Sunday, August 29, 2010

Women's Fiction: Is It Only for Women?



In a discussion recently on a writer's online loop, the question was raised about Women's Fiction as a genre and whether the stories that fit this genre could be enjoyed by men.

Author Lisa Craig presented the distinctions between women's fiction and romance in an article for Writing-World.com in which she offers varying definitions of women's fiction. The focus seems to be on the woman facing some challenge, crisis, or opportunity and finding her own inner strength to move forward. The story may or may not involve a romantic relationship and, when it does, the hero gets much less page time than the heroine. The romance is secondary to the overall plot.

The question is, are women's fiction stories 'only' for women? I was approached by a man at a book fair who picked up one of my novels and asked, "What is this about?" I gave him a blurb on the story. He then asked, "Is this a women's book?" I explained that it was women's fiction--a story a woman would find engaging and entertaining, and that a man might learn something from. To my amazement, he bought the book. I asked if he was buying it for his wife. He said, "I'll probably give it to her after I read it."

I once conducted an eight-week group for women at midlife. At the closing session, one of the women asked if I would consider running the same group for the men in their lives so they would better understand what the women were going through. Of course, they then agreed getting the men there would take a small army or a guarantee of pizza, beer, and a sports event. If men like Nicholas Spark, Richard Paul Evans, and Nicholas Evans can write stories that appeal to women, why shouldn't those same stories appeal to men? Personally, I think we underestimate men when we assume they won't connect with the feminine perspective in a book. As a reader, I enjoy fiction written by men and featuring male protagonists.

When you think about it, what better way for men to gain some insight into how women think, feel, and behave?

Christmas is coming in a few months. Buy your guy a woman's book for a change. Share your favorite women's fiction story with him and see what happens (and then come back and let me know :)

Happy reading.

Linda

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Shooting Into The Sun





SHOOTING INTO THE SUN
is now available in trade paperback
from Champagne Books.





Professional nature photographer Rylee Morgan invites her recently un-engaged younger sister to accompany her on a business trip across the country. Lexie, the wild child of the family challenges Rylee to stretch her boundaries and live outside the neatly constructed box in which she's placed herself for safe keeping.

A perfectionist, Rylee lives life in the same way she's learned to use her talents with a camera—dictated by rules. A cardinal rule of photography is that you never shoot into the sun—and Rylee doesn't take chances. Rylee is haunted and driven by ghosts from her past. She locates the father who abandoned her and Lexie sixteen years earlier, and she finds herself falling for a hitchhiker who is crossing the country to lay his own ghosts to rest.

Rylee must now face her fears, dare to step beyond the safe boundaries she has constructed, and risk her heart. She must risk Shooting Into the Sun.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Book Club Contest

Win the naming rights to two characters in an upcoming novel.

If your book club chooses any one of my published novels to read and discuss, your club could win the naming rights to two characters in one of my upcoming novels. (Some restrictions apply--names must be G rated and not more fitting to the sci-fi realm. No aliens, please :) Winner will be announced on December 31, so you have plenty of time to get a book and get started.

All you have to do is visit my website at http://www.lindarettstatt.com/ and contact me via the email link below the Book Club Contest Announcement on the front page. You can browse all of my books on the website, read excerpts and reviews.

Happy reading!

Linda

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Love, Sam - Coming in November












My next novel, Love, Sam, is due for release in November from Champagne Books.


Love, loss, grief--human experiences that cross all boundaries of age, race, or gender.

Trish Garrity has to find a way to go on after the tragic loss of Samantha Preston, her partner of six years. Trish now has to face the future alone, and she's not sure how to do this. With the help of twelve letters Sam wrote prior to her death, Trish is guided through the first year of her grief and to a place of self-acceptance and inner strength--strength she'd always thought she drew from Sam.

While you wait for Love, Sam, why not visit my website and browse one of my other books: http://www.lindarettstatt.com/

Linda

Saturday, August 7, 2010

And the Winner Is....

The winner of my book give-away contest is:



JENNIFER MATHIS



Congratulations, Jennifer. Head over to my web page and email me to claim your book choice. http://www.lindarettstatt.com

Thanks to all who entered the contest.

Linda