Category: Lady Jane

Back from RT!

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I’m just back from the RT BOOK Lovers Convention in Columbus, OH, exhausted but still beaming with conference goodness. Personal highlights include Heather Graham’s Vampire Ball where costume peeps from Victorian widows to dagger-stabbed ghouls strutted their stuff; the Saturday afternoon book fair where I got to meet fabulous readers as well as literally hundreds of other authors; and of course our Special Lady Jane’s Salon Event with guest authors Sabrina Jeffries, Linnea Sinclair and Delilah Marvelle. Bonus: an impromptu shout-out for donations for local no-kill cat rescue group, Purr Babies, brought in more than $150 for this labor of love and all-around good cause.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the romance community rocks!

Thanks to our guest author, Delilah Marvelle, who got the giving rolling by donating ten copies of her fabulous release, Lord of Pleasure to the first ten givers. Ditto to the RT staff, especially web wizard, Morgan Doremus, for scaring up not one but two more bags of books so that every attendee who donated to Purr Babies could receive a book as our thank you. Also, thanks to former Lady Jane guest author, Louisa Edwards, for the donation of the lovely take away champagne flutes in celebration of her latest release, On The Steamy Side.

Special sloppy cyber hugs and yes, kisses go out to conference coordinator, Jo Carol Jones, who personally supervised the putting out of shimmery red table clothes, the lighting of candles, and yes the pouring of champagne, all of which transformed the Hyatt’s Peppercorn Lounge from hotel event room to a very Lady Jane-like boudoir.

Putting on the Ritz...Leanna Renee Hieber and Hope at the RT BOOK Lovers Convention, Columbus, OH.
Putting on the Ritz...Leanna Renee Hieber and Hope at the RT BOOK Lovers Convention, Columbus, OH.

I could go on (and on) but I’ll stop there with a reminder that the goodness didn’t end with my plane trip home to Big Apple Landia. Tonight, Monday, May 3rd is our regular monthly Lady Jane’s Salon here in Manhattan at Madame X, 7-9 PM. As always, admission is $5 or one gently used paperback romance novel to be donated to New York City groups serving women in need. We have the usual great lineup of guest authors: YA urban fantasy author, Jeri Smith-Ready (Shade); Christina Britton Conroy (One Man’s Music); and Lady Jane Salon Co-Founder, Victorian paranormal author, Leanna Renee Hieber (The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, Book #2 in “The Strangely Beautiful” Series).

Giving back–it’s a good thing!

Hope

May Lady Jane’s Salon: Two Salons, Double the Fun!

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We at Lady Jane’s are taking our show, or rather our Salon, on the road to The Romantic Times BOOK Lovers Convention held this year in Columbus, OH. The Special Lady Jane’s Salon at RT will take place at the convention hotel, the Hyatt Regency Columbus, on Saturday, May 1st, 7-9 PM directly following the Mr. Romance Pageant. Guest authors will be Sabrina Jeffries, Linnea Sincair, and Delilah Marvelle. Squee!

Admittedly, capturing the Lady Jane’s boudoir vibe within the four white walls of a hotel meeting room presents something of a challenge, but with the help of RT’s wonderful Jo Carol and Company, we’re feeling more than up to meeting it. Think red scarves, candles, comfy seating and yes, champagne!

For those not going to Columbus, don’t despair. We’re still holding our regular monthly Lady Jane’s Salon here in Manhattan on Monday, May 3rd at Madame X, 7-9 PM. As always, admission is $5 or one gently used paperback romance novel to be donated to New York City groups serving women in need. And yes, we have another great lineup of guest authors: YA urban fantasy author, Jeri Smith-Ready (Shade); Christina Britton Conroy (One Man’s Music); and Lady Jane Salon Co-Founder, Victorian paranormal author, Leanna Renee Hieber (The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, Book #2 in “The Strangely Beautiful” Series).

Lady Jane’s Salon, Monday, April 5th

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Tonight’s Lady Jane’s Salon features guest authors Miranda Neville, Sarah MacLean, N.K. Jemisin and Kate Nobel. 7-9 PM chez the upper floor of Madame X. For a behind-the-scenes look at Salon goodness, please read Sarah’s pithy post at the Lady Jane’s website.

Toodles,

Hope

Lady Jane’s Recap & April Salon Buzz

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As one of the four co-founders of Lady Jane’s Salon I get to play soiree hostess once a month. I love that!

Hope signs TWELVE NIGHTS and VANQUISHED at the December '09 Lady Jane's Salon.
Hope signs TWELVE NIGHTS and VANQUISHED at the December '09 Lady Jane's Salon.

Even better, sometimes I get to be a guest at my very own party. The December ’09 Salon was one such occasion. In the hope that video is indeed the next best thing to being there, click on the Hope\’s December \’09 Lady Jane\’s Salon Reading and yes, join the party.

And if you are planning to be in the New York City area next month, please do join us on Monday, April 5th 7-9 PM at Madame X with guest authors Miranda Neville, Sarah MacLean, N.K. Jemisin and Kate Nobel.

Hope

Lady Jane’s Salon, March 1st

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The March 1st Salon welcomes guest authors Mingmei Yip, Cara Elliott, and Louisa Edwards. Please read Ming Mei’s wonderful pre-salon blog post at the Lady Jane’s web site.

Founded by Maya Rodale, Leanna Renee Hieber, Ron Hogan, and Hope Tarr (yes, that’s me!) Lady Jane’s Salon meets on the first Monday of every month, 7-9 PM, upper floor of Madame X (94 West Houston).  See you there!

Happy Birthday, Lady Jane!

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Lady Jane’s Salon, New York City’s first and so far only monthly romance reading series, turns one-year-old this February 1st and oh, my how our Girl has grown!

LADY-jane-logoHelping us blow out the birthday candle are three fabulous guests: bestseller, Lauren Willig (The Betrayal of the Blood Lily), debut author, Sara Lindsey (Promise Me Tonight), and guest emcee, historical nonfiction author Leslie Carroll (Notorious Royal Marriages). Three very lovely ladies reading from three very different books, all of which will be available for purchase on Salon night. I’m just saying…

Now that we’ve come up on the one year mark, it seems a fitting time to both reflect on the past year and look forward to the new year ahead. When Maya, Leanna, Ron and I came up with the concept for Lady Jane’s, we anticipated having ten or so attendees each month. In a very short time, we found ourselves filling up the house to the point where many Salon nights are now standing room only. Feature articles in TIME OUT NEW YORK and THE NEW YORK POST swiftly followed along with tremendous support from the romance fiction community. RT BOOK Reviews, Barbara Vey at Publishers Weekly, Romance Novel TV, the chapter members of Romance Writers of America/NYC, and “Smart Bitch” Sarah Wendell are just a few of our wonderful friends who’ve given us both early and consistent loyalty and support. To them and all the individuals too numerous to name in a mere blog post, thank you!

A big sloppy birthday buss to Amy McCloskey, owner of our wonderful host venue, Madame X, and also to her manager, Karen and bartender, Alex. Without your support, the Salon couldn’t happen. It just couldn’t.

We started the series to provide a home for the books we love to both read and write. The four of us also felt strongly that in addition to the fun and frolic, it was important to broaden our mission to include a service component. Share the Love, Maya’s charitable organization co-founded with Ann Bleakley, has been the recipient of Salon proceeds for the past year, and we look forward to continuing our outreach to groups serving women in need in 2010.

As a Co-Founder, the time and energy I’ve expended have been returned to me tenfold–in the friendships both old and new, the collegiality with publishing professionals representing all aspects of the industry, and the opportunity to build, sustain and now grow something needed and yes, beautiful with three other amazing and creative individuals. Leanna, Maya and Ron, I heart you.

It’s both heartening and humbling to hear how the love we feel for our Brain Child/Baby is reciprocated by the romance community. Salon regular and February guest, Lauren Willig will teach a class on romance fiction this spring at Yale–yes, Y-A-L-E–along with fellow bestseller and Salon regular, Andrea Pickens also W/A Cara Elliott. A recent New Hampshire Register article covering the upcoming class had this to say:

Part of the impetus for the course also came from Willig’s membership in Lady Jane’s Salon, a Manhattan group of writers and readers which meets monthly for readings “and to hang out and drink. It’s become in a very short time an institution and a way for various people from various parts of the industry to share their love of romance novels,” says Willig.

Thank you, Lauren, and thanks to all of you whose unswerving commitment and enthusiasm, loyalty and yes, love have made Lady Jane’s Salon a rousing success.

Hope

Happy Birthday, Lady Jane

Monday, February 1st, 7-9 PM

Madame X (94 W Houston St)

Admission: $5 or one ppb romance novel

Recap: December Lady Jane’s Salon

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The December 7th Lady Jane’s Salon was a rousing success with lots o’ holiday goodness and birthday bubbles (in celebration of Harlequin’s 60th), making for a truly magical evening. But don’t take my word for it. Head on over to the Harlequin blog and hear what our VIP guest, Senior Editor for Harlequin’s Blaze line, Brenda Chin has to say about her visit. And for the complete album of pretty pretty pictures, check out Lady Jane’s Salon on Facebook.

Hope

Lady Jane’s Winter Holiday Open House

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Happy holidays and happy birthday, Harlequin!

The December 7th Lady Jane’s Salon heralds the winter holiday season and celebrates the final month of Harlequin Enterprises 60th anniversary year with a very special salon event.

I’ll be reading from Twelve Nights, my Christmas Scottish Medieval for Harlequin Blaze as well as my twelfth published book. Twelve Nights is the sequel to Bound to Please, the novel that launched the super popular Historical Blaze Miniseries. To win a signed copy of Bound to Please, check out my current Contest.

Copies of Twelve Nights will be available for purchase on-site at the Salon, and I’ll be signing copies at the break and immediately thereafter.
Guest author, Stacey Agdern.

Joining me will be romance fiction reviewer, bookseller, and author, Stacey Agdern reading from her Hanukkah novella, Rededication, and Senior Editor for Harlequin Blaze, Brenda Chin recapping highlights from Harlequin’s 60th Anniversary year.

The Salon meets on Monday, December 7th from 7-9 PM at Madame X (94 West Houston) in Manhattan’s Soho district. (Subsequent salon nights are the first Monday of each month). Admission is $5 or one gently used paperback romance novel to benefit Share-the-Love.

I hope to see you there.

Lady Jane’s Salon Recap & Coming Attractions

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The November 2nd Lady Jane’s Salon was the usual lovely time. Guest readers New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Caridad Pineiro (“Sins of the Flesh”) and local author and Huffington Post contributor, Joanne Rendell (“Crossing Washington Square”) were delightful.

NYT and USA Today Bestseller, Caridad Pineiro read from her latest release, "Sins of the Flesh."
NYT and USA Today Bestseller, Caridad Pineiro read from her latest release, "Sins of the Flesh."
From left to right, Ron Hogan, Maya Rodale, Joanne Rendell, Tony Haile and Leanna Renee Hieber take the stage to read a scene from Joanne's "Crossing Washington Square."
From left to right, Ron Hogan (off stage), Maya Rodale, Joanne Rendell, Tony Haile and Leanna Renee Hieber take the stage to read a scene from Joanne's "Crossing Washington Square."

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Joanne had the cool idea to make her reading an ensemble act. As you can see from the photo, the cast mates enjoyed themselves as did the audience.

It's good to be queen...Award-winning blogger and author, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon as Marie Antoinette takes the cake--and the crown--as guest emcee.
It's good to be queen...Award-winning blogger and author, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon as Marie Antoinette takes the cake--and the crown--as guest emcee.

“Well-behaved women rarely make history” has become as much credo as quote for we “modern day” women and our special guest emcee, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon has spun that (high) concept into first an award-winning blog, “Scandalous Women” and now a soon to be released non-fiction book.

Elizabeth and the late Queen of France, Marie Antoinette share not only fashionista status but the same November 2nd birthday. Fittingly, Elizabeth read the profile of Marie she wrote for her blog and book.

And then of course we ate cake. 🙂

A rapt audience, including Yours Truly (foreground) looks on.
A rapt audience, including Yours Truly (foreground) looks on.

On tap for the December Special Winter Holiday Salon, Monday, December 7th are romance novel reviewer and writer, Stacey Agdern reading from her Hanukkah novella and Yours Truly reading from my Christmas Harlequin Blaze release, Twelve Nights. As a special dash of goodness, we’ll close out Harlequin Entreprises’s 60th Anniversary Year with a very special presentation by Senior Editor, Brenda Chin, coming to us direct from HQ headquarters in Toronto.

If you live in New York or plan a trip here to take in the holiday decorations, please put Lady Jane’s on your calender. We meet 7-9 PM at Madame X. Admission is $5 or one gently-used paperback romance novel with proceeds supporting programs serving women-in-need.

Hope