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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

GAYLE ROPER


 
 
 
 
“I have been in love with story all my life,” says Gayle Roper, the award winning author of more than forty-five books. “Give me a story with strong characters and a captivating plot, and I’m one happy reader. Or writer.”
 
Among Gayle’s awards are the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, the Carol Award from American Christian Fiction Writers, two Inspirational Readers Choice Awards, and three HOLT Medallions. She has been a Christy finalist three times and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Book Report.
 
For her work in training Christian writers Gayle has won special recognition from Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, St. Davids CWC, Florida CWC, and Greater Philadelphia CWC.  She lives in southeastern Pennsylvania. She enjoys reading, spending time at the family’s Canadian cottage, gardening, and eating out every time she can manage it.
 
You can learn more about Gayle by visiting her website.
 

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS?
 
 
I was fifteen when my mother held out a book to me.
 
“Here, Gayle. Read this.”
 
It was a Phyllis Whitney title, I’ve forgotten which one, and I was hooked on romantic suspense from that day forward. I’d spent the years prior immersed in Nancy Drew and then Judy Bolton. Did anyone but me read the delightful YA Judy Bolton series? Unlike Nancy and her friends, Judy got older, fell in love and married, but she always solved mystery after mystery as she aged.
 
But Phyllis Whitney raised the bar with titles like The Trembling Hills and Thunder Heights. Adult characters. Intense but chaste romance. And suspense!
 
 What a delight those early romantic suspense writers were to me. I still remember my surprise at the end of Victoria Holt’s Mistress of Mellyn. Mary Stewart’s The Ivy Tree remains one of the best double identity novels I’ve ever read.
 
 Stylistically these books are dated, but the story lines are strong. One of their secrets was the characters, regular people caught in a web of secrets, lies, and deceit as opposed to professional law enforcement personnel used to such experiences. They were people like me experiencing things I found fascinating to read about but would cause a coronary if they actually happened to me.
 
So I write romantic suspense. No surprise there. Sure, straight romance can be fun. So can straight suspense. But for me, it’s the combination that I find deeply satisfying.
 
Who introduced you to your favorites and what were they?



You can win a copy of Gayle's book, SHADOWS ON THE SAND, just by leaving a comment with your contact information!
 

25 comments:

  1. I have several books each by Victoria Holt and by Phyllis Whitney, When I'd find one at a garage sale, I'd add it to my library. I love my books. This was a good review. My favorite author list is growing. It's always hard to pick just one. I used to read all of V C Andrews books I could get hold of. And, Corrie tenBoom is a great author. My first new author about 1999 was an AAmish book by Beverly Lewis and I was hooked. Since then I've read many Amish by some great authors. I love Suspense and Romanic Mysteries also. Dee,, too many to name. I'd like to win this book. Maxie ( mac262@me.com )

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  2. Maxie, did you know I've done an Amish series? I live in the area and it's a natural setting for me. Stranger's Wish, Secret Identity and A Rose Revealed. And thanks for remembering your email address!

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  3. Hi Gayle, i really enjoyed your blog! I have an old copy of Mistress of Mellyn on my shelf and have been watching for Nine Coaching Waiting for a long time. They were favorites back in high school, and I still love them!

    And BTW...I am in awe of your many, and very prestigious, awards for your wonderful books!

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  5. Would be delighted to win your book, Gayle! I've never seen or heard of it. Thanks for the offer!

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    1. Linda, thanks for signing up for a book! We'll see if you win.

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  6. I'm not sure I could choose a favorite, I have read and loved books by each author that's part of this website. I've read enough books that I now keep a list of what I've read because I sometimes can't remember what I've read! My Mom would get 3/4 through a book and exclaim "Oh! I've read this before!" and I'd snort and giggle at her and chide her a bit. I only wish she were still here so I could apologize and tell her that I finally understand and get it! LOL! Anyway, I've read most of your books Gayle and I've enjoyed them all greatly. I'd love to win your new book. Thank you for the offer. mstands@gmail.com

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    1. MJ, I know about rereading books and not realizing it until I'm almost finished. I'm sorry for the loss of your mom.

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  7. I would love to win your book and add it to my "library". :) I have too many favorites too name. Thank you.
    superstarsarah94@gmail.com

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    1. I know what you mean about having too many favorite authors. Me too. It makes reading fun!

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  8. Thanks for intriguing me with two new stories! Would love to win your book. love and prayers Melody
    msproule1225@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks for entering your name, Lilac Grandma. Does that men you like the color lilac or like the flower?

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  9. Gayle , I have read two of your Amish books and loved them. Would love to get the cnace to read more. I have a journal to keep track to all the books and authors that I have read, too.
    Thank you for your generosity.
    k_hanns@yahoo.com

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the Amish books, Karla. I hope you find the third in the series.

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  10. Haven't met a book by Gayle that I haven't liked!

    kaskaggs at fourway . net

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  11. Gayle, we have Phyllis in common! When I was a teenager, she introduced me to romantic suspense and I read everyone of her books until I figured out there were other authors too! I have remained a romantic suspense fan!
    Westernaz@msn.com

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    1. Thank goodness there are other authors. We'd run out of books otherwise!

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  12. I love romantic suspense, and the first Christian author I was exposed to in this genre was Dee Henderson. I loved her O'Malley series and have read them all more than once. I have added a few authors since then, but she was my first. :)

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    1. Hey, Vickie, how are you doing? Good to hear from you.

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  13. I love romantic suspense and would love to have your book.
    doparker50@gmail.com

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  14. I love Christian suspense novels, and read all that I can get my hands on. I would love to have your new book.
    Linda
    linlee822@gmail.com

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  15. The first Gayle Roper book I read was The Decision followed by the Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter books. I would love to win this book.

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  16. I think I've read them all so far. They are all fascinating, especially when they include scenes I know well! :-)Wendy wcrane1@comcast.net

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