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The Romance Reader's Connection would like to welcome you to our featured
Author of the month, Rachel Gibson. Ms. Gibson's books have been favorites
of readers since her debut novel, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE in January of 1998.
SI was voted one of the Favorite Books for 1998 by the Romance Writers of
America, won the National Reader's Choice Award for Best Single Title Contemporary and won the Best Love and Laughter Award by Booksellers Who
Care.
Her next book TRULY MADLY YOURS, released in January of 1999, won the Romance Writers of America's Favorite Book for 1999 and was voted in the Top
10 Favorites of 1999 by reviewers at Amazon.com. IT MUST BE LOVE , a March
2000 release was featured as a Double Day Book Club Alternative Selection.
Her newest book, TRUE CONFESSIONS, a July 31 release, promises to keep up
the pace with its fun and laughter.
Welcome to TRRC Ms. Gibson, and thank you for taking time out to share with
readers about your work.
JR- TRUE CONFESSIONS is your newest novel. It's about a small town
sheriff and a big city tabloid reporter in a small town filled with quirky
characters. Where do you come up with your ideas for storylines?
RG- Usually, I get an opening scene in my head and go from there. For TRUE
CONFESSIONS, I was vacationing at our family cabin and I had to run into the
small town of McCall. When I come out of Paul's Market, I saw a bumper
sticker on a beat up truck that read, DON'T CALIFORNICATE IDAHO. That
bumper sticker sparked the idea for the opening scene of TRUE CONFESSIONS.
JR- This is not the first book that is set in Idaho. Being from a small
town myself, I find the quaintness charming and gives more realism to the
stories. What appeals to you most about small town settings and Idaho in
general?
RG- Small town settings are much more intimate. Small town people all know
each other and are much more gossipy. Also, from a writing stand point,
it's not only easier to make up a town, it's a lot of fun. Why Idaho? I
was born and raised in Idaho. I know how weird and quirky Idahoans can be.
I just finished a book that is set in North Carolina. I read a lot of
research books about that state, but I am sure there a ton of things I
missed because I've never lived there. I feel more comfortable with Northwest settings.
JR- You're friends with other writers, such as Steph Ann Holm and Laura Lee
Gurke. Do you give each other helpful criticism and support with your
novels?
RG- Yes, but much more in the beginning of our careers than we do now. I
have been in a critique group with Laura Lee for about ten years now. We meet
twice a month, but these days the group has deteriorated into a night of
beer drinking and gossip. Man, I really look forward to critique night.
JR- In your book, IT MUST BE LOVE, the hero is a sexy cop who is taken by
his latest assignment; a fun-loving new age heroine. Why do you prefer
these unusual heroines rather than the staid conventional ones?
RG- Hmm, well I've never seen my heroines as unusual. Not even Gabrielle
Breedlove. She may have had some unusual beliefs, but they were rather
logical and all made perfect sense to her.
JR- It seems like your heroes are always the no-nonsense ones. Do you
create your heroes based on physical types or do you create the heroine
first then create the hero to fulfill their fantasy?
RG- I create heroes to fulfill MY fantasies. I love a bad boy. Especially
a bad boy with a bad case of unrequited love, as in my second book, TRULY
MADLY YOURS. For TRUE CONFESSIONS, I created a good looking sheriff who has
a son. To me, there is nothing sexier than a man who loves and takes care
of his own children
JR- In TRULY MADLY YOURS, the sex scene in the closet at the reception was
definitely steamy. Where do you get your ideas for sex scenes?
RG- Well, my husband likes to think he's my inspiration. I let him think
it, but he's delusional. The answer is that each book is different. I don't
plot or outline my books, so I never really know when the love scene will
happen. In TRULY, the hero and heroine just happened to be in a closet.
JR- Being a big fan, I'm excited about your future novels. What is in the
future for your fans?
RG- I just turned in my fifth book to Avon, and I believe it will come out
in the spring of 2002. The title is, LOLA CARLYLE REVEALS ALL, and it's kind
of a road book that begins in Nassau and ends in North Carolina. The hero,
Max, is a guy who performs black untraceable operations for the US government.
The heroine, Lola, is a famous lingerie model. At first, neither likes the
other, but they are stuck with each other.
I just started my sixth book for Avon. It is set in Seattle and the hero is
a hockey player. The heroine writes a city beat column for the local newspaper. At this point, that is all I know about this book. It is not
even titled yet.
JR- What do you want your readers to get out of your novels most of all?
RG- I just want readers to have fun while they're reading one of my books.
I write to entertain. If a reader has been entertained, then I've done my
job. When they close the book, I want them to think they got their money's
worth. And if they like by books enough, hopefully they'll keep buying them
so I can keep writing them.
Thank you for stopping by and we all look forward to your upcoming books.
You can also check out Ms. Gibson's website at http://www.rachelgibson.com to find
out more about Ms. Gibson and her work.
(Click here for a review of True Confessions)
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Rachel Gibson's Books
Simply Irresistible, January 1998
Truly Madly Yours, January 1999
It Must Be Love, March 2000
Secrets of a Perfect Night, December 2000 |
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