Jodie: I’ve always been an avid reader of romance. In fact when I think of it, all the books that I liked outside the romance genre had to have romance as an element. It kept me interested. Soon my shelves were overflowing with romance books. In the 90s it was all historicals for me. I read them through the night and couldn’t get enough of them. Soon it wasn’t enough, in order to get to sleep at night I was thinking up stories, and without fail I would fall asleep just before they’d consummate their love for each other :p. One day, I was talking to my sister about a story I was imagining up and we were having a good giggle about it. In the end, she told me that I should write it. And I did. That happened to be a historical, of course, about a Marquis who, in order to avoid matrimony makes up a fake fiancée to keep the marriage minded mamas at bay. But his plan is foiled when his mother searches out this infamous Miss Hinglebottom and finds her to be real (much to the dismay of the Marquis). What about you, Sid? What made you write romance and what was your first story about?
Sidney: I did it as a dare. Seriously. I hadn’t been reading romance long, and though I read some books that I really loved, there were others that frustrated me with heroines who were stupid and plots that went nowhere. I was writing, but wasn’t having any success with my books. So I took a challenge to write romance, and a few months later I sold it. Between the time I wrote the first one and it sold, I’d already jumped on the band wagon and written a few more, and now here I am. Not only do I proudly read romance, I write it too. It’s not the typical story of how one becomes a romance writer, but I think the precedent in my life is I do nothing the normal way! Looking back, I can see the impact that romance and relationships played in my early writing. I’ve always been a fan of the more emotional arcs, but I need some action or reason to keep my pages turning.
Jodie: Talking about emotional arcs, it is a complex balance of character development, emotional upheaval and action/plot to keep the reader interested. That’s the hard part of writing. We’re not sitting at our laptops, eating bon bons and thinking of glorious and different ways to describe a woman’s va-jayay… okay, well sometimes we are *grins*. Minus the bonbons. I’m more of a white chocolate lover. Anyway, writing my first romance it just poured out of me. It was done and then I realized, I didn’t know the first thing about sending it to publishers and promptly joined a writer’s group. It was there I discovered that I was the adverb Queen and I wrote in a hue that distinctly looked purple. Very purple. It wasn’t so easy as writing it out and ta-dah, a story is complete. That’s the fun bit. The work comes in editing and sending it all out there. What about you, Sid, what did you discover about writing?
Sidney: Things dangle in my writing. Unfortunately I’m not talking about sexy dangly bits. I’m talking about my horrible grammar habits. My critique partners chalked my tendency to use odd dangling modifiers as style. My editor has corrected me and I’ve been making a concentrated effort to not do that, but it still happens sometimes. The first time I wrote sexy bits, I didn’t want to use any of the typical romance words for actions, body parts or cluing in phrases. I wanted to make up my own terminology. It failed. Like, laughing stock, please nominate me for Worst Sex Scene of the Year. I believe I described a woman’s lady bits as being the automatic sliding doors. Yeah, so not flattering. Since then I’ve admitted that my word revolution probably isn’t going to catch on, and the stock words really aren’t that bad. I’m rather fond of many of them now. Jodie, do you have any favorite words you’d like to share with the class? ;D
Jodie: LOL Automatic sliding door vagina. And that’s why I dig you! Gosh, my fave purple prose? I can’t remember, I’d have to delve back a few years before I was caught in it. My editor did pick up a couple though, so I’m not out of the woods yet. But, I did notice I have an issue with bedroom choreography. Yes, I did say that. My characters at time almost seem flexible with four hands and the ability to float in the air. (>.>) For me, as a writer and reader, writing has become my way to reduce my book bill. I learned very quickly that writing isn’t for everyone and it requires perseverance. I’ve been picked up, chewed up and spat out and my ego (yes I do have one, it likes custard tarts), takes a beating every now and again. But I’m sill here, writing with a passion because I can’t see myself not doing it. If I don’t write or read I’m a grumpy gal and my husband knows to steer clear! LOL Oh yeah. The stories we might love and wrote without hearts might never find its way into the hands of an editor, but we write it because we love a good story. We put what we like in our stories. What appeals to us and hope that other people like it too. Sid, why are you a writer?
Sidney: I write because it makes me happy. The things I write are what I want to read. I’ve always thought up stories from every day things, from the larger than life adventures I wanted to have and through writing I can have it all, and my comfortable, everyday life. Everyone starts writing for their own reasons, a story that burns in their soul, wanting to live the author life, their love of books, a dare, there is no wrong answer, but there’s a story in all of us. Some of us just like to tell more than one of them. And we become writers!
Thanks to the ladies of Romance Reader at Heart for having us here today! We would like to give away a set of BizzyBetty fudge bonbons to one commenter. Tell us your favorite romance novel or a book you wish someone would write.
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Jodie Becker
I believe in love and redemption. I really do. And that’s probably why I write romance. Sure, I tried my hand at epic fantasy and literary pieces, but you know, my passion remained with romance. My *virtual* bookshelf is overflowing with them. With so many sub-genres I can go anywhere and I do! So it’s no surprise that I find myself comfortable here.
I’ll write anything that tickles my fancy, from the sassy contemporary all the way to the dark urban fantasy. As long as there is romance, I’m a happy camper.
Dirty Beautiful, Book one in the Dirty Deeds series.
Disillusioned by love, Erica has tasted the bitter pill of betrayal and wonders if she’s enough for one man. When a hot guy moves in next door, Erica decides to settle for good old-fashioned lust. What starts out as a simple seduction quickly evolves, and Erica is fast finding out Dylan is dangerous not only to her libido, but her heart as well.
Recently retired from the adult-film industry, Dylan hopes for a fresh start in Templeton where his porn persona, Drake Van Wulf, is unknown. His new neighbor is unlike the women he’s accustomed to, but she stirs his blood nonetheless. His rule not to get involved is quickly tested by Erica and her lush curves. Unable to withstand her allure, Dylan finds himself wanting more from Erica than just her body. He wants her heart also.
With the secret of his past hanging in the shadows, Dylan’s about to find out if love truly conquers all.
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Sidney Bristol
It can never be said that Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and belly dancing.
Flirting with Rescue
Sparks—and clothes—fly when hot veterinarian Cody-Lynn Parker shows up at Scott Carillo’s animal shelter. Scott’s had a bad run with women, but he can’t keep his hands off Cody’s luscious curves.
Cody’s trying to be professional, but she can barely concentrate on work thanks to her craving for the tall, dark and sexy Cuban. She kisses caution goodbye and Scott hello when his shirt comes off.
Between naked star-gazing and naughty massages, their steamy fling turns into an affair of the heart. But when thieves target Cody, she finds herself flirting with danger, and Scott wants to rescue her whether she thinks she needs it or not.
Links:
Jodie
Website: http://www.jodiebecker.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/jodie_who
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jodie-Becker/258365230878224
Sidney
Website: http://sidneybristol.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/sidney_bristol
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Sidney.Bristol.Romance.Author
*Giveaway sponsored by the authors
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RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk 