A winner, hooks and another contest

Having put my scientifically proven eeny-meeny-miny-mo system into action, I can now tell you that Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance has been won by ....drum roll ... Serena!  (Serena, do you want to send me an email at jessica@jessicahart.co.uk with your mailing address, and I will put Kate's book in the post to you next week?)

Very sorry I don't have more copies to send to everyone else who 'fessed up on the characters' names.  I enjoyed hearing about them so much that now I want to know more about your stories.  How would you feel about telling me your main hooks now?  And you do have hooks, don't you?

A hook is a story element that tells the reader what kind of story they're going to get, and the hooks are usually highlighted on the cover.  For instance, you can tell from the title that Juggling Briefcase & Baby is going to feature a baby and an office setting, and the new RIVA cover picks that up with the baby shoes, the glimpse of teddy bear and the tie (although I have to say that Lex wouldn't be seen dead in a pink tie) 

Actually, this story also has a 'lovers reunited' hook, and a 'marriage of convenience' hook.  The latter is my favourite, as it's such a good way to force your hero and heroine into an intimate situation.  It doesn't mean they literally have to get married, but at some point in the story they have to pretend to be a couple. 

Other popular romance hooks include sheiks, royalty/aristocracy, exotic setting, cowboy, Christmas, pregnancy, blackmail, revenge, secret baby, city girl and so on.  

You don't have to have a hook (Last-Minute Proposal didn't, but look what a nothingy title it ended up with!) but if you do it will help when it comes to writing a synopsis and selling your book.  A hook is not the same as a conflict - which maybe we'll get to later! - but it's a shorthand way to tell the editor who reads your submission what kind of story yours is, and anything you can do to make her job easier is bound to stand you in good stead.

So, what's your hook?  Do satisfy my curiosity! I haven't got  such a good prize to offer this time, but I do have a spare copy of Convenient Engagements up for grabs.

This anthology, out now, is a re-release of the City Brides series, Fiancé Wanted Fast!, The Blind-Date Proposal and A Whirlwind Engagement, based around three girls sharing a house in London - and there are no prize for guessing the hook that links all three!