Karen Templeton is the author of seven Silhouette Special Editions, including April 2008 release Baby, I’m Yours. She has also written for Red Dress Ink and Silhouette Intimate Moments. Among her fans, she can count Sybil and Book Binger Holly. You can see Holly’s Guest reviews here and here. Read on to find out what makes writing for SSE so satisfying.
Real People. Real Life. Real Love.
(or why I write for Silhouette Special Edition)
As a romance author trying to stay in the game in the early twenty-first century, I’m definitely an odd duck. Why? Because I like writing stories about real people finding love in a real world – you know, the one where most of us live?
I’m thinking anyone who hasn’t been hiding out in a cave – alone, with no text messaging capabilities – knows how much drama there is in the average human experience. That scoring happily-ever-after is challenging enough without adding fangs and fur and murder-most-foul to the mix. But for those of us who love to write – and read – these stories (which my grown niece once described as “You know, stories about normal people, where stuff gets messed up, then fixed!”) finding a fang-and-murder-free contemporary romance these days can be problematic. Especially since single title straight contemporary romances aren’t exactly thick on the ground.
However…mosey on over to the category romance racks, and…ta-da! Real people! Real life! Real romance! Not in every line, granted, but in Superromance, Harlequin American and and Romance and Silhouette Special Edition…yep. There they be. Sure, the books may be short reads, but short doesn’t necessarily mean shallow, or that characterization and emotion have been given short shrift – or even that story itself has been sacrificed. Instead, one of the great things about writing for SSE is that I can really focus on the characters’ growth throughout the story, and consequently the developing romance.
Good things in small packages, yaddayadda.
What especially fires my jets about being an SSE author is that there’s virtually no limit on the kinds of characters I can write about – especially the heroes. Betas, blue-collars, guys-next-door…SSE says, “Bring ‘em on.” Which I love, because, you know, what makes a man heroic has nothing to do with his social status or Dun and Bradstreet rating and everything to do with the kind of man he is. The Greek root for “hero” means “sacrifice,” something I keep in mind as I’m developing my guys: It’s not what they have, it’s what they’re willing to give up, that defines their manhood.
That’s not to say I haven’t written my share of rich dudes – Grant Braeburn in Dear Santa, for instance, is a hedge fund manager who describes himself as “insanely wealthy.” Blake Carter (Marriage, Interrupted) and Troy Lindquist (Pride and Pregnancy) are partners in a frozen desserts empire. IOW, they ain’t hurtin’. But my fave characters are those average joes who’re just trying to get by, like their counterparts in real life. Some more than others – Kevin Vaccaro (Baby, I’m Yours) is a recovering substance abuser who, at the beginning of the story, has virtually nothing he can call his own – no job, no home, no bank account – except his recently discovered baby daughter. Hero material?
A man who has to get his rear in gear, like yesterday, to prove – to himself, mostly – that’s he’s worthy of fatherhood?
You betcha.
At the same time, even my well-off heroes are, well, pretty normal. (Most of them, anyway. The aforementioned Grant does have his issues.) Many didn’t start out life rich: they’ve worked their butts off to earn their wealth, and having money hasn’t changed their core personalities or values. They’ll just…men. Okay, maybe not just men, they are romance heroes after all, they’re sexy as hell. Still. These are guys I could actually have a conversation with and not feel weird and self-conscious around. Once I got past that whole sexy-as-hell thing, at least.
But my point is…at heart, SSE is a great place to find stories about real people dealing with real-life situations, stories about family and friends and kids and, yes, babies, because that’s what life is for a lot of readers. That’s not to say those who prefer more escapist category reads won’t find plenty of sheiks and princes and such – another great thing about SSE is the variety within the line, in character types, tones and sensuality level – but when you’ve got a yen to explore romance from a more down-to-earth angle…
Step right this way… 😉
Real people, dealing with real life. Yup, that’s it. (Did I mention that I have Baby, I’m yours near the top of the TBR mountain? I did? well, ’tis true 😉 )
Azteclady, I wish you’d just read it already. LOL
Karen,
I just wanted to step in and agree with you. Your stories are written about real people, who deal with real issues. It’s very refreshing! 🙂
I know, I know… *biting nails*
Karen, I have enjoyed several of your books and now and have Yours, Mine or Ours on my PDA waiting TBR. You succeed very well at giving us variety and emotion in your writing. I’m starting to read more SSEs all the time.
Aw, thanks, y’all. 🙂 Azteclady and Phyl — I hope you enjoy BIY and YMOO!
I’ve always been fascinated by the ins-and-outs of plain old human interaction and emotion, so it just makes sense to concentrate on that in my books. My stories are always about who the people are, what made them that way and why they do what they do — and plot grows out of that.
Even if I’m reading fantasy (and by that, I mean storylines that are very far removed from ordinary life), if the characters aren’t relatable, I lose interest. That’s one reason I loved Harry Potter so much — Rowling still made her witches and wizards and giants so human, baggage and all.
I just do it without the wands and stuff. 😉
I have to say the titles of category romances can be so cringe worthy that I usually just pass right by them without a second glance. Now that Sybil and Holly have been pimping your books I am rethinking my first impression, after all you should never judge a book by it’s cover (or title, as the case may be).
Hmmm…maybe I should’ve made that the subject of my post — Don’t Judge Us By Our Titles! (or something.)
But we’ve gotta go with what sells, doncha know. (Cringeworthiness aside!)
I do try to come up with a title both marketing and I can live with (hey, I nixed FIVE CHILDREN, ONE VIRGIN many years ago — I do have my standards, LOL!), but subtle/evocative doesn’t work in category, I’m afraid. When you’ve got 1.5 seconds to grab a reader’s attention as she whizzes by in Walmart, those hooks really do make a difference.
And for the most part, I love my SSE covers, which actually fit the stories (as opposed to most of my SIM covers, which didn’t. At all.).
So, progress, yes? 😉
Strangely, the titles often make me not buy certain books. My mother and I like to stand at the end of the aisle in Target (where they put the Harlequins) and hold a contest for the worst title.
You definitely make the SSE line sound good. Maybe I’ll go pick some up from Half-Price.
Hey the titles often let you know right off whether or not for you.
The thing I like about SSEs is that the focus is on the emotional journey, so they tend to contain plenty of romance development and character development in. Otherwise the content is wide open, so there’s a lot of variety.
I love this line. I’ve read some mediocre ones, but they tend to be very quick, compelling reads. Secret babies and all…
Alright, I got the first three books in the series that Holly and Sybil have been going on and on about…I can’t wait to dig in, I already know I’m going to love them since I love everything Holly pimps so THANKS SYBIL!!!
And great post, Karen, it was your post that made me stop dragging my ass and just buy them already…tis bought and will be read as soon as i’m done with the book I’m reading right now.
=)
Oh, gawd, Rowena — the pressure, the pressure, LOL.
Thanks so much, though. Hope you enjoy them. 😉
Rowena! I’m reading an SSE with a Polynesian heroine! You were looking for Polynesian characters in romance, no? It’s Daddy on Call by Judy Duarte. Once I get it read and reviewed I’ll send it to you if you want.
Azteclady just read it, you can agree with Holly and I now or later… 😉
Phyl, who all are you reading? Karen’s series before this one Babies Inc (Baby Steps, The Prodigal Valentine, and Pride and Pregnancy) was great too. Not AS great this one (and uh more babies *g*). But I am always looking for more! And Karen has a huge back list as does SSE.
Karen,
Wow – I’m so glad I checked back here today! Recently I’ve been craving some “real people” books, and now I know just where to find them! Believe you me, haha, I know how much drama people have. I’m in grad/professional school, and the way I describe it, is that I’m in high school, with alcohol.
I think it’s great that you take all types of people and turn them into heroes. So many people have such interesting stories, and I love the SSE line!
Lets see. I’ve read a few by Susan Mallery, although not her 2 most recent–those are still TBR. Not too long ago I read “The Other Sister” by Lynda Sandoval and really liked it. The sequels to that one are on my PDA. I know I’ve read a few others, but authors/titles aren’t coming to mind.
Definitely not shallow … I loved your Yours, Mine .. or Ours? and Dear Santa.
At times the titles are cringe-worthy but I take to reading the back of the book for a description or I know some authors like you will give me a great story and I don’t worry about the title.
I do love your Guys & Daughters and can’t wait for the last book in the trilogy.
I have heard great things about these titles. I think I need to add them to the TBB list.
I’ve never read any SSEs. What else am I missing out on?
Hey Devon,
I’d totally love to read that book when you get a chance to send it my way, thanks so much!
Karen,
.
Thanks again, I’m looking forward to reading your books