Being in this industry, the word romance is tossed around so much it tends to lose its meaning. Romance, just like many things in life is rather subjective. A husband who brings home flowers for no reason might be perceived as being romantic, while another thinks to fill his wife’s car up with gas so she doesn’t have to get out in the rain. Perhaps these are just mundane elements of life, but then, perhaps they are not.

While working on my most recent book, it hit me that romance was what I wanted to focus on. Not in the marketing/genre meaning of the word, but in the swooning, sigh-inducing way. I wanted this book to just be utterly romantic; the kind of book that readers are sad to see end, the kind that makes them pull the book close to their heart and then lovingly place on their keeper shelf. Lofty goal, I realize. It seems that we’ve lost a bit of that recently, not only in the world, but also in our genre as a whole. With all the new subgenres and niche markets, it’s easy to put your focus on the interesting tidbits and ignore the basic drive of a romance reader – to be romanced.

This got me thinking…what exactly is romantic? Or rather what do I think is romantic? There was a brilliant example of this recently on one of my new favorite shows, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. It was the closing episode before the holidays and for those of you who don’t watch it, you should give it a chance, I think it’s the smartest show on television, but in any case it’s face-paced and non-stop dialogue (that’s another great reason to watch it for those of you aspiring authors who struggle with dialogue, this show is brilliant at it!). It’s a rather large ensemble cast and so the budding romance between two characters has been extremely subtle, but being the astute romance novelist that I am, I spotted it in the first episode (as I’m sure most of you did too!). In any case, we have Jordan, who has recently announced that she’s pregnant from an ex-boyfriend and we have Danny, who is a bit high-strung and a recovering drug addict. Through the entire episode Danny’s best friend is trying to convince him that he’s falling for Jordan and that Danny needs to just tell her, but Danny adamantly denies. (I realize I’m not making this sound terribly romantic, but it’s coming, I promise). So in one of the final scenes we have Jordan who is scarfing down a sandwich and Danny approaches her and says, “I’ve been married twice before and I’m a recovering cocaine addict. And I know that’s no woman’s dream of a man. Or of a father. Nonetheless, I believe I’m falling in love with you. If you want to run, I understand, but you better get a good head start, because I’m coming for you, Jordan.”

I nearly swooned. I looked at The Professor and said, “Now that was sexy and so romantic.” It gave me chills and it just worked for me on so many levels. To others, perhaps it is not romantic, but for me, there is nothing more appealing than a man who can fall in love with a woman when she’s carrying another man’s child. It wasn’t just that though, it was the way he made his confession, acknowledging his failures, but making a commitment to pursue her (but not in a creepy stalking sort of way). *sigh*

So as I said, I began thinking about all of these types of things that I find romantic, those things that make my heart race and make me feel all gooey on the inside. This episode was at the top of my memory, but I found other things too. Men pursuing the woman who least expects to be pursued was near the top of my list and a theme often found in the books I write. Those men who seem to be tough and world-weary, who can be harsh and hard when necessary, but who can’t seem to do wrong by the heroine no matter how they try.

So what about you? What do you find romantic? Do you think romance is still alive in romance novels or have you found it lacking as the focus shifts to more action-driven stories?

And check out Margo’s thoughts on research below.

No matter what kind of book you’re writing, there is always research to be done. Whether it’s a contemporary thriller or a historical romance, you have to know your subject matter and then it’s your job to put the reader into the “place” you created. It might be a big city police station in the midst of a huge murder investigation, or an English country manor during a Victorian house party. Wherever it is, the writer has to give the reader a “sense” of those places.

The examples above evoke a certain pictures in your mind. But how does a writer get that mental image down on paper and engage the reader? A successful author puts you into the setting of the book by engaging you with her knowledge of the time and place. She writes as if she’s sitting in the midst of it all and watching the story unfold. She has researched the way things are done in her chosen settings. She knows the products, tools, and resources available to her characters, and understands the workings of the time and/or place. She’s researched and/or observed human nature enough to know how their characters are going to behave so that the story is believable. She puts it altogether and conveys her story in her own particular voice.

But this is only the first half of the process.

Then the author has to research the publishing world, which is the only way to know where her own book might fit into a publishing program. If she thinks her work runs along the same lines as, say … Kimberly Logan, or Susan Elizabeth Phillips … then she might want to target Avon. If the writing is more like Jess Michaels’ style – she should consider Avon Red or another publisher that does erotic romance (Ellora’s Cave or Harlequin Blaze, for example). How about sharp, witty, sparkling regencies (with sexual tension but no sex) like Barbara Metzger’s work? Try her publisher (Signet), or one of the Harlequin lines that leaves the lovemaking at the bedroom door.

There’s a wide range of publishers out there, and it’s up to the aspiring author (or her agent) to figure out where her work might fit. It’s not an easy task – for many writers, it’s just as difficult as writing the book, if not more so. The important thing is not to worry about how many rejections are going to happen before you stumble onto the right publisher. Do your homework – write a wonderful, engaging book with your own particular voice, with good and accurate research – and then do the rest of your homework – find a publisher that deals in your kind of story.

And then go for it.

I’ve been very sad lately. That’s why I haven’t been checking in more the last week, especially. All I can think about is whining and how unattractive is that?? Very say my Jaunty Friends who have gotten hear all about it on email and IM.

But today I finally started to snap out of my funk, thanks to some retail therapy. As I may have mentioned in the past, this Christmas I got an absolutely gorgeous laptop from my very sweet, fabulous husband. Well, I’m planning sort of a mini-tour in the Fall when SEDUCTION IS FOREVER and EVERYTHING FORBIDDEN come out and so I need a laptop bag to go along with the laptop. So I went shopping on Mango Tango and found this bag:

AND this bag:

And since I couldn’t decide between the two… I got both. Woohoo! Now my laptop will be super stylish.

So what do you do when you’re in the duldrums?

Oh, and uh, just to mention… DESIRE NEVER DIES is out! I know we’ve talked about it before, but I thought I’d gently remind again since the holidays are over and most stores seemed to have stocked it.

Today I was thinking of posting something on writing…..what to consider when selecting names of characters, how to make best use of secondary characters, how much sex is too much, books with kids vs books with no kids, ages of heroine and heroine–how young is too young, how old is too old….you get the picture.

But I wasn’t sure what you’d be interested in….sooooo I thought I’d ask and then blog on your suggestions in the upcoming weeks.

So, if you could just give me a quick idea about what kind of writing topic you’d be interested in, that would be great. I’ll also pass this along to my sister quills…and maybe they can add their comments so you can get various perspectives.

Okay, my ears are wide open and my mouth is shut…..the stage is yours!

It’s funny, how we as readers can sometimes form such specific pet peeves when it comes to our choice of reading material. What we will put up with in one genre, we may not put up with in another. What we prefer to read in a mystery or horror novel, we may not prefer to read about in a romance, and vice versa. For years, I avoided romances where the hero had been married before and was truly in love with his late wife, then widowed, because it always made me feel like the heroine of the novel was second best. A silly notion, I know, and one I eventually got over. But there it is, all the same.

As a teenager, I read several novels written from the first person point of view and very much enjoyed them. Young adult authors Ellen Conford, Paula Danziger and Judy Blume all wrote books in first person prose. So did gothic novelists Barbara Michaels and Phyllis Whitney. And if I am remembering correctly, I believe that the classic Black Beauty was told in first person–from the horse’s perspective.

I recently read somewhere that Lisa Kleypas’s debut contemporary novel, Sugar Daddy, is written in the first person POV, and I’ve noted that a great many people have expressed some dismay at this on message boards across the internet. I will admit this gave me pause as well. While I have enjoyed reading several first person perspective novels, I have never really liked that POV when it comes to romance. Of course, this is merely a matter of reader preference, but in a romance I like knowing what’s going on in the heads of the heroine AND the hero. I like knowing what they are both thinking in any given situation, to have some insight into the feelings of both lead characters. Obviously, this can be difficult to convey in first person POV.

As a writer, I appreciate the allure of writing in first person. It gives you a chance to really dig deeply into that person’s psyche, to fully explore and flesh out their characterization. And in some genres, this works beautifully. I think it is especially effective in young adult novels, family sagas, gothics, and historical fiction. But as a reader, I have a hard time getting into first person romances. As a Lisa K. fan, I will most likely buy Sugar Daddy. (I mean, this is Lisa K. after all!) I don’t believe in letting pet peeves get in the way of enjoying what could be a wonderful book. But I will be picking it up with a bit less enthusiasm than normal.

So, what do you think of first person POV? As a reader? As a writer? Do you enjoy reading or writing in this POV in romance? And if first person POV doesn’t bother you, what does? What are some of your pet peeves?

Stefanie Deplancke won the contest yesterday for an autographed copy of The Rest Falls Away! Congratulations, Stefanie!

Jaunty P. Quills here with a special report! Sightings have indicated that a rather special debut author, Colleen Gleason, has just released the first novel in her Gardella Legacy series. Vampires. Vampire hunters. In Regency England. Buffy meets Jane Austen! I read the first chapter on her site and I’m quaking in my quills in suspense to read more!

Ahem. What I meant to say was that, the manly porcupine that I am, I scoff at danger. Don’t make me pluck a quill and use it as an epee! (Note to porcupine self: ask Colleen about vamp killing quill properties…)

Colleen’s first book in The Gardella Legacy series is The Rest Falls Away. The book trailer is pasted below for your Jaunty pleasure.

Now on to the interview! *turns on tape, sets up Colleen with a bulb of garlic and a microphone*

That’s one sassy trailer, missy. What gave you the idea for the Gardella Legacy series?

Why thank you, Jaunty. You’re the first porcupine who’s seen it, as far as I know! (At least, the first one to tell me so.)
Anyway, so you want to know how I came up with the idea?

Well, it was a dark, stormy night, and…wait, that was my eighth book. The one that didn’t get published. Heh.

Okay, well, it’s really very simple. I got hooked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I loved the idea of a seemingly helpless young woman being a superhero, and having to balance two halves of her life. And since I don’t find vampires even remotely attractive, I really enjoyed the fact that Buffy always got her man–er, vamp.

And then one night I happened to watch a Buffy episode in which Angel/Angelus (a male vampire) has a flashback to a scene that takes place in 19th century Paris.

And then the following night, I was watching the Disney version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella with my daughters.

And I started thinking…what if Angelus was at the ball with Cinderella?

Then I thought…well, what if Buffy was there too?

Or, better yet…what if Cinderella was a vampire slayer herself?

Whoa.

And that, my dear Jaunty, was the germ of the idea that blossomed into the Gardella Vampire Chronicles.

I ultimately decided to set the first books of the series in Regency-era England, which is arguably the most popular setting for historical romance novels. I realized I was taking two very hot ideas: vampires and Regency England and putting them together.

Tell us a little about Victoria, the heroine of the series.

Well, unlike Buffy, she’s not really a reluctant heroine. In fact, she finds it rather exciting and stimulating to learn that she comes from a long line of vampire hunters, and although it’s dangerous and at first foreign to her, she’s not the only vampire slayer around, so she’s not as much of a loner. And, although Victoria finds being a Venator (vampire hunter) a bit inconvenient at times (after all, she has to slip her stake into her garter, and than can be a bit uncomfortable when she’s waltzing with the Marquess of Rockley), she enjoys the freedom and excitement it brings to her otherwise staid life.

And, as my mother is wont to say, all is fun and games until someone gets hurt. Or, in other words, Victoria has a great time of it all…at first. And then…well, I don’t want to spoil the book for you, Jaunty.

I want to hear more about Victoria and her garters, but the ladies are nagging me to ask about the Marquess of Rockley, Max Pesaro and Sebastian Vioget…

Ah…yes. Victoria interacts with three different men in The Rest Falls Away.

The Marquess of Rockley is the Catch of the Season (and I don’t mean a salmon). He’s rich and handsome and he and Victoria have a history from when they were youngsters, romping about in the fields of his estate. Victoria’s mother is delighted that Rockley has shown an interest in her daughter, and she and her two bosom friends have great plans for the two of them. And as for Victoria…from the moment she first waltzes with Rockley, she’s in heaven.

And then there’s Sebastian Vioget. I can’t tell you too much about him except that he’s all blond and golden and bronzey and yummy, and he recognizes that Victoria is a woman even when she’s dressed as a man. He’s an enigma, and Victoria isn’t sure if she can trust him or not.

And then there’s Max Pesaro, another vampire slayer who is not at all impressed that he’s going to be working with a young woman who insists on carrying her dance card about and attending balls when there are vampires to be staked! He’s kind of dark and annoyed and rude about it all, even when Victoria saves his life.

What exactly is a Venator?

A Venator is a vampire hunter. They come from an old family that originated in 1st-century Rome and the vampire hunter “gene” or tendency appears randomly throughout the family tree, which, because vampires are found throughout the world, has also spread itself throughout the world. However, there are very few female Venators, and they all are direct descendants from the first Venator. At any given time, there are perhaps two hundred Venators in the entire world.

In addition to Venators who are born from some branch of the Gardella line, there are also some who choose, at great peril to themselves, to take the test to determine whether they are worthy to be Venators. If they live, they become a Venator. If not…well, they don’t.

If I were trapped with a vampire, plucked a quill and stabbed the vamp through the heart, would the vampire die?

Uh….no.

If I were trapped with a vampire, plucked a quill in a manly fashion and stabbed the vamp through the heart, would the vampire die?

Hmm-mmm. Nope.

If I were trapped with a vampire, plucked a quill in a manly fashion and with much GUSTO and stabbed the vamp through the heart, would the vampire die?

Sorry, Jaunty. Maybe I should have Victoria give you some lessons?

Harumph. Let’s change the subject for a moment. How did you get started writing? Was it something you always wanted to do or did it sneak up on you?

I have wanted to write ever since I was a little girl, and, in fact, I did. I’ve been writing stories since I was in third grade, and although I took some time off to have three children and grow a career in sales and marketing, I never gave up the dream. I still wrote at night after the kids were in bed, or sometimes during my lunch hour at work.

What is your favorite childhood book?

Step to the Music by Phyllis A. Whitney, or any of the Three Investigators Mystery Books. Or any Trixie Belden. Or, wait, my list could go on and on and on…..

What is your favorite vegetable?

All of them except for lima beans. Seriously. Ugh. They have no taste!

To steal a question from you (I’m a porcupine thief, didn’t you know?), name three or four fictional men for whom you’d throw it all away and run off with.

Only three or four, huh? Okay, well, definitely Roarke from J D Robb’s IN DEATH series.
And Ian de ViPont from Roberta Gellis’s Roselynde series (specifically from Alinor)
I’d go with Han Solo in a heartbeat, and most definitely Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Oh yes.

If you could ask yourself any question, and then answer it, what would it be?

Ummm…I’d ask myself what’s a great website for women?
And I’d answer: The Wet Noodle Posse ezine!

And lastly, how do you feel about porcupines?

If one came in the doorway and asked me to, I’d throw it all away and run off with him. Especially if he was as cute as you.

Thanks for having me here today, Jaunty! It’s been really fun. I’ll be hanging around answering questions if any come up!

*Jaunty undoes Colleen’s microphone with much GUSTO and attempts a subtle wooing, er, abduction…*

Post a comment, question or hello to Colleen on today’s blog and you will be entered to win an autographed book of The Rest Falls Away and a signed stake!!!

And don’t forget to check out Shana’s city girl post below!

I guess even when you’re thirty…something, you can learn new things about yourself.

Like you don’t like cows. Or horses. Or hayrides.

Now don’t get me wrong. I do like cows and horses. I just like them at a distance, doing their cow and horse things. And I think hayrides sound really fun and romantic. But I prefer imagining them to doing them.

I realized all this on New Year’s Eve when I went to Ultimate Sportsfan’s aunt and uncle’s house in Louisiana. They have a gorgeous farm and ranch house with cows and horses and hayrides. They are really warm and welcoming people, too. I like them a lot.

But I couldn’t help but notice that I stood out like a—well, like a pair of Manolo Blahniks among a pile of cowboy boots. While everyone else was sitting by the fire, I wanted to be inside where it was warm and not smoky. While everyone else was riding the horse, I preferred not to get too close or inhale too deeply. I’ve gone horseback riding before. Twice. That’s enough, right?

And while everyone else went on a hayride, I confess I stayed inside with USF’s cousin’s wife and her new baby. It was an excuse to watch VH1’s “I Love the 80s” for a few minutes.

Hey, I hadn’t seen that episode, and I was wearing new jeans. I didn’t want hay on the new jeans!

Okay, so I’m not much for farms. Or livestock. But New Year’s Eve this year was definitely different.

What did you do? Any crazy New Year’s Eve stories out there?

I cannot figure this one out. When they’re babies and toddlers, they’re up. They need feedings during the night. They soon turn into toddlers and (though they might sleep through the night) they start getting up at 5:00 AM. In the pre-kindergarten years, they’re still early birds and stay that way for a few years.

Then adolescence hits and they sleep. It doesn’t seem to matter what time they go to bed at night, they can sleep until noon, 1:00, 2:00 or even later! I’ve heard it said that teens need this much sleep because they’re growing, their bodies changing. Like an infant, I suppose, whose bodies double in weight in their first six months. So major hormone activity takes up a lot of energy, I guess.

But this doesn’t explain why my two college-age sons are still in bed and it’s nearly 1:00 PM! They’re well beyond puberty! During their first week of vacation, we figured they were sleeping to catch up after final exam week. Now I think it’s just too much partying! My youngest has been working, but he starts in the afternoon and finishes no later than 9:00. I think he must figure there’s no point in trying to get anything going before work, so he sleeps. Then after work he connects with his friends and it’s party party party. It ends up being a vicious cycle that I’m afraid will be hard to break once they’re back at school.

And what’s wrong with me? Here I am in a very peaceful house, with no noise, no one to bother me as I work, and I’ve come up with something to worry about. They’re good guys who have never been in any kind of trouble, their girlfriends are nice young women, and they’re getting good grades at school. Sheesh! Time for Mom to chill.

Seeing movies during the holiday season has been a tradition in my family and this year was no different. We didn’t get to all of them that we wanted to see, but here’s my impressions of the ones we did.

The Nativity Story - very well done and well acted and a really nice holiday experience.

Eragon - I haven’t read the book so I’m sure we missed a lot (I know that from my experience between the Harry Potter movies and books) but it was an entertaining flick. The special effects with the dragon were very nice, but it is very much like most fantasy coming-of-age stories.

The Good Shepard - this was The Professor’s choice as I wanted to see the new Rocky. But it was Christmas Day so we compromised. I think next time he’ll let me pick. This was VERY long and tedious and too subtle. I was unsure of who the bad guys were and frankly couldn’t find anyone in the movie to cheer for.

The Pursuit of Happyness - I’d been really looking forward to this because who doesn’t love based-on-true-stories-making-your-life-better-movies? Will Smith deserves nominations and perhaps awards for his performance. My only complaint was that it really was about the pursuit and there was only about 5 minutes worth of happiness in the movie. It was a lot to endure without enough time to savor the reward. But I suppose that’s what the movie was about.

We Are Marshall - I’m not a huge sports fan, but I tend to always love these sports movies (Remember the Titans, Miracle, etc.) and in my opinion this is the best one ever made. I cried through nearly the whole thing, but it was so beautiful and powerful. I wasn’t quite born when this particular tragedy occured so I’ve never been familiar with the story. The acting was superb, there was comedy to break up the tragedy and it was a wonderful feel good movie.

Dreamgirls - we just saw this yesterday and I can’t say enough good things about this movie. I will say that if you don’t generally like musicals, then you might want to pass. I had heard that former American Idol finalist, Jennifer Hudson, stole the show and those reviews weren’t kidding. She was powerful and mesmerizing on screen. The music was oustanding and Beyonce did an amazing job, as did Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphey. Really, just go see it.

Did anyone else see anything good? Or bad, for that matter?