Steeple Hill Cafe: Life, Faith, and Getting it Right

I just wanted to post here in case anyone is hanging around this Cafe thread.  Anyone have any thoughts for new Cafe ideas for 2008?

Janet

Dearm --

I love sisterhood books too (obviously),  Wondering what age people prefer.  I know in my Dropped Stitches books I've gone on the young side (early 20s) -- wondering if the early 30's is better???  After I finish my historicals, it's time to think of what I want to propose as a new series so I'm actively thinking.

Janet

Kara --  LOL --I don't know if it counts for keeping a secret when you've forgotten allabout it (but I'm getting to the age where I should find out)!

I agree that it is wonderful that Steeple Hill has such variety -- I am working on my historical now and loving it. I haven't tried a suspense and not sure if I will although I do have some ideas for a cozy mystery that I'd love to try some time.  Like you, my hat is off to those who do the fast-paced suspense.

Glad you found the new site and posted.  We all need to spread out again.

Janet

Hope and Mom --

Thanks for the prayers regarding what I should do for my next series.  I have a story idea, but not sure if I should do it as a Cafe or a straight-forward one.  When I get done with my historical, I'll have to decide.  Maybe by then I'll have a clearer picture of what would work better.

Janet

I picked up the February Cafe release today at Barnes and Noble. (Front Porch Promises by Kathryn Springer)  Of course there is nothing about it on the eharlequin site.  Now that I've become a regular Steeple Hill Cafe reader I'm frustrated by the lack of information about upcoming books.  Anyone know why this is?  You can see the next month's offerings for every other line as far as I know.  Why not Steeple Hill Cafe?

Kara 

One, I will definitely pass on the comment about upcoming books. You're right, it would be nice to have them in an easy to find place. Right now, we do have an area on the main bookstore page where you can click on the link and find all the upcoming books, but it doesn't give detail.

Two, I received Kathryn's book in the mail a while back. Maybe last week, I think, as part of my LI subscription. It is not a reissue, but a brand-new book, called Picket Fence Promises. Front Porch Princess was her first book.  It sounds really good. You can take a peek on Kathryn's website.

Anyway, hope that helps, and I will defiitely let the PTB know that we need some cafe previews! 

Kara Lynn -- I'd love to read your short story.  How do I get to your website?

thanks.

Janet

Kara --

 I read your Valentine's Day story and loved it!  You have great characters.

Janet

It's delightful!  Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

I am late to this thread (haven't been to the site in months, just came back last week) and didn't realize there was this line of books.  I just ordered all the LIH books (eight total) and may just have to use some of my next paycheck on the cafe' books!  LOL

Thanks, Janet, for the info!  I am learning so much here lately that it's hard to contain my excitement!

Hope -- Have you seen the Dropped Stitches Heart contest?  Dream has the link on her signature line.  It's something marketing thought up and I think it sounds like lots of fun.

Janet

I entered that contest and forgot.  Went to enter it yesterday and it said I already did it.  LOL  My mind is gone.....

I went looking at the posts and it said it's been 6 weeks since anyone has posted in this thread.  I couldn't let that go by! 

I'm over 10K words into my own chick lit.  I'm hoping that my h will inspire me.  I figure the more hot water I can get her into, the funnier it will be.  (I hope.)  She's just met the H and thinks he's really cute.  (She thought he was cute before she met him. It was mutual.)  There's so much I can put in their way to make life difficult for them.  Things like ex-fiances and ex-girlfriends, for example...

Anybody else working on a chick lit at the moment?  I'm looking forward to the next Dropped Stitches book, for example...

I think there is such a variety available in chick lit.  You don't know whether what you're writing will fly until someone reads it.  My mom likes my chick lit, but she's hardly an unbiased audience!    I think my writing style in chick lit is a bit like Allie Pleiter's... 

Syndi, that's such a great distinction. Because honestly, *checking around to duck for potential flying objects*, I don't much like chick lit. I LOVE romantic comedy. So I often read chick lit for my funny fix, but I'd pick up a romantic comedy over a chick lit any day.

Sadly, Hope, I don't have that much influence with the editors.

However, here's my thought on how to handle it... write it. If it's set in the 30's, it'll end up being under the historical imprint anyway.

The thing I've learned about romantic comedy, because I am SUCH a fan, is that it can cross all lines. Ginny Aiken, for example, is hysterically funny and she writes suspense. Debra Clopton is also another funny bone tickler, and she writes for Love Inspired.  The Cafe books generally bring on a good laugh, and yet, they often touch on some serious subjects.

Harlequin in general has had some romantic comedy lines (which I loved), but apparently the general public didn't share my love, since they didn't last.

And if I may be so bold, I think the thing you need to focus on is your voice. Write the story that shows off your voice. As much as I love suspense, and probably read more of that than anything else, I do not have a suspense voice. I'm the person who always ruins the surprise at a surprise party by jumping out thirty seconds too early. Regarding my love of comedy, again, my idea of funny ends up falling flat for anyone else. So rather than trying to write something I'm not, I write the way my voice takes me. It takes a lot of time and practice to get there, but somehow, you need to figure out how to be the best you that you can be. That's what makes some of my favorite authors so good. 

Anyway, that's my take... 

...I wanted more activity on this thread, but I didn't intend to do most of it myself!   (I can't find a "delete post" button for extra posts, so I'm doing this instead.)

...but it's making Mom laugh, and when I go back through the earlier chapters, it's making ME laugh, too.  It's coming out first person, so I don't know about putting in the H's voice, but...I'll wait and see what happens.   Who knows, the H may hijack the keyboard and start talking!    I could turn it into a standard third-person, but I don't see how.  This heroine has such a definite voice.  She's an artist.  She plays the guitar.  She loves the Lord.  And her life is a total mess! 

Thanks for telling me to concentrate on my voice.  I think it comes out differently for different stories.  This one, the LIC target, is wacky.  The one that my cp is vetting, isn't, but it has some humorous moments.  The Regency is...a Regency.  A classic, traditional Regency.  The western is...  I'm not sure if I have one particular voice...Maybe I'm just a chameleon.  (Can that be a good thing, or should I have a different pseudonym for each voice??)  Thanks so much for your input on this, Dream.  I appreciate it!!!  I know that getting a readership depends a lot on voice.  I remember one writer who could churn out 30,000 words a day (bless him!), who wrote under several pseudonyms, one for each category, simply to avoid confusion for the readers as well as for income tax purposes, I think it was.  I read his book on writing.  It was inspiring.  Wish I could write that fast.  Right now, I'm just concentrating on writing what's working, as well as doing the minor revisions my cp is suggesting. 

I LOVE Ginny Aiken and Debra Clopton's humor!  I always laugh through their books.  They're delightful.  In fact, I already have my eye on the new Mule Hollow book!  (I'm thinking, Mom's birthday next month...)

Thinking back, of course, Janet writes Cafes and LIs, and has a different voice for both, so maybe I wouldn't need to use a pseudonym......  I'm ---

Whoops, it posted before I was ready.  I was going to say I asked for the new Dropped Stitches book as a prize for winning Squirl's May story starter.    And I'll take it posting before I was ready (and reposting multiple times! ) as a clue to be quiet now.........

Hmmm.  In fact, I have to think about that in relation to my H in this book.......  He's not wounded.  He isn't perfect, but maybe he needs a few more flaws, aside from the stalker girlfriend...(NOT the h! LOL).  I need to get to know him a little better.  Unlike my other mss, the h is pretty much writing this herself.  I have a general direction the story is going, but the ex-fiance showed up and surprised me at one point...(and what a piece of work he is)!

Actually, that's not a bad idea for a future novel.  The stalker who doesn't know she's a stalker, but is obsessed with this one guy, and then happens to meet the other guy---  Maybe he's the police officer who hands her the restraining order!    That could be really funny!  (Especially if someone was semi-stalking her, like the H.......)  We could call it Prey for Romance.  LOL

~~~that could make another good Christian vampire romance, too. 

I'm glad you like the title, Janet.  I love making up titles. 

Dream, Mom says it's ice cream, and I say it's that and Charlaine Harris!   (Mom doesn't read the vampire series, but I can't seem to stop.  Mom reads all her other series, but draws the line at the undead.) 

The working title I have for my current wip LIC is just delicious, but I can't share it yet.....  (Titles aren't copyrightable, and this one just has to be for my book.  I trust our friends here, but anybody can read these boards!)  I'll try to finish the book soon and sell it so you can know.  It's my Writing Goal by September book. 

I'll be happy to title-storm with you when the time comes, Synner!  I title-stormed with Squirl back awhile (though not the last time she sent out an SOS, alas  ---just too much going on).  It's lots of fun. 

Hi everyone,

I'm really excited about this summer's line-up at Steeple Hill.  Many of my favorite authors have books coming out, including Janet Tronstad, Allie Pleiter, Judy Baer, and Susan May Warren.  I also want to read Killer Cargo by Dana Mentink.  She's new to Steeple Hill, but I read her first release from a small press, Pi and the Fabulosa (Slightly Married) Twenty Four Hour Man, and it was hilarious.  Killer Cargo is in the LI Suspense line, so I don't know how much humor is in it.  Can't wait to find out.

So what is everyone else reading this summer? 

 Kara