Sydney Strand's Blog - Posts Tagged "sydney-strand"
Why I Write Romance Novels
The very first romance novel I read was Wuthering Heights.
My second romance novel was The Thorn Birds.
Wow. Those are two very different books on opposite sides of the spectrum, aren't they?
I picked up both books at age 8. Wuthering Heights came from Starline Elementary School in my hometown of Lake Havasu, Arizona. It was a wonderful school, with a wonderful library filled with wonderful librarians (Mrs. Bush! Mrs. Quill!).
When I checked out Wuthering Heights, I didn't realize it was the abridged version, and I was confused by the narrator. Up to that point in my reading career of Beatrix Potter and Little Miss books, first-person narrators were the protagonists in a book. So I didn't quite understand why Heathcliff was going after this "Cathy" chick when the narrator was free for the picking!
The Thorn Birds, on the other hand, came from my parents' stash of books kept in the laundry room cupboards. It resided next to Sidney Sheldon novels, and I instantly understood this story better and immediately fell in love with Maggie and Father Ralph. (In fact, they have a son named Dane, who is my character's name in HIS FAVORITE INCONVENIENCE. A little nod to my romance-book-loving roots.)
I love romances, and these two books started my path down that road. That road wound past Harlequins and Loveswepts and into the titillating territory of Fabio covers (e.g., Johanna Lindsey) and then into the more risque Bertrice Small sagas (think of her as the trailblazer for authors like E.L. James).
Almost 30 years later, I can't envision a life without romance novels. I can't read a book or watch a movie unless I know it will have a romance in it, no matter how small.
And now I can't envision NOT being a writer for this rather fabulous genre.
-Sydney
My second romance novel was The Thorn Birds.
Wow. Those are two very different books on opposite sides of the spectrum, aren't they?
I picked up both books at age 8. Wuthering Heights came from Starline Elementary School in my hometown of Lake Havasu, Arizona. It was a wonderful school, with a wonderful library filled with wonderful librarians (Mrs. Bush! Mrs. Quill!).
When I checked out Wuthering Heights, I didn't realize it was the abridged version, and I was confused by the narrator. Up to that point in my reading career of Beatrix Potter and Little Miss books, first-person narrators were the protagonists in a book. So I didn't quite understand why Heathcliff was going after this "Cathy" chick when the narrator was free for the picking!
The Thorn Birds, on the other hand, came from my parents' stash of books kept in the laundry room cupboards. It resided next to Sidney Sheldon novels, and I instantly understood this story better and immediately fell in love with Maggie and Father Ralph. (In fact, they have a son named Dane, who is my character's name in HIS FAVORITE INCONVENIENCE. A little nod to my romance-book-loving roots.)
I love romances, and these two books started my path down that road. That road wound past Harlequins and Loveswepts and into the titillating territory of Fabio covers (e.g., Johanna Lindsey) and then into the more risque Bertrice Small sagas (think of her as the trailblazer for authors like E.L. James).
Almost 30 years later, I can't envision a life without romance novels. I can't read a book or watch a movie unless I know it will have a romance in it, no matter how small.
And now I can't envision NOT being a writer for this rather fabulous genre.
-Sydney
Why 2013 Was an A-Ha! Writing Year
When I decided to be a fiction writer in 2003, I hadn't fully embraced the idea of being a paid career novelist.
Back in 2003, I was just a tired reporter looking to jazz up my Wednesday nights. Being the school nerd I've always been, I signed up for my first fiction writing class at a local community college around the corner from the skyscraper I worked in. On the 22nd floor of this skyscraper, I was a production editor for a group of trade magazines covering the dietary supplement, organic food, and gourmet food industry.
Yaaaaaaaaawn.
So on a lark, I signed up for Romance Writing 101. Literally, that was the name. I didn't necessarily want to write a romance, but I wanted to write fiction.
The romance writing class was an eye-opener in unusual ways. They included:
1) Having only one male in the class, and he came to class with a backpack of at least 30 Harlequin novels each Wednesday night. And each week, he came with 30 new ones. For all 15 weeks.
2) Learning about the Hero's Journey. Connie Flynn, a Phoenix-based romance writer and RWA member, helmed the class and talked about this mythic structure with such passion and reverence, I listened.
3) Finding out I could write articles about cancer and soy and ephedra deaths with my eyes closed. Fiction? I had a lot to learn.
Now fast forward 10 years. I have gone to where a lot of traditionally published romance writers have turned: epublishing. Why?
1) I choose the covers.
2) I choose which genre to write in, whether or not it's "selling."
3) I choose how to start the book (boy, how I fought my editor over the first line in my very first traditionally published book!).
4) And I choose not to let these books stay on a publisher's desk for the next six months, waiting for my "break." I've had my break that others controlled. Now I'm creating my own break.
So in 2013, I created my first two books. The novella came out in December, and the novel (the prequel, really) comes out in January.
And I've never been so happy in my career as I am right at this moment.
Best,
Sydney
Back in 2003, I was just a tired reporter looking to jazz up my Wednesday nights. Being the school nerd I've always been, I signed up for my first fiction writing class at a local community college around the corner from the skyscraper I worked in. On the 22nd floor of this skyscraper, I was a production editor for a group of trade magazines covering the dietary supplement, organic food, and gourmet food industry.
Yaaaaaaaaawn.
So on a lark, I signed up for Romance Writing 101. Literally, that was the name. I didn't necessarily want to write a romance, but I wanted to write fiction.
The romance writing class was an eye-opener in unusual ways. They included:
1) Having only one male in the class, and he came to class with a backpack of at least 30 Harlequin novels each Wednesday night. And each week, he came with 30 new ones. For all 15 weeks.
2) Learning about the Hero's Journey. Connie Flynn, a Phoenix-based romance writer and RWA member, helmed the class and talked about this mythic structure with such passion and reverence, I listened.
3) Finding out I could write articles about cancer and soy and ephedra deaths with my eyes closed. Fiction? I had a lot to learn.
Now fast forward 10 years. I have gone to where a lot of traditionally published romance writers have turned: epublishing. Why?
1) I choose the covers.
2) I choose which genre to write in, whether or not it's "selling."
3) I choose how to start the book (boy, how I fought my editor over the first line in my very first traditionally published book!).
4) And I choose not to let these books stay on a publisher's desk for the next six months, waiting for my "break." I've had my break that others controlled. Now I'm creating my own break.
So in 2013, I created my first two books. The novella came out in December, and the novel (the prequel, really) comes out in January.
And I've never been so happy in my career as I am right at this moment.
Best,
Sydney
How Facebook Made Me Write a Book
I started this story in Summer 2013, when I brainstormed the idea for a contest Nicola Marsh was holding on her Facebook page. (I needed a kick in the pants. Consider this the foot.) She said that the best ideas would go on to her editor at Harlequin. I submitted three ideas,and two were chosen: His Favorite Regret and my next novel, coming out later this year, His Favorite Scandal.
I've been traditionally published in young adult, so I knew the process to go from idea kernel to an actual book could be two years, sometimes longer. As I worked on His Favorite Regret, I realized this slow timetable no longer appealed to me. I love Harlequin (I grew up reading Harlequins from age 10 on!), but I needed to love myself more.
And so I embraced the idea of independent publishing.
As this book was being edited, I wrote a companion novella, His Favorite Inconvenience, about Cadie’s little sister, Sera. It is set in Vegas, it has a Swedish hunk, and there is a big splash in a Venetian (Hotel) canal.That story was edited and ready for publication in December 2013.
By the way, that third idea Harlequin passed on? I’m putting it up as a serial on Wattpad. It’s called His Favorite Distraction and features Harrison Black, the bleeding venture capitalist from His Favorite Inconvenience, and Jillian Wade, the girl who doesn’t understand nor participates in monogamous relationships. They’re shipwrecked on an island off the coast of Maine and held “hostage” by a very stubborn bull seal. You can read that story starting February14 at http://www.wattpad.com/user/sydneystr... will get a new chapter twice a month, and yes, I’ll be accepting reader feedback regarding where the story should go. Crazy, right?
The best things usually are.
-Sydney
I've been traditionally published in young adult, so I knew the process to go from idea kernel to an actual book could be two years, sometimes longer. As I worked on His Favorite Regret, I realized this slow timetable no longer appealed to me. I love Harlequin (I grew up reading Harlequins from age 10 on!), but I needed to love myself more.
And so I embraced the idea of independent publishing.
As this book was being edited, I wrote a companion novella, His Favorite Inconvenience, about Cadie’s little sister, Sera. It is set in Vegas, it has a Swedish hunk, and there is a big splash in a Venetian (Hotel) canal.That story was edited and ready for publication in December 2013.
By the way, that third idea Harlequin passed on? I’m putting it up as a serial on Wattpad. It’s called His Favorite Distraction and features Harrison Black, the bleeding venture capitalist from His Favorite Inconvenience, and Jillian Wade, the girl who doesn’t understand nor participates in monogamous relationships. They’re shipwrecked on an island off the coast of Maine and held “hostage” by a very stubborn bull seal. You can read that story starting February14 at http://www.wattpad.com/user/sydneystr... will get a new chapter twice a month, and yes, I’ll be accepting reader feedback regarding where the story should go. Crazy, right?
The best things usually are.
-Sydney
