Who Peeks at the End of a Book?

Elizabeth Camden All about Me! 3 Comments

I do!

I know this is crazy, but usually around a third of the way through a novel, I flip to the back to check out the ending. If the book is in traditional genre romance, they always have a happy ending, so I pretty much know where the book is headed anyway, but I still have a guilty thrill by hopping ahead. On the other hand, women’s fiction or historical novels don’t always end happily, and I want to brace myself for what is coming.

Last year I read a book which I had mistaken for a genre romance book, and foolishly neglected to read the last few pages. It had a great historical setting with a magnificent challenge for the hero and heroine to overcome. By the end of the book, not only have the hero and heroine split up, but the heroine’s daughter was tragically killed in a laughably bizarre accident. I was so mad! That was not what I bargained for when I invested a weekend delving into that novel. I actually thought the girl’s death was handled clumsily, as if the author was grasping at straws to up the emotional ante. As a reader, I felt manipulated and I really wished I had peeked at the end of that one.
Anyway, I know that I can’t be the only one who indulges in this little quirk.

The only author I refuse to hop ahead for is Ken Follett. I actually paperclip the final pages together so I don’t let myself down and cheat. So far he has been really good about delivering “the right” ending, but I can never be 100% certain.

I hope you all have some wonderful reading scheduled for this long holiday week…… and you’ve got my permission to peek ahead!

What is a Ghost Book?

Elizabeth Camden The Book World Leave a Comment

I suppose it could be a book about ghosts, but if you are a librarian, “a ghost book” refers to a book that does not really exist, despite the fact that its presence has been widely reported and people want to read it.

How could such a thing happen? If an author has contracted for a series of books, sometimes those unwritten books are given names and entered into publisher’s catalogs or even advertisements in the back of books. If the author dies, those books are unlikely ever to be written, but there are fans out there clamoring for the title. I remember reading a huge, sprawling historical epic by Thomas Tryon called Wings of the Morning (1990). It was a magnificent tour de force set in early America, and had a follow-up title called In the Fires of Spring (1992) that ends with a huge cliff-hanger and word that another book would be coming soon. I can remember haunting bookstores in hopes of getting my hands on the next book, which I believed was going to be called Kingdom Come.

I waited and waited. The title appeared in forthcoming books catalogs, but it never appeared in libraries or bookstores. I ultimately learned that the author had died and the sad fact that Kingdom Come would never be published. Oh, cruel world! Kingdom Come was forever destined to be nothing more than a ghost book.

Another explanation for ghost books are titles that are mentioned in works of fiction, but don’t really exist. In 1924 H.P. Lovecraft wrote The Hound, which makes reference to a book called The Necronomicon, supposedly a text about black magic. For all the kids who get enchanted with Lovecraft’s work and come looking for The Necronomicon ….sorry, it is a ghost book as well.

One interesting twist on ghost books is when a publisher decides to take it out of ghost status and make it real.

The Love Dare is a bestselling book that was inspired by a journal that appears in the 2008 movie Fireproof. In the movie, a man is in a faltering marriage, but his father loans him a journal called “The Love Dare,” which is a series of challenges to help rekindle a relationship. Anticipating demand for “The Love Dare,” the producers of the movie commissioned a book with the same themes and challenges as presented in the movie. The Love Dare entered the NYT bestseller list at number 2, and escaped ghost book status.

Photo courtesy of ihave3kids

Looking for a Unique Christmas Gift?

Elizabeth Camden All about Me! Leave a Comment

I used to struggle every year at Christmas with the problem of finding gifts for people. It can be a real struggle to find something the recipient will like, need, or welcome. My parents have down-sized to a tiny retirement apartment, and don’t want anything. Other people have very particular tastes in books or music and are a challenge to buy for. Don’t even get me started about the dangers of buying clothing….

A few years ago I stumbled upon the ultimate solution. Monasteries, convents, seminaries, and other religious communities often support themselves by selling gifts such as homemade soap, candy, jellies, candles, pottery, and notecards. Some even sell beer and wine! A jar of home made blueberry jam or rose-scented soap is a wonderful and inexpensive gift, at the same time you are helping support a religious community. Who wouldn’t like some homemade candy or preserves?

There is a website that serves as a clearinghouse for many religious orders. You can do a little online at Monastery Greetings here.

 

What is the Unforgivable Sin in a Romance Novel?

Elizabeth Camden Ramblings about Romance, The Book World 1 Comment

There are a lot of “rules” in genre fiction, which is one of its appeals. People like to know what they are getting when they crack open a mystery, a romance, or a paranormal. We select these books because something about the conventions resonate with us, and violating those rules is a risky thing. Yet, in the hands of a skilled writer, the rules of genre fiction are often smashed.

There is really only one rule that you almost NEVER see in a romance novel: killing off a hero or a heroine. This just isn’t done.

Kristen Heitzmann just did it!

So let’s talk about Breath of Dawn, a contemporary romantic suspense novel in her trilogy set in the remote mountains of Colorado. The first book in the trilogy, A Rush of Wings, was the very first inspirational romance I ever read, so I have a real fondness for this author. In this book we met the hero’s tormented brother, Morgan Spencer, who still suffers from the fallout of a disastrous romance and (as he believes) the death of his unborn child. In book two (Still of Night) Morgan reunites with Jill, his long-lost high school sweetheart, and they finally find happiness and come to grips with the loss of their child.

Happily ever after? Not so fast. Book three opens with Jill’s funeral. I was gob-smacked. Couldn’t believe it. Killing off a heroine who supposedly got a Happily Ever After is something I’ve only seen once or twice in the thirty years I’ve been reading romance.

So, did it work?

I will be curious to see the reviews as they roll in to Amazon, but after careful consideration, I think Heitzmann pulled it off. Part of the reason was that I never really clicked with Jill in Still of Night, so I wasn’t nearly so ripped up as I would have been if the author killed off Morgan. Another reason was the brisk pace of this book. After the funeral, the book skips ahead two years and we see that while Morgan is still grieving, he is emerging from the fog of depression and ready to rejoin the rest of the world. His initial attraction to the heroine (Quinn) is mostly physical, but also based on Morgan’s instinctive urge to rescue damsels in distress. Quinn is in some pretty hot water through no fault of her own. When Morgan steps in to help her out, they are thrown together in a manner which allows a romance to bloom pretty quickly.

Although I am at the beginning of my career as a writer, I can safely assert I will never kill off one of my heroes or heroines. I just don’t have the stomach for it, but I admire Kristen Heitzmann for being willing to go out on a limb with this one. If you are in the mood for something a little different, check out Breath of Dawn. You don’t need to read the earlier books to make sense of it.

Headless Heroines

Elizabeth Camden Ramblings about Romance, The Book World 3 Comments

Have you noticed the trend in headless heroines on the covers of your favorite romance novels? If not, here is a sampling of some very popular covers from the past couple of years:

I have to admit, I am a fan of this trend. I’ve always found it a little disconcerting when a character is looking directly out of the cover at you. I love being able to see a portion of the heroine….her clothing is an immediate clue about the tone and era of the book. By only showing a hint of the face, the reader can create her own mental image of what the heroine should look like.

This has been a hugely popular trend in recent years on everything from Young Adult covers through fantasy and mainstream literary. I’ll be sorry to see it end, but I fear it is already starting to become a little passé.

A Prequel for Downton Abbey? Yes, Please!

Elizabeth Camden Musings on Life 1 Comment

I hear rumor that a prequel is in the works for Downton Abbey! It will feature the courtship of Cora and Martin, and is being written by the original screenwriter for the series, the masterful Julian Fellows.

I’m not normally a fan of prequels, as the viewer already knows where the story is headed, but I CAN’T WAIT for this one! We already know from the mini-series that Martin married Cora for her fortune, but that she was desperately in love when she married him. This has all the makings for a terrific story. I am especially excited about the costuming. I write most of my novels set in the 1880’s and 90’s for the shallow reason that this was the best era for fashion!

A pair of younger actors will be cast in the leading role, but the filming will once again take place at the magnificent house (Highclere Abbey in real life). The series will not air until the current Downton Abbey runs its course. Let the countdown begin!

Why Read Romance?

Elizabeth Camden Ramblings about Romance 1 Comment

It is a sad fact that the romance genre tends to generate snickers and raised eyebrows. Some women who adore reading romance novels use fabric book covers while on the subway. Authors of the genre are asked when they will write a “real novel.” The knee-jerk assumption by critics of the romance genre relate to unrealistic storylines and overly idealized relationships. Yes, romance novels offer a huge dose of larger-than-life escapism, but so do westerns, sci-fi and mysteries, and yet those genres are not subjected to the skepticism and scorn of the romance novel.

Critics of romance novels often assume the women who devour those novels are seeking the fantasy of a dashing man or a fulfilling career. Guess what? I already have those things! And so do most of the women who chose to read romance novels.

The genre is also slammed for its predictability. It is true that almost all romance novels have a happily-ever-after ending, but this does not detract from its appeal for its fans. A mystery novel would be ruined if the reader can spot the ending resolution, but this isn’t the case in romance. In a genre romance novel, the appeal is based on becoming emotionally engaged with the characters. The plot is not nearly as important as the growth of the characters and their response to challenges. Most romances feature a good deal of storm and stress (Jane Eyre, anyone?) and a romance novel allows a reader to explore that journey from a safe environment.

According to statistics gathered by the Romance Writers of America, 29% of adult women read a romance novel last year. I hope they all found wonderful, life-affirming and inspiring stories!

Against the Tide is Here!

Elizabeth Camden Against the Tide 4 Comments

It has finally arrived! Against the Tide is now available online and in your favorite bookstores.

I am very proud of this book. I think it is the most romantic book I’ve written, and I had an absolute ball crafting two such dynamic, intelligent leading characters who are so perfect for each other, but with one huge, looming problem that appears to be an insurmountable obstacle in their path.

Here is a blurb:

Boston of 1891 is a city of hope and ambition, where mariners, merchants, and dreamers thrive in the cobblestone streets of America’s most historic city. Within the harbor of Boston’s naval shipyard, Lydia Pallas has become a trusted assistant to an Admiral in the U.S. Navy. Fluent in seven languages, she spends her days translating documents from all over the world.

Lydia’s remarkable language skills bring her to the attention of Alexander Banebridge, a mysterious man on a quest to rid the world of the scourge of opium. Only Lydia has the rare combination of language skills and courage he needs to advance his cause. A man as coolly analytical as he is relentless, Bane never bargained on falling in love with Lydia. As he battles the bittersweet love that grows between them, Bane’s mission will take Lydia away from everything—and everyone—she ever held dear.

A GREAT Apology!

Elizabeth Camden Ramblings about Romance Leave a Comment

Is there anyone on the planet who is not rooting for Linda to take him back? I have no idea what this guy did to be relegated to the doghouse, but his apology is perfect.

An apology must never involve the word “but”, as in, I’m sorry I threw a temper tantrum and broke your favorite coffee mug, but…..”

A word to the wise. If you are offering an apology, whether in real life or writing a romance novel, avoid the word “but” at all costs. It is poison to an apology.

Gary D. Chapman wrote a great book, The Five Languages of Apology in which he talks about the ways to deliver a perfect apology….which begins with accepting that you did something wrong, accept responsibility, and express genuine regret. I think Dr. Chapman would be proud of our anonymous van-painter.

I hope Linda takes him back.

Photo courtesy of the AP Press

A New Feature on my Website….

Elizabeth Camden The Lady of Bolton Hill Leave a Comment

I thought I’d add a little content to spiff up my website called “Book Extras.”

All books have a ton of behind-the-scenes stories that never make it into print. Sometimes there are entire chapters or alternate endings. There are usually several versions of book covers or titles. Readers are often curious about what triggered an idea, or what details from the novel were based on historical fact and which were pure fabrication.

I will be including some of these details on my website, and have just rolled out the extra content for The Lady of Bolton Hill. You can check it out here.

When I first wrote The Lady of Bolton Hill, I had several chapters at the beginning devoted to Daniel and Clara’s early friendship. For a number of reasons, those chapters had to be cut, but I am thrilled I can now release them to curious readers. There are also some alternate covers for the book and other behind-the-scenes trivia.

I will eventually release Book Extra sections for all my novels, but The Lady of Bolton Hill is up first. I hope you will swing by and check it out!