I haven’t been reading romance long, I say that as a person who has always been a ‘reader’. So when I was finally talked into reading Laura Kinsale’s Shadowheart and fell in love with not only a book but a genre, 3 years isn’t a long time to me. And when I first started hunting for rec’s, I wasn’t interested in reading Nora Roberts.
Before anyone starts throwing things, let me say I had a few different reasons but the biggest one was Nora Roberts didn’t need me as a reader. She is huge. A bestseller among bestsellers, the top of the tops, all that and a bag of chips. So with all of these romance novels in the world, wouldn’t my time and money be better spent on someone who would appreciate it. When I say appreciate I don’t mean a
personal thank you to your readers, in my mind it is more of a you buy a book and end up recommending it and maybe cause more books to be bought. Nora & Co would never notice or care but SusieQ newbie would, right?
That was my thinking and I was sticking too it. To be fair I skipped over many BIG names in my first months of reading but really that is another post for later.
So why am I telling all you this now you ask? Not too long ago I started to see Nora Roberts around romanceland and I was surprised. She gave her opinion, when it wasn’t directed at selling a book. She can rec a book, without the only books coming to mind being her own. She can disagree with you, without needing to ‘put you in your place’, ‘prove she is right’ or even wanting to change your mind. Here was an author at the top of her game, a chick on the Forbes list, hanging out with readers. A mainstream author who not only knows that “Romance Rocks” but is proud as hell to shout it to the world that she is apart of it.
For every author who has ever thought that how they present themselves online means nothing, I can tell you I started reading Nora Roberts because of her posts and the way presents herself.
What sealed the deal for me was when I made some flip comment about one of our reviews and “I was sure a blog review didn’t matter to her” (as in existing not in the context of good or bad reviews) and she responded, they always matter.
Say what you will and some do make snide comments on the ‘worshiping’ at the Shrine of La Nora but when you can find a successful author who ‘gets’ it. One who respects the romance genre, the romance reader and knows that a bad review of a book doesn’t make for a naughty reader – it is really hard to not want to clone her and nail her feet to the floor of romanceland.
I am often not sure which rocks more Romance or Roberts. And a huge example that Nora Roberts values all her readers, even the lil ones, shines in the fact she will be here today to chat with us, take some questions, hopefully share a few secrets on what’s coming next or you know dish cuz hey we roll like that. Excerpts would be good too, they keep Gwen on her best behavior.
Just a warning, Q&A is being formatted. Or as much as it can be while I am in the car on the way to work ;). Maybe Gwen will get on and do it. HINT, hint.
Although I just read through it and it tres amusing. I like that Nora chick. Should be up by 9ish. Unless the gods hate me and make me like work at work than expect it around 10am.
Nora will be gone most of the afternoon, so no worries there. Get your questions ready and you will post them on the Q&A so they can be in one place. And that is where I will take the posts to draw or winners.
Feel free to rec away here though because really I have only read 5 or 6 and am always looking for what Nora Roberts I should read next.
It is good that you have seen the true path, young grasshopper.
(You should try HEAVEN AND EARTH. Very Mulder-ish hero. 😀 )
I cannot wait to read Blood Brothers! I’m hoping to get my hands on it soon 🙂 I just finished “The Gift” and have Sea Swept and Gabriel’s Angel waiting in the wings (no pun intended) to be read next.
I’ll join in the paean to Nora’s classiness. And her guts. And that she’s found a pretty darn good way to speak her mind without getting personal.
Nora Roberts . . . The ultimate (ultra-talented) class act.
I plan to be reading her until she stops writing, which I sincerely hope will be never.
Class, professionalism, talent and the understanding that writing is her job and publishing is a business–and that it should be treated as such; there’s a reason she’s had such a long, successful career. People could learn from her.
Romance= Nora. Nuff said 🙂
I am such an addict of her In Death series that I will stalk the bookseller the day it comes out if they don’t have it for me. I have every single one of those books from paperback to hardcover.
I agree, Nora is a good example of an author who presents herself well online. She always seems levelheaded and professional and doesn’t go into long rants or big silly online arguements with readers like certain people on my mental “bad example” list.
oops, “arguments”.
Thank you. You guys are so nice to me–and make me feel very smug–ah, I mean humble.
I feel I must go buy myself something else, as a small, personal tribute.
Seems fair, right?
No, seriously, I appreciate the kind words.
I too have been impressed by Nora’s online postings. She exemplifies class.