Sarah MacLean's Blog, page 13
August 8, 2011
Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity
I love TED Talks. Love love love them.
But this one, by Elizabeth Gilbert, talking about creativity, and her struggle with writing the book after the MASSIVE Eat. Pray. Love.
If you have ever had doubt about your own ability to tackle a challenging project…you MUST watch this.
August 5, 2011
The Raider Barbie? OH. MY. Yes!
Taggerts + Montgomeries =
How did I not know until this very moment that Mattel once put out a collectors' edition Barbie & Ken as characters from Jude Deveraux's The Raider?
Why did no one tell me this??? And, more importantly, why has no one thought to gift me with this AMAZING thing???
First, I do not hide the fact that Jude Deveraux is one of the writers (if not, THE writer) who made me want to be a romance novelist…and The Raider, starring Jessica Taggert and Alexander Montgomery in a Scarlet Pimpernel style spy story/romance/old school AWESOMENESS, is one of my favorites of hers (after The Black Lyon, which I will be discussing in detail in September).
But…but…Ken as Alex!!! Barbie as Jessica!!! I mean…SERIOUSLY?
Seriously. And check out this description!!
This giftset features Barbie® and Ken® dolls as romance novel characters. Barbie® doll wears a violet blue dress that falls off her shoulders with a neckline trimmed in white lace and the violet blue taffeta bodice is boned and fitted. It laces up the front in lilac satin ribbon to finish in a bow just under the bust. An overskirt of periwinkle chiffon is pulled up at the left hip to reveal a very full underskirt of violet blue floral jacquard. A sash of teal iridescent chiffon falls around the edge of the overskirt. A small bouquet of lilac and white flowers covers the area where the two chiffon fabrics come together. She has long blond tousled hair. Ken® doll has long brown windswept hair. He is wearing a sheer white cotton shirt and tight black pants accented with a black belt. Black knee high cuffed and buckled boots complete his ruggedly handsome look.
I have so many questions!! How did Mattel decide to make a romance novel collectors' edition? Is Ken wearing makeup? Why is Ken trademarked?! Do men the world over have to pay rights on their name? How did they choose The Raider? And did Jude plotz when she heard about this (for the record, I would totally plotz)?
But, most importantly, why is this not still a thing?? Why can't I get Barbies of Devil & Honoria, or Josie & Mayne, or Fallon & Dominic?!? Then I could invite my friends over and we could PLAY BARBIES. WITH DEVIL CYNSTER (Aside: You can bet I'll be taking off all of Ken's clothes on that one).
UPDATE: Yes. Ken is wearing makeup! *And* he appears to have a 5 o'clock shadow! Who says Barbies are unrealistic! This is totally how romance heroes look! Check out this glamour shot!
Ok, readers…here's the question…if you could have ANY romance novel couple in doll form, who would it be? And would there be special features or props that the dolls would need to have? Tell me in comments!
July 28, 2011
Today, in Things that Are Awesome: Grandma Superhero Therapy
A few years ago, French photographer Sacha Goldberger found his 91-year-old Hungarian grandmother Frederika feeling lonely and depressed. To cheer her up, he suggested that they shoot a series of outrageous photographs in unusual costumes, poses, and locations.
Do not miss Mamika's MySpace Blog, which is truly awesome. Truly
July 24, 2011
July 24, 2011 – NY is pro-love
I'm very proud to be a New Yorker today.
Where love is, things can only get better.
Phyllis Siegel, 76, right, and Connie Kopelov, 84, who have been together in Manhattan for 23 years, were the first couple to be married at Manhattan's City Hall.
Congratulations to all the newly marrieds!
July 18, 2011
RIP Borders. Thanks for the memories.
I'm sad today.
I'm not sad because the closing of Borders bookstores represents a seachange in publishing, which it most definitely does. I'm not sad because it means that digital books and online booksellers have grown big enough to warrant the closing of a chain bookseller that seemed like it would be around for an age. Indeed, I'm an eReader myself and, as a writer, I'm kindof psyched to be living in such an awesome time–a time that is going to bring new formats, new possibilities, and new excitements.
But I am sad because Borders holds a special place in my heart.
You see, when I was 16, I got my first summer job. The very best job a teenager with an obsession with romance novels and a caffeine addiction could get. I worked in the cafe at Borders in the Garden City mall in Cranston, RI. Behind that counter, when I wasn't serving coffee and pastries, I read. I read like crazy. I read On the Road and Lord Byron and every Jane Austen novel. I read Bridget Jones's Diary and every bit of chicklit I could get my hands on (as it was the age of Chicklit when I worked there). I read Edna St. Vincent Millay and Naked Lunch. And I read romance novels. Like. Mad.
As I read about the closing of the final 399 Borders stores (including the one in Garden City), I'm thinking about the quiet times in the store…late nights, when we would turn up the music on the loudspeakers and go through the calming, repetitive process of closing the store. Reshelving books, cleaning out the coffee pots, watering plants, cashing out, washing down tables and mopping floors before we'd all leave together, a small band of brothers turning out the lights and walking to our cars to head home.
But not before we'd talk about what we were reading that night.
So…thanks Borders, thanks for the memories. Thanks for the best first job ever. Thanks for stocking romance and putting the section near the cafe.Thanks for the employee discount. And, most importantly, thanks for the books.
July 16, 2011
Sarah Goes to Italy – Piazza Dante
Mom and me in Piazza Dante
If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you know I was in Italy for the past two weeks…it was a fabulous trip, Eric's first time there, and I'm so happy that we had a chance to go–and he had a chance to meet my crazy Italian family (who, in case you were wondering, were absolutely part of the inspiration for Juliana). My father was born and raised in Verona, so we spent much of our time there…and I took tons of photos of the city for those of you who want to know more about where Juliana came from! I thought I'd share them a little bit at a time over the next few weeks, to keep you happy before I have any big news (like the cover or first chapter of A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME).
I'll begin with one of my favorite places, Piazza Dante.
Verona has three main Piazzas: Piazza Bra, where L'Arena, the Roman colosseum, sits (and where Leonardo DiCaprio just bought an apartment); Piazza Erbe, the home of the outdoor farmers market; and Piazza Dante (also called Piazza dei Signori)–my favorite. It's the quietest of the three and surrounded on four sides by architecture from the 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th Centuries. Each of the entrances of the Piazza is topped with a statue of some great Veronese scholar or thinker…and at the center of the Piazza, there's a massive statue of Dante (who, you will recall, is Simon's favorite writer, and the reason he speaks Italian).
My favorite statue isn't the one of Dante, though. My favorite is the one of Girolamo Fracastoro, who was a true Renaissance Man–a doctor, astronomer, poet and all around smartypants. Fracastoro is holding a stone orb in his hand, and the Veronese legend has it that he'll drop it on the first unattractive woman to pass beneath the arch. This cracks me up every time my dad says it, with all authority.
Girolamo Fracastoro and his stone orb (click for larger)
And a trip to Verona isn't complete without walking beneath old Girolamo–as he's very very good for my self esteem. :)
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Also, for more fun, head over to The Ballroom Blog today for our first Saturday Salon! We're making Regency paper dolls!
July 13, 2011
At the ball….
June 23, 2011
June 19, 2011
Eleven Tips for Leaving Times Square During RWA11
Attention, New Yorkers! This time next week, thousands of romance novelists will descend upon the crossroads of the universe for the annual Romance Writers of America conference! You thought Giuliani took the sexy out of Times Square? Well, watch out, cuz these ladies are bringing it back.
(Not that gross, streetwalker, 42nd St. sexy. The good kind.)
But, let's be honest. There's absolutely nowhere worse than Times Square to get the true New York experience. Really. New Yorkers stay away from it, unless they work there or have theatre tickets. So, why should you stay there? If you're making breakfast plans or dinner plans or plans to head off and do something exciting with friends, my best piece of advice is Leave Times Square.
There are about a million places/things to see/eat/do in NYC outside of Times Square, and I promise you'll love every one of them.
So. I give you NYC experiences (beyond Times Square):
1. The New York Times Walking Tours — There are many reasons to love the Grey Lady. But one of my favorites are these incredible walking tours on their site. They tell you where to go, and direct you through a maze of places and events that happened in that neighborhood. I like the Greenwich Village one because it has a ton of writing history in it, but if you want to stay close to the conference and the hotel, try this Midtown tour!
2. The Empire State Building (at night!) — The ESB is obviously one of those key landmarks. And if you're a romance lover, there's an added layer of *must do* attached to the massive building. I love it there. But here's the thing–I only go after 10pm (the ESB observation deck is open until 2am) Skip the daytime trip for a number of reasons. First, the lines are insane and by the time you reach the observation deck, you'll be through with humanity. Second, it's the best way to see how big New York is. The lights against the darkness make that so much clearer than during the day. And third, there's nothing more romantic than standing 100 stories above the rest of NYC, looking down on all those lights.
3. The Empire State Building (at night! with alcohol!) — Or, you could skip the ESB trip altogether and get a group together for one of NYC's famous rooftop lounges with FABULOUS views of of the tallest building in the city. They can be a bit of a scene, but they're worth it for the experience, and the views! Get there early to get table. I recommend 230 Fifth or the Gansevoort Park.
4. Food. Food food food. — You can't come to New York and not eat somewhere fabulous. Louisa Edwards wrote this post a week or so back recommending restaurants within walking distance of the hotel, so that leaves me free to recommend a few restaurants farther afield. I'm going to try to run the gamut of cost and cuisine!
Craft – Tom Colicchio's flagship restaurant, this one is expensive and worth it. If you consider yourself a foodie, Craft should be the first reservation on your list. Craft is in Union Square, and if you feel like a crazy shopping experience beforehand, plan to spend an hour in ABC Carpet & Home a few blocks away. It's a home goods/furniture store, with outrageous prices and outrageous stuff. But worth the window shopping! Cost: $$$$
Snack Taverna – A tiny little Greek place in Greenwich Village, I think it's got the best Greek food in the city. It's very small, so you'll need reservations, and after 8 or so, it becomes very loud, so I recommend seeing if you can reserve the table in the window, but the food is excellent. Once you're finished, wander through Greenwich Village and up to (the original) Magnolia Bakery on Bleeker St. for cupcakes! Cost: $$$
Pepolino – I was raised by foodie Italians. I take my Italian food very seriously. And this is the best in the City. It's in TriBeCa, so it's about a 20 minute cab/subway ride from the Hotel, but absolutely worth it. Have the malfatti. You won't be disappointed. Drinks before or after at the TriBeCa Grand Hotel with the girls will make you very very happy! Cost: $$$
Burger Joint in the Parker Meridian – This is, by far, my favorite burger in the city, in part because of how secret this place is. To get there, you walk through the lobby of the fabulous Parker Meridian and then pull back a velvet curtain to reveal a greasy burger joint. They make burgers, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese and fries. And that's it. And they do it very very well. Cost: $
Little Bombay (East 6th Street between 1st & 2nd Ave) – Down in the East Village, on one block of East 6th Street, you'll find the best Indian food in the City, ranging from the expensive (Haveli on 2nd Avenue) to the inexpensive little Indian joints all down 6th. They're so packed into this one block, and the food is so comparable at all of them, that the running joke is that there's one kitchen that serves them all. The experience, of course, is choosing the restaurant. The barkers outside will try to convince you that theirs is the best, and you'll get to pick between Sitar players in one and a wild number of chili pepper christmas lights in the another. But whichever you choose, have a mango lassi for me, ok?
5. Museums – There are a million of them, of course, but here are a few that I'm feeling these days:
* The Museum of Sex – The collection here is fabulous. It's thoughtfully curated and really interesting. Worth the trip. Additionally, they struggle with funding because so many people are afraid to go, fearing I don't know what. It's terrific. I might see you there!
* The Intrepid – Maybe you write military romance, maybe you're just interested in the military. Either way, this is the museum for you (or your husband!) It's a massive aircraft carrier turned museum docked on the far west side of the Island. And if you're staying through the 4th of July, you can't miss the fireworks display!
*The Costume Institute at the Met – Centuries of costume on display year round and, through August, the Alexander McQueen exhibit about which everyone is raving.
* The Museum of Natural History – Ok. Eric calls this "The Museum of Dioramas," but I (and every kid I know) think it's fabulous. Go for the dinosaurs, go for the Rose planetarium, but don't miss the Hall of Biodiversity and the Blue Whale. Which will stop you in your tracks.
6. The Statue of Liberty (Not the way you'd think) – Tickets are for tourists. And they're sold out by now. To see Lady Liberty anyway (without waiting in line!) head down to the South Street Seaport, grab a real-deal NYC hotdog, wander south and buy a roundtrip ticket for the Staten Island Ferry. The 25 minute ride takes you right past Ellis Island & the Statue, without all the fuss. Once on Staten Island, brag to your friends that you're in an outer borough, and then hop on the return ferry. You'll be back at conference within the hour!
7. The New York Public Library – This should have been in the museum section, but since we're all writers, I vote it gets its own slot. You gotta go. Go, get an ice cream, sit on the steps next to Patience or Fortitude (the famous lions), and soak in the place. It's worth it, just for the inspiration. Right now, the NYPL main branch has two amazing exhibitions on: for kids, The Real Winnie the Pooh is in the Children's Center, and for nerds like me, The Centennial Exhibition, in which the library is showing dozens of amazing finds from its collections, including a Guttenberg Bible and Virginia Woolf's writing desk.
8. The When Harry Met Sally experience – Designed by my BFF and me, try Washington Square Park(where they part for the first time), Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore (where they meet for the third time), Katz's Delicatessen (where there's a sign above the table where Sally faked her orgasm), and the Egyptian Wing of the MET (Where you can read the comic about Sphinxy).
9. 5th Avenue Window Shopping – Start at Saks Fifth Avenue (5th between 49th & 50th Streets) and walk north, and you'll get the best window shopping in the world. And I do mean window shopping. The windows of Saks, Barney's, Tiffany & Co., & Cartier are worth the wander…these are stores where window dressers still take their jobs incredibly seriously. Finish at FAO Schwarz, where you can buy something fabulous for the little one in your life.
10. Lady Jane's Salon – If you're in town on Monday night, don't miss the mecca for romance writers in NYC, Lady Jane's Salon. The only monthly romance reading series in the country, Lady Jane's is hosting a special RWA Salon! Readers include Eloisa James, Carrie Lofty, Dianna Love Snell, Karen Rose, Leanna Renee Hieber…and me! It starts at 7:00pm…see you then!
11. …… I'm leaving eleven blank, hoping that other New York romance brains can add their ideas in comments!
Anyway…hope this helps…and I hope you have an AMAZING time celebrating romance in this city I love so much.
Questions? Leave them in comments! xox
June 17, 2011
From the Mailbag: 4-year-old Boys on Romance
I've been meaning to share this one for almost a year…and keep forgetting!
This email came from a reader named Jenny last year, and it ranks up in the top-five reader emails I've ever received. The book she's referring to is Nine Rules, and the image she's referring to is this one.
My little four-year-old man saw your book in my bag and said…"Wow, look at that big book, is that yours?" To which I said, "It is. This is my grown up book." Matty (my main little 3-foot plus squeeze) then proceeded to pull it out of my bag and flip through it looking for pictures. He was quite disappointed, at first. And then he saw the inside cover…he paused and looked at it thoughtfully, as if trying to process exactly what he was looking at. And then he handed me back the book, looked up at me with his big blue eyes and said, "Wow, they must REALLLLLY be in love huh?" I couldn't overcome my hysterical laughter for a while after that. And then I looked at him, nodded and said, "Yep sweetie, they sure are." I knew I had to find a way to contact you to share this story. I hope it brought a little laughter to your day.
Is that not the a) cutest and b) funniest thing you've ever read? I love how serious Matty was about the naughty bits obviously meaning that the hero and heroine care for each other. And this is what I tell moms when they express concern over their daughters reading romance. I tell them that I prefer that young readers have access to stories where sex is more than just a thing you try, but instead a real step on a journey toward something remarkable. It sounds cheesy, I know. But I believe it's true.
Anyway. Thanks so much Jenny for sending me this email about you and Matty. If you want to send me a note, here's my contact page, or you can send me something old fashioned at the following PO Box: Sarah MacLean, PMB 111, 358 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
