Ask Bella Andre - January 17, 2013 discussion

Welcome to the group! Bella will be answering questions on Thursday, January 17, 2013. In the meantime if you have a question for Bella or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this thread.

Hi

I am a romance reader writer. I wrote a novel 30 yea ago and it garnered some good interest from romance publishers and agents but they wee worried abot two things - too much sex too soon and a love triangle - fast forward 30 years and it seems those two things are bang on!

I am close to finishing my revision of this novel and redy to publish but my daughter just told me lve it - but i have been waiting for them to get it on and by chapter when they do you are just t cryptic - I want more details. My daughter usually knows what she is talking about - would love to upload the couple of pages she is talking about and get feedback before I publish to smashbooks. lol x

oh my netbook keyboard keeps missing letters - sorry for the typos
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Hello!! I'll pop in and out on Thursday! What a great idea and fun!!! :)

will pop in and out going to Fellowship group first.. looking forward to this.. Jen

I just have to thank and congratulate Bella for this wonderful family and say I'm looking forward to all upcoming Sullivan ... and other families she comes create.

Hi Bella, thank you so much for your wonderful books. I wanted to know after all the Sullivan's stories are told would you do a follow up on any of them to continue there story? Love to know how they are all doing in the future with kids and each other? Congratulations on all the books, can't wait for more.

I agree with Kim. Is their more to the current Sullivan's to write about?

I agree.. we would like to see a wedding for each of them.. Just wondering if you were going to write about the love story of Mary and Jack Sullivan?

There are the Seattle cousins to come.. and I would love to see Jack and Mary's story.. the Sulivan's story could go on for a while their weddings thier first near of marriage... and there could be more Cousins than Ian Rafe and Mia in Seattle..

Jennifer wrote: "There are the Seattle cousins to come.. and I would love to see John and Mary's story.. the Sulivan's story could go on for a while their weddings thier first near of marriage... and there could be..."

In Scotland if your name is Jack your usually a John.. and I keep calling Mary's husband John lol

I am curious, when you are writing your books, Bella, do you do some kind of outline first or just go with the flow so to speak?

Hey Bella! What advice would you give to an aspiring romance writer?

I got so wrapped up reading the Sullivan series. i love all of them. What inspired you to write about the Sullivan family?

Amelia wrote: "Hey Bella! What advice would you give to an aspiring romance writer?"

Good question I have some idea.. but do not know where to start..

Bella, Where is your favorite place to go, to just unwind?
Chris NoOne

I love to write but find it hard to make time with busy days. How do you establish a time to write and find the inspiration to make such powerful books? Thanks, Bella!

I love your books and cannot wait for you next one about Lori and the Seattle Sullivans. How did you get interested in writing?

Margo wrote: "Welcome to the group! Bella will be answering questions on Thursday, January 17, 2013. In the meantime if you have a question for Bella or just want to introduce yourself feel free to do so in this..."

Thank you for the lovely introduction, Margo! :) Bella

Helen wrote: "Hi

I am a romance reader writer. I wrote a novel 30 yea ago and it garnered some good interest from romance publishers and agents but they wee worried abot two things - too much sex too soon and a..."

Helen - Congratulations on your book! In the end, you really just have to trust your vision as a writer. So if you feel like they're having the right about of sex at the right time for *you*, then I think you'll know that you're ready to publish. If the story still doesn't feel quite right, that's when you should keep working on it, imho.

There are different readers for different kind of books, so don't worry about too much or too little of anything in your book. Just write the book you most want to write!

Hope that helps!
:) Bella

Sue wrote: "Hello!! I'll pop in and out on Thursday! What a great idea and fun!!! :)"

Hi Sue! Glad you're here!
:) Bella

Jennifer wrote: "will pop in and out going to Fellowship group first.. looking forward to this.. Jen"

Hi Jen, let me know if you have any questions for me!
:) Bella

Cinthia wrote: "I just have to thank and congratulate Bella for this wonderful family and say I'm looking forward to all upcoming Sullivan ... and other families she comes create."

Thank you Cinthia! You're really wonderful. :) Bella

Kimberly wrote: "Hi Bella, thank you so much for your wonderful books. I wanted to know after all the Sullivan's stories are told would you do a follow up on any of them to continue there story? Love to know how..."

Hi Kimberly! Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I'm so glad you're enjoying my books. I will actually be writing a very special story for Mary Sullivan (their mother) this winter, which will revisit with all of the couples to see how they're doing. And of course as I write the Seattle Sullivan cousin's books, we'll see various San Francisco Sullivans pop in and out, too. :) Bella

Nicole wrote: "I agree with Kim. Is their more to the current Sullivan's to write about?"

Hi Nicole! Oh yes, don't worry, you will see lots more of my Sullivans in future books. :) Bella

June wrote: "I agree.. we would like to see a wedding for each of them.. Just wondering if you were going to write about the love story of Mary and Jack Sullivan?"

Hi June! This is the #1 question I get asked :) and yes, I am definitely going to write about Mary and Jack - it will be a very special book out this winter. It's going to be a tearjerker, for sure.....

Jennifer wrote: "There are the Seattle cousins to come.. and I would love to see Jack and Mary's story.. the Sulivan's story could go on for a while their weddings thier first near of marriage... and there could be..."

Hi Jennifer! Yes, there are *LOTS* of Sullivan cousins... :)

There are also some characters that I have hinted at in a couple of books now that will hopefully launch a new, somewhat connected series, this year too. Very alpha heroes, very sexy....

Sue wrote: "I am curious, when you are writing your books, Bella, do you do some kind of outline first or just go with the flow so to speak?"

Hi Sue! I always say I'm a seat-of-my-pants writer...but then by the time I finish each book I've got a 100 page outline as well. So, I guess I'm both, but I make a lot of notes along the way! :)

Oh, can't wait for Mary and Jack's story!!! :)

And Alpha Hero, sexy is always good!!!

Amelia wrote: "Hey Bella! What advice would you give to an aspiring romance writer?"

Hi Amelia! My best advice would be to write a lot and read a lot. I believe it's the same advice Stephen King gives in "On Writing." :) Fortunately, reading and writing are 2 of my favorite things, so it's no hardship! But honestly, those truly are the most important things you can do. And then, after you've written and read every day, you can do research into the publishing world, etc.

How do authors read other author books and enjoy, not thinking about what all goes intomaking the book.

Hi Bella, First I wanted to say thank you for your work. I have read a few of your books and love them. Now my question when your writing a story do you know how it will turn out from beginning to end or do you write it as it comes to you?

Linda wrote: "I got so wrapped up reading the Sullivan series. i love all of them. What inspired you to write about the Sullivan family?"
Hi Linda! Thank you - I'm so glad you've loved all of my Sullivan books! I've always loved to read books about a big family, like Julia Quinn's Bridgertons, so when I got to a point in my career where I could write about anything and anyone I wanted to, The Sullivans were my obvious choice! And writing their stories has been the most magical thing I've ever done. :) Bella

Chris wrote: "Bella, Where is your favorite place to go, to just unwind?
Chris NoOne"

Hi Chris! I love to walk, hike and swim. So anywhere that I can do those things is my perfect unwinding spot. :)

Bella wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "There are the Seattle cousins to come.. and I would love to see Jack and Mary's story.. the Sulivan's story could go on for a while their weddings thier first near of marriage... a..."
Great news... hugs and a big big thanks you for being YOU

So how did you get your ideas for the books??

Craig wrote: "I love to write but find it hard to make time with busy days. How do you establish a time to write and find the inspiration to make such powerful books? Thanks, Bella!"

Hi Craig! Honestly, I write everywhere and anywhere. For instance, this morning I was getting my hair done and while I was under the dryer, I pulled out my laptop and wrote for 30 minutes. I'd rather write in longer chunks, but if 15 or 30 minutes is all I can get, I'll take it. Because the words always add up!

Good luck with your writing!
:) Bella

Bella wrote: "June wrote: "I agree.. we would like to see a wedding for each of them.. Just wondering if you were going to write about the love story of Mary and Jack Sullivan?"

Hi June! This is the #1 question..."

I have cried reading other Sullivan books so nothing new doe mw lol !!

Wendy wrote: "I love your books and cannot wait for you next one about Lori and the Seattle Sullivans. How did you get interested in writing?"

Hi Wendy! I can't wait for you to read ALWAYS ON MY MIND on March 5th! I'm in <3 with Lori's hero. Le sigh....

I've always been a writer - first it was songs, and then books about the music industry, and then 10 years ago I wrote my first romance and was hooked!

Bella wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Hi Bella, thank you so much for your wonderful books. I wanted to know after all the Sullivan's stories are told would you do a follow up on any of them to continue there story? ..."
oh wow thin I will have to start doing the lottery lol

Thanks for the wonderful reply, Bella! :)

Hi Bella,

Will there be any follow up books to the Sullivan series? What I mean is, will we hear more from Zach, Ryan, Marcus, Smith, and so on? I want to know what happens to them after they have found the women of their dreams :) Especially Ryan and Zach!!!!

Hey Bella!! If you weren't writing what would you be doing?!

moran wrote: "Hey Bella,
How many more Sullivans books are you planning to write? I really hope as much as you can since I just love the series!"

Hi Moran! Honestly, at this point I can't see a time when I won't be writing about my Sullivans....which is to say, I hope to keep writing and publishing them for you for a very long time!!

Bella do you think when Writing of a piece of Music for each of the couples??? give them their own signature song ??

First, I love the Sullivan's. Second, I want to be adopted into that family. Third, is there any movie or tv productions in the works for the series? I would love to watch your stories!!

Hey Bella~ What is YOUR favorite Sullivan book?

Black wrote: "How do authors read other author books and enjoy, not thinking about what all goes intomaking the book."

Biack - Honestly, I love reading so much that I almost never get caught up in thinking about the how-to's of books when I'm reading someone else's book. I could just read all day long if I didn't have so many books to write! :)

forgive my Typo's sight is not good..

Tina wrote: "So how did you get your ideas for the books??"


Hi Tina! My ideas come from absolutely everywhere! Conversations, songs, a dream, brainstorming with other writers, etc, etc. Once I know who the characters are, they usually do a lot of the work in bringing the shape of the story to life.