Special Edition of Write By Bethany Blog: Are You A Re-Reader?

Hey All!

Hope everyone is doing well. I was wondering something...

Do you re-read book series and which ones?

Lately, I've been re-reading Shanna Swendson's Enchanted Inc. series, which I absolutely love. There's something so fun about the way she wrote them (in a genre that used to be called Chick-Lit but is now more like contemporary). So many great characters and fun scenes. It's been a while since I read it, so it's nice to pick it back up. I own all the books.

I've read C.S. Lewis' Narnia books multiple times. I've also read some of Lynn Kurland's MacLeod/de Piaget family books a few times.

What is it about a series that makes you want to go back and read it again and again?

For me, it's like seeing old friends. If enough time has passed, I'm getting reacquainted with them, or just enjoying them. I'm remembering how much I enjoyed certain scenes.

I've read other books that weren't series more than once, too. Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is one such book--I've read it at least 3 times (I have family members who have read it more than that!) I've read other books more than once.

When I was in high school, I used to say that "Books are the best friends. They'll never betray you and they're always there when you need them." At least, the ones you love the most.

So what about you? Do you re-read series and/or non-series books? Why?

Have A Fabulously Fantastic Friday! 

Classics Week Guest Post: Marie Hall "Why I Love Regency Period Romance"

Happy Tuesday All,

Did you all enjoy yesterday's post? If you haven't checked it out, please do so by clicking here.

Today I welcome author Marie Hall to Write By Bethany. Marie is

an author I came across while browsing E-book options. I read Her Mad Hatter and was hooked. Now several more titles later, and having interviewed her, plus chit-chatting on Facebook (she's a Once Upon A Time show fan, too). I'm delighted to be able to welcome her once again to my blog as she discusses her love of Jane Austen, and other period romances.

Take away, Marie Hall...

I guess it’s no surprise that I as a romance writer would love romances. And I hardly doubt I’m in the minority when it comes to loving Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters. I’m also very partial to Dickens, but he didn’t write the traditional romances. So for the sake of this piece I’ll stick with romance period writers.

I first picked up Pride and Prejudice in high school. It was a school assignment and I wasn’t too keen on the idea. My idea of a period romance was going to be a book full of big words I couldn’t understand, completely unrelatable characters, the ultimate snooze fest. Four hours after opening the book I was done and my world was forever changed. How could a woman who lived so long ago perfectly capture the spirit of love, desire, jealousy, and betrayal?

Realizing I may have just stumbled across a new genre of books never before read to me I picked up Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility. Though none of them quite captured my attention the way Mr. Darcy had, they were all very good. On a quest now to search out new authors I picked up the Bronte’s. I’ll be the first to say that I hated Wuthering Heights. To me that was most definitely not a romance, but a tragedy. As I’ve grown older I’ve come to appreciate the complexities and psychology of the story but I would still hesitate to call it a romance. That said, Jane Eyre stole my breath away. Mr. Rochester specifically. Wow, what an anti-hero. He was brusque, MARRIED, and just downright nasty. But I loved him. Loved everything about him. I loved the dark edge to him, how he could put on a show for others, but how with Jane he dared to be his true self.

Mr. Darcy and Mr. Rochester shaped my idea of what a wonderful hero could actually be. Someone who on the surface seemed so wrong and just horrid, but who in the end, you couldn’t help but root for. It is that archetype, more than any other that I love writing to this day. In a lot of ways Rumpelstiltskin is an amalgam of the two. Haughty, disdainful, and yet there’s something in him that calls to the heroine because she can see beyond the mask to the wounded man beneath. Thanks to two ladies who lived centuries ago I feel like I’ve found my true calling in life and I could not be happier. After all, isn’t that what romance is all about? Happily ever after.

Marie didn't mention it, but she has a brand-new release out in the Alphas After Dark anthology. Her story is entitled Rumpel's Prize (which I reviewed in this post) and is a part of her Kingdom series.  You can get your copy of Alphas After Dark on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I Return, Bearing News...

Happy Wednesday Everyone,

Life has been a bit on busy side. I was doing some edits and now I've been working on another novel. Offspring is dealing with weather changes and respiratory annoyances, but I think offspring should be okay. (And yes, I have started my Christmas shopping).

Most often you'll find me on Twitter. I'm finding that there's a lot going on there. Whatever you think of Twitter (good, bad, indifferent) it's definitely often where you get information first. I find out about blog posts, give aways and releases that way. You'll find the posts I post on Twitter in the margin of this blog under the header: Twitter Feed.

Tuesday C.C. Hunter posed a question on her blog regarding her Shadow Falls series. If you've read them, are you Team Derek or Team Lucas. I answered on her blog (I am so Team Lucas I could start a cheer!) Anyway, go ahead and check it out--it's lots of fun.

I'm so far behind on things for this blog, I don't even know who I'm going to have on here for a December Author Interview. Not even sure if I will have an author interview for that month. I'm thinking of trying to have a give away--maybe 2 or 3 instead. You tell me what you prefer. There is a possible January Author Interview, but I have to talk to her and see if she's still interested.

Awesome news:  Tera Lynn Childs is going to have a 3rd book in her mermaid series called Just For Fins. I loved the first two, Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever.

I'm seriously having trouble keeping myself from begging Josephine Angelini to send me an ARC of Dreamless. I'm nuts about Starcrossed and would love to read and review on this blog, Dreamless.

I'm currently reading Jane Austen Made Me Do It, which is an anthology of short stories written by authors who have been inspired by Jane Austen. I'm almost done with the second story. It's really fun. You've heard me talk about Syrie James, and she has a story in this anthology (I enjoyed it).

My pile of books to read is huge...I'm trying to catch up, honest, it's just with everything else I've got going on, I've gotten slow. I have  a library book that isn't real long so I should have it done, soon.

I have become a big fan of ABC's Once Upon A Time. It airs on Sundays at 7 p.m. Central and 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Of course, you know I just love fairy tales, so it's no surprise that this show has me riveted.

What TV show (if any) are you into?

Have A Winsome Wednesday!

Replaying The Story

Happy Tuesday All,

Offspring and I are on the mend from this crazy virus that seems to be making rounds.

Yes, I still plan to post the November Author interview this week, I just can't say what day because that's a surprise.

I just finished RE-reading Josephine Angelini's YA Paranormal, Starcrossed. This was my second time through it (I got a copy of it as a birthday present and wanted to reread it). I am still very much looking forward to the sequel. All I can tell you is that if you like Greek Mythology and you're familiar with the Helen of Troy story (and the Trojan War) this might be something you'll enjoy (You won't know until you read it). I absolutely love this book.

There's a few books I love re-reading and I thought that I'd mention a few of them:

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. I have not read this as much as one of my sisters (who, I think, reads it almost every year). But I have read this novel 3 times. Great story, great characters, and definitely witty lines.

Gaston Leroux's English translation of Phantom Of The Opera. I think I've read this 2-3 times. It's a rather eerie story, and the Phantom isn't as sympathetic as he is in the musical, however, there is a line that gets me. He visits a Persian guy he knows and is crying and talking about how Christine kissed him and begs the Persian not to look. Despite his crimes, that moment with the Persian makes him human. I'm rather fond of this novel. However, be warned:  When you start the story you're thrown right into a big chaos and it might take you a moment to get your bearings, but if you decide to stick with it, you're taken on a journey directly into the mind and past of the Phantom (and it's not quite what the movie and musical say it is...although, relatively close).

Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy-Tacy books are some of my favorites. I've read the series I don't know how many times. It's based on the author's own life and it's fun, and innocent and just a joy to read.

C.S. Lewis' Narnia series and The Great Divorce. I've read Lewis' Narnia series over and over again because it's a grand adventure and the characters are wonderful. Many people have delved into it searching for all the meanings, but for me, it's just a lot of fun. The Great Divorce is a fascinating journey. I liked how he tied in faith and a story to come up with something very thought-provoking. I've read the book at least 3 times and the Narnia books, I'm not sure how many times. Probably at least twice.

Lynn Kurland's Stardust Of Yesterday introduced me to one of my all-time favorite Romance Novel knights, Kendrick de Piaget. I love this story--a Paranormal Romance (ghosts) and links into other novels she's written--time travels, ghosts, historical. What could be more fun?

There are so many others I've read more than once, that I wish I could mention them all--from Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy and her Friday's Child to Shanna Swendson's Enchanted, Inc. books there are a load of tales I could tell you about. I don't have room in this post to tell you about all of them, but I'll list a few more and you can look them up if they catch your eye:

ROMANCE:  Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy (so funny) and Friday's Child (love Hero's innocence).

YA:  Jackson Pearce's As You Wish (a jinn--aka a genie--for a hero, count me in!) Suzanne Selfors' Coffeehouse Angel (Malcolm rocks and Ratcatcher is about the funniest cat).

Fiction/Fantasy:  Planning to re-read Syrie James' Nocturne (jam-packed with history and a fantastic vampire) / Shanna Swendson's Enchanted, Inc. series (Magic being real and set in NYC...come on, it's just great fun!)

I'm sure there's a bunch more out there, but like I said, don't have the space in this post to mention every single one. But, if you're looking for something to read, I hope I gave you some ideas.

What books have you read more than once and loved?

Have A Tremendously Terrific Tuesday!