When I tell people I write romance novels (both for teens and adults), I often get a puzzled look, one that's easily translated to one of the following:
"Really? You don't:
a) look like you spend your time on a beach, dictating novels to your fave cabana boy. Are you yanking my chain? Are you REALLY a writer?"
b) look like a loser, holed up in her apartment like Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone, weeping over her characters' romance. Are you yanking my chain? Are you really a writer?"
c) act like crabby Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, getting out his frustrations by writing sappy stories. Are you yanking my chain? Are you really a writer?"
or d) dress well enough to be a writer. Writers are rich dilettantes, aren't they? Are you yanking my chain? Are you really a writer?"
Here's the thing: Writers can look like anyone else you know. For those who've ever wondered what a romance writer looks like, or why we do what we do, check out this piece, written by the fantastic Eileen Dreyer (aka Kathleen Korbel) for CNN.
From now on, when anyone asks me if I really write romance novels (even though I don't look like I do, apparently), and why I love what I do, I'll simply say, "What she said!" and send them to Eileen's article.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Full Swing
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've been slow to post...again. Partly because I'm a springtime slacker, and partly because the blog had to be moved so it wasn't FTP-something-that-I-don't-get. However, thanks to my wonderful, highly skilled web guru, everything was safely moved and we're up and running. (Thanks, Maddee!)
In the meantime, having taken sixth place in my yearly NCAA Geek Pool (and soundly beating President Obama's tourney entry), I've moved on to baseball season.
First order of business: Fantasy baseball. I am once again playing in the ESPN Baseball Challenge. It's the world's easiest fantasy baseball league. You can join anytime, and you don't have to engage in a round robin draft of players or keep stats. Instead, you are given a (fictional) $50 million budget you simply pick whichever players you want by clicking on them. Easy, peasy. Then ESPN keeps track of how they do at the plate and tallies the score for you. It's a lot of fun. (Especially when you're doing well. I'm currently at the 95% of all players in the league. I don't expect it'll last.)
Second order of business: Real baseball. I signed up for my yearly wallet-depleting subscription to MLB Extra Innings so I can watch the Rockies games here in Boston, and I've already stayed up late for quite a few. It's painful, given the late starts and the two-hour time difference, but worth it. I also managed to get tickets on top of the the Green Monster at Fenway during the first Red Sox-Yankees series so I could see a game in person, and I'll be in my usual third-base seats for one of this weekend's games. Color me happy!
On the other hand, most of my baseball-loving friends claim they aren't as hopped up for the season as usual. Earlier this season, news stations in Boston reported that sales were down, and that the Red Sox might not continue their sellout streak at Fenway, but I'm not seeing it.
Anyone else feeling this way? Or is this a woe-is-me, typical Boston-area phenomenon? Do you care more about baseball (or whatever sport's your fave) once the season's in full swing than during the first month of games? Does playing in a fantasy league amp up your level of interest? Weigh in!
In the meantime, having taken sixth place in my yearly NCAA Geek Pool (and soundly beating President Obama's tourney entry), I've moved on to baseball season.
First order of business: Fantasy baseball. I am once again playing in the ESPN Baseball Challenge. It's the world's easiest fantasy baseball league. You can join anytime, and you don't have to engage in a round robin draft of players or keep stats. Instead, you are given a (fictional) $50 million budget you simply pick whichever players you want by clicking on them. Easy, peasy. Then ESPN keeps track of how they do at the plate and tallies the score for you. It's a lot of fun. (Especially when you're doing well. I'm currently at the 95% of all players in the league. I don't expect it'll last.)
Second order of business: Real baseball. I signed up for my yearly wallet-depleting subscription to MLB Extra Innings so I can watch the Rockies games here in Boston, and I've already stayed up late for quite a few. It's painful, given the late starts and the two-hour time difference, but worth it. I also managed to get tickets on top of the the Green Monster at Fenway during the first Red Sox-Yankees series so I could see a game in person, and I'll be in my usual third-base seats for one of this weekend's games. Color me happy!
On the other hand, most of my baseball-loving friends claim they aren't as hopped up for the season as usual. Earlier this season, news stations in Boston reported that sales were down, and that the Red Sox might not continue their sellout streak at Fenway, but I'm not seeing it.
Anyone else feeling this way? Or is this a woe-is-me, typical Boston-area phenomenon? Do you care more about baseball (or whatever sport's your fave) once the season's in full swing than during the first month of games? Does playing in a fantasy league amp up your level of interest? Weigh in!
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