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Confessions of a Debut Romance Author + Giveaway!
My first book comes out today, and let me tell you, I am excited.
I am the sort of excited that is possibly a little bit unhealthy, at least over an extended period of time, which is the only period of time in which book publishing takes place. I was excited when I sold the book to Loveswept, excited when I signed the contract, excited when I did all three rounds of editing. I’ve been excited about getting promotional quotes, excited about going on my blog tour, excited about reading my first reviews.
You get the idea. Excited.
But I am other things, too. One of those other things is terrified, which I am told is normal, so I’m not too worried about it. And still another one of those things that I am is cringing.
Only a little, quietly, on the inside. But yes. There is just a tiny, wee smidgen of cringing going on, because . . . well . . . there is sex in my book. Rather a lot of sex. Sex in tents, sex in expensive hotel rooms, sex in seedy dives. Come to think of it, my characters have sex in, like, six separate states. They have transcontinental sex.
And my mother-in-law is almost certainly going to read it.
So . . . yeah.
The good news is that my parents have already read it—I bit that bullet long ago—and I guess maybe they didn’t notice the sex? I couldn’t say, because we didn’t speak of it, which is precisely how I prefer to handle this sort of thing. I’m the original confessional girl in writing—look at me, confessing on the Internet—but in person? Thanks, but no. If I could’ve figured out a way to tell my mother I was pregnant without actually telling her, I totally would have. But I had to say something. I couldn’t just present her with a baby out of the blue and say, Look! Grandchild! So I told her, and she cried at a restaurant, and people looked at us, and I thought, Okay, good thing you’re not planning to have any more babies, or you’d have to figure out another, much quieter way to do this.
I don’t like to make a scene, is my point. In fact, when I say I’m “excited” about my book coming out, you shouldn’t imagine me bouncing up and down with glee, since the way I do excited looks and sounds an awful lot like not excited at all. It’s just how I roll. My mom says it’s because I’m German, or perhaps because I’m repressed. But not too repressed.*
*See: book full of sex.
The thing is, I like reading sex scenes in romance, and I like writing them, too. I think they’re important. Sex is an essential aspect of any romantic relationship, and because I have a tendency to write about characters with trust issues and healthy libidos, they end up working out a lot of their issues, um, horizontally. The sex scenes aren’t just there to warm readerly loins—they serve a purpose. They bring the characters closer together, knock down walls between them, force them to acknowledge feelings they’re not ready to talk about.
I don’t write interchangeable sex scenes. Every one has a purpose, a place in the development of the relationship I’m writing about. I swear.
But of course, if I’m doing my job as an author well, the reader might not notice that. She might just be noticing the loin-warming. That’s okay, too. That’s how it’s supposed to work. You read, I’ll cringe. It’ll all work out for the best.
And at any rate, I’ll have to get used to it. My second book is due out in June, and it has, like, twice as much sex in it as this first one.
So what about you — do you like your romances super-steamy, or do you prefer the closed bedroom door? And if you do like the steamy ones, here’s the more important question: Do you or don’t you talk to your mother-in-law about them? Comment today & be eligible to win one of 5 paper copies of this book – winners announced by end of day in this post – or, buy your digital copy now for just $2.99 – click here
WE HAVE WINNERS!
Rachel (#2)
Melissa (#5)
JT (#30)
Karen (#25)
May P (#11)
You’ve all won free paperback copies of RIDE WITH ME!
Please send an e-mail containing your snail mail address to romanceatrandom@randomhouse.com, using the subject line RIDE WITH ME WINNER.
Thanks everybody for commenting and making my debut so much fun!
“RIDE WITH ME is a breath of fresh air for contemporary romance readers! I flew through it faster than a bike hurtling downhill!”
Louisa Edwards, author of Hot Under Pressure
“A sweet yet sultry, honest and heart-tugging ride. Everything a love story should be!” Carly Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Sexy, hilarious, poignant and just plain fun, RIDE WITH ME is a fantastic debut!” – Bestselling author Leslie Kelly
“A fantastic, sexy, and fun story! Ruthie Knox’s, RIDE WITH ME, was a delight to read.”
Jill Shalvis, NYT Best Selling Author
“Ride With Me, is a unique kind of road trip with the best kind of bumps and curves!”
Sandra Hill, New York Times Best Selling Author
“Smart, sexy, and downright fun–I loved every moment of the ride!”
Julie James, National Bestselling Author
“Ruthie Knox writes a devil of a good book! Ride With Me is one wild and fun ride you’ll enjoy from the first page to the last!”
Christie Craig, award winning author of romances with heart, humor and suspense.
“Debut author, Ruthie Knox’s, RIDE WITH ME, is a great mix of steamy passion and non-stop wit. Get ready to laugh out loud. One HOT read!”
Christina Skye
New York Times Best Selling Author of A HOME BY THE SEA
“Ride With Me is smart, sexy and funny, and once I picked it up I could not put it down. Can’t wait for more from Ruthie Knox. ”
Sarah Mayberry, Harlequin Super Romance
“Ride With Me has it all: it’s sexy, smart and fun. Ruthie Knox is a name to watch for in contemporary romance.”
Samantha Hunter, Harlequin Blaze
RIDE WITH ME by Ruthie Knox, A Loveswept eOriginal Excerpt
Hot and Steamy and no i don’t talk to my mother in law about it. She lives a few states over and although we get a long we don’t talk at all usually. I do send her her books though now and then to read. Some might be steamy but we don’t discuss it. lol
Lisa B
A valid strategy.
Oh, I loved this blog post! As an aspiring romance author, I still cringe every time someone reads my novel, thinking about them reading the sex scenes. I wonder if it ever gets less embarrassing? Congratulations on your release day!
Thanks! All kidding aside, it does get easier. And I will send a copy of the book to my MIL.
I like both. I don’t talk to anyone about the hot and steamy.
I recently became a grandmother! YEA! My daughter also told us in a restaurant. It was an exciting, emotional moment for all of us, complete with cheers and tears. My SIL was embarassed because his Dad made the comment “It works, Dave, It really, really works!”
Anyway, I can’t talk about the books with my MIL as she passed away 5 years ago, but I do talk with my mom. She’s been an avid reader as long as I can remember. She always had steamy books scattered around the house.
So I say bring it on! The sexier, the steamer, the more humor the better. Best wishes for continued success!
Thank you! (“It works, Dave! — *chortle*)
I like my books super hot and steamy!!! The hotter the better! I will talk to ANYONE about whatever book that I am reading or one of my favorites!!
Thanks for the giveaway!!
melissalamb(at)musfiber(dot)com
I admire your lack of filters. Someday…
Thanks for the giveaway your book sounds fantastic I can’ wait to read it hot and steamy sex scene’s and all.
Talk to my mother in law!? LOL What a funny way to ask such a question. Well, without a doubt, I believe dirty, hot, extreme sex scenes add to any book. If, as you say, they matter in the story. I know. But it is true. Just throwing them in anywhere, not so much. But they must be well written and matter. I do use them as a scale to what book to buy!
Lets just say, no I do not talk about them to my mother in law. But it all fairness. She does not read anything she does not absolutely have to. And reading any story for fun is totally beyond her. And, I must add, she is the best mother in law on the planet and I adore her!!
Mine might be even better. I probably should have mentioned how awesome she is, actually. So, for the record: My MIL is awesome.
I like them either way, but I would rather enjoy a hot and steamy scene. I don’t have a mother-in-law, but I do talk to my mom about it. She likes hot and steamy too. I like to feel a connection between the characters during that time because the build-up is just as good. I guess you could say I enjoy the sexual tension just as much as the hot and steamy sex.
Me, too! I love the sexual tension. It’s like a drug. But I start to get irritated if it lasts for the whole book.
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I like both but prefer hot and steamy more. I don’t chat with my mother-in-law about books. I talk with my best friend about them.
I like them both… But I would NEVER, EVER talk to my mother-in-law OR my mother about it.
That’ll be the day… 
Well, see, that’s what you *say*, May, and then you start writing romance novels, and the next thing you know…
Ruthie, I started Ride With Me this morning, and I’m loving it. I have not gotten to the sex yet–only Alex’s personal “stress relief.” (Laundry folding break…) I would NEVER have talked about sex with my MIL, and she would NEVER read Romance. I made a recommendation to my mother of a book I thought was fairly tame, and she let me know if was too racy for her. So, no I don’t talk about it to my mother either! Personally, I like to mix it up and not always read the racy, steamy stuff. After a couple of sweet romances, the steamy ones have much more impact!
Yay! Glad I gave you something to read while you were folding that laundry. And I know what you mean — if you read too many racy books in a row, they start to get kind of yawn-inducing.
This book sounds fantastic. My MIL is no longer with us, but my DIL and I read romance books, don’t discuss them, but do trade books. I do like a little steam in my romance.
omg this sounds amazing
Congratulations, Ruthie! I loved this post. Yes, it is super awkward to have to explain to people that the book is “R” rated, but with purpose. Still, you write those scenes so well and with such depth of emotion that it should be worth putting up with any embarassment!
Hi
Congratulations on your release. I have been hearing great things about your book. I am looking forward to reading it.
I read all kinds of romance from very hot and steamy to closed door, I just enjoy the story. If it was a really hot sexy story I would NOT talk to my MIL about it. We used to exchange books back and forth but I have switched to more ebooks and she visits the library more often now that she is retired.
Thanks for the giveaway
Pam
I guess I like the closed bedroom but it depends on my mood. I do like a little steamy sometimes but there is no way I would discuss it with my mother in law.
My mother-in-law is gone now. We were not close. I like all kinds of romance I guess it just depends on the mood I am in:)
I love to discover new authors, and your book sounds right up my alley. Good luck!
I think it depends on my mood whether I want steamy or implied. I can go through phases where I must have one type and only that type for a couple weeks then I pick up the other and fall for it all over again.
My mother in law is in her 80s, older than my grandmother, but she is far from prudish. She is funny, has her wit, and loves to read. When I have a book or heard of one she might like I get it for her. Does it bother her that some are steamy- doubt it, I think they are her favorite…but don’t tell her daughters.
Probably right in the middle of the two but I will read almost anything lol. My mil has passed and she always lived out of state so no conversations there lol.
I definitely like mine super-steamy! I don’t have a mother-in-law, but if I did, I probably would not talk to her about it.
Congrats on the debut! Can’t wait to read it
I like both! I can read hot and steamy for a bit and then I switch to reading with a little “secret” behind closed doors.
I would discuss anything with my sisters or mom or daughter . . . but MIL?!?!? not sure I could even discuss giving birth to my babies! She definitely would not read any romance. She is a “behind closed – locked – with chair under knob – doors” kinda gal.
Congrats on the new book ! Love the cover! Love the title!!
“a ‘behind closed – locked – with chair under knob – doors’ kinda gal” — ha ha ha! You guys are cracking me up.
CONGRATS ON THE NEW RELEASE!!!!!!!
I was super excited to wake up this morning to find my digital copy had downloaded to my Kindle… yay!!! I’m trying to read it now ( trying cuz I’m at work and they are making me *do* stuff instead of reading
)
Ummm…. I love hot and steamy scenes but they gotta flow naturally and be a part of the story. Not just… look at each other and boom!, talk a bit and boom!, do something and boom!… you get my drift. Some books it seems like the story is around the scenes and not the scenes around/with the story.
Have a wonderful Day everyone!
Thank you! I was pretty excited to look at the Official copy on my Kindle, too! Stupid work, making you DO stuff. Happy reading!
I prefer hot and steamy but I will read anything that is well-written. I am so looking forward to reading Ride with Me and all your future books. Congratulations!
Oh, thank you!
Congratulations on the book! I prefer both kinds.
Congratulations on the release of RIDE WITH ME Ruthie!!
I prefer steamy love scenes, sometimes when the bedroom closes that frustrates me so much! I like to read about what my h/h are doing but as I don’t have a mother-in-law yet I can’t say I’m discussing these scenes with her. Though I very much doubt that even when I have one I’ll discuss steamy sex scenes in romance novels with her
lol So I feel for you knowing your MIL will be reading those steamy scenes in RWM. But let me tell you that each one of them were done tastefully, and I’m sure the story will sweep her off her feet and she will go with the flow and not stay stuck on steamy bits 
Congrats again!!
She’s actually quite excited to read it — I’m the squeamish one here! Thanks, Stella!
I am definately a fan of hot and steamy. The hotter the better. My mother-in-law is a mild harlequin kinda reader. So I do not discuss my reading with her. I went to the EC Romanticon convention last year and when she found out she asked why I didn’t ask her to go. It was very hard to explain that I thought it was a little to hard core for her. So I said well lets see there is a pole dancing class and a stripping class just to name two, I don’t think you would like it much. She agreed. Nothing else was said. LOL
I am just imagining your MIL at Romanticon and laughing. I’d love to go to Romanticon some day!
I am already registered for 2012. You should come.
Congrats!
I’m new to romance & erotica. I like it fairly steamy, but not raunchy. I have found that, at times, there’s a fine line. AND, I would NEVER have shared any such discussions with my mother-in-law!
There *is* a fine line! I try to stay on the right side of it.
Hot and steamy and I would never talk with my mother in law about it! Only for my hubby or close friends.
Ok… I’d like to officially withdraw my name from this contest.
I have a digital copy and while I’d love a paperback version, I don’t want to deprive someone else the chance to read this fantastic book!!!
I read and finished it today and… WOW! It… was… I-need-a-cigarette-ruin-me-for-other-romance-can’t-catch-my-breathe… that good! *fans self*
so, for the penny pinchers (like myself) the digital copy is waaaay under priced for the value of the book… go and get it!!!!!!
Steamy is so much fun! Gets the heart pumpin’! Don’t have a mother-in-law, but if I did I hope it would be a fun relationship where we could talk about anything – even steam.
Oh man! Yep, I don’t talk to my Mom about it. I gave my sister some of my favorites and she made fun of me for days! Said she couldn’t believe I read that stuff!
But I love it!
I like steamy an hot books, and spicy
I love super-steamy. I must say there is no way my mother-in-law would talk about it. I don’t even think she has sex. She’s quiet uptight.
Ruthie,
I was very happy to have RIDE WITH ME finally appear on my Nook – love the book!
I have ABOUT LAST NIGHT preordered – can’t wait to read it!
I love hot & steamy romance. I barely talk to my mother-in-law let alone about romance books
This book sounds really good, I can’t wait to read it.
WE HAVE WINNERS!
Rachel (#2)
Melissa (#5)
JT (#30)
Karen (#25)
May P (#11)
You’ve all won free paperback copies of RIDE WITH ME!
Please send an e-mail containing your snail mail address to romanceatrandom@randomhouse.com, using the subject line RIDE WITH ME WINNER.
Thanks everybody for commenting and making my debut so much fun!