Comments on: Monday Morning Stepback: Solo vs. Buddy Blogging, and a few more Pics

By: April

April — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:12:23 +0000

I am so excited to read Lessons in French that I am behaving like my English Shepherd with a new bone: he is so overwhelmed that he hides it under the sofa cushions and then paces around nervously.

Ahh….my feelings exactly. I just don’t want the feeling of reading a fresh new Kinsale to end.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:22:23 +0000

Gah. I just spent 20 minutes replying to everyone and then I accidentally clicked away. that’s all the time I had for the blog this morning, so let me just thank everyone for your comments!

ps. And Robin and Sarah’s review of Lessons in French is now up at Dear Author.

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:15:04 +0000

Thanks for noting the passing of James Mitchell. He and I graduated from the same high school (several decades apart, thanks), and I met him once. He and his brother came into the bar where I worked after dinner in the restaurant next door. He was warm, funny, charming — and he left me a $100 tip (I was six months pregnant, too).

And yes, he had a very successful career as a dancer before he became a soap actor. Oklahoma!, the “Dream Ballet,” for instance. I had a total crush on him in that movie.

By: Tumperkin

Tumperkin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:17:39 +0000

You know, you have enough material in this one post for a whole week…..

I’m with Ann S: my favourite blogs have unique and individual voices. Group blogs tend (thought it’s not invariable) to lack that. Guest bloggers fall into a different category and I’m pleased to see a post from Angela here which I shall read presently. Also, now that I use Google reader, I find that frequency of posts is totally irrelevant to me. It really doesn’t matter how often someone posts now (it did before).

By: Lynn Spencer

Lynn Spencer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:36:26 +0000

Also, thank you for the link. I’m glad you found interesting!

By: Lynn Spencer

Lynn Spencer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:09:29 +0000

Love the South Africa pictures! Your cabin is adorable looks like it would have a good view. Then again, the photo doesn’t show that 5am bird experience!

@Robin “I do think the courtesan heroine is first cousin to Romance rape/forced seduction.”
In many books, I do too. I think that’s why I find it so difficult to ignore the realities of that life and just go with it.

By: Keira Soleore

Keira Soleore — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:43:22 +0000

Jessica, no way do you want to wait to read LESSONS IN FRENCH. Pick it up! Pick it up!

Compared to SHADOWHEART, this is definitely a light read. Personally, I can’t stand those fluffy, frivolous dress-up “historicals.” Puhleez, spare me. Give me this Kinsale any day for a light read.

By: Brie

Brie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:35:21 +0000

Laura, well of course Hubert’s what I meant by meat!

In all seriousness, I did find Lessons to be lighter when compared to many of your books, but when measured against a lot of historical romance I come across, I feel it has more depth-so that’s where the not “particularly light” comes from.

Jessica, I’m sorry for hijacking your comments! I do think you will enjoy Lessons in French. Can’t wait to read your thoughts.

By: Keishon

Keishon — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 01:08:28 +0000

A little help doesn’t hurt when blogging solo but I’ve gotten over the need to post something. I post in moods. I have it on my About page that I don’t post everyday or post about new books. Fairly warned is fairly warned.

By: Laura Kinsale

Laura Kinsale — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:56:54 +0000

LOL, Jessica, your image of your English Shepherd pacing around nervously reminds me so much of my Pyr that I snorted. He has a stuffed toy pheasant that nearly gives him a nervous breakdown, he’s so worried about where to store it.

Robin and Brie, I’m kinda sad (and surprised) that you don’t think LiF is light. I meant it to absolutely be a feel-good, non-challenging, ask no hard questions book. I look forward to your conversation, Robin, to hear more about your take.

It seems to be carrying the weight of a lot of expectations, both positive and negative, I guess. Which is kinda too bad, from my point of view, since it’s not meant to be that sort of book. A passe-temps, no more.

So don’t pace, Jessica! It’s just a silly little love story by one of those scribbling women.

Of course, when Brie says “meat,” maybe she means Hubert.