Hi Everybody,
Just so you know, this is my first blog. Not just here on the BlazeAuthors website, but anywhere. I know you’re gasping in shock. While I think the internet is a fine thing, with many nice bells and whistles, we don’t share an intimate relationship. I don’t even have a web page, which I understand is something close to sacrilege. No, wait. That’s a lie. I just remembered that I have an old web page that seriously needs to disappear. Something else for my To Do list. Anyway, I have some books I’m pretty excited about, and a little anecdote that made my day, so here I am!
First, the book news. Right now, TEXAS HEAT, my 3 in 1 Encounters, is in your stores! On your Internets! Perhaps even on your eReaders! (See, I’m not completely out of the loop)! It was an amazing adventure writing those three stories. They all take place on a big old ranch in West Texas during a giant 4th of July Celebration. The fireworks are not just in the sky, if you know what I mean. ::eye waggle:: The cool thing about the Encounters is that you can sneak in a quick love story almost any time. In the car, waiting to pick up the kids. In line. When you should be vacuuming. From what I’m hearing (no, not on twitter, I don’t tweet), the Encounters books are hitting the spot for readers on line and off. I sure love them!
Not only was it fun to write TEXAS HEAT, but I also left poor Kate in quite a pickle. So what’s a romance writer to do with a woman who needs some good lovin’? Write TEXAS BLAZE. Kate’s story is coming out this December, and I hate to give anything away, but she and Mitch? More fireworks. Seriously. Also cattle rustling. Surveillance. Bad guys. One really, REALLY good guy. And Texas. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get enough of those cowboys.
Which led me to a different kind of love story. Oh, it starts out in the same West Texas town, but sexy, delicious Jake doesn’t stay there for long. Well, it’s actually not a question of where he is, but WHEN. That’s right, LONE STAR LOVER is a Western Time-Travel! I can’t even tell you how much fun I had writing this book. Poor Jake is so confused. And lovely Rebecca doesn’t know what to make of him. Things heat up pretty quickly between them, though and whether it’s 2010 or 1877, Blaze heroes know just what to do when faced with a warm, willing woman. Look for LONE STAR LOVER in March, 2010!
And now for the anecdote. This just happened. Yesterday. For real.
You know how I mentioned I didn’t have an operational web site? Yeah. So I got an actual letter with paper and postage forwarded to me by Harlequin. A lovely lady said extremely nice things about my books (blush) and how she had every single one of them…except one. She’d lent it out, and it’s out of print, and did I, perhaps, have one she could buy? Altogether a sweet letter in every way. But then I got to the kicker that just made my day. The lovely lady? She’s 91+ years old! Needless to say, I’m sending her the book. I just hope when I’m 91+, I’m still reading Blazes and getting my romance on. Because that, my friends, is the way to live life to the fullest.
While I’m here (limited time offer, trust me) you guys have any questions? Have you been reading the Encounters books? How about the historical Blazes? What about the Time-Travel Blazes? I’d love to hear what you think! I promise, I’ll answer!
Love, Debbi
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Hi Debbi,
How cool is that getting fan mail from a 91 year old! I doubt I’ll be around at that age, but I believe as long as I do live, I’ll still be reading Romance. I think that’s what keeps us young!
Being from Fort Worth, I know just how sexy those Texas cowboys can be, so I can’t wait to read TEXAS HEAT. And the Time-Travel? I’m SO glad Blaze is bringing back the time-travel to Romance! I’ve missed a good time-travel romance. Can’t wait! I love the Historicals too. I guess I don’t have any questions, except, do you have ideas for what’s next after the time travel in March?
Hi Jillian,
I loved getting that letter. What a trooper. I hope she keeps reading Blazes for years!
After Texas Heat, I’m doing a mini-series with Joanne Rock and Jo Leigh. I’m sure both of them will post a lot more about it before it debuts in Oct. ’10. thanks for asking.
Hi Debbi, Wow, first blog post. You know what they say, we always remember the first time (U)
Great to see you here. Love the cover of Texas Heat. There’s just something about a guy in a Stetson…
Nancy
Hey, Nancy! Nice to see you. This first time was terrifying! LOL
I agree about the Stetsons. Yum.
Welcome to blogging. It doesn’t hurt much. I love the Blaze historicals and time travel books. I always enjoy your books and love those Texas cowboys.
Wow, Linda, thank you so much for the lovely comments. I appreciate it very much.
Hi, Debbi, I have almost all of your books, & thank you for providing so many hours of reading pleasure.
I’m probably going against the norm, but, I loved the “old-style” Blazes, which involved stories centered mainly on the h/h (& their sexual experiences), &, for the most part, cannot warm up to the new, all-over-the-map Blazes. I loved when there were no bad guys, suspense or Historicals. With Time-Travels I think they either work, or they don’t, but, mostly, I find the latter (excluding yours, of course–LOL). I’ve enjoyed some of the Encounters, but, not many, even some written by my auto-buy authors. However, I loved the recent ones written by Tori Carrington (the military heroes) & the baseball one from Joanne Rock. Reading those (& others) think they must be difficult to write. I do agree they are great to take along to doctor’s appointments, etc.
Hope I haven’t stepped on any toes, but, those are my feelings…
Patricia
Hi Patricia,
I understand about having favorites and being specific in your reading taste. That’s one of the great things about Blaze and Harlequin in general. There’s something for everyone. Here’s to finding the perfect romance! Thanks for giving me your take, I appreciate it.
I’m a fairly new reader of Blaze (probably less than a year) and I enjoy most of the ones I’ve read. I am not a time-travel fan and don’t read historicals of any variety (N) (I think I taught history too long). But I do like cowboys especially since I was born in Texas and live here now.
Hey, Ellen,
I have to say, I can’t get enough of those cowboys. Me, I love them in history and today, so I’m lucky, but I think there are enough contemporary cowboy fans that you’ll always be able to find what you’re craving with a spicy Blaze. Thanks for coming by.
Hi Debbi!
Got Texas Heat, can’t wait to read it! I love the encounters books, I find them very enjoyable. I like the blaze historical as well. Haven’t read any blaze time travel books yet.
Hi Nicole,
thanks for the feedback. I hope you end up liking the time travel books. I always wonder what it would be like if I were taken somewhere in time. I think I’d miss fast food the most! LOL
Hi Debbi
I’m so glad you’re here with us today. I’d love to hear more about the Encounters and what you thought of writing it? I spend more time reading contemporary than historicals, but am still a fan of both.
And how totally awesome to have a 91 year old fan who has all your books. Thats just so inspiring and fabulous!!! (L)
Hi Tawny,
Writing the Encounters was more of a challenge than I anticipated, but now that I have one under my belt, I’d like to write more. I do know that I won’t be overlapping stories again, because that was a bitch.
I was very touched by the fan letter. It was wonderful, and it wasn’t an email!
Hi Debbi, it is great to see you. I have Texas Heat in my TBR pile waiting, patiently to be read. The other books you talked about sound very interesting too…I can’t wait. I am a Blaze girl through and through. Since I was introduced, I have been hooked ever since. I got to meet and discover some wonderful authors as a result of Blaze addiction too. Yippee…is all I can say about that. Thank you for visiting with us today. What a treat!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Dear Paula,
thanks so much for coming by. I hope you like Texas Heat, and how cool that you’re such a vocal and ardent Blaze fan. It really is the best line of all to write for. Take care!
Debbi
Great post, Debbi! Nice to see you here!
Hey, Brenda,
I’m finally here! But mostly because Jo Leigh made me.
Hi Debbi.
I just finished “One Wild Wedding Night” today, and i loved it! And i have other encounters in my To Be Read pile, and I’m looking forward to them. As for Time Travel Blazes, i have your “Once An Outlaw” and i love it! The guy on the cover is delicious! And i have other Time-Travel Blazes as well and those are all on my keeper shelf. As for Blaze Historicals, i love those too, “The Concubine” is one of my favorites and also has a place on my keeper shelf. I like that Blaze has branched out into those genres. The Historicals especially, i love the Blaze take on them! Congrats on a 91+ year old writing you. I was just saying the other day, i’ll be 90 and still reading Harlequin Blazes and romance novels in general. Because guys meets girl or vice versa, getting to watch them fall in love and say their i love you’s and then go off to their Happily Ever After, never gets old.
Hi Lauren,
I love your enthusiasm about all the new directions of Blaze. It’s very exciting to see so many writers and readers dive into new storylines and times, but with the Blaze sensibility strongly at play.
I personally think love stories keep us young. At least, I hope so!
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for asking for our blazing opinions.
I am an older to Harlequin reader (relatively speaking perhaps as I’m only in my 30′s), I meant in terms of first getting hooked. Blaze is my favorite line because, I am single lady, still searching for my Mr. Right. Reading Blazes not only allows for some steamily naughty fantasties (dreaming) but like the other Series, serves as an escape/outlet from pressure of real life.
Unfortunately the last few Blazes I have read, left me feeling angry and honestly somewhat cheated not only out of my money spent on the book but of my expectation of it. It seemed like without any warning, WHAM there’d be a violent act or explicit memories of one. I do not care for Suspense/Paranormal/Time Travel or even Cowboy/Rancher lines which I understand can also contain more real-life crime or simply darker events. There’s so much “real” evil out there in this world of ours, that when I pick up a book, particularly a romance, I am seeking to delve into a happier/more simplistic place.
I was wondering if it would be possible for authors NOT associated with say Suspense or other line that is set up/geared toward handling darker times, to simply include a word of “warning” if you will at the end of their author notes that their story does contain a scene (or more) of some type of violence whether it be in or out of the bedroom. Along the same lines, I would sure appreciate a heads up if a book is going to stray away from more typical “sex encounters) such as threesomes, gay pairings, or punishing sex (whips, spanking, handcuffs).
I would very much enjoy reading more unexpected encounter type stories such as Vicki Lewis Thompson’s “Simply Sex” or even character (or hey reader ;–how about a contest?) fantasies come to life such as sex in a semi public locale such as an amusement park (maybe even on a ride), airplane (I’m thinking of Kate Hoffmann’s “Icognito,”) just lighter, yet still hot and sparkling with passion and fire, The stuff that I know I daydream about it and I think it’s safe to say a lot of other un-married women do, too. (H)
Thanks,
Mona