Two women from Riverview have made recent forays into the world of writing, with very different books

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Riverview is home to two very different authors. Ruth MacLean is working on her third romance novel for Harlequin, and Lynn McEachern is a self-published writer of thrillers.

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Two local women have made their literary debuts recently with two very different kinds of novels and in two very different ways.

"I'm very mild-mannered," chuckles Lynn, "though you'd never know it by what I write. Indigo, my novel, is not a family book. The only kinds of books I can sink my teeth into have lots of blood and guts and foul language"

"I used to write a romance review column for the Halifax Chronicle Herald," reminisces Ruth, "so it was natural for me to start writing them."

Both women remember always wanting write, even as children, and each has faced the daunting task of getting published in her own way.

Ruth, who writes under the name Stella MacLean, attended the annual Romance conference for years, to meet friends, attend workshops, and meet other writers.

Three years ago, with 10 unpublished romance novels under her belt, she attended again, determined this time to meet with a Canadian romance publisher.

She encountered Paula Eykelhof, the executive editor of Harlequin, and award-winning romance writer Debbie Macomber.

This meeting led to a synopsis, a few chapters, and eventual publication of Heart of My Heart earlier this year.

"It was a big bonus for me, to sit down with Debbie," Ruth recalls. "It was quite a treat. I have another book coming out in March of 2009, and am working on a third. They're all what Harlequin calls 'Super Romances', and they're longer, more involved than standard romances."

Lynn, meanwhile, started by writing Star Wars fan fiction on fanfiction.net, and because of positive feedback from readers, began creating her own characters.

She wrote her novel, Indigo, and spent a year trying to sell it to agents and publishers. In the end she decided to publish on-line, and has also released four short stories.

She remembers exactly when she first wanted to write in her genre.

"I was 21 or 22, and I had just finished a Steven King book, and I remember thinking, 'wow, I want to do this some day'."

When asked if they make their living from their writing, both authors were quick to reply.

"It's a great source of enjoyment," says Ruth, "though I don't make my living off it."

"Oh, heck no," says Lynn energetically. "I don't mind about the money, though. The feedback is everything. Most everyone who has read my book has liked it."

What are their first books about?

"Heart of My Heart is an epic love story about two teens who get separated by their families," Ruth explains. "The girl marries someone else. It takes place in the present, but there are flash-backs to the sixties."

"Indigo is about a serial killer who works at a grocery store," says Lynn, "and I work at a grocery store, but I'm nothing like the people in the book."

Lynn's novel is carried by Read's, and her novel and short stories are all available at store.lulu.com/lynnmceachern. Ruth's is available anywhere Harlequins are sold.

Both women continue to write, because it's something that they just need to do.