That's a great picture-- teeth and everything!

Yeah, usually he's mugging. But they just won the Sectional Championship there so that trumped the gurn.

If you need input on at least one alternative lifestyle, I can be a pre-conference consultant for you. (I'm actually serious about that.)

I'm just the referee as it were for this, Tep. The workshop is actually going to consist of a panel of authors who write in the genre and editors who are buying it.

ETA: And you know, I would hit you up for some info around which to base questions, but I just know if I hit them with questions about true alternative lifestyles, they might just look at me as if I've grown a third eye. Because what romance considers "alternative" vs. what's truly alternative are no doubt quite different.

Huh. My cousin just called me. She and her husband are in town for a family reunion (her husband's side). I had no idea they were coming. They needed directions to a bakery. I invited them over later but this means I need to tidy the house first.

Owen's watching Avatar. I think it's very cute.

This makes me unreasonably happy!

[link]

Happy birthday to Kat!

This makes me unreasonably happy!

How awesome to get a quarter back too.

Happy Birthday, Kat!

Because what romance considers "alternative" vs. what's truly alternative are no doubt quite different.

Yeah, I picked one up in the bookstore the other day (it was one of those crossover paranormal/scifi/romance ones--I think in this instance it was shelved in scifi). And after reading about half of it (what? I read fast!) I knew there was no way in hell I was ever buying it. Because it seriously sounded like the author had written something, and then someone had said "You know, this would sell a LOT better if you made it KINKY!!" and she had held her nose and put in some kinkiness, hating it the whole time, and being really annoyed. Because it had this whole tone where it was supposed to be hot or something, but meanwhile the character was all against it, or some shit, and basically it was just not hot, and really really came off condescending. I was offended. As someone who does kink.

There's this huge pervasiveness throughout romance right now, meara, where the idea of resisting or submitting is HUGE. Which is pissing me off because it's presented with the veneer of the woman claiming her sexual strength through that act. And I don't deny that it's possible, but over and over and for example over?

Linda Howard, who writes romantic suspense and is one of the loveliest (not to mention strongest) women I've ever met, has the unfortunate habit of writing what I call "No Foreplay" sex scenes. The guy is huge (of course) and they'll inevitably wind up doing the deed during some suspenseful moment (because, really isn't that what we all want to do when our lives are on the line?) and so they don't have TIME for foreplay and he's just a'shovin' on in. In this latest one, she whimpered because of the no foreplay thing and not being ready and she SHUSHED her. That's the point the book hit the wall for me.

I'm gearing up for a bit of a fight with my publisher because she told my editor that my lead character in the book is "just so strong, we need to see more of her emotional vulnerability, otherwise readers won't connect to her."

Which, okay, I can dig the wanting a bit more emotional vulnerability part, but the thing about readers not being able to connect with her because she's so strong? WTF?? I mean, Jesus H-- the character is based on Bizet's Carmen-- hello, talk about a strong character. At least my girl's not amoral.

Skipping - and, yeah, ignoring ongoing conversations - to post that, according to the Buffista Calendar, today is Kat's birthday.

Happy birthday, Kat! With lots of wishes for a great day and a wonderful year!

Happy birthday, Kat.

I don't think raspberries hold up as well with that kind of cooking (hence no raspberry pie).

I have had raspberry pie. It is good.