Archive for October, 2009
Love Test – How Do You Become A Love Master?
It’s as true as it ever was–What the world needs now is love, sweet love. Find out how to be a Love Master when you take a simple love test.
So Many Books: A Confession
My To-Be-Read pile is growing out of control. More than a year ago, my husband and I moved out of our apartment and into our first home. When the movers came, they looked with dismay upon the dozens of “book boxes.” When I unpacked, I looked with dismay on how many of them were filled with unread books. I have unread ARCs from my first visit to BEA in 2006. Some of these books are out of print, and I’ve never touched them. I have unread books from my first visits to my local RWA chapters’ PAN booksignings. Some of these authors have since left the business.
That last bit is terrifying.
I started out with a single TBR shelf on my office bookshelf in my new office. It’s now taken over half the shelves on that particular piece of floor-to-ceiling furniture.
The rise of book review bloggers hasn’t helped. Over half of the book on my shelves are in my possession as a result of good reviews I’ve read online: The Clockwork Heart, Obernewtyn, The Flame and the Shadow, Sugar Rush, Palimpset (heck I even bought the Palimpset soundtrack!). Other are the professional hazards of being a writer and buying the books that are getting all the buzz in your particular genre: Intertwined, Bones of Faerie, Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, Ash, The Possibilities of Sainthood. I’ve made a concerted effort to attend more author events this year as well. Form those I’ve gleaned Bad to the Bone, King of the Screwups, Love you Hate You Miss You, Stargazer, The Seems, Ice, The Stone Child, and many more. (These last provide a special hell of guilt, as I’ve looked the author in the eye, and had them inscribe my name in their book.)
And don’t even talk to me about the books of personal friends. I still haven’t read my mentor’s latest in her series. My agent’s most recent ebook? Bought and sitting there in PDF format on my desktop (I don’t have an e-reader).
There are the books that friends have lent me (a biography of Abigail Adams, an editor friend’s pride and joy of a project), and the classics I somehow never read (why, hello there, Jane Eyre and Mrs. Dalloway — that last a particular source of guilt as Mrs. D was sent to me by a blog reader appalled I didn’t know her).
I need to take a week off to read all these books. Heck, I need to take a month. I need, perhaps, to go on a bit of a book-buying embargo until I can get my reading under control.
And yet, when will I have time to do that? It’s the end of October. I’m gearing up for NaNoWriMo. With my latest deadline off my plate, I’m looking forward to working on a project that’s been stewing on the backburner since February. And then another deadline, another project. And sometimes, it’s hard to read when I’m writing. Sometimes I need to be immersed in my world, my voice, not some other person’s writing, especially if their style is particularly strong or hypnotic (yes Lisa McMann and your sequel FADE, I’m looking at you).
And yet, all I want to do is read. I find nothing more inspiring than discovering a great new book — an extraordinary new book that reminds me why I got into this business int eh first place. That makes me think, wow, I wish I’d written that. That sends me back to my keyboard determined to create a thing of similar beauty and transformation.
What about you? What book (or books) on your TBR pile are making you feel most guilty right now? Go ahead and tell: confession is good for the soul. And how to you deal with the piles of unread books?
Copyright
Willoughby’s Return, Publication Day, November 1st, and Blog Tour
There’s just about a week left before the official release of Willoughby’s Return, which is very exciting. I’ve been thrilled to receive my author copies from Sourcebooks – it’s wonderful to hold the book in my hands at last!
I’m doing a blog tour which I’m looking forward to very much – I hope you will join me.
Smexy Books 26/10/09
Psychotic State blogspot 27/10/09
Jane Austen’s World 10/11/09
Book Nerd Extraordinaire 2/11/09
Everything Victorian 3/11/09
Savvy, Verse and Wit 4/11/09
A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf 5/11/09
The Bookworm Blogspot 6/11/09
Books Like Breathing9/11/09
Fresh Fiction12/11/09
Love, Romance, Passion 11 & 13/11/09
I’m going to be doing interviews and ‘talking’ about the inspiration behind the book, as well as my artwork, which I must admit has been a little neglected of late. In celebration of the publication there will be some new paintings, some fun stuff, quizzes and the like, as well as prizes! So keep an eye open on my blog Jane Austen Sequels from November 1st!
I loved writing about the relationship between Marianne and her husband Colonel Brandon. They love one another deeply, but are often guilty of not communicating (in a very English way) on subjects that are dear to their hearts. What people say to one another and what they keep back is a fascinating subject for me. I thought the relationship that the Colonel shares with his ward Miss Williams alongside the relationship with her child who is also Willoughby’s daughter would create a certain tension between them. Punctuated by outbursts from Marianne followed by silences on the subject as she listens to her sister’s advice, I felt the conflicts would most likely end in reserve and avoidance.
Margaret Dashwood is just the age for falling in love – her story is woven in with Marianne’s. Will Margaret find her true love within the pages of Willoughby’s Return?
Jane Odiwe
Equal, but Separate?
By now most of you savvy members of the online romance community are aware of the stance the publishing industry maintains regarding not only African-American romance, but multicultural romance as well. However, after opening dialogue with a few unpublished African-American romance writers, the topic is rather thorny and a bit more nuanced than decrying the discriminatory practices that maintain the relatively homogeneous look of the romance genre.
A few years ago (2007 I believe), a group of black romance writers, galvanized by the surge of interest in and discussion of the segregation of AA romance, decided to form a writers’ organization to address their unique issues. I presume many either were not RWA members, or they felt the RWA was not amenable to forming a group of this type under the umbrella of the organization. Nonetheless, due to a variety of factors, the organization fizzled fairly quickly and as of today, I don’t sense a desire to form one again. Yet, is it truly in bad taste for AA romance writers to form a group within the RWA? Or to have a separate category for their work in writing contests like the GH or the RITA?
I would argue not. The 1896 ruling on Plessy v. Ferguson established the “separate, but equal” law that ruled race relations and the institute of segregation in this country for most of the 20th century. Under this decision, blacks and whites were given separate facilities for eating, drinking, traveling, and so on, with the assumption that that given to both were equal. Needless to say, they were not. Brown v. Board of Education overturned this ruling in 1954, and the result was the forced desegregation of all-white schools by bussing young black students to them.
We can see parallels to this moment in American history with the publishing industry. The first AA romance was published in the early 1980s, but it wasn’t until the early to mid 1990s that publishers realized they had a crowd of black readers, thirsty for romances featuring men and women who shared their heritage. However, during that drought–and it continues today–black romance fans were essentially bussed to the all-white publishing industry out of necessity. A number of AA romance veterans started their careers hiding behind their white characters, and it could be that some of our early romance novels were written by black women desiring to be the next Linda Howard or Rosemary Rogers, but forced to “write white” out of financial and market pressures.
Here we are in 2009 and the case of “separate, but equal” rules how AA romances are treated. And yet, I feel that the lack of categories for AA romance in major contests is a sort of ostrich move. It denies that there are separate factors black romance writers face on their path to publication, and it denies the fact that the publishing industry is not colorblind. After all, Christian/Inspirational romance writers face their own set of guidelines and separate factors for publication. I for one feel that acknowledging the issues romance writers of color face is the first step to understanding, and ultimately, supporting the inclusion of romance writers–and characters–of all colors, creeds, and nationalities into the romance genre.
Copyright
Midnight Pleasures With A Scoundrel
(by Lorraine Heath)
I’ve always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes. (Absolutely cannot wait for the release of the movie starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law.) One of my favorite openings is from A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex.”
This was how I envisioned James Swindler feeling about Eleanor Watkins.
I have also been a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan. One of my favorite movies was VERTIGO, in which a detective (played by James Stewart) is hired to follow a friend’s wife–and as he does so, he becomes obsessed with her.
This was how I envisioned James Swindler coming to know Eleanor Watkins. From a distance at first, but even then he sensed something remarkable about her. He became not obsessed with her, but he fell in love with her.
One of my favorite movies is THE STING with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. It was beautifully done. A movie about a swindle, but inside the main swindle was another that the audience didn’t see coming.
From the moment I envisioned the “Scoundrels of St. James” series, I wanted one of the stories to involve a swindle. It seemed appropriate that it should be James Swindler’s that does. Each of the scoundrels I’ve written about–Luke, Jack, and Frannie–had tragic pasts, but Swindler’s tore at my heart.
From the moment he revealed why he was so obsessed with justice, I knew he would be a very special character. I knew that for him, the one he loved would always be the woman who stole his heart. I knew she would come into his life in an unconventional manner. And, I knew that more than one swindle would be required to give them their happily ever after.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you much more because I don’t want to ruin the fun of reading MIDNIGHT PLEASURES WITH A SCOUNDREL.
In a seemingly unrelated topic shift, my husband recently discovered that a lady with whom he works is an avid romance reader. She likes to curl up with a good book and a glass of merlot on the weekend, so he asked me to autograph a book to her. My inscription read: “A little romance to enjoy with your merlot.”
I’ve always envied writers who can come up with pithy inscriptions when signing books. Mine are usually the unimaginative “Best wishes,” “All my best,” “Enjoy!” So, I was pleased with the merlot comment. Of course, it took me three revisions to get it to where I wanted it.
I won’t tell you how many revisions MIDNIGHT PLEASURES WITH A SCOUNDREL required. But I will say that I have a wonderfully patient editor.
To celebrate its release, I’m hosting a contest which ends at the witching hour October 31st. Visit my website www.lorraineheath.com for details on how to enter.
What books or movies have stayed with you through the years?
Dating Q & A – How Do I Stop Being The Cook For My Date?
The patterns you set in a dating relationship can be hard to break. Find out how to be more than a cook for your date or change dating partners.
Disneyland at Halloween Time
I really should be in bed right now Ocean Dreamers, but I was excited to post some pictures for you from Disneyland! I had such a wonderful time! Even though the lines were long and there were people everywhere, I definitely missed Disneyland. I hadn’t been there in a couple of years so I was very excited to go, it was like visiting an old friend!
Disneyland always brings me such joy. I love the imagination aspect of it all. Plus the rides are a blast. I enjoyed seeing the Haunted Mansion and how it transformed into The Nightmare Before Christmas. It was always too crowded for me to see it in years past, so this was my first year seeing it especially decorated from the film. They did such a good job, I hope you enjoy the pictures I captured.
By the way…thank you for all of your sincere responses to my post Haunted. Believe me, it took a lot for me to tell you all of that. I don’t like bringing up my haunt but sometimes it is good to reflect and help share with others if they are experiencing the same thing. I hope it helped you a little and thanks always for being so kind is response.
Here are some of my favorite pictures that I captured on Saturday, hope you enjoy a little bit of the Halloween Disney magic.
Look…it is Jack the Pumpkin King, and he is real, yikes!
Cutest ride, ever.
Love all of the shops, just adorable!
I visited Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Princess Aurora 3D magic was inside!
Sigh. Hopeless romantics alert!
The dress should be pink!!!!
No, no! It should be blue…
Caution: You are about to enter the Haunted Mansion. Turn back if you DO NOT want to be spooked!
Are you ready for more of Jack the Pumpkin King? 3D pictures inside of the Haunted Mansion…
Yay, it is Jack’s love interest Sally! I just adore her. Falling a part limbs and all.
Okay…do you see a difference between this photo and the next?!
I’ll give you a hint…did you look at the left corner? Isn’t Oogie spookie!!! I didn’t realize this until I looked at my pics tonight, I guess it changes in the Haunted Mansion. It truly is haunted! Wahahahaha…
Jack, Jack, the Pumpkin King.
Thanks for looking at all of the pictures, have you ever been to Disneyland Ocean Dreamers?
I better get to bed, tomorrow I am dressing up as a pink pirate for my Halloween work party! More pictures to come!
XOXO,
Silent Night, Haunted Night
‘Tis the weekend before Halloween and all through the house…
Of all my authors, I think…no, I know…Terri Garey has the most fun with Halloween. Every year, she transforms her backyard into Madame Zelda’s Haunted Graveyard. I must experience this for myself one day very soon…
It’s no wonder, then, that an author who loves Halloween as much as she loves telling ghost stories has given a new twist on the Christmas Carol theme. SILENT NIGHT, HAUNTED NIGHT finds our beloved Nicki Styx, ghoulfriend to the dead, battling the deadly Three Fates.
They have a bone to pick with Nicki for interfering with what they believe is the natural order of things, and it seems they won’t stop until they have their way…or her boyfriend.
Anyone have any good scary ghost stories they’d like to share?
Boost Your Sexual Energy – Learn 3 Ways To Become A Sexy-Genarian Today
Is sexual energy the fountain of youth? Discover the top reasons to boost your sexual energy and learn 3 ways to become a sexy genarian today.
A Love Triangle In Film – Did Amelia Earhart Love Flying More Than Her Husband And Lover?
Was the legendary pilot and risk taker, Amelia Earhart, afraid to risk her heart in her romantic relationships? Find out how her film biopic soars as she fulfills her flight dreams. But at what cost in her intimate relationships?
