by Robyn Grady
March is a big month! My first Presents Extra, Hired for the Boss’s Bed, as well as my second Desire, For Blackmail…or Pleasure, are both on the shelves in the States. The double deal has prompted some people to ask: What’s it like to write for my two dream lines?
Simple answer: I’m in Heaven! It’s extraordinary to think that after almost eight years of submitting, the stars finally aligned in a way that had not one but two senior editors offering contracts within weeks of each other. So, those of you submitting and hoping – please, don’t give up!
The next question I’m asked is, What’s the difference between Modern Heat and Desire? Both are ‘passion’ lines…both require masterful, affluent, to-die-for heroes…both are 50-55,000 word stories, set amongst the glitz and glamour of international settings. The difference, I believe, comes down to the promise of each line – what a reader expects when they pick up either a Modern Heat or a Desire.Â
Desire promises powerful, passionate, provocative reads – books “filled to the brim with strong, intense storylinesâ€. Although they’re contemporary stories and in every way relevant to today’s women, they’re more traditional in tone. I always feel swept away by the fast-paced plots that impact on the characters and drive the romance to a heart-stopping and inevitably satisfying happily-ever-after.
Modern Heats are also gripping reads — but the tone tends to be flirtatious rather than dramatic. The heroes are still alpha — wealthy, dynamic, powerfully alluring — but he can be a bit younger and tends to share his fun side more. Think urban, big-city, jet set, girl-about-town lifestyles, and there’s no need to be shy about being creative with the characters and the passionate romance. When I write a story for either line, I pay close attention to tone (dramatic or flirtatious?), and use of hooks (more traditional or ultra contemporary?). At the heart of both lines, of course, are characters to identify with and care about.
The other exciting thing about March (aside from the winner of the Instant Seduction Contest being announced!) is that my April Modern Heat release is available for pre-order. The inspiration for A Wild Night & A Marriage Ultimatum came when an unmarried friend fell pregnant. I decided to write a marriage of convenience story with an ultra modern twist. There is, of course, a happily-ever-after, but very much the happy ending a 21st century mother-to-be will embrace.
And I’m giving away a copy! Anyone interested in going into the draw to win A Wild Night & A Marriage Ultimatum, as well as fabulous books by fellow Modern Heat author Nicola Marsh and Australian Medical author Fiona Lowe, please visit my website www.robyngrady.com Best of luck!Â
What series, other than Presents, do you enjoy reading?
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Congrats on your double release this month, Robyn!
I love reading across all Harlequin series, and apart from Presents, my faves are the Medical and Romance series (and no, I’m not just saying that because I write for Romance too!
I love that the Romance series has their plots grounded in reality while maintaining a fantasy element, the whole ‘it could happen to you’ tagline.
And the Medical series have an amazing array of plots, dramatic action and love scenes.
Robyn – I love your books and think the real winners are the readers of your books. Folks, you better get your copies now, because they are going to fly off the shelves. Fantastic writing!
Hi Robbie,
Well now I’d be kind of silly not to say Medicals, wouldn’t I?
Have to admit to being a Blaze girl myself although sometimes they’re a bit hit and miss for me. Used to love the old Temptation line and Laugh and Laughter.
Thanks, Nicola! I gobble up Romances too…Liz Fielding, Ally Blake, Melissa James, Claire Baxter has a new one out next month that I’m expecting to land in my mailbox any day! Must say, Nic, I loved your ‘Executive Mother-to-be’.
And Medicals, absolutely! I read on the ‘Love is the Best Medicine’ blog just today that “unlike other lines there are NO constraints on the level of sensuality” in Medicals. Could be why I’ve been a fan for so long – wonderful romances, sweet through to hot, with those adorable doctors for heroes…and heroines
Robyn
BettyNWB, thank you so much! I’m going to copy your message and paste it next to my screen to spur me on to my Modern Heat deadline next week. =*)
Robyn
Here’s one of my favourite Medical authors now! Hi Amy! Yep, I like a good Blaze too. Stephanie Bond, Joanne Rock, Nancy Warren and Sarah Mayberry, an Aussie gal! Has anyone read ‘My Favourite Mistake’? I love that book!
Amy, really looking forward to Found: A Father for Her Child. So many great books to read!
Robyn
I love Sarah Mayberry’s Blazes, Robbie. Haven’t read “My Favourite Mistake” though – is it one of hers?
I have read across the Harlequin and Silhouette lines for many years, and I enjoy them all. Somehow though I always come back to Presents and Romance. Maybe that’s because the first romances I ever read as a teen were the classic Harlequin novels.
BTW, who was the winner of the pink Sony Reader? It was too cute for words!
Robyn, how exciting to have two books out at once! Sensational news.
and Romance. The book that gets me in is the one with great emotions and an big emotional journey for the H&H. I also love humour but sadly I tend to have to leave category for that and head to ST
I enjoy Medicals
To Robyn, Fiona and Nicola, I think its fantastic and so generous of you to have a book sweeps for us to win. Its a great opportunity for a new reader like me to try new books.
I have only read presents which I am hooked on, but I did try some special ed. silhouettes like susan mallerys current book & read liz fieldings romance books. I have never read a medical or modern heat. I think I read a few desire books. I look forward to trying these new books.
When I read a book I dont especially enjoy, I remember how hard it was for me to write essays in school. I did well but it took me days to get one written that earned me a good grade and it left me feeling my brain was fried. So I respect how difficult it is to come up with something new as well as something romantic and then the dialogue that cant sound too clowny and the setting and making certain the amt of words are what the harlequin folks want and I usually read the book even if its not my fav because I respect the hard work that goes into creating a novel.
Meanwhile I just loved Trish Moreys book from march presents. I cant wait to read aprils presents. but I do look forward to trying the other categories and opening my mind to what other authors are writing. I havent read any of you who have posted yet. thanks for writing!!
redlighting (your fan!)
Amy, My Favourite Mistake is a Stephanie Bond that’s a keeper on my shelf! It’s interesting that Blaze was a spin off from Temptation, who had wonderful authors like Jennifer Crusie. That woman is a legend!
Robyn
Tren, I think you might have something there. I read across the lines and I can honestly say there’s not one that I don’t enjoy. There is, however, something very special about Presents – the ultimate fantasy – and there’s such a wonderful variety of voices.
Tren, I’ll try to find out who won the pink Sony Reader. =)
Robyn
Hey Fiona! Thanks so much =) Humor is a tricky beast to write. And with category I think you’re right – it has to be subtle and work in with the overall tone of the line. When I think of category and humor, I prefer the word ‘light’. Modern Heat is, IMHO, the lighter side of those wonderfully intense Modern/Presents. Slapstick is out in MH, but I love their subtle threads of humor and slightly ‘younger’ heroes and sassy heroines.
Thanks for dropping in!
Robyn
I’d like to say a great big CONGRATULATIONS to Helen Bianchin who is #1 on the Borders Waldenbooks Bestseller list this week:
1. THE MARTINEZ MARRIAGE REVENGE
Helen Bianchin
Harlequin Presents #2715
Robyn =)
Redlighting, I’m so jealous! I haven’t read Trish Morey’s The Sheikh’s Convenient Virgin yet – it’s due out in Australia next week – great timing, right after my deadline =) But Morgan’s sister’s story ‘The Boss’s Christmas Baby’ is one of my favourites of Trish’s, so if you haven’t read it, do try to pick it up!
LOL on the fried brain! It is hard work, but the best job in the world.
Thanks for posting, relighting!
Robyn
I’ve read widely across all the different series, and enjoy all of them. One of the things I love about the various lines is that no matter what mood I’m in, from light and fun to deeply dramatic, there will be just the right book somewhere in one of the series to suit it!
The line I read least now is Medicals (sorry Amy!). They are always well written with great emotional intensity and interesting storylines, but I got fed up after reading one too many where the writer had their medical information just plain wrong. Giggling, or wanting the throw the book at the wall, is NOT the best response at a hightly charged moment for the hero and heroine! Also, it could simply be that after 30 years of nursing I don’t want to come home from a tiring day (or night) at work to read more Medical stuff, I want to escape into a completely different world.
Congratulations on your double success Robyn! Its inspiring, and I’m lloking forward to reading your books!
Robyn,
How nice to see you here!
HPs are my favorite. I also read some HRs and some SDs. Once in awhile I’ll read a SuperRomance. I have read Medical Romances here and there. In the past, I used to read some of the other lines as well. Now my reading time is limited and I prefer to read my favorites.
I think it is a big “coup” for you to write for both lines and do it successfully.
Take care,
Lidia
Robyn, I’m so glad you enjoyed Executive Mother-To-Be. It was one of my more emotional Harlequin Romances, I think…my heroes aren’t usually that ‘angsty’
Mulberry, I know exactly how you feel. I was a physiotherapist when I first started writing, so thought it would be great to write Medicals.
Hmm…after getting halfway through the book, I realised something. I was bored. I lived that stuff all day every day and I wanted to escape.
So I decided to let my imagination go! Picked up a magazine between patients at lunch, saw an article on speed dating, wrote my book on that theme…and it sold as my first book
That first attempt at writing, the Medical, is the only book I’ve never finished…physio heroine, doc hero, all fiction of course
Robyn, how exciting to get to write for two lines after years of trying to break in!! Thank you for the explanation about the difference between the two. You said it so well. If someone asked me, I’d go, “uh, well, you see…”
Besides Presents and Desire, I love Intrigue and Blaze. I have so many books on my TBR pile! How will I ever get to them all?
Robyn, congratulations on all your success! Thank you for writing such wonderful stories. Obviously, this is a fabulous month for Robyn Grady fans!
My top two favourite lines are Romance and Presents. However, I also have other lines and other genres in my TBR pile.
Thanks for explaining the differences between the lines. Good luck with next week’s deadline. Your deadline means good news for us. We’ll have more of your stories to enjoy. Keep up the great work!
Mulberry, thanks for post and good wishes! It’s really interesting – your take on Medicals, and then Nic’s professional insight, which makes perfect sense too. I don’t know a whole lot about operating theatres or even medical speak, so I happily absorb it all, along with the romance. I’m not dissecting it as I go, so the real life drama suits me, as well as the wonderful fantasy reads that Presents offers.
This is making me want to attack my toppling TBR pile!!
Thanks again, Mulburry!
Robbie
Hey Lidia! Great to see you here =) Ah, yes, Supers are wonderful too. Tara Taylor Quinn is a fav of mine. But it *is* hard trying to find the time. I’m dreaming of an island hideaway, a perfect blue sky, surrounded by books… Maybe next year =)
Thanks for your wishes, Lidia!
Robbie
Lynn, HUGE congrats! What a great month this has been for you.
You’re an Intrigue gal. Must admit I haven’t read too many, though I don’t know why, because I LOVE detectives shows, particularly L&O. And those I have read, I’ve really enjoyed.
Very best wishes, Lynn!
Robyn
Hey Gail! (I can’t find the smilie faces, but you know I’m smiling.) Yes, Romances are always a top read. There’s a range to suit everyone after a ‘sweet’ (what they’re called in Oz land) love story – from the more traditional voice to a sassy/flirty tone. We’re very spoiled.
Thanks for dropping in, Gail!
Robbie
Hey redlighting, I’ve only just caught up with what’s been happening at ihearts and I saw your comment!
I’m so glad you enjoyed The Sheikh’s Convenient Virgin. I have to say, I’m a big fan of sheikh stories, both reading and writing them. So chuffed it hit the spot.
And thanks Robyn! The Boss’s Christmas Baby is a favourite of mine too.