Sunday funnies

June 20, 2010 | Sunday funnies

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Six-pack Saturday

June 19, 2010 | Six-Pack Saturday

Six things I’m sure make me a better writer:

1) Reading

2) Writing

3) Critiques

4) Studying craft

5) letting manuscripts cool

6) Editors

Fan Girl Friday

June 18, 2010 | Fan Girl Friday

So, what do the excruciatingly picky reader like in a Regency romance? Ms. Heyer satisfies. Of all her excellent works, The Nonesuch is one of my favorites. I say one because all of her romances merit a spot on my keeper shelves.

Quoting a like-minded Amazon reviewer:

“I really think that the whole of my adult reading life has been spent looking for something to fill in the gap left on Georgette Heyer’s death. I first read Austen in high school and discovered Heyer in my freshman year at university when someone suggested to me that she was “the next best thing to Austen”. I guess that was a truth self-evident.

I’ve read thousands of romances, sandwiched in between the serious history and biography I adore, on buses, trains, in the car, in waiting rooms, during hurried lunch hours and in bed at night to relax after another stressful, hectic day. But, really, if I am honest with myself, there are just a very, very few authors that are on my keeper shelf. Hundreds of authors have come and gone for me. Some I have dismissed after reading a chapter as too puerile, too facetious, too ill-researched, too derelict in the simple use of the English language.

Heyer, however, rarely disappointed. I adore her later books, filled with characters of great wit, insight, morality and self-knowledge who mature and come together through real life experiences – all conveyed in prose of the very highest standard. I guess that’s it – Heyer’s exquisitely wrought prose telling stories of genuine human emotional experience, all carefully and perfectly set in the Regency world – immaculately researched and painted for the eager reader.

The Nonesuch is, of course, one of my favourites – and I expect I would say that about most of her works. But Sir Waldo and Ancilla so perfectly epitomise adult love, good works and social constraints and decent moral standards that you have to love them. Village life is portrayed beautifully – so much remains the same!

Rant, rant, rant. Every time I go back to Heyer, I am demoralised when I pick up a modern “wanna be”. What to do about that?”

There are many talented, literate, living authors, I wonder pointlessly, why none of them take up the banner of the sparkling witty Regency romance?

Real life

June 17, 2010 | Real life

Did I miss the spring spam special? My mail box and comments have been overflowing. Harmless, but not near as nice a fan letters…

How do you feel about spam? Annoyance or worse?

WIP Wednesday

June 16, 2010 | WIP Wednesday

There were two suggestions I heard over and over when I began studying the craft of writing: let the manuscript rest for a few weeks after the first draft is complete and read your work aloud. Despite the repetitions of this excellent advice, I ignored both pieces of wisdom for years.

Leaving a first draft cooling on the hard drive for a couple of weeks? What nonsense. Like a few weeks would give me any perspective on characters I’ve bonded with over a period of months.

Reading aloud made me feel self-conscious. Besides, I could hear the story in my head. Why on earth would I need to read it out loud? The answer, I eventually learned, is because my ears can’t be fooled as easily as my eyes, which have the deplorable fault of sliding right over the most egregious errors.

I was wrong to ignore both of these suggestions. Reading aloud and resting the story after the first draft help.

Teaser Tuesday

June 15, 2010 | Teaser Tuesday

Enyo Chronicles–Book I (Dalila’s Choice) and Book II (Joon’s Temptation) release as a print anthology tomorrow! I can’t wait to hold a copy.

Music Monday

June 14, 2010 | Music Monday

Trouble comin’

Sunday funnies

June 13, 2010 | Sunday funnies

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Six-pack Saturday

June 12, 2010 | Six-Pack Saturday

Six lessons I still haven’t learned:

1) Everything takes longer and costs more than expected

2) The weather seldom cooperates

3) Time passes much too fast

4) Planning is pointless

5) Intentions don’t count

6) Perception is relative to the individual

Is there anything you’re still struggling to learn?

Fan Girl Friday

June 11, 2010 | Fan Girl Friday

Tessa Dare is a new to me author. One Dance With A Duke is a charming, well-crafted regency romance. Her characters are rounded and deftly portrayed. In the first quarter of the book, she surprised me–in a good way–often enough to keep me turning pages far longer into the night than I should.

Midway through the story, I grew weary of the lack of action. By this time the couple is married and the conflict between them feels much too thin to be keeping them apart. Internal monologues are a staple in many romances. They work well within the conventions of the genre. But with me, a little internal dialogue goes a long way. Ms. Dare provides a steady stream of the heroine’s thoughts.