RIDA ALLEN

     Writing may have come quite naturally, but the publishing process was considerably harder for Rida. Her novel "Great Love" was completed several years ago and sent to a favorite publisher whose books she had read and enjoyed for many years. It took eighteen months for Rida to hear back from them and when she did, it was disastrous! "I was devastated..." she said in a recent interview, recounting how harsh and impolite that rejection letter was. After being told that no-one would ever publish her manuscript, Rida did what most of us would have done - put the novel away in a drawer and got back to her career.

     That career, in the field of computer technology, propelled Rida into her own real-life romance - she met her future husband on line!  Their courtship lasted eight years before they wed, and now they describe themselves as "best friends" as well as husband and wife.  Rida says her husband is her greatest supporter. 

     The manuscript was still lurking in the drawer, however, and during an extended illness, Rida pulled it out into the light of day and rediscovered it!  With a few revisions and much encouragement from her husband, she sent it out into the world again.  This time the manuscript found its way to Publish America, and finally became a published novel!

     Rida's heroine, Samantha, is not the normal romance heroine.  Even though the genre is beginning to diversify in its portrayal of the main characters, Rida had never been able to identify with the typical size 4 heroine.  So it is no suprise to find that Samantha is a full-figured beauty, and although strong-willed and independent, is also concerned about her lover's perception of her body.  However, this is not a "message" book, simply one featuring a big beautiful woman, written by a woman who is sensitive to all the related issues, having experienced many of them herself.

     Rida feels that this book has established her in the "plus-sized" world, as she describes it, and although her next books will also feature full-figured heroines, they will have even less to do with size!  As an avid reader of romances, she firmly believes it is very important to give readers characters they can identify with, someone realistic who doesn't necessarily wear a size 6!

     We applaud Rida Allen for her courage in continuing to believe in that first manuscript, and are proud to present her as our first "Up and Coming.." author.  We look forward to more romances by Rida Allen in the near future.