by Holland Rae | Feb 4, 2019 | Industry, Inspiration, Musings, My Books, Reviews, Romance Novels
As writers, we’re told that it’s fundamental to read as many books as possible–and it’s true. Reading is what makes us better writers. It teaches us how to tell genuine stories, what pitfalls to avoid, what makes for strong characterization and how to hold a...
by Holland Rae | Nov 26, 2018 | Audiobooks, Characters, Feminism, Industry, Musings, Reading, Reviews, Romance Novels, Women, Writing
What We Can Take Away From Books That Just Don’t Get it Right Last week, I quit a book. I’m terrible at quitting books. Mostly, even if the narrator grates up my spine or the main character sounds like something out of a PBS special, I’ll keep listening or...
by Holland Rae | Oct 29, 2018 | Characters, Feminism, Industry, Inspiration, Intersectional Feminism, Musings, Reading, Research, Reviews, Romance Novels, Series, Women, Women's Rights
Every genre has its pitfalls. Mysteries that give away the whodunit too early. Sci-fi that falls this side of derivative. Romance with two-dimensional Ken doll heroes. Writing genre fiction comes with all sorts of challenges, and it takes a certain set of skills and...
by Holland Rae | Apr 23, 2018 | Characters, Heroines, Inspiration, Musings, Reading, Reviews, Romance Novels, Women, Women's Rights
I’ve been writing romance novels for a long time and reading them for even longer, and for many of those joyous years of dukes and pirates and seductive billionaires, I didn’t ask questions of the genre. Admittedly, it took awhile before I broke away from the...
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...
