Georgie Lee: Don’t Be Afraid To Try Something A Little Different

I confess, I didn’t start my writing career with romance. I wanted to be a screenwriter, so I moved to Hollywood, learned the craft of writing screenplays and the film business. However, I fell a little short of seeing my name on the big screen.

As a result, there came a day when I had to admit that perhaps, just maybe, it was time to change course. I still wanted to write, but maybe screenwriting wasn’t the right genre for me. I started examining my interests and thinking about what the next step in my writing career would be. I loved romance. I loved history. Why couldn’t I write a historical romance? I’d read romance for many years, but I was sixteen the last time I thought about actually writing one. Back then, I’d even checked out a library book on how to write romance. What I thought a sixteen year old could bring to a story, I’m not sure, but I give myself kudos for trying. Now, I needed to try again.

It wasn’t easy changing course because, in many ways, it meant starting from the beginning. Thanks to my screenwriting background, I knew a great deal about the craft of writing, but not as it applied to narrative. During the first drafts of my first novel, I struggled with moving characters through scenes, description, and even the proper use of speech tags. I hadn’t discovered RWA yet, so I stumbled through these early, self-taught lessons with the help of some brutally honest critique partners. Once I did discover RWA, I began to learn the business of writing romance and found new ways to hone my skills as a novelist. Like the pursuit of my screenwriting dream, it took time and effort to learn the craft and business, but unlike screenwriting, I began to see success. With each accomplishment, I gained more confidence and the encouragement to keep going. 

Making the change wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. I didn’t give up on my dream to write, I just changed it. If you’re thinking of tweaking your dreams, I encourage you to do it. Don’t let fear of the unknown or going back to the beginning stop you. After all, what do you have to lose?

So, how about you? In what ways have you changed course in your careers and goals? I want to hear your stories.

Engagement of Convenience:

Julia Howard longs for the freedom her inheritance will bring her—but with her controlling brother holding the purse strings, she's going to need a most convenient engagement… An encounter in the woods with a dashing stranger couldn't be more timely.
Wounded, his life at sea at an end, Captain James Covington isn't prepared for the dull ache of civilian life. He sees in Julia a fellow adventurous spirit—willing to risk all. Could agreeing to her outrageous proposal help him recapture a reason to live as they face the biggest adventure of all—marriage?

Amazon 

Barnes &Noble

Harlequin 

Hero’s Redemption:

London, 1817

Devon, the Earl of Malton, is a hero for his deeds at the Battle of Waterloo. But he suffers terrible nightmares, and drinks himself to sleep most nights. A habit he vows to break when he awakes one morning to find a woman sharing his bed, no memory of how she got there, and her angry brother at his door.

Cathleen is mortified when her wastrel brother and his greedy wife propose a blackmail scheme involving the earl, but as a penniless war widow she's at their mercy. She goes along with the plan and sneaks into Devon's bed one night, and ends up comforting him through a night terror.

Charmed by her beauty and kindness, Devon determines that rather than pay the blackmail, he will offer his hand in marriage to Cathleen. Although she is deeply attracted to the stoic earl, Cathleen cannot understand why Devon would want to marry her. What she doesn't know is that Devon owes her a debt that can never fully be repaid…

Carina Press

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of the entertainment industry.

Her first novel, Lady’s Wager, and her contemporary novella, Rock ‘n’ Roll Reunion are both available from Ellora’s Cave Blush. Labor Relations, a contemporary romance of Hollywood, and Studio Relations, a love story set in 1935 Hollywood, are currently available from Montlake Romance. Hero’s Redemption, a Regency novella, is now available from Carina Press.  

When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit  www.georgie-lee.com for more information about Georgie and her novels.