Writer Danica Favorite On Reading

Danica, welcome to Writers on Reading! Your most recent book, The Lawman’s Redemption---luuuv the title, BTW---released days ago and looks like ideal reading for this Fourth of July. So, I’m gonna have to start out asking if reading fits into your plans during the Fourth?

Thanks so much for having me! I’m glad to be here! Plans for the Fourth… ugh!! We keep having things come up and fall through, so it’s hard to say WHAT we’ll be doing, but I’m sure at some point, I will pick up a book.

Your book covers give anyone a clear idea of what you write. Do your tastes as a reader conflict with your tastes as a historical romance writer? Other than genre when you’re browsing for a book, does something in particular draw you? Can you tell us what speaks to you most as you pick your next reading experience?
I’d like to think my tastes as a reader and tastes as a historical romance writer are pretty similar. I hate reading books without happy endings, and I only write books with happy endings, so there you go! I tend to write the kind of books I’d like to read, so my tastes are pretty well in line, although my very favorite thing to read is Regency with a bit of mystery. I don’t want to write it, though!

What draws me as a reader… hmm… good question. I am a big back cover blurb reader, and I want the copy to be really intriguing. If there’s mention of mystery or secret, I am sure to pick it up!

                  

Picking my next reading experience is all about my current mood. Or, if I’m judging a contest, when the deadline is! If I’m really tired or cranky, I want something light and fluffy. If I’m more pensive, I’ll pick something with a lot of meat to it. Otherwise, I pick whatever is speaking to me at the time.

Oh, how fun to hear your have reading "moods"! That is soooo fun. And I agree secrets to expose...they're the best. So, now that we know what you look for, what was the most out-of-character book you’ve recently read, and what led to your choice?

I’ve been reading a lot of YA books, and some of them really stretch me in terms of what I’d like to be reading. I have a teenage daughter, so I like to read some of the books she reads. She tends to like darker stuff, and books that don’t necessarily end happily.

Laughing. I can see how that is out-of-character for you. They say 85 percent of YA readers are adults. Now I wonder how many of them are reluctant mom's thrust out of their element. As a writer, you should know better, but as a reader, you know we all do it…so, when did you last “judge a book by the cover”? How did it work out?

Most of the time, when I judge a book by its cover, I do so in a negative way. If I see a bad cover, I won’t read the book. I probably miss out on a lot of good reads that way. That said, if I’m deciding between two books I already own, I do sometimes pick up the book with the prettiest cover.

Guilty. I've many a book sitting on my shelf because the cover is pretty. Do you read while you’re working on a book or do you find deadlines interfere? If not, did you treat yourself to a book after you typed The End?

 

I do read while working. For me, reading is a really important way to relax. If I’m really stressed or in a bad mood, I need to read a book to turn my mood around. I am a firm believer that there is nothing that a bath, a book, and a cup of tea can’t cure! So if I waited until I finished writing to read, I’d never read, and I’d be a really grouchy person.

Yes, I agree! (As long as you don't ruin your pretty books in the bathtub!) Did a book recently make you laugh/cry/sigh/shiver?

Book that recently made me laugh: I really liked WagonTrain Proposal by Renee Ryan. She’s such a great author and always has a few moments that bring a smile to my face.

Book that made me cry: I don’t read books that make me cry! I only read happy books!

Book that made me sigh/shiver: I really loved Under a Turquoise Sky by LisaCarter, which is a Carol Award finalist. She had such a wonderful blend of suspense and poignant moments, and I very much enjoyed it. I was so glad to see it become a finalist.

What was the last book you absolutely couldn't put down? Why?

I hope it’s okay to mention a non-Christian book here… At least I don’t think it was Christian, but I don’t think there was anything in it that would be offensive to fellow Christians. It’s called UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale book 1) by Chanda Hahn, and it was so good, I ended up buying the rest of the series and devouring it. I really loved how the characters related, and how a lot of the people weren’t entirely who you thought they were. There was so much character growth, and I found myself falling in love with each of them.

I can see why you recommend it. Sounds like you've read a lot of great books---which brings me to my next question: Were you the kind of kid/teen who loved reading? Which novel do you first remember reading?

I was absolutely that kid! The first novel I read, I was in first grade, and my friend had been given The Secret of the Old Clock, by Carolyn Keene. She let me read it, and I was hooked. I then tried going to the library to get more, but the librarian didn’t believe I could read such a difficult book, so I had to prove to her I could read it. I left the library with an armload of Nancy Drew books, and I haven’t looked back.

When did you know you wanted to write? Did any or multiple books influence this desire?

I’ve always wanted to write. I was the kid, who, if I didn’t have a book in my hand, I had a notebook and a pen. I didn’t think I could be an author, though, until I was older and retired. I’m so glad that being a grey-haired old lady is NOT a prerequisite of being a writer, because I don’t think I could have waited that long!

I don’t think any one book influenced my desire to write. I’ve read so many, and I wanted to touch readers the way other books touched me.

Oh that's lovely insight into your writing path. Has any book stuck with you recently? What created the lasting impressions?

I recently read Undone by MicheleCushatt. Michele is a good friend, and reading her journey through her eyes having lived through the experiences with her left me a little Undone myself. Especially reading all the comments of how her book has touched others---it just shows how living your life in a raw, honest way can help others. That even in the midst of your own suffering and trials, you still have something to give others. I hope I’m living my life that way.

Wow. That book must be something---and the cover is boggling, so I can see why you picked it up. With summer officially started, what is on your to-read list?

We have a summer tradition in my house that summer reading is all about my kids. So we read a series together. This summer, we are reading the Tales of the Frog Princess series by E.D. Baker. We just finished book two, and I have book three ready to go. I didn’t realize there were so many books in the series. Hopefully we’ll get it done by the time school starts!

And what is your ideal summer reading experience?

Ideal summer reading experience… I really love taking a book by a pool or a lake or really any body of water and sitting in the sun reading. When I get hot, I take a quick dip, then go back to my book. Give me a few yummy snacks, a cold drink, and I am in heaven! It’s the best part of summer, in my opinion!

Yep. That is heaven---I think I'll pull up a chair! While you're there, is there a book you are looking forward to rereading?

I never get tired of rereading anything by Jane Austen.

If the heroine from your recently released book were to pick a book from today’s shelves, what do you think it would be?

Wow… I wish I could tell you about the characters in the book I’m writing, because they had a GREAT book discussion. So, instead, I’ll tell you about Mary Stone, the heroine from my current release, The Lawman’s Redemption. I think Mary would probably pick up something practical, like a how-to or homemaking kind of book because she’s so practical. However, I’m pretty sure one of her friends would hand her a romance (because that’s what good friends do!), and she’d be hooked! Mary needs to find some ways to spend more time taking care of herself and I think this is just the thing.

 
No fair! You are not allowed to finish this interview leaving me curious! Well...thanks for visiting, Danica. Even with the nasty teaser, I loved getting to know you as a reader, and I have to say you really let me feel I know your latest heroine and her friends as well. Looks like a book worth visiting. Folks, you can continue to connect with Danica, and find out more about her books---maybe even that one she is working on---at the links below her bio.

BIO: A self-professed crazy chicken lady, Danica Favorite loves the adventure of living a creative life. She and her family recently moved in to their dream home in the mountains above Denver, Colorado.  Danica loves to explore the depths of human nature and follow people on the journey to happily ever after. Though the journey is often bumpy, those bumps are what refine imperfect characters as they live the life God created them for. Oops, that just spoiled the ending of all of Danica’s stories. Then again, getting there is all the fun.

PURCHASE AND CONNECTION LINKS:

You can connect with Danica at the following places:

Website: http://www.danicafavorite.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danicafavorite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanicaFavoriteAuthor

Purchase:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373283202/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p14_d4_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1MD6815Q90T8F4DAWPMT&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2118394622&pf_rd_i=desktop

Back Cover:

Lawman on a Mission 
Former deputy Will Lawson is fighting to regain his reputation—and Mary Stone is his only lead to the bandit who framed him. Now that he's tracked Mary to Leadville, Colorado, Will needs the proud beauty to reveal her past. Instead, his efforts spark a mighty inconvenient attraction… 
Mary's only real crime is that she once believed an outlaw's lies. Still, she fears disclosing the truth to Will may land her in jail—and leave her young siblings without protection. Now she must choose between honesty and safeguarding her family. And if Will does clear his own name, can he convince the woman he loves to share it?