Reader Interview: Jorie

Here's the first reader interview: Jorie of riemannia When you were a child, what did you usually read?

I read a lot of the standard child fare: Enid Blyton (loved the Adventure series), LM Montgomery, the Oz books, Jack London, Jim Kjelgaard's Big Red, etc., The Black Stallion, Trixie Belden, My Friend Flicka, and Louisa May Alcott. So a fair amount of girly books, but with a big dash of boy and dog/horse books.

As a romance reader, what do you usually read?

That changes, definitely. Right now I'm leaning towards historical romances though two years ago it was all contemporary and a lot of series, especially Silhouette Intimate Moments. This was not unrelated to the fact that I was and am targeting SIM. I also like paranormal and a good dash of angst.

Apart from romance novels, what do you usually read if any?

I read mainstream, science fiction and fantasy, and historical fiction. I avoid horror. The mystery genre hasn't been a big success for me, PD James notwithstanding.

Name top five favourite romance authors if any.

Not necessarily in this order: Jennifer Crusie, Laura Kinsale, Suzanne Brockmann, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Jo Beverley. Georgette Heyer should be in there if you consider her a romance author.

Do you have any weaknesses for certain themes, storylines, settings or such in romances? If so, what are they?

I like, for better or worse, the insecure, even traumatized heroine and the laidback, patient hero, for example Nora Roberts' Carolina Moon. But it has to be done right. It can't be straight wish-fulfillment where you see no reason why the perfect guy is pursuing neurotic girl with huge baggage.

I like shapeshifters. I like beta heroes. (Beta does not equal wimp does not equal incompetent.) I like amnesia. Heroes who are genuinely good with kids. Psychic heroines.

I sometimes think I'm more picky with my weaknesses though.

What are your pet peeves with romance novels?

1. Instant combustion at first meet. I think I'm a bit of an exception here, because lots of people really like a strong bolt of lightening reaction when the hero and heroine first set eyes on each other. But, imo, it is hard to do properly. Done well, I'm a happy camper but, most times, I'm sitting outside the scene getting annoyed as the author catalogues physical attributes or the hero declares that no woman has ever blah blah blah.
2. Being told the heroine is very smart when I never actually see her do anything particularly intelligent.
3. Historicals that feel contemporary. Of course, every new book is influenced by the fact that it is written now. Lots less rapes, say, in historical romances of today than of twenty years ago and I don't think that has anything to do with historical accuracy. But sometimes I try out an author and the girls seem to be chatting as if they live down my street. That said, I don't want heroes and heroines who are bigots, who think slavery is a wonderful institution, who judge other people in a way I find offputting but may well have been accurate at that time. So, it's a tricky line to walk.
   I'm less picky about contemporary romances who have characters that don't seem to be today's 30 year old. Which doesn't seem quite fair, but I think it's because I do want to be taken to a different time and place when reading historical romance and that won't happen if I get thrown out of the story by a contemporary feel. But I don't read contemporaries for any kind of world-building, usually.
4. Breezy, brisk writing where lots is happening and I'm thinking obviously this writer knows her craft, but. I don't care. (Obviously this is subjective, like everything else on the list.)
5. Too feisty to live. I don't know who coined that and I seemed to run into more such heroines last year. But heroines who do something stupid in order to show they have spirit are not, shall we say, my favorite.
6. Clichéd other women, though there seem to be fewer around now.

When you buy romance novels, how do you make your selection?

I get my books from the library first, if I can. After that, I tend to choose books that have a bit of a buzz, or books by authors I love, or books by someone I know.

When discussing romance novels and/or the Romance genre with fellow readers, which issues interest you most?

Gosh, that's a hard one. I actually find the history of the romance genre fascinating. Particularly because I haven't read romances consistently. What else? Common characteristics of heroes and heroines, current trends, historical anachronisms, Mary Sue/wish-fulfillment, and voice.

If an influential romance editor asks you for an opinion on the Romance genre, what would you say?

Go for more realism in romance!

Name up to five romance novels that left you lasting impressions.

1. Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie
   WTT led me back to romance. I was reading Jo Beverley and Mary Balogh, but not much else. This was really my first contemporary ST romance and I was blown away. Funny, sexy, interesting, great cast of characters. I thought, I want to write this. (Not that I can, of course.) I started reading romance for real after this.
2. The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale
   The most incredibly emotional book I have ever read.
3. Mad Dog and Annie by Virginia Kantra
   Kantra shows just what you can tackle in a series book (SIM). Annie's been abused and is just getting free of her manipulative ex-husband. Extremely moving love scene.
4. It Had To Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
   Another insecure, previously abused heroine who has a lot of guts and goes after what she wants. It was interesting to watch the hero fight his attraction until he finally realizes who Phoebe really is. (She has a rather offputting persona.)
5. My Lady Notorious by Jo Beverley
   Girl disguised as boy, highway robbers, masquerades, derring-do. Just lots of fun stuff going on in the Georgian world and a gripping love story.

What was the last romance novel you bought?

I bought two SIMs which I haven't yet read: Suzanne McMinn's Cole Dempsey's Back in Town and Karen Templeton's Swept Away. Thanks, Jorie. :D