by Natalie Anderson, author of Mistress Under Contract
Answer YES or NO to the following statements:
- You seek out books set in sophisticated, exotic locations
- You’re swept away by charismatic alpha heroes
- You adore emotionally intense, charged stories
- You empathise with full of fire, independent heroines
- You love to ride the rollercoaster as you follow a couple falling in love
If you scored three ‘yeses’ or more, then you’re a bona fide Presents fan!
Who hasn’t done a personality test? They’re everywhere – those quizzes to tell you if you’re a finisher, a follower, a dreamer or a details person. They can be fun, they can be long and they can definitely be wrong!
But they can also be useful – some writers use the personality types from personality indicator tests when building their characters. In my current US release, MISTRESS UNDER CONTRACT, I went one step further and made up a list of statements that my poor heroine Lucy had to answer when she’s at an agency desperate to find a job.
Back when I had my years overseas – working at whatever to pay the bills – I spent a year as a recruitment consultant in a temping agency. There were a zillion pieces of paper for the recruits to have to fill in – as well as the usual name & history stuff, there were security checks and yes, the occasional personality indicator – and it took forever. I remember so well the applicants sitting there nursing sore hands after filling in the wretched forms for nearly an hour!
And so I wondered, what if I had an authority-shirking heroine – how would she cope with this ridiculousness? And what if I had an authority-personified hero – how would he cope with her?
And thus this ‘opposites attract’ story was born. And it was so much fun! I used the personality statements as headers for each chapter – as a reflection of the feelings, theme, and sometimes plain plot in each (one to watch for is the ‘It’s essential for you to try things with your own hands’ chapter!). Daniel is the ice-cool, high flying lawyer while Lucy is the full-of-attitude, flighty temp and there are some serious clashes between the two.
But sometimes people aren’t as polar opposite as they first might think, and sometimes it takes someone completely different to bring out the best in another.
And that’s what I love about romance – where the couple realise that the sum is greater than the parts. That together they can be or do something more than when they were separate – their relationship enhances their world.
So I guess if I were to do some personality indicator type test right now, it would show that I’m an absolute romantic – and yes, one who loves those intense affairs, thrilling alphas and sheer rollercoaster rides that are Presents novels!
What about you?
Absolutely! Especially yours!
And I must say, I think your opposites attract story sounds very much like some real life people not so very far from where I’m sitting right now.
Sounds like that starchy hero needs a sparky, warm lovin’ woman to shake him up. Can’t wait to get my hands on him! Them. I mean– IT! (the book)
anna x
I love couples — real or fictional — who are such total opposites you wonder how they manage not to kill each other every day until you see the one thing that connects them — making him the only person in the world for her, and vice versa — and you sigh and say, “Yep, that’s it. Of course.”
And I love the new pic!
Stories about two people who are polar opposites can be really a fun read but only if done carefully. I do not like stories in which the two people are fighting/arguing over everything and finally fall in love at the end. There has to be something early on that binds them together even if they don’t realize it.
Hi Anna – real life people? You have me intrigued!!! Yes she does shake him up – but then he does her too…
Hi Kim – yes I love seeing how they draw each other out and realise what it is about the other that is both so fascinating and frustrating… I LOve it when they’re forced to admit they were wrong!
As for the pic – soft focus is a wonderful thing
Ellen – I agree, a story in which the couple just bickers all the way through and then says at the end ‘by the way i love you’ isn’t so rewarding! The point is the development or the progression of the relationship I guess. Sure they’re opposites attracting – at the start – but then they get to know the person more and see there’s a whole lot more going on there than they first thought. And, hopefully, each character grows – in a way enabling them to be with the other. And of course they do have to have some fun along the way – otherwise how is any reader going to believe they can go the distance when the book is done?
And sometimes the thing that does bind them is the one thing they don’t want to admit to – maybe the heroine might tap him on his weakest spot – and he doesn’t like it!
Natalie, this was a great story! And I really liked those statements at the beginning of each chapter – such a good way to highlight the differences between the h/h. Opposites attracting is one of my faves. Can provide some great initial conflict, as long as the whole thing isn’t just bickering as Ellen says.
Hi Natalie
Gosh, do quizzes take me back in time! I remember doing heaps of them as a young teen to figure out if my latest crush was “my personality” and whether we would be together forever or not
Soraya
Hi Jackie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story – it was a lot of fun coming up with the statements – I surfed so many personality tests. And yes, initial conflict is the term isn’t it – for the opposites thing – then you need something deeper…
Hey Soraya! I’m so with you – I ALWAYS did those ‘are you compatible’ quizzes in the teen fan mags… still do if I come across them!
LOL
And I LOVE the ones in Cosmo – so much fun!!
I to find that two people that are completely different are interesting to follow along in the book. I just can’t put a book down when there are a couple like that in a romance book. I think there should be more types like that.
Hey romancelover – so glad you like that kind of ‘hook’ too – and I too love finding books I can’t put down – such fun
I LOVE opposites attract books, and, Nat, yours sounds like a ripper! Love the idea of having chapter headings too [...note to self: flip straight to 'hands' chapter...]
I used to work in an employment agency too. I was the junior receptionist of the ‘Exec’ division. Boy, did some of those top shots cringe when I asked to complete an aptitude test =)
Meant to say, Nat, gorgeous new website!
Hi Natalie,
This story is one of my all time favourites, to this day I can’t look at a pool table without getting a little hot & bothered!
Opposites attracting will always be crowd pleaser because there’s nothing more satisfying than witnessing what two people together can achieve and offer each other is spite of their differences. You know there will be a compromise somewhere or that one will go a step further, prepared to sacrifice when compromise won’t work.
This to me is the ultimate, the greatest heroic act and you’re always guaranteed this with an opposite attracts story. In fact, aren’t we always guaranteed this with Presents anyway????? It just so happens that opposites attract stories make the journey more fun, more charged, like you so excellently demonstrated with Lucy & Daniel.
Can I suggest you write faster?????? I’ve finished all of your books and I’m currently trying to decide between Daniel and Blake. What for I don’t know, it’s not like I’m going to bump into them…but a girl can dream.
Aideen.
LOL Robbie – that’s funny about your top shots – I had a weird time in the employment agency – found it terrifying and fascinating at the same time – the best thing was getting to meet all these people and find out a bit about their lives – endlessly interesting!
I’m glad you liked the website – what a relief it works!
Well lovely Aideen – you know how to make a lowly writer’s day don’t you?!
I must admit, I’m hard pushed to choose between Daniel and Blake too… in fact I can’t. Gonna have to keep both
I’m writing as much as I can but its not long now til you get to meet Luca in “Between the Italian’s Sheets” (you can get it in May online in the UK but keep an eye on my web ‘cos I’ll do a comp as soon as I can). I think he’s my most lost hero yet – he makes my heart ache – and natually, he’s gorgeous…
Thanks so much for your support and please do keep in touch!
Natalie,
Only just started reading MISTRESS UNDER CONTRACT but I’d say you’ve got everything I love about that “opposites attract” thing down. Can’t wait to keep reading…
Hi Kelly – thanks so much – I do hope you enjoy the rest of it as tehy discover they’re not so different after all…
Lovely Aideen – my reply to you has gotten lost in moderation so I am going to copy it again (which means at some point it’ll be here twice – but never mind!!!) – but you do know how to make a lowly writer’s day don’t you?!
I must admit, I’m hard pushed to choose between Daniel and Blake too… in fact I can’t. Gonna have to keep both
I’m writing as much as I can but its not long now til you get to meet Luca in “Between the Italian’s Sheets” (you can get it in May online in the UK but keep an eye on my web ‘cos I’ll do a comp as soon as I can). I think he’s my most lost hero yet – he makes my heart ache – and natually, he’s gorgeous…
Thanks so much for your support and please do keep in touch!
Hi Natalie
I loved this story too. Funny, flirty and extremely hot.
But I have a little confession to make. Whenever I’ve done one of those personality match tests in a magazine, I cheat.
Well, heck, I don’t want to end up with Coco the clown when I could have had George Clooney, now do I.
LOL Heidi – who wouldn’t cheat on a form for George
– that’s the thing I reckon EVERYONE cheats on those things don’t they? … they try to ‘factor it in’ in those serious ones – ask the same thing a million different ways to make you trip up and reveal your ‘true’ personality type…
I’m so glad you enjoyed this story
Now, I wonder if I’m still ‘lost in moderation’…
Guess which book has just moved to the top of my TBR pile?
Thanks Mulberry! I hope it makes you smile
Hi – I’m new here.
I wandered in here this morning while having a much needed cup of coffee (drink far too much of the stuff!).
Did the ‘Presents Personality Indicator’ test – I scored YES on everthing there!
I’m from Northern Ireland so my book of choice to be delivered to UK address is M&B Modern, which I understand is Harlequin Presents in your speak (am I correct?) – hope so. Not sure if I can have Harlequin P delivered to UK? Maybe you can let me know!
Anyway – this little test confirmed that the 40 something thousand or so words that I’ve committed to paper should fit nicely into this genre.
You were talking about secrets – the biggest secret that I’ve kept in my entire life is that I’ve started down this road – and I’m going to keep the secret until I succeed. It’s been so difficult because I usually tell my sisters everything (feel like I’m leading a double life … very exciting!).
xM