Category Archives: on romance

March 15, 2013

On Indie Bookstores & Romance Book Clubs

By Sarah MacLean

March's WORDs of Love Packages!

March’s WORDs of Love Packages!

As you know from my Read More Romance posts, I’m pretty much an obsessive romance recommender. I can’t help myself. It’s especially bad when I meet someone who has never read a romance novel or who has opinions about romance. You know the kind I mean. The kind that are wrong.

But either way, I can’t stop myself from talking about romance whenever I meet someone who’s interested in talking about it–which makes dinner parties at my house rather rousing and bizarre for newbies who start off simply trying to be polite and end up getting a dissertation on the rights of romance readers. But I’m a halfway decent cook, so it all works out in the end. :)

Three years ago, I started one of my pro-romance diatribes with the manager of my local indie bookseller, WORD in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. WORD is AWESOME. It’s a tiny, beautifully designed store that has a great event space and a tremendously well-curated cookbook section…

Wait.

First, a story:

***

Once upon a time, I wrote a book called A Rogue By Any Other Name. I was very excited about this book, because it was the first in a new series I proposed…the third series of my career — the one that is supposed to make it ok for me to officially call myself a writer in mixed company. I was also excited about this book because it was done. And writing it had been akin to labor. As in, laboring a child. Long, terrible, horrifyingly painful labor, that results in a 10lb baby. Or, in my case, Bourne. But we’ll leave it at that.

My brilliantly talented publicist at Avon Books set me up with a party in Rhode Island (my home state) on the day that A Rogue By Any Other Name was officially in the world, and I took the train north to that cupcake and champagne-laden party, filled with hometown friends and family and a fair amount of strangers. The party was held in an independent bookstore near my hometown that does not carry romance. It was fun. I talked for 20 minutes, took questions for another 40, and a good time was generally had by all. We sold 90 books in 2 hours (and only 2 of them to my mother!); I was thrilled.

Afterward, the manager of the bookstore approached and said, “That was great! We’d love to have you again…if you’d like to come back.”

Would I! “I’d love to. And in the meantime…would you like me to sign the leftover stock?” This is a thing that bookstores ask of us, typically, when we go to visit them. It basically means…we have some of your books on hand, and if given the choice, readers would rather have a signed book than an unsigned one, so would you sign what’s around so new readers can get signed books from us? Honestly? I asked knowing the answer. I’ve never had a bookseller say no to that question, and I’d just sold 90 books! Clearly, people in Rhode Island loved me!

“No,” she said, as I attempted to keep my jaw from dropping. “Our customers don’t read romance.”

I–

I can’t–

WHAT?! 90 Books! She’d been there! In fact, she was the one who told me we sold 90 books! 

And yet…her customers…they don’t read romance?

Reader, I’m still bamboozled by this story. I might need to go take a walk before I continue………Ok. I’m back, and Baxter, at least, is happy.

Let’s get back to this “our customers don’t read romance,” insanity. Let’s leave aside the fact that romance holds the largest share of the US Consumer book market and that it’s a $1.4 billion dollar industry and that nearly 75 million people read a romance novel in 2008 (4 years before this conversation), and I’m guessing that at least one or two of those 75 million people live within walking distance of this bookstore.

I’d just filled the store with sixty or so people, who had bought 1.5 books each (I won’t lie–the cutting of books in half did concern me).

And this woman was clearly blind.

Except, it wasn’t blindness.

Blindness I could forgive.

This woman was snooty.

A Serious Book Cover (made for me by the lovely ladies who run the in-person WORDs of Love Book Club)

A Serious Book Cover (made for me by the lovely ladies who run the in-person WORDs of Love Book Club)

What she was saying wasn’t “My customers don’t read romance.” What she was saying was, “My customers are too smart for romance. My customers read SERIOUS BOOKS. Literary fiction and nonfiction and sometimes mystery, but that’s as downmarket as they’ll go.” But what I heard was, “I don’t want your kind in here. And you won’t convince me otherwise. Not even with 90 books in a night. Not even with everything you just said about feminism and history and legacy and Jane Austen. I barely accept Pride & Prejudice on my hallowed shelves.”

We’ve all had this moment, right? Any one of us who’s dared admit we read romance or, worse, dared read a romance in public has had this moment. The “oh, you read that” moment. The “Romance is trashy” moment. The “I’m judging your book (and you) by its cover” moment.)

And this is a big problem. Because when romance readers (who read on average somewhere between 12 and 15 books a month) feel like we’re not getting the love from our local indies, guess where we go? Big box stores. Online stores. Chains. And we love them for carrying the books we love. We feel validated when we have a section all to ourselves. Or a whole category that we can click through to our heart’s content. And when we have sub genres? And romance on the FIRST PAGE of the website? Stop it. It’s romance reader heaven.

But guess what? We’re secretly sad we don’t have our own little indie. We’re jealous of people in Houston because they have Katy Budget Books and of the ones in Lansing who have Schuler Books or the ones in Naperville who have Anderson’s. We are book lovers, and we want to go hang out with other book lovers. We love paper and ink and the sound of the cracking spine and the smell of the damn glue. We have hundreds of novels stuffed under our beds, and in our purses and (I’m not ashamed to admit) on our bathroom shelves. We are card carrying READERS, and we have the word counts to prove it. And we shouldn’t have to fight to prove to indies (the captial-B Bookstores of bookstores) that our books are worthy, because owners and operators of indies should see that we’re in the same club! I mean…all hail the printed word! And if there’s smooching, all the better! (Come on. Who doesn’t like smooching?)

Oh my gosh this post is getting long. I’m turning back. Returning to port. I swear.

***

All this is to say…

Boy do I love my local indie.

WORD Bookstore is tucked away on a near-waterfront street in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. They don’t have much space at all. It’s maybe 1000 square feet of space, but they have used the space in a remarkable way. They have events almost every night of the week — a fabulous children’s section, a brilliantly well-read staff, live music and awesome readings and even a “singles” board, where you can meet another local book lover and maybe get some smooching in (see how it all comes back to smooching)?

Oh, and get this…they carry romance.

They don’t have much space, so it’s not a huge romance section…but they carry the classics — the books that will gateway drug you into the genre (Susan Elizabeth Phillips & Lisa Kleypas & Loretta Chase & Jennifer Crusie & JR Ward) — and local authors (Eloisa James & Maya Rodale & yours truly) — and anything that’s got a bookseller in it (Kieran Kramer’s Cloudy With A Chance of Marriage is a favorite in there) — and anything that’s just plain good (Thea Harrison & Tessa Dare & Meredith Duran). And they’ll order you anything you like, and take recommendations for their own reading lists with pleasure.

Look what kind of book was the bestseller at WORD in January!

Look what kind of book was the bestseller at WORD in January!

Oh, and they’ll take orders for signed copies of my books anytime–you order and I have an excuse to head to the bookstore to sign books “for business.” And to linger for pleasure. :)

The coolest thing?

We recently started a Romance of the Month Club. Every month, I choose six romances (two historicals, two contemporaries & two paranormals) all with a common theme — some of them are brand new and some of them are old-skool (Yes. With a K.). You get to pick the one you are most interested in, and it gets mailed to you with fun goodies. You also get access to a private Goodreads group where we chat once a month about the books and what you liked/disliked/wished there was more of…and you get to meet a few dozen other romance readers across the country who are all excited to read and talk romance.

This month includes:

Kristan Higgins’s My One and Only

Bella Andre’s Take Me

Jayne Ann Krentz’s Sweet Starfire

Pamela Palmer’s Desire Untamed

Lorraine Heath’s Lord of Temptation

Jennifer McQuiston’s What Happens in Scotland

It gets even better if you’re in NYC, though…because some local customers of WORD, whom I did not know before the club began, have started an in person romance book club. They choose one of my picks, and then meet on the First Saturday of the month to discuss it. Last Month it was Elizabeth Hoyt’s The Raven Prince, and the discussion was fast and fascinating and fabulously brilliant.  Next month, it’s Kristan Higgins’s My One and Only.

I’m so excited to share my favorite romances with readers through the club…but I think I’m even more excited to share my local bookstore. Join us!

**

But seriously. There have got to be more indies out there that embrace romance. Leave your favorite romance-loving indie in comments, and I’ll add it to this post!

Indies That Rock Romance:

* Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 West Jefferson, Naperville, IL
* Hearthside Books, 254 Front Street, Juneau, AK
* Katy Budget Books, 2450 Fry Road, Houston, TX
* Posman Books, Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
* Schuler Books & Music, 2820 Towne Center Boulevard, Lansing, MI
* Turn the Page Bookstore, 18 N. Main Street, Boonsboro, MD
* Wakefield Books, 160 Old Tower Hill Road (Wakefield Mall), Wakefield, RI
* WORD, 125 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, NY

28 comments   |  tags: | posted in bookshelf, on romance, words of love

February 7, 2013

Lorraine Heath on Spectacular Spectacles!

By Sarah MacLean

Lorraine Heath is one of my very very favorite authors — Her Waking Up With A Duke is the romance I give to people who ask for a book to start them on the road to romance. I love her lyric, lovely style, and her gorgeous, unbelievably strong heroes and her heroines who deserve love more than most people. 

I’m currently rereading her Lord of Temptation, about a pirate and a quiet Victorian miss, and I love it even more the second time!  

I’m so thrilled that she has joined us today for Girls Who Wear Glasses to talk about her favorite bespectacled beauty — Miss Edwin Henrietta Bollash from Judith Ivory’s The Proposition.  

**

Thanks for inviting me to join you today, Sarah. I’m a huge, huge fan and One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is on the top of my Reward pile as soon as I finish reading the books that I’m judging for a contest. Although I do keep sneaking in moments to read a little of OGEDAL, and I’m loving it.

One of my all-time favorite heroines is Miss Edwina Henrietta Bollash from The Proposition by Judith Ivory. She’s perfect for this post, because she does indeed wear spectacles. She’s a spinster who has spent much of her life studying linguists and teaching people to speak with the proper diction. She has accepted the challenge of turning rat-catcher Mick Tremore into a gentleman. He’s flirtatious and fun, while she has developed a hard shell around herself to protect her heart. In one of their encounters, he says, “’Cause you be a beaut, if ever I seen one.”

In her response, she reveals a good deal about how she views herself. “Mr. Tremore, I am a gangly, plain woman with speckled skin, who wears glasses on a nose that looks like an eagle’s. I am taller than any man I know.” In a moment of confusion, she had to rethink that statement. “Except you.” She went on with forced patience, “But I’m an honest woman, a smart woman. And I don’t hold truck with a lot of lying falderal from some Cockney-Cornish womanizer who thinks he can talk his way out of being caught red-handed in the liquor shelf.”

Of course, later in the story, Mick will remove her spectacles. I’m not sure why, but I always find it sexy when the hero removes his lady’s glasses. When he’s caught in the beauty of her eyes. Eyes are my favorite part about a person. They reveal so much. I think it’s rather nice when glasses serve as a frame for the eyes, drawing our attention into the windows of the soul.

Miss Bollash is such a strong character. I can’t really imagine her without spectacles. They are such a part of who she is. For those of us who wear glasses, I think over time that they don’t necessarily define us, but they do say something about us. They aren’t a symbol of weakness, weakening eyesight, but rather a testament to our refusal not to live in a blurred world. They don’t make us plain. They give us character.

So three cheers to the glasses-wearing readers!

**

Hear hear!  I admit to never having read The Proposition–but I love love love a Pygmalion story–so I have just downloaded it to my eReader and am going to start…just as soon as I finish Lord of Temptation (read #2)! 

Mick is a ratcatcher! What a fascinating, not at all sexy on the surface job. But it makes me think of Mike Rowe and Dirty Jobs–Mike Rowe, whom my mom adores, in part because he’s not afraid of a dirty job. So! What’s the sexiest dirty job in your mind? Tell us in comments, and we’ll select one winner (US Only), to receive signed copies of the first two books in the Lost Lords of Pembrook series, She Tempts the Duke and Lord of Temptation.

22 comments | posted in avon, contests and giveaways, girls who wear glasses, on romance

February 6, 2013

Anna Campbell on Men Making Passes at Girls Who Wear Glasses

By Sarah MacLean

Seven Nights in a Rogue's BedAnna Campbell is awesome. Aside from being able to write one heckuva dark and brooding and super duper sexy romance, she’s also tremendously fun and willing to take risks on her heroines that make them some of the best in books. For proof, check out her most recent book — Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed! 

I’ve loved Anna since before I met her…and afterward…we became fast friends. And all this was before she wrote a girl who wore glasses as a heroine in the 2011 release (and quite possibly my favorite of all her books–Midnight’s Wild Passion)! 

**

Sarah, so excited to be here. Thank you for having me as your guest. I’m almost as excited as I am to read your wonderful One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. I’m deep in revisions as we speak, but you’re first off the TBR pile once I’m done!

As a reader (and dedicated old movie watcher – hmm, does that mean I’m old or the movies? Please don’t answer!), I always adore that scene where our hitherto oblivious hero removes the heroine’s glasses and murmurs with breathless wonder, “Why, Miss Jones, you’re BEAUTIFUL!”I’m a girl who wears glasses myself so I love that your new heroine is vision challenged. Heightens the other senses, don’t you know? Ooh la la!

midnight's wild passion

There’s a moment like that in my May 2011 historical romance Midnight’s Wild Passion. Antonia isn’t shortsighted – well, in everything except her weakness for rakes! But she’s hiding her identity under a dowdy disguise and that includes tinted glasses. Everybody’s fooled except the Marquess of Ranelaw who discovers the secret when he first kisses her. He sets out to discover the truth about the mysterious Miss Antonia Smith – and much mayhem ensues!

You can read an excerpt of MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION here!

So are you a sucker for the romantic clichés? The hero taking off the heroine’s glasses? The twisted ankle at a crisis point, meaning he has to carry her? The wallflower at the ball who gets to dance with the prince? There are so many and I have to say they nearly all work for me (the twisted ankle might get a bit tired!). Anna’s offering up a copy of MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION for one commenter today.

The winner will be notified on Friday. Good luck!

66 comments | posted in avon, contests and giveaways, girls who wear glasses, on romance

October 23, 2012

Deep in the Heart of Texas!

By Sarah MacLean

Leaving my fingerprints all over Texas (and Katy Budget Books)!

Y’all…I had an awesome time in Texas.

I mean, I know…I know that they tell you that Texans are exceedingly generous and that they are exceedingly friendly and that they’re exceedingly good at making barbecue…but you don’t actually believe that when you’re a girl who grew up in Rhode Island and lives in New York City. You think, My, what excellent PR that unnecessarily enormous state down there has. But here’s the thing. It’s true.

I spent last week traveling across the great state of Texas. I flew into Dallas, met up with an incredible group of authors, gave a speech *eek!*, then drove with Sophie Jordan, Kerrelyn Sparks & Vicky Dreiling from Dallas to Houston where I was able to join Kerrelyn for two awesome booksignings and hang out with the Jordan clan before heading home.

While there, I steeped myself in good ol’ Texas. I lone-starred it up. I came just short of putting on chaps and going to the rodeo (though, only because it’s not rodeo season).

And, honestly? This girl from the smallest state is sold.

So…without further ado…

Ten Things I Loved About Texas
by Sarah MacLean

I swear. All these seats were filled eventually.

1) Raising Money for a Great Cause – I was so incredibly honored to be asked to keynote the annual Buns & Roses literacy event to benefit the adult literacy programs of the Richardson, TX public library and the Richardson Adult Literacy Center. Buns & Roses has been held for six years, and each year boasts a collection of romance, mystery & fiction writers, each of whom host a table of readers for a wonderful program in celebration of books, of reading, and of literacy. As you may know, my mom teaches adult literacy, and so I was really thrilled to have a chance to speak at “Buns” this year, and tell the (eep! very large!) roomful of readers and writers about my own journey with text. I told stories about my mom, my dad, my friends and my husband…and even about the mantis shrimp. What? It totally related.

Beaver in camo? Texas institution.

2) Buc-ee’s – When I landed in Dallas, my dear friend Sophie Jordan began using all sorts of words I didn’t understand. Like “Buc-ee’s.” I thought it was some kind of Texas twitch. Come to discover, it’s not. It is, in fact, the world’s largest gas station (everything’s bigger in Texas, right?). The eponymous Buc-ee is a beaver. In camouflage. And apparently some kind of Texas rite-of-passage. Kerrelyn Sparks, Vicky Dreiling and Sophie decided that we absolutely, positively had to stop there, and not only because it has “fabulous bathrooms.” It also has the largest selection of beef jerky in the US, more corn nuts than any one person needs, and hog pens. What’s a hog pen? I’m not sure, but Sophie assures me they’re necessary because, “In Texas, pigs will kill you.” Hmm.

3) The Hug & Pat – Texan ladies like to hug. I like to hug. Obviously, that was going to be a thing that I came to enjoy about Texas. But here’s the thing…Texan ladies don’t just cling. They add in a little, rhythmic pat on the shoulder. At first this might be disconcerting for Yankees, who might take the pat to mean, I’m not really into this. But ultimately, it’s just reassuring. A nice touch.

4) The Firing Range – When in Rome…or Houston, as the case may be. I’ve never held a gun. Heck, until last week, I’d never seen a gun out of a holster. But I’m always up for new experiences…so…to the firing range I went! It was nervewracking and unsettling and yes…exhilarating. And, for the record, in case of Zombie apocalypse? I’m a crack shot. Also, I think perhaps the best photo that has ever been taken of me was taken there. Either I should wear this outfit every day all the time, or firearms agree with me.

I know. It *looks* like Angie Jolie…but it’s really just me.

How cute are we? Totally cute, right?

5) Sophie Jordan’s House – I love Sophie Jordan. I also love her husband, and her two mini-Jordans. They do funny kid-like things like, wear their Halloween costumes three weeks early and play with legos and play tag with cute boys. Also, there’s a four-legged Jordan who won my heart (don’t tell Baxter). But more than all that, Hotel Jordan has a comfy bed and great conversation and excellent eats. Four stars.

6) So. Many. Romance Novel Readers (and their husbands)! – Everything is bigger in Texas, and not just the gas stations. As part of Buns & Roses, 21 authors came together to sign a ridiculous number of romance novels for a great crowd in Plano, TX. It was awesome, and not just because I got to hang out with Cathy Maxwell and Lorraine Heath. It was awesome because those ladies in Texas like their love stories. And I like mine. So we were, of course, well suited to each other.

All those books! And people!

But here’s the coolest thing. See that guy in red? The only guy? In red. Standing. He stood there for the entire 45 minute talk leading up to the signing, and at one point, I turned to Kerrelyn Sparks and said, “Do you think he’s a reader?” We couldn’t figure it out. But when the signing began, he made a bee-line for me, introduced himself, and told me that he was there in secret because his wife couldn’t make it and I was “her favorite author” (flattery, of course, gets him everywhere). He then proceeded to have me sign a copy of A Rogue By Any Other Name for her. I couldn’t help but ask if he’d done something really really bad that he was trying to atone for, but no…he was just there. Out of love. So, as a gift to him and his wife, for being so awesome, I gave him an ARC of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, too. After all, husbandliness like that should be rewarded. What a sweetie!

7) So. Many. Romance Novel Writers! – See above for photographic evidence of that! But also, I got to have lunch with Shana Gaelen and Lily Dalton and Mary Lindsey drive around Texas with Kerrelyn Sparks — we had a little dog and pony show, me for Rogue and her for her newest book — an American-set historical called The Forbidden Lady. I am SO EXCITED about this book, and I was so blown away by having had such an awesome chance to hang out with THE KERRELYN SPARKS and hear all about her cool life and her writing process. I have copies of The Forbidden Lady and her first Love at Stake book, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire for giveaway…stay tuned for how to win at the bottom of this post!

Signing with Kerrelyn Sparks and the Pasadivas Book Group!

Jared makes ribs in a smoker that is larger than our Brooklyn bathroom.

8) Barbecue – So, you can probably tell that I embraced Texas while there. And I was told, in no uncertain terms, that the full Texas experience is not the full Texas experience without barbecue. Luckily, Jared Jordan (Sophie’s hubby), is a BBQ afficianado. Also, a Top-Chef caliber smoker of meats. He made me brisket (and schooled me in the process of selecting the perfect brisket), ribs, chicken & venison sausage. This is a meal for neither the faint of heart nor the vegetarians. But man, was it terrific!

Sophie hard at work.

9) Writing Buddies – Just another chance to tell you how awesome it is to hang out with your critique partner/writing buddy/friend for a week. It’s like the best slumber party ever.

10) Coming Home – As much as I loved Texas, it’s always nice to come home from a place that’s so different from where you live. I flew into Laguardia Airport, hopped in a cab, and ordered a big salad on my way home from the airport. It arrived just as I put my suitcase down, and I ate it with Baxter *flipping out* at my feet, regaling Eric with stories of all of the above, then showed off my target from the shooting range with pride (He was unimpressed. Whatever. He’ll change his tune when the zombies come.)

But I’ll be back, Texas. Leave the light on.

—

Did you think I’d forget to bring you something? Of course I wouldn’t! Tell me in comments about your favorite Texan person, place or thing (films and ten-gallon hats count), and I’ll choose one lucky winner to receive signed copies of Kerrelyn Sparks’s The Forbidden Lady & How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire!

US only; I’ll choose one winner on Friday!

27 comments | posted in avon, contests and giveaways, on romance, readings and visitations, the writer's life, things that are awesome

August 31, 2012

I’m Teaching a Romance Class!

By Sarah MacLean

I’m so super excited about this, I seriously can’t wait.

You may remember that back in June I was asked to teach a three-week intensive workshop on “first-meetings in romance” for MediaBistro’s Online Literary Festival. It was super fun and I read some FABULOUS first meetings that I hope will turn up in romance novels very very soon.

Well, they liked me enough to ask me to develop a brand new class for Media Bistro’s online writing school — Romance Novel Writing!

The class is all online (so you can take it from anywhere in the world), and runs for 12 weeks with evening chat sessions at 9pm ET on Wednesdays beginning September 12th! The syllabus is here, if you want to take a look, and I’ve already written my first few lectures (On “The Rules of Romance,” “Creating Unique Characters,” and “Building Chemistry”) — I’m so excited! The goal for students is to leave with 150 pages (or so) and a full outline of a romance novel that you’ll be ready to finish and shop in the Spring!

The class is going to be awesome — I just developed the reading list for it (which I’ll post on the blog somewhere, too), and people taking it are running the gamut of subgenres of romance. If you’ve got a manuscript in progress, or an idea you’ve been cooking, or you need a kick in the pants to write, please join me!

EDIT: WOW! The class is full now, but I’ll be teaching a new one in January…All the info is at the MediaBistro site. Hope to “see” you then!

2 comments | posted in on romance, on writing

July 31, 2012

Sabrina Darby and Angelina Whitcombe are here!

By Sarah MacLean

Love this cover!

I’m the luckiest writer in the world.

I know, I know…Stephen King seems pretty lucky. Salman Rushdie survived a fatwa. Whatever. I’m throwing my hat in the ring for this one, because I’m pretty sure neither Stephen nor Salman have critique partners as awesome as mine. They’re a tremendous trio–Sabrina Darby, Sophie Jordan and Carrie Ryan read everything that I write. They tell me I’m terrible when I’m terrible. They tell me what’s wrong when I can’t see it. And they tell me I’m fabulous when I’m fairly certain they’d rather bang heads against the wall.

This all said, today, July 31st (Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!), two of these fabulous ladies have new releases out! So this is the part where I get to give back and tell *you* that they’re fabulous. And I don’t want to bang my head against the wall even a little. We’re going to talk about Sophie later this week (why not read her book in advance of that blog post?)…but today, we’re going to talk about the amazing Sabrina, whom I met at our first RWA, four years ago in Washington, DC, and whom I have loved ever since.

Here’s proof:

Ok. So here’s the deal. A year ago, Sabrina and I joined some other fabulous authors over at The Ballroom Blog; we have to blog at least once a month over there, and one day, in discussion of what on earth I was going to blog about next, Sabrina said something along the lines of, “I have the best idea ever.” (Ok, not really that, because Sabrina is much more modest…but it *could* have been that.)

The idea was this: What was the Regency equivalent of Match.com? And what if someone’s mom did what embarrassing moms do in the 21st Century, and essentially, posted a profile? And what happens if, when one answered that profile, they had to travel into the hinterlands to meet a grouchy, handsome war hero?

What. Indeed.

The idea became a few posts on The Ballroom Blog…and then a novella: The Short & Fascinating Tale of Angelina Whitcombe! (Which is only .99 and the best dollar you’ll ever spend!) Also…check out the acknowledgments!

Squee!!! That’s my name in there!

And I am so so so excited to tell you that I ADORE this story. So much, that last week, while goofing off with Sabrina in my hotel room at RWA, I made her do an 11 questions video (and yes…Sophie makes an appearance)…oh…and I totally lied to her and told her I’d cut part of it out. I didn’t. So enjoy our giggling!


So! You heard it…What’s the one thing your mom has done that has embarrassed you more than anything else? Leave the answer in comments, and we’ll choose one commenter to win a copy of this awesome story! We’ll choose the winner tomorrow (Wednesday)!

26 comments | posted in asktheauthor, contests and giveaways, on romance, people i want to be when i grow up

April 27, 2012

The Best Writing Retreat Ever. You’re Invited!

By Sarah MacLean

I’m so excited to tell you all that I’ll be teaching a three-week Romance workshop as part of MediaBistro’s 2012 Literary Festival…and I am so, totally, jazzed about it!

First things first: If you don’t live in NYC, keep reading! This whole thing is online…and we’ve picked a timeslot that should work for people in many timezones!

Second things (which probably should be first because OMG) second: You guys. This Literary Festival is going to be AMAZING. Essentially, Media Bistro (a NYC based media and writing organization) has arranged the most incredible Writing Retreat ever, and you can be a part of it…hearing from people like Susan Orlean and others, learning about the agent/editorial process from the pros, getting advice on how to handle the psychological bits of writing, and…yes…taking a workshop with a published author (like me!).

The program (which is still in development) looks AWESOME. The sessions and programs will run from July 16 – August 2, and for $425, you get access to all the presentations/keynote sessions and participation in one three-week writing workshop (taught by a published author & including 1-on-1 feedback from that author). Check out the full schedule here…

Here’s the part where I give you the hard sell for my class! After some discussion with the fabulous folks at MediaBistro, we decided that, in three weeks, we couldn’t cover everything…but we could cover the moment I think is the single most important one in any romance novel–the moment when we, as readers, see the hero and heroine together for the first time:

IT’S ALL ABOUT CHEMISTRY

The first pages of a romance novel are crucial for creating a spark between the hero and heroine…and keeping readers invested in the story. Join romance author Sarah MacLean in this workshop focused on developing the perfect first meeting, setting up the powerful moments of genuine connection that come from it, and setting the tone for your entire novel.

You’ll learn how to use dialogue to create sparkling characters, how to build emotional and sexual tension quickly and effectively, and tips and tricks to ensure that your story promises a satisfying, sigh-inducing romance, all in the first few pages of your book.

By the end of this workshop, you’ll have up to 10 revised pages of the most important moment in your romance novel–when your hero and heroine first interact, and readers start rooting for their happily ever after.

Live chat sessions online: Tuesdays, July 24 & 31, 9-10 pm ET

I hope you’ll consider joining me for the workshop–but either way, if you’re writing, or thinking about writing, I think this online festival is a huge opportunity for you to hone your craft. I, for one, cannot wait for some of these sessions!

3 comments | posted in meet someone cool, on romance, on writing, the writer's life, things that are awesome

January 20, 2012

Lessons to Learn from Romance Novels…

By Sarah MacLean

Twitter just shared this article from MSN.com and Women’s Day…Life Lessons from Romance Novels. It’s a wonderful slideshow that highlights the great things we can all learn from romances. I’m thrilled that A Rogue By Any Other Name is one of the books they use to illustrate the lessons (and even more thrilled that it’s highlighted beside books by Julie Ann Long, Miranda Neville, Anna Randol & Beverly Jenkins)!

And I absolutely couldn’t have asked for a better “lesson” for my cover to be paired with than this one: Fall in Self Love.

My heroines have a lot of things in common, but probably nothing so much as this: each one has to learn to love herself, and trust herself, and believe in herself before she ever has a chance of loving her hero. And sometimes, this takes longer than even I’d like (I’m looking at you, Isabel)…sometimes it takes pain and suffering and doing stupid, awful things that make her hero wonder why he ever even showed up at this country house to begin with.

But there’s a reason why Isabel is one of my favorite heroines. She embarks on the journey we all have to take…she has to learn to believe in herself, and to trust herself, and to honor herself before she can take the risk of believing, trusting, and loving her hero. Luckily for Isabel, Nick waited around.

But life isn’t a romance novel. So we need to do the hard work of learning to love ourselves now…so that when our white knight swoops in to save the day, we take him up on it. Right away.

It’s worth it.

—

What’s your favorite lesson from romance novels?

3 comments | posted in 10 ways, hot off the press, on romance, read more romance

September 4, 2011

Live Online with Katharine Ashe & Miranda Neville!

By Sarah MacLean

This post is cross posted from The Ballroom Blog:

There are days that I love being a New Yorker. Mostly, they are the days when my writing friends arrive in the city to visit with publishers or read at Lady Jane’s Salon. This week, two of my fellow Ballroom Bloggers–Katharine Ashe & Miranda Neville–will be in town, doing these things!

If you’re in the city (or the area) on Monday night, you can’t miss Lady Jane’s…aside from the fabulous Misses Katharine & Miranda reading, it’s a wonderful thing to stand in a roomful of romance readers and know that you’ve found your people! Added bonus: Lady Jane’s is dripping with leopard print, fringed lamps and tufted velvet. It’s like a Victorian bordello. Really. The salon is at Madame X, 94 Houston St. (bet. Thompson & LaGuardia).

“But wait!” you say, “I’m not in the city! What about me?” 

Well, you lucky thing, Katharine & Miranda are making a special stop at the Avon Books headquarters on Tuesday morning at 11am for a live, online chat just for you! I am thrilled to be a part of it; I’ll be interviewing these lovelies as part of RomanceLive! We’re going to talk about their new books, The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton and In the Arms of a Marquess, about the Avon Books Ovarian Cancer Awareness Campaign Kiss & Teal, and–of course–about The Ballroom Blog!

RomanceLIVE! 
Sarah MacLean interviews Katharine Ashe & Miranda Neville
Tuesday, September 6, 2011, 11am
www.livestream.com/romance

The livestream event starts promptly at 11am ET, and will run for 45 minutes, with plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions of these fabulous authoresses…and we’ll even answer questions about Lady B and Albert!

Please join us!

Leave a comment | posted in bookshelf, interviews, on romance, readings and visitations, the ballroom blog

August 30, 2011

Katharine Ashe’s hero comes over to play

By Sarah MacLean

I’m very very happy to host Lord Ben Doreé, the hero of Katharine Ashe‘s latest book, In the Arms of a Marquess (out today!), on Inside the Character’s Studio! I love love love hosting heroes, as they’re always the most interesting guests…and I think after you hear Ben’s answers, you’re going to sigh the whole way to the bookstore.

Welcome Ben!

What is your favorite word?
Trust.

What is your least favorite word?
Responsibility.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
An honest woman with long legs.

What turns you off?
Weakness of character.

What is your favorite curse word?
Blast. But I rarely curse.

What sound or noise do you love?
Her voice.

What sound or noise do you hate?
The sound of suffering.

What profession would you like to attempt?
I haven’t the time or inclination for a profession. I am sufficiently occupied running an empire.

What profession would you not like to do?
Run an empire.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
She is yours. Now finally, and forever.

I mean, seriously? Dreamy.

The fabulous Miss Ashe (my cohort over on The Ballroom Blog) is offering up a copy of In the Arms of a Marquess to one lucky commenter! Katharine writes the most amazing adventure romances, and this series, The Rogues of the Sea, reminds me of how very much I love high-sea romance.

Tell us your favorite book, film or tv show set on the sea to enter to win the book! We’ll choose a winner on Friday!

48 comments | posted in dream boys, inside the characters' studio, on romance