We got The Call!

Do you hear all that cheering around Blogland, and the popping of champagne corks? It's because Maya Minx has sold to Harlequin Presents!!

We are all so proud of her, and we know the rest of the world is going to love Maya's stories just as much as we Minxes do. We promise, you're in for a treat.

Come join in the celebrations! There's a party on the new eHarlequin community boards, and you can read Maya's Call Story in full on her blog. Please leave comments to show your love, and for every comment you're entitled to one free glass of virtual chocolate. (Yes, you read that right).

Congratulations, Maya!

Author Spotlight - Empi Baryeh

In today's spotlight, we feature Ghanaian author Empi Baryeh.
Welcome, Empi.

What is your writing process?

*sighs*
I wish I had one. The plan is always to write whenever I have some free time. “Freetime” being evenings and weekends, because I work full-time. But in terms of process, I try to start or set up the next chapter/scene in my head before I sit at my laptop to write. Usually, all I need is the right entry or feeling for the chapter/scene to get into it. When I sit to write, I tend to go over the last chapter/scene before continuing.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

I do love shopping. To be honest, I try not to stress myself out. If it’s not there, it’s not there. It all comes back to setting the scene up in my head prior to taking out my laptop. If the scene is ready to be written, then shoe shopping will easily take a backseat. However, retail therapy does have its benefits in creating inspiration. Imagine getting a new pair of shoes, and then coming home and writing that naughty scene with nothing but your brand new shoes on!

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

I’m really bad at exercising. I do a lot of stretches, and tend to opt for walking instead of driving everywhere all the time. But I’m proud to say that last week, I finally got off my arse and did a one-hour walk, which I’m planning to keep up at least three times a week.

Do you believe in writer's block?

Absolutely! My few attempts at plotting have led to serious blocks! Okay, maybe that’s just an excuse. The real answer is, whether a writer believes in it or not, there are always periods when one can’t seem to produce any material worth its weight in gold. But I also think there are ways of motivating oneself to write. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a change of scenery – and that can simply mean moving from the study to the dining table.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

*sniggers*
Every story I write has a piece of real life in it – not always my life, mind you. I try to let real life events and people inspire the story/scene/character etc. rather than pick something verbatim and put it in a story. I must be doing it well enough, because I haven’t yet got in trouble for it. Yet (LOL)

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

Well…life doesn’t dramatically change. You don’t suddenly have every reader clamouring for your book and everyone recognising your name – okay, so I wasn’t really expecting *that* to happen. In terms of writing, I’m still facing pretty much the same challenges I did as a pre-published author…and then some.

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

Ah! Promotion. Are you sure it isn’t a dirty word? Cos I blush every time I hear it :-). Okay, on a serious note, I love blog tours because they introduce me to new readers and vice versa. I try to join conversations on writers’ and readers’ groups. I think a writer’s best endorsement is herself/himself. If a writer’s own wit (in normal conversation) is interesting, I might for that reason alone try their book. I hope that the same applies to other readers. I am still learning the nooks and crannies of Twitter, which I’m beginning to really like. But most importantly I try to do some reaching every single day.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Reach out every day. If you’re going to join groups, don’t lurk – join the conversation.

What did you learn while writing Chancing Faith?

Ooh, tough one. I haven’t thought about this before, but I suppose it’s that a writer must know a lot more about the story than what actually goes into the story. For example, the very first scene I ever wrote for Chancing Faith never made it into the book. I tried, believe me. I also learnt how to re-write to remove head-hopping even though it meant doing away with some of the lines I was most fond of.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

Spending time with my hero and heroine. I really love these two as a couple. They complement each other perfectly and it was such a joy to watch them fall in love.

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Thane is all about making Naaki happy, so his honeymoon destination of choice would be some landmark tourist spot in Ghana – the crocodile pond in Paga, or the butterfly sanctuary in the Eastern Region, or the Volcanic Crater Lake, Bosomtwe in the Ashanti region. This may actually be relevant in the Book 2 in the series (shhh).

About Chancing Faith

HE DIDN’T DO SHORT-TERM RELATIONSHIPS…

American ad exec, Thane Aleksander, doesn’t date co-workers either—until business takes him to Ghana, West Africa, and he meets Naaki. Now he’s at risk of breaking all the rules. Can he stop this headlong fall before it’s too late?

UNTIL HE MET HER!

Naaki Tabika has a burning need to prove, to herself and others, that she’s more than wife and mother material. To do so, she’s prepared to give up everything for her job. Meeting Thane, however, makes her want to get personal. But falling for her boss could destroy her career. Will she be willing to risk it all for the one thing that can make her truly happy?

Two divergent cultures, two different races, two career-driven professionals, only one chance at true love—will they find the faith to take it, or will their hearts be sacrificed on the altar of financial success?

Chancing Faith is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, and direct from the publisher, Black Opal Books.

You can visit Empi online at her blog, on her website, or at Goodreads, or chat with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Romance Minx in ridiculous rhyme shocker!

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz,

This romance minx is in a tiz.

Conflict, character arcs, POV...

I think I need a cup of tea,

With mini eggs (I'll have a few),

And maybe a cream egg or two.

Before I sit down at my Mac

And wonder what my story lacks.

A tortured hero, a dead parent or two?

I feel a stirring to write something new.

Not a heroine with a nasty ex,

Or perfect euphemistic sex.

But characters I'd like to know,

Traveling to places I'd like to go.

Plot twists that tantalise and please, 

And sexy heroes who love to tease...

But before I do

I think I'll have another egg or two ;-)

Any rhyming readers out there? Please add your own lines in a comments box.

Author Spotlight - Rhoda Baxter

Today the Minxes welcome romantic comedy author Rhoda Baxter into the spotlight. Her latest book, Patently in Love is a Spring release from Uncial Press, and is short-listed for the RNA's Joan Hessayon award.

* * *

What is your writing process?

It differs from book to book. For Patently In Love, I started off knowing the characters and where they worked, but needed to flesh out the conflict. Once I hit on the idea of someone running away from fame, I drew up a rough outline, started at scene one and wrote right through. I tried the same approach for the next book and found it kept getting stuck. In the end, I wrote out all the scene names on post it notes and moved them around until I ended up with a slightly different storyline. Suddenly, it all started gathering momentum again. I’ve always thought of myself as a pantser, but it looks like I’m a plotter really.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

When I’m not writing, I’m a working mum, so my writing time is precious. Once I sit down at the computer I have to either write or do promo work. If I’m honest, I spend too much time messing around on Twitter and Goodreads etc when I should be writing. It’s easier to focus on the writing once you’ve got past the saggy middle stage, because it’s a rush to get to the end. Once I get to that stage, I’m usually desperate to sit down and start typing.

It’s probably a good job I have so little time. Otherwise, I’d have too many shoes and notebooks (I love pretty notebooks).

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Exercise? Ha ha ha! Oh, you’re serious. No, I don’t really have an exercise regime – it would take too much time. I have a bad back, so I have to do physiotherapy exercises every evening to avoid being in pain. This seems to keep me in reasonable shape. I think I’d be a lot thinner if I didn’t have serious chocolate habit.

Do you believe in writer's block?

I believe it exists, but I think it happens when something is wrong – for example, you’re trying to write a book that you haven’t got straight in your head, of you’re in the middle of a scene where you’re trying to make your character do something that is...well...out of character. Often the best thing to do is to go back to where you were before you got blocked, figure out what went wrong (if you can!) and rewrite.

If the block is preventing me from starting a book, then the only way I can get past it is to wade in and start writing. I usually end up having to cut out the first few chapters by the time I get to draft no 2, but if I don’t start somewhere, the book will never get written.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

I never use real people in my books, but I have been known to take a real life incident (nearly always something funny) and change it around a bit to fit into my story.
I do use real places as settings. I spent a few years working in an office near Chancery Lane, so I set Patently In Love in that area. I wrote one scene set in the The Knight’s Templar pub (which has the most spectacular Ladies loos, incidentally), but I had to cut the scene out because it was too much about the setting and not much to do with the story. Shame.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I’m not sure being published is that different to being unpublished. I thought I’d feel bigger/taller/glossier, but I still have to write and sell the next book. Being published means that real people read my books. I still find this a terrifying thought. The reviews for Patently In Love have been positive so far. I know that I’ll be devastated the first time someone says they hated it.

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

I have Twitter open on my desktop while I write. I also have a blog and a profile on Goodreads. I try not to be too pushy (self-promotion does not come naturally). I really enjoy chatting to people and making new friends, so I do that online. The only problem is that I’m only online for a short time in the evening. I’d like to be able to be more interactive.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Write a great book, then another, and another, and another. And go out there and make friends. Don’t think of it as promotion. Think of it as getting to know people who are interested in the same books as you.

What did you learn while writing this book?

The first book I wrote was a lot more ‘serious’ than Patently In Love. I was in the Romantic Novelists Association NWS scheme and my first report said I was trying to stifle a naturally funny voice and should write the sort of book I enjoy. I took my reader’s advice and tried to write something that made me laugh. I like dialogue, so I wrote a large part of the story in emails. I used characters that are funny and smart. In short, I wrote the sort of book that I’d like to read, rather than one that I thought would sell. I had a ton of fun writing Patently In Love and I think it shows.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

The heroine, Jane, is running away from fame and being hounded by gossip magazines. I had to read some gossip magazines for research purposes, so that I could write extracts in a similar style. It’s probably the most fun research I’ve ever done.

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Marsh is very aware that Jane wants to get away from the limelight, so he’d take her somewhere remote, where she can relax and not worry about being photographed. He’d probably go for a nice holiday cottage somewhere rural. Marsh is a great cook, so it’d have to be a cottage with a decent kitchen.

New Job, new city, new hair. No one will find her now.

After her popstar boyfriend publicly humiliates her, Jane wants to start a new life away from media scrutiny. Maybe even find a new man.

Marshall wants a partnership in his patent law firm. He just has to prove he’s totally focussed on his work. No distractions. No office romance. Unless, of course, no one knows about it.

The last thing Jane needs is to have her picture splashed on the front page of a gossip magazine. To makes matters worse, the only person who could have told the paparazzi where Jane was… is Marshall.

 Patently in Love is available from Amazon and Amazon UK. All other eBook formats are also available through Uncial Press. You can find out more about Rhoda at www.rhodabaxter.com and chat with her on Twitter.

Bigging your hero or heroine

My recent visit to The Hunger Games movie got me thinking about heroic qualities. I'm not going to talk about the Hunger Games because I know a lot of people are going to see it over the next while, and I don't want to be responsible for any spoilers, but I will say that there are a lot of heroic qualities on show in The Hunger Games, and they make it a compelling piece of work.

So, back to writing romance. We call our characters 'the hero' and 'the heroine' rather than 'the bloke' and 'the gal', and sometimes don't have our characters be heros and heroines, but rather blokes and gals.
Why does it matter - and does it matter? I think it does.

A hero/heroine doesn't have to be Thor or Supergirl, but they should, right at the beginning of the story, have something about them which means that we, as readers, care about what happens to them. An admirable quality, which doesn't have to be a big one, but has to be there. Maybe they care about someone else, a sibling, a parent, an animal. Maybe they have something to overcome, their fear of loving another or self doubt.

Blake Snyder talked about this quality in 'Save the cat'. He said to have a scene which reveals an inner quality of the hero/heroine that makes the reader/audience identify with them. He called it the 'save the cat' moment because he used the analogy of a character that initially perhaps we can't see the humanity in, taking time out to save a cat, acting in a small, heroic way that changes the way that the reader sees that character, giving the character humanity.

The words hero and heroine give an image of an over the top character, who's brave and fearless. But real heros and heroines aren't. They're human. With a spark inside that challenges them to care or act in a way against their self interest in the pursuit of someone else's happiness or wellbeing.  No matter how damaged they are by their past experiences, they try. And because they try, we root for them. Care about them, and want to turn the pages to see if they will win. If they will get their happy ever after. They have a lot to learn, a journey to take through which they'll learn and change, but the spark should be part of them from the first moment that they appear on the page.

That makes them true heros and heroines for me.