Bandit Booty

Thanks so much to everyone who commented on my post about some of my worst fashion moments. The winner of a signed copy of Tawny Weber's DOES SHE DARE? is:

Kestrel!

Congratulations! Please drop me a line at: beth@bethandrews.net with your snail mail info and I'll get your book out to right away :-)

Too Busy to Think

by Christie Kelley

Well, it now after 8 am and I just remembered it’s my day to blog. Does that tell you all anything about my life this week? If not, let me give you an idea of what has been happening with me.

Last week my husband and I took the kids to Disneyworld for the entire week. That’s seven days of standing in lines, walking around the parks, trying not to get sunburned, and fighting the masses of people who go there every year. I still don’t quite see the allure of it all, yet I know people who travel there every year (some even twice a year). Now, I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy myself. I really did have fun. But the only thing more exhausting than Disney is going to conferences.

We did have a blast and I finally stood in line for Rockin Rollercoaster and loved it. I think it has become my favorite ride in all the parks. And my husband has finally decided he likes roller coasters. At least the Disney variety.

I finally made it home on Saturday evening and started the laundry. Sunday was my day to start the catch-up from work (and finish the never-ending laundry). On Monday when I thought things were finally settling down, guess what comes in from the Fed Ex guy.

Yes, that’s right. My copyedits for Every Time We Kiss. I finally had the nerve to open them up on Tuesday to get a start on them since they have to be back to my editor by Monday. Yikes!! Lots of yellow Post-it notes. For anyone who doesn’t know, copyeditors will make comments and questions on Post-it notes. So I’ve been secluding myself in my office with the PC off, trying to get through them all. I’m just over half-way there.

And to make things more fun, my husband had to go to Northern Virginia on Tuesday for a training class and won’t be home until tonight.

The best thing of all this is...school starts next week!!! My life will start to get back to normal again.

Now that we’re all caught up on my crazy life, what’s been going on here? For those of you who have been to any of the Disney Parks, do you love it? What’s your favorite ride there? If not, are you an amusement park fan or not?

And now, for the best question of all...is anyone else getting excited about school starting soon?

I Must Confess

by Beth Andrews

I love fashion. I love reading fashion magazines, watching TV shows about fashion such as Project Runway and What Not To Wear, I even love to sew. While I don't consider myself particularly fashionable or stylish, I have learned over the years what looks good on me (boot leg jeans) and what to avoid at all costs (pencil skirts and wide leg capris).


However, when I came across this list of The Best of the Worst Fashion Fads, I realized how far astray my fashion sense has roamed over my lifetime. So, in an effort to clear my conscience, I give you the list of The Best of the Worst Fashion Fads along with my delcaration of guilt (or innocence) about each offense.

1. Mega Shoulder Pads -- Innocent! Thank goodness I never aspired to look like an NFL linebacker (although the women of Dynasty seemed to love 'em).

2. Ponchos - Guilty. The first time (or at least, the first time I remember) ponchos were popular was the mid 70's and I happily wore the colorful knit poncho my mom had made me. The second coming of ponchos was just a few short years ago and while my older daughter avoided them like the plague, my younger one (then in preschool) had one and even though I know ponchos are just plain wrong, she looked darn cute in hers :-)

3. Spandex Pants - Innocent. Me + Spandex = Scary. 'Nough said.

4. Midi Skirts - Innocent. Mostly because these were before my time *g*

5. Big Hair - Guilty (and proud of it *g*) I can't think of anyone (other than my mother who has had the same hairstyle forever) who didn't have big hair in the 80's (my sister's hair was shorter but still seemed to take up more space. That girl had BIG HAIR)

6. Stirrup Pants - Guilty. Yep, I had some stirrup pants, I think I even had a pair of stirrup jeans and yes, I believe I even wore them with flats. For those poor pants that didn't have stirrups already sewn onto them, I had the elastic clips that attached to the hem to keep my pants inside my boots (I had some really great boots in the 80's)

7. Visible Thong - Innocent. And really, REALLY glad of it :-)

8. Mullet - (sigh) Guilty. I had one for about a year while I waited for the sides of my hair to grow out.

9. Shrugs - Innocent. Although I have to admit, I thought some shrugs were sort of cute *g*

10. Harem Pants - Guilty. I had a pair of black ones I wore on my honeymoon (I was a child bride - and look how unhappy I was to be wearing them! And don't even get me started on those fingernails. Holy cow.) Besides harem pants, I had a pair of jeans (acid washed almost white) that were high waisted, with pleats (pleats! So becoming) and a tapered ankle. They were soooo wrong.

11. Acid Wash Jeans - Guilty. Hey, didn't I mention I was a teen in the 80's? *g*

12. Low Rise Jeans - Innocent. I do wear low rise jeans but I believe the list is referring to super low rise jeans. You know, the ones that go really, and I mean really-oh-my-gosh-I-think-I-can- see-things-I'm-not-supposed-to-see-that-is-indecent-low.

So, now that I've admitted some of my fashion failings (and shared some really bad pictures of myself) let's hear from you. Are you guilty of any of the aforementioned Fashion Flubs? Any Fashion Flubs they missed? (I can think of a few *g*)

I'll pick one lucky commenter to win a copy of our own Tawny Weber's Blaze, Does She Dare? And don't forget to pick up a copy of Tawny's latest Blaze, Risque Business (out next week!) a makeover story where the heroine learns how to dress to look and feel her best *g*

"The Complicated Heroine" with Guest Blogger Victoria Dahl

hosted by Jo Robertson

We are so fortunate to have Victoria Dahl, whose debut book To Tempt a Scotsman was released last year. Her newest release from Kensington, A Rake's Guide to Pleasure, is absolutely wonderful. Victoria writes my kind of historicals -- spicy, sexy, and smart. If you like clever heroines with nefarious backgrounds and a hero who's able to sift through her exterior layers, you'll love this book.

Victoria: It's so great to be back with the Romance Bandits! Thanks for having me again. I'm glad I didn't wear out my welcome the last time I was here. My first heroine, Alexandra Huntington in To Tempt a Scotsman, was a scandalous woman. A very naughty heroine (though that wasn't QUITE the word used to describe her in some emails I received). I've blogged plenty of times about writing a scandalous heroine, but today I'd like to talk about a different kind of heroine. Let’s call her The Complicated Heroine." (Some people might call her The Unsympathetic Heroine, but I’m not talking to them right now, so there.)

So who is this complicated woman whose story is told in A Rake's Guide to Pleasure? Well, her real name is Emma Jensen, but she has a few aliases. Actually… her real name isn’t Emma. Even I’m having trouble keeping track of this slippery girl. Her real name is Emily, but she goes by Emma, as well as the Dowager Lady Denmore… not her real title. And the widowed Mrs. Kern… also completely false. You may be catching on to a bit of the problem here.

Jo: I gotta tell you, Victoria. Emma sounds like my kinda heroine.

Victoria: So what do I mean by the complicated heroine? Well, she’s not simple, obviously. She’s not necessarily easy to love. Her darker motivations aren’t offset by grand, selfless ideals. You probably don’t want to be her when you grow up, even if you love her hero (Mmmm… Hart). Hell, I wouldn’t set foot in Emma’s shoes if you paid me. So what’s up with this chick? What’s so complicated about her?

Jo: I want to remind our readers that Hart, aka Somerhart, is the brother of our heroine in To Tempt a Scotsman. To have a sister like Alexandra, you know he's got to be one strong Alpha male and a perfect match for Emma.

Victoria: Let’s take a look at the complicated heroine in A Rake's Guide to Pleasure.

Complication #1: Emma is a liar. Seriously. I’ll let Somerhart, the hero, put it in his own words: “She was a liar. A consummate liar. A woman who lied about important things. Her life, her past, her feelings, her thoughts.”

Ouch! Emma isn’t mentally ill or anything. She’s lying for a reason. A good reason, though it has nothing to do with generosity. She’s not trying to save the widdle orphans or rescue her sister from a brothel. She’s lying for her own benefit. Sooo… I guess that makes her selfish as well.
Ha! Emma is simply trying to protect herself from a world that has been awfully cruel to her. She has a plan, and part of that plan has to do with pretending to be somebody else. The other part of the plan is…

Complication #2: She’s an unrepentant gambler. She will bet on anything as long as she feels she can evaluate the odds properly. A foot race, a card game, or an upcoming duel. If she thinks she can turn a profit, she’ll place a bet. In fact, the whole reason she is in London is to gamble her meager inheritance into an amount that will support her for the rest of her life and free her from dependency on anyone.

Complication #3: Her sexuality is a tangled mess. Emma is a virgin pretending to be a mature widow, and she’s very good at that pretense because she might be the least innocent virgin you will meet in a (non-erotic) historical. She witnessed her father’s orgiastic house parties from a very young age and is interested in trying some of that stuff out for herself. But she’s a virgin who’s not supposed to be a virgin, so she can’t really indulge her curiosity.

Or can she??? *snicker* You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Jo: Okay, you had me at "orgiastic house parties." I just finished the book and our readers have GOT to read it. It's an amazing historical with lots of pathos, emotion, and, yes, sex, the good kind with the person you're in love with even if you don't know it. Ooops, sorry, Victoria, I got carried away.

Victoria: It's okay, Jo.

Complication #4: Well, Emma can be cruel. When she pushes the hero away, she’s not screwing around. As Eloisa James said about this part, “This is no nimby-pimby novel where the heroine wails, ‘Go away,’ and the hero walks around the block before going back. Emma is a grown woman and she makes him go. Really go.”

Jo: This is a wonderfully heart-breaking scene too.

Victoria: I’ve already seen a few complaints about this scene. Emma is deliberately cruel to Somerhart, but she has a reason; she is terrified. Why?

Complication #5: She has trust issues. This probably goes without saying. *g* She’s scared to death of loving the hero and even more afraid he might love her. God, this is all making me tired. This was kind of a draining book! I think Eloisa James, in continuing her review, summed it up nicely when she called it a “complicated, somewhat demented love affair.”

Jo: I know what you mean. I had to put the book down and walk away for a moment or two, reminding myself "It's only a book, it's only a book." So much emotion!

Victoria: I love Eloisa's quote. I think it captures the feel of the book perfectly. If any of you have read it, you’ll have to let me know what you think.

Do you like your heroines complicated? If so, who’s your favorite complicated (maybe even unsympathetic) heroine? Was she redeemed by the end of the book? (FYI, mine is Sugar Beth from Susan Elizabeth Phillip’s Ain’t She Sweet. I thought she was completely unredeemable at the start of that book.)

Or if YOU were the heroine of a romance novel, would you be spicy and complicated or sweet and lovable?

We'll be giving away a copy of A Rake's Guide to Pleasure to one random lucky commenter, Banditas included, so be sure to leave a comment.

Fictional Families

posted by Aunty Cindy

Not long ago, I was working on the back stories for the main characters in my latest proposal. I decided my hero’s father had recently passed away and his mother died a long time ago. That’s when I realized how many fictional characters are orphans or have at least one deceased family member, usually a parent.

The hero of my Golden Heart final was an orphan, and both the hero and heroine of my debut novel The Wild Sight have lost their mothers. In yet another of my unpublished tomes, the heroine lost both parents in a car accident. SHEESH! Did I have a freakish propensity for killing off family?

But then I started looking at some other books I’ve read… I hope it’s not too much for a spoiler to reveal that Donna’s Mrs. Brimley is an orphan, as are Christine’s heroine Gemma in Scandal’s Daughter and Anna C.’s Verity in Claiming the Courtesan. Poor Gemma and Mrs. Brimley don’t even have siblings! At least Verity and my heroes and heroines also have a sibling or two, though usually in my stories the sib turns out to be a bossy older sister. (Can’t imagine where I came up with such a character!)

Nor is this a recent phenomenon. Remember Dickens’ penchant for orphans – Oliver Twist, Pip in Great Expectations? Can't forget Cosette in Hugo's Les Misérables. Or Bronte’s poor, plain Jane Eyre? Clearly authors have been killing off family members for quite some time. Oedipus Rex anyone?

Could it be that characters who have a “normal” family (whatever that is!) are just not good fodder for stories? Must a character be orphaned or suffer the loss of a family member to be interesting?

What do you think? Have you read, or written any books lately where the main character was not an orphan, but had a full family complement intact?

A Choice of Heroes

by Nancy

Today we'll revisit the popular topic of heroes (related to Elvis and Crushes from earlier this week). Do you remember who your first imaginary hero was? I remember mine, and he could be absolutely perfect because he wasn't expected to be remotely real. He lived in four colors and two dimensions, and his adventures cost me 12 cents each (yes, I'm really that old *g*). From him, I moved on, as we all do, to other heroes, real and imaginary. I can't help thinking that the qualities that drew me to him have drawn me to every other hero I've admired. Wander down memory lane with me, if you will, and let's see which traits and/or guys we might have in common.

As you may have guessed, the first hero who grabbed my imagination and my heart was none other than the last son of Krypton, Superman, whose geeky alter-ego, Clark Kent, held a certain sympathy for a book geek with no discernible athletic skill. The Superman pictured at left is, of course, Christopher Reeve. He was cuter than the original comic book Superman, and he used peronal tragedy to demonstrate that you don't need a cape--or even much mobility--to be a hero. However, Reeve lay far in the future when I discovered Superman. The Man of Steel was not only brave and strong and fast and, well, steely, but virtuous, kind and intelligent. And sympathetic, every time Lois looked past Clark to his dashing alter ego.

So I liked heroes with all these traits. They soon led me to Zorro and his caped and masked descendant, Batman. Batman (millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne) was also strong and kind and even braver and smarter than Superman. The bad guys could kill Batman with a mere bullet--and might've, if they hadn't felt compelled to rant and gloat when they captured him, giving him an opportunity to free himself from his bonds. He also had a secret identity problem. His playboy image and the need to keep his secret preluded him from forming a real attachment, except for an unsuitable one to the super-villainess Catwoman (a subject for another day). Over the years, Batman has acquired a darker side as his publishers decided that the tragic murder of his parents must have given him an anger that Superman, orphaned as a baby and sheltered on Earth, doesn't share. So he now has a brooding side that can be attractive, too.

Superman and Batman also righted wrongs and helped justice prevail, like two of my other heroes, the Lone Ranger (mask but no cape) and Sherlock Holmes (caped greatcoat but no mask). A friend who's a serious Holmes buff was appalled to discover that I'd never read any Holmes adventures. She pulled one off the shelf in a bookstore, thrust it into my hands and said, "My treat. You will love this, I promise," and I did. Holmes wasn't exactly romantic--too cold, a very different portrayal for Basil Rathbone, who was otherwise notable as the Sheriff of Nottingham opposite Errol Flynn's Robin Hood and as a pirate opposite Flynn's Captain Blood. But Holmes, too, was dedicated to the pursuit of justice.

Thanks to fellow banditas, I've recently discovered two new heroes between the pages of books, and they remind me a bit of my old caped buddies. Anna Campbell blogged, earlier this summer, about C. S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries (Timothy Dalton as Healthcliff--speaking of tormented heroes--pictured, absent any photo of St. Cyr and with apologies to those who carry a different mental image). I'd picked up the first book earlier, but I fished it out and read it because she recommended it. Oh. My. Golly. St. Cyr, or Viscount Devlin, has Batman's brains and wealth and a small measure of Superman's night vision and hearing. We meet him on a dueling ground, where he displays nerves worthy of the Dark Knight.

Kate Carlisle (at least, I think it was Kate) recommended recent RITA winner Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey mysteries. Again, I'd acquired the first one but had buried it on the TBR pile. I excavated that one, read it, and was so very happy to receive the second book as a freebie at RWA. The hero is Nicholas Brisbane, a "private enquiry agent" during the reign of Victoria. He doesn't come from money but made his own, on the strength of brains and daring, with a couple of Holmesian traits thrown in (Since they're not directly related to his heroism, I won't spoil them by revealing them.). The stand-in at left is the late Tyrone Power (with the same apologies as above), whose Zorro was fabulous. Brisbane shares Batman's and Holmes's skill with disguises and their tenacity. St. Cyr's and Brisbane's adventure have a great deal more to recommend them than their heroes, of course, but heroes are today's focus.

So here's the list of hero traits so far, I think:
courage
intelligence
tenacity
kindness
ingenuity
unusual physical skill of some sort
virtue, at least more than vice
dedication to justice or "might for right"
tortured heart in some cases

I've saved one of the best for last. My friend Judy turned me on to the late Dame Dorothy Dunnet's tormented hero, Francis Crawford of Lymond. I know Anna C. has blogged about him, too. We share a love of those books. We've probably gone on a bit about them in comments because we both just admire this series so much. There's no photo for this segment because I can't think of anyone who does justice to Lymond, though the internet holds lots of suggestions. His late creator, who was also an artist, supposedly painted a portrait, but it's not in circulation. When we meet Lymond, he's returned from exile due to disgraceful things he did (or maybe didn't), a course of action that cotinues (maybe with reasons, maybe not). Lymond is unusual on my hero list because he's blond, by the way. Most of my heroes are dark, including most of the ones I've written. Lymond displays physical courage, intelligence, ingenuity, a strong moral compass that's not always apparent, a kind heart, and tenacity. And a poor self-image, at times. If you've never visited Francis Crawford of Lymond, go get The Game of Kings. Based on other friends' experience, you'll love it or loathe it, but ti will hit you strongly either way.

So who was the first hero who grabbed your heart? Has he held onto it? Why or why not? Have you recently discovered any other heroes you'd like to share with us?

An Ode To Musicals

by Caren Crane

WARNING: This post is about MOVIE MUSICALS. Many of those overburdened with testosterone despise them (though a few openly admit to their charm, wit and magic), so remember you were warned.

I know many Banditas adore a musical. I could totally get the whole Lair singing "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria". As a matter of fact, that may or may not have happened at a certain Bash at the RWA conference. And Mary Poppins? Our Golden Heart winner, Susan Seyfarth, would knock some people out of the way to be the one who gets to dance with Bert. Don't let her pixie-like looks and size fool you, folks. She is SERIOUS about her Mary Poppins.

But why? Why do we love our musicals so?

My youngest and I went to see WALL-E last night. What a great movie! If you haven't seen it, you must know that WALL-E is a fan of the musical "Hello, Dolly". This is the 1969 version starring Barbra Streisand and Walter Matthau. WALL-E watches "Hello Dolly" often and, apparently, learns about love from the song "It Only Takes a Moment." In the song, the clerk, Cornelius, expresses his feelings to Irene. At then end of the song, they join hands and head off, strolling through the park. Poor WALL-E joins his little robot fingers together to simulate hand-holding. Heartbreaking! Though there is no dialogue, you feel all his pain and loneliness, his longing for love.

For me, the musical is a great ride because the music encapsulates the mood of a scene perfectly. As writers, we struggle for the perfect words to set the stage, create the mood, immerse the reader in our character's angst or joy. In a musical, the character simply bursts into song and takes us there.

I have noticed that musicals, like romance, are often marginalized by reviewers and the movie-going public. There are those who loathe them simply because they are what they are. Romance is regarded this way by lots of readers who don't understand, much less read, the genre. Fie on both those fickle groups!

I am proud to say I am totally immersed today in Loretta Chase's "Your Scandalous Ways". It is delectable! And tomorrow, my youngest and I have decided we MUST watch "The Sound Of Music" and, naturally, "Hello, Dolly". Of course, a side trip into "The King and I" or "Thoroughly Modern Millie" is likely. I have thoroughly corrupted my offspring.

So, are you a musical lover or does "Shall We Dance" leave you cold? If you love them, what is your favorite? And most importantly, was Dick Van Dyke cuter as Bert in "Mary Poppins" or as Caractacus Potts in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"? Or am I the only dork who will admit to thinking Dick Van Dyke is totally adorable?

Olympic Fever

Every couple of years I get to indulge in watching the excitement and spectacle of the Olympic Games. I've loved them -- both summer and winter versions -- as long as I can remember. I really admire athletes who devote so much time and effort to perfecting their skills. Superman of the pool Michael Phelps spends 30 hours a week in training. You can tell each time he steps up to start a race. I'm not sure there's an ounce of fat on that boy's body.

But it's often the stories behind the athletes and their performances that are really inspiring. Stories of parents who sacrifice by living in two different cities so their daughters can train with the best, ones of athletes who've come back from surgeries and painful injuries to compete on the Olympic stage one last time, athletes older than the the Olympic norm determined to show they are still among the best. But while these stories are remarkable, it's often the ones of the athletes from nations who don't enjoy the conditions American athletes do that touch the heart even more.

Last night, I watched as Kirsty Coventry, the gold-medal-winning swimmer from Zimbabwe, talked about how for a brief while her success at the Athens games four years ago helped her countrymen put aside their racial and political differences and celebrate in the streets. The Olympics had barely gotten under way this year when conflict broke out between Russian and Georgian troops. Yet, at the Olympics, athletes from those two countries didn't let the conflict affect their friendships. That's Olympic spirit.

And who can forget Eric Moussambani from Equatorial Guinea, who stole the show at the Sydney games not because of his brilliant performance, but because of the fact that he was there at all. He had only taken up swimming 8 months prior to the games and had never seen an Olympic-size swimming pool before arriving in Sydney. But he got into the Olympics through a wild card program established to encourage athletes in developing nations. Even though his finish time was more than twice that of his competitors and at some points people would wonder if he'd make it at all, his efforts touched the hearts of millions of those watching and earned himself the nickname "Eric the Eel" as a result.

I love, too, how the Olympics show the melting pot quality of America. Take, for instance, the men's gymnastics team competition a few nights ago. The three competitors for Team USA were of Chinese, Russian and Indian descent. And Nastia Liukin, who won the all-around gold last night for the USA, was born in Moscow. Her father had won gold for his home country.

Whether it's the Olympics, writing, or any other endeavor, I really admire those who give it their all to succeed but who don't forget to help others along the way. I'd like to see more of the true Olympic spirit spill out into all aspects of our lives.

So, any other Olympics fans out there? What has been your favorite Olympic moments of the Beijing games so far?

Who are you crushing on?

by Tawny

Joanie-T's blog made me smile. I mean, it was ELVIS! Hot guy, big... talent, what's not to grin about? Then it made me think of all those crushes I've had through the years. Oh, not the boy in homeroom crushes. The totally out of reach fantasy crushes. The OMG squealing giggly crushes. The posters stained with lipgloss crushes. And most recently, the cardboard standup of Captain Jack Sparrow crush (hey, Trish... I have Will Turner, too)

So I thought, for today's blog, I'd take on you a trip down Crush Lane.

My first crush was Davy Jones. Ahhhhh the Monkees. Fun music, campy skits, days and days of reruns. I secretly called myself Mrs. Jones and giggled while I played on the swingset with my friends, Mrs. Dolenz, Mrs. Nesmith and Mrs. Tork. I loved Peter's sense of humor, Mickey's goofiness and Mike's beanie, but Davy? Oh sigh. He was SO cute!

After Davy came my first SERIOUS crush. Poster crush. Album and TV show (Hardy Boys, anyone) crush. Oh baby, Shawn Cassidy was hot. My bedroom was a shrine to his perfectly feathered hair.

He was soooo cute, and the start of my rocker crushing. I love a guy in a band. After Shawn was a brief, but torrid crush on Paul Stanley of KISS (I made a pillow of his face. Seriously).

Then I found 21 Jump Street. le Sigh...

I juggled crushes then, my Johnny crush and the total hots for my long-term rocker crush, the hottest of the hair band hotties, Jon Bon Jovi! I crushed on him until he tried acting. Then my balloon sort of burst. I still can't quite figure out why. I'm still totally hot for his music, though!

After Jon, I sort of drifted. You know, marriage does take its toll on crushes. In between crushing on my sweetie of a hubby, I did still have a secret yen for Johnny in his bad boy, hotel-room trashing, wild aardvark visiting days.

and then there was Captain Jack... Johnny's hottest inspiring look. I don't know what it is about that swishy hero, but he totally hooked me. Maybe it's his sweet naughtiness, the wicked glint in his eye or just the fact that I'm a diehard Johnny crusher, but I publicly crush on him all the time. My husband, bless him, thinks it's because Captain Jack has such hot boots. I let him think that ;-)

So how about you? Did you totally crush on rock stars or movie stars? Did you outgrow the poster stage or do you still wipe lip gloss off the hottie on your wall? Who is YOUR ultimate crush?

Miss Bennett's Bandita Booty!

Thanks so much to the rip-roaring welcome you all gave to Sara Bennett/Sara Mackenzie when she visited the lair this week. Sara has chosen the lucky winner of her most recent historical romance for Avon, A SEDUCTION IN SCARLET. And that winner is...

KIRSTEN!!!

Kirsten, huge congratulations, my Bandita Buddy. Please email Sara on sara@sara-bennett.com with your snail mail details and she'll send your book out to you.

The King

by Joan Kayse

Ok, so it was between a blog about the Olympics or the anniversary of Elvis’ death which will occur in three days.

Which one, which one?

Well, as you can see The King won.

Oh, sure even as I type those athletes are dazzling the world with great feats of skill, training, prowess and talent.

But have they sold over a billion records? Been immortalized on thimbles, T-shirts, purses, black velvet? Have they gained renown for being the leader of a new era of American music and pop culture?

I watched the 4 man American relay swim team win the gold last night and cheered loud enough to be heard in China…or at least by my next door neighbors. I admired the physical effort, the dedication, (the, uh…swim attire), the determination of that last minute kick by the anchor to beat out a boastful French team by mere seconds. (And yes, I could identify as I aim for my goal of publication). A memorable moment in the 2008 Olympics.

But will this feat be remembered every year? Immortalized, honored and yes, even revered? Will they be known as The Kings?

Now, I’m much, much too young to remember Elvis in his “early” years (Do I hear sniggering?). I was aware that he existed. I remember watching the TV Special “Aloha from Hawaii”. I heard his music played on the radio and could recognize him as he sang “Hound Dog”, “Kentucky Rain” (my fave), “Blue Christmas” and countless others.

I passed many a weekend afternoon enjoying his uncomplicated, fun, predictable movies. I mean who wouldn’t want to imagine themselves as Ann Margaret shimmying on stage to “Viva Las Vegas”? (Nancy? Suz? Cassondra? Oh surely you have Anna?)

I think Elvis had some major talent when it came to acting. It was reined in, trivialized and manipulated by those around him in most of those iconic '60’s films. But watch him in King Creole and in my favorite “Change of Habit”. This was his last film where he played a doctor in a ghetto trying to make a difference who falls in love with a nun questioning her vocation. HINT: It has a HEA. ;-)

I can still remember the shock, the sadness when it was announced on Aug. 16, 1977 that he had been found dead. As details warred with speculation it became pretty apparent that factors such as drug use had contributed to the loss of a true star.

He is remembered by the fans who visit Graceland each year. (1/2 of who are under the age of 35). I’ve never thought I’d want to go there but I thought that about the Book Depository in Dallas too. (An experience that touched me deeply.)

Yes, he’s also remembered by key expressions such as “Elvis has left the building” and it boggles the mind to see how many Elvis “tribute artists” there are. Elvis sightings continue to this day not only in Burger King but also in Finland, Italy, and…I kid you not…Area 51. (There are some, um...INTERESTING websites out there.)

So what about you? Do you remember Elvis? If you’re a youngling like me (:-)) have you heard of him? Do you have a favorite Elvis song? Movie? Have you seen him in the Piggly Wiggly? If you did meet Elvis, what question would you ask him?

Sara Bennett Visits the Lair!

by Anna Campbell

Sara Bennett is a fellow Aussie and a fellow Avon historical romance writer. Not only that, but she writes great Victorian romances! Perhaps she and Donna could talk about the delights of writing about all that underwear! I'm delighted to welcome Sara as my guest today in the lair. Oh, and there's a giveaway - so get commenting, people!

Sara, you write historical romance as Sara Bennett and paranormal romance as Sara Mackenzie. Can you tell us something about the difference in your two personas? Are there yet more Saras inside you, yearning to get out, perhaps the Sara who writes chick lit or romantic suspense?


LOL, Anna. There probably are more Saras, but they’ll just have to wait their turn, at the moment I have enough to do. And don’t ask me to say which one I like the best, because I can’t. I just know how lucky I am to be writing my two favorite genres for Avon. Are they different? Yes, definitely. I like to think that my Sara Bennett historicals are lighter—they’re certainly easier to write, but I think that’s because I’m working within a framework of real historical events. The Sara Mackenzie paranormals are much darker in tone, and I have to create my own framework, my own world, so that makes it more difficult.

Can you tell us about your next release, HER SECRET LOVER, which comes out from Avon in November, 2008?

HER SECRET LOVER is the final book in my Aphrodite’s Club series, and a real page turner. It’s the kind of book that keeps you up all night. Briefly, heiress Antoinette Dupre, a practical heroine, has fallen into the clutches of a fortune hunter. Imprisoned at his country estate she makes the acquaintance of highwayman, Gabriel Langley, who also has his secrets, and sparks fly between them. The story moves to London and the Great Exhibition of 1851, where Antoinette and Gabriel must learn to trust each other if they’re going to defeat their enemy.
You’re clearly a huge fan of series. Can you tell us why you love to write interconnected books and why you think they’re so popular? Any hints to girls who haven’t yet written a series about the best way to go about it (um, not mentioning any names here!)?

When I wrote my first book, THE LILY AND THE SWORD, I didn’t start off planning it to be a series. No one made me do it. It just seemed like a good idea, because I had plenty of characters and I wanted to explore each of them in more detail. It also gave me an opportunity to revisit Radulf and Lily now and again. And I like writing series—there’s something very comfortable about dipping back into a world you’re familiar with, like visiting old friends. I think that’s why people like them. Any hints about writing a series? Mmm, I think you need to do all your planning first, because you’ll need plenty of characters—ie four books equals four brothers, or four friends, or four somethings. I like to have each book as stand alone as possible, but I also like to have a mystery or plot thread that runs through all of the books, as I did in the Greentree Sisters trilogy. I think writing a series is a bit like juggling and trying to keep all those balls in the air without dropping them—so what are you like at juggling, Anna?

You started out writing medievals but now write Victorians. What is the appeal of each period? I love a great medieval and regret that there are so few on the shelves these days. Would you ever go back to writing them?

I love medievals, too, and I’m sorry they no longer seem to be as popular as they were. To be honest, it was the current market that persuaded me to move into the Victorian time period. And I liked the idea of all that seething passion beneath the tight corsets and dozens of petticoats. The Victorians were so much about appearances and what was proper, and I just love my characters to break all those strict rules. But I do still hanker after those medieval alpha heroes, so who knows.

Can you tell us about your writing journey?

Mmm, can I remember that long ago? I suppose I was writing from a very early age—as a shy, introverted child I loved reading and make-believe, so it just went from there. I recently found a book of stories I wrote when I was seven and they weren’t half bad  When I was a teen I had some short stories published in magazines and won some contests, then I had a book accepted by Mills & Boon in 1982. Later on I wrote Australian mainstream historicals, and in 2000 I began writing for Avon. I’ve been lucky, really, even when times were tough—and there have been a few tough times—I’ve learned to have an open mind and not to be afraid to try something new.

What’s next for Sara Mackenzie?

Sara Mackenzie has a new trilogy pending.The Dark Lords, who are linked to my first trilogy, Immortal Warriors, are even darker and more dangerous. These books have taken longer to write than expected because I’ve been concentrating on my historicals, but hopefully they’ll be ready next year. I also have a short story in THE MAMOTH BOOK OF PARANORMAL ROMANCE the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance, which will be published in June ’09, so watch out for that.

What’s next for Sara Bennett?

Sara Bennett has just finished writing the first book in her new series, to be published in June ’09. I don’t want to say too much yet, but it will be a five book series and tells the stories of five friends who decide not to be content with just any husband—they go after the men of their dreams.I’m really excited about the idea and the series, and looking forward to starting on book #2.

Sara has very kindly offered one lucky commenter a signed copy of her most recent Avon historical romance, A SEDUCTION IN SCARLET, which you can read about here. So she'd like to know - Victorian or Regency? Do you have a preference? Why? Do you think there's a difference between romances set in these two periods?