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Diana Quincy | Starting Off with a Bang
May 18, 2013
My debut historical romance, SEDUCING CHARLOTTE, starts
off with a bang. Literally. And yes, it is what you think. I soon learned that not everyone appreciates the fact my hero gets lucky in the
garden during a ball. I'm a little surprised by the fervor. To me, the scene is
a bit tame and completely in keeping with the times. While he's not exactly a
rake, the Marquess of Camryn, "Cam," is a hot, single, eligible man in Regency
England who possesses a reasonably healthy sexual appetite. Before it was published, SEDUCING CHARLOTTE had a
successful run in contests for unpublished writers and was runner up in the
international Writing With the Stars contest, co-sponsored by RT Book
Reviews magazine. And while CHARLOTTE got
a lot of love-finaling in several contests and even winning a few-she also had
her detractors: mostly contest judges who couldn't get past the opening scene. One particularly memorable judge scored my entry near the bottom. On the score
sheet, she commented, "This reads like a racy Jane Austen." I wish! Given
how low she scored me, the judge obviously meant it as an insult, but really,
any comparison to one of literature's greatest authors is a massive compliment!
It was the best insult ever, surpassing any compliments I've received for SEDUCING CHARLOTTE. Interestingly, none of the editors or agents who saw the manuscript for
Seducing Charlotte objected to the opening scene. My own agent loved it.
And so did the editor who bought it. It all goes to show how subjective
reactions to a book can be. So far, the early online reviews for SEDUCING CHARLOTTE are
excellent. No one was complained about the opening scene. Yet. What about you? Does it bother you when a book opens with a hot scene or does
it make you want to buy it? Comment to win an e-copy of SEDUCING CHARLOTTE
Comments
35 comments posted.
Re: Diana Quincy | Starting Off with a Bang
Hi, Diana!
No, it doesn't bother me as long as there is context. It seems that, in your
own story, you are using the opening scene to establish your hero.
Congratulations on your debut novel! And, thank you, for the great
giveaway!
(Khristine C Chua 6:28pm May 18, 2013)
Oh, it doesn't bother me at all! I would buy it!
(Sharlene Wegner 8:24pm May 18, 2013)
It doesn't bother me, a hot scene is good anytime.
(Wilma Frana 8:25pm May 18, 2013)
It doesn't bother me, as long as it fits in with the rest of the story. There's
nothing wrong with grabbing your reader's attention! Certainly anyone
reading a romance novel should be expecting this at some point. I'd rather
that than wait until 3/4 of the way through the book before anything
remotely spicy happens.
Congratulations on your new book!
(Debbie Burdeen 8:26pm May 18, 2013)
Wouldn't bother me as long as it goes along with story but if
it's just gratuitous sex to sell a book, I might find it
overdone.
(Vicki Hancock 8:43pm May 18, 2013)
No, it doesn't bother me, so long as it fits the story.
(Mary Preston 8:53pm May 18, 2013)
No... it doesn't... not at all. It kind of capture my attention actually as long as it's not gratuitous....
Not sure if you are familiar with Guy Gabriel Kay's work, but he does the same thing in almost all of his novels. He's a fantasy writer and I enjoy his work.
(May Pau 9:05pm May 18, 2013)
Hi Kristine - You're exactly right. I use that opening scene to establish the hero and also to create some conflict because he later realizes someone witnessed his indiscretion. ;)
Hi Debbie - Thank you! I'm thrilled because Seducing Charlotte is my debut. Like you, I also tend to like it when books surprise us by giving us something spicy a little earlier than we're used to.
Hi Sharlene, Wilma, and Mary - I'm glad to hear it doesn't bother you!
Vicki and May - I expect it to capture the reader's attention, but I'm pretty sure readers will find that scene is not gratuitous in any way.
(Diana Quincy 9:22pm May 18, 2013)
I prefer books that start with a bang - they get you hooked right away!
(Janis Milford 9:23pm May 18, 2013)
Yes, I think it is great to start out your book with a hot
scene and it truly makes a romance book more interesting and
makes people want to buy it and keep on reading for more
excitement. Seducing Charlotte sounds like a fantastic book
to win and read. Thanks so much for the fantastic contest.
Thanks, Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 9:47pm May 18, 2013)
It doesn't bother me as long as it informs the story.
(Janie McGaugh 9:57pm May 18, 2013)
Janis & Cecilia - Then Seducing Charlotte is for you! ;)
Janie - It does inform the story and has impact later in the plot.
(Diana Quincy 10:01pm May 18, 2013)
I am all for buying a book that opens with a hot scene! My only hope that it sets the tone for the rest of the book and not a one-time event. Looking forward to reading Seducing Charlotte!
(Tracie Travis 10:39pm May 18, 2013)
I prefer moving into the heat after you have a bit of background for the characters
(Darci Paice 11:51pm May 18, 2013)
It all depends on how the rest of the book goes.
(Laura Gullickson 5:15am May 19, 2013)
Clearly the seduction is not going to lead to instant, eternal happiness for the two concerned, or there is no story. So if the scene comes at the start and creates tension for the rest of the plot, then there is a point to be made by using it.
(Clare O'Beara 6:59am May 19, 2013)
Tracie - The opening hot scene is definitely NOT a one-time event ;)
Darci - I appreciate your point of view. In Seducing Charlotte, I think you'll find the scene impacts the plot later.
Laura - I think that is true of all books! A good story is a good story.
Clare - It does create tension for the rest of the plot!
(Diana Quincy 7:40am May 19, 2013)
It doesn't bother me either...just want it to be part of the story line.
(Bonnie Capuano 8:33am May 19, 2013)
It doesn't matter either way. Hot opening scenes are sometimes appropriate. But usually I like to build to them.
(Pam Howell 8:40am May 19, 2013)
It doesn't bother me as long as it is tasteful and fits in with the rest of the storyline of the book.
(Sue Farrell 10:12am May 19, 2013)
it doesnt bother me either as long as it goes with the story
(Denise Smith 10:49am May 19, 2013)
As long as the story is good, I don't care how it starts, although it is a bit unusual to start with a hot scene.
(Carol Woodruff 11:15am May 19, 2013)
Not a problem for me provided it has relevance to the story line.
(Cate Sparks 11:15am May 19, 2013)
Hi Diana,
I don't think it should be an issue if the opening scene is "hot" or not ~ What is important is ~ Does it hook your reader? Does it draw them into your story and make them want to turn the pages to find out what happens next and why? If it works for your story and leads the reader on a wonderful journey into the heart and soul of your characters and their tale~ then that is what truly matters and what wonderful storytelling and writing is all about. Happy Reading and Writing~ Cheers~ Elizabeth
(Elizabeth MacGregor 11:39am May 19, 2013)
It's not a problem as long as the story is fascinating and this one sounds like it is.
(Anna Speed 12:26pm May 19, 2013)
I love books that open up with something dramatic as long as it fits the story as a whole...
(Colleen Conklin 1:12pm May 19, 2013)
Love books that start with abang. Thanks for a chance to win.
(Amy Milne 2:00pm May 19, 2013)
A
(Kent Cook 2:25pm May 19, 2013)
Bonnie and Carol - I feel the same way about books I like to read.
Pam - Seducing Charlotte starts with a hot scene but builds to a hotter one because it also involves emotions while the first is purely physical
Sue, Denise and Cate - I hope you'll find it does fit in well with the rest of the story!
Elizabeth - I hope it hooks the reader ;)
Anna - Thanks! I hope you get the chance to read Seducing Charlotte.
Colleen and Amy - Me too! Good luck in the contest!
(Diana Quincy 3:55pm May 19, 2013)
It doesn't bother me if the book opens with a hot scene. I always buy the book based on the blurb on the back of the book. This way I know it is the kind of story I would read.
(Kai Wong 6:48pm May 19, 2013)
I am new to the romance novels, so I am not expecting any kind of steamy scene at any particular time; I think that it has to fit in with the story and that could be at the beginning and all the way to the end, whatever works for the storyline.
(Cynthia Blain 8:39pm May 19, 2013)
Yes, I think it is great to start out your book with a hot
scene and it truly makes a romance book more interesting and
makes people want to buy it and keep on reading for more
excitement. Seducing Charlotte sounds like a fantastic book
to win and read. Thanks so much for the fantastic contest.
Thanks, Cecilia CECE...I really do want to Win!!!
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:37pm May 19, 2013)
It's your story so it has to go the way you need it to go.
(Penny Mettert 7:22pm May 20, 2013)
Hi May and Vicky -
I love when a book starts off with a "hot" scene and especially when the story follow up on it! To me it shows that Camryn is a man with strong feeling and I love that what he feels shows in his actions. Charlotte better beware!
(Jeanne Miro 8:46pm May 26, 2013)
Hi Diana!
I like having a story open with a "hot scene" as long as it's relevant to setting up the story itself. In fact I think you can learn a lot about the characters in how they interact and relate to each in an intimate scene and it can set up how you relate to the characters as well!
(Jeanne Miro 10:34pm June 1, 2013)
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