Click here to view the embedded video.

Join us next month on Monday, March 7th, 7-9 PM,chez Madame X with returning guest authors, Cara Elliott and C.H. Admirand, and guest emcee, award winning blogger and debut historical nonfiction author, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon.

Admission is $5 or one gently-used paperback romance novel. Net proceeds support an end-of-year donation to a NYC women’s charity.

Getting to read at Lady Jane’s Salon is like being voted onto Author Island.  You get to join a select group of writers offering samples of their work, enjoy a good drink, and revel in the . . . er . . . eclectic décor.  No one even blinks at words like “swiving” or “whist” or “scoundrel” at Lady Jane’s.  And when you’re done, you get to meet readers who love books and who can’t wait to tell you about it.

Returning guest author, Sabrina Jeffries. October 4, 2010.

What fun!

This time was especially fun for me, since it was my first time to read at Lady Jane’s home venue, the Soho establishment known as Madame X, where the liquor flows and the red lamps glow.  It’s a completely different experience from reading at one of its rare out-of-town stops, like the 2010 RT Booklovers conference—so much more . .. New York.  Most of the attendees are New Yorkers, and that also ramps up the vibe.

Better yet, lots of industry professionals show up.  I was delighted to have Bette-Lee Fox of Library Journal and Rose Fox of Publishers Weekly attend, and how fun to have Barbara Vey of PW do some of the emceeing!  Even Daisy Maryles, formerly of PW, came out to join us.  My agent Pamela Ahearn was there with an author friend of ours, Laura Joh Rowland, and I’m told there were other agents and editors, including a coach full just of Dorchester editors!  It was lovely to see so many supporters of romance from the industry side!

Then there were the authors, both those who read, and those who came to listen.  Leanna Renee Hieber was entertaining as always, reading from her upcoming novella, “A Christmas Carroll”—from the holiday anthology, A Midwinter Fantasy.  Donna Hill, author of more than 50 novels; three of which have been adapted for TV—had us all swooning at her sexy hero. And Janet Mullany’s description of Jane Austen learning how to “dine” (so much more polite than “feeding,” don’t you know) from her Austen vampire mashup, Jane and the Damned, cemented her reputation as the author who “writes funny romantic historicals.”  (Her reading was hilarious . . . and borderline proper-sounding thanks to Janet’s British accent!)

My favorite part as always, however, was chatting with readers.  I was so surprised to find that an internet friend, Michelle Catucci, from my own blog hangout, The Goddess Blogs, had shown up to hear me read, as had that wonderful champion of romances, bookseller Stacey Agdern of Posman Books.  In the rain.  After a hard day’s work.  What dolls!

Sabrina Jeffries reads to a rapt Lady Jane's audience. 10-4-10

All in all, it was a lovely night, a fun time, and a great tribute to how wonderful romance readers, writers, and professionals are.  Thanks to the mighty foursome of Hieber, Ron Hogan, Hope Tarr, and Maya Rodale, who founded and now gracefully steer the monthly romance reading series.  I can’t wait until my next trip to New York  . . .  and Lady Jane’s—save a place for me on the red velvet couch!

I’ve been attending Lady Jane’s Salon pretty regularly since it’s inception, and so when it became my turn to read, I was both excited and nervous. Excited because I’d come to enjoy both the spirit of camaraderie that the salon offers to the people who come, and the wonderful variety of readers that contribute to the salon’s atmosphere. Nervous, because I wanted to let neither the attendees, nor the other readers nor the founders down.  If I was going to fall, I was going to fall big.

So on December 6^th, it was my turn. Regulars, friends and even my parents were in attendance. After Ron Hogan’s fabulous introduction, it was my turn to climb the famous stairs to the platform at Madame X’s. I made it up without falling, and managed to both sit on the stool and adjust the microphone without causing damage. Then it was time for me to speak.

I happen to be a Jekyll and Hyde for public speaking; I’m not quite sure why that is.  I’m either ‘on’ or …not. I either nail it, or stutter through, and I can never tell which one is going to happen before I open my mouth for the first time. That night, I was on. The audience laughed at the right points, the words came flowing out of my mouth, all contributing to a general feeling of perfect synergy. I even sang the passages I’d chosen to sing well enough that the song was recognizable. It was a victory in the truest sense of the term.

Once I’d finished, it felt almost like any other Lady Jane’s night; there were two other readers to go. Brenda Chin spoke next, and gave us all a summary of Harlequin’s 60^th anniversary year and the amazing changes that Harlequin was instituting starting in January. I also got to hear Hope Tarr, a friend and one of the founders, read from her brand new Scottish Historical, Twelve Nights.

But it also seemed slightly miraculous. That night we also heard about Harlequin’s amazing contribution to ‘Share the Love,’ and I was able to share it all with my friends and family. Thank you all so much for allowing me to be a part of this wonderful community, and I will definitely be attending on January 4th.

*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.

The authors of Operation L.O.V.E.: Tara Nina, Anne Elizabeth, C.H. Admirand.

RT Rob sings us a song

Our next salon is Monday June 1st. Details coming soon!