DeAnna Cameron's (Not so Secret) Love of Belly Dancing

posted by Christine Wells

It's my pleasure to introduce you to a wonderful debut author and fellow Berkley Babe, DeAnna Cameron. Her historical novel, THE BELLY DANCER, is released tomorrow. Please give DeAnna a rowdy Bandita welcome.

I knew if I wrote a novel about belly dancing, my secret would be out: I like to belly dance. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not ashamed. It’s just that some people still have the wrong idea about belly dancers. They think they dress up in skimpy outfits to gyrate and jiggle solely for the attention of men, and that belly dancing is nothing more than a form of foreplay.

Unfortunately, it’s nothing new. Women who like to belly dance have faced that stereotype since the Middle Eastern dance form made its first big splash in America at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, which is the setting for my debut novel, THE BELLY DANCER, set to be released tomorrow (July 7).


It’s also not fair. Although there are dancers who exploit the stereotype, there is a far greater number attracted to belly dance for the same reasons I am: it’s a great source for friendship, fitness and fun.

I know – it’s not nearly as compelling as the seductive stereotype, but it’s the truth. Although I signed up for my first belly dance lesson to get college credit (that story is on my Web site so I won’t repeat it here), a big reason I’ve been hooked for nearly twenty years is because of the people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made. You’ll meet all kinds of women in a belly dance class, from college-age students to corporate executives, and everything in between. And what you quickly find is that those outside roles mean little. Everyone comes to the class or workshop for the same reason – to dance. Having that in common has a tremendous equalizing effect, and it’s truly surprising how quickly bonds form between fellow dancers.

Belly dance is also great exercise. Anyone who has attempted a shimmy, serpent arms or a camel walk knows how much muscle control, flexibility, endurance and core strength they require to do well. And unlike gyms, where many of us feel self-conscious if we aren’t already in great shape, belly dance welcomes all ages and body types. It’s usually just a room full of women, so you needn’t worry about your makeup, hair or what you wear – as long as you’re comfortable and you can move. (Sounds good, doesn’t it? Just imagine how it would feel if you wore a corset and floor-length skirt every day like THE BELLY DANCER’s heroine. Is it any wonder she fell in love with the dance? But I digress...)

The biggest reason I’ve stuck with belly dancing all these years is it’s simply a lot of fun. Of course I love the music and movement – I even like the chance to feel a little sexy now and then – but mostly I love being in an environment with so many women helping, supporting and entertaining each other. After all, belly dance didn’t start out as a performance art, or even an art of seduction. It evolved in the home as a social dance by women for women. Friends and family members gathered and danced for each other as an expression of joy and camaraderie.

Unfortunately, that’s not what comes to mind these days when you tell people you belly dance. So for the longest time I didn’t tell co-workers or casual acquaintances about my pastime – at least not until the news about my novel got out and they asked. I’m a terrible liar, so I tell them the truth. I smile and say, “Yes, I belly dance.” Sometimes that’s met with an awkward smile or a stifled giggle, and I wonder if they’re envisioning something like a Salome, an “I Dream of Jeannie” genie or worse. Other times, though, they want to know more and I have the opportunity to tell them about its great qualities. Then, on a few rare and happy occasions, something I never would’ve expected happens: they tell me later they became more curious about belly dancing and signed up for a class themselves. And it never fails, I can see that familiar gleam in their eye and I know they’re hooked, too.

Here’s a question for you: Is there something about you that would surprise people who know you?

(DeAnna is generously giving away a signed copy of THE BELLY DANCER to one lucky reader!)

DeAnna Cameron is the author of THE BELLY DANCER, available from Berkley Books/Penguin as a trade paperback. Four stars from RT Book Reviews magazine.

At the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the modern, the exotic, and the ground-breaking collide. When Dora Chambers, an aspiring socialite, is charged with the task of enforcing proper conduct at the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition, she finds herself captivated by these marvelous women. And as her eyes are opened to the world beyond a life of social expectations, she finds the courage to break free and discover the truth about her own heart.

Invite THE BELLY DANCER to your next book club meeting. Visit www.DeAnnaCameron.com for recipes, music recommendations, and tips on decorating and activities to complement your reading experience.

Denise Rossetti on The Hero Dimension

posted by Christine Wells

My dear friend and critique partner, Denise Rossetti is with us in the Lair today and she is giving away a signed ARC of her November 4 release, THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW. You don't want to miss this wonderfully sexy, dark, angsty fantasy romance. Hmm, can I think of any more adjectives? Yes, I believe I can! Superb!

But here is the delightful Denise in a less dark and angsty mood, musing and amusing about heroes...

I’ve always been intrigued by missing socks. I mean, where do they go, the little devils? Must be the same place wire coat hangers go to breed. I’m convinced there’s another dimension – beyond the paltry three we know. Or perhaps a fold in the time-space continuum, a wrinkle.

For want of a better term, I’m calling it The Hero Dimension.

You have to admit, it’s a really cool idea and it explains so many of life’s little mysteries - like why all heroes are totally buff.

Come on, can you remember a romance with a hero who wasn’t hard-bodied? I can’t. Our dude might be massive and muscly, or lithe and compact, but I guarantee, there won’t be an ounce of fat on him.

And guess what? The Hunkalicious Quotient isn’t affected by what our hero does for a living! Sure, he could be a special ops guy like a Navy SEAL – I’ll give you that one - but he could equally well be the CEO of some vast international corporation, or the guy next door, or a Pink of the Ton.

He’ll spend the book living a mile a minute, rushing from pillar to post, with no breath to spare between beating up bad guys and having mad, monkey sex with the heroine. We mere readers never get to see him working on his fitness, those chiseled abs are just…there. Same with movie action heroes. Cap’n Jack Sparrow pumping iron? Ridiculous! Though the rowing machine might be a possibility…

At this point, I’m pausing to think about the men in my life. You can too, if you like.

See? Developing a six pack takes hours and hours of sweat and dedication. Just ask Sven.

So, what I want to know is this: Given his packed program between the book covers, when does our hero get to the gym, hmm?

There’s only one answer – he goes to the gym in The Hero Dimension! It’s the special place where the beefcake gathers to bake itself to the perfect muscly consistency.

Amid idle conversation, and possibly a few beers afterwards.

Can you imagine being a fly on the wall? Ooooh…

There’s Sven, bouncing on one of those big exercise balls, happy as a Swedish clam, totally in his element. Mr Darcy is looking down his aristocratic nose at the hunky dudes from the Black Dagger Brotherhood. “My dear fellows,” he drawls, loosening his cravat, “I generally advise removal of sh*tkickers prior to exertion.”

I really do ponder the logistics of all this, honest. Actually, I think about the male physique a good deal, but only in the line of duty. (And I have a bridge to sell you.)

Gray from THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW (out 4 November from Berkley Ace) is partly a musician, partly an adventurer. He’s one dangerous dude, a mysterious sorcerer of shadows, all internally tormented and stuff. *happy sigh* In terms of studliness, he’s of the lean and mean variety. I made him a former mercenary and a deadly swordsman. (And I did give him a partner to practice with.) This short scene is our heroine’s first sight of him. Let’s just say he makes an impression. *grin*.

The singer’s accompanist sat on a stool in the furthest corner. Because he wore a black shirt and trews, he merged with the shadows as if he were part of them, scarcely there, his face a pale blur marked by dark brows. But the light washed over elegant, long-fingered hands, the lap harp he played gleaming with the rich patina of old wood and pearl inlay.

Dark and dangerous, as Krys had promised. Cenda dragged a breath in and didn’t let it out.

He’d rolled up his sleeves and she focused on the strong wrists, the muscle flexing in his forearms, the delicate precision of his movements. The extraordinary feelings that had washed over her in front of the fireplace returned in full force. Abruptly, her skin felt too tight for her body, as though she were netted in fire.
And a few pages later…

She’d thought his eyes must be as dark as his hair, but this close, they were a clear, limpid gray. Long-lidded eyes, full of secrets, shielded with extravagant lashes, surely the gift of some besotted goddess. His brows were strongly marked, with an upward slant at the corners. They gave him a sardonic air that went well with his lithe, self-contained grace.

“Mistress, may I sit?” he asked patiently, obviously not for the first time.
At her nod, he slid onto the bench beside her, bringing with him a wave of body heat, the clean, earthy scent of healthy male. His shadow wavered behind him, dark as slate. All the hair rose on the back of Cenda’s neck.
Aaaah, mine too.

I can imagine Gray out at night, running endlessly, padding in and out of the shadows of the street lights. He’s rather a solitary type – most of those dark, tortured, heroes are. No team sports. In terms of the gym, he’d be very interested in martial arts and possibly yoga.

What (or who) would you send off to this special dimension, if you could? Remember, you might not see it (or them) again!

What sort of sport or fitness training would your favourite hero be doing at the heroes’ gym? Would you like a job in The Hero Dimension? And if so, as what?

One commenter wins a signed Advance Review Copy of THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW!

I wonder what they do with all those single socks? *wicked chuckle*

THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW, coming 4 November, 2008 from Berkley Ace. For more information check out Denise's website.

And a quick heads-up: Denise will be interviewing James Griffin, the artist who created the magnificent cover for THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW (and, incidentally, the covers for THE DANGEROUS DUKE and SCANDAL'S DAUGHTER), on her blog on Friday 24th October (23rd here in Oz). Come along and find out how it’s done. We’ll be giving away more books!

Elizabeth Bevarly Makes an Interesting Discovery About the Nature of the Romantic Hero

by Joan Kayse

Back in 2000, I was a naive, wet behind the ears, dazed and confused newbie writer. I joined Romance Writers of America because I thought it was important to belong to the professional organization of my newfound fledgling career. (When I say fledgling, I mean barely cracked out of the egg, LOL)

I attended a local chapter meeting and was introduced to my first published author. I listened enraptured as she discussed some of the ins and outs of her career. I punched the girl next to me and whispered "Wow, she's smart! Um, who is she?" Well it was Elizabeth Bevarly, a woman who wrote with humor and fun and hot sensuality. And she lived in MY hometown! My own writing and (echoing) "Journey to publication" has benefited from her insights, her sharing of craft and her friendship.

Although Elizabeth's career spans nearly two decades now, she's not quite ready to be put out to pasture. With more than five dozen books for a half dozen publishers, she got her start at Harlequin/Silhouette where she wrote for four different lines, then moved into single-title, most recently with Berkley. The second book in her Derby trilogy, Ready & Willing, will be published in November 2008, with the third, as yet untitled, following in spring of 2009. Liz, her husband and son live in her native Kentucky...just a stone's throw away from a number of Thoroughbred horse farms.

Without further ado, I give you Elizabeth Bevarly! Take it away Liz!

So I've spent the last year and a half working on a trilogy for Berkley that takes place in my hometown of Louisville during the two weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby. And as I've been writing, I've discovered some things I never realized before. Number one, that it's way cool to not have to do research for the locale, since I know Louisville like the back of my hand. Number two, that I can hang out in places I normally wouldn't hang out for the sake of giving my book that authentic feel, and then take the expenses off of my taxes. And three, that romantic heroes and Thoroughbred horses have a lot in common.

What? You say you never realized this before, either? Well, pull up a chair. Auntie Liz is here to point a few similarities out to you.

Their names. When was there ever a Kentucky Derby winner named Blue or Misty? Similarly, when was the last time you read a romance novel where the hero was named John Smith or Mike Jones? The same way Thoroughbreds have names like Da' Tara and Tale of Ekati and Recapturetheglory, heroes always have unlikely names. I cop to that myself, since the hero of FAST & LOOSE, released in April, is named Cole Early. (Which is at least better than Big Brown Early.)

Their physiques. Like Thoroughbreds, our heroes are always sleek and muscular, and more often than not, they're brunettes. Fortunately, unlike Thoroughbreds, our heroes don't have hair all over their bodies--at least, they haven't since the '70s. Possibly the early '80s. But horses and heroes both are often described as as powerfully built with silky dark hair. (Thankfully, the similarities end with the legs, since I can't imagine any romantic hero walking around on those spindly things.)

They need major pampering when they're hurt. Romantic heroes seem to get shot at an alarming rate. Often, they're shot someplace where there's no one around but the heroine to encounter them and take care of them. Just like in all those horse books we read when we were kids, where there was only the young female rider to care for the injured animal she finds out in the middle of nowhere and nurses him back to health. Heroes, however, show their gratitude to the heroine by doing more than just winning the big race. A lot more. Whoa. And on that note...


They're studs. Unless there's some major problem with the bloodline, Thoroughbreds aren't usually gelded. Thankfully, neither are our heroes. 'Nuff said.

They can't be their best without the right trainer. And, it goes without saying, the romantic heroine is always the right trainer. She takes the hero from being a raffish, headstrong animal prone to wildness and impetuousness in some ways, and turns him into a confident, headstrong animal prone to wildness and impetuousness in other ways. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)

So see? Thoroughbreds and romantic heroes have a lot in common. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take my new hero (named Finn Guthrie) and describe his physique (powerfully built with silky dark hair), then give him a boo-boo the heroine has to tend to (though I won't be responsible for any shooting during Derby, so I'll just skin his knee or something), then show how very ungelded he is (ahem), and then have my heroine train him to full capacity. If you know what I mean.

Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

I think one of the funnest things to do is name my characters, especially my heroes. What are some of your favorite hero names from books? Or if you were a Thoroughbred, what would your name be? Me, I think I'd call myself Destinations South, after my very first book.

Liz is giving away TWO sets of the OPUS trilogies and TWO autographed copies of her latest book Fast & Loose. Hm, she didn't say how we'd decide on winners but I'm going to say that the F&L books go to the poster with the best "Thoroughbred" name.

The Bourne Identity--Joanna Bourne is in the Lair!

by Christine Wells

Please welcome Joanna Bourne to the bandit lair! Joanna writes historical romance for Berkley and her recent release, The Spymaster's Lady, has garnered rave reviews everywhere.

A little about the book: She's braved battlefields. She's stolen dispatches from under the noses of heads of state. She's played the worldly courtesan, the naive virgin, the refined British lady, even a Gypsy boy. But Annique Villiers, the elusive spy known as the Fox Cub, has finally met the one man she can't outwit.

Hi Jo, welcome to the lair! I've heard such great things about this book and I'm champing at the bit to read it but it was sold out in my local romance bookstore, so that's great news for you. Not so good for me, but I have it on order.

Is The Spymaster's Lady the first novel you've had published?

I wrote a standard Regency Romance many years ago. It's long out of print. About the most interesting thing in it is a brief appearance of Adrian Hawkhurst.

In between that little Regency and Spymaster's Lady, I wrote lots of non-fiction for the government. Good practice. Lots of overlap on the skills.

Why do your hero and heroine fall in love and why is it so dangerous for them to do so?

One of the basic challenges in Romance, it seems to me, is that we want a good strong conflict between hero and heroine ... and then at the end, we want everything wrapped up and put away in a neat HappyEverAfter package.

I adore the finicky, step-machine-at-the-gym, afternoon-at-the-spa, city girl who locks horns with the rugged, horse-hockey-kicking, western outdoorsman. I'm wild for the mouthy, idealistic environmental lawyer who confronts the practical, dollars-and-cents building contractor. I love these.

But sometimes, looking back after the happy ending, I ask myself if these folks really have a long-term future together. Their basic outlook on life is sooo different. Love conquers all, of course, but ...

So my folks, my Annique and Grey, even though they're spies for different nations, are very similar in the ways that matter most. They have the same approach to the world. They're fellow professionals in a specialized line of work.

It's like, (jo reaches for a sports metaphor here,) the two quarterbacks in a football game. They may be crashing helmets with verve and elan, but they have more in common with each other than with anybody out there in the stands. Falling in love is almost inevitable, because they have so much in common ... but loving thine enemy is not such a good idea under the circumstance.

I like that idea of people having ideological differences but fundamentally the same outlook on life. In The Spymaster's Lady, you explore the dynamics of power in a relationship. Both your hero and heroine are skilled, intelligent and resourceful. How do you achieve a balance between two powerful people? ie, how do you make one look strong without making the other look weak? ::Christine licks pencil, preparing to take notes::

Basically, I let 'em take turns 'winning'.

Sometimes she gets to tie him up.

Also, I'm trying to look at several types of power here. On the obvious level, Grey has every advantage. He can drag Annique from place to place or lock her up -- at least temporarily. It's brute force power, if you will.

But none of his power is ultimately useful. None of it will get him what he desperately needs. In a lot of ways, he spends the story playing 'catch-up' to powerful decisions Annique has made. It's Annique who holds the secrets to the Albion Plans.

It's Annique who makes the great moral choice of the book. If you look at what's happening at any point, you'll generally find one of Annique's decisions set it off.

I love it when heroines show their heroes that strength comes in many different forms, not just the physical. From reading your blog it's obvious you enjoy analysing and refining your craft. In what way did writing The Spymaster's Lady stretch you or make you a better writer?

It's this 'writing is my life' stuff. We never stop learning. Refining the craft is an ongoing business. I, for instance, hope someday to learn to plot.

And it's plotting I learned, somewhat, with Spymaster's Lady. That was a challenge, trying to get all the loose ends tied up.

Hope I did.

And I will say that taking a whole manuscript from story idea to final draft requires just endless stamina.

Writing European-set historicals for modern American readers can be tricky. How do you tread the line between accuracy and readability?

I come down on the side of readability, of course.

But y'know -- somebody writing a contemporary about Llama farmers in Newark picks and chooses what section of the 'real world' she'll talk about.

I think of historical writing in the same way.

I don't mention that the straw in the floor of a hackney was hopping with fleas and the poor heroine spends the next two days scratching her ankles. I don't point out that maybe one person in twenty had active tb.

Not being inaccurate here. Just selective within the truth.

And our friend with the llama farm probably never uses the word 'income tax' in the whole book. We both pick and choose what parts of our reality we need for the story. I do try not to use Americanisms when I write.
And, of course, the publisher doesn't want me to use certain blatant and puzzling-to-Americans British-isms.

Sometimes this leaves you without any word at all. Always exciting.

Would you like to tell us a bit about the next book in the series?

Next comes My Lord and Spymaster, out in July from Berkley. Sebastian and Jess head up rival international trading firms. It's 1811 and there's endless profit in shipping, smuggling and trade on the fringes of Napoleon's Europe. Then Jess's father is accused of treason ... by Sebastian.

Doyle and Adrian, secondary characters from Spymaster's Lady, appear in My Lord and Spymaster.

Jo is very kindly giving away a signed copy of The Spymaster's Lady to one lucky reader. When I mentioned that we evil banditas make our readers work for their prizes, so we ask them a question, this was Jo's response:

Ask a question of the readers?

Question? Ye gods. What kind of question?
Something like --

If you were in France with Grey and Adrian, would you have run off with Grey? Or Adrian?
orDo you think Doyle and Maggie ended up making love in that big bathtub downstairs and if so did they get all the glass off them before they climbed in, or what?
or
Who would you rather have in bed, Robert or Grey? or
If you had a huge, mixed-breed dog you found out at the port and brought home, would you really name it Tiny? Or would you call it Hrolf? Or Kane the Destroyer? Or Zippy the Wonder Dog?
or
Would you say the whole international spy business in the Napoleonic era basically ran on coffee?Is this a bad thing?

Or were you thinking more along the lines of ...

Do you think Regency-era Historical Romances should give a more balanced view of the English/French conflict?

So, dear readers...answer any or all of these questions and win yourself a fantastic book! Thanks for visiting the lair, Jo.