"The one book no serious romance author should be without" — Dubuque Telegraph-Herald

Award-winning romance novelist Leigh Michaels walks you through each stage of the writing and publishing process. From the origins and evolution of the romance novel, to establishing a vital story framework, to writing that last line, to seeking out appropriate publishers, everything you ever wanted to know about writing a romance novel is here – in "the definitive guide to writing the romance novel."

Take this step-by-step journey, guided by the author of 100 books — including Regency-period historical romance, contemporary romance novels, and non-fiction books about writing. A six-time finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest for best traditional romance of the year, Michaels has won two Reviewers' Choice awards from Romantic Times (RT Book Review) magazine. More than 35 million copies of her books have been published in 25 languages and 120 countries around the world. She has been published by Harlequin, Mills & Boon, Sourcebooks, Montlake Romance, and Arcadia Publishing, and has independently published her own work. She teaches romance writing online at Gotham Writers Workshop.

Includes a new chapter on independent publishing.

A previous version of this book was published by Writers Digest Books under the title On Writing Romance.