"Pucker Up" your Hero and Heroine Within Publisher Parameters

Janet here. I attended the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat held in Nashville before the ACFW conference and was part of the “Pucker Up” panel with authors Julie Lessman, Ruthy Logan Herne, Kristi Ann Hunter, Melanie Dickerson and Pepper Basham. The discussion of kissing in our books was lively and fun. The level of sensuality in the panelists’ books varied with our publishers. 

As many of you know, I'm blessed to write for Love Inspired Historical. I've never seen rules on kissing for this or other LI lines. So how do un-pubbed writers know what a publisher prefers when it comes to kissing? I'd suggest studying the level of attraction or sexual tension of the publishing house you’re targeting by checking their guidelines and more importantly, reading their published books. Editors within a house may also have personal preferences. If your kissing scenes require a fan and that's too much sizzle for the editor, I'm guessing she'll offer suggestions, not reject the book. Still, why not try to nail it?   

I've found these tips help me write kissing scenes that please Love Inspired readers, while keeping the romance strong and believable.             

• ·         Watch the focus.

I don't focus just on the hero and heroine’s physical attributes such as beauty and physique. Instead I try to show the traits these two admire in each other. That doesn’t mean the romance has to be unemotional or devoid of magnetism. Far from it!

• ·         Up the sexual tension with conflict.

The key to writing emotionally satisfying love story is to give the reader loads of sexual tension. Sexual tension is the emotional reaction/the attraction that the hero and heroine feel for each other, yet resist because of the conflicts between them. Their conflicts come from the external goals in the plot and from internal goals from their back story. Back story is what they experienced before the story opens and is still impacting them today. I love the push-pull of the romance. When the characters are ambivalent, both attracted yet not trusting one another, the sexual tension will be strong. 

• ·         Make them wait.

Normally kisses in Love Inspired novels shouldn’t come early in the story. Though the hero and heroine may feel attraction early on, they need time to discover what they admire in each other, to develop that attraction so that even with all the conflicts between them, they’ll take the risk of kissing.

• ·         Use the “almost kiss”

With all that attraction, how do we make them wait to kiss in a way that’s believable and forwards the plot? The best way I’ve found to delay the kiss and still keep the attraction strong is to use the “almost kiss.” The hero and heroine want to kiss, come close to kissing, but then she/he comes to her/his senses and resists. Another technique of the “almost kiss” is for someone or something to interrupt them. Though if the “almost kiss” is overused, your readers may be irked. 

   

To show the progression of kissing, all of my examples are from my Love Inspired Historical novel The Bounty Hunter’s Redemption.

The “almost kiss” in the hero Nate’s point of view:

“You’re a beautiful woman, Carly.” He lowered his head until his lips hovered over hers, wanting only to kiss her. Desperate to kiss her. Waiting for her permission.

Disquiet filled her eyes and she lurched back. “You should leave.”

What had he been thinking? A kiss suggested permanence, a future. Something he couldn’t offer.  Didn’t even know he had.

Though Carly broke off the kiss, Nate realizes kissing her would’ve been a big mistake. The attraction is strong but the conflict between these two is stronger. Give your hero and heroine’s strong external conflicts and strong wounds from their past so their reluctance to kiss is believable.  

• ·         Combine admiration and caring with the kiss’s sensuality.

This first kiss in The Bounty Hunter’s Redemption is found on page 188 of a 280 page book. At this point Carly feels Nate is trustworthy, a good man, and wants to kiss him, yet the conflicts between them are still unresolved and they both have some “growing” or changing to do before they’re ready for love. 

  

     Nate brushed two fingertips over her lips, so soft, parting now, rosy and beckoning. He wanted to kiss her badly. He wanted to be that good man she sought. He wanted to give her everything.

     
     “You smell good,” she said, leaning in, as if she couldn’t get enough of his scent.

     
     He touched the silky, fragrant strands of her hair. “You’re beautiful, Carly, inside and out.” He lowered his head, looking into her eyes for permission.

     
     Her eyelids drifted closed. “Nate,” she whispered.

     
     His name, rolling off her lips, filled with longing, was all the invitation he needed.

With a moan, he pulled her to him, brushing his lips over hers. With Carly in his arms, the years of loneliness fled. As he deepened the kiss, Carly rose on tiptoe and slid her arms around his back. The touch of her soft curves shot through his veins, igniting the wild beat of his heart.

    
     With a sigh, she broke away. “I…I have to work. I can’t get wrapped up in…”

     
     “In what?”     

     She raised her forlorn gaze to his. “In foolish dreams.”

• ·         Relive the kiss

I don't use a lot of kisses in my stories so I try to get as much impact as I can from each one. One great way is to have the hero and heroine relive the kiss, either the next time they meet, or when they’re alone or both. I usually relive the kiss in both characters’ points of view.

Here Carly is reliving the kiss in her thoughts. The memory of the kiss still impacts her and gives her hope:

     Her gaze swept the shop and the walk beyond. Seeing no one, she hurried to the full-length mirror and held the shimmering red confection in front of her, swaying to the tune of the Blue Danube waltz playing in her head, visualizing Nate’s strong arms around her, holding her close. His arms would cherish and protect, exactly as she’d felt during their kiss.

     
     Her mind zipped back to the soft pressure of his lips on hers, the thrilling tingle that raised goose bumps on her arms and warmed her clear to her toes. That kiss suggested tomorrow. A relationship of permanence.

     
     Would he kiss her again?

Then she relives the kiss again when they meet for the first time since the kiss:

     He moved closer, his stride loose, confident, almost a swagger. Carly’s traitorous thoughts zinged to his kiss. To the softness of his lips, the hard muscles of his chest beneath her palm, the wild beating of his heart.

     
     As wild as her erratic pulse now. He stopped near her, his smoldering eyes locking with hers then lowering to her mouth.

     
     He must be thinking of their kiss. That kiss had left her exhilarated, full of yearning, and oh, yes, of trepidation, leaving her as unraveled as a tattered tea towel.

• Make the kisses sweet, playful. 
  

With all the conflict and struggles the characters go through, I sometimes like to end my stories with the spirit of fun. The kisses in these last scenes are typically sweet with promise and not as sensual. By now Carly has changed enough to risk love, even to take the lead in the relationship:

     She motioned to the gun belt riding Nate’s hips. “Are you giving that up?”

     
     Without one word, Nate released the buckle and tossed his gun belt onto the floor, then pulled her close. “Only a fool would choose a six-shooter over an amazing woman like you.”

     
    Tears stung her eyes. “I love you, Nate. Goodness knows I’ve fought it with everything in me. But there it is.” She raised her chin. “So what are you going to do about it?”

     
     He grinned. “I like a woman who knows her own mind. Guess it’s time to buy a livery.”

     
     “What?” she said, swatting at him.

     
      “Appears my feisty seamstress’s apt to stitch a nip or a tuck in my hide if I don’t get it said.”

     
      He dropped to the floor on one knee and took her hand, gazing up at her. What she saw in the depths of his smoky-gray eyes spoke the words she longed to hear and knew were coming.

    
    “I love you, Carly, with all my being. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

     
     “Yes, I’ll marry you!” She rose, pulling him to his feet and into her arms. Nothing had ever felt so right.

     
     He lowered his head and kissed her. She gently cupped Nate’s jaw and returned that kiss, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.

Then in the last lines of the book, Carly’s son Henry appears. Nate’s kisses are not about the romance here. They’re a pledge to Carly and her son for a Happily Ever After and hopefully a sigh-worthy moment for the reader:

     Nate gathered Henry in his arms then stood and tugged Carly close in the other, kissing both their cheeks. A kiss with the promise of now and forevermore.

     
      Henry took Nate’s cheeks in his hands. “You aren’t gonna leave town, are you?”

     
      “No, my boy. I’d never leave a town where I found myself, found my family, found God. All waiting on a bounty hunter to find his way home.”

Whatever publisher you’re targeting, have fun writing those pucker up scenes, add conflict, add heart stopping romance and those kisses will be a highlight for the reader.

For a chance to win your choice of one of the Seeker’s eBooks, share a memorable kiss from a novel you read or wrote.

Or tell us about your real-life first romantic kiss. That should be fun!  

I brought a breakfast buffet of scrambled eggs, fruit, fried potatoes, crisp bacon and French toast, along with persimmons, guaranteed to make you pucker up. Actually when they’re ripe and made into a persimmon pudding, persimmons are a delight, at least for me.

Or tell us if you’ve tasted the unique flavor of persimmon pudding?  

Janet Dean grew up in a family who cherished the past and had a strong creative streak. Her father recounted fascinating stories, like his father before him. The tales they told instilled in Janet a love of history and the desire to write. Today Janet spins stories for Love Inspired Historical. She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist, a Genesis and a Carol finalist and a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Her novels are Golden Quill, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Booksellers Best, Inspirational Readers Choice Award finalists. Visit Janet at her Website: www.janetdean.net and group blog: www.seekerville.blogspot.com

Focus on Love Inspired Historical-Inside Tips from the Authors

We've been counting down until today. This is the day the editors at Harlequin Love Inspired reveal a big, editor pitch opportunity for the historical romance line.

We have inside tips from many of your favorite Love Inspired Historical authors, and we also have a short Q & A with Editor, Emily Rodmell, to assist writers who are submitting to the line. 

There's also a giveaway of thirteen Love Inspired Historical Romances for commenters. A few are IOUs for upcoming releases! Let us know if you want your name entered, and feel free to shout out the name of the book you'd love to win! Winners are announced in the Weekend Edition.

 

Author Tips:

The hero and heroine should meet in the opening pages. Use both points of view so the reader can crawl inside both heads. Janet Dean. The Bounty Hunter's Redemption.

While other authors are great resources, when in doubt, ask your editor directly. Different editors may have different answers to the same question. You're not bothering them, you're saving them time. Sherri Shackelford. The Rancher's Christmas Proposal. 

Collect pictures of your characters, setting, clothing of the era, even furniture--anything you can send to the art department for your cover. It gives them a taste for the time period and helps them when it comes time to design your cover. Patty Smith Hall. The Baby Barter.

Be flexible! Realize that if an editor wants a change, there are ways to incorporate that change and still keep your voice, your story. Respect the editor's advice. Jessica Nelson. The Matchmaker's Match.

I like to draw ideas from historical books. In researching my setting, the Smoky Mountains, I learned that chestnuts used to be an important commodity for settlers. I decided to portray my characters going camping high in the mountains for their annual supply. Adding authentic details enriches your story and gives readers a greater understanding of the world you've created. Karen Kirst. Reclaiming His Past.

•  Investigate and know which editor to submit to. Different editors have different likes and dislikes and those can make or break an acceptance.

•  Be original, but don't be too original. Tried and true works, so put a twist on a trope that editors and readers love.

•  Have a series planned. LIH is hungry for series and readers eat them up.

•  Save all your research. You'll get called on it in the line edit.

•  Save inspiration photos and scene ideas as you're writing. It will save pain and heartache at the art fact sheet stage.

•  Search for marriage license records or passenger lists in your year and choose realistic names.

•  Don't lean toward denominations in church affiliations or teachings. LIH has a broad readership.  Cheryl St. John. Want Ad Wedding.

Coming up with titles for a LIH became easier when I learned to use keywords that let readers know they’re going to enjoy a story that fits one of LIH’s tried and true themes, such as cowboys, family or home. Other themes that work well are fake courtships/engagements, mail-order brides and marriages of convenience. To ensure that the titles I suggest are LIH-friendly and haven’t been used on a previous LIH, I refer to a list of all the LIH books that I’ve added to my website, which you’ll find here. (http://keligwyn.com/library/all-love-inspired-historicals). That’s my top title tip. I hope you find it helpful.  Keli Gwyn. A Home of Her Own.

In my experience, Love Inspired Historical editors love when you put a new spin on a tried and true hook, plot or character element. To do so, ask yourself what is the worst, most interesting or most unexpected thing that can happen in your story to your characters and do that. It will make your writing, story and chance at publication better. Noelle Marchand. The Texan's Engagement Agreement. 

Don't let your favorite historical details overwhelm the romance. As with any other Love Inspired line, romance needs to be front and center in an historical. Let your hero and heroine fall in love during a cattle drive, but make sure they fall in love! Jan Drexler. A Home for His Family. 

Trust your editor to know what readers want. Don't take edits or requests for rewrites personally. It's all about turning out the best product possible in order to meet reader expectations. Erica Vetsch. His Prairie Sweetheart.

I am convinced that the reason I sold to LIH is because I forgot about the “rules” of writing, and just wrote a book for the fun of it. I wrote my first LIH because my agent dared me to. I wrote the book I wanted to write, not what I thought would sell. That’s not to say that I ignored the rules and didn’t adhere to LIH guidelines. I had read almost every single LIH out there, and the line was so familiar to me that rather than going by a checklist of what writers are or aren’t supposed to do, I followed my instinct for the story, and I let it be what it needed to be. So don’t obsess over details or worry about conflicting writing advice about your book. Let it be the book it needs to be (while following the LIH guidelines, of course!) and trust yourself where it needs to go. If you’re familiar with the books, you probably already know deep down, what you’ve got to do. So trust that instinct! When you doubt yourself, ask yourself if it violates the guidelines. If it doesn’t, then stop doubting and just go for it! You can do this!  Danica Favorite. Shotgun Marriage.

The Love Inspired line is all about the romance! Make the romance the central focus of the book and include a lot of romantic conflict. From the very beginning, show us why the hero and heroine cannot fall in love—and then prove us wrong.  Gabrielle Meyer. A Mother in the Making.

My first editor told me about etymonline.com. I was amazed to discover how important the origin of words can be to a story. Often I've missed being able to use a word because its first origin came five years after the setting of my story. I keep it open on my desk while I'm writing. You never know when a word just won't do. Angel Moore. The Marriage Bargain.

Question & Answer with Love Inspired Editor, Emily Rodmell. Keep updated on the Love Inspired Historical Editor Pitch Opportunity by following Emily on Twitter. @EmilyRodmell

 1. What are you looking for in Love Inspired Historical?

We are on the hunt for great stories with strong hooks and great internal and external conflicts. Stories should be 70k words, focus on the romance and be inspirational in content. Our readers respond well to Westerns settings, and we’d love to see more Amish, but we’re open to anything. If you want the inside info on exactly what plotlines make us sit up and pay attention, tune into our big announcement this afternoon for a list of the specific hooks we are looking for.

2.     Why should I submit to Love Inspired Historical?

We have a great opportunity launching around noon eastern time today. I can’t share all the exciting details yet, but if you are an inspirational historical romance writer or even if you just have thought you’d like to try your hand at writing historical, keep your eyes peeled. The Love Inspired Historical editors want to find new authors for the line, and we are willing to work with authors to make your books shine. Being a Love Inspired author makes you part of a big family of fabulous authors who are super supportive. And you’ll have an editor who’s excited about your work and a whole team of marketers, artists, sales people and more working to make your book the best that it can be and to get it in the hands of readers through numerous channels (retail, direct mail, ebook). We don’t require an agent and are open to published and unpublished authors alike.

3.     When do you like to see the hero and heroine's first meet in a Love Inspired Historical?

As soon as possible. Don’t make the readers wait to see the sparks fly. Resist the urge to spend your first chapter setting up the backstory. Instead jump right in with the story.

4.     Does a Love Inspired Historical typically have any other POV besides the hero and heroine?

We prefer to keep the focus on the romance and the hero and heroine. Readers don’t need to see what Great Aunt Edna thinks of their relationship. So avoid secondary points of view.

5.     Should both the hero and heroine have a fully developed internal and external conflict? Or can one have more at stake? 

Both should have internal and external conflict.

6.     How can I learn more about Love Inspired Historical?


The best way to learn what works for the line is to read the books we publish. If you’ve never read an LIH, I’d recommend binge reading at least a couple before entering. This month, we’ve got great options including Reclaiming His Past by Karen Kirst and The Texan’s Engagement Agreement by Noelle Marchand. You can also follow the editors on social media and join the Harlequin.com message boards to interact with other authors. But most importantly, stay tuned for our big announcement this afternoon. The Seekerville ladies will post a link once it’s live.   

                                                             ~~~

Okay, Villagers, the clock is ticking down. If you have any other questions about LIH, leave them in the comments and we'll be sure to get an editor or an author to answer your question.



It's LIVE!!    Manuscript Matchmakers!

And if you have words to go on your novel targeted for LIH, don't forget to enter Seekerville's fifth annual book-in-a-month program. Speedbo starts March 1. Details here.

Guest Blogger Abby Gaines, Welcome to Seekerville!

Abby Gaines

Ruthy note: I can't even remember how I first discovered Abby, but she's a great gal, and a wonderful author, one of those Meg Cabot types who cross-genres (yes, thereby breaking tons of man-made rules, good for her!!!) with flair and alacrity. Some Supers contain adult content

When Ruth asked me to post about how to write for Superromance, I was a tad daunted. Quite a large tad, if such a thing is possible. Because although nine of the 19 books I’ve published with Harlequin have been Superromances, I still feel like I’m learning the ropes!

Superromance is hard to define, as the series encompasses a range of story types. But you’ll see more single parent stories here than you do in other lines (with the possible exception of Love Inspired). You’ll also find some suspense, lots of small towns, a few big city stories, and tones that run from light and humorous to intense.

If you know my books, you’ll know I sit at the light and humorous end of the scale, and I like to give traditional romance hooks a Superromance book. My November release, The Wedding Plan, is – you guessed it – a marriage of convenience story (my favorite hook!). 

For other kinds of Superromances you could try authors like Karina Bliss (humorous and intensely emotion – a wonderful writer), Ellen Hartman (intriguing heroes and unpredictable storylines), or Sarah Mayberry (strongly written stories that feel like real life).

Superromance recently increased its word count to 85,000, which can be quite a challenge if you’re used to writing shorter. The good news is, Supers are strong on subplots, so this is your chance to bring out those wonderful secondary characters...so long as the subplot either complicates or reflects or contrasts with the main plot, of course. I write a secondary romance in most of my books, often featuring an older couple. Other subplots can include suspense, family complications, small-town characters, and, of course, those kids that regularly pop up in Supers.

So, how do you know if your book is a Superromance? This sounds odd, but if you think you’re writing a series romance, and you can’t think where it fits, consider targeting Supers. That’s basically how I ended up there. I’d been trying my hand at shorter, sweet romances for a while. Then I wrote a book that came out longer, and featured a secondary romance subplot. I had no idea where it might fit...then a contest judge suggested Superromance. Next minute...I was a Super author! (well, like everything else in publishing, it wasn’t quite that fast...)

If you have any questions about Superromance, I’d be delighted to answer them. I also have a Love Inspired Historical out this month, The Governess and Mr Granville – think The Sound of Music meets the Regency! So I can talk about writing Regency inspirational historicals, too...

One commenter will win a copy The Governess and Mr Granville.

Thanks for having me here today!

Guys, Abby lives across the GREAT POND so here time frame is a tad different from yours and mine! Come on inside, grab coffee and try some of this new apple Danish that Mandy made over the weekend. Her hubby was at the Bills game in Buffalo, so I got my girl back for a Sunday afternoon of BAKING!!!!  :)

SUH-WEEEET!  And you guys get to try it!  :)

Seekerville Wecomes Back Jessica Nelson

DEAR SEEKERS, YOU ARE A CACAO BEAN,

Chocolate. 

Mmmmm. Just saying the word makes me smile (and my husband cringe).

While contemplating the beauty of this natural treat, I had an epiphany. 

Chocolate is so much more than bliss in my mouth. More than an antioxidant-rich dessert. It’s even more than a weight-loss regimen. You heard me right. Breaking news: People who consume chocolate on a regular basis are more slender than those who don’t.

Here’s the link. Read it and grin. 

Anyhoo, while it’s obvious to me that chocolate is a healthy, natural part of my daily diet, I recently realized there was more I could learn from chocolate. 

A few months ago I was able to tag along when my husband and his crew went to Costa Rica to film a fishing show. While the men worked…I’m a little embarrassed to say, but a friend and I completely lounged around. By the pool. Reading. We were also blessed to be able to go on a few tours.

One of the tours was to a nearby finca. A Costa Rican farm. The tour included all sorts of natural herbs and fruits that grow in Costa Rica like pineapple, garlic and …drumroll…chocolate trees!

That’s right, my Seekerville friends. Chocolate actually grows on a tree. The lovely owners of the finca took us through the process of how chocolate is made and it struck me recently that I, as a writer, am really a cacao bean.

RAW and HIDDEN

Cacao beans nestle inside these big pod-like things that hang off the tree. When you break the pods open, the beans are covered with a white, gooey substance and have a fruity scent. Totally un-chocolatey. Writers are like this when we begin our journey. We hide our talents and dreams, even our possibilities, as we grow in our little writer pod. And then one day— KABAM— God or circumstance or our own will cracks that pod open and out we tumble. White, mushy lumps that look nothing like the writer we’re sure we’re destined to be.

BRING on the HEAT

After being freed from the pod, the cacao beans are put in a shallow box where, exposed to heat, they become mushy. At this point the chocolate ferments. This is kind of like when we writers get lost in our world of new writing. You know, that place where the story is fresh (maybe we haven’t learned the “rules” yet) and we keep writing and writing and it feels awesome. 

DRIED OUT

 When the fermentation has finished, the cacao beans are spread out on wooden racks (at least in Costa Rica). Beneath a warm sun, the leaf-covered beans dry. While the beans are drying, all the mushy stuff (including worms and insects) drop off them. About a week passes and finally, the rich scent of chocolate is in the air. At some point, a writer must get laid out to dry a bit. To toughen up and harden. I think a valuable critique group helps dry us up and get us ready for what comes next…

CRUSHED

 The chocolate is ground into shavings. Put through a crushing machine. Can anyone say rejections? Edits? Ouch!.

DESSERT TIME

But guess what? After the crushing, the chocolate is ready for use. Its aromatic flavors are in the air. All it needs is a little sugar and milk. (Contest finals, Compliments…Contracts) Once the tour ended, our kind hosts brought my friend and I to a table set with fresh fruit from the farm and bowls of warm just-made chocolate sauce. Talk about delicious!

*disclaimer* This post is how I remember the tour and I can’t vouch for accuracy in my description or terms. For a more detailed, professional perspective on how chocolate is made, check out this cool site on All Chocolate.

So where are you in your chocolate phase? What natural processes remind you of the life of a writer? How does it inspire you?

 Jessica Nelson, in keeping with her romantic inclinations, married two days after she graduated high school. She believes romance happens every day, and thinks the greatest, most intense romance comes from a God who woos people to himself with passionate tenderness. When Jessica is not chasing her three beautiful, wild little boys around the living room, she can be found staring into space as she plots her next story. Or she might be daydreaming about a raspberry mocha from Starbucks. Or thinking about what kind of chocolate she should have for dinner that night. She could be thinking of any number of things, really. One thing is for certain, she is blessed with a wonderful family and a lovely life.

Today Jessica has two treats for Seekerville commenters! Chocolate and a copy of her April Love Inspired Historical release which garnered 4.5 Stars from Romantic Times Book Reviews.   (Check out the trailer here.) Two winners will be announced in the Weekend Edition.