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Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Authors who have influenced me - by Helen Bianchin


I love to read. Romance and romantic suspense, mysteries, crime ... the list is endless.

Bliss is reading a book by a favoured author, uncaring what the story holds, the characters, the setting. Just knowing I'll be held enthralled by the author's magical skill with words is enough. A comfortable chair, the benefit of several uninterrupted hours ...

A vivid imagination has been my companion for as long as I can remember. I was there with Enid Blyton's famous Five as they engaged in their various adventures; the probation nurse in all the doctor-and-nurse stories who fell in love with the resident hospital doctor, to the extent nursing almost became a considered occupation. The legal profession eventually won out, but that's another story!

I adore romance. The mythical knight on a white horse who rode to rescue the fair maiden. The modern day "Pretty Woman" scenario.

The darker marriage of convenience; the wild boy from the wrong side of the tracks who makes good; Cinderella in its various guises.

Which authors did it for me? On reflection, it was a paperback romance titled "The Distant Hills" by Lucy Walker which first made me think I'd like to write. Closely followed by Violet Winspear, who crafted and maintained sensual tension with just a look between her heroes and heroines.

Then along came Kathleen Woodiwiss, who dared to go where few authors in the genre had gone before! Wow! Who could forget Shanna? The Flame and the Flower? The Wolf and the Dove? Such passion! So much emotion. Sensuality.

As a reader, I was hooked. As a writer, I became totally enthralled. Excited by the talent, the magic, the words.

There are past works I can read and re-read countless times. All-time favourites. Keepers. To read and become entranced by the magic again and again.

I could list so many of today's authors whose work enthrall me as a reader. However the list would be long ... perhaps too long to occupy this space! And I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I inadvertently missed including someone.

Kind regards and best wishes to you all,

Helen

6 comments:

Lois said...

Oh geez, I have too many authors to name. . . heck, even on my website I have a page of about me stuff, and even in the line with favorite authors, I know I forgot ones and all. So I try not to try to list any. But the ones who did get me started in romance reading however. . .

Sandra Brown, the first. . .

and a couple books later (which was a couple years later after getting my first ever) I picked up my first historical, which was by Lisa Kleypas.

So it's all their fault I'm surrounded by all these books. :)

Lois

Cherie J said...

I would have to say Phyllis Whitney hooked me when I was a preteen and then I got into HarleQuins and Silhouettes.

Annie West said...

Hi Helen,

I had to post when I saw you'd mentioned Violet Winspear. She was one of the first Harlequin Mills and Boon authors that I read and I kept reading. You're so spot on about the sensual tension she created - just fantastic. Unfortunately I don't have any of those old books. I think I'll have to make an effort to get hold of them for old time's sake. There's something so nice about a comfort read with a favourite author and I'd love to dip into her books again after all this time.

Annie

Helen Bianchin said...

Hi Lois, Cherie and Annie,
This is like a trip down memory lane, isn't it? Lisa Kleypas is a favourite of mine, and I'll add Laura Kinsale.
Annie, I once owned all of Violet Winspear's titles, and needed to cull of necessity when moving from one country to another ...

Helen

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

All of Violet Winspear's books... wow... I only have 4 and I am searching the old bookstores to find more!

My earlier post was delelted... I am new to the blog thing!