Sunday, October 28, 2012

Blog tour: ANNIE SEATON


Today I'm thrilled to kick off fellow Entangled Publishing author Annie Seaton's blog tour.
I recently met Annie in person at the RWAus awards dinner and she's as vibrant and lovely in person as she is online.

Take it away, Annie!


Amnesiac oil sheikh billionaire, embroiled in a  family feud discovers his best friend’s little sister has had his baby and…

No not really… but it is an example of a possible trope!
Tropes....does anyone who doesn’t write romance know what a trope is?
I have to admit that the word was new to me, the first time my editor and I discussed my second book.  As both a librarian and English teacher in former careers, I was embarrassed when I had to go to the dictionary. I was new to writing and still picking up the lingo!
However the dictionary which defined it as a common or overused theme or device didn’t really help me…so I went exploring. First stop Wikipedia –a trope is figurative language in literature, or a figure of speech, or something recurring across a genre or type of creative work.

Okay, still no wiser and when my editor asks what tropes am I writing and reminds me I need at least two, I scurry off to Google! Okay, same answer as Wikipaeida.
 Help! This is taking time away from my writing. Where to now? Okay ...Google romance tropes.
Yay…success! Thanks to a few romance blogs who tell me that one of the secrets to writing successful romance is to take a well loved trope and give it a twist. Ah…the penny drops. 

Tropes are what I have read and loved for many years—I just didn’t know there was a name for it. Secret babies, accidental pregnancies, amnesia, betrayal, family feuds and friends to lovers.

In Holiday Affair, the trope is a one night stand gone wrong, with a bit of mistaken identity or less than honesty thrown in and a teensy hint of a love triangle.
 Everything that builds the conflict is the trope.

So to answer my wonderful editor…the trope of my next book is a combination of a marriage of convenience and an old family feud, a little bit of opposites attract and a super wealthy hero!
Now when I am asked about trope, I feel rather smug. And not only I can answer knowledgably, I can illustrate by describing my own books and the path of my characters to happily ever after.

So tell me what’s your favorite trope?

Website: http://annieseatonromance.com
Blog: http://annieseaton.blogspot.com
Twitter: @annieseaton26

Buy on Amazon

Annie Seaton lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia, where she loves sitting in her writing chair, gazing at the ocean and writing stories. She has always been fascinated by all things historical and has found her niche writing contemporary romance and steampunk, where strong heroines and brooding heroes fight together to make their alternative world a better place.
Her debut novel, Holiday Affair, a contemporary romance set in the South Pacific was released as part of Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line in March. The sequel Italian Affair is currently underway Watch out for the story of Tom and Brianna the sex therapist who spices up his life!
Winter of the Passion Flower was released through Lyrical Press at the same time. It is also available in print from the Books page of Annie's website. Currently immersed in the creation of Book Two, a full length novel, the adventures of Sofia and her Scottish laird, Annie is already looking forward to the rest of the series, particularly the adventures of Indigo’s four boys: Jago and Jory, Ruan and Kit. Strong sassy heroines and
rebellious heroes have a rollicking good time as they work to make the world a better place--
albeit their own steampunk world.
Blind Lust, a paranormal novella will be released by Musa Publishing on 15th June.

16 comments:

Susanne Bellamy said...

I love sheik stories such as Emma Darcy's, especially the one set in Zanzibar (I'm bad with names, sorry)--exotic locations and clash of cultures are gold. I also love the 'opposites attract' and have just finished Amy Andrews's "Taming the Tycoon". It was delightful with a number of humorous encounters between the protagonists that had me rofl. They were priceless. I also love heroines with a sense of humour, unusual locations, alpha males and...hey, I just love romance!
Cheers,
Susanne

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

If you love romance, you have good taste, Susanne! :)

I love opposites attract stories too. One of my favourites to read and write.

I really enjoy 'friends to lovers' too.

Fiona Marsden said...

My favourite is the reunion trope but only if both hero and heroine have remained faithful. I also like the marriage of convenience trope. In my vintages I like May-December tropes, revenge tropes. Actually I think I just like all the traditional tropes. It would probably be simpler to say what I don't like.

Toni Kenyon said...

Hi Annie & Nicola,

I'm with you Nicola - friends to lovers and opposites attracting. Both IMHO make for lots of believable conflict.

I love your cover, Annie it's light and bright and the beach background makes it really appealing.

Toni

Serena Tatti Story Editor said...

Hmmm. Favourite trope? I love revenge stories and rich heroes. How about *The Revenge of the Billionaire's Virgin Bride*?

I also met the gorgeous Annie at the RWAus conference at the Gold Coast. Nic, I've known for a looooong time. I knew her when... ;-P

Love your cover, Annie! Thanks for having Annie as your special guest, Nic! (Hey it's been too long!!)
Hugs

The Smiths said...

So many stories to write... Thanks for your lovely comments. I loved meeting all of you too,
And yes I LOVE my cover!

Rachel Lyndhurst said...

Coming in late here, but I love the good old 'Boss' trope. It's probably because of all the years I spent working in a Finance department with clever men in suits! I still love a clean shaven executive ... :0)

Unknown said...

I like those secret baby tropes. What can I say I am sucker for kids. Hero finds out years later after meeting up with Heroine that the little girl or boy in her life is really his child. She tries to sheild the child and he buts in, maybe takes her to court. Kid says he loves both his mother and father and they all live HEA.. Yep gets me every time.. Through it the holidays and I am in heaven.

Calisa Rhose said...

Hi Annie. How's the beach today? ;) I love friends to lovers and reunion stories. I'm writing one of the latter right now, in fact and have another in mind as a book two to my surprise baby/one night stand gone VERY wrong story on hold on revisions currently. lol Congrats and good wishes to you.

The Smiths said...

Hi Callisa. Beach is great! Thanks to everyone for telling their favourite tropes. I'll have to get writing!

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Interesting you mention revenge trope, Princess Fiona.

That's one I probably don't like as much as the rest. The whole 'hate turning to love' thing, usually from an alpha guy...hmm, though I guess it's appealing seeing a tough guy brought to his knees for the love of a woman!

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

For me as a reader, Toni, believable conflict is the key.

If I don't believe what's keeping the H/H apart, I'm not invested in their story.

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Waving to Serena!

You knew me when I first started writing and used too many exclamation marks! lol

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

I adore the 'boss' trope, Rachel.
It's why I've written so many of them, I reckon. Hot guys in designer suits, yum!

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Kathleen, you've just described my current release, FALLING FOR FLYNN.

I'm not so big on secret baby stories unless the motivation for keeping the secret is strong and believable, but must admit I had fun writing this one!

Romance, Rumours and Rogues said...

Sounds like we like the same kind of stories, Calisa :)