Showing posts with label Thursday Thirteen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thursday Thirteen. Show all posts
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Catherine Anderson. All of this information is quoted from her website, Catherine Anderson.
Thirteen Things about Catherine Anderson
1. As a very small child, I played dolls at my mother's feet while she clacked away on an old Underwood. Yes, you guessed it. She was a writer. This has always led me to wonder if the writing bug is passed down genetically or something we catch, like a flu virus. I can build a very good case to back up either theory. 2. My mother often read her work aloud. Long before I knew my alphabet, I had been introduced to the wonderful, magical world of fiction. While she worked at her desk, I created stories for my dolls. Writing, if not in my blood, was drummed into my head by the clack of those typewriter keys. By the time I was a teenager, I was writing my own stories-in notebooks or on paper sacks. It was a compulsion, something I absolutely had to do. I can honestly say that being a writer was never a choice I consciously made, but more an intrinsic part of my makeup. Imagine if you will, choosing not to breathe. That was how I felt about writing, that it was necessary to my survival. 3. My mother was always supportive of my writing bent in those early years. Later, my husband Sid joined my support circle. With both of them so firmly behind me, it's hard for me to believe now that I didn't immediately pursue a writing career. Perhaps every writer must dabble for a while before taking the leap. Whatever the reason, back then I was what I now term a closet writer. I stole time to write and hid my work in a drawer. Breaking into book publishing is difficult, and I was savvy enough about the business to know that. Becoming a published writer had always been my dream, but back then, I considered it to be an impossible one. 4. Meanwhile, I had a "real" life to live, and I decided I should go to college. After I took my entrance exams, the dean telephoned to inform me that my scores were very high, but what impressed him most was my grasp of English. That should have told me something, but I thought the dean called everybody. "Hello, this is Dean So-and-So, and I'm calling to tell you that you flunked." I'd always excelled at English. So? I needed a real profession. 5. Sid was an entrepreneur, so I decided to major in accounting. It only made sense. I reasoned that I would be able to keep the books, get my credentials to be a CPA, and be a valuable asset to him. Big mistake. Though I excelled in those studies, proving to myself and everyone else that I did indeed have some left-brain activity going on, I was bored to tears. I often had an awful feeling of claustrophobia. Was this really what I wanted to do with the rest of my life? I began considering a change of major, but nothing sounded exciting to me. 6. One afternoon when I came home after classes, there was a letter in the mail, inviting me to join a sorority exclusively for women with high GPAs. I'd worked hard to pull those impressive grades. I should have been elated. Instead, I sat down, put my head in my hands, and wept. I felt as if I had dug a deep hole, jumped in, and would never find my way out. I know that sounds insane, but when you force yourself to walk a path that doesn't beckon to your heart, you really are burying yourself, in a way. If I'd never heard the words, "debit" and "credit" again, I would have been happy. The next day I trudged to my classes and dutifully took notes. We'd spent too much money on my education for me to quit. 7. When I look back on it now, I know God truly does work in strange ways. That morning one of my professors asked if she could use samples of my creative writing on an overhead projector to teach. I actually skipped economics to stand in the hall and listen to what she said about my work. That old adage that you'll never hear anything good about yourself when you eavesdrop is false. 8. That night I went to Sid and asked if he'd get mad if I quit school. I didn't want to keep books. I wanted to write them! I just knew he'd be furious. Instead he bought me my first electric typewriter. A couple of years later, he sprang for a word processor. He never berated me for dropping out of school, and now he laughingly says the money he spent on writing equipment was the best investment he ever made. 9. With a man like that in my life, how could I become anything but a romance writer? I wish I could say the rest of my journey to becoming published was a slam-dunk, but I had a long way to go before my work was good enough to make the grade. Having the desire and a good command of English isn't enough. Most of us must first learn our craft. 10. I will take a moment here to thank one very special person for helping me to do that. Her name is Stella Cameron. In those early days when I was struggling to perfect my work, she was a dear friend to me. I will always admire her, not only as a fine writer, but also for being such a wonderful person. 11. I sold my first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before I tried my hand at single-title historical romance. Nine books later, I did a single-title contemporary, followed by "Cherish," another historical. I plan to start switching back and forth between contemporary and historical again soon. 12. I am now living my dream. The child who yearned to be a writer is now a woman who has accomplished her goal. Two years ago, Sid and I moved to Central Oregon. For several months, we lived on the river in a three-bedroom log cabin, which we loved, but it wasn't large enough. Adding on to a log structure is tricky, and that was determined to be an unwise choice by several designers. Spring a year ago, we finally found a one-of-a-kind property, 160 acres of Ponderosa pines, surrounded by state and national forestland. The house, which sits on a ridge, offering spectacular, panoramic views of the mountains, has potential—which is why my office is in the blue print stage. Eventually we will have the home we want, sitting on the land we want. 13. For now, it's adequate, and the seclusion is ideal for writing. In my leisure time, I love to go walking with my dogs. It's incredibly freeing to set off from my front door and walk as far as I wish without seeing another house. In the evenings, weather allowing, we sit on the deck, sipping wine and enjoying the fabulous view. In cold weather, we watch it snow from the Jacuzzi. Occasionally deer or elk come calling. Being an animal lover of longstanding, I've become a vegetarian. Our land is posted with No Hunting signs. I even have a No Hunting sign on my birdhouse. Life is good up on Cinnamon Ridge, not just for us, but for all our furry friends as well.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Linda Lael Miller. I've been reading Linda Lael Miller's McKettrick series all week so I felt that I should make my Thursday Thirteen for this week about her. All of this information is quoted from her website, Linda Lael Miller.





Thirteen Things about Linda Lael Miller





1. Twenty-four years after she sold her first novel, Linda Lael Miller is having what anyone would call a stellar year.


2. The self-proclaimed barn goddess and author of novels set in the West of today and yesterday is celebrating exciting career milestones.


3. With 70-some books to her credit, Linda is watching her modern-day McKettrick Men trilogy soar to the top of all the national bestseller lists, and the Romance Writers of America have announced Linda as the recipient of their prestigious 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award. And the year is still young
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4. But what makes these successes all the more enjoyable is that Linda has come home, home to Spokane, Washington, home to writing the stories of her heart, stories set in the Western culture of her childhood, and home to living where she can pull on her boots and ride her beloved horses.


5. Inside, there's the clatter of little paws, her dogs, Sadie and Bernice, and the elegant treading of two cats that Linda claims rule the roost.


6. The daughter of a town marshal, Linda grew up in Northport, WA, a community of 500 on the Columbia River, 120 miles north of her birthplace, Spokane. Her childhood remembrances include riding horses and playing cowgirl on her grandparents' nearby farm. So rustic was her grandparents' spread that in the early days it lacked the conveniences of electricity and running water.


7. As delightful as this childhood was, though, Linda longed to see the world. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she left to pursue her dream. Because of the success of her author career, Linda was able to live part-time in London for several years, spend time in Italy and travel to such far-off destinations as Russia, Hong Kong and Israel. Now, Linda says, the wanderlust is (mostly) out of her blood, and she's come full circle, back to the people and the places she knows and loves.


8. Before Linda begins her writing day, she takes her first cup of coffee while enjoying the scenic view of the wooded draw behind her new home. Inspired by the view, which occasionally includes a wandering moose, she focuses on her work-in-progress. It might be another contemporary Western romance, like McKettrick's Luck, McKettrick's Pride or McKettrick's Heart, or it might be a new Western historical, such as July's hardcover, A Wanted Man. It also might be a romantic thriller, such as Deadly Gamble, which launched another winning Linda Lael Miller series for her enthusiastic publisher, HQN Books.


9. Devoted to helping others pursue their dreams, Miller is excited about another endeavor. Each year she sponsors a round of competition for her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women. The stipends, which she funds from her writing and speaking earnings, enable women 25 years and older to improve their lot in life through education. Unlike traditional scholarships, Linda's may be used for childcare, transportation, or any other expense that stands between a woman's dreams and their fulfillment.


10. It's no wonder the protagonists in Miller's novels are women her readers admire for their honor, courage, trustworthiness, valor and determination to succeed, despite overwhelming odds. "These timelessly admirable qualities make them excellent role models for young women," Miller explains. "The male leads possess equally noble traits that today's woman would be delighted to find in her life's mate."


11. And speaking of finding, Linda is excited about her association with The Humane Society of the United States, for whom she has become an advocate for the group's Pets for Life program. Once someone finds a furry friend to bring into their home, Linda and The HSUS want to help them learn how to keep the critter for life.


12. Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she made her first sale in 1983.


13. Linda has come a long way since leaving her sheltered life in Northport at age 18 to experience the world. "But growing up in that time and place, in a family grounded in Western values, served me well," she allows. "And I'm happy to be back home."








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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Julia Quinn. All of this information is quoted from her website, Julia Quinn.
Thirteen Things about Julia Quinn

1. During her senior year at Harvard College, Julia Quinn (better known in cyberspace as JulieQ) realized that she didn't know what she wanted to do with her life. This depressed her. In fact, the only thing that saved her sanity during this dark, dreary time was the fact that none of her friends knew, either. So she sat down with a big tub of Ben & Jerry's and a good book and decided to figure out what to do 2. Getting a job seemed too difficult. She wouldn't mind HAVING a job, but she certainly didn't know how to get one. 3. Law school seemed too annoying. Everyone hated lawyers, and Julie liked to be liked. 4. Business school was not an option. They only took people who had been in the work force for at least two years, and, as noted above, Julie didn't know how to get a job. 5. The only option left (this shows you how narrow her world-view was) was medical school. "Aha!" she thought. "I could be a good doctor." She quickly picked up the phone and ran this idea past her parents, who were understandably baffled, since her degree was in Art History, but being the cool people they are, they said, "Great!" 6. Julie hung up the phone, blinked a couple of times, and said aloud, "Okay, so I'm going to be a doctor. Cool." Then she pulled out a pad of paper and proceeded to figure out how long this would take. (Note: careers in medicine are not for those who crave instant gratification.) It turned out that it would be over two years before she could even ENTER medical school since she had to take all those pesky science classes in order to apply. Clearly, she needed to find something to do during that time, since she knew from experience that she probably wouldn't be studying as much as she ought. 7. That's when she looked at the book next to the tub of now-empty Ben & Jerry's. It was a romance. "I could write one of those," she thought. And so she did. 8. Two years later, just as Julie was deciding between Yale School of Medicine and Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, her agent called to tell her that her first two books, Splendid and Dancing at Midnight, were the subject of a fierce bidding war between two publishing houses. 9. So she put off medical school for a year and wrote Minx. Then she put off medical school for another year and wrote Everything And The Moon. Then she got a little nervous and thought that maybe she ought to give med school a try and so she picked up a scalpel, started dissecting cadavers, and learned more about the citric acid cycle than anyone (including most med students) wants to know. 10. A few months later, however, she realized that she must have experienced a bout of temporary insanity and she withdrew from medical school and wrote Brighter Than The Sun. This was followed by To Catch An Heiress and the critically acclaimed How To Marry a Marquis. 11. Julie's writing has quickly earned a reputation for warmth and humor, and her dialogue is considered among the best in the industry. She has been profiled in TIME Magazine (a rarity among romance writers) and has even competed on the game show The Weakest Link. (To find out if she won, click here.) 12. Each year brings more accolades; in 2001 she was a double finalist in the Romance Writers of America (RWA)'s prestigious RITA Awards (for The Duke And I and The Viscount Who Loved Me), and later that year she made her debut on the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list with An Offer From a Gentleman. 2002 saw the release of the much-anticipated Romancing Mister Bridgerton, which was voted one of the Top Ten books of the year by the membership of RWA and was a finalist for the RITA Awards in the category of long historical. To Sir Phillip, With Love received a rare starred review in Publishers Weekly, the trade magazine of the publishing industry, and was later named by that publication as one of the six best mass market original novels of the year. The popularity of the Bridgerton series continued to rise with 2004's When He Was Wicked, and 2005's It's in His Kiss, both of which debuted near the top of the New York Times list. 13. In 2006, Julia Quinn released the eighth and final installment in the Bridgerton series: the much awaited On the Way to the Wedding. Julia Quinn currently lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. If you'd like to read an essay by Julia Quinn on why it's great to be a romance writer, click here.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Michele Bardsley. All of this information is quoted from her website, Michele Bardsley.
Thirteen Things about Michelle Bardsley

1. Nationally bestselling author Michele Bardsley is multi-published in several genres, but she is best known for her vampire mom series set in the fictional town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma. 2. The adventures of her paranormal PTA parents have garnered excellent reviews and numerous kudos--including a Top Pick from Romance Reader at Heart for I’m The Vampire, That’s Why and 4.5 stars from RT BOOKreviews for Because Your Vampire Said So. 3. Michele received her first publishing contract in 1998 for her romantic comedy, Daddy In Training, which is still available through Hard Shell Word Factory. 4. Since then, she’s had numerous short stories, novellas, and novels published by electronic, independent, and traditional publishers. 5. She’s also written articles for national magazines such as Writer’s Digest, RT BOOKReviews, and Byline. 6. Over the years, her work has earned awards and recognition from many organizations and publications. 7. In 2003, her short story, “A Mother Scorned,” won the Grand Prize in the 72nd Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. 8. Her romantic comedy Wild Women received OWFI’s coveted trophy award for Best Book of Fiction and FWA’s Royal Palm Award for Best Romance Novel. 9. In 2007, her short story, “A Demon is a Girl’s Best Friend,” was awarded Crème de la Crème from the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc. 10. Michele has given workshops about inspiration, self-editing techniques, romance heroes, vampire fiction, electronic publishing, humor in fiction, selling erotica, winning contests, Internet promotion, and many other topics. 11. She has presented workshops, spoke at luncheons, and participated in panels at events and meetings across the United States, including the annual conferences of Romantic Times, OWFI, Florida Writers Association, Tulsa Night Writers, EPICon, and Celebrate Romance. 12. Michele currently writes paranormal and erotic fiction for the Penguin Group (USA) imprints New American Library and Signet Eclipse. 13. She also pens erotic romance for Changeling Press and Ellora’s Cave. She lives in Oklahoma with her son, three cats, two guinea pigs, and a sweet dog named Naomi.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Charlaine Harris. All of this information is quoted from her website, Charlaine Harris.
Thirteen Things about Charlaine Harris

1. Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over twenty-five years. 2. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Now she lives in southern Arkansas with her husband, her three children, three dogs, and a duck. The duck stays outside. 3. Though her early output consisted largely of ghost stories, by the time she hit college (Rhodes, in Memphis) Charlaine was writing poetry and plays. 4. After holding down some low-level jobs, she had the opportunity to stay home and write, and the resulting two stand-alones were published by Houghton Mifflin. 5. After a child-producing sabbatical, Charlaine latched on to the trend of writing mystery series, and soon had her own traditional books about a Georgia librarian, Aurora Teagarden. Her first Teagarden, REAL MURDERS, garnered an Agatha nomination. 6. Soon Charlaine was looking for another challenge, and the result was the much darker Lily Bard series. The books, set in Shakespeare, Arkansas, feature a heroine who has survived a terrible attack and is learning to live with its consequences. 7. When Charlaine began to realize that neither of those series was ever going to set the literary world on fire, she regrouped and decided to write the book she’d always wanted to write. 8. Not a traditional mystery, nor yet pure science fiction or romance, DEAD UNTIL DARK broke genre boundaries to appeal to a wide audience of people who just enjoy a good adventure. Each subsequent book about Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic Louisiana barmaid and friend to vampires, werewolves, and various other odd creatures, has drawn more readers. 9. The southern vampire books are published in Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, Thailand, Spain, France, and Russia. 10. In addition to Sookie, Charlaine has another heroine with a strange ability. Harper Connelly, lightning-struck and strange, can find corpses . . . and that’s how she makes her living. 11. In addition to her work as a writer, Charlaine is the past senior warden of St. James Episcopal Church, a board member of Mystery Writers of America, a past board member of Sisters in Crime, a member of the American Crime Writers League, and past president of the Arkansas Mystery Writers Alliance. 12. She spends her “spare” time reading, watching her daughter play sports, traveling, and going to the movies. 13. Charlaine has a few favorite Causes and Charities that you can find more about here.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Laurell K. Hamilton. All of this information is quoted from her website, Laurell K. Hamilton.
Thirteen Things about Laurell K. Hamilton

1. Laurell has always been fascinated with the darker side of things. Staying up late, alone, as a child to catch the Creature Feature on television. 2. When Laurell was 13, she discover a short story collection titled "Pigeons from Hell". "It was the first heroic fantasy I'd read. It was fights, swords, monsters I decided not only did I want to become a writer, it was this I wanted to write". She chanced upon another book in the high school library "The Natural History of the Vampire". She read it so many times she nearly memorized it. When it's suggested that her choice of creepy films and stories were unseemly when her friends' companions were dolls: "I wasn't like most girls" she said. 3. Laurell does not shy away from sex or violence in her books. "I was a kiss to be so believable it give the reader shivers. Two things I do well are sex and violence, but I don't want gratuitous sex or violence. The sex and violence is only as graphic as need be. And never included unless it furthers the plot, world building or character development. Everyone [in the book] has someone to lust after, but Anita is like me. She doesn't see herself as a lust object.". 4. A question that gets asked a lot is "What is Laurell really like?" Hmmmm.... She is not Anita, though you can see bits of Anita in her. She is the truly the warm, generous, friendly person you see at cons and signings. I am blessed by her continuing friendship. 5. Before her writing career kept her so busy she volunteered at an animal shelter. Not as a keeper but as a person who went out and shared time and love with unwanted pets. Unfortunately, she had to drop that from her busy schedule. She says that all work and no play makes the writer grumpy. But I have never seen her act that way. 6. She writes as fast as she can manage. And that brings up the topic of publication dates. Laurell does not set these, the publisher does. It is a complicated formula of length of time from last book by author, other authors who are publishing something, printer schedules and multiple bookhouses juggling. Laurell has little control over the when. 7. I know she wishes she could answer each fan mail herself. But if she did that we would get no books! She gets a lot of mail. And for those wondering, Laurell is a self admitted technophobe (read the computer confuses her), though she is learning to use the email with help from her friends. 8. The awe she generates often confuses her. She sees herself as an ordinary person, nothing special. 9. She writes because to not write even for her own enjoyment would be like not breathing. It is just something she has to do. Thankfully she is willing to share that wonderful talent with us all. 10. She lives in St. Louis County Missouri with her husband Jonathon Green, daughter, two pug dogs and one boxer/pug dog. 11. Laurell K. Hamilton is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two series that mix mystery, fantasy, magic, horror and romance. Her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels from Berkley Books began with GUILTY PLEASURES (now a hugely successful graphic novel from Marvel - the first sexy paranormal comic ever!) and continues with the BLOOD NOIR , number sixteen in the series, in which Anita's complex personal and professional relationships with a master vampire and an alpha werewolf continue to evolve. 12. There are now more than 6 million copies of Anita in print worldwide, in 16 languages. Hamilton's Ballantine series features Fey princess and private investigator, Merry Gentry and there are now five novels exceeding one million copies in print. A LICK OF FROST, the sixth in the series debuted October 23, 2007. 13. She invites you to visit her website, her message board, her blog and her MySpace.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Katie MacAlister. All of this information is quoted from her website, Katie MacAlister.
Thirteen Things about Katie MacAlister

1. For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. 2. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. 3. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. 4. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes. 5. Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. 6. Twenty-four books quickly followed during the four years after Noble's publication. 7. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. 8. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell. 9. Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online. 10. Katie MacAlister has another website for her Aisling Grey and Dragon series books where you called Dragon Septs. 11. Katie MacAlister has a Forum where you can post along with Katie and ask her questions about her writing, books and about her pictures of hot guys. 12. Katie MacAlister likes to give out Freebies to anyone who wants them and she has a list of what is being offered for those who want them. 13. Katie MacAlister also has a couple of fun Book Videos you can watch about her Dark Ones and Aisling Grey novels and her other works too.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Kerrelyn Sparks. All of this information is quoted from her website, Kerrelyn Sparks.
Thirteen Things about Kerrelyn Sparks

1. Kerrelyn Sparks’ first paranormal romance, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, zoomed out of the bat cave so fast it became Borders bestselling debut romance of 2005. 2. Each book in the Love at Stake series has become a USA Today bestseller. 3. When the fourth book, The Undead Next Door, landed on the New York Times bestseller list, even the Undead sat up and took notice, which made Kerrelyn a bit nervous. 4. She lives in the Greater Houston area with her husband, children, and a house full of garlic. 5. So far, there are no vampires in her family. 6. Werewolves are another matter entirely. 7. Kerrelyn Sparks first novel was a historical romance named For Love or Country. 8. It was voted by The Word on Romance as the 2002 BOOK OF THE YEAR!!!! 9. Kerrelyn Sparks has a forum where she answers questions about her books, her writing career and discusses general topics with the members of her message board. 10. Kerrelyn Sparks has many interactive games you can play on her website. 11. Kerrelyn Sparks has many bonus materials on her Love at Stake series novels. 12. Kerrelyn Sparks will be attending this years Romance Writers of America's National Conference at the San Francisco Marriot from July 30-Aug 2, 2008. 13. Kerrelyn Sparks was nice enough to grant me an interview about her writing career and books that I will be posting on the blog very soon.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author J.R. Ward. All of this information is quoted from her website, J.R. Ward and Jessica Bird.
Thirteen Things about J.R. Ward

1. J.R. Ward is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of erotic paranormal romance. 2. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. 3. After graduating from law school, she began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. 4. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot. 5. Not many people who are addicted to J.R. Ward's BDB series knows that she also writes contemporary romance as Jessica Bird. 6. I was eight years old when I wrote my first story, ten when I finished my first book and thirteen when I fell in love with stories about people falling in love. 7. I can remember the first romance novel I ever read and am able to picture exactly where I sat while turning the pages. It was in a walled garden surrounded by blooming pastel roses on a perfect summer day. I have to say the bucolic scene was a poetic compliment to the genre but it was totally unnecessary. I was hooked and have been ever since. 8. What fascinates me about love stories is the drama that surrounds people when they lose their hearts to someone else. I've never seen a romance in real life that ran smoothly in the beginning because with great love comes great vulnerability. 9. The question always in my mind is, when two people get rattled like that, how do the pieces come back together? How are they united in spite of the forces, internal and external, which threaten to tear them apart? 10. I could continue to ply my hours in lawyerly pursuits but I'd rather reach out to people who likewise have a passion for romance. The pastel roses were a great backdrop on that summer day long ago but I didn't need them. 11. What I needed was an author who could spin a tale out of the ether and let me live a little in the divine drama of two people falling in love. 12. So maybe I am a heartless lawyer. When I'm in my black suit and up to my elbows in corporate work, my heart's not in it. 13. Give me a key board and a ream of blank paper, though, and I'll show you a woman of passion!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Okay so I decided that it would be interesting to talk about our favorite authors in the Thursday Thirteen posts. Since this is a blog titled "Talk About My Favorite Authors" I think that from now on I will be writing 13 things about authors and the books they write. So for today's Thursday Thirteen edition I will be writing 13 things about my favorite author Nora Roberts. All of this information is quoted from her website, Nora Roberts.
Thirteen Things about Nora Roberts

1. Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring Maryland, the youngest of five children. 2. Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men has given Ms. Roberts a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she's been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. 3. Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. 4. Home for Nora Roberts for the past 30 years has been on the top of a hill in western Maryland. 5. When she’s not writing, Nora tends to her gardens. She recovers from her annual spring book tour by ruthlessly weeding, planting and mulching, and enlisting her family to help out. Her constant battles with marauding deer have made it into her books and entertained her fans over the years. There’s an herb garden off the kitchen, a hillside of tiger lilies and hundreds of annuals throughout the property, giving Nora ample opportunity to still play in the dirt. 6. Since she started writing stories down in notebooks 28 years ago, Nora Roberts has used discipline and talent in equal measure. Early in her career, she worked her writing in between her sons’ pre-school and nap schedules every day. When they were both in school full time, her writing schedule mirrored theirs, although she put in extra hours over the weekend. Now, after 160 books and countless bestsellers, she writes eight hours a day -- every day. 7. Before she started writing, Nora Roberts was a woman in search of a creative outlet. Staying at home with her two small sons, she was the ultimate earth mother, gardening, canning fruits and vegetable, making her son’s clothes, stitching and knitting. “I macramed two hammocks,” she admits now. “I needed help.”. 8. Now that her sons are grown, Nora looks back at that February Blizzard as a blessing in disguise. “I started writing as a way to save my sanity,” she says, “and I fell into a job that I love.” 9. Since 1999, every book published under the Nora Roberts name was a New York Times bestseller. 10. There are enough Nora Roberts books in print to fill the seats of Giants Stadium nearly 4,000 times. 11. If you place all Nora’s books top to bottom, they would stretch across the United States from Los Angeles to New York City 10 times. 12. Nora’s books have spent a combined 116 weeks at the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list!. 13. In the time you take to read this section, another 21 Nora Roberts books were sold.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
I found the website Thursday Thirteen through the Cherry Forum and I thought it would be a good way to get the blog more readers. So this is the first of many Thursday Thirteen editions. Leave your comments because they are much appreciated.
Thirteen Things about Ivette

1. I absolutely love to read romance novels of any subgenre. 2. I am an 18 year old aspiring romance novelist who has just started college with the hopes of gaining her BA in English and maybe her BA in History. 3. I loved reading and when I found out that there is a lot of other readers out there with similar interest that I can relate with. 4. I created the Talk About My Favorite Authors blog one day in the hopes of getting some of my romance reading internet friends to talk/post about their favorite authors. 5. I have expanded my knowledge of all the things that aspiring authors should do to become published authors. 6. I will do anything to make my dream of become a published romance writer. 7. I have made a lot of interesting friends by joining all of the Forums of my favorite authors. 8. I have met some lovely ladies who are recently published authors that I admire and hope to someday meet them. 9. My family is very supportive of my choice of becoming a writer, even if I have to be an editor for a publishing company before that happens. 10. I have my entire college career planned out and I really hope that nothing messes it up because I want to be a college graduate with a BA in English in 2011. 11. I have created my own personal website, my own personal website under my pen name, my own blog, my own forum and mulitple of groups. 12. I have a forum that is called Romance Readers and Writers and I am trying to get both readers and writers of romance together to share there love for reading and/or writing romance novels. 13. I found Thursday Thirteen through one of the many forums I am a member of and I love it!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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