What’s My Line?

Finding Romance in Series Fiction

by Deborah Hale, Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock

If you’re trying to break into romance writing via Harlequin/Silhouette series, you’ve probably heard the advice “target your market” and “write what you like to read.” But maybe you haven’t read much series romance lately, or you’ve never put your finger on what distinguishes each line. If you need help figuring out where to tryst with a sexy bad boy, fall in love with the irresistible guy next door, or runaway with someone tall, dark and dangerous, here’s a fun way to find your best bets. All you need to know is whether you are looking for a shorter length line (50-65,000 words) or a longer book (70-100,000 words). You may want to pick one of each! Simply review the following questions and jot down your top pick from the choice of answers. Tally up how many of each letter you chose and compare with our answer chart to discover which of the Harlequin/Silhouette lines you have special affinity for. Have fun taking the quiz? You might like to take the Pick a Book or Sister Author quizzes at www.eHarlequin.com. But for now, sit back and enjoy your happily ever after!

Helpful Hint: If you are stumped on which way to go with answering a question, consider asking yourself what your hero or heroine might answer to give yourself that tie-breaker.

Part I: Finding a Short Line

  1. If you could work as a script writer on a television show, which would you choose?

    1. Providence
    2. Gilmore Girls
    3. Dharma and Greg
    4. Ally McBeal
    5. Dynasty
    6. Once and Again
  2. Which movie do you wish you’d written or starred in?

    1. The Bachelor
    2. The Parent Trap
    3. Something About Mary
    4. Don Juan DeMarco
    5. The Greek Tycoon
    6. The Runaway Bride
  3. What actor would you cast to play your favorite fictional romance hero?

    1. Matt Damon
    2. Tom Hanks
    3. Brendan Fraser
    4. Ben Affleck
    5. Antonio Banderas
    6. Matthew McConaughey
  4. What actress would you cast as your favorite fictional romance heroine?

    1. Gwyneth Paltrow
    2. Rene Zellweger
    3. Marisa Tomei
    4. Cameron Diaz
    5. Halle Berry
    6. Ashley Judd
  5. Which of these foods is worth every calorie to you?

    1. homemade bread
    2. chocolate chip cookies
    3. pizza with everything
    4. Death By Chocolate
    5. Buluga caviar
    6. French Silk
  6. What gift would you most like to receive from your special someone?

    1. pewter picture frame
    2. music box
    3. magic 8 ball
    4. tennis bracelet
    5. diamond tiara
    6. chocolate covered cherries
  7. What’s your idea of a perfect date?

    1. hayride
    2. ice skating
    3. amusement park
    4. dancing
    5. Carnivale in Rio
    6. star gazing
  8. What kind of music stops your radio dial?

    1. soft rock
    2. easy listening
    3. reggae
    4. tango
    5. grand opera
    6. steamy ballads
  9. If you were to paint the walls in your study, what color would they be?

    1. peach
    2. willow green
    3. canary
    4. crimson
    5. gold
    6. plum
  10. Which animal would you like to have around the house?

    1. bunny
    2. chipmunk
    3. goldfish
    4. angora cat
    5. Japanese carp
    6. cougar
  11. “Oh waiter! Could you bring me a…?”

    1. chocolate milkshake
    2. root beer
    3. Jell-O shot
    4. cosmopolitan
    5. Moet
    6. wine spritzer
  12. You’re significant other wants to surprise you with flowers. You prefer…

    1. violets
    2. tulips
    3. daffodils
    4. jasmine
    5. orchids
    6. red roses
  13. What place in the world would you most like to visit?

    1. Niagara Falls
    2. Prince Edward Island
    3. L.A.
    4. Miami
    5. The Riviera
    6. Atlanta
  14. Which of these vehicles can you envision yourself driving?

    1. Mercury Topaz
    2. Toyota van
    3. V.W. Beetle
    4. Porsche
    5. Rolls Royce
    6. Chevy S-10

Part II: Finding a Long Line

  1. If you could work as a script writer on a television show, which would you choose?

    1. Masterpiece Theatre
    2. Little House on the Prairie
    3. Touched by an Angel
    4. NYPD Blue
    5. La Femme Nikita
    6. The Nanny
    7. Walker: Texas Ranger
    8. Third Watch
    9. Sex & the City
  2. Which movie do you wish you’d written or starred in?

    1. Emma
    2. The Patriot
    3. The Preacher’s Wife
    4. Mission: Impossible
    5. Double Jeopardy
    6. Three Men and a Little Lady
    7. Hope Floats
    8. As Good As It Gets
    9. Eyes Wide Shut
  3. What actor would you cast to play your favorite fictional romance hero?

    1. Daniel Day-Lewis
    2. Harrison Ford
    3. Judge Reinhold
    4. Benjamin Bratt
    5. Russell Crowe
    6. Bill Pullman
    7. Harry Connick, Jr.
    8. George Clooney
    9. Brad Pitt
  4. What actress would you cast as your favorite fictional romance heroine?

    1. Julia Ormond
    2. Nicole Kidman
    3. Roma Downey
    4. Gillian Anderson
    5. Michelle Pfeiffer
    6. Meg Ryan
    7. Sandra Bullock
    8. Julia Roberts
    9. Jennifer Lopez
  5. Which of these foods is worth every calorie to you?

    1. brie and grapes
    2. beef jerky
    3. angel food cake with strawberries
    4. shish-kebabs
    5. seafood linguini
    6. ice cream sundae
    7. lemon meringue pie
    8. barbecue/chili
    9. oysters
  6. What gift would you most like to receive from your special someone?

    1. Celtic brooch
    2. locket
    3. donation to favorite charity
    4. bottle of merlot
    5. piece of Aztec art
    6. pearl earrings
    7. grandmother’s cameo
    8. scented candles
    9. merry widow
  7. What’s your idea of a perfect date?

    1. tour a museum or historic mansion
    2. picnic in the country
    3. apple picking
    4. mystery dinner theatre
    5. backstreet cafe
    6. country fair
    7. rodeo
    8. horseback riding
    9. sensual role-playing
  8. What kind of music stops your radio dial?

    1. classical
    2. Dixieland
    3. gospel
    4. jazz
    5. rhythm & blues
    6. rock-n-roll
    7. bluegrass
    8. country
    9. salsa
  9. If you were to paint the walls in your study, what color would they be?

    1. burgundy
    2. russet
    3. white
    4. midnight blue
    5. indigo
    6. cornflower
    7. amber
    8. goldenrod
    9. scarlet
  10. Which animal would you like to have around the house?

    1. wolfhound
    2. Palomino
    3. dove
    4. fox
    5. wolf
    6. tabby cat
    7. Collie
    8. stallion
    9. jaguar
  11. “Oh waiter! Could you bring me a…?”

    1. mead
    2. black coffee
    3. spring water
    4. martini
    5. margarita
    6. lemonade
    7. sweet tea
    8. imported beer
    9. sex on the beach
  12. You’re significant other wants to surprise you with flowers. You prefer…

    1. eglantines
    2. bluebells
    3. lily of the valley
    4. snapdragons
    5. wolf bane
    6. daisies
    7. honeysuckle
    8. sunflowers
    9. lotus flowers
  13. What place in the world would you most like to visit?

    1. Scotland
    2. Texas
    3. Israel
    4. D.C.
    5. New Orleans
    6. Oklahoma
    7. Wyoming
    8. Montana
    9. New York City
  14. Which of these vehicles can you envision yourself driving?

    1. Aston Martin
    2. Ford F-150 Pickup
    3. Volvo
    4. Lexus
    5. Vintage GTO
    6. Minivan
    7. Jeep Wrangler
    8. Suburban
    9. Lamborghini

Now that you’ve taken the quiz, find out how to score your answers!

About the Authors

Deborah Hale

Having written a dozen romances for Harlequin Historicals, award-winning author Deborah Hale spread her wings into the realm of romantic fantasy with Harlequin’s Luna imprint. Deborah’s books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, selling over two million copies worldwide. For covers, excerpts, writing tips and more, visit Deborah’s website or her author page at eHarlequin.

Catherine Mann

RITA Award-winning author Catherine Mann pens military romances for HQN and Silhouette, a natural fit since she’s married to her own Air Force flyboy! For all the latest on her upcoming books, check out her website or author page at eHarlequin.

Joanne Rock

Bestselling Blaze author Joanne Rock has kept busy since her first sale, writing at least five books a year for her favorite Harlequin lines. A Golden Heart winner and RITA nominee, Joanne has works published in twenty two countries and sixteen languages. She is the recipient of the Winter Rose, the Beacon, a Blue Boa and a Romantic Times’ W.I.S.H. Award. Visit Joanne online at joannerock.com or at eHarlequin.

An abbreviated version of this quiz appeared in the February 2002 issue of Romantic Times.

© 2023 Joanne Rock. All rights reserved.