By Kate Donovan On May 17 2013, 9:00 am

Naming my characters is such an integral part of getting to know them, I can’t actually write a word, much less a page or a scene, without nailing that detail down first. Not that I need to name all the characters before I begin. But when it comes to the first major character on page – usually the hero or the heroine – well…

He or she doesn’t get to speak unless I know exactly who is talking.

Luckily, they usually make it clear from word one. In my Retro Romance time travel re-releases, I still remember meeting Shannon and John, and Alex and Cassie. Everyone had the good grace to shout out their name right away. Oddly enough, I never thought I’d use the name John for a hero, but for John Cutler, it was kismet. Such a strong, no-frills, no-nonsense guy. Definitely a “John.” Read more…

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By Sally Falcon On May 8 2013, 9:00 am

I’m a librarian, and I am a romance writer.  That can be a problem.  We all know there are some stereotypes attached to librarians.   Librarians are supposed to read very serious, uplifted books.  You know the ‘right kind of books’?   Have you ever notice on most ‘What Are You Reading?” lists there are very few romance, mysteries or other genre novels?   Apparently, enjoyment is optional when reading?   What’s wrong with this?

I started reading for enjoyment – romances, westerns, science fiction and mysteries — when I was in 6^th or 7^th grade.  I also read biographies and books on history, but I seem to learn a lot from reading historical fiction and what they called gothics (historical romance and romantic suspense with a historical setting).  When I began working in public libraries there were a lot of different books I had to read, but I didn’t always like them.  To help me unwind after a long day, what did I pick up?  A romance, a mystery or science fiction novel, because this entertained me while reading.  They had satisfactory endings.  I always enjoy telling people not only to I read genre fiction, I write it. Read more…

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By Janeen O'Kerry On Apr 24 2013, 9:00 am

Some women live full and happy lives within a large home filled with family and friends. Some women live virtually alone for all of their days, finding life’s satisfaction in their work. And other women find themselves caught between those two worlds, never truly having one or the other but wishing for the best of both.

Though she was written as living some two millennia ago, the character of Rioghan (REE-gan) is just such a woman. She lives alone in the Irish forest outside of the great fortress built by the Men, serving as a midwife and healer to both the Men and to the Fair Folk, who are also called the Sidhe (shee).

Sometimes Rioghan wishes she could go and live with those of the fortress, for theirs is a lively and social world. She is especially drawn to the King’s Champion, the strong and handsome Donaill, who has helped her defend her forest home against Men who are not as honorable as he. Read more…

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By Karen Kay On Apr 19 2013, 9:00 am

Isn’t this a beautiful cover?  This cover is definitely one of my favorites.

In keeping with the tone of some of my other posts, I thought I’d tell you a bit about the writing of WHITE EAGLE’S TOUCH.

The story of WHITE EAGLE’S TOUCH began because of my love of what one might call a spoiled, head-strong heroine — one who is really quite soft-hearted, but for reasons explained in the book, she harbors opinions that are far from flattering.  In the story, the heroine, Katrina, is blond-haired, stubborn, almost out of funds and demanding her inheritance in order that she might marry into royalty.  She has also grown up without ever knowing her parents — who perished out West — and her uncle,  who holds the purse-strings to her inheritance, is being anything but accomodating. Read more…

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By Kate Donovan On Apr 12 2013, 9:00 am

Like many authors, I find the kernel of a story in the strangest places, but it’s safe to say Nature isn’t usually one of them. As much as I admire hikers and other assorted outdoors lovers, that’s not my lifestyle. I blame reading. Now there’s an adventure, right? When I was a kid, my idea of the perfect trip involved traveling to the library to get more books. It’s no surprise then that my memories of particular vacations center on which books I read there. As an example, when my family went to the beautiful beaches of Newport RI, I was reading Gone with the Wind for the first time. Suffice it to say, I wasn’t really at the beach that day at all, but rather in Atlanta.

So how did I end up writing a book about an environmental advocate who travels back in time to commune with nature? Read more…

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