SURVIVOR—Who’s left on the American Title island?

by KJ Howe

Reality television has infiltrated the literary world with the American Title competition—talented writers vie with each other to impress fans with excerpts from their novels and the author with the most votes conquers the literary island! Our very own Bandita, Trish Milburn, has made the top two with her paranormal romance, Out of Sight. Please visit http://www.romantictimes.com/news_amtitle3.php to vote or click on the American Title on the sidebar. Trish has had an unbelievable year, selling a traditional romance to Harlequin American and a Young Adult novel to Razorbill (Penguin). You may ask, “Who is this masked Bandita and how is she swashbuckling through the romance industry?” Let’s get Trish to answer a few of your questions!

KJ: First of all, congrats on making the top two of American Title. Your writing has obviously stood out as judges and voters alike are raving about your work. What do you like best about your hero and heroine in Out of Sight? And—give us the low-down on their faults. After all, the more interesting the faults, the more tantalizing the characters!

TM: Jenna, my heroine, has a special place in my heart because she’s tough and insists on being herself even when it might be easier to not be. Because of her special ability – she can make herself invisible – she’s recruited to work for a secret government agency. The catch? She doesn’t have a choice. If she doesn’t comply, her worst fears of becoming a government lab rat might come true. But she’s not going to just play Miss Meek Mouse. She balks on occasion, dictating her own terms even when the hero, Daniel, who is an agent for the secret agency, thinks she’s lost it and pushed his superiors too far. And even when she’s quaking inside despite her outward appearance. I guess this reason I admire her might also be seen as a fault because she finds it near impossible to trust anyone who works for the federal government, even when that person (like Daniel) might be on her side. Her distrust stems from the fact that her father once worked for the government in covert ops, but after he went missing the government refused to admit he’d ever worked for them.

As for Daniel, he’s sexy, is a fun mixture of serious about his job and a teasing smart aleck. He’s the perfect match for Jenna, even though she’d rather eat live worms than admit it. Perhaps his biggest fault is not questioning the why behind his own ability and the agency’s mission more.

KJ: You wrote 17 manuscripts and finaled 8 times in the Golden Heart (winning twice!) before selling. During that time, what is the most important lesson you’ve learned about the publishing industry?

TM: That you just have to keep at it. Perseverance is key to achieving that dream of publishing. After so many years of going to workshops, reading craft books, learning about the industry, and trying to improve my work with each new manuscript and each set of revisions, it was hard to keep going after so many “no, thank you” rejections. But we’ve probably all thought about quitting at some point. The thing is to not allow yourself to act on that thought if you really, really want to see your books on store shelves. It’s like athletes who fight through pain and injury for their one chance at the Olympics. Eventually, you will find the right editor at the right time with the right project.

KJ: Given that you write Young Adult, Traditional Romance, Paranormal Romance, and Romantic Suspense, what rituals do you have before sitting down to write to get those different voices down? Do you listen to different music, dress in unique clothes? Please give us the scoop.

TM: Honestly, I tend to watch TV shows or movies in the same genre to get the mood and feel. I have always loved TV and movies; I connect with them and the stories they present. They seep into my subconscious and put me in the right mood. For instance, if I’m getting ready to write YA, I’ll watch shows like Gossip Girl or Smallville or movies like 10 Things I Hate About You or The Prince and Me. That gets me to thinking “teen.” Same thing for the other sub-genres.

KJ: A Firefighter in the Family will be coming out September 2008. Your first Harlequin American. What is it about this line that appeals to you?

TM: I enjoy so many different sub-genres of romance that mix in other elements with the romance, but it’s nice to have a place to present stories that are just pure romance. A Firefighter in the Family has a bit of a mystery going on, but it’s dialed way back from some of my grittier romantic suspense manuscripts. Nobody is finding dead bodies in the woods. :-)

KJ: Adventure is as passion of mine as is nature—and you have combined those two in your YA novel Heartbreak River that comes out in Spring 2009. Can you tell us a little about your rafting experiences? I had the opportunity to raft in Pennsylvania and can’t wait to tackle it again!

TM: LOL! This is where my ability to research comes in rather than real-world experience. In reality, I’d be scared to death of getting in a raft and getting anywhere near whitewater. That’s actually good because I tapped into that fear for part of the story. Part of my fear comes from the fact that I can’t swim (Trish’s embarrassing admission of the day); part comes from the fact that I’m just a wienie. That’s why I like to write about tough gals who can take on anything physically. They can do things that I doubt I ever will. But while my idea of adventure is driving cross-country by myself (I have no problem doing that), I do love nature and being outdoors. Actually, I have this dream of through-hiking the Appalachian Trail, but that is not my dear hubby’s idea of a good time. :-) Heartbreak River is set in Colorado, and I drew inspiration during the writing of the book by simply looking out the window of the Amtrak train I was taking from my home in Tennessee to California. It was so cool to write about the river and rafting as the train meandered along the Colorado River.

KJ: I heard y’all from Nashville, the site for RWA’s National conference for 2010. Planning ahead is always fun. Can you give us a list of must-see sights when we venture into the land of country music?

TM: Of course, if you like country music, the Grand Ole Opry is a must-attend show, and it’s conveniently located next door to the Opryland Hotel where the conference is being held. You can also do one of those bus tours where they take you around to see the country music stars’ homes. A few years ago, they opened up the brand new Country Music Hall of Fame downtown, which replaced an older museum that was on Music Row, which is where a lot of the country music-related businesses are based.

For me, however, I love the historic homes and buildings in Nashville. Belle Meade is a plantation which has a thoroughbred horse raising history. Kentucky Derby winners such as Secretariat and Barbarro have bloodlines stretching back to when Belle Meade was active in the horse business. Historic Carnton Plantation was used as a field hospital during the bloody Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. One of my favorite places here is The Hermitage, the home of President Andrew Jackson. A truly unique place to visit in Nashville is The Parthenon, the centerpiece of our Centennial Park. It is the only reproduction of Greece’s Parthenon in the world. Built in 1897 for the state’s Centennial Exposition, The Parthenon also houses a 42-foot statue of Athena and a city art museum. There’s a lot more to see, so you might want to take time to visit the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau site before arriving in Music City USA.

KJ: Thanks for joining us today, Trish, and best of luck in the finals of American Title. If you would like to learn more about our intrepid finalist, visit http://www.trishmilburn.com/ where you will have a chance to win free books!

TM: Thanks, KJ! It was a fun interview. And thanks for all the support given to me by my fellow Banditas and all of you fabulous people out there in Banditaland. :-)

Chasing Dreams

by Donna MacMeans

I don't watch a lot of television, but I do like the early shows of American Idol. Thanks to the snow and ice that canceled my aerobic class last night, I was able to see the first reduction of the show's final twenty-four contestants. Did you watch it?

I identify with this show. Not that I can sing. (Okay so the photo is a fish - but that's the general reaction to my singing.) But for many years, I was an older version of those young hopefuls, chasing the dream of seeing my work in print. I'd enter a contest, wait and wait to learn that I was a finalist, and then hope and pray that my writing was good enough to win. Often it wasn't and someone else won the honor.

However, nothing ever happened to me like what happened Thursday night. Here's the deal:

The contestants, all young and all talented, performed a solo over two nights of shows. Some of the performances were absolutely amazing. Some were lackluster. After the performances, fans were invited to vote via telephone for their favorites and based on the tabulation, two men and two women were dismissed from the show.

Now we know all this from the get-go. Much like the writing contests, the finalists will slowly be weeded down to an ultimate winner. Honestly, this doesn't bother me as the contestants know a lot is riding on their performance and this contest gives them a shot they wouldn't ordinarily receive.

However, Thursday night, the moderator turned to judge Simon Cowell and asked if he had any advice for one of the departing male contestants. Cowell's advice: "go get a job and make music your hobby because you'll never make it in this industry."

OUCH! I think everyone was in shock for a few minutes.

Now I must admit the music industry is a hard road to fame. I think only one or two of the past winners of American Idol went on to release hits. This kid's one performance was lackluster compared to the others - not bad - just not as good.

So did he deserve to have his dreams trounced upon in such a public forum? Was Simon doing him a favor and sparing him future heartache? Could Simon's criticism actually spur the young singer to try harder and smarter? Has anyone ever trounced on your dreams either accidentally or in the vein of "doing you a favor"? How did you react?

I'll pick someone from the posted comments to receive a copy of The Education of Mrs. Brimley and - as Mardi Gras as recently passed - a sequined Mardi Gras bandit mask.

Don't forget our own Trish is embroiled in an American Idol like contest of her own. The American Title contest is down to two finalists and Trish is one of them. Anyone can vote for a winner and it won't even cost you a phone call. Click on the Vote Trish button in the scroll and help her reach the limelight.

Take the Pulse of Romance ... with Medical Romance's Newest Star!!

by Anna Sugden

I’m thrilled to welcome one of my dearest friends, the super-talented, award-winning author Janice Lynn.

For as long as she can remember, Janice Lynn has dreamed of writing romance novels for Harlequin. Unfortunately, she didn't start pursuing that dream until 2002 when she penned her first novel since high school. A 2003 Golden Heart finalist, Janice's work has won numerous contests including the very first American Title, run by Romantic Times. JANE MILLIONAIRE was published by Dorchester in 2005. In 2006, Janice achieved her dream when she sold her first medical romance to Harlequin.

A nurse practitioner, Janice lives in Tennesse with her husband, their four children, their Jack Russell - appropriately named Trouble - and a lot of unnamed dust bunnies that have moved in since she started her writing career. She keeps her muse happy with lots of Matthew McConnaughey photos.

For more information, check out Janice's website and blog:
http://www.janicelynn.net/

http://www.janicelynn.blogspot.com/

Welcome, Janice.

What an awesome intro! Thanks, Anna. Very glad to be here.

Many people will remember you as the first American title winner, with your fabulous book JANE MILLIONAIRE. Can you tell us how that contest changed your life and what you learned from it?

Do you have all day? No? Okay, I’ll be brief. The American Title contest was an amazing journey to publication that was filled with a lot of ups and downs. From the moment I found out Jane had been chosen as one of the ten finalists, my life got sucked into a big whirlwind that was filled with a lot of fingernail biting, developing ulcers, and pulling out my hair.

Fortunately, meeting the other finalists, getting to know the fabulous folks from Romantic Times magazine, learning how wonderful and loving my friends really are (they actually still talked to me after the contest and months of begging them to vote, along with all their family and friends, of course. ;) ), doing multiple media stints, and seeing the pride and excitement in my children’s eyes when they’d heard I’d advanced another round, made it all worthwhile. That, and the publishing contract that came along with the win.

The one thing I’d say the contest taught me most though is to push myself one step further than I thought I could go. I stuck with it, gave it my best, got a LOT of help from friends, and in the end all the hard work paid off.

Your latest book, THE DOCTOR’S PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL is a Medical Romance. What made you decide to switch to writing medicals?

I submitted a Modern Extra to the London office. The editor didn’t purchase the book, but said she really liked my voice, and oh by the way had I ever considered writing medicals? I hadn’t for the simple reason I was afraid it would be too much like my real life and I wouldn’t enjoy it. I work as a nurse practitioner and use writing as my stress relief. I had visions of my stress reliever becoming part of my stress. But I decided to give it a try, wrote a proposal, sent it to her, she asked for a full, then revisions, and unbelievably bought that book and my next one in a two book deal.

Although I love the fun, quirky books like Jane Millionaire I have enjoyed writing Medicals as well. It’s kind of nice to have the power to actually make patients get well and to give happily-ever-afters.

Can you tell us a bit about THE DOCTOR'S PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL?

Without really meaning to, I poured a lot of my heart--a lot of me--into the first book. Nothing literally, but I have a lot of me buried in the layers. Early on in my career, I really struggled with knowing that it’s okay to have a life of my own and at times felt guilty for being happy when so many around me were sick, miserable, or dying. Medicine/caring for people can be very soul-consuming.

THE DOCTOR'S PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL is about a doctor who struggles to find balance in her life. She’s torn between the patients who need her and the man who loves her. My hero feels neglected because of the heroine’s commitment to her career. He plans to jar her into realizing how she always puts him last in her life. Only his plan backfires when she tells him she’s pregnant. He’s a tortured soul who feels responsible for the death of an infant and after which decided he never wanted kids. Together they learn the true meaning of love and the sacrifices/compromises that go along with the emotion.

I actually cry every time I read this book. Bawled like Joan Wilder while writing one particular scene. It’s an emotional read—at least, I think so. There is a bit of humor laced in, but overall, TDPB is a very different kind of book from Jane Millionaire. Much more intense, deeper characters, more serious conflicts/settings.

I know a number of our visitors will be keen to get their hands on a copy of THE DOCTOR’S PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL, but it isn’t available at Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. (though you can get copies from Amazon.co.uk) If they don’t manage to snag one of your prizes, how can they purchase it?

eHarlequin.com is the easiest place to purchase a copy in the US. It’s actually on sale right now. Yea!!! Janice's book on eharlequin.com

Your first Medical Romance sold out in the UK - Congratulations!!! Can you tell us about your next books and when they will be available?

I’m in love with the hero from my second Medical Romance, THE HEART SURGEON'S SECRET SON. He’s a dedicated 35 year old heart surgeon, who is developing a new pacemaker—exciting, I know. My heroine works for the company who is going to market the pacemaker and has to spend time training with him in the OR. A really cool thing about this book is that my hero has blond hair on the cover and apparently that is a rarity! His name is Daniel and in my mind I saw Daniel Craig—yes, that *might* be why I adore him. The guy on the cover is a bit too young, but he is blond!

The heroine is loosely named after a dear friend. She has a thing for “Dr. Travis” from ABC’s The Bachelor from a couple of years ago. Did I mention that Daniel’s last name is…drum roll please…Travis, making him “Dr. Travis”. That’s a secret first revealed here, btw.

You mention that you used Daniel Craig as a model for Daniel Travis. Is that how you come up with your characters - by basing them on a star?

Normally a character comes to mind in my head and I see him clearly without using photos or the such of stars. In Jane Millionaire, I used Benjamin Bratt as a loose basis for Rob. In others, I've used Goran V and Jude Law. Considering I’ve written 20 books, that works out to about a quarter of them being connected to a star in some way.

For those who don’t know you, tell us about your Matthew obsession!

Matthew? Matthew who???? Okay, I confess. Despite my infatuation with Daniel Craig and David Beckham, I am madly in love with Matthew McConaughey and were I not happily married, I’d be plotting ways to sign my checks as Mrs. McConaughey. Unfortunately, his taste tends to run to gorgeous, dark, exotic foreigners—Anna, I think you have a better chance with him than I do.

I fell for Matthew in A TIME TO KILL, the John Grisham thriller. He gave a powerful performance in that movie and I was hooked. By the time he did HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, I was a total goner. That is my all time favourite movie. He and Kate Hudson rocked. I hope their new movie captures that same great chemistry.

My husband is very tolerant of my Matthew obsession. For some reason, he isn’t too worried about Matthew actually showing up on our doorstep to whisk me away. Pity.

And, yes, I am very aware of the fact there is no hero based on my darling Matthew. Honestly, I’ve not come up with a story big enough. When I do, there will most definitely be a Matthew book. I’ve been teased that when I write that one it’ll be my all time best seller.

So, Janice - if Matthew showed up on your doorstep, what would you say to him?

I'd just ask him to play doctor with me!

Over to the rest of you, if the hunk/hotty of your dreams (no husbands/wives allowed) appeared on your doorstep, what would you say to him/her?

Three lucky visitors can win prizes!! Janice is giving away a copy of JANE MILLIONAIRE, THE DOCTOR'S PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL and THE HEART SURGEON'S SECRET SON.