Hi, all!
Sorry to be AWOL these past few days while the flowery ideas have been flowing (or, more aptly, blooming– it’s hard to imagine a flower in flow). Thank you all so much for the fantastical garden of title ideas. The term “embarrassment of riches” couldn’t be more apt. There are still some behind the scenes debates going on as the judges confer, but a title announcement should be forthcoming fairly soon.
In the meantime, the reason for the radio silence is that I’ve been in New Orleans for the past few days, sans email, attending the conference of the Popular Culture Association, where a stalwart band of scholarly souls are laying the groundwork for the academic study of popular romance. It was pretty amazing. For those who are interested in knowing more about the conference and the newly minted International Association for the Study of Popular Romance, you can find the details on Teach Me Tonight, which links to a growing web of sources for the study of romance fiction.
Every new movement, however, needs a slogan. Over a final dinner on Bourbon Street, we wracked our brains for a catchy phrase for next year’s t-shirts. “Stop laughing, I’m being scholarly!” was a front-runner, as was the simple and pithy, “Got Romance?” and “Romance: Ravishing Prose”.
So, just for fun (and to fill in the time while waiting for final title decisions), if you had to come up with a slogan for the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance, what would it be?
p.s. I must belatedly give credit where credit is due. “Stop laughing, I’m being scholarly!” comes to us courtesy of Crystal Jordan, who uttered that very phrase during her (let there be no mistake) extremely scholarly presentation. As far as “best lines of the conference” went, it was right up there with “vampires are the new unicorns”, “I’m too sparkly for my spandex” (you kind of had to be there for that one), and a reference to Dracula’s band of back-up girls as “lair kittens”. Ah, those lair kittens, the supernatural substitute for the Bond girl. You can just picture them lounging in the lair with their Cosmo for the Undead Girl, polishing their fangs Passion Pink.
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IASPR (front initals)… (back) Aspire to Romance
Man in roMance - (for guys) LOL kidding
Popular Romance on the front… Do you Read it?… on the back
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
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I however, do not like those as much as “Stop Laughing, I am being Scholarly” Its just too great
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 13th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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Bodice Rippers Bared? J/K
How about:
Passion in Prose
Romance Uncovered
Between the Covers: a Close Look at Romance in Prose
Want Romance?…Ask the Experts.
Romance Gone Global.
None of these are great, but it beats working at the moment! 
by Jennifer Dahle
on April 13th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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Rip my Bodice and call me a Scholar LOL
ok no.. how about
Scholar.. Romance a Practical Application LOL
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 13th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
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Maybe-
Bodice Ripper Bachelorette?
or
Scholar of Art of Written Seduction?
by Katie
on April 13th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
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I meant-
Scholar of THE Art of Written Seduction
der!
by Katie
on April 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
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A Scholar of the Purple Prose
by Katie
on April 13th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
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Hmmm… I really love “Stop laughing, I’m being scholarly!†but for a few other options… (I’m thinking the full name on the back of these)
Sholars Do It Better
Poetry in Motion
Being Kinky is a Skill
Not now honey… I’m writing a love scene
Seduction is Scholarly
Napoleon was Hot (LOL, couldn’t resist)
Knee Breeches are Sexy
Your Wrist Makes Me Hot
Ok, seriously, this is too much fun, so I’ll stop. 
LOL
by Tammy
on April 13th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
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“The Writers of the Purple Prose” with Zane Grey like artwork
by Katie
on April 13th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
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Really Lauren,
You need more of these things. Apparently your readers have a wealth of creativity. These make up names things get the most entries the quickest
Study of the Bed Books LOL jk
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 13th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
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I vote for tammy’s Knee breeches are Sexy!!!
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 13th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
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The Cult of the Clinch Cover
by Katie
on April 13th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
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ooh…I like the “Stop Laughing!” one, but Bodice Rippers Anonymous or something is good too…or Knee Breeches…I don’t know!
LOL - Rip My Bodice and Call Me a Scholar - BRILLIANT!
by Gina
on April 13th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
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LOL, I LOVE Rip My Bodice and Call Me a Scholar!! ROFL!
by Tammy
on April 13th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
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LOL! o no, i just giggled in class when i read that! i’m totally gonna get busted! i’ll have to think about it. i’m concentrating on not giggling.
~lAUra
by Laura
on April 13th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
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*takes a bow* thank you.. thank you.. i will be here all umm.. well for a bit..
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 13th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
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You Just Love Us for Our Brains
Jane Austen, Eat Your Heart Out
or
Austen’s Angels (since she’s kind of looked upon as the mother of romance novels)
Beneath This Heaving Bosom Beats the Heart of a Scholar
that’s the best i can do right now. lol.
~lAUra
by Laura
on April 13th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
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These are fabulous! Better by far than our bourbon induced endeavors of Saturday. Laura, I LOVE “Beneath This Heaving Bosom Beats the Heart of a Scholar”. And “Rip My Bodice and Call Me a Scholar”– hee hee.
by Lauren
on April 13th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
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History can be sexy… (front)
Trust us we know
IASPR (back)
that’s all i can come up with
love the stop lauging and bodice rippers anonymus
by kiley
on April 13th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
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I’m also going with Rip My Bodice and Call Me a Scholar, totally awesome! I can’t think of anything better than that…
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lol some of these are hilarious. i like the Rip my bodice and call me a scholar and the knee breeches are sexy. lol
how about:
Real Men wear Knee Breeches
or
What lies Beneath the Bodice
by Julie
on April 13th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
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What about
I’m a Scholar of Fabio’s beautiful body
Making Women’s Dreams Come True Since 1813…IASRP
1813 is the year that Jane Austen Wrote Sense and Sensibility. Since she is the mother of love i thought it appropriate to use her first publication as the starting point. well i think that was her first ha please correct me if Im wrong
by Brianna
on April 13th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
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OMG…my sides hurt from laughing so hard…
Rip my Bodice and call me a Scholar is freaking hilarious!!! i like that one…
by Courtney P.
on April 13th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
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yay! thanks Lauren! you’re AMAZING btw.
~lAUra
by Laura
on April 14th, 2009 at 1:07 am
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These are so funny - what a great way to start a rainy day! Thanks everyone. I especially love Rip my Bodice and Call me a Scholar and Stop Laughing, I’m Being Scholarly! You guys are too much!
by Laura
on April 14th, 2009 at 9:00 am
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I like “Stop Laughing, I’m being Scholarly.” Maybe put a little romance in it with “Stop Laughing Darling, I’m Being Scholarly”
by Rosie O.
on April 14th, 2009 at 9:00 am
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Front: The In-depth Study of The Bodice Ripper
Back: Scholarly Pursuits in the Realm of Mental Popcorn-IASPR
by Debra Callaway
on April 14th, 2009 at 9:48 am
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Society for the Tightening of Knee Breeches and Ravishing Rakes?
by Kimmie
on April 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
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Society for the Tightening of Knee Breeches and Dashing Rogues?
by Kimmie
on April 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
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How about Society for the Damsels in Distress and Flowery Spies?
by Kimmie
on April 14th, 2009 at 10:32 am
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Ok, here are some new ones I thought of last night (as I re-read my favorite parts of Emerald Ring)
Our ‘member’ship is growing!
I went to school for this!
Caravets…Mmmm…
Meet Me In an Alcove
The Lords and Ladies of Love
Compromise Me!
I’m sure I’ll think of more.
by Tammy
on April 14th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
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My vote goes to Rip My Bodice and Call Me a Scholar. That was brilliant!
by Georgie Becker
on April 14th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
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I agree. The Rip My Bodice and Call Me a Scholar is too funny.
by Jennifer Dahle
on April 14th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
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Absolutely love Laura’s Beneath this Heaving Bosom…. Brilliant!
Thanks for all the laughs!
by Megan
on April 14th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
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How about Busting Bosom Broads? Or Rakes, Ravishers and Rogues Anonymous?
But seriously…
“Rip my Bodice and Call Me a Scholar” for the win! Haha this seriously made me laugh!
by Rachel M.
on April 14th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
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He Loves Me, He Love Me Not Is Not For Dummies
Master of the Arts: Eye Batting and Fan Swatting
Nonsensical and Scholastical
Ruined by Romance
by AngelB
on April 14th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
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Historical romance:
Learning to Undress in Any Century!!
Scholars of Chivalry!/Scholars of Slease
History lovers are Us!
And the final tagline:
Because learning about love is the important, useful, and relevant.
by am7
on April 15th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
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No one tells me people are doing these things! OMG, these are so great! I’ll totally let you all know when I set up the Cafe Press store of IASPR.
And can I just say, Stephanie, that we’ve struggled with how to pronounce IASPR, and I just love “aspire.” Totally using that!
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No problem.. glad my creativity can be put to use.. lol
by Stephanie Stoddard
on April 17th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
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thanks megan!
~lAUra
by Laura
on April 19th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
