Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 75

Siegfried Sassoon, "To Any Dead Officer"

To Any Dead Officer

Well, 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 trenches; you were proud
Of nothing more than having good years to spend;
Longed to get home and join...

"Satisfying Endings" Guest Post

It's the end–I think–of my blog "tour" in celebration of this month's launch of The Duke and The Pirate Queen. The last stop is Shelley Munro's Blog where I'm talking about, appropriately, "Satisfying Endings."

Stop by and let me know what you think!

(The shark pirate figurine is one of three "mutant pirates" that live atop my dresser. He tries to look mean, but he's really quite sweet! Look at his little shark-shaped sword! And I love his snazzy buccaneer boots.)

Pirate Appeal

I've been thinking a lot lately about the appeal of pirates, particularly in romance novels. Pirates seem to hold a special place in the genre, at least among heroes, along with The Rake or The Highlander.

My theory (I always have a theory!) is that for pirates, their transgression is what appeals. Transgression is important, I feel, in romantic/sexual fantasies. Being allowed to transgress boundaries, even in fantasy, significantly affects our thoughts and feelings about those boundaries i...

"The Lotus Eaters" guest post

There's a (new) excerpt from The Duke and the Pirate Queen posted at RT Book Reviews. There's also a message from the author. Which is me.

And I'm posting about "The Lotus Eaters" and The Duke and The Pirate Queen at Stephanie Draven's Blog.

Excerpt from "The Lotos-Eaters" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

…And round about the keel with faces pale,
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,
The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.
Branches they bore of that enchanted stem,
Laden with flower and fruit...

Book Launch Picspam – The Duke & The Pirate Queen

My friend L. threw my book launch party for me; I had very little to do aside from buying beverages and helping to set up. Her 6 year old daughter Geeklet (not her real name!) drew me a picture of a gorgeously dressed pirate queen with tattooed scalp, an octopus pirate (you can tell by the eyepatch) and, coincidentally since she didn't know the book's title, a duck (she likes ducks). So my next novel should clearly be The Duck and The Pirate Queen.

I had the picture on my signing table, but ...

"Researching Asian Pirates" Guest Post

I'm visiting Jeannie Lin's Blog today to chat about "Researching Asian Pirates," which was a tricky thing to do since I'm only fluent in reading English. I'm still looking for additional sources for future projects. Please drop by and comment!

Siegfried Sassoon, "Survivors"

Survivors

No doubt they'll soon get well; the shock and strain
Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk.
Of course they're 'longing to go out again,'–
These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk.
They'll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed
Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,–
Their dreams that drip with murder; and they'll be proud
Of glorious war that shatter'd all their pride…
Men who went out to battle, grim and glad;
Children, with eyes that hate you...

Siegfried Sassoon, "Suicide in the Trenches"

Suicide in the Trenches

I knew a simple soldier boy

Who grinned at life in empty joy,

Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,

And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,

With crumps and lice and lack of rum,

He put a bullet through his brain.

No one spoke of him again.

. . . .

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye

Who cheer when soldier lads march by,

Sneak home and pray you'll never know

The hell where youth and laughter go.

–Siegfried Sassoon...

"Romantic Settings" Guest Post

I'm at Moonlight and Roses today, discussing "Romantic Settings" and The Duke and The Pirate Queen. It isn't all pirates, you see.

Launch Party! Dukes & Pirates all welcome!

Photographer Kyle Cassidy profiles several books, including The Duke and The Pirate Queen – he's the namesake of an evil pirate character in the book. He is not really an evil pirate. But at his post, you can see him dressed as one.

Also, RT Book Reviews reviewed The Duke & The Pirate Queen.

And:



I'm having a launch party for The Duke and The Pirate Queen and if you're in the area, I'd love for you to attend.

Saturday, December 11, 2010, 3 pm

Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane...