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.

I Am My Own Muse

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

How’s that for a pretentious title? But aren’t all writers, really, their own muses? It’s sort of in how you talk about it. Some personify, and talk about their “muse” as if it’s something/someone outside of them. Others, like me, … Continue reading →

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Galleys now available for THE DUKE & THE PIRATE QUEEN

Posted on September 27, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Duke and the Pirate Queen is now available on NetGalley if you’re a reviewer who’s registered with the site. If you’re just curious about the service, here’s the FAQ.Excerpt from the opening chapter. Second excerpt. Third excerpt. Fourth excerpt. … Continue reading →

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Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, "Retreat"

Posted on September 26, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Retreat Broken, bewildered by the long retreat Across the stifling leagues of southern plain, Across the scorching leagues of trampled grain, Half-stunned, half-blinded, by the trudge of feet And dusty smother of the AugustHe dreamt of flowers in an English … Continue reading →

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Edmund Blunden, “The Zonnebeke Road”

Posted on September 25, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Zonnebeke Road Morning, if this late withered light can claim Some kindred with that merry flame Which the young day was wont to fling through space! Agony stares from each grey face. And yet the day is come; stand … Continue reading →

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Prose Architecture and Experimentation

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Back when I wrote a lot more short stories, I used to use each one as an opportunity for experimentation. This was partly because I feel experimentation is one of the best ways to improve your writing, and partly so … Continue reading →

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LeGuin Festschrift

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Ursula LeGuin Festschrift, produced last year for her 80th birthday in an edition of one, will be coming out in print for the rest of us October 21, which happens to be Ursula LeGuin’s 81st birthday.You can pre-order (at … Continue reading →

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How Many Sex Scenes?

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I recently read a contemporay romance and got into a brief discussion about the sex scenes.I’d been perfectly comfortable with the amount of sex that was shown. The story focused on the two characters’ relationship issues and issues that were … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, reading, romance novels | 13 Comments

The Best Part of Marketing

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m not as dedicated to marketing my books as many advisors recommend, but I invest some effort because I can’t resist the idea that I can find more readers. In particular, I hope to find readers who have never heard … Continue reading →

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Pirate Linkgasm

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Before I wrote The Duke and the Pirate Queen, I didn’t realize quite how many websites existed about pirates, especially pirates from the 1600s through around 1720, particularly in the Caribbean. That’s the most common idea most people have of … Continue reading →

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Wilfred Wilson Gibson, "Breakfast"

Posted on September 19, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Breakfast We ate our breakfast lying on our backs, Because the shells were screeching overhead. I bet a rasher to a loaf of bread That Hull United would beat Halifax When Jimmy Strainthorpe played full-back instead Of Billy Bradford. Ginger … Continue reading →

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