Where the Past and Present Collide With Faith by Candice Sue Patterson

When I began seriously pursuing publication seven years ago one of the first things I was told was that every author needed a brand, a punchline that tells readers what to expect about their books. I fretted over this for some time, as I wasn’t really sure what overall theme my books would contain. A few titles later I settled into it: Modern-Vintage Romance—where the past and present collide with faith. Since I write contemporary romance with threads of nostalgia weaved in, it fit. 

 

 

 

Then last year I let one of my critique partners talk me into joining her and five others in a proposal to Barbour Publishers for a collection of historical romances involving Great Lakes Lighthouses. But I write contemporary, I thought. Writing a historical is intimidating, I thought. When will I ever have time for all that research, I thought. But we’ve been critique partners long enough that she knows I love a challenge, so she dangled the idea in front of me like bait. (Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration.) 

Was it intimidating? To me, yes. 

Did it require a lot of research? Absolutely. 

And I loved it! 

My first historical, Beneath a Michigan Moon, is part of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection that released November 1st. As an author of both contemporary and historical romance, I wanted to share some of the challenges I faced writing in two different time periods. 

First, you need to understand that I was doing extensive edits to my contracted contemporary novel How to Stir a Baker’s Heart (book #2 in my Cadence of Acadia series) while I was writing the first draft of Michigan Moon, while plotting my next contemporary series. 

(Conclusion: I’m crazy.) 

Challenge #1: The Romance Trope 

I’ve always wanted to write a marriage of convenience story. I love the tension it creates between characters and that fact that their relationship blossoms into real love through their daily journey together. This is easy enough to write in a historical because it was common for people to marry for necessity back then. Mail order brides, widows without family and no means of caring for themselves, arranged marriages, etc. Writing this trope in a contemporary, however, isn’t as easy. So when I started writing a new series set in South Dakota using this trope, I had to get creative. Gmail took the place of the postal service for word that the hero was looking for a bride. Both the hero and heroine enter into an agreement needing what the other is offering. And it all plays out on prime time television. While the director continually throws in surprise after grueling surprise. 

Challenge #2: Communication 

Nowadays, we have many ways to communicate. So in my contemporary romance How to Stir a Baker’s Heart, the hero and heroine chat through text, cellphone, email, and face-to-face. At times, the technology doesn’t work the way it should (especially along the coast of Maine where the book is set) and it causes issues. 

In Michigan Moon, it was much harder to get messages back and forth. When the heroine (light keeper at New Presque Isle Lighthouse on Lake Huron) starts to run low on supplies, she receives a telegram that the supply train derailed, and she’ll have to ration what she has until another shipment can be sent out. This accident happened days before, so had there been faster modes of communication on all sides she would’ve been able to ration sooner, keeping her from having to rob old supplies left in a nearby abandoned lighthouse. But it worked to my advantage because this scene turned out to be a pivotal moment for the hero and heroine. 

Challenge #3: Clothing

I’m familiar with today’s styles: midi-dresses, skinny jeans, joggers, flyaway cardigans...you get the idea. I dress my contemporary characters accordingly. However, I was fairly ignorant of the terms for historical items: reticules, chemises, chignons, frock coats. Historical romance is my favorite genre to read, so where I’d heard those terms before I had no idea what era they fell in, or what items were layered over what. This took extensive research both online and books from my public library. I didn’t want to receive any bad reviews simply because my timeline was off. 

Will I continue writing historical romance? I’d like to. I think being hybrid would keep me on my toes, help keep my writing fresh. I enjoy taking modern themes and fitting them into an old-fashioned world. Just like I enjoy taking contemporary settings and lacing history into the plot. 

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection featuring Beneath a Michigan Moon is available now in print and eBook at all major online retailers. Amazon Buy Link

Look for How to Stir a Baker’s Heart, releasing April 2019 from Pelican Book Group. 

To keep up to date on my latest news you can find me on Facebook as Candice Sue Patterson-Author or visit my website at www.candicesuepatterson.com 

Why Back Cover Copy Shouldn't Be Your Last Priority By Nichole Parks

Let me tell you. The best part of my job as Marketing Coordinator is back cover copy. And the worst part of my job? Yeah. *wrinkles nose* That would be back cover copy too.

 

You see, I go through life loving the stuffing out of back cover copy.

 

To me, it’s not just a summary. It’s not just long story short. It’s like a whispered secret you can’t quite catch the last of. You’re intrigued. You’ve got to know more. So you open to that first page. And cha-ching! Congratulations, my friend. You’ve just made a sale, and potentially a loyal reader.

 

My poor co-workers—they had such a hard time understanding my obsession.

 

That is, until I explained.

 

It’s your chance to engage the reader before he/she even opens to the first page. Take, for example, the copy written for Julie Lessman’s Christmas novella.

Accidents happen, and then there’s Grace . . .

 

Pastor Cole McCabe isn’t sure he’ll survive the holidays with his new housekeeper and nanny. She’s dyed his long johns pink and scorched nearly everything she cooks—even catching fire to the kitchen. But he’s desperate, and she’s as destitute as they come.

 

Though she’s no good with her hands, Grace sure has a way with her heart. She’s brought a warmth into Cole’s home, added color to his daughters’ lives, and broken down the wall he’s built up since his beloved wife died.

 

When Grace’s past threatens his family, they have one chance to celebrate Christmas together at home . . . if Grace hasn’t burned it down by then.

 

It will impress an agent and publisher and reader. Not everyone is going to share your story with the same enthusiasm. Not everyone will have reader your whole book. But if you have an entertaining and captivating back cover blurb, your passion for the story will shine through.

 

Casey Demchack has some great insight on this in his article 7 Secrets to Writing Persuasive Back Cover Sales Copy. 

 

It’s fun.

 

As you can see from the alternative taglines for The Gift of Grace below, the brainstorming process can be full of kicks and giggles. 

 

She’s the accident to his prayers.

Grace has been good all year, but she’s still getting Cole for Christmas.

He might need saving from his saving Grace…

 

Don’t be afraid to let your imagination run ridiculous. Follow those rabbit trails. You never know when one might land you in Wonderland. Of course, if you need a Mad Hatter to guide you, check out my back cover copy services over at Marketing15.

 

Nichole Parks (not to be mistaken for Nicholas Sparks) packs a punch as Marketing Coordinator for Gilead Publishing. Her fingerprints are all over the covers of their latest books. When she’s not cuffed to her inbox, Nichole evades blind dates and loves on her latest dark humor manuscript. Always with a flair for the traumatic… Stalk her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram.