Summer Quickies Contest, Clue 3, EDITED

We lost our comments when I edited this post, but I did see everyone's guesses. So far, no. :( Keep trying. Let yourself be a bit literal.

~

Think just a bit outside of the box on this one, and guessing my Summer Quickie book ought to be a breeze. Or not. :)

For new players, be sure to scroll down to look at Clue 1 and 2, and read the comments.

Let the games begin!




Edited Addendum (Because I'm driving poor KimmyL to drink, I think!

Monday Mutiny--What's UP with that?

I read a post over at Three Wicked Writers about diversity in romance books, and a publishing industry bias against heroines packing some curves.

That post touched on a broader issue that's near and dear to my heart. Just what is sexy to the real, live female reader? And why is it that editors (specifically those who were scoffing at ebooks while an underground publishing revolution in erotic was taking place)can't see that there is pretty, and then there is sexy. And the two don't always go hand in hand.

Women over forty are one of the largest book buying demographics in America. And most of them want to read romance. But lately, I find those books less than satisfying. You see, I am an older woman who can't identify with the bulk of the heroines I read about.

I, for one, would enjoy reading about romance heroines who I can actually identify with. And one of those groups of heroines is *gasp* women over forty. While the twenty somethings are out there trying to get their sexy back--and God love them for it--well, lets just say that on this side of the mountain, sexy is alive and well. And hotter than ever.

But with that said, I don't want to read about a older woman looking for someone to justify her beauty as an older woman, or apologizing for being an older woman.

Remember Samantha from Sex and the City? Or Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada?

These are the women who defined sexy for the boomer generation--a level of sexy we might actually hope to achieve. And I feel pretty safe in saying that heroines such as these aren't ready to be put out to pasture just yet.

Bring me some real women in my romance books! Because when the sparks that fly between a woman and a man who have been there and done that, and still find something fresh and new, and yes, even beautiful between the sheets?

Now that, my dear, is the definition of sexy.

Summer Quickies Contest Clue #2

Wow, my little summer quickie clue must be a bit more obscure than I thought. Not to worry though. Somebody WILL be the winner no matter how pointed I have to make these clues before all is said as done. One, because my blog is new and I'm a blog traffic slut, and two, because I already spent the money on the prizes LOL.

So, here we go. Before you guess today's clue, take a look at our Summer Quickies original post from June 15 to see what books have already been guessed. There were some good tries, and all of them books I want to read, but alas, not my most anticipated summer quickie.

Think about what a summer read is...light, fun, the sort of book you could tear through on a day at the beach. And...good luck. :)

Now, for clue #2



As with last time, just post your guesses in the comments section.

Tambra's Help for New Writers

I have two Yahoo groups and have decided to do something a bit different.

In an effort to help new writers, I'm going to give mini-workshops on my two groups. (I have two pen names, hence the two groups.)

Also, I've just implemented this:

For the author members of my groups-Those who are members of this group, that are writers will be allowed topost two excerpts total length up to 2000 words once a week. You may also post about your newest release(s).

I also teach online classes for RWA and for Earthly Charms. In the past, I've taught creative writing classes at our local college. In November, I'll be teaching an in-depth class on characterization and plotting for Outreach RWA. February 2009, I'll be teaching the same course for Carolina RWA chapter.

By giving the mini-courses, I'll be giving new writers a chance to learn more about the craft of writing and ask questions.

If you're interested here is the link to my groups:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TambraKendall (Erotic paranormal romance)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KeeliaGreer (Sensual paranormal romance)

Hugs,

Tambra

My newest release: Coming July 18, Goin' Down Anthology Book Two

MSNBC, Unhand my Bodice

You know, I'm not easy to insult. But today, not only have I been insulted by a national news outlet. So has every person who has ever enjoyed reading or authoring a romance title. And yeah, I'm pretty steamed up about that.

I've long suspected that major news outlets such as MSNBC don't bother check facts before posting content to their websites under the guise of "truth".

Lo and behold, today MSNBC proved me right.

Perhaps, as a romance author, I should feel gratified that a national news outlet cares enough about knowing who reads romance as to run a poll on their site. Even bad press is good press, right?

Perhaps in this case, no.

Judging by the choices the pollsters posted to determine the reading habits of their readership, nobody at MSNBC has bothered to read a romance in this century. In order to tell the pollsters that I read romance titles, I had to refer to my genre of choice as a "bodice ripper."

I find this behavior insulting and degrading to my genre, my publishers, and to women in general.

If MSNBC's pollsters had done one iota of homework before designing their poll, they would have discovered that romance publisher guidelines unilaterally exclude activities that can be construed as demeaning/negative toward women, such as bodice ripping, a flowery euphemism for rape.

Futher, lets look at the poll results. Romance titles compose sixty five percent of books purchased in America every year. Romance titles outsell every other genre of fiction. The romance publishing industry is one that is largely run by women, for women.

Judging by the poll "results" which says most people deny reading romance, either a whole lot of people are lying, or the association of romance with the term "bodice ripper" was perceived as distasteful.

Perhaps MSNBC ought stick to the news.

Then again, if these are the sorts of skewed polls we will witness during the upcoming election, I truly fear for the future of democracy.

Summer Quickie Contest!

For those of you who saw this yesterday, I apologize for the missing comments link. Soooo...we'll try again. :)

I'm in the mood for a little fun, so let's play a game.

I'm sure anyone who has run by this wacked out little corner of cyberspace already knows I'm a rabid Deidre Knight fangirl. But hark, I actually have a few other faves, and one of them is relatively new to my "must buy yesterday if not sooner" pile.

Since she has a brand new book coming out, I thought we might play a little guessing game. The first to clue in to number one on my summer wish list will win a ten dollar borders gift card AND a copy of the book to help me celebrate the release of my most anticipated beach read of the summer.

If you think you know the book I'm dying to kick back with, just leave your answer here, in comments. The first one to deciper the clues I leave here over the next week or so, and correctly post the title of the book and author in comments will be declared the winner. :)

So let the games begin. Here's clue number one (and yes, these will get more pointed as the week goes on)

A Wicked Hot Summer Quickie! Parallel Fire

Deidre Knight shows her playful side in her new novella, Parallel Fire, available from Samhain Publishing. A continuation of the Midnight Warrior series, Parallel Fire is a fast, furious read, and in this writer's opinion, not to be missed!

PARALLEL FIRE COVER COPY:
In their fight for survival, the layers come off—body and soul.
A Midnight Warriors story.
Anna Draekus is a soldier wrapped up in secrets, one of which has just been blown. As a member of the shadowy Madjin Circle, she was marked and trained from childhood to protect the king, even without his knowing. And now that her superior officer Nevin Daniels has discovered her allegiance to the Madjin, another secret is in serious danger of exposure.
The one where she fantasizes about cracking the taciturn Refarian’s composure and making him scream her name in passion.
Nevin has tried everything to exorcise Anna from his mind and body, once and for all. Nothing works. He’s long lusted after the free-spirited and plainspoken soldier, but her mere presence ties him in knots and drives him to the brink of insanity. Something a man in his position can’t afford. Something a man of his maturity could never hope for.
Then a routine patrol finds them wrecked and marooned deep in the Wyoming backcountry. And Anna unwraps Nevin’s deepest secret of all: Beneath his tightly controlled exterior beats the wild heart of a tiger.

A New Look!

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