Sara Reyes | Reason 108 ... What I Get From Reading Romance Novels

Recommended Reads

One of the popular sayings and truths among romance readers is "everything I know I learned from a romance novel." And it is very true. Well, maybe not everything but a great deal of information I obtained from novels has been helpful over the years and continues to be. This includes historical events, characters, geography, management skills, and lots of things not normally associated with "romance." So it was slightly gratifying to see the same thing happen to one of my children.

About eight years ago, Jemima J was published. It was one of the very early "chick-lit" books, in fact Jane Green and Helen Fielding are considered to be the "Queens of Chick-lit." Both had books out within a few months that were blockbusters around the world and exemplified a new genre of popular fiction -- young women searching for Mr. Right. My daughter got a copy of Jemima J from me...in those days I was trying to open her eyes to books past vampires and young love...what has changed? ... into something a little more mature. Needless to say, Jane Green changed her life. Not only did Jemima J inspire her to take charge of her life and lose 40 pounds but it also gave her the inspiration to write a stellar essay that helped her get early admission into the college of her choice. Pretty good in my opinion, best $20 I ever spent!

So this week, Jane Green came to Plano and of course we were there! I mean, this was a great opportunity. A little scary because sometimes expectations are not matched by reality. We've seen and met hundreds of authors over the past years, so we've experienced the great, the arrogant, the good, the boring, the charming, and mostly really nice people who happen to be authors. But this was special for my daughter. And she was nervous.

Read the rest of our adventure...click here

Jax Cassidy | The First Time

Well, this isn’t about ‘the first time’, naughty people! This is about my first time at conference. 

Four years ago I attended my first Romance Writers of America conference in Reno, Nevada. I had just started writing romance not long before and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Being the new kid on the block, I was so impressed by the people I met, the professionalism of the event, and especially the friendly reception from other aspiring and published writers. There is no describing the sort of excitement that assaults you when you’re immersed in one place that holds so much creativity. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s overwhelming yet inspiring. The energy just bounces off the walls, surging through you, and making you enjoy every second of the event. When you’re finally on the plane that takes you back home, you will feel saddened that the conference is over. 

I’m certain everyone will have a different experience at her first conference but I can truly say that I felt like a writer that week. Our writing journey is a long and solitary one and when the opportunity to share our experiences with other writers comes along, we can’t afford to miss it.  

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the conference experience; especially if it’s your first.  Here, then, are some tips I’ve learned in the four years I’ve attended: 

You'll need to read the tips from Jax...click here to read more

Calista Fox | Sex and the Action Hero/Heroine

I love writing suspense and sexy romance, so it’s only natural that I combined my two passions in my July novel, Object of Desire (Red Sage Publishing, trade paperback). What’s most difficult about writing steamy, adventure-packed stories? Finding a break in the suspense action for some sex action!

In Object, Laurel Blackwood and Devon Mallory are both trying to get their hands on a legendary gem and they’re constantly being shot at—making it very difficult for these two to hook up! Luckily, they’re highly passionate characters, with massive sparkage between them.

Don't stop now...read the rest!

Candace Havens | Superhero, Anyone?

I know, this a tough decision for any woman. I mean, it’s something I ponder at length. I’ve even dreamed about it on occasion. I feel like this is the time to really delve deep and figure out the answer to the question:

If I had a choice would I sleep with Superman or Batman?

In a perfect world, I’d get both. I mean, someone on. They are both super hot, even without their capes. My friends and I used to play this game Breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee. We’d pick celebrities and then say what meal we’d like to share with them. Breakfast usually meant a sleepover.

I’m saying straight up, with no reservations, I’d have breakfast with Superman and Batman. No problemo.

But like I said, this isn’t a perfect world, so I have to pick one. Let’s look at the con’s first. Superman, has so much strength, that one has to worry if he were to lose himself in the throes of passion, well, one might get squished. And there’s that whole faster than a speeding bullet. Fast isn’t always a good thing.

Curious to know the answer? Read on...

Carolyn Haines | CHARACTERS OUT OF CONTROL

This summer, the 9th Bones book, GREEDY BONES, will be released by St. Martin’s Minotaur. I’m hard at work on the 10th book. People often ask me if I grow weary of the characters in Zinnia. After all, I’ve been in relationship with them for ten years or better, which is longer than many marriages.

I never get tired of the Zinnia gang. They’re old friends to me. Trusted friends who share wisdom, laughter, shenanigans, and a zest for life that I often find in my real life friends and in the letters of many readers who’ve written to me. Sarah Booth, Jitty, Tinkie, Cece and Millie bring out the best in me, I think. One of the most interesting things is how much these characters have grown and changed over the books, exactly as real people do.

Click to read the rest of Carolyn's blog and to leave a comment.

Mary Jo Putney | Historical Romance Rocks!

Romance has been part of storytelling since the Ugggh clan sat around the campfire in the Stone Age, and today the romance genre flourishes in many delightful forms.  But I think that historicals have something special that really says romance!   

The dashing costumes are delightful even for those of us who would rather be shot than wear a corset.  The past is a great escape from everyday life.  We can return to times and places when Men were Men, Women were Women, and both probably needed a good bath.  *grin*  When we read historical romances, we aren’t thinking about the dark side of history.   My English ancestors were probably field laborers, but I read and write about lords and ladies, because it’s fun.   

Of course, a certain amount of realism is required to anchor the story and give it emotional resonance.  Men who were raised with great wealth, power, and privilege run the risk of being arrogant jerks, which is why I so often torture my heroes.  It makes them better and more compassionate, so anything I inflict on them is for their own good.  Really. 

Historical romance also allows for over-the-top plot elements like marriages of convenience, amnesia, noble highwaymen and pirates, and characters returning from presumed death.  I love all of those (well, not so much the highwaymen and pirates), and over the years I’ve conjured apparent death for an embarrassing number of characters, especially the heroes.   

I also adore amnesia—what is a man when memory, habit, and the expectations of friends are stripped away?  What is the inner truth that has a chance to emerge?  My July release, Loving a Lost Lord, is my third amnesia book, and the hero starts the book apparently dead.  But he was certainly happy to meet Mariah, the adaptable blond beauty who drags his mostly drowned body ashore.  By the time he and Mariah work things out, Adam has come to terms with his half Hindu heritage and his ducal station, and is a much happier man.  I’m sure that someday he’ll thank me for all I put him through.   

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Sandi Shilhanek | Sorry, But It Wasn't That Exciting...

Last week while I was in Chicago I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I’ll admit that I bought this book because of the hype and the fact it was written in letter format intrigued me. I will also admit to not fully being aware of the setting of the book.

I feel fairly confident that you would have had to be something of an ostrich with your head buried in the sand in the last year if you’ve not at least heard of this book. I feel like I belong to a vast variety of yahoo groups, and freely admit to not being great at blog hopping. Therefore the comments I can recall hearing about this book were all fantastic and led me to believe this was a book to be read sooner rather than later.

With that in mind my trusty Kindle provided me with the book, and I was set to lose myself in the correspondence. While I can’t say that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book was bad I also have to say that I didn’t get the hype that led up to this book.

Read the rest ... click here