A Woman's View of Herself: A Woman's Work is never Done!

All pix in the blog from http://www.dorisday.net

Marathoning? Watching Doris Day movies a few weeks ago, I got my popcorn, my beer and sat myself down for hours. I laughed, I roared in delight and by the end of Doris's 88th Birthday Week, I chomped at the bit to write this ditty.

Watching lovely blonde cutie Doris for more than 10 movies, I was struck as never before by how influential these images of her were in my life. While her too-sweet-for-words looks and voice sometimes made me wince even as a kid, this week I was enthralled by her range. But I am also struck as never before by how much she marks the specific years of her work as an icon of that moment in time.

Note that the following week, I watched Doris's polar opposite and contemporary artist, Rita Hayworth, Bad Girl Personified. I hope to have a few thoughts on her persona, too. Later.

Going from band singer to movie star, Doris started her career as the "sweet kid next door" who can get the man. With laughs and a ploy here and there, Doris sang her way through charming feel-good flicks of the post-war era of the 1940s. With a note of drama here and there, she remains in each script the Girl who is Normal, Sweet and Deserving of the Hero. Even in such dramatic pix as The Man with the Horn (1951), Doris portrays the foil to sophisticate Lauren Bacall opposite an alcoholic trumpeter played by Kurt Douglas.

But in 1955, she gets the role of blues singer Ruth Etting in Love Me or Leave Me, starring with ever-so-bad bully James Cagney.

I remember seeing this as a kid, being told by my father that "Ruth was a great singer and this guy she married was a bum."

Watching this the other night, I recalled this from my Dad with a smile, but wow, was I looking at Cagney as more than just a bum. He was the villain, the thug, The Man Every Woman Wants to Hate. And he was the guy we women put on our Watch List: The Abuser.

And as we watch Ruth deal with this man, we see why Betty Friedan did so well so quickly with her theories of the need to rise up and break the chains that bound women.

Cagney blusters, bullies and brow-beats. He struts and manipulates and totally cows Ruth, first as a singer whom he "discovers" and gets her her first gig. But then later, he builds on that, makes her beholden and ensures she remembers it.

The astonishing facet to me, of course, is that with this portrayal of a woman living in the 1920s, Ruth Etting never questions that he has a right to bully or berate her. (At least this is true in the script.) And this makes me cringe, point my finger and say, wow, Ruth, you never thought you had options?

Answer?

No. She did not. And she, sadly, was not alone.

The rule of the 1920s and as we can see in the portrayal of 1950s housewife Betty Draper in MadMen, many women thought there was no way out.

They took what they could get, paid for it with a devotion that was half dead and then paid other prices in self-esteem, drugs, alcohol and who knows what effect upon their children.

Fast forward to the movies at the beginning of the 1960s. Gee, golly, what a difference for Doris and the rest of us!

Three comedies of hers with different leading men had me laughing like a loon.  Yes, they had cute but not wildly unique plots and scrumptious leading men. James Garner in the Move Over, Darling and The Thrill of It All (written by Carl Reiner, no less!) were 2 great choices. Rock Hudson is a hoot in Pillow Talk. Less thrilling than either of those two simply because he acted this in such a flat, poker-faced manner was Cary Grant, age 58 at the time to Doris's 38, in That Touch of Mink.

While I leave it to you to watch these yourself, I will say my conclusions about what is happening to women in the first three years of the sixties is phenomenal.

I know. Because I remember those years VERY WELL.

In the Rock Hudson movie, we see Doris as as professional woman who works her butt off to succeed in business and she is foiled mightily by a scheming no-good wily man who is her rival for the same accounts.  The plot is terribly funny and in the end she loves him, he loves her. AND WOW, we wonder why!

At no time in the movie except for the last ten minutes does this man show any redeeming qualities. Yes, he is handsome. A real CATCH, right? He is rich, successful, and the fact that he has been unprincipled toward her and his clients seems to matter not at all! SHE LOVES HIM! If I wrote this in a book, captured this man's essence in words, I WOULD BE REJECTED. And justly so. He is about as worthy a hero as Vlad, the Impaler. But of course, that is what he reps, isn't it? A Romantic Vlad.

We will have a moment of shuddering here....

In the Thrill of It All, we get Doris with James Garner. A delight visually, this couple can bring on the laughter. But the substance of the plot?

This flick left me rather agog that I had watched this then...and now!

Why?

She is his wife and mother of his two charming children. He is a noted OB-GYN. Quite by chance, she becomes a spokesperson for a product that sweeps to her onto billboards, fame and money. When hubby Jim gets fed up with her celebrity, his bright idea to bring her back to home/heel/submission (do choose a word you like here) is to get her pregnant again.

He actually has a moment in the film where he sits at his desk and recalls one of his patients telling him that there is no finer calling in life for a woman than to have a baby.

Okay, then!

While I had three of my own babies, and loved every moment of being pregnant and their early lives and bringing them up to adulthood, I must say that they rank up there with a few other events in my life.

• My enduring relationship with my husband, now more than 45 years.
• My enduring relationship with my writing profession, now more than 32 years.
• And my enduring relationship with my devotion to my intellectual stimulation, now more than...well, let's say...lots of decades!

Doris, you did right by me at the time.  But not all of what you taught us was the whole picture of what a woman can and should become.

On to Rita Hayworth!

And remember that my newest, a western romantic erotic comedy, IS THAT A GUN IN YOUR POCKET? is on sale until May 15th for 99 cents at Amazon! Hurry!
http://tinyurl.com/7o7guuk

So many of my friends have new books out!

I have been buying books all week...

I have been buying luscious books and reading them as fast as I buy. Yum!  Oddly enough, reading great books seems to get my own juices going, and I have revised and subbed two books that I thought I would never be able to change. Sigh. Thanks everyone for giving me a boost!

I believe that spending a couple of bucks on good books is a marvelous way to while away the hours when you are too frustrated to write, and need a breather.  It's also a way to help support your friends. Everyone can use a nice royalty check. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful Cinco de Mayo!

Hugs!

Fran Lee

http://www.franleeromance.com

Virginia Cavanaugh's "Seductive Reunion" is Released Today!

Today I want to introduce everyone to a new friend of mine, and co-conspirator at Ellora’s Cave, Virginia Cavanaugh! Virginia is also the author of “Mixing Business With Pleasure”

Take a look at Virginia’s gorgeous new book cover For “Seductive Reunion” which is released today! I love what this book is about. Who hasn’t looked back and wondered about someone they might have left behind?

Want to know a little more? Here’s Virgina Cavanaugh in person… : )

Hello Everyone!

Thanks so much, Kat for having me here today. I’d like to share a little bit about my new release, Seductive Reunion with all of you. J

One night I started thinking back, and realized I had totally missed my ten year high school reunion. Life had been busy with kids, hubby and the day job, so at the time it didn’t bother me much. But now I kinda wish I’d gotten to go.

So, since I missed my own reunion, I decided to come up with a hot and steamy one instead. I hope you will enjoy the way I brought Andi and John together. J

Blurb:

It should have been a simple evening. Go to the high school reunion. Have a couple of drinks. Share a few laughs. Easy peasy. Until Special Agent John Clayton walks in and turns Andi Morgan’s life upside down.

He makes her want things…deliciously wicked things. But Andi’s past complicates matters. Her ex-husband, and local Senator’s son, Steve Hidel, is in deep shit with the Havenk brothers, a shady pair of gunrunners and they all want something only Andi can give them. Will Andi be able to trust the safety 

she finds in John’s arms, or could he possibly have ulterior motives of his own?

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10070-seductive-reunion.aspx

Contest:

Comment below for a chance to win an electronic copy of my Ellora’s Cave Quickie, Mixing Business with Pleasure. Winner will be drawn on the 5^th.

Best wishes,

Virginia Cavanaugh

Thank you Virginia! Best wishes to you and Happy Release Day!

XXOO Kat

Cover Goodness

This just makes me smile each time I look at it!! Don't you agree that this guy deserves to star in a hot story?? 

Hopefully I've done him proud!

Releasing May 30th from Resplendence Publishing

Have a great weekend!

Tessie

www.tessiebradford.com

"Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume 2" is Released Today!

This is the big day—it’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume 2” official release day at Ellora’s Cave.

Two more great reviews came in this week. Stacy at “Sizzling Hot Book Reviews” gave SWTWC V2 4 Hearts and said:

“It’s difficult for me to pick a favorite of the six because they are all so different. We have jaguar shifters, vampires, aliens and intellectuals. Each story is worth reading on its own as this wonderful collection of authors share a piece of heir talent. Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume 2 is a highly enjoyable book that was truly a pleasure to read and I have found a few new authors that I will look for more from. 

I highly recommend picking up Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume 2 if you are looking for a collection of short stories that will knock you socks off. There is something in these stories for everyone. From paranormal to fantasy, BDSM to ménage everyone will find something they like.”

http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/?zx=452797885911ec07

Donna B at You Gotta Read Gave “Something Wicked This Way Comes Volume 2”  5 Stars!!

“After reading the first installment of the Something Wicked anthologies, I had a preconceived notion about what the second collection of stories would be like…more of the same as the first. I was very pleasantly surprised to have my misconceptions blown away with six fresh, highly unique, and of course, extremely erotic offerings.  Be ready for dark, daring rescues, sensual seductions, lust at first sight and irresistible love stories. This collection definitely has something for everyone!”

Read the full review here.

http://yougottaread.com/review-something-wicked-this-way-comes-2-anthology/

The amazing Laurann Dohner has struck gold again! “Tiger” the 7^th book in the New Species series hit the New York Times Best Sellers list! Big Congratulations Laurann!

Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9959-tiger.aspx

Also, I just found out my erotic circus of the mind “Noblesword” will be available in print May 10^th!

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10086-noblesword.aspx

Have a wonderful week. Ladies,  please read more erotic-romance its good for you!

XXOO Kat

My Agent Appointment at the NEC conference

Yesterday I blogged about the highs and lows of the NEC conference on Friday night. Today I’m going to discuss the good, bad and ugly aka, my agent appointment.

I was super excited about the appointment because the agent received the query and first 10 pages prior to the meeting. This way she had time to decide if she wanted more. The appointments last 8 minutes, after the brief introductions here’s how mine went:

Good:

I love your writing

Your dialogue zips along nicely

The flow from one pov to the next is fantastic

I LOVE your heroine’s unique name.

Bad:

BUT, the concept of a woman vigilante has been done before and I don’t feel I can sell this.

What else do you have?

I explained another book that is complete, but needs revision.

Her interest piques.

I’m thinking score one for me.

I say, “Maybe I could send you a partial?”

“Sure, you can go through the normal submission process online,” she says.

Ugly:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

I hate this question because I’ve read a lot about what not to ask. I bumbled through some question and realized the more we talked we weren’t a match. She was super professional and nice, but of course as a writer I want someone who is passionate about my work like me.

She asked if I had any more questions and I said no. I stood, thanked her for her time and left.

Time spent with agent? 4 mins.

As a first timer, it was an awesome experience and I learned a lot about what to do and not do. I’m thinking of self-publishing these contemporaries anyway, but it’s always nice to see what an agent thinks. Overall I had a lot of positives coming out of the meeting. She only made 3 minor comments on my 10 pages, so I was happy.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about the guest speakers and give away a book over on my blog. :o)

Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? For 99 cents, it should be!

Hurry! 

IS THAT A GUN IN YOUR POCKET? my newest is at AMAZON! For 99 cents only until May 15!
BUY LINK: http://tinyurl.com/7o7guuk

Fun, sassy, sexy sheriff and his main squeeze. 

Her name? Mae. 

His? West.

They are happy to be here with their love story.

Need a nibble?

Yes. You do!

A Sheriff, A Hot Gal and his gun.

What’s a girl to do when she has the hots for the local sheriff—and he’s playing it cool? Mae Montaine knows the man has a gun in his pocket and he’s always happy to see her.

So why won’t he come over and see her sometime…for a date? A hug? A kiss? More?

West Farraday yearns for the All-American knock-out who lives next door, but Mae’s got problems and secrets. He’d love to help her out…of her problems. And her clothes. Then into his bed.

When timing seems right, West makes his move. He’s happier than a colt in clover.

Mae’s skeptical they can make it as a couple. After all, town gossip says the good sheriff is hard on the ladies.

But when three bad coyotes invade Mae’s life, West tries to prove to her that a man who’s hard in the sack can be easy to love.

Excerpt: (Copyright 2012, Cerise DeLand. All rights reserved.)

Something was burning.

August in Texas meant crispy grass, drought and wild fires—and West Farraday had no desire to see his house burn to the ground. Where was that smoke coming from?

He lifted his nose and tracked the smell of charcoal, then startled when he saw red flames rise over the top of his tall wooden fence.

A barbeque pit out of control? Not good!

“Aw, hell!” No need to think.  He’d learned from previous incidents that his new neighbor was an East Coast gal with no clue how to survive in Texas. Hightailing it into his kitchen, he pulled open the pantry door and grabbed the fire extinguisher. He pivoted, broke into a run, charged through his gate and darted for the tiny house next door.

Mae Montaine. Mae from New Jersey. Mae of the flowing, dark-chocolate hair and aquamarine eyes. Mae of the creamy skin, the voluptuous breasts and curvy legs. The fillings in his molars melted every time she sashayed past him. Mae, that gorgeous klutz, had gotten herself in a pickle again. And he was her handy dandy neighbor, ready at the draw.

Jumping her waist-high chain-link fence, he instantly saw her problem. Not only was she staring at the leaping fire in her potbellied grill, but she jumped up and down, screeching, doing nothing to contain the blaze.

“Move!” he yelled at her as he thrust one arm out and pushed her behind him. Then he let loose with the foam, dousing the five-foot tall flames and cursing beneath his breath.

He spun to check where Mae’s niece was. There. He breathed more easily. In her playpen by the door stood little Emma, grinning her welcome to him.

“Oh, oh, that’s wonderful,” Mae cooed in the raspy contralto that ignited wild fires along his spine and had him stealing a glimpse of her loveliness. “That’s terrific. I didn’t know what to do. I had no idea. How did this happen? Who knew? Oh, you are so good to do this. How can I ever thank you?”

I know one way. “Don’t think about it,” he offered as he continued to spray the flames, keeping his gaze on the fire even if his mind sizzled with the glimpse he’d gotten of her skimpy top and shorts.

“I don’t know what I did wrong. I was so careful.” She fretted and fumed, her firm breasts brushing his arm as she leaned forward to peer at his efforts. “I’m so grateful you even noticed.”

He snorted. How could I not? “I was home. Outside working on my lawn. This could have been a real disaster.”

“I’m sorry,” she said in a wee voice. “I thought I knew how to do this. Build a fire, that is. You must think I’m a mess.”

“Truly?” He threw her a smile and the one he got in return dissolved his urge to scold her. The most gorgeous mess I’ve ever seen. “A bit accident prone.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said beneath her breath. “I don’t know what I would do without you. I guess you’re used to saving people. Sheriffs do that, don’t they? You’ve saved me so many times now.”

“Four.”

“That many? Maybe so. There was the nail in my tire.”

“Your kitchen faucet blew its gasket,” he reminded her, recalling Mae Montaine appearing at his front door last Sunday morning in a white cotton sundress wet from nipples to knees. One look at her display and his legs had turned into feathers. He’d had to brace himself against his door jamb at the sight of her asking for help. Every one of her lush curves had been defined in mouth-watering detail beneath the sodden, transparent fabric. Including her round, puckered nipples.

“I’m grateful.” Her sensuous mouth tipped up in a grin.  “Really.”

So was I. Better than an X-rated flick to see you in all your glory. “No worries, Mae. I was here. I was available.” I am now certifiably hooked on your looks and your humility.

“I’m trying so hard,” she fussed at herself.

“Don’t. Just let yourself ease into country life,” he consoled her, complementing  his words with a broad smile in her direction. But he froze. Her gaze had been plastered to his naked back. When his eyes sought hers, her lashes fluttered. Flustered? Interested? Maybe?

Do not go there. He ground his teeth. Then returned to his work. How one woman could have so many challenges beat him. How he could be her savior so often thrilled him. Getting close to her—within inches as he was now—made him hard. Made him drool. Made him rein in his fantasy of having her sighing beneath him and remind himself of how that was such a bad idea.

“And damn. All my wieners are burnt!”

Mine is too, lady.

“Plus, the neighbors will be so scared. Because of the drought, the brush fires have been so terrible.“

“Doubt anyone else saw.”

“I feel awful. They’ll think I’m an idiot.”

“No. No.” That’s what she had said the first time he’d  saved her from disaster. When was that? A month ago? He’d been outside then, too, heard her yell in dismay and come barreling over the fence. She had stepped in a giant mound of red ants and they had feasted on her feet. Her elegant feet. Her slim, red-lacquered toes.

Shit. Are you playing with a full deck, Farraday?

“Think I should go apologize to them?”

“Who? The ants?”

“What? No, the neighbors.” She waved a hand in the direction of the other houses around theirs. Her beautiful breasts bobbed.

His brain sizzled like an egg in a frying pan. Ah, Farraday, you have lost your mind over this woman. “You don’t have to.”

“But I do. Oh, I do! They probably think I’m a nitwit screaming for help every other day.”

She didn’t calm down quickly after any of her disasters.

Just call me your fireman, your handy man, your only…. Enough. He bit his lower lip. Pain would bring him back to sanity. “Look, Mae. You are fine. No one else is running over. The fire is almost under control—“

“Thanks to you. What if you hadn’t been home?”

“But I was.” Good for me.

“And now I don’t have anything else for dinner.” She babbled on about this and that, while he did more damage control and stepped forward to peer into the grill and check for any smoldering embers.

Like he wasn’t one himself.

“Thank you, Sheriff.” She laid a hand on his and his skin melted.

What the hell is wrong with you, Farraday? This is just one woman with nice tits. And a great ass that would fit just fine into your two palms. Up against you, your cock nestled between her thighs.

Stop. This.

“West,” he corrected her as he worked on the pile of glowing coals. Get a grip, man. Like most city slickers, she’s oblivious to the world. Sadly, to you, too. Some folks are built like that, and you have to accept what you can’t change. Take another woman to bed and squelch your own fires.