DJ Anya in the House

Don’t tell anyone, but I’m a closet romantic. Actually, go ahead. No one who knows me will believe you anyway. I scoff at flowers (they should be growing on bushes, not shedding sad petals on my table), don’t fuss at my husband to buy me jewellery (mostly because the stuff I like costs damn-hell-WHOA money and, well, I’m cheap), and would rather eat a nice steak than bother dressing up to go to a fancy-schmancy restaurant.

Chocolate, however, is always welcome. Doesn’t have to come in a fancy box with a bow though. Sometimes any old Cadbury bar will do!

The upshot of it all is, I don’t make playlists for my books. I often write in silence or, if I want background music, I put on my reggae playlist because I know all the songs so well I can sing them and still think at the same time.

But sometimes, just sometimes, a book I’m writing will “adopt” a song, and those are almost invariably sappy. What the hell’s up with that? It’s never Born to be Wild or Bringing Sexy Back. It’s Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, or Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen. Love songs, for frak’s sake. The last book I wrote, which my editor has just accepted (YEAH!), insisted Rod Stewart’s Broken Arrow was its song…with a side order of The One by Elton John. Oy vey.

At this point I should probably post a video by RDX (a very…e-hem…suggestive Caribbean group) just to get my street-cred back. But I happen to love the book, tentatively titled Dragon’s Claim, which will be book three in my Unveiled Seductions series, and Elton just seems appropriate for the day before Valentine’s Day, here’s The One.

You can find Anya at her website http://www.anyarichards.com follow her on Twitter or on Facebook.

But I Won’t Do That

February is the month for love…Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. I always like to go to the store on February 14th because it amuses me to see bewildered men staring at flowers, teddy bears, and boxes of candy. They have this lost sheep look to them that makes me laugh.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’ve chosen love as the theme for What’s Playing Wednesdays. Um, most of the songs I’ll be playing this month aren’t ones I listen to on a regular basis. For some reason the metal bands I listen to don’t title their songs with the word “love” in them. Weird.

So I’m going out on a limb and picking songs I listened to when I wasn’t into heavy metal and I hope you’ll enjoy a trip down memory lane since that was close to twenty years ago. *cough*

Today’s song is by none other than Meatloaf. See? You already know what I’m going to play, don’t you? Yes, today’s song is “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”. It’s epic, it’s dramatic, it’s totally Meatloaf. I know KAK is going to appreciate this one.

Where’s the Love

It’s Valentine’s Day. To a single person, this means it’s just another day. Since I’m single, I had to actually look at the calendar to see that yes, it is Valentine’s Day. It’s also Monday. How romantic could that possibly be?

I’m wondering if Valentine’s Day should be moved to the Saturday or Sunday before the 14th, that way couples can spend an entire day together instead of having to wait until the working hours are over. I’m not bitter about the holiday, far from it. I like the idea of a day for lovers. I am a romance writer after all.

Luckily, I have no bad memories of past Valentine’s Days. All of my relationships have taken place between the spring and winter. Hm, how weird is that? I suppose it’s a good thing though. Otherwise, I might hold a grudge against the day.

As for my romantic views, I’ve mentioned many times before that I’m not a sappy romantic. Yes, I write romance and there are moments of high drama, but for the most part, I avoid the sticky sweetness some consider romance.

I love flowers, but I like to get them for an accomplishment instead of just a day you’re supposed to receive them. It’s almost an obligation for a lover to send flowers on Valentine’s Day. How is that special?I prefer to receive flowers when it’s something life-changing. Like release day, or a milestone birthday, or a publishing contract.

I adore chocolate, but I won’t wait until today to get them. Oh, hells no. There are times when a woman needs chocolate and waiting for one day out of the year to get them would be my idea of torture.

Jewelry is nice, but I don’t wear any except my tongue ring and my thumb ring. Those aren’t terribly romantic, places for jewelry. I did receive a heart-shaped locket necklace one year and I treasured it. Until the petals fell off the bloom. Now it sits in a jewelry box with all of the other things I don’t wear.

Sitting in front of a fireplace would only make me want to throw things in it. I have a touch of the fire bug and I love to build fires (legally, of course). I’d be too easily mesmerized by the flames to pay attention to my lover. Unless he was Gerard Butler. Then I’d make him sit in front of the fireplace so I could see both him and the flames 😉

Romance me with books, with intelligent conversation, laughter, and a nice meal. I don’t need all the trappings most consider necessary for this day of the year. They’re too quaint, too normal for my tastes.

What do you consider romantic? Are you a traditional romantic, or do you like something different?

Before I let you go, just a little reminder that tomorrow I’ll be over at Jillian Chantal’s blog with an interview and giveaway. Then on Thursday, I’m over at Avril Ashton’s blog for another interivew and giveaway. These are the last two on the tour, so I hope you’ll stop by for a chance to win!

Fantasy Man Friday

Another week has ended. Yay! It was a short week due to me taking Monday off for post-Superbowl relaxation. Yes, the Saints went to the big game and came out winners. Happy, happy!!

Now we’re looking towards Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras. I’m not concerned about either holiday, to be honest. I’m single, so I have no Valentine, and I don’t like parades. However, that doesn’t mean I can’t dream about having a Valentine. In fact, I’m going to conjure one up.

Let me see…he’ll be gorgeous, of course. I personally love dark hair and light-colored eyes…a torso with rippling muscles would be lovely too. And because it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, he’ll have to be wearing red. Now, close your eyes…(but read the rest of this first!)…make a wish, count to three…(you can close your eyes now)

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Hells yeah! Now that’s what I’m talking about! He’s a little younger than I like…with a baby face, but I’m not complaining. Now excuse us while we enjoy Valentine’s Day.

Go on…we don’t need an audience. Stop looking! Oh, and I hope you all have a Happy Valentine’s Day. I’d offer your sweeties a kiss, but you’re not getting one from mine, sooo…sorry! 🙂