The Sex & the City Effect

Last week, I was channel-surfing as folded laundry and I landed on E! Entertainment Television. (I'm allowed to watch whatever I want while folding my knickers. Don't judge me.) It was a pseudo-documentary about the making of Sex and the City. The E! show claimed Sex and the City was the first show to unflinchingly reveal how women really talked about men. Then I ran across this article in which the show's creator indicates that the show was less about showing women as they actually are and more about "turning the stereotype on its head," objectifying men instead of women and playing against type.

I'm guessing the truth is somewhere in the middle, that women didn't talk like that nearly as much before Sex and the City gave them permission to be blunt and selfish and sex-obsessed, but that doesn't mean they weren't already thinking that way. And once we got permission... woo, baby, just watch us run with it. Now the Sex and the City version of femininity has wedged itself firmly into our culture. And into the culture of contemporary romance novels.

Hex and the City, Sex and the Immortal Bad Boy, and the similarities don't end with plays on the title. The modern day romance heroine may not even be looking for love unending (though in my favorite romances that's what she ends up with). Nope, in the current generation of romance novels, the heroine is just as likely to start out looking for Mr. Right Now as Mr. Right. Cocktails and confidence, the new romance heroine is a different breed than her virginal predecessors. Did Sex and the City do that?

And what about the increased level of sensuality and sexual frankness? Sex scenes, baby. In recent years, romance novels have been steaming it up. Now that the bedroom door has been thrown wide by Sex and the City, readers seem to be looking for more heat. Metaphors and euphemisms are falling away as the savvy start calling things by their Sex approved names.

Is this a good thing? (Yay, honesty & freedom in sexuality!) A bad thing? (Everyone is just so darned superficial these days! There's more to life than Manolos and Cosmos!) Are we heading toward some Sex & the City-instigated cultural apocalypse or is this just the natural progression of women's lib? Equality or licentiousness? Liberation or just a new method of devaluing emotion in favor of blunt sexuality? What's your take?

Meet Vivi

A new scribbling woman emerges...

Vivi Andrews writes romance - paranormal romantic comedies, sultry shape-shifter romances & sassy contemporary capers.

Day Job: Author (I wish; until the writing pays big dividends I'm a Jane of All Trades, currently between day jobs)

Hails from: Alaska (with strong nomadic tendencies... I'm currently on the road)

In your next life: It's a total cop-out if I say I want to do exactly what I'm doing now, isn't it? Okay, then. If you insist. I'll go with... a gun moll. Or a "pro" on Dancing with the Stars. Both of which require great legs and sequins.

Preferred writing snack: Diet Coke and dry Life cereal.

Best romantic moments from movies:
1. Love Actually - There are so many moments I love from this movie, but one of my favorites has to be the Prime Minister of England trying to confess his feelings around a small child in a papier mache octopus costume. Brilliant.

2. The Last of the Mohicans - This is going to sound beyond macabre, but I think one of the most romantic moments ever captured on film is when Alice jumps off the cliff after Uncas is killed. They have this intense, wordless relationship throughout the entire film. They never say a single fricking word to one another, and yet he will fight to the death to save her. He fails, of course, and she jumps off the cliff, which normally I would not be a fan of (I think Romeo and Juliet were prize idiots for killing themselves), but for some reason I love it. Go figure.

Who are your favorite heroines from romantic fiction?

• Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice. Wit and wisdom, beauty and brains. What's not to love?
  
• Sophie Dempsey from Welcome to Temptation. Though Tilda Goodnight gets an honorable mention. I adore all Crusie heroines, but there is something about the con artist and the art forger that make these two my absolute favs. This probably says something unfortunate about my moral compass.

Who are your favorite heroes from romantic fiction?

• C.K. Dexter Haven from The Philadelphia Story. I'm going filmic on this one because I love this movie with a passion that cannot be described. Cary Grant as Dexter is brilliantly Machiavellian, smooth, witty, wise and surprisingly compassionate as he attempts to win back his ex-bride.
  
• Phineus T. Tucker from Welcome to Temptation, again a hard call on the Crusie awesomeness. Davey Dempsey from Faking It ran a close second. I love me some Crusie men, mostly because they are so obviously in love with the Crusie women. Nothing is more attractive than sincerity of emotion.

Who's your favorite real-life romantic hero? As the first single Damned Scribbling Woman, I'm afraid I don't have a Mr. Perfect to brag about. My nomadic tendencies make me hard to pin down. Suffice it to say, that role has yet to be cast.

**Thank you, DSW ladies for letting me splash about in your pool.**

Preaching to the Choir

I must echo Vivi Andrews. Awhile ago, she reviewed this book and stated, "I would say that this book is a must buy for fans of Smart Bitches, but I'm certain all true fanatics already have their copy." Yeah, I'm probably a little late jumping on the bandwagon. You'll have to forgive me. I've had my nose buried in a pile of grading!

Most of our readers are probably already fans of the snarktastic Smart Bitches (and therefor probably already own the book). If not, gentle reader, rush out and get a copy!

Here's what others in the blogosphere have to say about this fantastic book:

"It’s snigger and giggle and burst out loud laughing funny, it’s perceptive, it’s enlightening, it’s incredibly well-researched, and it’s just plain fun. It will convince your readers to shout out loud from the rooftops that they’re romance readers. Or at least to raise a suggestive eyebrow at the sneering bookstore clerk when they buy their books." (Dear Author)

"English/Lit grad students working with romance novels: Smart Bitches just pwned your thesis. Scrap what you got and start over. Think I’m kidding? Ignore my advice and you will Not Pass Go and Collect $200 you’ll just go straight to FAIL." (Love Romance Passion)

"FUN! As someone with a BA and MA in English literature AND enjoys the occasional romance novel, it was a relief to read a book that defends the genre for what it is: a genre that's not much different than mysteries, thrillers of John Clancy novels -- just with more, um, man titty." (Book a Week with Jen)

Have you read it and reviewed it? If so, please post your link to the review! Or, if you just want to share your thoughts on the book here, please feel free to post a comment!

Opposite Love

When it comes to the hero and heroine in a romance novel, I have a thing for opposites. It could be because hubby and I are opposites – I’m an organized math geek and he’s one of those disorganized, creative music types. The ones who can pick up virtually any instrument and figure out how to play it well, whereas I am completely tone deaf. Seriously. I tried to play the violin a while back. One year later and I still sounded like screeching mice. Absolutely dreadful. Yep, I’ve since given up the violin.

But even though we’re opposites in so many ways, I adore hubby completely…because he isn’t like me. He’s him. If I had married another me, we would have driven each other nuts in no time at all. I like me, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t like me enough to marry another me. My own little quirks keep life interesting for hubby (God forbid he ever think me dull *g*). But in someone else, they’d be more annoying than one of those people who wait until the all their groceries are bagged and in their cart before pulling out their checkbook (which is a process wholly unto itself) to s-l-o-w-l-y write out a check. That’s about when I stop trying to keep my daughter in check and let her run amuck. Five-year-olds can be wonderfully handy little people to have around. Simply expressing a sudden and pressing desire to go pee can really get a line moving.

Therefore, when deciding whom to cast as the h/h in a novel, I can’t possibly go with two similar people. I want them to have a happily ever after that lasts, and not wake up one day and discover marriage to oneself isn’t all that fun. But there’s a bit of a science to casting opposites. The trick is to find two people who appear totally different on the surface but actually go together perfectly. Finding that mix of complementary strengths and weaknesses that make the individuals stronger when together. It may take the characters some time to realize they are meant to be together (and that smacking into each other, bouncing off what makes them different can lead to a lot of fun on its own). But by the time the HEA has rolled around, the characters have snapped together like puzzle pieces, and in more ways than just physical. Don’t get me wrong, I love the physical part (must have that, and it has to be…sigh…amazing), but it’s also that moment when the characters just click. When they realize they have found their soul mate.

Given all that, I bet you can guess that the h/h of my new sensual regency-set romance from Berkley, Her Ladyship’s Companion, are a tad opposite. Well, more than a tad. *g* When I was mulling over a hero for Bella, a married aristocratic woman who looks like an ice princess but has a heart of a tart, I couldn’t resist giving her a man like Gideon - a baseborn male prostitute. He’s an utter gentleman, of course, with a brain in his gorgeous head. Couldn’t match my heroine up with an overly-slick idiot whose idea of seduction involved asking where the bedroom was located. That would have been downright cruel. And I will admit that it was a bit of a challenge, one wrought with sex and angst (my two favorite parts of a book) to get these two to their HEA, but rest assured, they are truly perfect for each other, so of course they end up happily ever after.

So what do you think? Do you prefer opposite love in your romance novels, or do you have a different type of favorite h/h pair? And if you want, you can always tell me your cutest quirk, the one that would drive you nuts if it was your significant other’s quirk and not your own. *g*

To celebrate the release of Her Ladyship’s Companion, I’m giving away a copy of the book to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment and on Tuesday night, around 10pm EST or so, I’ll pick a winner at random and post the name.

****UPDATE*****

I entered the names of those who commented into the list randomizer at random.org, and the name that came out on top is:

JEANMARIE HAMILTON!!!

Congrats, Jeanmarie! Send me an e-mail at evangeline @ evangelinecollins (dot) com with your snail mail address, and I'll have the book sent to you.

Thanks again to all who stopped by the blog!

******************

And my thanks goes out to Damned Scribbling Women for having me as a guest on their awesome blog. :D

********

His job was to please her. Not to steal her heart.

In the Scottish countryside of Selkirk, Isabella, Lady Stirling resides at Bowhill Park, serving penance for a sin that nearly ruined her family. For five years she has been condemned to a loveless marriage and confined to the estate where she does little more than tend her rose garden. With her husband absent for months at a time and few visitors, Bella lives a lonely existence, denying the passions that burn within her very soul.

Then her cousin comes for a visit and makes an outrageous suggestion: what Bella needs is a lover. A hired lover. Despite her need, Bella says no. But soon Mr. Gideon Rosedale arrives – and he is at her service for two weeks. Indulging in what she intends to be a harmless flirtation, Bella is overcome by Gideon’s intoxicating presence. And when she at last permits him to satisfy her desires, she discovers she’s done the unthinkable – she’s fallen in love.

Interested in an excerpt? If so, hop on over to my website - Excerpt

Available now in bookstores near you, or through Amazon


Thanks again!!
-Evangeline
Her Ladyship’s Companion/Berkley Sensation
http://www.evangelinecollins.com/
Lush. Elegant. Sensual Historical Romance.

Which Austen Heroine Are You?

Society snobs and deliciously haughty alpha heroes, beware! For I am Elizabeth Bennet, vanquisher of the pompous.

"You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed."

Tendency to pre-judge? Guilty as charged. And lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness? This could explain all my frustrations with the red tape and wasted energy involved in my day job...

Take the quiz here! And be sure to let us know... which Austen heroine are you?

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I know we have many Austen fans on this site. Friends, I must ask: have you all read Jane's latest? It's called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance--Now With Ultra-Violent Zombie Mayhem!

Many thanks to Dawhud for telling me about this delicious novel! Ms. Austen's remastered masterpiece comes to us with a little help from Seth Grahame-Smith (his biography: "once took a class in English literature. Lives in Los Angeles.")

I really enjoyed this book. Not only was the novel itself hilarious, but the questions for discussion in the back made me chuckle. (My favorite: "Does Mrs. Bennet have a single redeeming quality?")

For more, check out this description from Amazon:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read."

Run, do not walk, to your nearest bookstore. I loved this book, and I think you will, too!

And Now, For the Anti-Crush

Wow. I seem to be on a Buffy kick lately! Character crushes on Spike, T-shirt allusions, and now... the anti-crush!

Maren suggested that I do a blog post on the anti-crush... that is, the seemingly innocuous character that you just love to hate. The writer(s) of the book, movie, or TV show probably thought they'd created a semi-sympathetic someone. You were supposed to like the guy (or girl) in question. Yet instead, you find yourself consumed with a fiery loathing every time their face appears on the screen (or page, as the case may be). Often, you are not alone. There may be whole fansites devoted to hating this character.

I think the best example of that would have to be Buffy's utterly bland commando boyfriend, Riley Finn. Why do we hate him so? I could go into a deep analysis, but that's already been done brilliantly by others. Jennifer Crusie put it best when she wrote an essay for Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show. Crusie said, "As the corn-fed farm boy, Riley represents the Beautiful American, light and peace and wholesomeness, and Buffy wants to connect to him because she wants to be Good's Girlfriend. But the relationship feels wrong: Riley wears a milk mustache while Buffy's hands drip blood."

Yeah, give me interesting blood over bland milk mustache any day. He wasn't intriguing. He wasn't Angel or Spike. He didn't fit the story, and we were all cheered when he left!

Do me a favor. If you're a Buffy fan, read that Crusie article. Then, I challenge you--tell me a bit about the anti-crush character you love to hate!

Amusing Apparel

Do yourself a favor: get one of these T-shirts from Jinx. You can order directly from their website, or from Amazon! Who wouldn't want a T-shirt that makes allusions to both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight?

I learned about this T-shirt from my friend Sam, and wasted no time in purchasing one for my very own. I wore this to school and it was a big hit with my Twilight-obsessed students. Some of them were horrified, some were delighted, but everyone took notice! Next up? I plan to wear it to my June GSRWA meeting.

From the Jinx website, a little plug for the T-shirt:

Don't you think the vampires-are-people-too thing has gone a little too far? I mean, the whole point of a vampire is that they survive by sucking your blood. I don't care if his skin glows and twinkles and he smells like kittens and fabric softener, he's still just a glorified syringe. Remember the last time you had blood drawn? Yeah, me too, and it sucked! It's time we put an end to this nonsense: Edward, may I treat you to a stake dinner?

What do you think of the T-shirt? Do you plan to make it part of your wardrobe?

I'd date anybody but...

Hello all, I'm Shelli Stevens. Thank you to the Damned Scribbling Women for having me guest blog today! I enjoy visiting this blog, think the ladies who run it are pretty fabulous, plus the blog itself is pretty sweet on the eyes.

Well, yesterday my book Anybody but Justin released. This novella is the first in three in a series that follows three friends with life, friendship, and finding love. My heroine, Gabby, in Anybody but Justin is pretty liberal with her dating life. She's always enjoyed dating. But there's one guy she dares not fall for, and that's her roommate Justin. Even though he's her best friend and she's totally hot for him, she has her reasons for keeping it platonic. But of course Justin has other plans. *Grin*

So now we know that Gabby would rather date anyone but her roommate. Now I'm going to get us all to confess to the guys (or girls) we've all avoided.

Me, there's a few. I've always been pretty turned off by a guy who was just too hot. I mean, eek, I'm no Halle Berry. I'd rather not have to worry about my hottie guy running off with a hotter chick. The other big turn off for me? Well, not so much about the guy, but more of his driving habits. I cannot dig a guy who drives a sports car. Not sure why...they just are so small and feminine to me. LOL.

I tend to like average guys. The ones that have flaws, but are protective, and maybe on the burly side. Oh, and if you drive a truck that's a plus! (Though not for the environment, maybe I should rethink this!) But then again, I'm still single...so right now....hmm all guys are looking pretty sexy. :D

But, how about you? Even if you're married or taken now, tell me how it used to be. Come on and reply, filling in the blanks here: I'd date anybody but ____

One commenter will win a copy of my ebook Anybody but Justin (info below!), which I'm excited to say just received a Recommended Read from Joyfully Reviewed! Or if you already have it, you can pick another ebook off my Samhain backlist!

* * * * * * * * * * *

The line between friends and lovers can get a little blurry…especially when you add tequila.

A Chances Are story.

Gabby is serious about her search for Mr. Right, but no one can say she hasn’t had a good time looking. She enjoys her numerous dates and the sex that comes with them. Until she finds herself falling for the one man she vows to never love. Her best friend and roommate, Justin. A player in every sense of the word—and a reminder of her awful past.

One night, with the help of a bottle of tequila, things get a little too hot for comfort. She moves out, intent on removing him from the line of temptation.

Justin has different plans. The tequila did more than just change how he sees his good friend. It made him realize he doesn’t want to be just friends any more. He’s ready for something more intimate, and he’ll do whatever it takes to find out why she’s running. And convince her to stay.

Available for purchase here.

The Hunky Hero

The noble ladies over at Royal Reviews have issued a challenge, which I finally have time to accept!

This blog post is going to include information on:

• my favorite hero from a novel (and why he's so great)
• a short excerpt/quote involving that hero
• who I would want to play the hero in a movie version of the book.

That last bullet point guided my selection of a hero. While I could never pick an all-time "favorite hero" from a novel, I do know what I'd love to see on the big screen: Kresley Cole's A Hunger Like No Other. I think Gerard Butler would make a fabulous Werewolf King, don't you? Bonus: he's actually Scottish, so the accent would be no problem!

This book has great cinematic potential. And boy, does it start with a bang! Lachlain has been imprisoned by vampires, and cursed to burn to death repeatedly (only to have his mortality revive him again and again). He's been going through this for hundreds of years, so he's more than a little insane. But, true to good writing, the book starts on the Day That's Different. In the midst of torture, he scents his mate... the one woman destined for him, the one woman he's been waiting forever (literally) to love. The poor guy chews off his own leg to get to her:

Fate has given her to him when he needs her most, and God help him--and this city--if he can't find her. His brutality had been legendary, and he will unleash it without measure for her.

Well, he finds her. And guess what?

She's a vampire.

This is definitely one of the best romance novels I've ever read, and I love the hero and heroine. I won't spoil the rest of the book for you. Let's just say that it's got what every reader loves. Conflict, conflict, conflict! Sex, sex, sex! And Lachlain is definitely one hunky hero.

Now it's your turn to share. Who's your hunky hero? Take up the challenge! Even if I didn't list you by name, feel free to post a comment with a link to your own response. After all, think of what will happen if we don't respond. The Hunky Hero is destined to wander the blogosphere forever shirtless, clueless and lonely. You don't want that on your conscience!

I'm tagging:

• Alyssa Goodnight
  
• Ciara Stewart
• Michele Staci
  
• Vivi Andrews
• Kristie (J)
  

Contestosaurus

Thanks for the great welcome yesterday!


As I wrote my first post, I noticed an archaeologist and a paleontologist among my favorites, and I started thinking people dig up exciting stuff in fiction more often than they do in real life. The only things buried in my yard are abandoned toys and squirrel treasures.


I can name a half-dozen fictional archaeologists, including Amelia Peabody and her grumpy Emerson from Elizabeth Peters' series, Daphne and Anthony in Guilty Pleasures, and Dr. Lisa Maxwell, the spelunking archaeology professor in Stolen Fury. Leslie Howard played a pre-Indy Nazi-fighting archaeology professor in the 1941 film Pimpernel Smith. The plot parallels Scarlet Pimpernel, but the film supposedly inspired Raoul Wallenberg to emulate the fictional hero and save thousands of Jews.


Much as I love Harriet Pomeroy, there aren't many fictional paleontologists out there aside from Ross.


Why not?


Is it because dinosaur bones are found places like the Gobi Desert and North Dakota, whereas ancient human habitations can be anywhere, permitting a plot set in Italy or featuring Roman ruins in England? Archaeological treasures can be small, valuable and easily stolen - everyone loves a heist - but imagine stealing Sue the T-Rex from the Field Museum. Maybe authors feel that a hero or heroine who studies ancient culture or history has more appeal than one who studies bones.


Whatever the reason, I want to give all those dashing treasure-hunting archaeologists some competition, so I'm offering my first contest. Three people who post a dino-licious hero or heroine not mentioned above (and not part of the Michael Crichton/Jurassic Park empire) will win a squishy expandable dinosaur in the mail. The prize is a tiny little creature - until you get it wet. I'll make it easier: even a secondary character, if it's a bona fide paleontologist, is a valid entry. Movies count too. Especially if they have Leslie Howard in them.


I'll pick winners Sunday, May 10, random number fashion, not based on how much I like the character, so keep entering until then.

Meet Anna

Hello everyone. I'm thrilled to blog with Kate and Anneliese at DSW. I met Kate through Greater Seattle RWA, where we are usually roommates at the Emerald City Writer's Conference. This week I'll tell you about myself, hold a contest tomorrow and blog about the musical inspirations for my two novels at the end of the week.

Day Job: Never ends. I'm home with two silly preschoolers. We'll call them Big Boy and Boots. I'm also a non-practicing lawyer and former U.S. Army officer.

Hails from: Seattle, Washington (since 1995).

In your next life? I'll have perfect eyesight and be 5'7" - tall enough to never shorten pants again.

Preferred writing snack: A double tall nonfat latte at Herkimer Coffee, something intriguing from the pastry case and two uninterrupted writing hours.

Favorite romantic movie: The Mummy. Isn't Brendan Fraser wonderful when his hair flops over his eyes? Don't all librarians deserve him?

Who are your favorite heroines from romantic fiction?

The paleontologist Harriet Pomeroy in Amanda Quick's Ravished (1992). She is the first Regency heroine I remember having an interest outside marriage, really a profession, that I wanted to share. These days many historical heroines have careers - Laura Lee Guhrke's "girl bachelors" for instance - but Harriet and her dinosaur fetish are still my first favorite.

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" is my favorite first line, but Lady Dona St. Columb of Frenchman's Creek is my favorite Daphne du Maurier heroine. She has so much more steel than the heroine of Rebecca. Lady St. Columb stares down the conflict between self-fulfillment and responsibility, adventure versus hearth. All with a pirate by her side.

Who are your favorite heroes from romantic fiction?

Sink me, if I don't require a tonic of Sir Percy Blakeney when I grow tired of alpha heroes. I adore Leslie Howard, that long-faced master of disguise, in the 1935 movie. Finding out that Howard's plane was shot down by Nazis shades the Pimpernel mystique into real life.

Who's your favorite Canadian? My sweet husband of almost eight years. He supports my writing, has never once complained about a messy house or eating curried leftovers, and was properly sympathetic last week after I left our new car's sunroof open, overnight, in the rain.

My first contest! Now that you know a bit about me, I hope you'll visit Tuesday afternoon (Pacific time) for my first contest.

Thanks for welcoming me!

Anna Richland

"Name That Navy Book" Contest: WINNER!

It took us a day to deliberate over your wonderful posts, but we've finally selected a winner for our "Name That Navy Book" Contest!

The lucky recipient of a Debbie Macomber novel is...

JAIME
(who's certainly had a string of luck recently!)

Congratulations! We will be contacting you and passing along the prize.

Thanks to everyone who participated! So many of the entries were hilarious, and we encourage you to go back and read them. Here's Jaime's entry:

Title: Navy Doc

Tagline: It was not just her arm that needed healing, it was her heart...

Blurb: Marybeth has survived med school, but basic training is even tougher. The injury that might threaten her career in surgery is less threatening than the injury that Dr. Mike, the senior resident, might inflict on her heart. Is this officer a man of honor, or an open wound? She may be a Navy doc now, but how will she know if her ship has come in?

*GASP*

Not five minutes ago, I sent e-mails to two editors at two of the big-name houses in romance publishing.

Gulp. Gasp. Heart attack.

All fall-out from the Princeton conference. Let me tell you, it is vastly easier to meet editors in an academic setting versus a wanna-be writers' convention. As one of them told me, "I don't have to worry here that if I mention I like Italy, I'll get 20,000 Italian-set mss in the mail."

They gave me their cards, and so I wrote. I don't feel ready. I'd like to rework Then Comes Marriage from top to bottom before showing it to anyone. I'd like to finish All the Things You Are, the new contemporary romance ms I started a few weeks ago, before reaching out to potential publishers.

But...fate puts opportunities in our paths. If I hesitate, I might lose momentum. If I dither for weeks, they could forget all about me.

It was easier to meet editors at an academic conference. We'll see if it's any easier to sell to them.

Gulp.

What Your Mama Told You

I'm back from the Romance Conference at Princeton--and wow, do I have a lot to report. It was a fascinating event, with some great papers and presenters...but I need time to process before I can give a full update. There was just too much to fit in my brain and spit it back out neatly.

As a teaser: a story and a question. Sarah Frantz, one of the academics in attendance, told a story in the context of her paper about reading her first BDSM romance--a relatively tame Harlequin that was handed to her by her mother with the remark "This one has bondage!" when she was fifteen.

I know a lot of women were introduced to the romance genre by their mothers (or sometimes older sisters). I'm in the awkward position of having introduced my mother to the genre. She picked up her first romances after she learned I was writing one and working at a romance-related corporation (my former, pre-grad school job).

I'm a long way off from having a teen or pre-teen daughter. Or son for that matter. But I'm not sure whether I will be comfortable sharing romance novels with her or him. I hope I will be! I hope I'll be a published author well before then and that romances will be like wallpaper to my kids--ordinary, taken for granted aspects of their environment. Nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed about.

So, to the Damned Scribbling Women and friends: How did you start reading romance? How should mothers and children (daughters and sons) relate together over romance novels?

Snape Celebrates National Poetry Month

If loving Alan Rickman is wrong, I don't want to be right. And many of our readers agree with me!

While posting her list of character crushes, Maren said, "I look over that list, and realize that most of my fantasy character crushes are assholes and/or evil. Troubling. Which reminds me, add Professor Snape to that list."

Fist-the-Dead clearly agreed. In a later post on the same topic, she said, "I was dragged to "Harry Potter" by my friends thinking it would be totally lame. Then I saw Snape. I have to agree that he is an object of lust. He was like Trent Reznor, but a Trent Reznor who could give me detention for not wearing panties. And that my friends, is a good thing."

Love of Alan Rickman: clearly, it's a sign of fabulous taste. After all, the Smart Bitches agree with me--so much that they've posted an MP3 of Rickman reading Shakespeare's Sonnet 130. Hurray! This has got to be every brainy bombshell's secret fantasy. Shakespeare and Professor Snape, together at last?

Yes, please.

So take this moment, before April ends, to celebrate National Poetry Month. Melt a little, courtesy of the Bard and the Potions Professor.

Contest: Name that Navy Book!

How's this for inspiring cover art?

Did you ever read any of Debbie Macomber's "Navy" books? She wrote them for Silhouette Special Edition, and they had names like Navy Husband and Navy Woman. Theresa and I discovered these books while she was pondering whether or not to join--you guessed it--the navy. Not only did we greatly enjoy all of the "Navy" books we picked up at the used bookstore, but we took great pleasure in annotating them with our comments and sending them off to China, where our good friend Riley was working for the Peace Corps.

It was lighthearted reading for a transitional time in all of our lives. We were fresh out of college, starting to pursue our own career paths... all of us agonizing over what the future might hold, and all of us making dating choices that definitely do NOT belong in a romance novel.

Fast forward six years later: Riley, Theresa, and I are all happily married. Theresa is a full-fledged Navy doc, married to someone from her program! That's right, her man is an officer and a doctor. Be still, my heart.

Theresa's other half has been in Iraq for the past few months, but he's scheduled to come home soon. April also the month of their anniversary! So many reasons to celebrate...

Post your best wishes for the happy couple here, or join us in a contest in their honor! We think this doctor duo deserve their own book in the "Navy" series. Post a title, a tag line, and a blurb that does justice to this double-Navy-doc romance. Contest closes on Thursday, April 30th @ 11:59pm (PDT). Multiple entries allowed.

Winner gets one of the Macomber Navy books!

Here's an example from one of Macomber's books:

Title: Navy Blues

Tagline: She needed just one night with him . . .

Blurb: Despite her ex-husband's bullheadedness, Carol Kyle knew he'd be the perfect man to father the child she so desperately wanted. Yet she also realized that the strong, honorable man would never allow his child to be raised without a father. So Carol needed to plot, to plan, to maneuver, to seduce Steve into her bed for one last time . . . And then once more. Still, the passion when they were together was never the problem - it was the absences that tore them apart. Had they grown enough to chance trying again - especially when Carol's plan seemed about to work?

(For our long-time fans: yes, this is a re-post with slight tweaking.)

Are you ready for the ECO?

Does your first scene compel editors to ask for more?

Your opener is the hook that attracts an editor or makes a potential reader decide to purchase your book.

Polish the first seven pages of your manuscript and send them to the Emerald City Opener Contest. You will receive feedback in the form of detailed score sheets. Your judges (published writers or Golden Heart finalists and winners) are encouraged to include comments on your entry.

Contest Timeline

• June 1 - Entries must be e-received by midnight (PDT), June 1, 2009
• September 1 - Finalists notified by telephone
• October 10 - Winners announced at the Emerald City Writers' Conference
• October 16 - Score sheets and entries returned to all participants
  

* * * * *

Confession: this has got to be my favorite writing contest. Not only is it sponsored by my local RWA chapter, but it has such great benefits. Every contestant gets extensive feedback on her (or his!) entry. Even better: the finalists all get a private appointment with an agent or editor during the Emerald City Writers' Conference.

Folks, I'm the agent/editor chair for this year's conference. And let me tell you: we've got some great industry guests coming. I'll be blogging about them later. For now, just trust me: you want ten minutes alone with these people!

If you're so inclined, feel free to copy the pertinent details of this post onto your own blog. We'd love to have as many entries (and conference attendees) as possible!

Also, are you planning on entering the contest? What about attending the conference?

The Shirley Temple Effect

It seems that our crummy economy will have a negative impact on our most beloved pastime: reading. That's right, folks. The chief financial officer at Barnes & Noble predicted that book sales will fall between 4 and 6 percent this year.

The good news? (Yes, there's good news!) Romance sales are apparently on the rise. In a recent NY Times article, Motoko Rich reported that the first three months of 2009 saw a 2.4 increase in romance sales. In 2008, romance sales rose 7% after holding steady for four years. And these numbers don't even take into account the books sold at discount chains like Wal-Mart or Target.

The silver sales lining actually extends beyond romance novels. Other industries getting a bump include: chocolate, garden seeds, fast food, and condoms. Make of that what you will!

Of course, my interest is in the increased romance sales. Our genre's popularity is actually raising a few journalistic eyebrows. In addition to Rich, the trend's been followed by Misty Harris at the Vancouver Sun, who mostly discusses renewed academic interest in romance. Both articles are definitely worth reading!

Of course, there are a few reporters who can't resist jabbing at the genre even as they report its successes. Has anyone else noticed this? The underlying snark? It's not too hard to read between the lines when a reporter proudly states that he/she never reads romance novels... and then launches into a critique of the fact that they're "formulaic," "overwrought" or "underdeveloped."

I can't help it. It bugs me. I also have to wonder: where does a self-proclaimed non-romance reader get the authority to dismiss the entire genre?

True, I've read some "overwrought and underdeveloped" romance novels. But I've also read "overwrought and underdeveloped" crud in every other form of writing. Do people dismiss general fiction as a whole after reading several self-indulgent, navel-gazer novels?

I think not.

I also think, as the economy continues to... wobble... that it will grow increasingly difficult to "poke fun" at romance novels. Our genre's popularity will increase. Why? For the same reason that Shirley Temple was such a hit during the Depression: people need a way to set their stress aside, and she was dimpled and cute and uncomplicated. Believe it or not, FDR actually said that "as long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right."

I don't know about our whole country... but I do know that romance novels keep me in an "all right" state of mind. My already stressful teaching job is much worse now that I have to beg, borrow, and steal basic office supplies. It's nice to know that I can unwind with a guaranteed happy ending. Romance novels: the modern Shirley Temple!

If you're also blogging about the economy, please link to us so we can take part in the larger discussion! What do you think? Are romance novels the new Good Ship Lollipop? Or maybe you just want to tell us about your creative use for garden seeds and condoms...

Sex and the Ivy League English Department

As an apprentice academic and unpublished romance novelist, I sometimes feel caught between two worlds. People consumed by literary theory and the status of "high" art frequently have a way of blithely dismissing the entire romance genre as melodramatic, sentimental, out-dated, and even socially harmful trash--without ever picking up a Julia Quinn, or Susan Elizabeth Phillips, or Laura Kinsale to test those assumptions out. I've seen it and I've heard it, more times than I can count. Romance readers and writers can be just as tetchy, thanks to years of dismissive comments.

I'll probably follow Eloisa James' lead when I eventually get published--keep it incognito until you're established enough as an academic that you can say "pphhhht" to any potential criticism.

But while I'm hewing to the status quo, a bunch of talented scholars, writers, and readers are coming together to help bring romance into the critical conversation. At Princeton, no less!

From April 23-24, the Princeton University English Department is hosting a conference called "Love as the Practice of Freedom: Romance Fiction and American Culture."

This isn't some bull session for critics outside the genre to cast their judgment on it from on high. Several scholar/romance writers are presenting-- including Mary Bly/Eloisa James and Gwendolyn Pough/Gwyneth Bolton. They've got longtime bestsellers Jenny Crusie and Beverly Jenkins on the list, members of the reading community like Sarah Wendell of the scribbling women's beloved Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, and the President of RWA. And they have scholars doing trailblazing research on current romance fiction along with eminent scholars of romance in other periods, like Margaret Doody--whose work on Austen and Burney I turn to in my own research.

This looks like a great line-up! I'm lucky enough to be free on Thursdays and Fridays and to live close enough to Princeton to attend. I hope to see some other scribblers there. And I'll be sure to update everyone afterward on romance fiction's Ivy League debut.

Welcome Back Contest: WINNER!

We've selected a winner for our Welcome Back Contest!

The lucky recipient of the Pin-Up Lip Balm is...

JAIME

Congratulations! We will be contacting you and passing along the prize.

Tell, Don't Show?

Does the title of this post feel like a cardinal sin to anyone else?

The author of this article teaches screen-writing, but his message is worthwhile for any writer. Make us sympathize with the protagonist! Even if it means using some no-no tools to do do it...

Let me know if you link to the article, or if it was helpful for your own writing!

Saving Cancelled Shows

After yesterday's praise of Chuck, I feel compelled to tell you that it's an "on the bubble" show. I have no idea whether it will be renewed for a third season or not.

There are several shows potentially on the chopping block. I want to know: which one do you think should be saved? Share your opinion! Vote in E!Online’s Save One Show poll.

And if you want to join the "Save Chuck" campaign, click here.

Also: I tried to create and post my own quiz (using Quibblo.com) but I had a problem. After taking the quiz once, it would only show the results. As much fun as a one-person poll would be, I'd like to figure out how to use Quibblo more effectively.

Anyone out there have quiz writing/posting experience they can share?

Geek Chic

He's the secret. She's the agent.

So, the tagline for Chuck sums up why this is an excellent show for romance fans (and romance novelists) to watch. The romantic couple has an excellent conflict lock--they both have feelings for each other, but they can't act on them. It's actually a matter of life and death that their relationship stay strictly professional.

Oh, the tension! Makes for a lot of eye sex and unspoken yearning, which we all know I love.

Also, the premise provides great action potential. For those of you who've never heard of Chuck, here's a brief summary: Chuck's a brilliant computer nerd stuck working at a Buy More (think Best Buy). When he opens an email from a former friend, it downloads a top-secret government computer into his brain. He's become "the Intersect." In his undercover life, Chuck fights terrorists with his two secret agent handlers. In his everyday life, he has to hide the truth from his over-protective family and super-kooky friends.

There's action, humor, and suspense. There's also an underlying layer of sweet, emotional authenticity that makes this show worth watching.

I know there are plenty of spy capers out there for your viewing pleasure. But trust me, the two protagonists make it worth a viewing! They are both perfect examples of Tami Cowden's archetypes, and they're paired together quite unusually. I am now going to quote directly from her (fabulous) website:

Chuck is the PROFESSOR: coolly analytical, he knows every answer. He’s logical, introverted, and inflexible, but genuine about his feelings. At work, he likes cold, hard facts, thank you very much, but he's also honest and faithful, and won’t let you down.

Sara (one of the agents assigned to protect him) is the CRUSADER: a dedicated fighter, she meets her commitments. No shrinking violet, no distressed damsel, here. This lady is on a mission, and she marches right over anyone in her way. Tenacious and headstrong, she brushes off any opposition to her goal.

Got that? He's the nerd and she's the ninja. She can put her feelings aside to get the job done (well, usually) whereas Chuck is much more emotional. Yeah, there's a lot of gender-bending going on. Rest assured, Chuck still makes for a great hero (because he's so faithful and devoted... and he has a really intriguing skill set). I like watching a romance develop where the two lovers switch off the responsibility of rescuing each other!

What's the word? Any other Chuck fans out there? Or any other shows that romance fans should be watching? Please share!

Your Character Crush: Dream, or Nightmare?

Way back in 2007, I wrote a post about Character Crushes.

I mentioned that I had a thing for Spike, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Specifically, I said, "I didn't quite want to have his evil, soulless babies... but I thought he'd make an absolutely fabulous mistake."

Many of our readers had hilarious things to say about their crushes. Maren posted her list of character crushes and stated, "I look over that list, and realize that most of my fantasy character crushes are assholes and/or evil. Troubling. Which reminds me, add Professor Snape to that list."

Oh, Maren. It's so true. And it leads me to wonder... do we all seek inappropriate men (or women) in our fiction? All of my students love Edward, from Twilight (you might kill me, but I don't care). Then there's Valek, from the Mary Snyder's "Study" series (yes, yes! Bring on the ruthless assassin love!) And I don't know about the rest of you, but I've always had a bit of a thing for Liz Carlyle's character, Bentley Rutledge (you're a charming, tortured soul who's frequently implicated in criminal investigations. What's not to like?)

Share your forbidden character love with me. And tell me, if you met your character crush in person... would you want to cuddle up to him/her, or call the police?

Not-So Evil Dolls

Libba Bray is the fabulous, fantastic, fierce author of the Gemma Doyle trilogy-- some of the meatiest, funniest, creepiest, most inventive, best developed, and just gosh-darn greatest YA novels Kate D. and I have read in the last 5 years.

She has a live journal that is must-read material for anyone interested in the writing life, her phenomenal work, and generally funny stuff.

In February, she hosted a competition for fans of her fantasy series: create something that represents the trilogy, be it a song, skit, sketch, or story and win a role in her upcoming Vampire-focused ms. The winner has been chosen and crowned. And I implore everyone who loves the books, extremely condensed-retellings of long, complicated works, and doll humor to check it out:



If for some reason you can't play our embedded video, follow this link to the Doll Version of Gemma Doyle and Friends.

Archives Updated!

Guess what?

The DSW archive is up and running once more! Yes, yes. We have harnessed the inner librarian to do a bit of cataloging. After an intense process of relabeling posts from the past, they are again available for your viewing pleasure. We've also got an archive gadget added to our sidebar, for your searching convenience.

Why not celebrate the return of past posts by reading The Unfeasibly Hilarious Harlequin Parody?

Or take another gander at Kate Diamond's deliciously dated yearbook photos.

Or perhaps you'd like to revisit our obsessive analysis of Grey's Anatomy! (So lengthy, we needed a part one and part two post!)

Meet Kate

Kate Diamond writes light-hearted romance full of sass and sizzle.

Day Job: high school English teacher

Hails from: Washington state

In your next life? I'll come back as a history professor who knows many foreign languages!

Preferred writing snack: something salty, like popcorn or Cheez-Its.

Best romantic moment from a TV show: Season two of Friends, "The One Where Ross Finds Out." We go from Rachel's blind date drunk-dial to Ross checking his messages--hilarious dialogue, great physical comedy. Then there's all the sexual tension of the cafe argument and (finally!) the hot rain kiss.

Who are your favorite heroines from romantic fiction?

• Anne Shirley - As a child, I wanted to be Anne--she was so feisty, so intelligent, and so unique. She went to college, she was a writer, and she married Gilbert Blythe. Even when I was seven, this sounded like a recipe for a happy life!
• Elizabeth Bennet - Romance novelists must love Austen's fiesty heroine. I believe it's a law. Who wouldn't enjoy reading (and re-reading) a novel full of one-liners from this vivacious, spunky heroine?

Who are your favorite heroes from romantic fiction?

• Gilbert Blythe - Clearly, I am obsessed with all things L.M. Montgomery (though must admit to never liking Teddy from the Emily books. I thought Perry and Dean were much more interesting).
  
• Mr. Darcy - He could talk about my "fine eyes" any day of the week, and I would be one happy woman. Oh, Fitzwilliam. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
  
• Agent Seeley Booth - I am a Bones fan because of him. (Yeah, I had to dip into TV for this one.) Honorable, capable, and incredibly easy on the eyes. May future seasons bring us many shirtless scenes!

Who's your favorite real-life romance hero? Mr. Marvelous, my husband of seven months. In addition to being a total hottie, he's also a supreme sweetheart. He always takes out the trash, does most of the laundry, and cheerfully eats Honey Smacks for dinner whenever I refuse to cook.

Meet Anneliese

Anneliese Kelly writes heartfelt romance charged with heat and spiced with humor.

Day Job: PhD student in Victorian and Romantic literature; college composition instructor.

Hails from: New York City

In your next life? Cabaret crooner on top of a piano in a slinky dress slit up to there.

Preferred Writing Snack: Cheese...any kind of cheese. And crackers. Any kind of cracker.

Best romantic moment(s) on film:

1. Dev's rescue of Alicia at the end of Hitchcock's Notorious. Cary Grant. Ingrid Bergman. Swoon.

2. The Kiss from season 1 of Veronica Mars. Veronica and Logan go from bitterest enemies to jumping each other's bones outside the Camelot Motel. Hot.

Who are your favorite heroines from romantic fiction?

1. Anne Elliot from Persuasion, the original second-chance romance by the incomparable Jane Austen. Watching forgotten, faded Anne bloom into love, beauty, and self-appreciation is an evergreen delight.

2. Valancy Stirling. The heroine of L. M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle is--like Anne Elliot--a little too old, a little too timid, and very over-looked. When she has a medical scare and decides to live for herself, she becomes a character you can relate to and admire.

3. Leda Etoile. My favorite Laua Kinsale heroine, from The Shadow and the Star. A regular girl with a backbone of steel.

Who are your favorite heroes from romantic fiction?

1. Frederick Wentworth. Anne's counterpart in Persuasion is wounded lover, hardened warrior, sarcastic ladies' man, and repententant returning suitor all at once. Plus, the man writes a damn fine letter (You pierce my soul, Frederick).

2. Barney Snaith. Valancy's husband in The Blue Castle is witty and funny and adventurous and every bit her free-spirited match. Both of these couples--Anne and Frederick, Valancy and Barney--are truly best friends, as well as lovers. So important in life, so rare in fiction.

3. Christian, Duke of Jervaulx. My favorite Kinsale hero, from Flowers from the Storm. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know, but always able to smile, even when his brilliant mind gives out and his body betrays him.

Who's your favorite real-life romance hero? My husband of almost two years, Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome. He walks the dog every morning, always moves the car on street-cleaning days, and never fails to pick up a bottle of Pellegrino just when we run out.

Welcome Back Contest

To kick off the grand re-opening of our website, we're having a giveaway!

One of our lucky blog followers will receive a tin of Pin-Up Lip Balm. Come on. You know you want this sexy lip balm made of 100% natural ingredients.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. Our lucky winner will be randomly drawn next week. The contest will run through Monday, April 13th @ 11:59pm (PDT).

Good luck!

Why DSW?

The site's name comes from a Nathaniel Hawthorne quote. Way back in 1855, the famous author of The Scarlet Letter complained that “America is now wholly given over to a damned mob of scribbling women, and I should have no chance of success while the public taste is occupied with their trash--and should be ashamed of myself if I did succeed.”

Admittedly, using this quote is a nod to our nerdy side. However, we also reference it because we delight in the popularity (and power) of “scribbling women.” We also believe that the novels we write are uplifting and important (not trash!).

As the tagline on the site indicates, we are brainy bombshells who write red-hot romance. We write about the triumphs and challenges of the romance novelist’s life. To celebrate the return of DSW, we will have a plethora of new posts planned for this week.

Happy reading!

Spring Cleaning

Where have all the DSW gone?

We know, we know. It's a question you've had to ask yourself before. There have been long silences while Kate and Anneliese grappled with grad school, wedding planning, moving stress, etc. Today is a special day, however. It's not just the DSW who are missing. It's our entire archive of posts!

Fear not, gentle reader. We haven’t gone crazy with the delete key. We’re merely undergoing a bit of spring-cleaning. The old posts are down temporarily while we streamline our vision and separate the wheat from the chaff.

That’s right! After almost four years of blogging, we’re taking a moment to pause and take stock. How has our mission clarified? How have our tech skills improved? And just how long will it take us to clean up our old posts with better images, embedded links, and streamlined blog tags?

In the next few weeks, you can expect to see a barrage of sassy new posts. There will be additional site features as well as a re-mastered archive unveiling. We are quite excited, and hope that you are, too!

Some of you may be wondering when the site re-launch will occur. We’re shooting for April 5^th as a kick-off date (it just so happens to be Kate’s first day of Spring Break… go figure…) But don’t worry! We will visit all of your beloved blogs and let you know when we’ve reopened for business!

Please wish us luck on our website revisions! See you soon!

Publish or Perish

It's a common expression in academia--the idea that you've got to get your thoughts out there in published form or your career is toast. Implied in the phrase is the suggestion that the quality of work published may not even matter as much to one's career prospects as the fact of frequent publication. And it's a sentiment that certainly applies to the romance industry, in which a writer is only as successful as her last novel and in which top-selling authors struggle to put out two books a year.

Which brings me to my current progress in either of my two chosen fields: literary criticism and historical romance. I never realized when I went back to graduate school how difficult it would become juggling two careers (or the aspirations toward two careers) that take "publish or perish" as their motto. I had a system set out when I was working in (fittingly enough) publishing. I wrote nearly every night for an hour or two. I used my weekends to work on my fiction.

But now I struggle with the thought that extra time, such as it is, ought to be used for research, for academic writing, for additional reading. I've frequently felt in the last two-and-a-half years that I've short-changed both my careers. I haven't devoted myself to academic research with single-mindedness, and I haven't devoted myself to novel writing and publication seeking with any sort of mindedness at all.

New Years are times for expressions of new intentions. And so, of course, are inaugurations of new Presidents. Without turning a blog about writing and reading unduly political, I can acknowledge the inspiration I feel looking toward the next four (ideally eight) years of our country--and maybe take some of that optimism for myself and my individual professional goals.

I've written 30 pages of Oh Mistress Mine since Christmas. I just learned I was accepted into my first professional academic conference this summer in London, to give a talk on Frances Burney.

Maybe I will get the hang of this dual-writing career thing. Maybe I will get to publish before I perish.

Auld Lang Syne

During my adolescence I thought it quite profound to discuss the question, "If you found out that you were going to die, who would you call? What would you say? And why are you waiting?" At the time, my answers (not surprisingly) always involved confronting the object of my latest heartbreak and/or secret crush. He would, of course, be moved to tears by my eminent demise and tragic love scenes would ensue.

Then I moved out on my own, and I was a bit too busy paying for electricity to worry myself with such matters. But now I have a husband, a house, and (gasp) steady access to health care. This is all wonderful. But I've discovered that with great security comes great complacency.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life. I love my husband. And I'm no longer gaining perverse satisfaction from imagining dire deathbed scenes. But it recently occurred to me that we've put off having kids specifically so that we can experience certain things and accomplish certain goals before we put our energy into parenthood. Sounds smart, right? And maybe it would be, if we didn't spend so much of our time (a) engrossed in the banality of everyday tasks or (b) whining about our lack of energy and lazing about the house.

So this year, I'm not making a virtuous new year's resolution. I'm not going to try to exercise more, or lose weight, or (heaven forfend) quit whining about things that annoy me. Instead, my resolution is to quit waiting. Quit waiting for the perfect circumstances. Quit plodding away at the daily to-do list and instead pay attention to a list I actually care about. Here are the top five things I'll quit waiting to do:

(1) Travel more. The Husband and I want to take interesting vacations, but he keeps saying that we don't have the time or the money. To break us out of that mindset, I'm determined to orchestrate four mini-breaks to local destinations (one mini-break per season). In winter 2009, we will take the train to Portland, OR for two nights at the Benson Hotel. I've already made reservations!

(2) Spend more time with family. My grandmothers are getting older and my nephews and nieces are growing fast! Why guilt-trip over our lack of contact when I could reinvest that time in actual visits?

(3) Take classes. As a Christmas gift, The Husband signed me up for an online writing class with Patricia Kay. I'm so excited! I'd also love to learn some non-writing things. I'm hoping to convince some of my friends to join me in something aerobic and naughty (like pole-dancing lessons). And at some point (I don't know if it will be 2009), I would like to start studying Latin again.

(4) Finish Revising Mr. Right and submit it to at least four agents. This one's self-explanatory!

(5) Read five non-romance novels. (Aside from Water for Elephants, which many people have recommended to me, these are all books that I've started before and long to finish.)

• Dracula (Bram Stoker)
• Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
• Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen)
  
• Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (David Kennedy)
  
• King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa (Adam Hochschild)
  

Whew! This turned out to be quite a long post (to say nothing for a long list). I'll wrap up with that most interesting of questions: what is your new year's resolution? Best wishes to you in 2009!

Veni, Vidi, Vici

I'm done with the 50,000 words.

I'm not done shaping the manuscript.

I'm not even done shaping the part I'll send to agents.

But I won NaNoWriMo.

Let me repeat: I won NaNoWriMo.

For those of you who know me, you'll understand that this is a big deal. I managed to set myself a deadline and a goal. I managed to meet it, despite the delights of procrastination promised by my day job, my social life, and my utterly delectable husband (not necessarily in that order). I managed to write 50,000 words despite the fact that I had (a) 1 out-of-town visitor (b) 10 teaching coaches camped out in my classroom (c) over 200 papers to grade and (d) an overwhelming desire to watch 3 seasons' worth of Bones in the span of two weeks.

Throw in a partridge and a pear tree, and you have it just about right!

Suddenly, anything seems possible. Maybe I can actually make a go of this writing thing, even with my hectic day job. I'll be back in a week or so to offer you up my musings on life, and where I go next. In the mean time, I am going to put up Christmas decorations and pamper my husband. (Hopefully, a week of cooking dinner will make up for all the nights he stayed clear of my writing space and subsisted on Honey Smacks...)

Thank you all for your encouragement as I tackled NaNoWriMo 2008!

NaNo Triumph!

Take that, November!

You've been fighting my intentions to win NaNoWriMo. You've given me stress in the work place, depressingly bad weather, and the kind of exhaustion that has me wondering if I'm (a) narcoleptic or (b) pregnant. (No to both, in case you're hoping for a mini-DSW!)

But despite all that you have thrown at me, I have finally caught up my NaNoWriMo word count! That's right--after five and a half hours of diligent writing today, I finally broke the 25,000 barrier. Woo-hoo!

Let us celebrate this triumph with another graph, as victory may be short-lived and we need to commemorate the moment!