Lady Jane's #2! Success despite all nature to the contrary!

Oh, what a night!

Despite a blizzard, the second of our unique monthly romance reading series benefiting Maya Rodale's Share the Love charity for women in need, Lady Jane's Salon, founded by myself, Maya, Hope Tarr and Ron Hogan of Beatrice.com went smashingly well. Our only regret was the sad fact that our dear Jenna Petersen got stuck in an airport rather than being able to make it in for our reading. But she was with us in spirit, and her work was most certainly in attendance.

So was the NEW YORK POST! Thanks to reporter Mandy Stadtmiller and Zandy the photographer (who posed us in fun spots with armfuls of dontated books), for deeming our humble operation story-worthy! Can't wait to see the story!

So was Rob of RT Bookreviews, thanks Rob and RT for being there to document our evening and continue RT's loving and loyal support of our venture from day one!

So was SB Sarah of Smart Bitches Trashy Books who we have the GREAT pleasure of announcing as next months GUEST HOST! She live-twittered about us and everything! She's even got video of Lauren's fabulous reading! Check it out!!

The rundown:



New York Times bestseller, historical maven, quick-witted author and a sparkling entertainer as well as all-around lovely gal Lauren Willig started us off with hysterical selections from her latest release Temptation of the Night Jasmine. Her fan club was out IN FORCE to support her! Go Lauren and friends!

After a quick break, Maya's English BF Tony read a side-splitting few pages of his own romance novel to add to our festivities.

And then, to wrap up an evening of great fun and storytelling, I managed to present the beginning of Jenna Petersen's Lessons from a Courtesan. So even though Jenna couldn't make it, her work did and we hope we can have her with us in person sometime in the future.

Next month! April 6th! Alisa Kwitney / Sheckley will present some of her yummy The Better to Hold You and our very own co-founder Maya Rodale will share some of her deeeelightful The Rogue and the Rival! GUEST HOSTED by Sarah Wendell - who we hope will give us a tease of her and Candy Tan's Beyond Heaving Bosoms guide to Romance!

Don't miss it!

What is Lady Jane's Salon and why should I care?

It started, as many great things do, over a drink with good company.

Regency romance author Maya Rodale, romance author Hope Tarr, Beatrice.com's Ron Hogan and I were discussing the state of the New York City reading series scene and the fact that there wasn't a space for romance fiction and areas of women's fiction.

"Let's start one." Maya said.
She may have used slightly more elaborate language but you get the idea.

Maya happens, also, to be co-founder of the charity Share the Love, which donates gently used books to women in transition and need. Hope has a long history of philanthropy, as you can check out from her website. Ron Hogan, in his involvement with MediaBistro, GalleyCat and Beatrice.com has championed all kinds of literature for well over a decade. I'm involved with service projects at my church and environmental and animal rights causes. So you've got four people with two things in common: a love of books and philanthropy. Hence, in the span of just a few short months and somewhat of a "Yes We Can" philosophy, Lady Jane's Salon was born.

Why "Lady Jane"? We knew we wanted Salon in the name, because it's just one of those words one wants to use. I dubbed it "Lady Jane's" because Jane makes us think of our beloved Austen, and tea, but it's also an everywoman name. Jane Doe. There's a bit of everywoman in romance, in the way that the genre, no matter the sub-category, seeks to lift up the core value of loving, dynamic, committed and familial relationships.

Lady Jane's launches on February 2nd with award winning and multi-published authors. Andrea Pickens and Hope Tarr will kick off what will be a monthly offering of rich storytelling and great community. Some invaluable friends of romance, such as Barbara Vey and RomanceNovel.tv will be there to help us celebrate, and the generous and vital RomanticTimes, who have been incredibly supportive so far. Not to mention our respective current publishers, Berkley, Harlequin and Dorchester, who have been incredibly supportive too!

Mark your calendars! Every first Monday of the month, from 7-9 at the fab Tribeca venue Madame X. Admission is $5.00 or a gently used women's fiction novel - all admissions benefit Share the Love!

Madame X is located at 94 West Houston Street, on the north side between LaGuardia Place and Thompson Street. You must be 21 and have a valid photo I.D. to enter.

We hope you'll join us not only on Feb. 2nd, but every first Monday!

Stop by RomanceNovel.tv tomorrow the 25th, we'll be talking all about it!