Today we have Harlequin author Sarah M. Anderson back at The Book Pushers to talk about her newest release. Welcome back to The Book Pushers Sarah, take it away!
Who Comes Up With This Stuff?
If I were to tell you the particulars of my latest plot—political scion meets reformed hooker, falls in love, and gives up the path to power for her—you might roll your eyes.
And you know what? I can’t blame you. When you break a book down to those bare elements, it sounds cheesy. For example, More Than He Expected, by Andrea Laurence, sounds great when you say:
The Exception to the Rule
Playboy Alex Stanton likes his relationships short and without strings. But his fiery fling with Gwen Wright left him craving more. So when a holiday weekend getaway provides an opportunity for another taste of the tantalizing woman, he grabs it. Only, things have changed since their last encounter….
Besides being noticeably pregnant, Gwen insists she’s sworn off men. As if the challenge weren’t tempting enough, Gwen’s enticing new curves have made the sexy spitfire even more appealing. But how can the footloose bachelor hang on to his heart when he can’t stop longing for the soon-to-be mama?
But when you say More Than He Expected is about a billionaire commitment-phobic playboy falling for a woman carrying a surrogate baby in the Hamptons, well, of course it’s going to sound terrible.
And therein lies the problem. As authors, we do not have the time or wherewithal to spout out back-cover worthy copy at a moment’s notice to everyone who asks, “So, what are you working on?” Instead, what usually comes out of our mouths after school, in line at the grocery store, or on the soccer field is the super-duper, cheese-tastic blurb.
And what we get in return is some version of, “How do you come up with that?” Which is, universally, the most polite way someone can say, “Who would want to read THAT?”
So we soldier on, trying to come up with less cheesy ways of summing up a complex, rich plot, full of characters that grow and change and make sacrifices for the ones they love in twenty words or less.
I’m giving away one copy of A Man of Privilege to one lucky reader who leaves a comment relating the cheesiest sounding blurb. Plus—bonus—every week I’m giving away one of these handcrafted (by me!) book necklaces from everyone who commented throughout the week! Check the Authorial Moms blog every Sunday to see if you were the winner! Go on, shock me with the awful! It can’t be any worse than what I’ve already said.
The Non-Cheesy A Man of Privilege Blurb:
She isn’t what he expected.
Blue-blood lawyer James Carlson is working on the case of his life. After winning this trial, his career will be set. He won’t let anything…or anyone… alter his course. Then he meets his witness.
Maggie Eagle Heart makes him question everything–his family, his goals, his future. Because she’s the one woman he wants, and she’s the one woman who is completely off limits. Yet even as he struggles to keep their relationship all about business, he can’t
deny the attraction is mutual–and irresistible.James has always done what is expected of him…until now.
A Man of Privilege is available! Visit your favorite bookseller, at Amazon, or for the Nook.
Bio: Award-winning author Sarah M. Anderson may live east of the Mississippi River, but her heart lies out west on the Great Plains. With a lifelong love of horses and two history teachers for parents, it wasn’t long before her characters found themselves out in South Dakota among the Lakota Sioux. She loves to put people from two different worlds into new situations and to see how their backgrounds and cultures take them someplace they never thought they’d go.
When not helping out at school or walking her rescue dogs, Sarah spends her days having conversations with imaginary cowboys and American Indians, all of which is surprisingly well-tolerated by her wonderful husband and son.
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This post is brought to you as part of the A Man of Privilege/Distinction Blog Tour. For a complete tour schedule and rules, visit www.sarahmanderson.com. Comments on this blog will be entered to win a signed copy of A Man of Privilege. Ends July 3rd.
Next tour stop is June 28: Ramblings of a Chaotic Mind
Congratulations on your new release. As for the cheesy blurb:
Up and coming attorney is hired to defend reality show tv starlet. (I’m not a big fan of reality tv to begin with).
Kim, that is Cheese-Tastic!
Cheese or no cheese…can’t wait to read!
Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
Bear witness to an arresting case of attraction.
(That is so bad, but fun thank you.)
Great post idea, Sarah! You’re so right about the cheese factor in romance novel blurbs. I always end mine with, “Trust me, it’s much better than it sounds” (lol).
No need to enter me in the giveaway because I’ve already ordered your book, but I’ll sum up my first Harlequin in the cheesiest way I can think of: Two cops who are longtime enemies realize they’re in love while on the run in Mexico.
Trust me, it’s much better than it sounds! 🙂
Congrats on the newest release! I must go find your book!
Oh wow… I see what you mean. I have to admit, I have been put off by a bad blurb… but luckily I reconsider after reading great reviews…
So here goes my version of a cheesy blurb…
Sunshine’s heart was broken when her fiance, Dex, ran off w/ her sorority sister! After he’d cleaned out her bank account, alienated her from her family and friends, fired her from his company, changed the locks on their apartment, sold her car and gave away her puppy! Thinking he’d returned for her, she was devastated to realize that she’d spent a night of fierce passion with his twin brother, an ex-marine, lawyer, doctor, philanthropist! And when she finds out that she’s pregnant, can she find it in her heart to forgive her ex when he comes back and needs her kidney to live? Can she live a lie pretending to still love him so as not to upset him while he’s on his death bed? Can Luther convince her that he’s the complete opposite of his dying brother while reconciling his guilt for loving her while his twin brother lies dying? And can they foil the mad bomber who’s stalking the city in revenge for Dex’s greedy deeds?
Seriously, I have read a lot of romance and I *love* it. So please don’t take this as mocking, but good natured fun 🙂
Hey, it’s cheesy but the story works.
Thanks, Jaye!
Victoria, you’re entered! Compliments will get you everywhere with me!
Mary, oy, that was a GROANER! I loved it!
Erin, that’s TERRIBLE! I bet it’d be a Best Seller!
Kai, that’s the trick, isn’t it? Aiming for good cheese!
Any of the following elements alert me to cheese: wealthy folks, secret pregnancies or babies, beautifully attractive people, paranormal creatures (esp. vampires and werewolves), celebrities, and situations where every character has been romantically involved with every other character at some point (see medical dramas on ABC, some sitcoms, some reality TV shows).
For me, the ultimate in cheese is a blurb for Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. And for the rest of the series as well. Breaking Dawn is really where it goes off the rails. (One word: Renesmee.)
Melissa, I’m sure that works on paper, right?
And Justine, well, I’m not going ANYWHERE near that one!
I would enjoy reading it
Congratulations on the book! It sounds good. I can’t think of any now.
And the winner of the copy of A Man of Privilege was Kim! Kim, email me at message AT sarahmanderson DOT com and I’ll get you your copy!
Thanks to everyone who commented!