Wednesday's Wonderings

Wonderful Wednesday All!

Hope you're having a good week and staying warm. It's still too cold here in the South, but I've discovered if I wear several layers of clothing, I can stay comfortable and then peel them off as the day gets warmer...or my blood unfreezes

Yesterday's title discussion was good and as I mentioned, I love coming up with what I hope will be the perfect title for my books. But there's another naming chore that I agonize about for days, sometimes weeks, and that's naming my characters. Even though I love finding that perfect name because it means I'll soon meet some amazing people I'd love to know in real life (well, with the exception of the villains), finding the right name for each person can be difficult.

I think I mentioned last week, that I went through several names before deciding on Jordan in RESCUE ME. He went through almost half of the book with the name Dane, but it just wasn't working for me. My usual process is to give them what I think is a good name and then, as I get to know them, it'll either stick or I'll have to think of another one. If the name isn't working for me, I often have to stop writing and brainstorm names before I can continue. I have books and websites I peruse, and I drive my family and friends crazy asking for input. The villain gets almost as much attention. I want to make sure I never give the villain a name I like so much I want to use it as a hero's name one day.

Names are important to me not only in my writing, but my reading. If there's a main character with a name that seems off, I just can't get into the book as much as I might have with a different name. I've even renamed a character occasionally to help me enjoy the book more. LOL, yes, I am a bit obsessive about this!

Most of my pet peeves comes from names of people I've known or maybe television shows that pigeonholed that name for me. Whenever I hear that name, I see that face. One that comes to mind is the name Jethro. Now, I know that many people will think of Mark Harmon in NCIS and I admit, he has given that name a wonderfully, sexy image. However, before NCIS, all I could picture is Jethro Bodine from The Beverly Hill Billies. And as hunky as that actor playing him was, his character wasn't exactly the kind of sexy hero I love in romance.

So here are today's questions:

Are there certain names you just can't abide in a romance? Are there any that you adore? Are names important to you or is one name just as good as another? What are your favorite male and female names?

Looking forward to hearing what you think.

Have a great day all!

Tuesday's Question

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Yesterday was great. Got some wonderful recommendations to add to our ever growing list. Sorry I was late responding to so many of you. Had a doctor's appointment that took longer than I wanted. But now I'm all medicined up and hopefully headed to feeling better.

In one of the comments yesterday, someone mentioned titles. I can't recall who it was, but if it was you, please take credit for it in your comment. It was a great suggestion.

I love coming up with titles. My first manuscript went from Once in a Lifetime to More Than a Miracle. Sigh, so romantic. It's really hard for me to write a book without a set title. I know some authors who wait until the book is written or half written before they decide on one, but I've never been able to do that. I'm like that with character names too. If I don't know the name, how can I write what 'no name' says?

I've been very fortunate to be able to keep most of my titles. RESCUE ME and RETURN TO ME were mine, but I originally had Remember Me, instead of RUN TO ME. I was perfectly happy with the change.

In my second trilogy, I wanted LAST CHANCE to go first, but the marketing people felt that LAST denotes LAST and it should go LAST. LOL Makes way too much sense for my dreamy, floatey brain. It was the right marketing move but since I wrote the first book with the title LAST CHANCE in my mind, I did have to take some brain detours. Whew! Those hairpin curves are scary. So LAST CHANCE became NO CHANCE and NO CHANCE became LAST CHANCE but SECOND CHANCE was always SECOND, because, well...it was SECOND.

The third trilogy, SWEET JUSTICE, SWEET REVENGE and SWEET REWARD, was my second choice, but I love them now and feel they fit the stories so much better. Won't tell you my original titles because I hope to use them some day. We'll see!

So, let's get to that question. What do you think about titles? Do they make you pick up the book? Are some of them so off-putting, you don't pick up the book? Have you ever bought a book because of the title? I know I have. And I'm sure I've not purchased a book because of the title, though none come to mind.

What about you?

Hope everyone has a fabulous Tuesday! And stay warm...it's freezing in Bama!

Recommend Monday!

Good Monday All!

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fabulously fun? Read anything deliciously wonderful?

My weekend was a little low-key. Been under the weather lately (does anyone know where that term came from? It just seems an odd phrase but I've heard it all of my life) Anyway, I'm feeling better and plan on a productive week with Jamie and Dylan, as well as an intense discussion with...you guessed it, a dastardly, vile villain!

We've been having some fabulous discussions the last few days. As you know, I announced a contest on Friday and I'm collecting comments (only 1 per day counts) until December 20. Then, I'll draw a name and give away a prize package filled with goodies, gift cards and books.

Friday, we talked about what book you would recommend to a friend who confessed she/he had never read a romance. Saturday, we discussed covers, your likes and dislikes. And yesterday, we talked about the book or books that brought you over to the romance genre and made you a fan.

Today, can you guess the question? Here's a hint: Recommend Monday! You got it! What book(s) did you read recently that you're dying to tell others about so we can run out and buy it before they're all gone? If you've not had a chance to read anything recently, tell us an old favorite. Maybe we haven't read it and are missing out on a good thing.

For me, I didn't get to read anything new this past week, but there's a book I read several years ago that I don't think has been mentioned here. It's one I really want to go back and read because I remember how fabulous I thought it was. The book is The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll. Anyone read it? I think there were three books in the series. I remember laughing, crying and being thoroughly entertained.

Okay, that's it for me. I'm headed to work on SWEET REVENGE where the sparks are a'flying!

Happy Monday All!

Sunday's Question!

Good Sunday All!

Yesterday was great fun talking about covers. So interesting to see what diverse likes and dislikes readers have. Sometimes it's hard for me to say what I do or don't like about a cover, but most everyone yesterday was very specific about their preferences. Great input!

On Friday, we talked about what romance book you'd recommend to a friend to bring her/him over into the bright side of love. Today, let's talk about the ones that brought you over. For me, I honestly can't remember that very first one, but I remember several first ones, such as The Flame and the Flower, The Wolf and the Dove, Sweet Savage Love (LOL, sounds like a good title for Dylan's book), Whitney My Love. I remember authors like Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Emilie Loring, Grace Livingston Hill, Laurie McBain, Judith McNaught and so many others that introduced me to the genre and kept me coming back for more. I know I devoured every Harlequin Presents I could get my hands on. Oh, the joy of reading all of those beautiful, wonderful, amazing books!

So, today's question:

What was the book or books that brought you over to the romance genre?

Can't wait to compare. Will be interesting to see how many of us read the same books.

Hope everyone has a fabulous Sunday!

SWEET Saturday

Hey all, yesterday was such fun. Wow, what a great list of books mentioned for bringing someone over to the romance genre. Will have to try some of those with a few of my non-romance reading friends and see if they work. Several of the suggestions were great for me too. Some of them I'd read and want to go back and revisit. Others were ones I've heard so much about and now have even more incentive to try them.

Today we're talking covers. (Thank you, Ronlyn, for the idea!) I haven't seen the covers for my SWEET trilogy yet, but I've seen a couple of email discussions about them and I am so excited. I think they're going to be fabulous and even better than the CHANCE covers. Can't wait to get them, so I can share them you.

Covers have been a controversial subject for romance novels forever, it seems. Whether it's the covers for what people termed 'bodice rippers' to the manly, muscular chests, cartoon characters, people without heads (not literally!) or the quiet, scenic covers that seem to denote hearth, home and a small town setting, everyone seems to have an opinion about them. Some people are sensitive about the covers of books they read and use a book cover while out in public. Others don't mind carrying around their latest, perhaps steamy looking read.

So here are today's questions. Feel free to address one or all of them:

What's your favorite kind of book cover? Do you like them sexy, sweet, or in between? Do you mind when the characters' faces aren't shown? Does it bother you when the heroine is described as having fiery, red hair and the cover shows a blonde? Would you prefer the characters completely clothed or maybe not have people on the cover at all? If you're reading a book with a steamy cover, do you hide it with a book cover if you're out and about while reading?

Remember, your comment will get you entered into the prize package giveaway in 17 days. Be sure to comment each day to increase your chances of winning.

Looking forward to hearing your preferences!

Have a SWEET Saturday!

Happy Friday All!

Hope you've had a good week! Thanks so much to those who came over yesterday to the Romance & Oreo Book Club. We had a great time!

I think I mentioned Monday that I'm starting a new contest today that will run through December 20. The winner will receive a price package filled with books, goodies, gift cards and oh yeah, more books! Each day, starting today, I'm going to post a discussion question. You can comment as much as you like, but your name will only be counted once each day. If you're able to comment each day, that means your name will go into the drawing eighteen times, increasing your chances of winning.

So let's have some fun discussion today. And tomorrow, I'll post a new question.

Today's Question:

If a friend confided in you that she'd never read a romance novel and you wanted to bring her over to the bright side of love, what book would you suggest she read? (LOL, no extra credit for suggesting one of mine).

See you tomorrow! And don't forget about Recommend Monday!

Have a fabulous Friday!

RESCUE ME on Romance and Oreos Book Club!

Just dropping by to remind you to come by the book club today where awesome author Marie Force is featuring RESCUE ME and Hope Frost is co-hosting. We'll be talking about Eden, Jordan, Noah, the awful Alise, the dastardly LaRues and of course, Last Chance Rescue!

Come on over and chat. I'm giving away three books!

http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com

Hope to see you there!