Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 123

Lauren Dane Guest Post - Worldbuilding and Characterization

Please welcome my guest, Lauren Dane!#Worldbuilding and CharacterizationThe first book I wrote was a paranormal. I loved the freedom of building worlds. They were my rules, my world, the characters did what I told them to. Of course when something didn't work or make sense, that was all me too. Building a world for your characters to inhabit is only part of the process though. In the end, any

Vera Brittain, "The German Ward"

The German WardWhen the years of strife are over and my recollection fades Of the wards wherein I worked the weeks away,I shall still see, as a visions rising 'mid the War- time shades, The ward in France where German wounded lay.I shall see the pallid faces and the half-sus- picious eyes, I shall hear the bitter groans and laboured breath,And recall the loud complaining and

Excerpt from The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover - Humor

Excerpt from The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover- Humor#Two days later, the last of the horses was slung aboard Captain Leung's ship. Watching from the dock, Henri bounced on his toes. He'd never been to sea before, though the coast was less than a day's journey from the ducal seat, if one wasn't picky about where one took ship. Sylvie jabbed him with her elbow. "Be still. You

Kirsten Saell Guest Post - "Writing F/F(/M) for the Female Gaze"

Please welcome my guest, Kirsten Saell.#Writing F/F(/M) for the Female Gaze I adore men. I love their hard bodies and their strong chins and the frankness of their bodies. I love the sound of a deep voice growling something naughty in my ear, accompanied by the rasp of poky, prickly whiskers against my skin. I love the feel of muscled arms holding me so tight I almost can't break free. And as

Pirates and Swords

Sometimes, a picture says it all.Nummy, aren't they?Photo is of Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone in Captain Blood, 1935. You can see the sword fight here. It's visible that Basil Rathbone was a real fencer; Errol Flynn said, "I really can't fence worth a damn. I just know how to make it look good."Regardless, it's very unlikely sailors of that period would fence as those two did in the movie--the

Some of My Favorite Pictures from Montreal

This is going to be my last post full of Montreal photos. Really.I loved the bright colors in this mural near McGill University.This snake graffiti? mural? was near our hotel.Stadium built for the 1976 Summer Olympics.A great glass artwork at the Berri-UQAM Metro Station.Flowers at a park by the river in Old Montreal.The riverside park in Old Montreal.Inside the Basilica Notre Dame--I liked the

Sale!

I've sold a short--very short--story reprint to editor Alison Tyler for a Harlequin Spice anthology titled Alison's Wonderland. The theme is modern day fairy tales. Here's the table of contents:The Red Shoes (Redux) by Nikki MagennisFool's Gold by Shanna GermainThe Three Billys by Sommer MarsdenDavid by Kristina LloydManagers and Mermen by Donna George StoreyThe Clean-Shaven Type by N.T.

Caroline Stevermer Guest Post - Digging for the Metaphor

Please welcome my guest, Caroline Stevermer!#I'm Caroline Stevermer. In addition to A College of Magics and A Scholar of Magics, both available from Tor's Starscape imprint, I've collaborated with Patricia C. Wrede on Sorcery and Cecilia, The Grand Tour, and The Mislaid Magician, all from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (Their mass-market paperback line is Graphia.) Readers of the Kate and Cecy books

Extract from the diary of Edward Thomas, 23 February 1917

Extract from the diary of Edward Thomas:23 February 1917Chaffinch sang once. Another dull cold day. Inspected stables, checked inventory of new billet for men in Rue Jeanne d'Arc, went with Colonel round 244, 141 and 234 positions and O.P. in Achicourt. Afternoon maps. Partridges twanging in fields. Flooded fields by stream between the 2 sides of Achicourt. ruined churches, churchyard and railway

Moonlight Mistress excerpt - Setting

My offering is from Moonlight Mistress, out December 2009 from Harlequin Spice.Today's excerpt is all about the setting. It's the beginning of World War One, and Lucilla has joined a new hospital as a nurse. Ths hospital is being housed in a building that used to be a casino.#The first days were all hard work, such hard work that Lucilla fell into her bed each night already nearly asleep from