Our first question is do you have to be a member of Facebook to view the fan page?
The answer is no. The fan page is a public page just like the website. Just click on the url and you will be transported to the Facebook fan page for Love Western Romances and can view everything that is going on in western historical romances.

Why are you guys shutting down the website and only keeping open the Facebook fan page?
Due to expanding work and family obligations we just can’t keep up with the demands of running the website, which is more time consuming to update due to the need to write in html, finding reviewers for books, developing author spotlights, and updating new releases.

What made you start the website in the first place?
We met at our local RWA chapter and were bemoaning the fact that we couldn’t find enough of the books we loved to read (and write), that is western historical romances. We figured a lot of other fans of the genre were having the same problem. Being Karyna is a whiz on the computer (she manages website design and programming for her corporate day job), and Anne used to be in marketing, the idea of starting a website devoted to promoting the genre seemed the answer and Love Western Romances was born.

How will the Facebook fan page be both similar and different from the website?
We will no longer be accepting books for review or developing author spotlights. What we will be doing is letting fans of western historical know when new books are coming out, any author news that comes our way, and posting an occasional review from our personal reading or those of our long time reviewers. And we’d like to take this opportunity to especially thank Kelly, Rose, and Carol for taking the time to read so many books and write so many informative reviews. I’m sure you will see them post in the future.

Why a Facebook fan page?
Ease of use, for one. It is very easy to update—no html skills needed. You can post a quick note on a new release or a review via the note section and include a book cover photo with just a few clicks.  For another it is more interactive so fans who are members of the Facebook community can post a comment if they like.

Also, we can do more fun things like post a favorite cover, take a poll, etc. without so much work.  We felt this was a good alternative to the website and still provides a place to connect for those interested in the genre.

How long have you been doing the website?
This will be our fifth Best Western Romance Reader’s Choice contest.

What will you miss about the website?
We will definitely miss all the lovely authors we have gotten to know. These authors have not only been generous and supportive but write some of the best romances! But we are looking forward to interacting more with both authors and fans via the Facebook fan page! Being able to comment is a real benefit of Facebook.

Tell us a little bit about the western romance authors. Have any stories you want to share?
When we first got started we were a little intimidated about asking some of the “big names” in western romance to be in our spotlight. I mean, who were we but just an upstart website.  Our first author, Stacey Kayne/Harlequin Historical was releasing her debut novel and so we sort of launched together. After that, Cheryl St. John, another Harlequin author, graciously agreed  to be in our spotlight(she’s a real sweetheart). They both were very helpful in supporting us since they were starting their own blog, Petticoats and Pistols, and felt the more the merrier. Once we had a few authors in the spotlight, Anne got bolder and approached Leigh Greenwood because she thought having one of the few male romance writers would be a good draw to our site. He couldn’t have been nicer. In fact that is what we have to say about ALL the authors who have been in our spotlight; every one of them has been gracious, generous and just plain nice.

Another highlight for us was when Anne gathered up courage to ask Linda Lael Miller to be in our spotlight. She is one of our idols as far as western romance goes. In the very early days of our site her publicist had contacted us about reviewing A Wanted Man—still a favorite of ours. So, through her publicist, we contacted her. Talk about being nice and supportive. She mentioned it on her blog, mentioned us on her publisher’s site, put up our logo during that year’s Best Western Romance and donated several times to our voter bundles. She appeared again in 2010. She’s a fan favorite and will always be one of ours.

It was similar when approaching Jodi Thomas to be in our spotlight, another one of our favorites. She was gracious, so professional, and couldn’t have been more supportive. It was a real treat when Anne met her in person at the recent RWA conference. She’s as nice in person as you would expect when reading her books.

As a result of Love Western Romances, we have made connections that we will always treasure with such generous and supportive authors like Linda Broday, Stacey Kayne, Pam Crooks, Kate Bridges, Kaki Warner, Elizabeth Lane, Margaret Brownley, Gem Sivad to name just a cherished few of them. We would like to say a huge, huge thank you to all the wonderful authors who write western romances. It is a privilege to know you.

And don’t forget to send us your news about a new release, a link to a review, a contest win—and we will try to post it on the page.  You can continue to contact us through annecarrole@aol.com and just put Love Western Romances in the heading.

Anything else you want to say?
We’d just like to also thank the fans who have supported the website, supported the authors, entered the contests, and left us such touching notes. Big hugs and Anne is looking forward to connecting on the fan page: https://www.facebook.com/lovewesternromances

Anne Carrole
Karyna Da Rosa
Editors, Love Western Romances
https://www.facebook.com/lovewesternromances