Today's random question is for you.
Who are your favorite authors?
What genre books do you gravitate toward?
Have you recently read a book that blew you away?
I've devoured the backlists of my favorite authors. Help! I'm looking for fabulous fiction books to read. Please recommend your favorites. (Thank you, Keli Gwyn, for your help with the inspirational historical market!!) The romance genre is my favorite, but I enjoy any well-written book. Surprise me!
Join me on Friday for one goal!
Showing posts with label favorite authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label favorite authors. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Friday, September 4, 2009
Follow In Your Favorite Author's Footsteps
Do you have a favorite author? If you're like me, you have several. I love reading, and I especially enjoy finding new-to-me authors and checking out their backlist.
I still remember the day I picked up my first book by Stephanie Laurens. I couldn't put it down! And naturally, I went to her website and let out a happy whoop that there were more--many more--books of hers I could read. Yippee!
The same happened with Jodi Thomas, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, Ally Blake, Jessica Hart, Linda Goodnight, and the scads of other authors I adore.
Something funny happened around five years ago. I wasn't writing books at that point, just reading everything I could get my hands on, and I noticed a pattern (bear with me--you know the pattern--I did not). The single title authors published two books a year, plus maybe an anthology. The category authors published as few as one and as many as four a year.
The cycle intrigued me, and I began researching the publishers they wrote for. It quickly became apparent that even had the single title authors wanted to publish more than two books a year, their publishers might not let them. But hey, two books a year is phenomenal!
Everyone says to read tons of books in the genre you write. I agree, but I'd say to take it a step further. Study authors websites. Check out their publisher. Keep track of the book lengths, the time in between book releases, and the marketing efforts they pursue. Read interviews.
I always read author bios, study their websites, and make mental notes on their promotion efforts. Five years ago, I discovered Harlequin Romance author Ally Blake. Her career amazed me--still does. She was someone to look up to. Someone to emulate. I read every book she put out, and when I felt my spirits lag, I only had to click on her website to get a boost. Her interviews, articles, and positive attitude inspired me.
Do you study your favorite authors? You might be surprised at the things you learn about the industry from them. I know I was!
Have a terrific weekend!
I still remember the day I picked up my first book by Stephanie Laurens. I couldn't put it down! And naturally, I went to her website and let out a happy whoop that there were more--many more--books of hers I could read. Yippee!
The same happened with Jodi Thomas, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, Ally Blake, Jessica Hart, Linda Goodnight, and the scads of other authors I adore.
Something funny happened around five years ago. I wasn't writing books at that point, just reading everything I could get my hands on, and I noticed a pattern (bear with me--you know the pattern--I did not). The single title authors published two books a year, plus maybe an anthology. The category authors published as few as one and as many as four a year.
The cycle intrigued me, and I began researching the publishers they wrote for. It quickly became apparent that even had the single title authors wanted to publish more than two books a year, their publishers might not let them. But hey, two books a year is phenomenal!
Everyone says to read tons of books in the genre you write. I agree, but I'd say to take it a step further. Study authors websites. Check out their publisher. Keep track of the book lengths, the time in between book releases, and the marketing efforts they pursue. Read interviews.
I always read author bios, study their websites, and make mental notes on their promotion efforts. Five years ago, I discovered Harlequin Romance author Ally Blake. Her career amazed me--still does. She was someone to look up to. Someone to emulate. I read every book she put out, and when I felt my spirits lag, I only had to click on her website to get a boost. Her interviews, articles, and positive attitude inspired me.
Do you study your favorite authors? You might be surprised at the things you learn about the industry from them. I know I was!
Have a terrific weekend!
Friday, March 27, 2009
How Our Favorite Authors Influence Us
Everything we read influences us. Everything. You can disagree and argue with me all you want, but I stand firm. Everything we read runs around with all of the other stuff in our head and enhances our knowledge.
So naturally, I am a firm believer that our favorite authors have a tremendous influence on us. One of my favorite authors (if not my absolute favorite!) is Stephanie Laurens. She writes Regency period romance novels, and yes, her books have influenced my writing.
I don't write Regency period romance novels, nor do I write in a similar style as Ms. Laurens. However, I am drawn to the traits the main characters always possess. The heroes are protective and honorable. The heriones are courageous and intelligent. I also love the workings of the ton and the depiction of what it was like to be wealthy and upper class in Regency England.
Photo by stevepj2009
Who influences your writing? Have you thought about why you're drawn to a certain author over and over? The next time you pick up a familiar author's book, ask yourself why. Explore what it is about that particular author that keeps you coming back.
It might surprise you to learn that you don't love the plots but adore the prose. Or maybe it's the attention to detail, the setting, the time period, or the suspense that you love.
You can look for authors you haven't read based on your findings. I originally thought I loved Stephanie Laurens's books because of the time period, so I began reading other Regency romance novels. I did find several authors who I liked, but in the process, I realized that I'm not drawn so much to the time period as to what the author does with the book.
Photo by permanent_daylight
How does this affect my writing, though? When I analyzed what I love about certain books, I quickly saw a common theme. An exclusive love, honorable characters, and rich drama all have to be present for me to love a book. What do you think I make a conscious effort to include in my own books? That's right--an exclusive love, honorable characters, and rich drama.
Delve into what you love about your favorite books. Then write down what you discover and make sure to include it in your own writing.
Enjoy your weekend!
So naturally, I am a firm believer that our favorite authors have a tremendous influence on us. One of my favorite authors (if not my absolute favorite!) is Stephanie Laurens. She writes Regency period romance novels, and yes, her books have influenced my writing.
I don't write Regency period romance novels, nor do I write in a similar style as Ms. Laurens. However, I am drawn to the traits the main characters always possess. The heroes are protective and honorable. The heriones are courageous and intelligent. I also love the workings of the ton and the depiction of what it was like to be wealthy and upper class in Regency England.
Photo by stevepj2009
Who influences your writing? Have you thought about why you're drawn to a certain author over and over? The next time you pick up a familiar author's book, ask yourself why. Explore what it is about that particular author that keeps you coming back.
It might surprise you to learn that you don't love the plots but adore the prose. Or maybe it's the attention to detail, the setting, the time period, or the suspense that you love.
You can look for authors you haven't read based on your findings. I originally thought I loved Stephanie Laurens's books because of the time period, so I began reading other Regency romance novels. I did find several authors who I liked, but in the process, I realized that I'm not drawn so much to the time period as to what the author does with the book.
Photo by permanent_daylight
How does this affect my writing, though? When I analyzed what I love about certain books, I quickly saw a common theme. An exclusive love, honorable characters, and rich drama all have to be present for me to love a book. What do you think I make a conscious effort to include in my own books? That's right--an exclusive love, honorable characters, and rich drama.
Delve into what you love about your favorite books. Then write down what you discover and make sure to include it in your own writing.
Enjoy your weekend!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Author Loyalty
How do you know when an author jumps from your I-think-I'll-read-this list to your I-must-read-this list? Or, to put it another way, how do you know when an author jumps from pretty good to favorite? I know an author has climbed to my list of favorites as soon as a certain pattern emerges.
I bookmark the author's website and use it to track the release of her (or his, but usually her) next book. Then, when the book comes out, I have to buy it as soon as it hits the shelves. The current release is never enough, though, so I haunt old bookstores, searching for her backlists. When I've found and read them all, tears well behind my eyes, because I no longer have a stack of juicy morsels to relish.
I don't imagine for a second that I'm alone. You have the same obsession. Admit it.
I have several favorite authors and seem to pick up new ones every month. My pulse races when I see the tell-tale cover of a favorite author in the store--I have to buy it. I used to scurry home and devour the book all in one sitting but disappointment would set in as soon as I finished. Would I really have to wait another six months for the next one?
I've changed. Oh, my pulse still races and I still have to buy the book, but now I tend to wait before devouring it. I save the treasure until I've had a really bad day or feel miserable about something. That's when I need that book the most. And, I'm convinced, the book is even more fabulous.
Don't get me wrong, not all books hit me the same way, even when written by a beloved author. The characters might not blow me over, or the plot might not jump out at me, but it doesn't matter. I'll still read it cover to cover, and I never hold it against the author. She can't please everyone every time.
I bookmark the author's website and use it to track the release of her (or his, but usually her) next book. Then, when the book comes out, I have to buy it as soon as it hits the shelves. The current release is never enough, though, so I haunt old bookstores, searching for her backlists. When I've found and read them all, tears well behind my eyes, because I no longer have a stack of juicy morsels to relish.
I don't imagine for a second that I'm alone. You have the same obsession. Admit it.
I have several favorite authors and seem to pick up new ones every month. My pulse races when I see the tell-tale cover of a favorite author in the store--I have to buy it. I used to scurry home and devour the book all in one sitting but disappointment would set in as soon as I finished. Would I really have to wait another six months for the next one?
I've changed. Oh, my pulse still races and I still have to buy the book, but now I tend to wait before devouring it. I save the treasure until I've had a really bad day or feel miserable about something. That's when I need that book the most. And, I'm convinced, the book is even more fabulous.
Don't get me wrong, not all books hit me the same way, even when written by a beloved author. The characters might not blow me over, or the plot might not jump out at me, but it doesn't matter. I'll still read it cover to cover, and I never hold it against the author. She can't please everyone every time.
I'm currently reading the latest from one of my top five. And, yeah, I'm loving every minute of it!
Enjoy your week!
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