Comments on: If You Like…Debut Books

By: REVIEW: Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory | Dear Author: Romance Novel Reviews, Industry News, and Commentary

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:01:36 +0000

[...] remember a number of people raving about your debut in the If You Like Debut books thread. I bought the debut book, Knight of Desire, but by the time I got around to reading it your second [...]

By: Jeanna

Jeanna — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:13:46 +0000

Greetings,

I enjoy the comments and reviews. I just wanted to add a holiday book that is new (2009) entitled The Stocking Stuffer by Violet Summers. The book is currently available at publishamerica.net
The main character experiences what most women go through in their lives. The book is a good, quick holiday read that will lift your spirits. Anyone who reads it will immediately relate to the characters. Overall grade A-.

By: Keishon

Keishon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:59:55 +0000

Duke of Shadows / Meredith Duran [first part was captivating]
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Remember the Time by Annette Reynolds [her one and only book]
In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneggar

*exclude from contest/drawing as I am late to the party anyway.

By: Elisa

Elisa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:49:31 +0000

No one’s mentioned Naomi Novik’s book His Majesty’s Dragon yet? Excellent debut, excellent series!

and, SQUEE for Barry Hughart…what happened to him? did he only write…2?…books? at least, I’ve only ever been able to find 2…

Carrie Vaughn’s first Kitty book (Kitty and the Midnight Hour?)

Also, Nancy McKenzie’s The Child Queen (about Guinevere) and Persia Woolley’s first book on Guinevere. (why yes, I was on an Arthurian kick…)

and, of course, Lois McMaster Bujold’s Shards of Honor.

As for romance: Bitten by Kelley Armstrong for sure (I especially love the hardback cover, of the woman in pinkish-red), Splendid by Julia Quinn, Seduction by Amanda Quick (yeah I know Jayne Anne Krentz, but….), Naked in Death by JD Robb, Dara Joy’s debut (can’t remember the title right now but it was good), and a whole bunch that have been mentioned before…

*edit: I see someone HAS mentioned Naomi Novik, sorry I missed it!

By: April

April — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:01:55 +0000

An excellent debut is an amazing thing, because I believe that most authors come into their talent, rather than start off with a bang. So, big kudos to all the authors out there that made a bang with their debut. I don't understand how books are listed as "debut" when they are not necessarily the author's first book. For instance, Suzanne Collins had a bit of a following with her Gregor the Overlander books before The Hunger Games hit the big time, but I've seen The Hunger Games listed as a debut. Beth Kery wrote some other erotica before Wicked Burn but I've seen it listed as a "debut" book. I don't understand that. It's almost as if these aren't strictly first-books, but actually debuts to the public's notice. Reading through these comments I've been thinking about debut novels in two different ways. Some people mention the debut books of authors that have gone on to great success, and I think "well duh!" IMO,The Sorceror's Stone should only count if you read that book when JK Rowling was unheard of and loved it THEN. I'm silly, I know, but looking at these popular authors in hindsight, after they've become popular and listing them as favorite debut books seems a little after the fact to me. I, personally, didn't like The Sorceror's Stone when I first picked it up. It was years later, after I had watched some of the movies, and decided to pick up with the series at book 6, that I came back and re-read the whole series. Then decided I LOVED it. I wonder how often the POPULARITY of an author forms or re-forms the opinions of the readership. So....debuts I've loved after rampant publicity or previous popularity as "classics" made me reconsider or take notice for the first time : Anne of Green Gables Sense and Sensibility To Kill a Mockingbird A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Betty Smith Jane Eyre Life of Pi The Sorceror's Stone Twilight Interview with a Vampire Carrie (hmmm....I don't know if I "love" this one, but it's a good debut) The Clan of the Cave Bear Debuts from authors unheard of to me before I read the book that left me agog: The Princess Bride William Goldman The Neverending Story Michael Ende (I think this is his English debut) Outlander The Time Traveler's Wife Cold Mountain The Duke of Shadows The Firm by John Grisham (not much of a Grisham fan anymore, but at the time I remember thinking...WOW! What a story!!) Private Arrangements Wicked Burn Beth Kery, though I still wonder how this is "debut" Dirty Megan Hart (debut? I don't know...also, I wonder if I only list these last two because I JUST read them and they are such stand-outs compared to what I've BEEN reading) Bitten by Kelly Armstrong The Bone People Keri Hulme (ugh. I still get all emotional when I think of this one) The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy Angela's Ashes Frank McCourt hmmm.....that's all I can think of right now.

By: Janine

Janine — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:40:32 +0000

@JeanneTops: I remember loving A Candle in the Dark. I'm sorry I forgot to mention it. It was a unique story in many ways.

By: JeanneTops

JeanneTops — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:07:33 +0000

I can’t believe that, in 97 comments, Megan Chance’s A Candle in the Dark didn’t get mentioned. It won the 1994 RITA First Book Award. The h/h couple are outside of the usual romance types – a drunk and a whore – and the time period and location are also unusual – Panama in the early 1850s. But it’s a superb character study of two lost souls who find themselves through the strength and love they give to each other.

By: Monday Morning Stepback «

Monday Morning Stepback « — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:37:11 +0000

[...] Noting the “make or break” nature of that first book, Dear Author is compiling an awesome list of debut books. [...]

By: Mitzi H

Mitzi H — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:37:59 +0000

I just started reading the Angelique Series by Sergeanne Golon. I believe they started writing this series in the 60s, but I’m not sure if the 1st book was their debut novel . I’ve read that some folks believe these novels were the beginning of popular erotica/romantica??? I don’t know about that, but I do know that the books are very enjoyable and entertaining…and pretty hot considering when they were written.

By: brooksse

brooksse — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:37:00 +0000

I’ll add another vote for Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James. It put Ms. James near the top of my auto-buy list.

ETA: A favorite of mine that’s close but not quite a debut is Linda Winfree’s Hold On To Me. I think I read somewhere that it was the first book she started writing, but it didn’t end up being her debut novel.

By: Darlynne

Darlynne — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:59:50 +0000

@Courtney Milan:

BRIDGE OF BIRDS, by Barry Hughart

A big squeee! for one of the best and most original fantasy books. I love that series and am thrilled to see it mentioned. I'll add these debut (I think) books: Devon Monk, Magic to the Bone Daphne Uviller, Super in the City Elizabeth Leiknes, The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns C. E. Murphy, Urban Shaman Meg Gardiner, China Lake Naomi Novik, His Majesty's Dragon Louise Penny, Still Life Julia Spencer-Fleming, In the Bleak Midwinter

By: Jody

Jody — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:39:40 +0000

Gone With the Wind was a debut novel. So sad that Margaret Mitchell died before she could write more.

By: Jody W.

Jody W. — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:33:39 +0000

Recently I got a kick out of Cheryl Sterling’s WHAT DO YOU SAY TO A NAKED ELF? Also love Jennifer Estep’s KARMA GIRL, MAGIC BITES by Ilona Andrews, Linnea Sinclair’s FINDERS KEEPERS, & Robin Owens’ HEART MATE. From the wayback machine, a favorite is Elizabeth Ann Scarborough’s SONG OF SORCERY, which I never hear talked about and was fabulous, sweet and snarky all the the same time…in 1982!

Not sure if FK was Sinclair’s debut since she started out in small press. It might have been a book called WinterTide?

By: Heather Snow

Heather Snow — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:22:02 +0000

For a twist on this topic, one author comes to mind whose second book was much better than her first–Sophie Jordan. NOT that her debut book was bad, mind you, but it didn’t inspire me to run out and buy the next.

However, her second book “Too Wicked to Tame” was absolutely fantastic! I’m glad I took a chance on it, and that book caused me to buy her third and fourth.

As for this post, I’m having to bookmark it so that I can work my way through everyone’s lists. They sound fantastic!

By: mingqi

mingqi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:17:21 +0000

Someone had already mentioned it but I have to add again: My False Heart by Liz Carlyle. While other writers do have subsequent books that top and outdo their debut books, imo, I don’t think any of Carlyle’s other books can top My False Heart.

By: Blythe Gifford

Blythe Gifford — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:57:19 +0000

Thanks to Deb for the shout out, but the published title of my debut was THE KNAVE AND THE MAIDEN. (The Pilgrim and the Palmer was the author’s working title. Sort of obvious why it wasn’t published that way!) You all are playing havoc with my TBR pile! I’m so far behind. I’ll second Deanna Raybourn’s SILENT IN THE GRAVE, definitely.

By: Miranda Neville

Miranda Neville — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:45:39 +0000

Lots of great books mentioned here. I’ll throw in Eloisa James’ Potent Pleasures.

By: Denise

Denise — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:33:59 +0000

Thank, Emily! ~rushes off to scan Louise Cooper’s list~

By: Tia Nevitt

Tia Nevitt — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:11:31 +0000

Thanks for mentioning my article! Here's the link to it: Three Reasons Why You Should Read Debut Novels There's lots of debut love here!!

By: Kaetrin

Kaetrin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:03:50 +0000

Well, I'll join the crowd and add my vote for Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Also, Bitten by Kelley Armstrong and Slave to Sensationby Nalini Singh. Sorry, I don't have anything original to add!!