Aphrodisiac Foods

If you're wanting to get your partner in the mood, try making a meal filled with Aphrodisiacs.

What is an Aphrodisiac? According to Wikipedia, it is a substance, when consumed, increases sexual desire. Using foods that contain Aphrodisiacs in meals will increase your chances of "getting lucky."

Here is a link to an article called: 19 Aphrodisiac Foods Proven to Spark Romance.

However, I don't think you should expect it to work all on its own. You also have to romanticize your partner. You could have your woman curl up with you after dinner and read a romance novel. Her reading a romance novel on top of the aphrodisiacs will increase her sexual desire for you.

Steampunk Romance Novels

What is Steampunk?

By definition in wikipedia, it is a sub-genre of science fiction that typically features steam-powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by industrialized Western civilization during the 19th century.

Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century's British Victorian era or American "Wild West", in a post-apocalyptic future during which steam power has regained mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. Steampunk usually features anachronistic technologies or retro-futuristic inventions as people in the 19th century might have envisioned them, and is likewise rooted in the era's perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art.

Combining the Steampunk theme along with a romance novel makes a great mix for the imagination.

Here is a link to a list of great Steampunk romance novels: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/steampunk-romance




This music video is a popular example of media that's Steampunk oriented. Lindsey Stirling's outfit, the time frame, and partially the music is all Steampunk themed.

Paperman Short Film

I wanted to share this adorable short film with you all. It is heartwarming, reignites that desire for love, and gives you hope that there is true love out there.

Enjoy! ｡◕‿◕｡

7 Fall Romantic Date Ideas

Photo Taken from Website
Link to: http://www.wallpapers-in-hd.com/photo/
desktop_wallpaper_fall_colors/3.html#.VGAnsb5RVUQ

I have noticed that the onset of a relationship doesn't usually begin in the fall season in a romance novel. I haven't read a novel yet that had a couple immersing themselves in the fall season. I think fall is such a beautiful season with the golden, brown, and orange array of colors. And of course, when it's fall, it's jacket season! Fall is a great time to spend time outside with a lover or go out on a date.

In fact, in Primer Magazine, I found a list of the top 7 Fall Romantic Date Ideas.

Here is a shortened version of the list:
1. Grab a few coffees for you and your date (preferably pumpkin spice) and head to an arboretum (botanical garden dedicated to trees).
2. Go star watching with your date at a local park.
3. Create a romantic fall dinner with fresh fruits and vegetables from a farmer's market.
4. Take your date for a long drive and gaze at the scenery and have a long conversation. Don't think about where you're going, you may even end up someplace great.
5. Enjoy the view of the sky and trees from a higher perspective. Go zip lining!
6. If there is a nearby river, take your date rafting and enjoy each other's company while possibly getting a workout.
7. Go camping! Enjoy what nature has to offer us.

I hope you all enjoy this fall weather. And even if you don't have a date, go do each of these things with friends or family. I bet you all will enjoy it!

National Novel Writing Month

Photo Credits go to: http://www.kamigarcia.com/
wp-content/
uploads/2014/11/NaNo.jpg

Hi everyone!

Every November is National Write A Novel In A Month (NaNoWriMo), month. The name speaks for itself. Writers nationwide challenge themselves to write a novel in a month. The requirements are to begin writing a 50,000 word novel on November 1st through November 30th at 11:59pm. There are no limitations to who can win.

For any of you who want to challenge yourselves as writers, totally join in on this special competition! Each and everyday you would have to write about 1,667 words per day for 30 days.

That amount of constant writing can wear you out and tire your creative side. There are programs out there that support and provide services to those entering this competition.

For instance, the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library offers resources and write-ins for those who are participating in NaNoWriMo. Gathering together with fellow writers can help release the tension and even inspire you further. Here is a link to a post on their website with information about their services: http://tscpl.org/events/national-novel-writing-month-resources.

Want to write for Harlequin?

For those of you who don't know who or what Harlequin is, here is a little blurb about the company on their website: "Harlequin is one of the world's leading publishers of books for women. The Toronto-based company publishes more than 110 titles a month in 34 languages in 110 international markets on six continents. These books are written by over 1,300 talented authors worldwide, offering women a broad range of reading from bestseller fiction to romance, from young adult novels to nonfiction, from African-American novels to inspirational romance, and more. With half of its books sold overseas and a tremendous 95% outside Canada—it is both the country's most successful publisher and one of its most international businesses."

Harlequin publishes many of the popular and best-selling books each year. I have read quite a few books from this publisher, and each book has been unique and a thrilling page-turner. I definitely recommend reading a book published by Harlequin.

 Here is a quick list of 10  authors that have been published at Harlequin: Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Gena Showalter, Silvia Day, Megan Hart, Elizabeth Goddard, Jeaniene Frost, Heather Graham, Cynthia Cooke, and Sharon Ashwood

Earlier this week I was poking around on their website and found a link called Write for Us. I had no idea they took submissions from writers and even had a list of guidelines for the many sub genres of romance they publish. So, if any of you are looking for a chance to get creative and submit a novel to a well-known publisher, click on the link above!

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks

For those of you who are Nicholas Sparks fans, did you know that his book The Best of Me is becoming a  movie? The movie is to be released in theaters on October 17th, 2014. So, if you're wanting to plan a date for this weekend, definitely go see this movie! It will bring you to tears, just as many of his books do. 

Picture taken from Amazon.com

Synopsis:  "Everyone wanted to believe that endless love was possible. She'd believed in it once, too, back when she was eighteen."

In the spring of 1984, high school students Amanda Collier and Dawson Cole fell deeply, irrevocably in love. Though they were from opposite sides of the tracks, their love for one another seemed to defy the realities of life in the small town of Oriental, North Carolina. But as the summer of their senior year came to a close, unforeseen events would tear the young couple apart, setting them on radically divergent paths.

Now, twenty-five years later, Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for the funeral of Tuck Hostetler, the mentor who once gave shelter to their high school romance. Neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. As Amanda and Dawson carry out the instructions Tuck left behind for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew -- about Tuck, about themselves, and about the dreams they held dear -- was not as it seemed. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers will discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past?

The Lords of the Underworld Series by Gena Showalter

If you're wanting to read a romance series that has a mixture of creative fantasy, greek mythology, and a hint of darkness, then you will love The Lords of the Underworld Series by Gena Showalter. 

I have read all of the published books of this series. The Lords of the Underworld Series has almost anything you can imagine: humans, immortal warriors, angels, harpies, demons, gods, goddesses, and so much more. This series is known for its grip on its audience. The novels instantly pull you from what you're doing and place you in a new world where anything is possible. It keeps you on your toes and makes you crave more!

"Long ago, twelve immortal warriors-each more dangerously seductive than the last--stole and opened Pandora's Box, unleashing the evil from within. Now they carry that evil within themselves. Violence, Pain, Death, Disease, Disaster, Misery, Doubt, Promiscuity, Defeat, Lies, Secrets, and Wrath. When a powerful enemy returns, they will travel the world in search of a sacred relic of the gods--one that threatens to destroy them all."-Gena Showalter (from her official website)

Photo originally by Aznballer on her blog
(link to: http://bookreviewbuddy.blogspot.com)
Photo edited by me.

The next book in the series The Darkest Touch will be released November 25th, 2014. 

Photo from Gena Showalter's
Official Website

THE GLOVES ARE OFF...

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes the long-awaited story of Torin, the most dangerous Lord of the Underworld yet….

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeleycael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win.

Guilty Pleasures: A PBS Documentary

This intriguing documentary about Harlequin Mills & Boon romance novels really emphasizes the idea that romance novels are a way for women, and even men to fulfill the fantasy of true love and escape from the lives they currently live. 

However, in this documentary, each of the people interviewed realize the boundaries between fantasy and reality. They may be obsessed with romance novels, but instead of trying to form their lives around a fantasy, they explore elements of the fantasy they desire with their partners.

I thought it was interesting to see how much romance novels touched people around the world. Overall, this was an insightful documentary.


"Five heroes, four Continents, one dream of true love. Because real life begins where Harlequin novels end..."

Photo of the DVD cover.
Ownership goes to the creators of Guilty Pleasures.

Every four seconds a Harlequin Mills & Boon romance novel is sold somewhere in the world. 

In India, the books give Shumita hope that her straying husband will return.

In Japan, housewife Hiroko yearns to make fantasy reality with her handsome ballroom dancing teacher. 

And in the UK, mother-of-three Shirly rifles through the books for ideas on how to keep her marriage spicy.

But it's not only the female readers who dream of a perfect romance. New York model Stephen has been on over 200 Mills & Boon covers, but can't find his true love.

While romance novelist Gill Sanderson is in fact a pensioner called Roger, writing from a caravan in the North of England.

Guilty pleasures explores our universal struggle to reconcile inner fantasy with the tragicomic truths of real-life relationships.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

I wanted to share this wonderful short animated film with all of you for the reason that it inspires me as both a reader and writer.

Stories are an important part of our lives and always have been whether it be through telling someone a story or words written on a page. They bring us knowledge and enable us to mature in many ways.

I feel as if this animated film is saying that reading a book brings a new light to the world we live in. Reading gives us a chance not only to learn, but to find an escape in a world that comforts us and expand the lengths of our imagination.

I hope you all enjoy this animation! Let me know what you think.

Does it make you remember a certain book or a story told to you by your parents or anyone else?

Does it make you remember that innocent imagination you had as a child?

Not Your Typical Teenage Romance Novel

As part of my training as a Shelving Assistant at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, I attended a School Library Journal Summerteen online conference with a few popular authors that were guest speakers.

Within the Romance Panel of this program, I learned about a new author named Leslye Walton that brought an interesting perspective into the romance novel genre for Teens. Leslye said that Teens should be exposed to other types of love such as family, friendship, and even discovering the love for something you are passionate about in order to mature and understand the world better. I think that this is an important outlook on educating teens while at the same time entertaining them and engaging them in fiction material.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender consists of more than romantic love.

Copied from Amazon.com
Cover Design by Matt Roeser

Magical realism, lyrical prose, and the pain and passion of human love haunt this hypnotic generational saga. 

Foolish love appears to be the Roux family birthright, an ominous forecast for its most recent progeny, Ava Lavender. Ava-in all other ways a normal girl-is born with the wings of a bird. In a quest to understand her peculiar disposition and a growing desire to fit in with her peers, sixteen-year old Ava ventures into the wider world, ill-prepared for what she might discover and naive to the twisted motives of others. Others like the pious Nathaniel Sorrows, who mistakes Ava for an angel and whose obsession with her grows until the night of the summer solstice celebration. That night, the skies open up, rain and feathers fill the air, and Ava's quest and her family's saga build to a devastating crescendo. First-time author Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and unforgettable mythology of what it means to be born with hearts that are tragically, exquisitely human.

The Subgenres of Romance

Many people associate romance novels as broadly being categorized in the romance genre. Did you know that the romance genre is broken down into subgenres? There are 10 main subgenres. However, depending upon a bookstore's or library's shelving system, these subgenres may vary or become interchangeable. 

The 10 main romance subgenres are:

1. Contemporary romance
2. Historical romance
3. Romantic suspense
4. Paranormal romance
5. Science Fiction romance
6. Fantasy romance
7. Time-travel romances
8. Inspirational romance
9. Multicultural romance
10. Erotic romance

The above hyper-linked text  will take you to a Wikipedia page describing each of the subgenres.

Why Do So Many Women Read Erotica?

For those of you who haven't been exposed to it, Erotic literature consists of fictional or factual stories that deal with sexual relationships. It allows the reader to become sexually aroused and explore sexual fantasies through words written on the page. 50 Shades of Grey by E. L. James would be a popular example of an Erotic novel.

The eroticism within this genre has become the stereotypical view of romance novels, but also the most popular for women to read. You can probably guess why this genre is so alluring to women-because it is pretty much like reading porn. 

However, that is not the only reason women read these novels. Just like any other novel, Erotic novels are a type of escape. Women are able to place themselves within the story and connect with it not only on a sexual level, but also on an emotional level. 

Erotic novels typically have the basics of a story such as a plot line, character development, insight, imagery, etc. Depending upon the author's writing, some Erotic novels aren't as appealing to those that prefer novels with a wider variety of vocabulary and description.

Out of curiosity, I researched a little bit about Erotica and its correspondence with women. I found an interesting study called Gender, Romance Novels and Plastic Sexuality in the United States: A Focus on Female College Students. The study was done in 2006 by  Hue-Hsia Wu, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Boise State University. 

In summary, the study explores whether or not women who read romance novels have a stronger interest in sexuality than men who read romance novels, and non-readers. However, as hypothesized in the study, a stronger sexual interest does not necessarily mean that women will be more active in sexual behavior.

What was interesting was that on page 126 of the study, there is a description of the mating strategies that each gender associates with. The article pretty much says that the male mating strategy is to sexually visualize unfamiliar women when fantasizing. 

Whereas, female fantasies are typically based on, "symbolic meanings, interpretive representation, of sexual self and a relationship." This expresses why women prefer to read erotic romance novels over pornography. 

Women are more geared towards finding an emotional connection to the stories, reflecting themselves within the novel, exploring relationships through a character's eyes, and in a way experiencing their own sexual fantasy by reading in-depth descriptions. 

I wonder, what do those of you who read Erotica or even those of you who don't read it think the reason why women read Erotica is? Do you agree with my opinion or not? If not, then what is your opinion?

Top 10 Characteristics That Make A Great Romance Novel

There are many romance novels out there. Some are great, and some not so great. 
I think that there are some basic qualities a romance novel must have:

1. The ability to make a person feel along with the characters.  
1. A romance novel without a true connection to the reader is pointless. There must be some way of relating to the story or else there would be no reason to read it.
   
2. A plot that isn't predictable.
1. If you've read a lot of novels, you probably have the ability to predict what will happen in the story within reading a certain amount of pages. That is exactly what needs to be avoided. A predictable plot makes the reader want to put the book down rather than draw the reader in. The plot should have its high moments and low moments. It should be able to shock the reader at times, and then calm the reader.
   
3. Descriptive imagery of the characters. 
1. This is something that I really enjoy seeing in a novel. I love detailed descriptions of characters so that I am able to picture them in my mind. Although, the descriptions don't have to come in all at once. They need to be spread out amongst the context of the scene.
   
4. A desired fantasy. 
1. This quality can be taken in different ways depending on the audience. If the novel is written for Adults, then the content may extend to sexual encounters. However, if the novel is written for Young Adults, the novel may explore some sexual content if really necessary. This topic can get a little iffy especially when it comes to publishing companies because they have requirements for certain age groups. A desired fantasy could also mean the setting and theme of the novel.
   
5. A good lense. 
1. This quality has more emphasis towards the perception of the characters and their surroundings. Typically, I like to see an author incorporate all 5 senses into his or her work. Using all 5 senses gives more depth into the novel. It helps to connect and describe certain events or the setting.
   
6. Perspective from each of the main characters. 
1. I honestly hate when authors write a novel that is completely one-sided. Even if the novel is written in first person, the author should be able to project other character's perspectives in some form.
   
7. Character development. 
1. This is a key quality. Each character should go through some type of change whether it be physical, mental, or even internal. Without character development, the characters would be the same from beginning to end.
   
8. Originality. 
1. Creating an original story can be hard from the writer's perspective. Every novel has some idea that is the same in other novels, but the key to this is to harness the idea and make it your own in some way. Slightly changing the plot and characters isn't enough to fully make a story your own. It needs to have an essence of originality in it.
   
9. Obstacles. 
1. There must be obstacles that the main characters go through, especially in romantic relationships. Without obstacles, there would be no building blocks for a relationship. The characters must learn to hit an obstacle and work their way through it together.
   
10. Grammatically correct! 
1. Even in some of the greatest novels I've read, there are typos and errors. Incorrect grammar can become distracting, especially for those with an "inner editor." Correct grammar helps the reader to view the text without distractions and makes the novel appear more clean-cut and professional.

Introduction: My Personal Addiction To Romance Novels

This is a photo of me taken by me.

Hello, my name is Stephanie Teater. I am currently a Sophomore at Washburn University and am majoring in English-Writing Emphasis with a minor in Psychology. 

As an aspiring romance writer, I crave the psychological escape within romance novels. Some of you might be wondering why my escape is within the confines of something as simple as a romance novel. I don't know about you guys, but as you might predict, I am a hopeless romantic. I am a romance novel addict and I've read many romance novels from a variety of authors.

Romance novels explore the dream of eternal love through words on a page. Not to be cliche, but romance novels pursue the idea that love conquers all. I think that anyone who picks up a romance novel for the first time innately desires some variant of true love. The definition of true love may vary from one person to another, but ultimately the desire exists within the reader. It is the reader's means of fulfilling a missing part of themselves or a missing part of their lives. In some cases, it rekindles that desire when hope is lost. 

Romance novels can also be a great source of insight. Of course, real life circumstances are different from ones within a fictional story. However, many stories contain elements that a reader may connect with. The story may even give the reader more insight into their current relationship.

Romance novels that lean more towards the genre of fantasy really give the reader a wide variety of an escape. Strong elements of fiction are placed within these novels. Most novels such as these describe different worlds, people, values, etc. They give the reader a chance to expand their minds and open up to new ideas. This is something that I want to do with my writing. Not only do I want to capture a reader's attention and make him or her feel, but I want a reader to open his or her mind and immerse his or herself in a new world.