Lovestruck Librarians

Starting Over

/ Olivia Dade / Leave a comment

NOTE: I originally wrote this post for Manic Readers.

Some people sail through their lives, certain from a young age about what they want from their existence and their work, sure where they belong and what they’re meant to do.

I’m not one of those people.

For a long time, though, I thought I was. From seventh grade until the age of twenty-four, I knew I would become a university professor, beloved and wise as I taught in front of rapt students and researched fascinating subjects. I would be intellectually challenged, part of a community, and happy. Above all else, happy.

Then, halfway through my American History Ph.D. program, everything changed.

Girl comforting her friendAs it turned out, I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t sure anymore that I wanted to spend my adult life battling for my place in academia. So I left a semester after earning my master’s degree, moved back home with my mother, and applied for a full-time position at the living history museum where I’d been working during my school breaks.

And I floundered. For years. I had no idea anymore what I wanted to do with my life. I searched for a new calling at an array of jobs: living history interpreter, high school teacher, student tutor, bakery clerk, and librarian. For a woman who’d thought she knew her life path from seventh grade, the upheaval was disorienting and upsetting. Worse, that upheaval didn’t uncover a new calling.

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My Enduring Love for Elizabeth Peters & Her Shameless, Flawed Heroines

/ Olivia Dade / Leave a comment

I wrote this post for Deanna Raybourn’s blog, and I did so delightedly. I kind of worship Elizabeth Peters.

When Deanna told me I could crash her online party today, I basically imploded with glee. Here’s why:

1. I adore her writing, both in book and tweet form. In fact—and she doesn’t know this, because I try to hide my rampant fangirling whenever possible—I featured her books in pretty much every display I created as a librarian.

A display to highlight RITA award-winning authors? Check!

A display showcasing mysteries solved by couples? Check!

A display introducing patrons to steampunk? Ch—

Wait. Not that one, I guess. But if I could have figured out a connection, I’d have slapped Deanna’s books up there too.

2. Because I write contemporary romantic comedies, I don’t usually get to discuss my favorite mystery authors. Not even those authors who, like Deanna and Elizabeth Peters, drizzle some romance onto their stories.

3. This post gave me a legitimate, professional excuse to reread Peters’ Crocodile on the Sandbank and Summer of the Dragon for approximately the millionth time each. And by complete coincidence, our daughter needed a chaperone for a classmate’s birthday party the day I reread them.

My husband: “I thought you were working on a blog post? Because if not, maybe you’d like to take our daughter to the birthday par—”

Me: “Totally working on a blog post! Researching so hard.”

My husband [side-eyeing me as I clambered happily onto my reading chaise]: “Hmph.”

So thank you, Deanna. I appreciate any excuse to avoid enclosed spaces filled with screaming six-year-olds! ::clears throat:: I mean, I appreciate the opportunity to talk about one of my all-time favorite authors and two of my desert island books!

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Angela Burrowes: My Filthy, Outspoken Athena

/ Olivia Dade / Leave a comment

I wrote a final post about Angie for Romance Divas, one in which I discussed the genesis of her character in the Lovestruck Librarians series. And I got to be nerdy about mythology too!

In Greek mythology, Athena—the goddess of wisdom and so much else—was not born. Instead, she sprang fully grown and armed from her father Zeus’ aching forehead, freed by a blow of the ax to his skull. She experienced no infancy, no swath of time where her goals or personality remained inchoate or indistinct. Instead, she emerged entirely complete and ready for battle.

Angela Burrowes, the heroine of My Reckless Valentine, is my own personal Athena.

To be honest, she’d make a pretty terrible goddess of wisdom. Her decisions…well, they’re often suspect. She’s definitely no virgin. And I suspect she uses her extensive vibrator collection much more than Athena did.

But like the goddess, Angie didn’t require years or even hours to form her personality. She sprang to life vibrant and herself within minutes, a potty-mouthed miracle with a loving, rebellious heart.

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Mismatch: My Hero and Heroine at Work

/ Olivia Dade / Leave a comment

While going through the files for My Reckless Valentine, the second book in my Lovestruck Librarians series, I came across one of my favorite deleted scenes. I hated to waste it, and I thought readers might like a glimpse into the very, very different personalities of my hero and heroine.

I decided the Manic Readers blog would be an excellent place to share the scene. I hope you enjoy it!

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Librarian Heroines: AKA Contemporary Romance’s Bluestockings and Governesses

/ Olivia Dade / 4 Comments

Over on the Fresh Fiction blog today, I discuss the perennial appeal of librarian heroines and their historical analogues: bluestockings, governesses, and schoolmarms. Nerdy girls throughout history, rejoice!

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I love librarians. No doubt about it.

I worked at a public library for five years, after all, which implies a certain amount of affection. Or masochism, I suppose. And my debut novella—Broken Resolutions—is a contemporary romance set in a small, rural Maryland library during a risqué New Year’s Eve singles’ event. Almost the entire book takes place within that one building. My couple meets there, falls in love there, and consummates their budding relationship there. (You may be surprised by what they use as their mattress. No, I’m not going to tell you.)

Still not convinced of my deep and abiding adoration for librarians? No problem. My final piece of evidence: Broken Resolutions is only the first in an entire series of books featuring librarian heroines, so I will basically be drowning in nerdy library references for years. Years.

You might think I’d get sick of the whole subject, but that’s not the case thus far. If you have recommendations for other contemporary romances featuring librarians—including your own, if you’re a writer—please let me know. Like scratches on the Game of Thrones Blu-ray you checked out from the library, I’ll be all over it.

But I also enjoy reading historical romances. And while a few—such as Tessa Dare’s Any Duchess Will Do—feature heroines involved in library work, most don’t. So I got to thinking about what the historical equivalent of my librarian heroines would be.

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From One to Many: The Creation of the Lovestruck Librarians Series

/ Olivia Dade / 2 Comments

I’m on the SOS Aloha blog too! In their post, I explain how a lone novella became the first in a series—and why my first book will never, ever see the light of day. Ever.

When I first wrote Broken Resolutions, my debut contemporary romance, I didn’t intend to make it part of a series. In fact, I assumed it would never see the light of day.

The only previous book I’d written had found its home in the dusty depths of my hard drive. For good reason, too. It lacks what is popularly known as “a plot.” (Turns out, your book can’t just contain chapters of your couple bantering and having hot monkey sex. Who knew?)

The Romance Writers of America conference last year inspired me to do something a little different. I attended a session discussing how novellas could help tighten your prose and allow you to experiment with different stories without a huge time commitment.

Perfect, I thought. Why don’t I try writing a novella? One with an actual plot?

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