Nerd? Me?

It's true, I'm a nerd. And I have to tell you, in true nerd fashion I'm seriously annoyed right now. Why? Because for almost 2 weeks I've been trying to read Demon Moon by Meljean Brook. I was lucky enough to win an ARC from Sybil's blog and Meljean emailed me ages ago with a download of it.

I was kind of on the fence about starting it, because I've been in a paranormal funk lately and this just didn't appeal. But so far? I LOVE IT! LLOOOOVEEE IITTT!

The problem? I haven't had time to read lately. We're in the process of painting MM's house, and I have 2 small kids, and we had Easter and family obligations and, well, the list goes on and on. I want to read. I don't want to deal with pesky things like breakfast for my children and laundry and painting. Ugh.

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Literature Nerd   Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works. It's okay. I understand.
Social Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Musician
Drama Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

What about the rest of you? Are you nerds just like me? Ever feel like screaming, "GO AWAY I HAVE TO FINISH THIS BOOK!!!!"?

Don't Look Now, But They're Out To Get You

I was out of town last week, so I missed the big blow up in Bloglandia about Meanie Reviewers and Authors Who Bitch About Them.

I addressed this some time ago, but a new thought recently popped into my head about this.

What exactly will bitching about this accomplish?

Are reviewers suddenly going to love your book?

Are they suddenly going to stop saying snarky things about books?

Somehow, I seriously doubt it.

Why bitch and moan then? All you do is turn yourself into a lamb to be slaughtered.

So...I have to ask myself, why would someone bring it up?

If I had to guess.....

Publicity

Wondering how I came up with that?

How many people didn't know *insert person complaining about Mean Reviewers here* name before she posted about how mean reviews are? And how many know it now?

And in a few months, chances are no one will remember exactly WHY we know the name
but we'll remember we heard it and maybe pick up a book because of it, right? I know this has happened to me in the past. I'll see a book on the shelf at my local store and think, "Hey! I remember that name." Then I pick up the book and read the blurb. Then, if it interests me, I buy it. But just because I remembered the name doesn't mean I remember WHY the name was mentioned. Maybe it was a review that got 5 stars. Or maybe she has a personal blog and wrote an article you found compelling. Or maybe she was one of those whiny baby types who complained non-stop about the "Mean Girls" of the world. Who can keep all these things straight, anyway?

Ehem.

In any case, what ends up happening is the name sticks in our minds (Or mine, anyway) even if the reasoning behind it doesn't. And the end result is....SHE WINS.

I'm telling you, it's all a big conspiracy.

Creepy, eh?

Segregation and Racism in the Romance Community

I'm very opinionated. This is no secret. Have you read my rants posts here on SF? When something bothers me, or resonates with me, I'm very vocal about it.

Jane has a very interesting post up at Dear Author, regarding the reading of African-American romance.

First, let me clarify something before I go on: I still have no idea if we're talking about (by we, I mean Romancelandia) authors who are AA or characters who are AA. Maybe someone can help me out with that.

Basically, her post states that she hasn't actively searched out AA romances. And she admitted that she's a bit shamed by this. I haven't either..but I'm not ashamed.

Let me explain why.

I don't care if the author/characters are AA. Not one little bit. I don't look at the jacket picture of a book to see what the author looks like before I buy a book. I care about storyline, character development and the author's ability to draw me into her world. I have absolutely no idea what the ethnicity of the authors I read are. Well, some I do, because they have a picture on the jacket, or a blurb about themselves in the back of the book.

But for the most part? No idea.

Does that make me racist? I don't believe it does. I think it's more racist to actively seek out a book by an AA person than to just read what appeals to me.

Jane asks if we should institute a rule in Romancelandia, stating we read at least one different ethnic book at month. Maybe that would bring more AA (and others outside of our own ethnicities) authors/stories into the mainstream. But, well, the idea offends me.

I've read some novels featuring AA H/H's. Not many, no, but some. And it didn't bother me at all. Not one single bit. And I've seen some covers at my local bookstores (B&N and Borders) with African American's on the cover. I've picked them up and read the back blurb. If the story appeals to me, I buy it. If it doesn't, I put it back. Race has nothing to do with it.

Why should I buy a book solely based on the color of the characters in it, or the color of the author who wrote it? Shouldn't I buy a romance novel based solely on the storyline?

Which brings me to the point of my post.

We don't need to institute a policy in Romancelandia to get us to read different ethnic novels. What we need to do is write to our booksellers and publishing houses and ask them not to segregate a story by the color of it's characters/author. Would I read more AA novels if they were in the regular romance section? Absolutely. Why? Because it's there for me to pick up and browse through.

What I suppose I don't understand, however, is why they're separated in the first place. I admit that I don't know enough about the inner workings of a publishing house to even speculate on this. Is it because, as Ro suggested on Sybil's blog:

But there’s a double-edged sword in this entertainment industry: african-americans dearly want something to call “their own”. White america is the dominant “culture” and immigrant communities are bonded by their common languages and customs–but black people? We’re left out in the cold, a bit forlorn as we grasp for something that isn’t “tainted” by the past history of this country. Hence, institutions like HBCU, BET, or the imprints for african-american fiction,etc exist.

She goes on to say:

But they end up hurting everyone, and we’re left with explosive situations such as this one. The frustrations and fears of a mid-list/new author struggling to break into mainstream is tripled in the black writer who would like their work to be viewed outside of the “black niche market”. But their desire is ignored simply because they’re black, and they’re published under that imprint(Dafina, Kimani Press, etc) whose marketing plan is the same for every author simply because the aforementioned niche exists.

So, if I'm understanding correctly, publishing houses are forcing authors to publish their books based on their "niche", which in this case would be AA romance. That doesn't make sense to me.
You're telling me that because the characters of a certain novel have skin that isn't white, they're published under certain "lines" at publishing houses? Well, that's what we need to address.

If the "niche" Ro was referring to is, for an example, Urban romance, I can see that. Just as I can see the need for erotic lines and paranormal and etc. But if an author's work is being published in that specific line simply because her novels feature black h/h's, well, that's wrong. And we, as readers, should protest this.

But I have to wonder if it isn't the AA authors themselves who have brought this on. If you're an author, can you tell me, do you want to be known as a black author, or simply as an author? I don't think you can have it both ways.

If you want to be known as an AA author, if you feel that's your niche, and you're excited about being published by an all black publishing house, than great. But don't complain that you want entry into mainstream then. Because you can't have your cake and eat it, too.

If that's not the case, however, and your publisher won't let you break out of the "niche" area, then let us know. We, as readers, can be very powerful. And I, for one, have no problem writing letters to publishers and booksellers.

Now, what we all really want to know is:

Racism In Publishing, How Does It Affect You?

Are you an African American author who’s been published for at least one year? If so Karen Scott wants to hear from you.

She’s conducting a survey based on the racism within the publishing industry, and whether or not it’s as prevalent as some believe. She’s looking for black or African American authors who have been published for at least one year.


She would like to know about your specific experiences within the industry thus far. She wants to know how AA authors feel about the current shelving policies, and niche marketing. She wants to know who you feel is to blame for the problems that you face. She also wants your suggestions on how things can be improved upon.


In all, there are twenty questions in the survey, and all that she asks is that people be as honest as possible. Confidentiality is assured if requested, but for the findings to yield more weight, she would request that she be granted permission to directly quote from the answers given by the authors.


She’s hoping to poll at least 100 AA authors, in an effort to ensure that a fair representation is achieved.


If enough authors agree to participate, (and depending on the findings) the results may well be sent to representatives within media and press. No promises that Oprah will hear about it, but all efforts will be made to get the message out.


If there are AA authors out there interested in participating in this poll, please e-mail Karen at hairylemony @ gmail. com (without the spaces) with the subject header ‘Please send me the survey'.


The deadline for the survey to be completed and returned to Karen is March 1st 2007

Your PERSONAL reading preferences

We all have them, I know I sure do, so spill! Tell me what those one or two things are that bother you soooo much you won't pick up a book if you know it's in there.

Is it a short hero?
A fat heroine?
A bald hero?

How about things that don't even have to do with appearances. Like....

A woman that has an affair?
Or
A woman that makes a choice that you wouldn't. Like Abortion?

I bring this up because it seems I've gotten myself a reputation around here. lol. I don't like reading about fat girls. Sorry. It's not that I think they don't deserve loving, I just don't want a certain image in my mind.

When I read I picture everything. So when it comes time to read about the sex I picture it, call me pervy but I do. And I don't want to picture a fat woman having sex, it is not something that appeals to me.

Am I being judgmental here? No, I am a overweight woman. I don't want to picture someone that looks like me. And I sure don't hate myself. So there it is. Is that so bad?

I have other preferences too. Like I don't like short hero's. It doesn't matter if he is still taller than a heroine cause she's really short. I won't like the book, or it will at least be a really hard sell.

If a woman or man is cheating on a spouse I won't want to read it and if I do I'll have HUGE issues with it. Even if it is with their "true love".

And I know I'm walking a thin line here with stirring shit up but I don't agree with abortion so I really will NOT read a book if I know it is going to be in it.

Personal preferences. That's what they are.

I told you mine, so go ahead...yell at me, agree with me, tell my yours but please.....also tell us who you are when you post.

Have fun with it.

A Letter To Romance Authors

Dear Romance Writers,

Hi! I'm a big fan. In the four years since I started dedicating my considerable reading time to your genre, I've pretty much seen it all. I have my favorites, just like anyone else, but lately, something has been bothering me a lot.

You see, as much as I love the books you produce, I have to wonder...Why in the world are all of you writing series books now? Is it really necessary to write a book for every character your first novel introduced? Do you really have to leave me hanging at the end of one book, so I'll buy another?

Hey, I like a good series just as much as the next romance reader, but I haven't seen a good stand-alone book - with no connecting storylines or plots - in so long I'm developing a twitch in my right eye starting to wonder if I didn't just imagine they existed in the first place.

Now, I understand that us romance readers are pretty demanding. If we fall in love with a secondary character in one of your novels, we're going to want to read his/her story, to see him/her get an HEA. But honey, really, you could have stopped at book four. No, really. The world would still spin if you stopped now. I promise.

And while I'm on the subject of series', would you please stop telling me your books stand-alone when they, in fact, go together with another book. As tired as I am of seeing new series' cropping up every damn place, my frustrations there pale in comparison to the burning rage I feel when Jazz complains - for the 500th time - that she accidentally read a serious out of order.

Personally, I don't really care if I read a series in order, but Jazz, well, the poor girl has issues. Could you help her out a little? You know, maybe instead of pretending like your books are stand-alones so they appeal more to people like me, you could say, I don't know, maybe put a little note on the front cover saying "HEY! YOU CAN'T READ ME YET, BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T READ *insert book title here* YET, AND SHE COMES FIRST!!!" or even better, "JAZZ! DON'T READ ME UNTIL YOU READ *insert book title here*" See, that wouldn't bee so hard, would it? (*side note*Nora Roberts is excluded from this paragraph*end side note*)

So, what do you say, Romance Authors, do you think you could give the series' a rest for now? Maybe you could pen just one book that wasn't related to any other, for any reason, and then put that particular pen aside. Permanently. You know, use a fresh pen for each story. You get what I'm saying, right?

And if you just absolutely cannot write one book without connecting it to another, in any way, shape or form, could you maybe, for my sanity Jazz, put a little note on the cover, or right inside the book?

I'd forever be grateful.

Thanks so much,

Holly

I Need Help!

I'm in a terrible reading slump. Horrible, even. I haven't read a new book in almost a month, and the re-reads I've been doing have been few and far between.

I recently picked up a new Iris Johansen book that I read a chapter of and put down. Same with the first book in Nora Roberts Circle trilogy. I just can't get into them. I can't get into anything.

So, I'm coming to you, lovely readers, for some book recommendations. I can't tell you what I'm in the mood for, because to be totally honest, I'm not in the mood for anything.

What have y'all been reading lately? Anything that will get me out of my slump? Something that will peak my interest?

I'm heading to Borders tomorrow to use the gift cert I got for Christmas. Can you give me something good before then? PLEASE?!?!?!

Just Some Random Things.....

....that have been irritating me lately.

I love reading. I love romance novels. So do the other girls here at SF. That's why we started this blog, because we wanted to share with you our favorite books.

That's all this is. A place to share our love of Romance novels, our opinions of them. And that's all they are. Opinions. Everyone has one. An opinion, I mean. Some people will agree with ours, and others won't. Personally, I don't care one way or the other if you agree with mine or not.

I know what I like. And I won't apologize for it. Nor will I apologize for NOT liking something. There are BILLIONS of people in the world who read. If you don't like my review, go find another. Don't read my bad review - or my good one, for that matter - then whine about it. Either read it and accept it, or read it and move on.

Something else for you to think about. Someday, I'd like to write a book. I'd like to become one of the millions who are contracted by a publishing house and see their own words in print. Sadly, however, I don't have the talent/drive/whatever for it. I realize this. I will never be an author. Why? Because I.Can't.Write. If I can recognize this about myself, why can't other people? Just because you put words on paper doesn't mean they came together to form a good story. Just because you, or an editor, think the story is good, doesn't mean I will. Just so you know.

I'm a critical reader. I figure that's my right, considering it was my money I spent to buy your book. I expect to be entertained, or engaged, or at the very least, amused. If I'm not, I won't buy another of your books. It's that simple.

But here's a tip for you authors out there. I DID buy the book. And just because I didn't like it doesn't mean someone else won't either. There's a saying in showbiz, "Even Bad Press is Good Press". Why? Because it gets your name out there. So next time you want to whine and cry because I said I didn't like your book, remember: I paid for it. And because I did, you'll have money in your pocket. And though I didn't like it, I put your name here, on my blog, where anyone could see it. And other people saw it. And those other people might decide to buy it, just to see if they agree with me, or it's as bad as I say. And who knows, that person might like it. So then they'll review it on their own blog, positively. And then someone else will buy it. Do you see the trend here? I'm helping you, even though I didn't like your book. Why don't you try to be grateful? Even better, why don't you read my review, and see why I didn't like it. Then maybe think for a minute about if I have a valid point. Constructive criticism can be good, you know.

But even more importantly? I'm not going to go away. And neither are the hundreds of other review blogs out there. And if one of us does close down, well, five more will crop up in their place. Just something for you to think about.

Is 'I Love You' Enough?

Personally, I'm a fan of the big, grand gesture. Yes, 'I Love You' is nice, but if it's just an I love You, with no big gesture to accompany it, I don't want it. The words just aren't enough sometimes.

Let me start at the beginning.

I was reading an older category-type* Nora Roberts last night (I think the story was originally published in '83) and the hero accused the heroine of being a whore. Literally.

The story goes like this:

She shows up in Hawaii to reconnect with her estranged father, whom she hasn't seen since she was 7, some 17-or-so years before. Quite by accident, she meets his young, handsome, extremely rich business partner, who is immediately suspicious of her. You see, her mother - who died a few months before this - was a selfish witch who took the money the father sent and kept it for herself, while she left her daughter in falling down boarding school. When the mother died, the daughter (I think her name was Laine) had to sell everything she had to pay back her mothers debt. That's when she found the Hawaii address and decided to use the last of her savings to see her father.

She truly was the innocent who'd been raised by nuns, but the young, handsome, virile business partner figured she was a gold-digger looking to fleece her unsuspecting father out of more money. He basically attaches himself to her so he can keep an eye on her, and after a day, in which he treats her like crap, she falls in love with him.

I'm already irritated at this point. He's insulted her, degraded her and basically treated her like a leper for ONE DAY and yet, she falls in love with him. This is the reason I hate this '80's novels.

But that's beside the point. Well, the point of this particular post, anyway. I'm sure I'll have another rant post about the above mentioned later.

So, he seems to be starting to care for her over the next week or so, but then some jealous Island Hooker (That's a technical term, you know) overhears Laine asking the housekeepers cousin to come and look at a locket she owns, because she needs the money to get home. The IH then runs and tells the hero and the next day, he walks in at the tail end of Laine's sale of her locket and thinks she's performed some unnamed sexual act for money.

You know, the virgin who was raised by nuns?

Well, Laine takes off back to Paris, totally depressed, and a few weeks later our darling hero tracks her down. He says, "I'm sorry I said those things. I love you" and she falls right into his arms. "I'll only come back with you if you marry me before we leave Paris"

Huh.

Yeah, see, I don't get it either. I guess Love just isn't enough for me. What about the groveling? What about the BIG.GRAND.GESTURE.? Yes, I realize this was written many moons ago, but I'm only picking on the lovely Miss Roberts because I read that particular book last night. If I thought about it, I'm sure I could come up with 50 more examples of this, in novels published within the last decade or so.

So tell me, is 'I Love You' enough, or do you need more? If what he's done is truly terrible, does him admitting his love make up for it? I don't think so. I guess I equate that to real life. Say my current boyfriend (love you MM) accused me of handing out sexual favors for money (you know, prostituting myself) a week after I met him (and he was serious, mind you), I would have booted him out the door so fast he'd have left skid marks for miles. And if, a week later, he showed up at my door confessing his undying love, I'd have kicked him again. Harder.

What about you?

*the story was Island of Flowers in the antho Going Home