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Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Personal Touch - Lori Borrill

My latest Blaze hits the shelves next week. Release week is always an exciting time for an author, usually because it's been months since we were knee-deep within the pages of the story. The happily ever after came and went long ago. We've gone through the edit process, read and re-read the manuscript countless times, filled out the Art Fact Sheet that provides information for the marketing department, written up the reader letter, dedication and bio. All the work is done, has been done for what seems like forever, and now--finally--we get to share the final product with the world.

Here's the official blurb for THE PERSONAL TOUCH:

When matchmaker Margot Roth is hired to find a date for the mother of a playboy millionaire, an erotic fling is the last thing on her mind. Well, maybe not the last thing. Clint Hilton is the sexiest man she's ever met, and she has to admit naughty things go through her mind when he looks at her with his sultry eyes.

But now that Clint is there to turn her fantasies into reality, Margot isn't sure if giving in to temptation is the best idea—even if he's determined to share his bed with her…or something more.


What was particularly fun about writing this story was all the secondary characters I managed to fit in. As the blurb says, my heroine is a matchmaker, and throughout the story, I wrote in a number of sessions with her and some of her very colorful clients. Those are the pieces a writer gets to have lots of fun with. We have to be so careful with our main characters, making sure they're likeable, their motives are sound, that their conflict is clear, and in general doing what we need to do to make sure readers engage with them and root for them. It's the secondary characters where we get to hang loose, throw in lots of color and run with whatever comes to mind. And this book offered me lots of opportunity to do that.

I'm very much looking forward to sharing this release and hope you all check it out. In the meantime, I've got a free copy to give away. Simply comment on this post, maybe tell me about a book you read where the secondary characters were especially memorable. Or just tell me what you're doing this summer. I'm easy! I'll post the winner in the comments tomorrow, so make sure to come back and check. And for the rest of you, I hope you'll give this fun story a try when it hits the shelves next week!

Lori Borrill is working on her 9th novel for Harlequin Blaze. For more information about her and her books, check out her website at http://www.loriborrill.com/.

11 comments:

EllenToo said...

Funny you should ask about secondary characters. I just read a Presents book that had a secondary character that overcame a bad childhood where she was afraid of a lot of things only to become a strong person who was willing to get in the hero's face to defend and protect her older sister.
The book: "Bought for Revenge, Bedded for Pleasure" by Emma Darcy.

Armenia said...

Hi Lori,

Congratulations on your release.

I read SEP's NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE where Cal Bonner's parents were going through a rough patch in their marriage because of a family tragedy. Their story was very memorable because it was so heart felt, they got back together, and by the end of the book I had used up at least a fourth of the tissue box.

Jane said...

Congrats on the upcoming release, Lori. One of my favorite secondary characters is Anne Mallory's St. John. I really hope he will get his own book someday.

robynl said...

summer plans are to enjoy some evenings around the firepit and a weiner roast or two- we've done both. We've had a family get-together when little sis came down from 6 hrs. away and we had a BBQ.

I'm waiting to be called to the Cancer Clinic to see what treatment I need. Dh is laying ceramic tile in the laundry room.

Pat Cochran said...

Suzanne Brockmann's books treat her
secondary characters very well, my
favorite is Izzy. I read recently
where he is going to get his own
story. I can hardly wait for that
book!

Pat Cochran

Laney4 said...

Congrats on The Personal Touch hitting stores this week!

Summer plans are to celebrate our "110th birthday(s)" - my husband soon turns 60 and I turned 50 recently. We hope to have a BBQ for friends and family to enjoy -- AFTER we get our driveway widened and paved. We are paving half of our front yard to accommodate our kids' two vehicles, plus redoing our existing single driveway, and I'd prefer that this is all done BEFORE the big wingding!

Kytaira said...

Ramsey Sinclair and Brigid from Julie Garwood's Ransom. I loved the book and was so intrigued by Ramsey. I was really disappointed that their love story was just a secondary story. They deserved their own book.

My summer plans involve working. I just started a new job so can't imagine taking much time off with so much to learn. I will be getting an ereader though. I eat lunch outside by a pond with ducks and waterfalls in it. Beautiful spot and I'd like to read at a bench while I eat a sandwich.

kim h said...

hot cover
the matching making that is great theme i love watching millionare match maker lol

just working this summer
kh

The Brunette Librarian said...

I <3 books where the secondary characters are memorable! :) So many authors do a great job of having fun or tormented secondary characters that you just want to read more of them!! :D

I saw someone had already mentioned Susan Elizabeth Phillips, but she does an EXCELLENT job! She almost always has a major story along with a minor story featuring the secondary characters and their both equally satisfying.

Another one that comes to mind (I'm crazy with allergies this morning...blah) is Lisa Kleypas. She seems to segway well into other characters and then those characters seem to have their own books down the road. Entirely enjoyable!

Your blaze sounds fun. I wish you tons of luck and I'll be looking for it!! Happy Summer!!

rachie2004 @ yahoo (dot) com

Lori Borrill said...

Such great things going on this summer! I agree with the SEP assessments. She's one of my most favorite authors and I absolutely love the lively groups of characters she brings to her books! And thanks to the rest of you for the book recommendations. I've jotted down a couple which sound very interesting.

Congrats on the new jobs, birthdays and upcoming celebrations, and I hope all of you find yourselves in good health.

And as promised, I've got a winner to receive a free copy of THE PERSONAL TOUCH.

The book goes to Armenia!

Congrats, Armenia! Please send your snail mail address to lori@loriborrill.com and I'll get it into the mail to you.

And many thanks to the rest of you for chiming in!

Armenia said...

Too awesome....thanks Lori. So honored to win this book and I will email you my addy. Thanks again.