Author Archives: Victoria Janssen

About Victoria Janssen

Victoria Janssen [she, her] currently writes cozy space opera for Kalikoi. The novella series A Place of Refuge begins with Finding Refuge: Telepathic warrior Talia Avi, genius engineer Miki Boudreaux, and augmented soldier Faigin Balfour fought the fascist Federated Colonies for ten years, following the charismatic dissenter Jon Churchill. Then Jon disappeared, Talia was thought dead, and Miki and Faigin struggled to take Jon’s place and stay alive. When the FC is unexpectedly upended, Talia is reunited with her friends and they are given sanctuary on the enigmatic planet Refuge. The trio of former guerillas strive to recover from lifetimes of trauma, build new lives on a planet with endless horizons, and forge tender new connections with each other.

Siegfried Sassoon, “In Barracks”

Posted on March 28, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

In Barracks The barrack-square, washed clean with rain, Shines wet and wintry-grey and cold. Young Fusiliers, strong-legged and bold, March and wheel and march again. The sun looks over the barrack gate, Warm and white with glaring shine, To watch … Continue reading →

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Playing Dress-Up

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The first romance novels I remember reading in my adolescence, or at least skimming, were Harlequin Presents. Few details stick with me now, but I still remember that getting dressed up was an important part of feminity in those novels. … Continue reading →

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The Art of Waiting

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Publishing is all about waiting. Waiting for editors to respond to your submissions. Waiting for agents to respond to your queries. Waiting for your agent to call with news of your latest deal. Waiting to hear back from your editor … Continue reading →

Posted in business of writing | 10 Comments

How To Learn to Write

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I was reading an article about how to write scenes. The article provided a list of things that needed to be included in a scene. They were all very useful suggestions. There were a lot of them. I imagined being … Continue reading →

Posted in writing craft | 6 Comments

Siegfried Sassoon, “How to Die”

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

How to Die Dark clouds are smouldering into red While down the craters morning burns. The dying soldier shifts his head To watch the glory that returns; He lifts his fingers toward the skies Where holy brightness breaks in flame; … Continue reading →

Posted in sassoon, wwi poetry | 2 Comments

Raymond Chandler on prose style

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

“The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time. It pays off slowly, your agent will sneer at it, your publisher will misunderstand it, and it will … Continue reading →

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Siegfried Sassoon, "Invocation"

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Invocation Come down from heaven to meet me when my breathChokes, and through drumming shafts of stifling deathI stumble toward escape, to find the doorOpening on morn where I may breathe once moreClear cock-crow airs across some valley dimWith whispering … Continue reading →

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Underwriting

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

When I draft a story, I am almost always an underwriter. I write less than I could; I write less than a reader might need to fully comprehend a character or setting. Then, when I go back and read over … Continue reading →

Posted in writing craft, writing process | 2 Comments

Carol Queen quotes

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

The Burning Pen: Sex Writers on Sex Writing, from Carol Queen’s essay. “When I sit down to write, the creative world I access includes not just my experiences and fantasies…but also the entire social discussion about female sexuality.” “I explore … Continue reading →

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World Frog Day!

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Happy World Frog Day! Yes, it really is. You never find World Frog Day-themed romances, though. Despite all those hunky and/or gorgeous herpetologists out there.

Posted in holiday | 2 Comments