Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 113

The Dreaded Novel Synopsis

I recently came across some old correspondence from the first time I attempted to write a synopsis. It was for a novel I'd already completed, a novel which never sold. As I prepare to write a new synopsis for the second book in my contract, I decided it was worth reviewing.A friend of mine, a nonfiction writer, read my first attempt at a synopsis, and described it this way: "it reads like you

A Writer's Brain Radio

Ever wanted to know what goes through a writer's mind as she's writing? Look no more!Is this sentence too long? It's the opening sentence, it's too long and confusing, and the reader will stop reading and never read my book! If I cut it into two sentences, does it turn into blah utilitarian prose and the reader will be bored and stop? Was it stylish in the first place, or does it just have too

The Romance Formula Myth

Romance readers know there's no formula for romance novels, but a lot of other people seem to think there is, something like, "First kiss on page three, problem arises pages fifteen, first kiss with tongue page eighteen, hero falls in love page seventy-two."This idea's been around for a long time, and it's still around, and romance writers still get asked what their "formula" is. Even writers

Visiting Lust in Time

I'm visiting today at Lust in Time and blogging on where I found some of my historical details, so please drop by!

Victoria Janssen Interviews Herself

I thought it would be fun to interview myself, using the questions from Inside the Actors Studio.1. What is your favorite word?Song.2. What is your least favorite word?Moist.3. What turns you on?Beautiful voices and kindness and intelligence.4. What turns you off?Arrogance, especially when there's no real strength behind it.5. What sound or noise do you love?Renaissance polyphony, sung by a few

Siegfried Sassoon, "To Any Dead Officer"

To Any Dead OfficerWell, how are things in Heaven? I wish you'd say, Because I'd like to know that you're all right. Tell me, have you found everlasting day, Or been sucked in by everlasting night? For when I shut my eyes your face shows plain; I hear you make some cheery old remark-- I can rebuild you in my brain, Though you've gone out patrolling in the dark. You hated tours of

Moonlight Mistress Excerpt - Secondary Characters

Moonlight Mistress is out NOW from Harlequin Spice. In this scene, Hailey is carrying a message to Meyer and Daglish, who are on leave in Paris. Note there's been a change to this excerpt to protect a plot detail.#The road to Paris was in awful shape. Hailey clung desperately to the zouave piloting the motorbike and tried to ignore the fragments of cold mud whipping his cheek and splatting on

Regencies and Amish Romance

What about the Regency Romnace appeals, in the past and now? Here are some thoughts. I'm not sure I entirely agree with myself on every point, if that makes sense...but I'm going to ramble on anyway, going one way and the other.I think there's a difference between historical romance novels that are set during the Regency period and the Regency Romance, a sub-genre that I've heard people say

Blackadder Goes Forth

Rather than summarize the British dark comedy series Blackadder Goes Forth for those who've never seen the series, I'll provide a link to the detailed Wikipedia page. It's set on the Western Front in 1917, and starred Rowan Atkinson. A comedy set in the trenches? Why, yes. It does work.Fans of the American television show House, M.D. should note that its star, Hugh Laurie, played Lieutenant

Visiting Smutketeers for an Interview

I'm being interviewed today by The Smutketeers, so please drop by! One of the questions they asked me was my dream movie cast for The Moonlight Mistress.And yesterday's winner of a copy of the book is Lapis! Congratulations!