News From Kathryne Kennedy

I’m excited about the reviews for DOUBLE ENCHANTMENT and had to share. First up is a review from The Long and the Short Reviews, who gave it a 5/5 BOOKS rating:

“Double Enchantment is aptly named. It is enchanting! This is the second book in a series of Relics of Merlin books and I've got to tell you, this series is going right on my keeper shelf. Ms. Kennedy's strong plotting, captivating characters and her inventive new twist on romance made both Enchanting the Lady, the first book in the series, and Double Enchantment two of the best books I've read in a long time.”

You can read the full review here: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/0608/DoubleEnchantment-KK.htm


Night Owl Romance reviews gave it a Reviewer Top Pick award and said:

“Do you want to be enchanted and get a glimpse into a fantastical world? If you want to experience a superb fantasy world don't walk but rush to the store and get started on the Relics of Merlin series by Kathryne Kennedy. Kennedy will sweep you away and into a world of magic, mayhem and fractured love.”

You can read the full review here: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1998

And for even more fun, my publisher is having a Live the Romance photography contest. You choose a character or scene from your favorite Dorchester Book (ahem, Enchanting the Lady, anyone?) dress up accordingly, snap a photo of yourself, and send it in to the contest. You can win cash prizes and free copies of your favorite author’s books! Check out all the details at: http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/SpecialFeatures.cfm?ID=2488

Until next time,
Kathryne

The Relics of Merlin series
http://www.KathryneKennedy.com

Interveiw with Carly Phillips

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Carly Phillips. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called Hot Property. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Hot Property is the last in my Hot Zone series of books about a sports publicity firm of three sisters and the athlete heroes they represent and/or end up involved with. The entire series is extra special to me because I love sports and I’ve always wanted to write sports heroes, so this is like a dream come true, really. In Hot Property, John Roper who we’ve met in prior books gets his happy ending with Amy Stone. It’s light and fun and I had a blast with these characters.

Hot Property is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The HOT in all the books came from The Hot Zone PR agency in the books. Hot Property refers to John Roper’s status as an outfielder for the New York Renegades and as anyone who lives in NY knows, athletes in NYC are like celebrities and treated/stalked as such. John Roper IS a Hot Property. The book video on my website is fun with baseball quotes and everything – http://www.carlyphillips.com/.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Not particularly because I am a huge baseball fan and I listen to sports radio in New York. There might have been stats and things I looked up so my hero would be more real, but a lot of my information comes from living here and reading the daily papers!

What character did you like writing about the most, and why?

Easy. Uncle Yank, the girls’ uncle who raised them and opened the sports agency. He’s eccentric and loveable and gruff all at the same time. He suffers from Macular Degeneration and refuses to give up without a fight. I love his humor and he’s loosely based on my grandfather who passed away when I was 16. My grandmother has Macular Degeneration so the disease is something I understand. Uncle Yank was my light and laughter in this whole series.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

Oooh always a fun question! Roper is my metrosexual hero so I always think – David Beckham type in looks – but I’m not sure actor-wise.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Oh yes. Don’t we all? Susan Elizabeth Phillips set the bar high in terms of sports romance and she inspired me, definitely. LaVyrle Spencer really hit home with me back when I started writing and I miss that she’s retired.

What do we have to look forward next?

A brand new hero driven series – my LUCKY series beginning with Lucky Charm in October 2008, Lucky Streak in June 2009 and Lucky Break in October 2009. Three cousins suffering from an age old family curse dating back to the Salem Witch Trial era – any male Corwin who falls in love will lose his money and his fortune. History has proven the curse to be real. Every male Corwin in the family line has suffered tragedy. Can these three men be different especially with the heroines in their corner? I’m loving writing these stories!

Thanks, Carly!

Thanks for having me! If your readers are interested in bookmarks for HOT PROPERTY, they can send an SASE to: Carly Phillips, Hot Property Bookmarks/Cheaper than Therapy, PO Box 483, Purchase, NY 10577. And don’t forget to visit my website and enter my contest!

To celebrate her book release, Carly is offering a free autographed copy of HOT PROPERTY to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio.

New York Times bestselling novelist Carly Phillips gave up legal briefs in favor of writing romance and ever since she’s worked hard to deliver a sexy fun read in her twenty-five plus published books. Carly Phillips started her writing career with Harlequin Temptation in 1999 with Brazen, and she's never strayed far from home! In 2002 Carly's book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa on Live! With Regis and Kelly for her Reading with Ripa Bookclub, making it the first romance to be selected by a nationally televised bookclub. She continues to hit the New York Times Bestseller list, most recently with Sealed with a Kiss. Carly lives in Purchase, New York, with her husband, two daughters and two frisky soft-coated wheaten terriers who act like their third and fourth child. More information on Carly can be found at her website: http://www.carlyphillips.com/ or her writers’ blog http://www.plotmonkeys.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Property-Carly-Phillips/dp/0373773331/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209421759&sr=8-1

Poll Results

Drum roll please. Last month we conducted a poll asking which month you got married in. The results surprised me.

#1 October

#2 September

#3 March, May & July (tie)

And we all thought May and June would win!

Thanks for your vote. Check back for another exciting poll for August.

ABCs of Writing Fiction - Sections S&T

ABCs of Writing of Fiction
Section S-T
Scroll Down to Read Previous Lessons

S – Series. Consider writing one. Remember the last time you fell in love with the characters in a book? You wanted/needed more. That’s why series are so successful. They keep your sales increasing. That’s the bottom line for publishers. Just make sure each book can stand alone as its own story so it doesn’t matter which one your new fans start with. Once they love your voice, they’ll buy your backlist.

T – Twists. Editors want “The same only different.” They often don’t want to take a risk on a book that is too different because it doesn’t have a proven market. They also don’t want the same old thing. If you’re writing romance, you know the girl will get the boy in the end, what you need to do is find interesting twists for your hook and that sagging middle. When I’m not sure what I want my heroine do next, I make a list. The first ten will most likely be ideas that are common. As the list gets longer, I find myself coming up with something interesting and exciting. Also, brainstorm with your critique partners or even friends and family. Sometimes, watching a series of movies jumpstarts my mind. Warning: make sure your twists are a natural result of the events, actions, and dialogue in your story. Coincidences are story killers.

Interview with Deborah Shelley

I’d like to welcome our guests today, Shelley Mosley and Deborah Mazoyer. They’re also known as the writing team of Deborah Shelley. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

Thanks for asking us to visit! We see you’ve set out two matching loungers and a big bag of Lindor’s truffles. We might decide to never leave! (okay by us) KW

I understand you have a new release out called Marriage 101. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Marriage 101, like our other novels, is a romantic comedy. Our hero, Danny Riccuci, thinks divorce is hereditary. After all, his family could be the poster child for failed marriages. The only exception is his sister, Maria. And she’s married to the church. Danny’s so sure he carries this divorce gene that he’s never bothered to challenge the family curse.

Rachel Levin, our heroine, is a teacher of human relationships. She knows all the scientific reasons for mutual attraction. She knows the basis of the human needs that drive people into relationships. She knows the statistics of almost every aspect of her field. In fact, Rachel knows everything about human relationships—except what it’s actually like to be in one.

Together, Danny and Rachel learn there’s a lot more to love than what’s in a textbook, and that sometimes, genetics are highly over-rated.

Marriage 101 is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The Life Skills class that Rachel inherits is known by its nickname, Marriage 101. But we had another reason for naming the book Marriage 101. A good marriage, even one based on a larger- than-life love, takes a lot of work. There’s also a big learning curve. All of us in a marital relationship are taking Marriage 101. Marriage 102, if we’re lucky.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Shelley was a teacher for ten school years, and managed to have only minimal psychological damage after a full semester of junior high lunch duty! Deborah is the mother of a teenager.

What character did you like writing about the most, and why?

We know this sounds like a cop-out, but we really liked them all. At first glance, Danny seems cocky and self-centered, but he has many layers that go against the stereotype of a jock. Rachel is on her own for the first time, and tries not to show how vulnerable she is. Our secondary characters kept wanting more air time--Maria, the stealth nun; the perpetually cranky Bianca; and Grandma Riccuci, whose spaghetti sauce is hot enough to start a war. Maybe we’ll give them more exposure later.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

Hugh Jackman. (Yum) KW

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

There are so many authors in both Valley of the Sun Romance Writers of America and Desert Rose Romance Writers of America who have inspired us from the beginning. They generously gave us advice and instruction, and cheered us on when we were reeling from rejections. We hate to list them, because we’re afraid we’ll leave out someone. They know who they are, and they have our love and gratitude.

What do we have to look forward next?

We’re working on another romantic comedy, A Taste of Decadence.

Thanks, Shelley and Debbie!

To celebrate their book release, Shelley and Deborah are offering a free copy of Marriage 101 to one lucky commenter on today's blog. They will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for them, so please ask away...

Bio: Deborah Shelley, the team of Shelley Mosley and Deborah Mazoyer, began writing together on a benchmarking report for city government in 1993. They soon discovered that, as much as they didn't like benchmarking, they loved writing together. Their first book, Talk about Love, was a Holt Medallion Finalist. Talk about Love was followed by the romantic comedies It's in His Kiss, My Favorite Flavor, and One Starry Night. "Falling for You," their Purim story in the anthology, Romancing the Holidays (a finalist for the IPPY), was featured in Booklist's “Spotlight on Multicultural Romance.” Their latest romantic comedy, Marriage 101, is a 2008 release. Shelley and Deborah are currently busy at work on books number six and seven. Their romances have been translated into Danish, French, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian, and Portuguese.

In addition to the Deborah Shelley romances, Shelley has co-written several non-fiction books: The Suffragists in Literature for Youth: The Fight for the Vote: Romance Today: An A-Z Guide to Contemporary American Romance Writers; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Ultimate Reading List; and Crash Course in Library Supervision. Shelley’s co-writers include John Charles, Sandra Van Winkle, and Joanne Hamilton-Selway (a.k.a. “Team Mosley”). Dennis C. Tucker co-wrote Crash Course in Library Supervision. Shelley also reviews for Booklist and Library Journal and writes for What Do I Read Next? and Novelist. Shelley, RWA's 2001 Librarian of the Year, retired after more than twenty years as a library manager to work part-time as a reference librarian at the Glendale Community College Library Media Center and devote more hours to her family and her writing.

Deborah is the Building Safety Director for the City of Glendale, Arizona. She’s had some pretty huge projects these last few years--namely a hockey arena and a football stadium that was the site of Super Bowl 2008. With many other large projects, including residential and retail construction and all of the new hotels and restaurants needed to support the Super Bowl crowd, Deborah has had very little down time.

Both Deborah and Shelley have been blessed with truly supportive families who encourage their writing; a wonderful critique group (Sandra Lagesse, Marion Ekholm, Carol Webb, and Kim Watters); and spoiled rotten cats that object to time spent writing as time that could have been better spent devoted to them.

Check out author’s website at http://www.deborahshelley.com/

Buy Marriage 101 at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Interview with Lucienne Diver

I’d like to welcome our guest agent today, Lucienne Diver, the newest agent over at The Knight Agency. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

Can you please give us a little information about your publishing background?

It all started in fourth grade when I won a speech competition…. What's that? Fast forward? I can do that.

When I graduated college (after working on the university anthropology magazine and earlier than that my high school literary magazine), I applied to jobs in publishing and to graduate school for forensic anthropology. Publishing got back to me first and I never looked back. I've always been a voracious reader and to be part of the publication process…priceless.

What made you decide to switch agencies?

There comes a point when it's time to leave home. Spectrum is a fantastic agency and Eleanor Wood gave me my start fifteen years ago when I was fresh out of school. However, The Knight Agency is a great fit for me now. They're a really wonderful, dynamic group of people with a lot of ideas and the energy to make them a reality. I'm very excited about joining them.

How many clients do you currently have?

About 40.

Did you bring over any authors with you? How many more are you actively looking to sign?

I brought all but one of my authors, who decided to stay with Spectrum, with me. I'm pretty busy with my forty plus clients, but I'm always looking to take on something that blows me away. I represent all kinds of commercial fiction, from adult to young adult.

What other genres besides romance do you represent?

Fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense, mainstream and women's fiction.

What fees (if any) does your agency charge? What is your agency’s commission rate?

No fees. 15% on domestic rights, 20% on foreign.

What’s your response time for queries, partials and full manuscripts?

Generally within a month, though occasionally when I'm swamped it can stretch to two or three months.

What new author have you recently signed?

I've recently signed a fantastic urban fantasy/paranormal romance author named Chloe Neill whose first, SOME GIRLS BITE, is coming out from Ace in 2009. I've also just recently sold an amazing debut novelist, N.K. Jemisin, to Orbit at auction. I'm really looking forward to both these releases, as well as new books by Marjorie M. Liu, Susan Krinard, Lynn Flewelling and others!

What new project made you grab for that hidden piece of chocolate in your pencil drawer?

Because it was just so good? One of my authors, Rosemary Clement-Moore recently turned in her new novel, SOUTHERN GOTHIC. I'm convinced she and I read all the same wonderful books growing up and that she managed to distill the best from each into one book.

What can an author do to grab your attention?

Write a kick-butt story with a phenomenal voice where the pace doesn't flag and the ideas are fresh.

What do you love/hate most about being an agent?

I adore working with brilliant, creative people and having some part in their success. What I hate? Waiting for responses. Patience is not one of my virtues. ( I can relate to that. KW)

What trends do you see for the future of publishing?

I think that with new readers, e-books are going to be playing a larger part in publishing, but we've all been talking about that for years and I don't think it will ever (or at least not in our lifetime) take over completely from print publishing. As always, it's a sure thing that the industry is cyclical, so different genres or subgenres will rise and fall in popularity. It's a good thing to be diverse, which is not to say unfocussed, in your work so that you can move with the times.

Any other chocolate nuggets you can give authors looking for representation?

Focus first on writing an awesome book. While you should be aware of the realities of the market, you shouldn't let them or "conventional wisdom" dictate to you. What you want is to be the person to whom others are compared, not the one compared to someone else. A fresh voice is priceless. Once you've produced an awesome book, hone it. Don't get turned down by being a draft away from a "yes." Unfortunately, agents and editors are often too busy to nurture a diamond in the rough.

Thanks, Lucienne!

Check out the agent’s website at www.knightagency.net

The ABCs of Writing Fiction Section Q-R

ABCs of Writing of Fiction
Section Q-R
Scroll Down to Read Previous Lessons

Q – Quest for an Agent. I have often heard it is now harder to find an agent, than an editor. That may be true, but don’t give up hope. Persistence pays off. Refine your craft and keep submitting. First, do your research. Don’t waste time submitting to agents who don’t represent your genre. Save that stamp money for filling your gas tank. While building your agent wish list, ask questions. That’s one reason we network at meetings, conferences, and on loops. Don’t be afraid to submit to more than one agent at a time. If you get a rejection, don't take it personally and don't be afraid to submit to that same agent with a new project in the future. Many writers were once rejected by their current agent. Here are links you might find helpful. Before you submit, check the agent’s website for guidelines. Also, you’ll find more and more agents blogging. Check out what they have to say.

http://www.aar-online.org/mc/page.do
http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/
http://agentquery.com/genre_descriptions.aspx
http://querytracker.net/
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pealb.htm
http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/
http://www.writers.net/agents.html
http://queryshark.blogspot.com/ Get help on that query

editorsagentsandblogsohmy@yahoogroups.com Join this group to find agent interviews.

You can find The Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents on Amazon, at your local bookstore, and in your neighborhood library.


R – Research. We all know writing historicals requires months of research. I’m here to tell you, writing contemporary fiction doesn’t exempt you from the great fact hunt. For example, I once needed to know if the company my heroine worked for would most likely be privately owned. Would it have a CEO? Does a cell phone work in an elevator? I now write suspense/mysteries, so I stroll through bookstores and belong to the Writer’s Digest Book Club https://www.writersdigestbookclub.com/
I love collecting books like The Criminal Mind, Fakes & Forgeries, The Handbook of Practical Spying, The Private Investigator’s Handbook, and of course, The Elite Forces Handbook of Unarmed Combat. All I need now is a hunky guy to practice those moves on. Ask questions on your writing loops. For those of you writing mystery/suspense try joining
crimescenewriter@yahoogroups.com

I'll post the next lesson a week from today. Until then, I need to get back to my manuscript.