Sunday, September 26, 2010

Formula for Danger - the book that never was

Camy here! My latest release is Formula for Danger, a romantic suspense starring dermatologist researcher Rachel Grant and set in the beautiful vineyards of Sonoma, California. But did you know this was almost a very different story?

First off, here’s the back cover blurb of the actual book that hit the shelves earlier this month:

HER LIFE WAS ON THE LINE

Someone wants dermatologist Rachel Grant's latest research, and they'll do anything to get it. Including trashing the plants needed for her breakthrough scar-reducing cream—and trying to run Rachel down. Desperate for help, she turns to Edward Villa, the only man she trusts. But the greenhouse owner knows too much about Rachel's research, and now he's a target, too. Break-ins, muggings, murder…the would-be thief is getting desperate—and getting closer. Edward vows to protect Rachel at all costs. Yet with time ticking away, Edward knows they have to uncover the madman shadowing Rachel before their chance for a future is destroyed.

Click here to read an excerpt of Formula for Danger!

Camy here: When I first wrote the proposal for Deadly Intent, the first book in this romantic suspense series, I also included tentative storyline ideas for the two other books I was planning to write about the other two Grant sisters, Rachel and Monica.

However, the “blurb” for book two in the series about Naomi’s sister Rachel ended up being very different from the version of Formula for Danger that just released.

When I started getting together the actual proposal for Formula for Danger, I was brainstorming Rachel’s big Story Problem, and decided to center it around a supercool scar reduction cream that she’s about to release as the spa’s new product launch. I admit I fell back on my biology research roots (I gotta make some use of those nine years in biology!) and gave the scar reduction cream a “secret” ingredient, a “Malaysian basil plant” that I made up.

This got me thinking about a possible hero who could be thrown together with Rachel for the length of the story, and I thought, “Well, someone has to grow this rare Malaysian basil plant for Rachel’s cream.” And bam! Edward Villa, successful greenhouse owner, was created.

The original storyline and the original hero, alas, were relegated to my computer’s archived files.

Without further ado, here’s the “original” Formula for Danger storyline blurb!

Dermatologist and researcher Rachel Grant wishes she could develop a love potion along with the skin care treatments she develops for her family’s exclusive Sonoma spa. She has loved family friend Dylan Roland all her life, but he’s always got a new woman on his arm, and he sees her as a sister, not a potential date. But just when he arrives at the spa to work with her on distributing her new, revolutionary skin care products, she starts to suspect someone is trying to steal her formulations. Is it Dylan? Or is it someone else plotting to harm the Grant family?

I hope you enjoyed this little peek into “the book that never was”!

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is her humorous contemporary romance novel, Single Sashimi, and her romantic suspense, Formula for Danger. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders dogs, knitting and spinning wool, running, Asiana, and other frivolous things. Sign up for her newsletter YahooGroup for giveways!

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3 comments:

Camy Tang said...

What do you think? Should I have stuck with poor Dylan? Any ideas for a story for him instead?
Camy

Cara Putman said...

Oh, love brainstorming...What's he actually do? Or is he wealthy socialite who needs a mission in life?

Camy Tang said...

Originally I had him have his own distribution company that distributes cosmetic products, but I'm open to anything at this point. :)