow. I still class myself as an honorary Scot. In 1972 the family moved to Huntingdon (Oliver Cromwell country), where I attended the local school. I managed to pass (God knows how because I was a lazy student), and I gained acceptance into Sheffield University to read Greek Classical Civilisation (an omen?). I hated it! I found all the pseudo-radical student world to be a waste of time and I’d had enough of studying. Much to my mother’s horror, I ran off to London to train as a canine beautician. That is when I hooked up with an old school friend, who I then married. Needless to say, it didn’t work, the only thing we had in common was our Afghan Hounds, which he showed— and successfully, I might add. To cut a long story short, we divorced, and I went on holiday to Corfu and fell in love with the Island. I can still see myself sitting in a taverna, looking out across the azure Ionian Sea and saying to my friend, “I never want to leave here.” And here I still am, the proud owner of three dogs, eight cats, two children, and one husband (note the order of preference). Anything special we should know about you?


I am a fierce protector of animal rights. I love all genres of music, but especially heavy metal, 10 although my passion is Darren 10 Hayes. I love films,

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especially big epics, my favorites being Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, and, of course, 300 (who can resist Gerry Butler in leather Speedos?). I love to dance, and apparently my moves are outrageous (think Pussycat Dolls). How long have you been writing? I have been writing romances in my head since I was three, when I ran off with a five-year-old and we locked ourselves in their bedroom. When I was 12, my English teacher discovered that I could write—or so she said—but I disappointed her by not putting my talent to good use. Instead, I realized it would be more fun to put all of my fantasies on paper, a view shared by my classmates but not by my teacher. After several “hot” romances circulated the classroom, I was marched off to the Headmistress’s office. It didn’t put me off. Years later, whilst working in a boring office job, I decided to use the time to finally do what I’d always promised myself—complete a novel. Where do you typically find your inspiration? I have had stories kicking around my head since I was a child. Every now and again, I am inspired by someone to put such a tale on paper. I have to be completely in love with my hero. Music also plays a huge role in the cont. on moulding of my pg 11 characters. Certain songs August/September 2007 I love - will allow me to



feel the emotion I want to instill in them, dictate the mood, etc. Of course Darren Hayes is my main inspiration. What genre do you write in? Do you cross over to other genres? Is it harder or easier to stay in one genre? I write contemporary romance with a hint of chick lit, for want of a better word. Although my tales can deal with serious issues, such as child custody, there is a strong vein of very Brit humour in everything I write. Someone once suggested I try my hand at something “more serious,” but I am quite happy with romance. I am, I suppose, fairly cynical when it comes to love, so I love writing about the kind of man we all dream about. Who has influenced you in your writing? If I had to pick one writer, it would be Jilly Cooper. For me, she was the first person to write about real women and what they really felt. Her books are very funny and she has a wicked turn of phrase. Very Brit. What books do you have out? And do you have something new coming out? My first single title, Letting Go will be released shortly through the Wild Rose Press, first as an e-book and then in print. My second novel is at the moment on the sub train, so keep fingers crossed. Are you doing any signing or appearances soon? Los Angeles Romance Authors


This really is not an option for me, living so far across the water, but I hope to arouse some local interest. I am very grateful to Christine London for connecting me with LARA. Being in Corfu, I am somewhat cut off from the “real” world. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? Only what has been said before. Don’t give up and do your homework. Learn from others who have been around the sub block. Find a good, honest writing buddy. Mine is Chris and she has taught me a lot. One thing I will add. It’s easy to become bogged down in technicalities of writing. Don’t sacrifice your style just to become published, if it results in you losing your individuality. Do you have a website or a blog? I am hoping to set up a website soon. Meanwhile, you can find me on Myspace at myspace.com/chicholina. Do you prefer for fans to mail or e-mail you? Fans? I haven’t got any—yet! Darren and Gerry can e-mail me anytime, and personal visits would work well for me, too. Christine London has been a member of RWA since April of 2006. She lives a mile from the beach, where she supplies colleagues and fellow cookie addicts with homemade delights, works out tenaciously at the gym, sings sultry alto in a jazz-pop vocal sextet and writes likewise addictive romantic morsels. She 1is1 working on her 11 seventh novel.

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2008 DUES REMINDER

It’s almost time to renew your annual membership. Dues are $30 per calendar year. Make checks payable to LARA and pay at the regular meeting or by mail to: Los Angeles Romance Authors c/o Sandra Robinson P.O. Box 261572 Encino, CA 91316


An Interview with ... Susan Mallery © 2007, Lynne Marshall Do you ever wonder what makes an author consistently successful? Or how they got their start? Or how do they keep those great story ideas coming? I recently had the opportunity to ask Susan Mallery a few of those questions, and she graciously consented to answer. But first, here is a brief bio for one of the most prolific romance authors working today. By the way, she’s got a great website (www. s u s a n m a l l e r y. com), which includes games for the fun at heart. Check it out!

the writing department, Susan earned a Masters in Writing Popular Fiction.

file. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to write all the stories waiting for me.

Susan makes her home in Washington state where, rumor has it, all that rain helps with creativity. Susan is married and has two aging but neurotic cats and a small dog. The dog is a relatively recent addition to the family, and the cats are seriously unamused.

Do you plot and make character studies before you start, or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

How long were you writing before you got published and how many manuscripts had you completed? I wrote about 20 months before I published. I had the advantage of having a lot of time to write and take classes. Living in Los Angeles, I was able to attend screenwriting seminars, UCLA Extension writer’s program and other local events.

Despite the relative speed of selling, I had Susan Mallery is exactly 50 rejections by the bestselling author the time I sold. Editors, of over one hundred agents, and magazines. romances and she has I’d sold a few short yet to run out of stories to Woman’s ideas! She has World, although there written series romanwere many rejections for Susan Mallery ces, as well as single each of those. I sort of titles, historicals, compressed 5 or 6 years contemporaries and even a lone time of being unpublished into a really short travel. Always reader favorites, her period of time. books have appeared on the Waldens bestseller list, along with the USA Where do you get your ideas? Today bestseller list. I have a very thick idea file and I’m She has won awards for everything from best single title contemporary, to best Special Edition of the year and recently took home the prestigious National Reader’s Choice Award. As her degree Los Angeles Romance Authorsin in Accounting wasn’t very helpful


constantly adding to it. Sometimes it’s just a thought triggered from an overheard snatch of conversation, sometimes an article in the news and other times, an1image in a magazine 2 will trigger something and I have to 12and put it in my rush to jot it down

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I’m a huge plotter. I don’t understand how people can just sit down and write. I need to know I’ve solved all the problems before I start. Plus, my plots are fairly complicated. I need to keep track, so I do a very detailed outline before I begin. Having said that, my story nearly always begins with character. I get an idea for someone or a situation. And yes, I do character charts, as well. I’ve created my own, based on dozens of workshops. Over the years I’ve figured out what I need to make a book work and I make sure I have that info before I start. What about writing makes you anxious? Making sure the next book is better than the current one. I constantly study craft and try to stretch myself. I hate when I disappoint my readers, so I work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen. How long does it take you to complete a manuscript and how many books do you write in a year? It depends on the book—how long, how complicated, etc. I can write a book in anywhere from 2 to 4 months. Series books write faster, of course. Some single titles have to be built, character by character, plot point by plot point. Others seem to appear nearly fully formed. The latter cont. on goes faster. pg 13



Of all the books you’ve written, which is your favorite, and are there any you wish you’d never written? My favorite is always the book I’m going to write next. It’s still in my head, so it’s still perfect. Once I start writing, I realize what I write will never match the vision in my head. Sometimes I get close, but it’s never exactly there. I think that’s good—so I’m always striving for better. I don’t regret any of the books I’ve written. If I were to read an old book, I’m sure I’d find 50 ways to make it better, though!

"My favorite is always the book I'm going to write next." to go back home, we’ve got two books we’re ready to write from start to finish with minimum fuss. Of course we have fun in other ways too, after all, it’s Vegas!

with us. Is anyone else as interested as I am in getting a look into Susan’s idea file? I’m looking forward to her next book for HQN in January 2008, Accidentally Yours.

Look for Lynne Marshall’s latest U.S. release, Single Dad, Nurse Bride in January 2008 from Harlequin Medical Romance (www.eharlequin.com). Visit Lynne's website at www. lynnemarshallweb.com.

How do you see the romance genre evolving in the next ten years? I think there will be a return to “traditional” romance, with contemporary single title doing well and historicals making a comeback. However, I don’t think the historicals will be like those of old. I also think paranormal is here to stay, but it’s going to become woven into other subgenres. I think category romance is at a crossroads. They’re either going to have to reinvent themselves or they’re going to decline. But hey, I could be wrong about all of it!

Are you involved in a critique group, plotting group, any kind of writer’s group? A few of my good friends and I meet twice a year in Las Vegas for four days for a plotting session. We’ve been doing it for years and it’s great fun. Each of us plots two books in 4 days. We take turns with 1-2 hour sessions and by the time we’re ready


Which writers do you admire? I never name names. I did once and accidentally left out a good friend. She’s *still* teasing me about it. All writers are fabulous, especially the ones I know! Thanks, Susan, for taking time out from your busy1 3writing schedule to share some of your13 publishing insight

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This article first appeared in the November 2007 issue of the UnderCover, the electronic newsletter of the Ohio Valley Romance Writers. It is used with permission.

Critique Groups 101 by Jacqueline Floyd Writing can be a lonely endeavor. We sit in our offices, at our computers, and write with the force of inspiration, dedication, and the sweat of our brows. We love what we’ve written; we hate what we’ve written. Maybe it’s great, maybe it’s garbage. Who can say for sure? Maybe we seek guidance, maybe we seek help, maybe we seek an outside opinion. But who should we trust? For many writers, a critique group is the answer. The main rule for forming a critique group is that there are no definitive rules. What works for one person, one group, will miss the mark completely for another. Trial and error are the only ways to determine what will work best for you. Pick your critique partners carefully. What should you look for? Look for people who have the same level of commitment to their writing and to the group that you have regarding attendance and the quantity of writing produced. Do you want to meet in person or online? Do you want to meet once a week, once a month? Daytime or evening? If you can’t work out these basics, you won’t be able to form a cohesive group.


Keep the size of the group to a reasonable number. You need enough writers to balance the opinions of one against another, but not so many that all you’re doing in your free time is critiquing someone else’s work. Remember, for every member in the group, there’s a potential work-inprogress you’ll have to find time to read. You’ll need to decide if you want to critique face to face, or online. Online makes the process a bit less personal, but gives the participants the ability to work on their own schedule. An in-person group offers better opportunity to discuss and clarify.

Once you have the logistics worked out, you need to determine if everyone in the group wants the same kind of feedback. Do you want to discuss the placement of every little comma, or do you want to focus on the main issues of plot, characterization, goal, motivation and conflict? It’s not a good working system if one or two people want rubber stamps of approval while other members prefer rousing and heated discussions. Some people prefer tactful coaching, some prefer brutal honesty.1 4Decide which one youprefer and seek others with a

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similar attitude. It isn’t necessary for everyone in your group to write in the same category or genre, as long as what they write is something you enjoy reading, and you feel you can offer them constructive help on their particular genre. It’s good for the individuals of your group to have their own strengths-strong editor, good plotter, pacing, dialogue, whatever, but you may not know what these are until after you’ve worked together for awhile. You may need to limit how many pages or chapters each individual can bring to the table per session. How many times do you want to re-read? How many revisions will you look at? You might like to see the changes that have been made based on the input of the group, but if you have to read the same material more than twice, will you loose your objectivity, and get confused between the details of the various versions? Some groups like to read the material aloud. Some groups read the material while they’re assembled and critique as they go along. If this works for you, fine, but it makes for a really long meeting. The tried and true method for many in-person groups is to pass out sections, take them home, read them, critique them, bring them back, discuss them, take home new chapters. Rinse, lather, repeat. Online critique groups can be as flexible or as structured as the participants want. I’ve been in a couple and cont. on pg 15 one worked a lot better



than the other. In the one that didn’t work well, chapters were passed around among the group without a method or a schedule. In the other one, we were colored coded, developed a series of understood editing techniques, and generally adhered to a schedule.

Being part of a critique group is not for the thin-skinned. Being critiqued for the first time is a lot like being left on the side of the road bleeding. Try not to be defensive. These people are probably trying to help you. Looking for a critique group? LARA’s got one! Get the scoop from LARA member Rae Shapiro, at [email protected].


Be specific in your comments. Don’t say, “Cut this.” Show them where you feel it should be cut. Don’t say, “This doesn’t work for me.” Tell them why it doesn’t work for you. Give suggestions on what you feel would work better. And for heaven’s sake, be sure to compliment the good parts while being as diplomatic as you can be on the areas that need work

with an unsatisfactory group. If your first group doesn’t meet your needs, then re-group.

Remember the physician’s motto during critiquing: First, do no harm. It’s always the other person’s story you’re critiquing, don’t try to make it your own. Someone is giving you the honor of allowing you to view his or her work, and beyond that, to voice your opinion. Use that power wisely.

rest. Because in the end the work is your own, and you’re the final judge.

Sadly, as in any relationship, sometimes the first choice of critique partners turns out to be an imperfect 15 match. Don’t despair. Look around. Learn from your mistakes. Don’t stay

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For all the help a positive, supportive critique group can offer, a negative one can do irreparable damage. Learn when to trust, and when to turn away. Utilize the advice that works for you, and discard the

Jacqueline Floyd is a member of RWA, OVRWA, and the Golden Network. As well as frequently submitting manuscripts to agents and editors, she’s won and placed in numerous contests including the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award of Excellence, RWA’s Golden Heart and OVRWA’s first chapter contest. She writes short contemporary and single title. She loves for people to visit her at www.JacquelineFloyd.com.


This article first appeared in the November 2007 issue of the Heart Monitor, the newsletter of the Heart of Dixie chapter of RWA. It is used with permission.

Beware, Don't Compare by Marilyn Puett Did you hear about Susie? She began writing only last year and sold her very first book! I’ve been writing and submitting for five years and haven’t even had a request. I heard that Sally just got a three-book deal with a big New York publisher. She and I used to be critique partners and everyone said my writing was better than hers.

comparing your writing to someone else’s. Each author has a unique voice and to weigh one against the other is like comparing apples and oranges. And what about Janie? Did you know her children are grown and live across the country where they can’t visit often? And Janie’s husband passed away year before last after a long battle with cancer. She wasn’t able to write a word during his illness or for a year after he died; the spark just wasn’t there.

This doesn’t mean I’ll stop reading. It does mean that instead of comparing myself to the latest New York Times bestseller, I will compare what I’ve achieved against the standards I’ve set for myself.

An old Native American proverb states, “Before you judge another man, first walk a mile in his moccasins.” Have you always been willing to tell everyone you’re a writer? Have you been through a life-altering or life-threatening family health experience?

didn’t do the work necessary to hit the mark.

Did I meet my daily page goal? My monthly submission goal? If so, I’m as much a success as that Times bestseller. If not, perhaps I set an unrealistic goal, failed to consider possible obstacles or just

Janie told me she writes 15 to 20 pages a day. Well of course she does! She doesn’t have a husband or kids to interrupt her. When I set goals each month, I’m forced to not only examine past goals and whether I achieved them but I am also tempted to compare myself to others. Did I write as many pages as they did? Submit as many stories? Make as many sales? Comparisons are by their very nature a recipe for failure. Desiderata author Max Ehrman wrote “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. In the case of the statements above, maybe Susie’s really been writing in secret for years and was afraid—or even ashamed—to admit she wrote romance novels until she’d honed her craft. As for Sally and her critique partner, that’s one of the Los Angeles Romance deadliest traps to fallAuthors into—


As writers, we are taught to read and study our target market. Reading expertly crafted writing hones your own skills. There is also no deadlier trap than quitting because you believe your writing falls short of the work you’ve read. Nido Qubein, author, educator and businessman, wrote, “Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers 1 6 compare their achievements with those of other 16 people.”

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And what is the solution? It’s certainly not to gauge myself against someone else. I must re-evaluate, reconsider and work harder because I can’t be someone else; I can only be the best me.

Marilyn Puett loves Susie, Sally, and Janie and is happy for their successes and achievements. But she marches to her own drummer— or tries to anyway. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and writer who lives in Alabama. She has sold a dozen and a half stories to the confessions and romance magazines and is a member of Heart of Dixie RWA and The Writing Playground.


Flip-Floppin' © 2007, Kate Fink There isn’t an AA group for this one, so ... my name is Kate, and I’m a flip-flop addict. You know the draw: the heat of summer, the sun kisses the backs of your legs like a new lover. A playful grin takes shape as you toss back your glossy curls and give in to the decadence of warm, fine sand sifting between your toes or the yield of cool, springy Dicondra beneath your soles. You worry your lower lip and bare those frosted pink toenails. They wink up at you and you fall ... hard. Then before you blink it’s time to set the clocks back, and all that’s left of the dog days of summer are those cotton-candy petals lashed by sexy, black strappies. I hope to be weaned off sandals by Thanksgiving—New Year’s, tops— but, just like other lost souls, I have little drive to quit and so many excuses to suspend reality. See, I live in Southern California, and ... “Sooner or later ya gotta get serious!” my inner-critic grouses. “Trade in the allure of the lowkey thuop-thuop for the quick-click clip of those toe-pinching Manolos?” Say it isn’t so, Inner-critic Joe. “Oh, who cares, Kate,” you say. “You’re a writer. The only witnesses to your flip-flop problem are the parents at school pick-up, and most of them can be bought. It’s not like they’ve got rock-solid proof you’re the reprobate dropping off the child in your PJs? The photos are blurry, and really, who has hair that big?”


Right. But that’s not what I’m ruminating on this month. No, the new snafu is the flip-flop carry-over to my writer’s brain. I’ve begun flipflopping over my writing game plan again, sucked in by the glamour of the short-term project: A column. An article. A tantalizing freelance project with a deadline! How hot is that! The hopped-up addict in me is trying to convince the rest of my writing split-personalities that it’s all about Options. “The four single-titles she’s got cookin’ are long-term, but the thrill of a deadline! And don’t forget the negotiated payoff. Ca-ching!” Tape

The rest of my brain crew grasps my time limitations and are looking for a sneak-up intervention ... or a billy-club to whack Mr. No-Commitment. The only one on the fence is my inner-critic, and he’s just trying to figure out how to pay for those Crisscross Manolos. Interested in reviewing your writing options or focusing on the straight and narrow? Here are a few titles from the LARA Tape Library:

Title

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Real Heroes and the Writers Who Keep Them That Way

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Book in a Week

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Aids for the Character-Challenged Writer

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Completing the Connection, on Beyond Conflict

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Going Deep with POV

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Finish that Book!

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The Book Starts Here

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Layering Complexity, Texture and Theme Using Subplots, Secondary Characters & Villains

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Nonfiction on the Side: Fame, Fortune & Publicity

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Author in Progress—How to Continue to Grow as a Writer

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10, 20, 30 Minutes to Life and Writing

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The Writer’s Tool Box

(Conference tapes can be reserved by logging on to the Members Only Section of the LARA website. Click on “Conference Library” and follow the instructions on how to access the list of titles. Email Kate with your selections—up to five tapes—to reserve in advance of the next chapter meeting.

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Kate is the tape librarian for the Los Angeles Romance Authors and 17 writes contemporary romance. August/September 2007

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