Romance Industry News


Jessica Hart, who writes wonderful Harlequin category romances, shares ten top tips for that all important first chapter.

Since social media seems a vital part of being an author (I comfort myself with the reflection that even Charles Dickens went on the lecture circuit), I’m including Darren Rovel’s 100 Twitter tips. They’re good.

Ilona Andrews, whose books I love, raises an important issue — author stress. Being an author, a hell of a lot of stuff is outside our control. We have to learn to live, and even thrive, with that uncertainty.

Angela James, Executive Editor, Carina Press, asks whether readers enjoy “exotic” locations and which locations they consider exotic. Fascinating to me as a reader in Australia because the common US and UK settings are, to me, exotic ๐Ÿ™‚

I’ve run out of time this week (“here, Time, pretty Time. Are you under the sofa cushions? Hiding in the laundry basket?”), but when I find some, I need to look into Amazon’s new social network.

It’s the Romance Writers’ of Australia conference this weekend — and I won’t be there. I’ll miss meeting so many great people. Fortunately, for those of us who couldn’t make the trip, there is also a Clayton’s Conference — a weekend long, online gathering of RomAus members who are feeling sociable (and envious) and eager to chat. Oh, and perhaps, write! I’m looking forward to it. ๐Ÿ™‚


4 responses to “Romance Industry News”

  1. re exotic locations: so many of my Canadian writer friends have books they've written set in Canada but if you sub them to the States most times editors and agents tell us to change the location to somewhere in the States so their readers can identify. I heard Eloise James say that she once had a book where the first chapter was set in France (and only that chapter) and her sales were horrible because people wanted Regencies set in England. I like reading about different places (what others might consider exotic) as long as the author has her details correct. I read a book set in Alaska a while back, and could tell the author hadn't been there and probably hadn't really thought about details like sunlight hours or the shape of roads after a hard winter (or spring heaving) While I enjoyed the story, it did lessen some of the enjoyment for me. Then I read one set in Australia written by an Australian and loved it because of its location and the differences from my part of the world.

    • Total agreement — I love "visiting" different locations in my reading, but hate it if the details are wrong.

      Eloise James' experience with France is interesting. I know Georgette Heyer set some of her books there — and if she did, then it's definitely Regency ๐Ÿ™‚ But I guess readers' expectations vary.

    • I know, but Rachel Johns is waving the flag for West Aussie Carina authors, and Cathryn Brunet, Janni Nell and Colleen (oh help, I've forgotten Colleen's last name) are going to be there, I think. Not sure of Shona Husk. And Fiona Lowe has come up trumps. She's actually taking Angela James and hubby to an Aussie Rules football game ๐Ÿ™‚

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