Christine Feehan's Blog, page 21
September 7, 2017
There's Something About Gary
Some of this blog has spoilers in it and I’ve tried to identify for you which books the blog may have spoilers for. So you’ve been forewarned! Read at your own risk!
SPOILERS FOR DARK BLOOD/DARK PROMISES
Gary Jansen, the American scientist who we meet in Dark Magic, eventually becomes Gary Daratrazanoff when he is converted in Dark Blood. So, Gary has been with the series for a long time. And he’s been through a lot, earning the loyalty of the Carpathians, so he’s become a much-loved character with readers. We find out he is Human/Jaguar and we think his lifemate will be Gabrielle, but when the ritual binding words don’t work between them they know their feelings as humans has changed and as Carpathians they can only be friends.
Gary’s story has progressed so much and a lot of what’s happened to him has endeared him to readers and often surprised readers. The fact he was converted, that he’s now a Daratrazanoff, his human love interest was NOT his lifemate, he kept the memories of the Daratrazanoff line and is a great healer, he lost his ability to see in color all at once and with Dark Legacy we find out another surprise about Gary that may have readers discussing this character for a while.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR DARK LEGACY
So much has changed for the Carpathians. We find out in Dark Legacy that there’s more to lifemates than people may have realized, those some readers did catch it, and this new information may cause an epiphany for some readers/Gary supporters.
We also find that Tariq is Mikhail’s chosen leader in the United States, and as Tariq builds his own team and fights his own battles, he is in need of a Second in Command. And a great healer. Someone preferably from the Daratrazanoff line. Yes, you guessed it, Gary is going to be Tariq’s second just like Gregori is Mikhail’s.
Gary’s life has been turned upside down in just about every book in which he appears. But, if you think Dark Promises was surprising, just wait until Dark Legacy.
SPOILERS FOR DARK BLOOD/DARK PROMISES
Gary Jansen, the American scientist who we meet in Dark Magic, eventually becomes Gary Daratrazanoff when he is converted in Dark Blood. So, Gary has been with the series for a long time. And he’s been through a lot, earning the loyalty of the Carpathians, so he’s become a much-loved character with readers. We find out he is Human/Jaguar and we think his lifemate will be Gabrielle, but when the ritual binding words don’t work between them they know their feelings as humans has changed and as Carpathians they can only be friends.
Gary’s story has progressed so much and a lot of what’s happened to him has endeared him to readers and often surprised readers. The fact he was converted, that he’s now a Daratrazanoff, his human love interest was NOT his lifemate, he kept the memories of the Daratrazanoff line and is a great healer, he lost his ability to see in color all at once and with Dark Legacy we find out another surprise about Gary that may have readers discussing this character for a while.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR DARK LEGACY
So much has changed for the Carpathians. We find out in Dark Legacy that there’s more to lifemates than people may have realized, those some readers did catch it, and this new information may cause an epiphany for some readers/Gary supporters.
We also find that Tariq is Mikhail’s chosen leader in the United States, and as Tariq builds his own team and fights his own battles, he is in need of a Second in Command. And a great healer. Someone preferably from the Daratrazanoff line. Yes, you guessed it, Gary is going to be Tariq’s second just like Gregori is Mikhail’s.
Gary’s life has been turned upside down in just about every book in which he appears. But, if you think Dark Promises was surprising, just wait until Dark Legacy.
September 6, 2017
The Lifemate Mythology – Dark Legacy
With over 30 books in this long-running series that began in 1999 the challenge is always how to keep it fresh and expand the Carpathians and their mythology. At the time the first book in the series, Dark Prince, was published, there weren’t any vampire books being written for the romance genre. The idea of vampire-like creatures that protect humans and kill vampires was new. That vampires came from these same Carpathians, ones who had not found their lifemate and gave in to the darkness, was unique.
At that time, the mythology behind the Carpathians included the fact that converting a human woman into a Carpathian took three blood exchanges. Like classic vampire lore, Carpathians, as well as vampires, could not withstand the sunlight, and they slept in the earth during those hours. Two very unique pieces of Carpathian mythology included the fact that vampires came from Carpathians. A Carpathian who gave in to the darkness and became evil turned into a vampire. Vampires were once the friends and loved ones of Carpathians, making their turn to evil both dangerous because these beings knew Carpathian people, lands and law, and made it sad because Carpathian hunters were sent to kill those who were once their friends or family.
The second unique piece of Carpathian lore had to do with “Lifemates”. A Carpathian had one and only one lifemate. But, they didn’t necessarily know who that lifemate was or where they were. And, if the Carpathian male didn’t find his lifemate he lost his ability to see in color and to feel emotion, sending him beyond the brink of darkness where the allure of becoming a vampire called to them. If the Carpathian never found their lifemate they could choose to become a vampire, or they could choose to meet the sun, thus taking their own life instead of becoming an evil thing.
There was a shortage of Carpathian women, so when a soul was split the soul had to go somewhere, and in light of the lack of available Carpathian women, it went into human women who had psychic ability. Finding a lifemate was important, and once found, three blood exchanges to convert a human woman was necessary. Whether human or Carpathian, to be bound as a lifemate, the male had to say the ritual binding words. Once said, that couple were together, as one, for life.
Carpathian males were hunters, keeping humans safe from vampires or any others who would do harm to them. It was their duty to safeguard their lifemate at any and all cost. Carpathian men were born protectors. Women and children were sacred. And in Dark Prince we discover that the Carpathians are nearly extinct and there aren’t enough Carpathian women. But, as fate would have it, human women with some psychic talent could become lifemates. Whether an act of evolution or simply an unknown fact until Mikhail, the Carpathian Prince, found Raven, a human woman who’d become his lifemate, it’s not exactly clear.
With Dark Legacy, book 31 of the series, the issue of lifemates is once again addressed. The idea of lifemates hasn’t changed. Some people seem to understand exactly how lifemates work, but as time passed and there were more books it became clear that not everyone had a clear understanding. People would ask questions about why this couple couldn’t be lifemates, or why someone had to wait so long for a lifemate. There are rules that govern that and can’t simply have an exception made and still be true to the initial mythology.
Dark Legacy clarifies the issue of lifemates and revisits, briefly, what lifemates are, why they’re important and where the pairing comes from. The clarification may give some readers an epiphany regarding current characters who are still unclaimed, or it may validate what some readers already knew about lifemates. Certainly, the issue of lifemates is bound to be an interesting topic of conversation for readers of the series as they discuss characters still searching for a lifemate.
At that time, the mythology behind the Carpathians included the fact that converting a human woman into a Carpathian took three blood exchanges. Like classic vampire lore, Carpathians, as well as vampires, could not withstand the sunlight, and they slept in the earth during those hours. Two very unique pieces of Carpathian mythology included the fact that vampires came from Carpathians. A Carpathian who gave in to the darkness and became evil turned into a vampire. Vampires were once the friends and loved ones of Carpathians, making their turn to evil both dangerous because these beings knew Carpathian people, lands and law, and made it sad because Carpathian hunters were sent to kill those who were once their friends or family.
The second unique piece of Carpathian lore had to do with “Lifemates”. A Carpathian had one and only one lifemate. But, they didn’t necessarily know who that lifemate was or where they were. And, if the Carpathian male didn’t find his lifemate he lost his ability to see in color and to feel emotion, sending him beyond the brink of darkness where the allure of becoming a vampire called to them. If the Carpathian never found their lifemate they could choose to become a vampire, or they could choose to meet the sun, thus taking their own life instead of becoming an evil thing.
There was a shortage of Carpathian women, so when a soul was split the soul had to go somewhere, and in light of the lack of available Carpathian women, it went into human women who had psychic ability. Finding a lifemate was important, and once found, three blood exchanges to convert a human woman was necessary. Whether human or Carpathian, to be bound as a lifemate, the male had to say the ritual binding words. Once said, that couple were together, as one, for life.
Carpathian males were hunters, keeping humans safe from vampires or any others who would do harm to them. It was their duty to safeguard their lifemate at any and all cost. Carpathian men were born protectors. Women and children were sacred. And in Dark Prince we discover that the Carpathians are nearly extinct and there aren’t enough Carpathian women. But, as fate would have it, human women with some psychic talent could become lifemates. Whether an act of evolution or simply an unknown fact until Mikhail, the Carpathian Prince, found Raven, a human woman who’d become his lifemate, it’s not exactly clear.
With Dark Legacy, book 31 of the series, the issue of lifemates is once again addressed. The idea of lifemates hasn’t changed. Some people seem to understand exactly how lifemates work, but as time passed and there were more books it became clear that not everyone had a clear understanding. People would ask questions about why this couple couldn’t be lifemates, or why someone had to wait so long for a lifemate. There are rules that govern that and can’t simply have an exception made and still be true to the initial mythology.
Dark Legacy clarifies the issue of lifemates and revisits, briefly, what lifemates are, why they’re important and where the pairing comes from. The clarification may give some readers an epiphany regarding current characters who are still unclaimed, or it may validate what some readers already knew about lifemates. Certainly, the issue of lifemates is bound to be an interesting topic of conversation for readers of the series as they discuss characters still searching for a lifemate.
September 5, 2017
The New Guard – Unsworn Ancient Warriors
In a monastery high in the Carpathian Mountains is a brotherhood of warriors. All they have left is their honor and each other. Unlike many others of their kind who were sent out in the world by their Prince in order to find their lifemates and protect the human race from vampires, they came here to learn how to protect the human race, from themselves. Time would take from them their ability to see in color, and once the pull of the darkness ended, leaving them without emotion, they’d become too dangerous to be among even their own kind, so they sought the monastery.
These ancient warriors had once sworn fealty to Prince Vlad and felt that Prince had betrayed them. So when a new Prince came they were not quick to swear an allegiance to him. It was the same family. Same blood. The same line that had betrayed the Carpathian people and lead them into the darkest time in their history. There was no reason for them to come out of their self-imprisonment and join the new Prince.
Vlad had known something horrible was coming. He had known his people were about to enter a war. Instead of looking to the protection of his people, Vlad hid a terrible secret and looked only to his own self needs. Vlad’s lifemate, Sarantha had hoped to find a cure for their son’s madness. Draven Dubrinsky was slowly going mad. Draven was dangerous and had he been the son of any other Carpathian, Vladimir would have had him killed to ensure the safety of others. But, Sarantha had held out hope her son could be saved and Vlad hadn’t the heart, or the strength to do what should have been done. Their daughter Noelle also suffered from madness. The Dubrinsky family, for as powerful as they were, seemed cursed. Madness and weakness had, in the eyes of the Ancients, infected the Dubrinsky line and the Prince couldn’t be trusted to do what was best for his people. The Prince’s son and the feelings and desires of the Prince’s lifemate was more important than the Prince’s people. And in that Prince Vlad failed his entire race.
Now the Ancients are the New Guard and they’ve left the monastery in search of the promise of lifemates in various parts of the world. They have lived together for so long it was natural for them to band together and remain close. When they find themselves needed by Tariq in San Diego, California they arrive to find an enemy too dangerous to ignore and their honor demands they remain to protect both humans and Carpathians alike.
Will this New Guard ever swear allegiance to Mikhail Dubrinsky? It’s hard to say, but they do stay and fight with Tariq who has pledged his fealty to Mikhail. They’ve not shown any outward disobedience to the Prince, but what happens if Mikhail demands something of them? There are a lot of questions about this New Guard, but in the end there’s no doubt that these warriors are a shield of protection against this new threat and each one an integral part of the future of the Carpathian race.
Dark Legacy
These ancient warriors had once sworn fealty to Prince Vlad and felt that Prince had betrayed them. So when a new Prince came they were not quick to swear an allegiance to him. It was the same family. Same blood. The same line that had betrayed the Carpathian people and lead them into the darkest time in their history. There was no reason for them to come out of their self-imprisonment and join the new Prince.
Vlad had known something horrible was coming. He had known his people were about to enter a war. Instead of looking to the protection of his people, Vlad hid a terrible secret and looked only to his own self needs. Vlad’s lifemate, Sarantha had hoped to find a cure for their son’s madness. Draven Dubrinsky was slowly going mad. Draven was dangerous and had he been the son of any other Carpathian, Vladimir would have had him killed to ensure the safety of others. But, Sarantha had held out hope her son could be saved and Vlad hadn’t the heart, or the strength to do what should have been done. Their daughter Noelle also suffered from madness. The Dubrinsky family, for as powerful as they were, seemed cursed. Madness and weakness had, in the eyes of the Ancients, infected the Dubrinsky line and the Prince couldn’t be trusted to do what was best for his people. The Prince’s son and the feelings and desires of the Prince’s lifemate was more important than the Prince’s people. And in that Prince Vlad failed his entire race.
Now the Ancients are the New Guard and they’ve left the monastery in search of the promise of lifemates in various parts of the world. They have lived together for so long it was natural for them to band together and remain close. When they find themselves needed by Tariq in San Diego, California they arrive to find an enemy too dangerous to ignore and their honor demands they remain to protect both humans and Carpathians alike.
Will this New Guard ever swear allegiance to Mikhail Dubrinsky? It’s hard to say, but they do stay and fight with Tariq who has pledged his fealty to Mikhail. They’ve not shown any outward disobedience to the Prince, but what happens if Mikhail demands something of them? There are a lot of questions about this New Guard, but in the end there’s no doubt that these warriors are a shield of protection against this new threat and each one an integral part of the future of the Carpathian race.
Dark Legacy
September 2, 2017
Dark Legacy Goodreads Celebration!
Starting Tuesday September 5th I'll be posting an exclusive blog each day to celebrate the release of Dark Legacy!
Here's the line-up!
Sept. 5th- The New Guard- Unsworn Ancient Warriors
Sept. 6th- The Lifemate Mythology
Sept. 7th- There's Something About Gary
Sept. 8th- What Has Happened to Aiden Savage?
Sept. 9th- Sympathy for the Devil - A Look at Carpathian Villains
I will be reading comments and responding. Please feel free to ask questions, but know that anything that's a spoiler I may not be able to fully answer.
Here's the line-up!
Sept. 5th- The New Guard- Unsworn Ancient Warriors
Sept. 6th- The Lifemate Mythology
Sept. 7th- There's Something About Gary
Sept. 8th- What Has Happened to Aiden Savage?
Sept. 9th- Sympathy for the Devil - A Look at Carpathian Villains
I will be reading comments and responding. Please feel free to ask questions, but know that anything that's a spoiler I may not be able to fully answer.
June 1, 2017
Shadow Reaper Book Trailer
I love having the book trailers made. They're fun for me and, I hope, fun for readers who enjoy that sort of thing.
For Shadow Reaper they did several interviews with the actors. There are so many, it didn't seem right to upload them all here, but I thought I would post links to them for those of you who are interested!
I did put the book trailer up here on GoodReads if you'd like to watch it!
Actor Interviews
Isaac Woofter (Ricco) RICCO
Alex Van Zeelandt (Mariko) Marika
John Wells (Stefano) STEFANO
Dan Nye (Vittorio) Vittorio
Corum Sanford (Taviano) Taviano
Julie Streble (Emme) EMME
Scott Nova (Giovanni) Giovanni
For Shadow Reaper they did several interviews with the actors. There are so many, it didn't seem right to upload them all here, but I thought I would post links to them for those of you who are interested!
I did put the book trailer up here on GoodReads if you'd like to watch it!
Actor Interviews
Isaac Woofter (Ricco) RICCO
Alex Van Zeelandt (Mariko) Marika
John Wells (Stefano) STEFANO
Dan Nye (Vittorio) Vittorio
Corum Sanford (Taviano) Taviano
Julie Streble (Emme) EMME
Scott Nova (Giovanni) Giovanni
April 10, 2017
The Beauty of Difference: Autism Awareness
The Centers for Disease Control describes ASDs as: “a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Autism now affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys. So, it’s likely that you know someone with some form of autism.
April is Autism Awareness month and it’s an opportunity to help people become aware of autism, the people who have autism and where we fit into this special world of those who have autism.
I have three characters that I’ve written who are on the autism spectrum. Rikki, from Water Bound who is high functioning autistic, Trap from Spider Game who has Asperger’s, and Tyson from Dangerous Tides who also has Asperger’s. I’m often asked about these characters and thought that Autism Awareness month was a great time to share more about them and about why I wrote these characters.
I started researching about autism way before I wrote Water Bound, Dangerous Tides or Spider Game. I have a granddaughter who was diagnosed with autism and I have other family members with Asperger’s. Autism isn’t easy to understand, but I knew how much I love my family and how special they are, so I wanted to know as much as possible about their condition so that I could be part of their world, and so they could be comfortable and happy around me.
I learned that not every autistic person is the same. There are traits that are in common, but like any other person, there are things that are different. For my family members who were older, I sat down with them, and I asked them what it was like to have Asperger’s. I wanted to know what they felt, how they saw, heard and felt things. I wanted to know how they felt about the challenges they faced. I wanted to know what I could do to help them feel more at ease, happy, included, safe, and of course loved.
I researched a great deal more when my little granddaughter was diagnosed. I learned so much, but some of the more interesting things I found were –
1. Weighted blankets. We used them for my granddaughter and they worked like a miracle for her! We all tried the blankets ourselves and it was interesting how each of us reacted to them. Some felt comforted by them and some detested the feeling.
2. There are lines of clothing for people with autism!
3. Lighting can make a difference. Florescent lights hum and flicker and this can be very aggravating or frustrating for someone with autism whose senses are heightened. I included this information in Water Bound and received letters from teachers who tried changing their lighting from florescent lights and found it made a big difference for their students, even the ones without autism!
There’s so much to learn about autism, but the one thing I did know is that each of these beautiful people are different and they bring with them something special. They may share their wonderment, their brilliance, their special way of seeing something or feeling something.
I wanted to write a romance where the main heroine was a high functioning autistic woman who’d had a difficult start to life, but who found friends who loved and appreciated her and who found love, romance and a happy ever after. I wanted to imagine all these wonderful things to be available and possible. I wanted to write a hero who understood her needs, saw her strength and accepted her unconditionally.
And though Lev was a trained operative, strong and dangerous, it was Rikki’s courage, strength and perseverance that saved him. Lev was broken and needed structure. Rikki gave that to him and healed him on so many levels.
To this day, Water Bound is the book I get most letters about. Readers are touched by her strength. People who are autistic, or those who love someone with autism, they write to me with stories that encourage and touch my heart. I wrote that book hoping to touch others with Rikki’s story, but with all the letters I’ve received it is really me who has been blessed.
People with autism don’t come with labels. Perhaps you’ll realize right away that you’ve met someone with autism, but perhaps it’s not obvious and you don’t know what the signs of autism are enough to realize you’re dealing with someone who is autistic. This was the case with my character Trap from Spider Game. I purposefully didn’t say that he had Asperger’s. I have him many of the traits and put him in situations where those traits could be seen and I was happy to receive letters from readers who totally understood what was up with this character.
I find that people either love or hate Spider Game and love or hate Trap, the same goes for Tyson in Dangerous Tides. With Trap there isn’t much of a gray area with this book or character. The character had PTSD, Asperger’s and a very difficult life. He had a hard time communicating and developing close personal relationships. He expressed himself through sex with the woman who accepted him as he was and understood him. There’s was not an easy relationship, but they learned how to communicate with each other and eventually, how to love one another in a way that worked for them. It wasn’t a traditional relationship and some readers loved that and some had a hard time with it. And that’s okay. A book works for you or it doesn’t. You like a character or you don’t. But I wanted to write Trap’s story, the good, bad and ugly of it, and show that there’s always a way to find love. There’s someone out there that is a “fit” who will accept who and how you are.
Tyson could be distant and sometimes forget everything and everyone around him as he worked. But, what people saw as a fault or failing in him was actually his gift because he was saving lives with his research, his determination.
Autism is a part of my life. The people in my life who have autism have taught me so many things. They’ve taught me patience. They’ve taught me to see life in a different way. They’ve taught me that we all have something special about us. They’ve taught me that different is beautiful. Having them in my life has made me a better person and my life a little brighter.
April is Autism Awareness month and it’s an opportunity to help people become aware of autism, the people who have autism and where we fit into this special world of those who have autism.
I have three characters that I’ve written who are on the autism spectrum. Rikki, from Water Bound who is high functioning autistic, Trap from Spider Game who has Asperger’s, and Tyson from Dangerous Tides who also has Asperger’s. I’m often asked about these characters and thought that Autism Awareness month was a great time to share more about them and about why I wrote these characters.
I started researching about autism way before I wrote Water Bound, Dangerous Tides or Spider Game. I have a granddaughter who was diagnosed with autism and I have other family members with Asperger’s. Autism isn’t easy to understand, but I knew how much I love my family and how special they are, so I wanted to know as much as possible about their condition so that I could be part of their world, and so they could be comfortable and happy around me.
I learned that not every autistic person is the same. There are traits that are in common, but like any other person, there are things that are different. For my family members who were older, I sat down with them, and I asked them what it was like to have Asperger’s. I wanted to know what they felt, how they saw, heard and felt things. I wanted to know how they felt about the challenges they faced. I wanted to know what I could do to help them feel more at ease, happy, included, safe, and of course loved.
I researched a great deal more when my little granddaughter was diagnosed. I learned so much, but some of the more interesting things I found were –
1. Weighted blankets. We used them for my granddaughter and they worked like a miracle for her! We all tried the blankets ourselves and it was interesting how each of us reacted to them. Some felt comforted by them and some detested the feeling.
2. There are lines of clothing for people with autism!
3. Lighting can make a difference. Florescent lights hum and flicker and this can be very aggravating or frustrating for someone with autism whose senses are heightened. I included this information in Water Bound and received letters from teachers who tried changing their lighting from florescent lights and found it made a big difference for their students, even the ones without autism!
There’s so much to learn about autism, but the one thing I did know is that each of these beautiful people are different and they bring with them something special. They may share their wonderment, their brilliance, their special way of seeing something or feeling something.
I wanted to write a romance where the main heroine was a high functioning autistic woman who’d had a difficult start to life, but who found friends who loved and appreciated her and who found love, romance and a happy ever after. I wanted to imagine all these wonderful things to be available and possible. I wanted to write a hero who understood her needs, saw her strength and accepted her unconditionally.
And though Lev was a trained operative, strong and dangerous, it was Rikki’s courage, strength and perseverance that saved him. Lev was broken and needed structure. Rikki gave that to him and healed him on so many levels.
To this day, Water Bound is the book I get most letters about. Readers are touched by her strength. People who are autistic, or those who love someone with autism, they write to me with stories that encourage and touch my heart. I wrote that book hoping to touch others with Rikki’s story, but with all the letters I’ve received it is really me who has been blessed.
People with autism don’t come with labels. Perhaps you’ll realize right away that you’ve met someone with autism, but perhaps it’s not obvious and you don’t know what the signs of autism are enough to realize you’re dealing with someone who is autistic. This was the case with my character Trap from Spider Game. I purposefully didn’t say that he had Asperger’s. I have him many of the traits and put him in situations where those traits could be seen and I was happy to receive letters from readers who totally understood what was up with this character.
I find that people either love or hate Spider Game and love or hate Trap, the same goes for Tyson in Dangerous Tides. With Trap there isn’t much of a gray area with this book or character. The character had PTSD, Asperger’s and a very difficult life. He had a hard time communicating and developing close personal relationships. He expressed himself through sex with the woman who accepted him as he was and understood him. There’s was not an easy relationship, but they learned how to communicate with each other and eventually, how to love one another in a way that worked for them. It wasn’t a traditional relationship and some readers loved that and some had a hard time with it. And that’s okay. A book works for you or it doesn’t. You like a character or you don’t. But I wanted to write Trap’s story, the good, bad and ugly of it, and show that there’s always a way to find love. There’s someone out there that is a “fit” who will accept who and how you are.
Tyson could be distant and sometimes forget everything and everyone around him as he worked. But, what people saw as a fault or failing in him was actually his gift because he was saving lives with his research, his determination.
Autism is a part of my life. The people in my life who have autism have taught me so many things. They’ve taught me patience. They’ve taught me to see life in a different way. They’ve taught me that we all have something special about us. They’ve taught me that different is beautiful. Having them in my life has made me a better person and my life a little brighter.
March 27, 2017
Defining What Makes a Sister of the Heart
It’s important to have someone you can turn to in times of great celebration, great tragedy and great…boredom. LOL I have so many amazing friends. I have friends who I can call on if I need help, or want honest feedback. I have friends who hold my secrets and those who can make me laugh no matter what. But, there’s a difference between a good friend and a “Sister of the Heart”. It may seem subtle when we talk about it, but it’s important in ways hard to describe sometimes.
A Sister of the Heart is someone you have absolute trust in. You have unconditional love for each other. You can count on them regardless of time or distance or issue. They carry your secrets as their own. They are honest, even if it’s tough, but always in a supportive way.
I have several Sisters of the Heart that I know, without a doubt, I could call at 3AM and say “I need you” and their answer will always be “I’m on my way.”
And though I can’t write about every single one of these amazing women, I wanted to share something about some of those very dear women. And I want to invite you to tell me about one of your own sisters of the heart, or several if you are blessed to have many. I want to hear your stories, because in a way, it binds us all together.
Anita has been part of my family since I was a teen. She was my parents’ chosen child that they took in and loved as their own. And we all loved her. Anita is one of those people who is so easy to talk to. You feel like you can say anything without judgement from her. That she cares about what you say and how you feel. She’s fun and you just want to be around her.
Kathie is one of the sweetest, most gentle people I’ve ever known. She has so much compassion for people and animals. We tease her sometimes, good-naturedly, that she doesn’t even know HOW to be mean! LOL We’re pretty sure she’s never been mean in her entire life.
(With Cheryl)
Cheryl is brilliant and funny. A great combination to have in a friend! I love discussing books with her. She can make me laugh, that fully-belly-laugh that leaves you begging her to stop because you’ve laughed so hard it hurts. She is loyal. And for that I am truly grateful.
(With Sheila and Kathie)
Sheila is most like me. We could sit and talk or laugh for hours. Or we could sit quietly and still enjoy each other’s company. She is always there for me no matter what.
(With Brenda and Kelley)
Kelley, Brenda and Kris are extremely special to me and I’m thankful they’re in my life. Their loyalty and love bolsters me. Just one phone call or message and no matter what is happening in their lives they will be there for me.
And perhaps, in the end, that’s the common thread to all of my Sisters of the Heart, those mentioned, those not. I can put my trust in that they will always be there for me, no matter what happens in my life. I trust them with my heart, and they know they can trust me with theirs.
In celebration of the release of Bound Together, the final book in the Sisters of the Heart series, I invite you to be part of this blog. Part of this story I just shared with you. Tell me about your own Sister of the Heart and why they are so special to you.
A Sister of the Heart is someone you have absolute trust in. You have unconditional love for each other. You can count on them regardless of time or distance or issue. They carry your secrets as their own. They are honest, even if it’s tough, but always in a supportive way.
I have several Sisters of the Heart that I know, without a doubt, I could call at 3AM and say “I need you” and their answer will always be “I’m on my way.”
And though I can’t write about every single one of these amazing women, I wanted to share something about some of those very dear women. And I want to invite you to tell me about one of your own sisters of the heart, or several if you are blessed to have many. I want to hear your stories, because in a way, it binds us all together.
Anita has been part of my family since I was a teen. She was my parents’ chosen child that they took in and loved as their own. And we all loved her. Anita is one of those people who is so easy to talk to. You feel like you can say anything without judgement from her. That she cares about what you say and how you feel. She’s fun and you just want to be around her.
Kathie is one of the sweetest, most gentle people I’ve ever known. She has so much compassion for people and animals. We tease her sometimes, good-naturedly, that she doesn’t even know HOW to be mean! LOL We’re pretty sure she’s never been mean in her entire life.
(With Cheryl)
Cheryl is brilliant and funny. A great combination to have in a friend! I love discussing books with her. She can make me laugh, that fully-belly-laugh that leaves you begging her to stop because you’ve laughed so hard it hurts. She is loyal. And for that I am truly grateful.
(With Sheila and Kathie)
Sheila is most like me. We could sit and talk or laugh for hours. Or we could sit quietly and still enjoy each other’s company. She is always there for me no matter what.
(With Brenda and Kelley)
Kelley, Brenda and Kris are extremely special to me and I’m thankful they’re in my life. Their loyalty and love bolsters me. Just one phone call or message and no matter what is happening in their lives they will be there for me.
And perhaps, in the end, that’s the common thread to all of my Sisters of the Heart, those mentioned, those not. I can put my trust in that they will always be there for me, no matter what happens in my life. I trust them with my heart, and they know they can trust me with theirs.
In celebration of the release of Bound Together, the final book in the Sisters of the Heart series, I invite you to be part of this blog. Part of this story I just shared with you. Tell me about your own Sister of the Heart and why they are so special to you.
March 10, 2017
Those Sisters of Mine
There’s something special about sisters. I’m sure brothers have their own bond and brother-sister siblings are close as well, but sisterhood is like air to those of us who love it.
I can’t imagine my life without my sisters, or growing up without sisters. So, it’s probably good that I have ten. Yes…ten.
The sisterhood of such a large family isn’t without its challenges. I mean, just think about the bathroom sharing issues! LOL I’m the second to the oldest sister, though I do have a brother between my eldest sister and I. And I do want to say, up front, that I adore my brothers as well. But, since we’re getting ready to celebrate Bound Together I thought I’d talk about sisters.
I would like to tell you just a little something about each of my sisters.
Renee, the first born in the family, is my best friend. She’s my partner in crime. She’s also the acknowledged head of the family. She’s a peacekeeper and a diplomat. And she loves babies. Good thing, too since she has 11 children of her own! She’s amazing with numbers and works as an accountant.
Ruth, who I secretly think may have been Dad’s favorite (don’t tell the others I said that!) is so incredible with children! Children gravitate to her. It’s like they can sense she will love and accept them immediately. She runs an after school program for children. She’s innovate and smart and, like many of my sisters, athletic.
Dianne is brilliant! No, really…BRILLIANT! She is very giving and has a soft spot for single mothers. She is a champion of them and a fighter for the rights of children. She is a lawyer and advocates for children. You should see her in the courtroom!
Bobbi loves animals like crazy. My family tends to love animals, but Bobbie takes it to a whole new level. LOL She has rescued horses and dogs for years and stands for the rights of animals. She has worked in just about every aspect with horses, from racing, polo to ranch and is their biggest advocate.
Jeanette is truly an incredible nurse. She has such a giving nature and is so good with patients and especially the elderly. She is patient, caring and loving. She is, very much, a people person.
Denise is one of the sweetest people and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. My youngest daughter is named after her. I can honestly say I’ve never heard Denise say a mean thing about anybody. She’s smart, sweet and caring. She works in the software industry coding things I will never understand.
Liz is a nutritionist and works with schools to make sure kids eat healthy. This is a passion for her. She is a protective mom, fun-loving and adventurous. She also is certified in helping doctors with diabetic patients and works closely with those who have the disease to aid in keeping it under control.
Lisa is scary-smart and beautiful. What a combination, right? She’s drop dead gorgeous and, most importantly, a wonderful mother. Not only is she an RN but she is also a lawyer.
Nanci is just like mom. I love to see her holding babies. Mom loved babies like that and when I see Nanci with a baby it’s like getting to see my mom again, the beautiful way she looks at a child. Nanci is an amazing ER nurse.
Mary was always a tremendous athlete. She had an uncanny ability to make anything grow. Sometimes she’d go to the store and buy their cast-off plants and take them home and make them flourish. She loved gardening. Even when she was going through chemo that girl would run, doing marathons or just jogging. And even sick she won a tennis tournament! I miss her. I miss her laughter most. She was a ray of sunshine to us all.
If you read my Sea Haven books, or any of my series really, you will always see a love of family, of children especially. So much of that is inspired by my own sisters, my brothers and my children.
I have an absolute love of family and so do my sisters. We are loyal to one another, we have each other’s backs. And we may argue from time to time, but if an outsider hurts one of us, the entire lot of us stand up and are a force unto ourselves. We are nurturers, but also protectors; of children and of animals.
There’s something special about sisters. It’s like magic.
I can’t imagine my life without my sisters, or growing up without sisters. So, it’s probably good that I have ten. Yes…ten.
The sisterhood of such a large family isn’t without its challenges. I mean, just think about the bathroom sharing issues! LOL I’m the second to the oldest sister, though I do have a brother between my eldest sister and I. And I do want to say, up front, that I adore my brothers as well. But, since we’re getting ready to celebrate Bound Together I thought I’d talk about sisters.
I would like to tell you just a little something about each of my sisters.
Renee, the first born in the family, is my best friend. She’s my partner in crime. She’s also the acknowledged head of the family. She’s a peacekeeper and a diplomat. And she loves babies. Good thing, too since she has 11 children of her own! She’s amazing with numbers and works as an accountant.
Ruth, who I secretly think may have been Dad’s favorite (don’t tell the others I said that!) is so incredible with children! Children gravitate to her. It’s like they can sense she will love and accept them immediately. She runs an after school program for children. She’s innovate and smart and, like many of my sisters, athletic.
Dianne is brilliant! No, really…BRILLIANT! She is very giving and has a soft spot for single mothers. She is a champion of them and a fighter for the rights of children. She is a lawyer and advocates for children. You should see her in the courtroom!
Bobbi loves animals like crazy. My family tends to love animals, but Bobbie takes it to a whole new level. LOL She has rescued horses and dogs for years and stands for the rights of animals. She has worked in just about every aspect with horses, from racing, polo to ranch and is their biggest advocate.
Jeanette is truly an incredible nurse. She has such a giving nature and is so good with patients and especially the elderly. She is patient, caring and loving. She is, very much, a people person.
Denise is one of the sweetest people and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. My youngest daughter is named after her. I can honestly say I’ve never heard Denise say a mean thing about anybody. She’s smart, sweet and caring. She works in the software industry coding things I will never understand.
Liz is a nutritionist and works with schools to make sure kids eat healthy. This is a passion for her. She is a protective mom, fun-loving and adventurous. She also is certified in helping doctors with diabetic patients and works closely with those who have the disease to aid in keeping it under control.
Lisa is scary-smart and beautiful. What a combination, right? She’s drop dead gorgeous and, most importantly, a wonderful mother. Not only is she an RN but she is also a lawyer.
Nanci is just like mom. I love to see her holding babies. Mom loved babies like that and when I see Nanci with a baby it’s like getting to see my mom again, the beautiful way she looks at a child. Nanci is an amazing ER nurse.
Mary was always a tremendous athlete. She had an uncanny ability to make anything grow. Sometimes she’d go to the store and buy their cast-off plants and take them home and make them flourish. She loved gardening. Even when she was going through chemo that girl would run, doing marathons or just jogging. And even sick she won a tennis tournament! I miss her. I miss her laughter most. She was a ray of sunshine to us all.
If you read my Sea Haven books, or any of my series really, you will always see a love of family, of children especially. So much of that is inspired by my own sisters, my brothers and my children.
I have an absolute love of family and so do my sisters. We are loyal to one another, we have each other’s backs. And we may argue from time to time, but if an outsider hurts one of us, the entire lot of us stand up and are a force unto ourselves. We are nurturers, but also protectors; of children and of animals.
There’s something special about sisters. It’s like magic.
February 10, 2017
The Importance of Reading Romance for Your Well Being
Happily Ever After is good for the soul. Hope, courage, love, these are all things important to believe in. Sometimes people get caught up in the fact that romance often has a sexual component to it. But, a good romance story is so much more than that, just as a romance in real-life does. There is conflict and the need to overcome that conflict, just like in real-life. There is the need to grow as human beings, to overcome our own fears, to stretch beyond our comfort zone in order to have things we want. There are struggles and obstacles to the things we truly desire. And in a good romance novel we get to feel the courage a hero or heroine must find within themselves in order to overcome those obstacles and there is hope and love at the end of that struggle that makes us, as readers, feel good.
Today’s romance has characters you can relate to and issues you can understand and empathize with. These stories are relatable and when the hero and heroine finally get together in the end we soar with happiness. We believe love can conquer all and that hope will get us through. We believe in kindness and supporting one another. Reading romance is cathartic and good for the soul.
I believe in the power of love and in reading romance and have invited some wonderful authors to share their ideas and beliefs in the importance of reading romance!
MAGGIE SHAYNE-
I’ve learned one lesson that stands above all others; the more time we spend in a state of joy, the better our lives become. We can choose to reject the temptation to wallow in misery, no matter what’s happening outside ourselves. We can choose, instead, to spend our time and attention on things that make us feel good, make us smile, warm our hearts. Life is full of such things! They’re all around us. The sunrise, the full moon, little birds frolicking in a fountain. Romance novels are feel-good fiction. They uplift and inspire. They warm our hearts and we want to cheer for our heroines at the end, for they triumph over every challenge and we triumph with them. Romance novels are empowering to women, this we know. But they are also a source of pure, calorie-free delight, and the more of that we give to ourselves, the happier, healthier, wealthier, and more fulfilled we will be.
JONATHAN MABERRY-
The importance of reading romance for your well-being seems obvious to me. It’s all about optimism. We live in tough times –socially, culturally, politically, economically. One of the effects of this kind of stress and depression is a loss of imagination. You see, when we’re depressed we can’t imagine feeling anything except that depression. It blinds us to the possibility that whatever our current troubles are they will one day end. Love, on the other hand, brings with it an antidote to depression: hope. Love is about the future, it’s about possibilities, it’s about joy. All of those things conjure images of a new phase of life that exists on the other side of depression. A good romance story transports us out of the now and into a wonderful possible future where light shines in and a new day is a joy rather than a prison sentence. The novel (and movie) Warm Bodies by my friend Isaac Marion, played with that theme rather brilliantly. In the gloom of a post-apocalyptic zombie apocalypse it’s love that spreads like a new infection and brings characters –human and living dead—back to a new and better life. That’s why I dig romance in even the darkest of fiction, and it’s why I include it in my own, admittedly grim, novels. Because there should be light at the far end of darkness, and love –let’s face it—is the brightest light. Once we see it we can imagine what our lives will be like when we step out of the shadows of our own sorrows.
ANNE ELIZABETH-
Romance touches the heart, lifting the spirit and bringing to light aspects of hope, joy, passion, and excitement. For me, that’s the gift romance writing brings…celebrating life.
LORI FOSTER-
Romance is important because of the affirmation of love. It's not just an escape, but an escape that, at the core, is based on the truth that love makes everything better. We all face hardship, some problems enormous and some trivial, but whatever challenges come our way, they're more easily conquered - as shown in the romance genre - when you have your true love in your corner, offering support or understanding or sometimes, just being there with you so that you're not facing those challenges alone.
Unlike the misconceptions that romance are fluff or porn, at heart, it's all about the basic instinct to be loved.
LAURA KAYE-
Romance has so much to offer readers. Besides offering a fun, page-turning, heart-pounding experience, romances are some of the most hopeful and positive books you can find. They give the message that there's someone for everyone, and that you can overcome whatever obstacles your life and relationship faces. And, in the diversity of characters they include, they argue that everyone deserves love. I think it's important for readers to be able to see themselves and the kinds of relationships they cherish reflected in books, and romance novels are at the forefront of embracing that.
JON LAND-
I think the answer to this question is not specific to Romance, because reading anything is important to your well being! Kind of like fill in the blank. Reading in general, and reading romance in particular, takes us into other worlds, offering escape from our own minutia while providing the kind of entertainment that makes us feel like kids again. The key word there is "entertainment," and no literary form fits that bill more than romance, since it tends to be about people working out their problems by working together and, hopefully, finding love. Unfortunately, real life doesn't often work that way and it's nice to be able to lose yourself, for a few hours anyway, in a story that does.
KAREN ROSE-
The defining element of the romance genre is the happily-ever-after ending. Some may say it’s trite and predictable, but I believe it’s dependable, warm and lovely – a place to escape the real world for a while when burdens become too heavy. The optimism of romance is heart-lifting and reminds us, especially in times of uncertainty, that the people around us are basically good. That love is stronger than fear and hate and at the end of every long day, love remains. Happily-ever-afters heal the soul.
SARA HUMPHREYS-
Let’s be honest, the world is in a state of unrest at the moment and we are surrounded by uncertainty. Now, more than ever, we need romance novels because these lovely pieces of fiction guarantee us a soul satisfying happily ever after. As readers, we know that when we pick up a romance, there will be a happy ending because that is the hallmark of a romance novel. Our hero and heroine might go through hell. They might be fighting for their lives in the darkest of places but we know that in spite of it all, they will end up blissfully, gloriously happy in each other’s arms. No matter what. So, if you feel down or scared, and you need a respite from the craziness of the world, pick up a romance and get lost for a little while in the glow and hope of true love.
CL WILSON-
The romance I love and read (voraciously) is literature entirely infused with hope. No matter how bad, how hard, how broken our characters or their lives may be, the heroes and heroines of romance novels will always find a way to earn their happy ending. Romance celebrates the healing power of love, the redemptive power of love, the joy and the hope of finding that one soul in the universe that resonates in a perfect harmonic rhythm with your own. No matter how hard, difficult, devastating, or despairing real life may sometimes be, romance reminds us all that even from the worst days of our lives we can recover, grow strong, and find happiness, peace, and love again. And that is a story always worth telling, and a tale always worth reading.
KATIE RUGGLE-
Writing and reading romance keeps me sane. When I open a book or pull up a manuscript on my computer, I get to escape into a world where goodness prevails and the hero and heroine always get their happily ever after. The best romances encourage the idea that every person, despite flaws and insecurities and mistakes, is worthy of love. For me, it’s both escapism and a way to hold onto hope.
Plus, I like the sexy parts.
SHEILA ENGLISH-
Reading romance helps encourage us to believe in love, hope, each other and happily ever after. In a world that’s full of so many daily challenges, where kindness often gets overlooked, reading romance helps us to recall the importance of caring and that love should conquer all. Reading romance puts hope into the world.
JOANNA WYLDE-
www.joannawylde.com
Why should people read romance? Because it's full of strong women. Romance heroines come from every walk of life, but the one character trait they share is personal strength and the desire to make their lives better. Women are so often portrayed in films and novels as two dimensional consorts for the heroic men around them. Women in romance novels may find strong partners in their heroes, but if they aren't strong themselves, the readers usually reject them. As a teenage girl, I loved romance novels because they inspired me. As an adult writer, I love the freedom to write strong women who aren't afraid to meet their men halfway.
REBECCA ZANETTI-
I think romances are important because they're full of hope and possibilities. It's good to be able to escape reality for a little while, and doing so with the assurance that there will be a happy ending at the last page takes the anxiety away. Plus, in reading, we get to live many different lives without truly being in danger. It's the best of multiple worlds.
CD REISS-
Many bestselling books are about adventure, and that’s great. Murder mysteries and fantasy adventure sagas give readers a sense of power and wonder. But Romances do more than that. Romances teach us how to be in relationships. Romance is about hope. It’s about saying you’re sorry. Becoming a better person. Not about getting a vault full of gold or exacting vengeance. What I’ve learned from romance novels has had real life applications. Honestly, and this is hard to admit…romance novels have made me a better wife. When I’m acting like an immature, self-centered nag, I put my actions and words on a page and I say “am I being the villain in this story?” I can’t slay an orc but I can be a better partner because of what I’ve learned from romance novels. I’m proud of the genre I write in. Nothing is more important than growing as people together.
Has reading a romance ever given you hope or helped you during a difficult time? Do you have a "comfort read"? Please share YOUR story about the importance of reading romance!
Follow @AuthorCFeehan
Today’s romance has characters you can relate to and issues you can understand and empathize with. These stories are relatable and when the hero and heroine finally get together in the end we soar with happiness. We believe love can conquer all and that hope will get us through. We believe in kindness and supporting one another. Reading romance is cathartic and good for the soul.
I believe in the power of love and in reading romance and have invited some wonderful authors to share their ideas and beliefs in the importance of reading romance!
MAGGIE SHAYNE-I’ve learned one lesson that stands above all others; the more time we spend in a state of joy, the better our lives become. We can choose to reject the temptation to wallow in misery, no matter what’s happening outside ourselves. We can choose, instead, to spend our time and attention on things that make us feel good, make us smile, warm our hearts. Life is full of such things! They’re all around us. The sunrise, the full moon, little birds frolicking in a fountain. Romance novels are feel-good fiction. They uplift and inspire. They warm our hearts and we want to cheer for our heroines at the end, for they triumph over every challenge and we triumph with them. Romance novels are empowering to women, this we know. But they are also a source of pure, calorie-free delight, and the more of that we give to ourselves, the happier, healthier, wealthier, and more fulfilled we will be.
JONATHAN MABERRY-The importance of reading romance for your well-being seems obvious to me. It’s all about optimism. We live in tough times –socially, culturally, politically, economically. One of the effects of this kind of stress and depression is a loss of imagination. You see, when we’re depressed we can’t imagine feeling anything except that depression. It blinds us to the possibility that whatever our current troubles are they will one day end. Love, on the other hand, brings with it an antidote to depression: hope. Love is about the future, it’s about possibilities, it’s about joy. All of those things conjure images of a new phase of life that exists on the other side of depression. A good romance story transports us out of the now and into a wonderful possible future where light shines in and a new day is a joy rather than a prison sentence. The novel (and movie) Warm Bodies by my friend Isaac Marion, played with that theme rather brilliantly. In the gloom of a post-apocalyptic zombie apocalypse it’s love that spreads like a new infection and brings characters –human and living dead—back to a new and better life. That’s why I dig romance in even the darkest of fiction, and it’s why I include it in my own, admittedly grim, novels. Because there should be light at the far end of darkness, and love –let’s face it—is the brightest light. Once we see it we can imagine what our lives will be like when we step out of the shadows of our own sorrows.
ANNE ELIZABETH- Romance touches the heart, lifting the spirit and bringing to light aspects of hope, joy, passion, and excitement. For me, that’s the gift romance writing brings…celebrating life.
LORI FOSTER- Romance is important because of the affirmation of love. It's not just an escape, but an escape that, at the core, is based on the truth that love makes everything better. We all face hardship, some problems enormous and some trivial, but whatever challenges come our way, they're more easily conquered - as shown in the romance genre - when you have your true love in your corner, offering support or understanding or sometimes, just being there with you so that you're not facing those challenges alone.
Unlike the misconceptions that romance are fluff or porn, at heart, it's all about the basic instinct to be loved.
LAURA KAYE- Romance has so much to offer readers. Besides offering a fun, page-turning, heart-pounding experience, romances are some of the most hopeful and positive books you can find. They give the message that there's someone for everyone, and that you can overcome whatever obstacles your life and relationship faces. And, in the diversity of characters they include, they argue that everyone deserves love. I think it's important for readers to be able to see themselves and the kinds of relationships they cherish reflected in books, and romance novels are at the forefront of embracing that.
JON LAND- I think the answer to this question is not specific to Romance, because reading anything is important to your well being! Kind of like fill in the blank. Reading in general, and reading romance in particular, takes us into other worlds, offering escape from our own minutia while providing the kind of entertainment that makes us feel like kids again. The key word there is "entertainment," and no literary form fits that bill more than romance, since it tends to be about people working out their problems by working together and, hopefully, finding love. Unfortunately, real life doesn't often work that way and it's nice to be able to lose yourself, for a few hours anyway, in a story that does.
KAREN ROSE- The defining element of the romance genre is the happily-ever-after ending. Some may say it’s trite and predictable, but I believe it’s dependable, warm and lovely – a place to escape the real world for a while when burdens become too heavy. The optimism of romance is heart-lifting and reminds us, especially in times of uncertainty, that the people around us are basically good. That love is stronger than fear and hate and at the end of every long day, love remains. Happily-ever-afters heal the soul.
SARA HUMPHREYS- Let’s be honest, the world is in a state of unrest at the moment and we are surrounded by uncertainty. Now, more than ever, we need romance novels because these lovely pieces of fiction guarantee us a soul satisfying happily ever after. As readers, we know that when we pick up a romance, there will be a happy ending because that is the hallmark of a romance novel. Our hero and heroine might go through hell. They might be fighting for their lives in the darkest of places but we know that in spite of it all, they will end up blissfully, gloriously happy in each other’s arms. No matter what. So, if you feel down or scared, and you need a respite from the craziness of the world, pick up a romance and get lost for a little while in the glow and hope of true love.
CL WILSON- The romance I love and read (voraciously) is literature entirely infused with hope. No matter how bad, how hard, how broken our characters or their lives may be, the heroes and heroines of romance novels will always find a way to earn their happy ending. Romance celebrates the healing power of love, the redemptive power of love, the joy and the hope of finding that one soul in the universe that resonates in a perfect harmonic rhythm with your own. No matter how hard, difficult, devastating, or despairing real life may sometimes be, romance reminds us all that even from the worst days of our lives we can recover, grow strong, and find happiness, peace, and love again. And that is a story always worth telling, and a tale always worth reading.
KATIE RUGGLE- Writing and reading romance keeps me sane. When I open a book or pull up a manuscript on my computer, I get to escape into a world where goodness prevails and the hero and heroine always get their happily ever after. The best romances encourage the idea that every person, despite flaws and insecurities and mistakes, is worthy of love. For me, it’s both escapism and a way to hold onto hope.
Plus, I like the sexy parts.
SHEILA ENGLISH- Reading romance helps encourage us to believe in love, hope, each other and happily ever after. In a world that’s full of so many daily challenges, where kindness often gets overlooked, reading romance helps us to recall the importance of caring and that love should conquer all. Reading romance puts hope into the world.
JOANNA WYLDE-www.joannawylde.com
Why should people read romance? Because it's full of strong women. Romance heroines come from every walk of life, but the one character trait they share is personal strength and the desire to make their lives better. Women are so often portrayed in films and novels as two dimensional consorts for the heroic men around them. Women in romance novels may find strong partners in their heroes, but if they aren't strong themselves, the readers usually reject them. As a teenage girl, I loved romance novels because they inspired me. As an adult writer, I love the freedom to write strong women who aren't afraid to meet their men halfway.
REBECCA ZANETTI- I think romances are important because they're full of hope and possibilities. It's good to be able to escape reality for a little while, and doing so with the assurance that there will be a happy ending at the last page takes the anxiety away. Plus, in reading, we get to live many different lives without truly being in danger. It's the best of multiple worlds.
CD REISS- Many bestselling books are about adventure, and that’s great. Murder mysteries and fantasy adventure sagas give readers a sense of power and wonder. But Romances do more than that. Romances teach us how to be in relationships. Romance is about hope. It’s about saying you’re sorry. Becoming a better person. Not about getting a vault full of gold or exacting vengeance. What I’ve learned from romance novels has had real life applications. Honestly, and this is hard to admit…romance novels have made me a better wife. When I’m acting like an immature, self-centered nag, I put my actions and words on a page and I say “am I being the villain in this story?” I can’t slay an orc but I can be a better partner because of what I’ve learned from romance novels. I’m proud of the genre I write in. Nothing is more important than growing as people together.
Has reading a romance ever given you hope or helped you during a difficult time? Do you have a "comfort read"? Please share YOUR story about the importance of reading romance!
Follow @AuthorCFeehan
February 9, 2017
Author’s Top Picks for Best Movie or TV Adaptation from a Romance Novel
I thought it would be fun to ask my friends and fellow authors what movie or TV show/series they felt was a wonderful adaptation from a romance novel!
CHRISTINE FEEHAN -
My pick was pretty easy. I absolutely love the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen starring Colin Firth. If you’ve ever watched it, and enjoyed it, I challenge you to tell us how many times you went back and re-watched just the scene where Colin Firth walks out of the water, shirt clinging to his wide shoulders and masculine chest, hair tousled and wet…sigh… I freely admit to re-watching that scene a time or two. Or three. LOL
KRISTEN ASHLEY-
THE PRINCESS BRIDE by William Goldman - I'd love to say a fabulous, well-known novel by a brilliant romance author like Judith McNaught, but Hollywood hasn't gotten it together to realize we romance readers will go out in droves to see films made of novels we adore. But this is not second fiddle by a long shot. Sweeping, hilarious, filled with action, adventure, and love of all kinds: lovers, friends, a grandfather and his grandson, there's so much love and hope in this (short) book and fabulous film, it's timeless and pure beauty. It never gets old. It never fails to make me laugh. It never fails to make me swoon. And I've met the real-life Westley and he's swoon-worthy too. "As you wish..." Perfection.
MAGGIE SHAYNE-
Favorite Movie based on a book: The Princess Bride
This is a rare case where the movie was better because of the delightful cast and pitch perfect adaptation. “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.” Truer words have never been written. A novelist could map out this story’s structure as the outline for a perfect romance.
JONATHAN MABERRY-
The Princess Bride will always be my gold standard for romances that transition well from book to screen. I loved William Goldsmith’s book and I will always love the quirky, hilarious, occasionally goofy, and very romantic movie adaptation. It’s highly quotable, it bears up very well to repeat viewings, it doesn’t age at all, and it’s accessible to anyone. And Wesley and Buttercup are wonderful ridiculous lovers who are beautiful, funny, faithful, and ultimately, triumphant. What more could you want?
NALINI SINGH-
It's not a movie but a tv series, but I love LOVE the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, featuring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. The cast, the attention to detail, it was just beautifully done.
ANNE ELIZABETH-
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice holds a special place on the top of my favorite’s list. Though I’ve seen many adaptations of this great tome, including Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I will always believe that the original written word by Austen is the best form.
LORI FOSTER-
Ohhh, just to be different - and because I love horror movies the most - I'm going to say Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. LOVED the historical aspect, the action, the zombies, and yes, the romance. The heroine was so strong and capable, but then so was the hero, which made it work on many levels. The book was great fun, but the movie was more so - maybe because I'm a movie junkie. Even better, my husband enjoyed it, too!
JON LAND-
There are so many options here, but I'm going to go with GONE WITH THE WIND because neither books, nor movies, were the same afterwards. For books, the Margaret Mitchell classic changed the paradigm of American romance from frontier based machismo and male bonding to what is now considered traditional male-female relationships. Adjusted to today's dollars, the film remains among the most popular of all time and the book was a monumental bestseller. A pop culture phenomenon in which both book and movie resonated to comparable and sterling degrees in their respective mediums.
KAREN ROSE-
Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth miniseries, of course!)
SARA HUMPHREYS-
In most cases, I have found the book to be a much better version of a story than the film but when it came to the Twilight series, I have to admit I preferred the movies. Being able to see the werewolves come to life on screen was probably the tipping point for me. Don’t hate me.
CL WILSON-
LORD OF THE RINGS!!!! Hands down. OMG. My favorite movie(s)! I’ve watched them so many times my poor husband, when he sees one of them on the screen, rolls his eyes and says, “Not this again!” LOL. In this case, I like Peter Jackson’s movies better than Tolkien’s books, although most often I prefer the book to the movie.
KATIE RUGGLE-
Although I love The Princess Bride for so many reasons, the best part for me is the humor. Every good romance needs a heaping helping of laughter; it makes everything sweeter.
SHEILA ENGLISH-
So many romantic movies adapted from books, but I love the one that most follows my own real-life: Bridget Jones Diary. Okay, it followed my life back when I was dating. No, really, it did. I love books and movies that make me smile or laugh and Bridget Jones Diary did both!
JOANNA WYLDE-
There was a mini-series version of Anne of Green Gables staring Megan Follows that I loved as a kid. Her slow romance with Gilbert Blythe absolutely mesmerized me. I actually like the film version better than the book, which is out of character for me, but their on-screen tension (played out over years) was incredible. Even at that age, I knew that I wanted to write romance novels when I grew up. Anne and her Gilbert were a big part of my inspiration.
REBECCA ZANETTI-
One of my favorite movies of all time is called LIFE WITH FATHER. It was based on a true book written by Clarence Day Junior in 1935 about his parents. It became the longest running Broadway play in history and was turned into a movie in 1947. I like the movie because it's sweet and innocent and shows how women were smart and ingenious even back in the day when they didn't have many rights. It's just a pick me up movie for fun when I'm under the weather.
CD REISS-
The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies and a romance for the ages. I love the idea of a man coming back to his hometown to claim the woman he loves. He has to overcome childhood obstacles and prove to his woman that he’s a worthy man.
I prefer the movie to the book. It flows well and the actors added layers to the story. It has a crazy, madcap humor that makes me laugh every single time. That kind of humor is harder to get across in a book.
ANDREW PETERSON-
Shrek! Shrek & Fiona - Shrek played by Mike Myers. Fiona by Cameron Diaz. The movie is based on the Children's picture book by William Steig. I truly believe it's a great romance between the characters with all the classic elements of Beauty & The Beast.
Now it's your turn! Name a romantic movie based off a book. Tell us which you liked best; the book or the movie!
Follow @AuthorCFeehan
CHRISTINE FEEHAN -
My pick was pretty easy. I absolutely love the BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen starring Colin Firth. If you’ve ever watched it, and enjoyed it, I challenge you to tell us how many times you went back and re-watched just the scene where Colin Firth walks out of the water, shirt clinging to his wide shoulders and masculine chest, hair tousled and wet…sigh… I freely admit to re-watching that scene a time or two. Or three. LOL
KRISTEN ASHLEY-
THE PRINCESS BRIDE by William Goldman - I'd love to say a fabulous, well-known novel by a brilliant romance author like Judith McNaught, but Hollywood hasn't gotten it together to realize we romance readers will go out in droves to see films made of novels we adore. But this is not second fiddle by a long shot. Sweeping, hilarious, filled with action, adventure, and love of all kinds: lovers, friends, a grandfather and his grandson, there's so much love and hope in this (short) book and fabulous film, it's timeless and pure beauty. It never gets old. It never fails to make me laugh. It never fails to make me swoon. And I've met the real-life Westley and he's swoon-worthy too. "As you wish..." Perfection.
MAGGIE SHAYNE-
Favorite Movie based on a book: The Princess Bride
This is a rare case where the movie was better because of the delightful cast and pitch perfect adaptation. “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.” Truer words have never been written. A novelist could map out this story’s structure as the outline for a perfect romance.
JONATHAN MABERRY-
The Princess Bride will always be my gold standard for romances that transition well from book to screen. I loved William Goldsmith’s book and I will always love the quirky, hilarious, occasionally goofy, and very romantic movie adaptation. It’s highly quotable, it bears up very well to repeat viewings, it doesn’t age at all, and it’s accessible to anyone. And Wesley and Buttercup are wonderful ridiculous lovers who are beautiful, funny, faithful, and ultimately, triumphant. What more could you want?
NALINI SINGH-
It's not a movie but a tv series, but I love LOVE the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, featuring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. The cast, the attention to detail, it was just beautifully done.
ANNE ELIZABETH-
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice holds a special place on the top of my favorite’s list. Though I’ve seen many adaptations of this great tome, including Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I will always believe that the original written word by Austen is the best form.
LORI FOSTER-
Ohhh, just to be different - and because I love horror movies the most - I'm going to say Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. LOVED the historical aspect, the action, the zombies, and yes, the romance. The heroine was so strong and capable, but then so was the hero, which made it work on many levels. The book was great fun, but the movie was more so - maybe because I'm a movie junkie. Even better, my husband enjoyed it, too!
JON LAND-
There are so many options here, but I'm going to go with GONE WITH THE WIND because neither books, nor movies, were the same afterwards. For books, the Margaret Mitchell classic changed the paradigm of American romance from frontier based machismo and male bonding to what is now considered traditional male-female relationships. Adjusted to today's dollars, the film remains among the most popular of all time and the book was a monumental bestseller. A pop culture phenomenon in which both book and movie resonated to comparable and sterling degrees in their respective mediums.
KAREN ROSE-
Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth miniseries, of course!)
SARA HUMPHREYS-
In most cases, I have found the book to be a much better version of a story than the film but when it came to the Twilight series, I have to admit I preferred the movies. Being able to see the werewolves come to life on screen was probably the tipping point for me. Don’t hate me.
CL WILSON-
LORD OF THE RINGS!!!! Hands down. OMG. My favorite movie(s)! I’ve watched them so many times my poor husband, when he sees one of them on the screen, rolls his eyes and says, “Not this again!” LOL. In this case, I like Peter Jackson’s movies better than Tolkien’s books, although most often I prefer the book to the movie.
KATIE RUGGLE-
Although I love The Princess Bride for so many reasons, the best part for me is the humor. Every good romance needs a heaping helping of laughter; it makes everything sweeter.
SHEILA ENGLISH-
So many romantic movies adapted from books, but I love the one that most follows my own real-life: Bridget Jones Diary. Okay, it followed my life back when I was dating. No, really, it did. I love books and movies that make me smile or laugh and Bridget Jones Diary did both!
JOANNA WYLDE-
There was a mini-series version of Anne of Green Gables staring Megan Follows that I loved as a kid. Her slow romance with Gilbert Blythe absolutely mesmerized me. I actually like the film version better than the book, which is out of character for me, but their on-screen tension (played out over years) was incredible. Even at that age, I knew that I wanted to write romance novels when I grew up. Anne and her Gilbert were a big part of my inspiration.
REBECCA ZANETTI-
One of my favorite movies of all time is called LIFE WITH FATHER. It was based on a true book written by Clarence Day Junior in 1935 about his parents. It became the longest running Broadway play in history and was turned into a movie in 1947. I like the movie because it's sweet and innocent and shows how women were smart and ingenious even back in the day when they didn't have many rights. It's just a pick me up movie for fun when I'm under the weather.
CD REISS-
The Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies and a romance for the ages. I love the idea of a man coming back to his hometown to claim the woman he loves. He has to overcome childhood obstacles and prove to his woman that he’s a worthy man.
I prefer the movie to the book. It flows well and the actors added layers to the story. It has a crazy, madcap humor that makes me laugh every single time. That kind of humor is harder to get across in a book.
ANDREW PETERSON-
Shrek! Shrek & Fiona - Shrek played by Mike Myers. Fiona by Cameron Diaz. The movie is based on the Children's picture book by William Steig. I truly believe it's a great romance between the characters with all the classic elements of Beauty & The Beast.
Now it's your turn! Name a romantic movie based off a book. Tell us which you liked best; the book or the movie!
Follow @AuthorCFeehan
