Fiction with vision and visions We recently chatted with novelist Catherine Lanigan about the challenges of finding an audience for her new novel, Wings of Destiny.

Wings of Destiny is the story of two families entangled in a generations-long struggle; the conflict between the Dukes and The House of Su dates back to the Chinese opium war. The Duke lineage began with the illicit relationship between Jamaican plantation owner Ambrose Duke and his slave, Yuala. Destinies converge and a battle of good and evil ensues in San Francisco in the late 1800s, where Nan-Yung Su is driven to destroy forever the family of Ambrose and Yuala’s grandson, Jefferson Duke.

The scope of Lanigan’s novel is global, ranging from the Caribbean to the Forbidden City in China, and is decades-long. That span is scarcely grand enough to encompass this unforgettable tale.

BookPage: You wrote the novelizations for Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile. Wings of Destiny is a multi-generational saga, complete with ghosts and paranormal phenomena. What compelled you to write a story so different from what you’ve been writing? Catherine Lanigan: I always write from my heart in that, all of my books are the same. But Wings of Destiny is my soul. It is the one book about which I’m over-the-top-passionate. In the 20-plus novels I’ve written, I’ve done several multi-generational sagas. I love their scope and depth. This kind of book is rather like taking a scalpel to life, slicing through layer after layer to come to the raison d’etre. To me, that is our spirituality. Through this book I hope to open the eyes of each reader to see herself, where she came from, and where she’s going in a way she never dreamed or imagined for herself.

BP: It took a little-known publisher to launch Tom Clancy. Likewise, your publisher is taking a leap of faith with you. What do you hope this demonstrates to booklovers? CL: It is true that Peter Vegso at HCI is taking on an enormous challenge in the publication of this novel. By the virtue of his faith in this book, he is opening an entirely new genre of fiction. Can you imagine? Writers like myself, who have been turned down, rejected, scoffed at, and even ridiculed by countless publishers Wings was rejected over four dozen times in 13 years will find an avenue where our out of the box imaginations and passions will have a chance to be heard. My favorite story about Wings of Destiny was over a decade ago when my agent took it to the head of a prominent publishing house, and the editor read it and said, There’s a ghost from the future as a main character. Everyone knows there’s no such thing. Stonefaced, my agent replied, You never read A Christmas Carol? Next! Visionary fiction is destiny driven. I know I am following my divine path in seeing this book to publication. Though I can’t speak for Peter, his actions certainly show that he shares this belief.

BP: Where does your writing go from here? CL: I have two nonfiction books contracted with HCI currently. The Evolving Woman: Intimate Confessions of Surviving Mr. Wrong is a compilation of letters I have received over the past five years from responses to my national publicity campaigns for Mira Books, in which abused women relate how they found the courage and faith in themselves to escape from abusive marriages and relationships. The fact that two publishers are supporting my mission to help families who are victims of violence says a great deal about the heart and soul of the caring commitment they have to making the world a better place.

Angel Watch, the second book from HCI, is a series of factual accounts of paranormal and angelic intervention experiences in my personal life and those of my family and close friends. These are the real stories behind Wings of Destiny and how this book came into being. This is a book I have lived.

Other than that, I have three visionary fiction novels, fully formed in my head, but yet to write. Not to mention another half-dozen paranormal adventures, both contemporary and historical. I have no fear that I will ever run out of tales to tell. ¦ Sandy Huseby writes from her homes in Fargo, North Dakota, and Nevis, Minnesota. She is online at SHuseby@aol.com.

One of the greatest joys for romance readers is discovering a truly fresh take on a classic love story. One of the greatest challenges for romance authors is writing with an original voice. When the writer is a first-time novelist, the discovery is all the sweeter. Just such a story is Linda Nichols's Handyman, an enchanting contemporary retelling of the Cinderella tale — only this heroine is single mom Maggie Ivey, struggling to make a life for herself and her son Tim in a shabby apartment in Oakland. Prince Charming is contractor Jake Cooper, whom Maggie mistakes for Dr. Jason Golding, the self-help guru of the "21-Day Overhaul."

Jake is in the psychologist's office to bid on a remodeling job, but from their first encounter, he decides Maggie is the one who needs fixing. No Cinderella tale would be complete without a conniving pair of competitors for our hero's affections. Lindsay, Jake's ex-girlfriend, is determined to help him resolve his "issues" so they can get back together. And Gina, well, she's supposed to be Maggie's best friend — she even paid for the 21-Day Overhaul — but now can't stand having "her" guru give Maggie more personal attention.

After indulging in this irresistible tale, we asked author Linda Nichols to do a little self-analysis:

Sandy Huseby: Your novel pokes at the psychobabble, self-help fixation. What do you really need help with?

Linda Nichols: Handyman does sort of poke fun at psychobabble, but I don't think struggling with mental health issues is funny, and I'm very much in favor of competent counselors and psychologists doing their work. But there is an aspect to the whole self-help industry that strikes me as very commercial and almost addictive in nature. Your phrase "self-help fixation" describes it perfectly. I do have struggles myself in that area from time to time. I'm a worrier, and I've noticed that I get worse when my life feels out of control for some reason. The other thing I struggle with is being sort of a loner. I was an only child, and I tend to be pretty independent anyway. It's easy for me to sort of hibernate and let myself get out of touch with other people. But it's interesting; I've found the cure for both of these problems is to stay connected to the people I care about. They tend to help me put my worries into perspective, even if it's just to say, "Even if the worst happens, I'll still love you."

SH: What do you like most about your heroine?

LN: I think the thing I like most about Maggie Ivey is her sweetness. She hasn't let betrayal make her hard and bitter. And I also like that she takes such good care of her son. She has her priorities straight, no matter what other people are telling her.

SH: What do you like best about yourself as a writer? As a person?

LN: I think the thing I like best about myself as a writer is my perseverance. I made the decision a while back that I was never going to give up on my writing, no matter how hard it was at times. I felt I had been given a talent and it was my responsibility to develop it. I take classes, belong to a workshop, and write five days a week, almost without exception. What I like about myself as a person is a tougher question. I feel I have a lot of character flaws. Sometimes I think I should wear a sign that says, "As Is." But I guess the thing I like best about myself is my honesty and lack of pretense. I'm not very good at pretending to be anything other than what I am.

SH: Who is your real-world hero and why?

LN: I have a group of heroes. When I was a junior in high school my family disintegrated. My dad moved us to the Seattle area from Virginia. I left behind all my friends and extended family, and as soon as we arrived here my parents' marriage sort of melted down. I was an only child, without friends, whose family was falling apart. But then, miraculously, I think as I look back, these people just came out of the woodwork and took care of me. One was the pastor of the church I began attending. He filled the role of father in my life during high school and college. Another was a girl who came along and became my friend. Her family included me in everything they did. A third was an older woman who took me under her wing. I would sit at her house for hours, and she would listen and encourage me. They are my heroes. Out of a complete void came a father, mother, and family. I'll never forget what they did for me.

The caring relationships Linda Nichols describes in her own life ring just as true in her story. Help yourself to Handyman, sit back, and turn off all the distractions — you're in for a real treat!

Sandy Huseby writes and reviews from her homes in Fargo, North Dakota, and lakeside near Nevis, Minnesota. 

Author photo by Perler Photography.

The crown jewel of romantic comedy writers surely has to be Susan Elizabeth Phillips, who starts the new millennium with her first hardcover, a novel harkening back to her most beloved storytelling. This Heart of Mine teams children's author Molly Somerville with pro quarterback Kevin Tucker in a romance with more action than a Super Bowl showdown.

Although Kevin can't seem to remember her name, Molly has been harboring a crush on the Chicago Stars player since she was 16 years old. She's been living out her fantasies through her children's book heroine, Daphne Bunny, a witty gal with a to-die-for-wardrobe. Now 27, Molly decides to swear off unrequited love but can't keep the overpaid, Ferrari-driving, poodle-hating jock out of her mind. The couple battles it out off the field and soon Kevin is on defense against Molly's winning ways.

Where do such warm, charming, sassy-tongued and vulnerable people as Molly and Kevin come from? The clever, gifted heart of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, who talked to BookPage recently from her home in Chicago.

BookPage: So what's a demure romantic comedy writer like you doing writing about brawling, bruising football players like Kevin Tucker?
Susan Elizabeth Phillips: And Dan Calebow, Cal Bonner, Bobby Tom Denton and Kenny Traveler. Odd, isn't it for someone who doesn't really like sports? In my mind, if you don't have to wear mascara to do it, it doesn't count as recreation.

BP: Are you a real-life football fan? Da Bears? Who's your favorite player?
SEP: The Bears suck. I think I watched part of the Super Bowl last year. I can't stand watching baseball because the players spit. Watching golf is less interesting than watching grass grow. Favorite players? You've got to be kidding. I'm just not much of a fan.

BP: Are you a closet children's book reader? Or author, like Molly?
SEP: Now here's something I can get into. I own the complete set of Eloise, which I adore. I've read all but the last Harry Potter. My 23-year-old son tells me it gets really scary. I'd love to be able to write one of the Daphne the Bunny books, but I don't share Molly's talent. One thing I've discovered in the past year: Romance readers are passionate about the books they loved as children and they delight in talking about them. It's also pretty easy to figure out how old everyone is by the books they choose.

BP: Which is the most-thumbed children's book on your own reading shelf?
SEP: Goodnight Moon, hands down. I read it to the boys every night for years and years.

BP: You're a former teacher? What did you teach? Why?
SEP: I taught high school drama, speech and English. My degree is in theater, but I knew by the time I graduated that I was neither beautiful enough nor talented enough to make it on the stage. Thus, teaching.

BP: Would you go ever go back to teaching?
SEP: I loved teaching, especially teenagers. Now I have to get my teaching fix by doing writing workshops, which I adore.

BP: What's the most important banned book you've ever read?
SEP: So many great books have been banned in one place or another that it's pretty hard to choose. I remember reading Forever Amber in the back of the public library because my mother told me I wasn't old enough for it. Catcher In The Rye was a book that knocked me for a loop. It was the first time I understood the concept of author voice. I've never gotten over that book. Currently, Harry Potter. We all should get down on our knees daily and give thanks to J.K. Rowling for all the future readers she's snagging us.

BP: When the Chicago wind chill's 30 below and everything's socked in what do you do?
SEP: EXCUSE ME? We don't get "socked in" in Chicago at a mere 30 below. We're hearty Midwesterners and we go out and meet the elements! After I've met the elements, however, I love sitting snug at my computer and writing while the snow and wind try to shatter my office windows.

This Heart of Mine is just the romantic comedy readers will want to snuggle up with. Susan Elizabeth Phillips delivers a championship story!

Sandy Huseby writes at fireside in Fargo or lakeside in northern Minnesota.

Fate—author Nora Roberts believes in it. "After all, I'm Irish Catholic, I come by it naturally," she said in a recent interview. Blessed with a diverse style, a fertile imagination and the discipline instilled by the nuns, Roberts has racked up some staggering statistics and become a publishing phenomenon. A total of 69 books written by the prolific author have shown up on the New York Times bestseller list, including five written under her J.D. Robb nom de plume. With over 145 million copies of her books in print, Roberts is on the fast track of women's fiction. Her mass-market sales now surpass Danielle Steel, and based on USA Today's 2001 bestseller list, she is closing in on J.K. Rowling.

Roberts' writing career began in 1979 when she was snowbound at home in western Maryland with her two kids. "When school was canceled every morning for a week, I'm not ashamed to admit I wept," she says. On impulse, she decided to write down one of the stories in her head. "As soon as I started, I fell for the process of writing, and I knew it was what I should have been doing all along." Roberts went on to write six manuscripts before she was finally published.

"I'd written all these books and nobody was buying anything, but it didn't matter to me whether they got published or not, it was something I needed to do for me. I love being able to make believe. So many of us lose that when we grow up the ability to be able to just go with our imagination." But where do all those ideas come from? "From the National Idea Bank," she laughs. "Actually, I'm clueless. I'm never quite sure what the process is or where these ideas come from. I think writers are hard-wired for stories, it's what we do, it's what we are." The idea for Roberts' latest book, Three Fates, came while she was on a trip to Ireland, the land of her ancestors. She stopped at Cobh (pronounced cove), a historic, picturesque city by the sea, and the port of passage for more than 2.5 million Irish immigrants. "My own ancestors would have departed from there," Roberts says.

The people of Cobh are all too familiar with the whims of fate and destiny. The harbor was the last port of call for the Titanic and is the final resting place of the Lusitania. On May 7, 1915, the passenger ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank offshore, killing 1,198 people.

Roberts was fascinated by the stories of the Lusitania disaster. "But I don't write historicals," she says, "so what was I going to do with that? I started thinking what if. What if something was on the ship and somebody had it and survived?"

The something turned out to be one of three silver statues known as the Fates. According to Greek mythology, the Moerae or Fates are three powerful goddesses who determined the lives of men. Clotho wove the thread of life, Lachesis measured it out and Atropos cut it off with her scissors of death. As one of the characters in Three Fates points out, "Three parts . . . one purpose. Alone they would be nothing but ordinary if interesting women. Together, the most powerful and honored of gods." The someone in Roberts' "what if" became passenger Felix Greenfield, a petty thief who survived the disaster to become a changed man. He kept a small silver statue he had pilfered as a good luck charm, and it became a family heirloom.

Nearly a century later, Greenfield's heirloom has been snatched away from his rightful heirs. Malachi, Gideon and Rebecca Sullivan are determined to recover their statue, find the other two Fates and make their fortune. Almost as determined is Cleo, an exotic dancer, who sees the Fates as her ticket to a new life. In New York, they join forces with a formidable although somewhat neurotic female professor and a sexy security expert who knows how to play high-tech hide-and-seek.

Relationships develop among the treasure and pleasure seekers, who see more action than the craps tables in Atlantic City. All the while, their every move is being tracked by Anita Gaye, an ambitious woman who will stop at nothing to acquire the Fates. As always Roberts creates strong, well-defined characters that practically leap off the page and make you hate to see the story end.

But never fear Roberts is already back at work. "I'm in the process of writing a complex, problematic trilogy that is currently driving me insane. The story deals with three women who meet for the first time when they are challenged to take on three parts of a quest to unlock a box that holds the souls of three Celtic gods. When it's going well, I'm rubbing my hands together; when it's not, I'm beating my head against the wall."

Roberts should have plenty of money for aspirin. In the time it takes to read this sentence, another eight of her books have been sold.

The sacrifices of military couples In her new novel, The Ocean Between Us, popular romance writer Susan Wiggs pays tribute to the military families who struggle to keep their bonds strong during challenging times. As Wiggs richly demonstrates, the simple vows "for better, for worse . . . 'til death us do part" have a special meaning for couples who face lengthy separations as a result of military deployments. Grace, the Navy wife at the center of The Ocean Between Us, finds the challenge of sustaining her 20-year marriage takes on bittersweet urgency when a catastrophe on her husband's aircraft carrier threatens to separate the couple forever.

A Harvard graduate and former math teacher, Wiggs is a RITA award-winning author who has written more than 20 novels, from historical romances to contemporary women's fiction. She recently talked to BookPage from her island home in Puget Sound about how her latest novel took shape.

BookPage: What compelled you to write this book? Do you have a military background?

Susan Wiggs: Not at all! Researching this, I felt like an anthropologist studying another culture. The military is definitely a world apart. The book I wanted to write was the story of a woman and her marriage a good marriage. Novels about bad marriages abound, but I find the idea of a good marriage that is severely tested much more interesting.

Then I went in search of my characters. Who was this woman? Where did she live? Who was she married to? What will make this story special? That's when I hit on the military angle for this book. The U.S. Navy is a huge presence here in Puget Sound. It's common to be driving along on Bainbridge Island, and pulling over to watch an aircraft carrier steaming toward its home port of Bremerton. In fact, I stood in the freezing wind one day to watch the Carl Vinson come home after its post-9/11 deployment.

One of my dearest friends and fellow writers, Geri Krotow, is a Navy wife. The day I saw her fix a Command Pin on her husband's chest at his Change of Command ceremony, I was so moved by the gesture that I knew this would be the right background for The Ocean Between Us. The bravery and sacrifice of Geri and her family touched my heart.

What have you learned about marriage through writing this story?

I have a vivid recollection of writing a scene in The Ocean Between Us in which Grace and Steve say goodbye just before he boards the aircraft carrier for a six-month deployment. In the scene, they've just had a huge falling-out, and they're estranged. It's a very sad scene and I remember thinking, "Wiggs, you'd better find a way to fix this situation!" Now it occurs to me that the marriage of the people in this book, which I think is a very good marriage subjected to some terrible pressures, reflects what I believe about marriage and commitment. The good ones are worth fighting for.

What have you learned about writing through telling this story?

That the best way to tell a story is the way that gives the reader the best possible ride. This story doesn't unfurl chronologically. It starts with a huge, dramatic event, then goes back and reveals the steps that led to that moment. Then the story finishes with the fallout from the big drama. It was an interesting challenge to write, and I'm hoping it's compelling for the reader.

What do you hope readers learn about military families from this book?

Without ramming it down their throats, I do hope The Ocean Between Us is an honest look at the benefits and the costs faced by families in the military. It's often a good news/bad news situation. For example, last year, my friend Geri's husband didn't have to pay income tax on 10 months of his income. That's the good news. The bad news is that the reason he doesn't have to pay taxes is that for those 10 months, he was in harm's way fighting in Iraq.

The seeds of Kristan Higgins’ writing career were sown when, at the age of 13, she swiped Shanna—a notorious bodice ripper by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss—from her grandmother’s nightstand. Woodiwiss has been called “the founding mother of the historical romance genre” and has inspired a whole generation of writers, Higgins among them.

“I was hooked,” Higgins says. “For several years, I controlled the black market for romance novels at my Catholic girl’s school, and now they actually carry my books in their library, which I find shocking!”

Higgins began her writing career as an advertising copywriter right after college, and worked until her first daughter was born. Then when a second child came along, and the two kids started napping simultaneously in the afternoon, the young mother had a couple of hours to herself for the first time.

“I wasn’t one of those people who carried a notebook around and wrote down everything,” Higgins recalls, “but I was a reader. And since I’d been reading romance novels for decades at that point, I thought I’d like to see if I could write one. The jump from ad copy to fiction wasn’t too hard,” she says with a laugh.

When Higgins finished her first novel, Fools Rush In, she shipped it off to an agent who immediately took her on as a client. “I was really lucky,” Higgins stresses; “the timing was right, and the agent was willing to take a chance on a new author, and she made a sale.” She advises other aspiring writers to keep working, make sure you know what you do well and hone that skill. “Keep your head down, work hard and never be satisfied,” she says.

Apparently Higgins took her own advice. Her second book, Catch of the Day, won the 2008 Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for best contemporary romance. Next came Just One of the Guys in August 2008, followed by Too Good to Be True in February 2009.

Her latest offering hits bookstores this month, just in time for Valentine’s Day. As in Higgins’ past books, family relationships are the stars of the show. The Next Best Thing is a multi-generational, heartwarming tale of lost love, broken hearts and second chances set in a small New England town, peopled with plenty of funny, quirky folks to provide some timely comic relief.

The heroine, Lucy, works in the family business, Bunny’s Hungarian Bakery, as a bread baker who secretly yearns to create desserts. Her mother and her aunts Iris and Rose all share the same maiden name—Black—and all were widowed by the age of 50. As a result, they have been dubbed the Black Widows, and five years ago, 24-year-old Lucy joined their ranks when her one true love, her husband Jimmy, died in a car accident. Now, Lucy’s very pregnant sister, Corinne, lives in constant fear that her husband Chris is next.

So Lucy has decided that it’s time to get on with her life, find a husband and have children. Ethan, a friend with privileges, is immediately ruled out because he is much too attractive and their relationship is way too complicated. Lucy wants someone more mundane, secure and safe and, dare we say, boring—somebody she won’t ever love too much. Lucy’s learned her lesson: Love hurts, especially when the one you love is gone.

After going through a series of false starts, Lucy may have found a promising candidate. But to date, no Black Widow has ever remarried, and the fact that Lucy has supposedly made up her mind doesn’t stop her aunts and Jimmy’s parents from doling out more unsolicited advice than Dr. Phil. Soon Lucy is yo-yoing back and forth between her head and her heart, trying to make a decision—and making everybody else crazy in the process. A pseudo-psychic offers guidance from Jimmy on the other side, but will Lucy be able to interpret his message before it’s too late?

Much like the extended family in The Next Best Thing, Higgins herself grew up in a large, tight-knit Hungarian family. “All my heroines are involved with their family, sometimes to their detriment, because nobody knows you and can torment you as effectively as your family. But hopefully no one loves you and accepts you as much as your family.”

Higgins’ three great-aunts and her mother, all widows, inspired the fictional Black Widows. “Unfortunately my aunts have all passed away,” she says, “but I hope somehow they’ll know that they’ve been immortalized.”

Although Higgins says she tries to focus on universal ideas and concerns, writing about the death of a husband is not a common romance theme. She handles the issue with grace and humor and strikes emotional chords by putting into words what is in the hearts and minds of many who have lost loved ones.

“My dad died unexpectedly when I was 23,” she explains. “Losing someone like that re-creates your world; it’s suddenly different and you have to learn how to negotiate that landscape.” The plot of The Next Best Thing revolves around Lucy’s struggle to accept the fact that her life with Jimmy is over—and that she still has a lot of living left to do.

“Being widowed young is something I live in fear of because my mom was widowed when she was 46, and my husband’s a firefighter. So if he’s late coming home from work, all these worried thoughts go through my head. You never trust the fates in the same way as someone who hasn’t been through that experience.”

Although not every real romance has a happily-ever-after ending, Higgins doesn’t think those endings will ever go out of style in fiction. “It’s about the quest to find the one person to share your life, help carry your burdens, celebrate your triumphs and love the real you. Romance novels are a promise to the reader that love makes you stronger and life better, and you’re going to feel good at the end of a book.”

 “I want to write big memorable love stories about regular people,” Higgins says, “like me or my best friend, or my sister. Not everyone is rich, famous, beautiful, psychic or immortal.” On her website there’s a quote that sums it all up: “Real life, true love and lots of laughs.”

Best-selling romance author Rochelle Alers launches her Cavanaugh Island series with Sanctuary Cove, the sweet story of two adults who have a second chance at love. The novel takes place off the coast of South Carolina and stars Deborah, a widowed bookstore owner, and Asa, a doctor who is attempting to move on after the death of his wife. The two strike up a friendship in Deborah’s bookstore—and cautious romance isn’t far behind. Alers chatted with BookPage about writing a believable love story, her book’s Lowcountry setting and resolutions for 2012.

The heroine of your story, Deborah, owns an independent bookstore. After the store’s grand opening, Asa mentions that “women love reading about love, and are also in love with love.” When did you realize that you love reading—and writing—about love?
I’ve always been a voracious reader, but with the proliferation of romances featuring American heroes and heroines in the 1980s, reading them had become my comfort food. I just couldn’t get enough. After devouring nearly a thousand contemporary and historical titles I decided to try my hand at writing one. To say it was a very long process is an understatement. It took a decade, a very fertile imagination, patience and perseverance before I was able to finally realize my dream to become a published romance writer and experience my own literary happily ever after.

Your story is wonderfully evocative of the Carolina Lowcountry—shrimp and grits, genteel society, Gullah superstitions and all. Have you ever lived in South Carolina? Why did you choose this setting?
Although I have Southern roots and have visited South Carolina many times, I’ve never lived there. I decided to choose this setting to celebrate my own Gullah heritage. It is a culture rich in language, cuisine, dance, superstition and customs that go back to Africa. As an adult, I wanted to know more about my maternal grandfather who spoke a Creole dialect composed of words mixed with English and various African phrases. What binds Gullah people together is the perpetuation of the customs and mores that have existed for centuries—some of these you will be introduced to in the Cavanaugh Island series.

Becoming Forever’s first African-American romance writer is an honor that I will hold close to my heart. And to achieve this distinction with the Cavanaugh Island series makes it even more spectacular, because these books are more than entertainment. They are personal.   

Although they are attracted to one another early in the story, Deborah and Asa’s romantic tension builds slowly. What do you think makes for good (and realistic) chemistry between a hero and a heroine?
It is totally realistic because both are mature adults who have lost their respective spouses. Slowly building romantic tension adds to the plot, while reader interest also builds as the couple resolves their dilemma. And because they are living in a small town, they are always conscious of the reaction of Deborah’s children and the townspeople as to their relationship.

Will you be picking up Deborah’s story in book two of the Cavanaugh Island series? How many books in the series do you plan to write?
Readers will reunite with Deborah and Asa in book two. To date I plan for three books in the Cavanaugh Island series: Sanctuary Cove, Angels Landing and Haven Creek. However, my imagination is in full throttle as I begin the third book because I’m thinking there are many more stories in this series. The island is populated by quirky characters who are just clamoring to take center stage. The residents of Cavanaugh Island are like a large extended family that I look forward to revisiting over and over again.

You have had many accomplishments in your career, such as being honored with the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. Now, with Sanctuary Cove, you are Forever's first African-American romance author. Which milestone in your career has held the most personal significance?
I have to say they share equal personal significance, but for different reasons. I read Romantic Times when it was in newspaper form and I was an aspiring author; to earn a career achievement award from RT is something I would not have been able to fathom so many years ago.

The Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award, bestowed upon me by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Iota Theta Zeta chapter is a personal triumph because not only was Hurston, as a student at Howard University, an early initiate of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., but Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of my favorite classic novels.

Becoming Forever’s first African-American romance writer is an honor that I will hold close to my heart. And to achieve this distinction with the Cavanaugh Island series makes it even more spectacular, because these books are more than entertainment. They are personal.      

Your Cavanaugh Island series launches on January 1. Do you have any New Year’s resolutions or traditions?
I usually don’t make New Year’s resolutions because I’m unable to keep them. However, I do prepare a traditional Lowcountry New Year’s dinner with hoppin’ John (black-eyed peas and rice), roast pork, greens and cornbread.

Editors’ Note: Visit the Rochelle Alers’ website in January 2012 for some Lowcountry recipes.

A veteran author of historical and paranormal romance novels, Sylvia Day woke up to find her latest book was a New York Times bestseller—before it came out in print. Bared to You, which was self-published in April before being reissued by the Penguin Group, tells the story of Eva, a young woman making her way in New York City, and Gideon, the billionaire entrepreneur who pursues her. Though both characters have painful pasts and are wary of starting a new relationship, their magnetic attraction is undeniable—and their love scenes are scorchers. In a Q&A with BookPage, Day answers questions about the similarities between her novel and Fifty Shades of Grey; the popularity of erotic romance; and creating sexual chemistry on the page.

Before Penguin bought the English rights to Bared to You, your novel was self-published. What is the greatest advantage of traditional publishing versus self-publishing? Do you think you’ll ever self-publish again?
The biggest and most obvious advantage to traditional publishing is the print run and distribution for Bared to You. There’s no way I would’ve come anywhere near 500,000 print copies, nor would Bared have ever been found in Walmart, Target, Costco, BJs, Kroger, etc. as a self-published book. Penguin brought to the table a dedicated, enthusiastic team of individuals with a broad network of connections, which far outweigh what I was capable of doing at home alone.

That said, I’m a veteran of this industry. I’m well aware that the breadth of support for Bared to You is rare. For many projects that don’t have the prospect of widespread appeal, self-publishing can be the best option because it increases the profit margin by a massive degree. I’m certain I’ll have future projects that are best served by self-publishing, just as I’m certain that I’ll have future projects best suited for traditional publishing.

In today’s publishing landscape, I think authors should be considering a career portfolio that includes traditional publishing, self-publishing and digital-first publishing. Every project is unique and the best way of disseminating a work can vary depending on a variety of factors.

Why do you think readers are already responding so positively to this love story? Any theories as to why erotic romance is suddenly tearing up the bestseller lists?
I think Bared to You can remind readers of personal experiences with hopeless romance. The angst and regret inherent in a troubled relationship never leave us, and Bared taps into that. Eva and Gideon are so messed up in so many ways and their coping mechanisms often trigger each other negatively. How do you choose between long-adopted survival strategies and the love of your life, both of which you can't live without, and yet cannot co-exist together?

For many of my characters, they lack the ability to communicate effectively verbally, so they show how they feel through sexual interaction.

As for erotic romance hitting bestseller lists, there’s really nothing sudden about it. Erotic romance has routinely appeared on the national lists for many years. Look at the Berkley Heat stable of authors (Heat is Berkley’s erotic romance imprint) and you’ll find Lora Leigh, Lauren Dane, Jaci Burton, Shayla Black, Jory Strong, Maya Banks, Anya Bast . . .  all New York Times bestselling authors.

Frankly, I think the recent hype over erotic fiction for women is just an example of the media being very slow to catch on to a longtime trend.

How do you sustain such explosive chemistry between Gideon and Eva for hundreds of pages? Is there a secret to writing sex scenes that continue to excite (rather than bore) readers over the span of a novel?
Emotional resonance—it’s absolutely necessary to writing erotic romance. Sex for sex’s sake is porn. Reading “Tab-A into Slot-B” scenes would be boring and repetitive. Each sexual scene has to further the story and character arcs. There has to be a goal to the interaction and a resolution (aside from physical climax!). For many of my characters, they lack the ability to communicate effectively verbally, so they show how they feel through sexual interaction. There’s a story in the way they communicate with their bodies and that’s what makes the sex hot.

What was your inspiration for writing this story? In your Acknowledgments, you write, “To E.L. James, who wrote a story that captivated readers and created a hunger for more.” Was Bared to You directly inspired by 50 Shades of Grey, or was there some other artistic influence (or life experience) that led you to create Gideon and Eva?
My inspiration for Bared to You was one of my own works, Seven Years to Sin, which follows a couple with abusive pasts. In Seven, the characters’ histories brought them together, but I wondered later what it would be like to explore a relationship in which the characters’ pasts pushed them apart instead. What if the defining trauma of your life impeded your ability to connect with the person you love? Can two abuse survivors have a functional and healthy romantic relationship? That’s the core question of the Crossfire series.

I gave a nod to E.L. James in the reissued edition of Bared to You because there’s no doubt that the success of her series contributed to the success of mine. It was readers of Fifty Shades who drove sales of Bared to You with their recommendations. It’s the least I can do to acknowledge E.L. James for her part in that. I’m grateful.

If readers have discovered and loved Bared to You but are new to the romance and erotica genres—what other books would you recommend they read next?
The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed; Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks; and Laid Bare by Lauren Dane.

You also write paranormal and historical romance, as well as contemporaries. Which subgenre is the most fun for you to write?
Honestly, I love them all equally. My focus is always on the story. The setting and time period are mutable depending on the story I want to tell.

Do you have a favorite line (or scene) from Bared to You?
Gideon to Eva: “I must’ve wished for you so hard and so often you had no choice but to come true.”

The sequel to Bared to You is called Deeper in You. Can you give us a sneak preview?
In Deeper in You, we see Gideon and Eva struggling to mesh who they are as individuals with their joint identity as a couple. Trying to blend “his” life with “her” life into “our” life brings all sorts of new problems. Eva is close to her family; Gideon is estranged from his. Eva is a social creature whose network of friends expands as she settles into New York; Gideon is fiercely private and contained. As much as they have in common, they have a lot of differences, too, and they continue to trigger each other’s defense mechanisms in unexpected—and sometimes painful—ways.

Have you already torn through Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You? Starting on July 31, 2012, you can enter the world of another love story with sizzling sexual content—although this novel has a twist. Beth Kery’s Because You Are Mine will be published in eight installments; a new part will come out every Tuesday until September 18, 2012. The parts are available exclusively as eBooks.

This steamy tale follows Francesca, an artist, and Ian, a businessman. Francesca is commissioned to create a painting for the lobby of Ian’s building, and sparks start to fly once they get to know each other better.

Kery chatted with BookPage about erotic romance, art and sexy heroes.

Erotic romance is more popular than ever. Why do you think so many readers are attracted to this genre?
I think the genre was growing before Fifty Shades of Grey became such a publishing juggernaut. Once that happened, however, it really hurtled the genre into the spotlight. It’s hard to pick apart the elements of a sensation. There are so many factors, plus a little bit of incalculable magic.

Once romance readers were exposed to higher sensuality and sexual content, they came to crave more. Even romance that isn’t considered to be “erotic” is hotter nowadays, and readers expect it. There’s a trend for more sexual content, more graphic sexual description and more honesty about what happens in the bedroom in romance novels.

What is unique about the relationship between Francesca and Ian?
What’s unique is their ability to give just what the other needs to grow. Ian is the experienced, worldly one, both sexually and in general. He teaches Francesca so many things: about the power of her sexuality and beauty; how to better manage her somewhat haphazard, hand-to-mouth existence; how to take the reins of her life and take control. He’s a little weary of life, however, of always having to be in ultimate control. Ian never really had a childhood. Francesca teaches him how to let go, live in the moment and be spontaneous.

That’s what’s beautiful about their relationship. Each holds the key for the other’s transformation.

Readers want "more sexual content, more graphic sexual description and more honesty about what happens in the bedroom."

What do you think makes for a sexy, memorable hero?
Oh, so many things. He’s a protector of the heroine, even if he doesn’t start out with the intention to be so. He’s the epitome of strength, but there has to be something about him—some crack that only the heroine can access, something that opens this seemingly impenetrable male to the experience of love. A sexy, memorable hero has to have enough depth and layers that the reader ends up “getting him” completely and falling in love with him, despite his imperfections.

Francesca is an artist. Ian, a businessman, commissions her to create a painting for his new skyscraper. Do you have a particular interest in art and architecture?
I definitely do. I’m a lover of the arts—although a terrible artist myself. You’ll often see artists or art motifs showing up in my books. I’m a longtime member of the Art Institute here in Chicago. Francesca actually holds degrees both in art and architecture, and I’m a huge admirer of architecture as well as art.

One of the first misunderstandings between Francesca and Ian is when she mistakenly believes he just awarded her the commission because of a “love of a straight line” versus her immense artistry. You’d have to be a very special person to be both an architect and a painter.

Were there any challenges specific to writing a serialized novel?
Yes, it was a fun challenge, but a huge one. For instance, while I was working on Part VIII, I had just finished copyedits for Parts III to V. I was worried about content specifics from Part I-III, because those are edited and sent off . . . but what about slight changes I’ve made in the story? Any author will tell you that she constantly goes back to tweak in the earlier stages because of something she wrote later that wasn’t necessarily planned. The Berkley staff was so supportive about going back and making small content changes in blurbs and even the copyedited manuscript.

How will you hold readers’ interest in the characters over eight installments of the book?
Hopefully, each installment will pique interest in the characters’ growth and romance. I’m curious to hear what the experience will be like for readers. I hope it’ll be positive, sort of like watching a television show and anticipating the next episode. I think the small wait—the parts come out weekly every Tuesday—will help to build excitement and deepen an awareness of Ian and Francesca’s love story.

Can you tell us about your next project?
My next project will actually be another serial for Berkley! It’s due to come out in January of 2013 and will take place in Ian’s and Francesca’s “world.” I have three other books due out from Berkley between 2013 and 2014.

Magical realism and breathtaking contemporary romance converge in the newest from Lisa Kleypas, Dream Lake. It’s our August 2012 Romance of the Month, and as romance columnist Christie Ridgway writes, “This is Kleypas at her contemporary best: The writing wows and the ending evokes happy tears.”

We chatted with Kleypas about writing, romance and great abs!

Describe your book in one sentence.
Alex Nolan, a dark and cynical man who is being haunted by the ghost of a WWII fighter pilot, fights his growing attraction to local innkeeper Zoe Hoffman.

What’s the most romantic thing that has ever happened to you?
I was on a first date with a charming but slightly reserved guy who took me out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. At the restaurant, they were passing around a bowl of conversation hearts—those candies with words printed on them—and he sorted through the bowl until he found the one he wanted to give to me. It said “TRUE LOVE.” We have been married for 18 years, and it’s still true love!

What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?
I love the fact that I’m always learning more about the craft. With writing, there is never a point at which you can say, “I don’t need to get any better.” That kind of challenge always makes it exciting and interesting.

What was the proudest moment of your career so far?
It was when I managed to summon the courage to try something new after almost two decades of writing historical romances, and I completed my first contemporary novel, Sugar Daddy. Also, I feel incredibly grateful that one of my books is being made into an upcoming Hallmark Hall of Fame movie titled Christmas With Holly. I can’t wait to watch it with my family and friends.

What are the sexiest scenes to write?
Often it’s not the love scenes as much as the intimate moments between two characters when you realize that some emotional change is happening. For example, in Dream Lake, there is a moment when Alex, a guy with a really tough and cynical personality, rushes to help Zoe, a young chef who has just gotten a minor burn on her arm. His behavior reveals a tender and caring side that is unexpected and I think very sexy. Having a man take care of you, show concern for you, is a much bigger turn-on for women than the sight of muscular abs—although the abs certainly never hurt!

If you had to be stranded on a desert island with one of your heroes, who would you choose?
I think Hardy Cates from one of my contemporary novels, Blue Eyed Devil. Very sexy, tough and charming. He would be fun to spend time with under a palm tree, but he could also build a boat to get us back home!

What are you working on next?
I am having so much fun writing Crystal Cove, a contemporary romance about a young witch who has been cursed never to fall in love . . . but then she meets a handsome and mysterious stranger, Jason Black, who may just break the spell.

Megan Mulry’s stylish debut, A Royal Pain, is an unusual fairy tale, but one romance columnist Christie Ridgway calls “a modern love story fizzing with bubbles of Cinderella fantasy.” For anyone who watched the Royal Wedding in rapt attention—or simply lusted after those hats—this story of a Yank and a Brit is the perfect contemporary spin on fairy-tale love.

We chatted with Mulry about British gossip, sexy waiters and much more.

Describe your book in one sentence.
A Royal Pain is the story of a strong-willed, independent American woman who unwittingly falls for a British duke . . . trials and tribulations ensue.

What’s your celebrity guilty pleasure? Do you love British royalty gossip?
The Duchess of Cambridge is my celebrity guilty pleasure. I try to rationalize that visits to www.whatkatewore.com are really my way of addressing matters of high sociological philosophy and help me speak to modern feminism. I’m really just there for the dresses. I’m not that into the gossip side of things . . . I’m more of a voyeur than a delver.

What are the sexiest scenes to write?
The ones at the beginning of a relationship when both characters are a little unsure; I love writing scenes that are all tingly and full of unspoken promise.

Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
All the best people, darling! Julia Child, Christopher Hitchens, Coco Chanel, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Devonshire, Caitlin Moran, Colin Firth, Anthony Bourdain, Vita Sackville-West and some of my real-life friends to round out the numbers. David Gandy would be the waiter.

How do you conquer writer’s block?
I write every day. No excuses.

What’s one book your readers might be surprised to know you have read?
I am in the process of reading the 10 original Harlequin Presents by Violet Winspear, Anne Hampson and Anne Mather. Not that surprising, actually.

What’s next?
Earl Meets Girl (June 2013) and L is for Lady (November 2013) are the next two books in this royal series. There’s also a sexy little historical novella coming out sometime in 2013.

Our December 2012 Top Pick in Romance is a tale of an inescapable connection from “an author deft at mining deep emotion.” Robyn Carr takes her readers to Virgin River at Christmastime in My Kind of Christmas, a hopeful tale of a rugged Navy man and the woman he loves.

We chatted with Carr about sexy scenes, great books and the upcoming holiday season.

Describe your book in one sentence.
The hardest question in the world—Angie LaCroix and Patrick Riordan retire to Virgin River for a respite from their traumas and find that love and passion does as much to heal wounds as a vacation could.

What is it about Virgin River that makes it such a hotbed for romance?
It’s removed from the world in a way and exists as a place of community and caring, a kind of magical town where people help each other, can trust each other, and commitment is the order of the day. It could be something in the water, but whatever you need, chances are you’ll find it in Virgin River.

Who is your favorite character you’ve ever written?
That’s a little like asking a mother who her favorite child is. I guess the character I’ve gotten to know best is Jack Sheridan, who has appeared in every Virgin River novel. He has so many sides—by turns sexy and courageous or funny and meddling. I do love him. And he loves me.

What are the sexiest scenes to write?
Not the sex scenes, actually, but the scenes that lead up to the sex scenes—the caress, the touch, the shiver of expectation, the kiss. The seductive words and the growing expectation that it’s the right match, the perfect possession.

What’s one book you think everyone should read?
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy, so much deeper and more complex than the movie by the same title. The character growth and story development and smashing denoument are stunning.

What do you enjoy most about the holidays?
The gathering of friends and family, not to mention dangerously delicious food everywhere you turn. For our family, the pleasure in giving far exceeds the fun of opening our own presents—both giving gifts within our family and giving to charities. Every time I put five dollars in the bell-ringer’s bucket, my heart gets larger!

What’s next?
After 20 Virgin River novels, a new series starts in March with three novels scheduled for 2013. The anchor character came out of Virgin River, and we’ll travel to a new location in the beautiful wilds of the Oregon coast—and I am having so much fun! That doesn’t mean I’ll stop writing about Virgin River, but it’s time to freshen things up a bit.