The question I think all of us romance writers dread is this: “When are you going to write something real?“ This question inevitably comes from a person who hasn’t read one of my books; I answer only by smiling and suggesting they read something I’ve written, then ask me again. They never do ask. J

I love writing romance. I love reading romance, even though I’m a very happily married woman. Most romance readers are, in fact. Isn’t that neat? And yet, when let loose in a bookstore, I go to one section immediately. Romance.

For me, romance novels do a lot of things. They make me happy, for one, because their underlying message is that anyone can find true love, and that makes life better. I love those happy endings! Sometimes people criticize romance novels for being predictable, but to me, they’re not predictable—they’re a promise. Yes, the couple will end up happily ever after. They’re better for finding each other. How lovely is that?

Another thing romance novels do is let me escape. I’ve never been to France, for example, but Nancy Robards Thompson’s Angel In Provence made me feel like I lived there. Oh, the places I’ve been! Scotland (thanks, Terri!), and Texas, and Wyoming, and London…I swear, I’d know exactly where to shop in Regency London based on all the romance novels I’ve read.

Romance novels are cathartic. Oh, lordy, the tears I’ve shed over these imaginary people! It feels so good to cry for something that’s not truly happening. Sometimes, it’s easier to cry for a character than for an actual person in our lives…and those scenes unlock something in us and let us release those feelings.

And romance novels let me fall in love. In real life, I love one guy. I chose well, I’m happy to say. He brings me coffee and flowers, thinks I’m pretty, still checks me out. But we’ve been married for 20 years, and while McIrish is many things, he’s not new. I know him better than I know anyone else on earth. Sometimes we say the same things at the same time, even. But a romance novel lets me feel the rush of new love, the magic of a first kiss, the delicious thrill of a first fight. It’s utterly delightful. And the happiness that gives me is absolutely real.

How about you? Why do you love romance novels?

This week I’m celebrating the release of “Jackson Hole Valentine” (on shelves January 24).  This book is my 25th book for Harlequin!!

Here’s a little teaser about the book: 

When Margaret Fisher’s friends were killed in a tragic accident, she suddenly found herself co-guardian of the couple’s six-year-old son.  Cole Lassiter was the last man she ever wanted to see again after he’d broken her heart in high school, but she’d do anything–even move into his house–to be a mother for Charlie.

Successful entrepreneur Cole still felt betrayed by Meg…and couldn’t imagine sharing anything with her, let alone a son.  But while adolescent wounds ran deep, so did their very grown-up attraction for one another.  And as they learned to be  good parents to Charlie, the mismatched pair were also learning about forgiveness–and the power of forever love.

I first sold to Harlequin in 1999 and that book came out in 2000.  My title was “Faith on a Harley.”  The title it came out under was “Unforgettable Faith.”   If you haven’t guess it, those books were inspirational romance (romance with a faith message).  I wrote for Love Inspired for a number of years as well as Silhoutte Romance (which no longer exists) before moving to Special Edition.  In addition to writing for Harlequin, I’ve also written two contemporary romances for Avon.  And, until this past June, I was working full time!

In celebration of this release, I’m giving away three books from my RX for Love mini-series–of which Jackson Hole Valentine is a part–to one lucky commenter.

All you need to do is tell me what quality you like to see in a hero to be entered into the drawing.

Let me also shout out a big THANK YOU to everyone who’s bought my books and posted a good review.  I appreciate your support!

Congratulations, Linda Henderson and Tina SL! You’ve each won a copy of WHEN BEAUTY TAMED THE BEAST by Eloisa James. Please send your snail mail addies to kimscastillo@gmail.com.  Enjoy the book!

I saw this game on Facebook and thought it would be fun to play here since we love authors and books. The Rules: list fifteen authors (poets included) who’ve influenced you and made an impression. Don’t take too long to think about it. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.

Here’s my COOL FIFTEEN list:

VICTOR HUGO – For LES MISÉRABLES alone Hugo will always be on my best-loved list.

EMILE ZOLA – Nineteenth century France is one of my passions. So many things about that period speak to me – the Impressionist painters, post-Haussmann Paris, the literature… One of my favorite writers is Emile Zola. Like Hugo, Zola provides a vivid window into this world.

JANE AUSTEN – What’s not to love about the original romance writer and her body of work?

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD – Nick Carraway had me at chapter one. When I reached the end of GATSBY, I was hungry for more Fitzgerald.

ALICE HOFFMAN – She’s brilliant with magical realism.

SYLVIA PLATH – The way she weaves words and turns phrases brings me to my knees. In my book, she’s a literary goddess.

JK ROWLING – Harry, Ron and Hermione are like personal friends.

DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK – She speaks to the southern girl in me. I want to be her when I grow up.

TRACY CHEVALIER – The beauty of her smart books takes my breath away.

NORA ROBERTS – Nora is the one who made me want to write romance. Her well-crafted storied still sweep me away.
As an author, one of the perks of the job is meeting other writers and getting to know them beyond the pages of their books. It’s only natural that some of my favorite authors have become my friends. I dedicate this portion of “15 Cool Authors” to them:

KATHERINE GARBERA – Kathy was the very first published author I met…way back when. We became acquainted through our local RWA chapter. Since then, she’s became one of my very best friends. I’ll never forget the day I met Kathy. It was my first RWA chapter meeting. I was nervous and unsure of why I was even there. It just happened that on that same day, Kathy walked in with the cover of her very first book (THE BACHELOR NEXTDOOR wasn’t even out yet and she’d just received the cover flat). I was awe struck. Standing right in front of me was a living, breathing author, who was so talented, yet so personable and approachable. She made me feel as if I’d always been part of the chapter. Her smart, sassy prose hooked me from the get go and her sweet personality has made her friend for life.

CINDY KIRK – Cindy and I met at my first RWA conference. Synchronicity had a hand in our friendship when by chance we found ourselves at the same luncheon table two days in a row (amid 2,000 women and no assigned seats). We were both unpublished, but dogged determined to change that. We became fast friends and corresponded over the years – mind you, this was pre-email, back in the prehistoric days of the telephone and letter.  Now, Cindy is not only a good friend, she’s my plotting and brainstorming partner. Her books are fun and heartfelt and I always look forward to reading her next release.

CATHERINE KEAN – Catherine writes rich, beautiful historical romances. I’ve always described Catherine’s books as “jewel boxes” full of exquisite treasures. Her beautiful touch has influenced my work, too, since she’s been my critique partner for fourteen years.

KATHLEEN O’BRIEN – Kathleen is the wise woman in my life. She has such a poetic soul that radiates from the pages of her books. She was an established author when I met her. Now, I am so very fortunate to call her a friend and brainstorming partner.

KRISTAN HIGGINS – Kristan is fabulously funny and talented, and she has one of the most generous spirits of any writer I’ve met. Her Rita-winning novel “Catch of the Day” was the one that hooked me. Now, I count the days until next Kristan Higgins release.

So, there you have it…my Cool 15. I’m dying to hear who’s on your list. Since I’m celebrating being part of a group of six more very cool authors who have each crafted books in the latest FORTUNES OF TEXAS series (I’m book five out of the six-book series – book one launched this month. My title FORTUNE’S UNEXPECTED GROOM will be released in May 2012), I will give away the first two titles in the FORTUNES OF TEXAS series: Karen Templeton’s FORTUNE’S CINDERELLA and Marie Ferrarella’s FORTUNE’S VALENTINE BRIDE to one lucky person who posts their own 15 Cool Authors list.

I have mixed feelings about 3D. On one hand, I love going to the movies. That intense experience of focusing solely on the movie is just right up my alley. On the other hand, I don’t really like 3D. It gives me a headache and I get tired of having things fly across the screen at my face. Oh, and you might not have noticed, but it’s … um, frickin’ expensive! Nine dollars a pop to take the kids to an early matinee? Holy smokes!

Having said all that, Monday was a school holiday and the good folks at Disney have just released Beauty and the Beast in 3D. It’s one of my favorites. And my son loves the book! My daughter has only seen the movie once, years ago and my son has never seen it. It’s like the perfect storm of kid holiday fun.

And even though I don’t love 3 D movies, I love that some of my favorite movies are being released so that I can share them with my kids. Yeah, I know. I could just watch the movie on DVD. But to me, movies at home are always just … a little flat. No matter how big the TV. The phone is still on. There’s laundry to be folded. Email to check. Even when you try to shut all that out, it’s still there. In your head. And that’s not what I want for a movie experience. Or a book experiences.

With both movies and books, I find I enjoy them more when I immerse myself in them. The books I love the most are the ones I sink into and read fast, without stopping to make dinner or do the laundry. In 3D, if you will. Not that I need the visual impact, I mean the emotional impact.

Of course, movies are shorter than books. And even for $27, I can’t force my kids to sit still while I read. So sacrifices have to be made. Usually, it’s my sleep that goes under the knife. I stayed up until four in the morning on Christmas, ’cause I couldn’t put down my book. (My Name is Memory, in case you’re wondering.)

What was the last book you got so lost in that it was like reading in 3D?

P.S. In case you’re wondering how the movie was, it was great! My favorite moment? When Bell appeared at the top of the stairs in her yellow dress and little girls all over the audience literally gasped! Gasped! Cutest thing ever!

Comment for a chance to win SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND EARRINGS

Last June my son, Travis, or Son One as I call him (some of you might remember him as RT’s Mr. Romance runner-up from a few years back–tee hee–you cannot imagine how fun it is to tease him about that) got married to a gorgeous young woman from Cameroon. Gorgeous young woman, as it happens, has an equally gorgeous son, who I will hereby refer to Grandson One or G-1. Anywhoo, a few months ago I pried my wallet open and took G-1 to see Untangled. You know the film-spunky heroine, sexy hero, opinionated horse, lots of hair. It was a fun flick and just about right for a six year old…or a romance writer…since it was basically a love story.

So after the credits were rolling away and the popcorn salt had been licked from every finger I turned to G-1 and asked what his favorite part of the movie was. Now remember…he’s a boy…he’s six…he’s being raised by macho 6’3” Son One. So what do you think his answer was? Anybody? No?

Well I’ll tell you…he didn’t pause, didn’t bat an eyelash, didn’t take time to breathe. He just said, “When they kissed.” Huh? I did a double take, did another take, then stared at him agog, because when he asked what my favorite part was I had to tell him the truth; It was when spunky heroine hit sexy hero with the frying pan…which by the by was quite often. I don’t know if you remember the film, but sexy hero spent about half the movie catatonic and I was more thrilled each time cast iron met skull.

So (note clever segue here) when I began writing Uncorked, my 7th Chrissy McMullen mystery, I wasn’t exactly sure how to begin. I mean, Chrissy is one of my favorite people in the entire solar system and she really deserves to be happy. She really deserves to be happy with the guy who makes her crazy…Lieutenant Jack Rivera. But where’s the fun in that? I mean…you can’t start out all cozy right? Where you gonna go from there?

With that thought in mind, I opened the book with a knock down drag out fight. In fact, in chapter one, Chrissy’s dating another guy. Granted, she can rarely remember Other Guy’s name when Rivera is within shouting distance, but she assures the good lieutenant that‘s she‘s crazy about…about…what’s his face. It made for tons of sexual tension. And if there’s anything I like better than seeing a guy hit in the head with a frying pan, it’s sexual tension.

So what about you? What’s your favorite part of a romance, the fighting or the flirting? Or do you need both to make it work?

To celebrate the online release of Uncorked, my 7th Chrissy McMullen novel, I’m giving away a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings to one much appreciated commenter.

Visit Lois’s website for news and information on her newest release, and a chance to win an Amazon gift card and be sure to check out Uncorked! You can follow Lois on Facebook and keep track of the Chrissy McMullen series here. Follow LoisGreiman on Twitter, too!

The JQs are thrilled to have Eloisa James guest blogging with us today, discussing her newest book, The Duke Is Mine, and one of its more, ah, colorful characters…

Sir Justin Fiebvre

My daughter has a terrible case of Bieber Fever. Just in case the details of this notable illness have passed you by, here are the symptoms:

1)    Her room is painted in three shades of purple, since that is Justin Bieber’s favorite color.

2)    There are three bulletin boards over her sofa, all covered with pictures of Justin torn out of Tiger Beat, occasionally with his beloved, Selena Gomez, and in one notable example, bare-chested (my husband disapproves of this one).

3)    To the right of the bulletin boards is a full-length concert poster of the Bieb.

4)    To the left of the bulletin boards is a black-and-white canvas close-up of…yes! Justin’s face.

5)    Over her desk?  A quote in vinyl lettering from one of his songs (it took her father and me a full hour to figure out how to transfer the letters to the wall).

Have I forgotten anything?

Well, there is the Justin nail polish (not that she uses it), and the Justin toothbrush, and the Justin singing doll…

Now you know why Sir Justin Fiebvre appears in The Duke is Mine:  because if your beloved daughter spends approximately 20 out of 24 hours of the day talking about Justin, at some point a writer has no recourse but to stick the fellow in a book.  He wears purple velvet, in case you’re wondering… and all the girls scream when he sings.  I think he’s going to be a literary hit;  Julia Quinn wrote me and said that he was her favorite character in the book (Sorry, Olivia and Quin!).

So if you could take any star from pop culture and shape him into a character in a romance, who would it be? Eloisa will be giving away a signed copy of When Beauty Tamed the Beast to two lucky commenters.

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James writes historical romances for HarperCollins Publishers. Her novels have been published to great acclaim. A reviewer from USA Today wrote of Eloisa’s very first book that she “found herself devouring the book like a dieter with a Hershey bar”; later People Magazine raved that “romance writing does not get much better than this.” Her novels have repeatedly received starred reviews from Publishers’ Weekly and Library Journal and regularly appear on the best-seller lists.

Connie!  Congratulations!!!!!  Connie, I emailed you privately so we can finalize how to get your eBook copy of Dance of Desire to you, so please check your inbox.  Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my post on Saturday.  Stay tuned to the blog for more chances to win books!

Hands.  I’ve been thinking about mine a lot lately.

I dream of smooth, unblemished hands with pretty, long, painted nails—like the hands on the models in the O.P.I. magazine ads.  Hands like those look great holding fancy pens, like the special ones I reserve for autographing copies of my books at signings.  Hands like that show off sparkly rings and bracelets with enviable elegance.  Hands like that… Well, they’re a far cry from my hands right now.  I look at my dry, parched fingers and short, split nails and sigh with despair.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at the state of my hands.  This wintery time of year—and yes, it does get cold in Florida!—wreaks havoc on everyone’s skin.  I also demand a lot from my hands as I wash dishes, do laundry, houseclean, garden, drive, grocery shop, prepare food for my family, care for my kitty, exercise, and write on my computer.

To pamper my hands, I avoid liquid and bar soaps with Sodium Laureth Sulfate; this seems especially hard on my skin.  I also slather on hand cream whenever possible.  I read about special gloves to wear at night after your hands have been slathered with lotion, but that doesn’t appeal to me.  In fact, it sounds slightly icky.  :(

What do you use on your hands in the winter months?  Do you have a special remedy or favorite beauty product that you use when your hands are lizard-scaly-dry?

I’m eager to hear what you have to say—and my poor hands will thank you.  I’ll gift a Kindle or Nook eBook copy of my award-winning medieval romance Dance of Desire to one person who leaves a comment.  To learn more about this book as well as my other medieval romances, please visit my website.

It occurred to me the other day that I really love to learn things while I’m reading. No, I don’t want a history lesson when I’m reading a historical romance, and I don’t want to feel like I’m reading a police procedure manual when I’ve got a suspense book in my hands. But I love picking up the bits of information that skillful authors filter in throughout their books.  I think this is why I can read just about any kind of book I pick up, and of course I can read romance endlessly. But it’s not only because of the fun of experiencing the hero and heroine navigating the joys and perils of new love and moving on to their HEA. It’s all the details that make each book different and compelling.

Take almost any contemporary novel. The main characters are usually engaged in some kind of work or profession, right? An author who’s done her research can give some insight into what those professions entail. I’ve read scenes that make me feel as though I’m actually sitting at a police detective’s desk in a tiny cubicle, or flying over the mountains in a small plane. Or driving a tractor through a field. I read a novel recently that was about the characters who worked and lived near a hospital in Ethiopia, and I almost felt as though I could find my way around the little town where the book was set.

Sometimes it’s the author’s insight into personalities that hooks me. Maybe it’s not specific details about what anarchitect or an FBI agent does, or how to create the perfect bakery pastry – but an understanding of what makes those characters tick. It’s relatable to real life. An author can make the sorrows and joys of the fictional characters resonate. It makes me stop and think about people I know… or situations I might not have understood before.

I love it when I read something that makes me want to delve deeper into the subject matter. Whether it’s historical detail or something about astronomy. Or cooking. Or race car driving.

I’m guessing most of you are book lovers – is there anything besides the romance that  compels you to sit down with a book?