Isn't This Glamorous? Leading the Life of a Romance Writer

By Stephanie Queen
If I'm leading the glamorous life of a romance writer, thenwhat is glamour anyway? It's every gal's dream come true, isn't it? Forinstance, at a book-signing, having every Fabio-like guy in the room standingin line for an autograph… or a photograph with you. There's something about theflash of a camera in a buzzing crowd-filled room that screams out "GLAMOUR!"(at least that's what I thought I heard).
Don't look now, but in this photo taken at my recentbook-signing, this random fan (I use the term *fan* loosely—but he was definitelyrandom) topped the male portion of the audience. Not exactly Fabio-like (so who really likes Fabio anyhow? He's so 80scliché.) but we weren't exactly in Hollywood. (We were at an undisclosedlocation which I can't disclose due to my super-notoriety and wanting tomaintain some privacy—the downside to the glamorous life.) (yeah, right.Boo-hoo.)
Back to figuringout what glamorous means. According to Webster, glamorous means : full of glamour (no kidding): excitinglyattractive, such as a glamorous life. As if Merriam knew. Had they eveninvented cameras in his day?
Favorite Synonym: romantic. Yes, even Merriam is enticed by theconnotations of romance. Although I'll bet he never wrote a romance novel.Outlandish was my second favorite synonym. I can testify to outlandish. I'vebeen to a romance writers convention.Least Favorite Synonym:Bizarro. Hmmm. Favorite Antonym: plain Jane, closely followed by the uncreative antonym,unromantic.And my favorite unrelated feature in Websters: "RhymesWith" GLAMOROUS: amorous and clamorous. They definitely gowith the glamorous territory. I could write a poem (but don't worry, I won't)(see bizarro).So in summary, the answer to thequestion "Isn't this glamorous?" is of course it is! If my life as a romancewriter wasn't excitingly attractive, why else would I do it? Isn't glamoureverything? Plain Jane is out. Bizarro? Well that's another story for anotherday.



What do you picture asthe ultimate glamorous moment of a romance writer's life?
We'll give a copy of The Throwbacks to one commenter today. Here's the scoop on the book: Tosalvage his career, exiled Scotland Yard "Flying Squad"detective, the not-so-young David Young, joins the Boston PoliceDepartment. But thisrogue detective can't resist an unlikely romance with his young and vivaciousdecorator, Grace Rogers, even when she becomes a key witness in his high-stakescase—and like Kryptonite to his career and well-being.
StephanieQueen writes romance novels while running from thepaparazzi who constantly haunt her excitingly attractive life. Her most recentrelease is The Throwbacks, the first in the Scotland Yard ExchangeProgram series of romantic comedy suspense novels. Visit her atwww.StephanieQueen.com for all the latest in her glamorous romance-writinglife.