Hope Tarr & Lady Jane’s Salon
by sue on Feb.09, 2010, under Book Chat
Happy Birthday, Lady Jane’s Salon!
New York City’s First and Only Romance Reading Series Turns One
By Hope Tarr, Co-Founder
Imagine a smoky, bookish bar in New York’s West Greenwich Village, smoky because it’s a cigar lounge and bookish because well, there are actual books on the actual bookshelves lining the back room walls.
Imagine scotch, good scotch, as in single-malt served “neat” in respectably solid glasses.
Now add to the picture three romance writers—Maya Rodale, Leanna Renee Hieber, and Hope Tarr—and one book blogger, Ron Hogan tucked into a round table and whetting their respective whistles after returning from the ubiquitous Manhattan literary reading. As stogies are passed and glasses clinked, the four find themselves lamenting the lack of any forum anywhere in the city for reading the romance fiction they so dearly love.
Imagine one of the authors, Maya Rodale, hoisting her tiny hand heavenward and exclaiming, “Jeepers, why don’t we start a reading series for romance on our own?”
Okay, maybe Maya didn’t exactly say “Jeepers”—I did mention there was scotch involved—but the rest of the story is well, pretty much on the mark in terms of accuracy.
And so was born Lady Jane’s Salon, New York City’s first and so far only monthly reading series devoted to celebrating romance fiction in all its glorious diversity—traditional historical- and contemporary-set relationship stories as well as urban fantasy, paranormal, steampunk, military, gay & lesbian, you name it.
Since we launched Lady Jane’s in February 2009, we’ve been thrilled and at times humbled by the tremendous outpouring of enthusiasm from the romance community and beyond; the latter has brought us feature articles in THE NEW YORK POST and TIME OUT NEW YORK. Each Salon event is a mix of familiar faces and new friends—editors and agents, media professionals and publicists, authors both published and still-to-be-discovered, and readers, the back bone of our industry without whom none of us would exist.
Sponsored by Beatrice.com, the Salon meets on the first Monday of the month from 7 to 9 PM at Madame X (94 West Houston Street). Madame X bills itself as New York’s sexiest lounge and the décor doesn’t disappoint. Think Victorian antiques, fringed lampshades, and erotic art mounted on deliciously deep red walls, the perfect venue for a genre dedicated to l’amour.
Each Salon night features two to four guest authors reading from their latest releases, bestsellers such as Marjorie M. Lui, Lauren Willig, and Andrea Pickens AKA Cara Elliott as well as midlist and debut authors. Occasionally taking over the microphone from Ron as guest emcees are “Smart Bitch” Sarah Wendell, “Scandalous Women” blogger, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon, and historical nonfiction author, Leslie Carroll. Specially themed salons include a tribute to Harlequin Enterprise’s 60th Anniversary, the winter holidays, an historical night in honor of Lady Jane’s First Birthday this month, and, upcoming, a spec fiction/fantasy night to coincide with Thriller Fest.
For the past year proceeds from the Salon, $5 or one gently-used paperback romance novel, have benefitted Share-the-Love.org, a women’s charity co-founded by Maya Rodale and fellow author, Ann Bleakley. With authors booked through early 2011, Lady Jane will continue to support charitable organizations dedicated to bringing the pleasure of a good book—and the promise of Happily Ever After—to women in need.
Maya, Leanna Renee, Ron and I will be taking Lady Jane on the road this April-May to the Romantic Times BOOK Lovers Convention in Columbus, Ohio. With both an Author Workshop and a Special Lady Jane’s Salon Event on the program, we’re looking forward to sharing the Lady Jane’s love with authors around the country who may wish to start up satellite salons of their own.
It’s been an amazing first year for Lady Jane and like a fine wine we fully expect Her Ladyship to improve with age. To keep abreast of the latest Salon doings, visit our web site at www.ladyjanesalon.com or “friend” Lady Jane on Facebook.
Hope Tarr is the author of more than a dozen historical and contemporary romance novels. Visit Hope online at www.hopetarr.com where you can read her blog on life in the Big Apple including, of course, Lady Jane’s.
What do you think? Would you like a Lady Jane’s Salon in your neighborhood?
Related posts:
- Romance Junkies Reviews for Borders True Romance Blog A Junkies’ TBR Mountain Range aka Top 10 Romance coming in 2010! I’m Dorine, one of the Coordinators for Romance Junkies Book Club, an online community of readers and authors who love to chat about our favorite Romance books. The RJ Book Club works in tandem with the Romance...
- This Weeks WINNERS - Ck it out!! Hi everyone! Winners are below - -please email SueG with your snail mail so we can get you your prize — sgrimsha@bordersgroupinc.com; remember to note what day you won, your author & format (ebook or print): Sunday winner w/Stacey: Kaetrin Tuesday winner w/Maya: JenniferT; Ali; LillieA; & the ebook...
- Guest Author Blogger, Ginger & Giveaway from Kensington Publishing! I’d like to thank Susan for inviting me to blog at Borders True Romance. When I thought of all the topics I might write about, one seemed to rise to the top. People often ask me why I write historical fiction. My answer is always the same: I feel...
- Sheila Clover English, on the Spot! Reporting on Lori Foster’s Readers Event I love this event and I look forward to it every year. It’s only $50 to go. It’s 3 days long, provides some food, there’s a book signing, a lot of interaction with readers, workshops and some of the most fantastic prizes I’ve ever seen! It’s the Lori Foster...
- Guest Reader Blogger, Danielle Yockman Reader, Danielle Yockman: With the holidays just past I still have boxes on the brain. So much effort goes into figuring out how to fit all the gifts into the available boxes. And heaven help you if you have a really odd shaped gift! All that focus on boxes got...
34 Comments for this entry
Leave a Reply
About Sue & Borders True Romance Blog
Sue G - Borders True Romance Host - Borders Romance Buyer, reads romance. For her JOB. No, really. You can email Sue at sgrimshaw at bordersgroupinc dot com.
Borders True Romance Blog is a community, developed for you, the romance reader, to find out more about the books you love; the authors who write them & where to buy them :) Borders.com
Shape-shifter Dev Peltier thought he knew it all. But one night when a Dark-Hunter, who is also an official member of the Dogs of War, sashays into his bar, he realizes he might have met his match. But as old enemies and new move into New Orleans, Samia realizes that Dev just might be the only hope she and mankind have to save the world.
Friend Feed
March 11th, 2010 on 10:48 am
Yet another interesting post, keep em coming!
February 13th, 2010 on 4:08 pm
I think it would be wonderful to have a Lady Jane’s close enough to attend.
February 10th, 2010 on 11:16 am
How I wished we had one here in Jersey. But NY is just a 20 minute train ride for me. I have actually read about Lady Jane’s for the last year and can never seem to make it. But I definitely will. What a wonderous thing you have done.Great that you’re taking it on the road.
Thanks Sue also for running this blog.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
February 9th, 2010 on 10:27 pm
Lady Jane Salon - Sounds like the place to be!
February 9th, 2010 on 7:36 pm
Sue, many thanks for having me here to talk about one of my favorite projects!
Ladies, thank you all for taking time out to post your thoughts and well wishes. For those of you planning on attending the RT Convention in Columbus, we look forward to sharing the Lady Jane’s love with you Sat, May 1st, 7-9 PM.
For everyone else, please keep the monthly Salon in mind when you find yourself in the NYC area, esp you, Sue. We’d love to have you as a guest. 7-9 PM first Monday of the month chez Madame X (94 W Houston).
Ciao!
February 9th, 2010 on 5:10 pm
I’d love to have one where I live. It sounds like a lot of fun!
February 9th, 2010 on 3:37 pm
Hi Everyone!
The greatest thing about Lady Jane’s is the way it brings romance readers and authors together, either in our little bar in New York City or on this blog!
Looking forward to next month’s salon! We’ll hear from Cara Elliot, Louisa Edwards and Mingmei Yip ! SAve the date!
Maya
February 9th, 2010 on 3:20 pm
Smoke free, that makes it just about perfect.
February 9th, 2010 on 3:11 pm
Congratulations to Hope, Leanna, Maya and Ron on the First Anniversary of their Lady Jane’s Salon.
It is a great place to meet and greet authors, editors, agents, et al. I’m looking forward to attending more sessions in 2010.
February 9th, 2010 on 3:04 pm
I’d love one where I live, too. I’m so jealous! It looks like so much fun!
February 9th, 2010 on 2:26 pm
Nicole, honey, to quote the former game show ghost, Bob Barkr, “C’mon down!” Boston’s not far and we’d love, love, love to have you as a guest reader.
To recap, Lady Jane’s meets on the first Monday of each month from 7-9 PM at Madame X in Soho, NYC. And one of our March guest readers is Cara Elliott/Andrea Pickens! Andrea and I kick-started the Salon as the first author readers back in Feb ‘09, and we all can’t wait to hear what her alter ego Cara has to say for herself.
We’ll also be having blogger/author Elizabeth Kerri Mahon back in early 2011 (and yes, we’re already booking) when her nonfiction historical book, Scandalous Women (note: title will be longer) hits bookstores.
Good stuffs!
February 9th, 2010 on 1:54 pm
Yes, I would like a Lady Jane’s Salon in my neighborhood … maybe with a Polynesian Twist? I moved from Baltimore to Honolulu one week after the RWA National Convention … and somehow I could not fit in trip to NYC to catch LJS on the first Monday. I’ll just have to wait for RWA’s 2011 National Convention in NYC which ends just in time for the first Monday of the month - wow, the possibilities are endless!
But LJS inspired me to start a literary salon at the Hickam AFB Library. We don’t have the ambiance, scotch, or published authors reading their books, but the military spouses have a good time talking about books!
February 9th, 2010 on 1:45 pm
I would love to have a lady Jane salon in my area
February 9th, 2010 on 1:35 pm
What A HOOT!!!! This is Just what Boston needs! A roadtrip should definitely be in order. I love to read all kinds of genres - or “my porn” as my hubby calls it, LOL — lady Jane”s sounds like the perfect extravagent setting to meet & greet.
LOL
Next time in NYC — I will be sure to make an appearance, LOL.
I am a bit jealous of all you New Yorkers now
February 9th, 2010 on 12:45 pm
I’m only a recent discoverer of Lady Jane’s, but I love it there. It’s a wonderful thing to spend the evening with fellow romance lovers…I only wish it happened more than once a month! Congrats…and, more importantly, THANK YOU, to Hope, Maya, Leanna & Ron!
February 9th, 2010 on 12:35 pm
Oh, my word, I am soooo jealous, Hope! I would kill to have a group like that. What a brilliant idea.
You obviously have a big creative streak — which shows in your lovely books, too! Your historicals are so fun and romantic — loved your Blaze historical launch.
February 9th, 2010 on 12:09 pm
It’s been a joy every month to attend Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and a privilege to read on my birthday last year! I look forward to many more happy times and many more Indecent Proposal’s.
February 9th, 2010 on 11:57 am
I look forward to Lady Jane’s every month! It is a wonderful venue for chatting with other writers and meeting people from the industry (I have met quite a few agents!). And of my industry friends that I have brought with me enjoy the event as well!
February 9th, 2010 on 11:54 am
I’m so jealous! Wish I lived in NYC as I’d be all over this! Barring that, it would be awesome to have on here in Toronto.
February 9th, 2010 on 11:44 am
I would love to have a Lady Jane Salon here. We have nothing like this.
February 9th, 2010 on 10:23 am
Hi Sue, Hi Ladies!
Sue, thanks bunches for having us here to talk about one of our most favorite things: Lady Jane’s. Everyone else, thanks for the enormous enthusiasm.
Gigi and others, to quickly clarify, our host venue, Madame X, is a smoke-free environment. The only things smokin’ inside are the peeps!
We are fortunate in being in New York City. Then again, there’s so much to do here always, at first we were concerned as to how Lady Jane would compete.
Fortuunately, the Lady has held her own. An average night is still standing room only. That said, I do feel the Salon concept can be adapted to less urban areas. You could even have a LJ Salon area in a private home. A few red scarves tossed over the lampshades and a votive or two works wonders to set the vibe.
In point, my co-founders (Leanna Renee, Maya, Ron) and I will be presenting a very special Lady Jane Salon event at this year’s Romantic Times BOOK Lovers Convention in Columbus. We’re slated for that Saturday night (May 1st) 7-9 PM directly following the Mr. Romance Pageant.
Anybody planning on going?
February 9th, 2010 on 1:31 pm
WOO HOO — I’ll be there
Thanks Hope for bringing Lady Janes to us all — sounds like a riot & if I’m ever in NYC I’ll make sure I attend 
Sue
February 9th, 2010 on 10:17 am
Lady Jane’s is an amazing happening. I feel so lucky to live in NYC and have a chance to experience the wonderful monthy meetings. It’s a time of great, cheer, great comareaderie and, of course, great romance books. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Kudos to Hope, Maya, Leanna and Ron for their vision. They are the BEST!
February 9th, 2010 on 10:04 am
I would love one near me. I’m in Denver and I think it would be a great success!
February 9th, 2010 on 9:06 am
Sounds like a great idea to me. Would love to have something like this in my area.
February 9th, 2010 on 8:08 am
I would love to have a Lady Jane Salon close by. What a cool place. I would want it minus the smoking, though. I work to hard to keep my lungs clear.
Having a place to get together with other book lovers like that is great. I don’t thing it would work in the area I live in though. I really don’t have a neighborhood since I live way out in the country, and the local town is pretty small.
I would just love to have a great book store close by that authors visit. Until then there are these wonderful blogs to visit.
Thanks Sue for hosting the Blog here at Borders.
February 9th, 2010 on 8:04 am
What fun! Makes me want to move to New York. If Jane’s Salon had existed when Sex and the City was filming, I bet Carrie would’ve stopped by. Congratulations on the first year of success! I wish you many more.
February 9th, 2010 on 7:58 am
I’d love the lounge alone, minus the cigar smoke ::CHOKE:: The group sounds fabulous, and love the idea of helping others while listening to great books and great authors! ::SIGH::
February 9th, 2010 on 7:47 am
I LOVE Lady Janes Salon and all the founders are just lovely. I cant wait for the first Monday in March to arrive!
February 9th, 2010 on 6:23 am
It’s been such a joy and a blessing to be a Lady Jane’s co-founder, to have had so many wonderful experiences this year, showcasing our diverse and exciting genre and ’sharing the love’! And 2010 is shaping up to be no less than spectacular. Thanks, Hope, for this great post, and thank you so much, Sue and Borders for the opportunity to share our pet project that’s become quite the Lady! Blessings and thanks!
February 9th, 2010 on 4:08 am
I don’t have a Lady Jane Salon, but I do belong to a great romance group that meets once a month at Borders. We are very lucky to have Ellen that runs our little group.
February 9th, 2010 on 3:40 am
I’d absolutely love one! I sometimes feel like the only romance reader in London - everyone else here reads chick lit!
February 9th, 2010 on 1:55 am
that would be great if we had a Lady Jane Salon in my neck of the woods
February 9th, 2010 on 1:10 am
I’d love to have a Lady Jane Salon at a smoky venue near me! PLEASE! Maybe a tie-in event to benefit a local woman’s shelter near where I live. One of my goals for 2010 is to actually make it down to NYC on a Monday night and go to a Lady Jane Salon night.
I think it’s marvelous that you are taking it on the road. Gives me an idea for RWA’s 2011 National Conference in NYC.
Great blogsite, Sue. I’ll try to pop back from time to time.