Where Do You Have Sex?

Where do you have sex? by Helen Woodall Last year in Australia there was a court case when a company tried to sack a female staff member who was caught having sex in the company bathtub with two male colleagues. The case was dismissed – although the woman was instructed to lock the door next time! But it got me thinking about the places that characters in books have sex. A bed is so boring. Even the tub is pretty average. So here are 13 not-so-average venues from romance novels - with some books you can check out for inspiration. Tell us the wildest sex location you've read in a novel! Or, of course, the craziest place you've had sex yourself. 1. On the hood of a 67 GTO in Philadelphia's Fairmont Park — Between a Rock and a Hard-on by Cindy Spencer Pape 2. In the library against a bookshelf — Complicated by Zannie Adams 3. In a cave — Surprised by Desire by Katie Blu, Close Up by Virginia Kantra, Hunting Midnight by Emma Holly 4. Up against the front door — High Noon by Nora Roberts 5. In a cemetery — Shades of Gray by Amarinda Jones 6. In a dungeon — Son of the Morning by Linda Howard, Surrender in the Dark by Silvia Violet 7. Under a waterfall — Chrysanthemum by Anny Cook and a number of other books 8. In an elevator — Anytime, Darlin’ by Julia Barrett, Because I Can by Amarinda Jones, Feels So Right by Carol Lynne 9. On a paint-covered art canvas — Perilous Passions by Teri Thackston 10. Inside an Egyptian pyramid — Dreams of Annubis by Maria Isabel Pita, (or the Americas version, inside Mayan ruins - Wild Jade by Kathy Kulig) 11. In a photobooth — Thief of Mine by Amarinda Jones 12. On a silver Ducati motorcycle roaring down the highway — Once Upon a Wedding by Desiree Holt 13 On a plane — Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell, Fear of Flying by Erica Jong, Everyday, Average Jones by Suzanne Brockmann

Popular Promo Items

We're not endorsing or encouraging these particular items. But looking around the office, here are the items we most often get handed as promo for books. 1. Bookmarks (and more bookmarks, and even more bookmarks) 2. Pens 3. Pencils 4. Emery boards 5. Magnets 6. Excerpt booklets 7. Sampler CD or mini-CD 8. Little candies 9. Keychains 10. Mirrors 11. Buttons (pins) 12. Letter openers 13. Notepads or small notebooks

E-Myths

E-Myths We did a poll, asking for the most common "myths" you hear from readers or from other authors about e-publishing. Some of these are completely false. Some may have been true once, but no longer. A few have a kernel of fact, but have been misconstrued or misinterpreted or blown way up beyond reality. 1. E-publishers only put out books that NY has rejected. / E-pubs will publish anything submitted to them. Hah, tell that to the 95% of submissions we rejected. E-pubs are able to accept and take a chance on books with a smaller audience, a niche market, a less popular setting or time period or theme--so a great book could be rejected by NY because it wasn't considered marketable (wouldn't make enough sales) but may be something an e-publisher can do. 2. Anyone can start an e-publishing company, all it takes is a computer and website. And anyone who does it like that will fail. Like any new, small business, you need a business plan, marketing plan, start-up money, talented people, and a strong understanding of the market and the business. 3. All e-publishers are shady businesses, hovering on the brink of failure. See above. An e-pub is a small business like any other, and has the same needs and risks. As an author, research the e-pubs you are considering submitting to. 4. E-publishing is vanity or self-publishing. Legitimate e-pubs work just like print publishers--all money flows from publisher to author. Vanity/subsidy publishers charge fees to the author for publishing their book, sometimes for services like editing or cover art. 5. Authors can't make any money in e-publishing. Tell that to all the e-pubbed authors making enough to support themselves (and their families). A few make over six figures in royalty income annually. The kernel of truth in this is that only authors in the hot genres in e-books make a lot of money. Or megaselling NY print authors whose books are also available in digital (but that's not true e-publishing, just a secondary market format for them). If the genre of book is readily available in great quantity and variety on bookstore shelves, then readers aren't driven to the e-book versions. 6. The only successful e-books are erotica or erotic romance. See above. I've heard that some types of sci-fi also do very well in digital. But the digital book market is slowly growing, especially with the advent of new popular e-reading devices like the Kindle and Sony e-Reader. 7. E-books aren't "real" books. / Everybody prefers holding a "real" print book. Err, what do you mean by "real"? A "book" is a story, no matter what format (including audio books). And more and more people are seeing the benefits of e-books and choosing them over print books in some cases. 8. E-pubs don't promote their authors or books. / E-pubs aren't "invested" in their authors. Smack you upside the head, RWA National, for such a stupid and wrong attitude. E-pubs spend a lot of time (which means dollars) grooming newbie authors. E-pubs promote their books in total and promote the format overall, which benefits all their authors. And face it, nowadays only a tiny portion of NY print pubbed authors get advertised by their publishers. The marketing budgets no longer exist. Primary responsibility for promotion is in 99% of cases up to the author, regardless of publisher or book format. 9. E-books are not edited, the quality is poor. May have been true ten years ago, but not now. New publishers, whether print or digital, are likely to start with less experience in and funds for editing. But the established e-pubs have quality to rival anyone. E-pubs do as much if not more substantive editing and copy editing as the big NY print houses. If you as an author feel you are not getting good editing at an e-pub, you need to discuss this with your editor or the publisher. 10. All e-books are short stories, the authors can't write full-length novels. Huh? At ECPI and many other e-pubs, we do the full range of story lengths--short stories through books longer than a typical print novel. Kernel of truth: e-publishing does allow for shorter stories to be more easily and frequently published. One isn't contrained by needing a page count long enough to print, or having to batch novellas into anthologies to be big enough to throw on a printing press. 11. E-book covers are all poor quality, computer-generated "pod people". Again, for a new publisher, that is the fastest and least expensive cover art to generate. But established, experienced e-publishers have moved away from that, now are using photos, illustrations, or CGI that is so good you can't tell it's not real. 12. If you publish an e-book, you'll never be able to get a NY publisher or agent to take you seriously. This had some validity four or more years ago, but no longer! NY editors and agents regularly "raid" the e-pubs to acquire authors. NY publishers buy up the rights to previously e-pubbed books in order to issue the books themselves in print. Look at all the newer popular romance authors who started in e-publishing and used it as a springboard to NY - Lora Leigh, Cheyenne McCray, Angela Knight, Diane Whiteside to name but a few. 13. All e-book authors aspire to leave e-publishing and become NY print published. Many e-book authors picked up by NY houses continue to also produce e-books. And some authors are not interested in making the change--the benefits of e-publishing better fit their lifestyle or priorities. Benefits: A monthly royalty check (regular income, rather than few-and-far-between advances); less stress due to fewer deadlines and being able to work at your own pace; submission process is easier, faster, less expensive, doesn't require an agent; can publish more frequent books; can write a broader type of story for smaller markets; more flexibility in story length; very loyal and active readership. Plus the wonderful income benefit of always having your whole e-book backlist available for sale, rather than having your print book disappear off the store shelves within a few months.

Repetitive Redundancies

Redundancies Redundancy: needless repetition; being superfluous and unneeded Writers, here's a prime area for self-editing! Chop out those superfluous words clogging up your prose and annoying readers. 1. swallowed visibly/shook visibly - Uh huh, I always go invisible when I do these things. 2. shrugged his shoulders - What else would you have shrugged? 3. "the reason is because" - Leave off the "because", or better yet delete the whole phrase and just state the reason. 4. PIN number - What do you think the N in PIN stands for? 5. thought to herself - You can think to your pet fish or the dust bunnies, maybe? 6. blinked/squinted her eyes - see #2 7. nodded his head - see #2 8. "the fact is that" - Just say the fact, don't say that you are going to say it 9. pursed her lips together - You can't purse 'em apart, you know. 10. she waved her hand at them - Try just "She waved at them", unless she is waving something else. 11. bald-headed man - I think we'll all assume a bald man is lacking hair on his head. 12. breathing in and out - Can you breathe up and down? Forward and backward? It's enough to just breathe. 13. "he fucked her with his penis" when the description already makes it clear they are having penetrative sex - If he's using his fingers or a sex toy, say so. Otherwise, we know what part he's using.

Our Favorite Paranormal Romances

Favorite Paranormal Romances 1. Arcane Society series by Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz 2. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong 3. Dark Hunters series by Sherrilyn Kenyon 4. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris 5. Eternity by Maggie Shayne 6. Fever series by Karen Marie Moning 7. Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray 8. Gatekeeper by Debra Glass 9. Goddess by Mistake by P.C. Cast 10. Haunting Rachel by Kay Hooper 11. Jane-Emily by Patricia Clapp 12. Now You See Her by Linda Howard 13. Supernatural Bonds series by Jory Strong

Our Favorite Contemporary Romances

Boy, trying to limit any of these "favorite books" lists to just 13 is impossible. But more so with contemporaries, since so much of the romance genre falls into that category and so many of the "big names" write there.

Favorite Contemporary Romances 1. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie 2. BitterSweet by LaVyrle Spencer 3. Breathing Room Susan Elizabeth Phillips 4. Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts 5. Crazy books (Crazy Sweet, Crazy Kisses, etc.) by Tara Janzen 6. East of Easy by Linda Bleser 7. Mackenzie stories by Linda Howard 8. Men in Kilts by Katie MacAlister 9. Midnight Angel by Lisa Marie Rice 10. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard 11. Open Season by Linda Howard 12. Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie 13. Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz

Favorite Fantasy Stories

We were all so busy reading, we almost forgot to post a Thursday 13 ! And then there was a lot of arguing about what is fantasy versus urban fantasy versus paranormal. Nope, couldn't come to any consensus on that, so you may not consider all of these to be fantasy stories.

Favorite Fantasy Stories 1. Almost Human, by Cat Marsters 2. Black Jewels trilogy by Anne Bishop 3. Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce 4. Fairy Dust by Tielle St. Clare 5. Kedrigern Chronicles series by John Morressy 6. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 7. Nightseer by Laurel K Hamilton 8. Stardust by Neil Gaiman 9. Tailspin by Denise Rossetti 10. Tales of the Order series by Candace Sams 11. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley 12. The Seeker Chronicles by Betsy James 13. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

Our Favorite Historical Romances

As you can see, our tastes differ wildly.

Favorite Historical Romances1. anything by Georgette Heyer 2. anything by Lisa Kleypas 3. anything by Arnette Lamb 4. Charming the Prince by Teresa Medeiros 5. The Accidental Bride by Jane Feather 6. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters 7. Hummingbird by LaVyrle Spencer 8. The Rake by Mary Jo Putney 9. The Velvet Promise by Jude Deveraux 10. Not Quite A Lady by Loretta Chase 11. Wolf and the Dove by Kathleen Woodiwiss 12. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 13. The Tiger’s Woman by Celeste DeBlasis

Our Favorite Urban Fantasy Books

Favorite Urban Fantasy 1. Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon 2. Fiend series by Maureen Child 3. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 4. Guardians of Eternity series by Alexandra Ivy 5. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling 6. Memory Zero by Keri Arthur 7. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman 8. Personal Demons by Stacia Kane 9. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 10. Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff 11. The Hollows series by Kim Harrison 12. Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block 13. Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong

Our Favorite SciFi/Futuristic Books

Yep, we read anything and everything - all genres. Just give us books!

Favorite SciFi/Futuristic 1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle 2. An Accidental Goddess by Linnea Sinclair 3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 4. Dangerous Visions by Harlan Ellison 5. Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany 6. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip Dick 7. Dune by Frank Herbert 8. Change by Ann Maxwell 9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 10. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 11. Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller 12. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut 13. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein

Our Favorite Mystery Books

Editors are readers - they love books. If they didn't, they wouldn't be in this job. So ask a group of editors about their favorite books, and it can trigger great discussions. We're pleased to find titles for which several of us share a love, and surprised that what one of us loves another can't stand. Or how we classify books -- are the In Death books by Nora Roberts mysteries or futuristics or even romance (well, my favorite element is definitely the Roarke/Dallas relationship)? So here' s the very diverse list that came out of our "what's your favorite mystery book?" discussions. What are your favorites?

Editors' Favorite Mysteries 1. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain 2. Any old-fashioned mysteries from Agatha Christie 3. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver 4. Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver 5. Man Overboard by Lara Diamond 6. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 7. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King 8. Lost by Gregory Maguire 9. From Hell by Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell 10. An Unkindness of Ravens by Ruth Rendell 11. In Death series from J.D. Robb 12. Mortal Wounds by Nikki Soarde 13. Eye Witness by Kennedy Vance

Thirteen Things We Did Instead of Last Week's Thursday Thirteen

When the cat's away... One of the last things I said to the editorial staff as I left the office last week for a convention was, "Mind the blog." When no Thursday Thirteen appeared, I assumed they were all so busy with their first priority of editing that they just couldn't get to it. Now I find out what they were really up to...

Editors Gone Wild! 1. At 9:01 a.m. we staggered through the doorway, bleary-eyed, and began the arduous trek toward the coffee pot. 2. At 9:34 a.m. we played Paper, Rock, Scissors over who got to wield Raelene's whips for the day. 3. At 10:15 a.m. we argued over the finer points of wereduck romance. 4. At 11:45 a.m. we were still arguing when our stretch limo pulled up to take us to lunch. 5. Noon to 1:00 is sort of a blur. We dined on bull testicles and had our first three rounds of martinis. 6. At 1:12 p.m. we were still drinking martinis, save for the unnamed editor who had passed out facedown in her drink. 7. At 2:21 p.m. we arrived back at the office to find all of our red pens missing and the dictionaries taped shut. The ransom note indicated that it was the work of the nefarious warehouse staff. 8: At 2:22 p.m. we launched a full-out attack to secure the return of our pens. 9. At 2:56 p.m., suffering from multiple paper cuts, we crept back downstairs and finally fired up our computers. 10. At 3:13 p.m., exhausted from firing up our computers, we took a nap. 11. At 4:39 p.m. we began to wake from our naps, sluggishly peeling Post-It note eyemasks off of our faces. 12. At 4:55 p.m. we shut down our computers and congratulated ourselves on a day well-spent. 13. At 5:01 p.m. we trekked out to our cars...and realized too late that with all the work we had been doing, somehow we had forgotten to post a Thursday 13.

Thinking Inside the Box

Things we accept inside the Black Box 1. Faster than light travel 2. Universal translators 3. Artificial intelligence 4. Advanced (intelligent) robotics 5. Time travel 6. Transporters 7. Cross-galaxy communication 8. Similar species of sentient life across galaxies 9. Sonic showers 10. Earth-like planets scattered across the universe 11. The ability of medical techology to reverse natural processes 12. Holographic or virtual reality technology 13. Hyper-advanced weaponry, generally of the laser variety

More Arms to Hold You

Yes indeed, as another blog announced for us, were-ducks are the next big fad in paranormal romance! But there are other shapeshifters we would love to see. 1. Were-octopus - Not only are male octopuses totally alphas who will jealously fight to the death for their ladies, they're also the cuddly sort who will hold hands! Also, just think how cozy it'd be to fall asleep with eight strong arms wrapped tightly around you. What's not to like? 2. Were-kiwi - There are a lot of attractive fellas in New Zealand, so why not an actual kiwi? These birds are adorable and are keen to settle down—pairs usually mate for life. Plus, they have really long beaks, and you know what they say about big noses. 3. Were-skunk - We all know a man's natural musk is sexier than any cologne, and these guys have it over everyone. And hey, don't they all live in Paris and have those sexy French accents? 4. Were-gerbil - To hear my cousin's husband's sister's friend tell it about some guy she knew, these fellas are always willing to explore...new territory in the bedroom. 5. Were-penguin - No matter where you go, he'll always be well-dressed. 6. Were-donkey - He'll always be the first to admit he's an ass. 7. Were-seahorse - Four words: He. Carries. The. Babies. My hero. 8. Were-koala - His breath will always be fresh from all that eucalyptus. 9. Were-turkey - He's the perfect man to bring home to your family for Thanksgiving. 10. Were-raccoon - Forget a man who always takes out the trash. This guy will just make it disappear—and you won't even have to cook him dinner! Plus, he has that sexy eye mask—perfect for any Zorro fantasies you might have. 11.Were-anteater - Have you seen the tongue on this beastie? Oh yeah, any romance heroine would welcome him into her bed. Also, does your house need an exterminator? Problem solved! 12. Were-whales - For a romance hero, bigger is always better. 13. Were-Corgi - Sucking up is a proven path to success. Using your publisher's or editor's adored pets as heroes or heroines of a novel is sure to make you a best-seller!

Starts That Sell

That first line of a submission that hooked one of our editors so hard s/he requested the full and then contracted the book. 1. I would have shot him then and there if I thought it would do any good, but Roger was such a troll the bullet would have bounced off his thick, ugly hide. - Underdead by Liz Jasper 2. I knew it was going to be a lousy day when I woke to a woman screaming in my ear that I was a fucking pervert, but I think the real highlight came when I fell five hundred feet and smashed my skull into half a dozen pieces. - Almost Human by Cat Marsters 3. With her usual dramatic flair, Lillian Feathers died on the morning of her own funeral. - East of Easy by Linda Bleser 4. He had that look about him--those worn jeans, the white t-shirt stretched across his wide chest, the black boots, the leather jacket. - Lucifer's Angel by Kaenar Langford 5. A vampire, a psychic and a werewolf walk into a bar on Alpha Prime... - 1001 Stellar Jokes - Rogues by Liddy Midnight & Cricket Starr 6. Mariah Hughes stared at the young woman who had just entered the shop and wondered if it was bad manners to ask if she was off her medication. - All In by Kate Willoughby 7. "Notice the slight emergence of the male's accessory sexual organ, or what the Garathani refer to as a breeding spur." - Alien Overnight by Robin L. Rotham 8. The first erection Griffin Curtis could ever remember having, not including the ones that woke him in the morning, was caused by her smile. - Roll Play by Rowan West 9. It was a splendid way for any woman to spend a midsummer day—lazing naked on a soft, shaded carpet of grass beside a softly burbling, crystal clear stream, one naked man to the right of her and another to the left, both with slow hands and slowly swelling cocks. - Cauldron of Keridwen by K.Z. Snow 10. It seemed like a good idea at the time. - Oath of Seduction: Seducing Sharon by Marly Chance 11. There were days when fulfilling your destiny could be a real bitch. - Bethany’s Rite by Eve Jameson 12. "Son of a motherless goat!" Miranda Marshall hissed out through clenched teeth. - Because I Can by Amarinda Jones 13. Coop Masterson, federal air marshal and Lea Harding’s worst nightmare, barreled up the airplane aisle, nine millimeter drawn and aimed. At her. - Coffee, Tea or Lea? by Ann Wesley Hardin

Great Beginnings - Favorite First Lines

Favorite First Lines When you love books as much as we do (as many of you do), it's hard to select only thirteen great first lines. The following is only a partial list. Some, but not all, have been recognized by the American Book Review. What are some great beginnings that stick in your mind? 1. Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun. -Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 2. They shoot the white girl first. -Toni Morrison, Paradise 3. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice 4. As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. -Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis 5. It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. -George Orwell, 1984 6. It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York. -Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar 7. Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 8. One hot August Thursday afternoon, Maddie Faraday reached under the front seat of her husband's Cadillac and pulled out a pair of black lace underpants. They weren't hers. -Jennifer Crusie, Tell Me Lies 9. You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If On a Winter's Night a Traveler. -Italo Calvino, If On a Winter's Night a Traveler 10. The sky above the port was the color of television, turned to a dead channel. -William Gibson, Neuromancer 11. We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. -Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale 12. All of this happened, more or less. -Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five 13. When I stepped out in to the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. -S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

Ask Me Anything

To really develop a character, you, the author, must know them inside and out. Here are thirteen questions to help you get started. 1. To whom does this person go when they're having a crisis? 2. How do they drive (if they drive at all)? 3. What would they order on a first date? 4. What's their biggest pet peeve? 5. What would they wear to a job interview? 6. Are they a cat person, a dog person, or something else entirely? 7. If they drink coffee, how do they take it? 8. What is their chosen career--or their dream job? 9. What are they afraid of? 10. What is their political stance? 11. What is their relationship with their family, and who is their family by choice? 12. What kind of music do they like? 13. What do they read?

Common Confusibles/Memory Mnemonics

Use little tricks to keep these words straight. 1. advice (n. opinion or counsel) / advise (v. to offer advice) Be wise when you advise. 2. aid (v. or n. help) / aide (n. an assistant or helper) An aide is by your side. 3. beach / beech A beach is by the sea. A beech is a tree. 4. breath (n.) / breathe (v.) Breathe with ease. 5. capital (city that is the seat of government; material wealth, assets; first and foremost; first-rate, excellent) / capitol (building where the legislature meets) Cash is a form of capital. The capitol building has a dome. 6. cavalcade (ceremonial procession) / cavalry (mounted troops) / Calvary (hill outside Jerusalem; a great ordeal) The cavalry were valiant. 7. coarse / course We’ve lost our course. 8. compliment (praise, congratulation) / complement (complete or make up the whole) A complement completes. I like compliments. 9. desert (dry sandy place) / dessert (yummy food at end of meal) The desert is sand. A just desert is what you deserve. Strawberry shortcake is dessert. 10. discreet (prudent, careful; modest and restrained [noun is ‘discretion’]) / discrete (separate and distinct) The ‘t’ separates the ‘ee’s. 11. passed / past (no longer current, gone by, over) The ass passed me. Last year is in the past. 12. principal (main or first) / principle (basic rule or doctrine) The principal is your pal. A principle is a rule. 13. stationary (unmoving) / stationery (writing paper) A stationary object stands still. Stationery is paper.

Beloved Betas

Beloved Betas Coming to us from books and movies, these are the beta guys who continue to capture our hearts. 1. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 2. Peter Parker in the Spider-Man movies directed by Sam Reimi, from the comic created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. 3. Lord Henry Trevelyn in The Changeling Bride by Lisa Cach. 4. Clark Kent in the Superman movies (various directors), from the comic created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. 5. Jackson Farley in Nerd in Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson. 6. Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything, directed by Cameron Crowe. 7. Mr. George Knightley in Emma by Jane Austen. 8. The heroes in the books by Kathleen Gilles Seidel: Again; The Same Last Name; Summer's End. 9. Westley in The Princess Bride by William Goldman (and the movie adaptation by Rob Reiner). 10. Jedwin in Wild Oats by Pamela Morsi 11. C.L. Sturgis in Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie 12. Will Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean, directed by Gore Verbinski. 13. The heroes in any number of traditional Regency romances from Georgette Heyer.

Fantastic Fantasy Worlds

1. Frank Baum's Oz from The Wizard of Oz. 2. Lewis Carroll's Wonderland from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 3. C.S. Lewis's Narnia from The Chronicles of Narnia. 4. J.K. Rowling's magical Britain (such as magical houses, Hogwarts, and Diagon Alley) in the Harry Potter novels. 5. The futuristic Earth of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game. 6. Terry Prachett's Discworld. 7. The dimension on the other side of the tesseract in Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time series. 8. Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe. 9. Fantastica in Michael Ende's The Neverending Story. 10. Charles de Lint's Newford from the Newford series of books. 11. The All-World universe and its portals on Earth in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. 12. The Dreaming from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman. 13. J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings.