I have been absolutely enthralled by series books my whole reading life. There was Robert Ludlum's Bourne Trilogy, and then Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles Series, and then a number of others more before J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series, then Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga, Anne Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy (and following books), and then Richelle Mead's Succubus Blues and Vampire Academy.
Recently had been Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter Series (yes, all that orgies, I kept up with it -- I am loyal that way), and now, Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Series. After the last book, I looked for a new series and tried our a few but stuck with Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles, which made me laugh out loud so many times (even while shopping for milk, diapers, groceries, dang!). But I went back to Sookie Stackhouse's world again. I really love it. I love True Blood, and held off reading the books because I knew the stories will be very different and I was loyal to the TV Series, but when I started reading the book it's like coming home.
When I think about it, I'm the character-loyal reader. When a character gets under my skin I let them stay. They are so alive to me that they crackle with life. I live and breath in their world. And when I get my realistic hurdles in life, I ask myself what Georgina (Kinkaid), Rose (Hathaway), Jaenelle Angelline, Anita (Blake), Sookie (Stackhouse), Harry (Potter), Daemon (SaDiablo), Surreal (SaDiablo), Saetan (SaDiablo) will do (now you get the best characters I relate to most!). The Bible stories I like most are the ones where my favorite characters performed (clue: David). Regular people ask why I manage not to go out, not to have many friends, not want to travel to beautiful tourist places, etcetera. It isn't just because with my current responsibilities, it's not the realistic lifestyle for me. It's also because my favorite books make it easy for me to manage.
It's the same way when I write my humble romance stories--when the character gets under my skin it surely will be a memorable one, not just for me, but for my readers. When people ask me how I became a writer, the first answer I give is I am a prolific reader. I am more a reader than a writer, actually. Why romance, they ask? Oh. Why not? Romance rocks.
