Discover more about
Irene Hannon
and her contemporary romance
Hope Harbor
Revell
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A book character that sticks in my mind is…Nancy Drew. She was smart, kind, clever, independent, loyal, fun-loving, morally strong—the perfect role model for me as a preteen the summer I devoured those books!
The last book that made me cry was…The Memory House by Linda Goodnight. A beautifully written story set in a Civil-War-era home in the South, it shifts back and forth between two different romances that took place there more than a hundred and fifty years apart.
The last book that made me laugh out loud was…Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton. In one scene, the heroine has to go to a vet’s office to be treated for a dog bite because the town doctor isn’t available, and her experience there, complete with a scene-stealing pig, is hilarious.
I’m completely immersed in their storytelling, whenever I read a book by…Too many authors to name! But a few who come to mind are Linda Goodnight, Becky Wade, Lisa Wingate and Ann Gabhart.
The first person who encouraged me to pursue my writing was…My parents. They were my cheering section from day 1, no matter what I wanted to try. But my freshman English teacher in high school is the one who lit the fire for fiction in me. She had a passion for words and language and storytelling that was infectious.
If I wasn’t a writer, I would be…I can’t even imagine not being a writer! But if I wasn’t…hmm. I’ve always had an interest in operating a B&B, or having a tea room that served real afternoon tea. And no matter what I did, singing would remain part of my life!
I write stories because…I have no choice. I think writers are born, not made, and the compulsion to tell stories is too strong to ignore.
Hope Harbor
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life–and love–altered her plans.
When tragedy strikes and changes her plans yet again, she finds herself back in her hometown with a floundering farm to run and a heartbreaking secret.
Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter’s.
The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help save a struggling charitable organization, the winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives–including their own.
My latest novel can be described by these 5 adjectives…Heartwarming, emotional, hope-filled, compelling, uplifting.
My main character is…I have two main characters, plus some key secondary characters—but I’ll focus on the hero and heroine.
Tracy Campbell is 5’7” and has shoulder-length light brown hair and green eyes. She owns Harbor Point Cranberries, a three-generation farm on the Oregon Coast that is on the brink of failure. She’s desperate to save it—and to overcome a tragedy in her past. Tracy is determined, kind, hardworking and caring. I don’t know that this is a quirk, but she rides her bike almost everywhere.
Michael Hunter is visiting Hope Harbor from Chicago. He’s 6’1” and has dark brown hair and blue eyes. He’s taken a leave of absence from his job and has made the cross-country trek to try and deal with some devastating regrets. He’s empathetic, ethical, loyal and compassionate.
My main characters resemble….
You know…I never compare my characters to popular personalities. I describe them, then let people draw their own mental pictures. I learned early on that readers have very different concepts of what heroes and heroines should look like, and that one person’s heartthrob turns another person off. That’s one of the reasons I prefer covers that don’t focus on faces and features, but leave those to readers’ imaginations.
My story’s spiritual theme is…Forgiveness (of self and others)…and hope.
The most recent movie or tv show I loved was…Cinderella. What can I say? I’m a romantic at heart!
The story I’m currently working on is…The next book set in Hope Harbor, which will be out in summer 2016. I’m also working on edits for my next romantic suspense novel, Thin Ice, which will be out in January.
You may not know this about me, but I…I love to sing! I’m a soloist at church, and I perform in community musical theatre productions whenever I get the chance.
I might go all fan girl if I met…Julie Andrews. She has had a remarkable career in musical theatre!
If I could travel back in time, I’d go to…The 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. I remember hearing my grandfather talk about it when I was a very little girl, and it sounds like it was amazing! So many innovations came from there—including the ice cream cone! 🙂
I get lost in the music when I listen to…The soundtrack from “Camelot.” Every song is spectacular, and the whole concept of that show…nobility, courage, honor, might for right…appeals to me.
A long held dream of mine is…To see one of my books hit the New York Times bestseller list! Could Hope Harbor be it? 🙂
Thanks Irene!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Reviews of That Certain Summer, Trapped, Vanished, Lethal Legacy, Deadly Pursuit, Fatal Judgement, Against All Odds, An Eye for An Eye and In Harm’s Way
Character spotlights on Jake & Liz, Coop & Monica, Mark & Emily and Nick & Rachel
Interview with Irene
Visit Irene’s website
Buy at Amazon: Hope Harbor or Koorong
July 16, 2015 at 1:55 am
Hi Irene,
I can see I have to order another Irene Hannon book that will keep me reading late into the night! I am a total fan of your books so imagine my thrill to read your kind words about The Memory House. Thank you!
Oh, and I agree about laughing over Debra Clopton’s Betting On Hope. Terrific book, lots of funny as well as emotional scenes–and the pig scene is priceless. Loved it.
July 16, 2015 at 2:29 am
I love Irene’s books and read every one of them! Whether she writes suspense or just fiction, they are all fantastic! Thanks for having her on your blog today!
July 16, 2015 at 2:59 am
I like your comment about characters on the cover. I’d rather not see them because they rarely match how the author described them or how I do.
July 16, 2015 at 3:39 am
I like a hint of what the characters look like.. I still like to imagine details… Love Michael and Tracy… such a wonderful story… I know it will be added to my collection of books that I read again. I also enjoyed the story of Anne and her son… such a wonderful, satisfying reading adventure.
July 16, 2015 at 7:42 am
I like characters’ faces to be left to the imagination. Even if the face is on the cover they normally don’t look like that in my mind’s eye anyway 🙂
July 16, 2015 at 7:57 am
I like seeing the characters on covers but don’t mind them being turned like on Irene’s cover. What I don’t really like is only seeing part of a face. Either show me the face or show me the back (or don’t have a person on the cover at all), just don’t chop them in half!
July 16, 2015 at 8:40 am
I like all your books. Sounds great!
July 16, 2015 at 11:21 am
this was great! Thanks for the opportunity.
July 16, 2015 at 6:01 pm
From only viewing the gorgeous cover, I want to read this book.
As for the question, I think I prefer to not see characters on the cover or for them to be discreetly pictured. I think my opinion stems from having read books where the described physical characteristics conflict with what is actually shown on the cover. I know that sometimes the author has no control over that.
July 16, 2015 at 6:28 pm
I do enjoy seeing characters on covers Although sometimes it doesn’t match what my imagination conjures.
July 16, 2015 at 10:32 pm
I also like to create an image of the characters. Thank you.
July 17, 2015 at 3:13 am
I like characters on the cover, but then can be disappointed if they don’t match the description in the book! So I can see an author not liking to use them
July 17, 2015 at 9:15 pm
I prefer to have my mind make the image of the characters.So many times my minds idea of the character does not match the cover picture.
July 17, 2015 at 11:52 pm
I agree that “one person’s heartthrob turns another person off”, so leaving it to the reader’s imagination is sometimes best, but I do like to see how the author views her main characters. That’s what I like about this blog’s Character Spotlight – even if the picture on the cover isn’t necessarily who the author would’ve chosen it gives them an opportunity to show us their preference.
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
July 18, 2015 at 5:59 am
I guess I prefer that they leave it to my imagination, or the way the author describes the characters in their book. Even the books with pictures I rarely find myself using that picture of the character. Interesting question. 😉
July 21, 2015 at 1:33 am
I like to see characters on covers, but if they don’t fit with how I see them I image my own image.
July 21, 2015 at 11:29 am
I enjoy a hint of what a person may look like on the cover.
July 21, 2015 at 12:43 pm
I love covers like yours that have a person but the face isn’t shown. Too often my mind and the picture don’t coordinate if the faces are shown. Thanks for some great books!
July 21, 2015 at 1:03 pm
like an idea on the cover
July 22, 2015 at 12:55 am
I love it when the characters on the cover are like Irene’s, they give you a little hint, a small idea of what the character looks like, but leave the rest to the imagination. I find myself many times gazing at the covers of books with the characters fully displayed on them, feeling as if the picture was wrong because it doesn’t fit with what I see in my head, so I like it when they are left to the imagination. Thanks for the giveaway!!!
July 22, 2015 at 5:19 am
I absolutely prefer to not see characters on the cover. I’m not sure how to describe the kind of covers I like, except that I think of them as very…artistic/creative/sometimes whimsical. I don’t like the focus to be on that the character looks like, because it usually doesn’t match my imagination’s version and I just don’t necessarily need to see their face on a cover. At the very least, I’d prefer covers where the character isn’t front and center:)
July 22, 2015 at 12:54 pm
I kinda like the characters on the cover. Sounds like another winner from Irene.
July 22, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Can’t wait to get my hands on this one! I like to see just a hint and let my imagination do the rest. Thanks for the giveaway
July 22, 2015 at 1:45 pm
I like it both ways BUT not if the image doesn’t fit with how the author described them! That’s just annoying!
July 22, 2015 at 2:19 pm
I only want to see characters on the covers if they actually match their descriptions. It drives me batty when the publisher just uses some generic stock art, and the picture has very little to do with the actual characters! 95% of the time, I just end up picturing characters in my head, and they usually look like actors or actresses. So I guess I’m pre-casting the movie versions of the books? Haha
July 22, 2015 at 10:03 pm
I like it left to my imagination, too! I prefer a cover with great scenery and small people OR the covers of a woman in a gown with her back to us. I am really loving those 🙂
July 22, 2015 at 10:40 pm
I prefer to use my imagination and not see a picture of a character. It’s interesting how my picture of a person can change throughout the story .
July 23, 2015 at 6:17 am
I prefer to use my imagination; however, there are covers that I really love which have the character’s profile. I don’t want to be given the details of the appearance of the character totally– but it can be like a mystery to figure out what the character(s) are thinking. (Like in Shelley Gray’s new book, “Whispers in the Reading Room.”)
August 8, 2015 at 1:19 am
The debate on picturing characters on the cover. Sometimes they’ll entice a look between the covers, but they also wave me away.
The LOL scene from Debra Clopton’s Betting on Hope does sound pretty funny.