#12 – Colleen is our WINNER! Email me at donna@donnagrant.com with your address to claim your prize. CONGRATS!
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Morning, all! My wonderful, amazing agent, Emily Sylvan Kim, was supposed to be here this morning, but life has gotten in the way and she’s unable to make it. So, I’m stepping in for her. 
The other day I got this curious email from a review site that said one of their reviewers was bashed for reading romance. They asked if I would be willing to write a blog on “Redeeming Romance”. My answer was, of course, a resounding yes!
But that got me thinking. Romance is the biggest and largest selling genre out there. They put our section in the back so readers will have to walk through other books (with the hopes that some other books might catch their eye) in order to get to ours. Booksellers know how well romance sells. They know that readers will go into a store and not just buy one book. They buy several. So, in a way its a smart business move.
Yet for all our sales, people still view romance as some nasty, embarrassing thing to read. The “bodice-ripper” is long gone, but that connotation is still around. As I stated in my blog for the review site, I changed a lot of people’s opinions by simply pointing out what romance is.
Romance is about the journey of two people. It’s an inner journey where they find themselves and love. It’s a journey that can be fraught with danger, most of the times villains out to get them, but always, always, there is a “Happily Ever After” in the end. No matter what the characters go through, no matter how heart wrenching, you know as a reader, that in the end, they’ll end up together.
After mentioning to the many macho guys around me that most movies/TV shoes/books have a romantic element in them, they began to see things differently. Of course, it didn’t happen over night. My hubby, who is awesome, helped me by pointing out that romance/relationships are a part of life so they would be in everything. Most of the guys changed their way of thinking, and even a few went and bought my books to read (and had me sign them. )
It just goes to prove that there is a stigma on romance still. Some say the covers don’t help. But, honestly, I love the clench covers. I want to see a hot guy on my covers. lol. In the end, it comes down to readers who are willing to stand up for what they love to read, to tell people it isn’t porn. It’s a story of love, of adventure and intrigue, of discovering characters who make you root for them and cry for them and laugh with them. It’s about being taken away from the daily grind to a place whether in Medieval Scotland, a futuristic world, a contemporary setting, or a fantasy world that makes you fall in love with the characters and know that love does indeed exist.
Tell me why do you read romance?
I’ll choose someone for a signed copy of the second book in my Dark Sword series, FORBIDDEN HIGHLANDER! And look for my next book, UNTAMED HIGHLANDER on April 26th!
hugs,
D
www.DonnaGrant.com
Archive for the 'Donna' Category
Just went to random.org and had #6 pop up. So #6, Ren Puspita, please email donna@donnagrant.com with your address! Congrats and lots more chances to win everyone! A prize every day!
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Writing can be a very lonely business. We’re at our desks (or sitting at Starbucks, B&N, etc…) pounding away on the keys and lost in our characters. There’s deadlines, edits, copy edits, and proposals. The list goes on an on.
But then there is one thing romance authors/readers have that not many other genres have – the romance community.
That community can seem overwhelmingly vast, but at the same time its a close knit group. Its one of the ways I met my awesome cohorts (Lise, Cynthia, Jennifer & Caridad). We’re not just a part of a group, we’re friends, and that can make all the difference.
And then there is the readers. I love getting to interact with readers. Sometimes I can get so caught up in chatting with readers that I realize I’ve got pages to get written. Its a delicate balance that the farther in our careers we go, the more it takes it balance it. Yet, it brings me so much joy to talk to readers. Because without you readers, I wouldn’t be here.
So do you interact with your favorite authors? And how?
Answer my question above for a chance to win the first three Dark Sword books – Dangerous Highlander, Forbidden Highlander, and Wicked Highlander.
And don’t forget my next release – Untamed Highlander – coming April 26, 2011!
Druid-born and magic-blessed, Isla is one of the deadliest she-devils ever to serve the forces of darkness. As an immortal Highland warrior, it’s up to Hayden Campbell to destroy her and her kind. But for Hayden, Isla is more than a sworn enemy. She is temptation…
Taking Isla captive, Hayden hopes to avenge his kinsmen who died by Druid magic. But when he looks into Isla’s eyes, he sees the secrets of her past. When he touches her skin, he feels the passion in her soul. And soon Hayden comes to realize that this beautiful, beguiling woman is not his enemy at all—she is his destiny. And, even as the forces of darkness conspire against them, their love will conquer all…
To read more about Untamed Highlander and pre-order the book/ebook, click here!
hugs,
D
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www.DonnaGrant.com
One of my favorite things to do is walk into my local Barnes & Noble. We have a Books-A-Million as well, but I prefer the B&N. Not sure why. BAM has been in town longer, but the B&N store is massive. They have a large romance section, and they do good in keeping my books in stock since I’m a local author.
I love going up and down the aisles looking at the books and seeing which covers draw my attention. I love the smell of the books. I love the entire atmosphere!
Despite that, there are times when I do place an order through B&N online. Not because I don’t want to go to the book store, but because its 30 minutes away and I may not have time.
I love the convenience of having the books delivered for free. I also love how I can put books on my “wish list” which makes remembering what books I want, and when they release, a good thing for me.
So tell me, what is your favorite place to buy books?
hugs,
D
Tuesdays are always fun for me. I love heading to the bookstore and seeing what has come in. And I always leave with books. lol.
Two of the Dangerous Women had releases yesterday. I picked up Jennifer Haymore’s A SEASON OF SEDUCTION as well as Cynthia Eden’s THE NAUGHTY LIST.
There were many others I picked up, but I’d rather here what books you bought!
hugs,
D
One of the things I love about fall is the new shows – and returning shows – on TV. I admit, we watch quite a bit of TV, but mostly we DVR everything and watch it when we can. So we’ll have 6 shows taped sometimes before we can get to it.
That’s what happened with The Gates. Of course, I got so into it that we watched it as soon as we could once we got caught up. I also got hooked watching SciFi’s new show Haven based off Stephen King’s Colorado Kid. *Great* show. Love, love, love it!
I was delighted with the return of Castle (one of my favorites!) and NCIS:LA this week.
And Vampire Diaries returned last week. Yes, I got hooked last year. Can’t wait to see what happens this season.
Here are my other must see shows:
Bones
Fringe
The Mentalist
Supernatural
Destination Truth (my daughter *loves* this)
Ghost Hunters
and most especially Stargate: Universe
Besides Hawaii 5-0 we’re giving Blue Bloods a try. There were a couple of other shows I was interested in (Lone Star being one of them) but they interferred with shows I was already hooked on, so I didn’t get to watch or DVR.
So, tell me which shows you found this summer, new shows coming this fall, or your old favorites returning.
hugs,
D
I always like to find out how people buy authors/books they’ve never read before. I’m not at all surprised to discover that the covers have a lot to do with that decisions.
I know once I buy all the books I go looking for, I’ll browse the shelves to see if something catches my eye. I’ve found several great authors that way, but I also know I’ve not read some because of the covers.
And I hate that.
An author doesn’t have any control over their covers. I know many readers think they do (I’ve seen the emails yelling at authors because the readers think the cover is awful). The truth is covers, release dates, and most times even the titles are completely out of the author’s hands. The publisher, editor, and marketing department decide all of that.
It can be very frustrating, especially when an author doesn’t like a cover. If the cover isn’t pretty, hot, eye-catching, or whatever, its not likely to grab reader’s attention, which could translate into slow – or even worse, no – sales.
But if you get a gorgeous cover that makes you scream and jump up and down (ok, so I did that. I admit it freely) then that’s an added bonus. I mean, who can resist a hunky guy in a kilt, right? lol
So tell me, do covers make a difference in you buying a book?
hugs,
D
I’m a fan of authors who do books in a series. For me, there’s no limit to how long I’ll stay involved with the series as long as the author keeps things fresh and moving forward.
There are some truly *great* series out there right now. Lisa Kleypas just finished her Hathaway series, which I’m very sad to see end. Christina Dodd has her Chosen Ones series which rocks – and is a spin off from her fabulous Darkness Chosen series! Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breed series is another favorite of mine.
There’s also Larissa Ione’s Demonica series, Krelsey Cole’s Immortals After Dark series, Stephanie Lauren’s Bride Quartet, Marjorie M. Liu’s Dirk and Steele series, Alexandra Hawkins new Lords of Vice series, Caridad Pineiro’s Calling series, Cynthia Eden’s series (Midnight trilogy, Night Watch series, and newest Deadly series), Jennifer Haymores historical series, and Lisa Renee Jones’ upcoming new Zodius series.
And so many more!
With so many to chose from, has it become something you, as a reader, don’t care for? Or do you feel as if you’ve been given a smorgasbord of series to choose from?
hugs,
D
I’ve noticed a lot of talk lately around the ‘net about rereading favorite books. Which got me thinking, how many of us reread our favorite books?
I know I’d love to keep all the books I read, but I only keep the ones that I know I would reread again. Do I? Well, sometimes. Not as often as I would like because there are so many books released every week that I want. Already my TBR pile is getting way out of hand. I need a couple of weeks were I do nothing but read.
So, tell me, do you reread books? What makes them a reread?
hugs,
D
I love reading books in a series. There’s something magical about returning to a setting and characters that you’ve come to know and love. My TBR pile is growing by the day (literally), but there was no way I was going to pass up reading books four and five, Married by Morning and Love in the Afternoon in the Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas.
I had been looking forward to Cat and Leo’s book from the moment of their first argument. I knew they would have a fiery story, and Lisa did not disappoint. To add to their intense attraction, Cat has a past she’s been running from. And a man that will do whatever it takes to have her as his own.
Leo through all his sarcastic comments and quick wit was a perfect hero for Cat. He was strong, clever, and refused to let her fall through his hands. Despite Leo’s attention on discovering Cat’s secrets, he must find a wife and produce an heir within a year or lose Hathaway House.
With so many twists and turns and villains attacking you begin to wonder if Cat and Leo can find the happiness they deserve. Yet, in the end, it is their love that gets them through it all.
I was very curious as to how the youngest Hathaway, Beatrix, would find her hero. Beatrix lived life differently. Nature and animals were her loves. No one but her familiy understood her which made it difficult for her in society. Her family had all but regulated her to a spinster, made worse by the fact that men found her attractive and easy to talk to, but never moved things further along.
It isn’t until Beatrix’s friend, Pru, gets a letter from a beau while he’s fighting abroad that Beatrix decides to answer Christopher when Pru refuses. After all, Christopher is putting his life on the line, and its clear by his letters he won’t return home the same man he had left. It doesn’t take long for the correspodence between Beatrix and Christopher to become something more, something deep.
When Beatrix learns that Christopher will soon return home, she ends their letters, but the damage is already done. She’s already fallen in love with him.
Christopher returns home determined to claim Pru as his wife. Their exchange of letters confirms that she is the one for him. Or is she? After spending time with Pru he soon realizes she wasn’t the one who wrote the letters. He sets out to find who deceived him and why.
The agony of seeing Christopher with Pru is too much for Beatrix. Her heart shatters again and again. The deception she was part of only makes things more difficult to bear. Yet, she cannot turn away when she realizes Christopher might be a war hero, but he is suffering from his time in the war. Nightmares and seemingly unending fury ride Christopher and keep him locked in his home. The only one who can help him is Beatrix. But does she dare? Her secret could be revealed, and then the man she loved would turn away from her forever.
Christopher soon discovers it is Beatrix who wrote the letters, but their time together has proved one thing – he needs her. In his life and in his bed. But does he dare take the chance of bringing such an innocent into his life of hell?
When love and a Hathaway are involved, nothing will stand in the way.
If you haven’t read this series, I cannot recommend it enough. Lisa Kleypas brings passion and intrigue and love into each story as her characters leap off the page. She emmerses you in her worlds, and you won’t ever want to leave!
If there is one author I know I can pick up and never be disappointed in, its Lisa Kleypas. Her writing is so vivid and sensual, and it pulls you in immediately.
From the moment I picked up Mine Till Midnight, the first in the Hathaway series, I was hooked. Seduce me at Sunrise only helped to whet my appetite for Tempt me at Twilight.
I couldn’t wait for Poppy’s story. With her quirky family, I found it charming that Poppy wanted “normalcy”. She certainly doesn’t get it when she meets Harry Rutledge. The passion between them ignites the pages, and Harry’s dangerous and hidden past only fueled my need to know more of him. He wants Poppy and will do anything to get her. And I do mean anything.
At times, I thought he might have done too much and it would push her away. And at times, it nearly did. Yet, Poppy is drawn to Harry in ways she doesn’t understand. When her reputation is compromised, she shocks her family by accepting Harry’s proposal. Poppy believes she’ll have the union her two sisters have.
Harry, on the other hand, has no problem giving Poppy passion – just not his heart or his trust. Their wills clash, and though they battle each other, an enemy lurks waiting to strike.
The culmination is perfect, and the dark, dangerous Harry Rutledge cannot hold out against Poppy and the love that has grown.
I’ve got the next two books in the Hathaway series, Married by Morning and Love in the Afternoon that I’m just dying to dive into. If you’re looking for a wonderful historical series to jump into – this is the one! Lisa Kleypas never disappoints!
hugs,
D
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