Monthly Archives: July 2009

Erotic Journeys and Bodice Rippers

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve been thinking more on the reasons some books are categorized as erotica and some as romance when the number or frequency of sex scenes, and the “heat level” thereof, is very similar. I don’t believe the degree of explicit … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, romance novels | 7 Comments

The Research Book Dilemma

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

My name is Victoria, and I am a book hoarder. If I were still an impecunious graduate student, the lack of funds to buy books would be a constant pain, but as an adult with a job, my struggle is … Continue reading →

Posted in historical fiction, research, wwi | Comments Off on The Research Book Dilemma

Cecilia Tan Guest Post – "Why Writing Romance and Erotica Is Like Being Good in Bed"

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Cecilia Tan! # Why Writing Romance and Erotica Is Like Being Good in Bedby Cecilia Tan I was debating with a friend recently on what the “real” difference is between “literary” fiction and “commercial” fiction. What’s … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, guest | 4 Comments

The Book of Awesome

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Today I bring you The Book of Awesome. The Book of Awesome is why you should have friends. A short while ago, I was bemoaning the fact that I had read the Hornblower books and the Aubrey-Maturin books, and was … Continue reading →

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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Ultra-Brother!

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Why does the coolest brother in the romance series usually turn out to be such a dud? I began to make a list of all the series of historical novels featuring brothers as heroes, but then realized that would be … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 2 Comments

Siegfried Sassoon, "Their Frailty"

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Their Frailty He’s got a Blighty wound. He’s safe; and then War’s fine and bold and bright. She can forget the doomed and prisoned men Who agonize and fight. He’s back in France. She loathes the listless strain And peril … Continue reading →

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Moonlight Mistress excerpt – the opening

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

This is the opening section of Moonlight Mistress, out December 2009 from Harlequin Spice. # There were no trains to Strasbourg. The hand lettered sign on the station wall might be wrong, or something might have changed. Lucilla Daglish clutched … Continue reading →

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More RWA National Conference 2009

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Nifty Hotel Pictures I couldn’t find a place for these in my posts on the conference, so here they are: a few “artsy” snapshots of the Wardman Marriott. Tomorrow is Snippet Saturday–theme is “openings.” I’ve posted the opening section of … Continue reading →

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RWA National Conference 2009 Report, Part Three

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I loved the hotel gardens, which were filled with beds upon beds of bright red salvia and richly golden marigolds. Friday morning, I got up way too early because I heard one of my roommates saying into the phone, very … Continue reading →

Posted in conferences, rwa | 12 Comments

RWA National Conference 2009 Report, Part Two

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I was most amused to find the hotel had changed one of the mens’ bathrooms into a womens’ bathroom, and as part of the repurposing, they draped and decorated the urinals with flowers and boxes of tissues, so our maidenly … Continue reading →

Posted in conferences, rwa | 4 Comments