Spotlight on Barbara Dawson Smith   By Cheryl Bolen

Over the past few years, Cheryl Bolen has been publishing a Spotlight series of biographical sketches of a number of romance writers at her web site. She has graciously allowed us to re-post those biographical sketches here at the Beau Monde blog.

Today, we begin with a biographical sketch of award-winning romance author, Barbara Dawson Smith …

A Romance Reader’s Pet Peeves: The 10 That Set Me On Edge Every Time! By Regan Walker

A Romance Reader’s Pet Peeves: The 10 That Set Me On Edge Every Time!  By Regan Walker

All readers have their pet peeves and it’s why we love some romances and hate others.

I found it rather cathartic to set mine to paper. I wanted to speak for other readers whose reviews I see on the Internet (along with mine). Though I read primarily historical romance, these aren’t limited to that genre. Hopefully this will help authors who want to please their readers avoid some pitfalls.

Here are my top 10:

1. A cover that has nothing to do with the story. I realize the authors have little to do with this so it’s really a gripe at the publishers. But it is nonetheless valid. Real examples abound: A handsome pirate with black hair and dark eyes on the cover, but the hero has blond hair and silver eyes! A Victorian costumed woman on the cover of a Restoration romance.  A Highlander in a plaid kilt on the cover but the story takes place centuries before they wore kilts. A heroine described as “plain and plump” but the cover shows her a beauty with a devastating figure. Please. Why is it the publishers think readers don’t notice? Well, we do and it’s irritating!

2. A title that doesn’t describe the story or cheapens it. I know the publishers are selling romance like the cable outfits sell sex, but when they use a dime store novel title just because it sounds like a book that is selling well, or they think the words “seduced,” “ravished,” or “in bed with” will make us buy it, to me it cheapens a serious historical romance. And don’t use words in the title that aren’t related to the story, like “pirate” if there’s no pirate in the romance (yes, I encountered one like that!), or “seduced” when there’s no seduction. The authors I’ve talked to hate it when publishers do this, though they have little say about it. That is sad, really. I have heard this from several authors, who I will not name for fear of getting them in trouble with their publishers, but still. Do the publishers think we readers would like the books any less if they used more honest, serious, worthy titles? (Like perhaps the one the author prefers?)

3. Not enough emotion to engage mine. Witty dialog, clever storylines and great hooks may be preferred by today’s publishers, but if you can’t engage my emotions, if you can’t make me care, I won’t be rating the book 5 stars. And it takes time to build characters, to tell me why I should love or hate them. Only some authors get my 5 star emotional rating: Penelope Williamson (a two-Kleenex box author), Kathleen Givens, Nadine Crenshaw, Marsha Canham, Virginia Henley, Betina Krahn and Iris Johansen, to name a few.

4. Simpering, whiny or weak heroines. Some people might like the weak, simpering females. Not me. I like my heroines with backbone. Not snippy or snarky, mind you. I’m talking about real character. Inspire me with courageous heroines who won’t be dictated to, who rise to meet life’s challenges and you just might make me a fan. A good example is Sarah in BROKEN ARROW by Judith James. Sarah is one of the best heroines out there: strong, compassionate—a unique individual who swims against the tide—and a woman who fights for the man she loves. Another is Fallon in PRINCESS OF FIRE by Heather Graham (aka Shannon Drake), who refused to be cowered by William the Conqueror. My reviews on Amazon that give romances 5 stars are replete with other examples. There is no quicker way to turn me off to a story than to make the heroine a whimpering, whiny female. (I could give you examples of those, too.) And it doesn’t make me happy if, later in the story, she suddenly becomes a Valkyrie. Not buying it. Mind you, I expect the heroine to cry for a valid reason. People do. But if she is constantly teary eyed and whimpering, I won’t finish the book nor read another by that author.

5. Contrived plot elements. I’m reading along, enjoying a great romance when suddenly, wham, out of nowhere something happens that just doesn’t fit—and isn’t believable. I know it’s romance, but it has to be natural…not contrived just to get the story moving in a certain direction. This is really important and can turn me off to an author quicker than anything. I have found that authors who engage in this do so again and again. I won’t mention names but suffice it to say these are the ones I’ve given 2 or 3 stars; and they are not on my lists of “Best” romances.

6. A research dump. I really appreciate it when the historical romance reflects the author’s thorough research. I can always tell and I give them high marks for it in my reviews. But don’t dump everything you learned into long passages in the story. If the heroine is a potter, I don’t need the encyclopedia version of everything there is to know about pottery—or fossils, or painting, or stone masonry, etc. I don’t need to go back to school. If I want more details, I’ll look them up. I can give you many authors who incorporate their research very well. A few whose names come to mind are Virginia Henley, Heather Graham (aka Shannon Drake), Nadine Crenshaw, Marsha Canham, Cynthia Wright, Elizabeth Stuart, Meredith Duran, Judith James, Joanna Bourne and Penelope Williamson.

7. Moral lectures disguised as romance. Yes, I know poverty existed in the past centuries (as it does now), and I don’t mind if this is reflected in the story, but don’t lecture me on the importance of being socially responsible. Don’t lecture me on the evils of slavery, natural healers that aren’t really witches, the benefits of vegetarianism, being charitable to the poor, etc. I get it. Reflect it, but don’t moralize. If you feel strongly, write an editorial, not a romance.

8. A character acting inconsistently. You know this one…a smart, savvy heroine who suddenly does something really stupid. In once romance I read, the heroine, who had been pretty smart up until this point, suddenly goes along with an abduction. Doesn’t scream, doesn’t fight. Nada. It was so disappointing it threw off my whole feeling about the story. Or, consider the hero who has always been a noble, forthright guy, who suddenly believes the worst about the heroine with no real evidence or provocation. Ugh!

9. Manufactured sexual tension. It’s gotta be real. It should come naturally out of the circumstances and the lives of the characters, but in some 2 and 3 star romances, it comes out of thin air. That will sour me on a story quicker than anything. You know what I’m talking about: arguments that should never have happened; misunderstandings any normal human being would clear up with one sentence—those things! I give highest marks to an author who has an intriguing plot that naturally develops and holds my attention, one who does not throw a wrench into the works merely to create conflict or separate the hero and heroine.

10. Love scenes that don’t match the characters or are the same in every one of the author’s books. If the heroine is an innocent virgin and suddenly she is seducing the hero with moves like a practiced courtesan (and especially the word “Please” as a euphemism for “do it now”), you just lost me. The love scene has to match the people involved and their experience. If you want a courtesan’s moves, then make the heroine an experienced woman of the night. A failure to match the love scene to the characters can be subtle. If the heroine is insecure and her past reflects bad experiences with men, she isn’t going to jump into bed with the hero and take the initiative in lovemaking. No way. It must seem like the kind of love scene these two people would share. And, please don’t make all your love scenes the same in every book you write—readers notice!

Regan Walker

(http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com)

Comfits — Regency Tic-Tacs^®

A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:

Not only did a great many people regularly brush their teeth during the years of the Regency, they were also concerned about bad breath when socializing with others. For that reason, many people carried small sweets about with them. In Shakespeare’s day they were called "kissing comfits," but by the time of the Regency they were referred to simply as comfits.

What exactly were these Regency breath-mints? Of what were they made, how were they made, and how were they carried?

TBM Forum Debut:   Working on the Web

This month, the Beau Monde Chapter of the Romance Writers of America is pleased to announce the debut of a new section in the Chapters/Special Interest Groups area of the myRWA.org forum. This new section is entitled "Working on the Web." It is intended to be a place where Beau Monde members can come to learn, or to share, tips and tricks on how to enhance our outcomes when working on the Internet.

The World Wide Web is now a fact of life for most authors, but we all have different attitudes, needs and levels of experience as we work in the online environment. This new section of the myRWA forum will be devoted to discussing those issues so that members will have one place where they can come to ask questions, get information and/or share it. Thus, we can all better understand and maximize our usage of the Web to our mutual advantage and benefit.

Some of the topics in this new forum will include:

• Blogging:   Tips and Best Practices
• eBook Publishing:   Authors’ Advice and Experiences
• General Web-Related Topics
• Online Safeguards:   Protecting Your Work & Safe Surfing
• Search Engine Optimization:   Getting Found on the Web
• Social Media:   FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter &c.
• Web Site Usability and Accessibility

This month, articles have been posted in the Working on the Web forum which explain the basic theory of search engine optimization (SEO) and how to select the necessary keywords in order to optimize your own web site. There is also an article which discusses the different digital denizens who inhabit the web and why each group tends to approach the use of the web in different ways. Visit the new Working on the Web forum to determine into which "digital" category you fall.

Next month, articles planned for the new forum include details on taking maximum SEO advantage of the single most powerful HTML tag on any web page, as well as a safe-surfing article on the whys and hows of constructing strong passwords to increase the security of your online accounts. In addition, all Beau Monde members are invited to drop in to this new section of the forum any time, to ask questions, or to share any information you have gleaned in your online travels and adventures.

If you are not yet a Beau Monde member, and would like to join us, please visit our Membership page for details.

Of Jehus and Jarvies

A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:

Readers of Regency romance novels are familiar with the ubiquitous figures of the jarvey and the Jehu on the box of one kind of vehicle or another. These two words are commonly used in modern writing interchangeably, as though they were synonymous. Yet, my reading of various Regency documents such as books, letters, diaries, newspapers and other periodicals over the years has led me to the conclusion that in actual fact these two words are quite antonymous. A jarvey is not a Jehu, nor is a Jehu a jarvey. Not to mention that a jarvey is not a coachman, but a Jehu might be.

So what is the difference between a Jehu and a jarvey?

What is Nielsen’s BookScan?   By Cheryl Bolen

In today’s article, Cheryl Bolen, award-winning romance author, tells us about Nielsen’s BookScan, which tracks point-of-sale statistics on book sales at a number of retail outlets. This article was written in 2005, and sadly, some of those retail outlets have fallen to the economic pressures of recent years. Nevertheless, publisher’s do use this list to guide many of the decisions they make, including whether or not to acquire another book from one of their authors.

If you are not already aware of the importance of the Nielson BookScan, let Cheryl Bolen explain …

Alphabet of Gems:  The Language of Stones During the Regency

A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:

First introduced in France as the eighteenth century slipped into the nineteenth, and despite the ongoing Napoleonic wars, this particular type of sentimental jewelery soon crossed the English Channel to become all the rage in England, just as the Prince of Wales was poised to become Regent. The majority of this kind of jewelery had a romantic theme, though there were instances when it was used to register political protest. Though these jeweled messages were very popular in Regency England, they have yet to find their way into any Regency romance which I have come across.

How precious gems first began to express tender sentiments, two hundred years ago …

Horseracing: The Thoroughbred of English Sports by Cheryl Bolen

Horse racing can be an exciting aspect of a Regency romance novel. In today’s article, Cheryl Bolen gives us a brief overview of the origins of the sport and some historical details about some of the most prominent racing venues in England.

Grace Kone (Blair Bancroft) – Featured Beau Monde Author

Grace Kone (Blair Bancroft) is today’s Featured Beau Monde Author

Grace Kone’s Biography -

I began writing (as Blair Bancroft) later than most because my mother was the successful author of children’s books, and it never occurred to me we could have two writers in the same family.

When I did make the attempt, the Regency was closest to my heart. But since I truly believe variety is the spice of life, I also write Romantic Suspense, Thrillers, Mystery, Futuristic, and Steampunk.

My Tarleton’s Wife won a Golden Heart and The Indifferent Earl, a RITA finalist, was chosen Best Regency by Romantic Times.

In 2011 I went “indie” with my backlist and am thoroughly enjoying the renaissance of my traditional Regencies.

A new Regency novella, Mistletoe Moment, was published by Ellora’s Cave (Blush) for the holidays.

Grace Kone Orange blossoms & Mayhem

And in January 2012 I uploaded my first indie-published new work, the thriller, Orange Blossoms & Mayhem.

Website: www.blairbancroft.com

Blog: http://mosaicmoments.blogspot.com

Facebook: Grace Kone

Linkedin: Grace Kone

Twitter: @blairbancroft

Anna Small – Featured Beau Monde Author

Anna  Small is today’s Featured Beau Monde Author.

Anna Small

Anna is a PRO member of Romance Writers of America and according to her, it seems like she’s been writing romance forever!

Anna says….My western historical, TAME THE WILD WIND, was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2010 and a contemporary romance, TAKING A CHANCE ON FOREVER, was published in 2011 by Bookstrand.

My website is www.annasmallbooks.com.

Cheryl Bolen Reveals The Power? of the Golden Heart Award

With the entry period for Beau Monde’s Royal Ascot Contest now underway, many of us are polishing our manuscripts and daydreaming about what effect a win might have on our budding writing careers. In today’s article, Cheryl Bolen, award-winning published author of several historical romance novels, records her conversations with a group of Golden Heart award finalists. They share their thoughts on the impact which Golden Heart recognition had on their careers and their success in publishing their books.

Lauren Smith – Featured Beau Monde Author

Lauren Smith is today’s Featured Beau Monde Author.

Lauren Smith has been obsessed with writing since the third grade, when her teacher convinced her to submit her mystery thriller novella to a young writer’s conference in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ever since that fateful day, Lauren’s been a dedicated writer. Having grown up on classics and fantasy novels, she didn’t start writing romance until her second year of law school.

Lauren is currently an Intellectual Property attorney with both American and Canadian law degrees, but she stays up late to write by the flashlight app on her smart phone. She loves writing Regency and paranormal romances. In addition to the Beau Monde, she belongs to the Oklahoma Outlaws and Passionate Ink where she writes erotic romance under the pen name Emma Rochester. Lauren was a 2011 semi-finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award. She was a quarter-finalist for the 2010 Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award.

Find her at Facebook — Twitter — theleagueofrogues.blogspot.com

Wendy Soliman – Featured Beau Monde Author

Wendy Soliman is today’s Featured Beau Monde Author.

A British author who grew up on the Isle of Wight in southern England, Wendy was surrounded by historic buildings, castles and ancient ruins. With all that, she says it is little wonder that her first love is historical romance. So far, she has published nine Regency romances and has just started work on a new series which features the Forster dynasty.

Her most recent release from Carina Press is A Scandalous Proposition, featuring a handsome major in the Napoleonic wars and a Spanish heroine with links to the local house of ill-repute. Her next book, The Perfect Impostor, will be released in April, also from Carina Press. When two friends change places for a week, what could possibly go wrong?

Wendy is a member of the RWA, the Tampa Bay Chapter of the RWA, The British Romantic Novelists’ Association, and The British Society of Authors, Novelists Inc. She now divides her time between Andorra and Florida. She lives with her husband, Andre, and a rescued dog of indeterminate pedigree, named after the hero in one of her books, on the basis that they’re both handsome hunks, with independent spirits and naughty streaks.

Find her at Facebook — Twitter — wendysoliman.blogspot.com — www.wendysoliman.com

The Journal of Mrs. Arbuthnot by Cheryl Bolen

Today’s article from Cheryl Bolen is a review of the published journals of Harriet Arbuthnot, a close friend and confidant of the Duke of Wellington. Mrs. Arbuthnot was also a social hostess of the Tory party, and knew many of the social and political luminaries of her time. She has recorded her impressions of many of them in her journal. Cheryl Bolen will share her observations on Mrs. Arbuthnot herself, based on that same journal. This review of the journal includes excerpts, which allow Mrs. Arbuthnot to speak to us across the centuries.

ASSEMBLY ROOM – Round-up of Regency and historical posts

1805-1825 Almack's Assembly Room

FROM OUR ASSEMBLY ROOM - Round-up of Regency and historical posts

The Beau Monde is pleased to present lots more great Regency links for you to try.

La Belle Assembly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We could always use more Ackerman’s for Regency fashion: http://ekduncan.blogspot.com/2011/07/regency-era-fashions ackermanns_03.html

What would Hyde Park be without the Serpentine?  http://www.candicehern.com/regency_today.htm

Hyde Park

Related articles from members of The Beau Monde Regency Chapter

• Jane Austen and Regency Fashion Plates (myrettarobens.com)
• Regency Fashion 1811 (regencyramble.blogspot.com)
• Regency England Links for Readers & Writers (vickydreiling.com)

The Sales and Distribution of Mass Market Books by Cheryl Bolen

Your manuscript has been accepted by a publisher, editing has been completed, you have approved the cover design and the book has gone to press. But the next steps are just as important, how will your newly-published novel be sold and distributed? In today’s article, Cheryl Bolen shares details on how and where your book will be sold and the percentages of sales typically achieved in the various venues. She also reveals the methods employed by most publishers’ sales reps to get your book into the hands of your readers.

Announcing the 2012 Royal Ascot!

Unpublished writers: Polish the first 7000 words of those manuscripts! The 2012 Royal Ascot will open for Entries on February 1st, 2012. In the next few weeks, details will be available on our webpage and through MyRWA, but, for now, here are highlights:

This year’s contest will be open to unpublished authors and authors who have not been contracted in book length fiction by RWA PAN definition in the last 5 years. All entries must have at least partial Regency (Late Georgian) setting, broadly defined: within the United Kingdom between 1780 and 1840. No synopsis is necessary!Our categories will be used to assign first round judges to the manuscript types they prefer:

Regency Historical (longer Regency or Mainstream Regency-set)

Hot Regency (Very sensual to Erotic Regency, at author’s discretion)

Wild Regency (Paranormal, Time Travel, other similar Regency)

Sweet & Mild Regency (Traditional, Inspirational, Young Adult or other without explicit sex).

Each entry will be judged by three judges, including at least one published in Regency Romance. The lowest score will be dropped, and the top six entries will move to the final round.

Our Final Round Judges are:

Agents

• Stephany Evans, Fine Print Literary
• Louise Fury, L Perkins Agency
• Pam Hopkins, Hopkins Literary Associates

Editors

• Lauren Plude, Hachette Book Group
• Angela Polidoro, Random House
• Deb Werksman, Sourcebooks

Besides the February 1st opening, some additional important dates are:

• Friday April 6th, 2012, midnight PDT: Deadline for all parts of entry
• Finalists Announced May 25th, 2012
• Winner(s) will be announced at The Beau Monde Conference

Further details will be announced on the blog and website soon! If you have any questions, feel free to contact this year’s co-coordinators, Sarah Tormey and Wendy La Capra, at royalascotcontest@gmail.com. Thank you!

Happy holidays to all our readers

       Happy holidays to all our wonderful readers.

           Enjoy your celebrations and stay safe.

                                         With love from The Beau Monde.

Related articles

• Merry Christmas (georgianaduchessofdevonshire.blogspot.com)
• Holiday Wishes from Risky Carolyn (riskyregencies.blogspot.com)
• Christmas Stories (wordwenches.typepad.com)

The Education of Young Men and Women in the Regency — by Cheryl Bolen

Today we offer you an article by Cheryl Bolen about the way in which young people of both sexes were educated during the Regency. She presents some interesting facts on a Regency education which authors might find of value in their research. Bolen makes clear that the education of ladies was not ignored, nor was education available only to the wealthy. However, as you read about education in Regency times, consider whether or not you would have enjoyed getting an education, Regency-style.