April 25, 2008

I adore, absolutely adore Roberta Gellis's books.

I discovered the Roselynde Chronicles in the early 1980s, around the time I had just finished reading John Jakes's  The Kent Family Chronicles. I was delighted to find a similar sort of family saga (but much heavier on the romance) set in medieval England by Ms. Gellis. This after I had recently seen Becket and A Lion in Winter and fallen in love with the Platagenets.

So not only did I read the Roselynde Chronicles, but then every other Gellis book I could get my hands on over the years.

Gellis has a masters in biochemistry and another one in medieval literature–and it shows. There's not one bit of a crack in her historical settings. You're there, transported back into those times not only in the clothing and technology of 12th century England, but also, firmly and without excuse, into the mindset of that time.

My favorite Gellis book, which also ranks as one of my all-time favorite books (and is an annual re-read), is Alinor, the second book in the Roselynde series. I have also recently begun to read her Magdalene la Bâtarde mystery series–a medieval-set mystery series.

So when I had the chance to hear her speak on two different panels at RT, I made sure not to miss them. I'd never seen her speak before, and indeed had only met her for about thirty seconds five years previously.

I was lucky enough to snag her after the second panel and offer to buy her a cup of tea (selfishly, of course, wanting to just talk to one of my idols). She accepted and off we went.

We had a cuppa and chatted and I was quite the fangirl. I did control myself for the most part, but I did rave and go all googly-eyed when we talked about Alinor and Ian, and Magdalene and Bell.

I also had the chance to ask some questions and find out a few things I'd always wondered about.

Here are some of the little nuggets I got:

"Roselynde" is pronounced "Rahz-a-lynde" (I had been saying "Rose-a-lynde" all these years!).

Ian di Vipont, the hero in Alinor and one of my all-time favorite heroes ever, was inspired by Tyrone Power. Now, I didn't know who Tyrone Power was any more than the Mr. Romance guy knew who Tom Hulce was, but that's the beauty of Google. I present to you Tyrone Power, aka Ian di Vipont.

And, yes, I'm all over this. Definitely Ian.

I asked Ms. Gellis about King John, who appears in all of the Roselynde books and is portrayed as quite the villain. She describes him as having a lovely, mellow voice, almost hypnotic in its beauty, and I wondered if that was true, or if she'd given him that characteristic on her own. 

She said she'd given him that voice because it seemed to fit–he was a very persuasive man and could be very charming, and she felt that a voice like that would fit. Brilliant, hmm?

She also believes he was as much of a lecher as she portrayed him.

I asked about Richard the Lionheart…did she think he was really gay, or simply asexual. Ms. Gellis's response was that she thought that Richard, like Alexander of Macedonia, was simply not very interested in sex–with either gender. That he got his rocks off (my words not hers, lol), so to speak, through battle and being a soldier. I'd buy that too.

Sigh. So what else.

The Magdalene la Bâtarde mysteries (which one of my other idols, Bertrice Small, pic below, also thinks is brilliant)….

I have really enjoyed those medieval-set mysteries and since there are only four (Ms. Gellis, at Ms. Small's insistence, is working on the fifth), I have had to control myself from blazing through them.

I had to ask Ms. Gellis, though, about the setting. She had every single street down, gave directions from place to place like she'd been there in twelfth-century London–even down to which tradesman's shop was where. She had to have a map, didn't she?

Yes, she did. Whew. I felt better after hearing that, even though she told me that the map wasn't always clear. 

We talked about the ongoing romance between Magdalene and Bell, and whether/how it would ever be resolved.

And we talked about a lot of other things too…like that she bought her first computer in the early 1970s and it cost $5000 for the big clunky thing…but she's been writing on the computer ever since. Wow.

And then, I released her from my clutches (mwahahahaaa) and let her head upstairs for a much-needed rest before the Vampire Ball that night. But I walked around the rest of the day with a huge smile on my face. What fun. 

I had hoped to have the chance to fangirl all over Ms. Small as well, because her books were a great inspiration to me over the years too…but unfortunately, our schedules didn't mesh. I did have a few moments to tell her how much I enjoyed her books, but that was all. Maybe next year. 

So…have you ever read Roberta Gellis? Or Bertrice Small? Inquiring minds want to know.

January 26, 2008

One of the things that keeps coming up about my books is: why they're in the romance section of the bookstore, or why they have "Paranormal Romance" on the spine.

And it's a valid question, and a good thing to nosh over. So shall we nosh? It's Saturday morning…I don't have anything else to do.

The thing is, a publisher has to decide how to position any book that they publish, and therefore have to decide what market to concentrate on for the book. My books are definitely genre fiction–which means they wouldn't really fit well in the General Fiction/Literature section of the market/bookstore.

Yet, my books aren't technically romances, since, in a romance, a happily-ever-after (HEA) is guaranteed. Or, at least, a "happy for now" ending. As those of you who've read my books know, Victoria hasn't yet found her HEA. (But she will. I promise. Book Five.)

Nor are my books true fantasy, for there is a lot of a romantic element in them, and the focus is on Victoria as opposed to an epic world with many characters.

So my publisher had to make a choice which market to position them for, since the books could fall into either category. And it was decided to target the romance market because, first of all, it's huge, with lots of sub-genres.

And secondly, because the publishing industry has been seeing more and more cross-over between the fantasy/urban fantasy market and the romance market (eg, Laurell K Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, etc.).

And that's why the books have "Paranormal Romance" on the spine, and are usually found in the romance section.

But Chris (who won an ARC of Dusk and just reviewed it) over at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On makes the point that many fantasy readers would  probably love my books because the romance isn't so heavy–but he's never read a romance before, so he's not sure. (heh) Bookfool joins in the conversation–feel free to join them.

Carl V. at Stainless Steel Droppings has also helped to spread the word to fantasy readers about my books. *smooches*

Even my friend Jackie Kessler pointed out this phenomenon in her post last year at SF Novelists. She encourages people to look beyond the section that they normally visit in the bookstore to see what else might catch their attention–and I've found myself doing that more and more.

I remember being uninterested in reading a futuristic series, thinking there was no way I was going to like Jetsons-type books, so I missed out on JD Robb's In Death series for years.

Big. Mistake. Those books are some of my favorites now, and they're so well done on so many levels…yet I'd never have picked up a futuristic murder mystery series if it hadn't been written by Nora Roberts.

My bad.

I can't tell you how many people have emailed/told me that "I don't read romance/horror/vampire/historical novels, but I loved yours!" That just makes my day, knowing that someone stepped outside their boundaries and picked up–and enjoyed–my books.

It's all word of mouth and expanding horizons.

So, do me a favor…tell your friend who reads fantasy novels, but not romances, about my books.

Or tell your co-worker who never reads historical books about the Gardellas.

Or tell your grandmother, who doesn't like vampire books that these aren't really horror novels.

Help them expand their horizons! And maybe you'll expand yours.

And tell me about a book or series that you've read outside of your "normal" boundaries. Share!!

December 30, 2007

Lots of my other blogger friends are doing their annual end-of-year list of favorite reads. I thought it would be fun to join in, though I haven't been as organized as, say, Chris has been with keeping track of what I've read and actually finished. So this is off the top of my head, but here goes:

Twelve of my favorite (new) reads from 2007:

1. The Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. My favorite new author of 2007!

2. The House on Olive Street by Robyn Carr (one of her backlist titles only available used).

3. Shadow Touch by Marjorie M. Liu. This was my first Liu book, and I've really fallen for her voice and the world in her Dirk & Steele books.

4. Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. I think the Taj Mahal is the most perfect, gorgeous building in the world…and this is a fictionalized account of the building of this architectural wonder.

5. Birthright by Nora Roberts. It's an older book, but I just read it this year and loved it. I think it's one of my favorites of hers!

6. Ammie, Come Home by Barbara Michaels. One of the few Michaels books I'd never read until this year.

7. The Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows by You Know Who. 

8. The Unsung Hero and The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. I haven't read any other Brockmanns except for one of her older Silhouette Romances, so she's new to me. Am loving her! 

9. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (unabridged).

10. Face of Deception by Iris Johansen

11. Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline

12. Greywalker by Kat Richardson

How about you? Some of your favorite reads of the year? Post in the comments, or link to your own blog! 

October 31, 2007

Bookfool just tagged me with this great meme, and I'm going to jump right in and answer it…and then it'll be your turn. Savvy?

“Ten Literary Characters I Would Totally Make Out With If I Were Single and They Were Real But I’m Not, Single I Mean; I Am Real–But I’m Also Happily Married and Want to Stay That Way, So Maybe We Should Forget This…”

No way! This sounds like too much fun! So…here goes:

1. Roarke from the JD Robb books (but only if Eve Dallas wasn't around; I don't want to get stunned)

2. Ian di Vipont from Roberta Gellis's Roselynde Chronicles. Ooooh…and Adam LeMagne too. Yum.

3. The Weasley brother who studies dragons. (Can't remember his name. Is he the one who married Fleur?)

4. Radcliffe Emerson from Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody books.

5. Jack Sheridan from Robyn Carr's Virgin River books.

6. Joe Morelli Ranger from the Stephanie Plum books. (See, I'd marry Joe, but I'd make the hell out with Ranger.)

7.  Jim Frayne from the Trixie Belden books. (ahhh….my first literary crush)

8. Mr. Darcy.

9./10.  Max Pesaro/Sebastian Vioget

(Yeah, it's probably a little cheesy to want to make out with my own characters…but, ya'll, I created them. I know they'd be good.)

Anyone else want to jump in? You don't have to name ten….just as many as you want.

Oh, and I'm officially tagging Jenny Armintrout, MaryKate, and Katie.

October 30, 2007

My good friend Jana DeLeon (author of Rumble on the Bayou), who writes the funniest, most off-the-wall romantic mysteries, has a new book out….today! Yay! Just in time for Halloween.

Check out this cover. Isn't it great? 

Look and see how many "unlucky" things you can find in the picture. I think it's the cutest thing, and it really gives you a good feel for the book. Fun, fun, fun.

Here's the back cover blurb:

Everyone in Royal Flush (heh), Louisiana, knows Mallory Devereaux is a walking disaster. At least now she's found a way to take advantage of her chronic bad luck: by "cooling" cards on her uncle's casino boat. As long as the crooks invited to his special poker tournament don't win their money back, she'll get a cut of the profit.

But Mal isn't the only one working some major mojo. There's a dark-eyed dealer sending her looks steamier than the bayou in August. Turns out he's an undercover agent named Jake Randoll, and for a Yank, he's pretty darn smart. Smart enough to enlist her help to catch a money launderer. As they race to untangle a web of decades-old lies and secrets amid a gathering of criminals, Mallory can't help hoping her luck's about to change…

Heh heh. I've read the book and it's so much fun–with a great mystery, funny characters, and a wonderful hero.

Have I mentioned, too, that Jana, like her character Mallory, is really unlucky? Particularly when she travels. Never has she taken a flight that goes smoothly–it's either delayed (and I'm not talking ten, fifteen minutes–I'm talking hours), or cancelled, or you sit on the tarmac during the delay, or any and/or all of the above….you name it. Always, always a problem. Sometimes more than one.

And the unluckiness doesn't just apply to Jana. If you fly with her, you also get the bad karma. And, as I found out recently when I flew to NY, even if you talk to her from 2000 miles away, you get the bad karma.

(I am not answering the phone on days that I travel from now on.) 

Trust me. She knows wherein she writes, on the topic of unluckiness.

In fact, she can shut down a table of blackjack by walking up to it. Her husband can vouch for it and won't allow her anywhere near him when they're in Vegas. (Which is where she eventually wants to live. I don't think she'd be very popular.)

So Jana took this idea of a "cooler"–a bad-luck-bringer–in a casino and built a story around it. It's great fun. I mean, what else do you expect from a story set in a town called Royal Flush?

Not only were [the guys at the bar] not Yankees, they were port-a-john salesmen, which was almost worse. Ever since Walter Royal had figured out the need for portable potties and built his manufacturing plant, the town of Royal Flush had never been the same. Hell, it hadn't even been called Royal Flush at the time, but one of the city council members decided to get cute over a bucket of beer at Lucy's Catfish Kitchen and the rest was history.

Heehee. Okay, so have I sold you yet? If not, go check out the full excerpt at Jana's Web site and get thee to a bookstore.

This is the second hottest lavender-colored book that's going to be released in the next year, *wink* so you'd better grab it now! Trust me. How often do I pimp books on my site? Huh?