Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Welcome, Deborah Schneider: Writing the Love Scene AND Valentine's Day Contest!


I’m thrilled to welcome Deborah today to The Write Stuff. She’s not only a talented romance author but also the 2009 Romance Writers of America Librarian of the Year! She and I have had many similar pit stops on our writers journey, but many joys too, including having the same terrific editor for our current releases. I’m so glad she can spend a few days at my blog.

Please follow her blog tour for her recent four-spur release, Promise Me at www.debschneider.com Each time you make a comment, you're entered in a
contest to win a free copy of Promise Me, chocolate, a $10 Starbucks card.

Wow. A fantastic Western romance, chocolate and a hot cuppa coffee. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Hi Deborah!

Hi, Tanya! Working for a huge library system and being a romance author can sometimes be a balancing act. It’s wonderful to work with people who love books, and I get a lot of respect from those readers who enjoy a romantic romp.
But, there are also those who raise their eyebrows and say, “you write that kind of book?”

Yup! I sure do, the kind where two adults meet, (sometimes in a cute or funny way), they’re attracted to each other, they become a couple and eventually, they make love.
Just like in real life. Because sexuality is a part of being a grown up in a relationship and pretty much expected between two consenting adults when that relationship reaches a certain stage.

Some people wait until they’re married, which was what happened to Sinclair and Jefferson in my first book, Beneath a Silver Moon. But sometime, the circumstances, the relationship and the couple themselves dictate that they will make love before being married.

And that’s fine too, because it’s the story and characters that provide the impetus for scenes of all kinds. It can’t be rushed and despite what many critics of romance might think, I don’t know any publisher that dictates what page the first love scene will appear by.

As an author, in the initial draft of the book I’m telling myself the story first. I do work from an outline, but those are plot points, things that have to happen in order for the story to move along. What I can’t outline are the character reactions, the dialogue and the way the relationship unfolds.

For me, that’s the fun of the first draft – chipping away at it until I’ve found the story. And when my characters finally “do the deed” you can bet that they’ve had a lot of fun working up to it. After all, who doesn’t like a little slap and tickle?


Stay tuned for Deborah’s Weekend Recipe feature starting Friday. Please make sure you get a copy of Promise Me soon at The Wild Rose Press.

And please remember to leave a welcome comment today to enter her Valentine's Day Contest!

12 comments:

Tanya Hanson said...

Hi Deb, welcome to my wacky little world. It's so good to have you here! oxoxox

Victoria Bylin said...

Hi Deborah, I love libraries! I would never have sold my first book if it weren't for the Faifax County Public Library in northern Virginia. It's huge! Lots of romance and lots of books on the craft of writing . . . Your own book sounds wonderful!

Cheryl St.John said...

Gorgeous cover, and the story sounds terrific!

Best wishes for many sales.

Charlene Sands said...

Hi Deborah,
The two places I never tire of, are bookstores and libraries. I love going into them, browsing the shelves, the smell of the books, the atmosphere of being with others who love to read. You have the best of both worlds it seems. Do you agree?

Unknown said...

Looking forward to your book, Deb. I haven't read a western in way too long.

Mary Ricksen said...

I used to work in a library and I just loved it. Libraries were so solemn in those days. Talking was a sin.
Now the public library here in West Palm Beach has very few books. Weird huh?
Good luck Deborah!

Cheryl Pierson said...

hi Tanya and Deborah!

What a great job, being a librarian. I always loved going to the library when I was a kid. My mom would go get her hair done, and she'd drop me off at the library. I'd spend HOURS in there, and still not be ready to leave when she came to get me! Your book looks great, Deborah, and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Cheryl

Debra St. John said...

Mnnnn. You got me...chocolate and a western romance. Sounds totally yummy all around!

Helen Hardt said...

Tanya, I couldn't help but keep reading when I got to the bottom of Deborah's post and saw your "Oral sex chili." Lol.

Deborah, wonderful post! I wholly enjoyed Promise Me, and I wish you many sales!

Deborah Schneider said...

Thank you ladies, for stopping by.
I do love libraries too, and even though as an administrator I'm in an office building, I travel out to our 44 libraries often! And of course, I take out MORE books. Even though I have them delivered to my desk every day. I always need more. We have a great system, you can order the books from our catalog and have them delivered to your nearest library.
I love bookstores too, but with this bad habit, (buying too many) I have to watch out when I visit them.
Thank you, Helen for the nice comments.
Special thanks to Tanya, for inviting me to come on over and visit!

Me :) said...

Sounds like a great read!!!

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Debroah.
Working in a library, I would love that.
You have mentioned some very salient points. I believe it doesn't matter where or when in a story "the deed" is done, as long as it fits in with the story line and is tastefully introduced and handled. And my romance are of the spicey variety
Cheers
Margaret