My newest Samhain Publishing release has quite an interesting history behind it. I had originally written Touching Lace a few years ago and submitted it to a different publisher. That publisher expressed some interest. Great news, right? We went through revisions and as it turns out they loved the story. More great news. But (oh boy, here it comes) it wasn’t quite hot enough for them. Go figure! Anne Rainey not write a hot story? Get out! LOL
Well, the truth is this story is pretty dang steamy, but considering the plotline I didn’t feel I would be staying true to character if I kicked up the heat and had them falling into bed on page one. So, I held onto the story for a bit and chose not to sex it up more than it already was.
:::Move forward a few years:::
When I got published with Samhain, I thought again about Lacey and Nick’s story collecting dust and wondered if maybe my Samhain editor would be interested in taking a gander at it. I sent it to her, crossing my fingers. BAM! She loved it. I was so thrilled that she didn’t ask me to turn up the heat. There are some stories that work well steamy. There are some stories that work well smokin’ hot (read my Haley’s Cabin, you’ll see what I mean, lol). And there are yet other stories that work well tame. It’s all about the characters, right? So, I had to ask myself, “would I fall into bed with my best guy bud the instant he asked me to?” The answer, “NOT!”. Of course neither would Lacey. She’s not an idiot, for goodness sake! So, that’s yet another reason why I’m so thrilled about this release. My editor saw what I saw. She understood the story and the characters. That’s a very good feeling for an author.
Now, you’re probably wondering, “just how tame is Touching Lace?” Well, it IS an Anne Rainey book. It’s SO not G rated! Yes, it’s steamy! Nick wouldn’t have it any other way, LOL! However, it’s not read it in the closet scorching. For that, you’ll have to read a few of my other current releases. 😉
What are your thoughts on this issue? Should the characters decide how hot the story gets or should the publisher? Think on it a bit, while you read this blurb of Touching Lace:
Touching Lace blurb:
Taking friendship to a whole new level…
Lacey Vaughn is tired of being dumped on by men. It’s clear she needs help in the ways of seduction. Over cappuccinos, Lacey shares her worries with pal Nick Stone. Being the good friend that he is, Nick offers to give Lacey a few pointers in the ways of sexual pleasure. From his first touch, Lacey forgets all about lessons. Now all she wants is more of his luscious body and skillful touches.
Nick’s craved Lacey for months. He’s done watching her waste herself on losers. It’s time she saw him as more than the dreaded good friend. He’ll do nearly anything to have the little spitfire all for himself.
But in order to get Lacey past her insecurities, Nick will have to put it all on the line—including his heart—and pray he doesn’t lose her forever.
Excerpt from TOUCHING LACE can be found here.
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RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 
it sounds like the right decision was made. I dont mind when the author varies the sensuality level depending on the characters.
Hi Anne! This is one of my very favorite themes … friends turned to lovers. *sigh* After reading about it here and seeing a great review for it over at another site, I must get it! 😀
MORNING ANNE!”WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO WAKE UP! I LOVE THE COVER, EXCEPT FOR ONE THING–PUT THAT MAN IN FRONT SO I CAN LICK HIM!! WHO CARES ABOUT THE WOMAN, SKINNY B*TCH! LOL
Thanks so much, Andrea! I hope you enjoy the story. 🙂
Linda,
LMAO!!!! I hear ya! There’s not a thing wrong with lickin’ a good lookin’ man! 😉
Hi Anne. I love the friends to lovers theme. I think the characters should decide how hot the story gets.
I believe that it should be the characters that decide on hot it gets. No 2 characters are the same. Every character has their own personalities. You really don’t need the mind numbing hot love scenes to get the idea they are great to have but not necessary. Me being a gal with a lot of insecurities this sounds like a very beautiful written story.
This book Anne looks just awesome! when I saw you were guest blogging I had to stop and say hiya!!!!!! give my support.
huge hugs
I’m glad you held onto it and kept it the way it was. Sounds like something I would enjoy reading
It showed a lot of courage to wait for the right publisher who would accept your baby just like it was. I have certainly read stories that were ruined by either too much or too little sex. For example, juvenile or young adult titles with too much intimacy where the author is trying to appeal to kids to read the books can hurt the story and the characters. I’m glad everything worked out and we get the story just like you meant it to be.
I have to say this book sounds really appealing. I am glad you stuck to your guns and kept it the way it is. 🙂 It worked well for you. 🙂
Hi, Anne! Kudos for sticking to your guns, and staying true to your characters. And further confirmation–I just saw the post that Touching Lace is currently #10 (with a bullet, I hope!) at BaM!! Woo hoo!! You rock, sweetie!!
Julia/ escondita
(yes ma’am….reviews, reviews, reviews!)
Hey Anne,
This book sounds great! I can’t wait to read it. I have to admit that this is the first of your books I have encountered, but am anxious to track down and read more! Thank you so much for supplying a beautiful escape from the real world. Kathy 🙂
It’s not always about how quick and hot the sex is,but how REAL it is. To me when the characters are real, the sex is great because then there is emotion and not just action put into it.
I agree, the characters know best what’s right for them. I’m going to have to get this, like the excerpts I’m reading and seeing great comments around, Anne.
I have to say I agree with the other comments. It’s a better story when it’s the characters that are directing the scenes, it keeps the story flowing. I’m happy to hear you found the right publisher/editor who understood that. Great excerpt btw.
Donna
I just read a review for Touching Lace elsewhere, and have been wanting it since. I would love to win it! (who wouldn’t, right?)
I’m very glad that you didn’t give in to pressure and forced things that weren’t organically there. Character driven stories stand the test of time much much better than plot or gimmick driven ones.
Best of luck!
I LOVE friends-to-lovers stories and this one sounds great!
I think it should be up to the characters. I read books of all sensuality levels and care more about the story and characters than the heat level of a book to be honest with you.
I think you did the right thing to wait for the right publisher. If you change what you write to fit what someone else thinks it should be, I think you lose some of what your characters are. I think it looks great.
Hi everyone!
I love having all this feedback. Readers tend to know when the sex was simply thrown in to drive the heat level up. It’s obvious usually. And that leaves an empty spot in your heart (and your wallet), I think.
Great answers! And thanks so much for taking a moment out of your day to post your thoughts for me. 🙂
I love friends to lovers stories. And, coming from you, I would not expect this to be G-rated, but have enough sex to make it hot!
I’m glad that you decided to wait for the right publisher and not have someone else change your voice and writing style!
Anne, granted I haven’t read Touching Lace yet, but good for you sticking to your guns (and your characters personalities) & holding onto it until it got the recognition it deserves. Some stories just don’t work well with too much heat. I love, love, love erotic stories, but I love even better when the story stays true to the characters no matter what heat level/genre it is. Kudos to you for not sexing up this piece and eventually finding a publisher who appreciated it!
~Stacia
I am a big fan of friends to lovers storylines too, and totally agree about letting the characters set the heat level. Enjoyed the excerpt and would love to read this book.
I agree with you about the heat level in books. I’ve read some where there was sex just for the sake of having sex. Could have been a much better story if it wasn’t for that. I would rather read a tamer story and have it be really good read.
Julia,
you’re cracking me up again! LOL
Jodi
Thanks for chimming in! 🙂
Stacia,
You and I think alike, I can tell. Your words mirror exactly the way I feel.
Cathy,
I’m a fan of them too! I actually search the internet for that type of storyline. LOL
Thank you everyone, this has been really great and very helpful. 🙂
Ooh! I love a lovers to friends plot and this one sounds great!
Hi Anne,
The book sounds awesome. I love the cover too. I like to read friends to lovers theme. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. 🙂
I agree about the steam factor sometimes less is better. I really like the friends to lovers storyline & this sounds like it will be a great read!
I agree- you have to let your characters dictate the steam (or lack thereof) in a story. Some of my favorite reads over the years have had little or no sex. If I can’t fall in love somewhat with the characters, why would I keep reading?
Hi, Anne,
I’m with Jennifer Y–I love friends-to-lovers stories! I also agree that I read books with a wide range of hotness–it’s the skill of the writer that really makes it work for me or not, not the heat level. Glad you found the right publisher for this story! It sounds like a great one!
Hi Anne..
I think I know why the previous publisher commented like that. In the market nowadays, there are lots of romance and love novels and the steamy, hot, scorching part is a bonus to attract people to buy. They want to do that because they believe your book will sell more if it has the ‘hot’ part. It’s common because if you goggle or browse in the internet, there are perhaps thousands of these kind of book. For me, what differentiate a good story from the other is the way the author writes in terms of the flow, the language, visualization and the ideas. I usually know if the book is good when I still remember the story even after reading it 2-3 or more years ago. Even after reading it for thousands of time, you don’t get tired of it. Once I like a story written by an author, I will surely get the other books. In your case, I understand why you stick to your original story. It is your story and it’s up to you to decide the best option for your book. It must be hard and you must have doubt your decision a few times, but I’m happy it turned out well for you.
I loved the excerpt from Touching Lace and have ordered the Adobe format. I can’t wait to download it this weekend and enjoy a good, sensual read!
Maria
Anne,
Wonderful job–I definitely think the characters need to decide how hot the romance on the page is. If they are out of character your reader will toss the book – and probably you, as an author they would not buy again. Good for you, for sticking to your guns.
Billie/Cricket