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Reader Blogger, Louise!

by sue on Feb.06, 2010, under Book Chat

Trueromance BOGO402 Reader Blogger, Louise!

Books On a Plane by Louise Fury

I am obsessed with romance novels. New or old, their often raunchy and glamorous covers call out to me from bookstore shelves, author websites and review blogs, until I am salivating and shivering in anticipation of making them mine. I gather the old ones with reckless abandon on an almost daily basis. As a result, my NYC apartment is covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, home to hundreds of romantic tales.
Every Tuesday, when the new books hit the shelves, I hit the pavement. Their uncreased spines call out to me like a siren’s song, the drive to hold their crisp new pages in my hands overwhelming all else. While many romance readers are filling their e-readers with digital books, I am filling my shopping basket to the brim with raunchy clinch covers at my local Borders branch at Manhattan’s Columbus Circle.
I will use any excuse to buy more romance novels than any one person can read. And three weeks ago, I got the best excuse in the book.
A long flight. One that lasts more than 24 hours.
Once every year or so, I travel from New York City to my hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, the land of overpriced books, limited Internet access and only a handful of bookstores. In preparation for the long trip, I did what I always do and made my way down to Borders on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. There I spent an hour gathering around 12 romance novels while savoring the smell of freshly ground coffee wafting through the neatly packed rows of books in the romance section.
When my basket was filled to the brim with scantily clad women and bare-chested men, I made my way to the yummy in-house restaurant, the oh-so-fabulous Dean and Deluca, where I pulled up a fancy metal chair, sipped on the best coffee in Manhattan and weeded through my basket, separating the books into two piles.
One pile for those I could leave behind and the other to be saved for another day. Like Sophie’s choice, I made impossible decisions, based on cover art, author photographs, Internet buzz and blogger reviews, until I had the perfect armful of books for my trip.
This last time, in preparation for our trip, I left Borders with a stash of romance novels worth their weight in gold. My favorites were:

Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan.
The Moonlight Mistress by Victoria Janssen
Crimson & Steam by Liz Maverick
Hearts Blood by Gail Dayton
And one, not considered a romance by most, but is a delicious story nonetheless:
Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
I arrived at the airport, with way too many books in my handbag, eager to get reading. The check-in agent eyed my bursting-at-the-seams bag suspiciously.
“How much does that weigh,” she asked. “It looks heavy. You might want to check that!”
“Um, no really , it’s fine,” I said, clutching my bulging black purse closely to my chest.
“Really, Miss, you have two checked bags and a rolling carryon and I suspect your handbag could be characterized as more of a carryon than a purse. You might want to check that. ”
At the prospect of being separated from my romance stash, I got desperate.
“Please understand,” I begged, reaching into my bag and exposing a few of the covers to her young face.

“These are romance novels,” I said, as if that would explain it all.
She furrowed her brow. Then raised her eyebrows and rolled her lips.
“Which ones?” she whispered to me as if sharing a secret.
I pulled out one and held it up to her face as exhibit A.
She raised her eyebrows, grinned and said, “I like the cover.”
I pulled out another, this time something a little more scandalous.
“I haven’t read a romance novel in years!” she exclaimed, with barely contained excitement.
I breathed a sigh of relief. She was a romance reader, like me. We were simpatico. She understood what awaited me between those covers.
“Borders has a great romance blog,” I told her. “I am doing a posting for them in February. You should check it out.”
“I will,” she smiled, nodding enthusiastically as I repeated the blog’s address.
And just like that, ticket in hand, bulging bag of books tucked under my arm just waiting to be read, I boarded the plane with the excitement of a young girl on her first date. I got reading right away!
While the other passengers on the flight watched TV and snoozed, I escaped to Victorian England, the regency era and other fantastic times and places. I fell in and out of love with heroes and heroines set in worlds I can only dream to one day be able to create on my own, with words I hope to string together with as much poise as the romance writers of today.
I arrived in Cape Town just as I finished the sixth book, Hope Tarr’s recent Harlequin release, Twelve Nights and promptly handed the well-read stash over to my mother. I am determined to have converted her into a romance fanatic by the time I leave.
I was left with two books to read on the beach, not much when you have four weeks of sun, surf and limited Internet access. Then there’s the plane ride back, what’s a girl to do?
I leave Cape Town in less than two weeks and I think the time has finally come for me to get with the program and hop on the e-book bandwagon. This lover of romance novels is finally going to modernize her reading with an e-purchase from borders.com. I am not saying that I will be purchasing an e-reader. I am still too skeptical, but the idea of instant romance gratification from an e-store to my little two-pound laptop sounds dreamily inexpensive and risk-free.
And this time I won’t have to count on encountering a romance reader at check-in or bruise my shoulder hauling a bag full of books… not much reading is as light as a dozen e-files on a 10-inch computer. Just goes to show, with modern technology, you can never have too many romance novels in your handbag!

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49 Comments for this entry

  • Kwana
    February 8th, 2010 on 9:01 pm

    Great post Louise! I’m so happy to see you here. Love your encounter with the agent. I’m loving my Sony reader too. I say go for one.

    Reply
  • Sara Lindsey
    February 8th, 2010 on 6:23 pm

    Great blog! I always pack at least two romance novels for any domestic plane flight - the number of books I took flying from Southern California to South Africa was ridiculous. See you at Lady Jane’s next month!

    Reply
    • Louise Fury
      February 9th, 2010 on 7:41 am

      Thanks Sara. Did you fly from Southern California to South Africa? I am sure your flight was even longer than mine! I was in Cape Town this past month, so I missed your book signing at Grand Central :( I guess now I have another excuse to visit Stacey at work, because I HAVE to get a copy of your book. I hear it is fabulous! Look forward to seeing you at LJs in March.

      Reply
  • Tarra
    February 8th, 2010 on 3:03 pm

    Reminds me that romance lovers are everywhere. Love it! Hope to see more posts from you!

    Reply
  • Michelle
    February 8th, 2010 on 2:08 pm

    Ah, the smell of coffee and the feel of the pages ;-) Love the post and can’t wait to read more!

    Reply
  • samantha carter
    February 8th, 2010 on 12:18 pm

    I just read Hearts Blood, took me a while and when I finished it I felt like I had run a marathon. I liked it, but want my next read to be something lighter and fun. will use your list as my guide. thanks.
    sam

    Reply
  • Cari Lobbs
    February 8th, 2010 on 11:44 am

    loved this post. love this blog. why did i not know about it until now? will now be a regular for sure!

    Reply
  • Carol Luciano
    February 8th, 2010 on 7:24 am

    It just goes to show where there is a will, there is a way. :)I never go out without my books. I also read the e-stories on the computer but I love my covers and all those beautiful Heroes.Great post Louise. Have a safe trip home.
    Carol L.

    Reply
  • Victoria Janssen
    February 7th, 2010 on 8:45 am

    Great post and thanks for the shout-out!

    I hope you enjoyed THE MOONLIGHT MISTRESS.

    Reply
  • Laurie G
    February 7th, 2010 on 6:21 am

    I read whenever I have FREE time. I always travel with a bag of books. I never know what mood I’ll be in so they cover a gamut of topics and genres.

    I haven’t embraced e-books yet. I still love the feel of a book in my hands! Old fashioned I know!

    Reply
  • Sue A.
    February 7th, 2010 on 12:48 am

    I took my e-books for a long stay away from home. But I couldn’t resist getting tons of paperbacks while there.

    Reply
  • Mageela
    February 6th, 2010 on 11:09 pm

    Louise,

    Hope you are having fun In South Africa. The Columbus Circle Border’s in mine too. It’s the happiest place on earth. I can’t go anywhere without a romance novel in my purse. I hope you get some “reads” for the trip back.

    Reply
  • Danielle Luttenberg Meitiv
    February 6th, 2010 on 7:51 pm

    Leave it to you, Louis,e to schmooze a fellow romance addict, hook a new reader up with the Borders blog, AND convert your mom to romance all on a family trip! (This woman really is God’s gift to the industry!) I love your selections - I got Courtney’s book along with Tessa Dare’s third when I took advantage of Borders “save $10 when you purchase $30″ coupon (LOVED that one!) Also picked up Rosemary and Ruse (a fab fantasy by Seanan McGuirre) and Magic in the Shadows, #3 by Devon Monk. I highly recommend all four!

    I’m not big e-reader, although I do occasionally read a bit on my computer at home (when I should be working or writing, of course :-), but the new airline restrictions may convert me yet!

    Sue - thanks for the online shopping link - never knew about that! I’ll be sure to check it out AND get to Borders while the 5 for 4 sale is going on!

    Danielle

    Reply
  • Delilah Marvelle
    February 6th, 2010 on 6:45 pm

    I would have lived to have been one of those books if only to get a free trip to Cape Town out of it!! I have to agree with you when it comes to travel, nothing could beat an e-reader. You’ll have to share your ebook experience once you’ve gone through it!

    Reply
  • sue
    February 6th, 2010 on 6:02 pm

    Louise - thanks for being here today & posting with us - hopefully we can get you to post again. I know your a busy lady but maybe we can twist your arm :)

    Happy Romance!

    Reply
  • maered
    February 6th, 2010 on 4:28 pm

    Don’t all romance readers take at least two books with them before they go on a journey? Or just out the house? I’m glad to see it’s not just me! :)

    Reply
  • Susan Mallery
    February 6th, 2010 on 3:24 pm

    Oh, Louise! You could be my twin! I never get on a plane without at least two romance novels. For a long flight like yours, I’d be just like you! And then you still ended up with only two books left for the beach! Augh! Sympathy!!!

    Reply
    • Louise
      February 6th, 2010 on 6:42 pm

      I know! I ended up in a small bookstore with a terrible selection and prices ranging from R60-R400. It was crazy. But I was desperate, so I gave in and bought a few. But here in Cape Town, the e-books might seriously be the way to go. As for being your twin, you flatter me so…I wish. If only we could all sting words together as well as you do.
      Your writing is marvelous!

      Reply
  • Gigi
    February 6th, 2010 on 3:01 pm

    What a great blog.
    I can see the merits of and e-reader (like making the fonts larger) but I am still old fashioned. I still want cover models and the feel of real pages.

    Reply
  • Rebekah E.
    February 6th, 2010 on 11:48 am

    Have a safe trip home.

    Reply
  • sharon
    February 6th, 2010 on 10:58 am

    e-readers all the way baby!

    Reply
  • Sarah M. Anderson
    February 6th, 2010 on 10:48 am

    I read Proof by Seduction on a train, and now have to pack for a plane ride. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  • Kristi
    February 6th, 2010 on 10:15 am

    LOL - I am also a Tuesday Borders girl. It’s usually the last Tuesday of the month that I go haunt the store. Avon is usually out with their new releases then. The Borders employees know me quite well because when I walk in at 11am on a Tuesday I EXPECT the new releases to be out! haha! Sometime they are so sweet to go hunt them down in the back for me, I need my fix!

    Reply
    • sue
      February 6th, 2010 on 5:59 pm

      Don’t forget to check out our on line shopping list http://www.borders.com/online/store/ArticleView_hotpicks it gives you the onsale date of the book. So many publishers now are staggering their street dates so I wouldn’t want you to miss out :)
      THANKS! For shopping Borders - hopefully you were there this week for the Buy 4 get 5 Free — sale goes on thru next week too :)

      Reply
      • Kristi
        February 6th, 2010 on 6:04 pm

        I’ve noticed that, I actually haunt the Borders Upcoming link ALL the time, it is the best one out there I’ve found!

        Sadly, I missed my $10 borders bucks by 2 days. I recently got a Kindle so I’m fiddling with buying more books online yet I have about 20-25 authors that I have to have the hardback copy to reread all the time. Or those pesky authors who won’t sell for Kindle.

        My last purchase was the new Kristin Hannah of Winter Garden, Flirt by Laurrel K Hamilton, and the new Robin Kaye. Some of my favorites!

      • Louise
        February 6th, 2010 on 6:06 pm

        Oh YAY, Thanks for that info Sue!I was wondering how long the sale was going to last. I will have to make my way over there as soon as I get back. As for the online shopping list, it’s what every Romance reader needs. I am going to try to print mine out. It will be so much easier than writing them in my journal and forgetting to take it with me when I shop.

      • Kristi
        February 6th, 2010 on 6:07 pm

        Um, that HotPick link is so awesome. I just visited it. Even better than the Upcoming Link! (Although that one has covers…)

        Wow. I’m in love!!!

  • Pam Keener
    February 6th, 2010 on 10:14 am

    Loved your blog. Have a safe trip home.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam

    Reply
  • Pat L.
    February 6th, 2010 on 9:00 am

    A great story. Lucky you got a receptive person. I would have been livid if I had to check the books.

    Hope you are enjoying your trip.

    Pat L.

    Reply
    • Louise
      February 6th, 2010 on 9:31 am

      I have yet to pack for my return trip back, but this time, with e-books on my laptop, I feel less stress than I did on the way here. I must adfmit that I miss holding the books in my hand, even though I have paid for them, I feel like I dont quite have them. I guess I am a girl who likes to touch her toys LOL

      Reply
  • Scorpio M.
    February 6th, 2010 on 8:31 am

    Being a fellow NYC gal I can certainly relate to your Borders + Dean & Deluca moments :)

    I am shocked at how fast you read, 6 books by landing time? That’s amazing!

    Reply
    • bonnie
      February 6th, 2010 on 9:12 am

      I did read fast, but 28 hours on a plane leaves you with nothing else to do. I nloved every waking moment, all 29 hours of it!It also helped that we had 2 layovers and a 3 hour delay. I leave tomorrow and the return flight is only 22 hours. I can’t wait, because I have a ton of e-books waiting for me.

      Reply
      • Louise Fury
        February 6th, 2010 on 9:24 am

        Hey Bonnie, thanks for the comment.
        No I did not get that lucky. My flight lasted I think its a longer flight from CA to Austrailia than it is from NYC to Cape Town. We had a brief layover in Johanesburg, but bo other stops. I must admit, I read a lot of the books while others slept…I CANNOT sleep on a plane. I also got to the airport 4 hours early and had tons of time while I waited an extra two hours for them to change the planes tire. I dont read fast, but then again the books I took were pretty short. I kept Anne Rices one for the beach!
        Are you back in NYC any time soon? If you are email me and we can head over to Lady Janes, you would love it there.

        -Louise
        p.s thanks for the link

    • Louise Fury
      February 6th, 2010 on 9:26 am

      I LOVE Dean and Deluca, the fact thats its inside Borders is a HUGe plus. I cant wait to get back next week.

      -Louise

      Reply
  • Mary
    February 6th, 2010 on 7:47 am

    Yes, I wondered if you visited a bookstore while on your trip. I have an e-reader for this very reason - the travel issue of so many books, so little space. I have the Courtney Milan book on the reader but still need to read it. I think you gave me the nudge I need. Great post!

    Reply
  • bonnie
    February 6th, 2010 on 7:19 am

    I absolutely love reading romance and have a huge collection.I refuse to lend them out.Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan was also one of my favorites.

    Reply
  • Patricia
    February 6th, 2010 on 7:10 am

    I also just finished reading Hope Tarr`s book Twelve Nights and loved traveling back in time, felt as if I was part of those fabulous historical times.We obviously have similar tastes so I intend to follow your lead and check out the books you mentioned.Great post Louise!

    Reply
  • Madison
    February 6th, 2010 on 6:07 am

    I actually just finished Courtney Milan’s book on a flight from Miami to LA. E-readers might be the way to go on flights (assuming they don’t get banned along with everything else), although reading the tiny screen for a 20-hour flight might lead to blindness!

    Reply
  • Colleen
    February 6th, 2010 on 5:50 am

    What about seeing what new South African books there are. Trinity rising by Fiona Snyckers might work for you? Go to the Book Lounge in Roeland Street in town and see what they have.

    Reply
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