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Jenna Petersen | A FAMILY AFFAIR
October 29, 2009
Hi everyone! Thanks to everybody at Fresh Fiction for having me
back once again to blog! I always love coming here because I feel like I’m
surrounded by fellow romance lovers. It always makes me think about family when
I talk to people who love the genre as much as I do.
Actually, I’ve been thinking about the entire concept of "family" a lot lately.
As I’m writing this blog, I am sitting the Raleigh-Durham airport after a
weekend in North Carolina presenting an industry retreat to the Heart of
Carolina Romance Writers. Last weekend I was in St. Louis, presenting a workshop
called "Write Like You Mean It". So basically, I’ve been surrounded by the
family of writers for the past two weeks.
It’s funny what happens when a bunch of writers get together. As I watched them
interact while waiting for the retreat to start this weekend I saw them
welcoming each other, asking about their work, sharing war stories and
successes. Basically, just bonding together the way you only can with people who
"get" what you’re doing and what you’re going through. During the dinners and
lunches, that family feeling continued. So I left the last two weekends not only
feeling all warm and fuzzy but wanting to write.
It’s funny how family can charge you like that, whether it’s by blood or by
common interest. My recent release, WHAT THE DUKE DESIRES
(which came out this Tuesday and should be in stores everywhere right now!!)
explores the idea of family. My hero, Simon Crathorne, wonders if he ever really
knew the man who raised him and my heroine, Lillian Mayhew is driven to
desperate measures to avenge her own family.
That theme carries forward through the rest of the books in my "Billingham
Bastards" series (WHAT THE
DUKE DESIRES is the first, THE UNCLAIMED DUCHESS follows in September
2010 with a third to follow some time in 2011). Each of my characters struggles
with what family means to them and what they can do to keep it.
So what gives you that family feeling? Do you like romance series that involve
"family"? Do you have any favorites?
Comments
20 comments posted.
Re: Jenna Petersen | A FAMILY AFFAIR
Jenna Petersen: Right now, my Facebook friends and other blogging buddies are becoming more and more like family to me. But if we were to become a real family, we'd be the most dysfunctional one ever!
(Mary Anne Landers 2:21am October 29, 2009)
Hi Jenna,
I love reading Romance's that have a strong family influence about them. It tends to show the true emotions of the hero and/or heroine. To me at least. Looking forward to reading the "Billingham Bastards"
series.
Carol L.
[email protected]
(Carol Luciano 6:34am October 29, 2009)
Hi everyone! Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be in and out all day (with a big break this afternoon, I volunteer at the zoo on Thursdays), but I'd love to answer questions and respond to comments!
(Jenna Petersen 10:13am October 29, 2009)
Hi Jenna,
Congrats on the new release. I love series that involve families. Stephanie Laurens' Cynster series is one of my favorites and also Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series.
(Jane Cheung 10:27am October 29, 2009)
I love series that involve
families also. Two of my
favorites are Mary Balogh's
Bedwyns and Julia Quinn's
Bridgertons.
(Amanda Jenkins 10:53am October 29, 2009)
Congratulations on the new release. I love to read series books with strong family ties or close friendships.
(Armenia Fox 11:30am October 29, 2009)
Thank everyone! I'd probably add the Hathaways (Lisa Kleypas) to the family stories, and also her season quartet since those heroines were close as sisters.
(Jenna Petersen 12:13pm October 29, 2009)
I'm off to volunteer, but I'll be back later so keep commenting! :)
(Jenna Petersen 1:38pm October 29, 2009)
Don't forget Lynn Kurland's series (sorry, I can't remember any of the titles right now) that combines families from different time periods on both sides of the pond. Or rather, the modern family is from America, and all of the other inter-related families are in England/Scotland/France, in time periods ranging from the end of the Crusades to the Regency period (I believe). And Stephanie Laurens Bastion Club series is a kind of family, in that all the men consider themselves brothers because of their war experiences. Her new series, The Black Cobra quartet, brings both groups together (even more than they already were), and might, unfortunately, be the end of the Cynsters series, too.
Have fun at the zoo!
Later,
Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 1:43pm October 29, 2009)
Being abandoned at birth my biggest chance of a family was in books and I loved to read about families and what they did together. I guess I missed having a family more than I realized and I still seek out such books even tho I have raised a family of my own and now have grandchildren and great grands..it still reflects back to when I was growing up and NOT having a true family. I also enjoyed shows like the Brady Bunch and Little House as there I found a family setting to enjoy. susan L.
(Susan Leech 2:33pm October 29, 2009)
I love being surrounded by my family, we laugh, we boost each other up in hard times, and we celebrate the good times. Anytime, anywhere, I could call a family member for help, they would be there. I love romances with strong family ties. Looking forward to reading your book, "What the Duke Desires."
(Theresa Buckholtz 2:38pm October 29, 2009)
I have three sisters and they are my best friends. It has been that way all our lives.Any time one of us has a problem, without hesitation, we are there for them.It's a true joy when we can all be together with each others families, which doesn't happen as often as we would like. I suppose that is the reason I like books that deal with families. They remind me of my own.
(Patsy Hagen 3:17pm October 29, 2009)
My whole family is on Facebook, even my Mom and Mother-In Law! One of my favorite novels with family involved is "The Thornbirds!" Good Luck on your new book!
(Lisa Glidewell 3:40pm October 29, 2009)
I love books & indeed series about families. It's often more involving. The dynamics are always interesting.
(Mary Preston 5:32pm October 29, 2009)
Hi again! Just got home! You guys have made some very interesting points about families in romance. Actually, I'm excited becuase the third book in this series actually involves Caleb and Marah, secondary characters from LESSONS FROM A COURTESAN and so I get to unite families! Which is really fun! :)
(Jenna Petersen 6:08pm October 29, 2009)
I love reading Julie Garwood when she links her books with family members and you re visit the previous characters
(Diane Sadler 8:51pm October 29, 2009)
I would love to read her book!
Please enter me!
dancealert at aol dot com
(Brenda Rupp 9:12pm October 29, 2009)
Most of the books I read start and end with one relationship....But I've been reading the Outlander Series and those book are spanning most of their lives and involve lots of different family members. I love the carry-over from one book to the next...but I hate the wait in between and sometimes wish I hadn't started reading the (series) until they were all written.
I'm NOT getting any younger and I don't want to die before I read the end...Yet, I can NOT NOT read them!!! I love them!
I say, if you can connect the books with family members...Great...As long as there are not years between novels!!!
Can't wait to read this newest novel...I loved Lessons From A Courtesan!!!
(Mitzi Hinkey 12:37pm October 30, 2009)
I enjoy family series. Family can be
loosely defined. One of my favorite
family series is Julie Garwood's Rose
Trilogy (For the Roses, The Clayborne
Brides, and Come the Spring). The are
family in the strongest sense of the
word, but none share the same
parents We recently returned from an
Air Force unit reunion. It is a relatively
small group of people, and some of
the best people We've ever known. We
only see them every 2 years, but it
always seems like just yesterday we
were together. Family is what you
make it, and a strong bond is one of
the most important things.
(Patricia Barraclough 2:29am October 30, 2009)
I loved Stephanie Laurens Bastion Club series though not a real family they act as family or all I have read so far. I do like family in reading as you can follow several members and learn so much from each. I love romance novels..But read all types of novels.
(Brenda Hill 9:38pm November 8, 2009)
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