So many wonderful things came out of the television show Friends, but among the most memorable was “the list.” Remember Ross’s laminated card of celebrities, should he meet them, that he would be able to have sex with them with no guilt or recriminations? What always struck me as funny was that it was laminated. A permanent list. How can someone do that? Mine is always changing.

For several years, I had the “two Hughs” at the top — Grant and Jackman (though Grant fell in and out of grace on the list, but his performance in Love, Actually kept landing him a spot even after I kicked him off…). Our own Leslie Kelly has been fortunate enough to actually meet THE Hugh, so we can completely understand why she would have him on her list. Meeting in person would have to clinch it!

The only constant on my list is Pierce Brosnan. I’ve loved him since Remington Steele. The man has looks, talent, smarts, social conscience, class… the whole package. I think I can safely say he will never be off my list (well, as long as he never sticks with that terrible scruffy facial hair, etc — that was bad). I’m sure he’s relieved to know this.

My recent list has included Enrico Colantoni, whom I enjoyed in Just Shoot Me, but he became listworthy in Veronica Mars (it was the Sheriff’s uniform). Also, Tim Roth, though I have to say I think it’s more Roth’s character Cal Lightman on the new show Lie to Me whom I find attractive.

I also have to include Tony Head. I love Angel and Spike, but I would have taken Giles over both of them, any day. I just discovered Jeremy Renner (Jason) and Ian Kahn (Davis) from The Unusuals. There has to be room for them on the list; they could probably bump the fictional Cal Lightman.

As you can see, my list is always a work in progress. You can also guess why most of my heroes, almost all, are dark-haired.

Who is on your list? Could you have it laminated or are you fickle like me? Share, and I’ll pick a winner to receive a cute mini-tote I made. There might even be a book inside.

As much as I travel for the day job and my books, I’m still the worst packer in the world. I’m one of those women you see who has to get the cart for her huge suitcases. Yes, even though now she has to pay $35 for that second one. This is only if I’m traveling for a week or more.

The thing is, I love clothes and I like to plan for all contingencies. The Romance Writers of America Conference is my next trip. I’ll have meetings with agents, editors and other writers. There will be lunches and dinner. And parties. Hello, lots of parties. And I need shoes, accessories and clothes for all of these events. I also have straight irons, curling irons, and I like my creature comforts like candles and perfume. So all of these things must go with me.

Not long after I return from the conference in Washington, D.C., I’m heading out to Los Angeles for the Television Critics Associate Press Tour. That’s where I interview actors, writers and producers every day. Attend parties for the shows/networks at night, and gather a multitude of stories for the coming months.

Again, I usually need at least two outfits for each day. The event is a little over two weeks, so you see my dilemma. In January when I went to Hollywood, I ran into a friend of mine at the airport. We decided to share a taxi, and when he saw my luggage he laughed out loud. “Are you moving in for a month?” I forgave him because he’s a man.

I used to feel a little guilty about my luggage. That was before I found out a friend of mine (I won’t out her here.) traveled with two suitcases too, but one of hers was filled with nothing but shoes. I take pride in the fact that at least I’m not that bad.

Another friend of mine can travel to Europe for weeks on end with a small carry-on suitcase, and she always manages to look wonderful. Though, she does wear black exclusively, she only takes things that need no ironing and she doesn’t wear makeup or worry about her short hair. I admire her, but I’m a little more high maintenance.

So how about you? What’s the one thing you never leave home without? Are you a light traveler or a heavy packer?

And I have a new book out this month, “Dragons Prefer Blondes” (July 7). By commenting here (ONLY TODAY ON THIS POST) you are automatically entered into a contest to win an Amazon gift certificate and other prizes. I’m also running a treasure hunt and you can find all the details at www.candacehavens.com.

I was talking with some friends at the gym the other day about reality TV. (Yes, I’m a gym rat, mostly due to a common aliment I’m sure many of you also suffer from—I like to eat.) I’m normally a big fan of programming where there’s actually a writer (The West Wing being my favorite classic), but I do watch the Bravo reality shows—Real Housewives of… (insert your favorite city here), Top Chef, etc. So these gals at the gym thought it would be awesome to have The Secret Lives of Romance Writers.

Ha! As my fellow Blaze writers will attest, that is not Must-See TV. My day involves typing. Sometimes I pause on the keyboard to think, look up a word in my thesaurus, Google something. If I’m really stumped with writing a scene, I might throw in a load of laundry or go to the fridge for a Diet Coke. Compare that to overturning a table at a dinner party, drinking tequila until you throw up or skinning an eel, and you can certainly see why any show about writers is not forthcoming to a channel near you.

I tell this to the gym folks, and they laugh and wink, like I’m downplaying my glamorous life. The guys think my husband is a serious stud, since he’s obviously the test subject for all my love scenes. (I must admit I don’t disabuse them of this idea, since my poor husband needs to get some benefit from the moodiness that generally comes with having a writer for a wife.) The women think I spend my days interviewing potential cover models and flying on book tours all over the country.

Not to say that my publishing career hasn’t offered me many wonderful opportunities. The top of the list is hanging out with fun, interesting, creative people. Plus, I’ve traveled to a lot of great cities—NYC, Chicago, DC, San Francisco. I’ve gone to some cool parties—the Harlequin party at the Waldorf-Astoria in NYC comes particularly to mind.

Mostly, though, I create stories that you’ll hopefully want to read to escape from whatever craziness your life involves. And that simple agenda is fine with me. Sometimes it’s a struggle, sometimes it’s a rush, but it’s what I do.

No tequila or TV cameras required.

Hi, all!

Brenda suggested I tell you about what I do here at Harlequin, so here goes…

Officially, I’m the editorial assistant for Harlequin Blaze and Harlequin American Romance. Unofficially, they call me The Gatekeeper. Anything you send to Blaze or American Romance editors has to go through me.

I suspect I’m best known among Blaze authors as the person who nags them to fill out their art fact sheets. I also do a lot of administrative tasks: filing, photocopying, couriering, etc. And I deal with most of the slush that comes to the Blaze line. I get some promising submissions and some pretty crazy stuff, too—please do not send pictures of yourself, hand-drawn illustrations, or manuscripts written on lined paper and held together with twine. Seriously, just say no.

The part of my job that I enjoy the most is the actual editing. I now have three of my own authors, including fabulous new Blaze author Elle Kennedy, whose first book Body Check came out in March. I often take on projects, such as line edits, for other editors, as well. You, too, could be the lucky recipient of one of my very thorough line edits—don’t get too excited, now.

I love working on Blaze books. The authors are a lot of fun, and the stories are super sexy!

We have a fantastic lineup for you in July….

If you’re looking for a great beach read, we’ve got an anthology that’s all about the beach. In Endless Summer, author Julie Kenner makes her return to Blaze. She’s in good company with Karen Anders and Jill Monroe.

Samantha Hunter introduces us to the next generation of American heroes—The Texas Rangers—with Hard to Resist.

We’re also incredibly honored and excited to have New York Times bestselling author Betina Krahn join the team with her first Blaze book Make Me Yours, a hot historical romance.

Cara Summers brings us Twin Seduction, the follow-up to last month’s Twin Temptation.

Rhonda Nelson’s The Soldier is another Uniformly Hot! title, linked to last month’s Letters from Home. Army Ranger Adam McPherson shows us that even though he lost part of his leg to a roadside bomb, he’s still one-hundred percent man.

And Kate Hoffmann offers The Mighty Quinns: Teague, the second in her Quinns Down Under series.

So have fun at the beach and remember to take along these sizzling hot reads. And, make sure you add the comment that Blaze Heroes are Hunks to get your name in the draw for copies of our June Blaze books.

Thanks for having me and good luck!

Recently, I was asked this question by one of my colleagues at Syracuse University where I teach in the Writing Program. The young man asking the question has a Ph.D in English Literature, he’s well read, he’s an excellent teacher, and he was sincerely interested.

I began by giving my standard answer. “I write romance novels for Harlequin.” Then I remember to add that Harlequin is the world’s largest publisher of women’s fiction. Often, that’s all I need to say. The questioner usually has some familiarity with romance novels and/or Harlequin, if not personally, then through a girlfriend, a sister, an aunt or a mother.

On my last visit to Florida, I was having lunch with my seven year old granddaughter and she revealed my pseudonym and my “secret” writing life to our waitress. Although the woman had never read a romance novel, she knew about Harlequin and promptly called her mother to let her know that she’d met a real live romance novelist. Then she told me how her job brings her into contact with all kinds of celebrities. She’s met a lot of the Boston Red Sox too. (So Cara Summers is right up there on a list with the Boston Red Sox. Yaayy!)

But my colleague at Syracuse has no idea about what kind of books Harlequin publishes or what a romance novel is–except that it contains sex. (A lot of it.) Since we were chatting at a computer, he brought up my Web site and took a good look at the covers of my two Wrong Bed Books–”Twin Temptation” and “Twin Seduction.”

His first question: “If I click on one of these excerpts, am I going to be uncomfortable or embarrassed?”
My answer: “Probably.” (Hopefully!)

His next questions: “So what kind of books are these? Are extra-marital affairs predominant? What are the books like?”

Since he was truly interested, I launched into a explanation of what category series romance is, how many lines there are, and what audiences the different lines target. Of course, that eventually brought us back to the fact that as a Blaze author, I write for one of the sexiest lines.

(He’s still not clicking on any excerpts, but he is scrutinizing the covers. I’m thinking of telling him to click on the “Cara Cooks” link. No sex there. Just good recipes. He might enjoy the Thai-style grilled shrimp.)

Then he asks: “So tell me what is one of your books like? What’s the story like?”

I answer by describing a Wrong Bed book. The premise that I’ve always used is that the hero and heroine go to bed early on in the story and they believe initially that they’ve made a horrible mistake–that they’re so wrong for one another. (Thus, the Wrong Bed idea). Then through the events of the story, they gradually discover that they’re absolutely right for one another. Perfect, in fact.

My colleague says: “That’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
I say: “Exactly! On a good day, I write just like Jane Austen does!” (Except there’s a whole lot more sex!)

How would you answer this question? I’m always looking for new answers. One of these days, I’m going to have to produce a really good one for my granddaughter.

Hi. My name is Jillian and I’m a movieholic.
I confess. I love going to the movies. I love the dark theater. The smell of popcorn, the stadium seating and surround sound, and mostly the experience of losing myself in someone else’s world for 1.5 – 2 hours. I especially love a big sweeping Historical drama like MASTER AND COMMANDER or AUSTRALIA. But I also love a good romantic comedy.
This weekend I saw THE PROPOSAL with Sandra Bullock and that cute guy from Scrubs, Ryan Reynolds. It’s your basic Fake Engagement/Marriage of Convenience story. And I loved it.
Over the years I’ve read countless Marriage of Convenience romances. I even helped plot one with my critique partner in her first novel for Harlequin American–on shelves in July called LAST RESORT: MARRIAGE (shameless plug) And yet they’re all different, all great stories, wonderful romances. So, what makes the same basic plot work over and over again?
In The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, by Christopher Booker, the author proposes that there are only 7 basic plots in the world. They are:
Overcoming the Monster – Usually a lone hero but sometimes a group who set out to save a community or the world from an evil villain, whether it be evil man, animal, or alien.
Rags to Riches – Usually a demoralized character who fights to find his or her place in the world
The Quest – features a hero, normally joined by sidekicks, who must overcome many difficult adversities to secure a priceless treasure
Voyage and Return – The hero must leave his ordinary world to embark on an epic journey that usually involves danger. The hero ultimately learns a life lesson in order to return home.
Comedy – Can be slapstick or wit that drives the story.
Tragedy – When human flaws drive a hero to terrible consequences.
Rebirth — centers on characters who undergo life-changing transformation. In his book, Booker states that the 1975 movie JAWS is the same basic tale that was told over a thousand years earlier in BEOWULF; Overcoming the Monster. Both stories feature a town terrorized by a monster who rips his victims to pieces. And both have a hero who defeats the monster in a gory final battle, restoring peace to the town. Many modern movies and novels follow this plot, even if the “monster” is an evil genius bent on destroying the world, as in every James Bond story.
What about the Rags to Riches plot? DAVID COPPERFIELD, and OLIVER TWIST come to mind. And there’s CINDERELLA, of course, and all the many versions of that story like… PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, or MAID IN MANHATTAN.
The Quest? Well, there’s the obvious; DON QUIXOTE, and Tolkien’s LORD OF THE RINGS. There’s also THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE SURE THING, UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
Voyage and Return? Homer’s epic tale, THE ODYSSEY, ROBINSON CRUSOE, and of course THE WIZARD OF OZ. In more modern times, perhaps KATE AND LEOPOLD or 13 GOING ON 30
Comedy: A MISUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, EMMA, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, THE WEDDING PLANNER, MUST LOVE DOGS
Tragedy: ROMEO AND JULIET and WUTHERING HEIGHTS, NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, ATONEMENT
Rebirth: SNOW WHITE, SLEEPING BEAUTY, PERSUASION,
P.S. I LOVE YOU, JUST LIKE HEAVEN

These 7 basic plots represent the fundamental human desires: love, death, adventure, family, justice, and adversity. And these desires were as relevant to people thousands of years ago as they are today. We identify with these basic human desires in all their many forms of story. But we must also identify with the characters. They’re as individual as every human being. Compelling fiction will contain conflicts and complications that prevent the protagonist from achieving love, or fortune, or peace. And if we identify with the character, we want him or her to come through the storm and win the treasure or the love or the peace they’ve been fighting for.
I’ve been listing classic novels and contemporary movies, but what about the contemporary romance novel? Specifically, Blaze. Julie Leto talked in her blog on the 22nd about Harlequin Blaze having everything: Historical, Paranormal, Suspense and Comedy. This got me to thinking—always a dangerous thing—could we find a Blaze for each of these 7 Basic plots? In Jo Leigh’s IN TOO DEEP series, we find the protagonists Overcoming the Monster–Corrupt Government–and restoring peace to the world.
What Blazes sit on your keeper shelf? And what basic plots can you identify in them?

Hello all! It’s me, Jade Lee, and I’m about to reveal a deeply held secret. Yes, truly. In fact, I’ve re-written this blog a few times wondering if I should confess this, but since I haven’t really got a better idea, you get my confession.
I am a driven individual. No really. Yeah, most people see me as happy and fun at parties. Well, I am, but I also write hard. I’ve been doing 3-4 books a year for a while now, plus promotion, conferences, and my real life. Sure, I love my career, but that’s hard work.
Summer for me has always meant the pounding, difficult, write-hard ramp up to RWA’s (Romance Writer’s of America) national conference. It’s always at the end of July (though they’ve made 2 weeks earlier this year), and it’s the entire focus of my schedule beginning in April. Why? Because that’s where I meet face to face with editors, publicists, and fellow writers. If I finish my current book by nationals, will I have space in my writing schedule for an anthology if a few of us get one together at the bar one night? Have I scheduled the appropriate meetings with editors so that I could pitch an anthology, linked series, or just another book? Have I gotten a proposal together so I have something to pitch? Have I lost enough weight to fit into my conference clothes?
My “summer” doesn’t start until I’ve come back from conference, slept for a week, and then taken stock of what happened so that I can plan the rest of my writing year until the next big conference. And by that time, we’re in mid-August and looking at the back-to-school ramp for my kids. So…for decades now, I really haven’t had a summer.
Except for this summer. My last book went in June 3. I have another due in September that I care a great deal about and I am working hard on! (That’s in case my editor reads this blog.) But beyond that, I’ve been spending June at a family reunion, a conference, and visiting with my college-aged daughter. She’s home for two weeks between semesters. My youngest child is now 18 and in her last months at home before she, too, goes off to college.
So, whereas before, I would spend my summers pounding the keyboard and stressing out, one simple, “Hey mom, you want a pedicure?” will derail me for an entire day. My last moments with my children are here. Of course I want a pedicure! It’s time spent with my kids. But it doesn’t stop with a pedicure. There’s shopping, meals, coffee breaks, DVDs, and just talking about their big plans for life. And it’s never-ending. As long as they’re here, I want to grab whatever seconds I can with them.
Except I have a deadline. Except conference is coming up. Except I’m supposed to be dieting. Except nothing. My kids are here and they easily slide me back into a lazy, hang-out-and-shop mode. Am I okay with that? Well, assuming I get my book done on time, I can take one conference easy, right? (And yes! I will get it done! I swear!) But for today, my youngest is asking about lunch. Maybe at that cute new café that has great salads and cheesecake. People just sit there and talk for hours…

I am so excited—I am going to my very first Romance Writers of America National Conference in less than three weeks.

I made the decision last year to attend when I realized 2009 was Harlequin’s 60th anniversary year. That was one party I didn’t want to miss. I also have very fond memories of Washington, D.C. When we were kids, my mom found el cheapo plane tickets and said, “We’re going to Washington for Lincoln’s birthday weekend.”

February in D.C. is not the height of the tourist season, to put it mildly, so we had the place almost to ourselves. We hit all the high spots, including the giant pandas, which were the newest thing in the National Zoo, went to Ford’s Theatre, complete with black bunting in the Presidential box, and the First Ladies’ Dress exhibit in the Smithsonian. One of my favorite pictures is my sister Kate and I holding our special treat—a brand new stuffed panda for each of us.

I’m on the left, Kate is on the right.

I did more traveling when I was younger, but family and mortgages have a funny way of cutting into travel money. But this year, I started up an online saving account and dutifully socked away $25 a week and whatever else I could get my hands on. And my sister Kate is always up for a trip, so she signed on to be my roommate. She will be seeing the sights during the day and hanging with me at night.

Shopping for a formal dress for the RITA Awards was another hurdle. Try finding a dress that doesn’t scream either “Senior Prom” or “Mother of the Bride.” Since I have twenty years since the one and hopefully at least another fifteen years before the other, I was stuck. But after some fiddling with alterations and a trip to Nordstrom’s Rack, I have two long dresses and one cocktail dress.

I can’t wait to meet all my fellow Blaze authors whom I’ve only met online and get reacquainted with the ones I’ve met in person. Now all I have to do is figure out how much cash to bring for snacks, drinks—and a new set of stuffed pandas.

Marie
www.mariedonovan.com

P.S. As a fun summer reading giveaway, comment on this blog and I’ll pick one person to win a copy of my latest release, My Sexy Greek Summer. We may not be able to get to Greece this summer, but we can fantasize, can’t we?

I bet you guys didn’t know that today, June 24, is National Blaze Readers Appreciation Day, did you? It is, pre-ordained by… me, because honestly, I think all you Blaze buyers out there deserve your own special day where humble authors like me can bow and scrape and say, “Thanks to you, Blaze Readers. I owe you a big debt, and it’s not one I’ll forget.”

As Blaze romance buyers, you endure sanctimonious book-clerks, cover-ogling-smirks, the lurid “oh-youre-reading-romance that means you want to have sex with me” businessman leer, the well-meaning relatives who asks when you’re going to read a real book, and honestly, the list of slights goes on and on. Yet, in spite of such indignities, the Blaze reader is a loyal reader, a trusty soldier who brandishes her covers proudly, and dares the world to question her (his?) reading choice.

As an author, (and a fellow Blaze buyer), I get this, and thus is born, National Blaze Readers Appreciation Day, where I can tip my hat and say: “Thank you, Dear Reader. Because of you, my children have shoes.”

And because I’m not all bluff and circumstance today, feel free to share your favorite put-upon-reader story, or just say, Hello, and I’ve got a copy of Hot Under Pressure (August 2009) Blaze to give away to a random commenter. And if you want a sneak peak at Hot Under Pressure, take a look here:

I began writing this blog while at camp with my daughter. This is camp, see how pretty it is?
The perfect place to write, yes? That is until I realized I was sharing my bed with someone who wasn’t my child. Who had four legs and was covered in fur. I tell the full story here, but if you are unable to click let’s just say at one time I had a point to what was written below, but then it was gone, and I’m going to blame it on a mouse.

I don’t drink coffee, so instead of beginning my morning with a latte I run to the convenience story for a 79 cent diet coke. It never fails that the person ringing me out always suggests something else. Would you like chips? Perhaps a newspaper? Even when I do have multiple things, there’s always something that could be suggested. The other day, I told my husband I wanted to go in and buy a pop, a newspaper, a magazine, some nuts, package of diapers, gatorade, chips, tankful of gas, cigarettes, bottle opener, six pack, gum, milk and a lottery ticket, and see what the person behind the counter would suggest, because I think I had everything covered.

Husband told me I’d forgotten the Mickey Mouse lighter.

Ugh!

And that’s where my notes ended. I had no more for this blog post, and what’s worse….I couldn’t remember the original point. I can’t tell you how long I stared at that spiral notebook willing for some small snippet of a memory to show up.

Nothing did.

So, I tried to come up with points. The value of being organized. Being happy with what you have. Or the opposite of that - reaching for something new. Maybe it was goal setting. Go in for a drink, come out with a drink. Okay, okay, I know reaching. And not very good at that.

You know what really makes this sad, what really burns me up about this… I’m thinking that perhaps, just maybe, it was the best idea I’ve ever had in my entire life and now it’s gone.

There’s not a writer I know who hasn’t lost a really amazing idea because they didn’t write it down. I know writers who carry around a portable tape recorder. Or leave a notebook by their bed just in case. I have ideas jotted down on anything from napkins to the back of receipts. Hey, maybe that was the point. The importance of keeping something close at hand because you never know when the big idea will come. Of course if that were the case, I would have had to have known that I was going to lose the ideas I’d originally developed while at camp.

I’m giving up now, but hopefully I’ll leave you with this one profound thought…Mickey Mouse lighter with that?