by Melanie Milburne, author of The Future King’s Love-Child (Harlequin Presents, Dec. 2009)
When I was asked to write for the Karedes Continuity I was thrilled to be a part of such a talented team of writers. Continuities are great fun; I have been involved in three now, but of course it is not the same as writing your own book. In a continuity you are given the characters and a plot or theme to work with, as well as a bible with back story and location information, but the rest is up to you to create the most memorable romance you can.
Lucky for me Sebastian Karedes and Cassie Kyriakis were perfect characters for me. They were both strong and protective of those they loved and they both had secrets they wished to keep.
Cassie’s secret was the most heart-wrenching of all. Not just of little Sam, her love-child by the royally born Sebastian, but the cruel details of her past that she had kept to herself for most of her life. While this was great material for me to work with, it was also challenging as I didn’t want to trivialise the painful and life altering experience so many people go through during childhood.
Romance novels have often received criticism in the past (and even now, sadly) for being shallow or portraying an unrealistic expectation for readers of a happy ever after in their own lives. Personally, I think romance readers are much smarter than that. We know this is a fantasy, an escapist read to take ourselves out of our world and into another more exotic one. But having said that, I often choose to write about painful issues in my books that many readers can relate to. The higher the stakes for the characters the higher the emotional impact on them and on the reader. Ask any Presents writer and they will tell you how exhausting it is at times to write book after book that is so emotionally charged! But those high impact books are often the ones that remain in your mind for many days or months, if not years. The characters seem so real and you often think of them and wonder what they are doing several years down the track. I often feel like asking some of my Presents colleagues to tell me what a couple from a particular book are up to now.
At times I felt like howling over some of the scenes in The Future King’s Love-Child. I felt so much for Sebastian who had to make a decision that would literally cost him his Kingdom. And Cassie, beautiful, misunderstood tragic Cassie, who loved him so much and had never stopped doing so.
I hope you enjoy reading about Cassie and Sebastian’s journey back to each other after a painful separation by circumstances and terrible injustice.
And for those of you who are wondering what they are up to now… I could leave it up to your imagination but just in case you are stuck: They are still madly in love with each other and little Sam is very probably right this minute vying for his parents’ attention now he has a little brother or sister.
Happy reading,
Melanie Milburne
Melanie, I haven’t had a chance to read this one yet but I’m looking forward to it – it sounds intense and passionate! I love getting into a continuity series and seeing all the interlinked characters. It’s great to get a glimpse of characters you might have left behind in an earlier book and see how they’re doing…
x Abby
Melanie, I read this last night. I shed a few tears before finishing the book with a happy sigh. I love the intense emotion in Harlequin Presents.
Wow, Anne, I didn’t mean to make you cry. Well, yes I did actually. So glad you enjoyed it.
I found out this week this book is #1 on Borders Bestsellers list so that is a huge thrill. Thank you all my US readers!
Melanie
Congratulations on your #1, Melanie! The future King’s Love Child is such a touching story, and I do so love happy endings.
What are the chances of Sam starring in a story of his own when he grows up, I wonder?
Christina, now there’s a thought. I have not been around quite long enough to do that but I have been thinking about it. I am writing a trilogy at present and it’s such a wonderful experience. I feel I know all the characters so well. How wonderful to move on to the next generation to delve into their lives.
Give me a few more years and I will see what I can do. The kids of my heroes and heroines are still in bobby socks!
Melanie x
Mel I would have rushed here sooner to tell you how much I love your books – the only thing that could have stopped me – and – stops me reading right now – Grrrh, Grrrh again – is this wretched flu.
Stay well, everyone – you really don’t want to have to put a brake on reading romance as passionate as The Future King’s Love-Child!
S
What an amazing thought- to write the story of a child from a current story in 30 years time! Robyn Donald recently did, didn’t she?
A chance to really show “Happy Ever After”
I look forward to reading this one, Melanie. I love stories that deal with intense issues–you really enter into the characters’ conflicts and the happily-ever-after can be so powerful.
Hi Melanie,
You’re spot on about how writing a Presents story can be draining, but it’s worth it! By the time our heroes and heroines work throught those emotional issues they deserve their happy ending and I love to cheer them on. I love picking up a great Presents story and taking that rollercoaster ride with the characters then sighing when things turn out right.
Congratulations on the number 1 spot! I’m looking forward to reading this one and all of the Karedes series.
Melanie, It sounds like a really emotional read. I’ll be looking forward to getting through with the current work in progress so I can start in on my TBR pile again. It’s in danger of toppling. Fortunately yours is near the top!
Thanks all of you for your lovely comments.
Anne, I know what you mean about the TBR pile. I had a few months in and out of hospital with back and foot surgery which put me way in front in terms of reading, so much so that for the first time in my life I got sick of it. I had a little break and watched heaps of movies instead but now I am back reading and loving it again.
hugs to everyone.
Mel
Oops, I forgot to say get well to Susan. You poor darling! I hate being sick with flu. It’s not the piggy one, is it?
Take care,
Mel x
Oh, I just love the high impact, high octane, emotionally-wrenching stories! I can’t wait to read this one!
Caitlin, now there’s a name I haven’t used yet as a heroine. It’s so pretty too. I’ll have to keep it in mind.
Now you see how a writer works- we are constantly on the hunt for inspiration!
Mel
This sounds like another emotionally charged addition to the fabulous Karedes series – looking forward to it! Thank goodness the holidays are approaching.
Congrats on the #1, Melanie! I’ve got the entire Karedes series just waiting for me to finish revisions so I can gobble them down in one delicious read-fest.
Sounds like I have a lot to look forward to!