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Sara - welcome to our November Duets chat with Jacqueline Diamond and Jennifer Drew. We are on protocol so type a "?" to be put in the queue. I will call on you in turn. Thanks!
bnash - Hi Tricecyn and Hall
Sara - before we start, let's hear about these books from Duets!
O -
Mac - Hi to anyone I missed coming in
Sara - Jennifer/Pam then Jacqueline, please
JDrew Pam - HITCHED FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Jennifer Drew -- When professional organizer Mindy Ryder’s father comes for Christmas, he wants to meet her "doctor boyfriend." The trouble is she doesn’t have one! Veterinarian Eric Kincaid is the perfect candidate, and he agrees to help her out...for a price!
moosehog - (I will stop at 2 for now ....for NOW !)
Jacquelinediamond - I have a double December Duets with a Cinderella theme. The books are called "Cindy and the Fella" and "Calling All Glass Slippers"...
Jacquelinediamond - The first story is sweet and the second one's sensual. Both have whimsical elements and I'm delighted at the reviews they've received so far.
O - What is the the price?
JDrew Pam - We're paired with Barbara Dunlop's A Groom in Her Stocking
Jacquelinediamond - Mine double volume is $5.99 U.S.
JDrew Pam - The price is she has to help him org. a charity event including a doggie fashion show
Sara - both of these have colorful holiday covers...so, can we assume a slight holiday feel or story?
moosehog - And It is worth every penny I am sure .VBG.
JDrew Pam - That's the price I thought you meant at first!
JDrew Pam - Yep, Xmas stories
Jacquelinediamond - One of my stories ends at Christmas and the other starts with a really offbeat New Year's Eve party at which the hero and heroine, former lovers, don't recognize each other because they're in costume.
Sara-Moderator - forgot to put on my official dress
Mac - uh-oh, Sara's changed clothes.
Mac - LOL
O - That sounds so romantic
Mac - ok..I'm fading into the shadows...time to lurk and work....
Mary f - LOL
moosehog - Sara made a booboo ....vbg.
Sara-Moderator - well, good to know the "covers" match the stories
Sara-Moderator - O has the first question (moosehog, moosehog in line)
Sara-Moderator - occasionally it happens
JDrew Pam - It's always nice when the covers do Sara!
Jacquelinediamond - I'm always glad when the timing works out, too. I've had books appear months from the date when they took place.
O - What made you both write in the first place did you hear vocies in you head
Sara-Moderator - I love New Year's Eve stories...even though I never get to the parties and had a miserable time in Times Square, still fun to read about them.
JDrew Pam - I went into family biz, my mom wrote for Dell Candlelight
Jacquelinediamond - O, when you say the first place, do you mean when did we start writing in our lives or when did we get the ideas for our latest books?
O -
Sara-Moderator - ooh, a mom leading the way! Sounds good to me!
JDrew Pam - Yeah, Hall is always trying to steal her and she's considering it!
JDrew Pam - I knew I wanted to write since little but I took a detour as a reporter
Jacquelinediamond - I started writing stories when I was five and never looked back. I didn't sell my first novel until I was about 32, but I did work as a journalist.
Hall - Hey, Pam's mom totally rocks. If you all knew her, you'd try to steal her, too. But you can't have her...I have dibs! <g>
Jacquelinediamond - Gee, it sounds like JDrew Pam and I have a lot in common!
JDrew Pam - More in common than initials!
Jacquelinediamond - I think those big D's on the covers of Duets are for us, don't you?
Sara-Moderator - hmm, mom theft in the making!
Sara-Moderator - could be serious!
Sara-Moderator - is that what the "D" is for, ladies?
JDrew Pam - Hall, my mom and I wrote a Duets together that will be out in May
Sara-Moderator - we can go along with that, if you insist!
Jacquelinediamond - It's for Duets. I'm going to be discreet and not add, Duh.
JDrew Pam - Definitely, Jackie!
Sara-Moderator - Moosehog has the next question ( moosehog in line)
O -
Sara-Moderator - they could have used a smallish "D", you know!
moosehog - Jacqueline , You write for Intrigue , Duets and Harlequin American . Which line allows you the most freedom in your writing ? Which line is the favorite for you ? and what line that you haven't written for would you like to write for ?
Jacquelinediamond - Each line has its own requirements, so none of them really gives me a lot of leeway...
Jacquelinediamond - What I like is that, when I have an idea, it usually fits one of those lines...
Jacquelinediamond - I don't really have a favorite. It depends on my mood, or what I've been writing too much of (right now, babies!)...
Sara-Moderator - Moosehog has the next question (O, Moosehog in line)
Jacquelinediamond - What I'd like to write is a bestseller that would earn a million dollars and be made into amovie starring Julia Roberts.
Sara-Moderator - so you are in the baby writing mode?
JDrew Pam - Amen, Sister Jackie!
O - Jacqueline
Jacquelinediamond - I've got my own harlequin American miniseries, "The Babies of Doctors Circle," coming out starting in March...
Jacquelinediamond - so there's a baby in every volume, in one way or another (I try to keep it interesting)...
moosehog - Jacqueline , which is your favorite book and why ? and will you ever do another other worldly type book like one of my favorites , Daddy Warlock , again
Jacquelinediamond - I'm also writing a book for a new continuity series, Forrester Square. My heroine is nine months pregnant. What's especially interesting is taht she's Japanese...
Jacquelinediamond - I'm so glad you mentioned Daddy Warlocks, because that's definitely one of my favorites! ...
moosehog - japenese?? that is good .
Jacquelinediamond - I LOVE writing paranormal but right now I can't get Harlequin to buy any.
Jacquelinediamond - However, there is a touch of the whimsical in my new Duets, especially the second one
moosehog - There is a book out right now.(drawing a blank on the name . He is a Sheik and she is black .I think it is great that they are trying to reach a bigger audience .)
Jacquelinediamond - I've had to do tons of research about Japanese culture. Fortunately, I have a friend helping me who knows a lot about Japan.
Sara-Moderator - O has the next question (Moosehog in line)
Mary f has timed out.
Jacquelinediamond - There are a lot of Harlequin readers in Japan, by the way
Mary f - Sound
O - Jennifer so you write with your mother and each write by themselfs
JDrew Pam - No we write together on everything.
Sara-Moderator - do they do your books as those graphic novels? In Japan?
JDrew Pam - She wrote 19 books for Dell by herself, and we've done...
O - Did you every get into fighes
JDrew Pam - 20 together for Dorchester, silhouette and Harlequin
JDrew Pam - Not about writing!
Sara-Moderator - ?
Jacquelinediamond - To answer Sara's question, the books are simply translated into Japanese. I've had quite a few, so I presume my Japanese heroine will be translated, too.
O -
Sara-Moderator - I know that Harlequin did a few of their titles with the "graphics"
JDrew Pam - Jackie my son has taken Japanese and it was cool to give his teacher a book in Japanese!
Sara-Moderator - just wondered if any of yours were those
Jacquelinediamond - That's news to me about the graphics.
Jacquelinediamond - I love seeing my translations. I've got one in Czech.
Sara-Moderator - really? I saw them a few years ago
moosehog - Jennifer , What is it like for a mom and daughter to work together as a writing team ? Do one of you get more input than the other or is it equal ? do one of you give the male perspective and one the female , ect ?And do you plan on writing for any other lines in the future or have you found a permanent home with Duets ?
Sara-Moderator - they looked like the anime books my daughter loves
Sara-Moderator - Moosehog has the next question (Sara, O in line)
Sara-Moderator - just jump in, moose
moosehog - Jennifer , What is it like for a mom and daughter to work together as a writing team ? Do one of you get more input than the other or is it equal ? do one of you give the male perspective and one the female , ect ?And do you plan on writing for any other lines in the future or have you found a permanent home with Duets ?
JDrew Pam - It's equal. I'm more plot, she's more character. Symbiotic. We will probably write for another line in the future.
JDrew Pam - We love the madcapness of Duets
Sara-Moderator - Sara has the next question (O, moosehog in line)
bnash has timed out.
moosehog - Sara . I am in line tooooo ?????????????????????vbg
Sara-Moderator - Pam, what name did you mom write under for Dell?
Sara-Moderator - I put you back in line, Moose, after O
JDrew Pam - Barbara Andrews, her real name
Sara-Moderator - or did you want TWO more?
O - Moose
Sara-Moderator - ah, I read her -- showing age
moosehog - 1
JDrew Pam - She did one of the launch for Supremes
moosehog - O , back at you
JDrew Pam - Age is relative!
Sara-Moderator - yup
Sara-Moderator - she did! those books were great. I have lots of them -- turning yellow, re-reading them CAREFULLY
moosehog - Yeah .. so how old are we this April 5th Sara ???
moosehog - Just kidding .
Sara-Moderator - I love the transition to the male pov
Sara-Moderator - O has the next question (moosehog in line)
O - What do you both want to try that you hav't written before?
Sara-Moderator - I thought it was a bestseller made into a Julie Roberts movie?
Sara-Moderator -
JDrew Pam - A big paranormal romance! Did futuristics for Dorchester. But really probably...
Sara-Moderator - please, don't make it a love story -- someone always dies in those! Romances are SO much better.
JDrew Pam - like contemporary category best.!
Jacquelinediamond - I've tried practically everything but that doesn't mean I've sold everything. I particularly enjoy writing funny mysteries. I had a Harlequin American years ago called "A Dangerous Guy," entirely from the hero's viewpoint, that fit that description.
O - That sounds good Jen
JDrew Pam - So true Jackie. we have a straight mystery in the garage somewhere!
O - That sounds familimar Jacquie
O -
Sara-Moderator - sounds fun, ladies. And you never know when a trend starts.
Jacquelinediamond - By the way, I'm not pretentious. You can call me Jackie.
Sara-Moderator - Moosehog has the next question (O in line)
moosehog - Not wanting to know the personal side of how much you make but , which line pays the most for HQ and which pays the least or are they all equal for the most part ? Or do certain authors get paid higher no matter what line they are writing for , automatically ?
Jacquelinediamond - I also want to mention before I forget that I'm running a small contest on my website, Jacquelinediamond.com. You can win a free book.
moosehog - And how much promo does HQ pay towards your books?
Jacquelinediamond - I don't know which line pays the most because I don't write for all of them. The sensual ones, I suspect.
Sara-Moderator - moose, are you going to write a book now?
JDrew Pam - I think all these things depend on various factors
deagling has timed out.
Jacquelinediamond - We get promoted as a group. The best we can do is get affiliated with a project that's promoted, such as a continuity series or novella. Which reminds me, I'm in an anthology of three novellas coming out in April or May, called "Paris or Bust!"
moosehog - SARA , ARE YOU NUTS ???? I Don't think so ? Not in this lifetime . Nope not me .No way ...and give up reading time .Nope
Sara-Moderator - PARIS or bust? sheesh, my eyes are fading. I read "PAIN" or bust and was really wondering there!
JDrew Pam - And Hall, mom and I did the 100th Duets so will get promoted for that
Mary f - LMAO Moose!
Jacquelinediamond - It's about a mother-of-the-year contest in which the first prize is a trip to Paris.
JDrew Pam - Wish I could enter that contest, Jackie!
Jacquelinediamond - You can. I'm not limiting it to non-authors!
O - Why not Jenn
JDrew Pam - Course about to take two 11 year olds and put them in the garage!!
Jacquelinediamond - Oh, I misunderstood, JDrew Pam.
Jacquelinediamond - I'm afraid I can't give away a trip to Paris.
Sara-Moderator - I am afraid to ask why the garage!
JDrew Pam - I may still enter your contest then Jackie!
moosehog - Mary , I can't believe she would ask me that . Of all people . I can't cook without reading . I would never be able to write without trying to read someone elses book while I was doing it . My reading time is tooooo precious .VBG.
JDrew Pam - The Gundam wing toys they're tossing won't hurt the garage walls!
Sara-Moderator - Moosehog has the next question
JDrew Pam - Wish HQ would send us to Paris, Jackie!
Sara-Moderator - ah, bedlam, huh?
Jacquelinediamond - How old are your kids? And Iwish HQ would send me to Japan!
Jacquelinediamond - Of course, I'd better be careful what I wish for.
Sara-Moderator - hi, Gerri
moosehog - What do you ladies think of the continuity series that jump lines and would you ever be interested in doing one?
JDrew Pam - My kids are 7 and almost 12, but the older one has a friend over too.
gerri - Hi
Sara-Moderator - gerri, welcome to our November Duets chat with Jacqueline Diamond and Jennifer Drew. We are on protocol so type a "?" to be put in the queue. I will call on you in turn. Thanks!
moosehog - Hi gerri .
Mary f - Hello Gerri
JDrew Pam - Japan would be good! Jackie. I've read the series that jump lines.
Jacquelinediamond - I participated in the Carradignes: American Royalty series, which jumped lines. in fact, I wrote the first one.
moosehog - JDrew Pam , Mine are 10 and 11 and 11(stepson) they are up driving me bonkers but I am ignoring them .
JDrew Pam - Ignoring is good!
Jacquelinediamond - I'm not sure readers are happy about having the stories continue in other lines but I trust the HQ editors to know what they're doing.
moosehog - I guess I need to clarify the question . Do you think that they do what they are supposed to and promote readers trying other lines or does it complicate it ?
Jacquelinediamond - While we're on the subject of kids, my boys are 13 and 16.
moosehog - Never mind . Your answer came up as I hit send .LOL .
Sara-Moderator - personally, I think it is hard to know when they do. Most people buy by lines or authors.
JDrew Pam - I was just about to ask Jackie!
gerri - I find giving the kids THE LOOK helps alot....
Jacquelinediamond - I honestly don't know whether the cross-line stories add to sales. Somebody at HQ must keep track of that.
JDrew Pam - I agree with Jackie.
Jacquelinediamond - What sorts of stories would you guys like to see that you're not seeing now?
JDrew Pam - I have my back to kids but have run out several times to give 'em the LOOK!
Sara-Moderator - so, since we are out of questioners *gasp* how about telling us your favorite characteristic of either hero or heroine in your current books?
O - I like timetravel and Histocials
O - Hey you forgot me Sara
moosehog - I wouldn't mind some Blue Collar men with woman who work in a more powerful workplace .
O - Hey you forgot me Sara
Jacquelinediamond - Hugh, the "Fella" in my first book, is lots of fun: he's a dreamy poetry-writing professor, kind of a nerd, who gets his act together and becomes a romantic hero. In fact., he fights in a mock tournament to win ther heroine.
Sara-Moderator - I called on you, O
O - Hey you forgot me Sara
JDrew Pam - Our heroine shares some of my idiosyncrastices, sp, thanks to my mom!
Sara-Moderator - but I'll get you again, O, in a minute after they answer
Jacquelinediamond - By the way, O, I like your handle. I saw Cirque de Soleil's "O" in LAs Vegas and it blew me away.
Sara-Moderator - your mom wrote you into the book? hmmm
JDrew Pam - Well, my overplucking my eyebrows, and stuff!
moosehog - Oliveria ...she likes your O....vbg .....
Sara-Moderator - uh huh
O - Thanks Jackie
moosehog - Pam , my niece must be related to you on the eyebrow thing .
Mary f -
Willie - Hi Stella
Sara-Moderator - Willie, welcome to our November Duets chat with Jacqueline Diamond and Jennifer Drew. We are on protocol so type a "?" to be put in the queue. I will call on you in turn. Thanks!
Hall - I just finished Hitched for the Holidays, and I saw a bit of Pam in the heroine! LOL
JDrew Pam - Back to Jackies, if I could...8-) Do y'all ever get tired of makeover stories. I love them!
Willie - sorry, hit the wrong button
JDrew Pam - The control freak part, Hall?!
Hall - It was fantastic, and I LOL at the heroine.
Jacquelinediamond - I love when characters are transformed. The problem is that it's hard when the hero or heroine starts off kind of deficient in some way.
Hall - I wasn't goint to say that, Pam! LOL
JDrew Pam - Thanks Hall. Interesting, Jackie.
JDrew Pam - True Hall, Hence the eyebrows!
Sara-Moderator - a control freak with a hot hand on the tweezers? this is an INTERESTING picture, Pam!
moosehog - I also think that I like the books with one of them being handicapped so how . Those are always so touchingly romantic .
Sara-Moderator - why, Jackie, is that hard?
JDrew Pam - Hall and my mom humor me! Handicapped how?
Jacquelinediamond - Handicapped is hard in Duets. I think it could be done tastefully though. To answer Sara's question, the problem is that a nerdish hero or heroine may not be very appealing to the reader.
Sara-Moderator - ah, I thought maybe too easy to transform
Mac - Nerdish? Geeky? hehehe
JDrew Pam - Hall, has transformed heroes. We cleaned one up once!
Mary f - Why? Even they need love in their lives?
Hall - Humoring you is easy!
Sara-Moderator - I don't know, Jackie. I think as our work force shifted, more of us know and love the nerds. Besides, they look good in khakis and denim shirts
JDrew Pam - Thanks Hall. We did one a long time ago, Jackie, that didn't sell cuz the hero was too nerdish.
Jacquelinediamond - I'm a little slow here. Is Hall Holly?
Sara-Moderator - O has the next question
Mac - LOL...mine wears black t-shirts and blue jeans, with a ball cap..hehehe
JDrew Pam - Yes, Hall is Holly Jacobs. Why do we call you Hall, Hall?
moosehog - ROLMFAO @ Jackie being a little slow ....
Hall - Um, yep, it's me, Jackie. I snuck in for moral support! (Holly don's her Clark Kent glasses and tries to be inconspicuous! <g>
deagling - Was that before or after Bill Gates became the ultimate "nerdish" multimillionaire? LOL
Jacquelinediamond - Yeah, Pam points out a common problem. We authors fall in love with an offbeat idea and then the readers don't go for it.
O - Which state do you Jen and jackie live
Hall - Well, my mother named me Holly so that no one could give me a nickname...and I spent my high school years being called Hall by everyone, including the teachers! LOL
Jacquelinediamond - I live in California. So it's almost time to go fix dinner.
JDrew Pam - And in this case, the editor didn't even buy it. So I think it getting rejected was good because I don't think readers would hav eliked it.
Mary f - Like that will work now Holly! LMAO
moosehog - Holly
moosehog - It is 9pm here .
JDrew Pam - Good to know, Hall. We're on the opposite coast, Jackie. West Virgina. Came here via Arizona.
Sara-Moderator - there are more nerd millionaries than just that Gates guy
Celeste - one of my all time favorite books is TRUST ME by Jayne Ann Krentz and he hero is a nerd (and hunk of a nerd, but a nerb none the less)
moosehog - Hubby is passed out sick in bed . Came home at 6 and he died . Poor man .
Jacquelinediamond - My older son is studying to be a computer programmer. He'sa cute nerd!
Sara-Moderator - that is a good nerd to have, Stark!
Jacquelinediamond - I hopehe'll be a millionaire so he can support me in my old age.
moosehog - Someone needs to write me a harley riding blonde , blue eyes construction worker with Tattoes like my hubby ...ahhhh. Tasteful tattoes !
Mac - **sigh** Gotta love a geek...or at least, I do.
JDrew Pam - See, hunky nerds work for me!
O - Do you have an accent being a southern girs
JDrew Pam - I'm married to a KLR ridin' college professor. <g>
moosehog - Hey , finally hearing something from Mac in the Peanut gallery .
Celeste - Ilove Stark...how could you not love him when he gave the heroine a PDA for a birthday present
Hall - Have to confess, my last hero was a nerd and RT gave him a WISH award.
JDrew Pam - Grew up in Michigan and Iowa, so alas no accent. Tho my younger son born here, can really EFFECt one!
Jacquelinediamond - I actually grew upin Tennessee but I never had much of an accent.
Mac - hehehe
Hall - I love nerds.
O - What is KLR?
Sara-Moderator - yup, Celeste, I knew he was the best
JDrew Pam - Actually eighty miles from Pittsburgh, not really south.
moosehog - PAM , Mine is a FLH Riding Laborer .VBG.
Mac - Don't get me started on Geek's praises...that could take all night...the man is wonderful.
JDrew Pam - Kawasaki motorcycle. My dh's 40th present to himself 9sed!
moosehog - And I can't wait for Friday because the neighbors will be out with their cameras to watch him on the harley .
JDrew Pam - MH, VBG!
Sara-Moderator - well, we sped through this hour, but we have time for the authors to tell us ONE more time about these Duets to go look for!
deagling - That's right, no accent when you're from Michigan... until you go to Boston or anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line. LOL
Mac - And I got my b-day present in the mail from him today...lol
Caffey - i 'm late!?!?!
JDrew Pam - Buy
Mary f - Hello Caffey
JDrew Pam - laughg!
moosehog - He takes the Harley by himself and goes and buys the christmas tree every year and rides all the way home with the tree strapped to the bike . This year they notified the newspaper to take a picture ..and I am not telling him .LOL .
Mac - Just an hour, Caffey. ... and hi
Sara-Moderator - so, what are they bright colored holiday covered books we should be watching to snatch up?
O - You missed all the fun Caffey
JDrew Pam - Thanks all for hosting us! The hour flew!
Caffey - Hi all!
Jacquelinediamond - I'm going to have to go fix dinner soon. Anybody got any more questions?
Mac - LMAO @ Moose.
JDrew Pam - I want to see the tree strapped to the bike!!!
Caffey - Sry Jacqueline that I was late!
Sara-Moderator - Your titles at least?
Jacquelinediamond - That's okay. Glad you came!
moosehog - He will be surprised come Friday when the paper guy is waiting to take a picture .LMAO
Hall - Got to go, but wanted to tell Pam and Jackie what a great job they did! I've already read Pam's December book (totally fantastic!!), and I can't wait to find Jackie's on the hselves!
O - Which authors do you like to read Jakie
moosehog - I will take pictures . Trust me .LMAO
Caffey - have a great holiday Jacqueline!
JDrew Pam - Hitched for the Holidays, Jennifer Drew/A groom in her Stocking Barbar Dunlop
Mary f - Thanks for chatting J.D's! It was fun!
Jacquelinediamond - My double Duets for December is "Cindy and the Fella" and "Calling All Glass Slippers." By, Hall!
moosehog - Hall . Go enter her contest ...LMAO
Sara-Moderator - Thank you both so much!!!
Sara-Moderator - Happy holidays to you both!
JDrew Pam - Bye, thanks! Happy Thanksgiving!
Jacquelinediamond - The authors I like to read are Janet Evanovich, Susan Wiggs, Charlotte Maclay...
Sara-Moderator - next up will be our November Superromance authors
Sara-Moderator - so hang on to your keyboards