As the Big Day approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in the Holiday Madness: Did I mail out all the cards, is the house relatively clean, watch out for that ornament!, I thought YOU were going to pick up the Christmas Blend coffee, why am I awake at 12:30am?

But the most important thing about this time of year, no matter what your Big Day is like (or what religion or not you prefer), is to remember the Important Things. Family, even if they drive you nuts. Your friends, who are there when you have panic attacks (ahem.), your significant other, whether it’s your spouse or your nicest cat. The rituals of the season, from Secret Santa with your best pals, or taking a detour on the way home so you can view the crazily-decorated tree.

And what does this have to do with being Risky, or writing in the Regency? Nothing–and everything. Because the books we love are our significant others sometimes, too, because the authors create worlds with love, family, friendship, rituals, and Big Day stress.

Over at my own blog, I’ve declared it Delurking Week (thanks to Meljean Brook, who had the idea first), and I encourage all you Risky visitors to say hi and maybe relate a special holiday tradition you cherish, or just what you do to get away from it all. Maybe talk about what book you’re looking forward to opening after you’ve opened all the presents. Or just pipe up and tell us just what’s on your mind right now.

To all my fellow Riskies, Happy Holidays! May the New Year bring New Contracts, Friendly Booksellers, and Loads of Devoted Fans. To the Risky Regencies Visitors, thanks for coming by and becoming a part of the Risky community.

Megan
www.meganframpton.com

No, this isn’t the cover of my next book. It’s a splendid rendition by writer Delle Jacobs, wearing her designer hat, based on an etching by Fragonard called L’Armoire (the closet) after I’ve been tearing my hair out over a new title for my regency chicklit. Delle pointed out the interesting phenomenon of the hat held in place without benefit of hands.

The marketing department at Avon decided that The Chronicles of Miss Wellesley-Clegg with the Occasional Scribbles of Mr. Inigo Linsley was a bit of a mouthful and might confuse booksellers. Furthermore, it’s no longer a romance/regency chicklit. I have been promoted to the status of a historical writer, and it will be released as a HarperCollins historical–ironic, since I consider this the most romance-y thing I’ve written. And my editor invited–or summoned–me to come up with a new title.

My first round of titles, including the brilliant Running with Rakes (suggested by my agent), were rejected as sounding too much like a romance. I suggested Mr. Darcy’s Trousers, which frankly I think says it all about why we like the Regency period. Nope, there’s nothing about Darcy in the book otherwise. My next batch included the immortal Gentlemen in Tight Trousers. Other (rejected) attempts were: The Smallest Room, Tart Rejoinders, Tart and Sweet, Present Imperfections, Tea and Scandal, The Happiest Delineations, and One Polish’d Horde (the last three after an evening with the Oxford Book of Quotations).

My additional challenge here is that the title has to indicate the book is funny, since this line seem to be quite serious, although very nice-looking with fine art and pretty squiggly things. I have yet to suggest Not Another Austen Knock-Off, but I’m keeping it in reserve.

So what makes a title? What makes a title specifically romance-y–is it random use of specific words like passion, scandal, savage, sweet, secret? And what makes a title specifically a historical title? Any thoughts? Or, more important, what makes a title work?

Janet
(hoping the title fairy as well as santa will visit soon)

P.S. Here’s an excerpt from the book from my website, www.janetmullany.com. And check out my Christmas recipe for Cranberry Nut Tart, too, while you’re there.

Well, I’m finally over my stupid sinus infection and getting back into the holiday swing.

Last night we went to my daughter’s 5th grade chorus concert where she sang a short solo in “Masters of this Hall.” One cannot pay for entertainment like that! 🙂 It is one of my favorite holiday tunes, too. Here’s a version from the Christmas Revels Collection: Six Centuries of European & American Christmas Music.

Besides music my other holiday preoccupation is baking. When asked to help out with church or school activities, I always volunteer to do cookies. For one thing, it’s a great way to avoid having to run games with 20 odd sugared up kids. But frankly, I love getting my fingers into squishy dough, I love the smell of cookies baking, and of course, I love eating them.

Last year I blogged about my experiment at Banbury Cakes. They were not especially accurate but good. This year I’ll inflict another recipe on you. This one’s really easy and the results are melting.

VANILLA CRESCENTS

1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts, whatever you like best)
Additional confectioners sugar for dusting

1. Cream butter, gradually add in sugar, then vanilla.
2. Sift flour and salt together; add gradually to butter/sugar mixture. Add nuts.
3. Let chill for an hour or so.
4. Roll into balls about 1 inch diameter, then form into crescents.
5. Bake at 350 deg on lightly buttered cookie sheet for about 15 minutes. Cookies will not change color much but they are done when they get just a bit golden around the bottom edges. While still hot, roll in more confectioners sugar.

Another holiday favorite is Grasshopper Squares, a recipe I found in Gourmet magazine. If you like the combination of mint and chocolate and have some time for fussing and assembling, it’s well worth the effort and calories.

I figure by the end of the holidays I may resemble this lady from Gillray’s satire on Following the Fashion (1794). Right now I don’t care. 🙂

So what are your favorite holiday tunes? Cookie recipes? Eating strategies?

Elena Greene
LADY DEARING’S MASQUERADE, RT Reviewers’ Choice, Best Regency Romance of 2005
www.elenagreene.com

My Christmas “gifts” came early this year – two requests for revisions for Diane Gaston’s newest Harlequin Mills & Boon, The Vanishing Viscountess, and Diane Perkins’ latest Warner Forever, Desire in His Eyes.

After an author turns in a completed manuscript, the next step in the publishing process is for the editor to read through it and write a revision letter with things the editor thinks should be changed. It was my luck that my HMB revisions came incredibly fast and my Warner revisions came sorta late and that they both came at Christmas time.

The author has some say so in whether she actually makes the changes that the editors request, but my experience has been that my editors make the books better and I’m happy to take their advice.

Imagine my surprise, however, when both editors asked me to “show” why my heroes and heroines fell in love with each other. In both these books, my heroes and heroines are, shall we say, put in very intimate situations with each other. I could not stop them! My heroes and heroines ganged up on me and demanded a more “sensual” book, but apparently they forgot to remind me to show why they were so “attracted” to each other. Why did they fall in love?

I’ve no doubt I can fix this little problem. The present I’m giving to myself is to not even look at these two manuscripts until after Christmas, but in the meantime, it got me thinking. How do readers like the author to show how the hero and heroine in a romance fall in love?

That’s my question for you today. How do you like your heroes and heroines to show they are falling in love?

Cheers,
Diane

Today is Jane Austen’s 213th birthday! It’s also the birthday of Ford Madox Ford, Noel Coward, Beethoven, and my mother. And, since I still need to go shopping for her present before her party tonight (my mom, not Jane Austen), I’m going to borrow from the Jane Austen Centre’s newsletter for today’s post. This month’s quiz concerns parties from Austen novels. Test your knowledge (I missed 2!), and the answers are at the end. But no peeking! Let us know how you did, and which Austen party you would most enjoy attending. I think I would be partial to the Netherfield ball.

1) At the Phillips’ card party what sort of card game does Mr. Collins play?
a) Whist
b) Speculation
c) Loo

2) On what date is the Netherfield ball held?
a) 1st of November
b) 15th of November
c) 26th of November

3) When Fanny is invited to her first dinner at the parsonage with the Grants, what is the main course?
a) Mutton
b) Venison
c) Turkey

4) Fanny receives what from Miss Crawford to wear to the ball at Mansfield?
a) A chain
b) A necklace
c) A cross

5) The party at the Westons’ when Mr. Elton proposes is what sort of party?
a) A ball
b) A birthday party
c) A Christmas party

6) Mrs. Elton is shocked at the lack of what at Highbury card parties?
a) Ice
b) Wine
c) Music

7) Anne talks with Captain Wentworth and thinks he might still love her at what event?
a) A play
b) A concert
c) An opera

8) The Elliotts have what kind of party in Bath?
a) An evening party
b) A dinner party
c) An engagement party

9) Mary Musgrove complains about their going out to dinner at the Pooles’ for what reason?
a) The food was not elegant enough
b) The children were present
c) She was squashed in the carriage

10) In Northanger Abbey, where does Catherine meet Henry Tilney?
a) A play at the theatre
b) A ball in the Lower Rooms
c) A concert in the concert hall

A
N
S
W
E
R
S

1) a
2) c
3) c
4) b
5) c
6) a
7) b
8) a
9) c
10) b