Thursday, August 4, 2011
Captain Jack Sparrow Interviews the Fabulous Caroline Linden!
Welcome to another fabulous interview with the Fabulous Captain Jack Sparrow! Today’s guest is a RITA-nominated, award-winning author for Avon Romance. Her adventure-packed historicals had Julia Quinn raving that she “touches every emotion.”On a personal note, she’s the very best mentor this aspiring romance writer could have ever asked for.
Without further adieu, I give you the incomparable Caroline Linden and Captain Jack!
*
*Fade to the Revenge, anchored on the Charles River in Boston. Captain Jack and a lovely brunette sit on the deck. Captain Jack eyes her refreshments and her Red Sox baseball cap skeptically.*
CJS: You say this is what baseball fans favor, eh? Seems sadly lacking in the rum department….
Caroline: Jack, darling, Boston had one of the first rum distilleries in North America. We LOVE rum in Massachusetts. I believe a good quantity of it was recently sipped from Lord Stanley's Cup here in Boston. You should have ventured north instead of lolling about the Caribbean all the time. As for the lack today…Marnee told me you were abandoning piracy for a life of virtue, and had given up all spirits. Something about repenting, and maybe paying the wenches back for the hotel room you and your crew trashed in Barbados.
Marnee: *scurries on stage, smiling apologetically to Caroline.* I’m so sorry, he can be unruly. *Hands Jack his note cards.* Jack. Please. You know the drill. Just read from the cards.
CJS: *pouts like a five year old* Marnee, darling, you said you wouldn’t mention Barbados to our guests. And I may have been a bit hasty about the whole giving-up-spirits thing….
Marnee: You? Hasty? Never. Now please remember what I told you. *Raises her eyebrows meaningfully.*
CJS: Yes yes, love, I remember what you said.
Marnee: *in her best "Mom" voice* What did I say, Jack?
CJS: She doesn’t write pirates, I remember. Honestly, I don’t know why you ladies can’t manage to find more pirate writers.
Marnee: *Pats his arm sympathetically.* I know, I know. We’re your cross to bear. *Rolls eyes at Caroline.*
CJS: And I’ve told you all that I’m quite capable of doing these interviews on my own. *Takes Caroline’s hand, kisses it sensually.* What do you think, lovely? We’d be fine on our own, don’t you think?
Caroline: Forget what I said about coming north. Will you take me to Tortuga with you?
Marnee: *elbows him* Be nice. Remember: the cards. *Scurries away*
CJS: Oh fine. *relinquishes Caroline’s hand, directs gaze to cards.* Let’s see what’s on the agenda today. It says here that you write romance novels set during the Regency. Why do you like that time period, exactly? Your stories have a bit of suspense and adventure, correct? I’d imagine you’d like a time period that offered more, I don’t know, pirates.
Marnee: *from off-stage* JACK!
CJS: Fine that last part was me. But why exactly do you like the Regency?
Caroline: Because the Regency does have pirates. And highwaymen, and spies, and all sorts of deliciously wicked scoundrels. You'd be right at home there. Well--I suppose you'd have to dress a bit more soberly to fit in.
CJS: Sober? I think not, my dear. But your most recent release--the ebook, I LOVE THE EARL--is set during the Georgian period, correct? *Glances at cards* It says here that it is a prequel to your upcoming series. Why a prequel and how was writing a Georgian set story?
Caroline: It made me think of you, of course.
CJS: *calls off stage to the girls* Finally, someone who thinks of me!
*Collective groaning from the wenches*
Caroline: *continues with a sassy smile* And it had to be a prequel because it was coming out first, before all the books set in the Regency. And it takes place earlier than the books (forty years earlier, to be exact) so they called it a prequel. Rather like if you ever cared to share the tale of how you took to pillaging the high seas in the first place. What sent you into piracy, I wonder? Your incorrigible nature? Too much rum? Or was it a woman…?
Anyway. As you know--firsthand--the Georgian era was a lush and exciting time. I liked it so much I might try another. Perhaps even with a pirate.
CJS: A pirate, eh? You do say the sweetest things.
*The sound of Marnee’s hand hitting her forehead.
Marnee: Good grief.
CJS: She brought up the pirates, love, not me. I've told you girls, you can never have enough pirates. No one listens to me around here. *Looks at cards again, peevishly* It says here that I LOVE THE EARL's heroine, Margaret de Lacey, refuses to allow a fortune hunter to win her affections. You know, some of us who seek fortunes aren’t so bad. Perhaps she’s being a bit hasty in this regard?
Caroline: Naturally, but it is a lady's right to change her mind. After your adventures with Elizabeth Swann, you should know this better than anyone. Margaret's trouble is that the fortune hunters chasing her have no finer qualities to redeem them. At heart she is a sensible woman, and she knows if a man only marries her for her money, he won't care much for her once he's spent the cash. She wants a man who would still care for her even if she had no money.
CJS: So, the lovely Margaret wants to marry for love. A noble pursuit, I suppose. I’d imagine it would take a fine chap to convince her that he loves her and not her money. Tell me a little about this lad, Rhys Corwen.
Caroline: Well, he's broke. Terribly, horribly, completely broke. His friend convinces him there might be a decent heiress to marry--perhaps this very Margaret de Lacey--so Rhys goes out to take a look, not really expecting much. And indeed, when he meets Margaret for the first time, she tells him off, informing him she won't marry him, she's not interested in dancing with him, and he can just take himself off right away because he has no chance with her. This only makes Rhys terribly, terribly interested in her. What sort of woman tells an earl he has no chance? And she's also a lot more attractive than he was led to believe. Rhys has to see her again, just to see if she's for real. And when he realizes she is just as advertised, he sets course to win her heart and mind. Men are persistent when they want something, don't you agree?
CJS: The good ones are, my dear. Persistent and diligent, particularly when it matters. *rakish grin.* This story sounds delicious. And it sets up the next group of books. I’ve heard your upcoming series revolves around a secret? *Waggles eyebrows* Now this sounds interesting. What sort of secret?
Caroline: A secret marriage! A clandestine, rash, possibly illegal, youthful-mistake-that-can't-be-undone-no-matter-how-bitterly-regretted, marriage. And the duke's sons don't find out about it until their father dies, leaving them to sort out whether that marriage was legal and valid, and what happened to the first wife, and what it means for them. Because if their father was legally married when he married their mother, he was a bigamist--and his sons are illegitimate, and can't inherit his properties and money. So the three sons each take their own tactic in unravelling the knot: the middle son decides to lawyer up, the youngest son goes off to find and kill the blackmailing villain who stirred up old secrets, and the eldest son…wait, I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I?
CJS: Happens to me all the time. But this sounds intriguing. I can't wait to here more. Thank you so much for being here with us today. Is there anything you’d like to ask the wenches?
Caroline: Why did you tell me no rum, Marnee? Was I not sympathetic enough when your air conditioner died? Thank you for sending Jack, at least!
*
Of course you were sympathetic! And please don’t remind me of those dark days with no air conditioning. I don't sweat happily.
But I told you not to bring your own rum because we’ve got our own fully-stocked bar here on the ship! Our trusty bartender, Chance, will fire something up when she rouses herself from her hammock, over there on the left coast. Until then, please make yourself comfortable and we’ll send one of our hottie crewmembers over with some food. There's one in a baseball uniform around here somewhere, isn't there?
Caroline is going to stop in when she can today, so I thought we could talk about our favorite secrets in romance novels? Secret babies, anyone? A secret treasure? Caroline will give away a copy of her latest release YOU ONLY LOVE ONCE to one lucky commenter so make sure you say hello!
*
A single lady in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a suitor.
Margaret de Lacey has accepted her unmarried state with dignity, if not delight. She had no suitors when she was young and starry-eyed, though regrettably poor, and it’s unlikely any man will court her now that she’s older, wiser, and still just as penniless. Until, that is, her brother unexpectedly inherits the dukedom of Durham and settles an enormous dowry on her, making her the most eligible heiress in town.
No gentleman in London is more in need of a wealthy bride than Rhys Corwen, Earl of Dowling. He contrives an introduction to Margaret because of her dowry, but she swiftly sets him right: no fortune hunter will win her heart or her hand. Far from put off, Rhys is intrigued. Interested. Entranced. And soon the only thing he needs more than Margaret’s fortune . . . is her love.
And again, go here for links to buy the book!
*
Caroline Linden knew from an early age she was a reader, but not a writer. Despite an addiction to Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, she studied physics and dreamed of being an astronaut. She earned a math degree from Harvard College and then wrote software for a financial services firm, all the while reading everything in sight, but especially romance. Only after she had children, and found herself with only picture books to read, did she begin to make up a story of her own. To her immense surprise, it turned out to be an entire novel—and it was much more fun than writing computer code. She lives with her family in New England.
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59 comments:
Jack - I write enough pirates fer everyone! Why won't ya listen ta me!
Caroline, I gots the best rum around. It be Kraken Rum!
(This break brought to you by my continueing campaign to attract the sponsorship of Kraken Rum for my next book tour. First book tour. Any book tour.)
Now, favorite secret in a novel... Well, I be partial to secret... PIRATES!
Hahahahahahahahaha!
Gods, I needs ta go ta bed... See ya in the mornin' ducks!
Jack, give me back the key ta the cellars... And no, I don't know how we manage cellars on a ship, I just be thankful fer them...
Hi Caroline
I think that I first discovered your writing on the Eloisa James 'Author of the Month' spot.
As a physicist I was delighted to find another mathematician/physicist who was interested in romance novels and actually wrote them!
I have long been convinced that a scientific training is the perfect background for a writer of romance. The fascination with beauty in nature. The elegance of the equations governing the behaviour of the world. The excitement of new discoveries. The creativity in constructing hypotheses to explain phenomena. All of these features map across onto a well written romance....or should *grin*
I read 'What a woman needs' and my expectations were satisfied in full measure. 8)
May I ask whether you feel that the years spent studying math/science have helped with your writing?
During coffee breaks do you ever dream of Einstein, Dirac and Heisenberg?
Physicists are certainly among the most romantic of humanity. I have only to remember undergraduate years and the passion found in the photographic dark room. Humm, perhaps I should draw a veil over that!
Do scientists feature in any of your novels?
Are you planning to feature a Regency woman scientist making her way in a man's world?
I do hope the answer is YES!
Lovely to meet you again :D
http://www.amazon.com/View-Kiss-ebook/dp/B001NLL87Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1312540800&sr=8-2
Yep! Here's the link to A View to a Kiss.
Chance - If Kraken Rum doesn't work out for you, the fellow on the Captain Morgan bottle is quite dashing. :)
Caroline - Q is our resident physicist, a dapper British lad who is kind enough to give us the scientific perspective to the general right-brainness that goes on around here.
Q - I loved the other two Reece books too, especially Celia's (A Rake's Guide to Seduction). And if you haven't tried Caroline's spies, I think the Kindle version of A View to a Kiss is still on sale for $0.99 at amazon. Its hero, Harry, is swoonable.
PS. Yes, I'm up early. My youngest decided that sleep was overrated today. He did wait until after 6AM, so I can't complain too much. (Ok, I can, but I'll refrain.)
Welcome, Caroline -- a fellow Massachusetts person! I have to dash off to work, so I can't sit and have rum with you, but your books do sound intriguing. :) I write Regencies (among other things), and also love to read the Georgian era, so this sounds right up my alley.
Donna - I never used to read Georgians, but I'm coming around on them. I've loved Elizabeth Hoyt's books and I loved this novella. So perhaps there's hope for me. :)
Sign me up for the Kraken Rum and Romance tour. I'll write a whole series about pirates to get into that...
Thank you so much for having me today! So lovely to meet other readers and writers (incl some fellow Bay Staters).
Q: I remember you! Yes, I do still think math and science helps plot a book, any book, but particularly those with any sort of suspense or mystery (which I LOVE). Puzzles must have logical solutions. Marnee can attest--perhaps with some woe--to my penchant for asking, does this make sense? does it follow logically (or at least reasonably) from the previous step?
However, the only mathematician I dream of is the one I married. :-)
I can attest to Caroline's questioning mind. Thank goodness for it. I'm certainly Right Brained. All her, "Does this make sense"-ing has helped me enormously. :)
However, the only mathematician I dream of is the one I married.
Awh....
:)
Hi Caroline! Welcome aboard the ship! You handled Jack very adeptly--and I don't blame you for being a little stressed out by being banned to bring rum. You can never have too much rum. I'm a huge fan of Massachusetts. Boston was my favorite vacation--I loved touring the Revolutionary War things; and I also got to see some of Concord as well. (Walden Pond was cool.)
I am a fan of the Georgian era--mostly due to Elizabeth Hoyt and Eloisa James--so your story sounds right up my alley. And I've been a fan of the Regency period since I started reading romances 20+ years ago.
Favorite secrets in novels. Oh, it would be Guardian Angel by Julie Garwood. When the hero finds out the heroine is the PIRATE he's been looking for. *LOL* Hilarious. And I love the secret in The Raider by Jude Deveraux--that fat, drunk Alex Montgomery is actually the slim and dashing Raider! Come to think of it, I think Julie Garwood implements secrets quite a bit in her books and they're always really good. *LOL*
I'm not so much into secret babies, though not completely against them either if they're done right; but I am into secret identities. There was a Kasey Michaels book I adored when I was younger--The Secrets of the Heart. The hero was like a Scarlet Pimpernel. I love that trope. *LOL* I love SECRET IDENTITIES. :) The man you love isn't the man you love.
Welcome Caroline!
I love secrets in my romances but my favorite is the secretly in love with your best friend or brother's best friend secret. That whole hiding your intrest, keeping your emotions secret is one of my favorite storylines.
Can't wait to read this one!
Oh, I loved Scarlet Pimpernel. And I love stories like that. Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux are two of my classic favorite writers too. I loved Guardian Angel and I loved Raider.
Scape - Oooooh!! Secretly in love with a friend stories are the best. I need to think of a way to write one of those in the future....
Hi Caroline!
I've only recently discovered your books and still have some of your backlist books left to read but I'm thrilled there is a new series already waiting for me. :)
I do like secrets in my romance novels but only up to a certain point. When they are kept too long and it reaches the point of wtf, I don't care much for the book any longer.
I've been a fan of Georgian romances since I first read Heyer's These Old Shades eons ago. I Love the Earl sounds wonderful. I have a weakness for practical heroines who puncture plans (and for alliteration).
Secrets in romance? Hmmm . . . The first ones that come to mind are Jo Beverley's trio of secrets--A Lady's Secret (best secret baby ever), The Secret Wedding (one-of-a-kind secret marriage), and The Secret Duke (see title--not my favorite Jo Bev book).
Janga - I need to read Jo Beverley, I think. She's a lady I've missed in all my reading....
I also love practical heroines, particularly when they're older heroines in historicals. A lot of young heroines in historicals can be a little silly.
Wonderful interview, Marn, Jack, and our lovely guest, Ms. Linden. Add me to the list of lovers of both Georgian and Regency Romances. And speaking of secrets, Eloisa James pulled off an interesting one, of sorts, in The Taming of the Duke. The heroine is having an illicit flirtation with the hero, but doesn't know he's her hero. Not at first anyway.
I do like secrets, but I'm not as good at writing them. A major reason I should never attempt a mystery! Your books sound wonderful. Marn has been raving about how good they are and how good you've been for her. Thank you for giving so much of your time and talents to writers still trying to break through.
I'm not sure I write good secrets either, Bo'sun. I know that it's hard even in the suspense part of my WIP to not just burst in with "The villian is X!" like I've got Tourettes or something. I'm so not mysterious in real life, it's hard to keep things a secret.
I know that it’s hard even in the suspense part of my WIP to not just burst in with “The villian is X!” like I’ve got Tourettes or something.
ROTFLMAO
I have this same problem.
See, I've finally managed to put a few secrets in the current WIP, but after dropping the hint that lets the reader know there's a secret, I forget to come back and mention them again. LOL! It's such a great secret, the muse even keeps it from me!
Secrets are so useful to authors...not as pleasant in real life, but in a book, where you can ensure everything comes out right, they are awesome. I LOVE the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Marnee has tons of talent! I can't wait to read more of her WIP, just so I can brag I read it first when she sells it. And just to be clear: i don't think every plot wrinkle needs to be a model of logic. Random chance plays a big part in life. You just need to sprinkle them judiciously into your plot.
hellion, would you believe I've lived here over a decade and never seen Walden Pond? Shameful...
I'm such an open book in RL, trying to be all secretive on paper is a real stretch. Sort of like when you've seen a movie already and watch it with someone who hasn't? The whole time I sit there and I want to be like, "OMG, just wait until X happens!" Like a jerk. LOL!
I am bad about going, "You need to pay attention to this part." "Oh, this is where it gets good."
The only reason I can keep a secret in real life is because I forget it as soon as I blink.
Don't worry, Caroline. I went on a Caribbean cruise once, and one of our table mates from London was so excited to hear that I was from Missouri. "So you've been to Branson!" they asked excitedly. I do mean excitedly. No British reserve with this question. I confessed I hadn't been to Branson since I was a small child.
"But you live in MISSOURI! It's BRANSON!" In the sort of scandalized tones I would have used if I'd realized they'd never been to the Tower of London. "You must see ANDY WILLIAMS!"
I had to explain that Branson was like 4-6 hours from where I lived, and well, there were other places in Missouri--or anywhere else--I'd rather visit more regularly. They were quite disappointed with me.
And when I went to Boston, it wasn't even my idea to see Waldon Pond. I'm still scarred from that part of my English class in high school. Ugh. I thought he was soooo boring. *LOL* Or long winded and proper--writers in those days wrote much more artistically, properly, and vocabularaly than we do now. My friend Pam (who I graduated from high school with but was an English major and whom I thought didn't care for our English classes in high school anymore than I did) wanted to go. She was all apologetic about it. "Do you MIND if we go?" Of course I didn't mind, but I still thought it was surprising.
The whole time I sit there and I want to be like, “OMG, just wait until X happens!” Like a jerk. LOL!
I am bad about going, “You need to pay attention to this part.” “Oh, this is where it gets good.”
I do BOTH of these things. And mind you, I *HATE* when people do this to me when we're watching stuff. When I was watching Kate and Wills get married, my friend who had seen it a few hours ago kept saying, "This part is AWESOME!" over and over until I nearly stabbed her.
Walden Pond is loverlee...sigh. And the USS Constitution, which I saw everyday I was there since the DH is a ship nut, is inspirational!
Ah, Boston. Hope to get back there again in the next few years...
Marn, I know the artist who created that dashing fellow on the Cp. Morgan rum bottle! But fer me purposes, I need that handsome kraken as me sponsor...but thanks fer the thought!
As fer secrets... I've had some sleep now. I like the secrets the H/H keep from themselves. I am not running away from happiness! That sort. Though usually much darker...
Boy, you can tell it's a Friday around here. LOL! It's like the whole world stops on a Friday afternoon.
Sorry, I got dragged away by RL again. Ugh, where is these kids' nanny?
No nanny you say? Hmmm.... That explains so much.
Anyway, thank you Caroline for your sweet compliment. Though I'd save the praise until after you read this next phase. Let's just say my sagging middle is sagging. Like a 100 year old woman's... handbag.
As to random chance... so you're saying not everything can just blow where the wind takes me? Huh.... *off to edit some more.*
Bo'sun - I forget stuff like that too. Or I allude to some past scar of one of my characters and then I forget to work it in later. I think to myself, "it'd be so cool if..." and I add it in, cackling like a lunatic genius. But when I read later I realize I'm just a lunatic and not a genius at all.
I've seen pics of Walden and I've wanted to get there but last time I was up north we didn't manage it. Unlike Hellie, I loved Thoreau. *Ducks and runs*
When I was watching Kate and Wills get married, my friend who had seen it a few hours ago kept saying, “This part is AWESOME!” over and over until I nearly stabbed her.
I totally do this stuff. I'd completely be stabbed in your house. WHat's sad is that I know I do this stuff and I know I deserve everyone's ire but I can't seem to control myself. I told you, it's like some mental disorder.
Chance, you know the guy who thought up the Cap'n Morgan guy? I'm thoroughly impressed.
Oh and I forgot to tell you, my son is obsessed with that Jake and the Neverland Pirates show on Disney and every time they sing, I think of you. Pirate rock indeed. Very catchy. LOL!!
Ter - I know. Curse summer Fridays. The whole world slows down.
Well, maybe not the whole world but definitely the traffic headed to the Jersey Shore here. I need to hit the grocery store but I am loathe to run out right now. I'll end up being nasty to some PA driver who doesn't know where they're going....
Is okay, Marn. I'm a big fan of Thoreau, Emerson and Whitman. We can face the Cap'n united!
Yeah, Don Maitz is a sweet guy! Lives in the bay area and I see him at the local scifi/fantasy cons. Does some awesome pirate calendars, too!
It's Friday?
;-)
I can handle Thoreau and Emerson in small, medicated doses, but Whitman still blows. *LOL*
I do find it hilarious that he lived in a house the size of postage stamp and took all his meals with his mother, who probably also did his laundry. Gee, I wonder why he was a BACHELOR? Yeesh.
I looked in the "house" as it were and thought, "Yeah, NO." Bully to him for being so close to nature. I'm sure that pond provided lots of serenity for his writing genius, but no. Part of the reason I think he's so dull is that I think he could have benefited from some editing with some friends to read this to first. If they fall asleep, cut some of your wordiness.
Whitman blows... Oh, that is so wrong!
Ya jus' don't have the simplicity of soul ta appreciate the grand ol man and his prose...
I were at Walden in the fall, when the leaves shimmers in colors so delightful...took me breath away.
Simplicity of soul huh? At least she didn't say simplicity of mind, Hells.
I like Thoreau but I find Emerson and Whitman a bit annoying. I liked some of the women Transcendentalists, though. Mary Moody Emerson and Margaret Fuller particularly. They get lost behind the guys, but some of the stuff they wrote is quite interesting.
We got off on a tangent, I think. It's Friday.
How about that, Chance. Now I'll think of that when I see those Cap'n Morgan commercials. :)
Did someone say secrets? I love those in stories. Some are heart-breaking, well most are but some can also bring a people together. I like secret babies, they are adorable and I always like the anticipation of the father learning that he is in fact a father. Some of my favourite secrets is one in "Ashes in the Wind" by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. Alaina pretends to be a boy so she can get revenge for her family death. She ends up falling in love with a doctor in the army who is on the side of her enemy. It's a wonderful story about love, trust and loyalty.
That Friday comment was aimed more at my office, which was deserted by 12:30. I believe there is ONE other person here. It's like a tomb in here. And almost as cold. *pets space heater*
Y'all lost me when you went all acedemicky and Marn threw out that big "T" word.
Na is speaking my language. Love Woodiwiss! (Though the secret baby trope is hit or miss with me. Mostly miss. LOL!)
Not much of a fan of Thoreau, either. Still, I feel like I should go see Walden Pond before it gets turned into a resort or something (all these historic attractions are just starved for money)
And na: Ashes in the Wind was my fave Woodiwiss...although I think I didn't like it as much once the secret was out. Didn't he marry someone else? That was so wrong. However, for an American Civil War story, I'm willing to put up with a lot as they are so rare.
OK it's Friday--why are we all still posting on the internet???
Thanks again for inviting me, Marnee and Co.!
Thanks for coming, Caro! Glad you could join us. :)
You're right. I'm not simple-minded to appreciate Whitman's prose or whatever he calls it. *wicked grin*
Simplicity of soul huh? At least she didn’t say simplicity of mind, Hells.
Great minds and all that.
But then again, saying I'm a complicated soul feels like a compliment to me. *LOL* I take some joy in being contradictory and dark and twisty.
Na! Welcome to the boat! :)
I haven't read Woodiwiss in years and I need to again. Such classics....
Hells: Dark and twisty, huh? That terrifies me, you know. *shivers*
I coulda said 'open' mind, but figured that would get me shot... ;-p
It should scare you, Marn. It scares Terri. "You REALLY think that? What is WRONG with you?"
*snorts* Yeah, I could work on my open mind...just not about Whitman. *LOL*
I am vast
I contain mulititudes
So there. How is that for potentially dark and twisty!?
Hey, did we lose our guest? ;-)
P.S. Has anyone else read classics from their Keeper shelves and realized, "Um, this was better in my imagination", like a past love you've never gotten over but you meet them again and suddenly see a bunch of flaws you never realized? I've had that with a few Keepers. You know, it's flaws of the period you just didn't realize were flaws of the period. *LOL*
LOL! I think we might have scared Caroline off. Talk of dark and twisty with a side of Thoreau? Who wouldn't run screaming? hahaha!
P.S. Has anyone else read classics from their Keeper shelves and realized, “Um, this was better in my imagination”, like a past love you’ve never gotten over but you meet them again and suddenly see a bunch of flaws you never realized?
The Lord of the Rings. The books that turned me onto fantasy when I was like, uh, ten or so. I have a lovely boxed set because..."Tolkein!" But I couldn't read the series now to save my sad little life.
That Friday comment was aimed more at my office, which was deserted by 12:30. I believe there is ONE other person here. It’s like a tomb in here. And almost as cold. *pets space heater*
Ah, the office thermostats wars. I remember them well.
Uh, that's all I got. Not too commenty because I've got a stack of edits from my editor. Oh, and reading the Miranda Neville's book that I won here. (I'm not a historical romance reader, but I'm totally digging it.) Happy Friday!
Pat - Yeah, I recently re-read a bunch of the classic age of scifi guys... Wow. Still compelling stories, but the writing style? Wow. Again.
Hey, I'm in edits, too!? Ain't it fun?
Hi Pat! :)
Yeah, I agree about the Keepers. There are some I've read that I used to be in love with and now? Eh. Lost the sparkle. Or I've changed, probably. Maybe the time changed AND I changed. :)
You're better than me, though, I never made it through Tolkien.
Chance - WHEE! Go with the edits.
Hi Caroline, the book cover is exceptional! And love that you use Jane Austen's quote to start your back cover. I think you handle Jack marvellous. You should write some pirates too.
Chemical Fusion
I drive by Walden Pond all the time. I think what surprised me the most is that it's BIG, not really what I'd consider a "pond". LOL Oh, even more surprising -- people use it as a beach all summer long! That still cracks me up.
Enid - I love this cover too. The heart? Too cute.
She did managed Jack well, didn't she? She's amazing, ya know?
:)
Donna - That stuff cracks me up. I used to lifeguard at a "creek" and it was 4 miles long and a mile wide. That doesn't say creek to me.
The WINNER of Caroline's YOU ONLY LOVE ONCE is:
P. Kirby!
Pat, I'll send you an email to get your address! Thanks everyone for stopping by!
Congratulations, Pat!!
I downloaded the ebook last night and before I finished the first page was in love with Caroline's voice. Looking forward to reading more.
Re: Our Keepers
Not long ago I picked up a keeper from at least 25 yrs ago. Couldn't believe all the head hopping, which, of course, 25 yrs ago I wouldn't have recognized or known what to call it if I did. So melodramatic, but those books kept me sane through those teen years.
Funny how much the style and standards of the genre have changed.
Marnee,
This is my first time to join this conversation. What fun you all have here! Favorite secrect: The Secret/Julie Garwood -- heroine is the daughter of the nasty neighboring clan lord. I'm working on a story line now where there are layers of secrets....just hoping I don't get confused myself with the details while NOT spilling the beans (HA) before all it revealed!
"Our trusty bartender, Chance, will fire something up when she rouses herself from her hammock, over there on the left coast. "
Just wondering how long Marnee has to spend aboard Jack's ship before she starts calling it 'the port coast'??
Welcome new visitors! We'll have to adopt the "port coast" bit. LOL! Does that make us east coasters the starboard side?
I love every Garwood book, but sadly remember few details. Which is a good thing in that I'll have all these books to read in my retirement years and they'll all be brand new again. LOL!
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