Category Archives: things that are awesome

September 21, 2010

Squee! Ten Ways is a Top Pick!

By Sarah MacLean

So…last night, I’m making unpackaging dinner and my Blackberry buzzes.

I consider ignoring it, because 1) I am hungry for chicken and brussels sprouts and  2) I’m three episodes from the end of Season 5 of Weeds and I can’t decide if I love Esteban or hate him (on one hand, he’s a fencer; on the other, he’s a drug lord–you see my problem?) and Eric is ready to press play on the Netflix, but I can’t resist the Crackberry buzz. It’s a sickness.

Anyway…there’s an email from the lovely and talented Courtney Milan entitled “Congratulations!” and I think, I know! It’s so exciting to almost be caught up with Weeds!

But wait. How does Courtney know I’m almost caught up with Weeds?

She didn’t.  Well, maybe she did.  But that wasn’t what the email was about.

The email was about this review from Romantic Times Magazine:

TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD
by Sarah MacLean
Sensuality: HOT
Setting: 1823 England

4.5 Stars, TOP PICK!

MacLean’s spinoff of her debut novel is quite simply a delectable, sensual, poignant read that rivals the first. Her characters utterly capture readers’ hearts and the carefully paced plot and perfectly pitched dialogue multiply the pleasure. Then add MacLean’s sizzling sensuality and it’s another excellent keeper!


Cue much squeeing…and, ridiculous, incomprehensible emailing to Courtney to thank her and… husband saying “Wow, that’s a lot of superlatives.” And me saying “I LOVE RT! OMGOMGOMGACK.” And, yes. Baxter got chicken, too, because he’s one step closer to being like this (which is how I envision future-Sarah to be).

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10 comments | posted in 10 ways, hot off the press, things that are awesome

September 16, 2010

Colorstrology!

By Sarah MacLean

I love this idea…that your birthday might be associated with a color that somehow resonates with you.  I’m so into it. I’m particularly happy that my color is Purple Sage, which is definitely a color I can get behind.

Who knows if this is an actual thing…but I the description of me is eerily accurate:

“You have an innate desire to learn and understand things. You are partner oriented and it is likely that you will feel best when you are connected closely to another person. It is important for you to know the reason behind things (editor’s note: omg yes.). Your mind is deep and penetrating and you are not satisfied with superficial answers or people.”

Is it accurate for you? Go to Colorstrology and check your color…then come back here and tell me what you got!

(Thanks to Jennifer Laughran for the link!)

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5 comments | posted in the internets, the writer's life, things that are awesome

September 2, 2010

In which we pause to honor the chicken.

By Sarah MacLean

I know I’ve been out of pocket lately…and I’m so sorry! But as I’m down to the wire on Juliana’s book, I think we can all agree that it’s best that I be writing and not on the Internet. Mostly. :)

To keep you happy, my little moppets, I give you a collection of Bluth Family Chicken Impressions. xoxox


Arrested Development Chicken Dances – Watch more Funny Videos

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2 comments | posted in that's funny, the internets, things that are awesome

July 26, 2010

RWA, News and Goodies…

By Sarah MacLean

It’s about 900 degrees in Brooklyn and I’m trying to avoid a much-needed, long-overdue trip to the post office…with much-needed, long-overdue blogging!

So much going on this week, I don’t know what to do with myself!

I’ll start with the biggest…I’m right now packing for the Romance Writers of America convention, which begins Wednesday in Orlando at the Disney Swan & Dolphin Resort (Or is it Dolphin & Swan?)…I’ve never been to Disney World, and I’m told Epcot is awesomesauce…AND my publisher, Avon, is having a party over there, so I’m pretty excited.

If you’re an Orlandinian…or Orlandan…or Orlandoite…or whatever…please come to the 2010 Readers for Life Literacy Autographing (open to the public!) and say hi! I’ll be signing both Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and The Season thanks to the generous donations of Avon & Scholastic. For the record, the literacy autographing is AMAZING…500 Romance Authors all in one place, along with their books! I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s AWESOME and worth every second of waiting in line.

Still not convinced? How about I sweeten the deal? Stop by my table, pick up a brand-spanking-new Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord bookmark, and put your name in the pot for a chance to win a Nine Rules totebag (see above)! I’ll pick the winner at random, using the “close your eyes and point” method, right after the signing!

Not going to Orlando? No worries…I’ll be hosting another giveaway on the blog starting on Wednesday, so make sure to come back and check it out!

Other than that…I’m up to my eyeballs in Juliana’s book, which I’m really loving right now…she’s such a fun character to hang out with, and every time she says something crazy and Italian, I think of my insane Italian family, so she keeps me laughing! As I’m writing her book, it’s hard to even consider the next project, but I hope you’ll be happy to knowthat there will be a next project!

This announcement was made today:

NYT and USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean’s next four Regency romances, to Carrie Feron at Avon, in a significant deal, by Alyssa Eisner Henkin at Trident Media Group (World).

I’m still pinching myself! There will, of course, be more news on those books and Juliana’s to come…so stay tuned!

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16 comments | posted in 9 rules, contests and giveaways, give back, in the news, meet someone cool, new project, on romance, readings and visitations, the season, things that are awesome

July 25, 2010

Sunday Awesome: Jane Austen’s Fight Club

By Sarah MacLean

With many thanks to my friend Kevin for the awesomeness.

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1 comment | posted in aunt jane, the internets, things that are awesome

July 23, 2010

Fabulous Romance Panel – Achieved!

By Sarah MacLean

Last night, I was thrilled to moderate a panel of romance experts in honor of the opening of the fabulous WORD Brooklyn bookstore’s brand-spankin’-new romance section…and y’all…it was AWESOME.

A little history:  A few months back, Stephanie Anderson, the lovely and talented manager of WORD (which is, quite possibly, the most charming indie I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit) made the big mistake of suggesting on Twitter that I come out and talk to her about romances…as she was considering adding a romance section to the store.  And, of course, as a romance fanatic, I went.  And, much to Stephanie’s dismay, I think, I stayed.  And so the bookstore launched a romance section, I think in the hopes that I would go away.  But now it’s a cozy, fab indie in the equally cozy, equally fab Greenpoint, Brooklyn, WITH a romance section! So…yeah. I’m not going anywhere.

As part of the launch of the section yesterday, WORD hosted an amazing panel of romance experts, including: Sarah Wendell, co-founder of SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com and author of Beyond Heaving Bosoms; Hope Tarr, author and co-founder of NYC’s monthly romance reading series, Lady Jane’s Salon; Lauren Willig, the author of the Pink Carnation Series; Tessa Woodward, the brilliantly talented, brilliantly funny Associate Editor at Avon Books; and Stephanie Klose, Senior Editor at RT Magazine (who just might have the best job, ever). I got to moderate the panel discussion for a roomful of NYC romance stars (Leanna Renee Hieber & Ron Hogan from Lady Jane’s, Stacy Boyd from Harlequin, and Rachel Kramer Bussel of In the Flesh fame, among others), romance readers (who came from far a-field to celebrate their favorite genre!), and curious Greenpointers.

The conversation covered a lot of ground–from the popularity of the romance genre to the “reputation” of romance and of romance readers (you know what I’m talking about), from the clinch cover to happily ever afters, from feminism in romance to “the mighty wang.” Panelists offered up their thoughts on the most surprising thing about romance novels for those in the audience who were new to the genre, and readers in the audience chimed in about their love for love stories…and it was a terrific time!

There’s nothing better than getting a group of romance lovers together to talk about their favorite books.  Nothing.  Except, maybe, Tessa Woodward’s choice for “must read” romance.  

Maybe the best part of the night came after the discussion, though, when a woman approached me to say that she’d been reading romance for years and had never had anyone to talk to about it…she’d come out to Greenpoint from the Upper East Side (which, for those of you not from NYC, is no small feat) because she read about the event in the NYTimes, and now that she’s found the NYC romance community, I’m hoping to see her at Lady Jane’s and In the Flesh and RWA 2011 excitements!

If you missed the discussion, don’t fret!  We recorded it just for you!

4 comments | posted in bookshelf, gotham city, on romance, readings and visitations, things that are awesome

April 15, 2010

Operation Teen Book Drop!

By Sarah MacLean

Oh, it’s on, y’all.

Today is Operation Teen Book Drop–one of my favorite days of the year…thousands of librarians, authors and teens will be leaving YA titles in places around their community to share their love of the genre.

I’ve got a sack of books ready for empty subway seats, park benches, SoHo coffee shops and more.  If you have a YA title in your house that you are willing to share, go to the TBD Website to download a bookplate or a bookmark, and be a part of Teen Book Drop!

Teen Book Drop is the joint creation of Readergirlz, GuysLitWire and, special 2010 guests, If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything, a national reading club for Native American Children.

Bottom line?  Getting books into the hands of kids is a good thing. Today, you have a reason to make sure it happens.  So go book drop!

Leave a comment | posted in bookshelf, give back, things that are awesome, why ya is awesome

March 30, 2010

OMG! Nine Rules Is in the World! (Contest below!)

By Sarah MacLean

Today is the day, y’all!  My first adult romance, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is out there!  In the world!  OMG!

So, before I head to the nearest bookstore to see if I can find a copy of my baby, I thought I’d give those of you who have never read a romance novel (because I know there are some of you out there) a primer on what to expect!

I give you: Nine Rules for Reading Romance

  1. It’s ok if you fall in love with the hero. The man in your life never has to know a thing.

  2. Before you crack open that historical romance, be aware of one thing: There was an epidemic of virgin widows in 18th & 19th Century England.
  3. Shapeshifters are hot. If you didn’t know it before, I’m telling you now.
  4. Resist the desire to think about the smell of Regency England. These characters live in a special bubble filled with people who are obsessed with good hygiene.
  5. Chances are, you’ll want to be best friends with the heroine. It’s ok. Chances are, your current best friend has some of the qualities you like so much in the heroine.
  6. Stick with the hero when he does something dumb. There will be groveling. And it will make it all worth it.
  7. If you fall for a secondary character (and you will)…no worries. The author is in love with him, too. And she likely won’t rest until he gets his own love story.
  8. Happily Ever After happens.
  9. Be warned: once you start reading romance, you won’t be able to stop.

Want a chance to put these rules to good use? Comment below for a chance to win one of two signed  copies of Nine Rules…! I’ll choose the winner on Friday, April 9th!

48 comments | posted in 9 rules, authors rule(s), contests and giveaways, things that are awesome

March 19, 2010

Down the Rabbit Hole to Book Awesomeness.

By Sarah MacLean

It’s been a long time since I thought of this one…but in a fit of late-night procrastination that involved:

1) a search to see how likely it was that Sandra Bullock could be rewarded for her most recent pain and suffering (is that Jesse James a dillweed or what?!) with a marriage to George Clooney,

2) the discovery of this incredible timesuck (Findthebacon.com), and

3) realizing that Kevin Bacon was in a movie that I somehow have never heard of called Pyrates…

I remembered that I’ve always wanted to do a blog post about George MacDonald Fraser’s book The Pyrates (no relation to the KB movie, which, I might add, looks awful). The Pyrates is one of those books that you read, you love, you reread, and you still love, but it’s so different and so odd that you always forget to mention it when people ask you to name your favorite books.  Am I the only one who does this?  Please tell me I’m not.

It’s hilarious.  And not in that, “Oh, that’s funny” kind of way. It’s uproariously funny and ironic and it’s the perfect mix of classic hero and stereotype and history and Hollywood and…yeah…whatever I say here will not do it justice.  This, I promise you.  In this case, though, I will tell you that you can judge a book by its cover…at least, it’s UK cover.  I bought my copy when I was in High School at a bookshop at Heathrow before I got on the plane to come home after a summer in England.  I bought it 70% for the cover and 30% for the cover copy.  Oh. And the title.  Because who doesn’t love pirates?

Anyway…this one is in the must read pile.  You.  Must read it.

1 comment | posted in bookshelf, randomness, the writer's life, things that are awesome

March 7, 2010

Today, in Things that Make Me Smile.

By Sarah MacLean

Via the fantabulous Coe Booth.

Leave a comment | posted in on romance, things that are awesome