In the early 1800s, if you were a woman in America or England who wanted to know how to cook, how to run a household, and how to behave, you were likely to turn to Eliza Leslie, also known as Miss Leslie. As a member of the middle class (her father was a watchmaker) who lived in England and America, Miss Leslie imparted advice that could help the reader cope with an aristocratic ball or … Continue reading The Ladies Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners by Eliza Leslie →
August is nearly over! Let’s talk books! Catherine: I’ve just finished reading This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar , which I loved to bits – I adored the relationship between the two protagonists, and the way the time travel plot was so perfectly structured that you could almost here the click as it came together at the end. I had to read it twice. And now I’m … Continue reading Whatcha Reading? August 2019 Edition, Part Two →
Some of you know my love for Les Liaisons Dangereuses: it’s my favorite play (EVER), has spawned three of my favorite movies, and hands down, is the greatest epistolary novel of all time (OF ALL TIME). It’s got everything – love, sex, revenge, horrible people being horrible, comeuppance, banter, and no one learning anything, at all. Ever. So when Amanda (seriously, this was like SIX MONTHS AGO) said “Hey, there’s a retelling of Dangerous Liaisons … Continue reading Unforgivable Love by Sophfronia Scott →
I know this is about “watching,” but with Hamilton the musical, that’s tricky. But you should definitely listen to it, and you should watch it if you have the geographical privilege and the money (or the kidney to sell to get the money, I guess?). I know, I know, EVERYONE (it seems) has been yelling about this, and I was hoping to hold off on listening to the music until I had a chance to … Continue reading Stuff You Should Be Watching (Or Listening To): Hamilton →
When Esi Sogah was a guest on an episode of the podcast, she talked a little about the musical Hamilton, and how much she loves it. I asked if she’d be willing to write a review, and not only did she respond immediately with a huge “YES” but then demanded I give her a word count because she could go on for days. Here is her review. … Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story … Continue reading Hamilton: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story →
Surprise! A Monday Video! I did another video at the RWA literacy signing, but instead of lip synching and fun songs, I asked folks to share with me their favorite romances and characters. Here's the result! Link! I hope you enjoy this peek at the RWA Literacy Signing, and some of the first and favorite romances of the folks who were there. Thank you to the people who participated and let me take their … Continue reading Monday Videos Love the RWA Literacy Signing →
I’ve given a few workshops on blogging and writing online, and there’s one point I make repeatedly: anything, and I do mean anything, that you write online is public and pervasive and permanent. It’s public. Even if it’s passcoded or on the high-level security circuit known as a Yahoo email loop, it’s public. It’s pervasive. If you don’t want it to be everywhere, it will be. It’s the opposite of Visa: it’s everywhere you don’t … Continue reading The Three P’s of the Internet. Wish There Wasn’t a Fourth →
There’s a great deal of “If you liked…” recommendations for romance readers. And most of the time those recommendations are much appreciated – especially when they come from the online community, which is hellaciously well-read. But thanks to Amazon, we have a new category: If You Didn’t Like This, How About Plagiarism Instead? Leslie Kelly noticed that because her book Slow Hands is one of the free Harlequins being offered as part of their 60th … Continue reading The Siren and the Plagiarism: An Amazon Loophole for Promotion →
Thank to Lori, Leslie, and many others for the heads up: One of this week’s Post Secrets is from a woman who sent in a post card made from the cover of a Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ novel. Her postcard reads: “I am too intellectual and sophisticated to be seen reading ‘chick lit.’ Thank goodness for audio books and ipods.” As I said to Lori, this postcard makes me feel glad to know how many women … Continue reading Shame and Smells →
The list is up, for the RITA and Golden Heart. I’ll be honest, and I’m not sure if this is a reflection of me, of something else, or just the way it played out this year but I have not been near or even in the same room as some of the books nominated for a RITA. I’ve never heard of some of them. But I am very pleased to see Elizabeth Hoyt, Anna Campbell … Continue reading RITA and GH Finalists Announced at RWA National →
