"We're Not Presents" with Desire Editor Diana Ventimiglia

Dee, I had to laugh when I saw your line about Desire not being the "American Harlequin Presents."  My VERY all-American husband always teases me about the locations when he catches Presents titles in my reading stack -- he keeps saying he knows I'm going to run off with a Greek tycoon or an Australian magnate!!  He's perfectly unruffled when he sees Desires in the stack!

My question for Diana is:  what locales do you/do you not prefer to see in Desire manuscripts? 

I've enjoyed several Desires based in the American West (Texas ranches, etc.) and several based in big cities -- what locations are most popular?

Okay, I'll admit it, I have Desire synopsis I'm tinkering with -- funny, Desire was the first line I ever submitted to (20 years ago -- got a request for a full which was rejected for having too much sex, LOL -- Blaze author in training, I guess...), but I had an impulse and started writing it up, because Desires, being Blaze's passion cousin, really hit me as fun. I also like shorter formats, which I discovered with my upcoming anthology story.

Anyway, here's my thought on my hero, and I wonder if it's on base. He's wealthy, he's powerful, he's definitely alpha (he's also American) --to the heroine, he's coming off like a bit of a bastard, given their situation, but for the reader, we learn why he's acting the way he is, and it's actually showing his heroic nature, though obviously he has some growth moments ahead of him...and they have to find their way to each other, past the given obstacles.

I guess that's how I was separating out the Desire hero from the Presents hero -- to me, the Desire hero remains heroic perhaps, in a more visible way, where the Presents guys really can be full-on alpha hard-cases, they have a sharper learning curve, so to speak, than the Desire guy?

A:There has definitely been a shift in the Desire hero.  He is powerful, rich, and alpha.  As Sam said, the readers are more in tune with the hero's reservations.  Although he is out for revenge or has a 'what i want i get attitude' he has a past that has made him the way he is today.  And readers know it! Although he may not be soft on the outside, he is vulnerable on the inside, and readers get a chance to see moments of this throughout the story.  He isn't ruthless all the time.  We get to see his defenses fall as he learns to be a father, or sees his assistant in a new light.  These are some examples of what sets the Desire hero apart from the Presents hero. 

Dee, I had to laugh when I saw your line about Desire not being the "American Harlequin Presents."  My VERY all-American husband always teases me about the locations when he catches Presents titles in my reading stack -- he keeps saying he knows I'm going to run off with a Greek tycoon or an Australian magnate!!  He's perfectly unruffled when he sees Desires in the stack!

My question for Diana is:  what locales do you/do you not prefer to see in Desire manuscripts? 

I've enjoyed several Desires based in the American West (Texas ranches, etc.) and several based in big cities -- what locations are most popular?

A: I wouldn't say there's one specific location I'd prefer to see, but I can say that there has been an increase in Sheik books/settings.  I'd like to see more of these, as well as more royals and rags-to-riches type stories.  And I certainly enjoy my Westerns too  As long as the hero owns the ranch, not just works there.  There has also been an increase in international settings.  However, the stories don't always take place in that one exotic location.  There's often traveling back and forth between the U.S.

It's good to know my instincts about my hero are on target -- this is all very helpful. Thanks for coming by!

Sam

and adding a bit of my own:

What about tone and voice?  I've always been under the impression that Blaze can go a little more chicklit whereas Desire has more of the traditional romantic voice.  My stories are often written in a zany voice, which I don't think would fly with Desire, which seems to be more...serious, or something.  So while my character profiles might fit with Desire, alas, I fear I'm too funny for them.

Hi Diana.
I can't wait to get you and Wanda Ottewell together in Georgia at Moonlight and Magnolias. Warning: some of your authors have plans to make sure you have a good time.

 To me Desire heroes are a little more approachable than their Presents counterparts--even when they are not American guys. I love the men, money, power line that MJ throws out. They still have that sense of entitlement and they're certainly...shall we say confident to be polite? But there are redeeming characteristics that pull them back from being total jerks.

In other words, they can be idiots (can't all men?) if I understand WHY they're acting that way.

Emilie

Hi there, great discussion! I have to admit straight off that I'm more of a presents girl, always have been, always will, although I have read Desires and liked them. I think you can tell the disparity in the two lines, Desire and Presents straight off. Which has to be good thing. Readers are always going to love one line or another, or both and pick up different things from both or either. You have to love the choice that we can offer readers. And long live the alpha male in all his subtle variations.

I for one certainly can't stand a motiveless hero who is one dimensional, it takes real skill (which I'm still a long way away from possessing) to create a character a reader can fall in love with (and the heroine too hopefully ), despite his flaws, knowing that his actions will be justified before the end. I've always been a total sucker for that deep dark intensity between a very alpha male and his heroine. Watching her stand up to him and ultimately make him see that he can soften. Or vice versa, is it my imagination or are heroines turning the tables more and more, giving the hero the chance to soften their edges a bit?!

I've got a question: In Desires would there be much scope for a twist say on a revenge theme, to have the heroine be the one seeking vengeance and in doing so, take the kind of journey that perhaps is more traditionally the hero's journey?

Thanks! 

x Daisy - Abby Green 

Thank you for all the warm welcomes!! Especially from Yvonne, Emilie, and Maxine  It's always nice to get some hellos from the authors! And as you can see I've added a pic, although I am horrible at cropping and this is the best that I have at the moment

Back to Desire! Everyone seems right on regarding their comments on Desire and Presents.  As Emilie put it, Desire heroes have redeeming characteristics that keep them from being total jerks (if only all men ) Readers get to see the hero's soft side.  He will marry you for the heir, but will take care of you...and be nurturing at times.  He's out for revenge, but can feel for your situation as well.  His vulnerabilities are a little more upfront that with a Presents.

As for humor...Maureen and Emily are great examples of what we're looking for in Desires.  We aren't chick lit, and therefore don't want to delve too much into comedy.  But a few one liners definitely lighten the mood and, I think, make the characters more likeable.

To answer Abby's question regarding the heroine's journey...traditionally we like to keep the hero's journey at the forefront.  Although the heroine can have her moments of clarity, it is ultimately the hero who is changed by the woman.  But I'd certainly be interested in reading your take!

Looking forward to jumping in again a little later!!

i love the tone of Desire, and love Robyn Grady's recent desire.  I can't wait to read more this week.

These are all great questions!

When thinking of sensuality, I try to tell authors that most importantly there are no profanities or slang words.  We're below Blaze on the sizzle scale, so if you're familiar with the line you will have a good idea as to what we don't include.  Sexy and tasteful is the best route.

The most common problem I find with slush is that authors haven't done their research.  I'll get proposals for a lovely story that would have fit Desire 3 or 4 years ago.  I think authors have a tendancy to play down the conflict and alphaness of their heroes because they are fearful to complicate things.  Desire is very conflict driven, and the more layers the better! There's nothing like learning you married the twin sister of the woman you slept with years ago!

With that, what I love to see, and would be thrilled to see with the pitch are stories with conflict and drama. There needs to be more than just their emotional reservations keeping them apart.  I'm expecially excited about authors who have a potential series. We really like our authors to put out multiple books in the year, so seeing someone who already has something like that in the works is very appealing. 

Trish said:

And to me, the difference in the heroes in the respective lines is not so  much in the motivation (because let's face it, without motivation a hero isn't a  hero - he has to have motivation and good motivation for acting the way he does, whether he's wearing a Red Desire jacket or a white Presents one. Otherwise he's no hero at all. Utter jerks need not apply  ) 

So maybe the difference in the lines is in the telling? Is that motivation more up front with Desire? I'm not sure. I'm convinced that Presents is more the hero's journey into this relationship though, whereas Desire more the heroine's.

 

I agree with Trish in that a hero most certainly isn't a hero without the *right* motivation. If his goal is to turn a whole township out of their houses because he's motivated by money and greed then he's sure no hero for me.  It's all about revealing his motivation e.g. his entire family was wiped out by some lung disease caused by rising damp and he's determined to prevent anyone else suffering the way they did, hence why he wants to relocate everyone whether they see him as a money grubbing land developer or not.

Overall, I think there's more of an edge to a Presents hero than there is to a Desire one, so again I agree with Trish that perhaps the Desire hero's motivation may be more up front (at least to the reader.) The tone of the two lines is quite different, but the passion no less enthralling.

One reader's jerk can be another reader's swoon material. Often it comes down to how we, as a reader, identify with the characters in the story. If you see a glimmer of characteristics in a hero which remind you of something that was unhappy or unpleasant in your life, you'll be predisposed to not liking that hero. (And that can work against a Beta type hero just as easily as it does an Alpha e.g. the guy who wouldn't speak up or wouldn't react to a situation. Unless you understand the 'why' you're not going to like him.) But I would hope, whether you're reading Desire or Presents, that you'd read on to find the true hero behind the story.

Either way, I love to read a well crafted story with a great romance and deeply satisfying conclusion.

Jumping in with a question on electronic content:

With the success of e-books, will Sihouette be considering creating a "Desire Briefs" type concept, along the lines of Spice Briefs and Nocturne Bites?

If you are at RT, hope you are having fun!  I'm saving myself for RWA Nationals this summer, and am envious of everyone lucky enough to be at RT this week!     

Hi Diana,

Coming in late to say hello and thank you for an informative discussion.

 Perfect timing now that I'm back into my revisions. Watch for my envelope! 

 All the best

Elvina Payet

 (waving hello to Maxine, Trish, Yvonne and everyone else).

Thanks, Diana! I appreciate your help.

I have two potential idea for desire trilogies - one involving brothers, the other best friends. One is in first draft mode and will need some serious editing before I submit, the second is a new idea I had on the way to work  - so I will have to start from scratch. I'm trying to decide which would make the stronger desire novel and enter it into the pitch contest. Your answers have provided a lot of insight.

Now more 'behind the scenes' type questions:

How many editors work on the desire line? How many authors are assigned to each editor? Do you personally work with all the desire authors? (Authors feel free to chime in if you know the answer.)

-and -

What's your typical day like?

Oh, I just thought of another question - a fun one.

What is the funniest response you've gotten when you gave a new author 'the call'?   I keep reading about how authors go into shock - I can just imagine some of the one liners you might get from people who aren't thinking clearly!

Thanks again!

SueB

Well believe it or not, I managed to lose my whole response that I wrote out!! So I will do my best to rewrite my original thoughts (oooh technology!!!)

To repsond to Katherine T's comments, there is certainly more factors that separate a Desire from a Presents other than the hero.  I think authors focus on this aspect because they have the most trouble creating a balance between alpha and not harsh.  In my experience this has been a common problem amongst unpublished authors, especially if they were used to writing for Desire's old guidlines.  You should definitely read up on recent Desires.  Some series that are out right now are The Dante Legacy by Day Leclaire, Kings of California by Maureen Child, and Diamonds Down Under by the famed down under gals  I think these are all great examples of what Desire is looking for. 

As for the heroines...they can own the company, but normally they've inherited it, and perhaps have some loans that need to be paid off.  The hero wants the land and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.  Typically the heroine is working for the hero, or as I mentioned above has something that he wants. 

To answer Celticlass, as of now I don't believe there has been talk to creat a Desire brief...although it's certainly something to look out for in the future.

And now for some fun questions and answers...much thanks Sue B

Most of the editors can acquire for different lines, however myself and Senior Editor Melissa Jeglinski work primarily for Desire.  We both can acquire, and MJ has an Editorial Assistant, Shana Smith, who helps with the production of the books.  Although I don't personally work with all of the authors, I used to work with almost all of them in the past.  I started out as an Editorial Assistant for Desire 3 years ago.  So I was constantly communicating with authors for various reasons.  Now I have my own author base, and am always looking for fresh meat! So keep those proposals coming!

 And I can say that Yvonne Lindsay is one of my authors...Hi Yvonne

Hmm a typical day...can be crazy! But I love every minute of it.  Normally I go back and forth editing manuscripts, reviewing proposals, writing copy, and performing acceptance reads.  For instance, this week I'm editing 3 manuscripts (wiping sweat from brow) as well as reviewing some proposals.  And of course the Q&A!

I wouldn't say I've had any outrageous reponses from new authors, but I have gotten screams and the 'no ways'.  It's a great feeling to make an author that happy!!

Haha I think that was everything I wrote out before...check in with you all later! 

Hi Sue B!

No worries, I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have.  So keep em coming

On average I used to receive up to 300 pieces of unsolicited proposals.  It really varies from year to year, as does the number of authors we contract.  For a time Desire wasn't necessarily looking for new authors.  So the majority of those proposals were rejected.  However we are currently looking for new material so I'm hoping to find a few new authors if i can. 

I do have one question.  I had read once that children were a no-no in desire, unless it is a pregnancy, etc., and that the focus should be on the relationship.  Is that still the case?  Thanks! 

I'm going to be in meetings all day tomorrow, so I just wanted to take a moment now to thank you for all of the time you spent this week answering questions.

And, of course, I have one more question. ;)

I was looking at the writing guidelines for desire and it is unclear to me what to submit. What would you like to see in a submission?

Thanks.

SueB

Hi Diana!  I just stumbled onto this thread and have thoroughly enjoyed reading over your answers to these fabulous questions.  Thank you so much for taking the time to hang out with us here on the eHarlequin message boards and share your expertise!

Cheers~~

Cathy

After a looong battle with a computer that loves to censor me from the chat boards (I always *thought* my mother had spies everywhere!) I've managed to pop in and say hello 

Love these discussions - it's great to have editors so easily accessible <vbg>.  From your podcast I can also put a voice to the face, too, D!

Paula x

Diana

Thanks a lot for all the insights. (thanks too for all the fabulous questions and input, ladies).

I hope you had as much fun as you've given us, and that you might drop by again to see all our thanks.

SueB

Thanks for adding my new series to the reading recommendations, and for picking up my book! Hope you enjoy it!!

Betty

I think I can answer your question about babies in Desire, by saying that from my experience, they're definitely not no-nos. My debut Desire, The Desert Lord's Baby, as it is clear from the title has a baby, who is pivotal to the story. You just have to be careful the presence of a baby raises the emotional impact and in the same time does nothing to diminish the intensity and sensuality of the H/h relationship.

I guess it's all back to the eternal adage, "It's all in the execution"!

Waving to all!!

I can't wait to read your May book!

Diana,

I hope it isn't too presumptuous of me to ask-I recently sent in a partial to Desire.  Typically what is the response time for reviewing partials?

I know that Diana's left the building  but she has also done a Q&A on our Diamonds Down Under blog this week. Visit the blog and leave a comment and you could win the main prize of a partial or full manuscript critique by her. How great is that! Or if you are a reader there are a pack of books by the DDU authors to be won. But hurry, the prizes are drawn in a few days time.

http://diamondsdownunder.wordpress.com/

Good luck!