WANT TO WRITE A ROMANTIC ROMP?

Maddy Fletcher reveals the essential ingredients of a Mills & Boon bestseller

One herOine

In the past the more passive, porcelain and prudish the heroine the better. Now leading ladies can have more bite. Divorcées, single mothers and even (brace yourself) working women are all allowed – but she must, no matter the circumstances, always need saving.

One ridiculOus title

Previous examples include: Apollo’s Seed, Love and the Kentish Maid, Master of Marshlands, Mystery at Butlin’s and Grace Before Meat. Let your imagination run wild.

At leAst twO sex scenes

No messing around here. A few tender embraces, plenty of trembling and quivering and the odd wave of ecstasy will do the trick.

One herO

Still mostly alpha males. Tanned skin is a bonus, as is a strong jaw and a big bank account. Greek tycoons, possessive sheikhs, billionaire CEOs, repressed aristocrats and workaholic doctors are all tried-and-tested successes. Russian oligarchs have done well in the past but perhaps not in the current climate.

One big fight

Ideally, this should take place three-quarters of the way through the story. It will almost certainly be caused by male ineptitude.

One lAst-minute resOlutiOn

Happy endings are mandatory in Mills & Boon. A cheery epilogue describing blissed-out married life with perfect babies is preferred.