Musing of the Romantics

Sadie Watson’s Extraneous Thought #805 a.k.a. Chapter 14

Sometimes I wish I could wake up and it would be “after a while…”

Sometimes I wish I could wake up and it would be “eventually…”

Sometimes I wish I could wake up and it would be “it came to pass…”

These are all phrases that begin the first sentence of the first paragraph of Chapter 14.  But to begin Chapter 14 we must first finish Chapter 13.  Of course we all know how Chapter 13 ends; with a damsel in distress.  With the heroine being dumped by her beloved. With the plain looking, but deeply sensitive, compassionate and wise leading lady, with the soul of an angel, loosing the use of both her legs.  Or the red haired, willful, courageous, and brave young girl with spitfire in her soul loosing the fortune her family spent generations of back breaking work to build.  Or even the 5’8” raven haired lawyer, who is working her way up to the Supreme Court, accompanied by her 6’2” intelligent, wealthy and witty boyfriend, who also happens to be a great and romantic lover, being put in jail on phony drug charges.

Chapter 13 always ends with the world crashing down.  I don’t just mean a few little untidy upsets, I mean leveling the lives of these brave beauties.  Everything seems hopeless.  All is lost.  Life no longer has any meaning.  All the things our valiant, strong, worthy, smart, caring, inquisitive, forceful, energetic, brilliant and gorgeous leading ladies have worked for is destroyed – no not destroyed – decimated.

But! Their confusion, loneliness, dismay, anger, ill-will and daunting dis-ease lasts for but a page and a half of blank space. You see, after a page and a half of blank pace Chapter 14 begins. Ah, thank goodness for Chapter 14.  Chapter 14 starts with the worlds “after a while…”, or “eventually…”, or “it came to pass…”. Or one of my favorites “a new day dawned…”.

After a while… becomes a specific amount of time.  It becomes the time it takes your eyes to get from the end of Chapter 13 to the first sentence of Chapter 14 - perhaps 145 spaces, half a page, certainly no more than two. You know for certain that in only a turn of the page all trouble will pass.  You know without a doubt a brighter day will dawn.  You know as sure as you are standing there that the light will once again shine gently on our heroine’s face and lead her on the path of renewed hope, healing, and of course, success in any endeavor she chooses. “After a while…”  encompasses the myriad of tasks, adventures, conflicts and struggles our heroine needed to experience in order to either walk again, find the missing evidence, come to her senses, discover a new planet or just find the partner she’s been looking for.

Sometimes I wish I could be a 5’8” raven haired beauty with the soul of an angel, the courage of ten thousand and my beloved by my side.  Perhaps then I would have only a page and half until I reached the safety of “after a while…”.

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Sadi Watson - Extraneous Thought #32

A scene from one of my favorite couples on television:

D: “What I give to you, what – what I share, I do with no one else. I like to think that what you give to me, you do with nobody else. Now that – that may sound silly to you, but here’s the thing I think is silly – the idea that jealousy or fidelity is reserved for romance. I always suspected that there was a connection between you and that man. That you got something form him you didn’t get form me.”

A: “I probably do. But gosh, what I get from you, Denny… people walk around today calling everyone their best friend. The term doesn’t have any real meaning anymore. Mere acquaintances are lavished with hugs and kisses upon a second or at most third meeting. Birthday cards get passed around offices so everybody can scribble a snippet of sentimentality for a colleague they’ve barely met. And everyone just loves everyone. As a result, when you tell somebody you love them today, is isn’t much heard. I love you Denny. You are my best friend.”

A: “I can’t imagine going through life without you as my best friend.”

Denny Crane and Allen Shore
from Boston Legal

Boston Legal
Over the ledge
Season 3 episode 0
Written by David E Kelly
Airdate Nov 28,2006

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Allow Me To Introduce Sadie Watson

You know that song, “I’m Every Woman” - well I’m not. I’m Sadie Watson from South Carolina. I’m old enough to know better and young enough to want more.

I’ve had many occupations from working in a glue factory to owning my own business.

My philosophy is a simple one, keep an open mind, you never know when you’ll need one - a mind that is.

My interests vary from reading to television to current events and I have an opinion about everything. Sometimes opinions are all we have; they’re relatively inexpensive and plentiful. All one has to do is search the web on any given day to know that’s true.

My favorite things to do on my off hours are shoe shopping, fly fishing, building log cabins, trolling through the make-up counters at Nordstroms, and of course reading. I’ve been reading romance novels for over 15 years and read everything from historical regencies to contemporary paranormals. My favorite authors are too numerous to mention here – but during the next several weeks I’m sure you’ll hear about a few.

The nice people here at Romance Novel TV have offered me a small slot on their valuable real estate to call my own. So once a week – I’ll be here to talk about anything I feel a deep need to share.

Again, my name is Sadie Watson, but you can call me Sadie Watson.

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What's On Your Romance Novel Hit Parade

It’s holiday time - that means gift giving. We all have those people on our list that we agonize over what to give - what to give?! Then it hits you, “I’ll buy them a book.”

If this bright idea strikes while you’re at the mall you might walk into the bookstore and browse. What next? The endless browsing through stacks, racks and piles, hoping the right book will jump up and scream, “Buy me!” Followed by the doubts - what would they really like? What was the last book I saw on their coffee table or night stand? Do I know them well enough to get them something they would enjoy?

This got me to thinking - if I were going to purchase a romance novel for someone else, what would I buy them? I’d buy them something I would enjoyed reading. So here’s my short list:
As a time travel junkie, I’d definitely  get them a copy of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander.  If they hadn’t yet  experienced The Brotherhood, I’d most certainly put J.R. Ward’s Dark  Lover into the pile.  If I thought historical was their bag, I’d give them  one of  of Lisa Kleypas’ Wallflower Series, or a new book I just  finished The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly.  For contemporary,  I’d  say Nora Roberts’ Blood Brothers. — Ah heck, who am I kidding - there  are just too  many to choose from.

If you were giving romance books as a gift - which would  you choose?

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Julianne MacLean Wants to Know if Trailers Can Work for Books Like They Work for Movies.

 No one can argue that movie trailers get audiences into theatres. Just today I went to see Fred Clause with my daughter, and I was keen to see it for one reason alone – the trailer made it look entertaining and funny. I’ve seen Vince Vaughn in other movies and have enjoyed his comic performances, and he looked great in the trailer - dancing with the elves, rambling on and on with lightning quick wit and random thoughts, as only Vince Vaughn can do. I didn’t go see it because of a print ad in the newspaper. A print ad wouldn’t have made me laugh. I didn’t go see it because I love Christmas movies. I went to see it because the trailer intrigued me.

So do trailers for books accomplish the same thing and get readers into bookstores, searching for a particular book? I just did my first trailer for my recent release, IN MY WILDEST FANTASIES, and I am optimistic that I reached new readers because of it. I received a ton of emails from people telling me they enjoyed the trailer, and I was contacted by some romance websites in different parts of the world – places that had never contacted me before - all because someone had seen the trailer and passed it on.

But how many actual customers who walk into brick and mortar bookstores to shop are surfing around on the net beforehand to learn about their book choices? I would love to know the answer to that. I, for one, use Amazon or B&N all the time to look up a book or an author. Those sites are great sources of information. And in this day and age, if authors want to reach younger audiences, the best way to do it is through technology, because that’s what the younger generation is growing up with.

Which leaves me with the burning question – will book videos become the most effective tool to sell books in the future? Are we in the infancy stage of the industry? Or am I comparing apples to oranges when I compare a book video to a movie trailer, because books and movies are two different mediums? What do you think?

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Romantic Time of Year

The holidays are a time for friends and family.  They are also  the most romantic time of year.  Time to forget the old - ring in the new. Begin again.

But, are we  so busy with preparing for the holidays that we forget to take time to show our love to the ones who mean the most.  Do you ever get so wrapped up in year end deadlines, shopping, planning and cooking that you begin to take for granted that someone special in your life? When it comes to romance has the fizz gone fuzzy?

If your love came home and told you that you had 30 minutes to pack for a surprise romantic getaway, what would you do?

Alisa Kwitney and the Rebels of Romance

One lovely fall afternoon we shot a segment with Marianne Mancusi and Liz Maverick as they interviewed one of their favorite authors - Alisa Kwitney. Alisa, an editor at Vertigo, 'the mature dark/fantasy imprint' of DC Comics, has a new romance paranormal series soon to be unveiled. You may know her from her books Sex as a Second Language or Flirting With Cars. Since Alisa has been an editor for one of the most acclaimed comic book titles of the '90's we thought there would be no better place for us to interview her than in the world's premiere comic book store - Midtown Comics. Yes, it's a fabulous retreat for lovers of comics located near Times Square in Manhattan. But, they don't only sell comics, we found books there too. Books by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Laruel K. Hamilton, our own Liz Maverick and yes, Alisa's books were there too.

It was an interesting shoot - between the 20 something comic book fans playing with the Godzilla toy that lights up and roars (very loudly), the punk rock music and the sales manager using the loud speaker to ask the sales clerk to find the newest issue of X-Men - we had an opportunity to ask Alisa about her new paranormal series.

Alisa has an amazing sense of humor and like her books, she likes to walk on the wild side. You might ask yourself what comic books and romance novels have in common. Well Liz and Marianne asked Alisa and you'll have to watch the video to find out.

What about you - comic books and romance novels? What's the connection?

See Alisa's interview with the Rebels of Romance on Romance Novel TV

Mr. Romance - Buffie This One is for You!

If you've been to our message board then you know the "Hottie Of The Week" is a very popular forum. You're probably wondering where all these incredible looking men come from. Well I'm about to lay that mystery to rest. Buffie - the one and only - a moderator on our board and a true romantic, posts a different 'hottie' each week. So when Marisa and I were filming at the last NJ RWA Conference - we nearly fell over when author Beth Ciotta introduced us to Billy.

As the former Mr. Romance, Billy is an actor and a model. He has graced the covers of some of your favorite romance books published by Harlequin, Ellora's Cave and Medallion Press.

We could NOT pass up the opportunity to get Billy in front of our cameras so Marisa could ask him a few questions. So check out our video - and feast your eyes. For the first time ever, RNTV is dedicating a video and this one's for you Buffie. ENJOY!

Mr. Romance can be seen on the video page of Romance Novel TV

Smart Bitches and the J.R. Ward Debate

You might have guessed already. In case you haven’t - I’ll tell you. Marisa and I are huge J.R. Ward fans. Yes, we are fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Marisa has been since the first book - Dark Lover. She introduced me and sucked me into their world. We love the series and we’ll keep buying the books.

Marisa and I asked Sarah Wendell, from smartbitchestrashybooks.com what she thought of the latest book in the series and she admitted she’d never read it. Imagine our shock. Not having read the Black Dagger Brotherhood? So, Marisa actually mailed Sarah her copy to read.

Last month we shot several video interviews with Sarah and one of the segments was her review of “Dark Lover”, the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Sarah runs her site with Candy Tan - they are partners in Smart Bitches. We had every intention of having Candy be on camera with Sarah - it just turns out we ran into some technical problems. You see Candy doesn’t live in the New York City Metropolitan area so her portion was to be live via web cam. Let’s just say, technology bested us this time.

So, today we have Sarah’s take on Lover Unbound and over at Smart Bitches, they have Candy’s written review with her take.

Go ahead, check it out and see what Candy has to say.

And let us know your thoughts?

Watch the video on Romance Novel TV

Behind the Scenes - The Making of Novel Places

I thought I'd share a little "behind-the-scenes" reality with you today.

If you check our video page you'll see a video for a new segment called "Novel Places". This is where we visit a city featured in a romance book. Our first choice was Suzanne Enoch's Billionaires Prefer Blondes. Marisa chose this book because she's been a big fan of the continuing story of Sam and Rick, the hero and heroine. It also happens to take place in New York City. For my money, there is no other city in the world like NYC.

We actually shot this video last November, on a very, very, very, very cold day. The temperature hovered around zero, the sun was nowhere in sight and the wind was howling like a dog that hadn't eaten in months. It was not an ideal day for shooting outside - but as they say, "the shoot must go on."

Our on-camera host, Carey Riley as a great sport - she persisted - regardless of the incredibly ridiculous shooting conditions. I fortunately was working in the office with my keyboard to keep me warm. However, Marisa was producing that day - so out she went, bundled up in ways only a mother can appreciate. You couldn't see her face and she could barely walk for all the layers she had on.

We did shoot several scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor. What can I say, it happens, scenes don't always make it in the final piece.

We shot about 6 takes of Carey getting onto a NYC City bus. Yes, the crew waited at the bus stop while Carey 'pretended' to get on. At one point the signals got crossed and Carey understood that she was supposed to get on the bus - so she did. It seems no one else in the crew was prepared for her to jump on board. That's when the crew got into action. The cameraman, the sound man, the production assistant and Marisa all went running down the streets of NYC to catch Carey as she got off at the next stop (thinking it would be a cool shot to capture). Picture this - the entire crew running in the freezing coldwith camera equipment, bags, tapes, you name it, not knowing when or if Carey would get off the bus at the next stop. Sounds great - but it didn't make it on tape.

The opening scene, features Carey standing in the middle of Times Square. This scene was shot two different ways. The first time in New Jersey. There 's an incredibly beautiful place on the water in New Jersey that looks out over the NYC skyline. There was Carey and crew shooting the opening. The wind was blowing so hard that she almost flew into the Hudson River. Her mouth froze and... well... we decided to go with the opening Times Square shot. You make those agonizing decisions in the edit room.

All in all - when Marisa returned to the office, we couldn't ply her with enough hot chocolate to get the chill out - so it was off to her home, and into a hot bath.

Check it out - Novel Places, featuring Suzanne Enoch's Billionaires Prefer Blondes.