Guest Author, Dara Girard & Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.08, 2010, under Book Chat
The Seduction of Secrets:
How Peyton Place Inspired Words of Seduction
Dara Girard
Peyton Place. Just saying the name brings up images of sex, scandal, and small town secrets. Author, Grace Metalious, was referred to as a “Pandora in Blue Jeans” because she’d supposedly opened up a ‘box of sin’ and revealed it to the world! Both she and her book where denounced by preachers and politicians and banned in Canada and other countries. When asked in an interview if she thought Peyton Place would be remembered, Ms. Metalious, said, “I doubt it very much.” Peyton Place which was published in 1956 (and crucified by some critics) is still in print and has sold millions.
By today’s standards, the novel would be considered tame, but I believe the spirit of Peyton Place is the reason it has lasted all these years. Why? Because its themes– hypocrisy, social inequities and class privilege–are what make this ‘trashy little book’ resonant years later. Aside from the scandal and sex, it is a story about the lives of three women—Constance MacKenzie, a woman with secret fears and desires; her daughter Allison who is a product of a secret heritage, and Selena Cross whose secret pain shatters an entire town. And that is why Peyton Place inspired my recent release WORDS OF SEDUCTION.
WORDS OF SEDUCTION is a story about Suzanne Rand, a former housewife turned hot novelist who is forced to return to her small town of Anadale, North Carolina after her father dies. There she reunites with a man who broke her heart years ago and soon her real life is igniting more sparks than her stories. Along with the small town setting, just as in the book that inspired me, there are three women with secrets whose lives eventually intertwine—Suzanne returns with secrets and fears that Rick Gordon is determined to reveal (although he has dangerous secrets of his own). His mother, Frieda Gordon, has a dark secret that threatens to destroy her son’s new love and then there’s Suzanne’s former music teacher, Melba Lowell, whose shocking secret from the past continues to echo in the present.
What is it about secrets that tantalize? I believe it’s because there’s something about pulling away the veneer of ‘perfection’ and revealing the ‘imperfection’ underneath. Whether it is a secret love affair, or a ‘love’ child, or a man now living as a woman secrets show us that many lives are more complex than they first appear to be. As Ms. Metalious once said of her own hometown, “To a tourist these towns look as peaceful as a postcard picture, but if you go beneath that picture it’s like turning over a rock with your foot–All kinds of strange things crawl out.”
We are drawn to the darkness where secrets linger. Their seductive invitation is the demons we all know exist, but rarely think of. We all understand the pain of quiet desperation, forbidden desires, and hidden domestic sorrows. In my initial draft of this story I came up with a Town of Secrets for the title. I quickly changed my mind. First it’s not a practical title for a romance and secondly, secrets weren’t the only theme. So I chose WORDS OF SEDUCTION because, as a writer, I know the power of words to seduce. Not just in terms of eliciting passion, but also for persuasion to get someone to commit acts or think thoughts that they might not normally do (Lady Macbeth comes to mind). Frieda persuades her son to betray Suzanne, Melba persuades the townspeople to look away from the truth of her life, and finally Suzanne persuades Rick on many different levels.
In the end, like Peyton Place, WORDS OF SEDUCTION is a story of love and forgiveness, which I hope will make for a memorable book readers will enjoy. You can find out more about this novel and read an excerpt on my website: http://www.daragirard.com
What do you think about secrets? Good or bad? What did you think about the secrets in Peyton Place? When secrets are revealed, why do some people try so hard to deny them? I’ll give away an autographed copy of WORDS OF SEDUCTION and a multi-lipstick holder to a random commenter.
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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
Previously published as Wishes No Matter How Fast You Run. . .The newborn baby boy is beautiful, perfect, and hers for the asking. All Kate Summers has to do is agree to one condition--she must disappear from Boston and never breathe a word about the adoption to anyone. Or How Far You Go. . .Fifteen years later, Kate has built a good life for herself and her son, Jon, in Hopewell, Oregon. Still, she is haunted by the fear that he will somehow be taken away. Then Daegan O'Rourke arrives in town and strikes up a friendship with her and Jon. But Daegan has his own past to hide--one with shocking ties to hers. A Killer Will Always Find You. . .Someone is watching Kate, watching her son, and is willing to go to any lengths to claim him. And the one man Kate is tempted to trust has dangerous secrets that could change her world forever. Soon the past Kate thought she could outrun will explode, unearthing a legacy of lies and treachery, and a fury powerful enough to kill. . .
Friend Feed
March 24th, 2010 on 5:56 pm
i struggle with keeping secrets!
Thanks for sharing.
March 11th, 2010 on 10:47 am
Thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by and comment. Special thanks to Sue and Borders for hosting me here. It’s been a blast.
I’ve drawn the name of the winner of an autographed copy of WORDS OF SEDUCTION and a multi-lipstick holder.
Drum roll please…
Congrats to Ina!
Please tell me where to mail your prize on my website on the ‘contact’ page.
Happy reading everyone!!
March 9th, 2010 on 6:07 pm
I have your new release and plan to read it soon. I’m also a big fan of yours.
As for Secrets…. what’s done in the dark will come to light… and secrets can really hurt someone in the end.
March 10th, 2010 on 8:28 pm
Nice to have you here Nechelle. Thanks for your post.
March 9th, 2010 on 9:31 am
Hi, Dara! Great to see you at True Romance! There are many different types of secrets. Some are short-lived. Others remain suspended in time until their predestined moment of revelation arrives. In fiction, or in real life, very few secrets remain a “secret”. In my own life, I have discovered that choosing not to deal with an issue and secreting it away can have painful consequences. Avoidance is like a silent predator which stalks its prey before it pounces.
March 9th, 2010 on 5:31 pm
Virginia C,
Thanks for a comprehensive and enlightening response. I loved the ’silent predator’ analogy. You’re definitely in line with the general opinion.
March 8th, 2010 on 10:12 pm
Welcome Dara! Congrats on your new release. I never believe anyone should Kiss-n-Tell. Secrets are meant to be keep quiet. Only unless the one with the secret want it to be revealed!
March 9th, 2010 on 5:26 pm
Lisa G,
You bring up a good point. Kiss-n-Tell is in a category of it’s own. For example I respect that the actress Ann-Margaret has never revealed her relationship with Elvis Presley.
March 8th, 2010 on 9:00 pm
I think secrets make for great drama and great books. But secrets in life have a way of getting out and better not kept. I think there’s a greater cost in keeping the secret than in letting the secret out.
March 9th, 2010 on 5:28 pm
Sue A,
Well said. Your comments seems to be in line with many others who have shared their thoughts on the subject. Thanks!
March 8th, 2010 on 8:16 pm
Secrets in romance novels drives the book forward cause you just have to know the secrets. Your book sounds awesome and I am going to add it to my TBB list.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
March 9th, 2010 on 5:23 pm
Pam,
I totally agree with you. Secrets in romances makes a novel sizzle. Thanks for adding me to your TBB list!
March 8th, 2010 on 7:11 pm
Hi Dara! Ur books sounds awesome can’t wait to read it:). I do understand why people have secrets but in the end it always comes out, for better or worse.
March 8th, 2010 on 8:11 pm
Vickey r,
Thanks for your kind words about WORDS OF SEDUCTION. Yes, secrets can come out years or generations later–for better or worse.
March 8th, 2010 on 5:56 pm
I’m with Sue. I love secrets in romance novels - they add tension and are eventually revealed to help the person ‘heal.’ However, in real life, it depends on the secret and the reason.
Congrats on the new book, and continued success.
Francis
March 8th, 2010 on 8:09 pm
Hi Francis,
Wonderful to see you here! Yes, you’re right. In the real world other factors matter when it comes to secrets.
March 8th, 2010 on 5:46 pm
Hi, Dara Girard! I think that revealing secrets is great in fiction, but not so much in reality since doing so generally will hurt someone. For the most part, in real life people tend to respond to others at the surface level. I think of it as being polite. Revealing a secret will go past the mask that people have put up between themselves and the rest of the world. This is why some people will continue to deny secrets; they are so comfortable or worked so hard at their mask/outlook, that they refuse to give it up as this means they will have to change. Change, of course, can uncomfortable or terrifying.
March 8th, 2010 on 8:07 pm
Cories,
Thank you for providing such profound insight.
March 8th, 2010 on 3:57 pm
Congrats on book.
I think some secrets need to be kept. If you are wanting to tell a secret because you feel guilty, you need to think about how the other person is going to feel. They are probably going to get hurt.
March 8th, 2010 on 8:05 pm
Denise,
You add a compelling viewpoint. Thank you for sharing.
March 8th, 2010 on 3:52 pm
I think most secrets should stay secret. So many innocent people get hurt when secrets are revealed.
I was a teenager when Peyton Place was released, but have never read it.
March 8th, 2010 on 8:03 pm
Estella,
I totally understand where you’re coming from. Thanks for your input.
March 8th, 2010 on 1:46 pm
Hi Dara
thanks for being here today - you are a new author to me, but I will check out your books.
I think that depends on the kind of secret - some secrets should never be shared, they would create too much chaos or hurt…
greetings, Ina
March 8th, 2010 on 2:53 pm
Ina,
Yes, I agree. When it comes to real life, there are some secrets too devastating to reveal, however, unfortunately in cases of abuse, there should never be secrets. If a secret is hurting the person who is keeping it then it should be told.
Glad you’re interested in looking at my work:)
March 8th, 2010 on 1:20 pm
Hi Dara! Thanks for being on the blog today — I personally HATE secrets but, love them in Romance books - - love the tension it creates
Congrats on your new release!
Sue
March 8th, 2010 on 2:48 pm
First, thanks for having me as a guest on Borders True Romance!
Ahh, so you’re one of those romance readers who love the unraveling of secrets. Like you I don’t mind secrets in fiction, but in real life they can be challenging and due to circumstances cannot be revealed. I always wonder if sometimes there are secrets we need to keep so that someone doesn’t get hurt.
March 8th, 2010 on 10:20 am
I think that secrets are wrong because if you have to hide it you already know you shouldn’t do what you’re trying to hide. Secrets are always revealed.
I don’t put trying to surprise someone with a present in the same category because it is your intention to reveal the gift. Great topic and I want to read your book.
March 8th, 2010 on 2:42 pm
Hi Tia,
That’s an interesting distinction you made between surprising someone with a gift and other types of secrets. Because as you said the intention is to eventually reveal the secret/gift.
Glad you’re planning to read my new release.
Dara