Tagged, Lucky 7, and New Release!

I thought I'd put together a pot-pourri of a post today since several nice things happened recently and I don't want to delay mentioning kind authors.

First off - my good online writing friend, Paula Martin, tagged me on her lovely blog. For my sins, I need to answer the following questions before tagging a few other writers. So here goes!

What is the one book you couldn’t live without?

Oh - I have lots of favourites but I think I'd have to choose a good encyclopedia to quench my thirst for knowledge (if I wasn't allowed Internet access). At one time I'd have chosen Jane Eyre for fiction, but maybe Pride & Prejudice now.

 

What can you see out of your window at the moment?
 
A wonderful golden burst of forsythia against the freshly mown hilly back garden. And lots of birds flitting about or drinking from the bird bath.
 
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
 
For me, it was frog's legs many years ago on a cruise, since I was determined to be adventurous. Nice garlicky, oily sauce but too rubbery!
 
What fictional character would you most like to marry?

Mr Darcy or Mr Rochester - all that simmering passion!

If ever a fictional villain was going to win, who would you want it to be?

Well, I do like the fact Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair did kind of win at the end, although she was dreadful towards her child.

How many types of cheese can you name off the top of your head?

About eight!

If you didn’t want to be a writer, what would you want to be?

A singer, dancer or actress - or all three. But I wouldn't want to be anyone else, I'd want to be me (except when acting a role)!

Can you play a musical instrument?

I can still play the recorder a little. But I always wished I'd had the opportunity to play piano, and I'd still like to learn the flute. I adore music and love listening to my husband play the piano. My mother could play the accordian from ear when I was very young.

Do you own a Kindle or any sort of e-reader?

Yes, I've had a Kindle for over a year now and I love it for readign in bed, as it's so much easier than trying to hold a book. It's also great for taking on travels. But I still enjoy reading a print book downstairs.

If so, how many books do you have on it?

About 35 still to read and loads already finished.

You just got published. In a glowing review, someone calls you the next (insert name of famous author). Which author has to watch their back now you’re on the scene?

I wish! And yet, I have that same reluctance again to be the next anyone. I'd rather be unique! Unless I could write like Jane Austen, but that would never happen since she was a product of her own time.

Great fun! Now tagging the following bloggers with these questions so we can get to know them better:

Joan Fleming
Karen Edwards
Jean Bull
Myra Duffy
Gail Crane

The other lovely mention I received was when Mindy Hardwick tagged me in the Lucky 7 Meme Challenge.

These are the interesting rules:

1. Go thou to page 77 of your current MS
2. Get thee hence to line 7
3. Copy down the next 7 lines – sentences or paragraphs – and post them as they’re written. No cheating!
4. Tag 7 authors
5. Let each and every one of them know

Since my tween novel, Summer of the Eagles, was just released from MuseItUp Publishing on Friday in all e-formats, this is a good one to do! Watch out for news of my offcial online launch soon (once it's also on Amazon).

So here goes - this is an exciting bit in the second half of the book when 13 year old Stevie is in danger:

His grip loosened slightly, and Stevie pushed against him with all her strength. One arm released her as he tilted backward. She’d done it!
     But as she attempted to slip from his other hand, he lunged back at her.
     “Oh no, you don’t. I’m not finished with you yet.”
     This time, she noticed the glazed look in his eyes. She’d made him even angrier. How could she escape now?
     A loud swishing sounded beyond the man’s head.

Hope that's whetted your curiosity!

And now to pass the Lucky 7 Meme Challenge on to these authors:

Patsy Collins
Anne Johnson
Rosalie Warren
Sue Perkins
Pat McDermott
Linda Kage
Frances Garrood

Rosemary