by Holland Rae | Feb 26, 2018 | Characters, Heroines, Humor, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Reading, Research, Romance Novels
While I’m not the type of writer to shy away from explicit heat or overt discussions of sex and eroticism in my stories, most of the books written under my pen name Holland Rae fall shy of being labeled “erotic romance.” The distinction is arbitrary. What...
by Holland Rae | Feb 21, 2018 | Characters, Guest Post, Heroines, Historical, Reading, Romance Novels, Series, Writing
I got to sit down with Ellie St. Clair to talk writing, gambling, and her new release, He’s a Duke, But I Love Him! Author Interview When did you realize or decide you wanted to be a writer? I have always loved reading, but I knew I wanted to write in high...
by Holland Rae | Feb 19, 2018 | Characters, Industry, Inspiration, Musings, Reading, Research
Everyone knows that characters drive story. Our heroes and heroines and anti-heroes and comic reliefs give us a human or anthropomorphized experience. Sometimes the story is exciting– action, adventure, romance. Sometimes it is subtle and nuanced– family drama,...
by Holland Rae | Feb 14, 2018 | Characters, Guest Post, Heroines, Industry, Reading, Romance Novels, Series, Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine’s Day! There’s no better way to celebrate the holiday than to talk books! I got to sit down with Kayelle Allen to talk writing, villains and her new release, Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire! Author Interview When did you realize or decide...
by Holland Rae | Feb 12, 2018 | Editing, Industry, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Romance Novels, Uncategorized, Women's Rights
I hate writing short. In fact, the idea of writing a short story is scarier to me than the concept of a full-length novel. I’m an overwriter with a tendency to push too-big concepts and themes into small spaces, far better suited to twice the word count. While I’ve...
by Holland Rae | Jan 29, 2018 | Characters, Editing, Historical, Industry, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Reading, Research, Romance Novels, Series, Uncategorized
I used to think I could research my books as I went. I used to delve into plot and character development and setting and think I’ll get to that later. I used to believe that research was secondary, tertiary even, to the fundamentals of writing a story. I used to be...
by Holland Rae | Jan 24, 2018 | Characters, Guest Post, Humor, Reviews, Romance Novels, Writing
I got to sit down with Catherine Curzon to chat writing, puppers and her new story, An Actor’s Guide to Romance! Catherine was delightful enough to provide me with a copy of her new story! Both Catherine and Ms. Harkstead are new authors for me and let me just...
by Holland Rae | Jan 22, 2018 | Characters, Heroines, Humor, Industry, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Research, Reviews, Romance Novels, Writing
On this blog, I spend a lot of time discussing progressive women’s values, intersectional feminism, diversity and representation and the role of the romance novel in moving society forward. Not today! Sometimes, it’s important to step back and remember what drives us...
by Holland Rae | Jan 17, 2018 | Guest Post, Heroines, Historical, Industry, Research, Romance Novels, Writing
I got to sit down with Emily Murdoch to chat writing, characters and her new Kickstarter endeavor that’s full of fun and unique prizes for you! Author Interview When did you realize or decide you wanted to be a writer? Always. At my wedding a few years ago, my...
by Holland Rae | Jan 15, 2018 | Characters, Feminism, Industry, Inspiration, Musings, Romance Novels, RWA, Uncategorized, Women, Women's Rights
As anyone who is familiar with the genre can attest, romance novels had consistently faced mockery, lack of acknowledgment and derision as a women’s genre in what can old be described as a last-ditch effort by the old order to keep women’s interests, pleasures, and...
