Anna Jacobs, a lady I’ve proudly called a friend since the 80’s, has had phenomenal success in the UK. She’s just been voted the 10th most borrowed author in the British Library of Adult and Children’s Fiction but the 5th most borrowed author of Adult Fiction.
Mind you, Anna’s worked extremely hard for it!
We met weekly as members of the FAWWA (Fellowship of Australian Writers, Western Australia) Romance Writers Group in the 80’s. Anna had novels all ready in her drawer waiting and while generously sharing her expertise and enthusiasm, signed a contract for three books with a major publisher. I remember how thrilled we all were – how we celebrated, swelling with pride.
Janet Woods was the next member of our group to achieve mainstream publication and again, we were all so proud. Unfortunately, I fell by the wayside; divorce soured my feeling for romance and I steered well clear of it for the next few years. Even in Romance Writing only the strongest and most talented survive…
Romance Writers Conference in Perth, 2000. Photo © Anna Jacobs. (I’m 6th from right.)
Georgette Heyer was a favourite writer growing up in hot, equatorial Africa. Anna’s richly detailed Historical research and cleverly relatable characters, reminded me of those books I’d read and enjoyed so much, as a teenager.
And yes, I admit, I also used to read Barbara Cartland who was famously accused of plagiarism by Georgette Heyer in the 1950’s.
Of Barbara Cartland‘s 700+ books, I know I read a lot. The recommendation is; “If you want to write Romance, you need to read at least 400 Romance Novels!” Although, she was Princess Diana’s step-grandmother, I believe in quality over quantity writing.
Georgette Heyer as the better writer of the two but my very favourite (and my sister-in-law Mum’s favourite) Romance writer is my friend Anna Jacobs who (so far) has 77 thoroughly researched and carefully plotted books under various names and genres.
When I heard Anna had won the top Australian Romance Writers ‘Ruby Award’ for ‘The Pride of Lancashire’, I had to send her some ruby flowers and lots of congratulations. Her hubby kindly took a photo for me…
© 2006 Anna Jacobs ‘Ruby Award’
So if you aspire to write Romance, may I recommend you get hold of a copy of Anna Jacobs’ ‘An Introduction to Romance Writing’ and follow all directions. If you then buy and study ‘Plotting & Editing’, you’ll have learnt from a Mistress of Storytelling – and have one or two complete, well-edited manuscripts ready to send out.
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