Okay, I'm going to come clean. I am more than one person. That is, I write
under different names, but does this mean I have different personas inside,
each fighting for supremacy? I suppose
it might do, a bit, but you'd have to ask my friends about that!
When I started writing I thought Melinda
Hammond was a great name – glamorous, romantic but dignified enough for an
author of, ahem, Historical Novels. Then
as I progressed my writing style developed and I found myself writing
historical romances that were in the vein of Heyer's Regencies, light-hearted
fun but stopping at the bedroom door. Novels like DANCE FOR A DIAMOND, which I have just
published as an e-book. It is a comedy
of manners set in the Regency, which would these days be called a
"sweet" romance. I also wrote a couple of dual time stories
(Moonshadows and Casting Samson) set partly in the present and partly in the
past and I am currently working on an historical series. So Melinda Hammond
writes both historical novels and Regency Romances, quite different types of
books.
Then, to complicate things, I began to write for Harlequin Historicals and
I wanted the stories to be a bit hotter, a bit more passionate, so I chose
another name: Sarah Mallory. Of course
the sensuality rating does depend on the context of the story, but all my Sarah
Mallory books definitely have scenes inside
the bedroom (or on the moors, or in a carriage, or over a desk, etc etc). I think Sarah Mallory is now a
"brand" name for the kind of sensual romantic historicals that I
write for Harlequin.
So which is the real me? Well, it depends on the story I am currently
writing. I love a good adventure romance but I also like the comedy of manners
scenario. The main thing for both is that the history in the stories is very
important for me, whether it is a sizzling Regency as Sarah Mallory or a
Georgian mystery as Melinda Hammond. So I am always a serious historical
novelist, even if I do have my lighter moments!
And what about you? Do you prefer the sexy
romance or the sweeter kind, or are you like me and enjoy a wide range of
stories, as long as they are well written and entertaining. And what about author names, do you think it
helps for writers to choose different names for different genres? I'd love to
know, so please leave a comment.
Giveaway: one person leaving a comment will
receive a copy of either the hardback version of Dance for a Diamond, or my
latest Sarah Mallory novel – At the Highwayman's Pleasure, so do, please make
sure you let me know which you would prefer!
***Melinda's winner is Petite! Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing details!***
