Why Write Romance? Rachel Brimble Tells All.

Today, I'm super excited to host Rachel Brimble on Novel Natterings. Rachel's first book, "Searching For Sophie" was the first Wild Rose Press book I bought before I was published by them. After reading it, I knew I wanted to be published by TWRP as it was nothing but quality. Since then, I've noted Rachel's writing has grown in leaps and bounds. I knew her star would shine bright and I've been watching her career flourish with a big grin on my face. If you've never read her work before - you're in for a treat!

For now though, settle down, pour yourself your drink of choice and enjoy getting to know this fabulous lady just that little bit more.

Why write romance? 

I have been asked this question many times in interviews so I thought I’d tackle it in more depth to try and figure it out myself, lol!

Romance is universal and eternal. Human beings have, and will continue, to fall in love no matter what else changes or alters in the future. Technology is evolving at a rate that my near 40-year-old brain has given up trying to keep on top of. If I need something doing on my laptop or phone other than the basic input of letters or numbers, I go to Mr. B or my teenage kids.

As for romantic, emotional or spiritual guidance I don’t need anyone else but myself. I LOVE love. Simple. There is so much evil happenings in the world, why on earth would I want to spend up to seven hours a day (my average working day), immersed in more of the same that I see on TV and in the newspapers.

I write love stories. I write about people discovering more of who they are and the people with whom they want to share that journey. I write about highs and lows, success and failures…BUT I also write those intimate moments that bring us the ultimate joy, the knotting in the stomach, sexual anticipation and the moment someone makes you belly laugh or looks at you in such a way, you know in their eyes, there is no one more beautiful.

Am I lucky that I get to do that every day? You bet I am and I will be FOREVER grateful to my husband and kids for allowing me the time to do what brings me absolute joy.

My passion for writing leads me to answer the question of why I write romance. I do it because the stories that come into my mind dictate it. It’s out of my hands what sub-genre of book I will write at any given time.

Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

The scope of freedom has changed somewhat since I signed with Harlequin Superromance and Kensington but not to the point I feel as though my creative wings are clipped. My wonderful editor at Harlequin has given me free reign of whether my stories are contemporary romantic suspense or mainstream. My equally wonderful editor at Kensington wants Victorian romance but has given no specification of what TYPE of romance I write set in that period.

Then you have my latest release, “16 Marsden Place” a romantic comedy set in the fictional UK town of Potterford. J

 This story came from nowhere but had to be written – The heroine, Sienna Lloyd, literally popped into my mind fully-formed. No, this doesn’t happen often, I promise you! I knew she was sassy and sexy, I knew she had lost her father and I knew she ran a lingerie shop that was under threat of closure. As she started to talk to me, I realized she spoke with typical British irony about almost everything––constantly hiding any pain or fear under a gossamer thin veil of self-deprecating humor. I loved her instantly!

When Omnific Publishing offered a contract for the book I was thrilled because I hadn’t written a comedy since 2010 and wasn’t sure if I could actually still do it after writing so many romantic suspense and mainstream novels. Fingers crossed, I’ve managed it and readers will love Sienna and Jack’s journey equally as much as me!

Here’s the blurb and buy link:

There isn't a situation that can't be fixed by a coat of chocolate body paint or a liberal smear of Champagne Lick, right? Wrong!

Ever since her father was murdered by a gang of youths, Sienna Lloyd has named herself Potterford’s protector—her sexy lingerie shop is a place where the town’s women can visit and feel safe. But when that shop is in danger of closing, Sienna needs a solution that will keep her in Potterford, where she can always look out for her mother, friends, and clients.

The answer? Move the shop to her home at 16 Marsden Place. The problem? Her new neighbor, the delicious but seriously uptight Jack Beaton. Oh, and his four-year-old twin girls.

Jack has just moved to the tiny town of Potterford in a bid to start over. To build a new life that keeps his children safe from their violent and sex-crazed mother. So when he discovers his neighbor intends to open a sex shop right next door, Jack will do anything to ensure it doesn’t happen…including fighting every ounce of his attraction to the shop’s owner and his innate need to trust again.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/16-Marsden-Place-Rachel-Brimble/dp/1623420202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370254988&sr=8-1&keywords=16+marsden+place

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/16-marsden-place-rachel-brimble/1115472157?ean=9781623420208

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK.  After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013.

She has just recently signed a further three-book contract with Harlequin Superromance, continuing her ongoing series set in the fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Rachel Brimble Pays a Visit

Please welcome the fabulous and mega-talented Rachel Brimble to Novel Natterings. It's a pleasure to have you here Rachel! And I am sooo jealous of your company in this photo! I LOVE Jodi Picoult!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have been married to my best friend for almost 14 years and we have two daughters, Jessica and Hannah (13 & 10) as well as a third child…a black lab, called Max. We live near Bath in the UK and I have been writing seriously since Hannah started school full time.

In my spare time, I live to read, knit, walk or socialize with friends and family. My biggest vice is chilled white wine and jelly donuts, lol! (Not at the same time!)

Mmm...wine.... :) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my first paperback arrived in the post – one of the most emotional and memorable days of my life J Searching For Sophie was published in 2007 and I’ve had at least one book published every year since. Very proud of myself!

And so you should be :) That is an amazing accomplishment. Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

Yes – my husband. He’s adopted and in 2005/6, he felt a need to look for his birth mother. Our endeavors led to no results unfortunately but the experience and my husband’s emotional involvement prompted me to think about all the adoptive mothers, birth mothers and adopted children out there.

Searching For Sophie is about a woman (the heroine) who gave up her child for adoption years before and when the young girl is abducted, the police need her help. It was very emotional to write and I hope that comes across on the page.

Wow! I could imagine just how emotional that time could be. I read Searching for Sophie and was immediately struck by the depth of emotion you managed to convey. I admit to a few tears reading it, so it was a job well done!

I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

Mine came via email – what a day! I initially screamed and then cried and then danced around the kitchen. Never forget that day – EVER! Each time I receive an acceptance the feeling is the same, I never take for granted I will always be published, I think that’s one of the worse mistakes a published writer can make.

God has a way of dealing with complacency…

*Nods head in agreement* What drew you to write romance?

I’ve always loved romance, right from a very early age – when I was ten or eleven, I devoured the Sweet Valley High books, then moved on to the Sweet Dreams books (remember them??) and eventually Mills & Boon (Harlequin) before discovering authors like single title books of Nora Roberts, Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen.

Even though I’m a Brit and lived in the UK all my life, I have always read more American writers than UK writers. I am just more drawn to the stories. It’s no surprise I’ve found more success in the states than I have here!

Oh my! In our reading lives, we could have been twins! You're obviously a woman of great taste Rachel ;)

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Plotting – I am a continual victim of the ‘sagging middle’. My writing process is simple – I either hear the hero or heroine’s voice in my head or a ‘what if’ scenario will pop up out of the blue. After that, I write a two or three page synopsis and character sketches for my protagonists which often throws up the conflicts.

Then I write a ‘dirty’ draft from start to finish – around the two-thirds mark, I often hit plot problems that I need to work on (or cry over!). The hard work comes in draft two and three…

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you while writing one of your books in terms of the characters or world you’ve created?

Hmm…I can’t think of anything weird. With almost every book, they have gone off in a different direction than I planned but the more writers I speak to, the more common I realize this is. I just run with it, who am I to argue with their story?

The more I write, the less I try to wrestle with my characters too. I think you're right, it is, after all, all about them.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on book two of what I hope to be a romantic suspense trilogy. They are set in a fictional seaside town called Templeton Cove in the UK. My agent is currently ‘shopping’ book one so fingers crossed, I’ll have some good news soon J

Good luck, but something tells me you won't be needing it :) Latest news?

I have just sold a new historical novella to The Wild Rose Press and returned the first round edits. Here’s the blurb:

To keep herself from the depths of poverty, Milly Shepherd needs to be appointed manager of the Red Lion Tavern.  The elderly owner is in failing health and has promised her the job permanently if no one more suitable applies.  Milly will fight with her entire being to make the job her own.

Joseph Jacobs needs to supplement his income to pay off his father’s creditors and save him from debtor’s prison.  Though the job as manager of the local tavern looks promising, Milly is favored by both the owner and customers.  Instead, Joseph swallows his pride and agrees to tend bar.

Hope to have cover art and a release date soon – I’ll keep you posted!

Ooo! An exclusive :) I'll be looking out for that one - sounds great! Where can we find you and your books?

http://www.rachelbrimble.com/

http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441
Twitter: @rachelbrimble

Rachel’s latest contemporary release is Paying The Piper, available now from Lyrical Press. Here’s the blurb:

Nightclub manager, Grace Butler is on a mission to buy the pub where her mother’s ashes are scattered – except the vendor wants to sell to anyone but her. And the vendor happens to be her father…with a secret Grace will do anything to uncover.

Social worker and all-round good guy, Jimmy Betts needs cash to buy a house for three special kids before their care home closes. In a desperate bid for cash, he agrees to a one-time ‘job’ for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmy finds himself employed by Karl’s beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter, Grace.

Their lives are so different except for one unifying thread – they are both trying to escape the binds of their tyrannical fathers. But is the key to their liberty each other?

Buy Link:

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=424