Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 110

Multi-Purpose Worldbuilding

This post was originally written for Star-Crossed Romance.In The Moonlight Mistress, werewolves are an important element. However, the world they live in is much like our world; the werewolves exist as "secret history." Though several of the characters know about the existence of werewolves, and one finds out about them in the course of the novel, for the most part they exist out of sight.The

Ivor Gurney, "Strange Hells"

Strange HellsThere are strange Hells within the minds War made Not so often, not so humiliating afraid As one would have expected - the racket and fear guns made. One Hell the Gloucester soldiers they quite put out; Their first bombardment, when in combined black shoutOf fury, guns aligned, they ducked low their heads And sang with diaphragms fixed beyond all dreads, That tin and stretched-wire

Black Wine opening

I really love the opening to Candas Jane Dorsey's Black Wine (1997).#There's a scarred, twisted old madwoman in a cage in the courtyard. The nurse throws a crust at her as he passes, therefore so does the girl. Others bring a can of water, or a trencher of meat cut up small, to stuff through the bars. The woman shoves the food into her mouth, dribbling and drooling and muttering."Why do they keep

Take All Chances

Happy New Year!This post originally appeared at Crista McHugh's blog on November 30, 2009, but I felt it was especially appropriate for New Year's Day.Today's topic is lessons I've learned about being a professional writer. After "butt in chair, fingers on keyboard," the most important lesson I've learned is to take every chance.That means a lot of different things, and all of them are

Looking Backwards

I've been looking at the statistics for this blog, and selected some of the year's most-visited posts for your delectation.My Favorite Girls Dressed As Boys - romance edition.Nifty Stuff That Ought To Be In Romance Novels.Normative Heterosexuality and the Alpha Male Fantasy.Georgette Heyer Recommendations.The Intricacies of Marriages of Convenience.Online Promotion - Is It Worth It?The Romance

Visiting Leah Braemel's Blog

I'm a guest today over at Leah Braemel's Blog, chatting about some of my writing goals for the new year.

Setting and Characterization Through Food

This post was originally written for the Romance Junkies blog.I love food, both eating it and reading about it, and that interest sometimes translates into my work. I use food for several different purposes, most notably to establish setting and to deepen characterization.My book The Moonlight Mistress is set in the early days of World War One, and there are scenes set in Germany, England, and

Did You Know Bach Had a Father?

I post this section from Patrick O'Brian's The Ionian Mission because I love it for what is says about Bach (Johann Sebastian) as well as about Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.O'Brian was an incredible writer, and I think this passage shows it.#'[London Bach:] wrote some pieces for my uncle Fisher, and his young man copied them out fair. But they were lost years and years ago, so last time I was

Charlotte Mew, "The Cenotaph"

The Cenotaph September 1919Not yet will those measureless fields be green againWhere only yesterday the wild sweet blood of wonderful youth was shed;There is a grave whose earth must hold too long, too deep a stain,Though for ever over it we may speak as proudly as we may tread.But here, where the watchers by lonely hearths from the thrust of an inward sword have more slowly bled,We shall build

Rumi, "Love Is the Master"

I've always thought this poem would be a great background or theme for a romance novel.#Love is the MasterLove is the One who masters all things;I am mastered totally by Love.By my passion of love for LoveI have ground sweet as sugar.O furious Wind, I am only a straw before you;How could I know where I will be blown next?Whoever claims to have made a pact with DestinyReveals himself a liar and a