As soon as I saw the picture I thought of Graphic Novels too, Hellion. My 10 year old son brought home Graphic Novels last year to read every night for his required 20 minutes/night and I kinda balked at it cause they looked like comic books. I decided to discuss this with the Media Center Specialist (read: librarian) at his school. He told me that Graphic Novels were created to pull the kids back into reading (especially boys ages 9-13). They’ve seen a big drop off in reading at that level and the Graphic Novels appeal to their visual minds. He told me they were actually very good and the stories were awesome. And it did get my son interesting in reading again when he wanted to be lazy and go back to reading The Pokey Little Puppy every night for his required reading!

I’m with J Perry, I would love to get some PG versions of these to give to my daughter to get her into romance at her age without having to worry about all the sex. As Marnee said I prefer my stories without pictures but I think it’s a great idea for the young ones.

Crys - I have a niece who also draws these characters and she’s amazing!

Okay, I had to go check out Sin City on IMDB and it is definitely not my cup of tea! I can’t take all that violence anymore. It’s not just the violence nowadays it’s the depravity. It’s like every movie out there is trying to top the last in terms of how sick and twisted they can be. I’m longing for some Sound of Music. Although I have a feeling I’d be sitting all by my lonesome in the middle of the theatre with my supersized bucket of popcorn and Snowcaps! At least I could sing along with Maria and sigh over Captain Von Trapp’s steamy looks and nobody would mind! LOL

Yes, I do know what you mean about preferring your books sans pictures. I run most books like a movie through my head.

And I haven’t been drinking all day! As to ogling men all day, well, some things can’t be helped! And wouldn’t you know it I wrote that I was blogging her on my Facebook Wall and their system posts the URL and a nifty picture from the blog. There must be women techs over there because the picture they posted was the pirate ship’s ‘hawt’ bartender!

Great blog. I think someone gave me a manga-inspired romance a year ago, and it was cute. But I love my books, sans pictures, too much.

My thanks to everyone for perservering and stopping by. Terri’s had a devil of a time with this today and I am ever grateful to her for all her efforts.

Let’s see if I can respond to everyone’s comments.

Lindsey - I have heard of Harlequin Ginger Blossoms but dismissed it as not for me but geared toward a younger audience. I’d be curious to see if they’ve tried to just repackage their titles without taking into consideration the core audience who’d be attracted to a Ginger Blossom.

Does anyone know of any other imprints who have Mangas in their line up?

Sin - you are light years ahead of me which is no surprise. Most of the world is light years ahead of me. However, I am proud to say I have heard of and think I’ve seen a couple of episodes of Sailor Moon. The images are great but I find I get lost in trying to follow what they are saying through faces and mouths that never seem to change expression except for dashes around the eyes to convey surprise and beads of sweat to convey anxiety.

JKCoi - first of all congrats on the release of your book in e-format. Hugh kudos there! I had no idea Sherilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan are going to be in Manga format. I think they’d make fantastic Manga books!

Which brings me to the topic of sex in Mangas. There are several graphic novels that are just that - graphic. But how do you convey the sexual tension that builds in a romance as it leads to the sex scene or scenes? Furthermore, how do you translate a twenty page love scene like one Lisa Kleypas did into a Manga? More of those dashes and sweat beads around the eyes and forehead?

Keira - you bring up a fabulous point. I’ve never read much of Camas’ work but I do know that one of my all time favorite book Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas is available in as a Manga and it’s a fantastic.

And I think Virginia Woolf’s ‘The Waves’ would be incredible as a Manga. Imagine stream of consciousness and fully drawn - if you will - characterizations of the archtypes she writes!

(and, yes, it was that author with the initials EJ)

Maggie and Tessa - your insight into the Manga world is well taken. I’d love to know what those librarians who work in academic circles have seen…Manda?

And, finally, you’ll all get to read the pergola scene - warm peach cobbler and all. It is a great scene when it all seems to come together for my characters Melissa and Jake before I pull the rug out from under them and everything comes crashing down around them….

Ciao for now,
Santa

Like Maggie says, I think manga is a great way to get kids and teens reading. I haven’t read too much of it myself - I find it harder to get lost in the story, but that may be just a factor of not having read it enough. For the record, I loved Sin City - Elijah Wood’s character was indeed revolting, but Bruce Willis and my boy Clive more than made up for it. Oh, and I love Spirited Away, too.

Great topic, Santa!

Thanks for hopping aboard, Keira. We’re glad you like the place.