Do you like books that make you cry? Not necessarily only stories that are sad, but also stories that touch an emotional chord.

Yes, I do enjoy reading stories that are emotional and touch me in a way that make me cry. I prefer to stay away from books that are generally gloomy and sad. I don’t want and I don’t need sadness in the books I read.

Assuming you're already familiar with the author (and liked the author's books) what promo method would work best for you to purchase the author's latest release: (a) an email telling about the book and when it will be available, (b) a postcard showing the book's cover and telling what the book's about or (c) an ad in a magazine like Romantic Times?

A postcard showing the book’s cover and telling what the book is about. It’s fun to get something like that in the mail.

What would drag you out of your warm bed to bring you out to a booksigning???

Well, I live in Utah, and we very rarely get any booksignings. So, I would drag my butt out of a warm bed if an author were to make an appearance in this area. I have considered driving to Las Vegas which is about a six hour drive to go to a book signing.

There has been a gradual trend in a lot of romance fiction to get more and more sexually graphic, and to use language that is more and more explicit. Have you noticed such a trend in your reading? If so, what do you think of this trend?

Yes I have noticed this trend. This trend does not offend me as long as it goes along with the mood of the story that I am reading and is done in good taste. But as for myself, I enjoy to read a story that is more romantic than sexual.

If you enjoy connected books, at what point do you get tired of the series--at 4 books, 7 books, never?

I would say that three to four connected books is about right. More than that I feel that I start to lose interest and would rather move onto something different. But of course if it is a series written by a favorite author the answer is never.

Do you mind if the hero has physical flaws (like scars, a missing hand, etc.)?

No I don’t mind physical flaws, it makes them more endearing to me.

What one element in a book will make you immediately stop reading?

Repetition. I can put up with almost anything but repetition. Did I mention I hate repetition????

What's your definition of a perfect book-buying experience?

Other than an unlimited spending limit? I enjoy looking forward to buying a book. I do my research, I read the reviews, I make my lists and then spend a couple of uninterrupted hours at the book store appreciating the covers, reading the blurbs on the back and eventually buying the book I was searching for along with a few others that happen to catch my eye.

If you could meet any two authors--romantic or otherwise--for beer/coffee/pizza, who would they be and what's the first thing you would ask them?

Okay, this is a tough question. #1—Janet Evanovich “If you could spend one night with one of your leading men, who would it be, Morelli or Ranger?”
#2– Julie Garwood “Which of the heroines in your books do you most admire? Which one would you switch places with?”

As a reader what is it about a particular book that makes it a "keeper" for you? What sets it apart from all of the other books you have read and enjoyed?

This is a great question, and it really made me re-evaluate what makes me keep a book and what makes a book a keeper. And I believe that there is a difference. I honestly use to keep all books that were generally good to great. But I have come to realize that the books that I rate as “keepers” have stories that I not only want to read again, but I want to relive again. A “keeper” is a book that I want to lend to friends, a book that I want to discuss with others, and a book that I want to see on my bookshelf and remember how I felt when I was reading it or even what was going on in my life when I read it.

What kinds of things would you like to see more in romance books today? What kinds of things make you think, "Ohhh no! Not another one of THOSE books!"?

There is not any one thing that I would like to see more of. I think that today’s authors are offering something for everyone with their writing. I enjoy stories that are more realistic, that I am able to relate to and think “Hey, that is possible, that could happen to me”. On the flip side, if I read another story about a weak “poor little me” girl being ravaged by a “god’s gift to women” gentleman I will gag! To me that type of story line is one of THOSE BOOKS.

How did you get started reading romance books? What was the first romance book you ever read?

I actually have my husband to thank for getting me into reading. We were newly married and his job took him out of town a lot. It was upon his suggestion that I started being an avid reader, prior to that I had only read Kathleen Woodiwiss books. Being the wonderful man that he is, he took me shopping to B&N and introduced me to all the other wonderful authors that I was missing out on. The first romance book I read was “Shanna” by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

What's your favorite book of all time (any genre)?

"A Knight In Shining Armor" by Jude Deveraux.

If you could change the romance book industry in any way, how would you change it?

I like the romance novel industry the way it is, the one word that comes to mind to describe this is “unique”. I wouldn’t change anything.

What do you like best about romance books? Why are you drawn to them?

I like being able to use my imagination in conjunction with the authors words, I like picturing the people, places, and events. And I love the emotions that the authors help me feel as I am reading their stories. The draw for me, real life has a tendency, to put it bluntly “it can really suck”. Romance books are escapism, and I am sure others will agree with me on this.

Why do you think romance books are so popular?

As we are growing up, we imagine the men we will fall in love with, the places we will go, the things we will do and the women we will grow up to be. I don’t know about other readers, but my life hasn’t turned out like I had imagined it, and the closest thing I can get to it is to read about it. I think everyone enjoys reading the happily ever after story that we find in all the romance books.

What are your favorite kinds of heroes and heroines? Which kinds of heroes and heroines do you dislike the most?

I like the heroes that who don’t always do the right thing at the right time, and who don’t think of themselves as perfect, even though they may be. They have morals and are kind men and have a distinct sense of direction in their lives. The heroines I like are independent women with quirky personalities and normal physical flaws. I also enjoy reading of paranormal heroes and heroines. Give me a vampire any day. The most annoying heroes and heroines are the ones that think they are perfect, but of course they are not. They have no common sense, no meaningful working skills and are basically helpless creatures who honestly couldn’t carry a conversation with a mirror let alone with another human being and are sent here for the sole purpose to procreate more idiots to further grate the nerves of the readers.

Do you prefer series books or standalone titles? Why?

I prefer standalone titles, because I don’t have any expectations or preformed opinions about the books, and tend not to judge them against any others.

Of which book (without a sequel) would you most like to see a sequel written?

"The Cowboy and the Vampire" by Clark Hays & Kathleen McFall. This book was an impulse buy and the best impulse buy I ever made.

How do you feel about the trend of publishers to reissue older books by popular authors?

Since I feel that I am a late bloomer as far as being a romance reader, I am glad that I am given the opportunity to read some of those books that I may never be able to read if they were not reissued.

Which authors have you discovered who are wonderful but not very well known?

Rebecca Paisley, Elizabeth Beverly, Robyn Carr, Susan Carroll.

How do you like to read a book ... in one giant gulp, start to finish; in little nibbles, a chapter at a time; starting with dessert, reading the ending then going back and reading the rest; or buffet-style, reading the whole thing then rereading the parts you liked best?

I am more of a giant gulp reader, once I pick a book up I have a hard time putting it down till I am done. I NEVER read the ending first.

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