This morning, I am working on the “non-writing” side of things, and this is one of the things I worked on.
I have decided to make a minor change to the title of Anyone But You. I switched it to Anyone But the Marquess. I kept everything else on the cover the same.
And here are all of the books in this series so you know where it fits in the series:
Well, I didn’t set this on pre-order because I was so frazzled by everything going on that I missed the “pre-order” option. So that meant I had to wait for a few days for the book to go live across the retailers before I could announce its release. I don’t use pre-orders to get more sales. I use pre-orders to get all of my ducks in a row.
Anyway….
Here is the book!
Remember Reuben from If It Takes a Scandal?
This is his romance. Enough time has passed in the Regency timeline where he is now an adult and ready for marriage. Corin, his older brother, is not ready for it. (It’s hard when kids grow up, and Corin tends to think of Reuben as a son rather than a brother, given their great age difference.) Worried about Reuben’s delicate health, Corin pleas for Reuben to go back to the country even though Reuben was courting Amelia in The Earl’s Jilted Bride (Marriage by Obligation Series: Book 3).
Reuben decides to do what Corin wants, and as a result, we have this book:
This is Book 4 in the Marriage by Obligation Series.
If you haven’t read the other books in the series, Reuben and Amelia meet in Secret Admirer at the ill-fated dinner party where Guy upset everyone but Lydia. (I found it hilarious, but Grant still doesn’t see the humor despite all of the time that’s passed since then. Some characters never see my humor.) Reuben and Amelia’s courtship is in The Earl’s Jilted Bride. Now, at last, we come to their romance.
If you’d like to read Worth the Risk, here is where you can find it:
Google Play (ebook)
Google Play (audiobook)
Radish (episodes will start releasing this evening, May 3, 2024)
*I am working on getting this available as an audiobook on Apple. That takes the longest to do because I have to work through Draft2Digital to get it done. (But I will add Draft2Digital makes it easy once I’m able to click the “make an audiobook” option.)
A lot has been going on, and to honest, most of it has been challenging. As a result, I haven’t been able to write anything in a couple of weeks. I am hoping that the dust is settling now. I spent yesterday getting things squared away to get ready for writing. Fingers crossed that tomorrow is the day I can finally get back to it.
I’m still wound up from everything, I guess. My husband just went to work, and I told him, “Good night.” Oh my gosh. Maybe I won’t be able to write tomorrow. I need to be coherent when I write or I’ll end up confusing the people who are helping me with the edits. Since I can’t go over a book like I used to because of my eyes, I need to be as focused as possible.
If this post is not coherent, I apologize. I haven’t gotten anything out in a long time. I need to put something out there so people know I’m still alive.
So here is what I’m up to…
Anyway, because I’ve been frazzled for the past couple of weeks with everything that’s been going on, I didn’t set Worth the Risk on pre-order like I had planned to give myself sufficient time to gather my links, make the blog posts, email announcement, and other tweaks I make when I have a new book out. Instead of putting it on pre-order, I ended up setting it to publish right away. It’s not a big deal. It’ll just be a little sloppy.
I’ll make a blog post and email announcing the links when all the places are “live” with the book. I don’t want to make multiple posts for each retailer. I’d rather have everything together.
I’ll miss this one. It’s been fun being out with this hero and heroine as they look for his sister. They are just about to find her. The deputy, who was supposed to help them, got caught up in some trouble. I won’t specify to avoid spoiling the book, but this presents the opportunity to bring in the man the sister was supposed to marry. This will hopefully help me figure out what to do with her romance. I know she will have a book. I just can’t decide which plot to go with. Depending on who the hero is in her romance, the plot will be different.
I’m nearing the 3/4th mark on this one. I think. Remember Guy from Midnight Wedding with all of his superstitions? Well, that comes into play in this book, and it’s influenced the plot enough to make it matter. Specifically, an owl statue becomes the main catalyst for the change between the hero and heroine. I wasn’t sure how I could get the hero and heroine to talk, and, thanks to Guy freaking out at the right moment, I accomplished the feat. I won’t say anything else in case I spoil the book.
My big problem at this point is whether to continue adding books to this series or spawn things into another series. Oscar has come up with a crazy scheme to sell love potions, and Grant (from The Earl’s Jilted Bride) was stupid enough to finance it, probably because his friend (Lord Dayton) is a part of it. Ever since I introduced Lord Dayton in The Earl’s Jilted Bride, I knew I’d end up writing his romance. But I still debating whether to launch this little sub-plot in this series or let it be the main sub-plot for a new one. I suspect that what happens with Guy in this book will end up answering that question. Who knew Guy would play such a big role in this entire series?
***
I am also currently debating whether to take on another book in my “books in progress”. Long story short, I need to bring in more money. I have looked into getting an outside job to help out with the finances around here, but I don’t know if I can do that and maintain all of the responsibilities I have around the house. (It’s a long and complicated story.) Suffice it to say, I am thinking of trying to get back to three books at a time now that I have my writing mojo back and can type with my eyes closed. Maybe I’ll give it a try and see if I can make a go of it.
There is a mindset within the writing community that says authors should write books as fast as they can just so they can keep up the income. I realize this has faded somewhat, but it still prevails; hence the growing popularity of using AI to help write stories. If writers weren’t pressed to get books out quicker, they would do more writing themselves. I know some people say that AI does a good job of writing a story, but I have a hard time believing it. AI is not human. It never will be. It might come close, but the human brain will always be more creative.
The AI movement, however, can be harmful. I don’t mind AI to assist the writer as long as the writer isn’t using AI to actually write the book. If AI becomes the writer, I think that does a disservice to storytelling. Maybe I’m outdated, but I think good storytelling will always matter. Maybe people rushing through books won’t care if AI wrote it. People rushing through books aren’t getting immersed in the story. They are just jumping from book to book. I have no idea how anyone can really enjoy a book if they rush through it, but perhaps I’m missing something. I’ll concede to the possibility that total enjoyment can occur when something is consumed at a fast pace. All I know is that I can’t enjoy something if I rush through it.
Anyway…
I have a hard time believing that readers who have to pay for individual books will continue to buy from an author who doesn’t take the time to craft a story that means something to them. If the writer loves the work, it will show up in the book. I think a few typos will be acceptable. Even traditionally published books and blockbuster movies have small errors that crop into the final product. But you can’t put out something rushed.
That’s why it’s best to take the time you need to write your story. Some stories flow better than others. Some stories are like pulling teeth. Ironically, some of my best books were those I struggled with the most to write. (Go figure, right?) Sometimes you have to let the story play out in its own time. If that means pushing back a pre-order date, do it. I know it’s “unprofessional” to not meet a deadline, but it’s better to get the story right than to have a story out there that you never want to read again. For example, if you rush a story to get it out there and feel in your gut that the story didn’t go exactly as it should have, that will set you up for disappointment in your own work.
Whatever the genre, you want a comping conflict and the emotionally engaging characters to go with it. That will ensure the story is the very best it can be. If you are in the middle of a story, and you feel that this story is going in a wrong direction, that is a good indicator to slow down and figure out where you went wrong. Or, perhaps, you have done everything right up to this point, but then you feel like you’re going to head in a direction that will make the story suffer. You might want to pause in the writing and give yourself time to think about what you can do next to keep flowing well.
I realize that in an atmosphere where money is the supreme goal of writing, it is not easy to take the time you might need to get the story right. Going slower may cause you to lose some money. Losing money is very difficult. I know this from experience. It sucks when you can no longer easily pay your bills anymore. But bills aren’t your only worry when you lose money. You might worry that you will lose some clout in the writing community because, as unfair as it may be, those who make the most money get the most support from other writers. Often when you go into writing forums, anyone giving advice without having the all-sought-after “six figure income” will be dismissed. So making money is more than paying bills. It is about establishing your reputation in the writing community.
I would like for every author who loves their work to be able to make a living at it. We should all be so lucky as to make a living doing the thing we love most. Unfortunately, sometimes we are forced to choose. Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now know where I fall in this debate. But just in case someone new is coming here, let me rehash my perspective below.
I think rushing through a story and putting up something that is mediocre does you and your readers a disservice. I also think using AI to write the story for you does your readers a disservice. When your readers pick up your books, they are expecting you. The best way you can honor your readers is to give them “you”. The ultimate goal of writing should be to leave a legacy after you die. I used to laugh when authors told me that because, at the time, I did think money was more important, but I have learned a lot since I left the writing-to-market phase of my life. And now I am in complete agreement with the people who think more along the lines of writing books that will emotionally mean something to people who read them in the generations to come. The best stories are those that reach out and touch the readers’ heart. And it can take time to write stories like that.
Things are going great with my two works in progress. It’s so nice to have my enthusiasm for writing back. Taking it down to two books at a time has really helped. I also am allowing myself days off from writing even if I scheduled the day down as a “writing day” in advance. Like today, for instance. It was supposed to be a writing day, but things came about that made the morning crazy, so I’m not going to worry about it. Instead, I’m writing this blog post. 😀
Alright, so let me get to the meat and potatoes of this post.
I am still debating what to do with the hero’s sister. I know I’m going to base Book 2 off of her, but I am currently undecided as to who the hero will be. I can choose the rancher she’s supposed to marry (since she was a mail-order bride), or I can go with the deputy who has a big secondary character role in Tagalong Bride. I plan to bring in the Arizona rancher soon in Tagalong Bride. I’m hoping once he enters the picture, I’ll get an idea of what I want to do with him.
Also, someone had mentioned liking the older-than-average character finding their romance, and I want to do that in this series. I am just trying to figure out how to get this character involved.
As for the main story of Tagalong Bride, I’m very happy with how well things are going. I’m about to separate out the hero and heroine from the deputy who has been their guide up to now. I’m looking forward to that because I have some funny moments I expect to bring in that will be entertaining. The desert has all sorts of neat critters to work with when someone who is used to living in a city is exposed to them. The hero, it’s turning out, is the one who is far more squeamish than the heroine is, though I don’t expect her to be all that happy when confronted with a scorpion, either.
Or at least I think I am. I’m not sure how long this will be. I’m at 23,000 words, and the hero and heroine have barely spoken to each other. The hero just let the heroine know she is welcome to put any of her things around the townhouse to make it “her” home, in addition to his, and she will take him up on that offer. Right away, I knew what object she would pick to put in the drawing room to test whether or not he’s serious in his offer. I won’t say what it is because I don’t want to spoil the book. I will say that what happened in Midnight Wedding will have some significance because of this object. I also believe this object will end up being the thing that will begin the transition from the heroine hating the hero to finding something redeemable about him.
I would like this out in May. *fingers crossed*
Open Discussion: “Well, that didn’t go as planned…”
This time, we discussed things that didn’t go as planned. I don’t know if anyone here would like to share their stories, but we would love to hear them if you have something on your mind. 🙂
A friend tried to explain it to me years ago. She said that this particular trope in romance is popular because women like to think they can be the one to change him.
I thought that was one of the most illogical statements I’d ever heard, and it still makes no sense to me. If a woman were to change the bad boy, then he would be good, and if he was good, wouldn’t she lose interest in him? Then I thought, “Maybe being with a bad boy is like being in a movie where you wonder if he’ll ever commit or not.” (Let’s forget the notion that if he does commit to a woman, he might not stick with it since the bad boy image entails him being “bad”.) But maybe that is the excitement. Will he or won’t he? That’s exciting, I guess, but it doesn’t last longer than the end of the book.
I looked up the definition of a rake (a term I’ve heard a lot from Regency books. This is what I came up with in Google, “In a historical context, a rake (short for rakehell, analogous to “hellraiser”) was a man who was habituated to immoral conduct, particularly womanizing. Often, a rake was also prodigal, wasting his (usually inherited) fortune on gambling, wine, women, and song, and incurring lavish debts in the process.” (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rake_(stock_character))
Exactly what in that description makes a man appealing? He is given to sleeping around. That means he probably has an assortment of STDs. He possibly has children with other women. He does not have any intention of staying with the woman he sleeps with, which means he uses women for his own selfish pleasures. Even if he marries, chances are he won’t be faithful because of his past behavior. The only case I can see where a bad boy gets truly redeemed is if he has a “come to Jesus moment” which would involve serious repentance. But in books and in movies, we don’t often see him doing this. He is often portrayed as an egotistical jerk who, for whatever reason, the heroine finds sexy. He knows she finds him sexy and uses it to his advantage. He doesn’t care about morality. He essentially has been bad and has gotten away without facing the consequences of being bad, and he won’t really ever face them. I find it hard to believe that this is a man who will truly hold the heroine in high esteem for a lifetime, which is what marriage is about.
Let’s remove the womanizing from the equation. What makes a man given to wasting his money away appealing? What woman wants to wonder if the bills are going to be paid because this carefree and wild man is reckless with money? I don’t care if he’s the most charming person on the planet; if he doesn’t provide for his wife and kids, he’s not worth respecting.
But the bad boy trope is one that sells very well. I can’t argue that this is a fantasy that is popular in the romance genre. It’s not my cup of tea, and this is one of the reasons I started writing my own romances. I got tired of heroes that had notches on their bedposts.
Let’s talk about the “good guy”. I looked up “define good guy” on Google and came up with this, “…someone you can rely on, someone with a bit of backbone and courage, someone with integrity, someone who is generous and giving. A good guy is someone to be admired.” I looked up “good boy” as well and came up with this, “treating others with kindness and respect, avoiding being vulgar, and showing a kind interest in people.”
So that’s what popped up in Google, and I realize there is a slang for “good boy” that has to do with some sexual thing, but that’s not what I’m talking about in this post. I am talking about the “good boy” trope. This is the boy next door thing.
Let me Google “boy next door”. This is what came up, “If you refer to someone as the boy next door or the girl next door, you mean that they are pleasant, respectable, and likeable.” (source: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/the-boy-next-door-the-girl-next-door)
When I think of the “good boy” in romance, these are the traits I think of. Someone you can rely on. Courageous. Willing to help others. Selfless. Honorable. Kind. Polite. Genuinely cares about the heroine. He doesn’t just see her as a sex object. She is someone he’ll be faithful to. He will give her his name and take care of her. She doesn’t have to wonder if he loves her because she’s secure in the relationship. He doesn’t compare her to other women because he is complete with her. He works hard. He doesn’t boast of himself. He might have a sense of humor, he can be outgoing, or he might be quiet. Regardless, he will put her needs first. I don’t see how a woman can resist loving someone like this.
One might argue, “But that is so BORING.” It’s only boring to read if you can’t think of a plot to throw at the couple to make things interesting. Years ago (okay, more like decades ago now that I’m 49), one of my biggest gripes with romance was how unrealistic they were. I couldn’t see how any woman could enjoy being with a man who treated sex casually. I also couldn’t see how any couple could have a “happily ever after” after spending pages and pages in angst with each other. In real life, marriage is about working together to overcome the obstacles in life. So that’s what I set out to resolve when I started writing my own romances. In July, I’ll be married for 24 years. I realize love isn’t always easy. Yes, there will be arguments. There will be times when you wonder, “Why did I pick this person?” The truth is, he’ll wonder why he picked you, too. You can’t have happy sunny “it’s all perfect” every day of your marriage. We’re imperfect people. There will be storms. But the commitment of marriage is what makes the relationship so beautiful. The vows are sacred. If you have a good guy, you have someone you can count on no matter what. That is why I love the “good guy” trope so much. It’s realistic. You don’t have to change him into someone who is good because he was that way all along. And if you can fall in love with this kind of guy to start with, you will have a happily ever after ending in books and in real life.
So give me the “good guy”. The bad ones aren’t worth it.
Ruth Ann Nordin's Author Blog 