Author Override is the place where authors take the reins and take you on a journey into their world. Some may allow you into their private writing dens. Others may take you along with them on research trips or interviews. Whatever the case may be, sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because here you’ll get an in-depth look into an author’s musings.
Why I Love Writing Historical Romance by Karen Erickson
Historical romance was my first love. My first real discovery in the land of adult romance books (I’d been reading those teen romances for a few years but after a while, they weren’t cutting it for me anymore. Too much hand holding, not enough kissing).
The first historical romance I read was The Flame and The Flower (!!). I think I was fourteen. Talk about an eye opener. A few years later, I discovered Jude Deveraux…and promptly devoured all of her books, every series I could find. There were so many and such a variety and they were all so deliciously good. I then glommed onto Judith McNaught, Lavyrle Spencer, Julie Garwood…
In my early twenties, I knew I wanted to be a writer so I tried my hand at it. Literally, as in I hand wrote some God awful historical romances, though I never finished them. They were terrible. I certainly loved reading them but I could not write them.
Fast forward many years later and wow, now I’m a published romance writer! I stuck with contemporaries because I was comfortable writing them. They felt safe. I wanted to try writing a historical but they quite frankly scared the crap out of me. The readers scared me too—they have no problem calling a writer out on inaccuracies.
But soon a little story kept gnawing at me and I knew I had to write it. His name is Gavin and her name is Julia and their story became Lessons In Indiscretion, my first historical romance novella with Carina Press. I’ve gone on to write a total of three novellas in the Merry Widows series, and I’m excited to announce that Carina Press is going to combine all three novellas into an anthology called the Merry Widows Collection! It will be available March 15th.
Available March 15, 2013
Enter a sinfully wicked world where three daring women encounter sexy rakes in these erotic adventures…
In Lessons in Indiscretion, widowed Lady Julia Renwick pursues the much younger Earl of Bedingfield and is shocked to discover she has much to learn from him when it comes to passion. In Her Christmas Pleasure, Damien Morton secretly craves the love of his best friend’s widow, Lady Danver, until a stolen kiss under the mistletoe ignites a desire they can no longer deny. In A Scandalous Affair, widowed Lady Pomeroy sets out to seduce the mysterious Marquess of Hartwell, deemed “Black Hart” by society, by wantonly inviting him to a private rendezvous…
Stories also available for purchase separately.
About Karen:
Bestselling romance author Karen Erickson writes what she loves to read — sexy contemporary romance and sensual historical romance. Digitally published since 2006, she currently writes for Samhain Publishing, Entangled Publishing’s Bliss & Brazen Imprint, Carina Press and Avon Impulse. A native Californian, she lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children.
Where you can find Karen: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest
In celebration of this new repackaged anthology, I’m going to give away one digital copy of the winner’s choice of any of the three novellas in the Merry Widows series. Just answer this question: Who was the first historical romance author you fell in love with?
Good luck!
39 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
Maria D.
February 8, 2013 at 10:39 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I can’t remember who my first historical romance was by….it’s was many, many years ago and it was a borrowed book….lol….I do love a good historical though and have enjoyed the Merry Widows series – no need to enter me in the giveaway as I have them all.
Mary
February 8, 2013 at 10:52 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I would say Pride and Prejudice! I love it the most and that is the one that got me in to historical romances they are just so awesome to me!
Mary
Deborah
February 8, 2013 at 11:15 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I wish I could remember, so many years ago. I’d love to read them again just to see if they were as racy as I thought they were!
Karin Anderson
February 8, 2013 at 11:31 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Delilah Marvelle. I met her at RomCon and just HAD to read her books.
Jen
February 8, 2013 at 12:13 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oh, Johanna Lyndsey was probably my first historical romance author I read.
Can not wait to read the book.
erinf1
February 8, 2013 at 12:38 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanks for the fun post and congrats to Karen on the new release! I’d have to say that Julie Garwood was my gateway
Janice Hougland
February 8, 2013 at 2:07 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I would have to say the first romance author I fell in love with was many years ago when I read Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind…and was sad when her life ended (and her writing). But I was hooked from that time on…to the present. I read many different genres of romance, but it has to be a happily-ever-after romance story for sure!
Sue G.
February 8, 2013 at 2:54 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
it was Jude Deveraux’s The Velvet Promise. I read it in one day and had to get the others in the series!
Zita R
February 8, 2013 at 3:28 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The first historical I ever read was Pride and Prejudice and to this day I love that story and Jane Austen.
Monica V.
February 8, 2013 at 4:36 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This is going to date me but I have to say Johanna Lindsay.
Elizabeth P
February 8, 2013 at 4:49 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
hmmm it was either Amanda quick or Julia Quinn….I just remember I was on vaca and bored out of my mind so on a trip to the grocery store I bought books and ordered everything else by those 2 authors…
bnbhb@Hotmail.com
Olga
February 8, 2013 at 4:58 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Michelle Willingham
Carolyn Walker Rhodes
February 8, 2013 at 4:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It was many years ago as a young teenager when I got started with romance. My very first reading experience was with True Stories and then I moved on to Connie Brockway. I just loved her pirate stories! Congrats Karen!
Emily Bowes
February 8, 2013 at 7:06 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I think the first romance author I fell in love with was Julia Quinn. Thanks for the awesome giveaway.
Julie C.
February 8, 2013 at 7:40 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
My first historical romance was A Rose in Winter by Kathleen Woodiwiss it was a Hardback borrowed from a friend. She bought me the paperback for my birthday when it came out and I still have it, read and love it.
Lori Meehan
February 8, 2013 at 8:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Julie Garwood “Ransom” I love that book. Thank you for the great giveaway.
Timitra
February 8, 2013 at 9:19 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Amanda Quick!
ki pha
February 8, 2013 at 10:17 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Stephanie Laurens~!
andie
February 8, 2013 at 10:29 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Jane Austen. Classic.
Zina Lynch
February 8, 2013 at 11:56 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I love her dress and how he’s holding her tush.
Kathleen Woodiwiss.
Z
Cheryl S.
February 9, 2013 at 12:28 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It would have to be Stephanie Laurens. Love the Cynster series!
Holly C
February 9, 2013 at 12:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The first Historical Romance I read that really grabbed me and pulled me into the genre was by Donna Grant.
Annah
February 9, 2013 at 1:15 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
If I remember correctly I think my first was Victoria Alexander. I read all that my library had. Then I moved on to Jane Feather, Virginia Henley and Lisa Kleypas who all became my favorites!
RUTH GUTSCHER
February 9, 2013 at 1:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Joanna Lindsay — I got hooked on the Mallory bunch. !
Tin
February 9, 2013 at 1:53 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Back in high school, my sister and I read Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux and Amanda Quick –
When I went back to reading historical romances 7 years ago, I started with my very old edition of Julie Garwood’s Ransom — and re-discovered why I loved historical romances all those years ago. I read through all of her books again — and then went to re-reading Judith McNaught — my first “new” author discovery after tha was Lisa Kleypas.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
Eva P.
February 9, 2013 at 2:30 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Wow, that was a really long time ago, but I still remember reading that first book as a senior in high school, it was Fire and Ice by Catherine Hart, I promptly read all the other books she had written.
Linda
February 9, 2013 at 3:30 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I have to admit it was Barbara Cartland. I was just about 12 then & just started reading romance. I loved it &devoured all her books that I could find.
Vanessa
February 9, 2013 at 6:16 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hmmm, maybe Amanda Quick?
Mary Preston
February 9, 2013 at 7:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I’m pretty sure it had to be a Barbara Cartland. They were everywhere.
carolyn overholser
February 9, 2013 at 8:17 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Johanna Lindsey. I wanted to be just like her. lol
Sheila Schwartz
February 9, 2013 at 11:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Kathleen Woodiwiss……..A Wolf and The Dove !!
Linda
February 9, 2013 at 2:22 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
My first was Jude Deveraux or Julia Quinn, found them both at the same time and still love them!!
Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Saturday!
//Linda
Emily
February 9, 2013 at 6:23 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
It was so long ago that I can’t remember, but I recently read Kristabel Reed and love her books!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Janie McGaugh
February 9, 2013 at 10:35 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Georgette Heyer. I still have all her books!
bn100
February 10, 2013 at 1:24 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
pride and prejudice
laurie g
February 10, 2013 at 11:03 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Kathleen Woodiwiss……..A Wolf and The Dove !!
BookLady
February 12, 2013 at 8:30 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Jude Deveraux and Kathleen Woodiwiss. Thanks for the giveaway.
Amie
February 13, 2013 at 11:40 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Jennifer Ashley. Thanks for the giveaway
pc
February 14, 2013 at 2:57 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre)