Romance Novel Sluts

And now, some answers to some burning questions that I had for the finalists. Thanks to Jill Shalvis, Liz Carlyle, Bronwyn Parry (who Dark Country we showcased a couple of weeks ago, Kylie Brant, Carol Linden and Linda Goodnight for helping me out. Good Luck in July, ladies.

What about this story is special?

Jill Shalvis on Instant Attraction: I set it in my backyard, for one, the wild wild Sierras. Also, I think any time you have two damaged people doing their best to crawl back to the land of the living, you get emotionally invested. And then there’s the well-meaning, warm-hearted but slightly bumbling heroine just trying to make it through her day. Everyone can relate to that. I sure do, especially the bumbling part.

Liz Carlyle on Wicked All Day: The heroine, I think, in that Zoe is so flawed, and when the book begins, so frightfully immature.  The book is in part about her journey to adulthood, and about how she comes to understand the depth of her love for the hero.

Bronwyn Parry on Dark Country:The hero and heroine, Gil and Kris, became such alive characters that they were a joy to write. Both strong, tough characters, but with a solid core of caring, and the resilience and courage to (eventually!) be vulnerable to each other.

Kylie Brant on Waking the Dead: I like to think the setting brings the story to life.  It takes place in the Willamette Forest in Oregon and one of my readers mentioned that the setting almost seemed like another character.  And I did have lots of fun with the villain.  He even creeped me out!

Caroline Linden on A View To a Kiss: It’s Romeo and Juliet, if Romeo were really more like James Bond, and with a happy ending instead of the double suicide. For me the book is special because I worked on it, off and on (well–mostly off) for almost four years, arguing with the characters, struggling with the plot, and never knowing if it would ever see the light of day. And for a while it seemed like it wouldn’t. One editor called it “perfectly competent” but said it lacked anything that would make it stand out in the market. I finally decided I would write the book just for myself and be happy with that–and the next week an editor at Avon loved it and bought it. Have I mentioned I adore my editor, not only for loving the book, but also for helping make it even better than I hoped it would be? It was a pure pleasure to work with her on this book, and on all the books we’ve done since.

Linda Goodnight on The Snow-Kissed Bride: I think there are a number of factors involved–the setting in the Colorado Rockies and the heroine’s work with search and rescue dogs, but most of all, l I think people are touched by the heroine’s emotional wound and the way she’s managed to carve a place for herself anyway. Who doesn’t admire a person with the grit to keep going strong, especially to help others even after terrible personal  tragedy?

If you had to pick the winning book from any category to win the Rita for its category, which book would it be and why?

Jill Shalvis: Ah, man. Can’t we all win? Pretty please? And while I’m making wishes, can I wish that the Rita statue be made of chocolate?

Liz Carlyle: That would definitely be “Annalise and the Scandalous Rake” by Deb Marlowe in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor because she is my critique partner and because she is fabulous.  I am almost ashamed to say I have not read any of the other books on the list but I have heard fabulous things about The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay, and even though that’s not a genre I read, I am going to put that on my TBR pile.

Bronwyn Parry: There are so many wonderful books that all deserve to win! One of my favourites is Elizabeth Rolls’ Lord Braybrook’s Penniless Bride in the Regency Historical category. Elizabeth’s books are consistently wonderful, and this one blends the traditions of the regency sub-genre with a fine historical sense, and believable, complex characters with the sensibilities of the period.

Kylie Brant: I’d love to see Kate Brady win Best First Book with One Scream Away.  I love her voice.  And Loreth Anne White would be a very deserving win in the series Romantic Suspense/Adventuere for Cold Case Affair.  Her books are always  satisfying reads.

Caroline Linden: For the Earl’s Pleasure by Anne Mallory was one of my favorite books of the year, so I’m cheering hard for that to win Paranormal Romance. It was mysterious and tender and romantic and sexy, which is very hard to do when one of the characters doesn’t really have a corporeal body for part of the story. I am a serious Anne Mallory fangirl.

Linda Goodnight: Ah, another embarrassing question. Usually, I devour the RITA books, but this year some personal issues including the illness and death of my dad,  have gotten in the way of reading.  I have to confess I have not read a single one of the nominated books. (So sorry! I know they are wonderful!)

Emma Thompson keeps her Oscars in the bathroom. If you win the Rita, where will you keep yours?

Jill Shalvis: Somewhere high enough that the new puppy, nicknamed Frat Boy because he’s always looking for a good time, can’t chew it up. Possibly perched on top of my towering TBR stack …

Liz Carlyle: In my bookcase.

Bronwyn Parry: I’d be so honoured to win, that I’d probably keep it on a shelf in the living room, where I can see it often – and show visitors!

Kylie Brant: I’m afraid I’m much more pedestrian than Emma.  Mine will be kept in my office with my other awards.  They can keep each other company that way

Caroline Linden: In my kitchen window, to remind me, while making peanut butter sandwiches and trying to keep the dog from snatching any of them before a hungry kid can eat it, of my fantasy life: to be a poised and well-coifed writer with a neat desk.  Although my son suggested we could mount it on the hood of my car and pretend it is a new ultra-luxurious line of minivan from Rolls Royce.

Linda Goodnight: I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, considering how much my RITA means to me. BUT when I first brought it home, my husband put it in a lovely, glass-enclosed case with the winning book. He fully intended to hang it on my office wall but never got around to it. So, my lovely golden girl stands silently in her case–in the corner of my office behind the desk. No one can even see her!  If I could win another, I think I’ll hire someone to hang them both for me.