by hollandrae | Jun 1, 2020 | Characters, Heroines, Industry, Inspiration, Reading, Romance Novels, RWA, Uncategorized, Women, Women's Rights
I initially wrote this piece almost two years ago and, while a lot has changed in romance and in politics, far too much remains the same. I am no longer a member of the Romance Writers of America community, which saddens me deeply, but I am working to create more...
by hollandrae | May 18, 2020 | Characters, Musings, My Books, Uncategorized
Ever since I can remember, my favorite food has been ravioli. It was a staple of my Italian American upbringing and evolved over the years from cheese to lobster to pear and walnut, an ever-changing affair with a beloved dish. I have eaten ravioli all over the world,...
by hollandrae | May 11, 2020 | Characters, Musings, Research
Writing is wonderful. It’s like playing God, sculpting worlds, forming new people from nothing but your fingers against the keyboard, giving life to the two-dimensional creations of your own mind, weaving spells of love and pain and the whole spectrum of human...
by hollandrae | May 6, 2020 | Characters, Editing, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Romance Novels
Will they or won’t they – it’s the most important, infuriating question of every romance novel. Will they give into their desire now, in the dark corners of the library? How about now, in the hidden coves of the rose gardens? Will they be interrupted by a gaggle of...
by hollandrae | Apr 20, 2020 | Characters, Editing, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Romance Novels
(Or Why I Just Can’t Help Myself) Back in fall, I attended a writing retreat with some incredible presenters, and during one of the classes on GMC (goal, motivation, and conflict) I realized that I wasn’t making my characters’ lives nearly hard enough. Adding a...
by hollandrae | Apr 6, 2020 | Characters, Industry, Musings, My Books, Romance Novels, Uncategorized
Do you eavesdrop? If you’re a writer and you don’t eavesdrop, then you’re missing out on a treasure trove of inspiration and research. Listening to the world around you – yes, perhaps more than is polite – is a surefire way to realistically represent the world around...
