Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 30
May 13, 2013
The Xenogenesis Trilogy by Octavia Butler – Many Thoughts
In May, I’ll be attending WisCon. One of the panels I’ll be participating in is a discussion of Octavia Butler’s Xenogenesis Trilogy. Rather than delve into the depths of my collection to unearth my original mass market paperbacks, I purchased a Kindle version that compiled all three books: Lilith’s Brood: Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago. The electronic edition meant it was much easier for me to highlight quotes I thought might be relevant to the discussion. I didn’t realize I would end...
May 6, 2013
Janelle Monáe – Q.U.E.E.N.
Her new album, Electric Lady, is out this fall! This is the first track released. Note the Philip K. Dick reference near the end. I love so much than she’s a geek as well as an incredible artist.
Janelle Monáe – Q.U.E.E.N. featuring Erykah Badu [Official Video]
April 29, 2013
“Jimmy Doane,” Rowland Thirlmere
Jimmy Doane
Often I think of you, Jimmy Doane,—
You who, light-heartedly, came to my house
Three autumns, to shoot and to eat a grouse!
As I sat apart in this quiet room,
My mind was full of the horror of war
And not with the hope of a visitor.
I had dined on food that had lost its taste;
My soul was cold and I wished you were here,
When, all in a moment, I knew you were near.
Placing that chair where you used to sit,
I looked at my book:—Three years to-day
Since you laughed in that seat and I heard...
April 22, 2013
More Preview Posts, Fantasy for Romance Readers
A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn Macnamara, a historical romance.
What Darkness Brings by C.S. Harris, a historical mystery (Regency period).
Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes, a contemporary mystery, with houseboats and pole dancers.
The Jezebel by Saskia Walker, a historical erotic romance.
Lord of Secrets by Alyssa Everett, a historical romance.
Darius by Grace Burrowes, a historical romance.
Sinner’s Heart by Zoe Archer, a historical paranormal romance.
Headed for Trouble, a collection of s...
April 15, 2013
Call for Programming – Romance Divas
Romance Divas are currently soliciting proposals for their online conference, September 9 through 11, 2013, and for 2014 general programming.
Romance Divas, an award-winning community for romance writers, is accepting proposals from interested instructors and presenters for our virtual conference Back to School 2013 and for monthly 2014 programming. We are seeking craft-focused workshops for the September event and workshops on craft, business, promotion, writer’s life, and more, for gene...
April 8, 2013
Preliminary Panel Schedule, WisCon 2013
“Join the Mod Squad: Enhance Your Moderation Skills”
Fri, 4:00–5:15 pm, Assembly
Ever go to a panel and spend your time thinking, “With a good moderator, this would be a much better panel?” We will review several ways to be that good moderator, offer tips and tricks, and generally work on improving WisCon’s already high standards for panel moderation. We strongly encourage you to attend this panel if you are moderating at WisCon, especially if it’s your first time. It’s also a great exper...
March 25, 2013
March 4, 2013
Some Recent YA Reading
I read a fair amount of recent Young Adult and Middle Grade books over the last year. These are some of my favorites, in no particular order.
Summer of the Mariposas by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is a YA fantasy involving five sisters who find a body floating in the Rio Grande. Their father has recently run out on their mother, and it happens that their paternal grandmother, whom they haven’t seen in some time, lives near where the dead man came from. They worry the dead man’s family won’t k...
February 18, 2013
February 11, 2013
I’ve Been Blogging Elsewhere.
I have some more recent posts up at Heroes and Heartbreakers and The Criminal Element.
Artistic Liberties: Heroes and Heroines Who Are Artists in Historical Romance.
A post on Again by Kathleen Gilles Seidel, an older romance set amidst the production of a soap opera, “My Lady’s Chamber.”
And many previews:
Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe, a contemporary romance.
Proof of Guilt by Charles Todd, latest in a series of WWI historical mysteries.
Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, second in a Young...
