5 Reasons why the unenlightened think we love romance novels:
10. We're bored and have nothing better to do. This explains why a good portion of us read in lines, just before the lights go off in a theater, between meetings, before class, and during our commute... because we have time to spare.
09. We don't have to think when we read romance! Great! Let's leave our brains at home because everybody knows romance novels are right up there with gossip, soap operas, and fashion and celebrity magazines.
08. Secretly, we love the trashy cover art. Clinches and clutches and heaving bosoms really appeal to us. Who doesn't love toting embarrassingly bulging mantitty in her purse?
07. We love romance because it's petticoat porn. (What and men don't like watching poorly filmed flicks off the internet? At least ours is intellectual- it's literature!)
06. Better yet, on top of loving it for porn we also love it because we have no sex life. This is our only way to experience sex... ie vicariously through fictional characters. Right... as if any woman couldn't go into any bar and ask any man if he wanted to go home with her and he wouldn't say yes.
Now for 5 real reasons to love romance novels:
05. Truly, we love romance because it's emotional porn. Two hanky reads anyone? Passes out tissues.
04. Happily Ever Afters. We love a great ending and knowing that no matter how many troubles and problems seem to mount up eventually they're solved and go away.
03. Variety. There's a romance out there for everyone. Many of us develop preferences and seek out stories that cater to them.
02. The heroine. She's everything we want to be or admire in others with the exception of the Too Stupid to Live Heroines.
And the number one reason women love romance novels is:
01. The hero... because we can fall a little bit in love with him every time we open a book to read.
Photo Credits: left-hand, jonrawlinson
Originally posted 2009-05-12 05:07:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
Hey there! Look who's here! Meet Mary Margret Daughtridge! Mary Margret is a romance author who's current SEALed Series about "Hard men...soft hearts" is making a splash. She's joined us today for an author interview and I couldn't be happier to have her. To keep things easy Mary Margret Daughtridge will henceforth be referred to as MMD!
Keira: It's obvious that the hunky men who comprise the Navy SEALs inspired SEALed with a Promise
, but why focus on SEALs versus say men from other armed forces?
MMD: Honest and truly, the choice of SEALs was serendipitous. I didn't know at the time that I was starting a series-if I had I might have chosen a group which would be a little easier to research-like Green Berets who train at Ft. Bragg, only ninety miles from here. I just needed someone in the military whose job made extreme demands on his time. That would be a SEAL. Everything about them is extreme.
Keira: I read in the back of the book the acknowledgment blurb and it talked about several of the people who let you pick their brains in the name of research. How does one go about finding and then approaching these people for assistance?
MMD: Years ago when I worked as a family advocate, I used to brag I could find out the answer to any question in six phone calls or less. The same principle applies. I just go in a direction that seems promising and keep asking people who do they know who would know. SEALs are a relatively small group. One can lead to another, especially since I have demonstrated that I'm not a groupie, I don't want to know any secrets, I'm not nuts-okay, not dangerously nuts-and I won't misuse their time.
Keira: What was the hardest part of writing SEALed with a Promise?
MMD: The fact that Caleb had chosen such a hard path. I understand that a desire for revenge can be a healthy response to powerlessness, but I don't really like revenge plots, and I resisted writing it. Still, I loved Caleb. The fact that his great strength had made him so vulnerable grabbed my heart. It was often emotionally difficult to let the story unfold because I wanted to protect him from himself.
The above makes it sound like the book is heavy or dark. It isn't, but SEALed With A Promise was emotional for me to write. I cried. A lot.
Keira: Caleb and his Brad Pitt lips - is there an inspirational photo to go along with this fabulous hero? I would love to see! How about Emmie?
MMD: LOL. Caleb looks a little like Matthew McConaughey, and radiates the same laidback charm, but a little rougher and a little colder, at least on the surface. Try this one:
Emmie? I don't know. It's more a look of intelligent innocence than any particular features. A young Teri Garr would come closest I think. Traylor Howard, who plays Natalie Teeger on Monk, has some of the same look.
Keira: What do you think makes Caleb a heroic character and hero to swoon over?
MMD: I hate to admit this, but...I don't know. LOL. All I know is, I write characters I love, and to me that means writing characters-both men and women-who are full of heart. I think there is no sanity without humor, so they have a sense of humor and the ability to laugh at themselves. They need generosity and the capacity to put another's needs before their own. Finally they need to be human. That means they get it wrong sometimes. They mess up. They have blind spots. And sometimes they are led astray, not by their faults, but by their virtues.
Keira: How do you define love?
MMD: The definition I'm always working from as I craft the relationships between hero and heroine is I love the person I am when I'm with you. I believe love heals and allows us to show ourselves, and others, our best, while making space for the fact that we are human.
While I enjoy a fantasy fairytale romance, I have a strong resistance to writing them myself. My intention is to craft a relationship which really would work. And that means neither party gets "fixed" by the relationship, and yet the relationship creates a safe space in which each can grow.
I don't think any intelligent reader believes Caleb and Emmie will live happily ever after, but I do hope readers will see that a good strong foundation of respect, appreciation, and fun has been established from which Caleb and Emmie can continue to grow in love.
Keira: How do you decide on the character names (for Caleb and Emmie especially)?
Names are important. They summarize a character's history. Caleb's nickname, Do-Lord, popped into my mind the same instant he did, and I knew that it was given to him at the start of his SEAL career-a mark of his acceptance into a special group, but also a name he hid much his true self behind.
But I didn't know what his real name was for quite a while. I thought he needed a Biblical name and played around with Jesse, but it just didn't' work. One day another writer mentioned Caleb. I looked up the Biblical story and realized Caleb was an Israelite spy sent by Moses to spy on the Promised Land to determine if it could be captured.
It was perfect because Caleb was determined to use his covert skills to spy on Senator Calhoun, and Caleb's mother (who named him) would have considered Calhoun's life to be the Promised Land.
The Biblical Caleb is often designated as "the spy who told the truth," which adds a layer of irony to my Caleb right up to the moment when he decides to tell the truth, knowing the truth will destroy his relationship with Emmie.
Emmie needed a name that put her solidly outside the mainstream. Her full name is Emelina Theodora. Her missionary parents had waited for children so long that they considered her birth a miracle. They named her for a grandmother, Emelina, and added Theodora which means "gift of God."
But despite her brains, she needed a name that showed that those who knew her best valued her and held her in affection. Thus the pet name of Emmie.
Keira: Why did you decide to write romance or "mush" as some people are inclined to think (wink)?
MMD: I believe in the message of romance. Oh not happily ever after-that isn't possible, of course. But the structure of romance always carries the message that good people working together can overcome adversity, and find valuable qualities in themselves and others. I happen to believe that this message is true, and we need stories that keep us going in the dark times.
Another reason is that romance of all the genres is the most psychological. In the romance genre I have the freedom to explore character at some depth.
Your wink is referring to some of the SEALs who have helped me in my research. They tease me about writing mush. I teased them back by having Caleb, a voracious reader, read romance novels while in Afghanistan-because he's already read all the techno-thrillers, and the romance novels are all that are left.
SEALed With a Kiss garnered a lot of praise, but the praise that meant the most to me was "Mary Margret understands the human condition-and makes you feel good about it." That was written by a retired SEAL who has become a dear friend, JC Roat.
Keira: What do you think is the greatest creative risk you've taken?
MMD: Deciding to cast a SEAL as a feel-good-romance hero. Until my books, the SEALs were always the leads in romantic suspense-a subgenre I thoroughly enjoy in the hands of Suzanne Brockmann and others, but I didn't want to write it. I knew my books would confound some people's expectations.
There are people who don't get it. Occasionally, I'm criticized for not idealizing my characters, especially the SEALs-the suggestion being that I am disrespecting them. The truth is, I respect them too much to portray them as little tin gods, shiny but hollow. SEALs' extraordinary qualities seem more amazing to me because they exist in thoroughly human, fallible, vulnerable creatures-not Superman.
I'm very fortunate that Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks was willing to take a chance on a "novel" concept. (Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.)
Keira: What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?
MMD: First of all, I write entertainment fiction, and make no apology for it. Making people happy for a few hours and leaving them feeling good is honorable work. Anytime I've done that, I'm happy.
If readers gain an appreciation of the fact that people-even wonderful people-aren't perfect, and that very often their greatest strengths are also their greatest shortcomings, then maybe they will have more compassion for others. And for themselves.
Keira: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
MMD: Just my thanks. You offered some great, insightful questions which I thoroughly enjoyed discussing.
I love hearing from readers. They can contact me through my website http://marymargretdaughtridge.com.
Well you heard Mary Margret! Go visit her site! Thanks for joining us today it's been a blast! Don't miss SEALed with a Kiss
.
Originally posted 2009-04-11 05:50:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Online Stores
This Cosmo style quiz is presented for your enjoyment and in conjunction with the newest release by Ravenous Romance, Hungry for Your Love, the first ever zombie romance anthology. Now if you're like me you've probably noticed some strange things about your boyfriend. You're pretty certain he's not a vampire or werewolf (some heroines just have all the luck), but is he part of the undead populace? Take this quiz to find out!
1) On the first date, he makes a move on you and you notice:
- His teeth are yellow, like he smokes a lot. There’s also some red stuff stuck in them.
- His skin is cold, almost too cold. Perhaps deathly cold?
- His cologne is kind of funky. It smells like rotting eggs. Phew.
2) When you get naked for the first time:
- He’s covered in discolorations. It’s weird but you figure he’s just been in a fight.
- He doesn’t seem overly interested in your body. He just wants to pick your brain.
- He’s not very talkative, but he does like to say repeatedly, “Mine.”
3) A typical Saturday you can find him:
- Doing household chores on autopilot so he can get out sooner to play a pick-up game.
- Acting like a bum and doing what he always does, hang out with the guys.
- On the couch. All he does is watch TV and mindlessly eat chips.
4) If you're really honest, your boyfriend dresses like:
- A rock star; his clothes are better than yours.
- A business man, because he knows you have this thing for ties.
- A corpse; really you don't think he even notices how tattered his shirt is.
5) Your boyfriend's sense of smell:
- Is really keen. He can smell brains a mile away.
- Is off, but it's probably just that 24 hr virus everyone has. He'll be fine.
- He has none. You swear he can't smell himself, but you can. Gross.
6) How many hours a day does he spend watching TV?
- Hardly ever, he spends his time doing other things.
- Same as you do you as you like all the same shows.
- Every waking minute, if it weren't for commercials the house would never be silent.
7) Does he notice when you dress up for him?
- Yes, he comments on everything. Isn't he the best?
- Sometimes he notices if you wear something new.
- Only when you show too much flesh.
- I could wear a sack and he wouldn't notice.
8) Is he adventurous in his eating habits?
- He'll try anything once, especially if it's raw.
- Monkey brains are his favorite.
- As long as it's pizza/take out.
- He thinks spaghetti and meatballs is gourmet food.
9) How's his conversation?
- Fascinating. He's always up to date about everything from politics to art.
- In the middle. He's not a sparkling conversationalist, but he's not a dead bore either.
- Yawn. There's no life there. He tells the same stories over and over again.
10) How's your sex life together?
- He wears me out on a nightly basis. Jealous?
- Sometimes it's great; sometimes not so much.
- It's bad and rotting at the core. Every night is like a dead repeat.
First answer = 1 points
Second answer = 2 points
Third answer = 3 points
Fourth answer = 3 points
- 1-10: He's a lively one, which means your boyfriend isn't a zombie - good for you both!
- 11-20: He might be zombie-like at times but your boyfriend's not one of the undead.
- 20+: Get away quick and wear a construction hat! Your boyfriend's a zombie!
How did your boyfriend do? Is he a zombie?
Hungry for Your Love Synopsis:
Zombies are everywhere. You can't escape. So you might as well fall in love.
In the pages of HUNGRY FOR YOUR LOVE, the very first zombie romance anthology ever, you'll find romantic stories about loving a zombie, love stories between zombies and a tale of love and lust during the zombie Apocalypse. There are funny zombie stories, a zombie story that will make you cry, and even a few that might make you blush. We have zombie noir and zombie paranormal romance. You will be amazed at the scope of zombie lovin'. There's something for everyone in this star-studded collection, including stories by New York Times best-selling authors John Skipp (writing as Gina McQueen) and Brian Keene.
Giveaway: One spooky commenter will win a copy of Hungry for Your Love. To enter share your zombie boyfriend story! Ends at the stroke of midnight US Pacific Time! 
Happy Halloween!
Photo Credits: http://commons.wikimedia.org/
Online Stores
