Executive Editor Marsha Zinberg continues her blog tour discussing the Harlequin Famous Firsts – first category novels written by some of today’s superstars!
If ever I had the idea that romance readers were interested only in the lives of the characters created in the stories they loved to read, that notion was certainly dispelled by a conversation I shared with a cab driver who was delivering me to downtown Savannah, Georgia for a writers’ conference several years ago. Once I told her the reason for my visit, she began to rhyme off all her favorite romances and authors. So naturally, as a conscientious editor, I felt it my duty to delicately probe about what most attracted her to a romance.
What made her choose one book over another? The cover art? The author? The back cover blurb?
“Oh, no!†she told me. “The first thing I look at is the author’s dedication. I can tell a lot about what kind of person she is and if I’m going to like her story by that sentence or two she writes at the beginning, usually to a friend or family member.â€
Most readers, it seems, are fascinated by the real person behind the story, the woman who is probably a wife, mother and/or grandmother just like them, someone who may have struggled to find her place in the world, a career or pastime that was the right fit, a cause or interest that became a passion.
Most of all, they appreciate that sense of connection, and so do so many of the authors I’ve been acquainted with over the years.
Self-described “loners†and introverts such as Lori Foster and Vicki Lewis Thompson credit the close-knit and supportive romance writing community with bringing them life-long friendships. Lori declares she is no longer shy, in any shape or form, and is enriched by the daily conversations she has with her large network of friends who are “on her wavelength.â€
Vicki, too, has learned to “embrace the exhibitionist†part of her personality, to speak in front of large groups of people, to be freer and “a little more foolishâ€.
Anne Stuart recalls forging really strong relationships with Harlequin writers that have lasted to this day. “My best friends are my fellow Harlequin American and Intrigue writers from way back then. Their support is amazing.â€
Stella Cameron believes people are born with the need to write, that the entity resides deep within them, but doesn’t encroach on others. “It’s not a team sport. But I’m never lonely, because I’m never alone.â€
Lindsay McKenna had to learn to balance the privacy and quiet time that are so essential to her and her creative process with the sudden exposure, attention and focus that came as a result of her popularity as a writer, as well as with the demands of communicating with her readers… also very important to her.
Many Famous Firsts authors have raised families and become grandparents, or divorced or remarried during the course of their careers. They have picked up stakes and given up family homes for condos, or moved to another state altogether. A few now have both winter and summer addresses. Some, like Debbie Macomber, have rented offices for their work and employ staff to help with the correspondence and administration. Others prefer the comfort and solitude of their own homes and set routines, which might include writing in a room no bigger than a closet! Most tell me they’ve slowed down and learned to pace themselves better. And many enjoy personal travel experiences, as well as the obligatory trips that are important to networking and promotion. But I am always impressed by the professionalism and dedication these authors show to their craft. It’s such a challenge to allow people to witness what you really think and feel through the characters you create, to delve into the dark places within in order to produce something uplifting. But these women do this time and time again….and they get the job done. Sometimes at personal cost and by sacrificing precious family time.
Joan Johnston continues to work hard at balancing her professional and personal lives. And by the way, she’s still single and searching, so if someone out there has a nice father or brother, Joan is interested……
Please be sure to watch from my next blog post at Dear Author on Monday, June 8! My previous blog tours stops were at Bookbinge, Plot Monkeys and the Blaze Authors blog.
As a special treat we have provided 4 Famous First novels to giveaway. Comment by Sunday, June7, 2009, 8:00 p.m. CDT to be eligible to win.
Don’t forget that you can enjoy 16 free Harlequin novels by downloading them at www.HarlequinCelebrates.com. And the Harlequin Cover Art Show in New York runs May 30 – June 12th at the Open House Gallery, New York City (201 Mulberry Street in Soho).
No related posts.
What a great post!
I’m relatively new to romance. I actually never read it until I found out the book I was writing was a romance.
I saw your post at Plot Monkeys. I was lucky enough to win one of those snazzy totes at the potato martini lunch at RT!
congrats! It’s a great-looking tote, isn’t it?
marsha
That it is — Only thing that would have made it better would have been for it to have been stuffed with books!
I just got acquinted with the brilliance of Linda Lael Miller when I was sent an ARC for THE BRIDEGROOM, due out in August, which I recently reviewed on my blog. It’s a Western and I never read Westerns before. Well, now I read Westerns by Linda Lael Miller!
Thanks for this post on the people behind those novels we love — writers are people, too!
I always read dedications also. I love reading about everyday inspirational people and isn’t that what a dedication is?
I try to limit my own dedications to 3 people a book. Wowsers, that’s challenging but I tell myself that I’ll hopefully have many, many books to dedicate to people.
I usually save the dedications for after the story – to see if there are any clues as to how the characters were inspired.
I used to read books by Erin St. Clair. They were head and shoulders above anything else around at the time. Then she seemed to vanish, as I couldn’t find her books any more. I was so disappointed.
It wasn’t until years later that I found out it was because she’d ‘grown up’ to be Sandra Brown!
Interesting about the dedications. I continue to follow many writers that I found through Harlequin. It is so interesting to see how they progress.
Great blog! I love reading the dedications and the blurb at the front/back of most books that give an insight into a writers “life”. But now the internet and blog sites add a whole new dimensions and we can get a whole new insight into a writer’ss “day”. As a newbie unpub. I love to read about a writers day and how they slog over each and every book (it seems). “The crows of doubt” as a lot of authors talk about are VERY real not just to me but countless others! Take care. Caroline x
I always like to read the dedications but I have never to decided to read a book based upon a dedication.
What a wonderful insight into the readers’ minds! I’m thrilled to hear that they care about the dedications. The people we dedicate our books to are so important to us, often pillars of strength and inspiration in our lives. It’s awesome to know they’re getting even more recognition!
Very interesting to read about the people behind the people who write the books we read. I always read the dedications in the books I read.
It’s always fun to read a few personal facts about some of my favorite authors.
I think the person behind the story is a key piece to why I pick up a book. What’s the story about? Is it based on something real? What’s the point of the story? What’s the author’s intent? If I can’t find a deeper message or emotional connection with the characters, I’m pretty much through. But when I do connect, those characters stay with me forever and I’m more likely to keep reading the author’s other books.
I pick books based on the blurb on the back but it doesn’t take me long to get hooked on certain authors’ books. There are people who are on my automatic buy list. I’ve gotten to know most of them through their blogs and twitter. It’s amazing what technology has done.
Thanks for a great and interesting post!
You’re most welcome! It was a pleasure to research and write!
Marsha
I always read dedications and enjoyed this blog post a lot.
I always read the dedications and acknowledgments as well as the author notes and bio in the back. Before I discovered Romancelandia, i.e., the online world of romance, the front & back matter was my only window into the author as a person. Now, thanks to blogs, interviews, Twitter, etc. I know my favorite authors better, and as a result, my enjoyment of their books has increased tremendously.
I love this post, I also read the dedications in every book. It does give insight to what kind of person the author is. I love westerns so I am addicted to Joan Johnston, Debbie Macomber and Linda Lael Miller
I always read the dedications in every book. I find it fascinating and interesting. It gives me great perspective of the authors and their writing. Thanks for this great post today.
I’m another that always read the dedications. It’s nice to get a glimpse of what the author is like and who she/he is.
I remember being introduced to the Harlequin series books with my mom. Every evening when I was a teen, I’d visit my mom in her room and she’d talk about the books and I pick one and read and the next night I would be back for another! As an adult, I used to go shop and get the books before she could buy them! Then after she read, she gave to me to read! Now that she’s not with me, I still love to share that joy of reading and bring those I read to the nursing home here. They love the books!
It was great reading about these authors! Great post!
Wow, I’m guilty of skipping over the dedications more than I read them. Thanks for shedding new light on them for me. I will be more diligent from now on! Great post!
I always read the dedication first, then the bio about the author. It gives me a sense of who they are just by reading that little bit. Then I delve into the book.
How enjoyable to read about the authors; I love Debbie Macomber’s books so this was extra special.
What a nice post!
The more I like a book, the more I want to read the author bio and the sooner I flip back to give a quick read. I usually enjoy reading dedications and acknowledgments, too.
The winner is comment #13, Maureen. Please send an email with your mailing address to kf.smith@romancingtheblog.com