Carol Marinelli writes romances from both Harlequin Presents and Harlequin Medical Romance — including some linked stories that bridge both lines! Here, Carol blogs about what it’s like writing for both lines and tells us about a few of these connected stories… ~Amy
By Carol Marinelli (Harlequin Presents/Medical author)
I think I need to see a doctor!
Something has happened to my writing.
You see, I am English and I am also Australian. I have two passports, which comes in very handy when I line up at arrivals and in either country get to move with the locals rather than stand with the tourists!
Likewise, I am a proud Presents writer and love the classic Presents alpha male – he makes my toes curl.
And, I am also a proud Medical Romance writer, I love watching how my hero and heroine react and work under pressure and in stressful situations.
A question I am often asked: Are the heroes different? And my answer – oh yes!
I would never deviate from my version of a true Presents Alpha male – I love him, adore him, want to be swept away by him and made love to by him (over and over, hee hee…) And that is what Presents do – they sweep you away.
For me, Medical heroes just draw you in.
They are very unique, as they can be anything from sweet and romantic to scorchingly hot! I like to write a sizzler!
My two incredible worlds first collided when I wrote my Russians! The house of Kolovsky was a duet. The first book Expecting His Love Child was a Presents featuring Levander, dark, brooding and 100% tortured. I still love him – to this day I still find myself looking out for him in the street! Then, I wrote about his brother Ioesef for the Harlequin Medical Romance Line. Iosef was a hot-shot billionaire doctor and – er – he was from the Kolovsky family too – which meant that he was just as damaged and dark and brooding….if not more so!
Well, luckily I do write for the Medical Line because, as I said, the line is unique, and absolutely I went for it. Billionaire Doctor, Ordinary Nurse was basically a Presents in a hospital setting that came out as a Medical and will be published in Presents in May 2009.
I swore – as I lay in bed after hitting send, hearing my brain click as it tired to slow down – NEVER AGAIN!
In the last eighteen months (since I went for a visit to the UK, in fact) England has been creeping more and more into my stories. On my return I started work on a Presents and had this idea for my heroine to be Australian, but stranded in London. Hired: The Italian’s Convenient Mistress. I won’t give away any spoilers, but the story is about a child who is suddenly orphaned and looked after by his rich playboy Italian uncle, Elijah (quick toe curl!) I had a glimmer of an idea about the doctor who looked after the baby, but I discounted it, because you never got to meet the medical staff.
Well, mid book, I started thinking about Guido, the baby, and when my editor asked if my next Medical could be a Christmas book, I started to get a headache, because I was already doing a Christmas book for Presents.
I told myself not to think about it (hah) and carried on with the Presents, but I think, at that point, as my headache upgraded to a migraine, the linked book had been born.
On several levels, One Magical Christmas was supremely difficult to write. The time scale had to be the same as Hired: The Italian’s Convenient Mistress. It was also a different type of book – I don’t really know how to elaborate on that, it’s just a bit different to anything I’ve done.
But it was a joy to write too – Imogen is my all time favourite heroine, and I completely love her. When I grow up I want to be her! Yes, the hero’s are different – in fact, in the first book, they meet for a short while and, I confess, I loved having two hero’s on the same page!!
Two very different men – two incredibly sexy men – whose worlds collide for a little while.
As for NEVER! In the New Year I will be starting work on more delicious Russian heroes – one Medical one Presents.
I am thrilled that Medicals can be bought online – One Magical Christmas wasn’t available in the US shops and though both books stand alone, two’s certainly better company.
See now why I need a doctor? And if I know the Medical heroes, I think you might just want one too!
Happy reading
Carol Marinelli x
Carol, I utterly adored Levander, and was thoroughly impressed by your originality in dreaming him up. I’ve had a soft spot for Russian heroes all my life, and he certainly filled the bill!
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you’ve started a Russian hero trend. I’ve actually toyed with the idea of having a shot at it myself since reading Expecting His Love Child, not that anyone could equal your brilliant portrayal of that drop-dead gorgeous guy.
I’m not a doctor, but I’ve read a lot of fab MEDICALS and it sounds to me as if you’re suffering a bit from splittus personalitus!
I honestly don’t know how you juggle your two lines so successfully, but you keep the magic coming and that’s all that counts.
Good luck with having a foot planted in two countries on opposite sides of the Equator. (Which might make it rather difficult for you to follow a bit of advice my auntie used to give me when I was going out at night, but perhaps I shouldn’t say what it was here!)
All the best with your Christmas release
anna x
Carol, I think it’s awesome that you are writing for the 2 lines! Both have heroes to die for! Can’t wait to read them both!
And keep us posted on the visit from that doctor!
Hugs,
Marian Pearson Stevens
Carol – thanks for your blog and telling us about your yummy Russian heores!
Are there any nationalities that readers would like to see?
Joanne
Hi Carol,
Lovely to see you here on IHeartPresents…and Medicals!
I loved One Magical Christmas, i cried and cried and cried! It really is a beautiful story…with one hot, strong, gorgeous hero – just what we all want in our Christmas stockings!
Merry Christmas Carol, and everyone posting
Kim
I think the world is ready for another Canadian Presents hero! Toronto is glamorous enough (see the Toronto International Film Festival) or Whistler, BC — if it’s good enough for the royal family to vacation there, I’d say it’s luxurious!
~Amy (a not-at-all biased Canadian)
Carol – great to read your blog
I loved “The Italian’s convenient mistress” so I can’t wait to read “One Magical Xmas” – it’s on the TBR pile
Cheers, Joanne
Carol Marinelli is having some trouble logging in — here’s a comment from her! — Amy:
Sorry not to reply – I haven’t forgotten Miss Manners – just my password apparently!!
Thanks for saying nice things about my Russians and about Hired! I can’t wait to get back to the Kolovsky family, but, after that I am itching to do a French hero. I’m not sure if they’re popular but I can hear his voice beckoning me to come to France and do some research! I am on a free site that teaches French online and I do that in my coffee break – I am still at beginner level but having fun.
Canada would be a wonderful setting. I have only been to Toronto for a short visit, when my sister lived there and I loved it and always mean to go back and see more.
Carolx
I’m waiting for Aleksy’s story LOL, I loved the other two.