Jude’s Blog

Reader Views interviews Linore Rose Burkard, author of “Before the Season Ends.”

Today Reader Views has the pleasure of interviewing Linore Rose Burkard, author of a Regency England Christian romance novel, “Before the Season Ends.” Welcome Linore.

Irene: What inspired you to write “Before the Season Ends”?

Linore: I wanted to read a Regency romance that was Inspirational. Period. I waited for years for someone else to write it, and then I realized that if it was ever going to happen, it was going to be my job! So I did it. I combined the Regency, which I love, with an Inspirational message. I wanted to show the experience of faith for the adventure that it is. Fun and faith are not contradictory terms!

In addition, as a fan of Georgette Heyer, I wanted to see more books like hers; in the sense of moving away from the formulaic plots that have gotten all too common in the genre. As terrible as this sounds, I thought I could bring more “reality” into both the characters and the setting, than what you often get in a lot of the mass paperbacks that are out there. I’m not saying that what’s out there is bad, just that I wanted to be different.

Irene: What do you mean by “formulaic plots”?

Linore: I mean the type of plot where you know what you’re getting by the time you finish chapter one. Perhaps some people like that; I prefer more of a set-up, where the characters get to be real people and they do things in character– not just to drive the plot.

Irene: This book is considered “Christian Fiction.” What is the difference between Christian fiction and other fiction?

Linore: Christian fiction begins with a Christian world view. Not every character has to share that world view, and usually many don’t; but the author has to have it, and it has to come through.

Irene: “Before the Season Ends” is Regency romance. Please explain to the reading audience what that means.

Linore: The Regency in England (1811-1820, politically), was the period when the prince of Wales became regent in place of his father, George III (who was believed to be insane. He wasn’t, but that’s for a different interview!) Jane Austen and Lord Byron are Regency figures; Beau Brummell, Princess Caroline; Napoleon and Wellington; lots of great historical characters! Austen, in my opinion, started the genre with her novels, and Georgette Heyer developed it further and popularized it, perhaps even defined it.

So, as well as being set in that time period, a Regency has many earmarks that are unique to the genre and which must be evident in the story, such as a lot of the language and places that are used. In general, though, a reader can expect that a Regency will be fun, and clean, as far as the romance goes. Regencies are known for being fun, even to the point of wacky fun, and yet still romantic and memorable.

Irene: Why do you believe Regency romance novels are so popular?

Linore: People know they are not picking up “War and Peace” when they go to read one. The Regency, as I said, is enormous fun; the hypocrisy of the social order and its values is just a springboard for all kinds of settings and situations that romance writers can use in really enjoyable ways to create good stories. At the same time, there’s a great deal of improbability in many Regencies which is (in my opinion) a problem of the publishing houses. Editors want to see a handful of formula plots and that’s it. So the Regency genre as a whole has suffered. But they’re still popular because the era is incredibly interesting, the romance is cleaner (which reminds me, too many modern editors don’t realize that we readers LIKE to use our imaginations, thank you). And the stories center mostly around the upper classes, people who get to live the way we all WISH we could. So that is fun, too.

To read the rest of this interview, please visit link below:

Irene Watson is Managing Editor of Reader Views, a book review service based in Austin, Texas. http://www.readerviews.com

Author: Irene Watson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

I’m pleased to announce that I just completed the second run through of Sierra Sky. It is now completed at a final word count of 48,359 words. I am now ready to begin submissions, so wish me luck.

ETA I have submitted to two popular erotic epubs today. So I’ve got my fingers crossed.

Hot romance stories available today range from gentle and sensitive erotic fiction to love between fantastic creatures and sex games that stretch the imagination. They invite readers to experience adventures beyond their normal lives.

Some classics in hot fiction, like ‘Story of O’ (by French author Anne Desclos, who wrote under the pen name Pauline Reage – English version published 1965) may not be readily available (you can probably find a second hand copy). ‘Story of O’ was an enormous commercial success and even won a literary prize. However, there are many other erotic novels which are available today. Regrettably, they may sell strongly but are often written with less psychological insight and without its calm, almost emotionless, elegant style.

Hot romance novels today have considerable freedom in the creation of the leading characters. Some are fairly ‘realistic’, as with cowboys, cops and soldiers, but nonetheless possessing great sexual appeal. Others involve the imagination and delve into fantasy. There is an abundance of vampires, werewolves, demon-slayers and even feline-based characters. The women are often – though not always – beautiful and invariably have a great longing and a yearning for love.

Some author’s write prolifically in this genre and don’t feel the need to be realistic, yet provide characters that readers can still identify with, as in ‘Pleasure Unbound’, by Larissa Ione. The heroine is a demon-slayer with a great sexual thirst that is denied her. Unfortunately, the character with greatest appeal for her is a hot demon!

Lora Leigh is another who writes extensively and with great imagination. In ‘The Man Within’, the man loved by the heroine belongs to a genetically altered Feline Breed whose presence has alarmed the world. In ‘Guilty Pleasures’ the women have husbands or lovers who are members of an exclusive and select “Club,” where a third party is invited into their beds.

Some have produced a new version of familiar stories. For instance, ‘ ‘Enchanted: Erotic Bedtime Stories For Women’ by Nancy Madore. She has assembled some of the world’s best known fairy tales into an erotic collection.

Others like to tempt controversy. In ‘Bedroom Bully’, by Trista Russell, the novel is, in essence, a romantic suspense novel. However, a key feature has the heroine falling in love and becoming passionately involved with the man who has taken her captive!

Not to be overlooked are the scenes described by Lorelei James. In ‘Tied Up, Tied Down’, the action is played out cowboy style as the hero uses rope to keep the heroine ‘tied’ to him in no-holds-barred sex games.

Hot romance is clearly alive and flourishing, as well as being eagerly read by millions of fans who enjoy a touch of erotica with their bedtime reading.

Cover pictures, storylines and reader comments for the novels referred to above can be seen here: Hot Romance You can also see details here: Romance Stories

Author: Ivan Kelly
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

I have reset the scribometer on the left to now show my progress of the second run through of the completed first draft. As I go through it, I will update the pages I have completed editing. Hopefully this won’t take as long as it took to write it.

Hi everyone! Since I have surpassed my goal of 40,000 words with Sierra Sky, I have increased my goal to 45,000 words. I’m nearing the conclusion and look forward to doing the second run through. After that, I will begin submissions. Wish me luck!