My name is Angela Guillaume and I'm one of REC's newest members. I have one book released at Aphrodite's Apples - a contemporary short called "Mile High to Heaven". I write sensual romance and love creating interesting characters. My next love is history and I have been busy doing some cool research for my latest - my first paranormal.
I wanted to give you an interesting blog to read today but I'm busy up to my eyeballs, so I thought: why not share the blog I wrote a short while back for The Romance Studio? I do hope you'll enjoy reading it and find it interesting. So here we go...
Both romance authors and readers have been “pidgeonholed” ever since I can remember by a good chunk of the so-called "sapient" population. I, for one, have grown up reading all sorts of books—from the classics, to riveting mysteries and thrillers, non-fiction, horror, adventure, and last but not least, romance. The latter genre has been ever present in my life, but sadly, the act of holding a romance book in public, unlike most other genres of literature, seems to indicate more of an act of supreme courage than anything else. Really, who wants to be seen immersing their noses in one of those books featuring on its cover some bare-chested, muscle flaunting, Julian Fantechi-like god, training his smoldering gaze on a clutching, barebacked heroine -- who most often looks either incredibly confused, dazed, high on some new breed of mojo plant or helpless in the throes of ecstasy (no matter how sexy that cover may appear to some of us)? Let's put it this way, I don't wish to be seen holding THAT, no, no, no.
Of course, not all romance books have that kind of cover; and some even have the scantily clad hunky hero and his all too willing-to-shag heroine safely hidden on the inside cover for secret viewing whenever appropriate. So then we can perhaps safely take the book out in public without attempting to put our fingers through tricky acrobatic acts to hide what we’re reading (and risk developing carpal tunnel syndrome in the process). Some covers today seem to have become classier, but many will still feature mostly artistic (and in my opinion sometimes quite fabulous) renderings of gorgeous naked male chests or passionate, embracing couples. Hence, can you visualize all the raised eyebrows when you whip the offending article out of your hand luggage, while sitting in wait at the airport lounge? The other travelers will be checking you out, alright, albeit discreetly. Some guys will ponder how easy a target you may be to hit on. Perhaps they'll think they've hit the jackpot, bless their silly hearts. Drat them all, you may say. But deep down, I bet your cheeks WILL flush with a twinge of embarrassment at the thought. How can they assume these things about you, you will wonder? And I concur, of course. For ultimately, we're talking about ignorance becoming PREJUDICE here. Nothing more, nothing less.
In the midst of it all, when challenged by some hapless intellectual, I sometimes like to tell him or her, as the case may be, that I have in fact learned many, many notable things from those so-called “cheesy” romance novels. I learned much about the Absarokee Indians and their culture from the talented Susan Johnson; the shipping industry in Wapping, England from Liz Carlyle’s latest releases; the famed Crystal Palace from Lisa Valdez; women’s rights in the Victorian age from Hope Tarr; and the existence of The Men’s and Women’s Club in the same era from Robin Schone--to name but a few. These are what I like to call romance books for the intelligent woman. I also learned about the ways in which a eunuch is able to have an orgasm from author Robin Schone, by the way. Not a piece of information I will ever find useful but hey, it IS information. :-D. Admittedly, there exist a brand of trashy novels too, but it's also true that all genres can lay claim to a hefty number of bad apples. Nobody should trash an entire genre because of this. A book is not good only because it makes it to Oprah's Book Club or because it has a fantastic cover. A book is good (or bad) because of what it contains.
To that same hapless intellectual with a loathing for anything romance, I also say -- For the last book I’ve written, “A Rose for Eternity” (tentative title), I researched Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy (also a place I have visited years back); the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir; the philosopher Appollonius of Tyana’s life and inspirational journey to India; handwriting analysis; British history in 1807; and finally, English/Scottish geography and old towns. Extensive travel does help, if one plans to write about different places.
So after unloading this barrage of words or tirade onto my unwitting listener, I turn away, hoping to have made some sort of mark, albeit miniscule, into this person’s perception. And if I haven’t, that’s ok too because I’ll always be a sensual romance writer, and other people’s perceptions won’t change a thing about what I want to do. Hey, coming to think of it, look how they also criticized Henry Miller in his time because his books were considered just too “dirty”. I mean the one and only Henry Miller, yes, the American literary icon.
Basically, I wish to express that people who read romance books are not featherbrained. Far from it. Is mine a lost cause? Maybe. Some people will never change their mind. Some will stay prejudiced in many things, not only in relation to romance novels. My husband, for example, is a clinical hypnotherapist...and there exist people who still think he's some kind of "devil worshipper" or dabbling in some sort of "hocus pocus", rather than see what he actually does--helping to heal others! Granted, hypnotists have been portrayed badly in the media and some have been a disgrace to their profession: these are mainly the culprits. But isn't it true that it's what's in a person's heart, mind and actions that matters? It's supposed to be, anyway. In this world, generalizations and "pidgeonholing" are for fools or for those who are blinded by their own shortcomings or bigotry. In the same vein, at the end of the day, as a writer, my job is not to change anybody's mind but to strive to do what I do, the best way I can do it.
All in all, in my work I'm an information glut — I hoard articles and bits of information like a mouse hoards cheese and a magpie hoards shiny things. And I know that other romance or erotic romance authors research their books in their own quirky ways—picking up little stories and experiences along the way, making them their own. You see, my goal is also to write romance novels for the intelligent woman. My desire is to be written down in history as a smart, talented author who knew her stuff and made her readers’ toes curl at the same time. Will I ever manage to reach that lofty position? I can only hope, learn, and keep believing as I always do. Everything is possible with much trust and imagination and belief in oneself.
My first two books (
Mile High to Heaven and Mr. & Mrs. Foster—the latter yet unpublished) are contemporaries—and here I focused more on emotional nuances and chemistry (I write sizzling romance so exploring and exploiting physical chemistry is a must) between the characters. I researched people rather than history. I used personal experience. I used parts of stories my friends related to me. My characters are a hodgepodge of people, including myself. All writing is a journey, no matter the amount of historical, geographical or political research packed into its pages. When push comes to shove, I don’t always have to prove to someone how much sh*t I know, after all; only that I can indeed write and create a good story with a good plot. Don’t you agree?
So I’ve gone from ranting about cheesy covers to the seriousness of a romance author’s work. I’m not sure if I speak of everyone, but I do speak of myself and some other talented authors that I know or read when I say that what we do is significant. Fact is that I believe an author is in the unique position to “learn” and “share the learning” at the same time, and we, as writers, should be proud of that position and use it well. We can perhaps teach or inspire people about how to have healthy relationships, or about histories, geographies, cultures, sciences, mysteries, literature, personalities, attitudes—you name it. We can be an example if we want to. We can set the example, too. We can learn it all and then we can share it all with our readers through our books. We can transport readers to worlds unknown, worlds where only the mind and the heart can go. The sky is the limit. Isn’t it all such fun? I certainly think so.
Anyway, I’m done with the rant. I'm sure you're relieved. :-D
And now it's time for me to tell you that if you wish to pick up a copy of my first book, Mile High to Heaven — which has thankfully been getting great reviews :-) — you can do so by clicking
here. I look forward to writing more and more books and sharing them with all of you.
One last thing—I’d like to invite you all to join my
Yahoo Group and
MySpace (links also below) — these are the best ways to stay in touch with me. If you like what you've just read, please come over and be my friend :-)...and thanks for taking the time to read this blog!
Hugs and Smooches,
~ Angela
~ Angela Guillaume ~
"Breathtaking Sensual Romance"
Website:
http://www.angelaguillaume.comMySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/angelaguillaumeYahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/breathtakingromance/Blog:
http://angelaguillaume.blogspot.com"Mile High to Heaven"--Xtra hot!!!--Contemporary short available now @ Aphrodite's Apples.
To read more about it, visit:
http://www.aphroditesapples.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=11
