Romancing Las Vegas

A romance novel exhibit in Las Vegas?

People think of many things when they think of Las Vegas and I couldn't begin to tell you what they all are because they're as varied and surprising as the people out there.

It's interesting to note people's reactions when you tell them you are visiting or living in Las Vegas. People in the San Francisco Bay Area have been known to gasp, as if Las Vegas is too tacky to even mention. People in the Pacific Northwest often chuckle because it sounds so fun and sunny. And people east of the Rockies don't exactly know where or what it is - other than it's "sin city."

As for me, I think romance when I think of Las Vegas. City lights, secluded booths, wining and dining in a city with more celebrity chefs than anywhere else in the world, it truly is the entertainment capital of the world - if not the romance capital. And it looks like I'm not alone.

The largest romance publisher in the world, Harlequin, has just opened the "Heart of a Woman" exhibit showcasing women's romance novels in Las Vegas. And what's more romantic than Paris? Paris, Las Vegas, that is. There's lots of romance to be found there - one of our favorite properties on the Strip.

Harlequin and Vegas and Paris, oh my! The only way it could get any better is if Harlequin publishes my Las Vegas-based romance novel under submission for 5 months now. Waiting, waiting, waiting...

Time for Some Fun

It's been one hellacious week starting with a new doctor who doesn't understand patients she can't throw in a box and label - surprise, surprise - I'm always the one outside that box. No wonder it shows up in my writing. For some comic relief, check out the outtake from my novel Real Women Wear Red where Cyn goes to the OB/GYN. In fact, the scene is called Cyn's Guide to Dignity and Self-Respect at the OB/GYN - published on More.com.

Then the news of Harlequin's misstep with their new vanity press venture - this sapped my energy for the rest of the week. Just when I was feeling like I had found my genre, I felt confused, overwhelmed, discouraged, insulted, and angry. From what I hear, there are a lot of submissions out there from people who just don't know what they're doing. It muddies the waters for those of us who are career-minded and are taking this seriously, and professionally. Anyway, enough of that.

So, now it's Friday - yay - the Friday before Thanksgiving week and many are heading out, getting into the holiday spirit. So, I thought I'd link to a couple of fun songs I heard back-to-back on the way back from getting my holiday manicure. And no matter your plans - alone, with family, or off to the islands - Happy Thanksgiving!

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem by Kenny Chesney (click on link to listen to on YouTube) or "Toes" by the Zac Brown Band.

Got my toes in the water and my ass in the sand - ya gotta love it! So missing Florida!

In Case You Missed it - Agents Blog About Harlequin

In case you haven't read them already, check out these bloggers talking about the HQN news yesterday:

Agent Kristin Nelson here and here

Agent Janet Reid here and here

Agent Ashley Grayson here 

Combreviations

How Publishing Really Works

Queen of Romance, Nora Roberts, weighs in

Author Jackie Kessler here

Writer Beware: Other Publishers are Jumping on the Self-Publishing Bandwagon

Harlequin Horizons: Are they for real - do they really think some schmuck is going to buy their $20,000 book trailer? Guess they agree with PT Barnum - "There's a sucker born every minute."

If Harlequin wanted to get the world's attention, they've certainly accomplished that. They must also believe that bad publicity is better than no publicity. But I think they've made a major stumble. Thinking your good name will give you carte blanche to use it for unethical reasons is just stupid.

I can't imagine what it's like to be a Harlequin author right now and my heart goes out to them. I do have a submission at HQ that I'm waiting on - second time around for this book that I originally submitted a year ago and resubmitted again last summer with changes made to it based on their rejection letter. But if the only thing they can say about my manuscript is that it's too "women's fiction," that's okay. Because now I know to focus solely on what it is I write best - romantic women's fiction.

I hear that with every rejection is a line recommending you self-publish it with their new self-publishing company. Now if that doesn't reek. It's so insulting to take your writing career seriously, including membership in RWA, to work so hard on your craft and to keep trying to fit your book into one of the HQ lines - and then have them reject you - only to try to lure you into handing over your  money to them. It's insulting on so many levels - not to mention unethical. If an agent did this, they'd be marked as an unethical agency. So Harlequin just asked for it when RWA ripped away their approved publisher status.

Besides, if the reason for rejection is it's too WF and not enough romance, why not forward it to their new Digital company where they're now e-publishing women's fiction? Not enough money in it for HQ. Note to HQ: I've been in the publishing business since my 20s - I know how to self-pub - I've already done it through Lulu.com where no money is necessary upfront - no need for that - you can POD it (print on demand).

I know we've all had enough drama interrupting our lives over the past day or so and it's time to put this away and focus on what it is we really do - we write. But, like Agent Kristin Nelson said, "Who can get work done when there is so much Harlequin gossip flying around?"

But with so much out of our control, that is all we can do - we write and trust that someday, somewhere, there will be a legitimate place for our work. In the meantime, we have to do our best to avoid the land mines.

Women's Fiction for Romance Lovers

I am loving the new RWA Women's Fiction chapter. What a bunch of fabulous, seasoned, accomplished, published, women writers. Some compare being published in mainstream fiction as acquiring a doctorate, with at least 10 years of writing experience before you get there, and many of these women have 20-30 plus years of experience as published authors. No wonder I feel like the new kid on the block.

What great role models. Iyanla on the TV show Starting Over used to say that every woman needs a wise woman to go to. And in our chapter, we have the most fabulous wise woman of all - Barbara Samuel O'Neil aka Barbara Samuel - that is Anais Nin - not Barbara in pic. :)

Barbara Samuel is the author of my favorite WF novel of all time - Lady Lucky's Map of Vegas. As I read it, I was screaming inside, "Yes, yes, yes, this is like what I write." I can only aspire to write it as well as Barbara does. And what is the Women's Fiction chapter? As it says on our chapter web site:

The RWA-Women’s Fiction chapter was created to support women’s fiction writers whose work is romance-friendly.

My writing has always crossed the line between women's fiction, romance, and chick lit. I used to describe my writing as "Women's fiction with a chick lit attitude." My web site's subtitle is "Floating between romance and women's fiction..." because that's exactly where I am.

I've tried writing straight romance, but it ends up getting rejected because it's too "women's fiction." I try deleting those sections that make it WF, but don't quite have the heart to because it's so important to any story, I think. I want more than couples frolicking in bed - I want the woman to have a story behind why she can't commit or some other issue she's dealing with.

The publishing world seems to be changing on a daily basis, but there's one thing I can grab onto as a life raft in the middle of turbulent waters - "just focus on writing women's fiction." And I'm enjoying the support of a professional writing organization. There's been much criticism of RWA's approach to e-publishing, but like any professional writing organization, they're looking out for their members' best interests. And if they can be convinced that most writers can earn a decent living writing for e-pubs, then I'm sure they would be happy to recommend them.

Just as the Society for Technical Communication (STC) supports technical writers in creating a professional environment when it comes to pay, working conditions, and opportunities for my profession, so does the Romance Writers of America (RWA) when it comes to the many subgenres of women's fiction/romance.

In the end, we all choose which opportunities we will seek and accept and the organization is there to offer recommendations and guidelines. But the most important part for us is the writing. And, as professionals, we deserve to be paid for it. But we have to fight for that because our culture doesn't value writing.

And now I'll share a couple of quotes by Anais Nin (pictured above), who I often find quite inspiring:

If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it.

My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living.

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. 

Romancing the Past

From MadMen - the Rat Pat Pack - Ocean's 11 to the latest Vegas casinos, and the design/decor of Napa Rose at Disney's Grand Californian, mid-century modern is in - retro is in.

Last night we stopped off at the  "M" Resort, owned and operated by MGM/Mirage Resorts at the south end of Las Vegas - in fact it's the first Las Vegas exit from California, a mere 30 minutes to the border. You've seen this place if you've been watching this season's Top Chef reality show. We had stopped off once before one early Sunday morning and enjoyed a yummy breakfast at the Red Cup Cafe - talk about fabulous decor and setting. But we hadn't really experienced its fabulous Vegas vibe until last night.

With so many intriguing restaurants to choose from, we didn't know where to begin. But we soon learned that just stopping in at a Vegas restaurant on a Saturday night without reservations, hungry, and expecting to be seated right away wasn't realistic. But we stumbled upon Veloce, at the top of the "M" - 16 stories up with a fabulous view of the Strip, and were seated almost immediately. It filled up quickly right after we were seated, so we lucked out. Here's the description of this fabulous, retro restaurant, so like the Vegas I once knew before it went crazy trying too hard to live up to its "Sin City" name, making it almost impossible for locals to drop in for a good time:

At Veloce Cibo, spectacular views of the Las Vegas valley, innovative culinary concepts and a contemporary social scene are combined to offer a completely one-of-a-kind experience. Gracing the summit of the M, Veloce combines an extensive menu of appetizers, entrees, sushi, sashimi and nigiri as well as satisfying desserts and pairs them with a range of hand-crafted cocktails and specialty drinks at Bar Veloce. It is the newest spot for dining and nightlife where guests enjoy amazing views of the Las Vegas skyline and one of the most spectacular terraces in the city. Veloce has something for everyone. The atmosphere is modern and the conversation is inspiring; the food may leave you speechless.

In true Vegas retro fashion, we ordered a dirty Ketel One vodka martini and several sharing plates (oysters, scallops, and beef & chicken satay). I don't even want to mention how much the check came to, but this is what living in Vegas is all about.

Like Watching a Women's Fiction Novel

I turn on the TV this morning, looking for something to watch while hubby and I nosh on a little living room picnic he cooked up for us (romantic, yes?) and I discovered Gourmet's Adventures with Ruth. Now if that isn't like watching a women's fiction novel, I don't know what it is. More than just watch it, I want to step into it - walk it. I want to hang out with Ruth and her friends (ageless and fabulous) and take cooking classes in Venice - with hubby - he's just that kinda guy - my romantic soul mate.

Ever since the so-called demise of "chick lit," which in retrospect was more of a subgenre of women's fiction than romance, I've been struggling for a genre. I tried fitting myself into several, but, in the end, I find I write some form of romance. That's just how I see life - romance in food, in travel, in people, in places.

And then I start to wonder how old a romance writer can be - feeling that something about me isn't quite aligned with straight romance novels and who I am as a person or a writer. Instead of writing for "chicks over 40," it feels like I'm trying to write for 20-somethings and 30-somethings - not that Sandy Brown wasn't 20-something in Real Women Wear Red. And Rosalie in my historical novel is also young, but somehow a novel set in the past feels different, too.

Maybe it's more about genre than age because attempting to rewrite my women's fiction as a romance, I struggle with tearing out those parts that are women's fiction. My heart wants to leave them in - I want more story than a man and woman exchanging sexy repartee, and then ending up in bed. I want that in it, too, but I want more than that. And should my romance under submission be accepted, well, then, I'll take that, too. After all, you've got to start somewhere.

In the meantime, everything is starting to click into place. As I mentioned on my author blog, I joined the new RWA Women's Fiction and am thrilled about it. I recognize many of the writers who had joined the Chick Lit chapter when it was hot. My life seems to be coming together. This feels more aligned with who I am, where I am in my life, both personally and professionally. Suddenly, it's awesome to be this age instead of trying to be what I'm not - I'm no longer 40 - I've moved on. And it's time for my writing to move on with me. I'm so excited I can barely sit still or find the words to truly express how I feel.

Adult Guide to Childhood Favorites

Potato chips, cinnamon rolls, fried chicken - just a few favorite childhood foods I've updated in my adult years.

Potato Chips - Yesterday I mentioned on Facebook how I've discovered a fabulous snack to pair with wine - potato chips. Okay, so maybe I didn't really discover it. It was my little secret that I thought sounded too silly to mention, but one day introduced it to hubby and he enjoyed it, too. Then I discovered the French have been doing it for years.

So when we went to a wine tasting in the Oregon wine country, we were excited to see Sokol Blosser winery pairing different flavors of Oregon-made gourmet potato chips - Kettle chips - with just the right wine. For example, the Thai Kettle chips are fabulous with Sokol-Blosser's Evolution wine.

Serve the Kettle Krinkle cut with Salt and Black Pepper (tastes like hash browns), with an egg, and a Bloody Mary and you've got Sunday brunch. For other pairings, check out the Kettle chip Create-a-Chip challenge.

Cinnamon Rolls - Remember those hot out of the oven cinnamon rolls dripping with sugar and butter? Me, too. Too fatty, too rich for my adult body. So now we have 100-calorie Hostess Coffee Cakes - top each one with a dab of low fat margarine, and microwave for 15 seconds or less. Enjoy with cup of coffee. Simply fabulous - just like having a big, fat, hot, juicy cinnamon roll but with barely more than 100 calories. And a lot less indigestion.

For an adult dessert, try the 100-calorie Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes - pair with favorite red wine or ice wine. 100-calories and 5 grams of fiber - adult bodies like this. (Not every flavor has the fiber, tho, so check the nutrition info on the box.)

Fried Chicken - I don't know about you, but hubby and I haven't been able to eat real fried chicken for years now. The last time we tried, it just didn't sit well with us. Grilled chicken is fine, but now when we get that craving for fried chicken, I grab a couple of boxes of Stouffer's Fried Chicken Dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, and add my own veggie for just a bit more than 360 calories - not bad for a full meal.

Hubby used to call this my "bachelorette" meal but he enjoys it with me now - especially when paired with a glass of Chardonnay. Any time you add a glass of wine to your meal, it becomes so much more satisfying. Good company is even better.

Disclaimer: Nobody paid me to write any of this and nobody supplied me with free food. These are strictly my opinions, based on my experiences.