The Books of My Life: Jane Porter

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Jane Porter is one of my favorite authors. Jane has written more than fifty books – women’s fiction and contemporary and historical romances. Two of my favorites are Odd Mom Out and Mrs. Perfect, from her Bellevue Wives series. I enjoyed the books so much that I emailed her a fan letter – and she wrote back! And we started a correspondence. Jane has a blog on her website, which I read religiously. In fact, as I wrote in my first Books of My Life post, she was the person who inspired me to start writing for real. We met in person five years ago, when she hosted my book club at one of her “reader’s dinners.” I was so nervous, I cannot even explain it. Seriously. The woman has had one of her books (Flirty With Forty) turned into a movie – staring Heather Locklear!  Hello!? Writing rock star here.

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Jane on the set with Heather Locklear and Mr. Hotty – Robert Buckley

My nerves were for naught. Jane is incredibly down-to-earth and very generous with her readers and friends. Since then I’ve hosted her for a book party at my house, and met up with her at a various conferences and book signings. She’s the real deal. My respect for her goes beyond her writing talents – she’s an incredibly devoted mother and a kick- ass business woman. When she was unhappy with what was happening in the publishing industry, she decided to strike out on her own. She launched her own company, Tule Publishing. In two short years, Tule has become very successful and is home to a stable of NYT bestselling authors. And Jane herself won the coveted RITA Award in 2014 for Best Novella for her book, Take Me Cowboy (published by Tule), which I read and yes, loved.

ACMFD-LARGE-300x450[1]Jane has a new book coming out today, A Christmas Miracle for Daisy. Here’s the blurb:

Media Mogul, Cormac Sheenan, had no desire to become a family man, but when his two year old goddaughter, Daisy, is orphaned, he adopts her, moving her from Montana to his home in Southern California, and becomes a devoted single father, juggling parenting duties with running his successful publishing, TV, and radio enterprise.

But two years later a frightening incident at Daisy’s school, shakes Cormac, and he decides to move Daisy–and his business–back to Montana where life is simpler and he has family nearby.

Now four, precocious Daisy strikes up an unlikely friendship with Marietta’s seasonal Santa Claus, and believes he’s the real thing, even though Cormac points out to her that this jolly old Kris Kringle is renting a room at Bramble House, not living at the North Pole.  Daisy’s not worried but Cormac is as Rent-a-Santa has promised his innocent daughter she’ll have a mommy for Christmas.

Cormac is livid with Kris.  He’s not at all ready to settle down, and he’s definitely not getting back together with his old flame Whitney Alder, so Santa can stop playing match maker as it’d take a miracle to make him fall in love, never mind marriage material.

But that’s exactly the kind of miracle our angelic Santa Claus has planned…

To celebrate the release of A Christmas Miracle, Jane is here today to share the books of her life. She’s also giving away a copy of her book and some goodies to one of my lucky readers. After you read her interview, comment below for a chance to win. I’ll pick a winner on Monday November 30th.

What was my favorite book as a child?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

 What was your favorite book that you read for school?

Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth

 What’s a book that really cemented you as a writer?

I loved The Thorn Birds.  It was sweeping and emotional….a saga with history and depth.  I loved the scope and the characters.  I knew after reading it that I wanted to be a commercial fiction novelist, too.

 Is there a book that you’ve read over and over again?

I rarely read a book over and over.  I don’t like watching movies a second time, either.  Not sure why.  I am probably missing out.

 What’s a classic you’re embarrassed to say you’ve never read?

Anna Karina

 What’s a book you’ve pretended to read?

Moby Dick

 What’s a recent book you wish you’d written?

JoJo Moyes’ Me Before You

 What’s a favorite movie adaptation of a book you loved? Worst adaptation of a book you loved?

I love all the BBC adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels.  I think they are really well done.  I’m not sure about the worst as I’m selective about which books into movies I see.  If the review isn’t good, I rarely go.

 The books I read to my children:

Virtually every picture book available….and all the Boxcar Children series, along with the Spiderwick Chronicles.  I never did read any of the Harry Potter series to them.  Those books were just too long!

 What was an illicit book you had to read in secret as a child?

The Joy of Sex

 If there were only one genre that you could read for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Romance.  There are numerous subgenres so lots of variety, along with varying degrees of heat and sweet.

 Who is your literary hero/heroine?

I love all the Austen heroines.  They’re just smart, strong, cool.

 Have you ever gone into a bookstore and bought one of your books?

Yes!  But not in secret.  I say this is my book and I need copies for a giveaway, or bookclub or whatever.

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Jane after winning her RITA award in 2014.

 Is there a book you’ve given multiple times as a gift?

There’s a fantastic children’s book called, THE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE, that I love giving to author friends.

 What are you reading now?

His Christmas Gift by Sarah Mayberry

 Books or eReader?

Both.

 Do you keep your books or pass them on?

Keep a few of the keepers, but most of the time, I love passing them on.  I love sharing favorite books.

 Do you have a favorite place to read?

When the house is empty, I love to read upstairs in the living room where its bright and airy.  But if the house is full, I’ll hide out in my bedroom.

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 Do you have a favorite bookstore?

Third Place Books in Seattle; Cat Blanco’s store in Marietta, Georgia and Kenny’s store, Books ‘n Greetings in NJ!

Oh, I loved The Thorn Birds and remember my mom reading it. I wanted to watch the mini-series, but she wouldn’t let me. So I took her book and read it! I have not read or pretended to read Anna Karina or Moby Dick. The thought of reading either one intimidates the hell out of me. This is the second time that The Joy of Sex has made an appearance in this series. And I’ve asked for the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen (Colin Firth version) for Christmas, because quite a few blogger friends have recommended it (since I confessed in my interview that I’d never read Jane Austen). And I ‘ve never heard of Cat Blanco’s, but since it’s in my city – I must check it out.

You can learn more about Jane by visiting her website and you can follow on social media by clicking the links below:

Goodreads

Jane on FaceBook

Jane on Twitter

Jane on Instagram

Jane on Pinterest

Please share your comments and questions for Jane, below. You can read previous “Books of My Life” posts by clicking the links. If you’re interested in participating, please email me.

Books of My Life: Allie

Books of My Life: Dana

Books of My Life: Tamara (Like Camera)

 

 

 

38 thoughts on “The Books of My Life: Jane Porter”

  1. I love Jane–read the latest, fantastic!

    A friend and I read her parents’ copy of the Joy of Sex at a sleepover! lol.

  2. What a great interview and I am reading the new JoJo Moyes books that is the sequel to Me Before You. So, I totally am with Jane about wishing I would have written that series 😉

  3. Maybe I should fangirl a bit because I love Odd Mom Out!!
    Little Women and The Thorn Birds – totally taking me down memory lane here.
    And see??? The Joy of Sex???

  4. love Jane and her books. i was fortunate enough to meet her 5 years ago, and she really is the most giving & caring person i know. she is such a success but still down to earth. i could talk to her forever and still be amazed by her & what she has done. SO glad she is such a great supporter of women!

  5. Jane Porter has been my favorite author for a long time now. Flirting With Forty was the first book that I read and I immediately went out and bought as many books that she wrote as I could find. Every time a she has a new book come out, it feels like Christmas to me. It feels like a wonderful gift.

      1. I have read the book multiple times, but always at home. So it’s easy to remember where I was. I loved the move too and have watched it a lot also.

  6. Great interview. Enjoyed reading it. I love books. Probably have way to many. I never can say bye bye to a book I have read. I just keep it. Congratulations on your new release.

  7. Oooh! Allie, how exciting that you not only got to meet one of your favorite authors, but that you have really connected with Jane on such a personal level too. WOW! That is just awesome.

    I need to check out her books. And I just loved reading her answers to your questions!

    I too, don’t read or watch movies twice- except for when I’m with extended family on holiday and they are watching a movie and I’m there stuck to watch it again too. Some of them are still good the second time around. But Jane, you’re not missing out on much. 🙂

    1. That’s funny, that it happens when you’re “stuck.” Rich is a habitual repeat viewer. I’ve actually left our bedroom because he’s watching a movie for the 15th time – that month!

  8. Ok her reading area is GORGEOUS! I would read way more in a spot like that, too. 😉 I giggled when I read that she didn’t read Harry Potter with her kids because of length. They are SO long! Thanks for another inspirational interview.

    1. I know – just gorgeous. And I keep looking at my set of Harry Potter books on the shelf and wondering… Three kids passed because of the length, so now they’re on Camden’s shelf. I should start it for him, I should. I should.

  9. A most memorable “meet the author” moment for me meeting Jane at Allie’s home a few years ago. I can see why Allie ended up with an author crush over Jane because I did too. She has an earthy warmth mixed with intellect and I so much enjoyed hearing about her life as a writer.

    Thoughtful gifting is the best…awesome hearing that Jane gives children’s books to her adult author friends.

    I can’t wait to read “A Christmas Miracle for Daisy,”perhaps another book turned movie on the horizon:)

    Great post Allison. Cheers to Jane:)

  10. Thanks for the great interview. I have The Thorn Birds but have never read it. I will have to do so one of these days. I suffer from depression and anxiety. Books have helped me through a lot.

  11. I love that you get author-struck, Allie. I’ve never read Jane Austen either! I will check out Jane’s books – always love learning about a new-to-me writer.

  12. What a fun interview of my favorite author! As one who can watch a movie over and over, I was surprised to hear Jane is a one and done woman. Lol

  13. What a fun interview of my favorite author! As one who can watch a movie over and over, I was surprised to hear Jane is a one and done woman. Lol Too fun, thank you.

  14. I have met Jane in person, and she is all you say and more. Since I live in Bellevue I loved those books, too, and the more recent ones set in the Bay Area. I think her books keep getting better and better, “It’s You” is a great story with compelling characters!

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