Or, why I am ambivalent about romance.
Why I am not always awestruck by the genre.
And why it’s more than the story.

And following on, sort of, from our spirited discussion on Conversion to Romance….No one expects the Romance Inquisition…”Silence, Infidel! Cardinal Scarlett, bring out the comfy chair, the Signet Regencies, the nice cup of tea and the cookies! Later there will be a test…”

Recently, a well-known literary agent bemoaned the fact that queries were full of cliches–rekindled passion, beautiful but feisty heroines, and more–and although there might have been some good stories lurking behind the turgid facades, we’ll never know. She rejected them. Who says language isn’t important?

Over sixty years ago, George Orwell defined six points of good writing in his essay Politics and the English Language:

(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never use a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. So why does so much romance use the same tired old cliches–the pebbled nubs, the hero who kisses the heroine senseless (quick, call Special Victims Unit!)? I know the argument is that we want to keep the reader in the flow of the story. We don’t want the reader to stop, gasp with astonishment at our artistry, put the book down, and….

But can’t we do better and keep the reader with us? We’re blessed with an extraordinarily rich and subtle language–the same language Austen, the Brontes, Dickens, and Shakespeare used.

Here’s something I love to quote as an example of startling, beautiful writing. It’s the beginning of D. H. Lawrence’s poem Figs. Yes, it’s about fruit, sort of, and if you read the whole thing you’ll find it has its moments but does wander off into DHL Crazyland:

The proper way to eat a fig, in society,
Is to split it in four, holding it by the stump,
And open it, so that it is a glittering, rosy, moist, honied, heavy-petalled four-petalled flower.

You might not want to drop that in the middle of a love scene. But you might want to come up with something of your own, rather than something someone else has used that is “safe.” You might want to use something specific to your characters’ experience, something that speaks to you–and to your reader.

So, yes, it’s all about the love, the romance, the relationship. But for me it’s about the words too.

Thoughts, anyone?

Janet

Enter my contest all this month at roadtoromance.ca
DEDICATION~Winner, 2006 Golden Leaf Contest (Regency)

I recently heard there’s a new version of PERSUASION in the works! It’s a TV version currently planned for sometime in 2007, directed by Adrian Shergold. I found this information at IMDB and of course anything might change, but it looks intriguing so far.

The role of Anne Elliott will be played by Sally Hawkins. Here’s a picture of her playing the character of Sue Trinder in Fingersmith, a BBC series set in Victorian London.

Rupert Penry-Jones is cast as Captain Wentworth. Here’s a shot of him as Adam Carter in Spooks. He’s also played St. John Rivers in a production of Jane Eyre.

I don’t know much more about these actors. I’m not sure which of their past works have made it across the pond and I’m way behind in TV and films anyway. Does anyone know more about them?

It’s hard to imagine anything to top the beautifully done 1995 version starring Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root. But then I felt that way about the 1995 version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and still enjoyed the very different interpretation of the story by Matthew McFadyen and Keira Knightly. I’m definitely open to a new version, which could be particularly interesting if it’s not under the time constraints of the 1995 version.

While I was googling around (it’s an addiction I try to fight-usually!) I also ran across this 1971 version, a 5-part miniseries starring Ann Firbank and Bryan Marshall. Has anyone seen this and what did you think? Am I wrong in thinking the guy’s hair looks a tad Victorian?

Anyway, if anyone knows more about the 2007 production, please share!

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

When I encounter a friend or relative who sneers at romance — or maybe just doesn’t read it — I don’t ignore the matter. I try to challenge their assumptions, and open their minds. I point out that Jane Austen, Dickens, Shakespeare and the Brontes wrote romances. I point out that the most-mocked literary subgenre is also the one that is most female — that often provokes some interesting discussion.

And if the skeptics I’m talking to are readers, and willing, I give them a few specially-chosen romances to read that I think they’ll like.

What do I choose? Romances that I think are really good, for starters — but also romances that I think will particularly appeal to non-romance readers. Maybe they have some particularly interesting history in them. Or great humor. Or interesting characters.

In the past, particular books I’ve had luck “converting” people with include:

Georgette Heyer — FRIDAY’S CHILD, VENETIA, FARO’S DAUGHTER, THE UNKNOWN AJAX

Joan Smith — SWEET AND TWENTY, IMPRUDENT LADY

Sheila Simonson — LADY ELIZABETH’S COMET

Jennifer Crusie — STRANGE BEDPERSONS, WHAT THE LADY WANTS, WELCOME TO TEMPTATION

So, what conversion books have you tried? Which have worked best?

Or do you just ignore ignorant remarks, and go off and read what you want?

Cara
Cara King — author of MY LADY GAMESTER, winner of the Booksellers’ Best Award for Best Regency of 2005

Congratulations to our winners, Maureen and Abookworm! See here for the contest winners announcement.

Sigh! As much as we love this happy ending, it is so difficult to say good-bye to Lizzie and Darcy (even if they might have a wish to be private for a little while. You know, to work on an heir)

Here are a few ways to linger in this lovely world Jane Austen and the BBC filmmakers created for us.

Pride & Prejudice Paradise This is a fun site with lots of things to explore, like “Missing Scenes” and (my favorite) “Did You Notice” which is something akin to P&P bloopers.

Here’s another P&P website – A Pride & Prejudice Photo Album This includes music that will be familiar to all who have seen P&P and photos from the companion book that was part of our prize.

And you just might want to peruse this Colin Firth biography It begins with this little suggestion:

“Try it as an experiment; walk into any pub or restaurant and shout out “Cab for Mr Darcy!” The result will always be the same. No man will express the slightest interest, but every woman’s eyes will brighten, a coy smile of delight will appear on her lips and her head will revolve as close to 360 degrees as is possible. Just in case it’s him – THE Mr Darcy.”

Don’t we all know this is true.

I am certain we Riskies will return to Colin Firth and Pride & Prejudice again, never fear.

Here’s a total but wonderful change of subject!

This past weekend I was at the New Jersey Romance Writers Conference with my fellow Riskies, Elena Greene and Janet Mullany. Both of these ladies were finalists for the Golden Leaf Award for Best Regency. Elena for Lady Dearing’s Masquerade and Janet for Dedication.
It was a tough battle, but Janet Mullaney won for Dedication. She has a very pretty lucite award to show for it, too. Contests have been good for the Riskies this year.

And now on to new obsessions…..

This week the Trailer for the movie “300” was shown on TV and in movie theaters. A version of it can be seen online. “300” is based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel of the same name, about the Spartans and the Battle of Thermopylae. Gerard Butler plays King Leonidas, so I’ve been, let’s say, interested in this movie. From how the trailer appears, “300” is going to be an amazing visual experience, and I am not just talking about the–um–costumes. The movie will be released in March 2007.

Hey. I just realized that March 2007 will be the month my next Mills & Boon/Harlequin Historical will be released. Remember Rose, the singer, from A Reputable Rake? Innocence & Impropriety tells her story.

I also have a Christmas novella, “A Twelfth Night Tale” in Mistletoe Kisses, Harlequin’s Regency Christmas anthology coming in Nov 2006. You’ll hear more of that soon.

Have any of you read Frank Miller’s graphic novel “300“?
Have any of you read a graphic novel?
I’m tempted to buy “300” to see what it is like.

Here is my little preview for you.

Cheers!
Diane

And the two winners of the BBC/A&E 10th Anniversary limited edition Pride and Prejudice package, which includes both the DVDs of the award-winning miniseries and the illustrated companion book, are:

drumroll, please……..

Maureen
and
aBookworm

Congratulations to both of you! Just send your contact info to Cara at caraking1@yahoo.com, and then sit back and wait until Colin Firth arrives in your mailbox.

We wish we had enough Colin Firth Darcys that we could send one to every one of our fabulous commenters — but we don’t. Of course, if you like, you can visit the A&E online store and order your very own Colin Firth Darcy.

And if you’ve enjoyed visiting us this week, do come back often! We have lots of fun here, plus passionate discussions about topics ranging from SENSE AND SENSIBILITY to Regency rakes, from 19th century medicine to writer’s block, and from books we love to covers we hate.

Remember — Mr. Darcy will be here….waiting for you….

Risky Regencies