We're bringing something a bit different to Writing in the Modern Age today. Awhile back, I had an idea for a new feature so I reached out to some Author colleagues to see if they'd like to participate. I thought it might be nice to show readers a few books that have inspired authors. You might find it enlightening, and at least be able to answer the age old question, "What the heck do authors read?"

Writers are readers too! Most authors love to collect books for their vast personal libraries. The written word is fascinating to us, and many newer authors as well as those in the past have helped to shape who we are today. 

Without further ado, our guest today is Isobelle Cate, an adult fiction author and writer of all kinds of romance. Won't it be interesting to hear about a few books that have inspired Isobelle on her writing and publishing journey? 

Sounds pretty awesome to me. So, take it away, Isobelle!

For a writer to be inspired, she looks at the world around her. She gains inspiration when she sees something that catches her eye, she smells a scent that brings back a memory, she listens to a song.

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     She reads.

     Reading is perhaps the most important source of inspiration for other writers. Just look at the plethora of paranormal novels – romance or otherwise – that lift situations from mythology, from news events, from poetry or from urban legends to name a few. I am no different. My books are inspired by other stories that I have read and the mythology that I grew up with. The characteristics which I infuse my characters with come from the ideal that I have formed from all of these sources. Here are some of the books that have inspired me.

 

1. The Prophet by Khalil Gibran

Blurb:

Isobelle's Thoughts:

A beautiful poem, The Prophethelped me decide what attributes I wanted for my characters.

2. The Scanguards Series by Tina Folsom

Blurb:

Isobelle's Thoughts:

This series started me writing about vampires. The Scanguards are as sexy as any vampire can get!

 

3. The Highlander Series by Donna Grant

Blurb:

4. The Masters of the Tabu Series by Gray Dixon

Blurb:

Isobelle's Thoughts:

Because these books are hot, steamy reads!

 

 

5. The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass

Blurb:

 

Discover the Difference Between a So-So Manuscript and a Novel Readers Can't Forget
We've all read them: novels by our favorite authors that disappoint. Uninspired and lifeless, we wonder what happened. Was the author in a hurry? Did she have a bad year? Has he lost interest altogether?
Something similar is true of a great many unpublished manuscripts. They are okay stories that never take flight. They don't grip the imagination, let alone the heart. They merit only a shrug and a polite dismissal by agents and editors.
It doesn't have to be that way. In The Fire in Fiction, successful literary agent and author Donald Maass shows you not only how to infuse your story with deep conviction and fiery passion, but how to do it over and over again. The book features:

• Techniques for capturing a special time and place, creating characters whose lives matter, nailing multiple-impact plot turns, making the supernatural real, infusing issues into fiction, and more.
• Story-enriching exercises at the end of every chapter to show you how to apply the practical tools just covered to your own work.
• Rich examples drawn from contemporary novels as diverse as The Lake House, Water for Elephants, and Jennifer Government to illustrate how various techniques work in actual stories.

Plus, Maass introduces an original technique that any novelist can use any time, in any scene, in any novel, even on the most uninspired day...to take the most powerful experiences from your personal life and turn those experiences directly into powerful fiction.
Tap into The Fire in Fiction, and supercharge your story with originality and spark!

 

Isobelle's Thoughts:

 

A very good book for writers about principles of writing. This is my writing bible.

 

These are just some of the books that have inspired me. There are more because when you’re a writer, you never stop reading.

Thank you, Isobelle! :)

And here is a little about Isobelle's book, You and I, which is just 99 cents right now for the ebook at all major booksellers!

 

 

Book Blurb:

 

Serenity wanted to escape her past. Matt needed to finish his mission. Danger insisted on keeping them together.

Here is an excerpt.

Shock immobilized Matt, the blood rushing out of his face.
“Hurt you? Serenity, why the hell would I want to hurt you?” He took a step forward and Serenity cowered, pushing herself against the corner of the wall.
“Don’t come any closer!”
His mouth dried and he balled his hands into fists. Shit! What happened? He stopped and slowly crouched to her level.
“Serenity...I’m not going to hurt you.”
Serenity’s eyes were glazed with panic and desperation. From the wanton woman he held in his arms, she had changed to a broken girl with fear radiating from her in waves. It was so quick Matt didn’t know what to do. She was looking through him and not at him. Matt’s chest tightened. What the hell happened to her? Dammit, he was losing time. He looked up at the window, black hues of the sky shading off slowly to midnight blue. He looked back at her. He damn well couldn’t leave her this way.
“Serenity?” Her eyes were clearing up but the tinge of trepidation still hung heavily around her. “Serenity, please talk to me.”
Her blue eyes lost that dazed look but they were devoid of emotion, as though a curtain had fallen to cover what she really felt inside. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured almost to herself. “I lost it there for a moment.” She slowly stood up and Matt followed. She watched him, the wariness gradually disappearing. She tilted her head to look at the window. She swallowed, looking anywhere but at him. “It’s nearly morning so—”
“Stay.” Matt said. “I’m not taking no for an answer so don’t even try finding a reason not to.” He took a step forward. Her body slumped against the wall behind her as though in defeat. When he gathered her into his arms, Serenity froze before she gradually relaxed, placing her arms around his waist and held on. Tight. Her breathing was slow but she took huge gulps of air every time.
“Do you know that you smell good?” Her head rested on his chest while her nose tickled the side of his neck. “If I could bottle this up and keep it with me, I would.”
Matt relaxed and snorted. “I smell of sweat.”
“No, Matt,” she pulled away to look up at him. “You smell of safety. And where I am right now, that’s more than good enough. It’s perfect.”
Matt kissed her forehead and held her close again. Sighing, he spoke, “I have to go. Stay here, please. I’d rather have you here safe than have you upstairs in your room screaming the house down.”
Serenity’s pursed her mouth to stop herself from smiling but soon failed.
“There,” Matt touched the corner of her mouth with a kiss. “That’s much better. When I come back we’ll talk.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Matt stepped back. “No, Serenity. Whatever you’re trying to run away from, you need to stop and get your bearings. If you don’t you’ll keep running and when there’s nowhere to turn, where will you go?”
She looked at him with sadness that seemed to be deeply rooted inside her. Matt just wanted to find that unseen force causing her pain and beat the crap out of it. He wanted to stay and talk to her some more but his spidey sense was driving him loco.
“I’ll see you later and I expect you to be here when I come back.”
“Is that an order?” She gave him a soft smile. This time he was glad that it reached her eyes.
“No, babe. It’s a request.” Matt curled his hand around her nape and brought her mouth to his, giving her a kiss that shook him down to his feet. He ended the kiss and placed his forehead against hers. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With one more hard kiss, he was gone.

 

  

Author Links:  
  
Website: www.isobellecate.weebly.com
Blog:  http://isobellecate.weebly.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorIsobelleCate
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Isobelle_Cate
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Isobelle-Cate/e/B00E5OD27K

Author Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/bMmwT5
Google+:  https://plus.google.com/+IsobelleCate/posts

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobelle-cate

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191925.Isobelle_Cate

Microcerpt:  http://microcerpt.com/isobellecate/

 

Isobelle's Books: 

Once again, let's thank Isobelle Cate for allowing us to see her cool author's bookshelf! :)