Hooked On Romance

I was determined to see the sights while in DC, and I succeeded in seeing many of them. The memorials, monument, and architecture...it's a powerful city that has been romanticized to a certain degree I think. Some people visit the memorials and historical sites without putting a lot of thought into what sacrifices were made in the past. I'll admit, I started my journey out that way. Very quickly I found myself surrounded by things and people that had me reflecting on my life, my self, and my goals.

It's the Korean memorial that lingers in my heart more than any of the others. I thought for awhile that it was because my grandfather fought in the Korean War, and maybe that was part of it. It goes deeper than that for me, though. I went to this memorial twice. The second time after hearing Candace Havens speak about perseverance (see part of her talk here). She was talking about writing, and she talked about her two closest friends, but when I went back to the Korean memorial a few days later...

As the wall says, Freedom is Not Free. It struck me, that while the men and women in war are fighting primarily for our freedom to live, they are also fighting for us to have emotional freedom, for us to live at peace with ourselves as much as with each other. Looking at the statues of the men, looking into their eyes, it didn't feel as if I was looking into stone. I could feel their pain. I could imagine how their minds would stray back to the families they had left had home. How thoughts of their wives, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents would drive them on when they wanted nothing more than to go home. More, I could see and feel their spirit. The part of each one of them that lived deep inside them that gave them the strength to face the hardships, the solitude that likely came with being away from home.

It occurs to me now as I think back on my visit to this memorial and the others and I think about Candy's speech, we all face feelings, thoughts, and fears similar to those that these soldiers dealt with. Granted, their fears are on a bigger scale than most of ours, but we all have dark places in our minds and hearts. We have fears, doubts, and questions that nag at us. We all wonder if we're making the right decisions. If we're taking the right actions. If there is a better solution to a problem than the one we're contemplating or acting out.

I didn't attend as many workshops this year as I wanted, and I will be listening to the cds when they come in, but I walked away from this conference with a better understanding of myself and what I want in this career. I don't have the answers yet on how to make sure my new goals come to fruition, as I'm still sorting through all the thoughts in my head, but I'm closer than I was before heading to DC.

If you're interested in more pictures from my DC trip, including some of the sites, more from the memorials, as well as pictures from the conference, check out my personal blog from yesterday at www.nikkiduncan.com/blog.

This is Hooked on Romance, right? Well, I've been thinking lately and decided to focus my Tuesday posts on romance and where it's found.

This picture is in it's own way romantic. It reminds me of the covers of romance novels from long ago. It also makes me wonder what an attractive and attracted couple would do if they were forced to spend a night in a secluded castle on a stormy night.

At the same time, it gets me thinking about how much romance novels have changed over the years. I grew up reading these books and my mom never cared. Today, most moms would flip at the thought of their young daughters reading romance novels. While the stories have grown sexier and as writers we take more risks with the stories we write, some things have stayed the same.

Romance novels, old and new, all have the same core. Romance. A story about a couple and their growing dedication to each other. So you tell me, what does this picture make you think of? How else have romance stories changed?

At the risk of getting my rear kicked the next time she sees me, I would like to have Jenius Jax the Asian Leprechaun wish you all a Happy St Patrick's Day!


We were together the other day and a friend was describing Jax and said she was Asian, Jax said she was Irish, and it turned into a joke about her being and Asian Leprechaun. It may have been funnier if you were there.

Anyway, I have some exciting news!

I just made my first book sale! In October, Samhain Publishing will be releasing SOUNDS TO DIE BY. It's a romantic suspense with a blind NSA listener and a rookie FBI agent. They are working to stop a kidnapping/human slavery trafficking ring. The real hook? My hero is the blind listener and he's still very alpha. There's this one scene where he does some hand to hand fighting...And he has this talent for noticing details around him that even the sighted FBI agent misses...He drives her crazy.

I loved writing them. It is one of my favorite books so far, and I am beyond thrilled that it will be published by Samhain. I'll be bringing more news of it as we get closer to release. Oh, and I guess I should be thinking of some really tough questions for when Samhain's Executive Editor Angela James is guest blogging with us in a couple of weeks.

Until then, have a happy day with all things green!
Naughty Nikki D

A few weekends ago I sat through a workshop where the speaker talked some about books being character driven or plot driven. I've always thought mine were a combination as I always try to use both to develop each other as the story progresses. With that said, in most cases the plot seems to come more easily for me and this current WIP is no exception.

I know what happens in the story but I've been struggling to get going with the actual writing of it. As I've thought about it over the past few days and worked on what I do know of the story it's become clear to me that I don't know my characters well enough. I knew they were cool and I liked who they are now, but how did they turn into the people they are? What has happened to them in the past and what decisions did it lead them to make?

Well, these needed answers.

So I've been working on it. I have the heroine figured out, but the hero is a little trickier. I got most of him figured out including things that happened to him as a child that helped mold him into the man he is now. However, I was still struggling with the way he deals with the heroine. She rubs him the wrong way, but I was struggling with why. That is my least favorite question as a writer by the way. Why.

Well, it occurred to me last night as I was laying in bed unable to sleep yet again. Everything I thought I knew about him and his way with women was wrong. So, now that I'm pretty certain I know more about this evasive hero of mine, wish me luck as I tackle his parts of the story. I know that I'm going to have more fun now as I use the new developments to torment him.

So, as a writer, what is your biggest struggle? As a reader, do you have a preference between books that make a bigger impact with the characters or with the plot?

Naughty Nikki

Yes, I know. That's a corny heading, but it's true of the mood that I'm in. Getting back to book business, not being corny.

I've been trying to work on my current WIP for weeks now with little success. It's been irritating me because it's something that I'm excited about and I love the characters, but I've just been stalled. I know what happens in the story as I have my plot board worked out, but every time I try to write I find myself staring at the monitor.

Now, I'm one of those people that don't believe in writer's block. It's me. I've done something not right or I've missed something all together somewhere along the way. So yesterday, with the allergies under control and the fog gone from my brain, I started thinking about it and I realized that the scenes that stall me are the ones from my hero's POV. This was weird for me because I thought I knew him. I know I love him and his arrogance and cool power. Still, something wasn't working.

So, last night I pulled out my new notebook and did something Candace Havens and Rosemary Clement-Moore had us do at a writer's retreat in November. I just started stream of conscious writing about my hero. I started with what I new about him and went until I learned something new. Once I learned that something new I kept writing until I'd run out of new stuff and was caught up with where he is in his life now. In reading over what I'd written I found similarities between him and his heroine that would make them the perfect match for each other even while they struggled to get to that point.

I intend to do the same thing for the heroine today and am finally feeling a new excitement for this story. So, while I go back to work, I'm going to leave you with this great thought that I found in my email this morning. It's part of a blog on picking the perfect companion.

Books Rather Than Men: A More Perfect Relationship
"Relationships with books actually have some pretty compelling advantages over relationships with men. With books, it's always your choice if the liaison ends prematurely. You don't have to worry about the awkwardness of trying to avoid your discarded book should you bump into it in the grocery store. You can tell it, "It's not you, it's me" or even "You know, it actually is you" without hurting its feelings. It will also never insist on an exclusive relationship, and no one will think ill of you if you love more than one. You can take one to bed with you the very first night you bring it home without your mother blinking an eye."--Kim Kovacs on the BookBrowse blog.

Happy reading and writing.
Naughty Nikki

I was watching TV last night with CIS (Hubby aka Calm In the Storm) and this commercial came on. I can't remember what it was about, I'm too traumatized to remember clearly, but this girl was riding a bicycle with a guy behind her. The wind was blowing through her arm hair that would have at least hit her knees if she'd been standing. I know there are cultures where the women don't shave, and I'm fine with that. This to me was just too much. Yes, I know it was fake, but honestly who is that supposed to appeal to? What are people thinking when they dream up these ideas? And what are the money spenders thinking when they approve them?

Thoughts?

Naughty Nikki

I've been really bad about writing lately. I don't know if it's because of the effects of the economy or I'm just unmotivated. I'm hoping it's not the later since I've always been a positive person...I must have a zillion books on my TBR list and yet I can't seem to get through the first five pages of any book I've picked up. I think I stopped reading more frequently last year because I was afraid it would influence my writing. Then there's the matter of re-reading my stuff and hating every word. I've heard many writers complain about this but that's where I'm at. Nope, I'm not saying I have writer's block, I don't believe in it...I think it's more about carrying too many emotional baggage that I can't shake off. I think that's one of the biggest problems for writers when they hit that hump. So I've taken a few days off just to clear the mind so I can be back in the zone again. Sometimes tackling new projects that challenge me will get me going. For instance, I've started this kick butt Young Adult Urban Fantasy that is so different than what I've ever read. Not that I'm an authority on YA, this would be my first full length novel. I recently wrapped up a really chaste YA novella for my publisher but I don't think it counts. :)

What does one do to kick start their mind? I seriously think I need to lay off the alcohol...but I can't help it, my newest obsession is this Rosa Regale...if you've never had it...O.M.G. it's the best thing ever!

Okay, after writing this post, I have an urge to write. Thanks!

P.S. Romance Divas got a nice plug at Publisher's Weekly. Check it out HERE...

It never offended me, but it used to surprise me that people had a condescending and often derogatory attitude about romance books. Then when I started writing them myself I opened my eyes more and it began to occur to me. the people with negative attitudes about romance or the people that write them tend to be the people who have never read one. They seem to not know what goes into a romance, and worse they seem to not care because to them it isn't a shining example of great literary fiction.

My own husband, though he completely supports my desire to write and be published, was a lighter version of one such person. I actually hid the fact that I was writing from him for about 6 months before I fessed up. When I finally told him, he shocked me with his support and pride in what I'd done. He didn't make fun of me like I was sure he would. Over the coming months and years he came to see how much work and effort went into writing romance and grew to respect what I was doing, but he still didn't get the appeal of the stories.

Then last year, he picked up and anthology that a friend of mine was in. My husband, who reads how to books only, breezed through one of the stories in the antho. Better yet, he enjoyed it and remembered what it was about. When we talked about it, he said he finally understood why people choose to read romance. It takes them away from whatever may be going on in their life. It gives them an outlet to help release some stress or worry, and the results last longer than plugging into the TV.

Those exact reasons are part of what drives me to write story after story after story, and to continue pursuing publication after years of rejections. Some day I will sell the stories I write and someone will find a temporary release from the stresses in their life. I also tend to take it a step farther by always giving one of my characters something tough or traumatic to overcome, because for all I know one of the readers looking for an escape may have been effected by similar events. To me, a difficult background and overcoming tough odds makes the characters more real. More relateable.

What do you think? Why do you choose to read romance?

I look forward to your opinions.
Naughty Nikki (currently reading The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress by Maya Banks)