Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

We’ve mentioned the Romance Novel Magnetic Poetry Kit before on this website. I’ve been the proud owner of a set for the past couple of years--a friend of mine gave a set to me as a birthday present a little while ago, and I’ve put it to good use. I use the poetry to hold down photos on the fridge, with the words acting as commentary as well as anchors; below are my two favorite uses.

Thanks to Elizabeth, we have adorable pictures of what deer in Nara, Japan, like to read. This much cuteness might knock you over, so consider yourself warned.

Says Elizabeth,

Nara was the capitol of Japan before Kyoto, which was the capitol before the current one (it moved around a lot) and the old palace grounds are now a huge park with museums, gift shops, etc. It also has a metric shitload of sacred deer no one is allowed to hurt. Since they’re safe from harm, they have no fear, and will walk right up to you and eat from your hand. Or your bag. Or your children.

If anyone plans to go to Japan, everyone plans on Kyoto, but if you don’t see anything else, see Nara. I mean, really. It has deer!

Not just deer, but dear that read romance! Don’t believe me? Have a look!

I’d say Japanese deer in Nara have good taste.

(Thanks to Elizabeth for the pic!)

A list in no particular order to illustrate what happens with a bunch of romance fans, bloggers, readers and authors descend upon a Times Square BBQ place with big honking holy shit huge drinks.

1. I arrive late because I went home, took care of the fam, then drove back into Manhattan. This was bad idea jeans, because a few hundred other people had the same idea at the same time and I was taunted by sitting on the helix into the Lincoln Tunnel looking at New York but unable to get there. And, to make matters more embarrassing for me, the restaurant wouldn’t seat the party until we were all there. What the crap?!

Now I’m one embarrassed person. Sorry, y’all.

2. The drinks were huge.

3. No, really. The drinks were huge.

4. DO YOU SEE THE SIZE of the FISHBOWLS they serve the DRINKS in?!

5. See #1 re: driving. Hence I drank barely a quarter of the fishbowl, chugged water (which did NOT come in the fishbowl, damn them) and donated the rest of my margarita to a worthy cause: the inebriation of someone who didn’t have a drink. Yay!

6. I don’t go out much, really, which makes me lame, but I forget how funny it is that a table of 15 people with one major genre in common will always find something to talk about, and will undoubtedly have a kicking time. It’s like a book club on crack. With margaritas.Or beer. In fish bowls.

7. There are funny pictures of me circulating out there. I promise I am about 200% more funny-looking in real life.

8. Ann Aguirre was angelic and very cool, and if you ask her how she met her husband, the story will make you wet yourself with laughter.

9. We talked about any and all of the following: writing, books we’re reading, Magic Hoo-hoos, San Francisco, juicy pink velvet things, Twitter, and dial up modems. Also books. But you guessed that.

10. My camera phone takes grainy ass pictures in low light, but that doesn’t mean I can’t caption them. Enjoy - and thanks to everyone who came for creating a kickass evening.

I’ve been seeing strange advertisements in Manhattan the past few weeks. First, two weeks ago, some mugshot looking pictures about vampires being people, too. Then, on the NY side of the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, there’s this giant billboard, which I tried to take a picture of for the past three days. That’s the best of the lot.

I figured the ads were advance promo for the Twilight movie, but no. HBO has a new series called “TrueBlood,” premiering next month, the tagline of which reads, “Thou shalt not crave thy neighbor.”

And what’s it based on? The novels of Charlaine Harris, also known as the Sookie Stackhouse series. PLUS it’s being developed by Alan Ball, who created Six Feet Under, which means I’m reading the web page and saying, “Damn!” a lot. Plus, the site for TruBeverage is a hoot - “Please enter the date you were turned?” With a year option that includes, I, II, III, IV, etc? HA!

I knew there was a Stackhouse series in the works, but these ads plus the site are just freaking brilliant. I mean, the romance market is already hypersaturated with vampires, to say nothing of the “Twilight” movie and the recent book release. To have ads spread all over NYC alluding to the relative humanity of vampires makes me, who is solidly vampired-out, very, verrrry curious.

Damn you HBO! I’m going to have to subscribe again! GAAAAH!