As most of you probably know, I absolutely love writing for Harlequin Presents! I love sexy Alpha heroes, fiercely independent heroines, the passion, romance, conflicts and downright sexiness that make their stories sizzle. I also love the challenge of telling their complex, exciting stories in—gasp—55,000 words.
Yes, but imagine the challenge of telling such a story in half that number of words. Impossible, you say? Well, no. Not impossible. But, um, not easy. OK, that’s putting it mildly. Writing a story that captures a true Presents feel in 25,000 or 30,000 words is rough. Very rough—but it’s also fun. It always is, don’t you think, to try something different?
Shorter novels like the ones I’m describing are called novellas, and a novella is generally included in an anthology of stories with a similar theme. I’ve written them before: MALONE’S VOW for a Harlequin anthology called MARRIED IN SPRING, and MIRACLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE for a— Harlequin Mills and Boon collection called CHRISTMAS AFFAIRS. Fun, both times, but I knew from the start that this novella would be different.
Just check out the anthology’s title. HOT CITY NIGHTS. No mistaking that this collection is going to be, well, hot! Exactly, said Harlequin Executive Editor Marsha Zinberg and HMB Executive Editor Tessa Shapcott,. Marsha explained that the book would be featured in Harlequin’s Hot Summer Read program. The idea is to put on your bikini (hey, we can dream, can’t we?), put your suntan lotion and a thermos of iced tea into a tote bag, tuck in a book and head for the beach. Or your terrace, your backyard, your living room. Your choice. Mainly, it’s about spending a few hours away from reality on a hot, steamy summer day and spending those hours with a hot, steamy book.
So, did I want to write a novella for HOT CITY NIGHTS? Â
Did I ever. In fact, I was hooked.
For one thing, I’ve written for Marsha before. She’s a delight to work with: she’s warm, witty, intelligent and she loves this genre as much as I do. For another, I was to write the lead story for the collection. What writer wouldn’t be thrilled with that? The two other authors who’d contribute to it were authors whose work I very much admire: Sarah Mayberry and Emily Rose. Most of all, here was my chance to write what I most love, a story about an exciting man, a strong woman, a conflict that keeps them apart… and the passionate sexuality that explodes between them. And I could do it in a shorter, tighter format that would keep me on my toes because it was Something Different.
I came up with my story idea for HOT CITY NIGHTS very quickly. It sprang from a reference I overheard about a man who suddenly found himself the guardian of a tiny baby. The guy was married and he and his wife had kids of their own but I thought: What if he wasn’t married?
What if he was a sexy bachelor and he woke up one day, more or less, and found himself responsible for an infant? What if he knew absolutely nothing about kids? And what if the only woman he could find to help him through this predicament—perhaps ‘blackmail’ is a better word that ‘find’—what if that woman happened to be a gorgeous, sexy, tempestuous Brazilian bombshell he had kissed one hot, moonlit night and never forgotten? What if she wanted no part of him and he wanted no part of her, until Fate brought them together and turned up the heat?
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The next thing I knew, I was deep in SUMMER IN THE CITY, the title of my novella. It’s the story of sexy Alpha hero Lincoln Aldridge and beautiful, defiant Ana Maria Marques. Linc and Ana took over my life for several months. To tell the truth, I hated to leave them but now it’s time to introduce them to you, and to hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
And I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Oh Sandra, what a great cover! And your Hot Summer Bride story sounds terrific. I can’t wait to read it.
Ahhh, I just love your description of a nice beach vacation. That sounds so great…Maybe in a hotel pool with a nice swim-up bar to get a pina colada (in a hollowed-out coconut with a straw and a little paper umbrella). What heaven!!
But as no beach vacations are currently in the works, I’ll have to juice up the blender and have a little beach escape here at home. Can’t wait to read Hot City Nights.
Whoops! Would you believe I gave the wrong title for my novella? It’s SUMMER IN THE CITY. My WIP title was HOT SUMMER BRIDE!
Jennie, love your pool idea. And why are drinks with little paper umbrellas always so appealing? They just seem to go with suntans, don’t they? Well, guys with washboard abs go with suntans, too…
Hi Sandra!
I love stories where Fate sticks its nose in! The characters sound amazing and I love the sound of their history. Can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Hi Sandra,
I can’t wait to read this anthology. You do write terrific novellas and this one sounds intriguing. How would you like to moonlight by coming up with my plots? (G). I could offer Tim Tams!
We’re heading into winter here (heading – it’s already arrived!) and I can see myself curling up with this book and a nice cup of hot choccie.
I’ve never written a novella and think it would be such a challenge, I’ve written a couple of short stories and they were fun but writing short is something very difficult to do successfully.
Annie
Hi Sandra
I’ve just read the excerpt of your Hot Summer Bride novella, off your web page. I will need Lincoln in my life, as soon as. I love him already, can’t wait to get him off Amazon, or anywhere else I can get my hot sweaty palms on him.
The only disappointment I’ve got, is that I’m not going abroad on holiday this year. So that means, I don’t have a hot poolside lounger to lie on, while your gorgeous Lincoln joins me.
Also, can’t wait for your Sheikh trilogy to come out. I have to say, you’re one of the best on that genre.
Best wishes and hugs
xx Karen
I’ve just got to get myself a copy of this book, Sandra! Do you know if it’s available here in the UK and if so when…?
About moonlighting with your plot ideas – never mind Annie’s Tim Tams I’ll pay with disgustingly bad for you fresh cream chocolate éclairs!
Michelle
Annie, those Tim Tams are tempting. Having tasted them once, I know how deliciously sinful they are. (For those wondering, we’re talking about incredible Australian cookies here, almost as deliciously sinful as Alpha heroes!)
Karen, trust me. Lincoln will make you feel as if you’re lying on a hot poolside lounger.
Best wishes and hugs right back at you!
Sandra
Oh, this looks like a fabulous anthology! I love, love, love a hot alpha hero in the summer. And in the winter. And, well, anytime!!
Wow. You won the cover lottery! What a gorgeous cover. It really jumps out at you. I read the excerpt on your website and can’t wait to read the entire story (just wish it was longer — I’m a greedy reader).
Linc — double sigh. No one does Alpha males like you do! I know this is going to be another keeper.
Chocolate eclairs. Tim Tams. And to think I’ve been on a diet!
Michelle, SUMMER IN THE CITY came out in a UK collection this past February called MOTHERS WANTED.
I just worried that some of my UK readers might expect something a bit, uh, a bit tamer than my novella in a book titled MOTHERS WANTED but nobody seemed to mind.
Lynn, Alphas are great any time of year, I agree.
Shannon raised an interesting point about length. I’m curious. How do readers feel about novellas? Not long enough? Just right? Great for a change of pace? What’s the general feeling?
Hi Sandra
Novellas are a real challenge aren’t they? You have to write so tight! Every single word counts.
I’m with Michelle R on this – I want to know when this collection will be available in the UK – and will it still have that great cover? Oh – no – wait a minute. I just realised I can pick up a copy when I’m at RWA! (See you soon Sandra)
Oops – I see you answered Michelle while I was posting.
Well, I can still look out for that cover in SF
The cover–and I–will definitely be in SF, Kate. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
Just caught your comment, Nikki. You can probably tell I’m a BIG fan of the intervention of Fate in romance.
Hi everybody
I’ve just checked Amazon here in the UK, and Sandra’s novella is available on pre order only, it doesn’t look as if its released until 8th July.
For a terrible minute, I thought I’d missed it!! Oh my goodness, imagine missing Lincoln, now that would be traumatic!
Needless to say, its already in my basket, can’t wait.
Hugs to everyone
xx Karen
Sandra!
The cover is gorgeous! The anthology sounds awesome! Can’t wait to read it! Oh yeah, love the Alphas anytime!
Hugs!
MARIAN