Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Smart People are Sexy...


And what better way to prove it then to show your intelligence, good taste, and superiority by stopping by my blog, IMHO, the week of February 7 – 13. During that week, IMHO will feature a lineup of guests who will discourse on the topic of “Why Smart Women (and Men) Read Romance.”

My goal in lining up the guest hosts for this event is to shatter the “romance reader” stereotype by asking some of the smartest people I know to tell us, during one of the most romantic times of the year, why they enjoy reading romance. I know there are many witty, intelligent romance readers out there, and I want everyone else to know, too, that smart people read romance.

So, if you’ve ever been criticized about your choice of reading material, this event is for you. If friends, family, or co-workers have pooh-pooh’d you because you love a happy ending, drag them here between February 7 – 13 and show them how many truly smart men and women love stories where the boy gets the girl and “all’s well that ends well.” You might even pick up a few snappy comebacks and statistics to throw around at your next party.

And, to top it all off, we’ll be giving away free books and other prizes, like a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble, while we engage in thoughtful, fun, and perhaps controversial discussion on this topic.

The lineup:

Feb 7: Double-header with Courtney Milan - debut historical romance author and Rob Preece, - 2005 Golden Heart nominee, small press publisher, and PhD in Economics

Feb 8: William Simon - computer cyber crimes investigator and former North Houston RWA chapter president

Feb 9: Madeline Hunter - bestselling author of historical romance and university professor

Feb 10: Dr. Debra Holland - practicing psychologist, PhD, and 2005 Golden Heart nominee

Feb 11: Carolyn Jewel - historical romance author and Data Base Administrator

Feb 12: Don Helin - former Pentagon army officer, thriller author

Feb 13: Vicki Hinze - bestselling, multi-genre romance author, PhD in Theocentric business and ethics

Wow. I feel smarter already. In the meantime, check out reviewer KatieBabs Babbling About Books post on the growing trend of using romance novels as texts in college universities.

TJB

6 comments:

Jane L said...

TJ, I so cant wait for this blog forum! I had someone say the most horrible thing to me. A co worker of my husbands wife of all people said she heard I was writing a book. I told yes, I was working on it, when I told her it was a romance novel her exact words were "Really? I thought you had more class that that garbage!" WHAT!!!!!! I am so mad I could strangle the woman!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great line up for that week! Myself I can't see me without a romance noval, they keep me going and I don't really care what people think.

TJ Bennett said...

Jane L, I'm mad on your behalf! Generally, I find the people who say such things are un-informed and are confusing "romance" with "sex," which says more about them then it does about you. Ask her why writing about two people in a monogamous, committed relationship learning to grow into better human beings who can unselfishly give love while exploring a transcendent physical relationship is garbage? What's so trashy about that? PENTHOUSE is trashy. ROMANCE is not.

Virginia, I'm with you. I would go insane if I didn't have a good romance novel reminding me that eventually, despite the trials we endure on the face of this Earth, good does triumph over evil and love does conquer all. I think that's a message for the ages, and it keeps me going on days when I can't even think why I should get out of bed. If nothing else, I gotta finish reading that book! :-)

TJB

librarypat said...

Great line-up. Thanks for the link to Babbling About Books. An interesting post.

Susan Macatee said...

Sounds great! I'll have to stop by and check it out!

Carol L. said...

As usual TJ another great contest or contests in this blog. I'll be beack daily for sure. Thanks .
Carol L.