by Marguerite Kaye, author of the upcoming FREE Harlequin Online Read, Titanic: A Date with Destiny and Rake with the Frozen Heart (Harlequin Historical, May 2012)

The sinking of RMS Titanic on her maiden voyage is one of those rare iconic events that resonates with everyone. It’s a tragic story that is also heroic, heart-warming and symbolic. The loss of that glamorous liner was a harbinger of change heralding the end of the Edwardian age. The story of the Titanic, her passengers and crew still fascinates us, appals us and enthrals us a hundred years later. It has a mystique all of its own, to which the film starring Kate and Leo added that vital ingredient, romance.

When I was asked by Harlequin to write a story to commemorate the Titanic’s centenary, I was thrilled. Then I thought about it, and I have to admit that I was pretty daunted. To come up with something that was true to the spirit of the event, was going to be a real challenge. And as if that wasn’t enough, I had to make sure my romance didn’t bear any resemblance to the one in THAT film which, shockingly, I’d never seen!

I immersed myself (if you’ll forgive the pun) in all things Titanic. I plundered my local library and trawled through hundreds of on-line sites in a mad frenzy of fact-finding. And as my research began to take shape, I realised that the ship itself wasn’t just a setting, but a character, and one that I had to portray as accurately as I could, first class through to third, right down to the food served in the restaurants.

It’s often said that the Titanic was a floating microcosm of society, ‘upstairs’ and ‘downstairs’, carrying as disparate a collection of people as you can imagine from the old world to the new. I wanted to show that too, which made it obvious that my hero and heroine had to represent these different worlds. I already had my hero Max, a self-made American, fixed in my mind. It was thanks to my Facebook friends that I learned about the Titanic’s stewardesses, and immediately saw an ideal opportunity to make Jennifer, my heroine, one of them. I love social media. Big thanks are due to another Facebook friend, Alison, for finding Jennifer such beautiful clothes to wear.

I took a strategic decision not to watch the Kate and Leo film, but my sister, who’s seen it a zillion times, very kindly briefed me on the story so I could avoid obvious comparisons. I did watch the documentary-style movie, A Night to Remember, and completely spoilt it for my poor long-suffering other half by providing a non-stop commentary over the whole thing. By that time, I could probably bore for Scotland on the subject of the Titanic!

The next challenge hit me when I sat down to outline my plot. The story of the Titanic is above all else tragic. I was writing a romance, which above all else has to have a happy ending. Somehow I had to find a way to reconcile the two, to bring my hero and heroine together in a way that didn’t trivialise the dreadful combination of events and circumstances which lead to the loss of over fifteen hundred lives.

I hope that I’ve managed it. I’d like to think I’ve written a story that is both romantic and true to the spirit of the ship and her passengers. Whether or not I’ve succeeded – that’s up to you to decide.

One of the best things about an online read is that I can share your thoughts and reactions as the story unfolds, chapter by chapter. Please join me from April 23^rd. I’m looking forward to it.

Editor’s Note: Stop by Harlequin.com on April 23 to start reading Titanic: A Date with Destiny!

Born and educated in Scotland, Marguerite Kaye originally qualified as a lawyer but chose not to practice. Instead, she carved out a career in IT and studied history part-time, gaining a first-class honours and a master’s degree. A few decades after winning a children’s national poetry competition, she decided to pursue her lifelong ambition to write, and submitted her first historical romance to Mills & Boon. They accepted it, and she’s been writing ever since.

You can visit Marguerite Kaye at her Web site, or on Twitter and Facebook. You can also pre-order Marguerite’s next Harlequin Historical Rake with the Frozen Heart (May 2012).

Share Your Passion CONTEST!
WIN One of Five $50 Shopping Sprees on Harlequin.com! Plus, if you get one friend to enter, you’ll receive a discount off your next purchase!
Starts: April 1st 2012 at 12:00AM
Ends: April 30th 2012 at 11:59PM
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COMMUNITY TUESDAY: Easter Traditions
I’ve always looked forward to this holiday, mainly for the chocolate! We would love to know what your Easter Traditions are?
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HARLEQUIN.COM: Weddings on a Budget
SAVE BIG! A variety of Happily-Ever-After stories for just $2.99!
Do you ♥ a story about nuptial bliss?
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CARINA PRESS: New extended excerpt!
Read the first 20% of Ava March’s m/m Historical Romance, BROOK STREET: FORTUNE HUNTER!
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MY FAIR CONCUBINE by Jeannie Lin BOOK TRAILER
The nobleman who turned a TEA GIRL into a PRINCESS…Available JUNE 2012!
BEAUTIFUL video!

Have you ever been wronged and wanted revenge? Have you dreamed of circumventing the law to administer your own brand of justice? Ever imagine Robin Hood and his band of merry thieves as a foursome of gutsy women who happen to run into four sexy guys while solving crimes?

Then join me for my new Online Read, Flirting with Fire.

This story, available exclusively on Harlequin.com, is connected to my upcoming Blaze adventure series, Flirting with Justice, which is based on the Robin Hood myth and the happily-ever-after journey of three best friends.

Flirting with Fire will give you a taste of the series’ vibrant setting–NYC, as well as introducing a couple of characters you’ll see later in the books. Plus, all the stories feature strong women who support each other and those they care about.

To celebrate the launch, I’m offering 5 readers a FREE signed copy of Sizzle in the City, the first book in the series, which won’t be available in stores or online until May. All you have to do is email me (wendyeth@sc.rr.com) the correct answer to following trivia question: What street is Sorabella’s located on?

Thanks for reading! Looking forward to hearing from you!
–Wendy

Editor’s Note: If you know the answer to Wendy’s question, send her an email by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, 2012. Come back the following Thursday, April 12, when we’ll post the names of the winners in our weekly news round up blog post!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate with some free romance reads! Contributors were asked to write to the same prompt, with each story representing a different sub-genre. I was beyond thrilled when I was invited to represent “steampunk”! For those of you not familiar with this hot new sub-genre, let me break it down for you.

The “steam” part is basically referring to the gadgets, machines and/or inventions, which are a staple of the sub-genre. Think mechanical animals chock full of gears, time machines, brass goggles and airships. Then take those machines and put them into Victorian England or perhaps the Wild West in order to create an alternate history. The new Sherlock Holmes movies, The Prestige and Sweeney Todd all have steampunk elements and are wonderful representations of the steampunk aesthetic.

Now for the “punk” part. This refers to the revolutionary aspect of the tale. There will typically be something about the characters or their plight that bucks the social norms of the times.

In Bold as Brass, my “steam” is a pair of brass goggles that can see exactly five minutes into the future. My “punk” is a heroine who is an inventor and scientist with the guts to go after the man she loves, no matter what society thinks.

Here’s a little taste:

Charlotte poked around for some heartache over the betrayal, but all she found was anger. In any case, it wasn’t as if she’d ever loved him or expected his love in return. She wanted a family. He had the title, she had the money, and they got on well. Alistair hadn’t wanted her, so what did it matter who she married?

John slipped the weapon into his pocket and tried to turn her toward the door, jostling her with the cloth covered revolver. She made a silent vow to work on her instincts.

She looked down her nose at him. “I would appreciate if you would not do that again.”

“Not the rest, John. Just you.”

You can read the rest free at Harlequin.com!

Editor’s Note: Psst, you can read more about steampunk on the Harlequin Blog. We’ve had Carina Press authors (including Christine!) blog about the genre before. Check out the steampunk tag for more!

If you’ve resolved to just read good books this year, then we’ve got a round up that you might want to read.

Meet the Fortunes of Texas at Harlequin.com Community

The Fortunes of Texas have landed in bookstores and we blogged about it earlier this week. Now you have a chance to meet these ladies and gentlemen of the Lonestar State in the Harlequin.com Community! Meet the characters and the authors behind them all week!

Harlequin Escape Winter Reads Sale

Oh, that dull winter sun is starting to kill my soul. Thankfully, Harlequin’s having a special sale to rekindle one’s imagination and remind us all what hot sunshine really feels like! Spend $15, save $5 on featured titles in our Escape Reads sale! Enjoy these titles in ebooks, too! Quantities are limited. Escape Reads sale with coupon code ESCJAN12. Expires January 31, 2012, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Carina Press Extended Excerpt

Are you a fan of Carina Press on Facebook yet? Then you probably already know that the new extended excerpt for this week is from Prehistoric Clock by Robert Appleton! Click here access the read. It’s book 1 in the Steam Clock Legacy series.

Airship officer Verity Champlain is well-respected by her crew. But after a vital mission nearly goes wrong, she is having second thoughts about her career.

Lord Garrett Embrey is on the run. The Leviacrum Council, the secretive scientific body that holds sway over the Empire, executed his father and uncle and now they want him dead too.

Professor Cecil Reardon is consumed by grief. Since his wife and son died he’s been obsessed with his work, and now he is on the verge of an extraordinary scientific breakthrough: his machine is about to breach time itself, to undo fate’s cruel taking of his loved ones.

But the time jump doesn’t go according to plan, and part of London winds up millions of years in the past. Verity and her crew—Lord Embrey, Professor Reardon and others stranded with them—must pull together to survive in a world ruled by dinosaurs…and to somehow get home.

Julie Kagawa Video from BEA 2011

Our featured video for this week is a Justine Magazine interview with Julie Kagawa, author of the Iron Fey series!

Harlequin Community Author Spotlight

Our new author spotlight on the Harlequin Community is Carla Cassidy! All week we’re talking with Carla about her books. Carla Cassidy is an award-winning author who has written more than 55 books. In 1995 she won Best Silhouette Romance of 1995 from Romantic Times Magazine for Anything for Danny. Carla has been a professional cheerleader, an actress, and a singer/dancer in a show band before settling into her true love…writing. Find out more on the Harlequin.com Community page.

Health & Wellness Book Sale at Harlequin.com

New Year, New You week on the Harlequin Blog may be over, but our sale continues! Discover our featured Health & Wellness titles and save 30%! Enjoy these titles in ebooks, too!

FREE Chain Reaction (Carina Press) Extended Excerpt

Download the free extended excerpt of Zoë Archer’s Chain Reaction on the Carina Press Facebook page!

Elite 8th Wing pilot Celene Jur was taken captive after a mysterious device temporarily disabled her ship’s controls. Three solar months later, when Celene receives intel on the man who built the device, she’s ready to get the bastard. Only problem is, the higher-ups think her mission partner should be Nils Calder, a tech-head who can understand the disabling device. The attraction between them is electric, but Celene needs a soldier who can watch her back as she exacts her revenge.

Nils knows his department is nicknamed NerdWorks. Pilots like Celene think the closest tech geeks come to combat is all-night Nifalian chess tournaments. But behind the NerdWorks insignia on his sleeve Nils is an able fighter, ready to prove himself and gain Celene’s trust.

The desire between them is unexpected, but with the fate of thousands hanging in the balance, the hotshot pilot and the tech genius must succeed in their mission—no matter the cost.

Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life Book Trailer

The key to a less hectic, less stressful life is not in simply organizing your desk, but organizing your mind. Dr. Paul Hammerness, a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist, describes the latest neuroscience research on the brain’s extraordinary built-in system of organization. Margaret Moore, an executive wellness coach and codirector of the Institute of Coaching, translates the science into solutions. Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life is available from Harlequin Nonfiction.

1. $2 off Debbie Macomber Christmas Cookbook

Loved the Christmas Eve Eggnog recipe I posted this week? Do you have a big Debbie Macomber fan on your Christmas list? Why not gift them with the Debbie Macomber Christmas Cookbook? From Dec. 14 – 21 you can save $2 off the cover price of the book with this exclusive coupon. The book is full of both recipes and crafts that you can use to create new traditions or provide fun alternatives to your own.

2. Carina Press Here Be Magic – the new Fantasy blog from Carina Press authors!

From December 17th through December 24th, Here Be Magic (a blog comprised of Carina Press fantasy and paranormal authors) will be running an amazing contest to celebrate the season of giving. Prizes include a brand new Kindle Fire, a virtual basket filled with over two dozen Carina Press titles, and a $25.00 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice). No hoops to jump through, all it takes is a comment, so swing by http://herebemagic.blogspot.com/ starting December 17th to enter!

3. Carina Press’ Sea of Suspicion is now on sale in print!

Toni Anderson’s Sea of Suspicion is now on sale in print at Harlequin.com. We love when Carina Press titles move into print. We hope you’ll check out Toni’s novel!

Marine biologist Susie Cooper traded her life in America for a dream job on the rugged Scottish coast. Now all she lacks is the right man to start a family with. After their first meeting, she knows sexy Detective Inspector Nick Archer isn’t what she’s looking for. He’s the type of guy whose idea of commitment is staying the whole night.
Nick has returned to St. Andrews for one reason only—to fulfill his vow to find his wife’s killer. Relentless in his twelve-year quest for justice, he has no problem using Susie to get close to his primary suspect: her boss. But the passion between them smolders, and as it ignites, Nick finds himself torn between his past and his present—with Susie.
When one of her boss’s students is murdered, Nick’s investigation draws Susie into a web of madness and betrayal. They will have to learn to trust each other if they’re going to catch a killer…and come out of this alive.

And if you’re interested in more Carina Press titles in print, Marie Force’s Fatal Affair is still available.

4. Harlequin.com: Holidays@Harlequin: 12 Deals, 12 Gifts

Well, it’s hard to believe, but the 12 deals of Christmas are over. HOWEVER! There are still plenty of Gifts to come, so you should keep checking back to the Santa Tree for more deals. Visit Harlequin.com to check on today’s!

5. FREE Linda Lael Miller Cowboy Wallpaper

Alright, the moment you’re waiting for! Thinking about changing your desktop wallpaper to something a little more manly? How about this FREE wallpaper from Linda Lael Miller’s McKettricks of Texas series? Sexy as all sin and did I mention that it’s totally, utterly FREE? You can download it from Facebook today!

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins book trailer

I leave you today with the new (to me!) book trailer for Kristan Higgins’ Until There Was You (HQN Books). Kristan’s a big name around the Romance Mothership because her covers have been graced by some adorable pups. Check out the video to see more from Mumford, the latest “star” of her novel! (Rumour has it the next canine cover model is going to be pretty large too! Any guesses what kind of pooch it will be?) And in case you’re wondering, Kristan Higgins’ novels make great Christmas presents!

People often ask how I come up with story ideas for my romances, and the secret is:  some careful matchmaking—but not in the usual way.

In real life, we spot a handsome bachelor and immediately run through a mental rolodex of all the single women we know.  We consider physical attributes, knowing they’ll need to be sexually attracted, and common interests, realizing they should enjoy the same hobbies and activities.  Then, if we don’t anticipate any future conflicts, we become matchmakers.

But that’s not the kind of matchmaking I’m talking about.

Romance authors need to first create two wounded characters who couldn’t be worse for each other, then force proximity, pump up the sexual tension and torture them until they are forced to change.   It’s not until each character grows and wounds are mended that the couple is free to truly love.

The trick is to start out with two flawed people.  Let me give you an example using my December Special Edition, A BABY UNDER THE TREE.

After Shane Hollister’s ex-wife insisted upon a divorce, she moved out of state, taking their toddler with her.  Six months later, the little boy was killed in a car accident.  Shane was crushed by the loss.  In fact, he took a leave of absence from the Houston police department and moved to Brighton Valley to put some distance between him and his memories.

So who would be the worst possible match for him?

Why the woman who is having his secret baby—a virtual stranger to him.

Newly divorced Jillian Wilkes has her own sad memories and betrayals to deal with.  After spending one glorious night with a handsome stranger, she finds herself pregnant with his baby and vacillating between telling him and keeping the precious secret to herself.

Shane and Jillian have commonality—they both desire a child and a family.  But their wounds, internal conflicts, and methods of dealing with life are at odds.  The plot pushes them together, and as sexual tension increases, they are forced to change into two people now perfect for each other.

It’s not always easy to torture characters and force them to grow.   And it can be tough not to step in too soon and fix things for them.   But it’s important to create a story that makes them face those old fears, wounds and baggage because, in a romance, it’s not the set-up that produces a perfect couple, it’s the journey they must take.  Then, by the time the black moment erupts, those characters will finally be ready for and worthy of true love and a happy-ever-after.

I’m thrilled to be blogging with you today on Harlequin.com for several reasons.  First of all, A BABY UNDER THE TREE, which kicks off another Brighton Valley series, is available now.  My online story also begins this week.  RED ROCK CINDERELLA is a great lead-in to the new Fortunes of Texas series coming out in January.  I hope you’ll check out both of my stories, as well as the new Fortunes of Texas series while you’re at Harlequin.com.

• Fans of Karen Harper, we have a special treat for you. In the ebook edition of Fall From Pride, you’ll receive an exclusive free short story: Phantom Amish. Karen stopped by earlier this month to blog about Fall From Pride.
• Speaking of free novellas, Haunting the Night by Mara Purnhagen (Harlequin Teen) is available now! For those keeping up with the series, the events in Haunting the Night take place a few weeks after One Hundred Candles. For information on how to download the novella, “Like” the Harlequin Teen Facebook fan page. Check out the synopsis below:

Charlotte Silver has been through hell.  Her mom’s in a coma. She may have caused the death of a young man.

And now her friend Avery wants her to tackle going to Prom? Not going to happen, even if she is dying to spend some alone time with her boyfriend, Noah.

Instead, Charlotte needs to find some answers to a few nagging questions—why was her family attacked? Will her mother survive?

And is there a creature from the Other Side coming for her? Soon enough, Charlotte’s search for the truth becomes a race against time.

But she may just find the sign she’s been looking for all along….

Let me know if you need anything else.

• Exciting news from author of the Lady Julia Grey series Deanna Raybourn! She’ll be returning to Mira Books for a three-book deal starting in May 2013. Her first novel is set in Kenya in the 1920s and “features a flapper heroine with a string of scandals to her name and a hero who will make you rethink Brisbane as a literary crush. No lie.” Congrats, Deanna! We’re very excited about the news. It might give me another opportunity to ask you to write a blog post about the fashion inspiration for your next novel.
• In contest news, Fresh Fiction is giving away a copy of Carla Negger‘s Saint’s Gate plus a Stonewall Kitchen cast-iron, non-stick Belgian Waffle Maker, Wild Maine Blueberry Syrup, and Wild Maine Blueberry and Champagne Blueberry jams! Recently Carla stopped by the Harlequin Community to blog about her new release.
• Finally, I’ve been sitting on this Harlequin book trailer for some time now. It features the new eight-part Harlequin Presents miniseries The Notorious Wolfes. If you’re intrigued, you should stop by I Heart Presents blog for all the details on the series.

All this week the Harlequin Digital Team is going to be trying out some of Sarah’s recipes with their families. Each day we’ll post a blog post from a team member with the recipe they’ve tried, a tip from Sarah and a discussion question, which you can answer in the comments. Each day we’ll also be giving away a Peas and Thank You prize pack! Each prize pack will include:

• One 11 ounce ceramic mug w/ sealable lid
• An apron
• A reusable shopping bag
• A sweet lil’ pea bib.

All you have to do to win is comment on the day’s blog post. We’re giving away five prize packs in all.

Here’s what we’ll be test-driving this week:

Monday: Chickpea strawberry mango salad with Farah and her nieces

Tuesday: Banana chocolate chip millet muffins with Debbie and her husband

Wednesday: Picnic tortilla pinwheels with Amy and her husband

Thursday: Fabulous French toast with Jenny and her husband and daughters

Friday: Tried-and-true whole wheat pizza crust with Eleanor and her husband and son

Stay tuned later today for the first blog post from Farah!

For more information about Sarah Matheny, you can visit her blog, Peas and Thank You, find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter. Peas and Thank You the book will be available in bookstores July 26, 2011.