Aphrodisia Authors :: Blog

I know some people think a happy ending separates romance from women’s fiction, but what separates romance from literature?

No, it’s not subject matter. Anthropologists say that life can be distilled down to sex and food. So, romance writers and authors of literature cover both of those. Okay, maybe Aphrodisia authors cover more sex than food but…

It’s not writing style either. Okay, maybe not all of us write like John Updike, but we can wield a competent sentence. Even a fragment. Particularly if it’s an artistic fragment. Like these.

So what is it?

Let me show you…

Does this woman look like she writes romance? I think not. This is the summary of her accomplishments from Wikipedia:
“Her many awards include an NEA Fellowship and five PEN Syndicated Fiction Awards. She won a book award from the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) in 1991 for Floating in My Mother’s Palm. She has also written many reviews for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. For many years, she taught creative writing at Eastern Washington University. Her recent books include Stones from the River (1994), Intrusions (1995), Tearing the Silence: On Growing Up German in America (1998), The Vision of Emma Blau (2000), Hotel of the Saints: Stories (2001), Sacred Time (2004), and The Worst Thing I’ve Done (2007).”

She’s also one of my favorite authors.

Now, take a look at this face. Does it look like she writes literature? Or romance. You tell me.

Also, one of my favorite authors. Plus, she cracks me on on AuthorTalk. Can you imagine Ursula on AuthorTalk? Yeah, me neither.

Now take a look at this face… Literature or romance. Oh, this is so easy.

Yeah, you guessed it. Literature. She won the Booker Man for her book, The Gathering. Is it about food and sex? Yep. According to Wikipedia (I love Wikipedia!), “Her writing explores themes such as family relationships, love and sex, Ireland’s difficult past and its modern zeitgeist.” See? Sex and food. I particularly love BBQed zeitgeist, but I understand most people like it completely baked (unlike my post!)

Okay, I have one more face for you… This one is more difficult. Literature or romance.

Gorgeous. No doubt. AND she won the RITA for one of my favorite books. Beat that Anne and Ursula.

Okay, I want to show you one more picture. The question is a little different here. Which is Lucinda Betts in this photo?

So if you managed to read this whole piece, you deserve a prize. Leave a comment, and I’ll pick a winner or two to receive a blatantly-not-literature book by yours truly.

A common writers’ mantra is “Butt in Chair”, meaning that sitting down and actually writing is the only way to complete a book.

To my surprise, I recently sat my way to a weight gain of five (okay—eight) pounds during the writing of book 3, LYON, THE LORDS OF SATYR. The inactivity of sitting before a computer for the long hours necessary to fulfill my vision really packed it on. The fridge breaks didn’t help. Once I realized I could not fit comfortably into my favorite jeans, a visit to the scales was in order. What a shocker that was. I reset the button twice thinking what I was seeing wasn’t possible.

I’m calling it my “book weight” because it’s similar to the “baby weight” new moms often work at shedding after giving birth. I figure books and babies are both acts of creation, though authors visit Fed Ex for their deliveries rather than hospitals.

The good news is I’ve lost most of my “book weight” by telling myself I can have that cookie any time–I don’t have to eat it now when I’m trying to fit into my jeans. Still, I surprises me how easy it was to gain without even realizing what was happening. Just imagine if we gained five or ten pounds with every book we wrote. Yikes.

Elizabeth Amber
NICHOLAS, THE LORDS OF SATYR (available now)
RAINE, THE LORDS OF SATYR (March 08)
erotic historical paranormal romance
Kensington Aphrodisia
for excerpts: www.elizabethamber.com

It’s officially release day for the October books–wahoo! All of these books are receiving glowing reviews and other accolades, so if you haven’t checked out the incredible lineup yet, do so today.

Need to get that appetite whet? Check out the cover copy from the new releases by clicking on the titles below.

Hot For It - Melissa MacNeal
Naughty, Naughty - P.J. Mellor, Melissa MacNeal, Valerie Martinez
Sins Of The Flesh - Devyn Quinn
Big Spankable Asses - Angie Daniels, Kimberly Kaye Terry, Lisa G. Riley

Best wishes for a sizzling fall!

~ jodi

www.jodilynncopeland.com/bodymoves.html

I’ve never in my life seen so many people trying to avoid my eye. Come on, folks, I’m not a gang member or a beggar, I’m just a romance author at a book signing.

This weekend I attended two multi-author signings. These were put on by bookstores where I’m guessing the customers do actually read and enjoy books. Wouldn’t you think they might like to talk to an author or two? Apparently not. Or is it that they’re scared that if they come anywhere near us and our books, they might have to – gasp! – buy one? God forbid, a fate worse than death.

Well, of course we’d like to sell books but mostly we’d just like people to be friendly and talk to us. If they take a bookmark or excerpt, or buy a book, that’s a bonus.

So, what’s the deal with signings? Why doesn’t anyone want to talk to me and my fellow authors?

At the end of the second signing, yesterday afternoon, two of us asked the store manager that question and he said, “That’s crazy. I mean, you can talk to romance authors about anything!”

Yes! He knows us. He GETS us! Now the question is, how do we get that same message across to readers? I suggested that next time we put up a banner saying, “Romance Authors – you can talk to them about ANYTHING!”

What’s your experience with signings, as a writer, reader or bookseller? If you do signings, why? Are they good or bad experiences? What do you think makes for a good signing or event? I’d love to know, because I have a bunch more coming up!

(Before I stop, I’d like to say thanks to the great store managers and staff at Borders Express in Cascade Mall, Burlington, and Chapters Metrotown in Burnaby, who were so wonderfully supportive this weekend.)

Susan Lyons (www.susanlyons.ca)