Yvonne Lindsay - Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

A couple of years ago I had ideas for three stories for three brothers -- Declan, Mason and Connor Knight. In written form they did well in various competitions but the biggest thrill was when Connor's story was picked up by Silhouette Desire for my first sale.

THE BOSS'S CHRISTMAS SEDUCTION

This story, due for release in the US in October, was created from a Christmas themed back-page blurb exercise I did for an RWNZ Inc chapter meeting. It's amazing how a whole book can be spooled out of a snippet of an idea and how the characters can become living people during the course of the book's development. I've always been extremely fortunate to have the unquestionable support and love of my family and I couldn't imagine how the holidays must feel to those who have no-one, especially those who don't even know where they come from. From that flipside, Holly Christmas, my heroine was born. In it's earliest incarnation this book was known as SANTA'S SECRET BABY and was a Reader's Choice manuscript in the 2005 Clendon Award, a full manuscript competition run by RWNZ Inc. and sponsored by Barbara and Peter Clendon of Barbara's Books (a romance, fantasy and science fiction retail and mail order outlet).

THE CEO'S CONTRACT BRIDE

Declan's story was my second sale to Silhouette Desire and will be released in the USA in February 2007. This story, as HER SUBSTITUTE GROOM, won the 2004 Clendon Award, and back then Declan had a different name and was helping his brother out as a topless waiter when he met Gwen, the heroine. This story has gone through several rewrites to bring it to the stage where I could submit it to my editor for consideration and I was ecstatic to hear that, a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005, she wanted to buy it. Of course I said she could! The original idea for the story came from my hairdresser, who together with a good group of friends has ladies' days which are catered by... you guessed it... hunky male topless waiters. Of course that part of the story has gone but the incendiary attraction between Declan and Gwen still burns.

THE TYCOON'S HIDDEN HEIR

Mason's original story was Highly Commended in the Clendon Award (are you beginning to see a theme here?) and will be redeveloped this year for Silhouette Desire's current guidelines. I'm really looking forward to bringing the middle Knight brother's story alive and to the acquisitions table in New York. I'll keep you posted on progress!

ROSSELLINI'S REVENGE AFFAIR

Have you ever heard a song and wondered "what if?" I had an experience like that when listening to one recently and ROSSELLINI'S REVENGE AFFAIR popped into my head. I've never tried a revenge story before and this one is developing into deeply emotive tale which crosses a few boundaries. Poor Raffaele and Lana are on hold for the moment though, while I work out Mason's woman troubles.