Top 10 Best Selling Authors of 2007/Brenda Talley ~ The Romance Studio

Interview: Jul 27, 2007

Wildfire would like to congratulate our Top 10 Best Selling Authors for the first half of 2007! We'd also like to welcome Brenda Talley of The Romance Studio. Read on to learn about the life of a reviewer and the website that readers go to when they want to know what's hot in romance.

ARe Top 10 Best Selling Authors January 1 � June 30, 2007

1. Maya Banks

2. J.J. Massa/Illian Obsidian

3. AnnMarie McKenna

4. Bianca D'Arc

5. Jaden Sinclair

6. Sean Michael

7. Mackenzie McKade

8. Lena Matthews

9. Leigh Elwood

10. Eve Vaughn

Brenda Talley ~ The Romance Studio (TRS)

Angela: How did you get into the business?

Brenda: I was checking out some romance sites one day and found a blurb about reviewing for TRS. I didn't even know what that meant, although I had a vague idea. I went to the site, requested admission, and when I was accepted; I got to pick ONE book to read. To begin with, I would print out the books and read them. Oh, my goodness! That soon had to stop; I started reading from the computer, and I haven't stopped in over a year.

Angela: How many books do you read in a typical month?

Brenda: I usually read about twenty books a month, I guess, depending upon what is going on in my "other" life.

Angela: How do you choose what books to review? Is there a particular sub-genre that you like? Author? Publisher?

Brenda: At TRS we are lucky to have a special site just for review submissions; we can log on 24/7 and request particular books. Unless someone beats (me) to them, I get to review anything I choose. We also get notices on our website as they are posted. Sometimes it's a race to get something special; I, however, don't have too much trouble. My absolute favorite genre is serial western historical. I love anything cowboy, wagon train, mail order bride, etc. It does not matter who the publisher is although some are responsible for more and more of my favorites. I have some favorite authors, but am open for anyone to make me a fan!

Angela: What books are currently on your nightstand?

Brenda: That's a hard question to answer because my TBR stack has now taken up two large boxes and several stacks under my bed. The latest I've acquired are Delia Latham's Almost Like a Song (I've read it twice already and am awaiting her next, Goldeneyes, due out in 2008, which is, by the way, the absolute best book I have ever read), Linda Lael Miller's A Wanted Man, Geralyn Dawson's Her Outlaw (an on-going series I'm in love with), Nora Roberts' Irish Hearts, Mary Balogh's "Simply" series, and Julia Quinn's The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. The latest two I've reviewed have been by Beth Williamson, the ending of one series and the beginning of another.

Angela: Do you have any idea how many readers rely on your site's reviews to make buying decisions?

Brenda: I didn't, but I looked up some facts on TRS which told me there are over 3 1/2 million hits monthly; TRS is visited by over 100 countries outside North America; from its conception in January 2003 to December 2006, TRS reviewed over 7,000 romances. I'm sure that number is higher now because of the number of reviews coming in and the reviewers who constantly produce honest, interesting reviews.

Angela: What kinds of trends are you seeing in the industry? What's popular now?

Brenda: There are definitely many more up and coming authors and publishers who are sharing their works with us for review. It seems that the majority of books available are futuristic, paranormal, vampires, and many are same sex, bondage, m�nage, etc. I, personally, do not read these types of books because I am unfamiliar with the concepts and would not know how to respond in review format. I have branched out into the (my) unknown since coming to TRS, but I still haven't gotten comfortable with some offerings. That's one thing that is so great about reviewing for TRS; there are always books available so that a reviewer is never subjected to something she/he would be uneasy reading.

Angela: What do you consider the key characteristics of a good book?

Brenda: I, personally, want a good plot and characters that are believable and memorable. And again, I absolutely love series. It's like opening a friend when a new book in a series comes out.

Angela: What do you see as some of the challenges of the eBook industry?

Brenda: As I have mentioned before, I was totally unfamiliar with eBooks when I started reviewing for TRS. I didn't know how to accomplish reading for hours at a time sitting at my computer. I asked for and received much help from my fellow TRS members. They listened to me (ad nauseam, I'm sure!) for months trying to decide what to purchase for my use. I could not afford several hundred dollars for a hand-held or laptop computer. I did not need anything except a book reader. I finally purchased (to their relief, I'm sure) an eBookwise Reader. I have enjoyed it more than I can say! I believe that until people are more familiar with readers, it will be harder to sell eBooks to the general public. I have never met anyone who knew what my eBookwise was! The fact that it takes up so much less storage room is a definite plus. It will just take time for readers to become aware of the availability of something less expensive which will still give readers a book to "hold."

Angela: Do you read a book's summary or excerpt prior to deciding to review it? What's the most important thing for you�cover art, summary, or excerpt?

Brenda: I love to read the book's summary; that usually gives me enough information to make my decision. I prefer not to read an excerpt because it sometimes confuses me when I start my reading. I use excerpts mostly when it will be a good while before I get to read the book. Cover art does not usually play into my decisions because, since I usually review before the book is final, it may not have the cover available for me to see.

Angela: Anything that you would like to recommend to our readers?

Brenda: I highly recommend if you love to read and have any time to read, that you check into reviewing. I love the ability to get great books ahead of release and also enjoy the camaraderie with the TRS "family". There are numerous sites available where you can become instantly involved and, who knows, you might even change the future of the romance industry!

Brenda Talley is a reviewer at The Romance Studio. The Romance Studio (TRS), an incredible site that launched in January of 2003, if frequented by both well established and brand-new authors, agents, sellers, cover models, publishers, and, of course, readers.

Website:
The Romance Studio

If you would like to request an interview, please send a query to info@allromanceebooks.com

Until next time!
Angela Lovell
Wildfire Interview Coordinator
All Romance eBooks

White Wolf and My Harley by Brianna Martini
This story is rated 3 flames. Love scenes are sensual, yet more explicit and the language is more graphic and direct.

The light breeze blew my long hair away from my sweaty tanned face. I wet my lips and smiled as I continued to get aroused from the powerful vibrations of my Mr. Harley. Looking around the empty lonely highway, it was only Harley and me. So far as I sat riding by the little towns, it brought me closer to my lover�s hometown.

I look intently at the full luminous moon wondering if he was staring at it too. Speculating at all the histories the moon has observed throughout the centuries. I felt the moon connecting to my soul. I felt her whispering my name once, then twice. I stopped my Harley Davidson off the shoulder off the road. I lifted my tensed legs off my heated seat. A rolling cloud covered the moon's whitish shimmering full face.

I took off my leather jacket, spread it on a grassy area, and noticed a willow tree looking so despondent in a vast rough area. I soaked the light of the full moon and responding to its energy, I lit a small bond fire. Opening my spiritual medicine pouch, I withdrew a handful of herbs, sprinkling it to the small roaring fire, as it crackled and came fuller to life. The sweet smelling grass mixed with other herbs and incense filled the hot stilled night air with a sensual scent. Darkness cloaked the night, as the moon swiftly hid behind its lovers hands.

The cloud now an eerie gray, permeated the night with a stillness that surrounded me in a strange ambiance. The fires within grew more intense, and the bond fire rose higher and higher. I felt my soul connecting strongly to incandescent energy around me. I watched the shadow of the fullness nocturnal bewitch me, I felt his heat radiating near me once again and suddenly his hand tenderly grazed my breast. He let his cool fingers slip though the slit opening of my blouse trying to fully grasp my breast, as one button ripped off and fell to the ground the other followed as his fingers griped unhurriedly ripping the opening of my silk blouse. I inhaled his masculine exhilarating scent.

I swayed to the dance of the bond fire, as I quivered with anticipation beneath his sensual touch. His smiling face appeared before me, my fingers pulled on his reddish blond goatee. I brought his cool mouth to mine. As our lips and tongues mated an old century waltz, a hunger so deep overpowered us. I looked into his blazing azure eyes. I saw us making love in a field full of lavender and sunflowers and then the silkiness in a field full of lilies of the valley.

"Ah, my love purity flowers so sweet, so white, and so pure," I said to myself. In a rather isolated world, the scene changed to Love Beach, Bahamas. Once again I was captivated by his beautiful smile, his deep blue eyes and his actions speaking more than his words to me. Our souls merged as one for a second time. I tried to resist his secular energy as it took the shape of a muscular man. This time, I totally lost it, totally lost myself to you and so profound within you. I felt my love for you so intense it shook the center of my mortal soul.

You took more of my heart as you whispered the words Ti Voglio Bene - I love you. Words that I longed to hear. Your hands played my body like a flute. Your fingers knew the precise spaces to discover my decipherable spots. You took my hands, licked the palms then kissed each finger individually. You positioned my body safely on the Harley. Then tied my wrist to the handlebars with your chained belt, and covered my eyes with your damp cotton bandana. From my head to toes I soaked up each fiber of your being, with loving energy of light, your aura glowed and your charkas balanced meshing into mine. You roughly kissed me, and it was not enough. I needed more, so much more of you, as you telepathically communicated to my subconscious mind.

You magnetize me once again, pounding your hard magnificent manhood; your words of love filled me up completely. My fairy wings spread wider as your incisors pierced the side of my left breast. We kept on making love, reaching beyond the stars, the suns, the moons and the heavens. As we heard a distant howl of Father White Wolf, we saw the new beginning of morning twilight giving birth to a new glorious day.

Award winning best selling author Brianna Martini resides in Toronto, Canada with her young children, a dozen pets and her oldie goldie Underwood typewriter which her grandfather left to her. She still uses it once in a while and typed her story outline of her next paperback to be released this Fall 2007, I'm Big, I'm Sexy and I'm Me.

Backlist:
Dark Night of the Soul, Silks Vault
One Christmas Night in Venice, Silks Vault
La Pirata, The Lady Pirate, Silks Vault
Romancing the Angels, Silks Vault

Coming Soon:
Cooking for Kids alla Carte, Wesp Publishing
Il Sole, La Luna e Le Stelle - The Sun, The Moon and The Stars, Wesp Publishing
Satisfy You and Me Cookbook for Lovers, Wesp Publishing
I'm Big, I'm Sexy And I'm Me, Wesp Publishing trade paperback
Danielle The Roman Empire - The final story of Pina and Mikal series, Silks Vault
All Souls, Wesp Publishing

Websites:
Brianna Martini
Readers Site
MySpace

Submissions to The Weekly Sizzle should be sent to Sizzle@allromanceebooks.com. We are looking for original short stories, 1-5 flames, 200-2000 words.

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Sent: Jul 27, 2007

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