I always love the beginning of a new year.  It's a time for me to reflect on the past year and make changes in my life.  In 2008, I made a pledge to myself to read more books...and I did just that.  I thought I'd share that list with you.
MY IMMMORTAL by Erin McCarthy
TRUE BLUE by Luanne Rice
ONE MORE TIME Celia May Hart
MY LADY'S PLEASURE Renee Bernard
MARKED by PC Cast
VAMPIRE ACADEMY by Richelle Mead
MASTER OF THE HIGHLANDS by Veronica Wolff
AINT SHE SWEET by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
UNINVITED by Amanda Marrone
SIMPLY SEXUAL by Kate Pearce
13 REASONS WHY by Jay Asher
SCIONS INSURRECTION by Patrice Michelle
FROSTBITE by Richelle Mead
I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME by Lisa Schroeder
GHOSTS AMONG US by James Van Praagh
AWAKE by Lisa McMann
THE RECKONING by Kelley Armstrong
REINCARNATION by Suzanne Weyn
DOUBLE FANTASIES Cheryl Holt
NIGHTS IN RODANTHE by Nicholas Sparks
WHEN YOU NEED SOMEBODY by Susan Johnson
MR CAVENDISH, I PRESUME by Julia Quinn
HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins
THE DEVOURING by Simon Holt
A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT by Laura Whitcomb
EVERNIGHT by Claudia Gray
BLOOD RED by Sharon Page
FORBIDDEN FANTASY by Cheryl Holt
NIGHT FALLS DARKLY by Kim Lennox
I'm making a point to visit my local bookstore at least once a month to pick up new releases, and I'm hoping to read one book a week (if not more) this year. 
How about you?  Did you read more books in 08', and what are some books you're looking forward to in 09'?  I'll start--I can't wait to read Alyson Noel's EVERMORE.
Happy reading!
Julia

I sold my erotic Regency historical trilogy THE RAKEHELLS OF ROCHESTER to Kensington's Aphrodisia line.  The first book will be available Fall of 2009! 

 

 

For fifteen years I've wanted to visit Wyoming, specifically NW Wyoming (think Yellowstone and the Grand Teton mountain range), and for fifteen years I've been unable to swing said trip, but no longer!  This week I booked my dream trip, and in a few weeks I'll be flying, along with my better half, to Wyoming, where six days of fun awaits us.  This will be the first trip dh and I have taken in twenty years sans children (who are now grown and living on their own)...and I can hardly wait! 

One of my first books was set in Wyoming, and being the history lover I am, ghost towns, museums, a pow-wow, a rodeo, horseback riding and gunslinger re-enactments are all on the itinerary.  Thankfully I have a husband who understands my love of history and the old west.  He's been a trooper as I've planned every detail of this trip, and dare I say, he even had a twinkle in his eye when we booked our whitewater rafting trip last evening. 

So come this time next month I hope to be having the time of my life while experiencing a place I've written and dreamt about.  I hope the reality is as good as the fantasy.  I have a feeling it will be...

How about you--is there a place you've yearned to see but haven't had the chance to visit yet?   

 

I just had the pleasure of reading THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, a young adult novel by debut author Jay Asher.  This is a unique story you'll never forget, and one that will leave you with a lump in your throat.  It's staying on my keeper shelf.  Run to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy!

Book Description from Amazon.com
Clay Jenkins returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker—his classmate and crush—who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

 

Lately I've been judging a few writing contests, and I was surprised that the majority of entries are in Times New Roman.  I've always been a Courier girl, and in recent years most entries came in this font.  

For me, Courier is easier on the eyes, and it makes figuring word count a breeze.  That doesn't mean I'm opposed to Times New Roman.  I think it's prettier than Courier, but I just never made that plunge. 

So which font do you use when writing and why? 

 

The beginning of this year I made a resolution to read more, and I can't tell you the joy it has brought back into my life.  I went from reading maybe one book every two months in 07', to reading 4-6 books a month.  

I recently went on a book buying spree, and this is what I came home with:

HIGHLANDER UNTAMED by Monica McCarty

HEAT OF THE KNIGHT by Jackie Ivie

EVERMORE by Lynn Viehl

SIMPLY SEXUAL by my lovely friend Kate Pearce

ANY WAY YOU WANT IT by another lovely friend Kathy Love

UNINVITED by Amanda Marrone

BLOOD & CHOCOLATE Annette Curtis Klause

CASTLES, PALACES & STATELY HOMES OF BRITAIN & IRELAND by Charles Phillips

What about you—how many books do you read (or shoot for) each month?  Been on a book shopping spree lately?  Any titles you'd like to pass on?   

I've always been a fan of the alpha male.  I love his confidence, his arrogance (to a point), and his ability to go after what he wants, when he wants, and not worry about what anyone thinks of him. 

To me, nothing is as rewarding as throwing a strong heroine at such a man...and watching this badboy brought to his knees.  

Because I find the alpha male so appealing, its difficult for me to write a story that doesn't include this dominant character.  So...even if my hero isn't a full-fledged alpha (which is rare), then I write a secondary character who is.  The key is to keep that character in the background, which isn't always easy.

So do you prefer an alpha or a beta, and why do you find that type appealing?

  

 

One question I'm often asked is where my story ideas come from.  I always tend to pause before I answer, because every book is different for me. 

I'm a visual person, so it's only natural that many a picture has sparked my muse.  In fact, that was the case with my lastest book RETURN TO ME.  I was flipping through a GQ magazine when I came across an ad with twin brothers, both equally gorgeous, and yet they were so different in every aspect...from the way they wore their hair, to the way they dressed, even down to their expressions. I was immediately intrigued. That picture sparked my muse and Scottish vampires Darius and Demetri MacLeod were born.

A painting of a Native American Warrior was the catalyst for my Western SURRENDER TO LOVE, and an incredible song I heard while watching the movie Romeo & Juliet was behind my Regency historical A DANGEROUS GAME. A black and white photograph of a Scottish castle down a tree-lined drive propelled me to write a time-travel/ghost story called NOW & FOREVER.

Not all stories come visually. Some ideas come in form of an opening line that pops in my head...even before I know anything about character or setting.  And other times a character comes to me first, or the setting, and I start building from there.   

I suppose each story idea comes as it's meant to...be that by way of an opening line, a character, a setting, a song, a movie, an article, a painting, or a photograph that leaps off the page. Whatever the case, I always try to be ready with pen in hand (or laptop) to write down what comes my way.