Q&A with Harlequin Editor Shana Smith

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Shana Smith to the hot seat. Shana started at Harlequin five years ago as the Editorial Assistant for Romantic Suspense and Desire. In October 2012, she became Associate Editor for Love Inspired, where she's now focused on acquiring Christian romance for all three Love Inspired lines.

On a personal note, Shana edited my debut novel and was my introduction to the publishing industry. She's a fabulously talented editor and a pleasure to work with.

Welcome to the Hot Seat, Shana! We're so pleased you could join us. It's not every day we get to interview an editor, so let's get right down to business!

Thanks for having me!

Your job is reading, acquiring, and editing romance novels. In other words, it's pretty awesome. But I have to ask anyway: what made you decide to be an editor, and what do you love most about your job?

I’ve always loved reading (I was that girl in school with the book hidden under my desk during class), and at one point I thought I’d like to be an author myself.  But my mom steered me towards a journalism major in college, and while I liked the writing part, I learned I really didn’t like interviewing people.  So I decided I would try to get a job in book publishing, which combined my loves of reading, writing and editing.

The things I love most about my job are discovering new authors and building relationships with the authors I work with.  Aside from the professional aspects of the editor/author relationship, I love that I can talk to authors via social media about things like their family’s new pet bunny, my fake relationship with my Starbucks barista or The Muppets.  I also especially love that no two days at work are ever the same, so this job never gets boring.  J

When you're looking for new writers, what grabs your attention and what can a new writer do to set herself apart from the slush?

A unique premise, a strong voice and demonstration of a clear understanding of the line will help a new writer stand out to me.  Something I tend to gravitate towards in author voice is a bit of humor, so if an author can make me laugh, I’m usually hooked.  The best thing an author can do is to research both the line and editor she’s targeting.  Harlequin lists the writing guidelines for every line on the website, so if you’re unsure where your manuscript might fit, check them out.  Also, reading books from the line you’re targeting is the absolute best way to get a feel for the series.  I’ll get to the part about researching the editor below. J

Not to be creepy, but I know from following you on Twitter that you love weather disaster plots. Do you also have favorite tropes? Or how about favorite hero or heroine types? Answer carefully, because you may be inundated…

I do love weather disaster plots.  I’m a huge fan of storms, snowstorms in particular, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread The Baby-Sitters Club Super Special #7, Snowbound.  There’s something so fun in the adventure of being stranded somewhere by snow.  Thank you, Ann M. Martin, for feeding this fantasy of mine. J 

As for other favorites, I do enjoy a good amnesia story (the first book I acquired from a brand-new author was a really great amnesia story with a twist—What Lies Beneath by Andrea Laurence), secret babies (and I promise these are possible to write for any of our series lines—you may just have to get creative), reunion romances, “back from the dead” stories (not zombies, but situations where a character was thought to be dead and turns out to be alive), hero as protector or hero and heroine on the run in a suspense story.  I love a really fun, danger- and adventure-filled suspense!

How about peeves? Are there things you see in manuscripts that you'd be happy if you never saw again?

I see a lot of submissions where the writer focuses solely on the heroine and never or rarely goes into the hero’s point of view.  It’s crucial, at least in our series lines, to provide both characters’ POVs.  Readers want to know what your hero is thinking and get some insight into why he acts the way he does.  I also could do without villains whose actions don’t match their ultimate goal (e.g. leaving a threatening note for the heroine when what he really wants is for her to be dead—he should shoot at her!) and heroines who are either overly weak or overly angry, especially towards the hero for no reason.  Remember, your hero is supposed to fall in love with this woman.  Make sure she has qualities he would be attracted to.

Can you tell us more about the Love Inspired franchise? What are the editors looking for right now? Are there particular authors you would recommend reading to get a better understanding of the lines?

The Love Inspired franchise is Harlequin’s wholesome Christian romance imprint.  Love Inspired is the contemporary romance series, Love Inspired Suspense is the romantic suspense series, and Love Inspired Historical is our historical romance series.  The books are clean—no bad language, graphic violence or pre-marital sex in the course of the story.  The relationships should emphasize emotional intimacy rather than sexual desire.  Some authors to check out: LI: Linda Goodnight, Brenda Minton, Kathryn Springer, LIS: Shirlee McCoy, Valerie Hansen, Lynette Eason, LIH: Linda Ford, Winnie Griggs, Renee Ryan

While we’re especially interested in Love Inspired Suspense submissions right now, we are acquiring for all three lines.  And we have a new opportunity in a recently announced pitch session called Happily Editor After.

What can you tell us about Happily Editor After, and how can an aspiring writer take advantage of this opportunity?

Happily Editor After is the chance for authors to make a match with an editor who will be most interested in her manuscript.  We like to think of it as online dating…for your manuscript.  Fellow Love Inspired editors Emily Rodmell, Elizabeth Mazer and I have written our “dating” bios with information on what each of us specifically would be interested in reading.  For example, you already mentioned that it’s well known I enjoy stories with weather disasters, so an author might want to pitch her blizzard story to me.  Whereas Emily might be the best choice for a story set at a zoo and Elizabeth may be the editor for you if you’ve written a Regency romance with strong sister relationships.  Details, guidelines, our full bios and instructions on how to sign up are all available here.  Spots have been filling up quickly, but even if you miss the opportunity this time around, you don’t have to wait for another pitch session to send us your story.  We’re always accepting submissions, and now that you know exactly what three Love Inspired editors are looking for, you’ll know who to query with your great idea.  Knowing exactly what an editor likes and is looking for is sometimes half the battle, and when you and your manuscript can provide that—a perfect match!

Thanks so much, Shana!

Q&A with Harlequin Desire author Andrea Laurence

Today we have Harlequin Desire's Andrea Laurence in The Hot Seat.

Andrea Laurence has been a lover of reading and writing stories since she learned to read at a young age. She always dreamed of seeing her work in print and is thrilled to finally be able to share her special blend of sensuality and dry, sarcastic humor with the world. A dedicated West Coast girl transplanted into the Deep South, she's working on her own "happily ever after" with her boyfriend and their collection of animals including a Siberian Husky that sheds like nobody's business.

Q: The journey to publication is a unique experience for every writer. What was your journey like?

Long. : )  I have been writing pretty much since elementary school. I finished my first book while I was in college, but didn’t get serious about publication until after I finished grad school. That was 2003. I joined RWA in 2004 and started learning and growing as a writer. It took a while for me to really get in touch with my voice, and when I did, even longer for me to find a place where my voice would fit. After many years and many rejections, I finally got picked from a slush pile in 2010. We worked together on a book for a while, and then ultimately they rejected it. But — they asked for a different project because they liked my writing, just not that story. So I came up with another idea, submitted it, and that’s the book Harlequin Desire ended up buying. It took over eight years and eleven manuscripts to sell.

Q: Can you describe your writing process?

I am a plotter, all the way. I usually come up with a little snippet of an idea, like a setup or a character, then I meet twice a year with my plotting group. Over the course of a long weekend, we plot about 3 or 4 books for each of us, flesh out the idea, nail down the conflict. Then I go home with my notes and write a synopsis. I write fairly long, detailed ones that I can later break out into a chapter outline of sorts. Since I plot so heavily, I have a fairly solid roadmap to where I want to go. That doesn’t mean I don’t get lost in the middle, but I have a good idea of where I need to be and that can help be bridge the gap.

I usually take the outline and start writing from that. Because I have a day job, I’m what I like to call a binge writer. I sit down Friday night and write pretty much through to Sunday evening, knocking out two or three chapters in a weekend until I’m done. Then I let it sit for two weeks. When that’s over, I go back through and read, layering and adding as I go. From there, I mail it off and hope for the best.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your July release, More Than He Expected?

When I was writing the epilogue for my April book, What Lies Beneath, I got an idea in my head about the society writer noticing a budding romance between the best man, Alex, and Gwen, the maid of honor. I hadn’t planned it, but it was perfect. Their book opens with a quick, no-string fling. They don’t see each other again until the next summer when everyone gathers for a 4^th of July vacation in the Hamptons. Alex is hopeful for round 2, but when he sees Gwen, he finds she’s not only pregnant, but she’s sworn off men. There’s nothing Alex likes more than a challenge.

Q: Why do you write? Why romance?

I have to. I can’t explain it. I’ve always had the need to get these stories out. I chose romance because I wanted a happy ending. The news and reality depresses me so badly, that I want a happy ending with my fiction. No Nicholas Sparks books for me. With romance, it’s a guarantee. Romance also gave me the freedom of writing in so many different genres — romantic suspense, paranormal, contemporary — yet still stay within the same main romantic genre. Once I got into romance, and RWA, I realized what a great community of people it was, too. I don’t know that I could ever write anything else.

Q: Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Random places. Usually nothing as exotic as people expect. I watch a lot of odd TV shows, read a lot of articles online. You never know when the tiniest snippet of a story can spark an idea. I also get inspiration from the characters themselves. For example, with Alex, I was trying to think of what kind of story hook he and Gwen would have. I had zero to start with aside from their fling. So I thought... what would be the most horrible thing I could do to him? A pregnant ex-lover fit the bill perfectly for my commitment-phobic hero. So I started from there.

Q: How do you balance your personal life, day job and writing?

Ahhh... this is always a tough one. I have a pretty demanding day job that sucks a lot of hours out of me, but does allow me to travel for conferences and things as I need to. As yet, I have no children, so I don’t have the distractions of soccer games and homework. Just lots of animals and a boyfriend, and they’re easy enough to distract.

Mainly, what I have to do is make the time to write and do as much as I can possibly do at once. There’s none of that 15 minutes a day thing with me. I have trouble writing on weeknights, so that’s when I typically work on promo or revisions. The weekends are solid writing. That’s what works best for me. Is that balance? My house is dirty, I never get any exercise, and I eat a lot of take out, so I’d probably say no, but I’m managing for now and praying that eventually, I can make enough to replace my day job and write full time.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring romance authors?

I have gathered some great pieces of advice over the years. Here’s what I’ve found to be the most useful. Take it or leave it. First, write. Write a lot. When you finish that first book, write another one. Try entering a few contests for feedback or submit a partial to an editor or agent, but keep going. You get stronger with every story. Don’t sit around and wait to hear back. Have something else ready to go if it comes back with a rejection.

Next, educate yourself. Join RWA. Go to conferences or attend local chapter meetings. Listen and learn. Despite what you think, you don’t know everything. Absorb information like a sponge. But don’t let it paralyze you. Take what’s useful and grow as a writer. Don’t worry about fonts and other nonsense that distracts from writing the story.

Last, follow instructions. When you’re ready to submit that MS to an agent or editor, go to their submissions page. See what they’re looking for. How they want it. This is when format matters, but not before. If they want a query letter, don’t send a partial. If they want it snail mail, don’t email them. If you can’t follow instructions now, they’ll know you can’t follow them later and they won’t want to work with you.

Q: What's next for Andrea Laurence? Can you give us a “sneak peek” at your Secrets of Eden series?

I am very excited about my new Secrets of Eden miniseries. The four book series kicks off in January 2013 with Undeniable Demands. The hero, Wade Mitchell, features in More Than He Expected in a small role. His book takes us out of New York and into the rural countryside of Connecticut where he grew up. Wade is the oldest of four foster children raised by the Eden family, who own a Christmas tree farm. Each of the four brothers will have a book that tells the continuing story about a dark secret from their past that is threatening to surface and ruin them all. The second story, A Beauty Uncovered, will be out later in the fall of 2013. I’ve got a May continuity coming out in between, but I don’t have a title yet to share.

Q: What's your favorite television show? Why?

I watch some eclectic television to be honest. The other night, I stayed up until 1AM watching a biography of Benjamin Franklin. I love History’s Mysteries, shows about serial killers, or archaeological shows about historical or biblical places. I like mystery whodunits, like Psych or Sherlock. At that same time, I also love Glee and Project Runway. So... a mixed bag. I guess it depends on whether I want to solve a puzzle, learn something new, or lose myself in cheesy showtunes.

Thanks so much for joining The Hot Pink Typewriter today, Andrea. What Lies Beneath is on my keeper shelf, and I'm looking forward to reading More Than He Expected.

More Than He Expected is available:

In Paperback:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, eHarlequin

E-Readers:

Kindle, Nook, eHarlequin

For more information about Andrea Laurence, visit www.andrealaurence.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.