Today we have Karen Roma as a guest, I thought it would be fun to put her on the hot seat. Here are her answers to the questions I sent.

!. Without making this into a self-interest article, what is one of your favorite series on the market today, something that isn’t the EC or about Tantalus.

There are so many fabulous series by exceptionally talented authors out there, but I’ve always loved Vampires and the one series that always has me chomping at the bit for the next book release is Vampires in America by D.B.Reynolds.

2. What attracts you to a book?

I suppose to some extent I’m a little bit shallow, as I love a great cover! I’m a very visual person, so the graphics are definitely a huge draw card for me (and who doesn’t love a sexy model too). But I will also check out a book that has come highly recommended by someone I trust.

3. What holds your interest in a storyline? And what turns you off one?

I read multiple genres, but the story must grab me in the first couple of chapters, or I lose interest easily.

I started reading later than most (in my mid twenties) because I just didn’t have the patience to dredge through pages and pages of dialogue before a story took off. I found that some books could take 200 pages before the book really got moving and by then I was losing focus.

4. What area of a bookstore do you shy away from, besides the kiddie section?

LOL. I actually spend a quite bit of time in the kiddie section with 15 grandbabies!! But for me personally, I’m not at all interested Regency or Historical romance.

5. We all read books that are not as well written at times, yet return to read the following book in the same series (if it is a series). Why would you do that?

Great question! I had a series I was totally addicted to and every new book was only released once a year. Unfortunately, book 9 was deplorable (my opinion only) and really shattered my faith in the author. They had introduced the main character as strong-minded and physically brave in previous books and then changed the personality traits to weak and whiny when the character got their own book.

I did read book 10 when it was released, mainly to see if the author could redeem themselves and get back on track. The jury’s still out.

6. Who was your first book boyfriend, do you remember? They say you always remember your first. 😉

Definitely!! Michael from the Nikki and Michael series by Australian author Keri Arthur. This was one of my first adult Vampire series.

7. If you could live in a series, any series, for a period of time, which one would you choose and why?

Wow, that’s a tough one, but I would really love to have wings, so maybe the Guild Hunters by Nalini Singh. I suppose for me, as I’m not getting any younger, I love the thought of living in a supernatural world where the inhabitants are beautiful and immortal.

8. Do you have a favorite series where you hate some of the characters? What keeps you hooked?

I have actually read a trilogy recently where the primary character grated on my nerves something fierce; I just wanted to slap him silly most of the time. But the content of the stories and the quality of the writing kept me intrigued enough to want to finish the series.

9. What would you like to see happen with one of the series you are following?

I love series books, but I believe when they exceed twenty books in a series (and sometimes even before this) they inevitably start to lose momentum and its time to wrap it up. I would like to think most authors know when series is nearing its conclusion, but some just keep going.

10. To name a few, give us some of the names of your favorite authors, and why you like them.

This is an extremely hard question, so I’ll try to mix it up:

• B.Reynolds – her Vampires are very traditional; dark, dangerous and sexy and not apologetic for being on top of the food chain;

• Rebecca Zanetti – no matter what genre she writes, the stories are amazing;

• Gena Showalter – just because I ‘ve read EVERY series and loved them all;

• Lorelei James – I like that her series follows the lives of a family and their friends over a generation or more;

             Heather Killough-Walden – fabulous world building and gripping tales.

11. What do you like about running the blog you write? Do you have a pet peeve when it comes to dealing with some of the people you do? No names please.

12. Would you ever consider writing a book yourself? If so why, if not, why not?

Oh my goodness, NO. I leave that to the very talented writers who provide me with an escape from my everyday life, and the ability to chose whether I want a HEA or something with a little more angst and suspense.

I have the utmost respect for authors and their imaginations, but don’t think I have what it takes to meet a dead line, do rewrites and edits and then wait to see if your book is successful.

Thank you so much Mary Ann for having me today, and I look forward to your new series.