Updates!
for May are finally up--there's a newsletter, short story, contest info, and excerpts and behind-the-scenes for my fifth book, The Greek Tycoon's Reluctant Bride. Enjoy...
Meanwhile I'll keep slogging through the endless chores of cleaning out our house...
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Guest Blogger Natalie Anderson!!
I'm so excited to have Natalie Anderson on my blog, writing about Modern Heat. As many of you probably have noticed, there are a few more books coming out under that scarlet Harlequin Presents banner these days than there were, and that's in part because the Modern Heat books are now being released as Harlequin Presents. As Natalie will tell you, these books are similar to Presents with their Alpha heroes and international settings, but they're also a little bit different...
Natalie and I are hosting a competition for copies of our latest books, which will run all month (give you time to think!) and you'll be able to find details at the bottom of this post as well as on my contest page very, very shortly...
Welcome Natalie!!
Writing for Modern Heat/Presents
Hello to Kate's readers!!!
I'm Natalie Anderson and I got the call in October 2006 and 'became' a Modern Heat author - one of the most exciting moments of my life. Over a year and a half later and I'm working on my seventh book for the line. I think Kate sold around about the same time and we're level pegging so far - and we both have a lot of family to juggle as well - it's great getting to know other writers and finding out how much we have in common! Anyway, we both have books coming out soon and we've also been hard at work on a continuity series that we're both thrilled to be part of. So we thought we'd do a blog swap for a day and also run a competition so you have the opportunity to win our latest releases!
There's been a huge buzz recently with the Instant Seduction contest on iheartpresents.com and these are an exciting time for writers wanting to break into Presents and Modern Heat - infact I believe there is a new MH author who just call the call this week! And I know they're looking for more. Modern Heat has always been a subset or side shoot of Modern - just as in Australia/New Zealand its Sexy Sensation - tied to the 'Sexy' label. In the US the books are now released as Presents but there is a subtle difference. So, what is it? (Note: please bear in mind this is just my view of it and isn't to be taken as LAW!!!)
On the iheartpresents blog, editor Suzanne Clarke says that author voice is the 'most important aspect' - they want 'sparky, lively, young, contemporary'. The other adjective I think of when I think of the voices in Modern Heat is 'fresh'. Voice is one of those intangible things that is unique to every writer. And I guess the only way to develop your voice is to write, write, write. I also immerse myself in MH-type popular culture every now and then too - do you think I can convince the taxman that my Cosmo subscription should be tax-deductible? And when my husband is away I shamelessly watch a zillion chick flicks that are city based. Almost all (there's always exceptions!) MH books are set in urban settings - glamourous, fast paced city living is the fantasy here. The heroines are young(-ish) and sexy and sassy - and the guys are pretty bold too (well, mine are anyway). They're not afraid to go for what they want - even if they shouldn't want what they want!
The sexual tension between the two is really high - and they may act on it sooner rather than later. She's not afraid to take matters 'into her own hands' - so to speak. At times it might be fun and playful - not all serious smoulder and intensity. And he is the ultimate temptation that she cannot resist. It's like that last piece of chocolate cake - even thought she shouldn't, she really knows she shouldn't, she can't help but go back for more - because there is nothing as delicious!
But its not all about sex - sex without emotion = boring reading. You have to have the reader along for the ride with you, and for that you need that emotional development, to build the empathy for the characters.
I think that can be the biggest challenge in writing for Modern Heat - yes its fun and flirty and maybe the characters can't help but get it on - but there also has to be that emotional intensity, the core of seemingly irreconcilable conflict that makes it so hard for these characters to get to their happy ending - so they are forced to grow and change in order to be together. Balancing the light-hearted upbeat feel with those character conflicts has had more than one Modern Heat author banging her head on her keyboard I can tell you! But there's been a wonderful range of conflict within the books - I've cried buckets reading a Modern Heat - and laughed aloud with the same book - gotta love that rollercoaster!!!
In terms of classic Presents plot hooks, Modern Heat is not so much secret babies or revenge plotlines. He's more likely to be that out of bounds boss, or that bad boy from her past - back and better than ever before! Or maybe he's that super successful young enterprenuer who sweeps her into a whirlwind affair - only to find it isn't quite the quick and light affair he'd thought it would be...
While you want to catch that 'true to life' or 'it could happen to me' feeling, you also want that element of fantasy. Yes, he's wealthy girls - we don't want our heroine having to worry about mortgage payments at the end of the book! So yes there are the big gestures, the opulence, the gorgeous guy who gives her the best-in-her life sex. And in the end? True love and commitment :)
So that's my view of Modern Heat - I hope you find it helpful - but the best thing of all to understand the line is to read the latest books! You can browse my new US release right here!
His Mistress By Arrangement is available now on eharlequin.com and will be on the shelves in the US in June while
Pleasured by the Secret Millionaire is on the UK M&B site now and will be on the shelves in the UK in June too.
Happy Writing!!!
~Natalie
CONTEST DETAILS:
Meanwhile, fancy some free reading? Kate and Natalie both have new books out soon -
Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife - by Kate is out in the UK in June:
Powerful, wealthy and gorgeous, Cormac Douglas always gets what he wants. Now the playboy billionaire needs a temporary wife to secure a prestigious contract, and biddable secretary
Lizzie Chandler is the perfect candidate. From boardroom to bedroom…overnight! Lizzie is outraged, but Cormac´s ruthless persuasion leaves her breathless and wanting more. He sets her quiet, lonely life ablaze with his experienced touch – and virginal Lizzie is soon giving in to his every desire…
And,
His Mistress by Arrangement - is Natalie's June US release:
Jake Rendel is a successful millionaire who works and plays hard—unlike Emma Delaney, who's stifled by her uninspiring job. So Jake makes Emma a proposition to shake off her prim-and-proper image: for a month, they'll pretend to have a steamy affair!Emma's out of her depth—and things quickly get passionate in private as well as in public. Soon the girl-next-door is wishing the month of mistress make-believe will never end…
Now in both these books our heroes and heroines 'pretend' to have a relationship with each other to meet their goals - of course, things are never quite so simple are they?
If you want to win copies of both of them PLUS Natalie's UK June release, Pleasured by the Secret Millionaire and some other lovely extras then all you have to do is answer the following:
If you had to pretend to be the girlfriend of any guy who ever walked the earth, who would you pick and why???
Email your answer to either Kate (katehewitt@kate-hewitt.com) or me (natalie@natalie-anderson.com) and we'll not-quite-so-randomly draw a winner on May 30th!
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife
is now on sale in the UK! I'll be running a contest shortly with Modern Heat author Natalie Anderson to win copies of both our books, so stay tuned. Natalie will be guest blogging here later this week, so make sure you check back for that too! And my updates WILL be on the site soon, promise... life is crazy at the moment, but when is it not?!
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Auction Time
Brenda Novak is sponsoring her fourth annual auction for Diabetes research and the bidding is going on now! There are loads of goodies, from once-in-a-lifetime vacations and opportunities, to jewelry, handbags, books, and feedback opportunities for aspiring writers from editors, agents, published writers, and... me! I'm offering three months' worth critical feedback on any proposal, partial, or full manuscript, as well as any revisions the winner should choose to make within a three month time period. Also within that time period I'm available for writing and publishing advice and suggestions. And yes, I'm a little crazy in offering this what with our summer move planned and a baby on the way... but!! I want to help Brenda and diabetes' research and I also love helping writers take a further step on the path to publication. So if you're interested in any of the aforementioned goodies, stop by www.brendanovak.com and place a bid, or at least check it out.
We're on Martha's Vineyard for the weekend--business, not pleasure--so no writing or research is getting done at the moment, but hopefully I'll be back on track soon...
Labels: auction, Brenda Novak, writing life
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Starting my next book... sort of
So I'm doing the preliminary research and note taking on my next book. Unlike most books I write, this one was sort of 'given' to me by my editor, or at least a very basic two sentence plot summary was, namely: Sheikh has an affair and then leaves heroine not knowing she is pregnant. Three years later they meet again...
Lots of room for possibilities!! So for the last few weeks I've been thinking about motivations for the characters. I'm pretty big on motivations. I can't 'settle' into a book until I've thought of good reasons for the hero and heroine to act the way they do. So right away I saw I had some pretty big problems to solve, namely: 1.) Why would a hero ditch the heroine? 2.) Why would she not tell him about the baby? I've never done a secret baby plot before, and in this day and age I don't think there *should* be too many secret babies, so I'll have to think through this one carefully!
The other thing I've been researching is my fictional sheikhdom. Now since it's fictional, you might think there might little research to do, but I like to put my fictional kingdom in real places. My last made-up country was based roughly on Morocco. This time it's based on the island Socotra, which is owned by Yemen and positioned off the coast of Somalia. And finally I need to research pearl diving, because that is the island's industry!
I really enjoy research, and I've had to do more than I anticipated for each book. I love writing settings, so I really try to get my details right. It helps when I've been to the place--like Italy, Greece, Morocco--but when I haven't my imagination and the internet can take me there! Besides places, for various books I've researched architecture, real estate, hospice care, art therapy, autism, the diamond industry, and self-injury to name a few.
Of course, with all the research, there has to be a balance. You don't want to stuff your book full of irrelevant facts just because they're interesting [to you]. What do you think? Do you like lots of research-type details in your book or do they annoy you? Or do you notice them at all?
Labels: research, writing life
posted by Kate Hewitt at
UK Cover of Ruthless Boss, Hired Wife
I'm happy with this one :) I like the way the models look and kissing amidst a foaming surf has always been a fantasy of mine--as long as the water's not cold! I'll be offering some free copies in a few days when I update my site, along with the usual newsletter, short story, and an excerpt from my fifth book, The Greek Tycoon's Reluctant Bride. So check back... as soon as I can get myself away from all the DIY I'll be on it!
Labels: book covers, Hired Wife, Ruthless Boss
posted by Kate Hewitt at
Help
I'm drowning in household chores. We had a realtor come by to assess our house and... the good news? Our neighborhood is one of the few regions of what seems to be the entire world that is still increasing in value. The bad news? Our house is going to be very hard to sell because 1.) It is an old house that has not been gutted and redone by an interior decorator 2.) It is on a shared driveway that apparently is too much of a hassle for most people.
I think the low point of the visit was when she walked into our kitchen and said anyone who buys our house will just rip out and redo the kitchen. Umm... we redid it two years ago!! Cabinets, new sink, dishwasher, and microwave, completely redone plumbing, electricity, heating, and lighting.
And to give you an idea? Here is the kitchen before:
And here is the kitchen after:
Needless to say we're a bit disenheartened. But maybe that's natural, as this is he first time we've actually [tried to] sell a house.
But! Here is the good news. I heard back from my editor on book six and she loved it--even wrote 'I can't tell you how fantastic we think this book is.' Well, that made my day--week--YEAR! Especially as I continue the relentless decluttering [the realtor told us we'd have to store some of our furniture too] and painting. It feels like it's never going to end.
Labels: just life
posted by Kate Hewitt at
