Guest Post: Sue Grimshaw (Borders) - This poll took on a life of its’ own . . . why is that?
Apr 8, 2010
& to think, it all started way back when . . . . DARK SHADOWS . . .
Ok, thought it would be fun to get everyone's feedback on their fav paranormal author & OMG --- there was passion here -- look at the votes!
Who's your favorite paranormal Romance author?
* Christine Feehan
14, 3% of all votes
* Sherrilyn Kenyon
44, 9% of all votes
* JR Ward
78, 16% of all votes
* Lara Adrian
45,9% of all votes
* Jeaniene Frost
48, 10% of all votes
* Yasmine Gaelenorn
6, 1% of all votes
* Nalini Singh
21, 4% of all votes
* Nicole Peeler
16, 3% of all votes
* Charlaine Harris
18, 4% of all votes
* Larissa Ione
58, 12% of all votes
* Kresley Cole
17, 4% of all votes
* Cynthia Eden
4, 1% of all votes
* gena showalter
82% of all votes
* Meljean Brook
41% of all votes
* Sharon Ashwood
1 ,0% of all votes
* Laurell K Hamilton
12, 2% of all votes
* All of them
30, 6% of all votes
* Christina Dodd
1, 0% of all votes
* Mary Janice Davidson
1, 0% of all votes
* Jayne Ann Krentz
2, 0% of all votes
* Patricia Briggs
4 ,1% of all votes
* G.A. Aiken/Shelly Laurenston
2, 0% of all votes
* Marjorie M. Liu
1, 0% of all votes
* Ilona Andrews
2, 0% of all votes
* Shayla Black
20, 4% of all votes
* Dara Joy
10% of all votes
* Shiloh Walker
2, 0% of all votes
* not fair have too many fav's Laurell K Hamilton, Jr Ward, Shayla Black. Lara Adrian, Charlaine Harris and the list goes on ...sorry
20, 4% of all votes
* Jacqueline Frank1
1, 0% of all votes
* I too cant choose bc I love all the authors I have read my list goes on and on1
3, 1% of all votes
Total Votes: 484
Are you surprised at some of the votes? What are some of the similarities you see in the authors that received the most votes; what is unique in their stories to hold them so high above the rest?
I've got my ideas -- you tell me yours . . .plan to share this with our publishing partners so they know the type of books you want to read.
Jo Jo's Book Corner is supporting along with me at BTRB with this post so any 3 random commenters from the US, that comment on both BTRB & JoJo's will be eligible in the drawing where 3 winners will be randomly chosen to win a selection of Sue's Stash.
Happy Romance!
Don't forget to enter my 200
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19 Hottie Follwers Thoughts:
Really interesting post, and yeah you are right, I think, when you ask what do the most popular results have in common, most are vampires. Not all, but most.
I'm not in the US so can't be entered but that is OK, you have really given me something to think about today!
=D
I made sure I voted for my favorite author and am happy to see that lots people love Gena as much as I do. Yes I am a member of the Cult of Gena along with JoJo as well as others it seems. *chanting* Gena, Gena, Gena
No way to choose only one because so many of my faves on this list, top favorite right now however is Larissa Ione. Go Demonicas!!!!
Love me some BTRB!!!!
you have an award waiting for you JoJo:
http://jacaburintexas.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-award.html
jackie b central texas
I was surprised that Stephanie Myers wasn't listed . Is she in a class by herself?
I like Lori Handeland's Moon series the best!
Why are some more popular than others?
Word of mouth, blogs spread the popularity and the word about great reads.
Stephanie Myers made the vampires live with humans and made them seem more normal. I liked that aspect. They also did not seek blood from humans. I liked that aspect too...more humane.
johnslake at usa dot com
These are a lovely list of popular and creative writers. Learning baout them all definitely gives me more to read. Thanks. Pearl
saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
One of the first things I noticed is that most top vote-getters were among the 7 original authors in the survey. That could mean different things—the original survey was on-target, folks are satisfied limiting votes to current choices, the blog is visited by folks who share similar interests, etc. But readers added 19 authors—almost three times as many choices as they originally were given! Interestingly, 6 of those were double-digit vote getters; 13 received votes from readers other than the one who suggested them. I am very impressed by the number of additions and the number of votes. This topic seems to have caught the attention of so many blog readers who are willing (anxious) to ensure their favorites are included. Surely that’s a very good message for the genre.
I think it has to be the author's ability to give the reader a glimpse into a gritty different worlds, but still show that there are redemptive qualities like true love.
I would assume these authors books are character driven and many of us could name a favorite book or character from these authors series.
I think that you will see that all of the top finishers on the list share an ability to not only write the paranormal genre, but to make it their own. They create unique other worlds, languages and characters that not only fulfill the fantasies of paranormal devotees, but give birth to legions of new followers. Even more fascinating are the many layers and shadings they give to their villains. Never just black ink on a white page, the inhabitants of the paranormal world are vividly alive...especially the undead!
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
What I like about the results of the polls is that with many of my favorites at the top, I'm seeing others at the top that I haven't read and now they're also on my radar.
I'm not suprised at all! Everyone is so awesomely unique, I knew that poll was going to take off and end up all over the map!
Im not suprised either. I love Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon.
cindyc725 at gmail dot com
I think the best paranormal books are character-driven with inventive worlds - twists on what we know about vampires, werewolves, etc.
I am not surprised at all by the votes. There are some big names in there. One of the similarities I see is that the authors with some of the most votes have rather large series and are well known. In a couple years time I expect the result would be different as new authors become more known.
Thanks for the Dark Shadows clip- I use to rush home from school as a preteen and watched this every day. Wow- what memories.
Great post! I used to watch Dark Shadows when I was a little girl. I am not surprised about the list yet there should be a few more names on there. Linda Lael Miller was one of the very first to do vampire paranormal.
wow i remember when finding paranormal books, was veryyyyy hard
and there was a only a handful of writers. and finding them was hard in small towns.
i remember when harlequin came out with shadows line of books, i was thrilled!!
i blogged at borders too
blackroze37@yahoo.com
tamibates
ann rice, maggie shayne, then christine feehan and sherrilyn kenyon came along
I did this poll when it first went up. My thought at the time was 'what a hard choice'. I finally picked the author I reread the most. There are a lot of great authors on that list but that is because everyone has their own likes and dislikes. That's why the list got so long.
Some people prefer shifters, some prefer vamps. Me I like when the authors use a variety of paranormal beings in their stories.
Interesting poll.
Thanks!
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