2012 Glendale Chocolate Affaire

On Saturday, February 4th, I attended the 2012 Glendale Chocolate Affaire, a local festival celebrating love, romance and chocolate. No event highlighting romance could possibly be complete without romance novels (at least in my opinion;-)). Apparently the event coordinators think so too, because the Chocolate Affaire also boasts the largest gathering of romance novelists in the Southwest.

Authors

Linda Andrews Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy Latest Release: Blue Maneuver Read our review of Linda's book Hiding Space

How did you get started writing?

I started writing when Harlequin folded some of my favorite lines and I could no longer find the stories I wanted to read. It helped that I had an hour and a half commute to work so I could write those stories. Shortly after I finished my first book, I found RWA and have learned a lot since then.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Find other writers. They will share your joys, commiserate with your setbacks and encourage you to continue. Writing the book is hard, but oddly enough, it's the easy part when it comes to being an author.

Nina Benneton Genre(s): Contemporary Latest Release: Compulsively Mr. Darcy

How did you get started writing?

An active person, being forced to sit still to recuperate from an injury a few years ago was excruciating. Since I didn't watch TV, and I was getting depressed at all the books I was reading from the New York Times Book Review list, I decided to write something fun to amuse myself. The writing bug hit. I haven't stopped writing since.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Write. Write. Write. Everyday. You can't wait until you have time to write. You have to make the time to write. You have to incorporate writing into your life. You have to love the words so much you'd rather write than watch Downton Abby if you don't have time for both. Besides, Downton Abby doesn't have Mr. Darcy in it.

Rebecca Boschee Genre(s): Contemporary, but she's working on a YA Paranormal Latest Release: Last Resort

Stacy Connelly Genre(s): Contemporary Latest Release: Her Fill-In Fiance

Tia Dani (KrisTia Eaton & Dani Petrone) Genre(s): Paranormal, Suspense Latest Release: Death Unseen

Kerrie Droban Genre(s): Suspense, True Crime Latest Release: A Socialite Scorned: The Murder of a Tucson High-Roller

How did you get started writing?

I was born writing. I grew up overseas in east and west Africa and had no television or film to entertain me. I made up my own stories. I wrote several novels before the age of 15 and then turned to poetry, dark narrative pieces that captured imagery and mood. Rythmn was as important as the words. I discovered my "language of butchers" and it had staccato and percussion and a heartbeat. That sound became my voice. I saw a lot of violence growing up and I found a way to write about it that made it real. I wanted readers to feel it not just read it. The trick with true crime is to be thorough and accurate but not so graphic as to repel readers. I've been told "true crime is an unpopular genre" because people, especially now, don't want to read about death and mayhem "for fun." But I reject that; I believe in my books, in the messages they have to convey.

2. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Don't give up on your dream and be prepared to make sacrifices and to compromise. Dare to make a living as a writer. There are going to be lean times and hard times but in the end, great times. Most people don't know this about me, but I spent the first ten years of my "writing career" extremely poor. I lived in a trailer in a crime-infested part of town and heard bullet spray at night. I had no money for food and lived on bags of popcorn from a vendor whose kindness I will never forget. Later, I survived on bagels and potatoes. But I always believed in myself. I considered my situation temporary-I was blessed with smarts and good looks and talent and I knew the only constant was change. I took any job I could that involved writing and some that didn't (I once washed dishes in a cafeteria). There was no nobility in poverty. I never identified myself with the "job" I had; I considered myself a writer. Sometimes I was lucky enough to copyedit other people's writing, teach writing and even freelance. I became a lawyer because I couldn't stand poverty any longer. But the experience of being poor and worrying about starving gave me compassion, helped me identify with others who struggled, gave me a platform, gave me a venue to effect change. As a lawyer I chose appellate work (more writing) and post-conviction litigation (more research and writing) and the two careers married each other.

To "make it" as a writer, you need to write and keep writing. Don't give up your day job until you can support yourself as a writer. Most of all be humble. No writer gets where she is without help, whether through an agent, an editor, a network of friends, a parent who offers shelter and food. Remember you're only as good as your last book. You need to eat while you're looking for that next story, or writing and re-writing.

One of the greatest moments as a writer was walking into Barnes & Noble and seeing my book featured prominently on the new Non-fiction releases! Sometimes just for fun I go to the bookstore and stare at the shelf that contains my book. Recently, my book sat next to Ann Rule's in the True Crime section. That was a thrill! So, is it worth the poverty, sacrifice and hard hard work? Damn right it is!

Connie Flynn Genre(s): Paranormal, Contemporary, Mystery Latest Release: Shadow on the Moon (reissue)

How did you get started writing?

I'm usually expected to say I wanted to be a writer since I was a kid and there is some truth to that. I was an early reader and started writing stories in the fourth or fifth grade. I was on a roll with my fifth grade readers for my stories about a brother/sister detective team, when my so-called best friend asked me why I wrote about the same stupid people all the time. I didn't write again for decades and when I did, it was for (hah) the money. That wasn't quite so unrealistic back then but the market crashed before I got a ride up. That's when I discovered writing was my calling. And I'm still writing, still waking up with new stories in my head in the middle of the night, and still wrapping my life around anything to do with the fiction writing world.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

It almost feels arrogant to hand out advice when the publishing world itself is shifting like quicksand, so I'm going to avoid the subject until the shifting eases up. What I do encourage each writer to do is write what they love to read. And learn to write it well. Discover the conventions of that kind of book and emulate and even improve on them. Don't be afraid to stretch boundaries or even go outside them, but learn also when to pull back. If you like several types of stories, choose one to start with and get good at that before expanding to another.

For those who are already published but having a hard time, all I can say is search for your niche and start mining it for the fans that are there for you. The publishing world used to be small; now it's so big we don't know where to put down roots. It takes some searching to find the right place, but it can be done. And, to end with I'd like to say -- I'm sure you've never heard this before :-) -- write every day, even if it's only one line.

Tina Gerow aka Cassie Ryan  Genre(s): Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotic Latest Release: Seducing the Succubus

Abby Irish Genre(s): Romantic Comedy Latest Release: Chocolate Therapy Read our review of Abby's book There's Always Chocolate

How did you get started writing?

I figured I have read enough books that I could have written some by now. Finally after reading so many Danielle Steel novels about love and such, I wanted to laugh. I needed to laugh, as does everyone, everyday. I read Billy Crystal's book and decided that I can do that too! So after my kids, grown adults now (at least physically....lol), were in college I decided to start writing. I don't write every day, just when inspired. I also jot things down and will save them for a chapter here and there.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

JUST DO IT!!! Don't wait. The accomplishment of finishing writing a book is such a pat on the back. There are no wrongs or rights, at least in my opinion. Write what you know and feel good about it.

Morgan Kearns Genre(s): Paranormal, Contemporary Latest Release: Heart Ache

How did you get started writing?

Dare I admit it, I actually started writing fanfiction. *gasp* However, it wasn't long before the characters invented by others didn't interest me anymore, and ones of my own imagination demanded to have their stories told. Now I've got so many I don't have time to write them all.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

My advice to anyone wanting to do the writing thing "for real" is simple: Do it! Write every day. Get your story written. Get it professionally edited. (Mothers are great, but this isn't the time for a pat on the back and a 'Well done, dear.') Then don't take "no" for an answer!

Kathryne Kennedy Genre(s): Historical Fantasy Latest Release: The Lord of Illusion

How did you get started writing?

I've been writing since I had my first short story published in my elementary school paper, but I started writing for publication because my mother was a published author, and proved to me that it was possible.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Join a writer's group, like RWA. Read a lot. Then write a lot. After you learn the craft, example and practice are the best teachers.

Cherie Lee Genre(s): Children's Latest Release: The Stubborn Fairy

How did you get started writing?

As a child, I used to ask my brother to tell me a bedtime story, then I'd enhance them as I drifted off to sleep. As a first-grader in school, I thought those old Dick and Jane readers contained magic. These things made happy memories, but trying to write my own stories didn't really occur to me until I had children of my own. I took a writing correspondence course but didn't finish it. I returned to the workforce instead. Keeping travel-logs for trips my family made satisfied my writing desire during this time. Writing my own stories didn't occur for me until I retired which now makes me very happy.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Read, read, read. Join writing groups like Romance Writers of America (RWA, national with many local chapters), Society of Children's Books, Writers and Illustrators, Arizona Authors, or search online for specific genres to join. Be brave and enter writing contests. Winning any prize boosts confidence and simply entering teaches you to meet deadlines and rules. Most of all, never give up. Writing for publication is a process and everyone learns in their own way.

Cathi Lombardo Genre(s): Inspirational Non-Fiction Latest Release: A Mother's Wisdom

How did you get started writing?

My 5th grade teacher loved the play I wrote about my family going to dinner. She insisted on 'putting it on' for the whole school and it was successfully done - except my younger brother was totally mortified that other kids were now privy to his family's dinner exploits. Encouraged by this success, in the seventh grade we had to write a story and I wrote my version of an up-and-coming Nancy Drew mystery. I was surprised I had picked up enough on the plots of the other Nancy Drew mysteries I had read to have my version match the published one. However, it took raising a family and selling my business to realize writing was my true calling. Last year I edited and produced: A Mother's Wisdom (an anthology) and will be submitting my latest novel: Tarot Legacy.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Join writing groups in your area, on-line, in other states. Attend conferences for writers (the Desert Rose Chapter of RWA puts on a marvelous conference every other spring and is well-attended by editors, agents and other well-known published authors). Most of all, keep writing! Every day! And read - especially other books in the genre you write to see what's being published, who the publishers are, and most times on the author's dedication page is listed the name of her (his) agent/editor - note that and submit to them. Another thing, build a web page and keep it current. Editors and agents like to know that the author has a 'platform' already established. This platform shows them that you (the author) are in it for the long haul.

Mary Maxie aka Patrizia Murray Genre(s): Historical, Contemporary, Young Adult Latest Release: Lucinda's Grooms

Cathy McDavid Genre(s): Contemporary, Western Latest Release: X-Treme Dating

Mackenzie McKade Genre(s): Contemporary, Paranormal, Erotic, Fantasy, Futuristic, Western Latest Release: Wicked Reads (anthology)

Marie Patrick Genre(s): Historical, Western Latest Release: Touch The Flame

How did you get started writing?

Looking back, it seems I've been writing for as long as I can remember....little stories about animals and princesses and such when I probably should have been concentrating on school work. I've always loved books and had a fascination with words so it just seemed like a natural progression. I had characters in my head, people who lived and breathed as I did, just waiting for their stories to come out so that's what I did.....told their stories.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Write because you love to write, because you have stories to tell and keep writing. Learn the craft. It isn't always easy, especially when you receive rejections from publishers and agents, but keep at it anyway. Perseverence and knowing how to effectively convey the story in your mind to paper are the keys.

Erin Quinn Genre(s): Paranormal, Mystery Latest Release: Web of Smoke (reissue)

How did you get started writing?

I've always wanted to write. I remember the first time I crafted "the perfect" description in creative writing, 3rd grade. My teacher accused me of copying it from a book and my mother had to go down to the school and set her straight. :) For me, there's nothing like capturing what I see and feel and being able to translate that into words.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Write. Write. Write. This really is a brutal business, so if you're just starting out, by all means learn the ropes, but don't throw yourself out there onto those ropes until you've completed, polished, and finalized your first novel and started on the second. I say this because you need to have something solid in the works before you open yourself up to the industry and the rejections that 99% of us get. As a writer, you need to be able to take feedback, weigh and balance it, and then move on--either incorporating the feedback or disregarding it, depending on what you think is right. Writers who take rejection or feedback like a personal blow often find this business too painful to endure.

Tara Taylor Quinn & Tim Barney Genre(s): Contemporary Latest Release: It Happened on Maple Street (their true love story); Tara's Latest: Full Contact

Anna Questerly Genre(s): Young Adult, Historical, Fairy Tales Latest Release: The Minstrel's Tale II

How did you get started writing?

I've always loved to read and wanted to be a writer, but I never seemed to be able to finish a book. The best advice I recieved was to write short stories. Once I learned how to write and finish a story, the book project was not as daunting.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Write every day and don't stop while you are waiting to get published, because it could take years and years. Self-publish your work while you are waiting and begin to build your fan base. Just make sure you have it professionally edited before putting it out there. Develop the habit of writing every day. If you put it away, you may not get back to it for many years.

Deena Remiel Genre(s): Paranormal Latest Release: Relic

How did you get started writing?

I wrote poems and songs as a young girl since I also played piano. When I 'd listen to songs on the radio, there was nothing more important than the lyrics for me. I ate them up and interpreted the more obscure ones, while making others the theme songs of my life. From there, while teaching writing, I always used my own work as samples. That led to writing a short story in class, which led to me thinking I could actually write novels. I sat down one day in front of my computer and out a story came!

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. Write something everyday. You are not an island, so get involved in a writing group. Learn everything you can from the reliable people around you, and think out of the box. Dream big, then take steps to make those dreams happen!

Vijaya Schartz Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Contemporary Latest Release: Coyote Gorgeous (reissue) Read our reviews of Vijaya's books

How did you get started writing?

I started writing poetry at age six, back in France where I was born and raised. Later, I enjoyed writing essays as a student, even started a book on government at age eighteen and realized Plato had already written The Republic in 480 BC. Then I traveled for many years, keeping journals and travel logs. It's only in the mid nineties, after I settled down in Arizona, that I started writing seriously for publication. My first book came out in 2000.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Join a writer's group, a critique group, learn your craft, network with published authors and other writers. Writing is a solitary occupation. Even those who love you do not understand what you are going through. Other writers are your support group and your motivation. Seeing them succeed is your reason to never give up.

Linda Style Genre(s): Contemporary Latest Release: A Soldier's Secret

How did you get started writing?

I've always been fascinated with the written word and long before I could write, I used to play "Library" with my mother's books. I've written everything from children's books to state policy and procedures...and a whole lot of other types of writing in between. My first two passes at novel writing were a Robin Hood in space story...and a psychological suspense that would have been better as a screenplay. Finally, I realized I needed to make money, so I earned a journalism degree. My interest in writing romance came much later, when, on a lark, I took a community college class on writing a romance novel. Until then, I'd never read one, and when I saw the versitility of the genre, I was hooked. I love writing character driven stories...and that I have the opportunity to empower women through love and romance. What could be better than that?

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Keep writing, keep honing your craft...and never give up. That's pretty standard, but the truth of the matter is that you have to keep writing to get better, and you have to keep submitting to get someone to buy your work. With all the new publishing options, it's much easier today to get published, but far too many writers are making the mistake of publishing without working on their craft first. So, keep writing and honing your craft. Always! No matter how many books you write, you can always take it to another level.

Marin Thomas Genre(s): Contemporary, Western Latest Release: Arizona Cowboy

How did you get started writing?

I've been a writer for a long time-just didn't know it. I was the first female sports editor of my high school newspaper and wrote a weekly sport's column called the BIG J. In college I took creative writing classes as electives-who does that? Those classes were more work than ones I had to take for my major. I received positive feedback on several short stories and my professor encouraged me to pursue a writing career, but it wasn't until I had my first child and ended up a stay-at-home mom that I became a voracious reader. My mother turned me on to romance books when she sent me a care package after a particularly difficult week with my two toddlers. The box included twenty-five Harlequin series books. I was hooked. When the kids entered school I turned from reading to writing and joined a local RWA chapter where I met several wonderful wanna-be writers like myself. Eight years later I got the call. Nine years after that I celebrated my 20th sale to Harlequin American Romance-- Arizona Cowboy (February 2012).

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

Join a professional writing organization that provides information on the ins and outs of the publishing industry and helps writers connect with critique partners. Local chapters usually sponsor a writing contest and that's a great way to receive feedback from published authors on your work.

Read...read...read! Many times I hear writers say that once they begin writing their own stories they have no time to read. I can appreciate that dilemma but try to make time to read a few pages every day....it's amazing how much you can learn from other authors and not necessarily the ones who are writing the types of stories you are.

Think about taking an online writing class...RWA has many authors who teach online writing courses throughout the year.

If you've written a book that keeps getting rejected and you've revised the book several times with the same result, then move on and start another book. Too many writers believe if they keep tweaking their first book eventually an editor will buy it. That could possibly happen but more than likely, your writing has improved and your next manuscript will seem as if it was written by a whole new author.

And remember, writing is subjective....your book may be a hit with one reader or editor and not others-that doesn't mean you aren't a good writer. It takes time and patience to find a home for your book and if the market is saturated with stories similar to yours it may be a long time if ever before your book is bought by an editor. Don't despair. Set the book aside and start another one.

Finally..Never give up. My favorite quote is by Eleanor Roosevelt... "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Before I became published I was my own worst enemy-always doubting that I'd ever get The Call. I came across this quote and realized that the thing I didn't think I could do-get published-was the very thing I had to do-according to Eleanor. I listened to the very wise woman and did just that-got published.

Pamela Tracy Genre(s): Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense Latest Release: Once Upon a Cowboy

1. How did you get started writing?

After more than a decade-and-a-half of raising young children and not reading, I was introduced to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series in 2006. I devoured her first five novels in a couple of months, then I read her Outlandish Companion. In that book she says, "The best way to learn to write a book is to write a book." I thought that sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot. My entire life changed at that point!

2. What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

My answer has three parts. The first part is to get over yourself: you have to learn HOW to write. No one is good on their first try. No one.

Second, get involved with a LEGITIMATE author's group, which has a decent percentage of recently published authors, and soak up every bit of knowledge that you can!

Third, educate yourself about the options out there for getting published, what each offers and what each requires. Don't limit yourself with pre-conceived ideas.

Tami Vinson Genre(s): Contemporary, Interracial Latest Release: Winter's Heat

Kim Watters Genre(s): Inspirational, Contemporary Latest Release: Home Sweet Home

How did you get started writing?

I always wanted to write, even as a child and would create stories in my head. I would also often change the ending of a book if I wasn't quite satisfied with the one the author wrote. When I finally made the move from Chicago to Pheonix, I found Romance Writers of America where I learned the craft fo writing, and with the slower pace of life, had the time to finally sit down and write.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors who are hoping to get published?

First and foremost read the genre you want to write in and know it inside out. Learn the craft of writing and join writers organziations where you meet like minded people. Learn to deal wth rejection and keep plugging away. If it was easy, everyone would do it. :)

Jimmy Thomas

Last but most certainly not least, I had the opportunity to meet #1 romance cover model, Jimmy Thomas. I'm usually kind of shy about posting my picture online, but I got such good feedback on this photo from my friends at GoodReads that I decided to "live on the edge," so here I am, your intrepid book reviewer with the man who has graced the covers of over 2400 romance novels.

Watch for my full-length interview with Jimmy and a special giveaway coming very soon.