“In contemporaries, community is key,” Selina McLemore, Senior Editor at Grand Central Publishing, told me at the Romance Writers of America national conference last week. It makes sense, right? Those of us who love contemporary romance fall for books set in a particular town or city that feels as fleshed out as the hero and… Continue reading Why community is key to contemporary romance – and giveaway!
Category: Thoughtfulness
Probing questions and random stories about writing and romance
Pride and joy in New York City
For those of us who spend our lives writing about and celebrating love, commitment and equality, this has been a beautiful weekend in New York. The Marriage Equality Act passed two days ago. Today New York City celebrated during the Pride parade. The mood was jubilant, and the joy on people’s faces was almost overwhelming.… Continue reading Pride and joy in New York City
The coolest animals in romance
A couple of weeks ago, I had a dream about my parents’ dog, Gina. In my dream, she was no longer an elderly, arthritic, deaf, incontinent, grumpy mutt with only one eye (and it blind). She transformed into the enthusiastic puppy she’d been when I first bought her for my parents to help my dad… Continue reading The coolest animals in romance
Does it matter what an author looks like?
Have you ever scheduled a professional photography session, then woken up five minutes beforehand, not taking time to wash, brush your hair or gather enough energy to smile? Neither have I—at least, not since a hot guy I liked looked at my college ID photo and said, “Ugh! Looks like you just woke up from… Continue reading Does it matter what an author looks like?
Freedoms to remember on Memorial Day
Today’s Memorial Day in the U.S., a day when the country commemorates soldiers who have died in military service. As an American, I know we have a tendency to sound like we’re obsessed with freedom. It’s a word that’s bandied about by politicians, newscasters and citizens who happen to be walking down the street when… Continue reading Freedoms to remember on Memorial Day