Monday, March 23, 2015

Writing for Harlequin by Rachel Brimble



MUSE MONDAY
Please join me in welcoming Rachel Brimble to Muse Monday. Hi Rachel. Tell us your story!

I have been writing romance since 2005, steadily chipping away and learning my craft over the last nine years. Each book I’ve had published and each editor I’ve worked with has taught me something to take forward into the next project. I have had no formal education or tuition for my writing, but have enrolled in many online courses and made lots of invaluable friends who have helped me on my journey.
All the rejections (there have been MANY!) and disappointments, frustrations and tears were all made worthwhile during 2012 when my dream of writing for Harlequin came true. I wrote Finding Justice from the heart and of course, hoped and prayed an editor would love it as much as I did. However, nobody could have prepared me for the shock of receiving an email from my agent saying Harlequin loved the book but would I consider some minor revisions?
Would I?? Hot damn, yes! I set to work and made the relevant changes that I immediately understood made the book stronger. These done, I sent them back and three weeks later, I was offered a contract. Woohoo!
By the time I sent FINDING JUSTICE out into the big, wide world, the setting of Templeton Cove had become very dear to me and I soon realized I wasn’t ready to let this small fictional UK seaside town belong to just one book. Would Harlequin consider more books set in the same town? There was only one way to find out. I feverishly wrote a sequel and A MAN LIKE HIM was accepted by my Harlequin editor six months later.
The cast of characters continues to grow and with each book I write in the series, more and more potential stories evolve from the secondary characters that leap into my imagination. I am thrilled to say in May this year, Harlequin offered me a further three-book contract, which means Templeton Cove continues to flourish with book three, WHAT BELONGS TO HER (Mar 2014) and now book four, my latest release, CHRISTMAS AT THE COVE!
I often get asked what the secret is to breaking into Harlequin – my answer? The only aspect I am one hundred percent sure of is the Harlequin brand thrives on emotion. Emotion, emotion, emotion! Make sure the reader can feel what’s going on inside every character on every page and I’m pretty confident you’ll hook an editor. Good luck!

More family for Christmas? 
Scott Walker doesn't have time for a relationship. The sexy mechanic has career ambitions, not to mention a mother and three sisters to take care of. The last thing he needs is Carrie Jameson, the beauty he never forgot, arriving in Templeton Cove over the holidays with some unexpected news. 
Scott still finds Carrie irresistible, and he's not one to shirk responsibility. Scott's issues with his own dad make the prospect of parenthood a minefield. But if he and Carrie can overcome their fears, this Christmas could bring them the best gift of all.



Templeton Cove Trailer




12 comments:

  1. Inspiring post chock full of wonderful advice for all writers. Thanks for sharing, Rachel :)

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  2. Thanks for having me here today, Brenda & thanks for stopping by Joanne! Looking forward to chatting and answering any questions!

    Rachel x

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  3. Rachel, my hat is off to you, writing for Harlequin successfully. I submitted to them many times back in the 1990's, but I could never get in the door. Talk about rejections, I just couldn't seem to write what they wanted. Sounds like you've had a wonderful career with them, though. Mucho congrats too you!

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    1. Hi Hebby! Lots of fantastic authors have tried to write for HQ for years but haven't managed to pinpoint what they want - I've just finished book 5 and still couldn't tell you exactly what it is, lol!

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  4. Congratulations on the new three-book contract, Rachel. Templeton Cove lives :) Best of luck

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    1. haha! Thank you, Barbara - I'm excited for Her Hometown Redemption coming in September :D

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  5. Great post. I know I've never figured out exactly what they want, either!

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    1. Strange isn't it?? I would love to be able to tell other writers about a secret formula! :D

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  6. Rachel, thanks so much for being on Discover Yourself!

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