#ReadARomanceMonth Archives - Read-A-Romance Month

#RARM19 – Xio Axelrod – The Magic of Anticipation

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

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A quick word from Bobbi Dumas, your host.

Hi everyone! Welcome to Read-A-Romance Month. You can find out more about this fun, month long event here. And check out all the great authors taking part this year on the calendar, here.

The theme this year is The Romance Of Reading, The Magic Of Books and we have an awesome assortment of writers – both romance and mainstream fiction authors – sharing about books, reading, romance & magic. I hope you’ll visit everyday.

(Also, be sure to check in to The Romance Of Reading FB page, where one of the RARM authors will be hosting the page each day in August. Today Karen Hawkins will also be on the page.)

Enjoy….

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Xio Axelrod – FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) – Romance Edition

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Just the other day, a tweet caught my eye. I don’t remember the person who tweeted it, but she asked if all romance readers had come to the genre via their moms and grandmas, borrowing (or sometimes stealing) their old Harlequins at a young age. For many, this is the norm, but I was surprised to see how many people were like me. People who came to romance late in life.

How late was it for me you ask? I didn’t read my first romance novel until 2013, after I’d kinda sorta written one. I mean, I’ve always loved a good love story, but I didn’t actively seek to read romance in my literature. I grew up reading Anne Rice and Ray Bradbury. I buried my nose in Edgar Allen Poe and Shakespeare and (don’t laugh) Euripides. I was a nerd for the classics, but I was always drawn to the stories that had wonderfully angsty romantic arcs. I just didn’t realize it.

By the time a friend convinced me to “do something” with my accidental contemporary romance, I’d developed a pretty warped sense of what constituted a romance. It was something grandmothers read. Something cheesy or poorly written and clearly not for me. When my friend told me I’d written a romance, I was insulted.

Then I read one.

Yeah…so… I was wrong. (It doesn’t happen often, lol.) And I felt cheated because I’d been led to believe that romances were inferior to other genres, to the genres I’d grown up reading. I’d avoided the genre like it was covered in boils. I missed out on a lot, people. A. Lot.

Let’s just say that, since 2013, I’ve made up for all that lost reading enjoyment. Not only have I published ten romances of my own, I’ve devoured hundreds of gorgeous, funny, sexy, sweet, hot, angsty – did I mention sexy? – well-written, complex, simple and everything in between, romance novels by people from all walks of life. Books that depict people from all walks of life, from hockey players to war veterans to FBI agents to chefs. People from a myriad of backgrounds, those who looked like me and those who didn’t. Those who loved like me and those who didn’t.

For me, the magic of romance is two-fold. You’re transported instantly into the lives of people who are on the cusp of self-discovery, and you get to watch them fall in love. It is magic! There’s no other word for it. I love the anticipation of turning the page to the next chapter, and I love the heartbreak of reading that last line knowing there’s no more to come. Give me a good book hangover and I am a happy camper.

And don’t even get me started on audiobooks. I’m looking at my Audible account, which I opened in December 2015. Want to take a wild guess as to how many titles I’ve listened to in just under four years? 258. (My poor wallet!)

Well, as they say – better late than never. Romance has me firmly under its spell.

If you’re curious about my work, check out Camden. Expat, Scottish twins work as “fixers” for the rich and infamous. When they inadvertently ruin the life of a young pop star, Camden decides he’s had enough and walks away. When the pop star, Yara, shows up at Camden’s new pub after faking her own death, she demands that he make things right by her. Of course, they fall in love, it’s a romance! Music plus intrigue and snarky Scots, what more could you want? Or, if you’re looking for something a little angsty, check out Fast Forward where an Ivy league professor, Ian, is re-introduced to the Norwegian rock star, Jessen, that broke his teenaged heart. These men have some serious chemistry, but will they find their way back to each other with seven years of heartache between them?

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Xio recommends:

It’s so freaking hard to choose just three because I love so very many but here are a few who I wish would get more praise heaped upon them than they’ve had. They’re all incredible storytellers.

L. Penelope – lpenelope.com – @Amazon
Leslye is one of the best when it comes to worldbuilding. Honestly, she should teach a class. (And I believe she does.) A good book to start with would be A Song of Blood and Stone from her Earthsinger Chronicles series. Her prose is sumptuous.
(Agreed! SoB&S is a #100DaysOfGreatBooks choice – here. ~ Bobbi)

La Quette – www.laquette.com – @Amazon
The best word I can think of to describe La Quette’s writing is real. These are real people with real emotions dealing with real issues. The passion, the angst, the frustrations, and the joy – all of it – so very real. Check out her Queens of Kings series.

Roan Parrish – www.roanparrish.com – @Amazon
Roan writes the kind of books you want to read again and again. And again. Her characters become part of your family. You laugh with them, grieve with them, and love with them. If you’re looking for a short read, The Remaking of Corbin Wale is one of my all-time favourite novellas.

For something more meaty, read her Middle of Somewhere series which has one of the best antagonist-to-hero redemption arcs I’ve ever read.

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2019 RARM Questions:

Tell us about a time in your life that felt magical to you.

I grew up in the music industry and began recording and performing at a very early age. Performance has therefore always been a part of my life. But it wasn’t until I began to write and perform my own songs that I really felt that magic that most performers talk about when you ask them. One truly magical moment was the first time I sang in front of an audience in Portugal. My band and I were tired but happy to be there. I was getting sick. (I actually lost my voice during the show!) But I was determined to give the audience a good show. We did a nice mix of covers that they would recognize and a number of my original songs. To my surprise, they were very familiar with my songs and actually sang along with me. I think I may have cried. It was an amazing moment.

Tell us about a book that was magical for you.

I recently read a book called Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. I’d had a complimentary copy of the book sitting on my shelf for a month or so before I picked it up, and only then after I saw a tweet mentioning it. The premise sounded fantastical – the First Son of the United States falls in love with a Prince, the second in line to the throne of England – and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

It happened to be the right book at the right time. Not only is it filled with hope and promise, the prose is arresting at times. I hadn’t laughed out loud and cried out loud so much because of a book in quite some time. I finished my paper copy and downloaded the audio (which is a magical performance all its own) and listened to it in two sittings.

When I need inspiration, I turn to those films, TV shows, books, song and albums that spark my imagination. The ones that inspire me and light my fire now matter how many times I consume them. Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of those books for me now.

Tell us about a “magical moment” in your writing or your career?

As I mentioned above, I often look to my favourite pieces of media for inspiration. One show has inspired me more than any other, of late. And anyone who has ever met me or followed me on social media can tell you about my obsession with the international web series SKAM.

One afternoon, shortly after the end of a season of the original Norwegian series, I was so energized by what I’d seen that I opened up a new Word document and started typing. Two days and 27,000 words later, I’d written my novella, Fast Forward. I didn’t even know I could write that fast! But that’s the magic of inspiration.

For writers who use magical aspects in their books, what attracts you to those elements? For those of you who don’t, are there specific themes or elements you’re attracted to and find yourself going back to? Why do these resonate with you?

I always seem to write about self-discovery, particularly in my LGBTQ romances. I love the idea that we are never done, never finished learning about ourselves. To learn is to grow and I like to think we are all always growing.

Creativity is a kind of magical experience. What inspires you, keeps you going, helps you when you lose focus, etc.?

I return again and again to those creative pieces that have blown my mind in one way or another. Whether it’s the incredible realism in books by a writer like Kennedy Ryan, the grounded, present, sometimes uncomfortable performance by an actor like Timothée Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name, or the quirky, experimental and yet somehow retro music by an artist like Janelle Monae, the mere act of consuming art inspires me to create.

DRAWING – is hosting The Romance of Reading page, and her giveaways will take place there.

However, all comments will also be entered to win a bundle of books from the Week 4 participating authors. You may enter by commenting on this original blog post and/or on the Read-A-Romance Month Facebook page post, here.

Each first unique comment at each space offers an extra chance to win, so check in with each author. Must comment by 9/05/19 11:59pm Eastern to enter.

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Xio Axelrod is a USA Today Bestselling author of love stories, contemporary romance and (what she likes to call) strange, twisted tales. Xio grew up in the music industry and began recording at a young age. When she isn’t writing stories, she can be found in the studio, writing songs, or performing on international stages (under a different, not-so-secret name of course). She lives in Philadelphia with one full-time husband and several part-time cats.

Connect with Xio Axelrod:

xioaxelrod.com/ | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Discover all of Xio’s books:

*Please note that the Amazon button, most cover images and text links connect to an affiliate portal. Thanks so much for your help & support!

#RARM19 – Emily Larkin – Portable Magic

August 24, 2019 Leave a Comment

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(Also, be sure to check in to The Romance Of Reading FB page, where one of the RARM authors will be hosting the page each day in August. Today Karen Hawkins will also be on the page.)

Enjoy….

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Emily Larkin – The Magical Act of Book Telepathy

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If someone asked me whether books are magical, my answer would be yes.

Think about it: someone, somewhere, made up a story and wrote it down, and weeks or years later you pick it up and read it and the characters in that story come alive in your mind.

That is definitely magic—one person creating characters that come alive in thousands of other people’s minds.

When you read fiction, you’re walking in someone else’s imagination, which is pretty incredible when you think about it. You’ve never met the writer. You probably never will. Perhaps they live on the other side of the world. Perhaps they’ve been dead for centuries. Yet during the time that you’re reading a book they wrote, you’re inside their head and they’re inside yours.

That’s unquestionably magic!

What’s even more magical is that the characters created by that writer might make such an impression on you that they stay with you for the rest of your life.

Look at the impact Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy have had on the world. Or Harry Potter. They’re figments of someone’s imagination, they’re not real, and yet they’re part of our lives, and they’ll be part of our children’s lives and grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s.

The most magical characters always are!

For me, the best books are the ones that make me laugh unexpectedly, or the ones with characters who worm their way so deeply into my emotions that my heart literally squeezes in my chest when something hurtful happens to them. Now that’s true magic—to make a reader experience a visceral reaction because of something that happens to someone who doesn’t actually exist!

In Stephen King’s ON WRITING, he says that books are portable magic and that when you read one you’re actually taking part in an act of telepathy.

He explains it like this:

“I never opened my mouth and you never opened yours. We’re not even in the same year together, let alone the same room … except we are together. We are close. We’re having a meeting of the minds. […] We’ve engaged in an act of telepathy.”

So, according to Stephen King, the world isn’t nearly as mundane and prosaic as we think it is. People are engaged in telepathy every day! And what’s even more remarkable is that a single book doesn’t represent a single act of telepathy, but thousands of acts of telepathy. (Or millions, if you’re Steven King or Nora Roberts or J.K. Rowling.)

You may not agree with Stephen King that reading a book is telepathy, but I think we’d all agree that books are portable magic.

It’s magical to be able to enter someone else’s imagination and lose yourself in the worlds and characters they’ve created, to fall in love with people who don’t actually exist, to laugh with them and cry for them, to become sad or elated or afraid or angry, to literally shiver or feel your heart clench.

Books are magic!

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Emily recommends:

Within the historical romance genre, I recommend are Grace Burrowes and Anna Campbell. They’re both exceptionally talented writers!

Grace Burrowes — www.graceburrowes.com — @Amazon

Anna Campbell — annacampbell.com — @Amazon

My favorite genre to read at the moment is male/male romance and I’d like to recommend a couple of authors who include magical or paranormal elements in their books.

Lou Harper — https://louharper.com/ — @Amazon
I really enjoyed Lou Harper’s sweet and quirky L.A. Paranormal trilogy, featuring a psychic who finds missing pets … and sometimes missing people.

Jordan Castillo Price – jordancastilloprice.com & psycop.com – @Amazon
I’m a fan of Price’s PSYCOP series, as well as her new ABCS OF SPELLCRAFT series.

And last, but definitely not least, I’d like to recommend a book that I recently discovered: EXIT PLANS FOR TEENAGE FREAKS by ‘Nathan Burgoine.

‘Nathan Burgoine — www.apostrophen.wordpress.com — @Amazon

I loved EXIT PLANS FOR TEENAGE FREAKS so much that I read it three times in one month! It’s new adult romance (or maybe YA, I’m never sure of the distinction) about a young man coping with unexpected magic and unexpected romance on top of finals. Heat-wise it’s sweet, and there’s a fabulously diverse cast of characters. It’s one of those books that just makes you feel happy when you read it. I can’t recommend it enough!

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2019 RARM Questions:

Tell us about a time in your life that felt magical to you.

One of the experiences that is most magical in my memory—and that had a profound effect on me—was backpacking with my family through Europe for six months when I was eleven. I grew up in a small town in New Zealand, and that trip expanded my world in ways I can’t even begin to describe. It was kind of like the Big Bang going off inside me. I’ll never forget the magic of being surrounded by all those different languages and all that history, plus the architecture and the food and the traditions and the landscapes. Everything was so different from New Zealand and each country was also different from the next—Greece, Yugoslavia, Austria, Denmark, Norway… It was the most incredible experience and it completely changed the course of my life, from the subjects I chose to study at high school (languages and classics), to my decision to become an exchange student (another magical time!), to my ever-present desire to travel.

Tell us about a book that was magical for you.

There are so many books that have been magical to read, but one that really stands out for me is SORCERY AND CECELIA (OR, THE ENCHANTED CHOCOLATE POT) by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer. I stumbled across it quite by accident in the library one day. I was intrigued by the premise—a Regency romance with magic?—but was a little dubious and I almost didn’t borrow it. Boy, am I glad that I did! Honestly, the first time I read it I think that my brain exploded a tiny bit in the sheer delight. That was years ago now (twenty years?) but SORCERY AND CECELIA (OR, THE ENCHANTED CHOCOLATE POT) still remains one of my all-time favorite books. (I think I have three copies).

Tell us about a “magical moment” in your writing or your career?

That would have to be when one of my Regencies-with-magic hit the USA Today bestseller list—and I didn’t realize until two months later! I mean, honestly, how could I have missed that? And yet somehow, I did. So the moment when I finally realized was pretty magical. (And yes, one of the first things I did was buy a bottle of champagne.)

For writers who use magical aspects in their books, what attracts you to those elements? For those of you who don’t, are there specific themes or elements you’re attracted to and find yourself going back to? Why do these resonate with you?

When I first started writing, I wrote fantasy novels under one name and historical romances under another. By the time I’d published five in each genre I realized that although I love the magic and adventure inherent in fantasy novels, my favorite setting is Regency England.

I decided to combine the two and write about an England populated by all the characters you’d find in a Regency romance—plus a handful of people who possess a magic they have to keep hidden.

There are balls and house parties and dukes and governesses and all that, but there are also excursions into a slightly more dangerous side of Regency England.

I love writing Regencies-with-magic for so many reasons! Let me count the ways…

1. I love mixing magic with the restrictions of Regency society.

2. I love that it gives me the opportunity to get my well-bred heroines out of the drawing rooms and put them in the way of adventure and romance.

3. I love how the magic complicates my characters’ lives and also the lives of the people around them.

4. I love being able to play with different kinds of magic. What would it be like to be able to change shape? To hear lies? To become invisible? How would that magic make your life easier? How would it make your life more dangerous? I love exploring all that.

Honestly, I expected my new series to have a readership of about ten people, but it turns out that thousands of people enjoy it, so I am beyond thrilled!

Creativity is a kind of magical experience. What inspires you, keeps you going, helps you when you lose focus, etc.?

For me, walking is the magical elixir of creativity. If I ever get stuck in a scene, I climb a hill, and by the time I’m back home again my brain has figured out how to unstick that scene. Long distance train travel is also conducive to creativity (for me). I love staring out the window and watching the world go past. Something about the motion of the train and all those glimpses of vistas and backyards and other people’s lives just sets ideas spinning in my brain.

Drawing – Emily is generously giving away a choice of her Baleful Godmothers series. One to a U.S. winner and one to an international winner. If you’re international, tell us where you live in the comments.
To enter, leave a comment below. Open until August 31, 2019 11:59 PM EST.

Each first unique comment at each space offers an extra chance to win, so check in with each author. Must comment by 9/05/19 11:59pm Eastern to enter.

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Emily Larkin is the award-winning author of the Baleful Godmother historical romance series, a series that readers are calling “sexy, unusual and vastly entertaining” and “ridiculously wonderful.” She also writes fantasy novels as Emily Gee.

When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.

Connect with Emily Larkin:

www.emilylarkin.com | Facebook

Discover all of r’s books:

*Please note that the Amazon button, most cover images and text links connect to an affiliate portal. Thanks so much for your help & support!

#RARM19 – Loretta Nyhan & Suzanne Hayes – The Magic of Second Chances

August 23, 2019 Leave a Comment

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(Also, be sure to check in to The Romance Of Reading FB page, where one of the RARM authors will be hosting the page each day in August. Today Karen Hawkins will also be on the page.)

Enjoy….

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Loretta Nyhan & Suzanne Hayes – The Magic of Resilience and Optimism

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A lot can happen in six years.

In 2013, I’ll Be Seeing You, the book of our hearts, hit the shelves. We were over-the- moon excited. It sold moderately well, which was nice, but it also managed to touch people in way we’d only hoped for—this was even nicer. But, as we all know, the magical moments in our lives might permanently imprint our hearts, but they fade from our brains when the stressors of day-to-day life take over again. And, boy, we sure did wrestle with some major curveballs since 2013.

Suzy lost her second mother, her beloved grandmother, Fay.

Loretta sent her loving husband of twenty years off to play golf on one sunny Saturday morning. By that afternoon, she was in a hospital ER tearfully telling her two teenaged sons that their father was gone. Heart attack at age 45.

If life has its magical moments, it also has its horrible, shattering moments that tear at the soul.

So, we reeled. We suffered. We lost ourselves.

Our souls darkened a little.

But, eventually…like Rita and Glory in our book, we saw the sun again, and that dark spot on our soul lightened like an old scar.

We bounced back. We found that we were both more resilient than we thought. We not only found ourselves again, but we re-learned how to appreciate the world we lived in.

In simplest terms, we learned how to be again.

So we were ready, when we got a very surprising phone call in the winter of 2018, to say yes to an incredible offer from our publisher—they wanted to re-release I’ll Be Seeing You, with a new title and a new cover. They thought it deserved another shot. They thought its hopeful optimism in a time of struggle resonated in 2019, perhaps even more than it did six years before.

On September 3, HOME FRONT GIRLS will get its magical second chance. And, just as we found a way to thrive in our new worlds, it’s our fondest wish that Rita and Glory’s story will grace yours.

Suzy & Loretta recommend:

Loretta:
Whitney Dineen – Whitney on FB – @Amazon
Whitney writes romantic comedies that usually make my stomach hurt from laughing and my heart swell with longing. She’s a read-her-book-in-a-day kind of writer.

Suzy:
Sarah Addison Allen – www.sarahaddisonallen.com – @Amazon
Sarah Addison Allen writes fiction layered with magic. Her stories echo many of my own whimsical daydreams. Page turning and always satisfying, you can’t go wrong.

Suzy & Loretta join pick:
Pam Jenoff – www.pamjenoff.com – amzn.to/2zb9TDb
We love a good historical page-turner and she is the master!

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2019 RARM Questions:

Tell us about a time in your life that felt magical to you.

Loretta:
Besides the birth of my two boys, my wedding days were absolutely magical. Both of them. When I first got married to Tom, we were in our twenties, eager to begin the process of building a life together. That life we constructed was pretty darn beautiful. It ended abruptly with his death, but the things he taught me about love never faded, and made it possible to open my heart again. I married my second husband, Gus, at the age of 48, on January first of this year. My oldest son was the officiant, and my youngest walked me down the aisle. My new stepdaughters were my bridesmaids. Together, as a couple and a blended family, we’re healing each other’s broken hearts, and are embarking on a future we are exceedingly grateful for. And that isn’t anything less than magical.

Suzy:
As Loretta and I are using the Magic of Second Chances as the theme of this dual post, I have to say that the last four years of my life have been magical. In 2105 I had a few devastating things happen that made me reevaluate my life. These events made me fall to my knees. When I got back up, I renewed my commitment to my marriage, my children and my life here in the present. Simplifying my world, actually making it smaller, gave me a second chance with my family. Each new day here is peaceful and full of magic.

Tell us about a book that was magical for you.

Loretta:
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I’d never read such a realistic, sincere depiction of love and devotion, and the first time I finished it, I think I held it against my chest, wishing it could somehow be a part of me. I’ve read it half a dozen times since then, and now that I’m thinking about it, I’ll probably crack it open again this afternoon…

Suzy:
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgeson Burnett was a life changer (fine, I was 11, but still…) The theme of beauty being renewed through patience and love have been the same themes I write about in all my books. In many ways, that is a strong theme in Homefront Girls as well. The slow, steady growth of peace through discovery and reflection.

Tell us about a “magical moment” in your writing or your career?

Loretta:
The most creatively magical time in my life was when Suzy and I wrote Home Front Girls. Our correspondence had such a rhythm to it—I almost felt like it was being written by some kind of spiritual forces beyond our control, as woo-woo as that sounds. We wrote it so quickly—starting on Valentine’s Day and ending on July 4^th—because we were just so overtaken by our characters. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel that rush again, but I’ll keep chasing it!

Suzy:
I have to echo Loretta’s answer. As we wrote Home Front Girls, I felt transported back in time. Nothing has ever felt so “right.”

For writers who use magical aspects in their books, what attracts you to those elements? For those of you who don’t, are there specific themes or elements you’re attracted to and find yourself going back to? Why do these resonate with you?

Loretta:
To me, every book has elements of magic, whether it’s present in the story itself or simply in the writing itself. We’ve all had experiences—serendipitous experiences—that speak to the magic in the everyday. I’m fascinated by this in real life, so I truly enjoy writers who build life’s magic into their plots. That said, I’ve got to admit to loving a good witch book—who doesn’t like spells and tarot card readings and purring black cats?

Suzy:
I believe that each day is a work of magic. That our own reality is woven together with elements we couldn’t possibly really explain. Miracles are popping up everywhere in our day to day moments! This is why I like books that explore the supernatural experiences we have in everyday life. Hauntings, kitchen magic, love….

Creativity is a kind of magical experience. What inspires you, keeps you going, helps you when you lose focus, etc.?

Loretta:
Something tangible that I could use as a talisman. When writing Home Front Girls, I kept an actual WWII rationing book on my desk.

Suzy:
My biggest inspiration is my faith. And the love I have for my family and my community. Where are we without Faith, love and charity?

DRAWING – Suzanne & Loretta are hosting The Romance of Reading page, and their giveaways will take place there.

Each first unique comment at each space offers an extra chance to win, so check in with each author. Must comment by 9/05/19 11:59pm Eastern to enter.

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Loretta Nyhan is the bestselling author of Digging In, All the Good Parts, and the upcoming The Other Family. With Suzanne Hayes, she co-authored the historical novels, Empire Girls and Home Front Girls.

When she’s not writing, Nyhan is knitting, baking, and doing all kinds of things her high school self would have found hilarious.

Connect with Loretta:

www.lorettanyhan.com | Facebook | Twitter

Discover all of Loretta’s books:

Suzanne Hayes is the pen name for Suzanne Palmieri. She is the author of six novels including The Witch of Little Italy. She lives in North Branford, Connecticut with her husband and three daughters.

Connect with Suzanne:

suzannepalmieri.com

Discover all of Suzanne ‘s books:

*Please note that the Amazon button, most cover images and text links connect to an affiliate portal. Thanks so much for your help & support!

#RARM19 – Joshilyn Jackson – Underwater Magic

August 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

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(Also, be sure to check in to The Romance Of Reading FB page, where one of the RARM authors will be hosting the page each day in August. Today Joshilyn Jackson will also be on the page.)

Enjoy….

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Joshilyn Jackson – The Magic of Life Underwater

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I have a magical power; I can breathe underwater.

Okay, so I have to strap on a BCD and a nitrox tank to make it work. But still. I’ve spent hours 120 feet beneath the waves, exploring reefs and shipwrecks. I’ve swum with with eagle rays and sea turtles, sharks and lionfish, squid and sea horses, and eels that ranged from pinky-finger-sized to longer than I am. I’ve had an adorable 18 inch remora mistake me for a dolphin and try to attach to me and clean me. He followed us all the way up to the boat.

You can’t tell me that’s not magic.

As a kid, I was obsessed with Jacques Cousteau; I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a writer or a marine biologist when I grew up. Even as an adult, I wished I knew how to dive, but I was afraid to try it. I am mildly claustrophobic, moderately unathletic, and extremely uncoordinated.

Then I got the idea for NEVER HAVE I EVER. I knew I wanted the narrator, Amy Whey, to be a dive instructor. Scuba seemed like such a perfect metaphor. As anyone who has ever dropped their sunglasses off a boat can attest, the ocean is large enough to hide anything, and Amy is hiding a very dark past.

I thought I could learn enough via interviews and YouTube videos to make it work. About three months in, I realized I had to learn to dive if I wanted to write this book properly. My husband and I started taking lessons. The first time I sunk down into the ocean and found myself breathing and buoyant, all my fears were insta-drowned by wonder.

When I am on scuba, all my clumsiness drops away; it’s the only place on earth where I am graceful. I can’t tell you how much this means to a woman who is famous for knocking over drinks and who is constantly bruised from tripping and ramming into things. It’s also impossible for me to feel claustrophobic with the ocean so huge and blue and bright open all around me. Best of all, I am an animal person, and many marine animals feel curious divers. Creatures like this little turtle come right over to see what we are doing.

Diving is the closest thing to flying. It is very close to yoga, actually. It is so much about breath and being present in your body. Everything Amy says about scuba in the book is absolutely my experience. It is prayer, it is meditation, it is peace. It is the closest thing to magic I have ever experienced. It is also an unearthly level of beautiful and so much fun. If you can possibly work it out to learn, you should.

NEVER HAVE I EVER:

It starts as a game at a book group one night. Never Have I Ever… done something I shouldn’t.

But Amy Whey has done something she shouldn’t. And Roux, the glamorous newcomer to Amy’s suburban neighbourhood, knows exactly what that is.

Roux promises she will go away. She will take herself and her son, who is already growing dangerously close to Amy’s teenage stepdaughter, and she will go. If Amy plays by her rules.

But Amy isn’t prepared to lose everything she’s built—especially her husband and their newborn son. She’s going to fight back, and in this escalating game of cat and mouse, there can be only one winner.

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Joshilyn recommends:

Helen Hoang – www.helenhoang.com – @Amazon
She writes layered, smart, funny love stories, neuro-atypical style, and I am here for it. Many people on my father’s side of the family (me included) are on the spectrum, so reading a book with an autist as the romantic lead makes my heart go pitter-pat.

Lydia Netzer – lydianetzer.blogspot.com/shine – @Amazon
She is probably my favorite living writer. In her stories, you can fall in love all over again from as far away as the moon, crowd-source a baby, or swim with Narwhales in Lake Michigan. Funny, literary, love-soaked, brilliant.

Meg Mitchell Moore – www.megmitchellmoore.com – @Amazon
I only just discovered her when The Islanders came out in June, and now I am working my way through her backlist. Her books are page-turners for sure, but also very character-driven.

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2019 RARM Questions:

Tell us about a time in your life that felt magical to you.

The moment when my husband and I first kissed.

He’d been my best friend since we were teenagers, but we never dated. I was in Atlanta and he was in Chicago, both very seriously dating other people, when we were called back to our small town, me to a wedding, him to a funeral. It was an emotional time.

By the end of those two days. I realized that if he married someone else, I would be devastated. At three in the morning, sitting in a ratty gazebo behind my childhood home, I said, “I don’t want you to marry her. In fact you are not allowed to marry her. You are only allowed to marry me.

He shrugged and said, “Well, ok. I’ve been waiting for you to say that for seven years.”

We sat blinking at each other and then I said, “Well. We should kiss.”

Reader, it was a great kiss.

Then we broke apart because we didn’t want to begin our life together by betraying people we cared about. We each went home, broke up, and we’ve been together ever since.

All of the best adventures of my life came from this moment. He makes good things excellent and bad things bearable. The moment we decided to be an us was powerful magic because all my other happiest moments grew from that one.

Tell us about a book that was magical for you.

SHINE SHINE SHINE by Lydia Netzer. It’s the only book I have read as an adult that I keep going back and rereading with endless fervor, the way I still do with all the books I loved most as a child. It’s the love story of Sunny, who is on earth, and her husband Maxon who, when the novel begins, is on a rocket to the moon.

(Well, okay then! I’ll be reading that one right away! ~ Bobbi
It’s here at Amazon, if you want to take a look.)

Tell us about a “magical moment” in your writing or your career?

So, I have a BIG Jack Reacher problem. HUGE. Strong feelings about Mr. Reacher. I love the women he meets. No damsels/ They are tough and vibrant and never really lovelorn about him, either. It’s never been this REACHER BREAKS HEARTS thing. They cross like super-hot ships in the night.

I buy each Lee Child book the day it comes out, in print and audio. I TRY to listen. But most of the time I get too hungry to know what happens next. and have to go to the book and gobble.

For this book, my first foray into a thriller, my editor asked Lee Child to read it. AND HE DID> AND HE LIKED IT.

His blurb is on the cover! it says, “”Wonderful—suspense and surprises, real characters, and a scary, ominous black beat. This feels like the novel Jackson was born to write.”

I still get all giddy with disbelief when I see that absolute, written proof that one of my forever bookly heroes read my book and said those things.

For writers who use magical aspects in their books, what attracts you to those elements? For those of you who don’t, are there specific themes or elements you’re attracted to and find yourself going back to? Why do these resonate with you?

I have long called myself a “redemption obsessed novelist.” All my books, in some way or another, look with varying degrees of hope and cynicism at how far we can walk into the black and still be saved. What are the tiny lights that turn us and call us home, and why do some people see those faint, glowing calls, while others walk straight off the edge of the world and are lost?

Creativity is a kind of magical experience. What inspires you, keeps you going, helps you when you lose focus, etc.?

This will sound dumb, but it’s my cats. For me, a dog is a luxury item, but cat is a necessity. I often write in bed with them draped over my legs. When I sit at my desk, my little tuxedo cat comes and lies on my lap. I find purring to be the best, most calming sound of the world, and their little heartbeats in the house keep me happy in a job that almost never gets me out of pajamas and into the world where humans are.

My kids are close to grown and have their own lives. My excellent husband works long hours—without catly company, I think I’d go nuts!

DRAWING – Joshilyn is hosting The Romance of Reading page, and her giveaways will take place there.

Each first unique comment at each space offers an extra chance to win, so check in with each author. Must comment by 9/05/19 11:59pm Eastern to enter.

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Photo credit:
Wes Browning

New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Joshilyn Jackson is the author of nine books, including gods in Alabama, The Almost Sisters and Never Have I Ever. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She writes page-turners that revolve around women’s issues and faith and justice issues.

Jackson lives in Decatur, Georgia with her family.

Connect with Joshilyn Jackson:

joshilynjackson.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Discover all of Joshilyn’s books:

*Please note that the Amazon button, most cover images and text links connect to an affiliate portal. Thanks so much for your help & support!

#RARM19 – Mina V. Esguerra – The Magic of Visibility

August 22, 2019 Leave a Comment

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(Also, be sure to check in to The Romance Of Reading FB page, where one of the RARM authors will be hosting the page each day in August.)

Enjoy….

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Mina V. Esguerra – The Magic of Books: The Power is, in fact, Visibility

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A few weeks after the publication of my first contemporary romance/“chick lit” novel, I received my first ever letter from a reader. It was an email from a twenty-something young woman, much like myself at the time, and after saying she had read my book and liked it, asked if we went to the same university. My book, My Imaginary Ex, published in the Philippines in 2009, was set in Manila and included flashbacks to my main characters’ time in college.

She said the flashback scenes (which included cafeteria visits, lining up at the photocopying machine, hanging out at the auditorium waiting for someone to finish choir practice) reminded her of the map and layout of her school, and she wondered if we had been schoolmates.

We were not. Our schools are actually “rivals” here in Manila going on several decades, and so many of the myths surrounding this curious competition has to do with how different the schools are in everything. And yet, this.

In 2009, it felt odd writing romance in English, with a character like me in places I know. We read a lot of US romance and that gives someone the feeling of knowing what romance looks like, but being disoriented when the settings and characters look different. Even when it’s me, us, people I actually know.

It shouldn’t be right to feel this way, that romance isn’t for me, because the Philippines has a very healthy rom-com movie industry, and local language romance publishing industry. But those stories evolved under different circumstances and have a different history. My romance reading involves a central love story and HEA, formed mainly by romance novels in English. Still, I tried my hand at writing myself into this, never mind the disorientation. And I feel extremely fortunate to have gotten the message, early on, that someone else felt seen. Felt visible.

The magic of these books to me is when we feel visible.

I’m thankful for authors who do the same for me, because sometimes what makes me feel seen is not something I even knew I needed. But another author thought of it, before I asked for it, and that’s just…magic, isn’t it?

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Mina recommends:

Carla de Guzman – www.carladeguzman.com – @Amazon
Carla writes contemporary and royal romance with Filipino characters in lush, romantic settings.

Lydia San Andres – lydiasanandres.com – @Amazon
Lydia has a delightful historical romance series set in the Spanish Carribean, that I love because it connects me to an era that’s familiar but we don’t have historical romance here about.

Katrina Jackson – @twitter – @Amazon
The Spies Who Loved Me series is the sexy spy show (in book form) that I’ve been wanting and needing.

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2019 RARM Questions:

Tell us about a time in your life that felt magical to you.

It’s not a paranormal kind of magic (or is it), but one regular day, I think in the year I turned 30, I was waiting for my ride home from work and there was a nice breeze and I felt something click inside of me. Acceptance? A sense of peace and love of self? All I know is I felt great, and happy with my imperfect body, my imperfect hair, even my fashion choices, and where I was in my career. I was by myself and didn’t have a friend telling me I was enough.

I just felt it, suddenly. Despite everything. I loved it and wanted to capture that feeling, so I put it in one of my books.

Tell us about a book that was magical for you.

My favorite Sweet Dreams YA novella is a Sherri Cobb South title called “Wrong-Way Romance.” A friend lent it to me when I was in high school, and I loved it. It was an enemies to lovers YA and it had a lot of banter, and it was the foundation of my loving that trope. When I went to college, and met people from all over my country, my new friends had read it too—and loved it too. It amazed me then and continues to amaze me how one book could travel all the way to all these cities in my country, and I know it’s because of friends recommending it lovingly to their friends.

Tell us about a “magical moment” in your writing or your career?

I founded and right now am administrator of a community of romance authors so when I think of my career, even though I’m an author, I can’t separate the fact that I am in this community and I organize things for the benefit of the community.

One of the magic moments, like a turning point really, for me was when we tried to organize our first romance event. We had tried selling at other bookish events and fairs, and saw some interest, but maybe wanted to see who would go to an event that was just for romance. So we booked a place that could fit 30 people, on a summer day, and more than double expected number of people showed up. It was hot and crowded but so exciting, because then we got confirmation that we should be focusing on romance readers. They showed up—and continue to show up in all the ways.

For writers who use magical aspects in their books, what attracts you to those elements? For those of you who don’t, are there specific themes or elements you’re attracted to and find yourself going back to? Why do these resonate with you?

I love competence. I love the feeling of reading about somebody just being good at something. This is what I consider magic in our contemporary world—when someone does something really well and they have passion in their work, in helping people out. I love seeing it and writing it.

Creativity is a kind of magical experience. What inspires you, keeps you going, helps you when you lose focus, etc.?

I love being surrounded by interesting things like beautiful art, romantic movies, good books, good music, delicious food, breathtaking nature views. All of that just puts me in a mood where I feel I can and maybe should contribute something to the world.

Drawing – Mina is generously giving away a digital copy of What Kind of Day (epub or mobi) and a digital copy of Kiss and Cry (epub or mobi) (open to anyone who can accept these).

To enter, leave a comment below. Open until August 29, 2019 11:59 PM EST.

Each first unique comment at each space offers an extra chance to win, so check in with each author. Must comment by 9/05/19 11:59pm Eastern to enter.

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Mina V. Esguerra is an author and publisher of contemporary romance novels. She lives and works in the Philippines. She is the founder of the #romanceclass a community of filipino authors of romance in English, and the readers of the books.

Mina also organizes events and activities to encourage writing, reading, and protection of authors’ rights.

Connect with Mina:

minavesguerra.com | romanceclassbooks.com

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Discover all of Mina’s books:

*Please note that the Amazon button, most cover images and text links connect to an affiliate portal. Thanks so much for your help & support!