Writing Continuities

Writing is normally a solitary occupation and writers often use colourful terms such as being "shut in the cave", to describe the writing process, closing oneself off from the outside pressures and intrusions of "normal life" but riddled with the pressures from within, the ones we face alone and which feature all manner of anxieties. Whether it is your first book, your tenth, even your one hundredth, the crows of doubt can still circle overhead and peck at you, and there is the ever-present deadline hell. Depending on how well - or otherwise! - things are going, you and your characters are together and, hopefully, you are heading in the same direction to get their story told. Whatever the circumstances, they are your characters, their story has developed as you have come to know them.

Being involved in a continuity series is a completely different thing. It wouldn't suit everyone. But then it would be a very dull world if we were all the same! Some people find it less easy to work as part of a team and are better suited to the solitariness that usually makes up a writer's life. When I was first asked to take part, I was filled with a whole range of mixed emotions ranging from excitement to fear! I had never worked on a writing project with other people before, nor had I ever undertaken the task of writing a book where the basic plot, setting and characters are given to me rather than stemming from my own imagination. Could I do it? How would I put my own stamp on the story? What would it be like trying to work with others?

I had no idea what to expect. And, as a relative newbie, I was in awe of those who would be working on the project with me ... some of Mills & Boon's greatest writers of Medical Romance whose books I had long admired. I didn't think I was worthy to share shelf space with them, let alone work together on a whole series. I worried I would be the weak link and I was terrified of letting everyone down. Generally speaking, when writing on my own, missed deadlines or anything else that doesn't go to plan, affects only me. I stuff up and I take the consequences. If anything went wrong when working on the continuity, it would not just be me who was affected, and that was a responsibility I felt deeply.

I'm glad to say that I had a wonderful time and learned so much working on my first continuity series which turned out to be the very popular 12-book Brides Of Penhally Bay which ran one a month in Medical Romance throughout 2008, Mills & Boon's centenary year. We had a great time building up a real feeling of community, sharing and discussing ideas, and making each story our own while still carrying through the continuity element. Hopefully, readers would enjoy following the lives of the folk in Penhally through all 12 books, but if not, we wanted them to be able to dip in and out and still follow what was going on, so each main story was strong enough to stand alone.

I had such a great time on Penhally 1 so I was thrilled and honoured to be asked back to advance things further with a shortened mini series for Penhally 2. The 4 new books were just as much fun to write and be part of and it was a joy to return to the fictional world in Cornwall, revisit past characters and get to know new ones. There was a real feeling of familiarity and warmth which I hope will come through in the books themselves.

From my point of view, one of the best aspects of being involved in the Penhally projects, has been making some very special friendships, and for that I feel very blessed and am exceedingly grateful.

All 16 books that comprise the Brides Of Penhally Bay series are now available to download as e-books from www.millsandboon.co.uk while the books that make up the second mini series are out now in paperback in the UK and, I believe, Australia. Caroline Anderson started things off in October with the excellent The Rebel Of Penhally Bay. In November came Spanish Doctor, Pregnant Midwife by Anne Fraser while in December was Kate Hardy's Falling For The Playboy Millionaire.

The 4th book, (or 16th, depending where you are counting from!), is my own A Mother For The Italian's Twins which is on the shelves in the UK in January 2010 but is available now on the Mills & Boon website. I loved writing Luca & Polly's story and it was wonderful being part of the Penhally family again. I hope readers will enjoy all the books.

I'm lucky enough to be starting out on my third continuity project, although I am currently sworn to secrecy, so watch this space for future news on just what is being planned! Whether I am writing alone in my own little cave, lost in my fictional world of Strathlochan, or whether I am involved in a joint project with the fellow writers I admire so much, the challenge remains to make the book the best it can be and to wrestle with the crows of doubt, the deadline hell and other anxieties that are part of a writer's life. I am grateful to be able to follow the career I love so much and to lose myself in the lives of my characters. Most especially I am blessed that writing has brought me the most precious and priceless of gifts ... the friendships I have made.

Wishing you all the best for the holiday season and hoping that 2010 is filled with all good things.

Love,
Margaret

www.margaretmcdonagh.com

EVERY BOOK HAS ITS OWN PERSONALITY

I am peeping blearily out from the inside of the deadline cave – which seems to have become my permanent residence! – to ponder on the fact that books have personalities. At least during the writing stage.

I wish I was super-confident and full of self-belief. But I never have been, and even after ten Medicals, I still feel as scared as ever – if not more so – when I finish a book and wait in utter terror for my lovely editor's verdict. It doesn't get easier. In fact, it gets worse. For me, at least. I certainly don't take anything for granted and assume that just because I have had one ... or ten ... books accepted, that the next one is going to be a walk in the park. Sadly not! On the other hand, although the terror is horrible, it can also be a good thing. I think that if the day ever comes that I get complacent, don't care and don't keep trying to write the best book I possibly can, is the day that I should give up.

Right now I am on the final chapter of Med number eleven, the deadline is looming ever closer, and the fear that this is the one that ends up in the skip is increasing hourly. And one thing that this book has really brought home to me since the moment I sat down to write it, is that every book has its own character and personality.

It's been my experience to date that no two books are the same. I'm a pantser. And I'm character driven. Which means I set off on page one, my hero and heroine in my head and hopefully talking to me, with an idea of how it is going to end but less of an idea what is going to happen to get us there. I know the hero and heroine. I know their backstories. I know their fears, their motivations, their hopes and their dreams.

With some books, my hero, heroine and I are clearly on the same wavelength, and we set off on the exciting journey together, all heading in the same direction. But now and again, I'll come across one character who is as difficult as can be, who either goes walkabout and doesn't pay attention, or who throws a tantrum and makes life very difficult for all concerned. Annie was like that. She has appeared as a secondary character in a few books and was always lovely – a loyal friend and a terrific doctor. When the time came for her to tell her own story, (out next May and titled The Emergency Doctor Claims His Wife), she morphed into an awkward and feisty woman who really didn't want to be in the limelight and have her comfortable world turned upside down. She's happy now, of course, and glad that I nagged her into taking part, but she certainly didn't make it easy for me. Or for her hero, Nathan.

The current wip has fallen into a category all its own and one I have not encountered before. And hope I won't again, either!! From the first moment, my hero and heroine have been determined to do things their way. They are both independent, strong-minded people, who decided that the vague plans I had for their story were ridiculous and I could either bow to their wishes and go along for the ride, or I could get stuffed! They knew what they wanted, they would work things out for themselves, thank you very much, and they didn't need some half-wit author sticking her oar in and telling them what to do.

I sincerely hope that they know what they are doing – otherwise this book ending up in the skip and me being booted out of the door will turn into a reality rather than a nightmare. If only I can encourage them to the end of this last chapter ... They will get their happy-ever-after – and I will be biting my nails and worrying myself silly awaiting my editor's verdict.

And then I have to do it all over again! I have two further deadlines looming ahead for two more contracted stories, plus a host of other characters in my head who keep demanding that I hurry up and get round to them, and can't A&B nip in ahead of Y&Z because they are all ready to go. It's a wonderful problem to have, I know, but I just wish that they could all stop talking at once and/or that I could write faster!

In the meantime, I am in the lucky position of having two books out at the moment. My fifth Medical, Their Christmas Vows, was released in the UK last year in the Christmas Weddings anthology. I'm delighted to say that this anthology is now out in the shops in the US. It also contains a Modern/Presents by Carole Mortimer and a Romance by Shirley Jump, so this anthology, packed

with feel-good festive fare, warmth and emotion, will make an excellent stocking filler for all those who would like to snuggle up by the fire this Christmas.

Their Christmas Vows is a Strathlochan story that introduces paramedic Callie Grogan and flight doctor Frazer McInnes, both of whom work on the air ambulance. Callie has a difficult journey to make, not only due to her frightening brush with illness, but also because the impact of her past experiences make it hard for her to trust. She's heard about Frazer's reputation as a fun-loving Romeo and is not pleased to be assigned to his crew. Their first meeting only confirms her opinion of him. But Frazer is not as he seems. Neither is he daunted by Callie's touch-me-not façade. He's serious about his feisty, beautiful colleague and wants more than anything to make her his Christmas Bride. In Frazer, could Callie have found a man she can believe in? Can she trust him – and herself – and step towards a happy and loving future?

The second book, out in the UK in November and in Australia/New Zealand in December, is Dr Devereux's Proposal. This title is number 12 in the Brides of Penhally Bay series which has been running one book a month in Medicals this year as part of the celebrations for Mills & Boon's wonderful 100^th Anniversary. It was an honour to work on this series, and to be lucky enough to write two books, numbers 8 and 12, and a big responsibility to be asked to bring this exciting series to an end. Or is this just the beginning?! A thread is left hanging, so let's hope we can return to Penhally Bay again in the not too distant future!

In Dr Devereux's Proposal, gorgeous French doctor Gabriel Devereux arrives in Penhally Bay and sweeps popular physiotherapis Lauren Nightingale off her feet. Will their passionate affair lead to a happy-ever-after, or will issues from the past and worries of the present come between them and threaten their future together? I hope you will read it and find out. Gabriel & Lauren were fabulous to work with – I wish every hero and heroine were as co-operative! – and this was one of those welcome books that was a joy to write. It was also very emotional. Penhally Bay is a very special place ... a place where hearts are made whole.

(By the way, can I just reassure you that there has been no wife-swapping in Penhally! The covers on my books, 8 and 12 in the series, are gorgeous ... but should be round the other way! Chloe, in book 8, has dark hair and Lauren, in book 12, has blonde hair!)

Love,

Margaret

http://www.margaretmcdonagh.com/

Penhally Bay - writing a continuity - Margaret McDonagh

As part of the celebrations to mark Mills & Boon's centenary year, I was lucky enough to be asked to take part in the Brides of Penhally Bay continuity. This series, set in beautiful north Cornwall, is running one book a month throughout 2008 in Medical Romance and includes titles by some well-loved and respected authors. My books are numbers 8 and 12 in the series and are published in July and November.

First up for me is Virgin Midwife, Playboy Doctor out now in paperback, which tells the story of the deliciously wicked but lovely new doctor, Oliver Fawkner, and dedicated midwife Chloe MacKinnon who has dark secrets in her past. I had some threads to pick up that have run through the previous seven books, including those beautifully set up for me by Melanie Milburne whose Single Dad Seeks A Wife was book 7 and out in June.

Writing is a solitary occupation so it was a novel experience to take part in my first ever continuity series and to work closely with other Medical writers. Still being something of a newbie myself, it was a daunting prospect to face working with authors whose books I had long admired and I was very nervous. I didn't want to let anyone down. I also had no idea how a continuity series worked and it was fascinating to find out.

The editorial team worked incredibly hard to bring the whole series together, planning out how each individual book would fit in with the rest and yet stand alone, and then how the central thread running though each book would unfold as the series went on. I think they did a terrific job and thank them all for making this such a great experience and for asking me to be part of it.

The first unusual thing for me was to be given my characters and the basic plot outline rather than devising them myself. I had never worked in that way before and I did have a moment's pause, wondering if I could pull it off. But as I read through the notes and the outline, all sorts of ideas began to take shape and, more importantly, Oliver and Chloe, grew in my mind and became real to me. I loved them - especially the delicious Oliver! They were fantastic to work with and I swiftly became absorbed in them and their story. Then it was getting to grips with weaving in the continuity element into the book.

It was a challenging and enjoyable experience and I learned an awful lot doing it. I also made some good friends amongst my fellow writers who were generous and fun to work with. We exchanged ideas and thrashed out any parts that over-lapped. This especially applied to the continuity thread relating to the senior partner in the surgery, Dr Nick Tremayne, and his friend and colleague, Kate Althorp. We also had fun contributing ideas for secondary characters and villagers who would bring the whole Penhally community together and make it come alive.

I very much hope that readers will feel we have succeeded and will enjoy reading all about the folk of Penhally Bay at least as much as we loved writing about them. Oliver and Chloe in Virgin Midwife, Playboy Doctor are particularly close to my heart and I hope you will enjoy the story of how these two special people find love and happiness.

I was also lucky enough to write book 12 in the series, Dr Devereux's Proposal, which is out in November. I will come back then and introduce you to charming and sexy French doctor, Gabriel Devereux and the sparks that ignite when he and Penhally's physiotherapist, Lauren Nightingale meet!

In the meantime, enjoy this special series – we all worked so hard to make it come together and Penhally Bay become a place we would all love to visit in real life – and also enjoy the ongoing party atmosphere marking Mills & Boon's 100th year! Here's to another century of the world's favourite romance novels.

Love,

Margaret

www.margaretmcdonagh.com

PS - Apologies for Chloe's hair transplant on the cover - she's actually a brunette!

PENHALLY BAY, CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AND BACK TO THE CAVE

I cannot believe we are in December already. It seems only the other day that I allowed my hero, Nathan Shepherd, to take over and write a blog post here on 24^th February 2007. If you remember, he was decidedly miffed that I had abandoned his story in the first chapter and told him he had to wait for a while before he could continue his quest to win back fellow A and E doctor Annie Webster, the woman he loved and lost. There has been much foot-tapping, huffing and puffing from him throughout the following months but I've been too sidetracked to take much notice of him.

2007 has been an amazing year and a very busy one during which I seem to have spent most of the time barricaded in the cave meeting deadlines and bringing three unexpected Medical stories I was asked to write to life.

One of those, An Italian Affair, tells the story of deliciously sexy Italian Sebastiano Adriani, from Florence, and caring nurse Gina McNaught, from my fictional world of Strathlochan, who meet on the beautiful island of Elba where much of the story is set. It will be out in April 2008 in a bumper anthology with titles by Annie West [Modern] and Annie Burrows [Historical].

The other project I was involved in was my first experience of a continuity and I was honoured, excited and terrified to be asked to write two of the twelve books in the series. Set in beautiful Cornwall, the Medical series – Brides of Penhally Bay – begins this month with Caroline Anderson's fabulous Christmas Eve Baby and follows on one a month as part of the celebrations of Mills & Boon's magnificent centenary milestone. My titles are book 8, Virgin Midwife, Playboy Doctor, out in July 2008 and book 12, Dr Devereux's Proposal, which closes this series in November 2008.

Writing is usually a solitary occupation so it was something new for me to collaborate with other authors. Email was a great help as we discussed areas which overlapped, came up with local characters and patients who would populate the stories and bring a real community feel. We also put forward ideas on the main continuity thread which runs through all twelve books, concerning Nick Tremayne, the senior partner in the surgery. We all had our own individual stories to write and focus on while doing our best to accommodate each other's thoughts and keep the continuity moving.

It was a new experience, very enjoyable and I learned a great deal. I also fell in love with Penhally and with my characters – especially my heroes, as usual! Both dedicated doctors, lovely Oliver Fawkner (left) and charming Frenchman Gabriel Devereux (right) have become very special to me. As you can see from the pictures in this blog, I've had some wonderful inspiration to bring all these scrummy men to life!

I hope readers will be gripped by the whole exciting Brides of Penhally Bay series. But for now it is over and it is time to move on. Which means letting Nathan off the leash again so he can return to his story and renew his efforts to woo Annie. He'll have a job on his hands. They both have very different ideas about why things didn't work the first time and Annie will be horrified when Nathan reappears in her life. To begin with, anyway! She has a journey ahead of her, facing up to the mistakes of the past, realising where responsibility really lies and admitting her own feelings. I'm hoping for both their sakes they won't give me too hard a time and they will come to embrace each other and their happy ending.

So that's me ... I've had a few puffs of fresh air and must now head back into the cave and start the adventure all over again with new characters and some familiar ones as I get back to my fictional world of Strathlochan.

If everything goes well, perhaps Nathan will be back in the new year to tell you how things are going with him and Annie! Then I have the even more impatient orthopaedic surgeon Luke Devlin, who is desperate to get his hands on Strathlochan Hospital radiographer, Francesca Scott. A whole bevy of other heroes and heroines are also waiting in the wings and I just hope I will have the opportunity to bring you their stories in the future.

My current title, Their Christmas Vows, which tells the story of hunky flight doctor Frazer McInnes and feisty flight paramedic Callie Crogan, partnered on the Strathlochan air ambulance, is in the Christmas Weddings anthology with stories from Carole Mortimer [Modern] and Shirley Jump [Romance]. This book is still available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/ or, for the rest of this month, from http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/ under Special Releases. There is also a copy in the December goodie tote on this blog!

I wish everyone a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and much health and happiness for 2008. It's a very special year ahead – 100 years of Mills & Boon! That's certainly something to celebrate.

Love
Margaret

www.margaretmcdonagh.com