... Karen Haas!!!
Karen a copy of PLEASURED BY THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE and some yummy Kiwi chocolate will be winging its way to you this week :)
Thank you to everyone who entered - I'll do another soon I promise.
So I had my Starbucks weekend - and I'm pleased to say the book is done. Well, I'll read it over again and again before sending it to my Ed tomorrow but that's just for last minute checks and panics.
I had fun in Starbucks (can you tell I don't get out often enough??!!) - spent some happy time imagining the lives and loves of all the customers and workers. But you know you've been sitting there desperate-and-deranged looking for too long when the staff come over looking sympathetic and offer you free coffee!!! :)
But tonight I've had a beer to unwind, slothed with the kids and hubby and am going to scribble a little in my 'ideas' notebook before going to bed EARLY. I am so excited about getting back into the new book - its been ages since I opened that file and its going to be fun getting back into those characters...
Ciao for now!
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Saturday, 26 April 2008
A focus weekend...
ok team, I'm off for the weekend - I have a date at Starbucks with my laptop. I have a few final revisions to complete on the book and am escaping the house so I can focus extra hard. The revisions are pretty minor but I want to get them right and its a great opportunity to go over the whole thing with the old 'fine tooth comb' again.
Must admit I'm really looking forward to it - because I want to put this baby to bed so I can gt on with the next one - those characters are YELLING at me now!
Anyway, give me today and maybe tomorrow and then I'llbe back to do the draw for PLEASURED BY THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE... so if you have emailed me to enter yet, do it now!!!
Must admit I'm really looking forward to it - because I want to put this baby to bed so I can gt on with the next one - those characters are YELLING at me now!
Anyway, give me today and maybe tomorrow and then I'llbe back to do the draw for PLEASURED BY THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE... so if you have emailed me to enter yet, do it now!!!
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Nice reviews!
I've just gotten my first ever review from the Romantic Times. They gave HIS MISTRESS BY ARRANGEMENT 4 stars - which I'm thrilled about! Here's a little of what they had to say:
Natalie Anderson's His Mistress by Arrangement (4) is a charming romance of childhood friends reconnecting. It's both fun and flirty, and conveys the wonderful feeling of finding someone you can truly be yourself with. It's nice that Jake's vulnerability is showcased along with Emma's.
This one hits the shelves in the US in June but is available online now - see the sidebar on the right for a direct link to Amazon :)
Meanwhile, don't forget to email me to go in to win an advance copy of PLEASURED BY THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE!
Natalie Anderson's His Mistress by Arrangement (4) is a charming romance of childhood friends reconnecting. It's both fun and flirty, and conveys the wonderful feeling of finding someone you can truly be yourself with. It's nice that Jake's vulnerability is showcased along with Emma's.
This one hits the shelves in the US in June but is available online now - see the sidebar on the right for a direct link to Amazon :)
Meanwhile, don't forget to email me to go in to win an advance copy of PLEASURED BY THE SECRET MILLIONAIRE!
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Yet another spontaneous giveaway...
So my author copies of Pleasured by the Secret Millionaire arrived in the post today - yippeee!!! I'll NEVER become blase about this sort of package in the post - that's for sure!
The heroine Sienna is the sister of Jake in His Mistress By Arrangement - and the best friend of Lucy who was in Mistress Under Contract. She's the last of this subset of characters to get her happy ever after...
(and as a little aside we got thru the op and crossing everything it was successful!)
Naturally, I'm all for sharing PLEASURE - so if you'd like a copy of PLEASURED just drop me an email (natalie@natalie-anderson.com) with PLEASURED (I just love that word- can you tell??!) in the subject line and I'll randomly pick a winner at the end of the week!
Here's the blurb to tease you:
One night of hot loving...
Gorgeous millionaire Rhys Maitland is tired of women throwing themselves at him just because his name equates to success, power and wealth... When he meets beauty Sienna Rendel, Rhys decides to hide the truth, and insists on being with her for one night only...
...will have them both coming back for more!
But Sienna's got her own secrets... Dressing carefully to conceal the scar that plagues her life, she's quite happy with Rhys's offer of fast, furious and amazing lovemaking! She doesn't know she's being pleasured by a secret millionaire, but when she and Rhys realise one night isn't enough, they'll have to strip themselves bare - in every sense!
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Layering...
Hi gang - apologies again (same old refrain huh?!) Its been busy here - I'm still skulking round the cave on this latest one and the kids have been full on (ha! When aren't they?!)
ANYWAY, Rachel asked: '...so I was wondering, how much exactly do you layer and add in your rewrites...' - short answer = a lot.
Not so much plot (altho a few scenes sometimes come, sometimes go, sometimes come back in another place etc) but basically its adding depth/layers to the story, esp emotional layers.
These days I finish the rough draft of a 50k word novel at 40k because I know I'll add at LEAST 10k in the edits. Then, during editor revisions, I average about a 10k DELETE as well (I'm ruthless about deleting at this point). Then I rewrite and invariably end up with slightly more than before. So I go through three main phases with each book => draft/edits/revisions.
Hopefully the book grows richer with each stage.
Basically, the rough draft is fun - I just chuck it all on the page, I've got them bantering, its fun, its sassy, its fast and furious - and then that becomes the problem. Its too much fun! Too light - where's the root of the problem?? It needs more emotional intensity.
I have to go back and ask what are these characters really feeling? WHY are they acting this way? What's going on in their heads and hearts when they're saying these things??
Every time I go over it I have to dig deeper and deeper. And then I have to up the pain - esp when my ed gives me a poke with a cattle prod - this is where it gets hard because by now I really know these characters and I really care about them and what hurts them, hurts me and this is the point where tissues by the keyboard are a necessity. This seems to be getting worse with each book btw!!! I"m not sure if its because the books are getting 'heavier' or because I'm getting softer - maybe a bit of both. But I do think (humour me here) that romance authors put a large emotional investment into the books they write - its HARD - you're pouring real feelings, real pain onto the page.
The relief of getting to the HEA is immense - but that too, has to be right and has to (for me) include total resolution - but once you're there?
Well then you just want to curl up and sleep for a long time ;)
Editing/Revisions are essential I think and yes, don't be afraid of the delete key (altho be sure to keep the original in another file). I'm sure your book will be fabulous Rachel - put it to the side for a bit and then re-read with fresh 'editor' eyes - you'll be amazed at what you find, what else you understand about your characters that made them do X back in chapter three - and now you have to go back and thread stuff in all the way. And remember to dig deep, deep, deep into that emotional core.
Hope that helps a little!!!
Meanwhile, apologies (again) and in advance - I have a few things up this week - one of the wee ones is in for a (minor) operation (that feels kinda major) and the school holidays are about to start - so I might be out of action for a while again. BUT if you have any more 'craft' kinda questions, please send them in because they're fun!
Lastly, Mistress Under Contract has sold out on the Oz Harlequin/M&B site but panic not, its on the shelves in Oz/NZ for another couple of weeks and of course you can always get it from Amazon!
Best wishes for now,
Natalie
ANYWAY, Rachel asked: '...so I was wondering, how much exactly do you layer and add in your rewrites...' - short answer = a lot.
Not so much plot (altho a few scenes sometimes come, sometimes go, sometimes come back in another place etc) but basically its adding depth/layers to the story, esp emotional layers.
These days I finish the rough draft of a 50k word novel at 40k because I know I'll add at LEAST 10k in the edits. Then, during editor revisions, I average about a 10k DELETE as well (I'm ruthless about deleting at this point). Then I rewrite and invariably end up with slightly more than before. So I go through three main phases with each book => draft/edits/revisions.
Hopefully the book grows richer with each stage.
Basically, the rough draft is fun - I just chuck it all on the page, I've got them bantering, its fun, its sassy, its fast and furious - and then that becomes the problem. Its too much fun! Too light - where's the root of the problem?? It needs more emotional intensity.
I have to go back and ask what are these characters really feeling? WHY are they acting this way? What's going on in their heads and hearts when they're saying these things??
Every time I go over it I have to dig deeper and deeper. And then I have to up the pain - esp when my ed gives me a poke with a cattle prod - this is where it gets hard because by now I really know these characters and I really care about them and what hurts them, hurts me and this is the point where tissues by the keyboard are a necessity. This seems to be getting worse with each book btw!!! I"m not sure if its because the books are getting 'heavier' or because I'm getting softer - maybe a bit of both. But I do think (humour me here) that romance authors put a large emotional investment into the books they write - its HARD - you're pouring real feelings, real pain onto the page.
The relief of getting to the HEA is immense - but that too, has to be right and has to (for me) include total resolution - but once you're there?
Well then you just want to curl up and sleep for a long time ;)
Editing/Revisions are essential I think and yes, don't be afraid of the delete key (altho be sure to keep the original in another file). I'm sure your book will be fabulous Rachel - put it to the side for a bit and then re-read with fresh 'editor' eyes - you'll be amazed at what you find, what else you understand about your characters that made them do X back in chapter three - and now you have to go back and thread stuff in all the way. And remember to dig deep, deep, deep into that emotional core.
Hope that helps a little!!!
Meanwhile, apologies (again) and in advance - I have a few things up this week - one of the wee ones is in for a (minor) operation (that feels kinda major) and the school holidays are about to start - so I might be out of action for a while again. BUT if you have any more 'craft' kinda questions, please send them in because they're fun!
Lastly, Mistress Under Contract has sold out on the Oz Harlequin/M&B site but panic not, its on the shelves in Oz/NZ for another couple of weeks and of course you can always get it from Amazon!
Best wishes for now,
Natalie
Saturday, 5 April 2008
Inspiration...
...sorry about the absence everyone, but I've been sweating away over the revisions for the latest wip - hard, hard, hard.
Hopefully I'll get there (slowly).
HAPPILY - I've had some really lovely reader mail about Mistress Under Contract - which has just hit the shelves in Australia & New Zealand. This has been wonderful - and given me such a lift at a point when I really needed it :)
Meanwhile, the lovely Aideen asked where I get the inspiration from for the stories - I get asked this a lot (altho often its tongue in cheek and they're referring to certain scenes in the books!) BUT I know you're really interested Aideen! There were several things that went into the mix that ended up as this story - here are just a few:
I wanted to write an 'opposites attract' story - just 'cos I think they're fun. And I settled on a stuffed shirt lawyer type - I worked in Wellington (where the book is set) for a while many years ago for the Judges there and was familiar with the whole Courts setup (its where our highest court is). Our Parliament is right next door - so its a really interesting spot - the whole seat of power thing. And I also knew how damn hard those lawyers work - the hours, the pressure and the smarts they need to secure those top jobs.
Lucy is actually the sister of Emma in
His Mistress by Arrangement (or Bedded by Arrangement as it was in the UK/Oz/NZ) - and I already had her character developed and knew she was a bit lost - Daniel is in no way lost (or at least he doesn't think he is!).
At the time I was writing the book there was a very high profile rape case before the courts - one of those 'he said, she said' ones - only she was up on the witness stand having to have her life opened up for everyone, and he wasn't - it caused some fairly strenuous debate here and our Law Commission (big research type institution) is looking into that seeming inequity re evidence. (Before I started writing romance I was partway thru a law degree - I think its a fascinating area to study). So this was something I thought I could cover - not in a heavy-handed way, but just touch on it very slightly in one of Daniel's cases that had extra resonance for Lucy - I thought it might give additional depth to the story.
Also when I lived in Wellington (I was a student doing my Masters, and spent my first year out working there too) there was a fabulous bar we went to -it closed long ago but I totally modelled the bar in the book on that. Back in those days my friend (my friend - truly, NOT me!) was dating the bar manager and I DO recall a group of us having a water/lemonade fight at five in the morning across the bar with the post-mix (drinks squirter thing) - lotsa fun. In the book I thought it might be even more fun if it was just the two of them...
Another of my old job experiences makes a show in here too - when I was in Scotland I worked for a spell as a Recruitment Consultant - and the number of forms all the temp applicants had to fill in was staggering - and who doesn't have a love/hate relationship with those personality indicator tests?!!! So this was another little element I could incorporate - I thought having one of those yes/no phrases as each chapter heading was kinda fun!
So there we go - some of the bits that went into that story - looking over it I guess I do use a fair bit from my own experience/knowledge - altho this varies from book to book!!! And I always find the news a constant course of inspiration. But at the end of the day much of it comes from developing the characters themselves and finding all about them (this usually happens by finishing the rough draft). Hope you found that interesting Aideen!!!
Meanwhile, I must get back to the computer that ISN'T attached to the internet and get on with work but before I do a HUGE CONGRATS to two of my Modern Heat pals who have finalled in the RITAS with two of their fantastic MH books - way to go Kelly Hunter and
Heidi Rice!!!! So looking forward to the big day and crossing everything one of ours takes away the prize - head to Sensational Romance to find out more about their nominated books and other exciting news in the MH camp :)
Hopefully I'll get there (slowly).
HAPPILY - I've had some really lovely reader mail about Mistress Under Contract - which has just hit the shelves in Australia & New Zealand. This has been wonderful - and given me such a lift at a point when I really needed it :)
Meanwhile, the lovely Aideen asked where I get the inspiration from for the stories - I get asked this a lot (altho often its tongue in cheek and they're referring to certain scenes in the books!) BUT I know you're really interested Aideen! There were several things that went into the mix that ended up as this story - here are just a few:
I wanted to write an 'opposites attract' story - just 'cos I think they're fun. And I settled on a stuffed shirt lawyer type - I worked in Wellington (where the book is set) for a while many years ago for the Judges there and was familiar with the whole Courts setup (its where our highest court is). Our Parliament is right next door - so its a really interesting spot - the whole seat of power thing. And I also knew how damn hard those lawyers work - the hours, the pressure and the smarts they need to secure those top jobs.
Lucy is actually the sister of Emma in
His Mistress by Arrangement (or Bedded by Arrangement as it was in the UK/Oz/NZ) - and I already had her character developed and knew she was a bit lost - Daniel is in no way lost (or at least he doesn't think he is!).
At the time I was writing the book there was a very high profile rape case before the courts - one of those 'he said, she said' ones - only she was up on the witness stand having to have her life opened up for everyone, and he wasn't - it caused some fairly strenuous debate here and our Law Commission (big research type institution) is looking into that seeming inequity re evidence. (Before I started writing romance I was partway thru a law degree - I think its a fascinating area to study). So this was something I thought I could cover - not in a heavy-handed way, but just touch on it very slightly in one of Daniel's cases that had extra resonance for Lucy - I thought it might give additional depth to the story.
Also when I lived in Wellington (I was a student doing my Masters, and spent my first year out working there too) there was a fabulous bar we went to -it closed long ago but I totally modelled the bar in the book on that. Back in those days my friend (my friend - truly, NOT me!) was dating the bar manager and I DO recall a group of us having a water/lemonade fight at five in the morning across the bar with the post-mix (drinks squirter thing) - lotsa fun. In the book I thought it might be even more fun if it was just the two of them...
Another of my old job experiences makes a show in here too - when I was in Scotland I worked for a spell as a Recruitment Consultant - and the number of forms all the temp applicants had to fill in was staggering - and who doesn't have a love/hate relationship with those personality indicator tests?!!! So this was another little element I could incorporate - I thought having one of those yes/no phrases as each chapter heading was kinda fun!
So there we go - some of the bits that went into that story - looking over it I guess I do use a fair bit from my own experience/knowledge - altho this varies from book to book!!! And I always find the news a constant course of inspiration. But at the end of the day much of it comes from developing the characters themselves and finding all about them (this usually happens by finishing the rough draft). Hope you found that interesting Aideen!!!
Meanwhile, I must get back to the computer that ISN'T attached to the internet and get on with work but before I do a HUGE CONGRATS to two of my Modern Heat pals who have finalled in the RITAS with two of their fantastic MH books - way to go Kelly Hunter and
Heidi Rice!!!! So looking forward to the big day and crossing everything one of ours takes away the prize - head to Sensational Romance to find out more about their nominated books and other exciting news in the MH camp :)
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