Maya Rodale's Blog: Maya Rodale's Blog, page 35

Shopping is good for you!

I love shopping, which is a surprise to no one. You can imagine how delighted I was to read this little tidbit in this month's Women's Health magazine:

One-word Answer: SHOPPING

Talk about retail therapy: Frequent trips to any kind of store could actually extend your life. In a new study, women who went shopping daily for 10 years–even if they didn't end up buying anything–were 23% less likely to die during that time period than those who browsed less often.

Source: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Naturally, I dramatically read this aloud to the husband to illustrate that my habit of combining dog walking with visits to shops (I love you, New York) was actually a good thing for my health!

"Really?!" he replied "Are kidding me?!"

"No, it's science," I retorted.

"Did they control for the fact that having the time to shop daily implies a certain wealth, which also means better diet and health insurance? Both of which we can all agree are more likely to extend life," he argued. And then he said, "However, darling, I'm sure it has immense health and mood benefits and therefore I encourage you to spend as much time shopping as you'd like! Why don't we sell my iPad for extra shopping money for you? Truly, I do not think you have enough shoes. Or handbags."

"I'm so glad you are seeing reason," I replied. Then I kissed him on my way out the door. Shops awaited!

Ok, that last exchange did not actually happen. But I tell him that I felt a blog post on this was in order and he kindly requested that I included his commentary.

But seriously, here's why I love shopping and why I think it's a good, healthy activity:

I think shopping mimics our original hunter-gatherer behavior. We're pacing slowly, scouting the landscape. Investigating through smell, touch, sight, taste if something is worth acquiring or not.

This activity of shopping requires firmly being in the present and engaging all of our sense (this cashmere sweater is so soft!) while simultaneously engaging forward thinking (I'm not cold now, but I will be in December) and then bringing in MATH (It's on sale! What is 25% off of $109?Which means that I have money left over to pay for dry cleaning!).

And don't even get me started on the visualization of, say, seeing yourself feeling confident in a particular yet-to-be-purchased outfit. One could say it's just "stuff" but sometimes I think of these things as manifestations of our hopes, dreams and aspirations.

When I'm out shopping–and I should probably mention that I do not buy stuff most of the time, honest to gosh–I can get into this sort of trance where everything in the world falls away. I think it is because I'm engaging all these different sense and parts of my brain all at once. How can I worry when I'm feeling a soft silk shirt, imagining myself wearing it, being fabulous, and then trying to figure out 20% off without a calculator? I can't. And it's lovely.

Winners! And one more chance to win!

Kittens, it's high time this author announces some winners for lord's sake. Forgive me, it's been another one of those weeks.

On Monday we all had a good chat about what we love about summer and it seems we are all in agreement about hanging out on the porch, barefoot, with a beverage in hand. Jeriann, lucky winner, will add a stash of romance novels to that lovely scene. Jeriann, send me an email at mail@mayarodale.com with your mailing address!

On Wednesday we were all challenged to caption my Writing Girl picture. Peek at it here. Y'all made me laugh, but Ellen Fogg Wood made me laugh the most. Hence, our Wednesday winner. Ellen, send me an email with your at mail@mayarodale.com mailing address!

And I feel that since I am already planning this huge trip to the Post Office I feel that I might as well offer up another good book (And, let's face it, I took home this enormous stash of books from the RWA conference and I live in this teeny tiny New York City apartment. These things are not compatible!).

So tell us, what is the last GREAT book you read? I've got a signed copy of Lecia Cornwall's Secret of A Proper Countess for one random commenter!

Caption this picture!

I found this little picture at a flea market for a minuscule sum and didn't think twice about taking it home. As you might imagine, it very much inspired the Writing Girl Series. I mean, just look at her: she is clearly writing something delightfully scandalous. But what, exactly?

Caption this photo! I've got a set of Writing Girl books–A Groom Of One's Own and A Tale of Two Lovers–for one lucky, random commenter.

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My dearest Millicent, I have the most shocking news. I have it on good authority that….

My favorite things about summer

I'm still madly in love with summer. The sunshine, the heat, the laziness of weekend afternoons by the pool…while I can find something delightful about each season (even winter, if I try hard enough), summer is absolutely my favorite. Here's why:

The heat: I spend most of the year freezing so you won't hear me complaining about high temperatures. I think of 80 as pleasant. 90 is warm. That heat wave last week was hot. Finally.

Flip flops: The perfect blend of the freedom of bare feet and wanting something on when out in public places. Because walking barefoot in New York City is just not ok.

Baseball games: I'm not a huge fan of the sport but I am a huge fan of kicking back outside on a warm summer night, cheering on with the crowd and snacking. I don't know much about the game, but I know much more than the husband, who is English. Sometimes I tell him the truth (three strikes your out) and sometimes I just make things up! Hee hee!  If I know anything about baseball, it's thanks to my dad. Happy Birthday!

Grilling: it tastes better and it doesn't heat the whole darn house up the way the over does. Given that grilling inside a Manhattan apartment is not advised—at all, ever, by anyone—I slink off to my parent's in the country and implore my folks to fire up the grill at every opportunity.

Swimming: I mainly find myself at the pool, but I love the ocean too. As long as I can see the bottom J Totally refreshing. Also splendid: reading by the pool or the ocean. Or anywhere! I think you should do this, too, dear readers! Read on….

Book Giveaway! Share what you love about summer and one random commenter will win a gaggle of signed books from the likes of Julie Anne Long, Caroline Linden, and Moi!

Surprise! Foreign editions of my books arrive!

Let's face it: publishing is a slow business. It can take years from proposal and pitch to published book. But I'm not going to complain about pokiness because sometimes this can make for wonderful surprises. Like today, when the spanish editions of The Heir And The Spare and The Rogue And The Rival turned up, quite unexpectedly. I had sold the rights ages ago, and kind of forgot about it. And lo and behold…

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My books in Spanish!

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el angel y el canalla/the rogue and the rival

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gemelos y rivales/the heir and the spare

It occurs to me now, as I go through the tedious task of uploading these pictures and typing the captions that I don't quite know what these titles say! And I quite suspect that they may have gotten mixed up!

Can anyone translate the titles!?

How to create a stellar reading series

I was amused to read some scathing critiques of literary book readings that the delightful Barbara Vey of Publisher's Weekly blog Beyond Her Book had sent along my way. This PW blog post and this Observer article rip them to shreds for being dull and self-flattering. But of course, I thought as I read it, that's because their literature is dull and self-flattering. That's what happens when too much emphasis is placed on being High Minded, Intellectual and Serious. As opposed to say, wickedly funny and scandalously sexy.

You might imagine that I thought  all of this rather smugly, as the hostess of a reading series that is anything but dull and self-flattering. Lady Jane's Salon is a reading series devoted to romantic fiction. That alone makes it so much more of a pleasure, because it all comes down to the content, doesn't it? That, and accessories. But I digress.

I think it a good reading series comes down to the following ingredients—which as I write are some keys to good books!

Settting: Make sure the lighting is flattering (dim) the seating is comfortable and for goodness sake serve alcohol. Let us compare: folding chairs in a bookstore or fluffy red velvet couches, dim lighting, cocktails at Madame X. Exactly.


Pacing: It is true, length readings can be a nightmare. The author recounts readings of 45+ minutes. Horrors! Keep it to 10 minutes. Having sat through 2.5 years worth of readings, I can tell you that it's always better to quit while you're ahead. Keep it short and end on a punchy line.


A lively cast of characters: Why leave one author to carry the show, when you can have 3-4? Different books, subgenres, voices, subject matter, etc, make for a much more engaging evening.  This also goes for those in the crowd: in addition to our loyal regulars,  an assortment of authors will bring out a fresh batch of industry folks, readers and friends so that every reading is just a bit different.


Dialogue: Forcing the audience to sit in silence all evening just smacks of being lectured. Take breaks to allow for chattering amongst themselves—and with the authors!—to visit the necessary and to refresh beverages. Books can be such a solitary thing, from writing them to reading them. It's a rare treat to listen with others, discuss, ask the authors, and make it social.

If you are ever in town (read: New York City) on the first Monday of every month, do swing by Lady Jane's Salon. I hope it lives up to all the accolades I just bestowed (I'm quite sure it will).

Sleeping under the stars and other great lines

It's fascinating what power and worlds can be packed into one sentence.  For example, I was speaking with someone the other day and she said the following so simply, free of malice or judgment or anything other than plain fact: "She has been married a few years now and is childless, so she has plenty of time for sewing."

Can't you just see a novel in that?

Snipping clever lines, great paragraphs or punchy headlines from magazines has been a longtime habit of mine. Then I glue these bits into scrapbooks. I found these cleaning out yesterday, and as I browsed through I thought it was no surprise that I became a romance novelist. For example, when I was 16 years old, I clipped and saved the following:

Guests swept into the Grand Promenade of the concert hall to confront a murderous scene.


…when Jack asked whether he could come home with me, I answered with deceptive coolness, "If you wish." Young women were not supposed to have such adventures in 1957.


An absolute wallow in the gutter.


Sleeping under the stars.


…such excitement must have fatigued her.


There is nothing like an evening of romance! To be carried away by passion and love is sheer delight. I tingle at the thought!


One hundred years of attitude.

Any great sentences that stick in your head? Any favorites in this bunch?

Introducing Maya's Must Reads!

I don't know about you, but I'm always looking for new books to read and I like my recommendations to come from people I know, as opposed to, say, Amazon reviews from cranky strangers. Not that I'm snarking on Amazon reviews. I love it when my books are reviewed there. Especially when the reviews are favorable. But I digress.

I can also suffer from a wretched combination of busy-ness and laziness. Thus, I might do nothing with a vocal suggestion because in order to do so,  I have to 1) be on or in a bookstore 2) remember the title and 3) be in the mood to buy something. Yes, those are many stars to be aligned. They aren't often.

This is why I have created my new section of this website, Maya's Must Reads. For those who want recommendations of good books, just one click away.

I have included my classic favorites in both historical and contemporary. I have also added cookbooks I love. Every month I'll be updating it with fresh picks. I promise, they will be books I have actually read and totally loved.

Click here to check out this month's picks! There is a dash of romance, adventure, philosophy and comedy!

Happy Reading!

Songs I love to write to

Every book of mine comes with a soundtrack because I love writing and daydreaming to music. Certain songs sets the mood, tell the story, or create a moment for each book. Even now when I hear "Green Eyes" by Coldplay I think of The Rogue And The Rival. Or "Baby Doll" by the Fratelli's takes me back to the world in A Tale Of Two Lovers.

So I have a new book in the works: BRAVE NEW LORD. Details are here. That means a new playlist. Here's what I listened to as I wrote it:

What It Feels Like For A Girl by Madonna

This song perfectly captures that feeling of being constrained by being a good girl–and then busting out of it. I think all my Writing Girls feel this way, to an extent. Eliza and Julianna, especially, refuse to be limited by it. They are so daring; I love it.

Walk by the Foo Fighters

Oh goodness, the way this hints and builds and then pounds away….This song was playing when the Tattooed Duke rescued Eliza…and during the sex scene, as the husband tweeted.

Man Needs A Maid by Blue Epic

They covered it. But I like this version. Especially as Eliza disguises herself as a housemaid in the employ of the Tattooed Duke.

Tonight by Sugarland

Such a sweet song for late night longing. A romance novel wouldn't be complete without that.

Midnight Royals by The Help

Confession: this is my buddy's band. But I love writing to this song. Catchy, bittersweet with lovely melodies and harmonies. The writing comes easy when is playing.

Scandal! Romance! Tabloids!

There is something sad about a 168-year business folding. Of course,  I'm referring to the end of the News of The World. But I must confess this author is fascinated by such a massive scandal. Especially when it comes with headlines like "Scandal Rocks Empire" among other gems.

After all, I live and breathe salacious, scandal-ridden newspapers as I write my Writing Girls series. It's extremely fortuitous that this drama should go down just as I'm plotting out Writing Girl Book #4, featuring an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul (That would be you, Mr. Derek Knightly!). Let's just say plots have changed to accommodate this shocking turn of events.

Shocking!

But times haven't necessarily changed.  When researching my Writing Girls books, I came across an integral part of the early 19th publishing business: the penny-a-liners. They're just as they sound—free agents who report stories of fires, burglaries, gossip, etc, to newspaper editors for a penny per line (you can imagine how the editors try to "cut them down" constantly). An 1845 article mentions one who "has been known to put on the livery of a great family, and wait up on the guests at table, napkin in hand, like any other footman…and when he could not do this…he has bribed the butler." While one might not condone such behavior, one might concede that disguises, bribery and hacking have a long tradition.

Similiarly, the husband told me a story about Rebekah Brooks that I haven't verified but kind of adore if only for the audacity and gumption of it. Apparently she disguised herself as a janitor at the printer of a rival newspaper, stole the first issue hot off the presses and ran back to her own paper so they might print it verbatim. Speaking of undercover, there's also Nellie Bly who spent time in an insane asylum for the exclusive, behind-the-scenes expose.

Both are examples of the kind of behavior that inspired Writing Girl Eliza's story (coming soon!) or Julianna's foray into White's, disguised as a boy in A Tale of Two Lovers.

Because in the fast paced scandalous world of tabloid newspapers, one must do aything for the story, right?

Do you follow tabloid scandals? Any especially delicious ones come to mind?