Heeere's Johnny!

Hey kiddies! I'm back from my stay at the Wal-Mart Novels--and what a stay it was! I've never become quite so intimately involved with the dirty details of the romance world, and boy did I dig up some... controversial stuff. A quick sampling:

Discovered a "spray-on condom" that promises "a snug fit for all sizes". Wtf? Yeah. Check it out.

Posted on the language of the romance novel, using a novel called "Deeper" as an example. Got the attention of the book's author, and will be receiving a copy in the mail to review here, on Reese In Pieces, this week. Should be fun!

Browsed quite a selection of romances-related sites, including Cosmopolitan, Men's Health (always good to get both sides of the story, I say) and a few dating blogs, which may or may not be relevant to the topic. Just things that popped up as I scoured the internet for the best in smut.

And finally, some insight on romance novel writers. Turns out many writers have similar stories, no matter what they produce. Interesting.

Let Me Introduce Myself (By Heather)

Hello, my name is Heather. Reese is a friend of mine, and we are both aspiring writers. I will be taking over the helm of this blog for a week. Writing is one of my main passions in life. I prefer to write in the creative non fiction, and poetry genres. I also have been working on and off in the past year to write some semblance of a memoir. However,  I consistently find it to be quite the challenge.

Unlike Reese who is more serious and consistent in her commitment towards journalism, my attempts at this particular type of writing are more sporadic and feel a little more like random acts of journalism. I hope to get a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing-non fiction, or poetry. I'll be lucky if I get into an MFA program the first time I apply because the approximate age of those who are in MFA programs is 28, and I will be 23 when I graduate with my BA in English and writing.

This week I will be doing some book reviews on the works of Sloane Crosley and Rachel Shukert. Simultaneously I will discuss my own life as a writer. and provide some advice on the MFA program in writing.

Guest Blogging: The Preview

So next week a few bloggers will be switching up and guest blogging for each other. I'll be taking the helm at "The Wal-Mart Novels", a hilarious and fittingly sarcastic blog that chronicles my dear friend Lizzie's adventures through the trashy romance section of Wal-Mart as well as other smut-related topics. To get a better look into her world and prepare to write in her place, I interviewed her (she returns the favor here). This is the result.

(Note the short answers: these are her words, not mine.Read her blog and you'll understand).

Q: What is your favorite TV show?
A: I don't watch TV. I can't afford cable.

Q: Pepsi or Coke? Why?
A: I don't drink brown colas. I only eat white food.

Q: Why did you choose to blog about your topic?
A: I want to connect to a baser level of humanity.

Q: Favorite outside-of-class activity?
A: I'm not at liberty to discuss that.

Q: First book or movie that changed your life.
A: I don't let material things affect me.

Q: First car you ever owned?
A: I don't drive.

Q: What inanimate object are you most afraid of?
A: Bad literature.

Q: What was your favorite childhood tv show or cartoon?
A: Jeopardy. My grandmother used to come over and watch it with me on Friday nights.

Q: Favorite pre-college memory?
A: I put a mental block on my entire past, so I'm not really sure.

Q: What website do you visit most often?
A:  Google.

(Please note that Lizzie and I aren't trading blogs; Heather from The Art Of Adaptation will be taking over here for me while I'm out exploring the world of lit trash and oversexed housewives).

Enjoy.