Should Christians read R-rated books?

Caveat: I'm doing what I said I would never do: talk about religion in my blog. Bear with me, please. Nothing I say below is intended to offend or provoke anyone. Nor am I trying to proselytize. I'm actually speaking to believers with the blog below, so if you aren't one, feel free to skip this post and go onto the next (which features a picture of a very handsome man).

Okay, now that it's just the two of us, let me be clear: I do not write Christian or inspirational novels. But my faith is a part of everything I do and everything I am. My stories reflect the deeply flawed choices that deeply flawed humans make. As a writer who is also a believer and follower of Christ, I have struggled with this question for a long time: should I write R-rated? Should I read it?

I write very frankly about relationships between men and women in a real world way. I have been criticized by Christians for the portrayal of sensuality in my books; one reader on a review website even called my books "porn," which quite frankly took me aback. Porn is degrading to women and anathema to building relationships. That is definitely not what my stories are about. I think what they count as porn was simply the frank depiction of human sensuality. In that case, Song of Solomon in the Old Testament would have to be considered porn.

Ultimately, as Dr. Jerram Barrs explains in this video in which he discusses whether Christians should watch R-rated films, it is the context of these portrayals which must be taken into consideration. Are the portrayals intended to uplift or degrade?

I think a lot of what he states is right on target and can be applied to novels as well as films. I have struggled for a long time with how to address this very question to those Christians who ask me why I write (or read) these sorts of books.

So here I am, trying to explain.

I have an interest in the ways men and women relate to one another, both good and bad, beautiful and ugly, right and wrong, and my choices reflect that. While my stories aren't true, they are, I hope, real, and readers identify with that reality. I'm like them, they think. I want to be loved unconditionally. I want to experience the sort of physical union that comes as a result of the union of two souls committed to one another unto death. The yearning to be loved unconditionally, which is often reflected in romance novels, is one that I believe is an echo of the yearning we have toward God--the only one who can truly love us unconditionally.

So, if you are a believer, and you want to explore those questions along with me, understand that there may be sex. There may be swearing. There may be bad choices. But, ultimately, there will be life, love, an uplifting union, and a happily ever after. Because in God's book, the good guys win; in mine, they do too.

That's not to say that every romance novel fits the criteria of being uplifting. And some, quite frankly, degrade the very people they are intended to entertain. I don't read those. That's my choice. You'll have to make yours.

If you are uncomfortable with the frank depiction of sexuality between men and women, I wouldn't recommend reading my books. There are many lovely, wonderful books out there that close the bedroom door before the couple climbs into bed, and I can suggest several that I myself have enjoyed. As I get older, in fact, I find I enjoy seeing less of the physical side of relationships in books and more of the emotional side, and my own work is beginning to reflect that. I'm at a different place in my life and asking different questions as a result.

I also don't recommend my books for young readers--I don't allow my own underage teenage boys to read them, although they are well aware of what I write. I suggest to them that they wait until they are mature enough to handle the material, just as my husband and I have monitored which movies they watch and allow them more leniency as they mature and are better able to handle what they see.

My first published book, The Legacy, written about 13 years ago, was pretty frank, and yet I still managed to explore God's love in that one as I have in each successive book. My writing has gotten stronger and I'm able to do more with less, to write tighter, to get more impact with fewer words. Still, please don't be shocked if you pick up one of my books and read a love scene (I've always said I don't write sex scenes, only love scenes) that makes you uncomfortable. If it's not to your taste, find a book that is. There are plenty of other choices out there, and plenty of authors who would love your support. One of the things I love about being a Christian is the freedom it brings to make my own choices while understanding the consequences those choices have, both for me and for those around me. I never want what I write to cause my brother (or sister) to stumble, so if you feel my work might do that for you, feel free to make a different choice.

Thanks for letting me explore this topic with you. I've wanted to for a long time, but never really knew how to say it until now. Yep, even writers have trouble with words sometimes when it counts most.

~TJ Bennett

All Entangled Eve, A Halloween Hop!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You've arrived! So glad to see you have made time for my stop on the http://www.entangledinromance.com/2013/10/14/all-entangled-eve-a-halloween-hop/ All Entangled Eve Halloween Blog HOP! 

For this hop, Entangled Publishing authors will be giving away great prizes for our visitors at the end of the hop on Halloween, so be sure to visit the blogs of all the Entangled authors participating in the hop (click on the link above to get the list). That's over 50 so far! I will be giving away a $20 Amazon.com gift card and a cameo necklace to one lucky reader. I was going to say "randomly drawn" reader, but that sounded like I was going to have an artist here doing random drawings of readers. Or, possibly, drawing them in a random way. Which, as a former English teacher, I found disturbing, grammatically speaking, so "lucky" it is. But I digress.

In my latest book, Dark Angel: A Gothic Fairy Tale, it is an interesting coincidence that the climactic scene in the book takes place on All Hallow's Eve. I hadn't planned it that way, but when I checked the calendar for when the Great Charter Storm occurred along England's coast back in 1859, and which is a trigger for my story's events, turns out it was just a few days before Halloween. So, being a clever writer, I figured I'd take advantage of that spooky day for my somewhat spooky final scene. 

But in this scene from Dark Angel, my heroine Catherine Briton, a former nurse who served in the Crimean Theater with Florence Nightingale, has just washed up on the shore of Ynys Nos, an island somewhere in the middle of the Irish Sea—or so she believes. This is the first time she meets the hero, and a dramatic meeting it is.

************************************************

     Twilight was bleeding into the darker black of night. Shouting in the distance made me turn my head. It pounded ruthlessly, bringing on an almost overwhelming nausea. Fighting it back, I blinked hard. A rush of wind rose above the sound of the waves and a shadow passed over me.

     I tried to follow the shadow with my eyes. The mist parted, and for a moment, I saw something move along the edge of the shoreline: a sleek, powerful beast, its fur black as midnight, its pale gaze fixed on me, its enormous body swaying as it stalked closer.

     Fear possessed me, made me dimwitted with terror.

     My vision wavered again, and a dark form loomed over me. I tried to scream, certain the beast was about to lunge for me, but my lungs would not draw breath. I turned to face it, but the creature was gone. Instead, a man was there, reaching for me, his large hands clasping mine and pulling me just beyond the waterline and up onto the beach.

     “I have you,” he shouted.

     He hung over me, sheltering me from the biting wind. Intense eyes beneath a slash of dark brows stared down at me from a lean, striking face—a face hewn out of wilderness and shadows, more frightening than beautiful, and yet somehow both.

     I closed my eyes.

     It did not matter who he was. I was safe.

     “How in bloody hell are you here?” The deep voice above me sounded utterly perplexed. “How the devil did you accomplish it?”

     I coughed out more water and said the only thing that came to mind. “Please do not—swear at me, sir.” A spasm of pain seized me, and I flinched.

     “Well,” said the bemused voice. “You’ve spirit, at least. Good. You will need it.”

     My tenacious grip on consciousness loosened, and I fought to retain it. I looked up at him with a sense of urgency pushing me on. I had to warn him. “A wild animal…I think—it might attack…”

     His unblinking gaze reminded me of the creature’s fixed stare. “There was no animal when I arrived. You must have imagined it in your distress.”

     “But—”

      “I must move you,” he said. “Be brave.”

     He lifted me and I cried out, my side screaming in agony.

     He shifted me in his arms, tucking my head beneath his chin, warming me with his body heat.

     Memories assailed me of the captain’s terrified face, of the futile push of oars against a raging sea, of bodies tumbling past mine in the water, of someone reaching out, capturing my hands, dragging me to the surface—

     I struggled to lift my head and battle back the darkness long enough to ask him about my fellow passengers. My throat was raw with the seawater I had swallowed. I forced my head up. “Did you…save the others?”

     He paused in midstride, then resumed walking. I heard the great weariness in his voice when he spoke again.

     “There are no others.”

Why Smart Women (and Men) Read Romance

  Today IMHO welcomes a "double-header" of smart people, Courtney Milan, debut historical romance author, and Rob Preece, former Golden Heart Finalist and PhD, for the first in a series of pre-Valentine’s day posts with the theme of “Why Smart Women (and Men) Read Romance.” I've asked each guest to give me a little bio which displays their smartness for all and sundry to see. As you might expect, smart people are not only sexy, but modest, so that was harder than you'd think.

What was not hard was weaseling prizes out of them to give to you, my IMHO readers. I’ll be giving those prizes away each day during the event from February 7 - 13, so be sure to leave a comment to be eligible. (Please see my contest page for eligibility details.) If your name is chosen, you must claim your prize by e-mailing me at tjb @ tjbennett . com (no spaces) by February 14, 2010, or I will award it to someone more worthy. Just kidding. About the worthy part, not about giving away your prize. So be sure to check back to see if you've won, okay? And let your subject line be the name of the prize.

Today's prizes, Courtney's fabulously sharp-witted debut historical romance, Proof by Seduction, and Rob Preece's savagely romantic paranormal, Hunger, will go to one lucky winner who comments on both of today's posts.

So let's get a conversation going! I'll feed you fun facts about romantic fiction you can bandy around at your next party, and then you can direct your naysayers to this blog to seal the deal.

Naysayer attitude #1: "Nobody I know reads those kinds of books."

Your response (statistics from the Romance Writers of America pressroom): "Well, that can't be true, because Romance Fiction makes up $1.37 billion in sales each year. In 2008, romance was the top performing category on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists. According to one survey, 74.8 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008. So...chances are, if you asked four people if they read romance, and they all denied it, at least one of them was lying!"

Now, on to our guests.

TJB

Smart People are Sexy...

And what better way to prove it then to show your intelligence, good taste, and superiority by stopping by my blog, IMHO, the week of February 7 – 13. During that week, IMHO will feature a lineup of guests who will discourse on the topic of “Why Smart Women (and Men) Read Romance.”

My goal in lining up the guest hosts for this event is to shatter the “romance reader” stereotype by asking some of the smartest people I know to tell us, during one of the most romantic times of the year, why they enjoy reading romance. I know there are many witty, intelligent romance readers out there, and I want everyone else to know, too, that smart people read romance.

So, if you’ve ever been criticized about your choice of reading material, this event is for you. If friends, family, or co-workers have pooh-pooh’d you because you love a happy ending, drag them here between February 7 – 13 and show them how many truly smart men and women love stories where the boy gets the girl and “all’s well that ends well.” You might even pick up a few snappy comebacks and statistics to throw around at your next party.

And, to top it all off, we’ll be giving away free books and other prizes, like a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, while we engage in thoughtful, fun, and perhaps controversial discussion on this topic.

The lineup:

Feb 7: Double-header with Courtney Milan - debut historical romance author and Rob Preece, - 2005 Golden Heart nominee, small press publisher, and PhD in Economics

Feb 8: William Simon - computer cyber crimes investigator and former North Houston RWA chapter president

Feb 9: Madeline Hunter - bestselling author of historical romance and university professor

Feb 10: Dr. Debra Holland - practicing psychologist, PhD, and 2005 Golden Heart nominee

Feb 11: Carolyn Jewel - historical romance author and Data Base Administrator

Feb 12: Don Helin - former Pentagon army officer, thriller author

Feb 13: Vicki Hinze - bestselling, multi-genre romance author, PhD in Theocentric business and ethics

Wow. I feel smarter already. In the meantime, check out reviewer KatieBabs Babbling About Books post on the growing trend of using romance novels as texts in college universities.

TJB

New event planned for Valentine's Week!

Hi, folks!

Just wanted to give you a head's up that I have a fantastic event in the making for Valentine's Week. I'll let you know as soon as the whole thing is locked down solid, but I was inspired to do a special event for the most romantic week of the year when a dear friend found herself in the position of having to defend her right to read romance recently to a mocking naysayer.

If you are a romance reader who has ever been made fun of by others (or feared that you would be), or called "dumb" or "undiscerning" because you love to read "those trashy books" with all the other desperate housewives sitting around in curlers eating ice cream out of the carton with a spoon, you'll want to check in with IMHO the week of Feb 7 - 13. You'll also want to direct the naysayers to this blog that week, because I rounded up a bunch of smart romance-reading folks who have an answer to all of those other folks who put loyal romance readers down. From a university professor to a cyber-crime specialist; from a former pentagon military officer to a PhD in Theocentric business and ethics; from a database administrator to a doctor of psychology, and more...you and your detractors will be in for a few surprises.

Stay tuned, because you'll want to know the kinds of smart women--and men--who read romance. And yes, there will be prizes!

TJB

IMHO welcomes "unusual historical" author Carrie Lofty!

I am pleased to kick off this month’s contest with a fellow writer of “unusual historicals,” a term referring to those historicals set in unusual locales or time periods. Carrie Lofty was born in California, raised in the Midwest, and found the love of her life in England. After earning her master’s degree with a thesis on Old West legends, she was excited to learn other parts of the world have history too—and then set about researching it all. Two daughters and a half-dozen moves later, Carrie and her family settled just north of Chicago, where she is busy creating her next adventure.

Carrie is the author of What a Scoundrel Wants, an intriguing tale about Will Scarlett and his lady love, which she’ll put into the April “COFFEE, CHOCOLATE & ROMANCE” gift basket. Romantic Times BOOKReview gives Scoundrel 4 stars, saying “The leading man will win readers' hearts as only a bad boy can. Lofty writes adventure romance like a born bard of old." Dear Author says, “The story is also a good mix of emotion and adventure. Those looking for derring-do will find it, as will people who want some raw, searing encounters between two people fighting to find love.”

Carrie founded the blog site Unusual Historicals to focus attention on those books readers might otherwise have a hard time learning about. I’ve been delighted to be a guest on the site in the past, and will be again in May. In the meantime, let’s welcome Carrie to IMHO!

IMHO: Welcome to IMHO, Carrie, and tell us about the book we almost didn’t read.

CL: Thanks, TJ! The book you almost didn't read is my Zebra Debut, What a Scoundrel Wants. I'd been eager to begin writing an historical romance set during the silent film era of the 1910s--a tough sell, but I had the research, characters and a rough plot all ready to go.

However, I changed my mind after I rented Disney's version of Robin Hood for my toddler daughters. I realized I hadn't seen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves in ages. I know it's cheesy and overwrought, but the action, the impressive sets, and the larger-than-life performances made a lasting impression on me as a teenager. It was romantic on a grand scale, and in re-watching it as an adult, I was again transported by that same sense of fun and grandeur.

I also discovered a renewed fascination for young, surly, hotheaded Christian Slater, who played Will Scarlet. Sure Robin and Marian got their happy ending, complete with Sean Connery giving away the bride, but what ever happened to Will? He had angst, anger, and a sort of fiery, youthful impetuousness that told me he wasn't done making trouble.

I paired Will with Meg of Keyworth, a blind alchemist with a prickly disposition that hides a great deal of pain. Because of the popularity of paranormals, I went out of my way to attribute her skills to actual science--not witchcraft or magic, which meant a return to basic chemistry. This time around, it was much more interesting than I remember from high school!

When my finished manuscript finaled in two contests, I felt I'd chanced upon that elusive "high concept." The Romance Writers of America’s (RWA) Hearts Through History chapter planned to announce their contest winners during an annual breakfast at Nationals. After Ann Aguirre and I basically dared each other into going, I had a roommate, an editor pitch appointment, and no more excuses. When editor Hilary Sares, then of Kensington, sat down for my pitch, she read the twenty-five word blurb on my business card and said, "I want the full."

A mere seventeen months later, What a Scoundrel Wants hit the shelves, all thanks to Disney, Christian Slater, my peculiar brain, and a lot of luck.

And speaking of another almost-never-was, I've been serializing a full-length romance titled SERENADE. I'd been offered contracts from several e-publishers but decided it would be more fun for fans to read it for free. Set in 1804 Salzburg, Seranade tells the story of a widowed violin prodigy who falls in love with the composer she idolizes, only to discover that he stole the symphony he's most famous for. The latest chapters just went live yesterday, and I'll be publishing more each month. Sign up for my Yahoo! newsgroup to receive updates on when new chapters are available.

IMHO: Oooh, I'll look forward to reading that. Thanks for sharing with us today, Carrie! Folks, look for Carrie’s sequel to What a Scoundrel Wants, Scoundrel’s Kiss, featuring a Spanish slave raised to kill a king and the troubled opium addict he's sworn to protect coming from Zebra Debut in Jan 2010. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can read Through the Garden Gate, a print anthology featuring Carrie's 1958 Italy time travel short story, "Sundial," available from The Wild Rose Press in Dec 2009.

And be sure to leave Carrie a comment to start competing for that basket prize. Let her know if you like historicals with unusual settings or characters, or if you prefer the tried-and-true.

Take care,
TJB

NEW CONTEST: Coffee, Chocolate & Romance!

Well, we’re starting off April’s contest with a bang! Or at least, a munch and a sip.

I’ve decided to call this month’s gift basket the “COFFEE, CHOCOLATE & ROMANCE” gift basket (read on and you’ll see why). This month's authors will be discussing "The story/scene/book you (the reader) almost didn’t read,” because every writer has a story that sometimes proves difficult to write or has a bumpy road to publication. Guests will be visiting my blog every Wednesday beginning April 8 and continuing throughout the month of April. They will place their autographed books in the basket for one lucky person to win.

This time the basket will include a $25 gift certificate for your choice of a box of See’s Candy chocolates and a one-pound bag of coffee beans for a wonderful “coffee and chocolate” buzz while reading your favorite romance novels. I'll also put a signed copy of my critically acclaimed historical romance, THE LEGACY (see reviews here) in the basket as well.

So if you didn't win the "I LOVE ME SOME HISTORICALS" gift basket from my March contest, be sure to visit often and comment for a chance to be the one lucky winner of my "COFFEE, CHOCOLATE & ROMANCE " gift basket.

This is another great lineup! Feel free to pass this announcement on to reader groups, booksellers, librarians, and anyone else who loves free autographed books.

Here's the lineup of April's guests:

April 8 Unusual Historicals blog founder Carrie Lofty, the Kensington Zebra Debut author of What a Scoundrel Wants , an intriguing tale of Will Scarlett and his lady love.

April 15 Madeline Hunter, best-selling (New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today), multi-published, and RITA-award winning author of historical romance (The Sins of Lord Easterbrook).

April 22 Anna Louise Lucia, Romantic Times BOOKReview top pick (4.5 stars) and Medallion Press author of romantic suspense set in exotic locales (Run Among Thorns).

April 29 Emily Bryan, multi-published author of light-hearted historical romance (Pleasuring the Pirate).

And the great news continues. I've aready confirmed these guests at IMHO in the months to come: Deanna Raybourn, Tera Lynn Childs, Monica McCarty, and Gemma Halliday! So keep coming back, and be sure to sign up for my newsletter at the top of the page to be notified of IMHO events.

How to win: Visit my blog during the contest period and leave a comment for at least two different authors during the length of the contest, which ends April 30th. The more authors you leave comments for, the more you increase your chances of winning.

On May 2, 2009, I will announce the winning entry drawn at random from all eligible participants. The winner will have until May 6th to claim his or her prize. If the prize is not claimed by the deadline date, another winner will be drawn at random from all eligible participants. (Sorry, because of the prohibitive cost of shipping overseas, I must limit this offer to the USA and Canada only. If you are located outside these areas and have a mailing address within the USA or Canada where you can receive winning materials, I’ll be happy to mail it to that address.) That's it!

Good luck!

www.tjbennett.com
myspace.com/tjbennettauthor
The Legacy (available now) When secrets destroy, can love live on?
The Promise (May 2009) In a dangerous world, sometimes the greatest risk is love....

IMHO Welcomes Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler!

Well, today is the big day! And we’re not just talking Valentine’s Day, although we are. Hope you are all having a wonderful, loving, adventurous day, and if you aren’t, grab a good romance novel and get started!

But first, today we welcome IMHO’s final guest blogger speaking on the theme of “What Romance Means to Me.” Sharie Kohler is a USA Today bestselling author of historical romance (as Sophie Jordan) and paranormal romance (as Sharie Kohler). Sharie says she penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History. A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love ANTIGONE, Sharie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, ONCE UPON A WEDDING NIGHT, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, TOO WICKED TO TAME, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List. Bestselling author Kresley Cole says, “Sharie Kohler knows how to deliver a riveting plot, steeped with sultry sexual tension and unforgettable love scenes between an irresistible hero and heroine.” NY Times Bestselling author Barbara Dawson Smith says, "Sophie Jordan is not to be missed!"

Sharie resides in Houston with her family. She will put two books in the BIG BASKET OF LOOOVE: SURRENDER TO ME by Sophie Jordan and KISS OF A DARK MOON by Sharie Kohler.

IMHO: We’re glad to have both Sharie and Sophie visiting with us today. Welcome, and tell us what romance means to you.

SK: Happy Valentine’s Day to all! TJ, thanks for having me here on this special day … and thanks to all of you who take a break from your love-high weekend to share in the love with me.

When I first mulled over this question, I thought: Oh, no! I’m going to come across as jaded. And how ridiculous is that? A jaded romance author? And then I thought harder and realized, I’m not jaded. I’m a romantic. Just not the romantic I once was at nineteen.

Let me explain:

I don’t think romance has anything to do with flowers or chocolates or jewelry. In fact, hubby and I stopped with all the flowers and candy a couple years ago. Now I’m not criticizing anyone’s significant other arriving home today with an armful of roses and Godiva. :) Score! Give the thoughtful man a kiss! I just prefer a good date night. Give me lobster bisque and a movie night with just the two of us, and I’m in heaven (can you tell I have young children? A night of fun usually consists of a Happy Meal and Sponge Bob). Oh, and let’s not forget a card that he put thought into buying … and then wrote his own note inside.

As I get older, as I watch my children grow from babies, to toddlers, to kids big enough to ask questions that require concentration before answering, I’ve taken a hard look at what I want from the relationships in my life. What I expect. What I can live with and without.

I write romance novels. For me, they’re all about escape, rediscovering the beauty of first love … living it all over again. A vicarious thrill. It’s pretty miraculous that two people can meet, come together, find they like each other – find they love each other – and beat all obstacles to forge a life together. Yes, that’s romance. The euphoria of first love. But it can only be lived once.

So what is romance the rest of time? Through the years?

Sometimes I think about my heroines and heroes when I finish a book. I try to imagine what they would be like fifteen years after the book closes. I don’t see flowers or chocolates or candy in their futures. No more than I really care/need to have it in mine. I see struggles. I see fights. I see reality. But I see love. I see compromise. I see sacrifices, the very test of love.

I create strong characters. They’re going to love each other even when it might not be easy. Love isn’t easy. As my father says, “If it’s easy, it’s not worth much.”
Romance is love in action. It’s not a heart shaped box of chocolate. Romance is my husband cleaning the house because I have a headache and want a nap. It’s year after year of him encouraging me to attend that writing conference. The one I want but don’t need to attend. Want because it energizes my spirit and he wants me to have that. Love is him doing the dishes so I can watch Project Runway. Love is receiving a card on Father’s Day from my husband thanking me – ME?! – for making it easy for him to be a good father. It’s him surprising me with a Starbucks on a morning I’m really dragging. Those are some of the most romantic moments in my life. And I pray every day that they keep coming … that I return those small yet huge gestures of love to him.

As you celebrate Valentine’s Day, think about what you’re doing right, and maybe what you could be doing better. Don’t worry – I intend to remind myself, too. Every chance I get. Remember: romance is love in action. So act.

IMHO: Awww. Don’t tell me you’re husband isn’t a romantic. Remember that e-mail going around a couple of years back that had the title “Porn for Women” and when you opened it, it was pictures of a man cleaning the house? Now that’s love in action. Yep, still does it for me!

Thank you for wrapping up our contest in a big way, Sharie, and folks, remember to leave a comment for Sharie, and at least one other guest host, if you want to win that BIG BASKET OF LOVE full of ten autographed books, including THE LEGACY, rated by All About Romance’s as a Desert Isle Keeper and Buried Treasure 2008. Tell Sharie what one act you plan to do (keep it clean, folks, this is a PG blog) for the one you love, or the one you hope to love.

Today is the final day for comments, and tomorrow, while you all are snoozing in your beds (hopefully after a night filled with romance), I’ll be compiling all the data to determine who our winner of the BIG BASKET OF LOOVE is. Remember to check the rules on my contest page—the winner will have until Feb. 21 to send me an e-mail at tjb @ tjbennett dot com (no spaces) in order to claim the prize, or I’ll choose a new winner. Keep checking back on Feb. 15 until the announcement is made.

And after that, don’t go too far, because I have plans—plans, I say—for another wonderful contest in the works for March. I’ve even got a theme: “The Story Behind the Story.” And a guest host has just confirmed—Victoria Dahl, a rising star of romance! So, if you are a fan of historical romance, or would like to try it out for free, check out my new contest in March. I guarantee you will like what you see.

In the meantime, thank you to everyone who checked out my contest and I hope you had as much fun reading all the authors’ posts as I did. Be sure to sign up for my mailing list at the top of the page to be notified of more events here at IMHO, and also about the release of my next historical novel, THE PROMISE, rated as a TOP PICK by Night Owl Romance and available for preorder now. AND AND AND ... stop by PASIC's To Be Read blog today and leave a comment for me there. I'm guest hosting and talking about men. Yep, I said that, men. And I'll say it again. Men! Anyone leaving a comment by Feb. 14 gets a chance to win the week's prize, an ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of THE PROMISE. Be the first to read about Wolf's mercenary brother, Günter, and the woman he loves.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Now go kiss someone you love (but leave your comments for Sharie first).

TJ Bennett

http://www.tjbennett.com/
The Legacy (AAR "Buried Treasure 2008")
--When secrets destroy, can love live on?--
The Promise (May 2009) (Eye on Romance TOP PICK)
--In a dangerous world, sometimes the greatest risk is love....--

IMHO Welcomes Paranormal Fiction Author Lynda Hilburn!

IMHO is pleased to welcome Lynda Hilburn to the Romance Roundup Gift Basket party. Lynda is a talented writer of paranormal vampire fiction, as well as a fellow Medallion Press author. Her first full-length fiction novel for Medallion, The Vampire Shrink, features a psychologist named Kismet Knight who is forced to adjust her notions of reality when she meets seductive 800-year-old vampire Devereux and winds up in the dark underbelly of Denver’s paranormal subculture. Kismet becomes a counselor to vampires, continuing in that role in the sequel, Dark Harvest, where she attracts the attention of day-walking vampire Lyren Hallow, who turns her world upside-down—again. Lydna’s books cross genres and have been described as “urban fantasy romance with mystery elements, sex, dark humor, and a contemporary vibe.” NYT and USA Today bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks says the world of the Vampire Shrink is “fascinating … wicked and sexy!"

Lynda’s eclectic background has more than prepared her to create such complex, fascinating characters. She has been at various times a rock-and-roll singer/musician, a typesetter/copy editor for various newspapers and magazines, a professional psychic/tarot reader, a licensed psychotherapist, a certified clinical hypnotherapist, a newspaper columnist, a university instructor, a workshop presenter, and a fiction writer. During many of those years, she was also a single mom. She lives with her son in Boulder, Colorado, in the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Lynda will put an autographed copy of The Vampire Shrink in the Big Basket of LOOOVE.

IMHO: Welcome, Lynda, and please tell us what romance means to you.

LH: Thanks, TJ!

When TJ invited me to write about what romance means to me, I was momentarily stumped. Since I’m currently between husbands/significant others, I don’t have any romantic stories to share. I couldn’t imagine what I’d write about. But then I realized that romance – the dream of it – still plays a huge role in my everyday existence.

The truth is: I’m a hopeless romantic.

Yes, I know. People who spend time with me might say I’m cynical about romance and love – that I’m shell-shocked from listening to tales of interpersonal woe daily in my psychotherapy practice. But that’s mostly pretense. I simply don’t want everyone to know about my soft, gooey middle (and I’m not talking about the obvious one that hangs over my waistband).

As others have written so beautifully, love is essential. The Beatles were right: “And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make.” And, “All you need is love.” Love won’t pay the bills, but a life without it is unthinkable.

Ah, but romance. That initial blush of excitement. The heart-thumping lust at first sight. The full-body rush of chemicals flooding the brain with insanity, causing us to acquire goofy smiles and – in the presence of the beloved – to stare blankly and be unable to string coherent sentences together.

What a marvelous feeling. And an addictive feeling. Lucky for romance writers!
That’s why I read and write romance. Since I’m not involved in any hands-on experiences right now, I need to immerse myself in the realm of possibility – to keep my pilot light lit. Even now, I can close my eyes and imagine one of my favorite scenes, and my heart rate increases. Hey, exercise is exercise.

I used to worry that reading romance in the absence of any traces of it in the “real” world would make me feel worse. That I’d suffer the lack even more by continuously living vicariously through my favorite characters. But that hasn’t happened. In fact, since the brain/mind doesn’t know the difference between something observed and something imagined, it seems to be fine with filling the gaps with fantasy relationships. I’ve even started assigning romance novels as homework for my clients. I’ve noticed they’re smiling a lot more these days.

A couple of days ago I watched an episode of one of my favorite shows, “Burn Notice.” The main character has tried to ignore his feelings about the main female character (great tension building) since the show began. In a scene near the end of the hour, the woman got trapped in a burning building and the man thought she’d died. When he discovered his error, he wasted no time showing her physically how he feels about her. Geez. Good acting, raw emotions. All I took away from that entire hour was that 10-second interaction. I’m hopeless!

Thanks a lot for getting all these emotions stirred up, TJ! Now, where did I put that chocolate? LOL.

IMHO: Hey, that’s MY chocolate! Oh, all right, I’ll share (grumble, grumble). :-)

Seriously, Lynda, thanks for pointing out that single women love romance as much as the “coupled” ones do (pardon the pun), and that reading romance is a great way to “keep one’s pilot light lit” (I love that!).

Now let’s hear it from you, gentle readers. Pull up a couch and tell Dr. Lynda your feelings on this subject. Be sure to leave her and at least one other author a comment if you want a chance to win the BIG BASKET OF LOOOVE. As a reminder, our previous guest hosts were, beginning on January 21, Colleen Thompson; January 24 - Brenda Scott Royce; January 28 - Kerrelyn Sparks; January 31 - Trish Albright; February 4 - Christie Craig; and February 7 - Lynne Marshall. Please come back on February 14, Valentine’s Day, to visit with our final guest, historical and paranormal romance author Sophie Jordan, AKA Sharie Kohler, who will put two books, one from each of her author personas, into the BIG BASKET OF LOOOVE. And don't forget to sign up for my mailing list at the top of the page if you'd like to be notified about future events and releases. See you soon!

TJB

The BIG BASKET OF LOOOVE....

So, I finally managed to take a picture of the BIG BASKET OF LOVE. Now since I was the photographer, it isn't a great picture, but it gives you a general idea of the massive goodness of said basket. The ten autographed books, including THE LEGACY, are being donated by their authors, while the basket and a $20 gift certificate for yummy chocolate from Kegg's Candies, in business in Houston since 1946, are being donated by Grace the Bookseller, owner of Read It Again & Again in Houston. Grace is also giving the winner a coupon for $5 off any order of $25 or more if they place an order before Feb 28, 2009 with her store. Grace has THE LEGACY in stock (she might even have a few signed copies still in house) and can be contacted by phone while her netspace is being upgraded. She's happy to ship to your location.


The address and phone number are:

Read It Again & Again
38 Braeswood Square
Houston, TX 77096
Phone & Fax: 713-283-9188
Toll free: 866-653-7541
Website: ReadItAgainHouston.com

Thanks, Grace, for the wonderful donation!

Isn't it lurvly? Hey, don't forget Lynda Hilburn is tomorrow and Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler (one and the same) are on the big day, Valentine's!

TJ Bennett

http://www.tjbennett.com/
The Legacy (AAR "Buried Treasure 2008")
--When secrets destroy, can love live on?--
The Promise (May 2009) (Eye on Romance TOP PICK)
--In a dangerous world, sometimes the greatest risk is love....--

IMHO welcome Medical Romance Author Lynne Marshall!

Lynne Marshall took up writing romance in 2001, honing her skills through conferences and writing workshops while she pursued her dream of publication. As a registered nurse for over twenty years in California, it only made sense to her when a friend (whose initials are TJ, wink, wink) suggested she try writing medical romances along with her other passion, writing “Lady Lit” featuring older heroines. Sure enough, her medical romances starring professionals who are passionately devoted to their calling and to each other charmed the Harlequin Mills & Boon’s UK editors, and she got “the call” in 2005. Her first medical romance debuted in 2006, with five more coming out in rapid succession. Her most recent novel, Assignment: Baby, will be available on Mills & Boon’s website this month and in the UK in March. Lynne will put her fifth book Pregnant Nurse, New-Found Family in the Romance Roundup Gift Basket.

Readers often comment that Lynne’s books show an authentic knowledge of the human condition, both physical and emotional, teaching and entertaining them at the same time. I’m always amazed how she can cram such big stories into her shorter category-length books, but she continues to surprise and delight. Lynne has now made the leap to writing full time and loves to explore the potential for finding love amidst hospital drama.

IMHO: Welcome, Lynne, and please tell us what romance means to you.

LM: Hi, TJ! First off, thanks so much for inviting me to participate in your bonanza Valentine’s Day giveaway, and for the opportunity to give my take on what romance means to me.

Did anyone see the Super Bowl ad with the two horses and the great classic song – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” playing in the background as the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale chased down the horse of his dreams? That’s romance.

I’ve been dieting since the first week of January, so forgive the food metaphor, but romance is the appetizer for a well-planned meal. It perks up the taste buds and promises great things to come. Love is the main course. It nourishes and sustains us throughout life. And my favorite part of any meal, which helped get me where I am today – dieting! – is dessert. The sweet happy-ever-after, if you will. Also known as the final commitment. As with anything that tastes good, there are consequences, and here’s where things get complicated.

Sure, a guy can get an A+ at romance, and he can drop great hints about love, but unless he is able to commit to the real deal, he isn’t worth his weight in cream puffs. Can I get an "amen"?

I’m going to say something very unpopular now. Everyone raves about what a hunk George Clooney is, and yes, he is a very attractive man, but he doesn’t do a thing for me because the man cannot commit to a woman. When a forty-eight year old is still dating twenty-somethings (I know the mantra - because he can!) he becomes less hero material with each new girlfriend. So get over him already, ladies! He’s a commitment-phobe.

Dependable and trustworthy may not sound very sexy, but over a lifetime (in romance books that is the promise of happy-ever-after) it trumps a charming smile on a handsome face that can’t deliver the commitment goods any day.

There is a scene in Marley and Me where the John Grogan character, played by Owen Wilson, gets home from a day at the newspaper and sits in his car in the driveway. He stares into his house working up the courage to go inside. Yes, his wife has gone a bit loopy since quitting her journalism job to be a stay-at-home mom for two kids and a whacked-out dog, and Marley is up to his usual mischief, and two children are very demanding, as any of us mothers know. And his best journalist friend is writing a Pulitzer Prize worthy dream story and has invited John to come along for the ride. I could almost hear the thoughts running through his mind. Young man dreams versus adult male responsibility. It was hard to come home - to replace his professional hat with the more demanding daddy and husband hat. I felt that he wanted to run, to get out while he could. His wife, played by Jennifer Anniston, noticed him sitting in the car and with a perplexed look, waved him inside. He stopped his little fantasy about running away, got out of the car and went inside to his home. That was the point where I fell in love with him.

The country group Lonestar has a great song that captures the sentiments of a real everyday hero, unafraid to commit to his family: “There’s a carrot top who can barely walk with a sippy cup of milk; a blue-eyed blonde with her shoes on wrong ‘cause she likes to dress herself; and the most beautiful girl holding both of them; and the view I love the most – is from my front porch looking in.”

Changing the subject a bit, I wanted to take this opportunity to again thank TJ for inviting me, the only category author of this group, to participate. Medical Romance is a unique genre and I feel honored to be one of six Americans writing for the Mills & Boon line. I only wish we had more US exposure!

Now that you’ve listened to my rant of what romance is and isn’t, I’m dying to hear your take on the subject. As I munch on this piece of celery, I’ll look forward to your comments.

IMHO: Thanks, Lynne, and I will overlook your slanderous comments about my man George because I think you might actually have a point. Hmmm. So, love is getting out of your car when your instinct is to put it in drive and hit the gas pedal. Very insightful! So what do you think, folks? Be sure to leave a comment for Lynne and at least one other author so you can have a chance at the BIG BASKET OF LOOOVE! And come back on Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009, as I welcome fellow Medallion Press author Lynda Hilburn to the Romance Roundup Gift Basket party!

IMHO welcomes Christie Craig!

Photojournalist, author and popular speaker Christie Craig is an award-winning, multi-published writer whose non-fiction and photography have appeared in almost three thousand national magazines. A Golden Heart finalist, and a finalist in more than fifty Romance Writers of America-sponsored contests, she has gained a well-deserved reputation for writing romance fiction that has both witty humor and a suspenseful, sexy tone.

Published by Silhouette in the 90s, she recently broke back into fiction in a big way, making four book sales in one day. Christie will put her first single title romance novel, Divorced, Desperate & Delicious, in the Romance Roundup Gift Basket (AKA the "BIG BASKET of LOOOOVE"). Her latest book in the Divorced series, Divorced, Desperate & Dating, is in bookstores now. Her newest non-fiction title, The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel, co-authored with her nonfiction writing partner Faye Hughes, is also available now. Her marriage partner, Steve, figures prominently in her own hilarious blog posts over at Killer Fiction, where she often chronicles the sometimes unbelievable (but always true) adventures of the Craig clan.

IMHO: Welcome to the party, Christie! I know you have some deeply serious thoughts on what romance means to you. Well, okay, some deeply funny thoughts, then. Share!

CC: Thanks, TJ! You bet I do. I even have a title: “What a Woman Really Wants in Romance.”

I remember being in first grade and coming home and asking my mom if she’d put my hair up in pigtails the next day for school. She rolled her eyes at me in disbelief because that very morning I’d thrown a hissy fit because I hadn’t wanted to wear my hair up in pigtails. But I had good reasons for my change of heart. And you can bet it involved matters of the heart, too. You see, I’d watched a neighborhood boy named Calvin, whom I liked, pull on the pigtails of another little girl named Mary. Surely, if I wore my hair like hers, he would pull my pigtails instead of Mary’s.

At age six, I didn’t care if that boy had a six pack or a sexy gait. His toothless smile and freckles made my stomach flutter. I didn’t care that his mode of transportation, an old paint-chipped bike that had belonged to his brother, wasn’t the hottest on the block. Frankly, I didn’t really care, or even want, to get my hair pulled, either. What I wanted was . . . his attention.

As I grew older, like most girls, what I looked for in a man changed a bit. Don’t judge me, but I’ll confess, I got to that place where I preferred my men with teeth. And when I got to high school, freckles weren’t a plus either. And yes, in time I started noticing six packs and sexy bad-boy smiles, and I’ll admit it, I wouldn’t have been happy with a man whose mode of transportation was a paint-chipped bike.

My point isn’t that love, or our search for it, is superficial. I think the whole attraction thing is somewhat physiological. We are instinctively looking for a mate with good genes, and how he fits into his jeans is sure to catch our eyes. We are looking for a mate who can help us feed and clothe ourselves and our children and that paint-chipped bike may lead us to believe he won’t be a good provider.

But you know, when I look deep into romance, at what a woman really wants and what my romance heroines want, I can tell you that some things are the same as they were on that playground years ago. Women want to know that of all the girls pumping their legs on the swing set, going up and down on the seesaw, that you are the one he wants. It’s your pigtails he wants to pull. Women want a man’s full attention; they want to be the thing he’ll do anything to attain--even if it means spending his whole recess chasing you around the school’s backyard.

As I write my novels, I try to remember this about romance. Sure, I add plenty of hard abs and bedroom smiles. Hey, sex is part of a good romance. And you can bet your bottom dollar that my heroes have all their teeth. Nevertheless, these two people get together because there just isn’t anyone else whom they would choose to share their lives with. Like most romances, my characters may not know this in the beginning, but while playing on life’s playground, (which for my heroine in my book, Divorced, Desperate & Dating, means avoiding a killer, resisting a bad-boy’s charm, and using a tampon to defend herself) they suddenly realize that this other person is the one.

Today, after twenty-four years of marriage, when I look over at my husband, I’m kind of glad I didn’t hook up with Calvin. I won’t lie, my hubby no longer has a six pack—not that it’s all gone to pot, mind you. His bedroom smile still makes my stomach flutter, and of course he still has all his teeth. But more importantly, he still somehow makes me feel like the prettiest girl on the playground.

And isn’t that what a woman really wants? To be made to feel beautiful and desirable—to know you are his one and only. Here’s wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Day, and may you spend it with someone who makes you feel special.

IMHO: Thank you for sharing, Christie. I’ll bet your hubby is kind of glad you didn’t hook up with Calvin, too. LOL! And folks, I’ll also bet Christie would love to know what you think a woman really wants in romance.

Remember to leave a comment for Christie and at least one other author during our contest to be eligible to win all ten autographed books in the BIG BASKET OF LOOOOVE as we close in on Valentine’s Day. And be sure to come back on Saturday, February 7, 2009, when we welcome my dear friend Lynne Marshall, Romantic Medical Fiction author. Lynne is the only person I know who can make a stay in the hospital seem romantic. See you then!

TJB

IMHO welcomes romantic adventure novelist Trish Albright!

IMHO is pleased to welcome romantic adventure novelist Trish Albright to the Romance Roundup Gift Basket party! This two-time Golden Heart finalist’s debut novel, Siren’s Song, is a cross between The Princess Bride meets Pirates of the Caribbean, taking place in England and on the high seas during the 1790s. Publisher's Weekly’s Beyond Her Book Blog called it a “delightful, romantic, swashbuckling escapade.” Romantic Times Magazine awarded it four stars. Romance Reviews Today says there is “never a dull moment in this action-filled novel.”

Trish’s background as a Walt Disney Imagineer informs her high-seas romantic adventures. Her projects have taken her all over the world from Hong Kong to Paris. She’ll put Siren’s Song in the romance gift basket to whet your appetite for her next novel, Siren’s Secret, which will hit store shelves in May 2009. (By the way, you have to check out the “very” dramatic reading of Siren’s Song’s first chapter by Yale trained former drama student Trevor Anthony. It’s a hoot!)

IMHO: Welcome to IMHO, Trish, and please tell our readers what romance means to you.

TrA: What does romance mean to me? At 2 AM on Friday—now Saturday—late on my delivery to TJ, what romance means to me is that I have to stay up a few hours longer (not in bed). But I love TJ, so I’m willing to sacrifice. And what can I say—she romanced me. Unfortunately, with work, galleys, and being the slacker blogger, I see that the really good answers are taken. So I’m stuck with just the truth. (As I know it…which at this moment may not be all that clear, but feel free to debate.)

Romance is sweet, fun, flirty, exciting, all the things you can imagine. But, at the end of the day (or morning for some), it’s nothing without love. Romance can be a taste of the possibility of love. A taste that keeps us hoping and doing things we probably shouldn’t do, because at our core, we are hopeful creatures. Romance can create the initial bonds of love. It can even create a safe, happy bubble for love to grow. But romance is nothing without love. (I’m reminding myself of Paul’s Gospel on love and he did it better, so I’ll stop that mantra.)

We want romance, because we want love, don’t we? Because love is the promise of transformation, that somehow our lives will be better, we will be better, the world will be better if only there is love. I think the world suffers from many of us who have lost the will to love truly, and instead have settled only for romance, (after romance after romance…) because to love requires we challenge ourselves in a unique way to be better than society requires or expects us to be. And if you overcome that barrier the reward is we are set apart to struggle and wait until we meet another like-minded creature. And that’s torture. It’s not surprising that people opt for just romance…after romance…(I know. It’s hard to believe I write funny.)

On the upside…If you still believe in love, when none seems possible. When the future is a dark tunnel and you’re not sure if that’s the light at the end or a train coming at you—hang in there (or dive and lay flat if appropriate). Love is real. It does transform. And you will have it. And then all the loneliness, uncertainty, and/or pain you withstood will be wiped clean, becoming a vague and distant memory, difficult to even imagine.

At this point, you should make note, that you WILL be annoying to EVERYONE around you for at least two years. (But that’s worth it too!)

IMHO: I believe in love, too, Trish, so I won't harrass you for making me get up at 6 AM on a Saturday to put up your post. But...I'll remember...LOL! Remember, too, folks, to leave a comment for Trish and at least one other author to have a chance at winning the BIG BASKET OF LOOOVE to be awarded the day after Valentine’s Day (to give everyone a chance to get their comments in). For details, go to my website’s contest page.

TJB

IMHO Welcomes Kerrelyn Sparks!

IMHO: It is IMHO’s great pleasure to welcome Kerrelyn Sparks to the Romance Roundup Gift Basket party as we get closer to Valentine’s Day and the gift basket giveaway.

Kerrelyn’s first paranormal romance, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, zoomed out of the bat cave so fast it became Borders bestselling debut romance of 2005. Each book in the Love at Stake series has become a USAToday bestseller. The fourth book, The Undead Next Door, the one Kerrelyn will be putting in our gift basket, landed on the New York Times bestseller list. All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire hit the New York Times bestseller list at number 12, the USAToday list at 41, and the Borders bestselling romance list at number 2! Books six and seven of the Love at Stake series will release this spring--Secret Life of a Vampire on March 31 and Forbidden Nights with a Vampire on April 28.

When she's not busy living the vida vampire, Kerrelyn resides in the Greater Houston area with her husband, children, and a house full of garlic. So far, there are no vampires in her family. Werewolves are another matter entirely.

Today, Kerrelyn shows what romance means to her by telling us why she writes romance in the first place. Welcome, Kerrelyn!

KS: Thanks for inviting me to talk about what romance means to me, TJ!

Romance celebrates life and the possibility for us all to experience happy endings. I believe it is this unfailing hope that makes the Romance genre so popular. Romance fiction sells more than any other fiction category. Our forefathers said it best when they declared we all have to right to the pursuit of happiness. It’s a universal need and one that Romance addresses in a positive fashion.

That’s the generic response, but to delve deeper—
1. I write Romance because I love to read it. I grew up on it. It’s brought me a lot of joy over the years. I have traveled to many different places and time periods. I have learned about history and different customs and fashions. My imagination was fed by it and encouraged to blossom.

2. I write Romance because I love to write. I need to write. If I don’t write for a few days, I can become a real grouch. This can be verified by my family. At least now, I’m paid to spend much of my time in another world. Before, I was flaky for free. This can also be verified by my family.

3. I love honorable characters. If a book or a movie doesn’t provide me with a character I can respect, admire and cheer for, forget it!! Romances, in general, give us honorable characters we can love, characters with enough integrity to face their challenges and courage to fight the odds. In turn, they inspire us to respect ourselves and never give up. For dreams do come true. I know that every time I see my name on a book cover.

4. I love strong heroines--women who take an active role in their own destiny, not content to leave their happiness in the control of anyone else. Today’s Romances show heroines on an equal footing with the hero, heroines in charge of their life, making their own choices. These are women I would be proud to introduce my daughter to.

5. I love the process of falling in love. What other human experience compares to the exhilaration and exasperation of finding your true mate? Whom we choose to marry is one of our most important decisions, and we all want a happy ending. Some complain that because of the happy ending, Romances are all alike! But the end product is not the point. It’s the journey that is so intriguing. It’s the process that starts with a secretive glance and hesitant first touch, the tiny steps that lead to total trust, intimacy, and the sacred commitment to grow old together—this is the journey that Romance celebrates.

Why do you love Romance?

IMHO: Thanks, Kerrelyn, for reinforcing the reasons romance is my favorite type of read. How about the rest of you? Be sure to share with Kerrelyn why you love romance, because remember, by commenting on at least two guest bloggers’ posts, you’ll be eligible to win the BIG BASKET OF LOOOOVE containing ten different autographed books, including Kerrelyn’s book The Undead Next Door. To read excerpts of her books, watch book trailers, play vampire games, or join the forum, visit Kerrelyn at www.kerrelynsparks.com.

And be sure to come back next Saturday, January 31, to meet our next guest blogger, Golden Heart nominee and Dorchester debut author Trish Albright, author of Siren’s Song, a sea-faring romantic adventure. Stay tuned!

TJB

Just a reminder of our Valentine's Contest lineup

Just wanted to give everyone a reminder of who is yet to come on the Romance Roundup Gift Basket contest. Still in the chute are these wonderful authors:

Jan 28 Kerrelyn Sparks, NYT Bestselling author of light paranormal romance (THE UNDEAD NEXT DOOR)

Jan 31 Trish Albright, Golden Heart nominee and award-winning debut author of romantic adventures (SIREN'S SONG)

Feb 4 Christie Craig, award-winning author of light romantic suspense (DIVORCED, DESPERATE, AND DELICIOUS)

Feb 7 Lynne Marshall, award-winning author of Mills & Boon medical romance (PREGNANT NURSE, NEW-FOUND FAMILY)

Feb 11 Lynda Hilburn, author of paranormal fiction and Benjamin Franklin award-nominated author for Best New Voice in Fiction (THE VAMPIRE SHRINK)

Feb 14 Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler, USA Today Bestselling author of historical and paranormal romance (SURRENDER TO ME by Sophie Jordan and KISS OF A DARK MOON by Sharie Kohler)

For details on how to win, go to my contest page at http://www.tjbennett.com/contest.htm
Good luck!

www.tjbennett.com
myspace.com/tjbennettauthor
The Legacy (April 2008) When secrets destroy, can love live on?
The Promise (May 2009) In a dangerous world, sometimes the greatest risk is love....

IMHO welcomes Brenda Scott Royce!

IMHO: I'm more than pleased to welcome Brenda Scott Royce to the Romance Roundup Gift Basket party (or as I'm sub-dubbing it, "The BIG BASKET OF LOOOOVE"). How many other authors' work has Janet Evanovich called "as delicious as a jelly doughnut"? Well, I have no idea, really, but I'd bet Brenda's is the only one.

This award-winning author of Monkey Love and Monkey Star has not only had her work compared to yummy pastries, but had it read on-air by Regis Philbin. Monkey Love was featured in OK!, Elle, Quick & Simple, and Entertainment Weekly magazines. Monkey Star won the Book Buyers Best Award for 2008. And why is that, you ask? Because she's funny, and she writes that way, too. She'll be putting one of her Monkey books in the basket (she's decided to surprise IMHO and the winner as to which one), so maybe you'll be the lucky winner.

Welcome, Brenda!

BSR: Thanks, TJ, for inviting me to discuss what romance means to me!

Romance is about having fun. Oh sure, the big flowery stuff is fabulous from time to time, and the day-to-day niceties (like my husband bringing me my favorite Starbucks beverage out of the blue) cause my heart to skip a happy beat. But for me, laughter is the glue that bonds a relationship.

A shared sense of humor is one of the elements of a lasting marriage. When other things fade, people want someone they can laugh with. I know I do.

Love itself can be pretty darn funny. Is there any one reading this who hasn’t done something crazy in the name of love? I have, many times. One of mine involves a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, and a rented gorilla costume.

Let me explain. My husband is more of a traditional romantic. Our first Valentine’s Day together, I came home to find my apartment transformed into the coziest little love nest you could imagine. He’d thought of everything—chilled champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, long-stemmed roses, scented candles, soft music … the list goes on. All this after he’d duped me into thinking he was sick and wouldn’t be able to come over for Valentine’s Day. So when I trudged up the stairs after a late class, turned the key in my door and saw him standing there—did I mention, in a tux?—he took my breath away.

The next year, he turned the tables on me, saying it was my turn to make our Valentine’s plans. I knew I couldn’t possibly top what he’d done. Moreover, going the traditional route made me feel like I was following a checklist: flowers, check; wine, check; Hallmark card, check; boring, check…

So I scrapped all that. Well, not all of it. I planted a Valentine’s message in his car and left a box of chocolates on his desk. Then I picked up a bottle of wine, a dozen roses, and a rented gorilla costume and drove to the campus of the college where he teaches.

I didn’t just pick “gorilla” out of the blue. My college degree is in primatology, and I used to work as a chimpanzee caretaker at an animal sanctuary. And at the time I was writing my first novel—in which a monkey figured prominently. So surprising my soon-to-be husband while wearing an ape suit wasn’t a completely oddball idea.

I could go into detail here about the challenges of sneaking onto a college campus in a gorilla suit without causing a scene, trying to see through the eye slits and not pass out from the heat inside the hairy costume, attracting a growing trail of curious students. I could tell you how sweaty my hands got inside the gorilla mitts and that the bottle of wine ultimately ended up slipping from my grasp and crashing on the sidewalk. Twenty feet from my sweetie’s classroom, I panicked, wondering if crashing his class in a wine-soaked gorilla costume could have an adverse affect on his continued employment. He wasn’t yet tenured, after all.

But the horse, so to speak, was out of the barn. I sprinted the last few yards and barreled into his Intro to Philosophy class, panting and gasping for breath. I had planned to sing a love song, but only managed to choke out a few words before falling to one knee and presenting him with a dozen roses.

He was dumbstruck. His students were clapping and laughing. The room quickly filled with students and professors who’d spilled out of other classrooms to see what was up. Everyone was asking, “Who’s the monkey?” But my husband later said he’d recognized me instantly even though all he could see were my eyes. He swept me into his arms and kissed me on my fake lips. And he dismissed his students for the rest of the period so we could go monkey around.

That was almost seven years ago and my husband still tells the story with a twinkle in his eye. In fact, when I told him I was writing today about what romance means to me, he told me to write about the gorilla suit. I scoffed at his suggestion, saying I planned to craft some creatively flowery prose about romance and the magical moments it inspires—fleeting glances, coy winks, fingertips lightly dancing across bare skin … that kind of thing.

I said all that with a straight face. He just looked at me and burst out laughing.

I was indignant for about a half second. Then I laughed, too.

Now that’s romance.

IMHO: What a wonderful story, Brenda. Funny and romantic. How about you folks? Have you ever done anything crazy (in a good way) in the name of love? Remember, to have a chance at the Big Basket of LOOOOVE, you'll need to comment on at least two authors' posts.

TJB