Jane's Blog - Page 3 of 93 - Jane Porter | New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Because Truth Matters

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 by Jane · View all 8 comments

I read some things yesterday–both here in comments on my blog, as well as on FB– that wasn’t accurate and I just wanted to share some facts regarding immigrants and their impact on our economy and taxes.

Quite often, unless someone is a lawyer, or works in immigration, we rely on media to give us facts. I did research last night with the help of an immigration attorney friend. These are federal laws, and different states (like California) may pass different laws.

1) Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for free healthcare in the United States. They are generally ineligible for federally funded programs, including: Medicaid, CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), Medicare, and ACA Marketplaces.

2) Illegal immigrants are not eligible for welfare benefits in the United States.

3) Illegal immigrants are not eligible for food stamps (SNAP). (However, certain lawfully present non-citizens may be eligible, including those with eligible immigration status.)

4) Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for housing assistance.

5) Illegal immigrants’ children are not eligible, either, not even DACA (or the Dreamers Act.)

However….

Undocumented immigrants have the right to a free public education in the United States. This is due to the 1982 Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, which prohibits public schools from charging tuition to children who are new arrivals in the country.

And illegal immigrants DO impact our taxes:

Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022. Most of that amount, $59.4 billion, was paid to the federal government while the remaining $37.3 billion was paid to state and local governments.

I am now going to get offline and write and create a lovely fictional world where everything works out happily in the end. But I would be remiss not to care, passionately, about real human beings and the quality of their lives, whether citizens or undocumented immigrants. Having read the Bible several times all the way through, and decades of Bible study classes, Christ’ message is very clear, as is the Old Testament on how one is to treat the foreigner.

Matthew 25:35

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”.

Leviticus 19:33-34

“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself”.

I’ll be back tomorrow to talk about book stuff (the fun of bad boys) but until then, much much love. May we have each others backs, may we walk in love, may we have hearts that are open to Him.

Having a Hard Time Breathing

February 9, 2025February 9, 2025 by Jane · View all 46 comments

There’s nothing wrong with my lungs or body. This is a heart thing. A soul thing. I hurt, I fear, I feel.

I grew up in Tulare County in California’s Central Valley. Miles of farm land surrounded my hometown. You couldn’t get to the next town without driving past and through dairies, farms, ranches. You’d see laborers in the field year round. Planting, harvesting, pruning, irrigating. These were not white people bent over, picking and carrying. These were migrants and others who took jobs most white residents didn’t want. Too much pride. And frankly, it was far too physically demanding. Who wants to do back breaking work? Isn’t that too much like folks in cotton fields? Poor folks, uneducated folks, folks not like us.

I grew up with Greeks, Armenians, Dutch, Portuguese, Hmong, Mexicans. I went to school with all of them. And I never once thought to ask, or care, if they were legal, or if their parents were legal. The kids I knew came from hardworking families and whether brown, white, black they were all contributing. Did any of these kids belong to gangs? I’m sure. We had all kinds of gangs, too. Not just Mexican. There were rough white groups that felt their supremacy. There are always groups that want to flex and dominate.

But those people are in the minority. Those are not the families, and parents, and grandparents who have worked their entire lives to give their children opportunities they didn’t know back ‘home’, wherever that home was. I was always so proud to be an American because my America in my Central Valley was diverse. It was special. It was a point of pride that we could all be different but come together and be one nation, under God.

ICE has no place in my Central California, or my California. The Native American tribes were here first, and the Mexicans, and the Spaniards. We have never been a lily white Jamestown, God fearing Christians fleeing from religious persecution. California is a land of land…acreage, farms, ranches, and the people to turn this land into something that can feed and clothe America.

I mean, sure, ICE, round up the criminals, the ones that committed violent crimes, but not the ones that are defined as criminal because they came here illegally. Not the people I have known my entire life, people who filled my classroom as fellow students, and then later as my students at St. Helen’s in Clovis, a school where the majority of my students came from Spanish speaking homes, and so many of the parents worked two jobs–in the fields and canneries–to send their kids to Catholic school because they too wanted the American dream.

Here’s the thing. ICE isn’t just getting the violent criminals despite what President Trump says. ICE has quotas. ICE has to meet those quotas, just like the highway patrol has quotas each month, too.

There’s no need to come to me or at me with your reasons why what is happening is good. If you’re a citizen you have the luxury to say it’s good. You have no fear. You have safety. But I love people, real people, not just the wealthy and the privileged, and those who can sit in a high tower above the pain. I choose the people. I choose the pain. I would rather love with those that Christ loved, then turn a blind eye and think oh well, it had to be done.

Did it?

Did it, really.

Books I’m Reading & Authors I Love

February 6, 2025 by Jane · View all 23 comments

If you follow me on social media, or belong to my private group on Facebook, you’ll know my favorite books to read are historical romances, specifically Regency and Victorian, but not necessarily the super hot ones. (Although I did like those when I was younger.)

Now when I read I want books that remind me of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and others that capture the time period and social mores. I love the houses, manors, villages, elegant London neighborhoods. I’m fascinated by the rules and restrictions, the clothes, the challenges, the discomforts associated with travel and courtship.

And most of all, I love the families–both good and bad.

I’m sharing with you a partial list of favorite authors that I never miss. I pre-order them, and wait months–sometimes a year–for each to release.

Sensational Mimi Matthews (her indie books hooked me, and now she’s also big at Berkley)
British author Mary Kingswood
The brilliant and witty Christina Dudley
Australian author Anne Gracie
DG Rampton
Suzanne Allain
Sophie Holloway
Judith Hale Everett

Authors I’ve discovered in the past year that wrote ‘early Regencies’, probably many were for Signet Romance–books that are definitely not spicy. Some have held up better than others over time and yet I enjoy them immensely.

Alice Chetwynd Ley (1913-2004)
Charlotte Louise Dolan (1943-2024)

I used to read a lot of books by these sweet and clean historical authors, but having read nearly everything these authors wrote, I’ve taken a break while they publish new stories.

Sarah E Ladd
Julie Klassen
Jennie Goutet
Sarah M. Eden

And then of course Loretta Chase, Mary Balogh, Lorraine Heath, Lisa Kleypas and oh so many more!

What do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Who is the last author you binge-read?

Share with me for a chance to win two signed JP books, a gift card, and lots of fun Valentine treats. Winner announced Tuesday.

Love Thy Neighbor

February 4, 2025 by Jane · View all 9 comments

Good morning everyone.

I’m finding it hard to settle down to write. So many thoughts that aren’t related to fiction and romance. It’s a tough time in our country right now.

America is full of diversity, and different opinions, as I’m sure it has been for the past one hundred years. People believe different things. They have different faith. They come from different cultures. They have unique dreams. I can accept that we are not the same, but I’m incredibly uncomfortable with how we shame those who don’t believe the same thing. It’s bullying. Even when it’s ‘well-intentioned’.

A racist doesn’t stop being racist simply because you label him so, never mind in a public forum.

A liberal doesn’t become conservative after being mocked as a snowflake.

Using one’s platform to say, “stop following me if you disagree” creates a bigger divide.

It will be interesting to see what the next four years bring. I’m already exhausted rather than elated. I’m not comfortable with any president seizing so much power. I don’t believe there was a clear ‘mandate’ for tearing apart, and firing, so many federal employees. DEI isn’t just about the color of one’s skin (and if that’s your issue with DEI, then well, I will pray for you). It’s about diversity and inclusion in all its forms: children with different learning abilities, isolated seniors in need of access to mental health care, and those damn curb cuts that allow people in wheelchairs to cross a street.

The world is filled with people of differences, and those differences should be respected and protected. Christ has called us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But love isn’t that easy for Americans anymore. Love is maybe the most challenging thing we do.

Exploring Jane Porter’s Captivating World of Romance and Drama

February 3, 2025February 2, 2025 by Jane · View all 7 comments

Hello all! I’m I’m Jaiden, a somewhat recent fan of Jane’s work with a soft spot for the relationships, charm, and relatable characters she weaves into her stories. I’ll be popping by about once a month or so to chat all things Jane—from her novels and characters to book reviews and Q&As. I’m excited to dive into some fun discussions, share my thoughts, and hear yours too!

Jane Porter has carved a special place for herself in the world of romance and drama, captivating readers with her rich storytelling and deeply emotional characters. Known for her ability to blend heartfelt romance with layers of personal growth and dramatic twists, Porter’s books have the power to make readers laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between. Whether you’re a fan of second-chance romance, sizzling chemistry, or the healing power of love, her stories offer something for everyone.

What sets Jane Porter apart is her exceptional ability to craft characters who feel like real people, facing real struggles—yet always finding hope and love in the process. From fierce, independent women seeking redemption to rugged heroes battling their own demons, her characters are flawed, relatable, and ultimately unforgettable. The stakes in her novels are never just about romance; they’re about personal transformation, forgiveness, and the search for happiness, even in the most challenging of circumstances.

In Porter’s world, romance is never just an easy fairy tale. It’s complex, layered, and always infused with drama—whether it’s family secrets, past heartbreaks, or misunderstandings that need to be healed. What makes her books so compelling is that they explore how love, in its many forms, can change people and help them become the best versions of themselves.

As a writer, Porter has a knack for weaving intricate emotional arcs that keep readers hooked from start to finish. Her books are a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with moments of passion, vulnerability, and triumph. And no matter the genre or setting—whether it’s a cowboy romance or a sophisticated, high-society drama—her stories always have heart.

Article written by Jaiden Colling

Aloha from Hawaii!

January 29, 2025 by Jane · View all 4 comments

Hi everyone!

I’m in Hawaii for the Tule Author Retreat we have been planning for the past 18 months. Weather has not been cooperating–rain, thunder, lightning, wind–sandwiched between gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. I didn’t pack particularly well. Should have brought a light rain jacket, and probably sweat pants and a sweatshirt for the evening just to be extra cozy. I thought I’d packed my hair iron, but can’t find that, either. Some of our events have become a little, well…drenched…but that is so much like life, and publishing, that I’m more amused than regretful.

In life, we actually control so little. We’re mostly here for the ride, and when I embrace the ride, and the adventure of it all, I do well. It’s when I’m trying to hang on tightly, fighting to retain control and keep things just the way I want them to be, or need them to be, the unhappiness sets in.

Last Saturday night I hosted a special dinner for the Tule Publishing team and its founding authors at Roy’s in Hawaii Kai. As I sat at the table of 8 and looked around at my friends, people I have admired, respected and loved for many years, I felt so much happiness, peace, and gratitude. It was the same for me at Christmas when my family gathered, and I just looked at those lovely faces I love so much. I am sure you know by now I am truly, deeply grateful not for things, but people. My people. Those who add so much value and meaning to my life.

You are all part of my world, too, and you also bring meaning and value to it. Thank you for being along for the ride, this great adventure with all its ups and downs. I am sending you love, and promise to let you know when my next release, A Soldier’s Promise, is out. (Which I hope is late February/early March.)

Yours,

Jane

A Q&A with Jane about Flirting with Fifty

January 27, 2025January 14, 2025 by Jane · View all 21 comments

Tell us a little bit about your book, FLIRTING WITH FIFTY. Is it connected at all to FLIRTING WITH FORTY?

No, there is no connection between the books. I think my publisher chose to go with Flirting with Fifty as a title because it features a woman turning fifty, but the title would also resonate with my readers who’d enjoyed Flirting with Forty.

Flirting with Fifty is about Paige, a strong, smart, successful divorced woman who is quite happy being single, and isn’t interested in dating or marriage because it would require compromising, and she’s done enough of that in her life. But in Paige’s desire to be safe, she’s also somewhat stuck and a little too risk-averse. Enter popular, handsome world traveler and renowned scientist Dr. Jack King, and everything changes pretty quickly. And probably far too quickly for our cautious Paige!

Do you have a favorite character in FLIRTING WITH FIFTY?

I always love a great hero, and Jack is certainly a great hero. He’s smart, witty, kind, and interesting—and while he isn’t a classic alpha, he’s still very strong and able to handle himself in all kinds of environments which I find sexy. I love that men—like women—get more interesting as they get older and I’ve loved writing mature men in this series.

Favorite secondary character?

Probably Elizabeth, Paige’s best friend. They grew up together in Paso Robles and both became professors, although Elizabeth is an English professor and Paige is math professor. I love women’s friendships, and friendships that go back years where you really know someone, and can poke fun of someone, and make someone laugh. Friendship can save a soul—and we need our girlfriends, especially as we keep ‘growing up.’ but also truly care about that person, wanting the best for them.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I would like to remind my readers that they’re never too old to love, to fall in love, or to feel cherished and valuable. I worry that mature women in our Western society aren’t treated with as much respect and appreciation as they should be. America, particularly, is a very commercial, consumer society that elevates youth and beauty over wisdom and maturity. But truthfully, a mature woman is incredibly inspiring, interesting, and exciting. I want my books to empower women, and validate them, whether they’re single or married, dating or grieving. I don’t want to sound preachy, but women deserve entertainment that makes them feel good.

If you could only pick one of your books, other than this one, for a romance reader unfamiliar with your work, which one would you pick? And why?

I think Flirting with the Beast, the second book in my Modern Love series from Berkley, is a book that is very me, and a great introduction to my stories. I also have a huge soft spot for my Rita nominated story, Miracle on Chance Avenue, as it’s an achy breaky kind of story, where two people desperately need, and deserve, an HEA, and they desperately need, and deserve, each other. I love books where love is fated…and where the hero and heroine can’t have their happy ever after until they meet each other.

Giveaway!
For a chance to win a Flirting with Fifty giveaway, tell us what you’ve learned as you’ve matured. What is something you appreciate now that you didn’t before? Winner announced one week from today.

Just One Look

January 20, 2025January 14, 2025 by Jane · View all 16 comments

I’m not a snowbird or a beach girl. I am, to be quite honest, incredibly unathletic when it comes to skates, skateboards, surfboards, skis, and snowboards. (Even bicycles if there are lots of curves and obstacles.) Anything requiring balance, coordination, speed, and confidence is
pretty much not part of my skill set.

Fortunately, my guy, a surfer and owner of a popular surf school on Oahu, likes nerdy book girls who wear glasses.

Most of you know the backstory. But if you’re new in my world this might be news. Ty and I met when I interviewed him for a future book. The book became Flirting with Forty, a 2006 bestseller, that was turned into a 2008 movie for Lifetime starring Heather Locklear.

Ty and I dated long distance for nearly nine years—he in Hawaii and me in Seattle with my children—and we constantly were asked, ‘How does this end?’

It always puzzled me. How does anything end?

One of the things learning to surf—and I still am not good—taught me was that your surfboard will go in the direction you face.

So, if you look down, you’ll fall off. If you look straight ahead, square your shoulders, and keep your gaze on the beach in front of you, your board will straighten out and go in that direction. Where you look is where you’ll go. So choose your focus.

But that’s not just surfing, that’s life. And so when people asked, ‘where will this go? How will it work? What’s going to happen?’, I truthfully answered, “I don’t know but I’m going with it as far as it will go.” Because why watch the scoreboard while you’re playing the game? Focus on the game. Focus on what’s happening right now—not earlier.

Years later, when Ty and I were expecting a baby of our own, people continued the questions, asking if Ty was going to move to Seattle permanently, and I’d say no, because that wasn’t the plan. It would never be the plan. Instead we were just going to keep doing what we were doing, which was being together and then apart, and then together again, and so on. We always found a way to get back to the other and sometimes we’d have to wait a month but we were patient, and aware that we had limitations due to work and family. So we learned to make it work—for us. Perhaps it wasn’t ideal for others, but this wasn’t about others. It was him and me.

Why did it work? I think its because I chose to make it work. I liked him that much. I loved him that much. Like Kai and Jackie in my book Flirting with Forty, Ty changed my life. He made it magical and exciting. It was like Mama Mia, the ABBA song,

Just one look and I can hear a bell ring
One more look and I forget everything
Mama Mia, here I go again.
My, my how can I resist you?

I couldn’t resist him that first year. Or the second, or the third year. I was crazy about him, absolutely head over heels, and I’m still crazy about him and we’ve been together 21 years in April..

Ty’s and my relationship was never the one in Flirting with Forty. That was a novel, a fictional creating where I could control the outcome. But he and I have had an even better story…a bigger adventure, a more passionate love story because its not always easy. Life is complicated. We’re both real people, and thus, complicated. But it’s real. I’ll be sixty one in February, and it’s awesome to look back and realize, that life wasn’t over at forty. Life was just beginning.

Just one look…

Q&A with Jane: Behind the Scenes of a Writer’s Life—Plotting, Surprises, and What It Really Takes to Succeed

January 8, 2025December 24, 2024 by Jane · View all 9 comments

How do you typically write? Do you plot it all out beforehand or do you just let the story pour out?

I plot big chunks—road signs and what I believe will be the key turning points—and then write, but I definitely end up detouring and rethinking those scenes that I think will be the big scenes.

Do you have a favorite place to write or “must haves” while writing?

I need to be able to control my environment as much as possible—space, lighting, noise, amount of time I have to write. I don’t do well trying to write in bits and pieces, or with lots of activity going on around me. I can and do write in coffee houses when in a pinch, but then I try to find the quietest place possible, with a corner or wall table with lots of natural lighting and I add my Bose headphones to block out sound. But honestly, my home office—clean and clear and free of clutter—is best. I think I’m getting old.

Is there anything that has surprised you about writing, publishing or touring with your books?

Just how hard it all is! People assume (and I used to be one of these people, too!) that all you have to do is get published, and you’ve pretty much got it mad because you’re on the ‘inside’ now, but that’s just the start of endless, uphill battles. And it’s all a battle—the writing, the promoting, the marketing and touring and writing while promoting/touring. It’s not a fluffy, relaxing career. 

Was there anything (or anyone) while growing up which helped you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Louisa May Alcott. I loved that Jo, from Little Women, Little Men, Jo’s Boys, etc, was a writer. I also loved being inspired by the author of my other favorite series of books, Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls. Being a writer definitely seemed to be the way to go. And I tried to get published early….I wrote my first picture book in 2^nd grade and my first novel in 4^th grade. I was pretty serious about becoming a novelist!

Do you have a job outside of being an author?

I started a publishing company in 2013 and as the Editorial Director for Tule Publishing I’m involved with a lot of books–over 2,000 so far. Its work but its also something I’m really proud of!

5 Life Lessons for the New Year

January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 by Jane · View all 50 comments

Happy New Year!

There’s something special about the fresh start of a new year. The past is the past, and we have the chance to learn new things–including how we look at the world and ourselves.

I wasn’t always so hopeful. I’ve worked hard at becoming positive and focusing on gratitude and the good in my life. As a teenager I was pretty hard on myself. I couldn’t figure out how to fit in–socially or in my own skin. Now that I’m in my 6th decade there are things I wish I could tell my younger self. So, as we turn the page to a new year, I wanted to share the five pieces of advice I’d give my teenage self.

1) You Are Not Fat, and You Do Not Have a Big Butt

I know this may sound shallow, but it’s something that consumed me at 16. Looking back, I wish I could have embraced my body as it was. You are not fat, and those thighs and that butt are probably the smallest they will ever be. Instead of obsessing over body image, I’d tell myself to focus on what’s truly important: health and fitness. You’re strong, you’re healthy, and that’s what matters. And please—ditch the flesh-colored Clearasil. It’s obvious, and it doesn’t help. You’re not hiding anything, just making it worse!

2) It’s Okay to Be Unpopular

Teen Jane, you’re not going to be a cheerleader, you’re not going to be a model, and you’re definitely not going to be the most popular girl at school. But guess what? That’s okay! In fact, it might just be the best thing for you. Not fitting in with the popular crowd will push you to work harder, dream bigger, and take risks because you have something to prove. Those stories of being “the underdog” will serve you well in the future—trust me on this one.

3) That “Hot” Guy? He Won’t Always Be So Hot

Those football players that seem so perfect at 16? Well, here’s a little secret: they’re not always going to be the shining stars you think they are. The guys who you don’t even notice—those skinny, nerdy types? They’re the ones who grow up to be the real rockstars: the brainy, creative geniuses who change the world. And just so you know, the love of your life will be a handsome guy who’s 9 years younger than you. Yes, when you’re 16, he’s 8. Crazy, right?

4) You’re Going to Have to Fight for What You Want

Here’s the truth: you’re going to have to work HARD. The road ahead won’t always be smooth—there will be obstacles, setbacks, and people who tell you that you can’t do it. But I know you, Jane. I know how tough you are, and I promise you this: the hits may hurt, but they won’t destroy you. You’re resilient and tenacious, and as long as you get back up after every fall, you can accomplish anything. Your dreams are worth fighting for. So, keep going. Always.

5) Stop Trying to Please Everyone

This is a big one. You don’t have to please anyone, especially not those who don’t have your best interests at heart. The only person you need to make happy is you. It’s okay to be geeky, emotional, and even a little socially awkward. Those quirks are part of your charm, and the people who truly matter will accept you for who you are. Stop searching for answers outside yourself—because you already have them. Your heart and your instincts are your greatest guides. Trust them, protect them, and embrace who you are. When you love yourself, you’ll find the happiness you’ve been searching for, and that’s when everything else will fall into place.

What would you tell your teenage self? Share with me in the comments below for a special New Year’s giveaway (winner announced January 8^th)

Here’s to 2025! May it be a happy and healthy one.