Aspiring Romance Author Book Club
What does it take to get published?
Ask a Debut Author. Through years of blood, sweat & tears, rejections, contests, multiple manuscripts, faith, perseverance and luck, these authors have finally jumped the hurdle from the Aspiring Author to the Published Author. Debut novels hold the key to understanding What It Takes. So what can aspiring authors do to learn this industry secret? – Start an Aspiring Romance Author Book Club to analyze the story structure, character arcs, dialogue, voice, theme, writing style, plot, setting and ability to elicit an emotional response of break-out novels. Dig deep and discover what makes these manuscripts tick. What elements make them work? What elements could be improved? What can you take away from these manuscripts that “made-it” to bring to your own manuscript?
Lucky you, my critique partner and I are starting an Aspiring Romance Author Book Club here in Sea-Town and I will be sharing our brainiac discoveries with you via this blog. I invite you to read along with us and share your thoughts. Should I be overly ambitious, I might even interview the debut authors so we can be inspired by their journey to publication.
The 2008 RITA finalists for Best First Novel were recently released, and this is the list we will be using for our book club. Unfortunately the RWA does not nominate one Best First Novel from each category, so this year we do not have any historical novels to read. Our book club may augment the list with a debut historical novel if we find one – any suggestions?
Treasure by Helen Brenna
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin Superromance
Category: Contemporary Romance
Interview on The Romance Reader – Double Golden Heart Finalist. Over 10 years till publication.
Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Harlequin Enterprises, Harlequin NEXT
Category: Romantic Suspense
Interview on Single Titles
Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Harlequin Enterprises, MIRA
Category: Novel with Strong Romantic Elements
Interview on Barnes & Noble – It took Deanna 14 years to be published.
Interview on Reading the Past Blog - Deanna discusses researching Victorian England.
Thief With No Shadow by Emily Gee
BL Publishing, Solaris
Category: Paranormal Romance
Interview with Nalini Singh -
Interview with Shelley Monro -
Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey
HarperCollins Publishers, Avon Books
Catagory: Paranormal Romance
Interview on Romance Bandits Blog – 4 years to publication
Interview on Tampa Bay Channel 10
Edited to add: The Duke of Shadows by Meredith Duran will be our historical.
Interview about her first sale on Dear Author.
Tags: "romance novels", 2008 RITA, book club, Deanna Raybourn, debut novels, Emily Gee, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Helen Brenna, Terri Garey, writing
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April 4, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hi Ciara!
How lovely to be mentioned on your (very beautiful) blog–I’m so flattered!
Of course I’m also thrilled about my two RITA nominations…I’ll always remember the weeks and months that the rejections of Prime Time, the first Charotee McNally Mystery, were arriving in the mailbox. I said to my husband, in tears: Is Charlie going to die? Before anyone meets her?
And now things are turning out so wonderfully.
Prime Time is pretty much sold out now–the good news and the bad news! It will be re-issued as a MIRA book soon, as will Face Time and the new Air Time and Drive Time. So again, that’s fantastic..and you heard it here first!
But–may I offer, say, three autographed copies of PRIME TIME to you and your readers? ANd of course, if you’d like to interview me at some point–I’d be honored.
xoxo Hank
April 4, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Oh—how wonderful to see my book and name in your (very beautiful) blog!
Of course I was thrilled when PRIME TIME was nominated for two RITAS. I can’t forget the days when I would find rejection after rejection of that first Charlotte McNally Mystery in my mailbox. In tears, I finally said to my husband, “Is Charlie McNally going to die? Will no one ever meet her?
And now, of course, so many many wonderful things have happened.
The good news and the bad news—PRIME TIME is pretty much sold out now. Not totally, but almost! But it will be available again—as a beautiful new MIRA book—next year. As will Face Time (a Book Sense Notable Book) and then the brand new Air Time and Drive Time. So again, more wonderful stuff! And you heard it here first!
After being a TV reporter for 30 years (and I’m still on the air) this new career path is really amazing.
So! I’d be delighted to give away, say, three copies of Prime Time to you and your readers! How would you like to handle it? Your call…
(And hey, if you’d like to do a debut-author interview with me, or have me chat with the book group—I’d be delighted.
You can get some of the scoop on my website…)
And thank you, again, for your wonderful mention—and all your very thoughtful posts.
All best
Hank
(okay, it’s really Harriet. Ask my mom about that one.)
April 4, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Oh—how wonderful to see my book and name in your (very beautiful) blog!
Of course I was thrilled when PRIME TIME was nominated for two RITAS. I can’t forget the days when I would find rejection after rejection of that first Charlotte McNally Mystery in my mailbox . In tears, I finally said to my husband, “Is Charlie McNally going to die? Will no one ever meet her?
And now, of course, so many many wonderful things have happened.
The good news and the bad news—PRIME TIME is pretty much sold out now. Not totally, but almost! But it will be available again—as a beautiful new MIRA book—next year. As will Face Time (a Book Sense Notable Book) and then the brand new Air Time and Drive Time. So again, more wonderful stuff! And you heard it here first.
After being a TV reporter for 30 years (and I’m still on the air) this new career path is really amazing.
So! I’d be delighted to give away, say, three copies of Prime Time to you and your readers! How would you like to handle it? Your call…
And hey, if you’d like to do an interview with me, or have me chat with the book group—I’d be delighted. You can get some of the scoop on my website…
And thank you, again, for your wonderful mention—and all your very thoughtful posts.
All best
Hank
April 6, 2008 at 7:02 pm
What a great idea! As an aspiring author I would love to see what other break out authors and debut authors have to say. I will help spread the news!