A Little Good News

I spent the weekend trying to think of something terribly profound to write here, but came to the conclusion I'm not a profound person. *G*

It's true, really -- despite having a pretty decent IQ, I don't like deep, thought-provoking reading. I've had more than one person ask me why I "waste my time" reading romance, or other genre fiction (I also love fantasy and cozy mysteries). I should be reading the latest depressing Oprah pick, I suppose, or rereading "Of Mice and Men" by Steinbeck.

I hate Steinbeck.

I "waste my time" on romance (and other genre fiction) because, for the most part it's uplifting. It ends happily and makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I don't understand folks who don't enjoy that, to be honest.

Recently my local news station posted a story on their Facebook page about a deer in a New York cemetery who's protecting a Canadian goose and her nest since her mate was killed. Apparently it's the male goose who guards the nest while the female sits the eggs. Without the male, the nest is a goner. Except now this goose has a four-hooved protector. It was a great, sweet story. And yet, the comments were split -- half thanked them for posting because it WAS sweet, and the other half said things like, "THIS is news?"

Wouldn't it be nice to have a day when we didn't hear about earthquake casualties or fighting among the congress? A day when no child was abused, no woman raped, no man murdered?

The world can be a depressing place, more so because of the way the news is reported. I know good things happen every day, but when news agencies try to report them, they're mocked for not being serious enough. I wish they'd do it anyway.

So, yeah -- I'm a pretty smart person and I read romance. I'm proud of it and defend it rigorously.

How about you?

Let me leave you with an old song from the 80s that says what I was talking about (and for those of you who grew up then, the lyrics are a real flashback!):



Visit Marianne at her website or blog.

Nat'l Dessert Day...Food and Sex

I picked a good day to blog about my two favorite romance things to combine...food/desserts and sex! What more could a romance lover ask for?

Most popular dessert treat? Anything with chocolate. I don't think there's a woman on this planet that doesn't want chocolate and dreams of the tasty warm feeling it makes as it slowly melts in your mouth and slides down your throat. It's an aphrodisiac, a food that spices up a romantic encounter.


Yes, it's a comfort food and used in times of stress...or anytime the urge strikes. But mix together candlelight, chocolate, and an adoring hero, and how could a heroine avoid rampaging hormones? Feeding each other chocolate, and the taste/smell of it, will send your sex drive into overtime.


Food always seems to creep into my romance books. Eating can be so sensual and enticing. Using food to...ahem...make lovemaking more lust-filled and passionate, can create a mouth-watering image as a reader fantasizes about a yummy scene. Chocolate, strawberries, honey...I've used all of these in my sex scenes, and also cannoli cream!

Hungry yet?
In "Strip Poker for Two" (by April Ash), my hero and heroine find ways to spread and then lick off cannoli cream they've put on each other's body. Honey is mentioned in "Gone to the Dogs" (Marianne Stephens). Strawberries and champagne are in "Anything You Can Do" (Marianne Stephens). And, I have a fondue scene in a restaurant that I hope leaves readers craving warm chocolate in "Gone to the Dogs".

Getting some ideas for lovemaking feasts?

Here's a dessert recipe for something yummy:

BETTER THAN SEX DESSERT (Not Really!)

1 cup flour
½ cup chopped nuts
½ butter or margarine
9 oz. cream cheese
1 cup powered sugar
2 cups Cool Whip
2 3-oz packages instant pudding, any flavor (chocolate is great!)
2 cups cold milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Mix together flour, nuts and butter/margarine. Press into a 9X13 glass baking
dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
Cream powdered sugar and cream cheese until creamy.
Add 1 cup Cool Whip.
Spread over cooled crust.
Mix pudding packages with milk. When thick, spread over cream cheese layer.
Spread 1 cup Cool Whip over pudding layer and freeze.
To Serve, thaw slightly at room temperature. Refrigerate remaining dessert.

Share this with someone you love! AND...calories don't count on National Dessert Day so be naughty, indulge, and enjoy!

Marianne

http://www.mariannestephens.net
"Guilty Survivor", nonfiction TBR 1-26-11
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
"Halloween Anthology Vol.1"
http://www.xoxopublishing.com
http://www.aprilash.net
http://groups/yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus

Photos: Flickr: Christine, Chris Breeze, and Donna62's photostreams

Welcome to the world of Marianne, Marianna, Maryann, and Mary Anne!

CONTEST BELOW!
Our name is unique...so many ways to spell it but it sounds the same (with the exception of Marianna since there's an "a" at the end, but it's close enough for our group!). We're all writers/authors of romance with a passion for different genres.

Busts of French "Marianne"


"Marianne" on face of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

Here are some facts about "Marianne":

Songs of "Marianne":

"C'mon Marianne": The Four Seasons
"Fare Thee Well, Marianne": Happy Traum
"Marianne": Toni Amos
"So Long Marianne": Leonard Cohen
"Mary Ann" (sifting sand-most popular): Harry Belafonte
"Mary Ann with the Shaky Hand": The Who
"Jimmy Loves Maryann": Josie Cotton
"Frustrated Maryann": Arlene Hattori
"My Girl Maryanne": The Spongetones
"Mary Ann Regrets": Burl Ives
"Marianna": Gibson Brothers

Famous "Mariannes"

Mary Ann Cotton: English Serial Killer!
Mary Ann Shadd: Journalist, lecturer
Mary Ann Evans (George Eliot): Author (Silas Marner)
Mary Ann Mobley: Miss America 1965
Mary Ann Ball Bickerdyke: Famous Civil War Nurse
Marianne Faithfull: Singer
Marianne Moore: Poet
Marianne Williamson: New Age Guru
Marianne Jean-Baptiste: Actress
Marianne Timmer: Olympic Medalist
Marianne Vos: Netherlands Athlete

Meaning of "Marianne": Sea of Bitterness


History of the name, "Marianne":

Marianne is a national emblem of France. She represents France as a nation and its history.
Her profile is on the official seal of France, first appeared on a postage stamp in 1849, was on the French franc and now on French Euro coins.

Both artist Honore Daumier and sculptor Francois Rade gave "life" to images of "Marianne".


French "Marianne" Franc Note

French "Marianne" Stamp






Stop by on our blog days and see how "Mariannes", although we share a similar sounding name with different spellings, all have one thing in common...romance!

CONTEST: Win two decks of Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press playing cards AND a gift card for Godiva Chocolates! Contest ends midnight ET, 31 October.

To enter:
1. Become a Follower. Click on the FOLLOW button on right sidebar.
2. Comment on our October blogs (something more than "Nice blog"). The more blogs you comment on, the more entries you have...there will be eleven blogs this month!
BE SURE TO PUT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE COMMENT BOX WITH YOUR COMMENT, PLEASE, SO WE CAN FIND YOU!