Top Five First Lines

I only worked a half hour past 5:00 PM today, and I'm celebrating with another of my top-five lists. When I pick up a book and start to read, the best first lines draw me in and set the stage for the story to come. Here are my five favorites, in no particular order:

Brighter Than the Sun by Julia Quinn

Eleanor Lyndon was minding her own business when Charles Wycombe, Earl of Billington, fell--quite literally--into her life.

Brighter Than the Sun is a wonderfully funny book, and this line sets up the story perfectly. It conveys Eleanor's practicality while at the same time hints at the big changes Charles will make in her life.

Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson

The day I died started out bad and got worse in a hurry.

This sentence tells me two things: this is a first-person story with plenty of humor. And that's absolutely true about this book.

His Every Kiss by LauraLee Guhrke

He was going mad.

Talk about a first line that says it all. Dylan Moore is a strong, memorable hero, and this sentence establishes his big problem--a ringing in his ears that plagues him all the time. It's a great sentence and an even better book.

"Fuzzy Logic" (from Bad Boys Over Easy) by Erin McCarthy

Lucas Manning was absolutely certain he hadn't ordered a box of neon pink dildos.

I was grateful that I wasn't eating or drinking anything when I read this line because I couldn't help but laugh. Saying that this sentence draws me into the story is an understatement.

Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Getting married was murder.

So much meaning is expressed in four words. This sentence is classic Eve Dallas. Eve has always been a loner, so she finds the idea of marriage disconcerting. When you add the fact that she will have to find a wedding dress, get a makeover, and other strange prewedding rituals, you end up with this assessment.

Do you have a favorite first line from a book? Please share.

Alyssa

Never Say Never

I've seen a number of Romancing the Blog columnists say that they rewrote a blog entry after seeing someone else write about their chosen topic. While I understood that perspective, I also thought that there are enough different opinions about any given topic that a revisit would be fine. I figured I would never--or almost never--change my column just because someone else had written about it.

I should have remembered. Never say never.

I've been plodding away (never fun, especially when referring to writing) at my next RTB column when I see that it's cropping up on a few reader blogs. And now I'm stymied. Do I tell myself that it's a timely subject and keep plodding on the same topic? I have such a great title for it, too. Ha! Or do I take the plodding as a sign and write about a subject that flows more easily? [Update: At the moment, I'm using the same topic but significantly adjusting my approach. I'm feeling better about it. We'll see if it works.]

What would make you rewrite a blog entry?

Alyssa

Sunday

It's Sunday night; tomorrow it's back into the breach, and it's possible that I won't have time to blog for several days. Setting aside the issue of work (which I wish I could), I need to finish writing my next Romancing the Blog column. I also have two reviews to write. I'm planning to use my blog as a kind of reward once I finish.

Here's an interesting activity to end the day with; I saw this idea on Ellory1's blog and thought it would be fun to do since I've always wanted to say I have been in every state. In May I can add Arizona to the list.

Bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now.

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C.

Have a good week.

Alyssa

Happy Easter

It's Easter Sunday, and I won't be on the computer much today. I'm heading off to church soon and when I come home, I'll start working on my Easter egg hunt for my nieces and nephew. This, along with my Halloween party, is one of the big things I do for the kiddos. In addition, one of my sisters has a birthday this month, and she's celebrating it tonight. So it's a busy day.

Thanks to Maili, I'm also working on a 20 mini confessions list. I just finished number 17, but I don't know if I'm brave enough to post it once it's finished. If I end up posting it, you'll see it in the next few days. Here are a few to start with. Feel free to let me know if you want to see the others (Maili, I know you do):

1. I didn't get my hair professionally cut for more than 10 years after I went to one who left me with two inches of hair after I said I wanted her to trim one inch. Note: it's not a good sign when a stylist won't let you look in a mirror as she's cutting. You might also want to make sure she doesn't get inches confused with feet.


2. I made a bet with a friend in high school that I would marry a man at least five years older than I am. This bet evolved from a conversation where I was complaining about how immature men in our high school were. I'm not married yet, so neither of us has won.


3. I spent about 40 hours playing with different blog templates before deciding to stick with what I have.


4. I spent another 20 minutes looking at different blog templates after writing #3.

Have a happy Easter!

Alyssa

Insightful . . . or Not

I don't usually take quizzes like this, but how could I resist finding out what file extention I am?


Which File Extension are You?

Where Are They Now?

There are several authors I've enjoyed who haven't published books for a while. Every now and then I wonder about them--if they're still writing, where they are now. My current list, in alphabetical order:

Jan Freed is perhaps my favorite Harlequin Superromance writer. Ever. I've been reading her books since discovering Too Many Bosses (I've had a longtime interest in plots with romance between coworkers) in 1995. Nobody Does It Better is perhaps my favorite of her books, though she's written at least half a dozen, and they're all terrific. Nothing less than 4 out of 5 in the bunch. I believe her story in the 1992 anthology The Gift of Christmas is the last one she published. The last update I heard was that she was taking time off to be with her family.

Lori Herter is a guilty-pleasure read. Her heroes can be incredibly domineering, and her heroines are often naive virgins or the closest thing to them. Nevertheless, I like her. Her latest book is Harlequin Blaze Heat of the Moment, from January 2003.

Patricia Veryan is one of the first authors I read and loved in high school. She writes sweet, historical, love-conquers-all series and is perhaps best known for The Golden Chronicles series. She wrote dozens of books; The Tyrant and Love's Duet are two of my favorites. As far as I know, her last book is The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy, from 1992.

I read two of Julia Wild's books from the UK publisher Scarlet--a side question, are they still publishing?--Dark Canvas and Blue Silk Promise. The latter is one of my favorites. There are a few other books listed by a Julia Wild, the most recent in 1991, but I'm not sure if it's the same author. I may try one anyway, as it looks like two are still in print, though it gives a 4-7 week shipping time.

These are the writers I'm most curious about. Do you have authors you wonder about, too?

Alyssa

Angela Knight

I celebrated my Friday off by taking a four-hour nap. Yikes! I enjoy napping on weekends and vacations, but I don't typically nap for four hours. I guess I needed it.

I've been reading some of Angela Knight's short stories from the Secrets anthologies. I tried Knight last year, when I heard lots of positive buzz about her work on different websites. First I read Master of the Night, which I liked with some reservations. Then I read "A Candidate for the Kiss" (from Secrets 6) which I liked even more. I've read several of her books and short stories since then. Last week I read "Roarke's Prisoner" (Secrets 2) and "Kissing the Hunter" (Secrets 7).

"Roarke's Prisoner" is a futuristic featuring two strong captains on opposite sides of a war. Elise's last encounter ended with Roarke being captured and tortured. Since he escaped, Roarke has dreamed of revenge.

While I like Knight's world building and was interested in the conflict between Roarke and Elise, this story uses too much forced seduction for my taste. It was difficult to believe that these characters were destined to live happily ever after. They needed more time together. I wish the story had been a bit longer: 3.5 out of 5.

"Kissing the Hunter" was terrific. Navy SEAL Logan makes it a mission to track down and kill the vampires who had a part in the murder of his wife. Virginia is his latest quarry, but he's attracted to her even as he thinks she's a monster.

Knight creates incredibly vivid characters in Virginia and Logan, and while they don't spend much more time together than the couple in "Roarke's Prisoner," the longer length of "Kissing the Hunter" and the fact that these characters spend more time getting to know each other makes it a stronger read: 4.5 out of 5. Its main drawback is that there's almost too much at work here; the reincarnation aspect seemed unnecessary.

So, I enjoyed both stories and I'll probably track down the other ones. I just wish I could get her stories without having to buy the trade-size anthologies.

Alyssa

Latest Scrapbook Pages

As promised, here are links to my latest scrapbook pages. The scans on a few of them are less than perfect, but should still let you see them:

Birthday Bash, Page 1
Birthday Bash, Page 2

Sweet Girl, Page 1
Sweet Girl, Page 2

The Way to Know Life, Page 1
The Way to Know Life, Page 2

Alyssa

Wiped Out

I'm still among the living, but I'm stuck in a black abyss known as my workload. I have the day off and it'll be interesting to if I really end up having a nice break or not. I brought a pile of work home with me. Unfortunately, next week doesn't look much better; I have a seven-hour meeting scheduled for Thursday and that's an accurate reflection of what the week will be like. Ugh. At some point things will slow down, but I'm not sure when that will be.

In more positive news, I've made travel arrangements to attend one of Charlaine Harris's book signings. It's in May, which gives me something to look forward to.

Last night I did some scrapbooking with my coworkers. I need to add a few final touches to the pages, but I will post links to pictures once they are finished.

My reading has slowed a bit, but I plan to read a few things this weekend, and I'll try to blog about one or two of them.

Alyssa

Out of Control

This review is dedicated to Wendy.

Some authors you like because they write interesting variations of a character or story. Others you like because every story seems completely different. I thought that Shannon McKenna might fall into the former category; then I read Out of Control. While still steamy (you saw the smoke coming from my direction, right?) and not completely different, this story offers a nice change of pace from McKenna's previous books: 4 out of 5.

Don't misunderstand me; I'm not talking about a radically different book here. Out of Control contains all the things I love about McKenna's writing: steamy and emotional sex, intriguing suspense, gripping drama. Did I mention the steamy and emotional sex?

A brief summary: Davy McCloud is phasing out his P.I. business when Margot, an aerobics instructor who works next to his martial arts studio, comes to him with a problem. She's being stalked.

Davy knows there's more to Margot's story. He was instantly attracted to her when she started working next door. He put his P.I. knowledge to work by doing a background check, only to discover that she's not what she seems.

What's different about Out of Control are the characters. While protective, Davy McCloud is a bit less alpha than her previous heros. And Margot isn't as innocent as some of her heroines. Some critics have said that McKenna's heroines are pushovers; I don't agree with this assessment--Raine from Behind Closed Doors, for example, is more than a match for Seth. Whatever your opinion on this subject, Margot isn't a pushover in any sense.

Characters from the previous books make appearances here, but I don't think you need to have read them to follow this story. For readers who have, it's nice to see Raine and Seth, Connor and Erin, and Sean (the last single McCloud brother) again. If you haven't read the books, don't worry that Out of Control falls prey to sequel-itis. The previous characters play important, if minor, roles in the story.

Another intriguing difference in this book is the sex. Readers of the previous books will remember the multipage sex scenes. There's no lack of sex in this book--and have I mentioned that it's steamy, emotional, and complicated?--but many of the encounters aren't as long. If you're a fan of the heat, though, there's still plenty of it here.

As I've mentioned before, I was disappointed in Return to Me, but Out of Control shows McKenna back in fine form.

Alyssa

Contest Winner

It's time to announce the contest winner! Everyone who commented between March 12-20 had her name entered into a drawing, and one of my coworkers just selected the winner. The winner is . . .

Nicole!

Congratulations, Nicole! Please check out the list of books here and let me know which one you'd like. I will put my e-mail address in the comments section below, so you can contact me with your address.

My thanks to everyone who entered!

Alyssa

Suspect

Arm Candy was the last book I read by Jo Leigh. Today I finished Suspect, written more than 10 years ago for the Silhouette Intimate Moments line. It was terrific: 4 out of 5.

Nick is a homicide cop who is investigating the murder of Joanna Hardy. When he finds a videotape of her, he is enchanted. Then Joanna appears, leaving Nick to find out who was actually murdered and whether Joanna is involved.

I found myself thinking of the movie Laura as I read, which features a cop who falls in love with Laura's portrait. It's a fascinating movie; I wonder if Suspect is a homage, but whether it is or not, it's a compelling read. I was particularly impressed by the methodical way Nick investigates the case; Leigh clearly did her research before writing this book.

As the story continues, Joanna and Nick become more attracted even as they wonder whether to trust each other. It's an intriguing dance, and it leads to a scene that makes me cry. Very powerful.

I have to admit that I didn't understand Nick's desire to protect Joanna from himself. Other than that, though, I enjoyed the story. It's quite different from Arm Candy, which I also liked. It's nice to find versatile authors.

Alyssa

Plots

A good story is a good story, no matter what plot a writer uses. That said, there are some plots I enjoy more than others.

Plots I Like

• Unrequited love


• Best friends become lovers


• Beauty and the beast


• Plain Jane heroines (see exception below)


• Marriage of convenience (see exception below)


• Coworkers who fall in love


• Older women with younger men


• Tortured character finds love

Plots I Tend Not to Like

• I hate you, I love you, let's have sex


• Secret babies


• Marriage of convenience because of pregnancy


• Matchmaking or meddling families


• Inexperienced sex experts who want to practice what they preach


• Plain Jane heroines who undergo makeovers and become bombshells

Now, don't misunderstand. I pick up every book and judge it on its merits, on how well the plot works. There are certainly books I've enjoyed with plots that fall into the latter category and vice versa. But when it comes to books I buy from new-to-me authors, I'm always drawn to plots from the former list.

Alyssa

Bad Boys Over Easy

I started reading Bad Boys Over Easy this afternoon, and I gobbled it right up (so to speak). Two of the stories are exceptional and one is good. This is the perfect weekend read: 4 out of 5.

Erin McCarthy's "Fuzzy Logic" starts the anthology. I've long been a fan of McCarthy's writing, and "Fuzzy Logic" doesn't disappoint. Lucas is surprised when a package of sex toys shows up on his doorstep. He's even more fascinated when he learns they belong to his tenant, Ashley, the woman he's wanted for years.

I love romances where one of the characters carries a torch for another, and I also adore beta heroes. "Fuzzy Logic" uses both of these elements, along with an interesting heroine, which makes it a treat to read. Ashley and Lucas are very hot together. One thing I can count on with McCarthy--all of her stories and characters are different and compelling. This story rates 4.5 out of 5.

"The Cupid Curse" is a paranormal romance by Jen Nicholas. Val (short for Valentine) writes a letter to Cupid to find her soul mate. Cupid sends a novice named Gideon to deal with the matter. A gust of wind sends Gideon's love-arrow (this is not a euphemism) astray; it ends up hitting Gideon himself.

This is a fun story as long as you don't take it too seriously. The main problem with it is that it relies too heavily on the "destined love" principle--once Gideon is hit by the arrow, he's destined to love Val, and she's destined to love him in return. I don't have an issue with the destined-love idea except when it offers an easy way to get a couple together without having them spend much time falling in love. That's the case here: 3 out of 5.

Jordan Summers's "Mesmerized" is the third story and ends the anthology on a high note. Amanda is a skilled hypnotist, and Derek is a journalist determined to expose her as a fraud. Derek jumps at the chance to participate in Amanda's on-stage act, but when it's over, he seems to be still hypnotized.

The still-hypnotized element seems far-fetched, but I can go along with far-fetched plots if I enjoy the characters. I enjoyed reading about Derek and Amanda. I was engrossed in their story: 4 out of 5. I've now read two stories by Summers, and she's quite good. I look forward to reading more of her stories.

Alyssa

Brava, Brava Everywhere

This morning I made a much-anticipated trip to the bookstore and came home with:

Out of Control by Shannon McKenna
One Way Out by Michele Albert (which I special ordered)
Going to Extremes by Dawn Atkins
Master of Desire by Kinley MacGregor

I also stopped at the post office to pick up my mail (still no new mailbox, so I've been making the trip every two days), where a copy of Bad Boys Over Easy was waiting, as well as a new package of review books. I've set everything aside but Bad Boys Over Easy, which I'm reading now, and Out of Control, which I'll pick up next. Apparently I'm in a Brava kind of mood.

I've been looking forward to Out of Control. I was disappointed in last year's Return to Me, but OOC is about one of the McCloud brothers, Davy. If you see significant steam coming from my direction this weekend, you needn't send a fire truck. I'm just reading Shannon McKenna.

Alyssa

Contest Reminder

Don't forget, there's still time to enter my latest contest. You only need to make a comment on a blog entry between Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 20. On March 21, I will put all the names into a random drawing and select a winner. That winner can choose a book from the three listed below, some of my favorite Harlequin Temptations:

Jacquie D'Alessandro: We've Got Tonight
Vicki Lewis Thompson: Old Enough to Know Better
Vicki Lewis Thompson: Pure Temptation

While you can comment on as many posts as you like, you are limited to one entry in the contest. I reserve the right to disregard irrelevant comments.

Alyssa

Rereading

I haven't been in the mood to pick up a new book this week, so I've been rereading instead: Hero Under Cover, The Bane Affair, a few Brava anthologies. The nice thing about rereading is that it's usually easy to put the book down when I need to because I know how it ends. Then again, I reread books I like, so they're difficult to put down anyway.

I'm still a bit wigged about the verdict. I realized that part of me was hoping that--despite all the evidence--he would be found not guilty and then the police would find out that someone else did it. Well, I know the difference between fiction and reality, so I'll deal.

In other news, word from the post office is that I will have to stop there to pick up my mail until we get new boxes outside. I hope that happens soon. I'm not looking forward to stopping at the post office and waiting in line every few days.

Back to a Brava anthology reread . . .

Alyssa

The Verdict

Little did I know last week, when I mentioned that I was interested in hearing the defense, that there would be a verdict in the case this week.

Guilty.

I have mixed emotions about this. If he did it, I want him to be punished. That's a given. But I knew him. Not terribly well, but I saw him every week, exchanged greetings in the mail room. I can't help but feel terribly sad.

Alyssa

O, Mailman, Where Art Thou?

After coming home yesterday and finding that the community mailbox was completely smashed, I came home today to find nothing on the mail front. Absolutely nothing. The smashed boxes have been removed, with only the stands left behind. No boxes, so no mail there and no mail left at my door. I keep reminding myself that this is not the end of the world, but the truth is that I look forward to the mail every day. Even more so at the moment, because I am expecting a few packages. Perhaps tomorrow. If not, I suspect that I will start to experience withdrawl.

I'm still trying to decide what to read. With more than 100 books on my to-be-read list, you'd think that finding something wouldn't be a problem. I guess that's true--finding it isn't the challenge, choosing one is. Well, I'll get that worked out too.

Can you tell I'm feeling a bit mopey?

Alyssa

Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Blog

If I had realized how long the Q&A with Suzanne Brockmann list was going to be and that there would be four parts, I might not have posted them on my blog. They've kind of taken over the main page. LOL! Oh well, I'll leave them up and remember this for next time. My contribution is the last question, asking whether she sings alto or soprano. Obviously a hot topic. Ha! There are a lot of questions and answers, but there are several items of particular interest if you're brave enough to wade through it. It's nice to see that she will likely be stopping in Salt Lake City during her upcoming book tour.

I finished Rake's Wager, and it didn't get better. I'll post a link to the review once it's written and posted online. I'm glad I finished it, but I haven't decided what to read next.

As you may have guessed from a previous post, the mailbox in my neighborhood is a community one with different slots for each residence and two larger bins with keys for packages. When I arrived home from work, I saw that the community box and the larger bins were completely smashed, as in smashed open. A police officer was there; apparently a semi backed into the boxes. I'm trying to figure out what a semi would be doing in my neighborhood. Besides knocking over innocent mailboxes, that is. I hope it's fixed soon, as I'm expecting several packages this week.

I'm trying to get a better handle on my blog-hopping time. I started by organizing my favorites into folders of blogs I visit daily and blogs I visit weekly. We'll see how that works out. I'm planning to update my links here in the next week or so.

This weekend I'm making a bookstore run to pick up a book I special ordered (One Way Out by Michele Albert). Friday is payday, so I'll pick up a few series books as well as whatever else interests me.

Alyssa

Suzanne Brockmann Q&A, Part 4

This is the last group of questions and answers from Suzanne Brockmann's March 15 message board. Questions or comments are italicized.

How do you respond to people who think your hardcovers have less sizzle? (I would read your grocery list.)

Thanks, Ann.

Pasta
Canned tomatoes
Frozen peas (tiny)
Crazy glue (don't ask...)

Okay the question was about sizzle.

Here's what I think. I think that there are people who don't want anything to change -- ever. I think they DO want me to write OVER THE EDGE again and again and again. And I think they're going to continue to be disappointed and there's nothing I can do about that.

You know, there's a Hollywoodism that I wish more people would adopt. It's adding the phrase "for me," to the end of criticisms. Your books don't have enough sizzle FOR ME. Okay, I'm cool with that.

They happen to have enough sizzle for me, and since I'm the author, I get to write 'em the way I want to! Of course, I pay attention to what readers like, but there's no way I can make everyone happy all the time -- that's just not possible. My solution? Write the book that makes ME happy.
But the truth is, there's not some secret sizzle police out there, with big firehoses, ready to cool off all those romance authors who suddenly go hardcover!!! And there's also not some Hardcover Rule Book. (Page 17, paragraph fifteen: 25% sizzle reduction required...)

-- Suz

Any plans for a book tour in Canada?

Hi, Sheri and Carol!

Nothing planned for this trip! Since we're going to be spending a significant amount of time out west, we're driving across, express!

-- Suz

Do you think of yourself as Suz Brockmann or Anne Brock?

Actually, Missy, I'm not Anne Brock.

I mean, yes, that was a pen name I used for one book, but if I'd had a choice, I would have published the book under my own name!

Which is Suz Brockmann!

-- Suz

Was your inspiration for Letters to Kelly from your own experience as a writer?

Thanks, Melodie!

That was a book that it took me ten years to get published -- because all of the publishers thought it was too "odd."

Apparently, it's won some awards over in Japan, which is really cool.

(I want to go to Japan some day, too, but the documentary idea won't work for that trip! LOL!)

Yes, my characters talk to me -- but I rarely talk back to them! LOL!

-- Suz

When is the release date for Breaking Point?

Hi, Louise!

Breaking Point will be out on July 12th -- no change to the date.

I'm just not going to do any booksignings on July 16th or 17th -- Harry Potter weekend!

-- Suz

Are you a West Wing fan? And does scrolling through these messages make you feel like Josh when he found a Josh website?

Melissa,

LOL!

Nope, it doesn't. I believe in the goodness of the internet! ggg.

I've also had the pleasure of meeting quite a number of the BB regulars -- I no longer just THINK they're nuts, I know it! LOL! (Just kidding!) It really does make a difference when you can put a face to a name.

-- Suz

Are you coming to Phoenix on the tour?

But I really like the idea of making a documentary, wherever we go.

That's the beauty of digital video...

Laura, my apologies. SuzieB, what can I say?

Can't we persuade you to come to Reno??? I thought it was close enough. We're coming in via the northern route. On a trip that is going to clock thousands of miles in the minivan, every hundred miles truly adds up...

Or... how about meeting us Vegas, baby? (It's a law, that when ever you call it Vegas, baby, you have to say "baby," too.) (At least that's what Eric tells me...)

-- Suz

When will you be in Las Vegas?

Laura,

The tentative date I have for Vegas, baby, is July 22nd!

-- Suz

Will we see more Sam and Alyssa?

Jerilynne!

Thanks for posting! What kind words!

It might just be me, but it seems that the short stories I've written are leading somewhere... Somewhere more substantial. (Good word for it!)

And yeah, I know what you mean -- after I finished writing GONE TOO FAR, I had a "now what?" moment!

-- Suz

Do you dream about your characters? If so, what does Sam look like?

Hi, Lora!

Actually, I don't dream about my characters. At least not recently....

I'm glad you like Sam -- he was so much fun to write for so many books...

-- Suz

Now that you're writing hardcovers, will you write paperbacks like Letters to Kelly?

Hey, Sandy and Lora,

Letters to Kelly was a book I wrote a looong time ago -- quite early in my career actually.
I was so glad it was finally published -- it was kind of like being pregnant for ten years! LOL!

I've got a coupla others that have never seen the light of day. It might be fun to dust them off, see what happens.

LETTERS TO KELLY is one of my mom's favorites -- but she also liked another book that never got published, called GALLAGHER'S CLAIM. Nobody knew how to market it. It was a contemporary (took place on a movie set of a western), yet there was a subplot that was told by diary entries, AND one of the subplot characters (the hero's great-grandfather) was a ghost.

It deals with themes of truth vs. legend -- perceptions, things are not as they seem.
Parts of it are freakin' stupid, (sorry, mom!) but parts of it are really worth salvaging.

Some day...

-- Suz

Will Molly and Jones have their own book after Breaking Point?

Hey, Debbie!

You're going to have to wait to read BREAKING POINT for the answer to that one!
Sorry about that! (I don't want to reveal too much!)

-- Suz

What's your personal love story?

Hey, Sandra.

Ed was the former college roommate of the guitar player in my rock band. I met him in... sheesh, it must've been 1979 or 80.

It's the way I met Brice (our mutual friend) that's really amazing. I had this plan to form a rock band, so I put a bunch of "Seeking musicians" ads in the Boston Phoenix (alternative newspaper), as well as posting flyers at some of the local Boston colleges -- including Berklee School of Music.

Turns out Brice saw my flyer, and he was the first person to call me about any of the ads. Which is amazing for many reason -- I got hundreds of calls. But really, Brice is, um, a procrastinator. GGG.

Some months later, we'd found a bass player and a drummer, and a rehearsal space, and Ed came to the Space to hear us play.

I'd heard about him from Brice -- Brice called him "the Ed-Bank." Because Ed actually had a job. So if you wanted to borrow some money, he was the guy to see. LOL!

I remember the day I met Ed, I had just come from a meeting. I was working part time for the Ostomy Association of Massachusetts (at the American Cancer Society building in Back Bay), and I was wearing totally non-rock and roll clothes. A nice dress. And I had on my glasses, too, for some reason. (I think I was sick...) (I usually wore contacts, ripped jeans, tank tops...) (I was really into The Ramones...)

He used to come to all our gigs.

We were friends before we hooked up. We're still really great friends. (And we're still friends with Brice, too!)

-- Suz

You've inspired me.

Marie-Anne!

Congrats on finishing your novel! That is such a HUGE accomplishment. And I'm honored that my books inspired you!

Rock on,
Suz

Will you be visiting Louisiana?

Hey, Julia!

I certainly do remember you! We had such a great time visit New Orleans -- I'm certain we'll be back someday. (Wouldn't NOLA make a great location for a readers' weekend???)

I certainly will say hi to Eric and Jace for you!

-- Suz

What music do you listen to while you write?

Chris,

Actually, I don't listen to any music when I'm writing. I listen (mostly to drown out everything else!!) when I take breaks.

Like, if I go into the kitchen to get lunch, and I want to make sure no one will talk to me because I've got a scene in my head, I'll put a CD on and play it REALLY LOUDLY! LOL!

But I'm too much of a musician to listen while I'm actually writing. It would interfere. (I don't put music on as background. I put it on to listen to it!)

For BREAKING POINT, I've listened to a lot of Jimi Hendrix. (Max really likes him!)
Not every book has a sound track. For FLASHPOINT, I read to drown out the noise. I glommed books about the 101st Airborne during WWII -- Band of Brothers, Easy Company.

OUT OF CONTROL had a theme song -- or rather, Kenny, the hero, did. It was Two Princes by the Spin Doctors.

-- Suz

Why do you think your books wouldn't make a good 2-hour movie? Because of the introspection?

Trace,

You hit it right on the head. It's tough to translate introspection to a movie -- unless you use voice over. Which might work for some of it.

But it's really the time issue -- fitting all those subplots into two hours. I just don't see it happening. Not happily, anyway. Cuz what do you cut out? The WWII subplot?
That would make me crazy. It's part of the story.

You should see me when it's time to approve the abridgement script for the audio book. Brilliance Audio (which does a WONDERFUL job with the audio books) produced both an unabridged version (which I love) and an abridged version. (Not so much with the love...)

Part of our deal is that I need to approve the abridged version before it's recorded.
Much screaming and ranting. "If I wanted to cut most of the book out of the book, I would have written a novella!!!!" LOLOL!

--suz

Thank you for writing great books and for being accessible to your readers.

Thanks, Jules.

I appreciate it very much.

You know, I recently reached a point where I got so much email that, were I to respond to it all, I wouldn't have time to write any books! LOL! That's a problem you want -- I mean, it's great, I'm thrilled, but it was also sort of sad.

I've really loved having contact with readers -- it's really important to me to be accessible.

Yet, I've got to have the time to write.

What to do, what to do?

We really thought long and hard about it, and I came up with this idea -- to spend one day (and it's turned out to be one solid day, which is fine) every few months or so, here on the BB -- answering everyone's questions. Every gets to read all the responses -- it's way more efficient. And I still feel as if I'm accessible.

Today was an experiment -- and I think it was very successful. I really love getting the chance to hear from readers and respond personally -- and this gives me the chance to do that.

(I can't tell you how much I've been stressing about not answering reader email. It was really a problem for me. But this seems to be an excellent solution, so now I can relax a little!)

-- Suz

Have you caught up on Buffy and Angel?

Actually, Ann, we just started watching the final season of Angel. We're only a couple episodes in.
We watch with our friends Bill and Jodie, and I've been trying to stick to my deadline, which means telling "You can't come over tonight!" ARGH!

(I just want to point out that the reason I'm not off watching that soul-sucking show, American Idol right now, is because Jace is at rehearsal. He made me promise to wait, so we could watch it together. We're tivo-ing it.)

But I absolutely LOVED the end of Buffy. Joss Whedon is brilliant.

After we finish watching Angel, we're going to watch Buffy again, with the commentaries. We skipped all the interviews on the DVDs, too, because some of them have spoilers!!!

-- Suz

Thanks for doing this Q&A.

Hey, Sue!

It is SO my pleasure!

(I was worried about you and Melissa T when I heard about the shooting in Atlanta.)

-- Suz

Does Meg wear your boots?

Erika,

Yes! Meg has my boots, complete with boot bracelets!

Back when one didn't have to take off footware to board a plane, my boots used to set off the metal detector. In a very major way. That's what gave me the idea for TDH -- how Meg gets the gun into the embassy. They're so used to her setting off the alarm, they just wave her through. (This was pre 9/11, remember!)

-- Suz

Is there a chance a couple could divorce because of the pressure of being married to a SEAL?

Oh, Kristy,

I couldn't do that to my characters. Not ones who've earned their happy endings. (I torture them so much...)

What I could see doing is having a SEAL start out married, and then get divorced.

You're right, though, divorce rates are extremely high among SEALs.

-- Suz

How can we be a reviewer and get ARCs?

Leelah,

You should try reviewing for some of the on-line romance websites.

Or start your own review website.

Then you have to contact publishers and talking 'em into sending you an ARC! LOL!

They get a lot of requests, though.

Thanks for your kind words,

Suz

Are you driving through NJ on the way to Reno?

Actually, Ann, the route to Reno from Boston goes across New York State to Buffalo.
Which means we also don't get to stop at Rein's Deli, outside of Hartford, which is a terrible, terrible tragedy. GGG.

-- Suz

Thanks for answering our questions.

You're welcome, Beki!

Hey, will you remember to post links to your pictures from Target Tampa on the BB again, at the end of April???

(I betcha I can name just about everybody who came to Tampa!!!! If you're looking to ID anyone, let me know!)

Say hi to Jim for me!

-- Suz

Do you have writing advice?

Nikki,

The first thing you need to do is visit the website of the Romance Writers of America -- a truly fabulous writing organization.

www.rwanational.org

Surf their site -- and take note of the section that will tell you if there are any local RWA chapters in your home state.

If there are, make contact -- and visit one of their monthly meetings as a guest. (I think you can visit twice before you have to join RWA)

RWA offers many, many local chapter conferences --great places to learn both about writing and the business of writing.

Next, think about what type of book you want to write -- and visit a bookstore to see which publishers are publishing those types of books. Research them -- find out what they're looking for, find out if there's anything they're NOT looking for. Talk to other writers. Join on line writing communities and loops. (Available through RWA and other sites like writerspace.com)

But most of all, you need to sit down and write. Put your butt in the chair, in front of the computer and work it. If you write just a few pages a day, you'll finish a book within a year. Let your imagination take off!

Good luck with it -- it's a career that's been both fun, frustrating, envigorating and rewarding!

-- Suz

How are your dogs?

Julia (and hi, E. Nancy -- I, too, am glad to hear about your husband!),

The dogs are great! They just turned 9 years old! And we're rapidly approaching our one year anniversary with them! They are so lovely and funny and sweet.

As for the CDs -- it's been a while since I've done any singing. I want to try to find a community chorus. I've had a hankering lately to sing some Mozart. (Dude knew how to write a melody!)

-- Suz

Do you sing alto or soprano?

Alto! Like, seriously second alto!

-- Suz

In conclusion.

I really enjoyed this!

Let's do it again! (Maybe to kick off the countdown in June???)
Thank you to our intrepid archivists! PS, will you repost the link to the archived Q&As? Or, I know -- email the link to Ed or Tina so it can get put into an admin post at the top of the board for a week or so!

(Max is less than pleased with me and I need to go shower, but I had a great day!!!)

-- Suz

Suzanne Brockmann Q&A, Part 3

Here's part 3 of the Q&A with Suzanne Brockmann.

What first inspired you to write about Navy SEALs?

Hey, JJ!

That's actually a fun story -- I've got a version of it posted on my website on the TDD main page!

I like to tell people I write about Navy SEALs because my friend Eric went to the dentist! (That's where he picked up a magazine that had an article in it about SEAL BUD/S training Hell Week and brought it to my attention!)

Here's the url: (I confess I don't know how to make links...)

http://www.suzannebrockmann.com/tdd.htm

-- Suz

Do you need volunteers in Reno?

Hi, Roz!

Thanks for your generous offer!

Yes, we will certainly need volunteers, but before any organization happens, I must finish writing BP. So hang on for another month or so, and then touch base again!

-- Suz

How much time will you take off after finishing Breaking Point?

Hi, Chris!

I'm not sure exactly yet. (This is not the kind of discussion one wants to have with one's publisher BEFORE the book is handed in! LOL!)

I do know that I need some serious down time. It's been several years since I've taken a real honest-to-goodness vacation. And way longer than that since I've taken a longer-than-a-week-or-two break.

Which is very necessary.

When I write, I don't keep 9-5, five days a week hours. I write 7 days a week, often 14 hour days. (I've tried the fewer days a week thing -- just can't do it - I end up writing nothing, all week long! LOL! It's a very all or nothing thing with me.)

You can only do that so long before you need to stop and recharge! LOL!

I promise to keep you posted.

-- Suz

Do you mind the "eye candy" (pictures of scantily clad men) posted on the board?

Absolutely not, Heidi!

I ***DO*** appreciate, however, the warnings posted for those who work in offices!

Same thing with warnings about adult humor.

We all found out relatively recently that there are a number of posters who are much younger than they sound from their posts!!! LOL!!!

And y'all know there are Boardhost rules about nudity, right? Don't ever post anything that will get this board shut down by the powers that be!!!

-- Suz

Has Jason decided where to go to college yet?

Hi Molly!

Jason just received his acceptance letter to a VERY highly respected musical theatre conservatory in New York City!!!!

He's Broadway bound -- starting this summer!

-- Suz

Will we see Cosmo, Jane, and Robin in future books?

Ah, Betsy!

See my comments below re: visits with characters and the need for them to fill a role in a book in order for them to appear!

Should such a need ever arise -- you will see them again.

(Not quite as detailed an answer as you hoped for huh? Sorry!)

-- Suz

Is continuity more difficult when a series gets larger?

Hi again, Ann.

The times I struggle most with continuity is when tweaks and changes get made to the manuscript at a late phase in the process.

Like for example the spelling of a name. I think there was an instance in NIGHT WATCH where I spelled Wes's brother's name differently than I'd spelled it in TAYLOR's TEMPTATION. Shawn vs. Sean, I think.

I had it spelled one way in my notes, and it was spelled the other in the final draft of the TT manuscript.

Well, I never changed the spelling in my notes.

Years passed, I sat down to write WWWes (NIGHT WATCH), and I pulled out my notes and, hey, that's right, Wes's brother Shawn or Shaun or Sean or... Whatever way it was spelled in my notes wasn't the way it was spelled in TT. SIGH.

I don't think the large number of characters will ever make me back away from a series. The key is, I think, practicing more restraint -- keep from bringing too many characters in to each book.

-- Suz

Is it difficult to manage the various subplots?

Hello again, Betsy!

I definitely view them as part of the whole.

I'm intrigued by the idea of different lives that kind of collide and intertwine because of some kind of external conflict.

An example would be Mallory and David in THE UNSUNG HERO.

At first the only connection is that Mal is Tom Paoletti's niece. But later we find out that, because David loaned his camera to Mallory, she took photos of people at the hotel and got a very clear shot of the terrorist suspect that Tom was searching for. Connection -- and an important one, too.

Since I always know how my stories end before I sit down to write them, I often know exactly those types of connections in the subplots. Although, as I'm writing, I'll often discover others, too!

I love writing interconnected stories like this -- I'm glad they work for you!

-- Suz

Is it your style to make readers wait (like with Jules)?

It's a personal preference thing -- as well as something that has to happen in terms of writing a "real time" series like the TS series.

At this point, anyway, I don't want to jump ahead and set the next book two years in the future.

Bad stuff happens to my characters at times. I know we're talking about Jules, but a more obvious example is Murphy.

His wife died. He's not going to get out of the hospital and immediately be in a place where he's willing and able to start over. He's got lots and lots of grieving to do. Time must pass.

But with that said, I have to admit that I'm a fan of anticipation!

-- Suz

Will we see Decker and Sophia in the future?

Absolutely, Betsy!

Lots more torture, uh, adventures in store for both Sophia and Deck!

-- Suz

Which two of your couples would you like to have dinner with?

Whoa, Stephanie, make it hard for me!!! LOL!

But, really, you know where my heart lies! I love having the opportunity to talk to older people -- I value their experiences and wisdom so much. So I'd have dinner with Vince and Charlie DaCosta and Jack Shelton and his partner Scott.

And if they didn't have to be a couple, I'd probably choose to have dinner first with Meg's grandmother Eve, and Rose von Hopf. And I'd fill the table with Jack and Scotty -- because they both could probably hold their own with those two very strong women.

And if I could travel back in time, the first people on my guest list would be Sam's uncle Walt and his second wife, Dot.
-- Suz

Do you have an aspect of WWII that's waiting for a Troubleshooters novel?

Hey, Ann.

There are SO many incredible true stories of courage and sacrifice, having to do with WWII -- I have lists and lists!

-- Suz

In response to a post about a grant opportunity.

This is so awesome!

Thanks for posting this, Stephanie.

I adore Paul Newman -- he is one of my all time favorite heroes and role models.
When I grow up, I want to be just like him!!!

-- Suz

Will you visit Florida this summer?

Hi, Heather!

I'm hoping to spend some quality vacation time in Sarasota, as soon as I finish writing BP!!!!

My absolute favorite time of the year down there is early summer, so -- whoo-hoo!

I'm not sure, at this point, if I'll be doing any booksignings, though!

-- Suz

Would you consider writing a book set completely in WWII era?

Hi, Louise!

Yes, I would love to write a book set entirely during WWII!

-- Suz

What do you think about doing a book-signing cruise?

Hey, Betsy!

Did you email me a coupla weeks ago about this? (Sorry I haven't responded -- I'm on Deadline Underground Mode!)

Do me a favor and email me about this again -- at the end of April!

I'm definitely interested -- the thing that concerns me the most is making it as affordable as possible for my readers.

Maybe tomorrow (after the scrolling on this board slows down a bit) we can get a post going to take a poll as to interest in a cruise -- length of trip, location, what prices are considered affordable... (With the memory firmly in place that low prices gets you low quality -- hotel in Tampa, anyone??? Yeesh!)

I went on a cruise some years ago and LOOOOOVED it!!!

-- Suz

How are you doing?

Hey, Bex, how are YOU doing, you mother, you!!!

Things are okay here -- I'm in dire need of a vacation.
Are you still writing? In between diaper changes???

Laughing maniacally,
Suz

Will we see Stan and Teri again?

Howdy, Mare!

I'm glad you enjoyed OTE -- that's one of my books that I'm most proud of.

I talk about recurring favorite characters in many, many of the post below, so I'm just going to say this: If there's ever a role for either Stan or Teri to fill, you will certainly see more of them!

-- Suz

Any more info about your west coast tour?

Hi, Arlene.

I'm waiting to hear from the Ballantine publicist about my west coast tour.

I requested visits to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, somewhere around San Bernardino or Riverside, CA, as well as Salt Lake City, and possibly a stop in Denver. Of course, we'll be in Reno for several days.

The one engagement that's already on the calendar is Sacramento on Tuesday, July 26th, in the evening, I believe.

After we get the official "big tour stops" set up, we may add a few smaller towns and indy/new/used stores to the mix, too.

It's all very tentative right now, though. All we know for sure is Sacramento and Reno!

-- Suz

Have you heard from Chris Berman (a SEAL) lately?

Jan and Rhonda,

I haven't heard from Chris since last June.

My heart sinks, too, whenever I read stories like that. And when as the death tolls of servicemen and women in Iraq rises, too. My heart is always in my throat when I see the latest lists of names.

-- Suz

When you first introduce a character, do you know that they are going to suffer for their HEA?

Leigh,

Yes, yes, I do.

In fact, the characters who have it the easiest are usually the heroines who are new the TS world at the start of their books. Savannah, for example. Joan.

Nash and Tess got off easy, didn't they?

-- Suz

How do you balance everything in your life?

Ah, Aly, I've yet to find a balance.

That's one of the reasons I want to take some time off.

When I was a kid, I used to spend hours watching the clouds. I used to just... be.

I want to relearn how to do that. I have the urge to... garden and cook.

(And if you knew me, you'd realize how absurd a statement that is. I'm like the anti-Martha Stewart. LOL!)

-- Suz

After a dozen years in this business, what surprises you?

Hi, Cin.

I'm still surprised by my success. I'm still me, you know? And occasionally I'll see my books in a store and think, "Whoa!" LOL!

And yes, the job surrounds me 24/7 -- but that's not because of a home office. That's because writing is such a completely full-concentration activity for me. I can walk out of my office, but the characters and story are still right there, in my head.

-- Suz

In response to comments regarding themes in the books.

Hey, Sarah!

I really use the same themes over and over and over again -- almost every single book has the theme of "Things are not as they seem." Almost every deals with false perceptions and the false walls we build around ourselves for protection (or other reasons) -- that sometimes keep people from seeing us as we really are. That's far more the theme of THE UNSUNG HERO

Unsung Hero: First ImpressionsTom and KellyDavid and MalloryCharles and Cybele

Again, I'd say that TUH's theme was learning to see past facades and reputations, finding the real person beneath the BS.
Defiant Hero: Deception/Second ChancesNils and MegEve and RalphS&A

Yes, TDH is all about deception -- again, with lots in there about building walls and keeping people from discovering self-truths.
Over the Edge: Sticking to your guns (?)Terri and StanAna and HershelS&A

The original title to this book was THE STEADFAST HERO, so yeah, you've got that right. Again, there are also themes of perception -- Stan believes Teri should hook up with Mike because "they would look good together." (I'm paraphrasing, but that's the sentiment.) It is only with the heart that one sees clearly -- what is essential is invisible to the eye. Isn't that a quote from THE LITTLE PRINCE. That, right there, is a common theme in my books.

Out of Control: Following instinct (?)Ken and SavannahRose and HankMolly and Jones/Grady
Yes, sort of -- combined with more of that LITTLE PRINCE theme. Molly SEES Jones. Rose SEES Hank -- she believes he's a good man, worth saving, even though she also thinks he's a Nazi. Her vision is clouded, but she sees the essential with her heart. Ken and Savannah also play the perception game with each other. But Kenny always falls in love too fast -- he finally gets the chance to become friends with a woman, too -- and the depth of the love he feels when he does fall for her is beyond his crazy crushes of the past. Would he have experienced that if she hadn't deceived him? Would he ever really have gotten to know her if he hadn't perceived her to be more awful and deceitful than she really was?

I think one of the themes of this book deals with an almost childlike sense of good and evil. Black and white. Ken loves Savannah. Then he hates her. Then he gets to know her -- the real, gray, flesh and blood woman. And it's only then, when he can appreciate her faults as well as her strengths, can he truly love her.

There are similar things happening with the Rose/Hank subplot. Nazis are evil. Except Rose thinks that Hank is a Nazi, and she still loves him and is unwilling to let him die. She sees shades of gray, but she knows that other people won't, and he'll be executed as a spy...

Into the Night: Discrimination/"-isms" (ageism/sizism/racism/classism)Mike and JoanMary Lou and IbrahamVince and Charlotte

I think the theme of this book is that Sometimes You Are Wrong. Not you, Sarah! LOL! -- Joan is wrong about her belief that she'd "too old" for Mike. Mary Lou is wrong about her belief that she'd be happy if she could only.... (fill in the blank -- marry a SEAL, have a house, have a white picket fence...) Charlotte is wrong about her belief that she can't live through loving another soldier who goes off to war. She can and she does. All those isms fall into Things that People Believe About Which They Are Frequently Wrong. LOL!

Gone Too Far: Reconciliations (?)S&AMax and GinaDot and Walter

Again, we're back to things are not as they seem.
Flashpoint: (help!)Jimmy and TessDecker and Sophia
This book, too, has the LITTLE PRINCE Theme. Tess sees Nash quite beautiful with her heart. But Deck and Sophia are both fooled by not being able to see each other clearly.

Hot Target: (help!)Cosmo and JaneJules and Robin/AdamHal and Jack
Again, the LITTLE PRINCE Theme, plus things are not as they seem -- heavy themes of the need to hide who we truly are -- and of the ultimate unhappiness that that can cause.

Phew! LOL!

I feel like I just finished my homework! GGGGG.

-- Suz

How easy is it to let go of a book?

Ann,

I'm not sure I'd call myself a perfectionist -- I'm just highly critical. GGG.

But I believe wholeheartedly in doing my personal best -- but taking into consideration things like time limits and other factors.

If I could write one perfect book in five years, or ten not quite perfect books in the same amount of time, I would write the ten. That's a no brainer.

By the time a book goes to press, I've read it a zillion times.

And yet there's still that uncaught typo or two. Oh, or the "typo" that some production assistant "caught" and "Fixed" -- like the genius who changed "Ollie, ollie ox in free," in OUT OF CONTROL to "Ollie, ollie on in tree!" WHAAA???? It appeared in the book TWICE and someone changed it to tree both times. AFTER I'd approved the galleys.
There have been several instances of that, where I definitely want to travel to every bookstore in the world and pen in the correction to every copy of the book.

I am lucky to have a wonderful husband, who provides just the right amount of "well, we can if you really want to, but wouldn't you rather go to the movies..." LOLOL!!!

-- Suz

Will Murphy get his own story?

Hi, Tania and Kelsey.

Yes, yes, yes -- you will definitely be seeing waaay more of Murphy. (He is SO mad at me right now...)

-- Suz

How loud is Jazz in your head?

I hear you, Melissa. (Picture Jazz, trying to be invisible!!! LOL!)

I will definitely pop into the board now and then while I'm on break. And I'll also set up some scheduled dates -- like this -- where I'll visit the board and get everyone's Q's answered!

-- Suz

How has the Hot Target dedication changed Jason's life?

Hey, JJ,

I'll let Jason know that there's a Q for him. He just went to a meeting/rehearsal for A CHORUS LINE. He just got called by a group that's putting on this show in May, and they were looking for a Mark. He's played (and danced!) that role before. (It's always fun as an actor to get called to come be in a show -- no audition! LOL!)

And of course, tonight is American Idol -- so he might not get to the board until tomorrow. (I've been watching it this year, with Jace. We were both Mario fans -- we're crushed that he left!!!)

How do you juggle everything you do?

Hey, Melissa.

I actually don't delegate well -- it's something I'm just plain lousy at doing. I'm working on it, though!

I've also found that sometimes the best thing I can do is simply lock myself in my office, away from all distractions, and focus on the book...

-- Suz

What are Eric and Ed up to?

Hey, Melissa!

OOoh, here's some cool news -- Eric just got cast in an Equity production of INTO THE WOODS. He plays Cinderella's father. We know the actress who plays Cinderella, and she's AMAZING!!! And we also know the actor who's playing the Narrator, and he's AMAZING!!! It's going to be a great show -- and Eric gets to earn equity points! Whoo hoo! (It's the New Rep Theater in Newton, MA and the show opens on April 27th and runs through May.)

With that said, I'm sure Ed and Eric both will be contributing to the Countdown for Breaking Point in June. (Jason leaves for school right about the same time the countdown starts, so I bet he'll be too busy to contribute this time around!)

-- Suz

I loved HT and hope you'll devote a book to Jules in the future.

Thank you, Anita!

I appreciate hearing that.

This seems a good place for me to mention to everyone on this board that I'm putting together a packet of positive email from readers to present to my publisher. Apparently, they've received some negative feedback about HOT TARGET -- don't worry, it's nothing that they can't handle. But, still, I want to make sure they realize just how much positive feedback I've gotten regarding both this book and Jules Cassidy.

Anticipating this, we've archived all of the positive emails I've received over the past few months, and we're going to remove email addresses and last names, and arrange it in an easy-to-read format and deliver (by forklift! LOL!) to Ballantine. Anyone who wants to participate -- if you haven't emailed me about either HOT TARGET or Jules in the recent past -- please feel free to send comments to my email address at SuzanneBrockmann@aol.com

Do us a favor, too -- and put something like "About Jules -- no reply necessary" in the subject header.

-- Suz

Excited about Suz's visit to Ireland.

Elizabeth and Marianne,

Wanna be in a movie??? LOL!

Good suggestions, Marianne -- I was hoping to find some info like that.
But hold those thoughts until after I finish BP. We haven't yet gotten a digital camera -- I want to actually take footage of the early research phases. I was actually planning to contact you about visiting Ireland -- it's going to be quite an adventure!

-- Suz

More about Jules.

Thanks, Maya.

You'll definitely be seeing more of Jules.

But the fact is, unless he moves to Massachusetts (and maybe to California!!!) he can find the love of his life, enter a committed relationship, and yet not be allowed to get married. He's a second class citizen -- like my son is, if he chooses to live outside of Massachusetts.

I am an outspoken supporter of equal rights for all Americans -- and this includes the right to marry. I've made no secret of that!

I'm a member and support of many Massachusetts organizations like Mass Equality, Freedom to Marry, as well as national groups like the Human Rights Campaign.
This past spring, Freedom to Marry had their annual Valentine's Day fundraiser in downtown Boston. It was the FIRST time they'd held this event since my gay and lesbian neighbors have been granted the equal right of marriage in Massachusetts. I attended with my husband and Eric and his wife, along with other friends. The event was a dinner, a silent auction, and a formal dance.

Early on in the dancing part of the evening, the MC got on the microphone and asked everyone who had been married within the past few months to go onto the dance floor.
I stood on the balcony overlooking this HUGE ballroom, and I watched hundreds of people hold their partners in their arms and celebrate the fact that they had finally been granted a right that I have been enjoying for the past twenty years.

I was moved -- far more than I can tell you. Words really can't describe it.

-- Suz

Greetings from South Africa.

Hi, Patricia!

I remember meeting you in Toronto -- you gave me some lovely gifts from Africa! (Thank you!!)

Say hi to Jones for me!

-- Suz

Will you ever join us in a chat room?

Hi, Karen

The problem with the chat room that's been set up is that there's a limit to the number of people who can squeeze in there. (Or at least there was the last time I visited!)

- Suz

Can we get a picture of your work area?

Oh, Angela! LOL!

I'm weeks away from finishing BP -- There's hardly any floor to walk on when I go into this phase of writing.

Total clutter.

I have lots of work surfaces (all currently covered). Two computers -- one for internet, the other for writing.

Over by my writing computer, the work surfaces are covered with notes (legal pads and spiral notebooks) as well as reference books, a dictionary, thesaurus, etc.
I have three bookshelves all jammed with books (how does that happen?) and two posters on my wall -- A classic trek publicity shot -- Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and my wonderful friend Lt. Uhura. The other poster is a collector's item that my son found for me -- the movie poster from the re-release of BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, from 1973, after the Sting was such a big hit.

(Have I mentioned that I love paul newman?)

In front of my writing computer, I have a cork board, and little framed water color of a sailboat on the bay that my father painted. (I have a lot of his artwork in my house.) I also have a little shelf thingy with photos of my kids (mother day presents abound!) and various figures from Jason's Clay Period.

I have a little refrigerator and a coffeemaker in my office, too.

After I clean it, I'll have eric take a picture with the digital camera and we'll post it during the countdown!

-- Suz

Suzanne Brockmann Q&A, Part 2

Suzanne Brockmann's Q&A continues. As in part 1, questions are italicized.

Are there any characters we will see in other books to satisfy our desire for more information, such as Blue and Lucy?

Hi, Cindy O!

Nice to see you here!

I'm sometimes surprised by the fascination readers have with certain characters (Molly & Jones, for example).

Sometimes this will get the story-idea wheels turning inside my head! So you never know who's going to return.

Lucy and Blue -- I've gotten a lot of feedback about Lucy and Blue after I did my Nasty Author Trick to Lucy in GET LUCKY.

I can't make any promises, but I hear you.

-- Suz

Do you have a timeline for stories or do you write about whichever character is loudest? Will you introduce new characters before writing about those we already know?

Hi again, Leigh!

I'm sure there will be new characters introduced!

Take Decker, for example. Okay, it's obvious that he's a future hero of his own book.

There's still alot that you don't know about him. Does he have a family? Of course he does. Is he close to them -- probably not. But that doesn't mean that he won't interact with them in his book. It doesn't mean that he will -- but if he does, those are all potential new characters, right? He's got a next-door-neighbor, too. Are they close? Probably not. Ditto re: potential interaction. Along with the girl who works the counter at the video store, right?

As far as timelines go -- I'd originally planned for Decker's book to come relatively soon. But he's been waving red flags at me -- he's so not ready for his HEA. So now what I have to do is decide whether I want to respect his wishes or drag him into it, kicking and screaming.

-- Suz

When are you coming to San Diego?

Hi, Nonny!

I'm hoping to stop in for a brief visit during my BREAKING POINT tour this summer. (I'm hoping to have the tour schedule posted on my website in mid-April!)

As far as potential sites for weekends similar to TARGET TAMPA... We've learned not to connect that to a tour (too exhausting to tour and then try to do a weekend event), and we're thinking the weekends probably don't even need to be tied into a book release -- in fact, it probably would be better to NOT be tied in to a new book. Maybe establish a time of year to get together...?

I noticed there were some questions specifically about that above -- I'll get into some of our ideas up there!

-- Suz

Will you write more short stories?

Hi, Regina!

I hope you're feeling better!

I wrote a post below about using characters for reunions in my books -- and I have to confess that the same applies to short stories!

You know, when my editor at Ballantine approached me to write that first S&A short story for the Flashpoint Chapter Sampler, I spent a HUGE amount of time thinking about what I would write.

First of all, I know my strengths and writing short is not one of them! LOL!

But secondly, I knew that I really didn't want to write what I've (somewhat rudely -- forgive me! LOL!) called "Sam and Alyssa Get a Puppy."

I really, honestly (apologetically!!!) don't want to write light-hearted glimpses of these characters being happy. Which doesn't mean that you won't see them being happy in my books and stories. But just that there's got to be something else to the story -- something conflict-ish or dark.

The first short story was all about Alyssa still getting adjusted to Sam's optimistic world.
The second was Sam's training in Military Spouse 101. (I've met many, many wives and mothers and family members of servicemen and women while on tour -- IMO, they are the true heroes!!! This story was my nod to them.)

-- Suz

Are you starting your own production company?

Hi, Kas and Melodie!

Ed and Eric and I have started a production company called SMALL OR LARGE PRODUCTIONS.

But our goal isn't to make movies from my SEAL books. (The production values would be too high! Action movies have things blowing up, etc. -- too expensive!!!)

We'll be starting with short films with digital video. Definitely low LOW budget stuff.

One of the projects we have in pre-pre-pre-production is a documentary/reality-based movie. You see, both my husband Ed and my best friend Eric discovered that they have family living in County Cork, Ireland.

Ed's family (Gaffney, O'Brien) came to America from County Cork, and Eric's family (originally from Russia) settled there in part when fleeing the pograms, I think. (Some of them came to America.) Anyway, we were talking one day, and started wondering if maybe one of Ed's distant relatives and one of Eric's distant relatives weren't sitting in a pub in Ireland right this very moment -- kind of like best friends in an alternate reality! LOL!

So we got this idea to do the research we need to do (geneaology stuff) to find out where in County Cork their families lived (and still live), and to track down any living relatives, and then go to Ireland, to see if they know each other! (Worst case scenario, we introduce them! LOL! Okay,wait -- worst case scenario is that the family line died out.) We thought it would be fun to get this down on film and to create a documentary about the process.

As for having movies made from my books -- I remain skeptical about how to transform one of my TS series books into a 2 hour movie. I just don't see it working.

I could imagine a cable mini-series. But that would be one big project - not doable on a shoe-string budget!

-- Suz

Do you feel your style changed when you went to hardcover?

Hi, Ann!

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: When I was told GONE TOO FAR was going to come out in hardcover, the book was nearly finished. And I didn't write the ending any differently, knowing that it wasn't going to be a mass market release.

And FLASHPOINT was just a different sort of book -- the first non-SEAL book I'd written in a long time, with new characters.

And HOT TARGET... I tried in this book to make the romance between Cosmo and Jane more like that of a traditional romance novel, because I knew the Jules subplot would be making many readers "boldly go..." etc.

Would I have written Flashpoint and Hot Target exactly the same way if they had originally been released as Paperbacks? YES. Absolutely.

I think, though, that writers need to grow. And that often that growth (or change) is not appreciated by all of the readers. Which is okay. I have my own likes and dislikes when it comes to books that I want to read.

But I think of it like this -- I once had a very good friend in 7th and 8th grade. We were amazingly tight -- best friends. But when we went to high school, we both grew and changed, and it got to the point where we were hardly even friends anymore. Oh, we were friendly, but we outgrew each other.

This is a natural part of life.

So I'm not too worried when I hear some readers say that they don't like my recent books. That's okay with me, because I'm picking up new readers -- people who can connect with me-the-writer-that-I-am-today.

It's a little strange because my older books are still out there. And yeah, like everything, people are going to have their favorites. But imagine how boring it would be if I just wrote OVER THE EDGE again and again and again.

-- Suz

Can you tell us about the Breaking Point convention?

Hi, Electra!

Nice to hear from you!

I had such a great time at Target Tampa, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to the next Big Weekend.

But I'm pretty sure, at this point, that its not going to be connected to the BREAKING POINT release date.

Here's what we're thinking:

BP comes out right before RWA National in Reno, Nevada, and so many readers like to attend that convention. Not just writers, but readers, too -- RWA always holds a mondo-huge booksigning on the Wednesday of their national conference. It is an unbelievable event -- thousands of your fav authors, with ALL proceeds donated to promoting literacy. There are also parties and events all week long.

I'm going to be attending RWA -- and I'm going to rent a party-sized suite for the week and have scheduled times for people to drop by and schmooze posted on my website.

Anyone attend the GONE TOO FAR release party in New York during RWA? We had scheduled meetings in the hotel lobby/bar throughout the week of RWA -- and I ended up losing my voice, shouting to be heard over the other lobby noise! LOL! This time, I'm going to invite you up to my suite -- with the understanding that you keep to the posted schedule! LOL! No knocking on my door at 3 a.m., okay?

We're thinking about having a pizza party up in the suite on the Wednesday night after the booksigning. (But I traditionally stay 90 + minutes after the "official" end of the booksigning, in order to sign everyone's backlist books, so we're still trying to figure out how that would work.)
We're also thinking about setting up a dinner/party right at the RWA conference hotel (the Hilton in Reno) for readers (and writers!), probably on the Friday night of the conference. We thought it would be fun to do a mini-version of our HOT TARGET weekend -- kind of repeat what we did on the Friday night party in Tampa -- hold a trivia quiz/contest, do short readings, perform the Now-Famous Skit, etc. Hotel food, however, is pretty expensive -- even in buffet form. (They do what looks like an awesome American food -- BBQ-ish -- buffet -- chicken ribs salads -- but it costs close to $35 per person. But that includes appetizers and desserts -- not drinks, though. And the price includes the use of a room big enough to hold a few hundred people.)

So that's what's up for BP in Reno. Because we're going to be doing a book tour connected to RWA (Hey-- Ballantine is going to shrink wrap the minivan again! Kewl...), we've decided NOT to do a full weekend. It's just too completely mind-blowingly exhausting.

Because here's the thing -- we did a debrief after TARGET TAMPA, and came to the conclusion that it might be better to have a yearly weekend that isn't connected to the release of a book. We don't need a reason to get together and have a fun weekend, do we? It might line up at times, but it's probably easier on our end if it doesn't!

We're still in brainstorming mode -- with lots of possibilities.

One possibility is to shorten the weekend -- have any events be held on friday and saturday, with Sunday as a day for attendees to sightsee on their own.

I also received an email suggesting a cruise -- that really appeals to me -- I'm definitely thinking about that as a serious possibility.

I also know that I want to hold a readers weekend here in the Boston area. But it's got to be during Boston-friendly weather. (Have I mentioned that it's snowed like, ten times this month alone? Hello, MARCH????)

At any rate, the dates for RWA are July 27th through 30th. You don't have to attend the writers conference to come to the literacy booksigning, or to any of my parties (pizza party and/or dinner on friday night). After I finish writing BP, I'll finalize my plans for Reno and let you all know, via my website and email newsletter. There will definitely be signups required for things like the parties/dinner. Advance payment for dinner, since we'll need 50 people to get that particular price for the buffet -- that sort of thing.

But that's so not what I'm focusing on right now! LOL! Hello, Max...?

After I finish the book (I start a lot of sentences that way these days!), I'll be posting requests for volunteers, etc. (DON'T contact me about this yet, though. MAX MAX MAX MAX MAX...)

-- Suz

Are you attending an upcoming event in Virginia?

Howdy, Heather!

Yes, actually I JUST got the details about this event!

Here's the scoop on the L&T's:

Lord & Taylors
7950 Tysons Corner Center
McLean, VA 22102

I've been told to enter the store at the lower level children's entrance -- off Rt. 123, between the Rainforest Cafe and L&T. Hmmm. Not sure what that means -- perhaps it will be clear when I am at the mall...

the Date: Tuesday, March 22

The Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

oh, look here it says the signing will be "Upper Level" of Lord & Taylor.

This is a charity event -- I believe it costs some small amount of money (charitable donation) to attend? But I could be wrong... It might be free. The event will benifit local charities...

There will be other authors including: Laurie Puhn, Elinor Klivans, Authur Yorinks, Alexandra Stoddard.

If you live nearby, please stop in. I have no idea how well attended (or not!!) this event will be! There is potentially a huge amount of schmooze time at an event like this, where all of the authors sit at a long table and play with their pens for 90 minutes. LOLOL!!!! (You think I'm kidding??? I'm not!!! This is the kind of event that is either a mad house or... well, picture a tumbleweed blowing through the aisles as crickets chirp! LOL!)

-- Suz

Will Ladies' Man ever be reissued?

Hi, Traci and Nat H!

Thanks for grouping your questions -- I appreciate that!

I do not, unfortunately, own the rights to LADIES' MAN.

Which does not mean that it will never be reissued. It just means that it's going to be a struggle to get it reissued on MY timetable, rather than Bantam's. (It was never published by Bantam Loveswept -- long story about that never...)

I haven't looked at the contract lately, so I don't know what the deal is with ebook rights.
I was also thinking about the possibility of releasing it as an audio book -- again, I haven't checked the contract recently, and I don't remember if I signed away ALL of my rights regarding this book, or just some. LOL! (The things we'll willingly sign while we're in the starving author phase -- sheesh!!!)

Here's the deal with all my old Loveswepts -- if I continue to hit the bestseller lists, Bantam will eventually reissue all of those books.

But I have absolutely no control over when or how. (See comment above re: starving artist phase! LOL!)

Here's something that I know can't hurt: Write to Bantam and request these titles be reissued. Readers have some pretty solid power -- if enough people ask for something, they just might wake up over there! GGG.

-- Suz

You intended Heartthrob to be a longer book. Have you ever thought about going back and rewriting it?

Hi, Vicky,

Actually, no, I never did.

And I think it's a better story without all those extra subplots. I mean, is the story of the caterer's romance with the town mayor REALLY important to the outcome of this book? I don't think so.

I always wanted, though, to write the screenplay for the movie, THE PROMISE, that was being made in that book. I actually wrote an entire treatment as part of my outline for the story.

But of course that script (a costume drama period piece chick flick -- sheesh) isn't appropriate for the type of low LOW LOW budget movies I'm hoping to make -- at least at the start! LOL!

-- Suz

How detailed are your outlines?

Hey, Melodie.

I write extremely detailed outlines, with pages and pages of character notes.

I'm talking 80+ pages for my outline alone. Sometimes I include snippets of dialogue or opening lines for specific scenes. I'll often include (or try to include) the exact sentiment for the end of the book. If not the closing line, an approximation of the mood of the final scene.

Sometimes I end up writing something entirely different in terms of using those snippets of dialogue. Sometimes I'll pluck 'em from the outline, word for word.

Every book is a slightly different process. Similar in many ways, yes, but it's its own creative process.

-- Suz

Hi, Kerrit!

Of course you're allowed to respond!

Feel free to comment away!

So okay -- my goal for this morning was to work my way back up here to my greeting. Hmm. It's 2 p.m., I started at 10:30.

I'm going to go have lunch with Max, then return in a few hours!

-- Suz

Suzanne Brockmann Q&A, Part 1

Suzanne Brockmann is answering questions today at the message board on her website. Since her message board scrolls without archiving, I thought I'd post the questions and her answers here for future reference. Feel free to jump over to the board and post a question, if that interests you. Questions are lining up fast; it looks like she may be answering them for the rest of the week. Questions are noted in italics.

Hey, gang!

Happy March 15th!

Isn't it supposed to be spring or something??? Here in Boston, it's cold and the sky says "SNOW!!!" I continue to do my FDR imitation and sit at the computer with a blanket over my legs. BRRRR.

BREAKING POINT is moving along rather nicely -- if you can call yesterday's hair-pulling 14 hour writing fest "nicely." It was one of those days where I hadn't showered or nordic tracked by 11:30 p.m., staggered down to Ed's office and talked him into watching a movie on DVD and ate waffles instead of nordic tracking.

Okay. Here we go. I'm going to start by answering the questions at the bottom first and work my way upwards!

Remember, I still have to write today, so I'll be visiting the boards in spurts, all the way up to midnight tonight, okay?

-- Suz

Which book is your biggest bestseller?

Hi, Bonnie!

That's a tricky one! I'm not good with numbers, but both GONE TOO FAR and NIGHT WATCH won awards from the Borders Group (Waldenbooks, Borders, etc). GTF won Bestselling Hardcover Debut for the year, and NW won Bestselling Series Romance. Of course, Borders Group is just one of the major chains. Sometimes stores like Sam's Club or other discount clubs outsell bookstores in a mega-huge way. (And GTF wasn't available in those chainstores -- I'd yet to be placed there at that time.)

So... Because publishers always look to build authors and increase sales -- and they do this in part by producing larger print runs of books (thus making the books more easily available to readers), I'm probably going to have to say that the very last book I've written is usually the official best bestseller!

But GTF did very very VERY well!

-- Suz

Which book was the hardest to write?

Yikes -- and I haven't even had my coffee yet!!! LOL!

Okay, Bonnie, it's probably still IDENTITY: UNKNOWN -- my TTD book where the hero had amnesia and was very depressed throughout the entire book because of it -- very painful to get into his head each day...

WHAT was I thinking??? Amnesia -- gee, that'll be fun?!! LOL!!!

As far as easiest... The early books -- my first years of writing -- were all insanely easy to write. But THE ADMIRAL'S BRIDE was pure fun. I LOVED writing that book -- I really adored Jake.
In the same way, I loved spending time with Kenny from OUT OF CONTROL, but that book wasn't quite as easy to write for various other reasons.

In my head, easy = waking up each morning saying, "Wow, I get to write XXX's story today! I'm so lucky," singing as I skip to my computer, laughing gaily while I race to get the next 25 pages onto paper -- oh, what the heck, I'll write 35 today!

So... maybe I should change my definition for easy?

-- Suz

Are any of your characters based on a real person?

Yo, Bonnie!!!

Short answer: Nope.

Some of my characters have small bits and pieces of real people, but when you mix them with all the other many, many bits and pieces that make us all individuals, they're hard to see.

For example, my bud, Eric, was chubby when he was a kid, and even when he was in his 20 when he was wicked thin, he still watched his weight religiously. That always fascinated me -- the way he still saw that chubby kid in the mirror. I used elements of that when I created Mike Muldoon. (I also used elements of a sorta of geeky kid I knew in high school who, at my class reunion was jawdroppingly good looking to help Muldoon come to life.)

But you wouldn't meet either of those two real life people and, upon meeting them say, "Oh, Muldoon's obviously based on him..."

Ed's sense of humor is the spark inside of Cooper in EMBRACED BY LOVE, but they are two very different people.

-- Suz

How many “voices” are in your head when you write?

Hey, Bonnie!!!

Man, you're giving me a workout first thing, eh?

I write my books the way you read them -- although now that I say that, I better but USUALLY in there, because sometimes, after they're written, I might flip a scene or two for various reasons.

But one of the first things I do when outlining a book is to decide which of the characters are POV (point of view) characters. This means that part of the story is going to be told from their eyes, using their perceptions and words.

And yes, it gets pretty noisy!!!

-- Suz

Will you ever come to Europe?

Marianne and Annie,

Actually, I was hoping to come to Europe this summer. I want to do a BAND OF BROTHERS tour, starting in England and following the route Easy Company took into Germany. But this is the year of the wedding -- both Ed's youngest brother and sister are getting married, which is wonderful! But the trip's going to have to wait.

(I'm scheduled to go to RWA National in Reno in July, as well as doing a book tour for BREAKING POINT, so a post-wedding trip isn't possible.)

Ed and Eric and I are in the planning stages for a documentary movie that we want to make that will involve a trip to Ireland. I noticed there was a Q above about our production company -- I'll get into that in detail up there, okay?

(And yes, we've been looking transatlantic cruises! I'm very excited about the idea of HAVING to be contained in a relatively smallish space for an entire week! LOL!)

-- Suz

Even if you can't tell us what will happen, do you know Jules's story?

Marianne,

I've been sitting here for several minutes, trying to figure out exactly how to word my answer to you.

I think I'm going to say that I know SOME of Jules story arc. I know where I WANT him to go, but, as I'm sure you can imagine, it's not going to be a quick, easy journey, over in just a book or two. And sometimes characters come to life and mess around with my plans.

-- Suz

What book was the hardest to be done with?

Hi, Jenny!

OUT OF CONTROL.

Kenny stayed inside of my head for years -- YEARS I tell you!!! LOL!

Usually when I finish a book, the hero rides off into the sunset, but Kenny was like, "So. What are we going to do today?"

And it was weird to see Sam & Alyssa's story "end," so to speak -- even though I think that committing to a relationship is the farthest thing from an "ending" in the world!

-- Suz

When can we expect the next TDD book?

Hi, Mel!

Alas, it's going to be a while.

I've written the proposal, but the last window of time I had to write it got slammed shut. (Teenaged kids syndrome...)

The next book is tentatively titled OPERATION: ASHLEY and features Colleen Taylor's former roommate Ashley, and the SEAL known as Spaceman.

-- Suz

What's next after Breaking Point?

Hi, Terri!

Ah, you hit the "no comment" buzzer with both feet on that one! LOL!

Sorry -- I'm not talking about what's next yet. (Partly because my head is so deeply into writing BREAKING POINT. I don't want to distract myself. "Next book? Next book?" Boom, my head explodes!)

Depending on how things go, I might have some info about the next book by the official Countdown to Breaking Point, which'll start mid-June-ish on my website. Maybe.

-- Suz

Do you run your storylines past the publisher? Do you use a critique group?

Hi, Heidi!

Thank you!

For each book, I write an outline/proposal, which I submit to my editor. She gives me the green light to go ahead and write the book. Sometimes, she says, "Are you SURE...???" LOL! (Like when I told her I was going to make Kenny "WildCard" Karmody the hero of my next book! She kind of gulped and said, "Okay!" She trusts me!!!!)

And no, I've never been part of a critique group. It's not my thing. I know lots of writers enjoy that, but I don't. I don't want other writers' input. Writing is all about choices, you see.

What I did (and continue to do) is find what I call my "First Draft Readers." They are, first and foremost Readers, with a capital R. They all love books and they all read voraciously for pleasure. My husband, Ed, is one of them. He gives me the (sometimes clueless in terms of romance novels! LOL!) male point of view. My friend Deede is another. I know her likes and dislikes (she's very PC), so, sometimes is part of the book doesn't work for her, my response will be "Yes! That's exactly what I'd hoped she'd say!" (For example, she HATED Sam in TDH.) LOL! My mom is another of my readers. Again, I know her well, and I can factor in her response (supportive mommy stuff included! ).

If all three of these readers have a major problem with a character or event in the book, I know I better look at the book again. If they all love a certain part of the book, and my editor wants to cut that very scene, I know I need to fight extra hard to keep that scene in.

They read each book as readers -- not writers. They're not concerned with the writing process -- only with being entertained by what is hopefully an enjoyable, fastpaced story.

-- Suz

What do you read when you have the chance?

Heidi,

It's actually a weird thing -- when I became a writer, I stopped reading as a reader. When I read now, I analyze -- I read as a writer. And I put down books that I would have loved fifteen years ago -- I'm unable to read them. They're just not written well enough, IMO.

Bottomline, I know that I'm super-critical, but if I don't enjoy a book, I'm not going to read it.
Which doesn't mean when I'm on vacation and able to read that I can't fill my time reading great books.

I've recently discovered Dean Koontz -- I loved ODD THOMAS -- it's probably my new favorite book of all time. And I really enjoyed LIFE EXPECTANCY, too. But I haven't read any of his backlist. I don't like scary books, so i'm going to be careful which of his I read.

I'm also a huge Carla Kelly fan -- I'll actually re-read her books, which is something I rarely do.
Another good re-read for me is Virginia Ellis's THE WEDDING DRESS. I'm eagerly awaiting her next book. I loved THE PHOTOGRAPH, too.

SEP -- I'd read her grocery list. I love her books. Jennifer Cruise, too.

I prefer reading outside of my genre -- historical romances, in particular. Jo Beverly. Julia Quinn. Connie Brockway.

I just saw in RT that Susan Carroll has a new book coming out. I'll be picking that up right away -- I loved her St. Leger series (THE BRIDEFINDER, etc.)

Right now, at the top of my TBR pile, awaiting me like a prize for when I finish writing BREAKING POINT, is Alesia Holliday's YA book (written as Jax Abbott), SUPER SIXTEEN.

-- Suz

After the HEA, how often does a character come back in other books?

Hi, Kelly!

Thanks for posting for Brenda! You are so nice!

Some are louder than others, that's for sure. Harvard, for example, wants to be in every single book -- regardless of whether it's a TDD book or a TS book! LOL!

Nils and Stan are pretty quiet, as is Muldoon.

Jazz, I think, is terrified. He's very smart, and I think he's like one of those kids in school who sits in the classroom, praying that he doesn't get called on. LOL!

Every time I sit down to plot out a book, I have to decide who is going to play a major role in the story.

There's always a place for the Big Team Leader. In the TS, Inc. world, that's Tom Paoletti. He used to fill that role in the Team Sixteen World. In the FBI world, it's Max -- see how that works? There always needs to be someone who is the Big Boss. They may play a large part, or they may be more like Charlie, in Charlie's Angels. LOL!

There's usually someone who's is going to play the role of "Wise Sage." Someone who talks to the hero (it's usually the hero who needs the advice). The Sage doesn't need to be particularly close to the hero -- sometimes it works better if the two are at odds, rather than good friends. Example: Sam filled this role for Muldoon in INTO THE NIGHT. I chose him over the obvious choice of Stan for several reasons: The biggest was that Sam had to play a part in this book because a major subplot was devoted to his relationship with Mary Lou. But I also thought it would be fun to toss Sam into that particular role. (And he does have good advice to give to Muldoon -- don't wait to ask Joan out to dinner. Clearly he's kicking himself for not pursuing Alyssa Locke at the end of TDH, right???)

Anyway, there are many other roles that need to be filled each book -- depending on the various plots and subplots. Each character that appears in each book must serve a purpose -- they can just show up randomly.

If they show up only for the sake of a "reunion scene," new readers really feel left out. I've read books where authors toss in past characters, and it's like walking into a room where everyone knows everyone else, and I don't get all the private jokes. Very excluding.

So there has to be a reason for a past character to appear in a book or story. And I have to juggle that with attempting not to include too many characters in each book! (Which is why Sam played Muldoon's sage, instead of bring Stan -- another character -- in to play that role!)

-- Suz

After Breaking Point, are you sure you'll come back after vacation?

Hi, Melissa!

Rest assured, I can't imagine never writing another novel.

Yes, I want to write screenplays and TV scripts, but Hollywood is a very crazy place -- and writers are extremely low in the pecking order. Stories get changed, rewritten... I can't imagine having to deal with that. (Which is why I want to produce and direct as well as write movies!)
But the creation of a movie is a group project -- there's no way I could completely control the outcome, even if I produced and directed.

A novel, on the other hand, is entirely the work of one writer. There's no way I'm going to give that up! Trust me!!!!

-- Suz

When will George be back?

Hi, Leigh!

Ah, George.

I've brought him (from BODYGUARD) into the TS world.

But he's kind of like Jazz (see my post below re: characters who make more noise than others) -- he's trying to blend in with the wallpaper, hoping I don't notice him! LOL!

Too many characters, too little time...

-- Suz

When will we get an update about Kenny?

I'm glad you liked them [Kenny and Savannah], Leigh.

Kenny's one of my personal favorites, so...

-- Suz

Watch for additional questions and answers as the day progresses.

Alyssa