January 1st, 2010 | by PJ Mellor |
The other day, I was thinking about how I started reading romance novels. I’m not sure I remember. Seriously. Isn’t memory one of the first things to go? Should I be worried? Wait. I’m an author. It’s deadline dementia!
Needless to say, all this thinking, combined with the holidays, brought up thoughts of being naughty or nice, good or bad. What, really, is bad? Killing someone is definitely bad. Thinking about killing someone, as anyone who has been divorced can tell you, can be soothing. Not that you’d actually do it. And, if you’re an author, you can do it, vicariously, in your books. How cool is that? Too bad I write humor. I’d have to laugh him to death. Still, the thought has merit.
Which brings us to naughty. Oh, yeah, we’ve all been at least a little bit naughty, haven’t we? Maybe that’s the reason I began reading romance novels initially—they made me feel a little bit naughty. And I loved it. So did my husband, but that’s another blog topic.
I have a confession to make: I loved most of the bodice ripper covers on the old romance novels. I did! It intrigued me to see exactly how far the cover artists could go without censorship. Hey, that was w-a-y before the stuff that’s out there now. I remember anxiously opening my monthly shipment of Bantam’s now-defunct Loveswept line (where I first discovered Janet Evanovich, by the way)to see what spicy covers they had in store for me. And I was rarely disappointed. As I recall, Loveswept had some pretty racy covers, for that time. Okay, you can stop laughing now. What can I say, I led a sheltered life. Anyway, I’d pick the covers I liked best, then read the back cover blurb, then the teaser and first pages before stacking them in the order in which I planned to read them. I told you to stop laughing.
Among my earliest memories of being potentially bad were—I’m serious here, so don’t laugh!—reading fairy tales. I kind of had a thing for the Big Bad Wolf. Prince Charming had me doing the child equivalent of practically swooning. As I said, I led a sheltered life. And, obviously, had a big imagination. Which is how I became a romance writer. Although I suspect it was hard wired into my DNA all along.
And speaking of fairy tales (and you though I had no point, didn’t you?) those early thoughts led me to try my hand at writing my version of some of my favorite fairy tales. I call them my fractured fairy tales. Kensington calls them BETWEEN THE SHEETS and it releases in February.
How about you? What was your favorite fairy tale and why? I’d love to know! Who knows? I may write another book of fractured fairy tales. As usual, everyone who leaves a comment has a chance to win a book.
Keep warm, healthy, and read a lot of books in the new year. Happy New Year!
Okay, now you can laugh.
My favorite has always been Beauty and the Beast. Something about a tortured and misunderstood hero that gets the girl always tugs at my heartstrings. I know there have been variations of this theme in tons of romance novels. You know, the embittered war hero, or bad-boy rebel who can only be nurtured and healed by the heroine. I just love all that stuff!! Its the HEA that’s so satisfying.
by Armenia · January 1st, 2010 at 10:49 pmI laughed with you PJ, not at you
I pick the romances the same you did, but I still do it. But sometimes when it comes to reading them, I’m not in the same mood I was when I sorted them…figure that.
My favorite fairy tale was always Hansel and Gretel growing up, but now that I have shifter fantasies I am going to go with Little Red Riding Hood
As long as the big bad wolf eats me in the naughty way, and not the carnivorous way 
Was that TMI? Anyways congrats on Between the Sheets!
by Booklover1335 · January 1st, 2010 at 11:59 pmBeing that my name is Aurora, Sleeping Beauty will always have a special place in my heart
Something about a man riding up on his horse with his sword drawn to storm the castle just makes me all tingly!!!! I am pretty girly when it comes to my fairy tales! I am a sucker for romance and a happy ending….
by Aurora · January 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 amMy favorite has always been Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. There just was something about how the wicked stepmother treated her. Then putting the spell on her that could only be broken by love’s first kiss. Which did happened and made it a happy ending.
by Becky Ward · January 2nd, 2010 at 12:19 amit is the inside that counts
congrats ont he book
hot covier
happy new year
by kh · January 2nd, 2010 at 2:34 amAbsolutely right, Armenia! I always loved Beauty and the Beast too. I, too, am a sucker for happy endings.
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 8:20 amThanks for commenting!
TMI, Booklover 1335! So…I assume you will especially enjoy the first story in BETWEEN THE SHEETS–REDD HOT is a take-off on Little Red Ridinghood with the Big Bad Wolf being the heroine. 
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 8:22 amThanks for stopping by!
Ooh! What a pretty name, Aurora! Were you, by chance named after the Sleeping Beauty character? I loved Sleeping Beauty! Hmm…I may have to do a Sleeping Beauty story soon.
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 amThanks!
I’ve been reading romance novels since my early teens (wow–that was a really l-o-n-g time ago! I have continued to enjoy reading them (and I have to admit that my husband enjoyed my reading them also. LOL Sadly, he passed away 8 years ago, but OH! the memories…) I also have expanded my horizons through the years and love the shapeshifters stories.. Now I must get into the “fractured fairy tales”…they just have to be awesome. Gonna go to Amazon now, and get some of your books for my Kindle!
by Barbara Hansen · January 2nd, 2010 at 10:37 amPJ- I wasn’t named after Sleeping Beauty but The Greek Goddess of the Dawn Aurora! !
by Aurora · January 2nd, 2010 at 2:10 pmMy favorite fairy tale is Cinderella. I love that good triumphs over bad.
by Estella · January 2nd, 2010 at 3:22 pmThanks, Becky! I liked Snow White too. Wow, you all are giving me a lot of new fractured fairy tale ideas! Thanks!
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 4:05 pmPJM
Thanks, KH! my book cover sort of grew on me–I think it’s hot now, too!
And Beauty and the Beast. hmm. I have a lot of definite ideas for a B&B take-off! Of course, I still ahve another contracted book to write before I can spend too much time plotting another fairy tale based book. 
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 4:08 pmI loved Aladin too–of course, I’d mix it up a bit, if I wrote it.
Thanks so much Barbara! I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I’m sure you cherish your memories.
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 4:10 pmI’m honored you want to expand your reading to include my fractured fairty tales! I hope you enjoy them.
Greek goddess of the dawn.
I knew that Aurora. 
Okay, actually I didn’t. But I do now! That counts, doesn’t it? See how educational blogs can be? 
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 4:13 pmHi, Estella! Cinderella is one of my favorites, too. I didn’t really have too much bad to be triuphed over in my version, STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, though–just lots of fun!
by PJ Mellor · January 2nd, 2010 at 4:15 pmThanks for stopping by!
I loved LoveSwept and still have quite a collection of them.
I always loved the really passionate covers where the couple looked on the verge of just tearing each other’s clothes off and going to town! Two favorites were Hawk O’Tooles Hostage and Adam’s Fall both by Sandra Brown. Oh, and anything by Tami Hoag. 
Your book sounds like a lot of fun; a romantic version of what Tannith Lee did with fairy tales . . . red as blood I think? I’m too lazy to go look.
by Anitra Lynn McLeod · January 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 pmWhen I was little my favorite was Cinderella. I always believed that my Prince Charming would come for me. My favorite now is Beauty and the Beast. The message in this fairy tale is much more important and I just love the Disney movie.
by Jane · January 3rd, 2010 at 2:06 amHi, PJ! I liked reading a lot of fairy tales as a kid, and also loved reading books of myths from other cultures. While I loved Cinderella, I really REALLY liked stories where the hero/heroine triumphed because of their ingenuity and resourcefulness. That seemed to be somewhat more common in some stories/cultures than others. As a “grown up,” I do love reading updated versions of fairytales, or ones with a twist! Looking forward to Between the Sheets! (Oh, and some of those Loveswepts were fabulous!)
by Fedora · January 3rd, 2010 at 2:16 amI’ve always loved fairy tales, perhaps that’s why I nowadays read a lot of fantasy. The Beauty and the Beast is my favorite, love when the Beast gets his own HEA.
by Eva S · January 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 pmOh, and PJ, Between the Sheets is being promoted in my May release! Even in black and white that cover is very hot.
by Anitra Lynn McLeod · January 3rd, 2010 at 5:39 pmHi, Anitra!
by P.J. Mellor · January 3rd, 2010 at 5:48 pmI loved Loveswept too–everything by Sandra Brown and Tami Hoag–and Kay Hooper and Iris Johanson! Did you ever read Iris Johanson’s LAST BRIDGE HOME? LOVED that book! Even after decades, I still remember it.
Interesting that BETWEEN TE SHEETS is promo/blurbed in your upcoming book–I love it when that happens~
Thanks for commenting!
I loved Cinderella, too, Jane. I think it’s interesting how many people have mentioned Beauty and the Beast. I enjoyed it too, but for some reason forgot to mention it.
by P.J. Mellor · January 3rd, 2010 at 5:49 pmThanks for stopping by!
Hi, Fedora–
by P.J. Mellor · January 3rd, 2010 at 5:53 pmWeren’t Loveswepts fabulous? Sigh. They really touched the writer in me.
I loved Cinderella, which is why I included it in my “fractured fairy tales” BETWEEN THE SHEETS. My fractured Cinderella story is STROKE OF MIDNIGHT.
Thanks for commenting!
Hi, Eva!
Thankfully, it seems to have been corrected. I know I’m technologically challenged, but honestly, it was not my fault! 
by P.J. Mellor · January 3rd, 2010 at 5:57 pmSorry it’s taken me so long to reply–for some weird reason, I’d comment and it would take me to a white screen.
Another Beauty and the Beast fan! I am beginning to think there is something about that story that really strikes a cord these days.
Thanks for commenting!
I’m split between Beauty and the Beast AND Cinderella! I think what makes these stories so appealing is that we can identify with these characters right from childhood and as adults that link remains unbroken in memory even if we’ve outgrown those inferiority complexes.
by Sue A. · January 4th, 2010 at 1:23 amExcellent point, Sue! I think you’re absolutely right! Funny how things like that work, isn’t it? I equate it to the bumper sticker saying about how inside every woman is a little girl etc. I suspect the little girl in all of us wants to be attractive/accepted and wanted by others, maybe even still hoping/dreaming of our own Prince Charming.
by P.J. Mellor · January 4th, 2010 at 8:06 amThanks to you and everyone for stopping by! I had fun.
PJM
My favorite fairy tale is Beauty & The Beast as well. I’ve always been a fan of fairy tales from various countries and love seeing the similarities and differences between them.
by Lisa Guertin · January 4th, 2010 at 1:24 pmHi, Lisa! Another beauty and the Beast fan! I can tell I’m going to have to write another fractured fairy tale using Beauty and the Beast–it looks like it would be successful!
by P.J. Mellor · January 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pmThanks for commenting!
PJM
I remember the Loveswept line, I discovered Janet Evanovich with it, too as well as Kay Hooper and Sandra Brown.
My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella. She always seemed like such a worthwhile heroine so I felt that she truly deserved her happy ending.
by Little Lamb Lost · January 4th, 2010 at 5:12 pmI agree! I loved Disney’s Cinderella and thought it couldn’t be topped. The step mother was so wicked and the step sisters so vile. Then I saw EVER AFTER with Drew Barrymore. She definitely cranked up the nastiness factor with the step-mother and step-sisters–and I loved seeing them get theirs at the end!
by PJ Mellor · January 4th, 2010 at 5:44 pmThanks for stopping by!
Oh, I forgot all about EVER AFTER. I loved that one and cheered in end when the step mother and step sister got theirs, too. Best ever Cinderella story…aah…
by Armenia · January 4th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
any winner
by kh · January 24th, 2010 at 3:55 amOh, my gosh!
My posting of the winner for the drawing somehow didn’t make the blog post. 
by P.J. Mellor · January 24th, 2010 at 10:51 amThe winner was Sue and she’s already recieved her book.
I’ll be blogging again on February 2 and giving away another book to a winning commenter. thanks for stopping by, everyone!
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