Lady Jane's Salon "shares the love."

As Lady Jane’s Salon approaches it’s third anniversary—and now with three satellite salons around the country—we’ve donated hundreds of dollars to Women-in-Need as well as thousands of books to organizations such as The Thrift Shop for the Cure (which supports the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation), a one-time donation to The Peoples’ Library, the Salvation Army, and Housing Works.

“I think that it adds an extra element of pleasure to the night when we gather to celebrate romance, to know that we are also sharing the love and helping others,” says Deb Marlowe, of the newly launched Raleigh/Durham salon.

“What was formed organically out of a need to celebrate romance has grown just as organically into a sustainable staple of New York’s literary culture. I can hardly believe it’s been three years! One of my favorite parts of the year is handing over our yearly offering to Women In Need,” says salon co-founder, Leanna Renee Hieber. Women In Need is a NYC based organization that “provides housing, help and hope to New York City women and their families who are homeless and disadvantaged.”

LJS Co-founders Hope Tarr, Ron Hogan, Maya Rodale and Leanna Renee Hieber

For Lady Jane’s Salon in Raleigh/Durham deciding where to send the books was easy.  “The books we donate to the local library system because they are tremendously supportive to romance and our local romance authors,” says Marlowe. Also, LJS RDU supports Shout Against the Whisper, which raises awareness about ovarian cancer “because it is the baby/brainchild of our good friend and fellow RWA chapter mate, Heather McCollum.”

“As we celebrate the Salon’s third year–and move into our fourth–we’re proud and humbled by the repeated outpouring of love and support from within the NYC romance fiction community as well as without,” says salon co-founder Hope Tarr. “The support comes from readers, authors in all stages of publication from bestselling, debut and pre-published authors, members of Romance Writers of America’s NYC Chapter, editors and agents; and yes the media–TIME OUT NEW YORK, THE NEW YORK POST, RT BOOK Reviews Magazine, Beyond Her Book, and documentary film maker Laurie Kahn of the Emmy Award winning Blueberry Hill Productions, to name but a few. We also welcome to the proverbial stage two satellite salons in Denver, CO and Raleigh-Durham, NC and eagerly anticipate a third coming to the Chicago area very soon. We gave lots to celebrate on our upcoming third anniversary and even more salon goodness for 2012.”

Lady Jane’s Salon wouldn’t be able to give back if it were not for the generosity of the readers and writers that join us each month and providing a book, a few bucks, and a strong belief in the power of uplifting and inspiring stories to change lives for the better.

Thank you for all your support!

–The Lady Jane’s Salon crew

Same time. Same place. Same admission–$5 or a gently used romance novel to be donated to a good cause. Cash bar. Guest authors’ books available for sale and signing at the authors’ discretion. Sales are cash only. Salon ends at 9PM. Attendees welcome to stay on and socialize at the downstairs lounge and garden.

For a recap of the night, plus video, visit my author blog at HopeTarr.com.

But, as they say, there’s more…

Please join me on Monday, December 13th as I blog at Borders True Romance with host, Sue Grimshaw. The topic will be Lady Jane, of course. Yes, Jane…pardon me, Her Ladyship, will turn two on February and we on the Lady Jane Team have grand plans for the February 7th Birthday Blitz Salon. Post a comment on Monday–a simple birthday well wish will do–and be entered to win a signed copy of my winter holiday anthology, A Harlequin Christmas Carol.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with mistletoe moments,

Hope Tarr

Co-Founder, Lady Jane’s Salon

*Read the books of our Salon guest authors. Romance Novel TV  and Lady Jane’s Salon will post them every month.

*Discuss, watch videos, and chat online with the author and other readers only at romancenovel.tv.

*Visit Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC on the first Monday of every month to hear the author read from her work. Have a drink and chat with romance novelists and readers galore. If you can’t make it to the city check back here for videos and blogs.

We, the Lady Janes, are thrilled to work with super lovely Romance Novel TV  Ladies. We’re also especially excited that our own Leanna Renee Hieber is the first book club author this month! Read on about her super special spectacular salon event coming up on September 7th….

I didn’t know what to expect when I got the invite to read at Lady Jane’s Salon but the reading group’s name, its focus on romance, and the setting, the Madame X lounge in SoHo, intrigued me. I had to make the 224 mile drive from Boston to NYC and meet the Lady Janes. Last Monday night, I arrived at the Madame X lounge, the most colorful setting I ever had a reading in…Read more.

Visit www.beantowncubanito.blogspot.com for the full post and video featuring Johnny chatting about why gay men and woman enjoy the same kind of books.

Delilah Marvelle, Anna DePalo, and Johnny Diaz. That’s right–a boy!

Best of all? This month, we are waiving admission. So re-read your old romances once more and spend five bucks on a drink at the bar. Come September, we’ll be back to collecting books and bucks for Share The Love.

WHEN: Monday, August 3, 7-9 PM; monthly meet-ups to follow on the first Monday of every month.

WHERE: Madame X, 94 Houston Street (btw LaGuardia and Thompson Streets), New York, NY 10012, 212.539.0808. Nearest subways: F,V,B,D at Lafayette, N, R at Prince Street.

Last night, I moseyed on down to Madame X for the July edition of Lady Jane’s Salon.  This reading series has quickly become a must-not miss event here in New York.  It’s hard to believe that no one came up with the idea of hosting a romance reading series in New York until this year! What were we thinking? No matter, thanks to founders Hope Tarr, Ron Hogan, Leanna Renee Hieber and Maya Rodale, Lady Jane’s is here to stay. The wonderful thing about the Lady Jane’s Salon reading series is not only is it a great way to catch up with friends, and also networking, but it also gives the readers a chance to give back by donating gently used books to Share the Love.

Ron Hogan was a delightful comprere for the evening’s festivities. This month’s event was very special because Susie Felber, the daughter of the author Edith Layton who passed away recently, gave a wonderfully funny and touching speech about her mother.  I didn’t think it was possible to laugh and cry at the same time! I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a run on Edith Layton on Amazon.com today after hearing Susie’s memorial to her mother last night.

The next reader was RWA NYC‘s own Dee Davis (who was our author of the year at last year’s Golden Apple Awards).  Dee read from her book A Match Made on Madison.  If you watch Millionaire Matchmaker on Bravo, or are a big fan of Sex and the City, you will love this book.  After a brief pause so that we could refresh our drinks (I’m a big fan of the Indecent Proposal), we had two authors whose work I was unfamilliar with, but I can’t wait to read their books, Anthea Lawson and Diana Love.

Again, another fantabulous evening at Lady Jane’s.  If you are in New York the first Monday of the month, you cannot miss this event.

Visit Elizabeth at www.scandalouswoman.blogspot.com or at the next Salon on Monday, August 3rd.

Lady Jane’s Salon returns on Monday, July 6th with more splendid romance authors!

Debut historical author ANTHEA LAWSON will from her RITA nominated work Passionate

Award-winning local author DEE DAVIS will read from A Match Made On Madison

New York Times bestseller DIANA LOVE will read from Whispered Lies

SUSIE FELBER will pay tribute to her her mother, romance novelist EDITH LAYTON.

You already know the details, but here they are again for your convenience:

WHEN: Monday, July 6th, 7-9 PM

WHERE: Madame X, 94 Houston Street (btw LaGuardia and Thompson Streets), New York, NY 10012, 212.539.0808. Nearest subways: F,V,B,D at Lafayette, N, R at Prince Street.

Admission is $5.00 or one gently used romance novel.  Proceeds to benefit Share The Love a nonprofit organization that provides gently used romance novels to groups helping women in transition, such as homeless or domestic violence shelters. Why? Because everyone deserves the pleasure of a good story and a happy ending. Co-sponsors: Share The Love and Ron Hogan of Beatrice.com. Cash bar.

Oh, and some pictures, of course!

Diane Gaston

Amanda McCabe

Wendy Corsi Staub

Marjorie M Liu

1. Wendy Corsi Staub

2. Marjorie M Liu

3. Diane Gaston

4. Amanda McCabe

It gets even better:  there are five dollar drinks and signed books to be had  

The details: 

WHEN: Monday, June 1st. 7:00 – 10:00 pm. 

WHERE: Madame X, 94 Houston Street (btw LaGuardia and Thompson Streets), New York, NY 10012, 212.539.0808. Nearest subways: F,V,B,D at Lafayette, N, R at Prince Street. 

ADMISSION is $5.00 or one gently used romance novel. Cash bar. Proceeds to benefit Share The Love a nonprofit organization that provides gently used romance novels to groups helping women in transition, such as homeless or domestic violence shelters. Why? Because everyone deserves the pleasure of a good story and a happy ending.

Sponsored by Share The Love and Beatrice.com.