How do writers create a world for readers to step into?

When I started writing DINNER ON PRIMROSE HILL I did what I always do in my mind. I build a plot much like a carpenter builds a house. I begin with the foundation, the facts, the time period, the weather, the location, the history. How do writers create a world for readers to step into? For… Read More

14 NO PLAYER REQUIRED by JoAnn Sky

My Best Ideas…. People often ask me how I come up with the idea for my story, or for specific scenes. Many times, they grow from real life experiences. An event occurs, and a specific moment from that event plants a seed.  For example, my neighborhood is host to bands of wild horses every year;… Read More

5 All the Single Ladies

by Natasha Moore Best friends. Good friends. Old friends. New friends. We all need friends. Some of my favorite romance series have revolved around a group of women who have drawn together, offering help, support, and possibly alcoholic fortification for each other when life has thrown things their way. Since I’m what is now considered… Read More

16 So, I did a thing…

So, I did a thing… Isn’t that how it always starts when someone does something they weren’t really sure of at first but did it anyway and now are so glad they did? Yeah, that’s me. Let me explain. I’ve been a published romance author four years now, and yes, I’m one of those writers… Read More

1 How the ‘Year of ‘No’ Transformed my Entire Career

Starting a career as an author with that first finished manuscript is probably the most exciting and terrifying journey an aspiring writer can embark on. The uncertainty of finding an agent, finding the right publisher, finding reviewers and finding readers is daunting and can be slightly overwhelming. But after that first book does all those… Read More

170 HOW I LOST CONTROL OF MY JAYNE CASTLE WORLD

If you know me you probably know by now that I write psychic romantic suspense under three different names:  Jayne Ann Krentz for contemporaries, Amanda Quick for historicals and Jayne Castle for my futuristic stories. Things were going swell until I realized the horrifying truth.  The dust bunnies had taken control of my Jayne Castle… Read More

4 Behind the Scenes of Serve ’N’ Protect

By Tee O’Fallon Serve ’N’ Protect is my eighth published romantic suspense and the first one for which I can’t take full credit for devising the plot. This was a true collaborative effort between me, my editor, and my publisher. For this story, my publisher said: “Hey, Tee. We’d like you to do something a… Read More

6 Christina, How Could You?

How could I what? OH! How could I complicate an already complicated love situation further in my Mommy Wars series by pairing Molly and Gavin together? The answer: How could I not?  I realize that there are some complicated relationship dynamics in this series. But, here’s the thing: that’s what makes it so fun. To… Read More

7  Rain, rain, rain….and books!

After a summer of severe drought in the Midwest, “rain” isn’t  a word we take lightly. Finally, we started seeing same rainy days as August came to an end. What a joy to see the sky dark and threatening, and to hear the patter of rain on our roof.  Like today! But this means it’s… Read More

15 My Hometown

I’ve always found history interesting; it was always my favorite subject in school when I was growing up. When I’m learning about the past, I always find myself asking. What if? That was how the Heart of Colton series was born. I based my little town of Colton on my hometown of West, Mississippi. A… Read More

BOYS KISSING BOYS by Amy Andrews

G’day there, Writerspace followers. I’m thrilled to be here talking about my latest romance, Playing It Safe, which is, as the title of this blog eludes to, a male/male romance. Now, after eighty something boys-kissing-girls books – 6 so far in this series alone – this is a departure for me and not one I’d… Read More

2 “Hey, Doc. You Know That Patient You Saw . . .”

An emergency physician never wants to hear those words. The next line won’t be, “He stopped by the ER today to say he’s doing well.” Instead, the inevitable bad news will ignite emotions somewhere between regret and outright terror. Sometimes the bearer of bad news won’t make the slightest effort to spare your feelings. As… Read More