Sep 25, 2008

Speaker: Paula Eykelhof

Saguaro Romance Writers' September meeting features Harlequin Executive Editor Paula Eykelhof. Paula will talk about strong novel openings and what comprises good romance writing. For examples she'll use material submitted to her by our members for critique. Doors open at 5.30 pm, and the meeting begins at 6.00 pm and ends around 9.00 pm.

Paula will also be hearing pitches during the afternoon from qualifying members participating in Write for the Roses who have signed up for a slot ahead of time.

Paula Eykelhof has been involved with the written word for most of her working life, starting with a library job during high school. After completing her master's degree in English and drama at Toronto's York University, she worked as a puppeteer before becoming a researcher and writer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. There, a show called “Authors” featured interviews with well-known Canadian writers. She then became a writer and publicist for the communications department of the Ontario Ministry of Housing, which meant doing press releases, articles and film scripts about such fascinating topics as energy-efficient windows.

Paula entered the world of romance fiction in 1983 when she became a freelance editor for Harlequin after her daughter, Emma, was born. Emma is now 25 and works for another publisher in Toronto. When Emma was young, Paula read to her, for at least an hour every night, children's classics such the "Little House" and Narnia series, books by Austen, Dickens, Bronte and Thackeray -- and whatever romance manuscripts she happened to be working on.  

In her tenure with Harlequin, Paula has been responsible for Harlequin Romance acquisitions and for 10 years was senior editor of the Superromance line. She has also been senior editor of American Romance. Paula became an executive editor in 2002. In addition, she has worked on many MIRA titles, including those of No. 1 New York Times bestseller Debbie Macomber, and has been involved with a number of other projects, including Everlasting Love.  

When Paula isn't working, she reads. She lives in Toronto with her husband (now retired), one bad dog and two cats.

<< August 2008 speakers