Chasing Heroes is learning all kinds of things right now in South Carolina’s Low Country.  We’re love our southern boys!We’ll be back tomorrow with guest columnist Linda Wisdom.  Be sure to tune in and comment as Linda will be giving away a copy of her new book, Hex Appeal.

Are you a blogger?  A writer?  Ever stare at your computer screen, your mind completely blank, no idea what to write, no inspiration knocking on the door, begging to be let out? 

That was me…two minutes ago.  Then inspiration struck.  I remembered seeing something about Forbes top 10 bestselling authors from the year.  Bet these authors rarely stare at a blank screen!

Here they are, listed in order, for your jaw-dropping amazement:

JK Rowling, 300 million

James Patterson, 50 million

Stephen King, 45 million

Tom Clancy, 35 million

Danielle Steel, 30 million

[a tie] John Grisham and Dean Koontz, 25 million

See # 6

Ken Follet, 20 million

Janet Evanovich, 17 million 

Nicholas Sparks, 16 million [the pauper]

There are a couple of things I noticed about this list.  First, of course, only three women are represented.  If women are the biggest audience, and romance is one of the biggest selling genres, I would have thought more women [romance] authors would have been on it.  Still, it’s great to see them there, and JK Rowling with such an astounding success story blows away the competition.  

I was also surprised not to see Nora Roberts and to see Janet Evanovich.  I knew the Stephanie Plum series was a major success, but I had no idea the extent of that success.  Dang, Steph’s really got it going on at this point in her bounty hunter career.  

I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read a Danielle Steel or a Nicholas Sparks novel, so I didn’t personally contribute to their success.  Looks like they can handle the $24.99 losses, though.

I do enjoy a good John Grisham book, and I love his climb to the top story, too.  Selling books out of the trunk of his car?  What’s not to love about his rise to fame?

Eye of the Needle was the last Ken Follett book I read.  I’m WAY behind the times.  I actually have Pillars of the Earth.  Looks like I should break it out.

Stephen King is another one who I admire on a personal level, but I’ve never been a big reader of his.  Too scary!

I loved seeing this article, and finding out the reality of what some big authors make.  And I love knowing that they were once like every other writer out there–just struggling to make that first sale and wondering if they had a career or if this book would be their last.  

Looks like they made it.

Question of the Day:

Are you inspired by this list?  Awed by it?  Think someone else should be earning what these blessed writers are?  

When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn [Avon 2004] 

Michael Stirling, Charmer and Bad Boy [with a touch of naughty best friend tossed in to shake things up]

I don’t read a lot of historicals–I’ve probably said this before–but there’s something about Julia Quinn novels that are totally my cup of tea.  She’s got great repartee between characters [usually the hero and heroine] and the wit makes them pretty enjoyable, if I do say so myself.  

I’m not sure if I have a favorite JQ book.  Unfortunately, I’m quite sure that I have early onset Alzheimer’s and so I have no recollection of characters or book titles.  I say things like, “You know, the one with the hero who robbed the heroine in the stagecoach,” or, “The heroine’s name is Sophia, like my daughter!”.  It’s so sad, really, and I shudder to think what I’ll be like when I’m 80.  Eek!  But I digress.  This book, with the second Earl of Kilmartin, was daring and fun in a new way because the sex was SO different for an historical [at least in my limited historical experience].  

Michael Stirling is a charmer.  And he’s a bad boy.  And, well, he’s a lot of fun. 

STATS: Cousin to the Earl of Kilmartin, Michael is madly [and secretly] in love with his cousin’s wife.  He’s ex-military, smart, but since he has no title, he has no need to demonstrate just how capable and smart he is.  He spends his time trying to forget about the woman he loves…by being with other women.  Still, he’s lovable, and a good friend.  He will never betray his cousin by acting on his love. 

THE LOOK:

Charcoal flecks grace his eyes.  His lips are “full and lush, and finely molded.”  The curve of his lower lip is sensual, quite, and he’s “startlingly handsome.”  He’s everything a hero should be.   

LEADING LADY:

Lady Kilmartin, aka Francesca Bridgerton, is the subject of Michael Stirling’s affections.  Alas, when the book begins, she’s married to his cousin.  She and Michael are friends.  She actually loves to her hear about his wicked escapades–though he always leaves her outside the bedroom door when he recounts his stories to her.  But when the unthinkable happens, and Lady Kilmartin becomes available, there’s plenty standing in the way.  

Will this woman, who in her hour of need turns to her friend Michael, only to find he isn’t–and can’t be–there for her, forgive him?

Will this man, who is overwrought with guilt at inheriting his cousin’s life–money, home, title–also take his cousin’s wife?

BOTTOM LINE:

Julia Quinn does a bang up job of crafting characters with a ton of internal and external conflict.  This book shows how people can perceive a person one way, but how what is inside can be something totally different.  Michael Stirling behaves the way he does in order to deal with his feelings for Francesca.  But inside, he’s being slowly torn apart watching her with his cousin [who he loves] and then watching her from afar, still unable to bridge his guilt with his desires.  He’s complicated, in a deliciously appealing way.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What historical authors do you enjoy?  

 Risque Business Tawny Weber Harlequin Blaze, 2008Dowdy plain Jane, English Professor Delaney Connerfinds herself faced with losing out on an important department promotion if she doesn’t do something to attract attention. So what does she do? Enters and wins a make-over contest with Risqué Magazine. Raised motherless, with only a cold distant father as her family, she finds her new sexy look unfamiliar and at times uncomfortable if not clumsy.Accused of lack of emotion in the main character of his erotic-suspense series, best selling author Nick Angle’spublisher wants him to change his writing style, and his story to add emotion. This has all came about because of the Risqué interview with non-other then Delaney Conner, (aka Ms. Madison) who does an impromptu review of Nick’s latest release.  A review that creates a lot of attention from female readers who agree with the unknown Ms. Madison assessment of Nick’s character’s lack of emotional attachement in sex scenes.Nick claims he doesn’t care about reviews, but this one annoys him to no end, because his editor and agent agree with the mysterious Ms. Madison. The editors are demanding he change years of building a character, because of one interview with some woman.On a mission to California to find this Ms. Madison, Nick wants to meet the woman who like the other women in his life, (mainly his ex-wife), has turned it upside down. Even though it’s just in his writing world, still he’s out to prove Ms. Madison wrong, or at least change her mind.Now Delaney is getting plenty of attention, especially from Nick Angel, who is handsome, a charmer, and with a dashing bad-boy reputation that mirrors the main character of his successful series.Tawny Weber has created a fun, sexy and passionate read in her second Blaze release, Risque Business, (one I’m sure Nick Angel would appreciate). It’s filled with snappy dialogue and moments that made me smile. It left me on the edge turning the pages so I wouldn’t miss a thing that was about to happen next between the very educated professor, and the bad-boy author. Their game of cat and mouse is a roller coaster ride that was hard to put down…I read it in one sitting… Question of the Day:What got Nick in trouble was his lack of emotion in his erotic suspense novels. Do you prefer the romantic side of fictional characters? Or does great sex scenes work alone without emotion?