QUESTION: While in Atlanta with the Plotmonkeys, what stories did each of you plot, and can you tell us a bit about those stories?
JD: I plotted my next “Wilde” book, which is actually going to be a spin-off into a new series I’m calling the “Elite” series. (You’ll still get updates on the Wilde family in these books, but there aren’t any more of the Wilde family to write about!) This book will tell the story of one of Joel’s Marine friends that he’s in business with, and we came up with a fun and sexy story I can’t wait to write. Security specialist Jon Knight is hired to watch over sexy, spontaneous night club promoter, Jillian Shaw after her father, who is running for governor, starts receiving death threats against himself and his daughter. Except Jillian has no intention of going into hiding when she has work obligations to fulfill and one of the biggest nights of her life that could make or break her career as a night club promoter. So, Jon is forced to kidnap Jillian in the middle of the night and takes her to the family estate where he can watch over her until the election is over. What ensues is a battle of wills, (Jillian is a feisty, independent heroine!), and the kind of close confinement that leads to a whole lot of sexy situations that the hero is hard pressed to resist! But once the election is over and Jon and Jillian return to civilization, the threats take on a different twist and turn that neither one of them ever suspect.
I came to Atlanta with no idea of what my next story would be, and I have to admit that it took us a long time to nail an idea that “sparked” for me. But once Julie and Leslie hit on this story idea, I knew it was perfect for me, and my characters, and promises to be the kind of fun, sexy story I love to write. Carly chimed in with character and conflict, and whaa-laa, I now have a fully formed idea and story. While this will be the first book in the “Elite” series, I had a talk with my Berkley editor in Atlanta, and we decided to keep the “Wild” titles (but drop the “e” at the end) so readers would know that these books are loosely connected to the Wilde series. I can’t wait to get started on this one!
CP: I came to Atlanta knowing I’d recently decided to continue the HOT ZONE series because of reader letters asking for more books. Also thanks to reader letters (see, we DO listen!), the first story is going to be John Roper and Amy’s (Riley’s cousin) story. The three titles are tentatively: (HOT PROPERTY, HOT TICKET, HOT STREAK). We plotted Roper and Amy’s story and I am really jazzed. It turns out Roper has a close knit family – who knew!
LK: I was there to get the monkeys to help me figure out what to do with the next Trouble book, which comes out next summer. I had it plotted out but it needed some refining, which they were able to help me do. It’s the story of Mike Taylor, (Max’s younger brother) who is a cold case detective in NYC. He comes to Trouble to visit Mortimer, and meets this sexy, smart-ass woman stranded out in the middle of nowhere (she was dumped by her great-aunts, Ida Mae and Ivy.) The two of them get caught up in a 40 year old murder mystery–an up and coming rock-and-roller who may have been murdered by the heroine’s own great aunt. Should be lots of fun and a worthy follow-up to Here Comes Trouble. (Only, from what I found out today, suddenly it won’t be called Trouble Or Nothing…Harlequin has decided I have to change the whole concept of covers/titles…can’t say I’m sorry aboutu the change in covers, but I sure did like those Trouble titles!)
Other than that, we also plotted my next Blaze, a “Bad Girls Club” book next September. It’s the last of the Santori family stories–about brother Nick, who’s been off in the Marines throughout all the Santori stories. His family is pushing him to find a “nice girl and settle down” and he thinks he’s found one–the sweet, pretty, quiet baker at the local Italian bakery. But by night, he’s totally out of his mind hot over a masked stripper who’s driving the men of Chicago wild…never realizing they are one and the same woman.
Can’t wait to write that one!
JEL: I also plotted my “Bad Girls Club” Blaze. Mine will be out in August of next year. (Tori Carrington is writing the third in the series…this is a redux of the series we did in Temptation.) Mine will have a paranormal touch, as my heroine is a witch who had her powers stripped because she was using them for personal gain. (Shades of Charmed, yes, I know.) She hooks up with a former lover who left her because of her powers. He’s a no-nonsense, Show-Me state cop who didn’t appreciate my heroine manipulating him, but she might just have the key to take down a crooked lawyer who possibly has powers of his own. I know it sounds heavily paranormal, but actually, since the heroine’s powers are gone, she has to learn how to manipulate the hero with her more ‘natural’ charms rather than the supernatural ones. Should be fun. It will lead into a witch-themed anthology I’m doing the very next month with Rhonda Nelson and Mia Zachary.
We also finalized the storyline on the third Marisela Morales adventure. I can’t say much without giving away quite a bit of DIRTY LITTLE LIES, but this one is called TALK DIRTY TO ME and the plot will revolve around a stolen Church relic, Marisela’s struggle with her faith in both herself and in a higher power, Cuban politics (very timely!) and will feature quite a bit of the Max character, who was a reader favorite from DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS. We learn all sorts of cool stuff about him…and how he affects Marisela’s life. And of course, Frankie will be sniffing around, luring Marisela into all sorts of carnal delights. Only he’s not exactly working WITH Marisela anymore…they’re working together yes…but also against each other. I’m writing the synopsis right now.
Of course, this book won’t be written unless DLL sells well and Pocket invests in the next book. Cross your fingers!
As I read over all that we plotted during a super-busy conference, I’m amazed all over again. We’re a fine-oiled monkey machine!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Way to go girls they all sound great!!!!!!!!!!!!
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These all sound so good!:cooldance:
Can’t wait to see what you ladies bring out for 2007!
You all must have had a blast plotting!
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I’m soo excited… Thank heavens i already have my 2007 calendar. I’ve marked all the dates!:cooldance:
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Oh, they all sound soooo good! I can’t wait to get my hands on them.
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I am excited about these books!! Sign me up right now for first copies!!!:D
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Sounds like fun….Janelle, is there any particular order I am supposed to read the WILDE series in? I seem to read plotmonkeys’ books out of order, then, I go “What?”.
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Wow !! That was some session you Plotmonkeys had……….all those good books, you all work so well together………….I am excited with the list of books to come…………:cheer:
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Hi, Katie — If you go to my website (www.janelledenison.com), there is a link on the right hand side that says “Wilde Series”. Click on that, and you will see the books in the right order. There are six of them so far, with more to come!
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Wow! You guys sure have been busy. I’m so excited for your books to come out already! I like how you all are continuing the series books because they work so nicely. Can’t wait for 2007.:thumbsup:
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The Plotmonkeys were very creative in Atlanta. Go Plotmonkeys!! :thumbsup2: The books all sound good, something to look forward to reading. :happy2:
Have a great weekend.
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You know, it really was lots of fun–the creative energy just jazzes me up every time.
And here’s an early tidbit…Janelle and I have cooked up something kind of fun–an inside joke for our Plotmonkey readers–for some of our 2007 books. Not saying anymore yet…but watch out for more news.
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Sounds like you did alot of plotting and that is always great for us readers. I am soo glad Carly is continuing with the Hot Zone books. I really enjoyed all of them. Good luck to all of you with your new books and happy writing.
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Wow, what a great question! How you involved each other in the writing process was fascinating, & thanks for sharing it with us. I’ve updated my Publication Release list for the upcoming books, & am looking forward to reading how the stories turn out.
Patricia A.
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I am sooooo excites also:cooldance:
PLOT MONKEYS RULE:thumbsup:
Can’t wait for 2007 I am with the other ladies I am going to mark my calender
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Thanks, Janelle..I wasn’t sure if that was the ‘right’ order. I am excited to ‘catch up’ on the ‘plotmonkeys’” books and read a few new ones.
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that sounds great.:cheer:
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I think I will have to get all of those books!
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Oh Julie, your witchy books sound fun.:lol:
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I don’t know how y’all found anytime to get any work done at the convention, but you did.:thumbsup2:
All the up coming books sound very, very good.:doggie:
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Carly-
I am so glad that you will be continuing the Hot Series. I love the series and can’t wait to tell my daughter that there will be more. We were both so disappointed when we read the last one- not in the story but that it was the last one.
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Leslie, are you allowed to reveal why Harlequin decided you have to change the whole concept of covers/titles of the Trouble books? Just curious why that decision was made.
I ordered Here Comes Trouble recently, and I’m hoping it arrives sometime this week. I’m really looking forward to reading it.
Diana
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Didn’t do any plotting save for my Uni English report that are due –
JD I am soooooooo excited for your next book — it is one of my most highly anticipated novels of ’07