First off, wonderful to have you here. Second, loved "Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and exuberance." -- That might become my motto. LOL

I really had to put some thought into this question about heroines influencing me...I don't know if I've ever thought "they can do it, so can I" but I have made plenty of little discoveries along the way as I've written them, as the characters are all processes of our own lives, experiences, and thoughts. I tend to think it's the other way, what I know or have learned, I channel into them, but writing down a character will often show me how I think about something, and I might not have been quite aware of it. I guess that's where it gets interesting to see what themes repeat in our books and for our characters...

I have read *other* people's heroes and heroines that have given me a kick in the backside or made me think or do something that they influenced me to do. . .nothing pops to mind, but I know it's happened. I think maybe because as a reader I am more likely to be influenced by another writer's characters than by my own? Strange, but true... ;)

Sam

Great to have you here!

I think for my own characters, I give them parts of me I wish I had myself, often things like courage. My first heroine taught me to embrace my femininity. My second taught me to appreciate every moment. My third to love without fear. The next was about being yourself instead of what you think others want you to be. But my last one reminded me that loving someone means accepting their rough spots too.

It's really a neat idea to think about what life lessons we take from our stories. We may not have a moral at the end of each book, but maybe the lessons in the pages are still there.

Hugs,
Dee

Welcome Karin!

As a reader, there have been times (not so much when I'm reading a book, but later) when I've remembered something I've read and it has helped me react to things in a better way.

Sometimes it's minor things. For example, I hate housework. I mean, truly despise it. But I love having a clean house (I don't make enough to pay someone else to clean for me). So what do I do? I remember Brianna Concannon from Nora Roberts' Born in Ice. She ran a B&B and loved it. She loved the cleaning and the nice touches. Thinking of her helps me get the job done. I think of her grace.

Other times, I've been in situations where I'm outnumbered by guys (I work for a construction firm). I need to get my point across. I think of Phoebe from Susan Elizabeth Phillips' It Had to Be You. She owned a football team! She wasn't a fan of football but she had to suck it up and make them respect her. Not easy to do when she looked like she stepped out of the pages of Playboy.

Or there are the times when my husband is being a MAN and not in a good way! I whip out my latest love story (or some spicy erotica) and get myself all hot and bothered and jump him. Trust me, we both forget what a jerk he's been then!

So, I don't know if that's exactly what you were asking for but those are my answers and I'm sticking with them!

ani

Excellent post, excellent comments. What a nice way to start my day!

My heroines tend to learn things I have already learned. I'm older than them, you know? Also, my heroines can do things I can't do because I'm there to save them from getting in too deep. I'm their safety net.

Once while in my thirties I was reminiscing back to my twenties and realized how much more I would have enjoyed those years if someone had been able to look into the future and assure me that everything would turn out all right. I spent way too much time worrying and being insecure. I'm not going to let my heroines ruin their twenties, lol.

Some heroines I can identify with and think I would definitely be able to do what they did in the story and then there are the heroines that I am nothing like and there is no way I would be able to do what they did in the story.

Hi Karin!! So excited about your new releases! I had the joy of reading SKIN so I'm so looking forward to JADED and so love historicals so MASTER OF SURRENDER is so exciting, gives me goosebumps thinking about reading this one! Congrats on the releases.

So I get a feel and reaction too for many books, I can get that when I read the blurb/back cover finding out what the book is about. Reading is just so joyous for me and done so much for me as a reader, I can't imagine being without it! As I'm reading, oh I nod, but too, I get those goosebumps when its an exciting parts in the book, and too just a huge smile when I know they will be together. I remember when once reading a hero that was a very tortured one, that I would wince at his memories and be teary eyed when he shared so much with the heroine...trust. So thats just one example, but the stories become real for me when I'm reading them and not necessarily put them in my place by switching places, but more so thinking about too that I have my own hero and soul mate too. Gosh I love this question!

Congrats again on the releases!

Caffey

Hey, goils, I pulled an all-nighter, just getting my coffee. I'll be back to chat in a sec!

Karin, I love it when we learn from characters. I know I've found so many traits and ideas I find admirable and want to emulate from reading romance (hey, a few positions, too *g*) and really like the idea that as writers we can learn from our characters as well. I'm not sure if I have, though LOL. I know my charactes always have certain of my traits and habits. Audra's bad girl attitude, Isabel's lists & goal setting, and Delaney in my upcoming book is all over my shoe obsession *g*. And each one I push past her comfort zone - and I guess past mine.

Thanks for blogging with us today :-) I am so excited to read your new books and am blown away at the diversity of your writing. Can you tell us about going from hot cops to hot knights? How'd it happen, how do you like it, how're your cops doing?

Hi Karin,
Ordinary folks do extraordinary things in real life and in books. It's easy for me to say I would do the same thing when I'm sitting at home reading a book or watching a news report about a hero/heroine saving someone. I do like to think that I'll do the appropriate thing when called for.

ahhh, caffeine! I am on a mother of a deadline and have been pulling vampire hours.

Hi, Samantha! I find myself channeling into my heroines as well. Sometimes it's hard when they don't want to listen.

Dee, I know my heroines are much braver then me! OMG, some things I would never, ever do.

Ani, how interesting you think of actual heroines when you are in certain situations. But, by putting yourself in their shoes I can see how it would make things easier. Hmm, something for me think about.

Jeannie, so happy to start your day off with a smile. I feel the same way about wishing I knew ahead of time. I would have been so much more fearless. Probably annoyingly so. Hmm, maybe it's a good thing I had to learn for myself.

Maureen, Phil in GOOD GIRL has to get up on stage and strip in a club, all for the good of catching the bad guy. In Karin's reality the bad guy would have gotten away.

Hi, Caffey! So glad you enjoyed SKIN. I liked it too. ;) Let me know how you like JADED and SURRENDER.
And I too get great joy from reading. It's euphoric in so many ways. It releases all the good things in our body. It's why I primarily stick to romance.

Robyn, not giving up is huge. and I am with you on the some taking longer then others. I'm an evolver.

Hey, T! Totally get the shoe thang! Hmm, bouncing from hot cops to hot knights. same guys different time. :) But the historical writing takes longer, much, much longer to write. and I'm not a fast typist.
but as to how it happened, the stories have always been there, it was just time to write them.

Jane, it's easy for me to say I would do the same thing, and sometimes I know I wouldn't, but it's having that mind set to do what needs t be done to get the job done mentality that I draw from.

Great post, Karin!

Totally loved your blog, Karin. How lucky you are to have such an amazing hero in your life. The way your write your characters makes your books such a treat to read.

I love your post and yes I can relate to the hero or heroine and think I should be able to do the things that they do and sometimes we can. I think a person can do anything that they set their mind to.

Hi, Karin! I loved the lessons you've learned from your characters (and what a husband you have! I agree with Sam, I like his motto and just might have to adopt it. Of course, I'll have to become a bit wiser in order for this to actually work... ;)

I do find heroes and heroines sometimes rather inspiring, although I confess that often I read what they overcome and think, "Yikes, I'm pretty sure I could never do that!" Those women who transform an icky old building into a shining B&B by their sheer will and hard work? Those who hang tough in a hostile work environment and make a name for themselves in spite of all sorts of naysayers? You can bet I admire them, and I guess if they make me even a tiny bit stronger when it's time for me to interview or tackle the housework, then I've learned a valuable lesson :)

Wowee, I just noticed Dee's, Test Me! cover. Sexy!

Thanks everyone, I was going to post something else but the lessons learned just kind of popped out. and I had to run with it, glad it's resonating.

I *am* a lucky girl when it comes to the hubster. He likes to remind me of that occasionally. Frankly, I am a PIA so I should have added saint to his qualities. Nah, might go to his head. :)

congrats on teh books. love the cop talk. sexy covers. do u like one genre over the otehr

Hi, I have only read Skin - but really really loved it. Hot. Have to read some more of your books.

I enjoyed your comments here very much.

ESTELLA is the winner of one of Karin's backlist books. :) Congrats Estella -- you can contact her at kltabke@aol.com.

:)

Sam

wtg estalla

Yayyy for Estella!!

ani