Anna Hackett's Blog, page 25
April 24, 2013
Action Romance is Here!
I love romance. Always have. And I love action.
Action romance is a phrase people in in romancelandia don't like to use. No, call it paranormal. No, no, call it romantic suspense. Call it mystery or some other phrase without action in it. But action romance is a dirty word (okay, two dirty words).
Nathan E PhotographyFor me, action romance is where the focus of the story isn't just on the romance but also on a strong plot involving some action and/or adventure: a rescue, a crime to solve, a mission to complete. Often, action romance falls into the sub-genres of paranormal romance, romantic suspense and sci-fi romance. But you can certainly have a contemporary or historical romance packed with action.
A complaint I hear of action romance, especially SFR and RS, is that the action distracts from the romance. A part of that is probably expectation...if a reader picks up the book expecting a contemporary romance and get a cross-country hunt for a serial killer, they are going to be disappointed. That said, I think striking the right balance in an action romance is key.
Balance is vital. Tip too far one way, you have no action (which = boring) and tip too far the other way and you don't have a romance anymore. The action should enhance the romance. The obstacles the characters face should throw them together, strip them down and expose who they really are (strengths, weaknesses, flaws and all). And we all know the nookie should happen at a sensible moment (not in the middle of a car chase or the big getaway!)
What is it about action romance that I love? Well, I love the sense that anything is possible. That anyone can be thrown into terrible circumstances and beat the odds--no destoy the odds--to save the day. I like to read about big, explosive stuff that I don't face everyday. Things that truly test a character. And I love to see those characters come out the other side--battered, but stronger. Even the quietest, mousiest character has
to grab the missile launcher and be counted in action romance.
I don't read straight contemporary romance (and I definitely don't read literary fiction) because, well, I get enough 'real' life everyday. I change diapers/nappies, do groceries, do laundry, go to work, watch TV...I don't want to read about that as well. Stories about small towns and general stores and knitting clubs don't work for me. I want super cool exciting stuff. I want explosions, car chases and gunfights. Maybe some spaceships or superpowers.
I want that awesome feeling that anything is possible. I confess, as cliched as it sounds, that I love that bit in an action movie where the team is walking shoulder-to-shoulder in slow motion, off to face the bad guy! So everybody, I'm officially announcing that action romance is here. It isn't going anywhere, it isn't hiding under another name. I love to read action romance and I love to write it.
Stay tuned. Because anything is possible.
Action romance is a phrase people in in romancelandia don't like to use. No, call it paranormal. No, no, call it romantic suspense. Call it mystery or some other phrase without action in it. But action romance is a dirty word (okay, two dirty words).
Nathan E PhotographyFor me, action romance is where the focus of the story isn't just on the romance but also on a strong plot involving some action and/or adventure: a rescue, a crime to solve, a mission to complete. Often, action romance falls into the sub-genres of paranormal romance, romantic suspense and sci-fi romance. But you can certainly have a contemporary or historical romance packed with action.A complaint I hear of action romance, especially SFR and RS, is that the action distracts from the romance. A part of that is probably expectation...if a reader picks up the book expecting a contemporary romance and get a cross-country hunt for a serial killer, they are going to be disappointed. That said, I think striking the right balance in an action romance is key.
Balance is vital. Tip too far one way, you have no action (which = boring) and tip too far the other way and you don't have a romance anymore. The action should enhance the romance. The obstacles the characters face should throw them together, strip them down and expose who they really are (strengths, weaknesses, flaws and all). And we all know the nookie should happen at a sensible moment (not in the middle of a car chase or the big getaway!)
What is it about action romance that I love? Well, I love the sense that anything is possible. That anyone can be thrown into terrible circumstances and beat the odds--no destoy the odds--to save the day. I like to read about big, explosive stuff that I don't face everyday. Things that truly test a character. And I love to see those characters come out the other side--battered, but stronger. Even the quietest, mousiest character has
to grab the missile launcher and be counted in action romance.
I don't read straight contemporary romance (and I definitely don't read literary fiction) because, well, I get enough 'real' life everyday. I change diapers/nappies, do groceries, do laundry, go to work, watch TV...I don't want to read about that as well. Stories about small towns and general stores and knitting clubs don't work for me. I want super cool exciting stuff. I want explosions, car chases and gunfights. Maybe some spaceships or superpowers.
I want that awesome feeling that anything is possible. I confess, as cliched as it sounds, that I love that bit in an action movie where the team is walking shoulder-to-shoulder in slow motion, off to face the bad guy! So everybody, I'm officially announcing that action romance is here. It isn't going anywhere, it isn't hiding under another name. I love to read action romance and I love to write it.
Stay tuned. Because anything is possible.
April 22, 2013
Reviewer Spotlight: AJH at Dear Author
A man braving it in a woman’s world!
I have been having a blast reading Dear Author guest reviewer, AJH’s reviews as he ventures into the world of romance reading.
It is fascinating to see a man’s reaction to books I love to read! He makes some interesting points and can make you laugh until you cry.
You can check out AJH’s introduction here. And I highly recommend his reviews of Nalini Singh’s Angels’ Blood. Here are a couple of my fav quotes:
"one of the things that impressed me the most about both Slave to Sensation and Angel’s Blood was the remarkably complex but also utterly cracktastic worldbuilding."
"The actual sex is a little bit hard for me to parse. It’s pretty hot, don’t get me wrong, but as a male reader I’m plagued by a little voice at the back of my head that says “wow, I have been doing this seriously wrong for, like, a decade.”"
"is there some kind of school these guys go to? Do they have to do exercises where they thrust their wangs into smaller and smaller openings from greater and greater distances until they can thread needles with the damned things (I’m pretty sure Raphael could cross-stitch a quilt)"
Read the entire review here.
And G.A. Aiken’s Dragon Actually:
“I know I said I liked dragons. And I do like dragons. I like them a lot. But I don’t like them, y’know, sexually. In fact, it’s a bit outside my comfort zone.”
"Um, seriously dude? This is a badly injured woman we’re lusting about here. Personally, when I see that someone has been hurt, I think to myself “gosh, I’d better help that person” not “wahoo, I would really like to put my dick in there!”"
"I would characterise Dragon Actually as mostly harmless. It’s unabashedly light-hearted and entertaining, and occasionally quite funny."
Read the entire review here.
OMG, cross-stitch a quilt. I'm still laughing!
I have been having a blast reading Dear Author guest reviewer, AJH’s reviews as he ventures into the world of romance reading.
It is fascinating to see a man’s reaction to books I love to read! He makes some interesting points and can make you laugh until you cry.
You can check out AJH’s introduction here. And I highly recommend his reviews of Nalini Singh’s Angels’ Blood. Here are a couple of my fav quotes:
"one of the things that impressed me the most about both Slave to Sensation and Angel’s Blood was the remarkably complex but also utterly cracktastic worldbuilding." "The actual sex is a little bit hard for me to parse. It’s pretty hot, don’t get me wrong, but as a male reader I’m plagued by a little voice at the back of my head that says “wow, I have been doing this seriously wrong for, like, a decade.”"
"is there some kind of school these guys go to? Do they have to do exercises where they thrust their wangs into smaller and smaller openings from greater and greater distances until they can thread needles with the damned things (I’m pretty sure Raphael could cross-stitch a quilt)"
Read the entire review here.
And G.A. Aiken’s Dragon Actually:
“I know I said I liked dragons. And I do like dragons. I like them a lot. But I don’t like them, y’know, sexually. In fact, it’s a bit outside my comfort zone.” "Um, seriously dude? This is a badly injured woman we’re lusting about here. Personally, when I see that someone has been hurt, I think to myself “gosh, I’d better help that person” not “wahoo, I would really like to put my dick in there!”"
"I would characterise Dragon Actually as mostly harmless. It’s unabashedly light-hearted and entertaining, and occasionally quite funny."
Read the entire review here.
OMG, cross-stitch a quilt. I'm still laughing!
April 19, 2013
Vamps, Werewolves and Galactic Princes
Love sneaky short stories and novellas that you can read like lightning? Check out these action-packed short stories, novellas and short novels recently released or on sale now:
Bound in Death by Cynthia Eden
Length: Short Novel
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.99 (until the 21st April)
Link
Slave Princess by Felicity Heaton
Length: Novella
Genre: Sci-fi
Price: $0.99
Link
Endless Days by C.L. Quinn
Length: Novella
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.99
Link
Bound in Death by Cynthia Eden
Length: Short Novel
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.99 (until the 21st April)
Link
Slave Princess by Felicity Heaton
Length: Novella
Genre: Sci-fi
Price: $0.99
Link
Endless Days by C.L. Quinn
Length: Novella
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.99
Link
April 15, 2013
Author Spotlight: Sexy Sci-fi by Cathy Pegau
Today Full Throttle Romance has the spotlight on Carina Press sci-fi author, Cathy Pegau.
Cathy writes both M/F and F/F sci-fi romance. And the mining engineer in me loves that her sci-fi has a little futuristic mining in there! In full disclosure, I'll also let you know that Cathy is one of my fellow authors over at Contact:IF.
Liv Braxton's Felon Rule #1: Don't get emotionally involved.
Smash-and-grab thieving doesn't lend itself to getting chummy with the victims, and Liv hasn't met anyone on the mining colony of Nevarro worth knowing, anyway. So it's easy to follow her Rules.
Until her ex, Tonio, shows up with an invitation to join him on the job of a lifetime.
Until Zia Talbot, the woman she's supposed to deceive, turns Liv's expectations upside down in a way no woman ever has.
Until corporate secrets turn deadly. But to make things work with Zia, Liv has to do more than break her Rules, and the stakes are higher than just a broken heart... 89,000 words
What readers are saying about Rulebreaker:
“I was immediately hooked by the droll humor and great characters who populate this book, and was impressed by the perfect balance of world building and tightly-woven plotline.”
“I liked all the action, the intrigue, and the twists this story brought.”
Recently out of rehab, Sasha James is determined to keep her head down, complete her parole and never touch amber again. The chip in her neck controls her cravings for the highly addictive drug, but also tracks her every move. Not that she goes anywhere other than work and the halfway house she calls home--a far cry from her luxurious former life as lover of the mining colony's top drug dealer, Guy Christiansen.
Agent Nathan Sterling has no desire to see Sasha fall back into amber, but his sister has become Guy's latest conquest and the unexpectedly attractive Sasha is the key to getting her back. So in exchange for an introduction, he offers Sasha the one thing she can't refuse--her freedom. From the chip, her parole and even the planet if she wants. Though he would be sorry to see her go...
Torn between her growing attraction to Nathan, fear of Guy and the allure of amber, Sasha accepts. But who will save her if Guy refuses to let her go a second time? 80,000 words
What readers are saying about Caught in Amber:
"Caught in Amber is a strong story filled with very strong characters."
"The author kept me on the edge of my seat with action and danger at every turn."
Colonial Mining Authority agent Natalia Hallowell doesn’t always play by the rules, but she wouldn’t compromise a case either. Put on administrative leave under a cloud of accusation, with no support from her boss, Natalia seeks a little anonymous companionship at her favorite bar. But she’s surprised when the woman who catches her fancy starts buying her drinks.
Desperate, Genevieve “Gennie” Caine had no choice but to seduce, drug and tie Natalia to the bed to get her attention. With the Reyes Corporation after something she has, Gennie needs Natalia to open an investigation and distract them long enough for her to get off Nevarro.
Natalia doesn’t trust Gennie—despite the growing attraction between them—but the corporation’s suspiciously high profits convince her that they must be hiding something. But she has no idea just how deep the deceptions run….
Deep Deception coming soon - May 27th, 2013!
Cathy Pegau: I can’t afford therapy, so I write. I want to do what I want to do, so I write. I want my kids to know that pursuing dreams is important, so I write. Website: http://cathypegau.com/
Cathy writes both M/F and F/F sci-fi romance. And the mining engineer in me loves that her sci-fi has a little futuristic mining in there! In full disclosure, I'll also let you know that Cathy is one of my fellow authors over at Contact:IF.
Liv Braxton's Felon Rule #1: Don't get emotionally involved.Smash-and-grab thieving doesn't lend itself to getting chummy with the victims, and Liv hasn't met anyone on the mining colony of Nevarro worth knowing, anyway. So it's easy to follow her Rules.
Until her ex, Tonio, shows up with an invitation to join him on the job of a lifetime.
Until Zia Talbot, the woman she's supposed to deceive, turns Liv's expectations upside down in a way no woman ever has.
Until corporate secrets turn deadly. But to make things work with Zia, Liv has to do more than break her Rules, and the stakes are higher than just a broken heart... 89,000 words
What readers are saying about Rulebreaker:
“I was immediately hooked by the droll humor and great characters who populate this book, and was impressed by the perfect balance of world building and tightly-woven plotline.”
“I liked all the action, the intrigue, and the twists this story brought.”
Recently out of rehab, Sasha James is determined to keep her head down, complete her parole and never touch amber again. The chip in her neck controls her cravings for the highly addictive drug, but also tracks her every move. Not that she goes anywhere other than work and the halfway house she calls home--a far cry from her luxurious former life as lover of the mining colony's top drug dealer, Guy Christiansen.Agent Nathan Sterling has no desire to see Sasha fall back into amber, but his sister has become Guy's latest conquest and the unexpectedly attractive Sasha is the key to getting her back. So in exchange for an introduction, he offers Sasha the one thing she can't refuse--her freedom. From the chip, her parole and even the planet if she wants. Though he would be sorry to see her go...
Torn between her growing attraction to Nathan, fear of Guy and the allure of amber, Sasha accepts. But who will save her if Guy refuses to let her go a second time? 80,000 words
What readers are saying about Caught in Amber:
"Caught in Amber is a strong story filled with very strong characters."
"The author kept me on the edge of my seat with action and danger at every turn."
Colonial Mining Authority agent Natalia Hallowell doesn’t always play by the rules, but she wouldn’t compromise a case either. Put on administrative leave under a cloud of accusation, with no support from her boss, Natalia seeks a little anonymous companionship at her favorite bar. But she’s surprised when the woman who catches her fancy starts buying her drinks.Desperate, Genevieve “Gennie” Caine had no choice but to seduce, drug and tie Natalia to the bed to get her attention. With the Reyes Corporation after something she has, Gennie needs Natalia to open an investigation and distract them long enough for her to get off Nevarro.
Natalia doesn’t trust Gennie—despite the growing attraction between them—but the corporation’s suspiciously high profits convince her that they must be hiding something. But she has no idea just how deep the deceptions run….
Deep Deception coming soon - May 27th, 2013!
Cathy Pegau: I can’t afford therapy, so I write. I want to do what I want to do, so I write. I want my kids to know that pursuing dreams is important, so I write. Website: http://cathypegau.com/
April 12, 2013
Short Romance for Everyone!
Love sneaky short stories and novellas that you can read like lightning? Check out these action-packed short stories, novellas and short novels recently released or on sale now:
Escape by Dee Davis
Length: Novella
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Price: $1.99
Link
A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden
Length: Short story
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.00
Link
Highland Song by Tanya Anne Crosby
Length: Novella
Genre: Historical
Price: $0.00
Link
Escape by Dee Davis
Length: Novella
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Price: $1.99
Link
A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden
Length: Short story
Genre: Paranormal
Price: $0.00
Link
Highland Song by Tanya Anne CrosbyLength: Novella
Genre: Historical
Price: $0.00
Link
April 10, 2013
Romancing James Bond
I finally got to see Skyfall (Bond movie #23)!! Did you know that Daniel Craig offered Sam Mendes the job as director for the movie...after a few too many drinks at Hugh Jackman's birthday party! Apparently Craig had to sheepishly call the producers and fess up. Luckily, it all worked out in the end.
So everyone already knows the movie was well-received by critics and viewers, and won some Academy Awards (including one for Adele's pretty cool theme song). I liked the movie...but I wasn't blown away. The action scenes were good but nothing that new.
But today I wanted to talk about the romance in Skyfall.
Bond has four ladies he interacts with and I think the two he actually shared the sheets with (or more correctly the wall and shower) were the two he was the least close to.
The unnamed Turkish woman helping him recover (and wallow) after getting shot, doesn't even really rate a mention. Next up is Severine - she's the bad guy's mistress, elegant and mysterious. She's trapped and Bond wants to save her. To me he didn't seem too cut up about what happened to her in the end.
I loved his interaction with Moneypenny! And she shot him. So awesome. If any woman could ever heal Bond's battered heart (thanks to Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale and his dead wife, Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the only two women Bond has truly loved) it might just be Moneypenny.
The last woman, and the one with the most impact, is M. This isn't a sexual love, but there's a closeness between these two - she's a mother, mentor and friend all rolled into one. He respects her...which is often more than the other females in the movies get from him. Not to say he's a sexist, misogynist dinosaur, just that I think he's very cool, closed off, and doesn't let himself feel anything for the women in his life, except M.
Oh boy, the romance writer in me would LOVE to see Bond meet his match and take the tumble. I don't think I'll ever see it in the movies, but maybe I'll have to write my own Bond-inspired story.
So everyone already knows the movie was well-received by critics and viewers, and won some Academy Awards (including one for Adele's pretty cool theme song). I liked the movie...but I wasn't blown away. The action scenes were good but nothing that new.
But today I wanted to talk about the romance in Skyfall.Bond has four ladies he interacts with and I think the two he actually shared the sheets with (or more correctly the wall and shower) were the two he was the least close to.
The unnamed Turkish woman helping him recover (and wallow) after getting shot, doesn't even really rate a mention. Next up is Severine - she's the bad guy's mistress, elegant and mysterious. She's trapped and Bond wants to save her. To me he didn't seem too cut up about what happened to her in the end.
I loved his interaction with Moneypenny! And she shot him. So awesome. If any woman could ever heal Bond's battered heart (thanks to Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale and his dead wife, Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the only two women Bond has truly loved) it might just be Moneypenny.
The last woman, and the one with the most impact, is M. This isn't a sexual love, but there's a closeness between these two - she's a mother, mentor and friend all rolled into one. He respects her...which is often more than the other females in the movies get from him. Not to say he's a sexist, misogynist dinosaur, just that I think he's very cool, closed off, and doesn't let himself feel anything for the women in his life, except M.
Oh boy, the romance writer in me would LOVE to see Bond meet his match and take the tumble. I don't think I'll ever see it in the movies, but maybe I'll have to write my own Bond-inspired story.
April 8, 2013
Full Throttle Reviews: Wolf with Benefits by Shelly Laurenston
Review by Marcia @ Bookswagger
Wolf with Benefits, Shelly Laurenston
Toni Jean-Louis Parker responsible older sister to a pack of genius younger brother and sisters is about to get her own life. No more scheduling or smoothing over their issues because they are too brilliant to be bothered with society on there way to conquering their perspective fields before puberty.
Good ol boy Ricky Lee Reed is just the wolf to assist her. He likes her because she brings the party to him even if her siblings are you my daddy routine threw him off his game a little bit. Throw in the all shifter hockey team, the rest of the crazy cast of shifters and it is almost a reunion.
Bookswagger Marcia: Five Crowns, major swagger a must read. I loved Wolf with Benefits, this book reminded me of why I fell in love with Shelly Laurenston titles in the first place. I will admit I have not loved a few of her most recent titles, not that I hated them but I have not loved them on the level I am used to enjoying her books. Well the magic is back. A unique cast of characters, a Smith wolf and a heroine who is of a whole other shifter variety makes for an interesting read.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker is the oldest sister of a pack of brats, they are all geniuses and since she is the normal one she has made herself feel valuable by becoming indispensable to her mother and father, by practically giving up her life to help them conquer the world as gross overachievers. Well now she has had enough and with her father and two eldest siblings support she has to get a life. She takes a job as coordinator on the all shifter hockey team, Bo falls in love with her understanding and joins team get Toni Jean-Louis Parker a life.
Shelly Laurenston is known for pairing opposites and she continues that trend paring responsible Toni Jean-Louis Parker with a Smith, known for their good ole boy carefree ways. Rick Lee Reed falls in lust with Toni Jean-Louis Parker immediately, she brings the entertainment to him as he is fond of saying. Rick Lee Reed follows her to Russia to deal with slighted bears but the scariest of all he helps her wrangle her siblings so he can get to know her on a personal level, she even gets to meet his crazy mama.
If I had to describe this book in three words: Entertaining, Funny, Unique.
My bookclub is reading this next month, my pick so hopefully they love it or at least like it.
Review at Bookswagger
Marcia: A lover of trashy romances, aliens, werewolves and anything that goes bump in the night. Happy Endings Required. For more of Marcia's reviews check out Bookswagger.
Wolf with Benefits, Shelly Laurenston
Toni Jean-Louis Parker responsible older sister to a pack of genius younger brother and sisters is about to get her own life. No more scheduling or smoothing over their issues because they are too brilliant to be bothered with society on there way to conquering their perspective fields before puberty.
Good ol boy Ricky Lee Reed is just the wolf to assist her. He likes her because she brings the party to him even if her siblings are you my daddy routine threw him off his game a little bit. Throw in the all shifter hockey team, the rest of the crazy cast of shifters and it is almost a reunion.
Bookswagger Marcia: Five Crowns, major swagger a must read. I loved Wolf with Benefits, this book reminded me of why I fell in love with Shelly Laurenston titles in the first place. I will admit I have not loved a few of her most recent titles, not that I hated them but I have not loved them on the level I am used to enjoying her books. Well the magic is back. A unique cast of characters, a Smith wolf and a heroine who is of a whole other shifter variety makes for an interesting read.
Toni Jean-Louis Parker is the oldest sister of a pack of brats, they are all geniuses and since she is the normal one she has made herself feel valuable by becoming indispensable to her mother and father, by practically giving up her life to help them conquer the world as gross overachievers. Well now she has had enough and with her father and two eldest siblings support she has to get a life. She takes a job as coordinator on the all shifter hockey team, Bo falls in love with her understanding and joins team get Toni Jean-Louis Parker a life.
Shelly Laurenston is known for pairing opposites and she continues that trend paring responsible Toni Jean-Louis Parker with a Smith, known for their good ole boy carefree ways. Rick Lee Reed falls in lust with Toni Jean-Louis Parker immediately, she brings the entertainment to him as he is fond of saying. Rick Lee Reed follows her to Russia to deal with slighted bears but the scariest of all he helps her wrangle her siblings so he can get to know her on a personal level, she even gets to meet his crazy mama.
If I had to describe this book in three words: Entertaining, Funny, Unique.
My bookclub is reading this next month, my pick so hopefully they love it or at least like it.
Review at Bookswagger
Marcia: A lover of trashy romances, aliens, werewolves and anything that goes bump in the night. Happy Endings Required. For more of Marcia's reviews check out Bookswagger.
April 5, 2013
A steampunk-contemporary short fiction sandwich
Love sneaky short stories and novellas that you can read like lightning? Check out these action-packed short stories, novellas and short novels recently released or on sale now:
Cards and Caravans by Cindy Spencer Pape
Length: Short Novel
Genre: Steampunk
Price: $3.19
Link
Memories of Love by Jenny Schwartz
Length: Short story
Genre: Contemporary
Price: $0.99
Link
Tethered by Meljean Brook
Length: Novella
Genre: Steampunk
Price: $2.99
Link
Cards and Caravans by Cindy Spencer Pape
Length: Short Novel
Genre: Steampunk
Price: $3.19
Link
Memories of Love by Jenny Schwartz
Length: Short story
Genre: Contemporary
Price: $0.99
Link
Tethered by Meljean Brook
Length: Novella
Genre: Steampunk
Price: $2.99
Link
April 4, 2013
Action Romance Gloms
This week, Jane over at Dear Author did a post on The Science of the Glom. I’ve been having a fun time watching all the people comment and share their first glom, their fav gloms and their latest gloms.
Not sure what a glom is? It’s where you discover an author, love their work, get your hands on anything else they’ve written and read until you run out of their books. For me, there is a nice little hit of (healthy) addiction to the glom.
Image - Joe ShlabotnikI was a romance reader long before I was a writer and I’ve had my fair share of gloms. Not surprisingly, most of my gloms are romances that have action, adventure and suspense in them! I thought I’d share some today and maybe someone else out there might also stumble across a new author to glom.
My Classic Gloms Nora Roberts/JD Robb
Linda Howard
Christine Feehan
Highly Recommended Gloms Nalini Singh (her paranormal series)
Joey W. Hill (her paranormal series)
Meljean Brook (her steampunk Iron Seas series)
Other Past Gloms
Larissa Ione/Sydney Croft
Kresley Cole
Pamela Clare (her romantic suspense I-Team series)
Non-Romance Action Thriller Gloms
Matthew Reilly
Wilbur Smith
Clive Cussler
But be warned…as discussed over at Dear Author, there is something called the post-glom hangover. Coming down from all that addictive goodness can hurt worse than a real hangover.
Not sure what a glom is? It’s where you discover an author, love their work, get your hands on anything else they’ve written and read until you run out of their books. For me, there is a nice little hit of (healthy) addiction to the glom.
Image - Joe ShlabotnikI was a romance reader long before I was a writer and I’ve had my fair share of gloms. Not surprisingly, most of my gloms are romances that have action, adventure and suspense in them! I thought I’d share some today and maybe someone else out there might also stumble across a new author to glom.My Classic Gloms Nora Roberts/JD Robb
Linda Howard
Christine Feehan
Highly Recommended Gloms Nalini Singh (her paranormal series)
Joey W. Hill (her paranormal series)
Meljean Brook (her steampunk Iron Seas series)
Other Past Gloms
Larissa Ione/Sydney Croft
Kresley Cole
Pamela Clare (her romantic suspense I-Team series)
Non-Romance Action Thriller Gloms
Matthew Reilly
Wilbur Smith
Clive Cussler
But be warned…as discussed over at Dear Author, there is something called the post-glom hangover. Coming down from all that addictive goodness can hurt worse than a real hangover.
April 2, 2013
No Spanking or Chocolate Ice-cream Allowed!
Right now in the romance-reading world, a few things are really popular: New Adult (hero and heroines just out of school/in college and finding themselves, over-emotional angsty-angst and BDSM of all flavors (thanks 50 Shades!) Some books have all three rolled into one.
I read and write...none of that. Oh, I've tired reading some of it and even enjoyed a few books. But at the end of the day, it's just not for me. I'm out of fashion right now (pout, I'm not part of the "in" crowd). I like fast-paced stories with action, adventure and purpose. I like a good dose of emotion -- but more realistic stuff, no need to dump it over my head and make me drown in it!
I like to read stories about adults, doing adult things because....I'm an adult. I have no burning desire to revisit the angst-ville of "finding myself." So I won't be writing twenty-one year old heroines, with angsty boyfriends, finding themselves by writing contracts, tying each other up and spanking each other.
Nope, around here are smart, strong heroines and heroes tackling adventures and overcoming crazy, life-threatening obstacles together. Breathtaking adventures that whisk you away to fabulous worlds and bring you back wanting more. I like my readers to feel how I do at the end of an awesome action movie: music blasting and people leaving while I'm still in my seat hoping for that little extra bit at the end of the credits.
Now, some people might think I'm knocking the NA, BDSM and/or angst...I'm not! For me, it's like chocolate ice-cream. I have nothing against it or the people who like eating it, but me, I HATE chocolate ice-cream (chocolate is a different story!) I like vanilla ice-cream drizzled liberally with caramel!!
Anyway, if you're finding your chocolate ice-cream a little too rich, you aren't alone. There are plenty of us around who like vanilla with caramel sauce.
Image - Bordecia34
I read and write...none of that. Oh, I've tired reading some of it and even enjoyed a few books. But at the end of the day, it's just not for me. I'm out of fashion right now (pout, I'm not part of the "in" crowd). I like fast-paced stories with action, adventure and purpose. I like a good dose of emotion -- but more realistic stuff, no need to dump it over my head and make me drown in it!
I like to read stories about adults, doing adult things because....I'm an adult. I have no burning desire to revisit the angst-ville of "finding myself." So I won't be writing twenty-one year old heroines, with angsty boyfriends, finding themselves by writing contracts, tying each other up and spanking each other.
Nope, around here are smart, strong heroines and heroes tackling adventures and overcoming crazy, life-threatening obstacles together. Breathtaking adventures that whisk you away to fabulous worlds and bring you back wanting more. I like my readers to feel how I do at the end of an awesome action movie: music blasting and people leaving while I'm still in my seat hoping for that little extra bit at the end of the credits.
Now, some people might think I'm knocking the NA, BDSM and/or angst...I'm not! For me, it's like chocolate ice-cream. I have nothing against it or the people who like eating it, but me, I HATE chocolate ice-cream (chocolate is a different story!) I like vanilla ice-cream drizzled liberally with caramel!!
Anyway, if you're finding your chocolate ice-cream a little too rich, you aren't alone. There are plenty of us around who like vanilla with caramel sauce.
Image - Bordecia34
