Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 43
February 19, 2012
"A Cross in Flanders," G. Rostrevor Hamilton
A Cross in Flanders
In the face of death, they say, he joked–he had no fear;
His comrades, when they laid him in a Flanders grave,
Wrote on a rough-hewn cross–a Calvary stood near–
"Without a fear he gave
"His life, cheering his men, with laughter on his lips."
So wrote they, mourning him. Yet was there only one
Who fully understood his laughter, his gay quips,
One only, she alone–
She who, not so long since, when love was new-confest,
Herself toyed with light laughter while her ...
February 17, 2012
Quickie! Vintage Erotica Cover
I felt this one was awesome enough for its own post.
Also, a collation of my recent book previews:
Available Dark by Elizabeth Hand. Noir thriller with Norwegian Black Metal. This book rocks.
Charlie Cochrane's Dreams of a Hero. A fairly short story about a gay couple living in their happily-ever-after.
Cath Crowley's Graffiti Moon, a YA about art and love and our real selves.
Firelight by Kristen Callihan, an angsty Paranormal Romance that takes its worldbuilding in some interesting...
February 15, 2012
Russian Translation of The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover
I somehow missed this when it first came out, but there is a Russian translation of The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom and Their Lover. Here's the page at Harlequin Russia.
- Где ты черпаешь вдохновение?
Иногда вдохновение на написание романов является реакцией на уже прочитанное. Или когда я начинаю думать о той или иной теме, проблеме, жизненной ситуации, я представляю, как бы можно было облечь ее в литературную форму. В том, что я пишу мало из моей личной жизни. Мои истории – это...
February 14, 2012
Romantic Fantasy, The Element of Fire by Martha Wells
I had a new post up on Heroes and Heartbreakers over the weekend, all about the romance in The Element of Fire by Martha Wells, one of my favorite fantasy novels.
February 13, 2012
Betty Neels' Books Rock – Guest Post by Magdalen Braden
Please welcome my guest, Magdalen Braden of Promantica!
A while back, I posted some thoughts on romance author Betty Neels. Strangely, that post keeps getting hits…more than I would expect. Alas, though I think her work is a fascinating part of the romance genre, I haven't yet read enough of Neels' enormous backlist to talk about her in a truly knowledgeable way, so I asked for a post from an expert.
#
Betty Neels' Books Rock by Magdalen Braden
A friend sent me a Mills & Boon published i...
February 12, 2012
"My Son," Ada Tyrrell
My Son
Here is his little cambric frock
That I laid by in lavender so sweet,
And here his tiny shoe and sock
I made with loving care for his dear feet.
I fold the frock across my breast,
And in imagination, ah, my sweet,
Once more I hush my babe to rest,
And once again I warm those little feet.
Where do those strong young feet now stand?
In flooded trench, half numb to cold or pain,
Or marching through the desert sand
To some dread place that they may never gain.
G...
February 10, 2012
On Getting Away with Cliché
After a small hiatus from the genre, I started reading romance novels again in December, and I have some new thoughts.
The reason for my burnout: the constraints of the genre had palled. Instead of soothing through familiarity, they scraped across my nerves because of their sameness. I found myself skimming over scenes of first meetings, scenes of realization, scenes of sexual intimacy–skimming in novels by authors whose work I love, whose prose is skilled and creative. Everything...
February 8, 2012
Thoughts on Julie Taymor's The Tempest
When I first heard that there was to be a movie of Shakespeare's play "The Tempest" with Helen Mirren playing the lead role (Prospera rather than Prospero), I nearly screamed with excitement. That was before it actually came out in theaters, and it turned out I wasn't able to go and see it. As soon as the DVD was available for pre-order, I pre-ordered. And waited. And waited, as the release was delayed time and again. Finally it arrived, and finally I had a free evening to sit down and a...
February 6, 2012
Cover Reveal – "Under Her Uniform"
Under Her Uniform by Victoria Janssen
Isobel Hailey has disguised herself as a man so she can fight in the British Army in World War I. Only a few people know the truth, including her two officer lovers–so why can't she stop thinking about handsome Corporal Andrew Southey instead? Isobel has to keep her wits about her and her erotic fantasies hidden so she doesn't blow her cover. But when she and Andrew find themselves working closely on a mission, their attraction–and the truth–is...
February 5, 2012
"The Tombstone-Maker," Siegfried Sassoon
The Tombstone-Maker
He primmed his loose red mouth and leaned his head
Against a sorrowing angel's breast, and said:
'You'd think so much bereavement would have made
'Unusual big demands upon my trade.
'The War comes cruel hard on some poor folk;
'Unless the fighting stops I'll soon be broke.'
He eyed the Cemetery across the road.
'There's scores of bodies out abroad, this while,
'That should be here by rights. They little know'd
'How they'd get buried in such wretched style.'
I told h...
