I have a very special (read: awesome!) author featured on the blog today. She’s New York Times bestselling, women’s fiction author Ruth Harris, who has written for just about every powerhouse publisher out there, including Random House, Simon & Shuster, and St. Martin’s Press. Ruth’s fabulous novels have sold millions (millions!) of copies in hardcover and paperback, have been translated in 19 languages, published in 25 countries and selected by the Literary Guild and the Book-of-the-Month Club.
Crikey! That’s a damn impressive resume, wouldn’t you say?
Ruth started in publishing right after she graduated from university. She’s been with Dell, Bantam, and went on to become the publisher at my own house, Kensington Publishing. So it’s safe to say that Ruth not only knows what readers want to read, she also knows how to deliver the goods!
Like many authors these days, Ruth has been acquiring the rights to her backlist and reissuing them as digital books. Indie publishing has become a huge boon to both writers and readers, as novels that were once out of print are now available on a number of reading devices, including the Kindle and Nook. And if you don’t have an e-reader, no worries! You can just download the books right to your computer or smart phone. How cool is that?
Ruth currently has five of her backlist books available in digital: Husbands and Lovers, Love and Money, Decades, Modern Women, and The Last Romantics.
Take Modern Women, for example, a New York Times bestseller that has sold over one million copies. One. Million. Copies.
This is the book that New Woman Magazine called “fiction at its best,” and the Chicago Sun-Times labelled “passionate, daring and unconventional.”
Or how about The Last Romantics, her wonderful historical romance set between the two World Wars?
Here’s the blurb for The Last Romantics:
A passionate and sweeping historical romance set in the glittering capitals of Paris and New York between the end of World War I in 1918 and the beginning of World War II in 1940.
Kim Hendricks is American, a legendary war reporter and celebrated novelist, a daring big game hunter, glamorous but dangerously flawed. Nicole Redon is French, a gifted fashion designer whose shocking and revolutionary ideas changed the image of women around the world. She is beautiful, charming, lonely, haunted.
He confronts a devastating tragedy. She guards a desperate secret. They meet by chance and pursue their star-crossed romance in New York and Paris, on safari in Africa, in glamorous resorts on the French Riviera and the savage blood-drenched front lines of two world wars.
They were the last romantics, the first contemporaries. Destiny brought them together but would fate—and the tides of history—keep them apart?
Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?
It’s just so great that these novels are now available in digital mass market and at incredibly reasonable prices too. If you haven’t read any of Ruth’s books, here’s your chance!
And just for us, Ruth has generously agreed to give away one copy of each of her books to 5 of my readers. All you have to do is tell me what book you happen to be reading right now, and what you’re looking forward to reading next.
Right now I’m reading “Making of a Duchess” by Shana Galen. Next I’m reading “Mama Rides Shotgun” by Deborah Sharp
Love Shana Galen! Really looking foward to her next book, Lord & Lady Spy.
I just finished The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella!! British Officer who dealt with servicemen wanting to marry Italian women during the early part of the campaign in Italy.. It was fun and yet sad in parts.
Cate, it sounds fascinating!
Right now I am reading-Geralyn Dawson-“Her Outlaw” (A Bad Luck Bride Story).Next in my pile of TBR is James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonet “Witch & Wizard”.
Now I have to add Ruth Harris to my wish list of books…
Christine
chrissy6341@aol.com
So many books, so little time…
Thank you, Christine. Much appreciated!
I just finished a book by Judith Lennox. Also I’ve read some Agatha Christie mysteries, after a long break. i have to say Ruths’ books sound great, so I’ll definitely will read one of them.
Tessa, i don’t know Judith Lennox. What does she write?
Thanks so much for your kind words!
The Knife Man, Blood, Body Snatching, and the Birth of Modern Surgery, by Wendy Moore.
Had to close my eyes during the operations, so I am not sure how much research it will help with, but it certainly made me glad I live now and not then.
Will recover with a romance. No doctors allowed. Sorry, Vanessa. Was glad I’d read My Favourite Countess first or I wouldn’t have dared open it.
Maggie
Maggie, I read that book when I was doing research for Countess. It was gruesome but fascinating.
I’m reading ‘When Harry Met Molly’ by Kieran Kramer. I believe I’ll read ‘The American Heiress’ by Daisy Goodwin next.
I love Kieran Kramer!
right now I’m reading Promises Prevail by Sarah McCarty next is the chase by Lynsay Sands and Maya Banks’s latest!:)
Great choices, Monikarw!
Happy Monday everyone! Summer seems to be flying by.
I just started Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward. What I’m reading next will depend on my mood it might be What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty or This Perfect Kiss by Melody Thomas.
You know, I think I have to have me some JR Ward!
Evening ladies!
OMGosh!! What a fantastic resume Ruth!
Kudos on your many accomplishments!
Where do you find your energy?!
Whatever you’re doing keep at it, I mean you’ve sold millions of books!
Wishing the best with your recent venture into Indie-publishing.
I just finished reading ROGUE IN MY ARMS by Celeste Bradley.
I’m In the middle of A BORROWED SCOT by Karen Ranney and have THE SECRET MISTRESS by Mary Balogh up next.
Thank you for the giveaway! 🙂
Great list, Dalila!
Thanks so much, Dalila. But to answer your question, it’s basically just one step at a time. Wish I could give a more glam or exciting answer, but over the long run, persistence is just about everything. lol
I’m reading Not That Kind of Girl by Susan Donovan. Then I’m going to read the 5th Sookie Stackhouse book.
Sounds good, Robin!
i’ve jush finished brave the wild wind by johanna lindsey and i plan to read the second book from this series : savage tender and then angel. always like johanna lindsey ^^
She’s great, Eli!
yes vannesa, i have fallin in love with her book from the first time i read her book is malory series and really thanks to Indonesia publisher because they are willing and diligently published her book and i hope your book will be publish soon in Indonesia ^^
Right now I am reading SECRETS OF A PROPER COUNTESS by Lecia Cornwall, a new author. I am almost finished and have really enjoyed it. Next up is SILENT MERCY by Linda Fairstein. A very different book and I’m looking forward to it.
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