Slake... editoral link

from Laurie's Likes and Views #77: More on Mother's Milk: I know that the publisher at Slake did an editorial about breast-feeding in romances some time ago, but in light of that Beverly Barton book, I'd like to re-open it up for discussion Slake editorial by Suzanne Goodwin for odd people like me who care about things like this... I found this posted as 12/5/1998 but have no clue when it was first posted on slake nothing on the net dies looks like Slake use to be more than it is today... nifty Cream, Sugar or Milk

cream, sugar or milk...

A small part of Jane's response in If You Can't Take the Heat, mentioned Passions Breastfeeding sex bit: Further for Ms. V to write that she didn't expect this type of response also seems a bit ridiculous. Her book was filled with extreme and provocative sex scenes (sex while breastfeeding?). Of course, there was going to be negative responses. I suspect Jaid Black get hate mail constantly for corrupting the morals of the world. off of that Lisa Valdez asked: Okay, and will someone please tell me what the big deal is with sex while breastfeeding? Why is that so shocking? Sex made the baby, and it’s not as if the baby knows what’s going on. I think it’s weird that people think it’s weird. Sorry, that’s off topic. Forget I asked. more, more, more **now updated with list and links** Now this is a topic I find mucho amusing, more because of a chat than about the book itself. The scene in question takes place at the very end of the book. And I will have to go find mine to be sure but I think it is all of a paragraph. But it totally squicks some people out. Does it squick you? Did you make note of it while reading? A few months back (I think) while searching for something on AAR I came across something talking about sex while breast feeding (is this one word or two?). It was Laurie's News and Views #77 from August 1, 1999 (I soooooo love the old Laurie's News and Views much more than I like the ATBF of today. Is that just me?). I expected it to be about Passion (no I didn't note the date at the time *g*). But it wasn't... there were OTHER books where this happens. The old list that the AARList members put together had these titles: * Broomstick Cowboy by Kathleen Eagle 11/93 * Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon * Heaven Above by Sara Jarrod 9/96 * Caroline & the Raider by Linda Lael Miller 3/92 * Skye O'Malley by Bertrice Small * Sunset Embrace by Sandra Brown * Hawk O'Toole's Hostage by Sandra Brown * The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley * Silver Flame buy Susan Johnson * Night in Eden by Candice Proctor * Between Friends by Candace Spencer * Tender Trap by Beverly Barton 1/97 * Tangled by Mary Balogh 3/94 I have never read Kathleen Eagle, Diana Gabaldon, Jo Beverley or Candace Spencer. The Sara Jarrod book I have read in its redone form as an EC novel (more on that later). The Sandra Brown book I think is the one I am scared to read. And I haven't read Hawk O'Toole's Hostage (although I think I dhave it). Silver Flame and Night in Eden I have read but breastfeeding sex doesn't ring a bell at all. Maybe I didn't even notice? And I have Tangled but don't think I have read it. Any others that anyone can think of? Have you read any of these books? Did you find them squicky? Do you even remember there being breastfeeding sex? Would this make you put the book down and walk away? Would you just skip over the scene? Or would you not even notice it? Just a Little Patience If You Can't Take the Heat

If you can't take the heat...

My take on Passion was a largely favorable one. I liked it. With each reread, I liked it more. But one thing I noticed she seemed to get too involved with the discussions on message boards. As a reader I like talking about books with the authors. Yes shocking I know *g*. But there gets to be that point where you agree to disagree because you are repeating yourself. I think this is a common first time author mistake. You want to talk about your baby. You want people to love your baby. You want people to read your baby! But it is murky water. How much is too much. Where is it okay to post? What will increase conversation? What will be a thread killer? And I think you learn as you go. Yes there are authors... many many authors who will give you advice. Listen to you bitch. Dry your tears. And help you call those reviewers bitches! But much like your mother telling you to do things... you still have to learn on your own. Which is what *I* think happened with Lisa Valdez and her experience with Message Boards. (please correct me if I am wrong lisa) Message boards and reviews are what they are, reader opinion. They are not for the weak. Some are great, some are grand, some are wonderful and some will tell you sucks serious ass (or even great big hairy donkey balls). So in that case... I would have to say I agree with Sandy (a reviewer with AAR) in her post Is she a grown-up or not? I personally thought that she spent a bit too much time feelin' and basking in the love here. I guess she also felt the sting. Well I would agree if that was what I thought Lisa Valdez's point was in her post. I took it like Meljean did: she was simply responding to her readers, who were wondering why the book was late, and responding in an honest (and I imagine somewhat embarrassing) manner. How mortifying is it to acknowledge that you let others opinions come between you and your work? There was no complaint. She said: this was my reaction, and I've learned from it -- and my book is late, yes, but I've moved on. So putting reviews and message boards aside and focusing on 'Hate Mail' I can understand why Lisa had some problems with it. Why would a person feel the need to write an author and tell them how horrid, bad, filthy, wrong, fucked up, name your shit here - their book is? That seems some what stalkerish. Reviews are for readers. Blogs and message boards are for discussion. And if an author ASKS you... what did you think. Well email the hell out of them. But what drives someone to email some stranger and tell them they are fucked? And what makes it okay? Just because as sandy sez: I'm sorry that you think I'm being harsh. I think I'm just expecting Ms. Valdez to be a professional. Hate mail is a bitch. But complain to your writer's loops -- Ms. Valdez was hardly blazing a trail here, they've all gotten hate mail before. Complain to your editor and your agent. They're there to support you. Clearly, Kristie J, her explanation was enough for you. But while I wouldn't call you a patsy for your position, you seem to have no problem calling my earlier post superior. And, honestly, that's kind of insulting. But I'm a big girl. I'll smile and suck it up and move on. I respect you and have always respected you, Krisitie (SIC) J, but I think we'll have to agree to disagree here. It happens to everyone so authors should just get over it? How do authors feel about it? Is it really something that common? How do you deal with it? Will anyone else admit to it *g*. What makes an email turn from Feedback to Hate Mail? And anyone who has ever sent negative feedback to an author they didn't know, what made you do it? What caused that reaction? And hey if nothing else... if a person hates a book enough to feel the need to email, couldn't you say you still did a good job as a writer? At the heart of it. Like it or not, there is no right or wrong answer as far as Lisa Valdez's post goes. It is how she felt. It is what she did to take care of what she saw as a problem. And I for one appreciate an author being honest. No matter if I agree or no. Maybe that is just me... And this is always fun: You ARE what you WRITE

Just a little Patience

From Rod Stewart to Guns and Roses... earworms for everyone! hee sorry- syb After gentle nudging *g* Lisa Valdez has been kind enough to answer my question... where the heck is patience and what is taking so long! From Lisa... Hi Everyone, Sybil was kind enough to invite me to her blog so that I could have the opportunity to explain what the heck my problem has been with completing PATIENCE. Thank you, Syb, for this opportunity. So, here’s the deal: This past year has been really challenging for me. Besides some very heavy intrusions by life, the biggest problem I had with writing PATIENCE was that I was writing it while dealing with the unexpectedly strong response to PASSION. As many of you may know, readers were very vocal about PASSION and they basically fell into two camps—those who adored it and those who despised it. There was very little in-between. And while many of the discussion boards were taken up with long threads about PASSION, my email was also overflowing. Most of the email was wonderful, and some of you made me cry (((hugs))), but there was also “hate mail,” which I could never identify until I’d started reading—and like the compulsion I often feel to watch a bad movie till the end, I had to read those emails to the end. I know, so stupid! Anyway, the force of these two opposing opinions came down on me together and, suddenly, writing got really difficult. All at once, I felt a HUGE responsibility to all of you who had loved and adored PASSION. While I was so grateful that PASSION had fallen into your hands, I began to worry that you wouldn’t like Patience and Matthew’s story. I mean, they are very different characters from Passion and Mark, and the sensual angle is different as well. Perhaps, thought I, you just want another PASSION. And while I was tormenting myself with these thoughts, I did a completely ludicrous thing. I allowed the voices of my detractors to influence me as well. Lord, I kept thinking: if they hated PASSION, they’re going to stone me in the streets for PATIENCE. I started holding the characters back—I wouldn’t let them do what they wanted to do, or even think what they wanted to think. And when I did give them some leeway, I did so only with the greatest trepidation. But I don’t want to give the impression that I am this over-sensitive, delicate type, with fragile confidence and flimsy sensibilities. I assure you, that’s not me. It went more like this: I wake up excited to write this scene in which Matthew gives Patience this intense spanking that breaks down all her emotional barriers. But, as is my habit, I check my email before I begin to write. Well, there in my inbox is an email from a very angry reader. She calls me a misogynist and rants that I have no business writing romance for women as I so obviously hate women. She goes on to say that Mark is an “abusive rapist,” (I didn’t know there was any other kind) and that Matthew is equally as bad as he “beats” his mother. She ends her email by calling me a “disgrace to modern women.” –Okay, so suffice it to say, I did not write the spanking scene that day. Nor did I write it for many days after. Then, after more garbage came my way, I opted not to write it at all—even though it was a major turning point in the story. And that’s how it went. Well, you absolutely CANNOT write a book while afraid of it (especially a book like PATIENCE). You cannot! The manuscript was tepid, and half-hearted. And because I had left things out that I had suddenly feared readers would find too intense, Patience couldn’t even really arc as a character. I had completely robbed her of what she needed. And poor Matthew—I had cut him off at the knees as well. Anyway, slowly but surely, I began to face the fact that I had completely lost my way. There were many months of denial before I was able to finally face the truth—that I’d allowed some very sad, unfortunate people to crush me. This was a rather disturbing and painful realization. I mean, how could I have let that happen? But I also got angry about it and, finally, I had this “what-the-heck?/what-is-your-problem?” moment. And in that moment (or two), I got so fed up with myself and the whole situation that I knew I was done. And within a week or two, I felt like myself again—thank you, Jesus! So, having said all this, I apologize to all of you who loved PASSION and were generous enough to take time out of your busy lives to tell me so. I ought to have given you more of my trust. I ought to have trusted, as I did with PASSION, that if I loved these characters enough then many of you would too. And most of all, I ought not to have dishonored all of you, and myself, by allowing people who hate what I do to influence what I do. So, there you have it—the cliff notes to a very long and surprisingly intense personal struggle. I hope you’ll all hang in there for Matthew and Patience’s romance. I know I’ve tried your patience at this point, but I also know that the book coming out in May is far more passionate and honest than the one you would have purchased earlier. Thanks so much for listening. And thank you, Syb, for offering me the welcoming forum of your blog. Ciao, Lisa —Oh, and the spanking scenes are back! Yeah, there are more than one…

Passion part deux

So there is a nifty thread at AAR (really need to update links and put one up so I can stop looking for the link every time I meantion it. thread started by trish in the review board aka off limits to sybil so here we be ;) I think Lisa Valdez makes a common first time author mistake in responding to much on the board. Not to say I don't think an author should post on the review board, I do but I don't think should post too much to take away from the reader discussion. That prolly makes no sense. Although I do have to say I like what she said and even if I hadn't liked Passion I would want to buy the next book because of how well she handed the board. Funny enough I haven't read the whole thread I didn't make it too far in the thread. Anyway... check out the book, check out the thread

Passion by Lisa Valdez

Lea Hensley's review of Passion at AAR is pretty on spot with what I thought. I would rate it more of an A or at least a B+ than I would a B but I still have trouble with the whole grade thang. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the story. For a first time author, trying her hand at a romance with a heavy touch of sex thrown in the mix, Lisa Valdez does really well. I would say she is sort of a mix of emma holly and (older) susan johnston. The heroine's name is Passion, which I had a eh moment with, but I got over it quickly. Lea does a great summary so I won't redo it, just follow the link ;). I still don't get the screen thing, they are in a furniture room at the Crystal Palace going at it like bunnies behind a screen. How can people not hear something... I really enjoyed Mark and Passion's story and look forward Patience the next story in the trilogy. A word of warning the love scenes are graphic with cocks and cunts aplenty and it can be slightly purple but not in a bad way. Mark loves Passion and once he knows it, he isn't afraid to tell her. The sex, the plot and the character development all mix together well and make for a pretty tight story. Someone had asked, What is Purple. I think LLB says it best here