tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post1999168353998778017..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: WELCOME, JANE GRAVES, GUEST BLOGGER!Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-78724652018929295922007-07-06T10:39:00.000-04:002007-07-06T10:39:00.000-04:00Great interview! Loved Tall, Dark and Texan (you S...Great interview! Loved Tall, Dark and Texan (you SHOULD have gotten the RITA for that one.)I can't wait to get my hands on this book!Sandy Blairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11949432610837000656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-38082172719552443212007-07-04T21:58:00.000-04:002007-07-04T21:58:00.000-04:00Can't wait to read this one. Sounds funny and I c...Can't wait to read this one. Sounds funny and I can't wait to see how you make us go from not caring about to sympathizing and rooting for your heroine. And I know it'll happen.<BR/><BR/>CherylCherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09677431572554533438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-37784940703172395152007-07-04T11:43:00.000-04:002007-07-04T11:43:00.000-04:00Enjoyed having you here today, I'm now going to ha...Enjoyed having you here today, I'm now going to have to add the reads to my TBR pile.tetewahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04287233499993365048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-35270161086072775842007-07-03T22:01:00.000-04:002007-07-03T22:01:00.000-04:00Hi Jane,I'm glad you decided to stick with the rom...Hi Jane,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you decided to stick with the romantic comedy. I don't think we have enough of those type of stories out there. There's nothing better than reading a book that makes you laugh along with the romance. Hot Wheels and High Heels sounds really good and so does the book you have coming out next year.Kammiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00183089224990431099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-60651843894467638122007-07-03T20:39:00.000-04:002007-07-03T20:39:00.000-04:00Thanks for joining us, Jane! Hot Wheels and High H...Thanks for joining us, Jane! Hot Wheels and High Heels sounds fabulous! Looking forward to reading it :-)Beth Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204356784898045866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-886286578096419172007-07-03T20:08:00.000-04:002007-07-03T20:08:00.000-04:00Jane, thank you so much for joining us on Romance ...Jane, thank you so much for joining us on Romance Bandits! I so agree with what you said about the heroine, that she has to be interesting, not necessarily entirely sympathetic from page one. I do find romance readers can be quite tough on heroines, though, while they will forgive almost anything in a hero.<BR/><BR/>I love romantic comedy with an edge and I'll be sure to look out for your books. They sound like great fun!Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-42699991546527602562007-07-03T19:15:00.000-04:002007-07-03T19:15:00.000-04:00Hey Jane,Thanx a BUNCH for hanging out with us tod...Hey Jane,<BR/>Thanx a BUNCH for hanging out with us today! And DOUBLE THANX for your kind words about our blog. If you scroll down to the very bottom, you'll see that our super-cool design was done by Austin Dreamworks and our wonderful ORIGINAL banner was designed by Suz's very talented daughter Lyndsey (Aunty loves to PLUG our talented friends)!<BR/><BR/>Now if you haven't left the lair yet, could you please tell us a bit more about your transition from category to single title? Any advice you can give us AYUs about selling in either venue?<BR/><BR/>THANX AGAIN!<BR/>ACLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-27663217102738069202007-07-03T18:07:00.000-04:002007-07-03T18:07:00.000-04:00I just gotta say that you guys have one seriously ...I just gotta say that you guys have one seriously cool-looking blog. I love the design!<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-2055193061473222282007-07-03T18:06:00.000-04:002007-07-03T18:06:00.000-04:00Tracy! Ack! You reminded me I need to find a pair ...Tracy! Ack! You reminded me I need to find a pair of leopard-skin heels before the national conference. If anybody wants to know why, just take a look at the cover of Hot Wheels and High Heels.<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-68198085819530694092007-07-03T18:04:00.000-04:002007-07-03T18:04:00.000-04:00Jo, thanks for the nice words about Hot Wheels!Yes...Jo, thanks for the nice words about Hot Wheels!<BR/><BR/>Yes, there's one type of character I've wanted to write as a heroine for some time now. This particular type has shown up in my books before, but as a secondary character. In my DeMarco series, she was a tough, take-no-crap member of a SWAT team. In Hot Wheels, she's a tough, take-no-crap bodyguard to a multimillionaire. Do you see the pattern here? I'd just love to take that kind of woman and force her kicking and screaming over to her softer side...<BR/><BR/>As far as where I'll be in five years? I haven't got a clue. The market is so volatile that what I write today may not be salable tomorrow. Or what I write today may be the Next Big Thing and land me on the bestseller lists. It's just hard to say!<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-21548291539043493012007-07-03T17:58:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:58:00.000-04:00Kay, as far as knowing what the ending was going t...Kay, as far as knowing what the ending was going to be since I'm a pantser, yeah. I usually have a pretty good idea, at least thematically, what has to happen. But the specifics are subject to change at any moment, up to and including the instant I hit "send" and email the manuscript to my editor. <BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-54306560629243414932007-07-03T17:54:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:54:00.000-04:00Franny, I think it all gets down to making sure yo...Franny, I think it all gets down to making sure your reader understands why your characters are behaving the way they are. You can have a character do the most unsympathetic thing in the world, but if she does it for reasons we can understand, if we look at her and say, "You know, if I were in her position, I'd probably do that, too," then you're okay.<BR/><BR/>One of my favorite shows is 24. Jack Bauer does some of the most heinous things imaginable. But I understand his motivation, and I glue to that show one episode after another because he's such an incredibly interesting character. <BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-81066456190404203262007-07-03T17:50:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:50:00.000-04:00Suz, yep, that's pretty much what the humor is lik...Suz, yep, that's pretty much what the humor is like in Hot Wheels. I love to find that one woman who gets under a hero's skin like no other, then exploit the hell out of it. In the beginning, he can't understand her to save his life. It's only when the layers start peeling away that they start to understand just how much they really do connect.<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-27446165563425654832007-07-03T17:47:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:47:00.000-04:00Caren, I don't know what the deal is with romantic...Caren, I don't know what the deal is with romantic comedy. Truthfully, I was hoping for a bigger comeback by now. I think it just got glutted by 2002 or 2003, and editors slowly stopped acquiring it. But you know, as much as people love to laugh, I can't imagine it not coming back in a big way eventually.<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-7861419754806514852007-07-03T17:36:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:36:00.000-04:00Hey Jane,Thanks for the interview. I'm looking for...Hey Jane,<BR/>Thanks for the interview. I'm looking forward to Hot Wheel & High Heels! I love comedy, even in historicals. Nothing depresses me more than a book that is always angst or gritty with no relief, no chance to take a deep breath.<BR/><BR/>Tell the truth, now. How large is your collection of Hot Wheels and little leopard-skin high heeled shoes? :D<BR/><BR/>TracyTracyGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432297803219920111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-19481394855591118752007-07-03T17:01:00.000-04:002007-07-03T17:01:00.000-04:00Helen,I love historicals, too, but Jane's books ar...Helen,<BR/><BR/>I love historicals, too, but Jane's books are among my favorite contemporaries. You'll probably love them, too!Suzanne Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761579189372602292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-82302278879597061472007-07-03T16:44:00.000-04:002007-07-03T16:44:00.000-04:00Great interview I always enjoy hearing how a book ...Great interview I always enjoy hearing how a book gets started in someone's imangination I don't write but am an avid reader mostly historical romance. Stories with humour are always good.<BR/>Have Fun<BR/>HelenHelenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984438742736003285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-51477631901283172222007-07-03T15:44:00.000-04:002007-07-03T15:44:00.000-04:00Jane,Great to have you here! I just started my cop...Jane,<BR/>Great to have you here! I just started my copy of Hot Wheels, and let me say, I can't put it down!! This book is great fun, everyone. Don't miss out!<BR/><BR/>I do have a question for the future...Is there a story that has been simmering in the back of your mind for some time that you'd like to write? A character who won't leave you alone? <BR/><BR/>Also, where do you see yourself in five years as a writer?<BR/><BR/>Hugs,<BR/>JoJo Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132008896370320303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-18654324995525884962007-07-03T15:40:00.000-04:002007-07-03T15:40:00.000-04:00Hey JaneLoved reading about your process with this...Hey Jane<BR/>Loved reading about your process with this book. So did you have a clear vision of how this one would end? I know you're more of a pantser. I am too, but I always have a pretty good idea of how the last scene is going to work out. Without giving away spoilers here...did you know how this was going to conclude when you started or was it all a surprise for you as well?Kay Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12047127118821051479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-529005808516310532007-07-03T15:19:00.000-04:002007-07-03T15:19:00.000-04:00I have to agree with Jo's post - it's really fasci...I have to agree with Jo's post - it's really fascinating as a reader to see a character go through a true growth arc. As a writer, I'd say that's much harder to deliver!<BR/><BR/>Jane - in your development of the story, how difficult did you find it to find that balance - creating sympathy for the character so the reader doesn't hate her, but still creating compelling conflict?<BR/><BR/>Can't wait to dive into the book!<BR/>FrannyFrannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07518285001364795102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-66513648434405100322007-07-03T15:04:00.000-04:002007-07-03T15:04:00.000-04:00I always loved M*A*S*H. The humor was great, espec...I always loved M*A*S*H. The humor was great, especially when HotLips couldn't keep from laughing at Hawkeye, despite how much he disregarded her love of rules.<BR/><BR/>The comedy part of romances that I enjoy are when the heroine does something that makes absoloutely no sense to the alpha male hero, but something I totally get. If it makes me stop reading long enough to stop laughing, then it's a keeper.<BR/><BR/>Is the humor in HW&HH similar to this?Suzanne Ferrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761579189372602292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-72904860423499767362007-07-03T12:10:00.000-04:002007-07-03T12:10:00.000-04:00Great responses, Jane, and welcome to our blog. L...Great responses, Jane, and welcome to our blog. Love the questions, Suz. Your comment, Jane, about having sympathetic characters from the get-go really resonated with me. I enjoy a bristly, flawed character, interesting enough, but really fascinating when he/she evolves into a multi-dimensional, complex one.jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86621356684243163512007-07-03T11:22:00.000-04:002007-07-03T11:22:00.000-04:00dmacmeans, I'm laughing hysterically that you're a...dmacmeans, I'm laughing hysterically that you're asking me about title advice. I positively suck at them. It took forever to come up with this title. It's an oddball one, but it fits the book really well. Ironically, when it came time to title the second one, I suggested "Tall Tales and Wedding Veils" because it had the same rhythm and it fit the book. My editor took it to the powers that be and emailed me back within the hour to say it was a go.<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-76510326554566346122007-07-03T11:16:00.000-04:002007-07-03T11:16:00.000-04:00Hey, Trish!Actually, even though I write comedy, I...Hey, Trish!<BR/><BR/>Actually, even though I write comedy, I always throw in some angsty moments. I think comedy is stronger if it has something playing against it. The example I always think of is the old show M*A*S*H. Ninety percent of the time, it was all laughs, and then they'd zing you with something bittersweet or heartbreaking. It added a lot of depth to the show.<BR/><BR/>JaneJane Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330052187057023637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-53123709993879332182007-07-03T11:14:00.000-04:002007-07-03T11:14:00.000-04:00Hi, Jane, thanks for playing with us! I'm with Don...Hi, Jane, thanks for playing with us! I'm with Donna. I love a good romantic comedy. Romanic comedy seems to be a subgenre which ebbs and flows with the years. Do you think it is currently ebbing or is the tide coming back in for romcom?Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.com