The Complete Set

I'm torn. If a book intrigues me, I love to find out it's a series. I don't mind waiting for each book to come out. That was part of the fun in the Harry Potter series. The anticipation for the next one. Re-reading each one before the next came out. Speculating about the plot. And how much fun we had getting the midnight release. I'll never be able to read those books again for the first time.
Sometimes, however, reading a complete series can be too much. The reader has to slog through recaps so that new readers aren't lost if they start with book two or three.

I recently read a series where the author's voice was amazing and sucked me in, but I didn't like the story enough to enough. I still read them all (I guess we'd have to count that as a success for the author), but I found myself criticizing rather than enjoying. By the end the list of things that didn't work for me was long, and yet I wanted to finish.

And then there are the series that don't finish. It happens a lot in publishing. An author's numbers aren't good enough, so they drop her, or her editor leaves and the new editor doesn't want to keep her. With self-pubbing, the possibility exists that the author might finish the series on her own, but on the other hand, one has to move on as well.
If you're the type of reader who likes to wait until a series is complete to read it, you're in luck. My Time of Transition series is now done. The three books, THE WISH LIST, AS YOU WISH, and WISHFUL THINKING, are all available now. Spread the word. I could use your help in keeping this world alive.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:

Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore

It's Release Day

TIme for the obsessive writer behavior to kick in. To check on Amazon every ten minutes to see if the numbers change (they haven't). To Google oneself (don't let me see anything bad). To get on Facebook an Twitter to see if anyone is talking about you.

This behavior, while normal, is not healthy. But it's also kind of fun.

Now I think I'll head over to my local bookstore and see if I'm on the shelves yet. I didn't mention that behavior above.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore.

We have winners...

Thank you everyone who entered. The wand and a collection of my books goes to Diane A; and Carol W, Su J, and Tina R each get a copy of one of my books, their choice.

I wish you all could have won. No, I really do. I loved talking with all of you and reading your answers to my question. So many wonderful stories you all shared with me. I feel privileged (Ack, that sounds so corny, but I meant it sincerely).

My readers are the best.
--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore
Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

Sigh

I think the next milestone I'd like to hit in my writing career (besides getting a new contract, that is) is finding a mention of myself outside a review or letter specifically to me from a reader. I just went to a blog site where they asked their readers, "What are you reading now?" Just once I'd like to see my name mentioned in such a list.

Oh, I'm not complaining. I have great readers who seek me out, I've received terrific reviews (for the most part--I'd worry more if everyone liked me--I honestly think that would mean I have no voice), and I enjoy interaction with my readers. But how cool would it be to accidentally come across someone on a third party site throwing my name out there. Even cooler would be seeing someone in public reading my book (When you think about how rarely you actually see people reading in public and then factor in how many now read on electronic devices where you can't even see the book, the numbers are truly low).

If you're here reading this, thank you for coming to see me. I love the support I've been getting from readers (check out the dedication of Wishful Thinking). I'm just thinking about reaching that next step.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:

Highland Guardian by Melissa Mayhue

Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson

First Romance

Today is the second day in a row that I've seen reference to "the first romance you've ever read," not in those words exactly. First I was asked the question, what book changed your life? Well, for me, that would have to be my first romance. It introduced me to a world where I found comfort and caring and escape when I needed it, and later where I found what I wanted to be when I grew up. Today I saw another author writing about her first romance (thanks, Erin Kellison) and realized the topic must be fate. So here I am writing about my first romance.

I haven't told you yet, have I? It was Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey. The Flame and the Flower  by Kathleen Woodiwiss was the second. I was home on vacation from boarding school--I was sixteen--and my mother handed me the two books. She said her friend had given these to her because her friend loved them. My mother read them and didn't like them (my mother doesn't like romance--heck, she doesn't like fiction much; she likes to read biographies and histories best), but she gave them to me to read anyway. Little did she know that she was about to change my world.

I was an innocent teenager (really, I was) and the books showed me SEX. They were titillating and exciting, full of adventure and then, to top it all off, they had HAPPY ENDINGS! I must have read them each four or five times that summer. And then I tried Sweet Savage Love (yeah, I won't go into how much that traumatized me--must have if I can still remember it so vividly) and realized I had to tread carefully because not all romance books were the same.

I'd have to say that Captive Bride and Flame and the Flower, for all that they were rapey (ahh, those early romances), set up my taste for romances in the future.  I like romances with lots of action and characters who don't carry too much baggage (Yes, I know Heather was an orphan with an evil aunt, etc, but she never seemed to let her background overwhelm her). And now I write them. All thanks to my mother who passed me two books and said, "Why don't you read these?" (only it sounded like "Vie dohnt u reed dees" in her Hungarian accent--remember to roll your Rs in your head)

So my question to you is, what was your first romance?

And don't forget the giveaway going on now--a wand and the entire Time of Transition series, with three additional winners who can choose one from any of the three books.

--Gabi

Books I'm reading now:
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
My Favorite Bride by Christina Dodd