I’ve been thinking about Hooks. I don’t mean pirates! Or that hook the top of a dress, the one that is so hard to fasten. I mean those story conventions popular in Romance. You know, things like Secret Baby, Forbidden Love, Fish Out of Water. (or Woman in Jeopardy, a popular Victoria Holt plot)
When I first started writing and I was targeting the Harlequin and Silhouette contemporary lines, I had an interview with a Harlequin editor at one of my first romance conferences. She asked me, “What is your marketing hook?”
I didn’t have a clue what she meant.
I know now she was asking me what classic romance plot was I using.
Now, many years later I’ve learned to appreciate “hooks.” Hooks are classic because they have a timeless appeal. Because I’ve just turned in Book 3 of my Three Soldiers Series (a Reunion story) and need to start a new book, I’ve been thinking about hooks. Which one should I use in the next book?
One classic plot I’ve used before is Marriage of Convenience. In this plot, the hero and heroine must marry for some reason other than love. I’ve used this one in The Mysterious Miss M, The Wagering Widow, and Scandalizing the Ton. Scandalizing the Ton also has a Secret Baby plot. The Vanishing Viscountess has a Fish Out Of Water plot.
Help me make my choice of hooks for the next book. What are some of your favorite romance plots? Which ones do you think work best in Regency romance? (Here’s a great list to help you) Help me with my Hook!
I’m starting a new Diane’s Blog contest. The prize is a signed copy of Wicked Regency Nights, the UK anthology that includes my The Unlacing of Miss Leigh. Just comment between now and Sept 13 to enter. I’ll announce the winners on Sept 14.
And next Sunday Michelle Willingham and I going to be talking about our new September releases! (and giving away signed copies) on Risky Regencies. And on Monday, we’ll be dishing about Male on Monday at the Pink Heart Society.
Because…Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress is due in bookstores on (or before) Sept 1!
I love a good beauty and the beast story. And the revenge plot is always good for some great conflict and some great twists and turns!
Beauty and the Beast…Me, too…think Gerard Butler’s Phantom of the Opera!
I’m going to go with opposites attract – more exciting than say best friends. Bad boy/good girl is always full of good conflict too. I’m guessing I am attracted to these stories because I married the bad boy who is the opposite of me lol.
Oooo! A bad boy, eh??? what fun. I married a bad boy wanna be, but inside he’s really a teddy bear.
I forgot to say (still thinking about that bad boy husband of yours!)… Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress is an example of opposites attract. Or maybe it’s good boy/bad girl, except Marian isn’t bad. She’s just rebellious.
I love ugly duckling turned swan… guy never notices until she makes some kind of change…
Oh, I love this, too, Colleen. I used this in The Wagering Widow.
That’s something else that can really work in romance–combine two or more of the classic plots!
I love beauty and the beast as well. I also like the Scarlet Pimpernel type and those that have been friends for a long time but something happens to change their perspective of each other.
I love the Scarlet Pimpernel plot, too, Judy, where one character must pretend to be someone they are not and it affects the romantic relationship.
I like the mistaken identity, marriage of convenience plots. Tracy Anne Warren The Husband Trap was both and I loved it.
Tracy made a big splash with The Husband Trap!! When you can combine these plots well, readers really love them.
Ooooh! I like so many of the romance plots listed. My favorites would probably be opposites attract, stranded, marriage of convenience, and bad boy/good girl. I also like an ugly duckling plot combined with mentor/protege like My Fair Lady.
How soon will you start working on the next book?
Looking forward to seeing CC/RM turn up in the stores!
Mary, what a nice question to ask me. Book 3 in the Soldiers Series–Gabriel’s Story–is finished and turned in (just last Monday) and next I’m writing my Diamonds of Welbourne Manor-connected story, Leo’s story, which I think is going to be a bad boy story. It is started in my head, but I haven’t yet decided on a heroine worthy of him.
I’m also toying with a Harlequin Historical Undone
I really like Beauty and the Beast. Don’t we all wish to be loved for who we are instead of what we look like.
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Marriage of convenience turns to love is also great. Learning to love someone you didn’t think too much of at first but then gradually seeing how special they are is wonderful.
I don’t disagree with either of those!! And for the reasons you state.
I am fascinated “connected” characters where they either appear in separate books or sometimes in the same book. Have you ever written a book and then later come up with a character who is a perfect match of foil for that character? Have you ever read to “unconnected” books by the same author and said to yourself “those two belong together” for better or worse. That’s what I’m talking about. It’s the same when you have a friend (or a son or daughter) and meet someone and think to yourself – these two people need to meet. I think we all know someone or have someone in our family that has felt that connection themselfs.
Oh, Jeanne, I can so see that happening! It hasn’t happened to me, though.
What did happen in my first series of books, was that some secondary character emerged as the perfect person for the next story. Sometimes I knew right away, but other times I didn’t know until the book was over.
My favorite plot lines, hooks if you will, are The Beauty And The Beast and Cinderella (rags to riches). The first is my all time favorite and I have read so many wonderful variations of it. Both work quite well in a Regency setting.
You have lots of great stuff coming up. I look forward to Sunday’s session and Michelle’s co-post.
I checked out the Pink Heart Society site. Some interesting posts.
Good luck with the release of CHIVALROUS CAPTAIN, REBEL MISTRESS. I’m sure it will do great