Why Do Women Read Romances?

The other day I was talking with a gentleman who is one of those distant relatives, the kind that is related by marriage twice removed or some such nonsense. I had a Johanna Lindsey novel in my hand as I had been devouring it and was quite taken aback when he asked me “Why do women read those things?”

It surprised me because it has been years and years since I’ve met someone with that attitude toward romances and I’m afraid I had become quite rusty in my response. My world consists of people who value romance novels and see the writers of such as almost heroes, or rather heroines. So this question caught me completely off guard. I stumbled through what I hope was a fitting reply, but realized I definitely need to update my arsenal for other people I may encounter who are ignorant of the beauty of romance novels.

If you have an idea for a good response, would you share? Maybe I could practice possible comebacks for that rare occasion when I run into a person who simply doesn’t get romance novels. All suggestions are welcome!

Alexis

Writing Fulltime Part II

First things first. I want to announce the winner of my May contest for commenting on my blog or signing up through my website. And the winner is . . . Jennifer Ashley. Jennifer won a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card. Congratulations, Jennifer!

I will have another contest again in July, so watch for it. For this week, I will continue my thoughts on becoming a fulltime writer.

Alone: I’ve decided that being a writer means being alone. It’s not like going to work where there are other employees, customers, vendors etc., constantly moving in and out of your space. When I open the computer up in the morning, I am alone. However, once I connect to the internet, I have a multitude of people to converse with, bounce ideas off, and work with. What is nice is I can control when I “talk” with others and when I need to be “alone.”

Now for me, I have another possible challenge with this. My husband is retired. Yup, home all day if he wants. Actually, my becoming a fulltime writer has cramped his space a little, but it’s working out well. He doesn’t insist I break for lunch. In fact, he generally puts my lunch next to my computer so I can eat as I write. But I always make time for him. Taking a break from the computer and the creation of exciting characters and events helps rejuvenate me. And taking a break with him is much better than stopping to do laundry :-)

Days: One aspect of writing fulltime that I did not expect was my obliviousness to what day it is. Monday or Saturday or a holiday, I find it’s all irrelevant. The new importance is on the number of days it takes to finish writing or revising. I’ve started putting the date on my daily “To-Do” List to help me keep track of the time passing, along with crossing out the days on the calendar, but it is still the date I have targeted for a submission to go out that motivates me.

I know some writers can work eight hours a day, five days a week and take their weekends off to be with family. I find myself using the weekends to catch up on the writing goals I wanted to accomplish during the week and didn’t. I may need to shorten my daily To-Do Lists because even writers need to take a break. Which brings me to another concern, how do I take a vacation? Right now, it’s not as critical to worry about because I’m not under deadline. But from other writers I’ve spoken to, this can be tricky. Any advice on how to go about setting aside vacation time? I would very much appreciate ideas. Do you have any thoughts?

The Change to Writing Fulltime – Part I

I thought I’d share a few thoughts on a recent transition in my life; basically, I’ve gone from writing part-time to writing full time. Writing romance is my passion and I now have the ability to pursue it fully. I’m so excited! Many multi-published authors write full time, but not many of us who are yet to be published have the opportunity to do so. On the surface, it seems like a dream come true, and it is, but I’ve found that there are pitfalls just waiting to trip me up.

For example, it is easy, when I have all day, to put off doing the final edits on a manuscript until later. Before I know it, later is 10:17pm at night and I haven’t started them. The more time I have, the less I seem to accomplish and vice versa. Have you ever heard the old saying, “If you need something done, give it to a busy person?” It’s true. This means that somehow I have to create pressure for myself. This can get a little tricky.

Deadlines: As an unpublished writer, I have no editor expecting revisions by a certain date or an agent calling to see how far along I am on my current work in progress (WIP). So I have to create my own pressure, my own stress. Luckily, I’ve had a number of requests lately so my deadlines, while they are arbitrary, are at least actual projects that need to be sent out. Otherwise, it’s easy to research, or read, or promote for hours and not get the writing or revising done that I know needs to happen.

Other great deadline makers are contests, calls for conference workshop proposals, and critique partners. Thanks to these, this month I’ve sent out two contest entries, one workshop proposal, and multiple chapters to various critique partners in addition to my submissions. I have succeeded in “creating pressure” at least for this month :-)

Structure: Here is an area that I’m still exploring. When I worked outside the house, the structure was determined for me. I had to be at work by a certain time, had to check email, make calls, and attend meetings. Then I was able to come home and have dinner. My writing came before or after the work day.

Now the writing is the work day and adjusting to the new schedule is not easy. I still find myself writing a lot at night as if the darkness triggers the habit. In the morning, it is easier to answer emails and do research on the web or update my website. But I’ve heard it’s best to write just before going to sleep and as soon as you wake up. I’d like my schedule to change, but haven’t quite figured it all out yet. So, if anyone has any ideas, I could certainly use them. If you have any tricks of the trade, I'd love to read them. Please, comment to share :-)

Alexis

P.S. Everyone who comments on my blog or contacts me through my website in the month of May is being entered into a drawing for a $10 Barnes & Noble card.

Taking on Twins by Cathy McDavid

What happens when a former military woman meets a laid back professional fisherman? Let’s just say it gets interesting as is proven in Cathy McDavid’s recent novel TAKING ON TWINS. This Harlequin American Romance is, by definition, pure summer fun.

Corinne Sweetwater, one of the Tucker family who owns the Bear Creek Ranch, has just come home from the military and is having a rough time adjusting to civilian life. She quickly discovers that running the Bear Creek kitchen like a platoon doesn’t work.

To make matters worse, Greg Pfitser, a professional fisherman and television star is hosting a large fishing tournament at the ranch. This is great for the Tucker family, but tough on Corrine who can’t seem to keep her employees on track. When a mangy dog and two five year-olds invade her kitchen, followed by their breathtakingly handsome father, she is not happy.

But Greg has his own problems, like the fact that he just discovered he’s the father of twin five-year-olds less than three months earlier. As he works on developing a relationship with his children, he must come to terms with his own childhood and plan a major tournament that is critical to the Ranch.

As Corrine and Greg develop feelings for each other, the twins get into mischief, and the dog doesn’t help. Add to that the pressures of two strenuous jobs and the twins’ Mom visiting, and this book delivers a great roller coaster ride that has you rooting for everyone.

With great characters anyone can relate to, it takes the reader on a journey over the emotional gambit that includes everything from irritation to embarrassment to pure joy. A great summer read about a fun summer getaway with a happy summer love story. What more can a reader ask for?

For more about Cathy McDavid and her American romances go to http://www.cathymcdavid.com/books.html

Alexis

How do you buy your books?

I was thinking about this question the other day when there was a delay on Amazon in getting the latest release of a book that a friend of mine wrote. I, however, went directly to a Barnes & Noble (I love Christmas gift cards) and bought the book immediately. This started me thinking, and I decided to take an inventory of how I buy my books. Here’s what I discovered.

Over 67% of the books I bought last year came directly from the authors at signings. Yikes! I guess I got out a lot last year :-) I bought 23% of my books from a bookstore. Another 3% were bought from epublishers (I’m very new to this), and 7% were ordered online. This includes every book I bought for myself, not as gifts. The books generally fell into two categories, romances and writing books.

Somehow, I don’t think this is the norm. But I am curious and was hoping to get a feel from other romance readers on how they buy their books. How do you buy your books? Do you buy your romances differently than you buy your other books? Please, do tell.

Alexis

P.S. Not all percentages are exact as my math grades in school were never as good as my English grades :-)

STORMWALKER by Allyson James

Allyson James delivers again with a suspenseful, breathtaking, romantic ride in her new release, STORMWALKER, on bookshelves now. A fascinating combination of paranormal urban fantasy and romance, this story will have your heart from page one.

Janet Begay is a young, Harley riding, Native American with the ability to harness the power of storms, but the consequences for doing so are harsh unless she can release her magic into another magical being. Janet is in Magellan, Arizona to find a missing woman and to confront her goddess mother from the Beneath. Not an easy task. It’s a good thing she’s got help.

Her ex-boyfriend Mick shows up after five years and takes her out of the police station where she’s being questioned about an accident. Though Mick is shot, he quickly heals and takes the magic Janet must release, reveling in it. Mick has never told Janet what he is, but she assumes he’s some kind of Firewalker since he controls fire. She isn’t even close.

The cast of characters is fascinating, from Coyote, a trickster god, to Jamison the changer, (both were introduced in the novella “A Little Night Magic”), to a talking bi-sexual magic mirror. Also included are Sherriff Nash Jones who is an Unbeliever, but appears to be exceedingly powerful without even knowing it plus there's a cast of powerless humans. You never know who will show up next but will be anxiously awaiting them. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

Trouble follows Janet wherever she goes, but then again, so do her companions . . . eventually. Mick is hotter than hot, while Nash seems to find a way to blame Janet for everything. Coyote is his usual undependable, cryptic self. Between Nightwalkers, Skinwalkers, and motorcycle druggies, Janet has her hands full, but when she recognizes another power within herself, separate from her storm abilities, she realizes how dangerous she can be to those she cares about. In the end, she must make a choice between complex opposites.

In STORMWALKER, Allyson James has built an earthly world with wonderful characters that is easy to follow. Each character is unique and interesting, and as a reader, you can’t help pulling for the “good guys,” once you figure out who they are. I’m thrilled to know that this story will be followed by another entitled FIREWALKER. If you like a conflicted, but strong heroine with a hunky hot protector, and lots of special powers, you’re going to love this series!

STORMWALKER has just been released and I highly recommend getting this one immediately! Check-out the series at:

http://www.allysonjames.com/index.html

Alexis

The Guise of a Gentleman

Last week, Donna Hatch, the author of THE GUISE OF A GENTLEMAN, was my guest blogger. So of course, I had to read her new release and see what it was all about.

NYT Best Seller, Jennifer Ashley, summed up Donna’s book beautifully in her cover quote. Jennifer said “Combining Jane Austin with swashbuckling adventure, THE GUISE OF A GENTLEMAN is a fine specimen of pirate romance!” How true!

The heroine, Elise Berkley, is a widow of five years, though only in her late twenties, and she runs her estate outside the country town of Benniswick, England. She enjoys the freedom of making her own decisions for her people and her five year-old son, Colin. She is the proper lady of Jane Austin’s era with an adventurous side she keeps well under control.

Jared Amesbury, aka Black Jack, is the hero with a dark and dangerous hidden life. An expert pirate, swordsman, and spy, he is endearingly filled with self-doubt about who he really is and his value as a person. When he meets Elise, he is literally being hanged by a rival pirate and it is only her interference and her excellent marksmanship that saves his life and that of the boy he tried to protect. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Jared makes a strong impression on his savior by being bold enough to kiss her.

Of course, Elise thinks she has saved a commoner and is quite shocked to meet the very man she rescued at a local gathering of the gentry. As she fights her attraction to this man, she observes him closely and realizes there is much more to him than he reveals.

Jared is like a moth to the flame when it comes to Elise and cannot stay away from her despite his feelings of unworthiness. But he soon finds himself enjoying the company of Colin, Elise's son, falling for the pretty widow, and anxiously searching for the ring leader of the pirate coalition. After his fellow spy and friend is shot and Elise is taken hostage, Jared turns to piracy again to save her. But he is rewarded with being taken prisoner by the English Navy and condemned to die.

Despite the best efforts of Jared’s friends and his large influential family, Elise witnesses his hanging. Believe it or not, this story has a very happy ending and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that a few times I did get a bit teary eyed. The on-board ship battle scenes were described perfectly without being too confusing and had my pulse racing. This is a sweet adventurous romance that had me whipping through the final chapters at a speed only reserved for my favorite reads.

If you like dashing pirates, vulnerable masculine men, and women with guts, you won’t want to miss this one!

Happy reading, Alexis