Where did the summer go? Oh, don't get all technical on me...I know it's still summer until September 21st. But I will probably always be on an internal back-to-school clock, even though I gave up my library job and have no kids home to put on the bus. It's hard to break a life-long habit, though. Once school starts, summer is dead to me, despite the sunny days and extreme heat we've been having.
September is always a month for new beginnings, a chance for change and growth (and the debut of Tiffany Clare's Surrender of a Lady, LOL). So what's changing and growing for me now besides my waist? The Brava anthology Lords of Passion (December 2010) has been chosen to be a featured alternate selection for the Rhapsody Book Club this holiday season! I think it might have something to do with the fact that romance legend Virginia Henley takes top billing. *g* I got a few ARCs the other day and read both her and Kate Pearce's novellas. They are so good. I'm tremendously excited to be a contributor to this book!
I'm giving away an ARC of LOP this month on my website--click here to enter. I've got an excerpt up here to introduce you to Prudence Thorne and Darius Shaw, two characters who personify the 'opposites attract' trope. This novella was pure fun to write, and I hope readers will have fun reading it.
When I started to write, the first 'book' I finished turned out to be only 20,000 words. I've discovered that writing novellas (30-35,000 words---I'll have a second one in Brava's Improper Gentlemen, July 2011) is liberating in terms of word count, but you still have to squeeze in a believable character arc in one-third of the space of a normal novel. Challenging!
Heretofore, I hadn't bought too many anthologies, but now I actively hunt for them. They're a great way to sample a new author and take a quick bite of something delicious. How about you? Ready for something short and sweet? Which authors do you look for in anthologies?
5 comments:
I actively seek out Lora Leigh's anthology stories. I hate missing her books. I can imagine they are difficult to write because you have so much more to squeeze in in a third of the words.
Oh I dunno. I did pick up some Novellas by Gena Showalter recently and now I want to read the series. Picked up a novella by JR Ward that tied into the Black Dagger Brotherhood series that was good too. I was also turned onto Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden by reading anthologies. But there have been many ,many more that I am sure I am forgetting. Its less about who writes the anthologies and more about if Im in the mood to read something shorter then a standard novel.
I have recently gotten into anthologies, too. I have the BURNING UP anthology, which I mainly bought to read Meljean's steampunk novella. I think anthologies can be a good way to intro a reader to a new author (well, the author might not be new but reader hasn't read them yet). Also cannot wait for LOP!!!! Or SOAL! Squeee!
What a hunky cover! And the title is classic. I love it!
In the past, I kind of shied away from an anthology because I was scared to try new authors. (does that even make sense?!LOL)Within the last two years, I started picking them up because the authors I liked were only putting one book out a year. (BTW-I'm totally loving THE GIRL WHO LOVED HISTORICAL ROMANCE!!) What a way to taste test! ;)
For me, a guaranteed purchase on a collection is one that contains Sherrilyn Kenyon or Julia Quinn. BUT I'm quite eager to add more!! *wink wink*
Sarah, I think the guy looks a little like like Rupert Everett, who would be totally uninterested in me, LOL.So glad you're liking the excerpt book...the genius of Courtney Milan. :)
Nikki, sometimes short is all I've got time for, so a good anthology is perfect.
Tiff, looking for my Lora Leigh books...did I unpack them in the move?
Ely, I need to read more Meljean. Started and then for some reason missed a couple. She's so good, and disgustingly cute.
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