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.

Researching Asian Pirates

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Jeannie Lin’s blog. This is the story of how I did NOT use a great deal of my research. When I began writing The Duke and the Pirate Queen I knew that the heroine, … Continue reading →

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Why Pirates?

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Inez Kelley’s blog. I have never been a particular fan of pirates. They’re really just thieves on boats, right? (*ducks missiles*) Perhaps that’s why the heroine of The Duke and the Pirate Queen was … Continue reading →

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Research Mashups

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Risky Regencies. The Duke and the Pirate Queen isn’t a historical. However, it is set in a fantasy world, and I’ve often noted that my approach to creating a fantasy world is very similar … Continue reading →

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The World Beyond the Story

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Ella Drake’s blog. The Duke and the Pirate Queen is set in a fantasy world that’s based on all kinds of elements taken from our own world. Maxime’s duchy is a Mediterranean-esque land with … Continue reading →

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Writing Explicitly

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Kate Elliott’s blog. I think there are several keys to writing good explicit sex scenes. The first is to give up any pretense of hiding yourself. You can’t hide from the reader, and you … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, writing, writing craft, writing process | 2 Comments

Siegfried Sassoon, “Together”

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Together Splashing along the boggy woods all day, And over brambled hedge and holding clay, I shall not think of him: But when the watery fields grow brown and dim, And hounds have lost their fox, and horses tire, I … Continue reading →

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Siegfried Sassoon, “To Any Dead Officer”

Posted on December 18, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

To Any Dead Officer Well, how are things in Heaven? I wish you’d say, Because I’d like to know that you’re all right. Tell me, have you found everlasting day, Or been sucked in by everlasting night? For when I … Continue reading →

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“Satisfying Endings” Guest Post

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

It’s the end–I think–of my blog “tour” in celebration of this month’s launch of The Duke and The Pirate Queen. The last stop is Shelley Munro’s Blog where I’m talking about, appropriately, “Satisfying Endings.” Stop by and let me know … Continue reading →

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Pirate Appeal

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the appeal of pirates, particularly in romance novels. Pirates seem to hold a special place in the genre, at least among heroes, along with The Rake or The Highlander. My theory (I always … Continue reading →

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“The Lotus Eaters” guest post

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

There’s a (new) excerpt from The Duke and the Pirate Queen posted at RT Book Reviews. There’s also a message from the author. Which is me. And I’m posting about “The Lotus Eaters” and The Duke and The Pirate Queen … Continue reading →

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