There's a new book out by one of Pikes Peak Romance Writers (PPRW) members. A Little Something Extra by Pam McCutcheon just hit the shelves.  The first scene of this book may ring bells with many people in PPRW.  There's a little story behind this scene and a book you might like to hear about...a story that shows how important every step is in our writer's journey and how even small accomplishments can lead to better and better things.

Pam started writing seriously in 1985 when she left the Air Force.  At that time she enjoyed reading Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance.  She first wrote Science Fiction short stories, believing they were easier to write than a whole book.  A fact she soon learned wasn't necessarily true.

In 1987 she went to her first writers conference.  It was a multi-genre conference in Beaumont, Texas.  At that conference she heard Rita Clay Estrada and Emma Merritt speak and was inspired.  Pam was impressed by the fact that the romance writers seemed to have their act together, and she learned more at that conference about romance than the other genres.  She joined Romance Writers of America (RWA) shortly after that conference.

Pam moved to Colorado Springs in 1989.  She was still a member of RWA and received a letter letting her know about a new chapter forming in Colorado Springs.  She attended the first meeting--and hasn't missed many since.

Pikes Peak Romance Writers had been born and was offering a class through the Park and Rec department.  "How to Write a Romance" was a six week course, and though Pam had taken other writing classes, this was the first one she'd attended that focused exclusively on the romance genre.

During the class an exercise was given as a homework assignment.  Oranges were passed out and the group was instructed to write about the orange using all their senses.  Sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch--and anything else that came to mind to describe the orange.  At the time Pam remembers thinking it was a rather boring assignment.  She took the orange home and sat down to do the project. 

This was a romance writing class so Pam tried to get in the right mind set.  An orange and romance?  Not quite right.  Orange and sensuality?  Ho, not right either.  Orange and sex?  Hmmm, that had possibilities.  The ideas started rolling and soon the now "famous" orange scene was born.

She took the assignment to class and turned it in.  As was the practice in the class, the instructors read some of them aloud.  Pam's was one of those chosen.  (Author intrusion here.  I was the lucky person to read it in that long ago class.)  The instructor's first questions was, "Where's the rest of the story?!"  Pam had to shrug.  There was no more story.

Pam finished the class and filed away her assignments and notes.  She's been an active member of PPRW since, serving as the newsletter editor and most recent past president.  In the years since she's been a part of a critique group which has dubbed themselves, the Wyrd Sisters.  That group now boasts several published members, one of whom is Pam. 

Her first book, Golden Prophecies was released by Leisure in February 1995.  It was a futuristic romance, which reflected Pam's love of science fiction and fantasy as well as romance. 

In the mean time, Pam had started work on a new book, a short contemporary about--of all things--a 6'4" leprechaun.  Somewhere in the back of her mind, a scene about an orange lurked.  Amaranth, one of Pam's characters in this book, fit it perfectly.  It became the opening of A Little Something Extra. 

Pam entered RWA's Golden Heart contest and Pikes Peak Writer's Conference (PPWC) contest with this manuscript.  She was a finalist in the Golden Heart and won first place in the PPWC contest, and Harlequin purchased A Little Something Extra in October 1994.  The orange scene has changed, incorporating the appropriate characters and as Pam reports, been toned down.  The original was much more sensual and suggestive.  The intent has not changed though. 

What started out as a simple writing exercise in a class five years ago has grown into an entire book--and entire lifestyle--a career.  Pam has two more books scheduled for release in 1996 and that's only the beginning.

And you didn't believe your mother when she said fruit was good for you.