by Penny Jordan, author of Virgin for the Billionaire’s Taking
I’m in a bit of a state of nervous tension at the moment as my first ever book set in India, with an Indian hero, is due out in North America. Like all Presents authors I’m always keen to push the boundaries within the concept of my line so that I can give readers the very best read I can produce (whatever else may have changed over the many, many years during which I’ve been published, that writerly need to do my best for our readers has never changed). Only those who don’t read Presents are unaware of the fact that Presents authors have been responsible for huge innovations within the genre.
One of the ways in which I try to keep up to date and find good backgrounds for my books is by reading daily newspapers, especially the financial section (virtually all the backgrounds for my sheikh books came from there). As long ago as this time last year, and even prior to that, I’d been reading in the UK press about the huge amount of growth and modernisation taking place in India, and then when quite by accident I came across a UK wedding magazine for Indian brides and saw the fabulous weddings recorded inside it, I knew I had to write an India set romance, with an Indian hero. I approached my editor at Richmond with my idea and to my joy, she was equally enthusiastic, so a swift exchange of emails began as to the potential story line and the potential problems I might face.
I have always been wary about writing ‘outside’ my own experience and in doing so accidentally causing offence to those who do have that experience. There is nothing worse for a reader than being jerked out of a story because something doesn’t ring true. I was very lucky in that another editor kindly loaned me her Hindu wedding video. I cried buckets when I watched it because the whole atmosphere of love coming from her huge extended family was so real.
Once the excitement of my editor agreeing to my Indian book had died down, reality set in along with no small amount of anxiety, as I worried about how readers would receive this move to a new nationality of hero. The delivery of a pair of mirrors, here at home in Cheshire, by a pair of gorgeous young Indian males, went a long way to reassuring me that my hero could and would be deliciously sexy (vbg).
Normally I like to experience a location first hand before I write about it, but my writing schedule did not allow time for me to travel to India, so instead I had to rely on travel books and articles. My office was filled with pages torn from magazines – all the vibrant colours and rich textures of a different country. Presents author India Grey very kindly supplied me with an article she’d been keeping on Indian textiles (writerly minds so often think alike), and I was lucky enough to be writing my book whilst the UK’s BBC TV was showing a series of documentaries on modern India.
How do I feel now? Still nervous about how the book will be received, but more than pleased that I took up my own challenge to myself. I strongly believe that writers need to grow and explore, and that doing so feeds the imagination. Our readers deserve no less. No writing experiment or experience is ever wasted and over the years I’ve learned as much from what I got wrong, as I have from what I’ve got right.
My best moment with this book? It was earlier this year in a public library, in the North of England, when a young Indian girl in the audience stood up and told me how much she loved my books, which she had started reading by illicitly ‘borrowing’ them from her auntie at home in India. Her eyes lit up when I mentioned my upcoming Indian hero book.
Her enthusiasm proved to me what we all know, and that is that the joy of reading romance is universal and belongs to the world. I am as apprehensive as I am excited about how Presents readers will receive this small start on a new generation of Harlequin heroes, but as always, it is my great privilege to be a Presents author.
Penny’s most recent Harlequin Presents books are Virgin for the Billionaire’s Taking (September) and The Sheikh’s Blackmailed Mistress (July).
Penny, what a great description of your behind the scenes inspiration! I’m excited to read your Indian hero. It’s such a gorgeous culture as well. Can’t wait to read Virgin for the Billionaire’s Taking!
Thanks for a great post.
Jennie
Hi Penny – thank you for a fascinating post on the ‘story behind’ your latest book. I’m always fascinated by how other authors work so I loved reading this. And I love the idea of pushing the boundaries of the types of heroes who appear in Presents novels – this can only be for the good of the line to expand the ‘hero base’ so to speak. The more heroes the better!
With our books now going into India there couldn’t be a better time for a gorgeous Indian hero and I’m sure that like me you’ve already had plenty of messages from Indian readers who read our books so entusiastically.
I’ve already added your Virgin for the Billionaire’s Taking to my book buying list and I’m going to promise myself that I can read it just as soon as I finish my own latest story. Can’t wait
Kate
Hi, Penny Jordan, I only have a few minutes to post but I have enjoyed all your books. Its such a coincidence that I am now reading (nearly finished your India hero book)At first I thought a hero like this wouldnt do it for me, but its the best book ever ( I think one of your best books peroid). Its great, passionate, love the scenery, feels like I am there!, lots of tension, love the storm! great pacing! Its just incredible. I have tried to read it slowly as I know when it ends I dont really have much lined up & when I find a book I enjoy, I slow down so it wont end so soon. I live in the usa, but love international heroes & enjoy trying someone new!
What a lot of time & trouble you took to write it & I think you just went way out there to produce an exotic beautiful romance! thank you,
redlighting.
I will always read your books! Oh & I get to finish it tonite.
Penny,
Thanks for sharing your behing-the-scenes story. Like Kate I love to hear about how other writers become inspired to write a story. Am chuckling here about your stories coming from the financial pages. Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?
I can’t wait to read your Indian romance. It sounds just my cup of tea. I have friends who’ve been there recently, one of them a patchworker, and she returned with the most glorious fabrics that had me itching to touch, to visit, to dream about exotic places. As for the photos… terrific.
Do you think you might write another Indian story after this? Are there other exotic heroes you’d like to write?
Annie
Redlighting, I forgot to say how well I can relate to you reading slowly so as not to finish a great Presents story too soon! That is so familiar. I feel like I want to speed ahead because I’m so enthralled, but at the same time I want to savour each luscious nuance and phrase.
Annie
This sounds like a fabulous book! Thanks for sharing your inspiration, Penny. I have loved your books for years. Daughter of Hassan was one of the first I read — and all these years later, I remember it!
I believe it was one of the first sheik books I ever read, and oh my, I was in love.
I can’t wait to read this one, Penny. Your Indian hero is bound to be a worthy successor to Hari Kumar (+ HEA!). And to think, I used to borrow the Financial Times just to read the gardening column!
Hi Penny, I for one can’t wait to read the book. I think the whole Indian premise and hero sounds so exciting. I backpacked in India some years ago and to this day it remains one of the most amazing, challenging, exotic, awe inspiring and contradictory places I’ve ever been. So to be able to go back there in the pages of a book will be a real treat…
x Abby Green
Having been lucky enough to hear a little about this book as it was being written, I can’t say how excited I am about finally getting to read it (It’s on top of the pile that awaits the finishing of my current ms!) As a relatively new writer of Presents I’m also incredibly in awe of Penny and all the other well-established authors who push back the boundaries and keep the line so exciting and ‘of-the-moment’, while delivering the gorgeous Presents promise in spades.
(I’m posting this on Penny’s behalf as she’s had some problems logging in. Over to Penny….)
Lynn Raye Harris and redlighting, thank you both so very much for your supportive posts
Lynn, my first ever book for Harlequin was also a sheikh book – Falcon’s Prey – I’ve always had a weakness for desert sheikh heroes.
The posts from Lynn and redlighting have really given me a boost (much needed as I am hoping this weekend to finish writing my current book).
Positive feedback from readers is important to all writers, but imho it is especially important to Presents authors. As Presents authors we are ‘here’ for the long run; we want to develop a readership that understands us, and that will stay with us, so that together as writers and readers we can explore and develop our genre and our line and continue to make it the most loved romance line in the world. We innovate, yes, but we don’t ‘do’ quick fixes. We create our books around deeply held core values, rather than following fashion. We have outrageously rich sexy heroes yes, but our heroines know the importance of the men they love respecting that love. Yes, this sometimes makes Presents a more demanding read. We know though that our readers are more than up to that challenge, just as the greatest ambition of us, your Presents authors, is to be up to the challenge of providing you with books you love.
To my fellow Presents authors – my heartfelt thanks for your support, both publicly here and during the long weeks when I agonised to you over this book. Must go now as my current hero is getting impatient. I’ve innovated a little in this book as well. Just hope it works. And no, I am not going to say another word about my current mss.
Penny Jordan
Mmm….can’t wait to read it, Penny. A vibrant landscape with dazzling colours and intoxicating scents will make the perfect setting for a passionate love-story written by your own fair hand. In fact, I want to go to India NOW!
Shazza xx
Penny–looking forward to your new release. In your words — the joy of reading romance is universal — and I have no doubt you captured that.
Sounds like you were meant to write this story! Sit back and enjoy now!
Can’t wait to read it!
Hugs,
MARIAN STEVENS
As a long-term fan of Penny’s,long before we ever became good friends I could always rely on something fresh and wonderful in Penny’s writing, and I can’t wait to read this latest book set in a country I have longed to visit for… well, always.
Goodness knows how many people you’ve inspired, Penny, or how much pleasure you’ve brought your many readers and I know this new love story will be no exception.
Here’s to the next wonderful book- and the next, and the next…
Hi Penny
I cannot wait to get my hands on your book!!
India has always struck me as being such an exotic, spicy and colourful country. And dare I say it, a sensual place? All that loose clothing, oh my!
Congratulations that you’re the first to write about an Indian alpha. Strangely enough, it was a part of the world, that I had thought about quite a lot, especially with Mills and Boon publishing there now. And why not have a gorgeous guy from there? Bring them on I say.
I can’t say how much you have meant to me as a writer over the years, you always bring that special something to a story, I adore it.
Best wishes
xx Karen
I am so excited to hear about these particular boundaries being pushed. I am actively writing some manuscripts aimed at the presents line and, in one of my ‘completed’ pieces, my hero is half African-American.
I was inspired by my own real life, and my own very sexy, half African-American husband.
I didn’t want race to be the focus of the story, because it isn’t the focus in my relationship and, with one exception, has never been an issue amongst family, friends or even strangers.
It’s just really encouraging to see that an author I respect greatly has already begun to push the envelope in that way. Very exciting, and I can’t wait to read it.
Maisey