Why is it...

I can read—and love—Jayne Ann Krentz’ books even though I know the characters are, uhm, similar. Yet, when I went hunting for more of John Lutz’s backlist, and came across two book that were similar to Darker than Night (the book I’m reading now), I walked out of the store empty handed.

It’s interesting how I’ll willingly embrace the same *romance genre* premise over and over again, happily immersing myself in the story of ‘the most notorious, dissolute, greatest lover, rakehell in all of London and the innocent impoverished virgin miss who tames him with her sacred hymen”, till I close the book with a satisfied sigh at it's ending, then not five minutes later, mentally scanned my tbr pile for a book just as good (ie *exactly like*) this one. gg

While certain plots/premises can, and do, get stale, I think the real magic of the romance genre is the characters and the sharing--vicariously--their passion, heartache, sensuality, discovery, laughter, and the sheer terror at being out of their depth emotionally.

I’ll probably end up buying those other books by Mr. Lutz—-he’s just too good an author to pass up—-but the whole experience was a real eye opener for me.

I also picked up The Association by Bentley Little. Let me tell you a ‘little’ story about this guy. I was reading Hottest Blood, an erotic horror anthology (yeah, you heard me right) and I came across one story, Llama, that totally freaked me out. (Hardly any sexuality, btw, and no beastiality!, despite the title. gg That wasn't what freaked me out. The first person protagonist, is NOT someone you EVER want to meet!) I was seriously disturbed reading this short, and came to the conclusion that the author was also seriously disturbed, as in: should be locked up in a psyche ward somewhere, *not* getting his twisted sick thoughts/imaginings published.

Then I turned back to the title page and saw it was Mr. Little. gg

So what do I do?

That’s right. Go hunt down his backlist. gg He’s got this *marketing* blurb from The Los Angeles Times on all his books: “If there’s a better horror novelist working today, I don’t know who it is.”

I agree.

I came home absolutely trashed, took me all evening/night to regain my energy and now it’s time for bed. *sigh* Thank goodness I was able to write for ½ hr on my lunch break and managed to peck out a page worth of stuff, or else I would have had nothing accomplished. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tire.

Nite.