Bitchin' Blog Posts
: Politics
December 30, 2009 | Wednesday | 43 Comments
After seeing Laura Clawson‘s article about romance novels on Daily Kos, “Romance Reader, Unashamed” (and seeing the most awesome comment thread ever in terms of knowledge and enthusiasm) I had to get all nosy and beg Ms. Clawson for an interview. Behold! Laura’s a contributing editor at Daily Kos, and a senior writer at Working America. Even better, she’s a romance fan - wait until you see her favorites list. So what made you write this article about romance, sexual politics, discrimination and misogynist myths about romance? Laura: I think that when the second Twilight movie came out I’d seen…
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April 21, 2009 | Tuesday | 174 Comments
A User’s Guide for Reading Butterfly Tattoo:
1. Put aside your concepts of what love is, between whom it should be shared, and what a partnership, marriage, loving relationship or family should look like.
2. Definitely forget about your standard expectations of hero archetypes. Michael, the hero, is an electrician. He’s muscular. He’s damn fine to look at. He’s a single father.
So far so good, right?
He’s a widower.
Not uncommon, right?
His former spouse was a man named Alex. Alex was killed in a car accident that left their daughter scarred and his family broken.
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March 03, 2009 | Tuesday | 126 Comments
From my experience with Gail Dayton’s Compass Rose trilogy, I know that Dayton’s hallmarks as a writer are vivid world building, seamless use of the senses in her writing, and some smooth character development. In this new series, she plays with the concept of power and control, and of mastery and slavery in relationships. Amanusa is a magically talented woman who lives on her own in the woods in the late 1800s, precariously “protected” by a local band of rebels in exchange for her healing talents. A man named Jax stumbles out of the woods, bound to her, unable to…
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March 01, 2009 | Sunday | 3 Comments
Following the Mills & Boon vs. Kissing Ban entry, I received an email from author Rebecca Pawel, who is often in Spain doing research for her historical mystery series, set in 1940’s Spain.
Inspired by the Mills and Boon vs. Virgin entry, I tracked down a flickr photo of a sort of opposite ad campaign that made me smile when I was in the Asturias a couple of years ago.
Background: The
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February 09, 2009 | Monday | 220 Comments
Every now and again, readers will interact with authors online and kerfuffles ensue. I know, it’s so rare, but it happens. No, really. And sometimes in the course of these festive occasions, you’ll see commentary from a reader who is so incensed, so horrified by what an author has written that there is Epic Flounce and a vow to never read or buy that author’s books again! (Pretend there was a really impressive echo feature on that last sentence, kthx.) I usually blink at these flounces because it takes a LOT for me to reach a point where I am…
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January 22, 2009 | Thursday | 34 Comments
Sometimes I get questions about life, and sometimes I get questions about the politics of the writing business. Here’s one of the latter. Dear Smart Bitch Sarah: You’ve said that you won’t reveal the names of the people who write to you for advice, and I really hope that’s true. I’ve got a problem and I’m really not sure what to do. I have the most amazingly talented critique partner. I think she’s amazing, I love her writing - I can’t say enough good things about her. The thing is, I think her agent just blows. We’re not represented by…
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October 18, 2008 | Saturday | 25 Comments
Anyone who prefers no politics in this here hot pink hizzouse, don’t click below.
Anyone who likes a good silly political Photoshop, here, have below the fold. So many people have sent me the first one, and I still snort every. time. I. see. it.
Also, someone please explain to me: why no Photoshops of Joe Biden? Seriously, poor Biden. He gets no ‘shoppin’ love.
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October 16, 2008 | Thursday | 12 Comments
We stray off topic to voting and politics because… PEEPS.
Seriously. PEEPS.
Peeps vote? I have more in common with Peeps? Seriously. I’m so excited.
Even further aside - how soon until a romance protagonist wins a Peep diorama contest? Because that is TRUE ARTISTIC HEROISM!
[Thanks to Jude for the link.]
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October 08, 2008 | Wednesday | 45 Comments
I wanted to draw attention to Jane’s chilling post on the meaning of voting in the context of the status of individuals in other countries. As for me: I already voted. (Yes, huge relief. PHEW.) I don’t as a rule trust the voting machines in any location, particularly since every time I’ve voted there’s been a different machine from a different manufacturer. So I am a permanent absentee in the state of New Jersey (sounds like a paranormal romance plot, doesn’t it? Permanently absent, but still there). My #2 pencil and I voted this weekend. One down, only a few…
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October 03, 2008 | Friday | 171 Comments
Over here in the US of Holy Shit, we have a few problems. A few, big, huge giant, honking seven hundred billion dollar problems. Add to that a light-your-pants-on-fire contested presidential race (aren’t you glad I write a romance blog and not political punditry? I know I am) and you have one very exhausted Sarah who is more than ever grateful for every opportunity to take refuge in the “yes, it will end happily” world of the romance novel. The billionaires, they don’t lose their shirts or invest in sub prime mortgages in Harlequin Presents’ world. They don’t need no…
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