Category Archives: reading

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

Recent Steampunk

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Today, some recent steampunk novels.Caveat – I have not yet read any of these books, but I’ve been collecting them for my To Be Read pile. Suggestions welcome if you have them! Please refrain from spoilers in the comments. The … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, recommendations, sf/f, steampunk | 2 Comments

Genre is the Highest Form of Literature

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I think genre fiction is the highest form of literature. I really do. If “highest” means most important to humanity. How’s that for a sweeping claim? Romance, fantasy, mystery, and science fiction. Those are the highest literature out there.For one … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading | 4 Comments

IASPR Call for Proposals

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

Just in case anyone out there is interested! A Call For Proposals for The Third Annual International Conference on Popular Romance: Can’t Buy Me Love?Sex, Money, Power, and RomanceNew York CityJune 26-28, 2011The International Association for the Study of Popular … Continue reading →

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The Journal of Popular Romance Studies, First issue!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

The Journal of Popular Romance Studies has published its first issue! If only this journal had been around when I was in graduate school…but no, then I never would have gotten around to writing novels.So far, I’ve read A Little … Continue reading →

Posted in genre, reading, romance novels | 2 Comments

Trusting Authorial Voices

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’ve recently been thinking about novel beginnings, and how it’s common (and good) advice to start with big obvious conflict. However, I don’t think that it’s always necessary to do that. More importantly, I’ve been thinking about why that is … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, writing craft | 2 Comments

Top 5 Marriage of Convenience Novels

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

This post was originally written for Monkey Bear Reviews. # My Five Favorite Marriage of Convenience Novels It was really difficult to make this list! The “marriage of convenience” is one of my favorite romance novel plots. I made the … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, romance novels | 4 Comments

Bearded Heroes

Posted on July 23, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I’m a guest today at the Novelists, Inc. blog on “Five Ways of Thinking About a Writer’s Conference.” As for my own personal blog, I’ve been wondering something. Where are all the romance heroes with beards? Or even moustaches? I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in moonlight mistress, reading, romance novels, the duke | 4 Comments

Eroticism in To Have and To Hold by Patricia Gaffney

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

I recently read Patricia Gaffney’s To Have and to Hold for the first time. If I’d only read the first section of the book (a bit less than half), I could easily interpret it as an erotic novel, though one … Continue reading →

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Mansfield Park Revisited, Part the Third

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Victoria Janssen

My final notes on my last re-read of Mansfield Park. Mansfield Park can be read online at Gutenberg.org. #November 18, 2004 After finishing my reread I confess I’m a bit puzzled about Henry Crawford. Either he was a great actor … Continue reading →

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