Okay, I just discovered this site. As an author (not of romances), I have to say this site is great. And that book cover with the pegasus ... incredible in the strangest way possible.
February 09, 2012 | Thursday at 12:12 am | 29 Comments
This entry is all thanks to Heather, who cleaned out a bookstore shelf and found a treasure trove of PROGNOSTICATION. To heck with groundhogs and the weather and what's going to happen in publishing next.
We need to know about the future, the weather of the distant future, the role of women in the distant future, and, most importantly, the COLOR SCHEMES of the future. And so, I happily present:
Women of the Future: A coloriffic overview! (Please imagine that said in a Very Deep and Impressive Voice).
Most of these books took place in the faraway future or a distant fantasyland. I see the covers as efforts to predict the future, old-skool style, and behold, they are amazing.
February 08, 2012 | Wednesday at 12:48 am | 63 Comments
I think there's a missed opportunity in romance land, particulary in paranormal romance land, particularly in the lucrative gifting market.
I'm talking about anniversary gifts. You know how there's a chart of what gifts are symbolic of each year of marriage, and people can get downright goofy adhering to the suggested gifts? Like, say, my husband, who, for our tenth anniversary, wrapped my present in tin foil because the traditional gift was tin/aluminum. I should be thankful I didn't also get a tube of Reynolds wrap, too.
Some of the traditional lists I've seen stop usually at the 60th anniversary, known in some charts as the "diamond anniversary," while the 75th is also the diamond anniversary. I myself am partial to the 48th US Modern anniversary, which is "Optical goods," or the 44th, which is the ever-so-romantic "Groceries." Nothing tops the 41st and 42nd anniversaries, though, which are "Land" followed by "Improved real estate," because clearly, whoever bought the land last year did not know what they were doing, and they need another shot at that gift.
Also, how does one wrap groceries? Stick a bow on the bag?
February 07, 2012 | Tuesday at 12:18 am | 44 Comments
This email comes from Rebekka:
I don't know if you can help me, but I would really appreciate some recommendations of romances to read that address infertility. As you know, most books that even mention it barely do, and it's usually more a case of, "Oh! My dead husband was sterile!" or it's some other problem easily fixed by the Mighty Wang.
The only romance I have read that actually deals with the emotional aspects of infertility - and which isn't magically fixed - is the Julia Quinn "Bridgerton" book When He Was Wicked (Francesca's story). My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for a year now and are about to start our first round of IVF. Even though I am only 27, our doctors say that we have less than a 5% chance of having a baby without it. Reading about other couples supporting and loving each other through such an emotional and difficult issue would really help me feel more hopeful that things can turn out all right, and that you can get through all this hard stuff together.
I remember being where Rebekka is, and it can…
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Kindle-owning bibliophiles are furtive beasts. Their shelves still boast classics and Booker winners. But inside that plastic case, other things lurk. Sci-fi and self-help. Even paranormal romance, where vampires seduce virgins and elves bonk trolls.
The ebook world is driven by so-called genre fiction, categories such as horror or romance. It's not future classics that push digital sales, but more downmarket fare.
Lovely.
Here's the thing:
I hear from many readers weekly that they do feel embarrassment about their love of romance. Sometimes they are conflicted about finding that their feelings of loving what they read are at cross-purposes with their feelings of dislike or even revulsion when they identify problematic elements within it. Others say they feel shame and embarrassment about what other people say or think about the romance genre, or better yet, the people who read it.
The people who write to me about these subjects do not ever, and I mean EVER, include a statement that they are embarrassed because they…
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February 06, 2012 | Monday at 12:56 am | 4 Comments
I was inspired to read and review this book by two things: my local library's science book display (Yay, libraries!) and Sarah's articles on the myths about biology and anatomy that often appear in romance. I thought readers of those threads might enjoy The Science of Kissing (henceforth known as TSoK) based on my first impression of it as a light and entertaining science read. As it turns out, this was a hard book to grade because as a science book it was disappointingly slight - and I say that as someone who's prefers to have science offered up to me in small portions with easy words. On the other hand, the historical content was fascinating and it was a really charming book overall.
I'll let the author speak for herself as to what the book is about and why she wrote it:
"A kiss is one of the most significant exchanges two people can have, serving as an unspoken language to convey our deepest feelings when words simply will not do. From a symbol of…
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February 04, 2012 | Saturday at 8:24 pm | 97 Comments
In the comments to the entry about the discrimination of the Romance Writers Ink published writers contest, DreadPirateRachel and Keri asked for a Good Shit vs. Shit to Avoid for f/f romance, or, in other words, lesbian romances.
Keri commented, "It's easy to find m/m, but I'm having a really hard time with f/f, especially fluffier kinds. I love Sarah Waters and Emma Donoghue, who are always suggested, but their writing tends to be more literary and heavy and less "romance novel", and when I try to find others, I often just come across erotica meant for the male gaze. :(
(also a lot of f/f romance that I find are older YA novels that are less about the romance as they are about GLBT Issues, which is frustrating. I've seen plenty of m/m stories that aren't Issue novels and are more in the vein of what I think of as traditional romance, but not f/f. help help help! i love romance novels, but I want some that better reflect my own identity sometimes!)"
DreadPirateRachel added, "Yes, please! I'd love…
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February 04, 2012 | Saturday at 3:06 pm | 140 Comments
Late last night, links and fiery tweets went around about Romance Writers, Ink, an Oklahome-based chapter of the RWA. They've stated that for the 2012 "More than Magic" competition for published writers, they will "no longer accept same-sex entries in any category."
February 03, 2012 | Friday at 1:52 am | 14 Comments
Once again, Smart Bitches is a media partner for the 2012 O'Reilly Tools of Change Conference, and as part of my media sponsorship, I talk about the conference (which I totally would do anyway because it makes my brain explode with the happy creativity every year). There's a conference! It's brainful.
If you'd like a 15% off discount code for registration, you can visit the TOC website and use code toc12sbtbc.
But there is no denying that Tools of Change, if you are an individual, is an expensive prospect. Conferences like these are not cheap. And so I also have a code good for a complimentary admission to the conference to give away - yay!
February 03, 2012 | Friday at 12:05 am | 14 Comments
This week's Friday Video is a classic, sent by Aziza, and how I missed seeing this, I have no idea. I love The Avengers, and have watched most of them. Emma Peel is amazing in so many respects.
Yeah, whatever. Here's my question: I think there needs to be a term for book format prejudice, and it works both ways. There are snide comments made about paper by ebook lovers, and equally snide Franzenesque comments about digital from those who prefer paper. Folks who like audiobooks also report snide comments, so there has to be a term to sum them all up, one that's as inclusive and descriptive as possible. I mean, do people grouse about large-print books being for all those amoral people who can't see the .8 font size of a mass market paperback? It's ridiculous.
Theresa Romain suggested Bookotry, a pastiche of "book" and "bigotry." I also like Book Bigot.
Heather Ponzer suggested Printist, and comments like Franzens would then be labeled Printentious.
Llmysticowl suggested Biblioformist.
Maggie Robinson suggested Page Rage, which also works. And Tina suggests Biblio-biased.
What do you think? What would be a good term for the cross-format prejudice?
Michelle, please send your mailing address to me at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOROTHYcom.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and I hope your weekend is free of any need for a do-over!
I received an email from Knock Knock about doing a giveaway, and it made me so giddy, I bounced on the sofa. I love Knock Knock - I use their "All Out Of" grocery list pad every week, and it's a lifesaver in so many ways. Saves me money, too. I love a LOT of their stuff, so I was really excited that they wanted to give some away here.
Since it's nearly Valentine's Day, they want to send one lucky winner a sampler of their products, including a Personal Library Kit, complete with datestamp, self adhesive pockets and checkout cards for your books, 'Sweet Nothing' post-it notes, and a…
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February 01, 2012 | Wednesday at 11:28 am | 85 Comments
This "Good Shit vs Shit to Avoid" request comes from Joanne, who is hunting for books to read this winter:
I am looking for suggestions for lovely romance or wonderfully trashy romance involving a soldier/soldier of fortune, tough guy in uniform, or one beside a crumpled uniform on the floor. A happily ever after would be nice. In fact, I require it from my fictional men.
After an incredibly stressful month and searching in vane, I implore you, please help. The wine is breathing, the phone is turned off (finally) and I am heroless. It's sad really.
Since Joanne isn't specific about time period, historical, contemporary or even paranormal/UF recommendations are more than welcome. Which books do you recommend that feature soldier/military heroes? This will be one hell of a list, given the scope, to please try to limit your recommendations to your top 2 or 3 favorite books.
And if there's a military or soldier hero romance you don't recommend, feel free to talk about it, but please try to explain why it…
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February 01, 2012 | Wednesday at 12:02 am | 17 Comments
Time to announce the February Book Club Pick! If you tuned into the chat Tuesday night, you heard this already, but it's worth repeating with MORE WORDS!
The February book club pick is: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. This book is so well-reviewed everywhere you look, and there's a very good reason for that. It's amazing. It's also a classic and one of the best historical romances.
Here's the summary: As a child Hester Wyatt escaped slavery, but now the dark skinned beauty is a dedicated member of Michigan's Underground railroad, offering other runaways a chance at the freedom she has learned to love.
When one of her fellow conductors brings her an injured man to hide, Hester doesn't hesitate even after she is told about the price on his head. The man in question is the great conductor known as the "Black Daniel" a vital member of the North's Underground railroad network, but Hester finds him so rude and arrogant, she begins to question her vow to hide him.
January 31, 2012 | Tuesday at 6:22 pm | 9 Comments
This request is from Cathy, who remembers so much crazy from this book, it's just amazing.
I'm looking from the first romance I ever read, which I'm pretty sure I
stole off my older sister. It was a category M&B (I remember it was a skinny
book) and the more I think about the plot the more I realise how WTF batshit
crazy it was.
Now I don't remember any names, but I reckon publication date would have
been 1978-1983 ish.
So without further ado, here's the crazy I remember...
Our heroine is a young stage actress about to break into the big time when
she suffers a terrible accident (or maybe the attack of a vicious rival?)
that leaves her with horribly disfiguring scars all down one side of her
face.
In the comments to the entry about the 
Late last night, links and fiery tweets went around about Romance Writers, Ink, an Oklahome-based chapter of the RWA. They've stated that for the 2012 "More than Magic" competition for published writers, they will 
I received an email from 