The Problems of Persuasion: A Guest Post and a Giveaway by Jenny Holiday
Once upon a time there was a romance novelist who was an idiot.
That would be me.
I’m kidding – kind of. […]
The Ojibway Circle: A Guest Post by Maggie Blackbird
Why We Need Romance by Leslie Hachtel
What helps? Respite. A break. Something better to aim for. And that’s what romance books give us. The victory over conflict, the answer to uncertainties, the happily ever after.
Maybe they don’t convey world-changing ideas or cure disease, but they give us hope. And, as Emily Dickinson said so poignantly:
““Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –”
And what are the stories romance writers write? Magical stories of good triumphing over evil, true love conquering all and yes — happily ever after.
In times like these, we need to believe there is hope, […]
What, why and how do you read? A survey by M.K. Tod
Readers and writers – a symbiotic relationship. Ideas spark writers to create stories and build worlds and characters for readers’ consumption. Readers add imagination and thought to interpret those stories, deriving meaning and enjoyment in the process. A story is incomplete without both reader and writer.
And yet, so many authors I know mumble and grumble about their writing: Why hasn’t novel two done as well as novel one? Why is writer X getting so much attention? How should I adjust the manuscript to attract more readers? Why did my publisher reject my latest effort? How can I find the readers who will love my stories?
The grand bargain between writers and readers is a challenging one.
What then do readers want? What constitutes a compelling story? How do men and women differ in their preferences? Where do readers find recommendations? How do readers share their book experiences? These and other questions are […]
Jenny Holiday on “Prickly Presenting” Heroines (and a giveaway!)
She was talking about Wendy Liu, who was a secondary character in my last book, One and Only, and is the heroine of my newest book, It Takes Two. […]
Finding Romance in Yosemite: A Guest Post by Karen Barnett
I’m not sure about you, but to be perfectly honest, I’m more of a graham cracker and starlight kind of girl.
I fell in love with nature at a young age, and was fortunate enough to spend several years working as a park ranger and a naturalist. Eventually my life went in other directions, and I settled into a career as a novelist. When I got ready to write my newest series, I was drawn to my memories of working in these amazing places. I couldn’t imagine a more exciting and romantic location to set a story than our national parks. Wilderness holds inherent danger as well as beauty, and that […]
From the blank page to the shelf: Olivia Boothe talks about her journey as a romance writer
Even […]
Female Friendship And Too Many Tears: a Guest post and Giveaway by Toni Anderson
“Don’t make her a whiner.”
In the back of my mind, I hear former editors’ comments about how “no one likes a crier.” And “not to overuse tears.” So, I allow Pip to cry for a little while but then I force her to get a grip and pull herself back together from those million, non-orgasm induced, shattered pieces.
It got me thinking about friendship. About women. Those deep […]
Living Life Resiliently – A Guest Post by L.J. Evans
I write contemporary romance that’s driven by music and by characters who live life resiliently. Why do I write emotionally driven books? Well, it’s because people amaze me. And I don’t mean that in the way you hear a lot nowadays, about how horrible people can be. I mean it in the way that people are INSPIRING. I’m sure each of you reading this would amaze me because you have all suffered losses in your life and are still here. Still moving forward. Still trying to find a new normal in your life after the last loss you faced.
When I lost my grandmother while in college, a friend gave me a book called How to Survive the Loss of a Love by Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., Melba Colgrove Ph.D., and Peter McWilliams. When I read the book, I realized that I’d already experienced a lot of losses in my life. Losses that I hadn’t called a loss. Losses that I’d […]
Fantasy for Romance Readers – a guest blog by Victoria Janssen
I love romance for the same reasons I love other genres: intriguing characters with problems, who need others’ help to find solutions. In romance, the main romantic couple are generally the intriguing characters, and they help each other to solve the problem […]