Welcome to the Blaze Blog!
Posted by Brenda Chin in Brenda Chin, Editorial Musings, tags: Brenda Chin, Harlequin, series romance
Wow! What a thrill to be the first person to christen this great new site!
As many of you know, the Blaze series is very special to me. I’ve been involved in the line since the beginning, (for those of you doing the quiz, I’m not going to give anything away – sorry), and have personally worked on a good number of the books we’ve published so far. In that time, the editors have discovered some incredible new voices, and have been routinely amazed at just how talented an author base we have. Many Blaze Babes are now considered Harlequin Stars! Personally, I’m always blown away by the ingenuity, the imagination and the determination our authors show. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen one of them pull off the near-impossible, then reach for another challenge. To say I’m proud to be working with such a fantastic group of women (and Tony, of course) would be an understatement.
So, what does this mean for Blaze readers? Simply that you’re reading the very best of series romance! Okay, I’m biased…but I’m also very sincere. In Blaze, you’ll find every kind of book – historical, adventure, suspense, forbidden fantasies, romantic comedies, paranormal, short stories, erotic bedtime stories, westerns and even time travel. The only elements tying the books together are the high level of sensuality and a lot of sizzling sexual tension. And really, what good is a romance novel without those?
So, now it’s your turn. Tell me what you love about Blaze (everything, I’m sure) and what you think we could improve on (don’t get carried away now…).
In the meantime, don’t forget to download Triple Threat by Jennifer LaBrecque, a free Blaze e-book that’s linked to the Uniformly Hot! miniseries. After all, we could all use a man in uniform to heat up those cool spring evenings. And, if you haven’t already, check out HarlequinCelebrates.com to download Leslie Kelly’s Blaze book, Slow Hands, absolutely free! There are other offerings there too…but I can vouch for Leslie’s. You’ll love it!
Finally, I’d like to thank our dedicated Blaze readers. Without you, we couldn’t do what we love best. And I think all the authors and editors will agree – we do love it!
Entries (RSS)
Am I the first to comment???? No way.
Glad to add another one to my daily must reads! I love Blaze, especially Leslie’s books.
Thanks for starting us off, Brenda! And congratulations to Cara and Jill, our Blaze RITA finalists!
Heather
UNDRESSED – June 2009
We have a Blaze Blog!!! Thank you, Brenda, for kicking things off and for heading up the marvelous HQ series that has provided such a wealth of amazing reads. I’ll tell you what I love best about Blaze… the attitude. The hot guys are awesome. The wide variety of storylines is great. And the steam factor is just right. But I especially enjoy the modern attitude of strong heroines and the dynamic that creates with equally strong heroes in a Blaze book. It’s a blast to write, and even more fun to kick back in read in someone else’s book when I want a day all to myself….
Hi Brenda! It’s great to have you here! Wow! The site is amazing and I’ll soon be blogging on April 16. Until then I’ll leave this comment. Blaze is fabulous to write for as I’m doing what I love to do best–action/adventure and romantic suspense. We, as Blaze authors, do love a challenge
I like blaze line because it has all the right ingredients in a book that I can read in a day or evening and take me to another place for a while where I am not having three screaming kids at me. Now I have another blog to check out every day.
A Blaze blog how exciting. I was over on Alison Kent’s blog checking what she had for today and it brought me here.
What do I love about Blaze. The hot steaminess of them. The great stories. Awesome covers. Plus the fantastic authors.
Woot!!! We have a blog!
This is gonna be so fun!
Brenda, thanks so much for kicking off the blog with such a great post. I was a Blaze reader long before I wrote for the line and I love the Blaze books. Why? For all the great reasons Joanne listed. Blaze is all about the attitude. Strong heroines, drool-worthy heroes and awesomely sexy stories. Everything I look for in a story! I mean, what’s not to love?
Echoing Heather, too – to say Whohooooooooo Cara and Jill on the awesome RITA finals!!!
Wow I am sooo glad you now have a blog for Blaze!
I just recently discovered Blaze books and they are great!
I haven’t found one yet that I didn’t enjoy!
I love the Blaze books because they deal with some real himan emotions but the main reason I like them is they ALWAYS have some great Hero who lets be honest ladies, is a dream come true as far as looks and all he has to offer is concerned!
Have a great Hump day Ladies!
SMILES from Texas!
Yay!! Blaze Blog! We’re going to have a great time here. Blaze authors are fun and our readers are the absolute best.
Brenda, fabulous debut post. Blaze is lucky to have such an enthusiastic champion at the helm of the line.
As for why I love the line, Joanne summed it up perfectly. The combination of strong heroines with equally strong heroes makes for dynamic relationships and some amazingly hot sexual tension. What’s not to love?
I am so excited about this new Blaze Blog-
Can’t wait to see what you guys cook up!
I love the Blaze line for the modern attitudes of the Heroines, the sexy heros, the fun, adventurous storylines, and the heat level. Just enough, not too much!
Wow – this is fantastic! All my favorite Blaze authors (and a super editor!) in one place – I couldn’t ask for more!
What I love about Blaze is the unique voices. I like knowing I’m going to get a sexy, sassy read while each author’s voice shines through so well. The variety of story lines and those strong heroines also really make the line for me. Each Blaze is an adventure…a truly fun read.
As for improvements…my biggest complaint is likely beyond anyone’s control, but I wish the books were longer. I really loved the depth Blazes had with the longer word count, when the authors could explore the settings, characters, and relationship more deeply. That felt ever so slightly more satisfying to me as a reader.
Good morning Brenda, and everyone – thanks to all who put this great blog site together — looking forward to terrific conversations about Blaze here.
I am deep in revisions on my Oct ‘09 Blaze, CAUGHT IN THE ACT, part of a fun “wrong costume” miniseries called “Dressed to Thrill” with Tawny, Karen Foley, and Lisa Renee Jones, so I don’t have much time to chat today, but I wanted to stop by and say hello!
Blaze is a fantastic line of books, getting better all the time. Kudos to everyone here!
Sam
Wow, I’m so excited to have this brand new Blaze Blog just a month before my very first Blaze comes out.
Thank you, Brenda, for kicking us off in style. I know so many Blaze fans are excited about the contest.
I love Blaze not only for the sizzling hot romance, but also because with Blaze you’ll always find something to love. The variety of stories you get each month is unsurpassed and so is the talent of the authors who write them.
Awesome blog, awesome books!
Good morning everyone!
Thanks for all the comments. I’m really pleased about finally having a Blaze site too! Kudos to Alison Kent, Julie Leto and Tawny Weber for doing such a beautiful job with it–and for steering the rest of us in the right direction.
I’m always surprised when people comment that the Blaze heroines’ attitudes are different from the norm. I guess that, knowing the authors, I couldn’t see those heroines being any other way. And thank God for it. That’s what makes my job interesting.
Brenda
Wow, look at all the activity already! Welcome Brenda and thanks for being a part of this. What I love about Blaze? The kick-ass heroines, without a doubt, and the wide variety of heroes we get to write. They can be arrogant millionnaires or laid back surfer dudes. I don’t know where else you can get that kind of variety.
Big congrats to Cara and Jill on those Rita nominations! So glad to see Blaze represented!
Hey Blaze Babes,
Great looking blog! Congrats on the launch (we found it via twitter) and look forward to reading lots of behind the scenes action!
Hello fabulous Blaze authors and editor!
Thanks for starting this fun blog. I can tell I’ll spend a lot of time procrastinating here…
The lack of overly strict guidelines makes Blaze everything that’s great about romance. Instead of being one type of heroine in one kind of story, it’s like a grab bag of sexy plots and characters. You never know what you’re going to get, but you always know it’ll be good!
I’m so excited to have a Blaze Blog to visit. I love reading my Blazes each month and have found some very amazing authors thru the line. I don’t know that I can narrow down my favorite thing about Blaze books, I just love them all!
Oh yeah, I love that sizzle. That’s my favorite part of a book — the sexual tension between the hero and heroine that builds until I want to yell, “Okay already, go DO it!” And they always do in a Blaze.
Congrats on your new blog. Great job! And yes, you have a terrific editor at the helm of a ship full of great authors.
Oh, wow, the blog looks fantastic! Thanks so much to Tawny, Lori, Julie & Alison for all the great work on it!
My favorite thing about Blaze–as a reader and as a writer–is that even though the stories can be supersteamy, these books are still, always, romance novels. I like reading (and writing) hot stuff, but only if I know that the characters truly love each other, that the sex is only one aspect of a true emotional connection, and that they will definitely have a happily ever after. I’m assured of that in Blaze. With that emotional “safety net” I am ready for absolutely anything in the line!
Hi Brenda! I’ve been reading Blaze since it was part of Temptation and I still have my favorites on my keeper shelf. Now I’m discovering a whole set of fabulous authors. I’m thrilled I’ll get to read about them on the new blog!
I was very excited this morning when I popped over to the Jungle for my usual morning chat on the Plotmonkeys blog to discover there is a new BLAZE AUTHORS BLOG! How cool is that!!
I think BLAZE is Harlequin’s best line. The heroine’s are edgy, damn-the-torpedoes, kick-sexual-ass women who embrace their sexuality within a safe, moral Blaze world. And the Blaze world is something to cherish. Good ole, sexy fun!
Brenda, I think it’s perfect that you are kicking off the blog today and honoring us all with your post. For those who don’t know Brenda has a solid-gold-wrapped-in-platinum reputation in the publishing arena. She is a fabulous editor and one I hope to work with in the near future. I’m also very fortunate to call her my friend.
Cher
Woo-hoo is right! Thanks to Lori, Tawny, Julie and Alison for getting us organized and getting the blog launched. And thanks to Brenda Chin (ace editor extraordinaire
for giving us the first post.
I loved Blaze from the first book I read (Jo Ann Ross’s 30 Nights, I believe), and now I’m honored to be a Blaze author!
Welcome, everyone!
Cool!
Wow, what a great beginning! I had to stop by and say hello to all of my writing sisters here. This has been a great line with very interesting books produced. I expect nothing but more great books to follow.
Johnny ( Sir John) Ray
Wow! I’m nearly late to the party! It’s wonderful to see so many comments already.
Thanks so much, Brenda for launching us this way. My deepest appreciation goes to Tawny, Lori, Alison and Julie for jumping on this with such enthusiasm.
My blog day is the 20th and after just being in the offices for a visit (and meeting Tony!) I’m trying hard to come up with something fun to say for my first time. (y’all will be gentle, right?)
My first Blaze Possessing Morgan will be out early next year…am deep into my revisions and rising to the challenge. (okay, so I chuckled and nodded at that)
This is turning into a novella, so I’ll get back to sorting out my life as I settle back to work after some time away. (Brenda, I swear, I woke up to snowflakes today…can’t believe it!)
And 3 screaming kids? Jen– the most perfect reason in the world to slip into a Blaze…
Bonnie
Wow! We’re live! Thanks so much to Tawny — this is her brainchild — and to Lori, Alison, and Julie, who helped make it happen. Brenda, as always, brilliant post. I can sincerely say I work with the best editor in the business, the most talented writers in today’s market, and the absolute #1 readers out there. Rock on, Blaze!!
What a beautiful blog! I’m looking forward to meeting the authors here and learning even more about Blaze.
I love how Blaze is a perfect marriage between the hot and steamy aspects of a developing relationship and the building emotional connections. To me, one should feed the other, and they do in all my favorite Blazes. Keep up the great writing!
Congrats on the site.
I am a big fan of the Blaze series. It is like Christmas morning every month.
Glad you have a new blog for those lovers of the Blaze babes. Thanks, Brenda, for starting it off right.
I’ve adored the Blazes since Temptation days. Personally, I expecially love the stories that show a sexy, committed (or becoming so) hero/heroine, where the plot centers on their journey to each other, & there’s a sense of humor. It’s great that the Blaze heroines are strong & sexy, yet vulnerable to that one guy who will add to their lives.
Like someone else suggested I, too, wish the books would be back to their original page count. More to love….
Patricia
What a treat! It’s great to see so many folks joining in on the fun. Thanks to the whip-smart ladies who put this together and wow, what a contest! I’m looking forward to all the adventures to come.
What fun! My favorite are the Blazes with a touch of danger/suspense.
Yay!! A Blaze Blog starring the Blaze Babes and Brenda! (And Tony, of course, but I couldn’t fit him into the “B” theme I had going.) What a cool site! Great opening gambit, Brenda, but then, we expect nothing less.
Major congrats to Blaze Babes Cara and Jill for the RITA final, too!
I love Blaze because of the variety of stories, the strong heroines, and the irresistible heroes. And mostly, for the chance to celebrate sizzle. We all need more of that!
Yay, Blaze Blog! This is sooo cool!
Hmm, that’s wierd, my avatar is only a third of a photo…
Wow! This is great! All my fav authors all on one blog! I love the Blaze line and all the great stuff I was going to say about it has already been said.
Congratulations ladies and cheers to your new blog site!
I say “Amen” to all the comments before me! I echo all the great “Good Wishes” for those who
have begun this new blog and thanks to Miss Brenda for starting it off in such remarkable style!
Pat Cochran
Wow, this is so cool! I love the Blaze series for many reasons. The romance is hotter then hot. The word Blaze describes it all. I feel like I have a relationship with the writers because they have become a frequent part of my life.
Oh when I see BLAZE, no matter the author, I know that it will be a great read! I can not wait to see all the wonderful things this blog will have to share with us! Happy First Day!!!
So glad to have the blog and to catch up favorite authors and wonderful books. Thanks for all the hard work behind the scenes to get this up and running and thanks to Brenda for kicking us off with her first post.
Looking forward to reading a lot of great posts and, of course, wonderful books!
The thing I like about Blaze is they’re steamy, but also have a story and depth to them as well.
I love the blog and am so looking forward to reading lots of neat info in the future.
Brenda, I’ve heard many wonderful things about you from favorite authors. Who knows, maybe some day in the future I might have an opportunity to say something great myself. But right now I’m focusing on a single title.
I answered all then questions…so wish me luck. And goodl luck to everyone else.
Debbie
Hi! Brenda I have heard so many wonderful things about you over the years. It seems like you work with the majority of my favorite authors.
I headed over hear from the Jungle. Hi Plotmonkeys! Yeah Leslie. I can’t wait to try my hand at the trivia quiz. It’s funny with all these contests, Silver is having one too. Hopefully, I will get Lucky somewhere.
Loving this site, a new spot to check on when I should be ummm working. Shhhh!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Debbie
I love the Blaze line because the books are hot and sexy.
The Blaze line is one of my favorites out of all the Harlequin lines. (It trades with Silhouette Desire) – but I love it for the heat. The unique and terrifically written stories. How the characters are real and “normal” – yet there’s something special about them. I could go on, but I’d get mushy. A number of my favorite authors write for Blaze, and it’s always the category I check and buy from first.
I am thrilled about this blog. Blaze is my favorite line from Harlequin. I love Blaze books because I know I am guaranteed a great love story that is also hot and steamy. Blaze authors always create some of the best heroes and heroines in romance.
Ditto what Lori Ann and Limecello just said–Blaze is one of my favorite Harlequin lines. I’ve got lots of favorite authors who write hot, sexy, fun, and emotionally satisfying, which are part of the trademark appeal of the Blaze stories. How exciting to have a blog all about Blaze!
Love the new blog and have added to my favorites.
Yay! The Blaze Blog is up and running! The site is gorgeous – congrats!!
I love the Blaze line for all the reasons already mentioned but mostly for – as Joanne so wonderfully put it – the attitude
I have Leslie’s Slow Hands on my PC ready to be read and I’ll definitely download Jennifer’s Triple Threat!
Congrats to Cara and Jill on your RITA finals *g*
Great way to start us off, Brenda! I’m so excited about hanging out with some of my favorite people!
So excited about this blog! Finally, there’s a place where so many of my favorite authors – and editors – can hang out! Can’t wait to read all the entertaining and inspiring posts!
I love this new blog!
Yay! A home all of our own. A big shout out from Down Under to all the Blaze babes and our fantastic readers. Woo hoo!
A big thanks to Brenda for kicking us off in fine style. Love those little red books…
Hello to all,
I’ve just recently started reading the Blaze authors. I’m finding the characters have such depth but the plots are also just as wonderful. Please keep up the great writing. Thank you for this new blog. It is out of this world to find so many authors in one place. Have a great day.
Hi everyone!
I love the Blaze line and have since it started. One of my new auto-buys is Blaze author Nancy Warren.
The things I love most about the line are the awesome character development and the unique author voices.
For a while it seemed like the line was getting too similar in story and voice, but that’s no longer the case.
Good luck to all, and I look forward to reading your stories!
I’m fashionably late, but thrilled beyond measure to be part of this spectacular blog! And this even more fantastic series of books!!!
congrats on the blog cant wait to read all of the exciting stuff thats going to be here.
I have always loved Harlequin especially Blaze! I was excited to see Blaze get its own special place and love the idea of hearing from the authors. Thanks for sharing with your readers. What do I love specifically about Blaze? everything- plot, characters, settings. My grandmother use to give me her books after she read them so I always have nice memories of her when ever I pick up a book and read it. I wish I was able to still share my books with her.
Woohoo! I’ve been waiting for this blog for a long time…I just didn’t know it until now. LOL I’d love to write for Blaze someday, so having a place like this to get to know all you ladies (and Tony!) is sure to be a great help! I’m so excited for this opportunity!
As far as what I like most about Blaze, it’s definitely the spunky characters paired with sizzling sexual tension. Living vicariously through the characters is a plus too–talk about fantasy material! All those yummy heroes…mmm, mmm, mmm…
What was I saying now? :((
I have never blogged before, but I so enjoyed reading everyone else’s that I just had to add my two cents worth. I enjoy the Blaze books and look forward to each new adventure.
cool ladies love blaze since the beginning. congrats on teh site love it finally no joke about it lol
This promises to be very interesting. Hopefully I’ll pick up all the hints I need to sell my first Blaze book
Yowsa! This is without a doubt the coolest looking blog on the planet– all red hot and blazing! (ahem) And what else would it be with such great participants and content? I am so pleased to be writing for such a clever and innovative line!
Congratulations all around and thanks to Julie and Alison and Lori and Tawny and everyone who helped to make it a reality.
::waving:: Hey Brenda! Thanks for starting this off with a bang!
This is gorgeous! Great work, you all.
I write for Blaze, but I would be reading these books even if I weren’t an author! And, as Brenda said, you can find *anything* in this line, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Best,
Crystal
I have never written for Blaze, but I have read some. This would be easy for you to write and I look forward to reading it when it comes out.
All the best,
Ruby
Blaze has been one of my favorite Harlequin lines ever. I was hooked from the very beginning when they first started showing up in the other Harlequin line (though I’m not mentioning which one since I don’t want to give away any answers). From the very first Blaze book, I wanted more and was extremely happy when Blaze got its own line. You’ve done an absolutely fabulous job with the line and I look forward to more great reads in the future!