There's another great review of Phyllida online at the Midwest Book Review. Reviewer Cassandra calls it a "fun read," and says that I have "smartly brought together the style of Jane Aust[e]n and a strong command of English history." Later she says, "Herendeen has a delightful sense of humor and her inflection like [Charlie?] Chaplin's is perfect for getting laughs." Finally, referring to the book's "dry wit and sparkle that makes it well worth reading," she calls Phyllida "a little bit like an English pot pie with a Lubitsch touch [with] good dialogue, historical accuracy and some unusually delightful [set] pieces."

Read the entire review on the Reviews page:
http://www.annherendeen.com/Reviews.html

There’s a terrific review of my book, Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander: A Bisexual Regency Romance, on the witty, snarky web site, Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels, which begins by describing Phyllida as “a very clever, highly articulate, historically sharp and delightfully entertaining romance.”

"Herendeen has a writing voice that matches the tone and restraint of the Regency," the reviewer goes on to say, "and her descriptions and dialogue are fantastic. Furthermore, the plot was fast paced, but each character had a degree of depth such that no one character was wooden or stock."

Read the whole thing at:
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/phyllida_and_the_brotherhood_of_philander_a_bisexual_regency_romance
( Read more... )

There’s a terrific review of my book, Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander: A Bisexual Regency Romance, on the witty, snarky web site, Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Novels, which begins by describing Phyllida as “a very clever, highly articulate, historically sharp and delightfully entertaining romance.”
Read the whole thing at:
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/phyllida_and_the_brotherhood_of_philander_a_bisexual_regency_romance

I’m writing a longer version here of an already long comment that I left on the site, because the reviewer described certain parts of the story, including what I hoped would be a delightful and heartwarming final scene, as “jarringly modern” and decided I had included them, and justified them in my Author’s Note, as “fantasy.”

Please note: This discussion will eventually refer to some specific plot details, so if you haven’t yet read Phyllida but would like to, and would prefer not to have the story spoiled, then please be careful about reading beyond the LJ cut, here. ( Read more... )

I posted this to both the RomanceNovels and the HistoricalFiction communities, because I figured people who read and write romance or historical novels might understand this romance-novel-hostile attitude in the rest of the world, and be sympathetic. It's really a complaint about the divide between genre fiction and literary fiction.

I wrote something unique: a bisexual historical romance. I’m very proud of this work. I think it’s intelligent and witty, with well-developed, sympathetic characters.

Because I’m unknown, and perhaps because it’s an unusual idea, I’ve had a hard time getting publicity and sales. But I also think I’m running up against the Curse of the Romance (Historical) Novel. Literate people don’t read them (they claim). Romance novels are just formulaic stories churned out like sausage by semi-literate cogs in the greasy wheels of Harlequin and other imprints for the even less literate consumers who gobble them up like animals at a trough. No reading, writing or imagination required.

I’m tired of the “Romance (Historical) novel equals trash” equation and I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore. ( Read more... )