Here's A Story Of A Lovely Lady

Let Miss Wendy tell you a story.

My children's librarian attended a workshop this morning, which meant yours truly got to man the helm for preschool storytime. We have storytime every Wednesday morning, and this is probably the 3rd time I've done it. It's a nice change of pace, and the kids tend to be really cute - but man am I glad I'm not a children's librarian. It's the same reason my younger sister decided against teaching Kindergarten.

Neither of us can be "up" and "perky" all the time. I barely managed it today, given that I've had an on-again-off-again headache for the last 24 hours. But I infused myself with caffeine and made it happen. We had some new kids show up today, and hopefully I didn't traumatize them to the point that they'll never come back.

Cute stories that resulted from Wendy's foray into storytime:

1. A young lady who told me afterwards that she "didn't like dinosaurs" (today's theme was dinosaurs)
2. A young lady who wanted to give me a hug before she and her Mom left. Awwww....
3. And a young man who burst into tears when I asked him his name (I had to make him a name tag and yes, I did ask nice!)

I also always introduce myself to the kids as Miss Wendy "The Manager" and explain to them that it's my job to boss everyone else around. They tend to get a big kick out of that, as do there parents. Even though it's not my managerial style to boss anyone around....

Sidenote: Blogger has been having snits the last couple of days. It's been a bitch for me to get my posts to go through for some reason. So if you have trouble posting comments etc. I also have a guestbook.

Your Honor, I Object!

There's an interesting discussion going on over at Romancing The Blog about sex, religion and RWA's RITA award. It's been a hot button topic discussed on a variety of romance related blogs over the last several weeks, and the comments are continuing to fly.

I personally find the whole thing very amusing in a hypocritical sort of way.

The authors are now turning on themselves. They're now accusing each other of what they've been accusing reviewers of for years. That is, the question of objectivity.

I've seen countless authors suggest that reviewers shouldn't review books they know they'll dislike. So hardline traditional Regency fans shouldn't review wallpaper historicals, inspirational fans shouldn't review the latest Emma Holly book and so on.

Bullshit.

Yeah, you heard me.

Let's go with an ancedote shall we? I started reviewing back in 1999. To this day I still remember the e-mail conversation I had with TRR's editor. She essentially wanted to know what I "liked to read." Being relatively new to the romance genre, I told her I would read anything - "except paranormals."

Anyone want to guess how long that lasted? Not very long. Either she forgot this e-mail exchange or she ignored it (who knows), but I soon got a couple of paranormals. Light fantasy fare really. And shock of all shocks, I enjoyed some of them. I also hated some of them - but that goes with any sub genre. You win some, you lose some.

TRR has also kept me honest over the years and proven the fact that I (at times) can be an idiot. The best example of this was when I reviewed Light My Fire by Jane Graves last year. When I got that book in the mail I was pissed. No other way to put it really. I had reviewed an earlier effort by Graves and loathed it. I mean, I hated that book. To this day I hate that book. So you can imagine that I wasn't real excited about reviewing another one of this author's books.

Turns out I was full of shit. I loved Light My Fire. In fact, it was one of my favorite books of last year. And I can say that honestly. Even though I despised that other book, I could still objectively review another book by the same author. Pretty sweet huh?

So why can't everybody do this? I'm not sure. I certainly don't think I'm special. Maybe it's because I'm a librarian and have the occupational hazard of reading anything not tied down? Somehow that doesn't seem right. Am I special because I can literally go from reading erotica to reading a sweet traditional romance? Am I special because I can enjoy both types of stories and judge them on their own merits? I'd like to think not. Hell, if I can do it - why can't other people? And if they can't do this - they shouldn't be judging or reviewing anything.

I think the larger issue of this discussion is how flawed the RITA awards are. Honestly. Only authors who submit their work and pay the entrance fee are entered. Then those entries are judged by other RWA members. Why not get readers in on it? Why not open up the entries? Frankly, I pay so little attention to the RITAs these days because some very good books never make it to the ballot. Or the book that wins whatever category (in my opinion) weren't nearly as good as the book by Author X that didn't make the final cut. All subjective and opinionated on my part, but there you have it.

And as for sex discussion - oh lighten up already people. If you don't like it, don't read it. Personally, I think Americans are way too uptight about sex as is. It's fun folks! And if sex isn't fun for you - pssst, you're not doing it right. That's the great thing about well done romantica and erotica novels. Sex is about a lot more than just love. Hey, love is great - don't get me wrong. But sex can also be happy, sad, angry, funny, sweet, destructive, and passionately all-consuming. Good sex encompasses a little bit of all of that and more.

And again, if it doesn't.....psst, you're not doing it right.

And that concludes our soapbox rant for today.

The Best Books You Aren't Reading

After a week of neglecting my reading, I finally wrapped up Petty Treason by Madeleine E. Robins. Just as her last book, Point Of Honour, Robins manages to inject some new blood to the Regency London setting - a setting I'm admittedly not wild about.

My reasons are not loving the Regency are twofold:

1. I've just never cared for that time period in British history. Yes, yes it's all a rich tableau and I'm just too ignorant to grasp it all - blah blah blah.
   
2. It tends to be portrayed by romance novelists (with exceptions of course) as a "light and fluffy" time period.

The Regency era was not "light and fluffy" by any stretch of the imagination. For one thing, there was Napolean. For another, as Robins quotes in her book, "...the history of George III and his children is filled with the sort of family dysfunction that could keep a panel of psychiatrists busy for years."

And ain't that the truth. But the fact remains, that this sort of thing gets glossed over in a lot of romance novels set during the period (yes, yes I know there are exceptions!)

That's why I enjoy Robins' Sarah Tolerance mysteries so much. Miss Tolerance is a Fallen woman, having made the "mistake" of falling in love with her brother's fencing instructor. Robins doesn't sugarcoat this. The way Sarah is treated by society at large, and the fact that the only relation still speaking to her is a madam - well it's either become a whore or find another line of work. So Sarah becomes an "agent of inquiry" - a Regency-era private detective if you will. And since she is nothing but discreet, she has many clients among the priveleged.

This book finds Sarah looking for the murderer of a French emigre. The fellow was murdered in his own bed, while his house was locked up for the night. The widow's brother hires Sarah in order to protect his sister. Naturally she's prime suspect #1 - and given the Frenchman's sadist predilctions it's not a huge leap to say wifey offed him. Except that she's a tiny little thing, and seems incapable of making a decision about what wine to serve - let alone having the wherewithal to bash her husband's brains in.

Robins has a way of exploring London's seamier side that I find fascinating. When was the last time you read about S&M brothels, the conditions of London's streetwalking whores, and overflowing privies in a romance novel? I also adored how Robins addresses the defination of a "Rake." That male creature so often romantized in romance novels. Here's a taste:

"But there are some gentlemen who find that giving rein to their desires only leads to the increase of those desires; and a man who lives for pleasure, and for the pleasure of being more debauched, more drunken, more spendthrift, more heedless, than his peers, is called a Rake."

Thank you very much.

I cannot recommend this series more. I hope Robins is selling oodles of books, that Forge will keep publishing them, and most importantly that she doesn't tire of writing about Sarah. Besides the fascinating look at Regency London so often unseen, Sarah is pretty darn kick-ass. I have a sudden urge to take up fencing....

Happy Book Dance

Is there a better way to ring in a Wednesday than with happy book news?



Oh thank heavens! Cheryl Reavis is still writing! Her last book was published in January 2003. I was beginning to fret that another American historical author had jumped ship/retired. Reavis writes fantastic characters, which is the main reason why I like her books so much. She reminds me of Maggie Osborne in that respect - you really believe in these fictional people by the end of the story. Sure it's only a novella - but maybe we'll see a novel from Reavis soon? She's written some fantastic books for Harlequin Historicals and Silhouette Special Edition over the years. Spring Brides is slated for June 2005.



Shari Shattuck is an actress - at one time playing Ashley Abbot on The Young And The Restless. I loved her actually - this was back in the day when I still watched soaps (working five days a week sort of killed that addiction).

Her first book, Loaded, came out in August 2003 and I really enjoyed it. My wait is finally over, book 2 in the Cally Wilde series is set for June 2005 - Lethal.

My only concern here, is that while Loaded was published as a Pocket paperback - Lethal will be published by Downtown Press. The best things about Loaded were that it had a gritty noir feel to it, and Cally had some rough edges. So I hope this move to a different line (both Pocket and Downtown are Simon And Schuster lines) won't mean that Cally will loose that edge. If she starts grousing about losing 15 pounds, drinking too many cosmopolitans, and getting the latest Jimmy Choos I'll be really, really unhappy.

Insomniac

I have an online bud who reads a lot. The secrets to her success are:

1. Living in New York City - she reads on the subway.
2. She barely watches TV - she reads instead.
   
3. She suffers from insomnia - so she reads instead of sleeps.

There are days I wish I could take a train to work - if only to get more reading done. And while I don't watch a ton of TV, there are days I need it's brain-numbing effect after work.

But insomnia? No thank you. However, my body/mind had other ideas last night.

By my calculations I got about 3 restless hours of sleep. Now some of you might be able to function on that. Heck, my mother and sisters can function on that. I, however, can not. I'm a need-8-hours-to-function sort of girl. And even then I need to get my caffeine in me.

So at about 2AM I just gave up. No need to disturb the boyfriend with my tossing and turning. So I read a few more chapters of Petty Treason by Madeleine Robins and watched a rerun of Law & Order I had on TiVo. Then I took a 30 minute cat nap on the couch.

I'm ready to crawl into a hole and die.

And Gosh Darn It - People Like Me!

Today started out fairly crappy. I got an angry letter from a library patron. A library patron who suggested I don't know how to do my job.

OK.

I'll fully admit I'm a bitch. But when I'm at work, it's a different story. I'm Librarian Wendy. Bitchy Wendy stays locked in the trunk of my car while I'm in the office. And despite the various hassles of this job (the bureaucratic nonsense, supervising a staff, and having no money to provide services my patrons want/need), I think I'm pretty damn good at it.

Instead I get an angry letter from a patron who doesn't even frequent my library - just uses the book drop. And she doesn't call me or have her regular library call me with her problems/concerns. Nope. Just sends a 2 page letter detailing how my library isn't doing it's job.

So I took an extra long lunch break today. I went to Barnes and Noble. I got my Arby's fix. Now all I need is that bottle of Corona waiting for me at home and my mellowing process is complete.

And Party Every Day

The older I get (I'll be leaving behind my 20s this summer) the more I want straight-ahead rock and roll. I want "Helter Skelter." I want "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress." I want "Honky Tonk Woman."

Oh sure, I love pop music. The problem is I enjoy intelligent pop music - and that's about as hard to find as a California girl with natural, um, assets.

One of the first radio stations I discovered upon moving to the west coast was a fairly decent classic rock station. I could get my Queen, Steve Miller, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Rolling Stones and early U2 fix.

Not anymore.

Sometime yesterday they switched formats - and I'm still trying to figure out what they're trying to be. They're tag line is "Playing What We Want." And they certainly are. I'm not sure how happy I am about it either. So far a sample listening has netted songs by:

• Prince
• Rick Springfield
• Huey Lewis
• Aerosmith (crappy power ballad Aerosmith - not kick ass "Same Old Song And Dance" Aerosmith)
• War ("Low Rider")
  
• Steve Miller
• New Order (this one threw me - 1980s synth pop?!)
  
• Sweet ("Ballroom Blitz")
  
• Joshua Tree era U2
• Bryan Adams (shudder)
• Duran Duran
• Def Leppard
• 1970s Elton John
  

OK, what the hell is this about?! Dammit - I need my Lynyrd Skynyrd!

In their favor, so far there's been no annoying dj chatter. I hate morning radio. Just shut the fudge up and play some music already. Give me the weather. Give me the traffic. Then get the hell off the radio. We'll see if this trend continues though.

P.S. - Happy 35th Anniversary Mom and Dad! 35 years and Dad hasn't totally lost his mind....yet.

Blarney

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday I don't get - and yes, I'm Irish. I think the reason I don't understand it is because Americans use it as an excuse to act like idiots. Let's celebate Christianity coming to Ireland by getting falling down stinking drunk on nasty tasting, cheap green beer?! I don't get that.

I also have a hard time celebating a religion coming to a country that has seen numerous crimes, deaths and murders perpetuated in the name of two dominations affiliated with said religion.

And before anyone gets snotty - I'm not knocking religion. I'm knocking the horrible atrocities that are committed by petty, mean-spirited evil men who jusify their actions through religion. Any religion. Christianity certainly hasn't cornered the market on that.

Update on the burglar alarm going off at my library - turns out it probably wasn't someone trying to break in. When service to the main water line is interrupted for X amount of time it sets off the alarm. The running theory is that is what happened here.

In other library news - I have homeless people using the library grounds as their own personal locker rooms (and god knows what else). They're leaving coats, backpacks etc. lying around in one of my back patio areas.

Now, contrary to popular opinion, I really am a bleeding heart by nature. I really do sympathize with the blight of many homeless - because so many of them are mentally ill. I would have no issues with them staying on library grounds after business hours - assuming they didn't trash the place. And naturally they do trash the place. They trash the grounds with garbage and their own belongings - plus they have the disgusting habit of using my parking lot for a toilet.

Can everyone say it with me? Ewwwwwwww

I wrapped up The Irish Bride by Alexis Harrington yesterday - and after finishing it I got an idea for my next Romancing The Blog entry. My post for April 2 is set - but now I have an idea to kick around for May.

What The H Is Going On?!

I know some of you out there enjoy "exciting" library stories, and it's been fairly calm recently. No news is good news and all that. Well I now have 2 stories today for the price of 1.

I love my Honda Civic. It's reliable, it gets good gas mileage, and it's small. I love small cars. Anywho, a couple of weeks ago the boyfriend noticed I was H-less. Some punk-ass idiot stole the H symbol off my trunk!

"That's how people know it's a Honda!"

(Bonus points to anyone who knows where that quote is from)

At least they didn't scratch up my paint job. But seriously - what kind of pathetic loser steals an H? It's not like I drive a Mercedes or BMW (with my salary I'd have to live in one of those cars as well). I told my father my tale of woe - and he told me that back in the 1970s when he worked for Volkswagen people were stealing the VW symbol. Go figure.

Then last night, someone set the alarm off at the library. Luckily when the cops showed up there was no damage - so I wasn't greeted with a busted in door or broken out window this morning.

What kind of pathetic loser tries to break into a library?

(Noticing the theme of today's blog yet?)

Let me give you budding criminals a lesson on choosing locations to burglarize. My library is a really bad choice. Our copy machine is older than I am, the computers are hopelessly outdated (I suspect some of them have been banging around the county since 1990), and we keep very little money here. Very little. Trust me, you could get more out of a convenience store cash register.

You'd have much better luck holding up the McDonald's down the street.

Good Book Alert

It's not fair. I can't believe she's retiring! And what kind of idiot am I to pull one of her books out of my TBR so soon after hearing that bit of devastating news?

I just wrapped up Prairie Moon by Maggie Osborne, and man was it good. It starts out fairly conventional - but dang if the ending doesn't pack of whollop. I've read a few reviews since then that suggested the ending was "rushed," and while I can see that argument, it wasn't even a blip on my reading radar screen.

I'm one of those rarified readers who doesn't feel it's necessary to "relate" to the characters in order to enjoy a book. Frankly, more often than not, the characters are going through events that I cannot relate to since I've never been through them myself. However, I do need to understand the characters. I need to understand the choices they make. If they run around acting like morons - well, let's just say the book is sunk.

That's why I love Maggie Osborne's characters. They are never stupid. Oh sure, they make bad choices. But hell, who never makes one bad decision in their lifetime? Osborne succeeds where many authors fail because she makes the reader understand why her characters made those bad choices. I may not necessarily agree with that choice - but I understand it all the same.

Prairie Moon features a time-worn plot. It's 10 years after the American Civil War and Della Ward is still haunted by her memories. Then a stranger, James Cameron, comes riding up to her ramshackle farm house and presents her with her dead husband's last letter to her. Della thinks Cameron was her husband's friend - little does she know he's the man who ended her his life.

Clarence Ward put a face on all the good men that Cameron killed during the war. So yeah, he's feeling guilty as hell. He also realizes that with the death of her husband, Della's future was drastically altered. She was forced to give up her baby girl, work in a saloon, and now spends her days growing pumpkins on her farm. Still feeling he has a debt to pay - he takes Della on a cross-country trip to reunite her with her daughter.

I tend to actively dislike Big Secret plots - and Cameron hangs onto his Big Secret a long time. Yes, I found it annoying - but dang if I couldn't see his point. I also loved the ending! I know many readers will despise a certain twist that Osborne throws in here - but frankly, a shiny, happy, rainbow ending wasn't going to fit. Not after all these characters have been through.

And no, you ain't getting spoilers out of me - it would ruin the effect. I will say though that yes, this is a romance - so yes, hero and heroine do end up together in the end.

That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

Basketball Widow

Ugh. NCAA Tournament time.

Just shoot me.

Please.

I love my man. I really do. But he has a tendency to get exuberant over certain teams. Syracuse basketball being one of them. So while he's hollerin', cussin' and oozing testerone, I'm hiding out in our computer room/second bedroom listening to James Taylor.

Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean.....

RTB Teasers

Thanks to the software we use over at Romancing The Blog, columnists can "post" their entries early and they won't show up until the specific date we're assigned (my next post is scheduled for April 2). It also allows us to see the titles of other posts in the works. Later this month looks to be good - Lori Devoti's title to her next entry had me laughing out loud and Alyssa's next post should generate a lot of discussion. I can't wait to read both entries - and that's all you're getting out of me. You'll just have to wait.

In other news, I'm seriously cheesed off over here. I placed in order with eHarlequin back on February 14 (what can I say? It was a Valentine's Day sale!) and I have yet to receive my order. OK, so it usually does come by pony express from Buffalo, NY - but geez, c'mon already! I also fired off an e-mail to Customer Service back on Monday and have yet to hear one teeny-tiny peep out of them. They have until Friday - then they get a phone call.

I'll be wrapping up Ashes Of Dreams by Ruth Ryan Langan this week and I'm already flummoxed as to what I'll read next. I was thinking either a Harlequin Historical or a category romance. Now I'm thinking I'm in the mood for English setting (no Hell has not frozen over. I adore English settings, I just can't tolerate a steady diet of them).

This is why I keep reviewing - I need TRR's editor to make my reading decisions for me. When I have a stack of review books, I know what I'm reading next. Sometimes when I'm left to my own devices I'm incapable of making a decision. With hundreds of books at my fingertips it really shouldn't be that hard - should it?

Harry Potter Update

And So The Madness Begins...

Yes, we now have cover art for the next installment in Potter craziness - Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. Just a little tease for all you Pottermaniacs out there. Are you reading this Dad?

Totally Cool Book News

In totally cool book news, Stephen King will be releasing a new paperback for Dorchester's Hard Case Crime line in October 2005.

Really, it makes perfect sense. King probably wouldn't have his career today without his success in paperbacks, and like many of his generation, he has a devotion to the pulp genre.

Personally, I love pulp mysteries. I enjoy the dark atmosphere, the tough guy characters, the femme fatales and the wicked cool cover art. While I have never read King (despite my older sister hounding me for years to read The Stand), I do plan on picking this one up. My only foray so far into the Hard Case Crime line is the now Edgar nominated Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas. While I saw the resolution coming a mile off, I still enjoyed the story greatly.

Dorchester/Leisure has been helping to keep the western romance afloat - is it possible they can revive the tough guy mystery genre? I sure hope so....

Random Tidbits

Some random tidbits for today's blog posting:

First, my second column is up at Romancing the Blog. Stop by, leave a comment!

Also, I was remiss in not announcing the world that February 28 was the 2nd anniversary for my blog. I'm not sure if that's pathetic (shut-up already Wendy!) or an accomplishment of some sort. Jury is still out.

Just got an e-mail from my former boss back in Michigan. He told me he had a new contact with a library employment service and that I should forward my resume to him. I like California, but I'm not sure I'll end up staying here for the rest of my life. I do miss home. It's probably a good thing I didn't get this e-mail last week because I likely would have sent my resume with this note attached:

"Get me the Hell out of here now!"

Ah, to maybe work for a library that had money.

I can hear you all thinking, "Oh c'mon Wendy. It's can't be that bad."

Um, yeah it is. Here are the things my library system is currently not purchasing with central funds:

1. Pretty much any form of media. Audio books (on tape or CD), videos, DVDs.
2. Paperbacks. Period. I see a new title about once every 3 months (usually a Nora Roberts title, sometimes something more obscure)
3. Smaller branches (i.e. Me) are getting minimal number of reference books. I did get a 2005 WorldBook encyclopedia though - so maybe I shouldn't bitch.

So what does this mean? Well, if I want any of these items I need to beg my Friends Of The Library (wonderful folks - and I do mean that!) for funds or get it through donations.

It's only March 2 and I personally have already donated $457.97 in books. 9 hard covers and 35 paperbacks. I used to check out audio books from the library, but now I'm thinking if I ever want to see any new titles at my branch that I need to start buying those myself and donating them after I'm finished. The only new audio titles I get these days are ones my adult services librarian has been donating.

Why this sucks? Because ultimately the library patrons are subject to the whims of what the staff reads. I'm donating a bunch of romance and a little bit of mystery. Those hard covers I donated were mainly history/biography titles left over from my hoity-toity college days.

My adult services librarian likes funny and light mysteries. We're talking light. She pretty much steers clear of anything that has a smidgen of blood between the pages.

I did just place a book order today with Friends money and intentionally focused on areas I know our patrons will enjoy.

1. Women's fiction (you know, books where someone dies of cancer at the end)
   
2. True Crime
3. Fantasy
4. Some newer thriller type books that should appeal to men
5. Some miscellanous non-fiction titles (biography, Weight Watchers etc.)

All areas of the library that need some help, and that I'm not getting donations in. So the next time you think that your library system is behind the times, out of touch and has a piss-poor selection just remember - it could be worse. I long for the days when my only concern was maybe I only ordered 20 new audio book titles in a given month instead of 30.

And that concludes today's whine.

Noooooooo!

Well I don't know about you, but my day is shot all to hell. Thanks for nothing LLB.

OK, so it's not her fault. But dangnabit - I need to blame someone, so why not shoot the messenger?

Revealed in the latest issue of At The Back Fence? Maggie Osborne is retiring!!!!

Maybe I should just leave work now and find the nearest bridge.

Connie Brockway leaving behind historicals is also big news, and while I think Brockway is an extremely talented historical writer - I find the Osborne news more upsetting.

Let's be frank here. Brockway's main poison of choice were English-set historicals. The current derth of Regency historicals does not seem to be dying down, and while Brockway will surely be missed in this arena, there will be several authors vying for her abandoned throne.

Who is going to be vying for Maggie Osborne's crown? At this point, who the heck knows. Kensington/Zebra seems to be the only house left publishing westerns at all (outside of Harlequin Historicals, god bless their hearts!). And while some readers tend to turn their nose up at Zebra books - their new $3.99 debut author program and better cover art may help matters some. I'm also encouraged that they have several new authors in their camp that are writing westerns and/or American historicals (Kate Rothwell, Teresa Bodwell and Laura Drewry to name a few).

But I'm still depressed. Frankly, I haven't been this depressed since Pamela Morsi decamped to contemporary women's fiction. I know Osborne deserves her retirement, and I hope she enjoys it. I met her briefly at a conference in 2002 and she was a really nice lady. A class act.

Still, I plan on pouting for a while.

Update: I thought I was long overdue for a different template, so viola! Goodbye orange, hello green! I'm also going to try Blogger's commenting system. If I end up hating it, I may end up going back to Haloscan.

Coda to this entry: There is of course another house publishing western romance - Dorchester/Leisure. Talk about a major brain fart! Especially since I'm currently reading the latest Leigh Greenwood novel - an author who has been with Leisure for quite some time. Duh Wendy.