The HEA Cafe

Archive for the ‘Chit Chat’ Category

Perhaps you haven’t heard but Dorchester, a notable romance publisher, has decided this week to end print publication and go to ebooks exclusively.

Today I had a conversation with a twenty-something woman. She didn’t know about much about electronic books and how the industry is changing. I thought that interesting since she is in the younger generation.

I wonder if publishers will themselves begin to push readers into buying ereaders like IPad or Nook or Kindle. That’s something to think about!

If you want to read what a ebook writer has to say about this drop by JA Konrath’s blog. http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2010/08/beginning-of-end.html

The times they are a-changing!

This month, PROOF OF LIFE, Super Agent Series, Book 3, is released in print. CIA Deputy Director Michael Stone is the hero. Some of you will remember Michael from OPERATION SHEBA, the first book in my Super Agent Series. He was involved in a love triangle with counterterrorism expert Julia Torrison and a rogue spy named Conrad Flynn. Conrad won Julia in the end and a lot of readers were upset Michael ended up alone. He’s such an awesome guy (totally based on my hubby) and his UNhappy ending in OPERATION SHEBA left me unhappy, too. I had to give him his own story and a fantastic heroine to match.

Dr. Brigit Kent is Michael’s new love interest in PROOF OF LIFE, Super Agent Series Book 3. She’s also his newest enemy. Writing a heroine who could grab Michael’s attention was challenging. Writing one that could keep him on his toes was extra tough. I was halfway through the first draft before I understood Brigit and all her secrets. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t focus. Her elusiveness drove me crazy, but in the end, it helped me keep Michael guessing about her as well. I had to give in and stop trying to figure her out while I was writing before I could uncover all her secrets. Luckily, it all worked and my editor loved how Brigit kept Michael and the reader guessing about her true identity and her past.

Knowing your characters backwards and forewords typically makes for the best storyline. Especially in a romance, where the characters must grow and change and come together in the end. Once in awhile, though, you get a character who refuses to divulge everything up front. That’s okay. Whether you’re a writer or a reader, give that character a chance. He or she just might surprise you and be the perfect hero or heroine for your story.

Misty Evans loves her heroes tough, her heroines tougher and her stories full of action and fun. Visit her at www.readmistyevans.com and chat with her on Twitter @readmistyevans .

WATERMELON COWBOY

Short Story by Lyn Cote

(Copyright 2010 Lyn Cote)

“Hi, are you a cowboy?” Danny asked.

Sarah stood behind her freckled, about-to-enter-kindergarten son. Affectionately she finger-combed his red curls. On the way home from her new job and Danny’s new daycare, they’d stopped at the roadside produce stand.

“Well…” The tall, good-looking man in denim eased out of his lawn chair, then stood up by the weather-beaten stand. “Do you think a watermelon needs roping?”

“But you got on a cowboy hat.” Danny pointed to the battered straw hat shaped like a Stetson the man wore.

“No, this is my melon hat. Always wear it when I work the melon patch and this stand.”

“Oh.” Danny’s voice showed his disappointment.

Sarah sighed inwardly. She knew all about the kind of disappointment that comes when appearances were deceiving. Her six-year marriage to Danny’s father had been an unfolding story of disillusionment. The only things genuine she’d gotten out of the marriage were debt and Danny.

“What can I get for you, ma’am?” the Watermelon Cowboy asked.

To read the rest, visit

http://strongwomenbravestories.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-gift-to-my-readers-short-story.html

Happy Mother’s Day 2010!

Since the focus of my personal blog is Strong Women, I celebrate with Mother’s Day with an all month special, MEGA May! I celebrate by asking readers to share their own family stories of strong women.

This year only two readers have so far shared their stories. Tuesday was Shirley from Mississippi and later in the month Edna T from South Carolina will pay tribute to their mothers. I have room for more if you have a story about a beloved mother, grandmother or daughter, let me know! You can email them to me at l(dot)cote(at)juno(dot)com

This year three brave men are going to pay tribute to their wives, authors Thom Lemmon, Harry Kraus, and Jeff Gerke. Also authors, Betsy St Amant, Linda Goodnight, Cheryl St John, Ruth Axtell Morren, Sharon Dunn, Stephanie Grace Whitson, Irene Hannon, Marta Perry, and Elizabeth Johnson will be sharing stories.

MEGA May is the only month where I ask authors to donate books for a HUGE once a year prize. Drop by this month and share a story or comment and your name will be entered to win the MEGA May basket of books and goodies.

So don’t miss MEGA MAY!–Lyn

There’s something about spring that gets me thinking about how I can do things differently, about finishing projects and starting new ones, and making new plans. One of the things I haven’t been doing this past year is posting to the HEA Cafe, but that’s about to change.

My new spring plan is to get here once a month, maybe more!

So, today – since I’ve been AWOL for a while, I thought I should bring you up to date on what I’ve been doing all this time. I’ve been writing, which is good – and the bonus is that now I can show you some results.

First off, I have finally found a way to tell Rosamunde’s story. Many readers wrote to me after the Kinfairlie trilogy was published, complaining that they didn’t know Rosamunde’s fate. She had been trapped in the realm of Faerie in book #2 of that series – obviously I had expected there to be more books, so I could save Rosamunde and give her an HEA but it didn’t work out that way. This year, though, I published a short story in the MAMMOTH BOOK OF IRISH ROMANCE. You’ll find Rosamunde’s story there, entitled “The Ballad of Rosamunde”. And yes, she finally gets her HEA. Here’s some linky goodness.

Secondly, my fallen angel series is coming to its conclusion. This is a finite trilogy, set in the future – a pretty grim future, actually – about 100 years from now. The world is post-nuclear but pre-Apocalyptic, things are going badly, and the angels are volunteering to shed their wings in a last-ditch effort to save humanity. These books are romances, each one featuring one angel and the mortal woman (this isn’t really a spoiler, is it?) whose love persuades him to stay on earth. The series started with FALLEN, then GUARDIAN, and book #3, REBEL, will be out in September of this year. Aren’t the covers gorgeous?

My other series, Dragonfire, just keeps on going. I’m having huge fun with my shape-shifting dragon heroes, so that’s fine by me. Dragonfire #5 is called WHISPER KISS and will be released in August of this year – it’s Niall’s story. #6 is Rafferty’s book and is called DARKFIRE KISS – it will be released in May 2011. There will also be an additional novella about the Dragon’s Teeth Warriors this July, which will be released as a Penguin eSpecial – more about that on my blog here.

Also, more Dragonfire news – there will be a Dragonfire YA series launching next year, which focusses on the coming-of-age of the only female dragon shapeshifter – Zoë must be the new Wyvern, except there’s no one to teach her how to use her powers. She has choices to make and skills to master – this trilogy will also include the resolution to the story of Sophie (the last Wyvern) and Nikolas. More about that on my blog, here.

Phew! You can see how busy it’s been! I also was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto Public Library last fall, the first time they’ve ever hosted a residency focussed on the romance genre. I did create a blog for the library about writing and publishing romance, including some guest posts every Friday – here’s the link, although it will display the latest posts first. You might want to scroll back to the first post and read them in order.

I hope you’ve been well this past year or so, and look forward to chatting with you again next month!

all my best

Deborah Cooke
also writing as Claire Delacroix
blogging most days at Alive& Knitting