I must admit, I’m really looking forward to starting over this month.  Last year was a wilder ride than I expected, especially with all the 10^th anniversary celebrations.  Don’t get me wrong – all the attention was absolutely wonderful, incredibly exciting…and ultimately exhausting. J  Maybe it’s just the time of year, but all I’d like to do right now is sit by the fire with a good book.  And if you’re feeling a little mellow too, I’ve got a few irresistible stories to tell you about….

Rhonda Nelson starts off the month with another addition to her Men out of Uniform series, THE PHOENIX.  While all Rhonda’s heroes are great – strong, heroic and honorable—it’s the heroine in this book who steals the show.  Charlie Martin believes in getting the job done, any way she can.  Even if it means a little computer hacking…  Be sure to check this one out – it’s absolutely delightful.

Next up is our Uniformly Hot! title, BORN READY by Lori Wilde.  Semper Paratus (Always Ready) isn’t just the Coast Guard’s motto – it’s Lieutenant Commander Scott Everly’s motto too.  That is until he meets a woman who knocks him off his feet, landing him between her sheets!

And Rhonda’s heroine isn’t the only girl to steal the show this month.  The heroine of Samantha Hunter’s Forbidden Fantasy, STRAIGHT TO THE HEART, is a US Marshall  who always gets her man.  Only in this story, she gets to keep him too!

Tawny Weber continues her Undercover Operative miniseries this month with SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT.  This time, prodigal daughter Maya comes back home…with an FBI agent on her arm—and in her bed!  Check out what USA Today had to say about the first book in the miniseries:   Sex, Lies and Mistletoe is sexy, smart, fresh and festive — and a must-read this holiday season.   Way to go, Tawny!

Next up is BORROWING A BACHELOR by Karen Kendall, the first book in Karen’s  All the Groom’s Men miniseries.  These stories focus on the real reason women attend weddings – to check out the hot  groomsmen!   And here’s a little insider information – one of the titles we were considering for this book was The Accidental Stripper.   How can you resist?

Finally, Cathy Yardley finishes up the month with the first book of another new trilogy – The Players’ Club.  The heroes in these books work hard and play even harder.  In the first book, THE PLAYERS CLUB: SCOTT, the hero finds out that while the tests may be arduous… the rewards can be very satisfying, especially when his sexy neighbor decides to join in on the initiation.

So, what do you think?  Can you think of a better way to start off a brand new year?

Although Blaze’s 10^th anniversary is now over, we still have one more anniversary to celebrate.  This month marks the one year anniversary of the Blaze Authors’ Pet Project.   So far, we’ve highlighted three very deserving shelters and I’ll be showcasing another one next month.  As well, we’ve managed to include more than twenty animals in our past and upcoming books and several of them have already found homes!  In fact, two of the books this month feature Pet Project animals.  Dottie, from Tawny Weber’s SEX, LIES AND MIDNIGHT is living happily ever after with her new forever family.  But Piedmont and Prize, from Rhonda Nelson’s THE PHOENIX, are still waiting.  If you’re interested in helping out, check out the Pet Project at BlazeAuthors.com for details.  And look for more furry friends to show up in the pages of Blaze books throughout this year.

So, are we all ready to get on the rollercoaster again?  In order to make the ride a little more enjoyable, I’ll be giving away 3 sets of the January books.  All you need to do is post a comment, letting us know what you intend to do differently this year.  Last year, one of my resolutions was to help out at a local shelter, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.

Wishing you all things bright and Blazing in the coming New Year!

Sincerely,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor

That’s right!  Our 10^th anniversary month is almost upon us!  I still can’t believe it’s been that long.  Especially since I haven’t aged at all…  Funny how that happens, isn’t it?

Next month, there will be all kinds of exciting things going on here at the Blaze authors’ blog and at eHarlequin.com.  Watch for special anniversary wishes from the authors, as well as TV shows and films some of them think ‘Would Have Been Better as a Blaze’.  And of course, watch for our 2-in-1 special anniversary editions of the August books, featuring the first Blaze title–as well as current book– from six authors who helped launch the line.  It’s going to be great!

But of course, we offer great books every month.  And we’ve got some out now that you won’t want to miss.  Check them out…

Lori Wilde, Wendy Etherington and Jillian Burns start off the month with our hot summer read, BY INVITATION ONLY.     Three intrepid heroines decide to crash the wedding of the decade, only to find out that tying the knot isn’t always a prerequisite for a mind-blowing wedding night…

Cara Summers follows with the Uniformly Hot! book this month, TAILSPIN.   This story has it all –  a ‘lovers reunited’  theme, an intriguing mystery and a hot, hot, air force hero.  Who could ask for anything more?

Next up is Tori Carrington’s WICKED PLEASURES, the second book in their Pleasure Seekers miniseries.  According to Romantic Times magazine, ‘the action is hot and so is the chemistry’.  You’ll need to turn up the air conditioning for this one (or at least, I did. :-)  ).

And for those of you craving a cowboy fix, Vicki Lewis Thompson offers COWBOY UP, the second book in her latest Sons of Chance trilogy.  The heroine, Emily Sterling, has vowed never to fall for a cowboy.  But let me tell you, one look at this cover and even the most reluctant woman will be running for a  cigarette.  (FYI – I’ve got a blown-up poster of this cover on my door.  It never fails to inspire me.)

Kathleen O’Reilly is also knee deep in a trilogy.  The second book in her Harts of Texas miniseries, JUST LET GO… is fun from the get-go.  A small town sheriff gets a chance to hook up with her first crush.  What do you bet there are handcuffs involved?

And finally, Heather MacAllister finishes up the month with KEPT IN THE DARK, the final book in our 24 Hours: Blackout miniseries.   A cat burglar finds herself in deep with a sexy security expert—the same guy who sent her to jail six years ago.  This book is proof that paybacks are hell.

And there you have it.  This month’s books are the perfect way to spend those hot summer days…

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to cut this blog post a little short this time.  Everyone in the office is running around, trying to get things ready for the Romance Writers of America national convention in New York this week, and I’m no exception.   In fact, as you read this, I’ll be in the Big Apple having a great time with my authors.   But I’ll be back on line tomorrow to keep you company.

For a chance to win one of two sets of the July books, drop by and tell me what you think of our Sexy Books of Summer so far.     And be sure to drop by next month for all the festivities—and to check out another Blaze Authors Pet Project, brought to us by author Lisa Renee Jones.

Happy Summer,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

At least I'm in the same room with the board, right?

There is no doubt that I’m the new girl. At Blaze, I’m nearly positive I’m the latest author to sign, and still I’m a newbie on the writing side of Romancelandia in general. Three years ago I hadn’t yet realized that the movies playing in my head were stories trying to burst from my skull and splatter across my screen, not until July of 2008. But I’m nothing if not eager, and somehow or other I ended up here after a self-designed crash course in fiction writing, and with the help and advice of hundreds of kind strangers (hi, NEC!)

But let’s get one thing straight—I have no clue what I’m doing. I still feel very much like a student of this world, and thank goodness there are so many patient, generous authors and editors who DO know what they’re doing (and how), willing to grab me by the shoulders, turn me a few degrees and give me a gentle push in the right direction.

Often these kind acquaintances explain things to me, such as “What’s a sexy hook?” They very politely don’t question how I managed to sell to Blaze without really grasping this most basic and integral of concepts, they just take a moment to explain it in their own words, and after perhaps thirty translations from thirty different sources, one of them will finally click for me. They explain to my naive butt that there are certain outside industry folks I’d be better off avoiding, lest I step on any toes in my quest to appear engaged and active in the digital RomantiSphere. When I explain a new book idea, they ask questions so obvious I hadn’t pondered them, such as, “So…what’s the conflict then?” With knowing good humor they share their own second-sale struggles (apparently not such a rare hurdle at all). They field my epic-length e-mails fraught with frustration and insecurity with more patience and wisdom than is strictly human (thanks, Samantha!)

Where is this post going? I actually have no idea. The theme of the past few weeks for me has been Don’t Overthink It, and I may as well apply it to this while I’m at it. I’ve been struggling (sometimes admirably and with dignity, other times buried to the ankles in snotty tissues) to come up with a second winning Blaze premise / concept / hook / idea. It’s been ten months since my first sale, and the overachiever in me says that’s far too long a time to have passed before I’ve made a second. Was it all a fluke, my first sale? It sure felt like a fluke. Will I ever be able to do it again? A roller coaster of self-confidence ensues as I come up with an idea, suspect it’s brilliant, then plan and plot the life from it as I obsessively strive to make the proposal “right”, make it perfect, make a second sale so I can know for sure if I belong here or not.

Oh, trying. The enemy of creation. For me, anyhow. And when I say trying, I mean over-analyzing the idea I’m fixated on, using every trick and technique I can think of to make sure it’s the “right” story. It’s born of wanting something so badly, you squeeze the breath from it lest it has a chance to escape from you. And no wonder my proposals have been missing their marks—by the time this 70% pantser has forced herself to meticulously plot every chapter of her proposal (lest it not be perfect, every possible editorial question pre-addressed) all the mystery has left it, all the what-ifs that usually come to me as I’m tagging along on the hero and heroine’s journey already answered, but answered analytically, not intuitively.

I got to hang out with Brenda (Senior Blaze Editor) at the New England Chapter (mah peeps) of the Romance Writers of America’s annual conference last month, and my GOD was that helpful. My editor Laura had kindly passed along the latest of my over-labored proposals for Brenda to check out, and she rather frankly informed me that reading the synopsis’s latest fourteen-page iteration had been nothing short of painful. Well that did not shock or offend me. Writing it had been at least twice as torturous! I just wanted it be “right” so badly…cue the strangly hands.

She said scrap it, and run with another idea I’d tossed out in an earlier brainstorming session. She explained the Blaze line’s essential “hook” concept in a way that made it click into place for me in a totally new way (nothing short of a Helen Keller “water” moment). Perhaps most importantly, she gave me permission to accept that I write and plot in a certain way, one that may equal a pretty sparse synopsis to start off but yields organic, not contrived, story developments as the chapters are actually typed up. She explained how everyone writes in their own distinct style, and just as there’s no perfectly “right” story, there’s no “right” process either. Only the one that’s right for a given author. Sounds so obvious, right? Well the obvious tends to go fuzzy when you’re clinging white-knuckled to your belief that you’ve got to be perfect.

So, that was just over two weeks ago. I’ve spent the time since strictly NOT overthinking my current proposal. Just two weeks of walking and scheming and not allowing myself to worry too far beyond how the hero and heroine should meet and become tangled up in one another’s lives. I wrote the first three chapters in about a week, simply along for the ride as my characters took over the action. I wrote an eight-page synopsis, feeling I needed to at least guess at what might happen between their meeting and the black moment…then I scrapped it and wrote it in two pages, unanswered questions be damned. Then this morning, after the breathless final spell-check, I hit Send on the sucker.

It may be another miss. It may have potential. It may be a masterpiece of staggering Blaze-y genius! Well, perhaps not. Only my brilliant editor and a week or two of nail-biting will yield the answer to that mystery. But this time at least I handed something over with life still pulsing in it, and even if it gets handed back to me, another miss, I’ll be left with something that felt fun and natural and easy for the first time since my stakes got raised, since this second sale took on life-or-death proportions in my head.

Anyhow, just wanted to share all that. Since fumbling my way into this field, I’ve found it unspeakably helpful when authors are honest and upfront about their own struggles and set-backs. So if there’s somebody out there striving to publish, I hope this post won’t darken your hopes, its message landing with an ugly plop—”Even a published author still struggles to get it right? What hope is there for me?” No no no. Instead take away that our challenges are not so different. We’re not so different. Not so different, in fact, that you might just find yourself in my shoes in a week or a month or a year, a very fortunate new-kid sharing your own pitfalls en route to Publishedopolis. My best advice is: do your homework, and know your line as much as you can…then pack all that away in a cupboard and write a story that excites you. That’s why we all started writing, and I now know that’s the only thing that will keep me writing.

Leave the overthinking and all its headaches to the reviewers, and just write.

It’s almost here – hot summer read season! And am I ever ready for it! We Canadians are a hearty bunch, but it just seems as if this winter has lasted FOREVER. And I can’t think of anything better than sitting on the beach (in between taking my kayak out for a spin or two), catching a few rays and settling down with a good book.

And we’ve got some great ones to get you started. Look what’s in store for you this month…

Debbi Rawlins starts us off with DELICIOUS DO-OVER, the second of her Spring Break books. You know that expression, ‘Youth is wasted on the young.’ Well, Debbi’s heroine is the perfect age – old enough to go after what she wants, and young enough to know what to do with him.

Next up is our Uniformly Hot! title, HIGH STAKES SEDUCTION, by Lori Wilde. Lori’s hero is a Navy Security Specialist. But even he’s getting a little hot under the collar keeping the sexy heroine under constant surveillance.

Then Kathleen O’Reilly launches her brand new miniseries, Harts of Texas, with JUST SURRENDER… Two Texas siblings find the adventure of their lives (and yes, it’s a woman), when they go to New York to meet the sister they never knew they had.

But that’s not the only miniseries starting this month. Tawny Weber introduces readers to the 24 Hours: Blackout miniseries this month with JUST FOR THE NIGHT, a delightfully dark (get it?) reunion romance. The tagline for this miniseries says it all – No lights. No power. And no holding back….

Candace Havens continues her Stonegate miniseries with TRUTH AND DARE. This time, Candace’s intrepid heroine is investigating a cold case murder. But her dealings with the victim’s son are hot, hot, HOT!

And Lisa Renee Jones brings the month to a exhilarating conclusion with the final book in her Texas Hotzone miniseries, BREATHLESS DESCENT. Sorry girls. There won’t be any more hotties falling from the sky for us Blaze readers. At least, not any time soon.

Before I get to the craft section, I’d like to wish a hearty congratulations to Jillian Burns, Leslie Kelly and Cara Summers – all finalists in the Oklahoma RWA’s Readers’ Choice Award contest. Way to go, ladies!!!

As for the Blaze Authors’ Pet Project, we’re quickly approaching the first month where we’ll see some of our Furry Friends. And I’ve got great news! Both of the cats showcased in June (Irish in Sam Hunter’s MINE UNTIL MORNING and Brionne in Leslie Kelly’s TERMS OF SURRENDER ) have already found homes! We’ll be sending an autographed copy of ‘their’ book to their new owners, to remind them that their newest addition is famous.

~*~*~*~

And now, on to craft. One of the things editors look at very carefully are opening chapters. These few pages have a lot to accomplish – they have to showcase your voice, set up the plot, and make the reader identify with at least one of the characters. And, of course, they have to grab a reader’s attention and not let go!

And it all starts with a fantastic first line. The best of these will stay with you, long after you’ve finished the book. We’re all familiar with Dickens’ “It was the best of times…” opening from A Tale of Two Cities, as well as James M. Barrie’s “All children, except one, grow up.”

One of my favorite first lines was from a Kimberly Raye book (I think it was TALL, TANNED AND TEXAN) published a few years ago. The line? “She needed really good sex in a really bad way.” It’s the perfect opening for a Blaze, right?

But even more recently, I was reminded of how important first lines are. Last November, everyone in Ontario got to participate in the ‘Bring Your Kid to Work’ day. All over the province, Grade 9 students were going to work with a family member, learning just what it takes to make it in the real world. I brought my niece in with me to discover the wonderful world of publishing. She’s an avid reader and by the end of the day, she was warning me not to get too comfortable – she was taking my job.

Where’s this going, you wonder? I’m getting there, really. So, there I was, walking her through the revision process when she picked up a manuscript on my desk, read the first line, and promptly killed herself laughing. The line?

“For a girl who isn’t about to get laid, you’re spending an awful lot of time obsessing over your underwear choices.”

Pretty cool, eh? My niece certainly thought so. That great bit of dialogue comes from Tawny Weber’s JUST FOR THE NIGHT, available this month.

And now it’s your turn. For a chance to win 1 of 3 sets of the May books, tell us your favorite first line. The more entertaining, the better.

And finally, I’d like to send a cyber-hug to all of those people whose lives have been turned upside down by this wicked weather we’re having. They’re in our thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that here at Harlequin, Valentine’s Day is our biggest day of the year. We even put out a Romance Report, telling all about the state of love and romance in the world today. It also includes a list of the top ten hottest celebrities – always good reading.

Even better – this is the month when all the the series focus on the day dedicated to love–Valentine’s Day! And Blaze is no exception. So, here’s what Harlequin and Cupid are bringing you this month…

First up is our Valentine Collection, NOT ANOTHER BLIND DATE…by Janelle Denison, Leslie Kelly and Jo Leigh. And it features…you guessed it – Valentine’s Day Blind Dates. But these aren’t just any blind dates…. In Jo Leigh’s story, the heroine gets set up by her ex! How pathetic is that? Luckily, it turns out to be the best date–and best sex–ever! As an aside, I’d like to say ‘welcome back’ to Janelle Denison. We’ve missed you.

Next up is our second Uniformly Hot! title of the year, BREAKING THE RULES by Tawny Weber. This strong, hunky hero has major control problems. Good thing the heroine has no problem wrapping him around her little finger–while making him think it’s his idea, of course…

Cara Summers has a Wrong Bed book this month with TAKE MY BREATH AWAY…. What’s a girl to do when she finds an unconscious man on the verge of hypothermia? Keep him warm, of course. And body heat’s always the most expedient method…

Rhonda Nelson is back with another Man out of Uniform in THE WILD CARD. I loved this hero – he takes honor to new levels. And he’s totally out of his element when dealing with the feisty heroine. This one’s a lot of fun.

Isabel Sharpe introduces her new miniseries, Checking E-Males, with TURN UP THE HEAT. Three friends take on the thrilling world of on-line dating with very, sexy results…

And finally, Karen Foley finishes up her It Takes a Hero miniseries with HEAT OF THE MOMENT. This guy is so hot, the heroine will follow him anywhere–including Afghanistan! She’s a woman who knows what she wants. And she’s strong enough to take it.

Great lineup, isn’t it? And I’ve made things easy for you. You can just cut and paste the list and send it to your sweetie, on the off chance he hasn’t even thought of Valentine’s Day yet. (I know mine hasn’t. ) After all, Blaze books are much more satisfying than chocolate!

And now on to the craft portion… I’d like to talk about conflict (it seemed timely, especially considering how many guys will be running into convenience stores to buy flowers at the last minute.) In Blaze, we strive for two tier conflict. First of all, there has to be internal conflict between the characters. This could be a secret one character is keeping, an agenda, etc. It has to be substantial, though–not so simple that if you put the two characters in a room and they talked, it would be over. It has to create a true, believable black moment, in which the two protagonists will have to look at their lives so far and make changes.

The second type of conflict is external. This is the story that’s going on around the characters. It could be secondary characters creating problems, a business going under, a war going on. However, it too needs to be big enough that it can directly threaten the lives your characters are leading. It has to be serious–at least to them.

The best books have both of these conflicts. And they should escalate at the same rate as the romance. For example, once a couple has been intimate, the secret the hero is keeping from the heroine becomes that much bigger.

One of the most common reasons books are rejected by all the Harlequin series is lack of believable conflict. And, as always, it goes back to your characters. If you create real, living protagonists, their conflict has to be just as believable…and individual to them. Not an easy feat, I know. But it makes for a fantastic story.

And finally, I’d just like to update everyone on our Pet Project. We’re moving full steam ahead, getting cats from the Furry Friends animal shelter into Blaze books from June 2011 to February 2012. If you’re in the Toronto/Barrie area, I’ll be at an adoptathon at the PetSmart on Mapleview Drive, giving away copies of some of our Valentine books for a small donation. Drop by and see me if you can.

So that’s it! If you’d like to win 1 of 2 sets of the February book, let me know about your favorite type of conflict
(in books, that is. )

And I hope that Cupid is good to all of you.

Sincerely,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

.
First of all, I’d like to thank all of you for your enthusiasm for this venture. It’s amazing to see what can happen when we all come together to make a difference. And I believe we will.
Our first shelter, Furry Friends (furryfriendsshelter.org) is absolutely thrilled to be involved with such a wonderful group of writers. They’ve had a great response so far, and that should only increase as the Pet Projects get better known.

So, I just thought I’d give you all an update on what we’re doing.

One of the shelter volunteers sent me a list of the cats who have been waiting their forever homes…well, forever! Many of the authors have generously decided to feature these animals in upcoming books, mentioning their availability in their Dear Reader letters. When these cats get placed, an autographed copy of ‘their’ book will go with them. Pretty cool, eh?

So, go to the Blaze Authors Pet Project link at the top of the page to check these beautiful animals out. And then find…

And if you’re in the Barrie, Ontario area around Valentine’s Day, come to the PetSmart Adoption Center on the 12th to see me and get a free copy of The 2011 Blaze Valentine Collection, NOT ANOTHER BLIND DATE… by Janelle Denison, Leslie Kelly and Jo Leigh. And maybe even find a furbaby of your own. You know what they say – every life should have 9 cats.

This project is still pretty new for all of us, and we can use all the help we can get. If any of you have thoughts about other ways we can help these rescue organizations, I’d love to hear from you.

Sincerely,
Brenda Chin
Senior Editor, Harlequin Blaze

It’s that time of year again – the season for fresh starts, making new plans…and snuggling up by the fire with a good book. I don’t know about you, but after all the holiday rushing around, I’m dying to just relax. If you feel the same, the Blaze authors have six New Year’s treats in store for you…

Check out the fantastic lineup this month!

Kate Hoffmann gets the month off to a super sexy start with her Forbidden Fantasies story, Into the Night. Kate’s heroine avoids an unwanted marriage proposal by running away to a tropical island with a sexy stranger. Don’t you wish all of our problems could be taken care of so easily?

Then Rhonda Nelson re-launches the Uniformly Hot! miniseries this month with The Rebel, the first of three books featuring soldiers in the US Army. This one has it all – a fantastic hero, a heartwarming romance and a bulldog named Atticus who steals the show!

Wendy Etherington is up next with another one of her South Carolina specialties – Irresistible Fortune. The hero, Gavin Fortune, might be a treasure hunter…but it’s the heroine, Brenna, who wins the ultimate prize.

Kira Sinclair follows with Caught Off Guard, her long awaited sequel to her first book, Whispers in the Dark. The heroine, Anne, has a family she’s avoiding, a stalker she’s running from and a bodyguard she can’t keep her hands off of. What’s a girl to do?

And for those who haven’t satisfied their appetite for men in the military yet, check out Jill Monroe’s SEALed with a Kiss, the sequel to her SEALed and Delivered. And, as you can guess, the hero is a Navy SEAL. Do you really need any other reason to pick this up?

And finally, Lisa Renee Jones introduces her Texas Hotzone miniseries this month with Jump Start. This series features three ex-military buddies who launch their own skydiving business. And, as you can guess, these guys are so hot women don’t seem to mind jumping out of a plane now and then…

I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to skip the ‘Craft’ section this month to talk to you about a new venture the Blaze authors are undertaking. It’s the Blaze Authors’ Pet Project.

Since most of the Blaze authors have multiple pets (I have six myself), this is a subject near and dear to our hearts. And we thought you might feel the same.

Throughout the year, we’ll be showcasing animal shelters and rescue organizations throughout North America, places we think do a fantastic job. If you’re in the market for a new bundle of fur of your own, or just want to help out somehow, be sure to check these places out.

And the first Blaze Author Pet Project is… (drum roll please)

Furry Friends

The Furry Friends Animal Shelter is a non-profit, no-kill organization dedicated to providing shelter and love to abandoned, lost or rescued animals in Barrie, Ontario. They provide care to almost 1,000 animals each year – mostly cats and kittens, though they also care for abandoned dogs. They are a registered charity funded by generous donors and supporters and operated completely by dedicated volunteers.

I can personally attest that this is a great organization. I got two of my little furbabies from them – both were healthy, happy, well-adjusted kittens. And since then, I’ve been lucky enough to see some of the great work they do first-hand. If you’re interested in finding out more about this wonderful charity, check them out at www.furryfriendsshelter.org. You’ll be glad you did. And be sure to watch for some of these furry friends making their Blaze debut in books starting in June 2011.

Not a bad way to start off the New Year, is it? First, by indulging in 6 great books and second, by spreading the word that love doesn’t just happen in romance novels.

For a chance to win one of three (yes, three!) sets of January Blaze books, let us know what you think about our Pet Project.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year,

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. Immanual Kant

Can you believe the big day’s almost here? Are you ready? I think I am, but that could just be me being delusional. It happens at this time of year. (H) Another thing that happens more in December are Christmas photo ops. And so, the Blaze authors and I thought we’d entertain you with pictures of our kids, celebrating the holidays.

Our furkids, that is.

So check out all the little darlings below. Animals and children are the only creatures I know of that can be naughty and nice at the same time. And we love them all the more for it.

There’s something about this time of year that brings out the best in people. And that’s why I’d like to tell you all about something we’re starting up in January. We’re calling it the Blaze Authors Pet Project. Since most of the Blaze authors have multiple pets (I have six myself), this is a subject very dear to our hearts. And we thought you might feel the same.

Throughout the year, we’ll be showcasing animal shelters and rescue organizations across North America, places we think do a fantastic job. If you’re in the market for a new bundle of fur of your own, be sure to check some of these places out. You’ll also meet some of the pets needing forever homes in a few of our Blaze books, starting in June 2011.

So keep posted. I’ll be making the official announcement in my January blog. And in the meantime, I wish you all the happiest of holidays.

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze

Can you believe the holidays–and all the craziness that comes with them–are here already? The decorating, the parties, the endless trips to the mall… Heck, I usually need a holiday after the holidays.

If you’re like me, you could use a break. And I can’t think of a better way to get in the Christmas mood than with one (or all) of the December Blaze books.

Check out the goodies that Santa left a little early…

First up is our Christmas anthology, It Must Have Been the Mistletoe… by Kate Hoffmann, Rhonda Nelson and Tawny Weber. These three lucky sisters get waylaid by seriously sexy men on their way home for Christmas. (They must have been on the nice list!) And don’t miss Tawny’s linked online read, Naughty is Nice, available at eHarlequin.com.

Tori Carrington finishes up their Private Scandals miniseries this month with Private Parts. The hero in this story thinks he’s getting a special gift this year. Only the woman in his arms has something closer to a Trojan horse in mind…

Jennifer LaBrecque winds up her Alaskan Heat miniseries this month too (at least for now – more coming in 2011) with Northern Escape. Check out the holiday pageant, the Chris’moose festival…and the fireworks when it’s discovered that the town darling, chef, Augustina ‘Gus’ Tippens, is living a secret life…

And then Joanne Rock puts the finishing touch on the Lose Yourself… miniseries with Under Wraps. What’s a girl to do when she finds herself a suspect in an embezzlement scam? Why, clear her name, of course! Even if doing so takes her to an erotic resort–with a man who thinks naughty is the way to go…

Heather MacAllister has a delightful holiday treat in store for readers with A Man for All Seasons. Heather’s heroine, Marlie, gets the ultimate gift from her best friend Ty – a date with the 12 Sexy Men of Christmas. Unfortunately, Marlie wants to be nestled all snug in Ty’s bed …

And finally, Samantha Hunter concludes the month—and the year!– with I’ll Be Yours For Christmas. Sam’s heroine, Abby, isn’t waiting for Santa to bring her what she wants—she’s going after it herself. And what she wants is a fling with her longtime friend Reece.
Christmas is wonderful, isn’t it?

That leads right into our craft discussion for this month –seasonal setting.

As an editor, one of the things I’ve tried to do is link the timing of a story to coincide with the time of year the book is being published. So, Christmas stories are published around Christmas, Valentine’s Day stories come out in February and books that happen during long summer days come out in July or August.

However, as an author, the choice you make about timing can really mess with a publishing schedule. Sometimes an author will have to wait as many as two years to get a Christmas book in the schedule. Other times, we’ve asked authors to change the season from Christmas to Valentine’s Day to take advantage of a scheduling opportunity. And it’s not just the holidays to think about but the seasons as well.

For established Blaze authors, this isn’t really an issue. Even before we go to contract, the authors and editors have an idea of when we’d like to see their book out, and then the author sets the timing appropriately. But for somebody new coming into the line, well, it’s not so easy.

The simplest thing to do would be to avoid tying a story to any particular time period. However, by doing that, the author would miss out on the great opportunities for depth settings offer. After all, aren’t we all checking out book stores and TV guides, looking for something that will get us in the Christmas spirit, something that will inspire us to look beyond the commercialism?

Personally, I love seasonal books. Nothing gets me in the holiday mood faster.

So now, I’m asking you. Do you care what time of year a book is set, or if it coincides with the time you’re reading it? Is there any particular time of year you like best?

All comments will go in a draw to win one of two sets of the December Blaze titles. Good luck! And be sure to drop by on December 24 to see how some of the Blaze babes get their furkids ready for Santa!

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays.

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Blaze

Those of you who frequent the Blaze Authors blog regularly know it’s a pretty cool place to hang out. Well this month—actually, this week—Harlequin has a treat in store for you too! We’re launching our first ever Editorial week– aka So You Think You Can Write–on eHarlequin. It starts today and runs through Friday. For those of you who love the books, you’ll find chats, podcasts and blogs from some of your favorite Harlequin authors (and even a few editors ). And if you’re an aspiring author, there will also be a daily writing challenge, as well as a lot of other great opportunities. So be sure to come by and check it out at www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com.

The other exciting news, of course, is that I have 6 more fantastic books for you to enjoy this month.

Debbi Rawlins gets the month off to a great start with The Real Deal. This second story in the Lose Yourself… miniseries introduces a homebody heroine who decides to take on the Big Apple. She’s armed only with a copy of Erotic New York. And she’s not afraid to use it…

Next up is the second book in Tori Carrington’s Private Scandals miniseries, Private Affairs. This book has it all – sex, betrayal, sex, first love, sex and secrets. Oh, and did I mention sex? Hot and heartwarming, this book will definitely warm you up when the weather turns colder.

Jennifer LaBrecque continues her Alaskan Heat miniseries this month with Northern Encounter. And I have to admit – this is my favorite book in the series. Of course, that could have something to do with the hot, hot, HOT, half-Inuit guy on the cover.

Kathy Lyons has the Forbidden Fantasy title this month with Taking Care of Business. You know how they say that mixing business with pleasure is a bad idea? Well, it’s working out very well for this heroine…

Lori Borrill ushers in the holiday season a little early this year with her Blaze Encounters, One Winter’s Night. If you’ve ever wondered what might happen at an office Christmas party, you’ll want to pick up this book. Let’s just say it’s very inspiring….

Then Michelle Rowen rounds out the month with her second Blaze novel, Touch and Go. When a woman finds herself stranded with the hottest guy ever—the one she’s wanted forever—it’s her chance to indulge, right? Unfortunately, there are…complications. Don’t miss this sizzling, slightly paranormal adventure.

And now on to the Craft segment. This month, we’re going to talk about one of my favorite things—men!

In Blaze, we tend to feature what I affectionately call ‘extraordinary, ordinary guys’. Now, like most romance heroes, these fellows are definitely larger than life. However, they’re still average guys – cops, firefighters, security guards, doctors, etc.—the kind of man a person like me could meet anywhere. These heroes are attainable. And that’s a key to Blaze.

Last month, we learned that we have to identify with the heroine, that we have to become the heroine. So, if we’re the heroine, shouldn’t we end up with a guy we could possibly get? I’ve never heard of anyone shacking up with a sheik, but I do have a lot of friends that tied the knot with cops.

It all comes down to realism. It is much easier for a reader to fall into our stories if we’re not making her suspend disbelief along the way. And when she reaches ‘The End’, we hope she closes the book thinking ‘Hey, maybe I’ll be just as lucky…”

Have you ever noticed that writers tend to give their readers same kind of hero in every book? Now, I’m not saying they that these heroes aren’t different – they probably look different, act and react differently, come from different situations, do different jobs, etc. But underneath all that, there’s something strangely familiar. I once told Vicki Lewis Thompson that all her heroes had the same soul. Regardless of whether he’s a nerd or a cowboy, there’s always something about Vicki’s hero that tells me ‘I know this guy’.

At the RWA conference in Orlando this year, I attended a wonderful workshop on heroes given by Vicki, Rhonda Nelson and Kira Sinclair. And one thing they said really stuck with me – that when a writer comes up with her hero, she’s often thinking about her ideal man. Only she’s not thinking of his looks—it’s about his character.

We were challenged to come up with the three most important character traits our own perfect man would have. And it varied around the room…which is why there are so many wonderful heroes out there! (Who’d have guessed that I value a man’s sense of humor far more than, say, his protective instincts? Then again, I take care of myself pretty well, thank you very much. )

So, now it’s your turn. What three character traits do you look for in a hero? Inquiring minds want to know. Everyone who answers will be entered in a draw to win a set of this month’s books.

And don’t forget check out www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com. On Tuesday, Leslie Kelly, Tori Carrington and I will be discussing what makes a great sex scene. There will also be blogs from Kate Hoffmann and Jill Shalvis, Blaze editor Kathryn Lye has at least one podcast, and our newest Blaze babe, Meg Maguire, will tell us how she got into writing romance. It’ll be a blast!

See you there.

Brenda Chin
Senior Editor
Harlequin Blaze