Saturday Chit-Chat
Patricia A asked:
Who are your favorite romance authors (based on body of work) and what impact did they have on writing your stories?
Who are yours? (our readers)?
CP: LaVyrle Spencer got me started on reading romance. My all time favorite is Separate Beds . She taught me that contemporary romance and happy endings was my calling in life. Gave me the warm, snuggly feeling I want and need in a romance, and that is always what I want to impart to my readers. I miss her writing new books!
LK: You know, I don’t even know if anybody else remembers her, but my all-time favorite romance author was always Laurie McBain. She wrote magnificent, heart-rending historicals back in Avon’s heyday. I read Woodiwiss and Wilde, but my heart belonged to McBain. She wrote books such as Moonstruck Madness, Tears of Gold, Chance the Winds of Fortune and Wild Bells to the Wild Sky. (Bells had a hero named Valentine Whitelaw and a heroine named Lily Francesca and I LOOOVED their story and I LOOVED the tragic love story of Lily’s shipwrecked parents!!) Anyway, I would read one of her books and be sobbing my face off all the while rooting for the h/H to get their HEA. I have never read another author, past or present, who could move me with her books the way McBain could.
Unfortunately, she hasn’t written a new book in years. A true shame, IMHO.
JEL I have so many favorite authors, but the one who got me started writing was Linda Lael Miller. Her Corbin series (Corbin’s Fancy being the first) truly inspired me. You can only imagine the thrill I experienced when I was in the novella collection with her last year that made the New York Times. Talk about coming full circle. When I wanted to write for Temptation, I read Jenny Crusie and Pat Ryan voraciously. More recently, I’d say Nora’s JD Robb books set me on my Marisela career path. She really took the idea of the strong heroine to a new level and really excited me with her Eve Dallas stories. I could probably go on and on about authors I love!
JD: For me, it was Sandra Brown who inspired me to write romances, and especially category romances! This was WAY back when she was writing for the now defunct Bantam Loveswept line. She really knew how to write a hot and sexy story, and once I discovered her books, I went back and glommed all the ones I missed! Unfortunately, once she turned to her darker suspense books, I stopped reading her. Too heavy for me! Another author who inspired me was Cindy Gerard — who again started writing category romances with Bantam Loveswept, then crossed over to Harlequin Desire. She just writes these super-sexy heroes, strong heroines, and a great love story. She has since started writing single title suspense, but I still read her books because her single titles still have a strong romance to them.
What about you? Who is your favorite romance author and whose work do you most admire?
Besides the obvious, the plotmonkeys. My favorite authors from back in the day are and still continue to be Nora Roberts and Judith McNaught. I know that for some the way that Nora head hops is still considered a No No but for me I have always loved the way she rights. I’m really never taken out of the book regardless of whose POV she is in. Judith’s way of intertwining her characters from one book to another made me love historical. I felt as if I knew the people in her books and enjoyed seeing them again and again. Now, I know that this happens more and more today with series books but back then that was not so much the case.
My newest favorite author has to be J. R. Ward. I’ve never really read much of the vampire books and when my CP gave me Dark Lover to read I was hooked. I love the way she writes.
Happy Saturday Everyone!!
Comment by Vicki — April 7, 2007 @ 8:38 am
Gosh I have so many.
I think first ones that come to mind are Diana Palmer and Jayne Ann Krentz (under all her names), they were my first auto buy authors. Jayne was the first author I read where the heroine wasn’t a wimpy and she is the only author that could get me to read a historical for the longest time.
Julie was the first one I met in person at CR we were sitting at the same table and became friends I think instantly. 
Diana Palmer, I just love her, when you read her you know what you are getting, there are no surprises.
I think the biggest thrill was when I finally got to meet JAK in person at my first conference when RWA was in Chicago, that was before I knew anyone. Cissy from WS took me over to introduce me to Jayne and that’s when I also met Suzanne Simmons and Stella Cameron (who has since become almost like a second mom to me) and I saw how truly nice the authors were. It was also my first time meeting Nora.
Lori Foster is another author I admire, she is such a nice person and has helped me so much.
Then of course there are the plot monkeys.
Leslie I met when I emailed her after reading her first Temptation and I knew she was going to be big (still think so).
Janelle, my first impression was on tall she was and then how funny.
Comment by BadBarb — April 7, 2007 @ 8:46 am
I would have to say the author who got me started in reading is Julie Garwood. I read one of those reviews/excerpts at the back of Cosmopolitan magazine about the book “Heartbreaker” and then went out to buy it. I LOVED it. Then went out and bought anything I could find by her. I was a late bloomer when it comes to reading. From there I would say Deidre Martin, Suzanne Brockmann, Cindy Gerard, Heather Graham and Judith Mcnaught. There that is my list. LOL!
Then luckily after reading all of Carly’s Chandler series and subscribing to her newsletter I found the Plotmonkeys. Now I have a whole new set of books to read.
Comment by Kelly F. — April 7, 2007 @ 8:59 am
Vicki- Have you been over to RBTB when JR has visitied with us???
Comment by ev — April 7, 2007 @ 9:07 am
When I read the question first, I immediately thought of Linda Lael Miller and JD Robb, and lo and behold, those were the two Julie mentioned.
The first thing of Linda’s I read were her Vampire romance novels.
(they were re-released 5 or 6 years ago, 2 stories to a book.) I loved those. I think, no, I know, that they were the very first paras of any kind that I had read. I read them when they were first released so it was nice to see them out again. I just wished she had written more of them.
I also read everything Linsay McKenna writes. She has been writing about powerful women since she started and I have enjoyed all the story lines. It all started with Morgan and his mercenaries and has continued through other story lines that all have a connection to the original characters in one way or another. Unlike most series, they have all grown older, had kids, the kids are now grown, etc. I love it. I keep hoping none of them ever die though.
Comment by ev — April 7, 2007 @ 9:12 am
Well, I’m like someone else said, I guess a late bloomer when it comes to romance, and fiction in general. I’ve always been an informtion junkie and have read tons and tons of non-fiction. But about 3 years ago when I just couldn’t stand another ADD/Bi-polar child book, I found Jaid Black. I have no idea how, or where, but I loved the escape it gave me and I read all of her books.
Then I found Janelle and Scott Wilde and have been hooked every since. I found one of Carly’s books at Sam’s Club the same week, put her endorsement with Janelle’s book and then found the rest of the Plotmonkeys. The rest is history, as they say, as far as the Plotmonkeys and my obsession with romance goes. btw - read The Boys of Summer yesterday and loved all 3 stories!
I’d never read vamp books until I met Kimberly Raye and Lil here and I loved those books so I’m now searching all of Kimberley’s past books and other vamp stories. Any suggestions on must read vamps?
I still jump to Ellora’s Cave every now and then and have gotten hooked on Joey Hill too. Her books bring out every emotion, not just the happy, lovey-dovey stuff but tears, frustration, everything. Not normally something I want to read but she does it in such a way that it’s OK to cry because I know, ultimately, it will turn out OK.
Hope everyone’s having a great weekend!
Comment by Jodie — April 7, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Oh, my will this blog be big enough to list them all?!?! I love love love J.K. Rowling…kids books-pah! Of course the plotmonkeys are right there too, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Tara Janzen, Christina Skye, Saranne Dawson, Judy Blume, and too may others to remember right off the top. Who I must thank first and foremost is my mother for instilling the love of reading when I was a child. The local retired librarian saw my mom in the grocery store a few weeks back and remembered us as kids always checking out the maximum number of books allowed sometimes 2 or 3 times a week!:lightbulb:
Comment by Sheryl M — April 7, 2007 @ 11:28 am
Well this is going to age me, but, Victoria Holt novels were my passion in high school…the history, the romance, the mystery…ahh… would keep me hooked for the whole book and leave me on edge waiting for the next new one to come out. Than of course Kahleen Woodiwise was a great break from long hours of cramming for exams in college….
Now, a Carly Phillips, Nora Roberts, Jennifer Cruise or Jennifer Weiner new book are all reasons for a Tuesday run to Costco!
Comment by Lois — April 7, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
my favorites would have to be ( i love them all) Sharon Sala shes my all time favorite i just wish she had new books more often and Karen Harper ,Catherine Anderson i love the Coulter family books i love Maggie Shayne i like Amanda Stevens although her last book the The Dollmaker wasn’t great (every author is intitled to make a bad book i guess)
Comment by nancy — April 7, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
Wow love this topic…I would say my all time favorite from back in the day would be Kathleen E. Woodiwiss “Shanna”, Rosemary Rogers “Crowd Pleasers” would be a close second, and of course Jacqueline Susann “Yargo”. New authors would be Johanna Lindsey (Mallory Novels), Christina Skye (Draycott Abbey novels), Jude Deveraux earlier books not crazy about the newer ones but loved “Wishes” and “Knight in Shining Armor”
Comment by Tina Martinesi — April 7, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
For me it’s Jill Shalvis. I love, love, love her books.
Comment by Gena — April 7, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
Romance books have been my favorite reading material for longer than I care to think about! I started back in junior high or high school reading “teen” books which at that time were very tame. They might have kissed by the end of the book!! On to more recent times! In the 80’s I started reading Temptations & fell in love with the stories, the authors & still mourn the loss of that line!
Before the Temptations I read a lot of historical novels but rarely read them now, the contemporary romances are more appealing to me now days. My favorites are many, so here goes: of course the Plotmonkeys, Jill Shalvis, Nora Roberts, Suzanne Brockmann, Lindsay McKenna, Tori Carrington, Susan Mallery, Catherine Mann, Merline Lovelace, Catherine Anderson, Debbie Macomber, recently discovered Roz Denny Fox, Samantha Hunter, Lori Borrill, Jo Leigh and that is just a few of the many. I’m sure as soon I submit this more will come to mind & I wonder how I left out such & such!! 
Thanks for giving us the chance to list some of our favorite authors. My auto buy list grows & grows! This morning I started reading Carly’s Summer Lovin which has been on my TBR shelf for several months. So many books, so little time!!
Everyone have a great weekend whatever your plans are.
Take care,
Donna M
Comment by Donna M — April 7, 2007 @ 2:14 pm
There are several writers that I will buy sight unseen. ( the plotmonkeys are a given) I absolutely love Jennifer Cruise and I’m always waiting for her next book somewhat impatiently. The first book I read of hers was “Bet Me”. After that I had to read everything she had written before and then I went back and read “Bet Me” again. I have the same reaction to anything Carly Phillips writes. I started with “Simply Sinful” and I am hooked for life. I just can’t get enough!!!:love2:
Comment by Carol R — April 7, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
When in high school I too, started out reading Kathleen Woodiwiss and LaVeryl Spencer. After that I found Carole Mortimere and Harlequin. Then I came across Sandra Brown and Danielle Steel. I really liked the Sandra Brown books and like others went on a search for all of them.
A couple of years ago I found Carly Phillips from my mom. She gave me one of the Hot series books and then I was on a quest once again for all of Carly’s books.
Since then I read Catherine Anderson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Carly and Sandra Brown.
Great topic ~ Happy Easter Everyone!!
Comment by Shelley — April 7, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Love Julie Garwood, Sandra Brown, Suzanne Enoch, SEP, Lisa Kleypas, Jennifer Cruise. Many more than those, just to many to list. Love to read..
Comment by Stacy S — April 7, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
Jodie- there are so many authors who do vamp novels these days, it’s hard to list them all. some are funny, some are bloody. Just depends on what you like. I enjoy all of Charlaine Harris’ , kimberly harrison, and Laurel K. Hamilton. there are just so many!!!
There is a new series out by Vicki Pettersson (not a misspelling) called Sign of the Zodiac. 1 and 2 are out. Not Vamps. Very good book, but hard to explain without typing the back of the book.
Comment by ev — April 7, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
Thanks, Ev - that gives me a place to start. I like funny more than bloody - ick. Thanks!
Comment by Jodie — April 7, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
I agree with many of the above listed authors but, I would also include: Kat Martin, Heather Graham/Shannon Drake, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Karen Robards, Elizabeth Lowell, Joanna Lindsey, Barbara Delinsky, Joan Honl and Janet Dailey. These authors were always automatic buys for me! I cannot pick an all time favorite.
Comment by Laurie — April 8, 2007 @ 6:49 am
OOPs and Catherine Coulter!
Comment by Laurie — April 8, 2007 @ 6:51 am
My all-time choice is Sharon & Tom Cartis, aka Robin James, aka Laura London. I still have a few of their Historicals left to read, but, their contemps are the ones that continue to resonate with me, & every time I want to *feel* the emotion of Romances, I reread them. There are three that continue to touch & move me: 1. THE GOLDEN TOUCH - young, spirited widow in small town (who lost her husband in a tragic accident), owns a music store & meets a famous rock star when he needs a guitar repair. 2. THE TESTIMONY - young woman, married to a reporter who has been jailed for not giving up his source as a basis for a controversial article, returns home, as a different & damaged man than when he was initially incarcerated. (This is a profound story of trying to rekindle married love.) Both written as Robin James for Second Chance at Love. 3. SUNSHINE & SHADOW (for Bantam, as the Curtises) - Hollywood director rents farmland for his film & meets the Amish daughter, who lives there. (This sounds like a cheesy concept, but, is written in such a lovely, lyrical & aching way that I cried through much of it.) These all were written in the 80s, but, are written with such heart, they’re timeless. If you can find these in a UBS or library sale, they’re well worth your time.
BTW, Donna M., your list is almost exactly mine.
Patricia A.
Comment by Patricia — April 8, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
If you want to go back a while I think Frank Yerby was my first romance author. The deep south and the war. He is missed.
Comment by Gram — April 12, 2007 @ 3:29 pm