My Blog is Two!

Two years, I can't believe it.

For my blog's two year anniversary this month, I'm sharing some of my favorite videos, this one created by a fan in response to Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Jamie was voted the best romantic hero ever. (Rourke, from Nora Roberts' In Death series was nearly tied with him, though.) Romantic, inspired dialogue is much of the reason you fall in love with Jamie Fraser. You know what I mean if you're a fan, and if not, watch this.




You may have to watch more than once to catch all the incredible dialog from this work of art. What a chore .

If you're a Gabaldon fan, what enthralled you with the characters, the setting, the plot? What 'did it' for you?





Next Tuesday several writers on our GIAM loop will be blogging on music for writers. Our own use of music to inspire or provide background to the writing process.

Do you have any favorites for the general inspiration of your story? Muse music? Do certain pieces or artists inspire specific aspects of the story - i.e., the sensual, the action, the black moment?

Between now and then if you have any favorites please send them to me so I can share them as well.

Great Reads

Looking for some high quality escapism? Try a proven favorite!

When I posted this in 2007 I thought it was the end of the series but OH,JOY a new book arrives in November. My girlfriend in Maryland and I use to joke that the Jamie and Claire books were like chocolate. Once you start on them you can't quit and then there you are with two years in between and no way to get your Jamie-fix. Here's your Summer Jamie Fix.


(I know, these were taken from a movie where he dies after making love... get into the spirit here!)

After I'd read the Outlander books (the second time) I discovered the Recorded Books versions, all unabridged, and began listening to them in my car, the kitchen, the bathroom, frankly, anywhere I was awake. (If you've read this series, you know what I'm talking about.)

I'll list them in case you are among the few living off planet that aren't familiar with them - Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, Fiery Cross, and Breathe of Snow and Ashes.

Recorded Books has wonderfully talented narrators who bring something special to the books. Davina Porter is without a doubt the Best. Here is a link to listen to a reading of hers from Fiery Cross. http://www.recordedbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=rb.show_narr&narr_id=2364 This may just take you to the Recorded Books site, then click on narrator listing, her name and choose Fiery Cross.

In Dragonfly in Amber - in one scene alone - she reads the part of a Scottish man, a young French man, an English woman, a Scottish girl, a rowdy Scot and an old Scottish man with few teeth. And she pulls it off brilliantly.

I began listening to the sixth book, Breath of Snow and Ashes a month or so ago since I know the seventh book is coming out soon. These books are timeless, each one hooking you into the next. Caution: Don't begin this series unless you're prepared to get hooked. The books are huge, but you'll wish they were longer when you're close to the end of each one. Then you'll scramble to find the next one.

Recorded Books also has an unlimited monthly book rental sorta like Netflix, so there's no excuse for not having read the series. Most larger libraries carry the unabridged version as well.

Please do not waste your time on the unabridged. That's like sitting through the Reader's Digest version of Gone with the Wind. Pullleeeeze.

Rooooaaaaaarrr!

What makes a keeper?

First of all, there are basically two types of books on my keeper shelf:

Romances
The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
Books by Deborah Smith, especially Sweet Hush, A Place to Call Home, and Charming Grace
A Fine Madness by Kathleen Korbel
Many Nora Roberts books, especially Midnight Bayou and Alan MacGregor's story
Outlaw Viking by Sandra Hill
Most of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books, the 'Stars' books and Ain't She Sweet
Amazon Lily et al by Theresa Weir now writing as Anne Frazier
The Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
Sam and Rick series by Suzanne Enoch
Shadow Dance by Susan Andersen

Thrillers/Mystery
Richard North Patterson
David Baldacci
David Rosenfelt
Steve Hamilton
Robert Crais
Greg Iles

At first glance, I wondered what these two groups had in common. But my keepers from the two genres are similar in that they include some level of romance and a HEA. It's fascinating to see how the authors of thrillers approach romance in their novels. Gives insight into the male perspective on relationships.

Here are five factors, four of which are always present.

Suspense:
Whether its Baldacci and Patterson's political machinations in Washington, Hamilton's murders on the Wisconsin Canada border, Greg Iles' thrillers , Gabaldon's time travel or Korbel's emotional romances, the suspense factor keeps me wondering and reading to the very end. For me, that's a must.

Memorable Romantic Heroes:
They are delightfully flawed with an idealistic approach to life. They will change the system, save their country or the world, and protect their woman while dealing with real life challenges to their quintessence and threats from the bad guys.

Emotion:
If the author can't convey deep emotion, set the stakes high enough that failure is a real possibility, then I'm probably not going to remember the book and it won't make it onto my keeper shelf. Deborah Smith's books are top notch emotional reads illustrating these high stakes.

Connection:
The series factor is gaining popularity throughout fiction genres, perhaps in response to our world having less and less community. As we escape to these make believe worlds those fictional families fill a gap that's missing in our lives.

I love it when novels have a 'family' of characters with whom I can bond and follow in future books. When they are irresistible, the entire series can be 'a keeper'.

Humor:
I love witty prose, but it's especially profound when an author you don't associate with humor uses it to bring depth to her characters like Jamie in Gabaldon's Outlander. Don't you love a hero with a sense of humor?