Happy Boxing Day

[erastes]

And I’ll be cuddled up on the settee later, doing the traditional English thing of watching the boxing . :)

I’m blogging over at Lisabet’s blog today, talking about location and why places are generally what makes the book real for me, so please pop over and join in the discussion!

I also found a nice write-up and review of False Colors and Transgressions in Oregon’s GLTBQ magazine Just Out – it was published in May, so I don’t know how I missed it. Click on page 29 to read it.

I had a nice Christmas, all in all. Dad really doesn’t “do” Christmas anymore – it was always mother who did the whole thing so other than cards there wasn’t any sign of it over there. Last year I made him get a tree and we decorated it, but he got confused as to what day it was or something and when i went over there on Boxing Day he’d taken it all down and thrown it out!  So I didn’t push for it this year.  The meal we went to was very very nice – the only use in going out is when you get something as good or better than you can make yourself and The Keswick Hotel has a wonderful chef – everything home made, lovely thick cut meat, sausage and chestnut stuffing, pigs in blankets, the whole deal. I think I would have had one big table, though, rather than having lots of small ones which would have created more of a party atmosphere, as it was, they were so discretely placed that no-one could even catch another’s eye, let alone swap Christmas Crackers.  But nice – and no cooking which is good.

I’m skipping Dad’s today and am going over tomorrow instead.

Had some lovely presents. Black Wade (cor!) from Alex Beecroft, loads of little stocking pressies and a book from Charlie Cochrane, and a lovely bag from Lee Rowan.  Thank you guys, you are the best. :) Now to eat some clementines. grump.

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Comments

[ammonite7.livejournal.com]

Christmas was always my Mom's thing, too; Dad just went along, though I think he appreciated the food. Mom baked her Mom's and Grandmom's traditional Christmas goodies like mince pie, Christmas pudding (begun months early) and lemon-cheese tarts. Mom told us of Boxer's Day and how it was all different in Britain.

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

I wrote up a nice long comment for Beyond Romance...which then proceeded to tell me that I couldn't post with my LJ account, couldn't post with my Wordpress account, and then ate the post.

Stupid site.

[emeraldsedai.livejournal.com]

The review in Just Out is rather nice! Not sure I love the expression "fag hag," but I guess a gay publication can call me what it wants in that regard. The reviewer treated both your book and Alex's with respect and frankness. I get so tired of having my reading tastes flayed and ridiculed.

It sounds as if you had a good holiday.

Happy Boxing Day

[ruth-sims.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a peaceful Christmas with your Dad. It's sad about his memory, but you still have him with you. I snail-mailed a card but sent it a little late. Did it get there? (I have no luck with e-cards!) If it didn't, maybe it will after Christmas. I can usually send something quicker to the UK or even Australia than I can to Chicago, which is 150 miles away.

How did you happen to find that review? It's nice to have the books themselves, your and Alex' talent, and Running Press' efforts recognized. Maybe RP will see the big possibilities and continue! My fingers are crossed for present and future RP authors.

I have a comment about the columnist's terminology, but I'll post it separately.

Have a great weekend and an even more exhaustively productive 2010!

Happy Boxing Day

[ruth-sims.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a peaceful Christmas with your Dad. It's sad about his memory, but you still have him with you. I snail-mailed a card but sent it a little late. Did it get there? (I have no luck with e-cards!) If it didn't, maybe it will after Christmas. I can usually send something quicker to the UK or even Australia than I can to Chicago, which is 150 miles away.

How did you happen to find that review? It's nice to have the books themselves, your and Alex' talent, and Running Press' efforts recognized. Maybe RP will see the big possibilities and continue! My fingers are crossed for present and future RP authors.

I have a comment about the columnist's terminology, but I'll post it separately.

Have a great weekend and an even more exhaustively productive 2010!

"Locations" blog

[ruth-sims.livejournal.com]

I went to Lisabet’s blog and tried to leave a comment, but it wouldn't post. I have more trouble with Blogger than with LJ! For some reason, it never recognizes my URL. Oh, well. Here's what I said:

First, it was a delightful surprise to find myself quoted in your post. I must be a whole lot more intelligent than I thunk. (g) Thanks.

Second, I thought the post was excellent. You and Alex Beecroft are my icons when it comes to place descriptions, one of the things I'm weakest at. You both have such a marvelous way of putting a reader's feet on the earth (or the rolling deck of a ship, as the case may be!). I envy you living in a place where historical places haven't had a McDonalds, Wal-Mart, or Disney Theme Park built on them. If Buckingham Palace was over here there would be Golden Arches over it. As someone who is unable to travel, I love being able to travel to those places in the past through the magic of your story-telling. May you continue to write such wonderful historical stories.

Thanks for posting the pictures. Wonderful! I didn't know there was a tree growing on top of "Standish."

Who is....?

[ruth-sims.livejournal.com]

Who is the actress in the picture? I know I've seen her but I can't remember where unless ... aha! didn't she play the Lesbian lawyer in "Rent"? I haven't seen it for a while. Now I've got to watch it again. It was wonderful.

Re: Who is....?

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

Tracie Thoms! And yes, she did play Joanne Jefferson, the lesbian lawyer (and lover of pansexual performance artist Maureen Johnson) in Rent. She has the most wonderful annoyed face, so her picture is my default annoyed icon.