A Site for Sore Eyes

by Christine Wells

A friend of mine is in the process of revamping her website. I might well do the same very soon, so I've been contemplating my options.

For me, it's no easy thing to decide on a design for my home on the web. I'm much the same with designing the interior of my bricks and mortar home--I couldn't tell you specifically what I want but I have strong opinions on what I like (and don't like) when I see it.

Funnily enough, in the past this has frustrated my web designers. Ah, well, I'm a Libran, what can I say?

So the thing to do when you don't know what you want is to look at other sites to see what they do well, right? Here are some of the things I think about when I'm looking at an author webpage:

*Is the design pleasing to the eye?

*Does the design suit the tone of the writer's work? Flowers and hearts are not usually appropriate for an author who writes dark paranormals.

*Is there a well laid out home page with just enough information on it, but not too much?

When I go to an author home page I want to know what kind of book they write and the latest book they have released, maybe also the book that's 'coming soon' if the latest has been out a while. If the home page is cluttered with a thousand different messages and widgets and covers, my eyes simply glaze over and I don't read any of it.

Actually, I don't doubt some readers love that busy kind of page, especially if they're devoted fans who visit often, but my aim with a home page is to give the casual browser quick access to the information they're most likely to want. If they like bells and whistles, my guess is they'll click on a button called 'extras' or 'fun stuff' to find them.

*Like any reader, I love extra content -- this might be in the form of articles, news, a blog, facebook page, second epilogues, dossiers on characters and so forth. Blogs and social media feeds give the feeling of currency and the extra content means you're getting something special from the website that you can't get from reading the author's books. Those extras give readers a sense of the author's personality and a feeling of connection to the author.

*Book trailers -- If they're done well, they can enhance a website for me, as long as they don't take forever to load.

Here are some sites I like (not counting fabulous Bandita sites, of course!):

We all know Jenny Crusie loves collaging and the header of this site has that eclectic feel to it, along with Jenny's signature cherry. I loved her previous site, too. This has a darker, more magical tone that suits the direction Crusie seems to be taking with her fiction these days.

Susan Holloway Scott. This is simply one of the most gorgeous sites on the web, in my opinion. Everything about it shouts historical opulence and Susan Holloway Scott writes about the mistresses of kings so the tone is just right for her books. I particularly love the botanical drawings on the borders. They're different on each page and add richness and colour as well as a sense of period to the site.

Julie Garwood Usually I wouldn't recommend a home page that takes a while to load, but this one is worth it for sheer novelty value.

Loretta Chase uses an old-fashioned letter with a seal as a background for her website. I like that she gives just enough information to help me decide whether to read further, but not an overwhelming amount. See the great tagline she has next to her latest release?

Kieran Kramer is a debut author who writes fresh, witty historicals and doesn't her website reflect that? I love that she has a nice welcome and salient points about her books with links to other fun stuff, too.

So here are my questions for you, dear readers!

What is your favourite romance author website?

What do you like best about this website?

What do you dislike seeing on an author site?

I'm looking forward to hearing your answers! Thank you in advance for letting me do some important market research:)

More Bandit Booty

From Loretta Chase's guest blog day--The winner of the grand prize (a signed copy of Your Scandalous Ways) is . . . Terry Odell!!

And winners of a bookmark each are . . . Margay, M., Jennybrat, Pat Cochran, PJ and Terrio!!

And from Christine Wells's post about Voice the winner of the guess that quote contest was ... Kammie! You win a signed copy of Scandal's Daughter. And the winner of the best comment goes to Carol!! A Dangerous Duke Diary is coming your way!

Congratulations!! Please email Christine via her contact page on her website to claim your prize.

The Amazing Loretta Chase!

Posted by Christine Wells

Loretta Chase is undoubtedly one of the most beloved historical romance writers of all time and we're lucky to have her with us today to talk about her new release, Your Scandalous Ways.

Loretta, welcome to Romance Bandits! We’re so excited to have you in the Lair.

Thank you Bandits! I’m delighted to be here.

Christine: Setting is always important in your novels and you often use it as a metaphor for character. Can you tell us why you chose Venice for this particular novel and how you used the setting in Your Scandalous Ways?

Loretta: I came to Venice the dumb way. The James Bond movie, Casino Royale, that inspired my hero, James Cordier, also got me intrigued with Venice. There’s one of those big special effects scenes in a building undergoing repairs. Most of those crash-explode-fireballs-body-parts-flying kinds of scenes do not stay in my memory banks. But this scene stuck in my mind because of all the water--under the building! I had one of those shattering insights: “Venice is built on water! Who knew?” Um, a lot of people, it turns out. Still, there are quite a few, like me, who didn’t fully grasp the situation. And that was all it took, really: curiosity to find out more. As I researched the place, I quickly became convinced that it was the perfect setting for my characters. Setting is part of how I tell a story, so I tend to exploit locales as much as possible. Venice has a distinctive culture. It was more permissive & egalitarian than London. It revived Byron after the scandal that drove him from England, so it seemed the perfect place for my characters to be reborn. It also has a distinctive architecture, very over-the-top and exuberant--which fit my exuberant & over-the-top characters. And there are those wonderful canals and the gondolas with their black cabins: perfect for so many kinds of scenes, from comedy to mayhem to smoochies.

Christine: James and Francesca are an unconventional pair. What drew you to write about these characters?

Loretta: The need to go where Loretta Chase has never gone before. I’ve done spies, but I hadn’t dealt with someone who was as jaded and tired of his job as James. And I’ve always wanted to rewrite operas like La Traviata or movies like Camille and have the ho heroine not die of consumption in the end, but triumph over her situation and get her happily ever after. The convention in literature is to make courtesans--and all “fallen women”--tragic figures. They come to a bad end, they’re ashamed and unhappy at heart. But I had read Harriette Wilson’s memoirs, and she did not go for the “cruel-world-drove-me-to-this” scenario. She was unrepentant, naughty, and funny. Though she certainly had her faults, she inspired me. I wanted to try to capture that spirit, that sense of fun--and explore the kinds of freedom a “fallen woman” could have, that was denied her more respectable sisters. It was also fun to create the kind of man who would accept her, fully, and love her--especially if he’s fighting his feelings the whole way.

Christine: I was drooling over the fabulous jewels your heroine, Francesca, wears. Were any of these based on real pieces?

Loretta: Absolutely. I relied on JEWELLERY: THE INTERNATIONAL ERA 1789-1910, Volume I 1789-1861. The pearls came from a miniature of the Empress Josephine. The peridot wager was inspired by a beautiful color photo of a peridot and diamond set that’s in the Victoria and Albert Museum. For Francesca I also borrowed some of the beautiful emerald and diamond and sapphire and diamond sets in the book. More recently, I acquired the luscious GEORGIAN JEWELLERY 1714-1830, whose pages will help me adorn my new heroine. I think jewelry is underused in historical romance, and I intend to remedy the situation singlehandedly, if necessary.*g*

Christine: Jayne Ann Krentz talks about each author having a core story, one they retell in every novel. Do you have a core story or a particular theme that often emerges from your books?

Loretta: You know, I’ve asked myself this question, but I haven’t a clue, really. I’m too close to the work. I do tend to deal with second chances: people whom life has treated harshly or who have made dreadful mistakes. I give them a chance to do it over and make things right the second time. And I always seem to deal with the status of women, one way or another. But mainly I think readers are more liable to notice a core story than I am, and I’d be interested to learn what they think my core story or theme is.

Christine: You obviously take great delight in researching your historical romances. Why do you choose to write historical romance rather than straight historical fiction?

Loretta: Short answer: Happily Ever After. I’ve toyed with the idea of a historical novel but keep coming up against two really depressing elements: (1) the low status of women--no rights, no real power and (2) life is hard and then you die. At heart, I’m a comic, not a tragic writer--not necessarily ha-ha throughout, but with a comic view of the world and a need to end things happily. If I could be George McDonald Fraser I might give historical fiction a shot, but so far, I don’t seem to be him. So far, my voice seems to be one made for love stories.

Christine: Well I, for one, am very glad of that and I'm sure your readers are too! Now, for the final frivolity--if you were a Loretta Chase heroine, which Loretta Chase hero would be your perfect match?

Loretta: I try to make the heroes & heroines perfect matches for each other. The heroines are the kinds of women I’d like to be if I could be several remarkable women--like, on different days. The heroes have to be the kinds of men these women can not only fall in love with but spend a lifetime with. Since models from real life are not exactly thick on the ground, I must make these men from scratch. This requires a major investment of energy and imagination. By the time I’m done creating my demi-god, we are permanently bonded. It’s not that I love them all the same, but I love them all, for different but equally compelling reasons.

And now, over to our readers! What do you think? Do you like to see powerful women in historical romance? Or any romance? Do you like to see a heroine just like you, or a heroine you would aspire to be? Loretta is generously offering a copy of Your Scandalous Ways and SIX Your Scandalous Ways bookmarks to assorted lucky readers.

Approved for all Audiences...Preview of Coming Attractions...

by Jeanne Adams

It's JUNE!! We have SUCH a month for you!

On June 4 our own Bandita, Donna MacMeans is throwing HER launch party for her newest fantastic read, The Trouble with Moonlight. It's bound to be another rowdy day in the Lair! Shield sliding, anyone? If you loved Mrs. Brimley, you'll adore Donna's next offering as well.

In addition to our other wonderful Banditas nd their scintillating posts, we have a number of really interesting, amazingly prolific guests.

Jane Graves is here on June 3, to talk about her latest book, Tall Tales and Wedding Veils. Jane writes both series and single titles, so bring your questions about writing in multiple areas!

Debut Avon Regency Historical Author Olivia Parker is with us on June 5. Her first book The Bride Hunt Ball received a 4 Star Review from Romantic Times! She will be giving away a signed copy of her book to one lucky commenter.

On June 9, be sure to come visit with beloved NY Times Bestselling author Loretta Chase. Library Journal has called her the "Long-awaited successor to Georgette Heyer." What else needs to be said?

Award winning author Susan Crandall will be with us on June 12, sharing her unique wit and wisdom.

NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Historical author Lorraine Heath is visiting on June 17.

And hot, hot, hot erotic, historical and romantic suspense author Karin Tabke is with us on June 19. Karen writes for three - count them, THREE - different publishers and is going to talk to us about her latest release, Master Of Surrender, the first book in her Blood Sword Legacy series.

Another debut author, Anna Louise Lucia will be in the Lair on June 22nd to celebrate the launch of her book Run Among Thorns; out this month from Medallion Press. Romantic Times gave her 4-1/2 stars!

Last, but certainly not least, check out author Karen Kendall and web guru Liz Bemis of Bemis Promotions on June 26th. These two fine women both create the book trailers which are becoming more and more popular on websites today. They'll discuss the creation of the trailer for Take Me If You Can and answer questions about book trailers.

It's going to be a FAB-U-LOUS month! So check back every day for amazing stories, rowdy parties, and the usual level of Romance Bandit fun!

So, what's your favorite among these awesome authors? Who are you looking forward to "meeting" the most? And if you could be a fan-girl-or-guy and meet an author, living or dead, who would it be?

Loretta Chase Coming On June 9

by Christine Wells

The Banditas are breaking out the cabana boys once more because the fabulous Loretta Chase is coming to the Lair on June 9 to talk about her new release, Your Scandalous Ways. (No rest for the big, blond and gorgeous, eh, Sven?)



This is your chance to chat to Loretta about her wonderfully witty, deeply emotional, impeccably researched historical romances. Can I think of more superlatives? Tune in on June 9 and see!

But today, I want to ask: Are you a fan of Loretta Chase's novels? And if you are, what is your favourite LC moment?

Don't forget to visit the Lair on June 9 when we talk with Loretta Chase!!!