trueromance

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?

Lou Waxnicki’s 2nd Post from Gaylene Murphy on Vimeo.

(you may need to click a couple of times on play to activate the video)

. . . are you intrigued???

Dear Readers:

As you may know, so many of the characters in my books are related through friendship or blood or marriage: Lyra Prescott (from Sizzle) lives with Sidney Buchanan, whose brother is Alec Buchanan, who is married to Regan Hamilton Buchanan (from Murder List), who is best friends with Sophie Rose (from Fire and Ice), etc. etc. Someone recently asked if it wouldn’t be much easier for me to write each new book with brand spanking new characters unencumbered by vast, complicated families – “one-offs”, as they say in the trade.

Granted, it probably would be easier to write about a hero and heroine without the complications of family, but that doesn’t make them real to me. Since I come from a large family, it’s fun to put my characters in hectic, loving families where siblings watch out for each other, where they share the same values and senses of humor, and where their loyalty is unconditional.

When I’m writing my novels, the characters come alive in my imagination, and as their world emerges, it turns out to be just as complex as the world I live in. In Sizzle, Alec Buchanan relentlessly teases fellow FBI agent Sam Kincaid –it’s part of Alec’s twisted sense of humor. Just as it’s part of Alec’s character to make sure his younger sister Sidney and her roommate Lyra are safe from the mysterious bad guys threatening them. I’m hoping you’ll love Sizzle’s film student Lyra as much as I did. I had a wonderful time writing about her charmingly eccentric grandmother, Gigi, and maybe just as much fun with Lyra’s greedy, scheming parents. And just wait until you encounter her hunky FBI protector Sam Kincaid – he’s a hero you won’t soon forget.

Families, like life, can be complicated, but when you read Sizzle, I hope you’ll come away thinking they can be a lot of fun as well.

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!

Julie Garwood

Since my first novel came out seven years ago, I’ve received thousands of emails from readers. One reader claimed my books helped her through a life crisis. Another said I singlehandedly saved her marriage. Still others suggested I seek employment outside the publishing industry. But I’ve noticed that two particular comments kept popping up from readers through the years. They wanted me to write faster and they wanted me to write connected books. Though flattered by those requests, I always said to myself, “I’m writing as fast as I possibly can, people! Besides, I don’t have the patience to write a continuing story line!”
OK. So I was wrong.
When AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG hits the shelves November 3, it will kick off my very first trilogy. Readers will meet a cast of characters that has made me laugh, cry, and shake my head in wonder over the year it has taken me to complete their stories. That’s right. One year. Three connected books. Apparently, all it took was the right story and the right characters to bust through the limits I’d placed on myself as a writer.
AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG introduces four coworkers at The San Francisco Herald who form a dog-walking group. Several times a week, Josie Sheehan, Ginger Garrison, Roxie Bloom, and Bea Latimer get together to exercise their dogs and sort out their lives. They may appear to be as different as four women can get, but they help each other through divorce, breakups, betrayal, and the demise of their beloved Herald. One morning, they realize they’re all man-less at the same time, and decide they’re done searching for Mr. Right. They take a solemn vow to live happily in the company of their loyal, loving canines. “Who needs a man when you have a dog?” Ginger observes.
Of course, because I write romantic comedy, we all know those vows won’t stick. And in the course of the trilogy, three of the women will meet men who remind them how fabulous they really are and how good life can be. (The fourth finds her own road to happiness.)
AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG is Josie Sheehan’s story. The Herald’s obituary feature writer collects failed relationships the way some women collect designer handbags. At thirty-five, the only man who’s sharing her bed is an overly hairy Labradoodle named Genghis. This all changes the day Josie meets a strange old widow who suggests she write out a list of qualities she desires in her ideal man, then place her order with the universe. Thirty minutes later, that man is standing right in front of Josie in the form of pet store CEO and reformed bad boy Rick Rousseau. Figuring this is no coincidence, Josie lets down her defenses and falls hard and fast for Rick – while her friends’ lives are falling apart.
Since Josie can’t imagine rubbing her friends’ noses in her newfound bliss, she decides to keep her hot romance under wraps. This backfires, to put it mildly. All it takes is a little amateur sleuthing and a couple late-night stakeouts, and Bea, Ginger, and Roxie know all about Rick and his questionable history. They try to stop Josie from making what they’re sure would be the worst relationship blunder of her life. Unfortunately, their butting in diverts attention from a real bad guy – a man from Rick’s past is on his way to San Francisco to get revenge. When he finds out about Josie, he knows he’s found the key to bringing Rick Rousseau to his knees.
Next up is THE NIGHT SHE GOT LUCKY (Spring 2010), the super-sexy story of Ginger Garrison and Lucio Montevez. Now forty and divorced, Ginger is certain she’d rather spend her nights with her spoiled Bichon Frise than waste another minute with a man who doesn’t adore her. Then she meets Lucio – or “Lucky” as his friends call him – a renowned nature photographer as famous for breaking hearts as he is for as taking pictures. Is Lucio capable of staying put? With one woman? Or will he be on the first plane to Bora Bora once he’s made Ginger his latest conquest?
LOVE HER MADLY (working title) (Fall 2010) wraps up the trilogy. This is the story of the fiercely independent Roxie Bloom and Eli Gallagher, the sexy but seemingly aloof dog whisperer Roxie must rely on to save her rescue mutt. The two have been battling a fierce attraction for months, but when Roxie’s dog bites her ex boyfriend – a powerful criminal defense lawyer bent on destroying her life – she must swallow her pride and ask for Eli’s help. Saving the dog will take patience and determination, but it also will require Roxie and Eli to open their hearts in ways they never thought possible.
I hope you’ll have as much fun reading these books as I had writing them. In fact, I’m so thrilled with how the trilogy turned out that I might take on another connected series! Right after I take a nap.
Happy reading,
Susan Donovan

Only $4.99!

Giveaway:  three winners will each receive a free copy of AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG

Just for fun! What is your favorite ‘pet’ romance story? Comment below!

Happy Romance

Wrapping up my LUCKY series is bittersweet for me. On the one hand, it’s always hard to say goodbye to a family I’ve grown to love. On the other hand, I get to start a brand new series and meet new characters. The LUCKY series offered me a chance to bring back the idea of three sexy heroes, in this case cousins, who have a family history of bad luck to outrun. It also let me touch on the question, is there such a thing as a curse? Or is a run of back luck just a self-fulfilling prophecy? But make no mistake, at the heart of all three LUCKY books is a CONTEMPORARY romance for readers to enjoy.

I love to read and write contemporaries. I love to talk to others who read contemporaries and gauge what they have to say about current books and authors. Recently I got to thinking about the books I’ve written.

The Hot Zone – Sports Heroes

The Chandler Brothers – Brothers and their mother who wants grandchildren

The Costas Sisters – polar opposite twin sisters with an Atlantic City con family

Ty and Hunter – 3 best friends, separated by a deep dark secret

The many Temptations I’ve written over the years

THE LUCKY SERIES – 3 sexy male cousin plagued by a family curse.

LUCKY BREAK introduces Jason Corwin, the last of the Corwin cousins to get the girl, and his introduction to the Corwin curse that has dogged all the males in his family tree, is pretty harsh. The curse supposedly placed during the Salem Witch Trial era states that any Corwin male who falls in love will lose his love and his fortune. In Jason’s case, his life long dream of Olympic Gold in Snowboarding has come crashing down when he tests positive for a banned substance. Although he knows he was set up (by the woman he was dating who was in cahoots with his main competitor), Jason can’t prove it and heads home minus his dream and the lucrative sponsorships that supported him thus far. He returns to the construction and contracting business in his small New England hometown. He doesn’t expect anything interesting to turn up … especially Lauren Perkins, the girl he knew from one hot summer years before. He knows he should resist his renewed attraction Lauren Perkins. After all, it was one of her ancestors that came up with the curse that had haunted every Corwin male since. But after one night of mind-blowing sex, he can’t bring himself to stay away.

All Lauren wants is to sell her late grandmother’s old house and leave the past behind forever. But that’s not such an easy thing to do when Jason Corwin shows up in her life again. First he insists on being the one to renovate the house. Then he whispers sweet, sexy somethings in her ear … about staying in town. Soon a saboteur and the promise of hidden treasure changes everything - and one lucky break just might put an end … to the Corwin curse forever.

I have to admit when I started this story, Lauren and Jason didn’t have a past … and something was missing from the story. As soon as I gave them a romantic history, the entire story came together. I don’t know about you but for me as a reader, there’s something about first loves in Romance that makes a story sexier and lets me invest my heart even more. At least that’ was the case for me with Lauren Perkins and Jason Corwin! And I hope you agree

Next up for me is a full year of releases in 2010 – contemporaries, what else?

Hot Stuff – reissue – 1/10

Hot Number – reissue – 3/10

Kiss Me If You Can – 08/10 – A Most Eligible Bachelor Book

Love Me If You Dare – 09/10 – A Most Eligible Bachelor Book

*More info. on this new series coming soon!

What about you? What’s your favorite kind of contemporary romance? A couple with a past? Or a couple who get to learn all about each other from the very beginning? (then again, a couple separated and reunited often have just as much to learn …) A light story? A heavier story? I want to hear from you!

For excerpts, information contests and much more visit my newly redesigned website at: www.carlyphillips.com

I’m giving away 4 Borders $25 Gift Cards to 4 LUCKY winners!