Running With Quills: Stella at a signing at Borders, Redmond Town Center, Redmond, WA

Welcome to Running With Quills, your online newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what your favorite authors (that would be us) are doing throughout the year. Here you will find the release dates of our new books and get information about our backlists. We'll preview our cover art here long before the books hit the stores and we'll keep you informed about works-in-progress and special projects. You'll also receive advance notice of signings and appearances. From time to time we'll give you a peek at our worlds, tell you what we're reading, and introduce you to some new authors.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Stella at a signing at Borders, Redmond Town Center, Redmond, WA

Julia Quinn, Susan Andersen, Stella Cameron

Today I did a signing at a local Borders and encountered a great group of people with a mass of questions. A lady asked: "How do you feel about your family members reading your books?" She elaborated that she wondered if it would be embarrassing to have people you know see into your mind.

Good question.

The answer is quite complicated. My father was the most definite example of reaction to my writing. He didn't approve of my writing anything. He called me a "scribbler" which is an oddly old-world term, and didn't think women should put themselves in the public eye at all. My husband, son and one daughter all read my books and enjoy them. Jerry does a good deal of research for me because he enjoys that. Our second daughter doesn't care for genre fiction.

But the questions was, "How do you FEEL about family members reading your books." It might just as well have applied to friends and acquaintances, I think. And I feel just fine! I'm a blessed person who has been able to do what she likes best for a living. No, it isn't always easy. Fiction= 1 writer, 1 computer (or whatever), and thin air. Fortunately some of us have all these stories whizzing around waiting to be told, but that doesn't instantly get them down on a screen and from there into a book. I'm working toward the end of another Toussaint book at the moment and I hardly sleep because I live with the characters and the plot now. Yep, I feel just fine about folks reading what I write because I give it my all.

Susan Andersen, Stella Cameron, Debbie Macomber
Lois Faye Dyer, Katherine Stone

What about you as readers? Are you a proud displayer of whatever book is on the hob at the moment? Do you like to discuss what you're reading with others and maybe even say, "you might enjoy this?" Or does that only happen when you're reading WAR AND PEACE or the latest translation of a Garcia Marqeuz?

Confession time--I read WAR AND PEACE TWICE. The first time I didn't get it because I couldn't keep the names straight. Then I watched the PBS special and read the book at more or less the same time. I got it then! Guess some of us need more help than others.

18 Comments:

Jay said...: I really don't mind if anyone knows what I'm reading, and if it's a new author that I know they haven't found, I'll often write a short email to friends I think might like it and give them a rundown.

I have such wide reading tastes, I can discuss books with pretty much everyone I know. And it's often a good ice-breaker, as even the most socially inept of people can wax lyrical about their favourite book.

As a writer who hasn't yet had the nerve to attempt getting published, the thought of my family reading my writing makes me break out in a cold sweat. It's the naked in the classroom nightmare to the nth degree. *g*; 11:37 PM
talpianna said...: Perhaps the question was addressed to you particularly as a writer of romances with explicit sex scenes. I am reminded of an old NEW YORKER cartoon with a typical old maid (bun, boned choker lace collar, long-sleeved black dress, old-fashioned purse) holding a manuscript, sitting across the desk from an editor who is saying, "We feel that the New Orleans bordello scenes lack authenticity."

I think that the only writers who need to be concerned about their families reading their books would be those who include "adult" matter: sex, violence, and such themes as pedophilia and incest (if they have children young enough that they don't want them exposed to such matters).

This question really ought to be addressed to Elizabeth, since her daughter Heather, though a published novelist herself, still can't bring herself to believe that her parents ever had sex and has a panic attack when someone mentions that her father is HOT!; 12:56 AM
Anonymous said...: As I reader I am more than happy to share what I'm reading with co-workers and friends. I used to work in a public library and there were a group of ladies who, once they knew I read 'those books,'gleefully asked what I was currently reading and what I would recommend.

I work in an academic library now and have a group of co-workers who enjoy reading and sharing books. I still get the 'you don't look like someone who reads romantic fiction, romantic suspense, etc' (and honestly, how do we look?), but continue to get in my two cents worth when purchasing recreational selections for the library.; 7:35 AM
Elizabeth Lowell said...: Tal -- LMAO

Heather knows real well the difference between fiction and reality. And enjoys a good running joke.; 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...: I am definately someone who loves to talk about what I'm reading and make recommendations. It all started with a teacher forever ago in school who loved to trade Dean Koontz and Sue Grafton books and discuss them. However I try to never bore anyone who wouldn't be interested.

I can imagine being embarassed about having family members read something you have written. I once wrote a work of fiction with some "adult" content and was mortified when I realized my family (especially my parents) wanted to read it. I think it's one of those things that you get over, like public speaking, you do it once and it goes well and the next time it isn't nearly as terrifying.; 10:35 AM
Katrina said...: My friends do not share the same interest in fiction as I do, so when I go to a bookstore, namely Borders, and by the latest EL book, or another one my friend's MOM has recommended, they stay in the arts section or the non-fiction.
When I told them I have a 'work-in-progress', they all scoffed at me and said that a nineteen year old has no concept of the type of fiction I read.
They do not understand that when I sit down at my computer to write the next few chapters, I am not "Katrina" any more, I am the characters. They have finally asked to read what I have written so far, and because they are not into Romance and fiction, I am scared they will look at me differently if they knew what I was writing.
When they have a piece of non-fiction they share it with me, and I indulge and read it, but when I say "Hey, you shoud read *This*", they turn their noses into another piece of work.
I guess it is just a matter of opinion, when we say "you might enjoy this".; 11:55 AM
Suzanne Simmons said...: Excellent question, Stella. Perhaps back in the beginning I was a bit self-conscious about the sexy stories I wrote, but that was a "few" years ago and I no longer worry about what anyone else will think. In fact, I'm currently writing the sexiest book of my career! :-); 12:33 PM
Stella said...: I'll try this again--just lost the comment I wrote!

Since I moved (moons ago) into writing romantic suspense and thrillers with strong, sexy relationships, I've felt very sure of my voice and of what I want to convey.

Yesterday's question was addressed to all authors present, Katherine Stone, Lois Faye Dyer, Debbie Macomber, Susan Andersen, Julia Quin and moi. The answers were all different and all illuminating.

I've decided the query arose from an insightful thought about showing one's story life, the place we dig into for characters and plots. These are separate from our everyday lives with family and friends and perhaps a little difficult to understand sometomes.; 2:25 PM
MathCogIdiocy said...: As a reader, I'm perfectly willing to discuss and recommend the books I'm reading. However, most of my friends prefer that I keep the bulk of my reading to myself. *bg*

I certainly don't hide my books which leads to an observation. When I'm reading a romance or romantic suspense nobody bats an eye, but when I'm reading a math or physics text I get weird looks and questions like "isn't that a hard course to be taking?" The looks get even stranger when I explain that I'm reading the book for fun and not taking a course. This happens less often when I'm on campus, but still occurs. It appears that as a woman, I'm "allowed" to read romance but not math or science.

And yes, I get this from both men and women.

- Jacqui; 3:12 PM
Ranurgis said...: This has been a sore point with me for a long time: I can't discuss my reading material with anybody. Most of the comments from family and friends boil down to "You are so well educated. Why do you read this sort of junk."

Mind you, I'm single and should be allowd to decide what I want to read. I do have a large variety of subjects since I'm interested in history , archaeology, geology, geography, the cities and coutries I've seen, etc. Unfortunately, I've collected a huge number of books (well over 5000 if not 10,000) that move with me wherever I go. My siblings and their children are, maybe justifiably, horrified at all the "junk" I need help with moving because of the fact that I'm on disability.

This has caused a lot of friction between me and the brother who lives closest to me. His wife reads slightly more "literary books" than most of mine are considered but she at least does not collect them. Maybe my books and souvenirs of trips I've taken have replaced children in my life. I have often wondered why I have this need to buy books and other things that mostly have no "measurable" value. I'm still not sure why.

Some years ago, my other sister-in-law got a subscription to Harlequin Romances. She is probably the most overtly "sexy" member of our family and I could at least share my interest for a short time. Then she gave up the subscription in disgust saying the stories were all the same. I have no idea if and what she reads now.

Because of these negative comments all my life, I don't often show which book I'm reading unless it's a hardcover I've gotten from the library with the now-not-so-lurid covers as in years past.

The only time I'll recommend a book is if someone is in the "romance" section of a bookstore or library at the same time as I. Unfortunately, I've never had any feedback because you just fleetingly meet the people. They'll just tell you that they're looking for "some light reading" (not romance) but I'll always steer them to something that does include romance.

That is one reason that I enjoy these blogs so much. Here I can participate with comments of my own, even if they are longer than most others. I don't know if I could do my own blog for reasons that I gave in answer to Shirley's blog yesterday. I'm rarely one to initiate a conversation though I might see someone reading a book by an author I enjoy and ask that person how they like it.

Stella, I know what you mean about War and Peace. For one thing, it depends on the translation you read. The one done by a woman for PAN is the best that I've found. What also helped me was studying the Russian language and the oddity of the names, in particular the patronym (I'm not sure if that's the correct word) but anyway the fact that a son of Dimitri...Pistov will be called by his first name and have Dimitrovich after it, then his last name Pistov while a daughter will have her given name, Dimitrovna and last name Pistova. Until I knew that and had it firmly in my mind, I was often at sea as well. And of course, Tolstoy had an army of characters and their last names often appear the same as another character's. LOL; 4:42 PM
talpianna said...: The attitude I always got from my parents when, as a child or teenager, I offered to show them something I wrote was "Well, we'll read it if you want us to," which sort of implied that it wasn't worth reading on its own merits, only as a favor. Very depressing and not exactly making me eager to show my work to anyone else.

When I was a senior in high school, my English teacher's response to some of the things I wrote was to assume I had plagiarized them.

I really envy those of you who had/have encouraging parents and teachers.; 5:03 PM
DFender said...: Yet another interesting blog/question. Stella, I have to admit though, I'm stuck on the "I'm working toward the end of another Toussaint book at the moment..." comment and I'm SO excited... YaY! I LOVE them :)

Okay, that aside, my reading variety and frequency are a running jest around my family and friends... I read approximately 7 novels a week and the local library can't keep up with me so I buy A LOT of new books. I prefer to read rather than watch television for the most part. I always buy my favorite authors first and then look for new books that interest me, from fiction to non-fiction and everything betwixt and between. Since I can always be found with a book, at home, at work, wherever, everyone always knows what I'm reading. It's more along the lines of "so, Deb, what book are you reading TODAY?" lol I really don't mind at all. I don't ever feel the need to explain myself. I love to read, people can like it or leave it, it makes little difference in my choices.

I've actually had quite a few conversations with perfect strangers about whatever I'm reading at the time, especially sitting in the airport... lol. I have about 25 authors that are included in my "buy list" and I've copied and distributed that list several times by request. So far no one has complained or maligned my choices :) Like I, and several others here have mentioned, as long as the story is well written with terrific characters... what's to complain about?

Deb; 6:18 PM
Jay said...: Tal - having encouraging parents can be a problem in itself. Mine have always been eager to read anything I write, but once read, had to keep telling me all the parts they'd change. "It's really good - BUT I'd do this..." I know now that it's just their way of being enthusiastic, but after a while, I'd get the impression what I was doing wasn't good enough, since it constantly needed changing.

I never truly thought much of my writing ability until I did a correspondence writing course at 17. My tutor had nothing to add, no corrections to make, and marked me top of the class on every single part of the course. It was a bit of an eye-opener, especially as she was the first totally objective reader of anything I'd written.; 6:49 PM
DFender said...: ... by the way, I forgot to mention that I read erotica too... and no, I never hide the covers... lol.; 3:23 AM
Cbell said...: Having worked on a church staff for almost seven years, I found little to no time to read for pleasure. Most of my reading and exploring was for research purposes, and I found that I enjoyed that almost as well!

I have changed jobs now and returned to a love of fiction reading. At first, I found it slightly embarrassing to be roaming around the Romance Aisle... specifically after being confronted by my pastor's wife and asked "What are you doing HERE?!" Then I remembered I was an adult and I didn't have to ask permission for what I read anymore!

I have discovered new authors I had never read before (each belonging to this blog) and once I read through everything my library had stocked... I hit the used bookstores... and still cannot get enough. My used hardback treasures are now quite visible on my home bookshelf... I have happily loaned them out... and have no problem discussing merits of particular books, authors or genres!; 4:57 AM
Brandy said...: If I'm out in public and reading a book, I may get questions. I am always happy to discuss an author or recommend one to someone. Conversations started at the bookstore can always lead to a new author to me, or to someone else. I love to read and enjoy sharing my opinion with others. (when asked); 9:37 AM
EAJ said...: I might hide the cover (those bodice rippes don't lend a person a whole lot of authority), but I love recommending books. Any genre (I'm trying to get my sister to read my medical anthropology textbook--really, it's a great book!). I'm especially prone to do this to complete strangers in the library. I try to share my addictions, it's only polite.; 2:17 AM
Anonymous said...: eaj,

What's the title and author(s) of the medical anthropology textbook. It sounds interesting.; 4:48 PM

Previous Posts

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Stella at a signing at Borders, Redmond Town Center, Redmond, WA

18 Comments: