I was eleven days from my last deadline when my home phone rang at an ominously late hour. Half asleep, I barely registered that the phone was ringing, and I certainly didn’t answer it.

Then, even more ominously, my cell phone began to ring. “Okay, okay,” I muttered, scrambling out of bed and hurtling through the dark towards my handbag. I tried to open the cat, instead. Needless to say, the cat did not appreciate my actions.

At last I retrieved the phone from under a mountain of receipts, gum wrappers, grocery lists and stale candies escaped from their wrappers. I squinted blearily at the number, and determined that it was a dear friend’s. I called back.

It was not my friend who answered, but her husband. “I’m leaving Jane,” he announced. (Not her real name.)“Will you call the house again in ten minutes so that she has someone to talk to?

Huh? Evidently he wasn’t done destroying her world, and needed a few more minutes. 

The next day, he put my practically suicidal friend on a plane to come see me . . . evidently he didn’t want to deal with the fallout. Nice. 

Let me tell you, it is difficult to write romantic comedy when one has a raging, sobbing, suicidal man-hater in one’s guest bedroom. Yet these are sometimes the challenges of a romance writer’s life, since real men don’t always behave like heroes.

Here’s a sample. 

Friend: “I’m going to Bobbitt him!”

Me: “Oh. Um. Good idea . . . now where was I in that steamy sex scene? Noooo. It won’t work in the absence of a certain organ. And now all I can picture in my mind is a sort of bloody stump. Thank you, Jane. More wine?”

Friend: “Romance was invented to fool women into a lifetime of domestic slavery!”

Me, typing away: “Yes, indeed. I couldn’t agree more. Now . . . how am I going to structure this happily-ever-after scene? Dang. All I can see on the page is my formerly chic heroine, dressed like a slattern with hairy legs and pink foam curlers in her hair. She’s screaming like a fishwife at the hero while opening a can of spam. More chocolate, Jane?” 

Friend: I’m going to kill myself!

Me: “Give me that knife, Jane. I don’t mean to sound callous, but I have to write 15 pages today, and I simply don’t have time to clean gallons of  your blood off my kitchen floor. Do you know how hard it will be to get it out of the grout? And really, it will be very distracting if you haunt me during revisions . . .” 

Yes, I’m being facetious. No, I didn’t get any writing done during poor Jane’s visit. She’s doing better, by the way. And somehow I met my deadline—though I’m glad that I won’t be a fly on my editor’s computer when she reads the draft!

Karen Kendall   

 

I blogged earlier this month about where I found the ideas for RIDING THE STORM, my October Blaze.  I got thinking afterward that all my life experiences these days seem to end up in a book.

Not that my life is always a romance novel.  Thankfully, I’ve already battled my way to my happily-ever-after and I’m fortunate to live it with my husband and three sons.  But the world around me provides ideas constantly.  And if it doesn’t, I tend to kick start things with a vacation or a new adventure that will provide food for thought.

For example, I took a cruise just so that I could write a book set on a cruise ship. (A particularly Machiavellian bit of wifely manipulation, but my husband ended up having a great time.)  The Pleasure Trip was the result.  My yearly trips to the nation’s ballparks wound up in Double Play and Sliding Into Home.  An old trip to the Jersey shore (pre-dating the show by the same name) provided the inspiration for my Wrong Bed, Up All Night.  The months I lived in Miami’s North Beach area gave me tons of material for my Single in South Beach series, starting with Sex and the Single Girl. 

But I don’t always need to travel for inspiration.  Sometimes, I fall in love with a TV character or a great book, and that morphs into an idea.  The summer I read about Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands area transplanted into Getting Lucky for a fun American Gothic setting.  The year I watched all the Sopranos shows came through in my Night Eyes books, especially Don’t Look Back, where a cop has to deal with a gangster in her past.  Oh, and remember the Gilmore Girls?  Their snappy dialogue really informed my mother/daughter characters in Wild and Willing.

A frequent interview question that I’ve gotten is “Where do you get your ideas?”  It would probably be easier to answer “Where don’t I?” as the list would be much shorter.  Ideas are all around me in the form of character voices, settings, conflicts and happily ever after moments.  I just have to be observant and take it all in. 

***See a book of mine that you’ve missed?  Tell me what stories are missing from your collection and I’ll send one random poster a copy of the book they need!

Each year, I try to plan a vacation that will be memorable for the entire family.  Last year, we flew out to Seattle and spent two weeks exploring the Olympic Peninsula and islands, even traveling to the town of Forks and staying in a cheesy, Twilight-themed motel room!  My teenaged girls loved it, even if my husband was less than thrilled with the black and red walls and posters of Jacob Black and Edward Cullen staring down at us. 

So this year, I tried to think of something that my husband would really enjoy, too.   He loves Irish history and our bookshelves are filled with books about the Picts and Celts and ancient kings of Ireland.  He comes from a proud Irish family that literally counts the days until St. Patrick’s Day, and I feel like we eat soda bread and Irish stew for the entire month of March.  But even more than Irish history and traditional Irish food, he loves Irish beer.  Murphy’s.  Guinness.  Smithwicks.  He isn’t partial.  So I think, what better place to go than Ireland?  

I love the movies Far and Away, and The Quiet Man, and after watching Falling for a Dancer, I knew I had to visit the Dingle Peninsula.  We’ll all enjoy the gorgeous scenery and while my guy explores the ancient passage tombs and ring-forts, the girls and I can stimulate the local economy by exploring the shops.  And then we can wrap up each day in some cozy pub with some traditional music and a pint of  local brew.  Sounds ideal, right?  Did I mention that we’re going with my parents? 

Seriously, when I first proposed that they join us, I wasn’t sure they would agree.  My mom hates to fly and both of them recently had some scary health issues that I wasn’t sure they would recover from.  But thanks to some wonderful doctors, they are both the picture of health and I’m really looking forward to spending this time together.   My mom and I planned the itinerary, which includes a week on the west coast and then four days in Dublin.  She wants to see the Book of Kells and my dad wants to tour the Guinness factory (I think they call it the Guinness Storehouse), which makes him a hero in my husband’s eyes.  My older daughter wants to see baby sheep (I don’t think that will be a problem) and my younger daughter wants to “meet a cute Irish boy.”  That could be a problem.   And for myself?  I just want to soak in the culture and beauty of the country and come back with some wonderful memories…and I wouldn’t say no to a few pieces of Irish pottery!

What about you?  Is there some place you’ve always wanted to go?  Who would you choose to go with you?  And if you’ve been to Ireland before, are there any sights that are must-sees while we’re there?  Comment here, and I’ll choose someone at random to receive a wee special gift from the Emerald Isle!   Slan go foill!

I had a fun visit with a friend last night. She’s single and I always enjoy hearing about her dating experiences. They’re not always as much fun for her as they are for me, of course. You remember what dating is like, right? There are far more “hits” than “misses.” So plenty of her anecdotes involve awkward moments, wild mis-matches, and dates that wear out their welcome.

But- as amusing as those stories are—I don’t listen to them simply for a laugh. No, I’m listening and hoping all the time that one of these days I’ll hear about a date with The One. Can you remember hearing that thrill in a friend’s voice when they’ve met The One? You might see it in their eyes or detect it in a dreamy sigh that’s never issued forth from a cynical friend’s mouth before. But you know. You can just tell when they’ve met that right one. And it’s in the hope of hearing that thrill in a friend’s voice that we wade through all the other stories—the misses.

It occurred to me that’s why we read romance, too. Don’t we love the near misses on the way to the happily ever after? That’s what makes it fun when a heroine stumbles across an old boyfriend. Or if we meet the heroine on a date with Mr. Wrong. We hang in there, waiting. Knowing the right one is around the corner, eager to see her find the romance she deserves.

I’m not sure if my friend had found The One yet. But I know the right guy is just around the corner. Romance has a way of finding us, usually when we’re not looking for it. And hearing all about how it happened is a story that we- as romance readers- never tire of.

**Have you had a conversation with a friend where you could tell she’d met The One? Do you remember vividly a moment when you knew a friend, sister, daughter, widowed mom had found a great romantic prospect? Or do you have a near miss dating story to share where you knew you were on a mis-match date within moments of your evening getting underway? Share some dating fun with me on the boards today and I’ve got a fun holiday haul for one random poster including my December book, Under Wraps, Sam Hunter’s fantastic I’ll Be Yours for Christmas, and a holiday ornament for your tree!

I just saw the cover of my November SuperRomance and got that old jittery feeling from when my first book was about to come out–24 books ago, by the way. That’s because this is my first SuperRomance and though it’s solidly a Dawn Atkins book, with the same sensuality, emotion and type of story, it has a slightly different flavor. I love this story. It has a long and complex history and has gone through many changes over the years since the idea of it popped into my mind and would not leave until I wrote it. It’s about a girl whose home is the mall where she more or less grew up and the man who’s about to sell it out from under her.

I’m nervous. Will readers of my Blaze stories pick up this new book? Do people even BUY Christmas books? How about new readers? Will they take a chance on a “new” SuperRomance author? And, perhaps most importantly, will they choose a cover with a demon dog leering up at the couple?

This made me laugh–the weird dog picture–since the reason a Cavalier King spaniel is even in the book is because I think they’re the cutest puppies EVER. I mean, melt-your-heart, stuffed-animal darling. Where this possibly rabid beast came from is beyond me. Sigh.

So, somebody reassure me that even spawn of Satan spaniels won’t scare away buyers, okay? And what do you think about new/old authors writing for different lines? Oh, and Christmas books? Do they get you in the spirit or are they overkill?

Okay, time to lie down with an ice pack on my head.
Best,
Dawn Atkins
www.dawnatkins.com
A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, SuperRomance, 11/10

Whew!! July is turning out to be one hot month, and I’m not just referring to the thermostat here in Boston, which reached a scorching 102 degrees this week! I’m talking about the Blaze anthology, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, which is on bookstore shelves right now. I can’t tell you how excited I am to be part of this anthology, alongside two amazing authors, Jill Shalvis and Rhonda Nelson.

I loved writing the novella, Packing Heat, which tells the story of Marine sniper, Matt Talbot. After twelve years of service, he’s ready to hang up his weapon, return home, and really get to know Megan O’Connell, the pretty schoolteacher he’s been corresponding with for the past six months. But fate has other plans for the hunky soldier. When he’s hailed as a hero for his combat actions, he finds his newfound status really gets in the way of his budding romance with Megan.

One of the things that made writing this novella so special for me, is that it’s based on a true story, and my thanks go out to the real-life hero for sharing his experiences with me. BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY is the perfect book to bring along on your next trip to the beach, or your next vacation, or to just curl up with on a sunny afternoon. But be sure to bring along plenty of cool beverages, because these stories are smokin’ hot!

Don’t miss my September book, HOT-BLOODED, which is the first book in the It Takes a Hero mini-series. If you like gorgeous men in—and out—of uniform, then I guarantee you’ll love this story.

Post a comment and use the word “hot,” and I’ll select two random winners to receive a copy of BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. Thanks for stopping by!

I’ve been working on new story ideas lately and noticed that most of my heroines hover around age 27, which, it “dawned” on me, is how old I feel. Or rather, where I locked down my mental self.

So when I’m galloping around and swiveling my hips in Zumba (Latin-Hip-Hop aerobic dance) class at my gym, I picture myself at that age, with no wrinkles or saggy neck skin or knee dimples. Which is also, by the way, why I stay back from the gym mirrors. Fuzzy vision is my friend, ahem.

In fact, when I go out to a restaurant or bar or a party and catch sight of myself in the bathroom mirror I always hesitate…who is this woman? Not the smooth-cheeked, glittery-eyed, perky blonde with the trim figure in my head, but a slightly worn out female with a hopeful expression but signs of…age. Sigh.

What age are you locked into in your head? Do you know why you stuck at that age? For me, I think I was at the crossroads of insecure youth and the sky’s-the-limit adulthood at the time.

Of course it took a few more years for me to really become an adult (and some would say I still have a ways to go) and a few more to achieve my dream of being a full-time novelist, but the journey began in earnest that year of my life.

And now I see no end in sight to the stories I want to tell about my late-twenties heroines. I just sent off two new story ideas to my editor, am working on the galleys for my first SuperRomance, A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS, out in November and expect revisions any day to HOME TO HARMONY, to be released in January.

So maybe a 27-year-old spirit in an, um, well, older body is not so bad after all!
All my best,
Dawn Atkins
www.dawnatkins.com

A benefit of living in tornado alley is the pretty brick mailboxes. I’ve posted a picture of mine on the right. This baby has come through 2 BIG tornadoes with winds exceeding 300 plus miles per hour.

You’d think the tornado is what scares me. Nope, what makes me nervous are the birds who like to make their home between the bricks and the bottom part of the actual box. If you look closely, you’ll see twigs, and what looks like a straw wrapper poking out as these industrious birds build their nest.

I’m not ashamed to admit it, my big fear is that when I open the mailbox, I’ll startle what birds are living there and they’ll fly into me.

So, for years now, I’ve been making A LOT of noise as I approach the mailbox. Clapping, clearing my throat. Your basic idiot stuff – but it all worked. No bird attack!

Then it happened.

The bird got me. I felt the flutter of its feathery wings on my bare arm. But I had the kids with me, and I have a strong commitment to not giving them my phobias. So I sucked it up. But I shuddered and screamed inside. And as I am while writing this.

Of course in the big scheme of things, this isn’t a big thing to get over. That’s not always the case with our favorite Blaze heroines. Our brave ladies seem to fall into two categories – those who get over “something” in the book or those who’ve just gotten over “something” and are ready to hit life all over again. That’s what makes them special. (Okay, and there could be another type – feel free to add.)

What’s your favorite kind of Blaze Heroine?

I did not need to see this movie. I lived it. I counted, and in my younger days, I was a bridesmaid 7 times. Luckily for me, only one of those dresses was hideous…and it really wasn’t all that bad. It was just very plain and totally not my style or color, meaning I’d never wear it again in a thousand years, but luckily, it hadn’t been expensive and it did look good in the pictures.

But I love weddings. Even when I’m not a bridesmaid, I’ve often been involved in the wedding. I sang at two weddings and did the reading at one. I have given more showers than Mother Nature in April and I watch shows like SAY YES TO THE DRESS and MY FAIR WEDDING all the time.

Why is it then that I’ve never once written a wedding book before now?

It’s a popular enough trope in the romance genre and yet, because I write for Blaze, rarely do my characters end up with a proposal, much less a whole wedding. I’m lucky if I can get those randy so-and-sos (those would be my main characters) to commit to each other in the end. They’re so fiercely independent, it’s hard to wrangle. But I love weddings, so I jumped all over the chance to write a 3-in-1 Encounters for Blaze called 3 SEDUCTIONS AND A WEDDING that will be out in June.

The premise is thus: A wonderful couple, Bianca and Coop, have been together for over ten years. They started dating in college, fell madly in love and got engaged. The trouble is, they’ve never gotten around to getting married. They’re too busy going on adventures around the globe for their jobs (she’s a translator and he’s a software designer) to stand still long enough to say, “I do.”

Well, Coop’s best friend, Leo Sharpe, has had enough. He also has a secret agenda. He’s been pining for Bianca’s bff, Jessie Martinez, for just as long as Bianca and Coop have been engaged. They, too, were once madly in love–until Leo screwed up and Jessie told him to take a hike. Now, he’s planning on using the excuse of throwing a surprise wedding for Bianca and Coop as a reason to work his way back into Jessie’s good graces.

There are two other couples in the book, too. Coop’s older sister, Annie, and Bianca’s younger brother, Drew as well as Coop’s boss, Ajay, and Bianca’s boss, Mallory. Everyone gets into the wedding spirit! In a most Blaze-like way.

In fact, next week (beginning on April 26th), eHarlequin will begin publishing a free online read (short story length) about Bianca and Coop and what is happening between them on the eve of their return home. They have no idea their friends are planning a wedding…and they might not even make it down the aisle if they do. It’s a rough couple of days in the Costa Rican jungle for these two…and did I mention it’s free?

But I also have author’s copies! If you’d like a chance to win an early copy of this book, just answer the following questions:

Do you like weddings?
Were you ever a bridesmaid?
Tell us about either your prettiest bridesmaid dress or your worst…(and if you weren’t ever a bridesmaid, feel free to tell us about the worst dress you ever saw at a wedding…)

This should be fun!

Take Me If You Dare was officially released yesterday. I’m so friggin’ excited I can barely stand it. In the publishing world the book came out pretty fast, but it still feels like I’ve been waiting forever. I can’t wait for you guys to read it.

Funny how these things come about. It began at a breakfast meeting in Summer 2008 with long-time friend Kathryn Lye, who also happens to be one of the editors of the Harlequin Blaze line. I met Kathryn years ago at local event where I was forced into teaching line dancing for an RWA outing. It’s a long funny story that maybe I’ll share some time. But the important thing for you to know about that night was that I became friends with Kathryn.

We bonded over television and movies. She was curious about what was coming up for the fall season, and of course I had all the scoop. Each year we tried to get together to say hello, have a meal or watch pilots during RWA. Then that summer in 2008 we had breakfast in San Francisco. As usual we talked about everything from our families to TV to books. She always was kind about asking what I was working on, and I told her that I wanted to try my hand at writing something like the Woman’s Murder Club meets Burn Notice. Sexy detectives and spies coming together and solving cases.

She said that sounded like something that would work for Blaze. I was shocked. She told me to put together a proposal. My agent thought it was an awesome idea, and that, my friends is how the Stonegate Investigative Agency came to be. My idea was that these very strong women who ran the agency would have to deal with cases all over the world. Of course, they’d also fall in love.

Mariska, my heroine in Take Me if You Dare owns the agency that was bequeathed to her by her mother. But it was the hero, who really brought this book to life for me. Jackson is a burned CIA agent and all he wants to do is get out of Bangkok. It was kind of my ode to “Burn Notice” and that sexy Michael Westin (Jeffrey Donovan). Jackson needed a heroine who could hold her own, and that is how Mariska was born. Of course, you “Law & Order” fans know where I stole that name from and it fits this character.

What I like, and yes I know I wrote it, is that even though there are mob guys and intrigue, there is also a lot of humor. Jackson and Mariska are fun, sexy couple, who always seem to find themselves in trouble. I had a blast writing their adventure and I hope you’ll enjoy it too!

I’m celebrating all month and have lots of ways for you to win cool prizes, so be sure to check out www.candacehavens.com. Oh and you can check out the first episode of RAW CANDY where I talk about books, television, movies and celebs at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6B3slnuGVk

I’d like to hear about your all-time favorite romantic couples. Do you have one couple that stands out above all the rest? Tell me, I want to know!