Category Archives: genre

Not a Marriage of Convenience

Posted on November 3, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Why, yes, I’m still thinking about marriage of convenience plots. I like them. I’m finding this pondering of sub-genre to be extremely intellectually pleasing. Also, it’s helping me whittle down my to-be-read pile. I recently read Come Fly With Me … Continue reading →

Posted in contemporary, genre, romance novels | 7 Comments

The Intricacies of Marriages of Convenience

Posted on October 22, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I may have mentioned once or twice (ahem) how much I love the “marriage of convenience” plot. I recently finished reading one of Mary Balogh’s recent novels, First Comes Marriage, which I really enjoyed, and which also got me thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, historical fiction, romance novels, writing craft, writing process | 14 Comments

Love of LIFE, not just a tv detective show

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

I’m in mourning for Life, a television detective show starring Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi. It went two seasons and has been cancelled. I heard a lot about it from friends before I actually saw it; I wanted to see … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, television | 2 Comments

My Favorite Girls Dressed as Boys – Romance Edition

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

One of my favorite tropes in genre fiction is “girl/woman dressed as a boy.” I love it for several reasons. First, it’s just fun; there’s a long-established literary tradition of cross-dressing. Second, I love that it’s an opportunity to play … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, recommendations, romance novels | 8 Comments

PCA/ACA Call for Papers

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

PCA/ACA 2010 National Conference(Popular Culture and American Culture Associations)St. Louis, Missouri, March 31 – April 3, 2010 Call For Papers: Romance Area Conference info. Deadline for submission: November 30, 2009. We are interested in any and all topics about or … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, romance novels | Comments Off on PCA/ACA Call for Papers

Kirsten Saell Guest Post – "Writing F/F(/M) for the Female Gaze"

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Please welcome my guest, Kirsten Saell. # Writing F/F(/M) for the Female Gaze I adore men. I love their hard bodies and their strong chins and the frankness of their bodies. I love the sound of a deep voice growling … Continue reading →

Posted in erotica, genre, guest | 24 Comments

My Favorite Westerns – Books, Movies, Television

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Victoria Janssen

Wendy the Super Librarian and Kristie of Ramblings on Romance are posting about Westerns this week, so I thought I’d list a few of my favorites. Song: Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other, covered here by Willie Nelson. … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, recommendations, western | 15 Comments

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

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

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