Maya Rodale's Blog: Maya Rodale's Blog, page 37

Romantic happenings this week

With Writing Girl Book #3 handed in (phew!), I can give my full attention to the Romance Writers of America National conference this week. Even if you're a reader, not a writer, there are lots of fabulous events lined up this week. No conference registration necessary.

TONIGHT! LADY JANE'S SALON EXTRAVAGANZA

Monday, June 27th.7:00 pm. At Madame X. Lady Jane's is often a happening event, if I do say so myself, and we're expecting this one to be a crush of authors, readers and industry-folks. And outrageous quantities of red velvet and cocktails. We've got a stellar line-up for this special salon: Sarah Maclean, Dianna Love Snell, Leanna Renee Hieber, Karen Rose, Carrie Lofty and….my personal fav: Eloisa James! Admission, as always, is five bucks or a gently used romance novel for charity.

READERS FOR LIFE BOOKSIGNING

Tuesday, June 28th. 5:30-7:30. Marriage Marquis in New York City. This is part of the conference, but it's open to the public and it's a "must" if you are in town. Join me and 500 other romance authors for The. Biggest. Booksigning. Ever. Proceeds from the sale go to charity, so indulge. Tips: a suitcase on wheels, something to read while in a long check out line, comfy shoes and possibly ear plugs.

ROMANCE READERS & AUTHORS TEA PARTY

Thursday, June 30th and 4:00 pm. A gaggle of historical authors and readers will chat over cupcakes and tea. Very salon-esque in a fabulous way. And, in a very 21st century way, if you can't make it in person you can always watch it online at www.avonromancelive.com. Did I mention this would include Stephanie Laurens, Miranda Neville, Sarah Maclean, Katherine Ashe and Gaelen Foley (and moi!)!

RWA often means FREE BOOKS! Do y'all have requests for any I should snag for future blog contest giveaways?

Behind the scenes: romance writers on TV!

The life of a writer usually isn't very glamorous but every once in a while there's a reason to do ditch the yoga pants and put on a dress. For example: An interview. On TV. With bestsellers Stephanie Laurens and Eloisa James. Omg.

We three boarded the WPIX 11 interview bus/Dunkin Donuts Studio on the Run which is tricked out like a rockstar van with a little mini studio. We chatted about romance with Debra Alfarone who is totally funny and lovely. Here's a picture of us:

Eloisa James, Maya Rodale, Debra Alfarone and Stephanie Laurens

Believe it or not, we didn't coordinate outfits in advance.

All is this promo for the major, massive, magnificent Romance Writers of America annual national conference which is hittin' this city starting on Tuesday, June 28th. The conference is sold out but the super-sized, spectacular, splendid booksigning for literacy is open to the public. Hundreds of authors. Thousands of books. All for a good cause. I'll see you there! Details are on my publicity page.

Oh, and that TV interview will air early next week! Stay tuned!

Should heroines be sweet or snarky?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all romance heroines must be likable. This often means they must be sweetness and light and pure radiant beauty with perfect teeth and a lilting laugh. She encounters hardships and obstacles nobly and nicely. She may never be spoiled, or selfish, or mean. I'm bored already.

And I'm thinking about Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind)–not the most likable of characters but certainly one of the most fascinating. Or Ayn Rand's heroines, like Dagny Taggart (Atlas Shrugged) who is tougher than nails made with Reardon metal (If you have to ask, you need to read the book). Or in the romance genre, I love heroines like Shanna from Kathleen Woodiwiss novel of the same name, or Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels.

These are heroines for the ages and they have some really admirable qualities: amazing self-confidence, determination, hard-working, intelligent. They may not be sugar n' spice all the time, but they are never mean just for kicks. Those that may get the short end of their stick were probably just underestimating them. These were the heroines on my mind when I created the Writing Girls.

I confess this matter of heroines is  on my mind given that some reviews have intimated that my heroine is not all that likable. (I will take this opportunity to note that they loved the hero, the writing and couldn't put it down, hooray!). Lady Julianna is passionate, and stubborn and fiercely protective of all that she has achieved for herself. She throws Roxbury under the bus in her column–but she's got a job to protect and a rival who is merciless. After all, at this point in the novel, Roxbbury is just some rake.  As my husband says, "She's been burned by a rake before, needs her column to survive and has a ruthless rival. Of course she's going all out to protect herself." But that's the thing about heroines: they're supposed to do that and be sweet and nice about it.

Frankly, I'd rather read a snarky heroine than a stupid one, or one that is a doormat.

On the flip side,  many a reader has said they want flawed characters. This is yet another challenge for the writer: can this character be flawed, yet still likeable? Is she similar and relatable to the reader but different, all at once? Can sweetness and niceness move the plot forward in an exciting, dramatic, entertaining way? Now that's a juggling act.

How do you like your heroines? Sweet or snarky?

Deadline Looming! Gah!

The race is on to type "The End" to my latest Writing Girl novel. Drama galore in those last few pages—the black moment, the L-word, the big reveal of a giant web of secrets. My heart is pounding. It's an exciting start to the day. The question is not whether the novel will end happily, but will it do so in time?!?!

Here's my to-do list for the rest of this book. Deadline: asap.

Just add sex! Fun fact: I write all the sex scenes in one big binge at the end. Until then you'll see in my manuscript notes like "Kissy Kissy!!!!!!!!!!!!!" or "Insert Sex Scene here." Just sayin', in case those slip by rounds and rounds of editing.

The Duke's Tattoos. Mmmm. I think this could use a little more detail. What, exactly? Where, exactly? I can assure you that the tat's will be more tribal, less Jesse James. And look, if you're going to tattoo your duke, you're going to make sure the heroine (and reader) see it. A lot. Which means this duke is often shirtless, too.

More scandal! Eliza's London Weekly columns are just—wow. Gosh are there secrets and drama in this one. Can one have enough scandal? I think not. Though by now my characters might say, "Yes! Give me my happily ever after already, Lady!"

Explosions. Yesterday, I had the following conversation with my mum:

"What are you going to do today" she asks.

"Oh, blow up some buildings," I replied. "And then a passionate declaration of never ending love."

Such is the to-do list of a romance writer.

Any other "to-do's" to add to my list? What MUST be in your romance novels? Tell me now before the manuscript gets turned in!  :)

Celebrity Gossip Pop Quiz Questions Answered

It case you were up all night wondering who Mary Kate was dating , you now relax. The answers to that question, and all the rest, are below. But first: Woohoo to Kim who is the winner of this month's quiz! Kim, email me!

1. Congrats! Who is Kim Kardashian engaged to?

Kris Humphries

2. True or False: They celebrated with ponies covered in glitter.

True. (And I hope to see this in future romance novels.)

3. Who is this kid?

Scott McCreery

4. What did he just win?

American Idol

5. This Titanic star has a new girlfriend. Who is she?

Blake Lively

6. His previous girlfriend's name rhymes with car. What is it?

Bar Raphaeli

7. Yay! Natalie had her baby! Is it a boy or a girl?

It's a boy!

8. She met her fiance on the set of which movie?

Black Swan

9 & 10. Mary Kate and Ashley are rumored to have new boyfriends! Who are they? Pick  2 from the list below.

Justin Timberlake, Gerard Butler, Jude Law Kanye West, Taylor Lautner

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Gosling, Macaulay Culkin

Mary Kate and Kanye! Ashley and Jt!

The fine print: Winners will be chosen randomly from all correctly submitted entries. No purchase is necessary to enter this contest. One entry per person please.

Celebrity gossip pop quiz!

Yes, it's time again to test your knowledge of celebrity gossip! Studying has never been so fun, right? To play, simply post your answers in a comment below. This months winner will score a $10 gift card for Amazon.com. Treat yourself to something pretty! The person with the most correct answers (or at random from folks with perfect scores) is the winner. Deadline: midnight tonight. I'll post the answers on the winners on Friday. Have fun!

1. Congrats! Who is Kim Kardashian engaged to?

2. True or False: They celebrated with ponies covered in glitter.

3. Who is this kid?

4. What did he just win?

5. This Titanic star has a new girlfriend. Who is she?

6. His previous girlfriend's name rhymes with car. What is it?

7. Yay! Natalie had her baby! Is it a boy or a girl?

8. She met her fiance on the set of which movie?

9 & 10. Mary Kate and Ashley are rumored to have new boyfriends! Who are they? Pick  2 from the list below.

Justin Timberlake, Gerard Butler, Jude Law Kanye West, Taylor Lautner

Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Gosling, Macaulay Culkin

The fine print: Winners will be chosen randomly from all correctly submitted entries. No purchase is necessary to enter this contest. One entry per person please.

Why we love romance novels

There have been a flurry of articles about the horrors that romance novels wreak on the lives of innocent, unsuspecting women who avidly consume them with no awareness of the side effects: delusions of grandeur, failed relationships, unrealistic expectations, etc. It all started when a life coach offer to save lives ruined by a romance novel addiction. The readership rallied and even the New Yorker, notorious publisher of Respectable Fiction, commented. Salon took a more balanced view and displayed actual understanding of the genre in the article "So what if romance novels are porn?" But then Salon also published an irritating article about how serious women writers don't write about sex.

I checked in with a few of my favorite fellow romance authors to ask if romance novels had ruined their life, if their readers should fear for their lives or if romance is–gasp!–a good thing.

Miranda Neville, author of The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton

What do you love about romance novels?

In real life I'm something of a cynic, but I want to believe in the possibility of Happy Ever After.  Reading romance takes me to a world where good (but flawed) people get what they deserve. They have exciting adventures, wear great clothes, live in beautiful houses, fall in love, have great sex, and leave me with a smile on my face.

How have romance novels ruined and/or improved your life?

Reading romance has never given me anything but joy. Writing it? Not so much. Everything was great until I took it into my head to be an author. Now I have to face deadlines, revisions, reviews, promotion, and the uncertainties of the new marketplace. What was I thinking? Wait. Hearing from a reader that she has enjoyed my books as much as I've enjoyed others makes it worthwhile. Plus it's pretty cool getting paid to make up stories.

Lecia Cornwall , author of Secrets of a Proper Countess

Does romance kill?

Well, from my perspective, it most probably will be what kills me in the end. Writing is hard work. Writing sex scenes most of all. It's the mechanics of it all, and knowing where the arms and legs are, and even if there the right number of arms and legs involved in the heat of the moment. Does romance kill marriages, make people depressed and dissatisfied? Or does it encourage readers to be open to love, pleasure and fantasy? All books can be found guilty of every one those charges, because every story provides a different reality, a chance to dream or think, or learn. If you are unhappy with your life,  it's probably not because of your reading material. An unhappy marriage isn't going to be saved or sunk by any book.

Has romance improved and/or ruined your life?

Has romance improved my life? I can't remember a time when I didn't weave dreamy little fantasies in my head. Now I get paid for them. Has it ruined my life? Maybe… No one wants to go to the movies with me anymore. My fault, really. While learning how to turn those dreamy tales into good stories, I analyzed and edited the dialogue and plots of TV shows, books ,and even newspaper articles, to death. And most especially movies. I can't help it. A brilliant line of description or dialogue in a book has me in awe of the author. A bad one makes me cringe, and wonder which category my own words fall into. The life of a romance writer, like everyone else's, has incredible highs and lows. Not because of what I read, but because of who I am.

Caroline Linden , author of You Only Love Once

How does romance portray dangerous and unrealistic expectations for women?

THANK GOD someone has finally identified the real problem in society today: romance novels. Now we know all those ruined relationships and single women aren't because of a poor economy or porn. It's because women read romance novels, and what real man could measure up to THOSE heroes? I mean, romance heroes never beat women, children, OR animals (although they might kick some bad guy ass). They don't get drunk or high all the time, or have a secret cell phone their wife/girlfriend doesn't know about. They aren't crooks, or deadbeat dads, or even tax cheats. And even on their worst days, they have consideration and respect for the woman in their lives. No wonder women are disappointed; those guys just aren't NORMAL.

So what do you think? Are romance novels dangerous?

Healthy babies and happily ever after

A reader wrote to me recently about wanting to see that Simon and Julianna from A Tale Of Two Lovers had a baby. I totally get the desire to see them blessed with a bundle of joy (and will work on it soon!). It's part of the happily ever after. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage….

In historical novels, I think this is particularly true so that readers can ensure our heroine survived childbirth. This was a very real danger. In fact, it still is today! Not only are infant and maternal mortality stats around the world (and in America!) pretty horrifying even today, it turns out what we eat could be ruining our own real-life happily ever afters.

As some of you know, I live a double life. When I'm not writing romance novels, I'm getting the word out about organic farming. While I try not to preach about it here, sometimes I come across information that the blunt, bluestocking in me must divulge. You may not care about what you eat, or about organic, but here's why you might want to: conventional farming uses chemicals that cause birth defects. Or infertility.

Hardly the stuff of happily-ever-after.

The big news lately is that Roundup—a popular weed killer—causes birth defects and has been linked to infertility. Oh, the scandal continues: and pesticide regulators have known for two decades! But why should we be surprised? California recently approved a chemical for strawberries that is shown to cause late term miscarriages.

"Well", you may be thinking, "I'll just wash it off." But Roundup gets inside your food. So you can't wash it off. And then it gets inside your body. And hangs out, causing trouble, like some awful villain.

Think about it: what you eat could be harming your baby, or your chance to have one, or your happily ever after.

What to do? Surely, something is to be done!

Avoid chemicals, especially on your lawn. You might not be applying Roundup to your own cornfield, but if you're applying chemicals to your lawn or garden, stop. They're not safe for you, your pets or your neighbors. The luscious gardens of Regency England that our heroes and heroines wandered through are not just fiction, and in reality were grown without chemicals. It's possible!

Buy organic food whenever you can. That way you'll know it doesn't have all those awful chemicals. There's an easy way to know, too….

You know how you look for an icon like this one to denote HEA?

Look for this one when you're food shopping:

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When something is certified organic it means it was grown without harmful, toxic chemicals. Which is how Regency heroes and heroines would have grown their food. So here's to eating like heroes and heroines and living happily-ever-after!

Summer beach reads on sale now!

This lady couldn't possibly imagine the Viscount's Wicked Ways. Must. Read. Book.

One of my favorite phrases in the English language is on sale.

I also love romance novels, as you might have guessed.

I own a particular fondness for Avon historical romances. Shocking, I know.

The love-fest continues: I also love trying new authors. New as in "new to me" as well as "debut."

Especially when they are Avon. And on sale.

Joy!

Avon has a big list of ebooks on sale now (I love lists too!). I heartily endorse Suzanne Enoch's Rules of an Engagement and Laura Lee Gurhke's Wedding of the Season: Abandoned at the Altar.

I myself will be checking out Gayle Callen'sA Most Scandalous Engagement and oh so many more. Off to amazon I go!

Book character BFF's

The Huffington Post recently featured an article "What book character would you love to be best friends with?" I find this to be a fantastic question. As I thought about it, some of my beloved heroines of literature are not ones that I would actually wish to befriend. I'm thinking of Scarlett O'Hara (too self absorbed) or Bridget Jones (a bit too disorganized). While I love Ayn Rand heroines, they don't seem like they'd be very friendly. Not surprisingly, the BFF's I'd pick come from romance novels.

Off the top of my head, without a thorough perusal of my bookshelves, I would pick:

Who would you rather, Elizabeth or Catherine?

Catherine Moreland , Northanger Abbey

The HuffPo notes that the responses for Jane Austen characters were overwhelming. Elizabeth Bennett, you are one popular girl! But my favorite novel and heroine is Catherine Moreland from Northanger Abbey. Because "no one who TKTK." And because she's a devourer of novels and sees the world with great imagination.

Hyacinth or Eloise Bridgerton, It's In His Kiss and To Sir Phillip, With Love

Because they have a great sense of humor and mischief, which would make for tremendous fun, particularly at a party. And because they're not spoiled, they love a challenge and would be fiercely protective of their friends (Penelope Featherington, I'm thinking of you!).

Looks like this guy wants to be "friends" with her, too.

Jessica Trent , Lord of Scoundrels

Because she is tough as nails, very witty, and I love her dry sense of humor. She also has ambitions beyond boys, though  I think I would also love her advice on dealing with men. And she would teach me to shoot. In fact, I'd like to be friends with any Loretta Chase heroine.

And if I may chose one of my own…

Julianna Somerset , A Tale Of Two Lovers

Because she has all the best gossip and would certainly share every last crumb of it, over tea and cake, which would be a lovely way to pass the afternoon. She's also the kind of friend that would never let you out of the house in an outfit that wasn't flattering.

Which book characters would you pick as your BFF?