RomanceEverAfter

Romance Authors Corner

Jane Beckenham
aka Janelle Benham
www.janebeckenham.com

Why do you enjoy reading and writing romance?

I've read romance for years. It brings me into a fantasy world I think, escaping from the humdrum of every day life. I particularly like the HM&B Presents, the over the top hero and the exotic settings and with time travel it takes you into a world of infinite possibilities, while delving into history which I love.

Your novels Be My Valentine and Woman of Valor are time travel/history stories, i.e., Jamaica and Jerusalem, respectively. What did you enjoy about writing these time travel novels? 

Valor and Faith are co-written with Ellen Ben-Sefer. We had both lived in Israel and both loved time travel stories, so it was a natural progression for us to write a time travel set in an area we knew. Ellen is the history buff for this period. With these we found, although we were writing from two different countries, (Australia and me in NZ) we had a natural connection with different parts of the story, me the hero, Ellen the heroine etc. 

We would bounce ideas off each other at night, each choosing which part to write and then present the written chapter or scene the next day. With Valentine, I wanted a pirate story, but felt it didn't fit a NZ location and after researching something about Port Royal tugged at me and Valentine and Dave were born.

A natural knowledge is great, but library books, particularly the children's section, are a fountain of information, in a basic easy to read layout. Obviously the Internet, too. It's simply a matter of reading up, checking facts, etc. For Valentine, I had to research pirate history, customs, culture, Jamaica - and no I've never been there!

Your novel, Always a Bridesmaid, is a contemporary romance set in the wild heartland of New Zealand. Since you are a native New Zealander, what can readers learn about New Zealand from your novel? Also, how does the New Zealand setting compliment the novel?

Bridesmaid is set in the very touristy area of Rotorua and the heart of the Uruwheras, a very historical and traditional Maori area, full of culture. This is a great stop for a tourist, wanting to see NZ's culture, the natural beauty of our country. NZ is specially good for outdoor activities, tramping/hiking, extreme sports etc. The setting in Bridesmaid is the total opposite for the heroine - an international model - so I think it sets up the differences of NZ and how sometimes we have make drastic changes in our lives.

In contrasting the two subgenres of romance (time travel and contemporary), what was the same or different about writing in these subgenres?

An obvious difference is the historical aspect, but both need research. For example, I am presently writing a contemporary set in Greece. Haven't been there for 25 years, so research of language, culture, food, etc., plus history is imperative.

Any novel has to flow, hook the reader from page one. These things never change, no matter what genre. Plot, characters, conflict, resolution - they too are all the same.

But with time travel, you have to make sure you have a realistic way to get the traveler back and forth in time. What are they wearing?  Imagine a woman dressed in a short skirt going back in time. Bare legs would more than likely get her into deep trouble, so you have to find a way to make her or his clothing appropriate to the time period they're traveling to.

What words of wisdom would you give to a writer in New Zealand or Australia regarding the writing/publishing business?

Keep trying. Don't give up. They are the same words other writers have said to me and they hold true. Find out what you want to write, what genre your voice fits. And research the market. Read, read, and read again. Read the recent publications for that market. But most of all keep writing.

Return to
Romance Authors Corner