ANNE STENHOUSE: Heart's Desire

Today we welcome Anne Stenhouse

I’m really pleased to be offered the chance to post on our RNA blog, but I won’t pretend it’s easy because I’m very conscious of all the distinguished folk who’ve gone before and the thousands of words of wisdom they’ve written.

When I was puzzling what I could bring to this, I had in mind the difficulties I experienced when writing Daisy’s Dilemma, my new book from MuseItUp, as an unplanned follow-on. That was fairly miserable, but I can’t think anyone wants to read about incompetence. You’re here to find out what works.

What works for me is drama as I used to write plays. I like to hear the words. I like to craft a scene. I once went on courses…Screenwriting courses are keen to impress that in a good story the central character may be pursuing something they want desperately, but the resolution will be them arriving at something they need desperately. And so it often is in life.

I remember desperately wanting my mum to buy a packet of Cornish wafers when we were shopping one Sunday morning. She rightly sussed that what I wanted was the elaborate concoction pictured on the side, but pride made me deny it. Then I had to eat my way through a packet of Cornish wafers which did not have slices of cheese and olives neatly piled thereon. Of course what I really needed was something different. I was curious about the foods that were increasingly arriving in the newly established supermarkets. My poor mother must have been so caught between the different demands of the generations as my dad had very conservative taste.

Daisy’s Dilemma, e-pub 16^th June, is my third book from MuseItUp and has the want/need conundrum at its centre. Mr John Brent is Lady Daisy’s heart’s desire. She has plotted, manoeuvred and fought for the right to marry this man. She wants him so much, she can’t think sensibly. She wants him so much she’s made everyone else’s life miserable and they are very happy to oblige her. Is betrothal to Mr Brent as good as she imagined? Will the heroine have to lie in the bed she’s made?

Real life in earlier times meant that young people thought long and hard before defying their ‘friends’ when it came to choosing a partner. Hence the wonderful romantic and dramatic possibilities for the novelist of a desperate ride to the Scottish border when that became the only way to secure one’s heart’s desire. Of course, the repercussions inflicted by irate parents when such a ride was successful or the emotional mayhem when the scales fall from the heroine’s eyes are both rich sources for the author. Pity this poor author, then, when Lady Daisy’s dramatic needs are frustrated by success. What next? What is truly her heart’s desire and was this author be able to understand what her needs were so she in turn might, too?                                                                        

About Anne

Multi-published historical romance author, Anne Stenhouse, lives and writes in Edinburgh, Scotland. She shares her house with her husband and dancing partner of over thirty years and enjoys having children and a grandson in fairly close proximity. When not plotting Regency style mayhem, Anne enjoys Scottish country dancing, theatre and the company of good friends. She plays badminton poorly and reads a lot of books. Anne has recently joined the RNA committee and expects to read even more books as a result.

Thank you for joining us, Anne, and good luck with Daisy’s Dilemma

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A Taste of France

Today we are delighted to welcome Marie Laval. Originally from Lyon in France, Marie studied History and Law at university there before moving to Lancashire where she worked in a variety of jobs, from PA in a busy university department to French teacher in secondary schools. Writing, however, was always her passion, and she spends most of her free time dreaming up stories. She has published two historical romances with MuseitUp Publishing, ANGEL HEART  and THE LION'S EMBRACE. A SPELL IN PROVENCE her first contemporary romance and is published by Áccent Press.

When did you decide to write your first book and how long did it take?

I wrote my first novel, ANGEL HEART, in just over six months. That was four years ago. I was so engrossed in the story that I spent all my free time working on it. I did have to rewrite and edit it extensively, so altogether it took me about a year. It was the same for A SPELL IN PROVENCE, my contemporary romantic suspense shortly to be released by Áccent Press. When I first got the idea for the plot during a family holiday in the South of France, I was working as a part-time teacher and had more time to write than I do now so I could complete the first draft quickly.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yes. For as far as I can remember, writing was always my passion. As a teenager in France, I used to write the most ridiculous plays, poems and love stories with my best friend, some of which we would then perform and record on a cassette recorder. We were very silly but we had a lot of fun. To this day we still remember lines from our great dramatic masterpieces!  

How do you fit your writing around your home life?

I write in the evenings, after planning lessons and when my young daughter is in bed. Unfortunately it's often quite late when I start so I sometimes fall asleep on my keyboard. My favourite time to write is very early in the morning at weekends or during the holidays when everybody is still in bed and the house is quiet. I make myself a cup of tea and 'steal' a couple of hours at the computer. It feels like heaven.

How do you plan to promote your book?

I am not very good at promoting myself and I must say that it is the aspect of publishing a novel I enjoy the least. For A SPELL IN PROVENCE, I have contacted several author friends who have very kindly offered me a spot on their blog, and I may organize a tour and a couple of special events as well after the book is published. 

Did you find it difficult to move from historical to contemporary romance?

Not really. People often think that historical romances require a lot more research and are more tricky to write than contemporary novels, but I find both genres equally exciting and challenging. For example, I am really bad at understanding and using the latest technological gadgets and I had to do some research into mobile phones in order not to make any mistakes.

In the end, whether the novel takes place nowadays or in the nineteenth century, my aim is the same - to write a love story between two appealing characters.

How good are you at planning your work? Do you prefer to wing it?

I am hopeless at planning. Although I usually have an idea about the main plotline and can visualise the final scene when I start the story, I tend to just get on with it and let things happen - or not! I would love to be better at plotting because I waste a lot of time exploring a storyline, only to backtrack and delete entire chapters a few weeks later.

Do you enjoy research?

I love it. In fact, I love it far too much and often have to restrain myself and get back to writing the story.

What did you enjoy most about writing your novel?

I enjoyed finding out about the ancient history of Provence, which is fascinating, and I loved even more surrounding myself with photos of hill-top villages, of old fountains and of lavender and sunflower fields. I spent many holidays in the South of France as a child and writing A SPELL IN PROVENCE brought back fond memories of sitting in a fragrant garden in the sunshine, breathing in the scents of flowers and grasses, and listening to the cicadas.

If you could rescue only one book from your burning home what would it be?

Just one? I think I would take a book of poems by Jacques Prévert or Victor Hugo.

What is next for Marie Laval?

My next historical romance, DANCING FOR THE DEVIL, will be published by Áccent Press in the New Year, and I am currently working on another contemporary romance which I hope to finish by Christmas.

It's been lovely chatting with you Marie. Thank you for joining us today

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A Spell in Provence is currently available from Accent Press

and will be available on Amazon from 19^th December 2014

The RNA Blog is brought to you by

Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman.

If you would like to write about the craft of writing or perhaps be interviewed about your writing life please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com