Can't help it. Busy! Fridays are tough because my husband works from home, we get out hiking at the crack of dawn and then he likes to actually eat breakfast and drink coffee. I usually just grab a banana. Okay, no more complaining!
I'm at Book Lovers, Inc. today: http://www.bookloversinc.com/2011/08/guestpost-ghost-romance-say-it-aint-so.html
Stop by and maybe win a copy of Incorporeal! Happy weekend! Julia
Friday, August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
I recently read another article that blamed Erotic Romance novels for the crumbling moral fiber of the entire planet! Who knew we authors had so much power??!
Romance novels have been around for a very long time; full of larger than life heroes, extravagant locations, and undying loves that triumph over insurmountable challenges.
So, does the evil lie in the use of correct terminology for the human anatomy? Maybe it’s the honest exploration of all of the many facets of the sex act?
What concerns me most is that in these modern times, much of the negative dialog suggests that female sexuality is something that shouldn’t be discussed and celebrated openly, and that women are not intelligent enough to separate real life from fiction. Seriously?
I think we all fully understand that most men are not in excess of six-feet four inches tall, possess a perfect set of eight-pack abs, and whose only reason for living is to protect/worship/understand/support/satisfy their woman! Vamps, aliens and shifters are wonderful characters, but I’m betting the vast majority of female readers are pretty damn clear on the fact that they aren’t going to be meeting one any time soon.
I’d call bullshit on anyone who declares their relationship with their significant other “perfect”, or who blames the demise of a relationship on a book. But can Erotic Romance really affect a woman’s life? I say, “Hell yes”!! Isn’t it empowering to read about women who overcome all kinds of issues on their journey of self discovery? What about discovering new positions, toys, and games that spice up the real world bedroom? How about the simple fact that a beautiful love story makes the reader happy?! Yep, all terrible consequences…
Speaking of evil Erotic Romances, Pampering Jessica, received a wonderful review from Book Wenches~
“Jessica is a very relatable woman, as she is someone who is so busy with her life and responsibilities that sometimes she ends up sacrificing too much, including her own needs, to take care of those around her. She is a strong, caring person who would do anything for those she loves, and the author gives her an incredibly vulnerable aspect which we get to see pop up throughout the story. Jessica is luckier than most women, though, because she has the love and support of a great husband who sometimes understands her better than she understands herself.
David is the epitome of a dream husband. He works hard to support his family, and he is fully devoted to his wife and their marriage, even when times are tough. He is also incredibly sexy, romantic and creative. His pampering treats for Jessica will set your heart aflutter and get you all tingly where it counts.”
www.bookwenches.com/august11reviews.htm
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Smells like pre-teen spirit
Where did summer go? School is ready to start! Yesterday I sat in a school gymnasium through a lengthy parent orientation for my son’s upcoming first day of junior high. I wasn’t ready for any of it on so many levels. This summer has been wonderful, packed with lots of time with family and friends and I hate to see it end.
I also have horrible memories of junior high school and it’s hard to watch my only child heading into that caldron… I don’t want him to suffer the negative experiences I had.
My son actually enjoyed the first day orientation. He walked out of his new school beaming. He didn’t seem intimidated at all by the many little things that easily overwhelmed me at that age, and he has a couple of big challenges of his own to cope with. Sometimes I don’t know where he gets his confidence. He always seems to have plenty, and I hope it stays that way.
I keep hearing from the other kids in our school district that this is a great school and they love it. I also hear from the others that the parents and teachers don’t allow the kind of oblivious stuff that certainly went on when I was in junior high school. People are much more aware that bulling is a serious matter that destroys lives, but I worry because there are so many embarrassing ways nowadays to cyber bully. Our children are facing so many difficult pressures.
Junior high is one of those invisible boundary markers that warn you the child part of childhood is over and only limbo-land lay ahead.
So far my son seems fine with all this. He’s having a good time, but what about me?
If your children survived junior high school, please leave me an encouraging comment—please!
XXOO Kat
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Out of Whack!
The DH returned to work on Monday and so the late night/early morning feedings returned to me. I’m so exhausted I don’t know if I’m coming or going.
My hopes were to finish edits and send them off to my editor, but I had to change a scene and well, that changes the rest of the book, so…let’s just say things aren’t going smoothly.
Other than that I discovered I’m going to be in another anthology. I found this lovely cover on Barnes and Noble. My story Dante’s Desire is part of the book. I’m excited! You can check it out here.
That’s all I have for today.
Happy Tuesday!
Monday, August 15, 2011
History lessons at the movies?
As a professionally trained historian (with grad degree in the Old Stuff), I love to write historical fiction and read it.
A few nights ago, a professor of American history gave a big slam on prime time TV to the new movie, THE HELP. Her critique was, IMHO, the one of the "More Knowledgeable Academician" telling the lowly world how inaccurate, improper and downright disgraceful the film was to have portrayed that time and place and characters with joy, humor or compassion. Her conclusion was that the film is a gross glossing over of the truth.
Now, first, I must tell you, I read this book months ago. Loved it for its humor, compassion and finely drawn characters. Most of all, I loved it for its portrayal of the times and the milieu. I lived through that time and I remember it well. And while I lived in a fully integrated city and went to public school in one, I also went to college with women (and men) from the Deep South. I know what my friends thought and how they lived. I listened to them as we watched riots and hosings, the aftermath of the murder of Medgar Evers and Dr. King. I visited the South with my friends, met their parents and siblings. And while I am not a professional historian of slavery in America, I can say all of the following with certitude:
1. No book, non-fiction or fiction, can portray the total truth of a period or a people.
2. One book, non-fiction or fiction, can explore only one angle, hopefully, well.
3. One author, especially a fiction author, does not aspire to write the definitive picture of a person, place or period. (If she does, she'll never finish that book.)
4. The author's job is to pick one premise, one theme and one or two morals of the story. If she's doing her job well, she's going to use the best of her talents to accomplish that limited goal.
5. This author chose to portray a group of white women and a group of black women whose intertwining relationships were representative of a culture and a period.
I think she accomplished her goal well.
If she didn't accomplish this TV historian's goal well, she didn't have to.
And clearly, since THE HELP continues to strike a chord in hundreds of thousands of people who have read and continue to read it--and smile and laugh and shake their heads and feel the pain of those characters--the author did her job.
That is the only thing she was supposed to do.
The only job any author of fiction has or should.
A few nights ago, a professor of American history gave a big slam on prime time TV to the new movie, THE HELP. Her critique was, IMHO, the one of the "More Knowledgeable Academician" telling the lowly world how inaccurate, improper and downright disgraceful the film was to have portrayed that time and place and characters with joy, humor or compassion. Her conclusion was that the film is a gross glossing over of the truth.
Now, first, I must tell you, I read this book months ago. Loved it for its humor, compassion and finely drawn characters. Most of all, I loved it for its portrayal of the times and the milieu. I lived through that time and I remember it well. And while I lived in a fully integrated city and went to public school in one, I also went to college with women (and men) from the Deep South. I know what my friends thought and how they lived. I listened to them as we watched riots and hosings, the aftermath of the murder of Medgar Evers and Dr. King. I visited the South with my friends, met their parents and siblings. And while I am not a professional historian of slavery in America, I can say all of the following with certitude:
1. No book, non-fiction or fiction, can portray the total truth of a period or a people.
2. One book, non-fiction or fiction, can explore only one angle, hopefully, well.
3. One author, especially a fiction author, does not aspire to write the definitive picture of a person, place or period. (If she does, she'll never finish that book.)
4. The author's job is to pick one premise, one theme and one or two morals of the story. If she's doing her job well, she's going to use the best of her talents to accomplish that limited goal.
5. This author chose to portray a group of white women and a group of black women whose intertwining relationships were representative of a culture and a period.
I think she accomplished her goal well.
If she didn't accomplish this TV historian's goal well, she didn't have to.
And clearly, since THE HELP continues to strike a chord in hundreds of thousands of people who have read and continue to read it--and smile and laugh and shake their heads and feel the pain of those characters--the author did her job.
That is the only thing she was supposed to do.
The only job any author of fiction has or should.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Gol durn dang it!
What is it with me? I cannot remember to post on Fridays and blogger hates me so much it won't let me schedule posts!
I think the problem is that hubby works from home every Friday, which is a mixed blessing. Yes, he hikes with me early in the morning, like at the crack of dawn so he can get to work by 8 a.m. But he's here all day, using my space and asking for things like...coffee, lunch, afternoon delight...you know, gotta take the bitter with the sweet, I guess - but he throws off my timetable!
So, what's new? I have the two indie books up on Amazon, working on getting a third book up within the next few weeks. I'm working on In the Flesh - a sequel to Incorporeal.
Many thanks for all your kind words earlier this week - I needed them desperately. Have a wonderful weekend! love, Julia
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tessie Bradford's "Matt's Return" is Available Today!
There’s a wonderful new pleasure trend called “Amuse Bouche” that’s spreading through culinary circles. Maybe it’s more accurate to say the trend is new to me. Amuse bouche literally means “happy mouth” and refers to one perfect little taste of something special. I first heard about this fun new thing through the amazing Julia R Barrett, who knows her food. Amuse bouche showcases miniature confections and canapés presented as exquisite little bursts of beauty and flavor. Its food as art and sensual experience. I find this trend breathtakingly exciting because the kid in me loves miniature anything and wants the opportunity to taste a little bit of absolutely everything and with amuse bouche I can have it all. The only thing that could make me happier than a stunningly presented porcelain tea saucer filled with teeny tiny chocolate desserts would be sharing those desserts with a purple miniature pony wearing a tiny hat…The kid in me is getting excited just thinking about it.
Its not just food. The good news is the amuse bouche aesthetic is spreading to literature. This week I found two new lovely stories that could easily fit in the bowl of an elegant silver spoon. Each provided a flash of bright color, strong distinct flavors and just as the sensual thrills were peaking, it was over—but that wasn’t a bad thing. In fact after reading these short stories I was left feeling perfectly satisfied, and my mind was on fire.
I told Julia I wouldn’t mention her new release in today’s blog but I have to…
“The Artist” is a prefect example of a literary amuse bouche! It’s only 8 pages long for crying out loud, but it packs a punch and every paragraph is memorable. Reading it felt like a forbidden peek into a secret diary. “The Artist” is a rich burst of flavor in a tiny bite.
The second gem and I do mean gem, is Tessie Bradford’s “Matt’s Return”. This too is short fiction but the story is so concentrated and smoking hot that I got the full picture of a couple who love each other deeply, but have spent three years of their lives apart and must now reconnect and move forward. Tessie Bradford excels at painting brief, bright character studies. I was moved by how much story she packed into this cameo-sized portrait of two lovers who belong together.
It would be cruel not to give you a little taste, so here it is. Matt McLeod is a hunky 6’4” (Not everything in today’s blog is small) undercover cop working to bust international drug lords. He is captured, beaten and held against his will for years. During his escape he’s badly injured. It’s his memories and intentions to get home to Molly that keep him alive. After being away from Molly for nearly three years guess what he wants to do first with all those pent up emotions? Yeap, you’re right and I loved every page of it. This gem is spicy.
It was my intention to review both these lovely stories for today’s blog but I soon discovered I couldn’t do it. I was afraid I would ruin the experience for the reader who should (I feel) just be bold, put the spoon in their mouth and enjoy a little taste of something different. These stories are priced inexpensively and quick to read but they provide a very pleasant experience. So go ahead and treat yourself to a beautiful miniature confection.
Tessie Bradford’s “Matt Return” is available today from Resplendence Press.
Julia R Barrett, “The Artist”
XXOO Kat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
