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Monday, January 22, 2007

Jelly Beans or Chocolate - Sandy Blair



Which will it be: Jelly Beans or Chocolate?

Prior to becoming published, I was an RN, certified diabetes educator. Part of my training included following a registered dietician on rounds. One of the questions she asked every patient prior to creating their meal plan was, “Which would you prefer: chocolate or jelly beans?” Stunned the first time I heard this; I waited until we were out in the hall to ask, “Why? You’re not planning on feeding them jelly beans are you?”

She laughed and said, “No. I just need to know if they crave sugar or fat, so I can modify their diet accordingly and they won’t feel deprived.”

Turns out the jelly bean eaters are after fast sugar highs and would grab a real Coke and cake when under stress, whereas those who preferred chocolate would gravitate toward ice cream, burgers, fries and the like.

Readers and authors could be described in similar fashion when it comes to their taste in books. The jelly bean gang prefers fast paced plots with lots of dialogue. They often gravitate toward contemporaries and really don’t care what color the sofa is or what the wallpaper looks like. They just want to be entertained or kept in suspense until they discover if the guy gets the girl.

The chocoholics—like yours truly--prefer books with more detail. We gravitate toward historicals and sagas and do want to know what the castles’ interiors look like and how they made mead. And while you’re at it, why not tell us how they constructed and cleaned those garderobes. (Well, maybe not that much detail, but you get the idea.)


That’s not to say historicals can’t be fast paced. They are if the author knows what she’s doing. (Julie Garwood, Diane Perkins and Lorraine Heath immediately come to mind.) The best historical authors provide the richness we historical junkies crave while providing us with a thrill a page that keeps us up all night.

So, I’ll admit it. I’m a Heresy’s Kiss kind of gal. Which are you?

Sandy

To win an expense paid trip to the 2007 Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Houston, TX go to http://www.sandyblair.net/

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Great anology, Sandy. Should I mix my jelly beans and chocolate together if I like both historicals and contemps? LOL!

Sandy M

Jennifer Y. said...

That is a cool analogy. Must say that I prefer a little bit of both jelly beans and chocolate when it comes to sweets and books. However, if forced to choose I'd go with jelly beans when it comes to food. However, the opposite is true of books...I'd go with chocolate. For almost nine years, I was a strictly chocolate reader...then I discovered jelly bean reads and began mixing them into my reading. Every now and then though I crave and become addicted to those jelly bean reads and live on them for days. :o)

Diane Gaston said...

Please just don't anybody go on a diet!!!!!

Sandy I'm flabbergasted to be mentioned in the same breath as Julie Garwood and Loraine Heath! Be still my heart!

What do we do if we like chocolate jelly beans??

Cheers!
Diane

Diane's Regency Innocence & Impropriety by Diane Gaston is available at Eharlequin.com in Feb, and at bookstores in March 2007

Jennifer Y. said...

Diane: Don't worry...don't think I'll be going on a book diet anytime soon...probably never! I can't imagine not having my books or even cutting back.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Geesh...I adore Cherry and Orange jelly beans, and you KNOW how much I love chocolate! Guess that explains my eccentric taste in books, too. If you love caramel does that mean you're into paranormals, too? oooooooo I think we could do a whole books/sweets survey.

Suz

Sandy Blair said...

LOL at some of these comments. Yes, by all means mix and eat away and read away Sandy and Jennifer.

Suzy, a whole books/sweets survey? Great idea!! Black jelly beans could = fun, fast paced, a la Sherrilyn Kenyon tales. Ya?

And Diane, I love your work and don't mind letting the world know it.

Unknown said...

Hi,

Neat anology, although I dont completely agreed with all of it. I am a complete chocolate type of gel and weirdly dont like jelly beans at all. When I am under stress, I sometimes eat (salty/sweets) or dont eat at all.

As to the books I read, I like variety. Any type of romance books whether they are historical/paranormal/contemporary, whether they have lots of humor, details, actions, etc.

=) Liz

Sandy Blair said...

Liz,
So long as it's Romance--be it contemporary or historical, be it jelly beans or chocolate, full time or part-time--and not depressing Oprah book, you know you're on the right track. Wishing you nmany Happily-Ever-After-endings,
Sandy

Unknown said...

Hey Sandy,

Thats true, and thanks for the wishes. I am with you on that one, as long as the ending is happy, I am not very picky what kind of romance book it is.

Hm...Although I do wonder if there is any correlation between what sweets we crave and the type of book we prefer to read. Or if there is more a correlation between our mood and the type of books we read?

=) Liz

Unknown said...

Hey Sandy,

Thats true, and thanks for the wishes. I am with you on that one, as long as the ending is happy, I am not very picky what kind of romance book it is.

Hm...Although I do wonder if there is any correlation between what sweets we crave and the type of book we prefer to read. Or if there is more a correlation between our mood and the type of books we read?

=) Liz

Jennifer Y. said...

I am definitely a mood reader Liz...I would be curious about how many others are as well.

Unknown said...

Hm...it would be a neat survey...and then we would also have to wonder if the books we buy also have to do with our mood or do most of us stick to a list of books we want to read and then cross off it the list when we buy it.

I think this results would probably be very interesting to publishers...which mean there someone must have conducted a research/survey before?

Liz

Jennifer Y. said...

I agree Liz...it probably has been conducted at some point...if not, then it should...I would be interested in the results...it's always nice to know you aren't alone in your reading habits. Of course, I am interested in anything book-related and like sharing about books with others.