Same Scene, Different Book—Is It Cheating?

My latest book, Her Perfect Man, was released last Friday. I was so excited to finally tell Kim Hansen's story. Kim appeared as a supporting character in the first two books of the "man" series. Anyone who read the second book, Take This Man, will realize upon reading the new book that two scenes from the second book are repeated in Kim's story.

I wasn't sure if I should do this. Readers might think I was cheating, making it easy on myself by including scenes that had already been written for another book. In fact, in my original version of Her Perfect Man, I didn't include the sub-sandwich smackdown scene. Kim was simply remembering it while she tried to coax her cat Groucho down from a tree. But when Kristan Higgins read the chapter (I was lucky enough to win a chapter critique from her at the New Jersey Romance Writer's Conference) she thought the beginning needed more "oomph" and that I should start with Kim whomping Adam with his ham and cheese hoagie. Well, when this lady tells you something, you listen. She's not a best-selling author for nothing!

So I wrote the scene, this time from Kim's point of view. Obviously, the events had to match up with those in the second book, but since it was through Kim's eyes, different aspects could be explored. We could see that in addition to being angry at Adam, Kim is hurt by his suggestion that they take a break. Her self esteem takes a real hit.

As she reels from Adam's rejection, the rest of her day goes downhill—she falls down the stairs, her cat runs up a tree and refuses to come down. But that same afternoon, Kim encounters Charlie Keller, the man who will change her life—if she'll let him.

Next Friday, I'll post Part II of this blog and talk about the other scene in "Her Perfect Man" that matches a scene in an earlier book.

To learn more about "Her Perfect Man" and Nona's other books, please visit www.nonaraines.com

Romance According to Rachell: First signing

I just got back from Seton Hill University where I had my very first signing this past week. It was put on by the Writing Popular Fiction alum and it was a fantastic event. Lots of people stopped by to get some signed swag. Here are my pretty little post-cards that I signed that night. 

I had a blast! Lots of friends and fans stopped by for the cards and I held a short reading of chapter one later that night. It was a blast. I should have a short audio clip to post in the near future. Check back next week for that one. 

In other news, two new book ideas in the mix that I should start working on eventually. I'll be sure to share all the naughty details with you all soon. 

And I got to spend some great time with my editor from Loose Id, and a bunch of other friends last week at Seton Hill. :-) 

"Her Perfect Man" Releases Today!

Hi Friends!

Today my third erotic romance "Her Perfect Man" is being released by The Wild Rose Press. It's about Kim Hansen, who appeared in "One Good Man" and "Take This Man". I'm happy that she  finally has a love story of her own.

Blurb:

Kim Hansen has terrible luck with men. When her sexy downstairs neighbor shows a more-than-neighborly interest in her, she's suspicious. She's been burned too many times, by too many guys. Charlie Keller is smart, hot and successful--so what does he want with her besides a few nights of pleasure?

Though Kim does her best to shut him down, Charlie's not put off by her attitude. He doesn't scare easy. Kim thinks she's clever, using sex to keep him off guard and to maintain her emotional distance. But Charlie sees through her prickly exterior to her tender heart beneath.

But Kim needs to be won over. Sure, their bedroom action is awesome, but given her past mistakes, she's convinced that Charlie is too good to be true. Just too perfect. But if Charlie has his way, he'll prove that he's the perfect man for her.

****
If you visit my website, you'll see the tagline Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic. I think my newest story fits this description perfectly.

It's Edgy because Kim has a knack for hooking up with men who don't appreciate her. When a nice guy like Charlie seems to like her, she doesn't know how to react. She has to look at herself and her choices in a new light.

It's Emotional because Kim has to face her past and come to understand why she made so those choices in the first place. She also has to open up to Charlie in a way she never has before. And Charlie learns that being with Kim can be, shall we say, challenging.

And it's Erotic because…well, while part of Kim wants to be careful, the other part wants to get Charlie into bed and burn up the sheets with him as often as possible. Sex is easy for Kim—it's emotions that are complicated.

I hope readers will be touched and entertained by Kim's story. I certainly enjoyed writing it.

To purchase "Her Perfect Man", click here

To learn more about Nona and her books, please visit www.nonaraines.com

A fellow CNYRW member asked me when I find the time to write. First, I don't "find" the time, I make the time. Writing is serious business for me, not something I do to keep from being bored to sobs.

In the winter, it's easier. I go through e-mail in the a.m., take care of scheduling chores (I'm the Scheduling Chairperson for our national lure coursing organization). No mowing, no dog events. This season, I plan to do better: blogs, Facebook, plus my scheduling stuff, plus hours of mowing the fields.

I take a notebook or the Dana word processor on the fields with me. I stop the tractor, and write whenever I have flashes of brilliance (it's amazing how often those flashes occur when one is on the Kubota, doing mindless mowing). I do the same thing with the ATV -- I'll grab one of the quads and a notebook, and head up to the upper field. I love to write while hawks are cruising the thermals overhead.

During mowing season, I write in the morning until the sun burns off most of the dew on the fields (cuts cleaner), then I write at night, often into the wee hours (that's another time that I tend to be scathingly brilliant).

The dogs remind me when they need to go out--I tend to get involved, then hours go by without any sense of awareness..

Now, with the laptop, if we travel to field trials with our own dogs, I make notes when I'm sitting in the van, and write in the motel rooms at night.

If you notice, housework is not mentioned here.

So, dear readers, when are you at your most brilliant?

A little bit of Rachell

Hello there, 


My name is Rachell Nichole and I live in New York. I write erotic romance and I love every minute of it (okay, well almost every minute... sometimes it's painful, and not in the good way ;-p) I've just finished the first round of edits on my first erotic romance, An Affair Across Times Square, due out later this year, and that's been my least favorite part of the writing process so far. 


I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and I'm definitely a child of the digital age. I've had a computer in my house since I was a kid and I've been using the keyboard to weave my tales for more than a dozen years. I will publish this book with Loose Id, LLC. For updates on the book or upcoming news, check back here every Monday for Romance According to Rachell. You can also visit my website (if you dare) at www.RachellNichole.com 


I'll be posting fun and exciting new blogs every Monday, so come start your week off right! 


A friend, and fellow writer, of mine, Nona Raines asked me a few weeks back if I would be interested in doing a group blog. I thought it was a fantastic idea and we asked Danica St. Como, another writer friend, to join us in our quest... and the Divas of Desire were born. 
Each week, we three Divas shall blog about whatever we desire. Some shall be daring and I promise to post some pictures, especially of photos that have inspired my writing. 
~ Rach