Monthly Archives: April 2009

Elves

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Why do people love elves? Or hate elves? Does it all come down to Tolkien in the end? Did Orlando Bloom in the Lord of the Rings movies give elves a boost? Where did you first learn to love or … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, sf/f | 6 Comments

Researching Pirates

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The novel I’m currently writing has pirates! I am very excited by this, as pirates are a classic element in romance novels. Here’s what I’ve been reading so far, as research. Links are to Amazon.com. I started out with this … Continue reading →

Posted in pirates, research, the duke | 4 Comments

My Favorite Romance Tropes, and Not-So-Favorite

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I will always pick up books with plots based on these ideas: *Nice, ordinary heroes (think Carla Kelly, or the so-called “beta hero”) *PTSD, Napoleonic Wars-style; angstful spies from the same period *Marriages of convenience *Virginal males (not that you … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 4 Comments

NYRSF Reading Tonight

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Tonight, I’m reading with with Kris Saknussemm as part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading series. Guest curator is Amy Goldschlager. There’s a bit more information in yesterday’s post, if you scroll down. The reading is at … Continue reading →

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New York Review of Science Fiction Reading

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Tomorrow night, I will be reading with along with Kris Saknussemm as part of the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading series, this month guest curated by Amy Goldschlager. The reading is at 7:00 pm at the South Street … Continue reading →

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Wilde quote

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

“I have been correcting the proofs of my poems. In the morning, after hard work, I took a comma out of one sentence…. In the afternoon I put it back again.” –Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

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The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover

Posted on April 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

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A teaser from my third Spice novel

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

This excerpt is from the opening chapter of my third novel for Harlequin Spice. ### “My lady,” Maxime said, “I understand you’re disappointed–“ The Lady Diamanta threw a gold-and-ruby pomegranate at Maxime’s head. He ducked, but it still clipped the … Continue reading →

Posted in free read, promo, the duke | 4 Comments

New sales!

Posted on April 2, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve sold two more books to Harlequin Spice. The first one is tentatively titled The Duke and the Pirate Queen, but that will very likely change, since all of my other tentative titles have changed before publication. The second is … Continue reading →

Posted in pirates, promo, the duke | 14 Comments

Gene Wolfe quote, from The Sword of the Lictor, and a lamp

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The image accompanying this post is a lamp from a hotel room in which I stayed recently. It requires no further comment, I hope. I find this quote to be so very, very true: “I have noticed that in books … Continue reading →

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