Writing in Tandem: Husband & Wife

Reading the question&answer session between a male romance authors and female romance readers, there is often the question: how can you describe the female mind? And often, when the author is a female, there is the question: how can you identify yourself in the male mind?

So maybe the choice of the following authors is a perfect choice: writing in tandem, male & female together, and above all, husband & wife, so, perhaps, there is also a bit of realism in describing the love relationship...

Tom & Sharon Curtis: Tom and Sharon Curtis won the 1987 Golden Medallion in the Single Title Release Category for their classic title Sunshine and Shadow, under the name Laura London, and their London titles are considered classic examples of 1980's romance. Their first published novel, A Heart Too Proud, was published by Dell and grew out of the couple's love of the Regency era. They also wrote several contemporary category romances under the name Robin James. The couple retired from writing romance.

Emma Darcy: Emma Darcy is the pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team of Frank and Wendy Brennan. The couple sold over 60 million books during a career that spanned from 1983 through 1995. After the death of Frank Brennan, Wendy Brennan continues to write as Emma Darcy. Emma Darcy has written 88 books for the Harlequin Presents imprint. Writing for the Harlequin Romance imprint, Darcy published three titles. Wendy Brennan has also published murder mysteries under the Emma Darcy name. Titles include the mystery Who Killed Camilla, Who Killed Bianca?, and Who Killed Angelique?. The Romance Writers Of Australia established the Emma Darcy award in 1993. With a cash prize and guarantee of getting a manuscript in front of an editor, the prize has acquired great cachet in Australia. Author Tracy Cooper-Posey was the first recipient of the award. Other winners include Bronwyn Jameson, Fiona Brand, Melissa James, and Nalini Singh.

Anne & Serge Golon: Anne Golon is the pseudonym of Simone Goloubinoff, who together with her husband, Vsevolod Sergeïvich Goloubinoff, known as Serge Golon, wrote the Angélique books. The author of the books is sometimes credited as Serganne Golon. Anne was born in 1921 in France. Serge was a Russian aristocrat who had fled Russia during the revolution, and they met during World War II. The first Angélique book, at over 900 pages, was published in 1957 in France (and in 1956 in Germany) in two volumes to make it "easier" to read, entitled Angélique, Marquise of the Angels and Angélique, the Road to Versailles. The books are not technically romances, more historic fiction with the continuing story of Angélique (and her husband, Joffrey de Peyrac) spanning the ages beginning in France during the time of Louis XIV and continuing to the "New World" and in fact around the world. The books were published by Bantam in the United States and by Pan Books and other publishers in the United Kingdom. The saga of Angélique has been sold over 100 million books, has had 320 publishers and over 45 translations. Serge Golon died in 1972, but Anne continued to write. The last Angélique book was published in 1985. Anne is reported to live in southern France.

Ken & Olivia Harper: As authors for Loveswept, Ken and Olivia Harper published two romance novels. The also published under the name Joanna Brandon. Olivia Harper published under the name Jolene Adams as well.

Elyssa Henry: As an author for Silhouette Romance, Elyssa Henry published one novel. She is also known as Joye Ames and Joyce and Jim Lavene. The Lavenes are North Carolina residents.

Nancy John: As an author for Silhouette Romance, Nancy John published eight novels. The husband and wife writing team consisted of John and Nancy Buckingham Sawyer. The couple also wrote as Christina Abbey, Nancy Buckingham, Hillary London, and Erica Quest.

Anne & Ed Kolaczyk: As authors for Loveswept, Anne and Ed Kolaczyk published four romance novels. They are also known as Andrea Edwards, Anne Hillary, Anne Benson, Kathryn Jessup, Adrienne Edwards, and Erika Bryant. They have published over sixty novels.

Ann and Evan Maxwell: Elizabeth Lowell is a pseudonym for Ann Maxwell, who began her career in 1975 writing science fiction under her own name. When she later collaborated on mysteries with her husband, Evan Maxwell, they used the psuedonym A. E. Maxwell. The name Elizabeth Lowell (Ann's middle name plus Evan’s middle name) is the name used on most of the romance fiction that Ann writes by herself. Confused yet? The name Ann Maxwell was used again on the romantic suspense books written in collaboration with Evan. Individually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and two non-fiction books. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. The novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery to suspense. Under the name Elizabeth Lowell, she has received the numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America in 1994. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest.

Leda Swann: Leda Swann is the writing duet of Cathy and Brent. They write out of their home overlooking the sea in peaceful New Zealand. When not writing they have busy lives working in the technology industry, bringing up four children, and enjoying an adventurous outdoor life that ranges from the mountains to the sea.

Aimee Thurlo: Aimee Thurlo is actually Aimee and David Thurlo, a married writing team who have published under Aimee's name and other pseudonyms. The couple, who make their home in New Mexico, often write about the Native American culture, particularly the Navajo Nation (David Thurlo was raised on a Navajo reservation). The couple have been nominated for a wide range of awards for their work. In addition to writing Romantic Suspense, they also write several traditional suspense series. They have published over fifty novels. Writing for the Harlequin Intrigue imprint, Aimee Thurlo has published 22 novels.

Lynda Trent: Lynda Trent is the pseudonym of Lynda and Daniel Trent. They also publish under the names Elizabeth Crane, Abigail McDaniels, Danielle Trent. Lynda Trent won the 1983 Golden Medallion in the Contemporary Mainstream category.

Writing in Tandem: Husband & Wife

Reading the question&answer session between a male romance authors and female romance readers, there is often the question: how can you describe the female mind? And often, when the author is a female, there is the question: how can you identify yourself in the male mind?

So maybe the choice of the following authors is a perfect choice: writing in tandem, male & female together, and above all, husband & wife, so, perhaps, there is also a bit of realism in describing the love relationship...

Tom & Sharon Curtis: Tom and Sharon Curtis won the 1987 Golden Medallion in the Single Title Release Category for their classic title Sunshine and Shadow, under the name Laura London, and their London titles are considered classic examples of 1980's romance. Their first published novel, A Heart Too Proud, was published by Dell and grew out of the couple's love of the Regency era. They also wrote several contemporary category romances under the name Robin James. The couple retired from writing romance.

Emma Darcy: Emma Darcy is the pseudonym for the husband-and-wife writing team of Frank and Wendy Brennan. The couple sold over 60 million books during a career that spanned from 1983 through 1995. After the death of Frank Brennan, Wendy Brennan continues to write as Emma Darcy. Emma Darcy has written 88 books for the Harlequin Presents imprint. Writing for the Harlequin Romance imprint, Darcy published three titles. Wendy Brennan has also published murder mysteries under the Emma Darcy name. Titles include the mystery Who Killed Camilla, Who Killed Bianca?, and Who Killed Angelique?. The Romance Writers Of Australia established the Emma Darcy award in 1993. With a cash prize and guarantee of getting a manuscript in front of an editor, the prize has acquired great cachet in Australia. Author Tracy Cooper-Posey was the first recipient of the award. Other winners include Bronwyn Jameson, Fiona Brand, Melissa James, and Nalini Singh.

Anne & Serge Golon: Anne Golon is the pseudonym of Simone Goloubinoff, who together with her husband, Vsevolod Sergeïvich Goloubinoff, known as Serge Golon, wrote the Angélique books. The author of the books is sometimes credited as Serganne Golon. Anne was born in 1921 in France. Serge was a Russian aristocrat who had fled Russia during the revolution, and they met during World War II. The first Angélique book, at over 900 pages, was published in 1957 in France (and in 1956 in Germany) in two volumes to make it "easier" to read, entitled Angélique, Marquise of the Angels and Angélique, the Road to Versailles. The books are not technically romances, more historic fiction with the continuing story of Angélique (and her husband, Joffrey de Peyrac) spanning the ages beginning in France during the time of Louis XIV and continuing to the "New World" and in fact around the world. The books were published by Bantam in the United States and by Pan Books and other publishers in the United Kingdom. The saga of Angélique has been sold over 100 million books, has had 320 publishers and over 45 translations. Serge Golon died in 1972, but Anne continued to write. The last Angélique book was published in 1985. Anne is reported to live in southern France.

Ken & Olivia Harper: As authors for Loveswept, Ken and Olivia Harper published two romance novels. The also published under the name Joanna Brandon. Olivia Harper published under the name Jolene Adams as well.

Elyssa Henry: As an author for Silhouette Romance, Elyssa Henry published one novel. She is also known as Joye Ames and Joyce and Jim Lavene. The Lavenes are North Carolina residents.

Nancy John: As an author for Silhouette Romance, Nancy John published eight novels. The husband and wife writing team consisted of John and Nancy Buckingham Sawyer. The couple also wrote as Christina Abbey, Nancy Buckingham, Hillary London, and Erica Quest.

Anne & Ed Kolaczyk: As authors for Loveswept, Anne and Ed Kolaczyk published four romance novels. They are also known as Andrea Edwards, Anne Hillary, Anne Benson, Kathryn Jessup, Adrienne Edwards, and Erika Bryant. They have published over sixty novels.

Ann and Evan Maxwell: Elizabeth Lowell is a pseudonym for Ann Maxwell, who began her career in 1975 writing science fiction under her own name. When she later collaborated on mysteries with her husband, Evan Maxwell, they used the psuedonym A. E. Maxwell. The name Elizabeth Lowell (Ann's middle name plus Evan’s middle name) is the name used on most of the romance fiction that Ann writes by herself. Confused yet? The name Ann Maxwell was used again on the romantic suspense books written in collaboration with Evan. Individually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and two non-fiction books. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. The novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery to suspense. Under the name Elizabeth Lowell, she has received the numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America in 1994. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest.

Leda Swann: Leda Swann is the writing duet of Cathy and Brent. They write out of their home overlooking the sea in peaceful New Zealand. When not writing they have busy lives working in the technology industry, bringing up four children, and enjoying an adventurous outdoor life that ranges from the mountains to the sea.

Aimee Thurlo: Aimee Thurlo is actually Aimee and David Thurlo, a married writing team who have published under Aimee's name and other pseudonyms. The couple, who make their home in New Mexico, often write about the Native American culture, particularly the Navajo Nation (David Thurlo was raised on a Navajo reservation). The couple have been nominated for a wide range of awards for their work. In addition to writing Romantic Suspense, they also write several traditional suspense series. They have published over fifty novels. Writing for the Harlequin Intrigue imprint, Aimee Thurlo has published 22 novels.

Lynda Trent: Lynda Trent is the pseudonym of Lynda and Daniel Trent. They also publish under the names Elizabeth Crane, Abigail McDaniels, Danielle Trent. Lynda Trent won the 1983 Golden Medallion in the Contemporary Mainstream category.

GWM Wanted (Husbands and Wives 2) by Amanda Young

Mark and Sam are a 15 years old couple. They met when Sam is barely 18 years old and Mark nearly thirty and they are together since then. They also made an official commitment five years earlier, but intead of cementing their relationship, it seems that being husbands has somewhat cooled their love.

Mark is worried to be too old for his young husband. He works hard, both at work than in the gym, to remain an handsome man, but all he could see is a 45 years old man with a too young boy at his side. Instead Sam is worried that Mark gets bored with him; after all Mark was the first lover for Sam, and he has never had another one in all this years. What if Mark wants to spice up their relationship with someone else? After all he spends all the time in the gym, surrounding by young studs.

So sounds familiar to you? We have a loving couple, who still desire each other, but who fears to speak aloud their doubts; and if you don't communicate, the troubles are around the corner.

The book is not very long, 70 pages, but it's a sweet one. I like both Mark and Sam, even if sometime I want to knock them on the head and say: open your eyes and talk to each other a bit more! Haw you can't see that you are still as much in love as you were fifteen years ago?

All in all, if not for the age difference, Mark and Sam are pretty similar, both tender and caring, both thinking first to the interest of the other instead of his own.

There is a lot of sex, three long sex scenes in only 70 pages, but it's very hot; how can a couple who is soo good in bed, think to have real problems, is above me. Mind you, the sex is very graphic details.

http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=683

Amazon: GWM Wanted
Amazon Kindle: GWM Wanted
Paperback: 146 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 20, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1453820892
ISBN-13: 978-1453820896

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle

GWM Wanted (Husbands and Wives 2) by Amanda Young

Mark and Sam are a 15 years old couple. They met when Sam is barely 18 years old and Mark nearly thirty and they are together since then. They also made an official commitment five years earlier, but intead of cementing their relationship, it seems that being husbands has somewhat cooled their love.

Mark is worried to be too old for his young husband. He works hard, both at work than in the gym, to remain an handsome man, but all he could see is a 45 years old man with a too young boy at his side. Instead Sam is worried that Mark gets bored with him; after all Mark was the first lover for Sam, and he has never had another one in all this years. What if Mark wants to spice up their relationship with someone else? After all he spends all the time in the gym, surrounding by young studs.

So sounds familiar to you? We have a loving couple, who still desire each other, but who fears to speak aloud their doubts; and if you don't communicate, the troubles are around the corner.

The book is not very long, 70 pages, but it's a sweet one. I like both Mark and Sam, even if sometime I want to knock them on the head and say: open your eyes and talk to each other a bit more! Haw you can't see that you are still as much in love as you were fifteen years ago?

All in all, if not for the age difference, Mark and Sam are pretty similar, both tender and caring, both thinking first to the interest of the other instead of his own.

There is a lot of sex, three long sex scenes in only 70 pages, but it's very hot; how can a couple who is soo good in bed, think to have real problems, is above me. Mind you, the sex is very graphic details.

http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=683

Amazon: GWM Wanted (print book)

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading+list&view=elisa.rolle

In memory of Edna Ferber (1885-1968)

Edna Ferber was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., Aug. 15, 1885, the daughter of a Hungarian-born Jewish storekeeper, Jacob Ferber, and his Milwaukee-born wife, Julia Neumann Ferber. In some sources, perhaps because of vanity, she claimed to have been born in 1887, but census documents show otherwise. Ferber was a prolific and popular novelist.

She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for So Big, the story of a woman raising a child on a truck farm outside of Chicago. Others of her best known books include Showboat (1926), Cimarron (1929), Giant (1952) and Ice Palace (1958).

She died of cancer at age 82 on April 16, 1968, at her Park Avenue, New York, home. In a lengthy obituary, the New York Times said, "Her books were not profound, but they were vivid and had a sound sociological basis. She was among the best-read novelists in the nation, and critics of the 1920s and '30s did not hesitate to call her the greatest American woman novelist of her day."

To read more: 

http://elisarolle.com/romance/romance_history_edna_ferber.htm 

In memory of Edna Ferber (1885-1968)

Edna Ferber was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., Aug. 15, 1885, the daughter of a Hungarian-born Jewish storekeeper, Jacob Ferber, and his Milwaukee-born wife, Julia Neumann Ferber. In some sources, perhaps because of vanity, she claimed to have been born in 1887, but census documents show otherwise. Ferber was a prolific and popular novelist.

She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924 for So Big, the story of a woman raising a child on a truck farm outside of Chicago. Others of her best known books include Showboat (1926), Cimarron (1929), Giant (1952) and Ice Palace (1958).

She died of cancer at age 82 on April 16, 1968, at her Park Avenue, New York, home. In a lengthy obituary, the New York Times said, "Her books were not profound, but they were vivid and had a sound sociological basis. She was among the best-read novelists in the nation, and critics of the 1920s and '30s did not hesitate to call her the greatest American woman novelist of her day."

To read more: 

http://elisarolle.com/romance/romance_history_edna_ferber.htm 

Whatever Happened to Penelope Williamson?

Penelope Williamson is an internationally renowned author of historical romances as her real name and as the pen names Elizabeth Lambert and Penn Williamson. She has more than 1.8 million books in print, including The Outsider, Heart of the West, A Wild Yearning, Once in a Blue Moon, and Keeper of the Dream.

Penelope noted how much she likes portraying friendships between women and how through such friendships, women can strengthen and support one another: "I think we need to remember that women can build strong relationships which are just as important as those with the men in their lives".

Writing is Penelopes passion. And her devolution to her craft is telling in the works she has published: stories full of texture and littered with complex characters. They have real relationships full of self-discovery, all written from Penelopes heart: "Maybe its not a good way to plan a career, but I believe you need to write a book which comes from your heart and let the chips fall where they may". For Penelope, her subtle and elegant portrayals of men and women means the chips always will fall precisely right.

To read  more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/16754914/

Whatever Happened to Penelope Williamson?

Penelope Williamson is an internationally renowned author of historical romances as her real name and as the pen names Elizabeth Lambert and Penn Williamson. She has more than 1.8 million books in print, including The Outsider, Heart of the West, A Wild Yearning, Once in a Blue Moon, and Keeper of the Dream.

Penelope noted how much she likes portraying friendships between women and how through such friendships, women can strengthen and support one another: "I think we need to remember that women can build strong relationships which are just as important as those with the men in their lives".

Writing is Penelopes passion. And her devolution to her craft is telling in the works she has published: stories full of texture and littered with complex characters. They have real relationships full of self-discovery, all written from Penelopes heart: "Maybe its not a good way to plan a career, but I believe you need to write a book which comes from your heart and let the chips fall where they may". For Penelope, her subtle and elegant portrayals of men and women means the chips always will fall precisely right.

To read  more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/16754914/

Close to Me (Blue Ruin 2) by Katrina Strauss

I should confess, I was uncertain. Even if I liked a lot Blue Ruin 1, I don't like very much menages (even if they are M/M/M menages), and so when I saw the new cover of Blue Ruin 2 I was perplexed (even is it's a wonderful cover by the very good cover artist P.L. Nunn): I will like this new ones like the previous ones? And the answer is yes.

Close to Me is a litlle less yaoi then Blue Ruin 1, and maybe because Blue, the uke and pet of the first book, in this one is growing and is forming a own personality apart from his seme and master Derek.

After Blue was kidnapped in the first book, Derek is worrying for him a bit much; he also restrains himself during lovemaking and treats Blue like a porcelain doll. This is not something Blue can accept and after proving to Derek that he can still hold on thier pleasure/pain games in the bedroom, he wants also to prove him that he can be independent. This leads to him returning school to obtain his GED. And here he meets again Cameron.

Cam was Blue's nemesis at high school. He is the boy who always beat Blue, sometime with severe physical consequences for the smaller guy. But now Cam seems a different guy, and he wants to apologize. Worst he wants to be with Blue, since he has finally admitted to be gay and that all his violence in the past was only a way to hide his feelings toward Blue.

Blue is torn. He loves Derek, he has also vowed a commitment to the man, but he can't deny his feelings for Cam. He has long admitted that even if the boy treated him like a punching ball, he was drawn by him in the past. And now he has the chance to be with him. Don't forget that Derek was Blue first man, and Blue is a almost naivee 19 years old guy, where Derek is a 30 years old man with a very long lived past. I think Blue's uncertainity is very understandable, and also Derek's reaction at first is so: he doesn't want to share Blue, let alone leave him go. So what can he do to keep the boy with him?

As I said "Close to me" is more romance than yaoi. The seme/uke relationship is less strong and also the master/pet ones. Blue is growing, and doing that he is shortining the distance between him and Derek, if not in age for sure in experience. But Blue is a clever guy and he knows how to do it right. Still it's tender to see him act like the teenager he is, sharing a kiss while eating an icepop.

I also have to make my compliments to Katrina Strauss to have written a menage that it's not really a true ones, since the main couple maintains its integrity and closeness, and above all a menage that I, who don't like this type of relationship, have read with pleasure and also enjoyed.

http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=707

Amazon Kindle: Blue Ruin 2: Close to Me
Publisher: Loose Id LLC (April 15, 2008)

Series: Blue Ruin
1) Some Kind of Stranger: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/221831.html
2) Close to Me

Waiting Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=waiting+reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by P.L. Nunn

Close to Me (Blue Ruin 2) by Katrina Strauss

I should confess, I was uncertain. Even if I liked a lot Blue Ruin 1, I don't like very much menages (even if they are M/M/M menages), and so when I saw the new cover of Blue Ruin 2 I was perplexed (even is it's a wonderful cover by the very good cover artist P.L. Nunn): I will like this new ones like the previous ones? And the answer is yes.

Close to Me is a litlle less yaoi then Blue Ruin 1, and maybe because Blue, the uke and pet of the first book, in this one is growing and is forming a own personality apart from his seme and master Derek.

After Blue was kidnapped in the first book, Derek is worrying for him a bit much; he also restrains himself during lovemaking and treats Blue like a porcelain doll. This is not something Blue can accept and after proving to Derek that he can still hold on thier pleasure/pain games in the bedroom, he wants also to prove him that he can be independent. This leads to him returning school to obtain his GED. And here he meets again Cameron.

Cam was Blue's nemesis at high school. He is the boy who always beat Blue, sometime with severe physical consequences for the smaller guy. But now Cam seems a different guy, and he wants to apologize. Worst he wants to be with Blue, since he has finally admitted to be gay and that all his violence in the past was only a way to hide his feelings toward Blue.

Blue is torn. He loves Derek, he has also vowed a commitment to the man, but he can't deny his feelings for Cam. He has long admitted that even if the boy treated him like a punching ball, he was drawn by him in the past. And now he has the chance to be with him. Don't forget that Derek was Blue first man, and Blue is a almost naivee 19 years old guy, where Derek is a 30 years old man with a very long lived past. I think Blue's uncertainity is very understandable, and also Derek's reaction at first is so: he doesn't want to share Blue, let alone leave him go. So what can he do to keep the boy with him?

As I said "Close to me" is more romance than yaoi. The seme/uke relationship is less strong and also the master/pet ones. Blue is growing, and doing that he is shortining the distance between him and Derek, if not in age for sure in experience. But Blue is a clever guy and he knows how to do it right. Still it's tender to see him act like the teenager he is, sharing a kiss while eating an icepop.

I also have to make my compliments to Katrina Strauss to have written a menage that it's not really a true ones, since the main couple maintains its integrity and closeness, and above all a menage that I, who don't like this type of relationship, have read with pleasure and also enjoyed.

http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=707

Amazon Kindle: Close to Me (Blue Ruin 2) by Katrina Strauss

Series: Blue Ruin
1) Some Kind of Stranger: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/221831.html
2) Close to Me

Waiting Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=waiting+reading+list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by P.L. Nunn