Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 49

Philcon 2011 Schedule

Tweet

This weekend, I'll be at the 75th annual Philcon.

Here's my schedule:

Fri 7:00 – 8:00 PM in Plaza III

"Story Openings"

Victoria Janssen (mod), Marilyn Brahen, Tim W. Burke, Ty Drago, Michael F. Flynn

If you cannot seize and hold the reader's (or the editor's) attention by the end of the first page, the rest of the manuscript might as well be blank. So how do you do that?

Sat 5:00 – 6:00 PM in Crystal Ballroom Three
"It's Time To Play The Music, It's Time To Light The Lights… Meet The...

Can't Stop The Business

Tweet

I haven't been written any fiction since the end of August – this was on purpose, to give myself a break and to read for research and to, well, just read. (I have been writing a lot of nonfiction blog posts.) But the business of writing doesn't really stop. (Unless, of course, you ignore your email!)

1. Soon I should be getting an editorial letter on my Spice Brief, which from initial comments, I think will lead to writing some additional scenes. I've been thinking about that a...

"The Superman," Robert Grant

Tweet

The Superman

The horror-haunted Belgian plains riven by shot and shell

Are strewn with her undaunted sons who stayed the jaws of hell.

In every sunny vale of France death is the countersign.

The purest blood in Britain's veins is being poured like wine.

Far, far across the crimsoned map the impassioned armies sweep.
Destruction flashes down the sky and penetrates the deep.
The Dreadnought knows the silent dread, and seas incarnadine
Attest the carnival of strife, the madman's battle...

"Requiescant," Frederick George Scott

Tweet

Requiescant

In lonely watches night by night

Great visions burst upon my sight,

For down the stretches of the sky

The hosts of dead go marching by.

Strange ghostly banners o'er them float,

Strange bugles sound an awful note,

And all their faces and their eyes

Are lit with starlight from the skies.

The anguish and the pain have passed

And peace hath come to them at last,

But in the stern looks linger still

The iron purpose and the will.

Dear Christ, who reign'st above the flood
Of...

Pintos and Pumpkin

Tweet

I've never posted recipes in this blog before, though I did in my LiveJournal, a while back. This sudden urge to chat about food came from a Twitter discussion.

So in honor of fall, and pumpkins, here is my quick and easy recipe for Pinto Beans and Pumpkin. I like this one because it involves things I keep on hand. I'm not a total wimp; I have cooked beans from scratch; but oh, how I love the convenience of canned, cooked beans.

Pintos and Pumpkin

You might want something to go with...

Sarah Tolerance!

Tweet

I had a new post up at The Criminal Element this weekend, on Sarah Tolerance: Fallen Woman & Regency Private Eye. It's an introduction to the series by Madeleine E. Robins, which has started up again after a hiatus. It's Regency/Science Fiction/Noir Detective. Really!

So You Think You Can Write

Tweet

Harlequin is hosting an online writing conference this week. Conference FAQs.

"Visit the week of Nov 7-11 to meet the Harlequin editors via blogs, live chats, podcasts, webinars, tweets and more. Discover what makes a great romance story and how to sell your winning submission!

…We'll offer both basic level and master classes-something for everyone. You'll pick up tips on writing craft, the latest trends in romance, and how to get from opening page to a published book.

Here's the theme...

"Veglia," Giuseppe Ungaretti

Tweet

Veglia

Cima Quattro il 23 dicembre 1915

Un'intera nottata

buttato vicino

a un compagno

massacrato

con la sua bocca

digrignata

volta al plenilunio

con la congestione

delle sue mani

penetrata

nel mio silenzio

ho scritto

lettere piene d'amore

Non sono mai stato

tanto

attaccato alla vita

–Giuseppe Ungaretti

She's a Little Bit Country…Vintage Erotica Covers

Tweet

Fanfiction Linkgasm

Tweet

Today's linkgasm compiles some stories that I think might be enjoyable to those who don't normally read fanfiction.

[image error]

Before the End of All Things by C.J. Marlowe – a contemporary take on Hamlet and Ophelia.

The Quiet Padawan by torch – a "fusion" story in the style of Georgette Heyer, in which Obi-Wan Kenobi searches for a Jedi Master. "…all knights and masters without padawans were required to take a regular part in the training of those students who were as yet without a master, in...