Jane Litte's Blog, page 973

Flat Out Like a Lizard Drinking and other Australianisms

Mr. T in DC

Sarah Wendell of Smart Bitches had a post about Australian lingo and last year I asked Sarah Mayberry if she and her Down Under pals would be interested in writing a post about what it's like writing for an international audience. Sarah spearheaded this effort and I am greatly appreciative. You can visit Sarah at her site, http://sarahmayberry.com, and read some of our reviews of her books here.

A copy of a book each from the participating authors, plus some Tim Tams to read them ...

REVIEW: Confessions from an Arranged Marriage by Miranda Neville

Dear Ms. Neville,

I should probably preface this review by saying that I've chatted with you on Twitter and what I know of you, I really like.

Ever since they met in The Dangerous Viscount, book two of your Burgundy Book Club series, I've wanted to see Minerva Montrose and the Marquis of Blakeney (known to his acquaintances as Blake) hook up. Confessions from an Arranged Marriage, Blake and Minerva's story, opens with a London ball in Minerva's honor.

As a favor to their nephew, Minerva's...

Dear Bitches, Smart Authors Podcast, Episode No. 22, The Romance Canon

This is a big ol' podcast: we start out talking briefly about novellas and short digital reads that I liked, but our main topic is the canon. What romances form the genre's canon for historical, contemporary, and paranormal? We talk in circles a good bit (sorry about that) and we discuss what a canon is, and why it means different things to different groups. Writers and readers, for example may have different ideas of what their romance canon would be.  By the end, I'm convinced that what...

Monday News and Deals: The Nooks Are On Sale

The Final Four of the DABWAHA is set.  Karen Marie Moning's Shadowfever looks to defeat Courtney Milan's book, again.  You see, Courtney Milan had two books in the tournament.  One lost to Moning yesterday and Milan's novella, Unlocked, goes up against Shadowfever in the early round on March 31, 2012.  The other match is Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh v. A Lot Like Love by Julie James.

This weekend we completed the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight.  The winners can be seen here along with the a

REVIEW: At Your Pleasure by Meredith Duran

Dear Ms. Duran—

As I read At Your Pleasure, I wondered if you will ever write a book I dislike. It seems unlikely. I love three of the books you've written and the two I don't love—A Lady's Lesson in Scandal and Wicked Becomes You—I like tremendously. I am enamored of your use of language, your deftness of plots, the complexity of your lovers' relationships, and the crackling chemistry in your love scenes. In short, I am a big fan.

So, it shouldn't surprise anyone I think At Your Pleasure is a ...

DA/SBTB Bestseller List ending week of March 20, 2012

Week ending March 20, 2012

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold A | BN | K | S The Amorous Education of Celia Seaton by Miranda Neville A | BN | K | S Requiem for Ashes by David Crossman A | BN | K | S Ride with Me: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance by Ruthie Knox A | BN | K | S Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr A | BN | K | S Dead in D Minor by David Crossman A | BN | K | S A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Meredith Duran A | BN | K | S The Black Duke's Prize by Suzanne Enoch A | BN | K

Mass Patronage for the Arts: The Evolving Relationship Between Fans and Creators

Publishing is being remade every day, from print only to digital first; from traditionally published to self published. With the advent of coordinated fundraising sites like Kickstarter, there is a move toward mass patronage.   Patronage is a system of private support of the arts that has existed for centuries. The Medicis, for example, were well known for their patronage of the arts. A wealthy person would provide funds for an artist to live on while the artist produced, not necessarily for ...

Recommended Reads Saturday: Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Welcome to our new feature.  I had a reader email me to ask where she could buy the First Page piece. I explained that it was from an unpublished manuscript.  We exchanged a couple more emails in which she expressed interest in reading first pages from published books, as a way to discover new reads. However, it didn't make sense to post first pages up for critique when the book had been published so instead, we made up a form where readers can submit a recommended read. I then email the...

REVIEW: Tessa Masterson Will Go to Prom by Emily Franklin and Brendan Halpin

Dear Ms. Masterson and Mr. Halpin:

My interest in this book was piqued by an off hand remark but excited remark by The BookSmugglers. When it became available for review, I requested it. I'm a casual reader of Young Adult fiction books and my tastes run toward the YA romances more than issue books but the duality of the narrators in addition to the subject matter was intriguing. I haven't read much backstory on this book, but I assume it was birthed out of the 2010 controversy involving...

First Page: YA fantasy, The Hourglass Bridge

Welcome to First Page Saturday. Individual authors anonymously send a first page read and critiqued by the Dear Author community of authors, readers and industry others. Anyone is welcome to comment. You may comment anonymously.  If you would like your piece critiqued, please check out this page.

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Chapter One ~ The Clock With Three Faces

 Di stopped, dead. The room was an apocalyptic mess. Her twin brother's rats'-nest hair, scruffy uniform and muddy trainers were like camouflage amidst the...