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08/17/2005: "Thinking Globally"
The new guidelines for Temptation have had me struggling with my newest WIP, but thankfully, Julie Cohen came to the rescue.
At eHarlequin, she posted notes on developing a global voice from a seminar given by Sheila Hodgson and Kim Young. Talk about an eye-opener.
One thing she said was "The setting can be anywhere, but it must be outward looking, inclusive, and welcoming to the reader rather than isolated and "local" feeling. "
This was something I had trouble with in Snowbound. Written with the old guidelines in mind, it definitely had a "local" feeling to it, and now I understand why the M&B editors wanted the setting changed to a larger, more international-feeling ski resort. I did it, but now I'm wondering if I did it well enough. 
Another thing that clicked a switch for me was "Be careful of brand endorsements, cultural references, and local expressions, unless the meaning is obvious from the context. They can add flavour if used well, but must be easily understood."
Again, I'm now seeing why words like "cougar" and "ski bum" and "knock boots" were gently discouraged. I was definitely going for the flavor of the ski culture, but in doing so, I was probably making the global reader feel like a stranger in a foreign land, rather than a guest.
Anyway, Julie's notes were super helpful, and if anyone is interested in reading them in full, you can check them out at eHQ toward the end of the NuSensation! NuTemptation! thread. By the way, Temptation will now be known as Mills and Boon Modern Extra. 
However, that hasn't stopped me from reading books in which the setting is a ski resort, etc. I figure that I don't know it's because that's the way it is there. 
Great info Larissa. I've often wondered about the whole globalization thing myself.
