Welcome to the first ever blog hop featuring the mainstream writers of the Marketing for Romance Writers group (MFRW)! Enjoy your time checking out our blogs and our current releases.
Our theme for this first blog hop is "firsts". What an intriguing theme! First time romance? First kiss? Love at first sight? All of the above? What a challenge!
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| Can a single mom find happiness on a blind date--or at least a male who can cut up his own food? |
When I began writing The Fixer-Uppers I wasn't sure I was writing a romance in the traditional sense, but I was sure I was writing a mainstream story that would appeal to many readers who enjoy stories about people like themselves. You know, normal people who struggle to make ends meet, find work, raise kids and keep a roof from leaking over their heads. Mike, an airport baggage handler, and Cassie, a single mom of two young boys and expert cake baker, are my idea of a perfect romantic couple who deserve to find true love. And you can really cheer them on!
When I first marketed the story, I was told by some that no one would ever want to read a story about "everyday people" and that I should write about rich business tycoons or oil sheiks or movie stars as heroes. My heroine should look like a fashion model and not be the mother of two who is constantly hoping to shed a few pounds.
But why should I rewrite my vision? Why write about rich men that a woman like me would never meet, let alone marry, and who really don't "do it" for me personally? I stuck to my guns and wrote the story of my heart... and from the nice comments I've received for The Fixer-Uppers, it touches a lot of others' hearts, too:
"I loved it... The Fixer-Uppers was so compelling, I just kept going forward until the happy ending. You keep up the good work." --avid romance reader Christina D.
"An exceptional writer with a flair for humor." --Romance Reviews Today
So, this is my blog about "firsts". It was the first time I published a mainstream romance, and I still feel The Fixer-Uppers is one of my best attempts to create memorable characters. I hope you'll give it a read and agree with me, too.
Okay, now for the blog hop part. Click on the link that will take you to the other blogs. (MFRW BlogHops Home: http://is.gd/mfrwbloghops) But before you go, please leave a comment in the comment box below letting me know what sort of mainstream romance stories you like to read and what questions you have about my other books (click Cynthianna's book page link or click on the bar above). Be sure to leave me a good email address to send your prize of a free e-book if I draw your name out of the hat, too. Good luck! ;)
The Fixer-Uppers is available in Kindle and all other popular e-formats from Devine Destinies books: http://www.devinedestinies.com/the-fixer-uppers
Read a short excerpt: http://momsday.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-fixer-uppers-now-available.html
25 comments :
Every day people doing every day things and falling in love. How utterly perfect!
Contemporary romance would be my top favourite, whether it's about everyday people or fantasy characters.
coleenkwan at gmail dot com
Great post. :)
bidelia78@yahoo.com
I'm all for a good romantic suspense, especially with military overtones. Or anything with paranormal elements, but honestly, as long as the characters are intriguing and the story engaging, I'm all for it!
I love the premise of the Fixer-Uppers--it's very romantic--after all, the accouterments aren't the story, the love is. Thanks for sharing. See you at my blog! M. S.
Thanks for the nice comments everyone! Don't forget to leave an email I can reach you at if you'd like to be in my book drawing.
The Fixer Uppers sounds so cute! Congrats.
I like contemporary romance the best as I think we live in the most exciting and interesting times in history. Guess I have never been a head in the clouds kinda gal, so I enjoy real stories. Yours sounds just the bill!
Warm regards,
Christine London
Just wanted to stop by and say great job everyone. You all have done MFRW so proud!
Enjoying the blog hop so much fun to see different author sites.
Nice to see my fellow authors on the blog hop! (Readers and others out there, don't be afraid to leave a comment!) ;)
Love the description of your first romantic comedy. It's fun to meet the authors on this blog hop.
I'm a historical fan at heart,althoug a good contemporary is always welcome. I want to be taken away from reality.
Your story sounds like the type I love to read. Yay for your perserverance.
l.carrollbradd(at)gmail.com
Thanks for your comment, Linda. Is it perseverance or stubbornness, I wonder. ;)
I like historical romance, too, Rue. My hubby and fellow author, AJ Matthews, has written a doozie of a historical (with ghosts) called REBEL HEARTS. ;) (http://www.eXtasybooks.com/rebel-hearts )
The American Naturalist writers took the plunge first to write about 'common man,' but it their case the picture was far from pretty (Theodore Dreiser, etc.) It took modern writers to underline the fact that the middle class was a happy place to be.
I like all kinds of stories.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
I guess to paraphrase the Lincoln quote, "You're as happy as you make yourself to be," would work well for those who like to write about common folk. :)
Come on readers! Let me know what sort of romance you like to read. ;)
I've published the first chapter on Goodreads--so enjoy a free read of The Fixer-Uppers!
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/327212?chapter=1
Your story sounds very good! Thanks for sharing! And thanks for the awesome hop and giveaway!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for everyone who commented and/or dropped by to read my blog hop post. I hope we can do this again soon!
(I will draw a winning name later on tonight or early tomorrow just to give any latecomers a chance to comment. I'll post the name here for sure by the weekend.)
I've put the emails into the "hat" and drawn out bn100 as my ebook winner! Bn100, I will be contacting you by email soon to deliver your prize. Thanks to everyone who left a comment. :)
I know I am late -- but wanted to tell you that you are not alone in wanting to read and write about "everyday" people. Dig down, and most of them are pretty darn extraordinary after all! My books are about people we all might know, or would like to know better.
I totally agree with you Sandy! Everyone has a "story to tell" no matter how "everyday" they seem to others. ;)
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