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.

Roller Derby!

I spent my Saturday night watching Philly Roller Derby, the second time I’ve attended one of their matches. My writer friend Jennifer Stevenson got me re-interested in this sport. Check out her story in the Jam! anthology. I didn’t have … Continue reading

Posted in images | Comments Off on Roller Derby!

Maurice Baring, “Julian Grenfell”

Julian Grenfell Because of you we will be glad and gay, Remembering you, we will be brave and strong; And hail the advent of each dangerous day, And meet the last adventure with a song. And, as you proudly gave … Continue reading

Posted in baring, grenfell, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Maurice Baring, “Julian Grenfell”

Geoffrey Dearmer, “Nous Autres”

Nous Autres We never feel the lust of steel Or fury-woken blood, We live and die and wonder why In mud, and mud, and mud, And horror first and horror last And Phantom Terror riding past. We hear and hear … Continue reading

Posted in dearmer, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Geoffrey Dearmer, “Nous Autres”

Sporty Women in Romance

Where are all the sporty women in romance? The female professional athletes, or the ones who played basketball in college? Is there no Title IX for romance heroines? For a romance with male athletes, I know to look up Susan … Continue reading

Posted in genre, romance novels, women | Comments Off on Sporty Women in Romance

7 Pleasures of Writing

1. Games of Free Cell are much more satisfying when you’re only allowed one game, and then you have to start writing. 2. When you’re feeling the urge to be a hermit, writing is the perfect excuse. 3. When writing … Continue reading

Posted in writing, writing process | Comments Off on 7 Pleasures of Writing

IASPR Workshops Announced

Workshop Summaries for this summer’s International Association for the Study of Popular Romance conference are now available. I’m attending, as an audience member–let me know if you’ll be there, and we can say hi! I’m particularly interested in these papers: … Continue reading

Posted in anthropology, romance novels | Comments Off on IASPR Workshops Announced

Centenary of International Women’s Day

Today you can check out my post on “a romance for the ages, Kermit and Miss Piggy” over at Heroes and Heartbreakers. 2011 is the centenary of International Women’s Day! Joyce Stevens’ history of IWD in words and images. A … Continue reading

Posted in holiday, links, women | Comments Off on Centenary of International Women’s Day

New to my TBR

Alert! I should have a new post at Heroes and Heartbreakers about one of my all-time favorite romantic couples. # I’ve been more careful about buying fiction lately. My To Be Read piles are so frightening that I probably couldn’t … Continue reading

Posted in mystery, reading, sf/f | 2 Comments

Geoffrey Dearmer, “She To Him”

She To Him The day you died, my Share of All My soul was tossed Hither and thither, like a leaf, And lost, lost, lost, From sounds and sight, Beneath the night Of gloom and grief. But – (Hush, for … Continue reading

Posted in dearmer, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Geoffrey Dearmer, “She To Him”

Geoffrey Dearmer, “From ‘W’ Beach”

From ‘W’ Beach The Isle of Imbros, set in turquoise blue, Lies to the westward; on the eastern side The purple hills of Asia fade from view, And rolling battleships at anchor ride. White flocks of cloud float by, the … Continue reading

Posted in dearmer, wwi poetry | Comments Off on Geoffrey Dearmer, “From ‘W’ Beach”