The "Next Big Thing" Blog Stop...


Welcome to the "Next Big Thing" Blog Tour - I was thrilled when fellow romance writer, Janet Gover, tagged me to continue the chain - be sure to read to the end of my post to check out the three great authors I've tagged next!

Okay, so the idea is we talk about our current or next release...which means I have a good opportunity to share the excitement of my upcoming Harlequin Superromance release in February 2013!!!


Copyright © [2013] by Harlequin Enterprises Limited

• What is the title of your next book?
Finding Justice - I really hope my debut Harlequin Superromance will be the first in an ongoing series set in the fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove. I am happy to say that I have just signed the contract for book two, yay! Long may it continue because I have totally fallen in love with the setting.

• Where did the idea come from for the book?

This is the worst question EVER for me because I can honestly say I have no clue where the ideas for my books come from most of the time. I treat writing like a full-time job so I tend to sit my backside in the chair, write and see what happens. 
Having said that, I knew I wanted to write a series set in a town and have it be romantic suspense. The setting came first, then Cat, my heroine. I wanted a reunion story for her so I made Templeton Cove her childhood holiday destination and the rest came together!

 • What genre does your book fall under?
Oops, see above - romantic suspense...or you might prefer to call Finding Justice a romantic 'mystery'. The murder has happened before the book starts and the story is Cat (the heroine) and Jay (the hero) tracking down the killer.

It's a cat and mouse chase that brings two past friends together to solve the murder of a third friend. Jay is listed as a suspect. It's all very exciting...and sexy, I hope ;)

 What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Ahh, I like this question because I start all my books with a visual for my hero and heroine. Nothing kick starts ideas for me better than a picture of a setting, hero and heroine. Then the 'what if' game begins! The actors I used for Cat and Jay were:

Cat - "Under Suspicion" actress Kelly Reilly

Jay - US TV actor, Greg Vaughan (I know you're leaving to Google him now, lol!)

• What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Oh, my lord!! One sentence?

Umm...

Well, Harlequin have given the tagline as : Old friends, New Secrets

For a sentence...how about: Reunited to find a killer and each other.

Hmm...well, we'll leave it at that!

 • Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This book is represented by agent, Dawn Dowdle of the Blue Ridge Literary Agency in the US. I signed with Dawn in March 2011 and now write for Harlequin and Kensington. To say I am happy, is an understatement of gigantic proportions, lol!

 • How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I tend to write the first draft in three months, another month of revising and polishing and then I send to my agent. She is super tough on edits and this works SO well for me. I know she'll give me honest feedback and we work together to make the manuscript shine before submitting anywhere. Whole process usually takes six months from start to finish.

 • What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It's romantic suspense with a real sense of family too so rather than compare, I would say I am influenced by my hero Nora Roberts, followed by a dash of Robyn Carr and a sprinkle of Tami Hoag.
 • Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Refer back to the 'idea' question - the setting and the need to write a 'small town' series and a reunion story.
 • What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
I'm hoping my US readers will be interested because it's set in the UK (a first for Harlequin Superromance in a long time, I'm told) and for my UK readers, I hope they like the idea of travelling with me on my very first series of books.

I'm excited and scared at the same time!

To see what some of my writer friends are doing, I’m going to tag.

7 comments

  1. The books sounds wonderful, and I like your cover, too!

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  2. I'm so excited about your Feb release, Rachel! Thanks for tagging me! x

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  3. Thanks for stopping by, ladies!! February can't come quick enough for me :)

    Rachel x

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  4. I, too, am very excited for this release. I'm dying to see what changes you've made. And I love that cover! Thanks for tagging me!

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  5. Can't wait for your Feb release. Congratulations on your book 2 contract. Very exciting!

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  6. Thanks, Jo - you had a lot of input on this one. So I share the congrats with you!

    Thanks, Dixie - I'm thrilled! And HUGE congrats on the contract with Avon - what a dream come true. We are rocking at the BRLA!!

    Rachel xx

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  7. Such an exciting time for you, Rachel. Brilliant! So well done for placing it in the Superromance line. Many congratulations!

    Thanks for tagging me. Going to have a thinkie now about my answers... :-)

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