Well, here we are. It's MAY! May Day. The day for dancing around the pole. I've always wanted to do that.
NO, not THAT kind of pole. Y'all get your minds out of the gutter, will ya?
I think it would be fun to participate in a Maypole dance. I've never even seen one. I don't know the history except that it is, you know, historic.
And it's pretty, isn't it? I found this cool picture of one, and it's the perfect illustration of the way all of us as individuals, Bandits and friends, weave together and make something cool.
It's a good illustration of the next month in the Lair too. Talk about your varied authors and subjects..WHEEEEEEE...let's go. The ceremonial May Pole is set up in the foyer, so everybody grab a ribbon, start the music, and let's weave something amazing!
The first week starts out with the BANG ZIP ZING of fireworks as we celebrate the Second Anniversary of the Romance Bandits Blog. Yup, two years and still as loony as ever. TOMORROW, May 2nd, Aunty Cindy and Jeanne will host the anniversary celebration, including a fun title contest and prizes, and we'll follow that with a monster lineup of guests all next week.
For our first guest this month, Loucinda McGary, a.k.a. Aunty Cindy will host Kris Kennedy. On May 4th, Kris will join us in the Lair to celebrate the release of her debut novel, The Conqueror, a medieval historical set in 11th century England. That guy on the cover has a nice..um..sword, don't y'all think?
On Tuesday, 5th May, Amanda McCabe http://ammandamccabe.tripod.com/, Diane Gaston http://www.dianegaston.com/ and Deb Marlowe http://www.debmarlowe.com/ invade the lair to talk about their new anthology of linked Regency novellas, THE DIAMONDS OF WELLBOURNE MANOR.
With that lineup, it's bound to be a typical Anna-Campbell-style day in the lair, isn't it? Scandalous. Passionate.
Need I say more?
On May 6, Contemporary Romance queen and New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery will join Kate Carlisle to talk about reality TV and romance. Yes, there really is a connection!
Okay, we're smokin already, and it's only the middle of the week, but it's gonna get hotter before the week's over.....
Join us on the 7th for a Blazin' Good Time when we host 5 Fabulous Blaze authors! Our own Tawny Weber will be here along with Marie Donovan, Kira Sinclair, Jillian Burns and Jennifer LeBrecque to discuss their May Blaze releases and which of their heroes they'd want to be stranded with on a desert island.
I'll take one of each please.
WHAT?!!! (Cassondra gives a nervous look around at the evil glares of the other Banditas.)
We'll be pulling out all the stops and bringing in extra cabana boys for this one. Hey, somebody has to call the cabs for us and help us find the door when it's over, right?
Honestly I'm not sure I've ever seen this many incredible authors in the Lair all within the span of a week. And we're not done!
May 8th sees the return of Lair favorite, Virginia Kantra. Anna Sugden will welcome Virginia to celebrate the launch of the third book in her fabulous Children of the Sea series - Sea Lord.
Sheesh, what a way to start our anniversary month!
We'll give the guests a break for a week or so, but the fun won't stop. The 9th is the official release date of Trish's Harlequin American, Her Very Own Family. WOOOHOOOO TRISH! Trish will celebrate later in the week.
Then on May 19th Anna Cambell is back, this time with debut historical romance author Beverley Eikli http://www.beverleyeikli.com/Site/Welcome.html . Beverly visits us to discuss her writing journey (which is fascinating and involves residences across several continents) and her new release LADY SARAH'S REDEMPTION.
But Anna's not done. She's on a roll.......
On Thursday, May 21st, Bandita favorite Nicola Cornick http://www.nicolacornick.co.uk/ returns to talk about her new book, THE CONFESSIONS OF A DUCHESS. It's the first in a three-book series called THE BRIDES OF FORTUNE which gets back-to-back releases in June, July and August. Not only that, but for Nicola Cornick junkies, there's also an ebook prequel called THE SECRETS OF A COURTESAN.
As Anna would say, Huzzah!
(Ladies and Gentlemen, Anna Campbell will now be lying down to rest for a bit after her recent exertion with all of these guests.)
Wait. That didn't sound quite right.
May 22nd we're so pleased to welcome one of our dear friends, Esri Rose. Esri is another of the '06 Packers (she finalled in the Golden Heart the same year as all of us). Anna Sugden has lured Esri back to the Lair to celebrate the launch of the second book in her series about tall, gorgeous elves living in Boulder, Colorado, Stolen Magic.
May 26th Nancy Northcott hosts Stephanie Bond. Stephanie visits the lair to celebrate three back-to-back spring releases in her sexy Body Movers mystery series, 4 Bodies and a Funeral (April), 5 Bodies to Die for (May), and 6 Killer Bodies (June). She'll discuss "When Characters Do Things That Make You Crazy."
Uh...that would be constantly.
Anna Campbell's back up on Wednesday, May 27th with Aussie historical romance author Sara Bennett http://www.sara-bennett.com/ . Sara returns to the lair to share the story behind her latest book, LED ASTRAY BY A RAKE, the first in a new series from Avon called THE HUSBAND HUNTER'S CLUB.
Good lands, Anna's busy this month. SVEN! Bring Anna a tessane would you? Isn't that what historical authors traditionally force down their overworked heroines' throats? Wait. What's that Anna? What do you mean you'd rather have a margarita? Mango flavored you say? Oh,
and you're running a contest on your website too? Okay, y'all hold on for details of Anna's contest. (Anna's a good sport, isn't she, letting me abuse her like this?) (evil grin, looks nervously over shoulder)We're ending the month as strong as we started, with two more fantastic guests. On May 28th, Suz will welcome Nancy Haddock to the Lair. Nancy will be talking about the second book in her Paranormal Vampire Series, Last Vampire Standing, in which a stand-up comic vampire is in jeopardy!
On May 29th, Christine Wells brings Double RITA nominee Sherry Thomas to the lair! Sherry will join us to talk about her upcoming historical release, NOT QUITE A HUSBAND.
WHAT???? What did Anna say? Dont' forget about the contest? I won't, I WON'T, I promise. Hang on though.
Have y'all noticed that we normally do these monthly overviews on the first day of the month? Well, we're not doing that next time because we're screaming into June without even slowing down. And because...drum roll please...JUNE 1ST IS JEANNE'S RELEASE DAY, WOOHOOOOO!!!!!June 1st, put your dancin shoes on and leave your business manners at the door cuz the Lair will be rockin' for the release of Dark and Deadly, book number two for The Duchess herself, Jeanne Adams. That cover is just..well..HOT. Somebody fan me, will ya?
Then on June 2nd, Christine Wells takes over the
blog again, along with historical author Jennifer Haymore, to talk about Jennifer's June release, A Hint of Wicked.Whew. Sven, could I have something to drink now?
NO? Whaddaya mean, no? Oh, the contest on Anna's website!
Y'all don't have to wait until tomorrow to start winning stuff.
Anna Campbell is running a Devil, Desire and the Desert King Contest! This contest closes May 31st, and the prizes are a great reading pack of signed books:
TEMPT THE DEVIL by Anna Campbell http://www.annacampbell.info/
THE DESERT KING’S PREGNANT BRIDE by Annie West http://www.annie-west.com/
An Advance Reader Copy of DESIRE UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer ( June 30, '09) http://www.pamelapalmer.net/
In honor of Pam’s fantastic new series about shapeshifting warriors, Anna wants to know what animal you’d choose as your avatar if you were a shapeshifter. Her favorite answer wins the pack of books. Just email Anna on anna@annacampbell.info with your answers.
For more information, visit the contest page on Anna’s website: http://www.annacampbell.info/contest.html
But for NOW, here in the Lair, tell me...what do y'all know about dancin' around poles? (No, not that kind, though as long as you keep it PG, if you feel the need to self-disclose.....)
Do you know how the maypole dance got started? How old it is? Have you ever been a part of this May 1st ritual?
What's your favorite part of the month of May? School's out? Flowers? Warm weather(or cooler weather if you're in the Southern Hemisphere?) The start (or the end) of pool season
69 comments:
Is he mine for the day
Have Fun
Helen
Woohooo, HELEN! Way to sneak in for the score!
Whatcha gonna do with the self-absorbed chicken for the day? Do y'all do the maypole thing over there? Oh..wait. It's May 2nd there already, isn't it?
Darn, the blog is all spread out. Lemme see if I can squish it together a little. hang on.
Way to go Helen!!
Hi Cassondra...Gee, with all the guests you've got lined up it looks like I'll be adding to my TBR pile and Amazon wish list!
Congratulations, Helen!
Also - sooo weird. The post shows the time as posted as 2:05 AM. It's 1:37 AM; and definitely nothing was showing a few minutes ago. Haha, the blog conspires against me.
Lots of great things going on in May - I'm loving it because I'll be DONE!
Okay that's a little better.
Limecello it's not just you. The blog is being weird. I set it for 2:00 at 1:30, and it posted below yesterday's, then I set it for 2:05 and it posted immediately.
Ah well...Glad I didn't have underwear lying around on the floor or something....
Pink Peony said:
Gee, with all the guests you've got lined up it looks like I'll be adding to my TBR pile and Amazon wish list!
Yeah, me too. There goes the budget.
I should be doing paperwork but I want to say that my elementary school did the May pole thing with the streamers attached to a tether ball pole every year. I was never picked to be one of the participants and to this day, I still want to do it!
Limecello...sometimes I miss being in school and after all these years, I still have nightmares about not turning in a paper on time or not studying for a mid-term.
Well the grandkids will be here for dinner tonight and he always likes playing with them and tomorrow I plan on resting with a good book and some Tim Tams always a favourite with the GR because I am going into the City on Sunday to have luch with friends that I made at the conference I went to in Feb, so some fun and then some rest LOL.
What another fantastic month to come in the Lair you Ladies sure know how to host some great parties.Sven and the Cabana Boys are sure going to be getting a work out what fun it is going to be.
The Amazon pidgeon arrived today with Tawny's new book and I got Trish's first book as well so I already have them to read and am really looking forward to them.
At the moment Cassondra it is 3.45pm Friday May 1st so we don't have much of Mayday left and there are some activities for Mayday usually around Australia but I have never been to any but it sure looks like fun dancing around the maypole with the beautiful coloured ribbons.
Have Fun
Helen
Pink Peony said:
still have nightmares about not turning in a paper on time or not studying for a mid-term.
Just every now and then...maybe once every three years now (it used to be more frequent and has become less frequent as I've grown older) I have this dream. It's a nightmare actually...where I'm back in college, near the end of the semester, and I suddenly remember that I had this one class that I forgot. I mean, I forgot it for like two months and never went. FORGOT that I was taking a class! And I go into a complete panic. IT'S TOO LATE NOW! OMG!
I can't believe other people have this crazy dream about not doing something right in school. Even as I type this, I recognize that this is perfectionism haunting me. How 'bout that? Pink Peony, perhaps you should be a therapist.
I love May here in Australia because the weather is cooling down I sleep better and I love curling up with a good book in the cooler weather it is footy season here as well and I love watching my team play go West Tigers.
Have Fun
Helen
Oh, good, Helen. You've got some of May Day left to celebrate with us!
I think it's strange that I've heard about this all my life, and read about it, but never seen it done anywhere.
Oh, my goodness. I'm supposed to be caving it and look what a fun time we're going to be having in the Lair! Thanks for a great wrap up...and were those odd-shaped flowers or what??
Cassondra, we did the maypole dance when I was in kindergarten and there was one bit every so often where we all had to run around the pole. We have footage of me all dolled up in my pink party frock and rosebud wreath...and pushing the boy in front of me because he ran too slowly. Ah, those were the days.
Oh, and I just finished Tawny's April book, Coming On Strong and it's GREAT! She's done it again with the characters. I fell for them on the first page.
My sister was the psych major and now she's a social worker. Like you, I've had those nightmares about forgetting about a class complete with the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach...or I forgot to drop a class and it's after the drop date so I'm screwed..or I get a letter from my university saying I didn't graduate because I'm eight unit short in statistics or calculus. I will admit there were a couple of classes that I barely attended but I took those on a pass/no pass option and I always managed to squeak by...but I still sweated it out the final.
Christine said:
and were those odd-shaped flowers or what??Don't y'all have those Down Under? It's Dicentra, or better known as Bleeding Heart. Beautiful aren't they? And so fitting, I thought, for what we do to our characters before we give them their happy endings. All that torture!
We have footage of me all dolled up in my pink party frock and rosebud wreath...and pushing the boy in front of me because he ran too slowly. Ah, those were the days.So was it fun? Was the pole pretty when you got finished? Did it take a long time? I want to live vicariously through your experience. (grin)
LOL! I've never done a maypole dance that I can recall! It sounds like fun though ;)
What an awesome month in the Lair to look forward to! Yay! Thanks for the scoop, Cassondra!
And woohoo, Helen! How's the GR doing?
Pink Peony said:
Like you, I've had those nightmares about forgetting about a class complete with the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach...or I forgot to drop a class and it's after the drop date so I'm screwed.I am just floored that somebody else has my forget-a-class dream. I don't even think I've ever said that out loud before(or..typed it out loud...I guess).
Congrats on the GR, Helen,
Seems like we'll be partying every day in May. Can't wait to chill out with some drinks and snacks.
Jane said:
Can't wait to chill out with some drinks and snacks.
Hey, grab a cabana boy and pull up a drink. As they say, it's five o'clock somewhere.
flchen said:
LOL! I've never done a maypole dance that I can recall! It sounds like fun though ;)Doesn't it? Where ARE all these maypoles anyway? They're awfully famous for nobody to have ever experienced this. Well..Christine has a vague memory, and video evidence--but she was awfully little apparantly.
I'm becoming suspicious that this is all a myth.
Thanx for a great "coming attractions" post, Cassondra! And believe it or not, I have had that same dream too -- COMPLETELY forgot to go to a class I signed up for and then getting The Notice! ARGH!
WTG on snagging the chook, Helen! I'm sure he'll have fun with the grandkiddies, but HIDE THE TIM TAMS!
AC
Aunty Cindy said:
And believe it or not, I have had that same dream too -- COMPLETELY forgot to go to a class I signed up for and then getting The Notice! ARGH! Really. Wow. Okay, now I'm wondering if this is one of those common loss of control meets perfectionism meets failure dreams. Before this blog I've never heard anybody say they've had a "I forgot to go to class for two months" dream.
Maybe it's a writer thing?
(oops, posted under wrong account)
Whoohooooooooooo May is here!! I love the preview, Cassondra! What a month it'll be, huh?
As for the may pole dance, honestly? Its the only dance I'm comfortable with *g* Its so fun.
I wonder if Helen will let the rooster out to dance with us? I'll cue the music...
Aikakone - Keltainen (Yellow (May)):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYjMTeUKWXI
Maypole dance? We only have midsummer pole.
Sweden and Finland
In Sweden and Swedish speaking parts of Finland, the maypole is usually called a midsummer pole, midsommarstång, as it appears at the Midsummer celebrations, although the literal translation majstång also occurs. The traditions surrounding the maypoles vary locally, as does the design of the poles, although the somewhat phallic design of a cross with two rings is most common. Common in all of Sweden are traditional ring dances, mostly in the form of dances where you are alternating dancing and making movements and gestures based on the songs, such as pretending that you are scrubbing laundry while singing about washing, or jumping as frogs during the song Små grodorna ("The little frogs"). The ring dancing is naturally mostly popular with small children.
I would even have midsummer pole dance on video -Swedish exchange students dancing to Små grodorna in International Night in NDSU, but I can't even watch that thing, because the American video tape doesn't work in the videos used in Europe =(. I really hope I'll be able to find soon someone who could copy the International Night in NDSU from the video tape to a dvd disc so that I could finally watch it!
Hey Cassondra!
My high school does a May Day celebration every year, with a May Queen and court and a traditional May Pole Dance.
My mom went to the same high school and she was elected "Puck" She dressed as an elf and frolicked around the dancers, doing splits and other gymnastic effects. We have cool pictures!
Woohoo!! Another fabulous month!!!
You had me laughing at the blog title. I thought, hmmm are the bandits giving lessons now??!!! LOL!
Hey, Cassondra, evidently that kind of pole is exactly what our ancestors had in mind. :)
(From Wiki) The Maypole is often considered a phallic symbol, coinciding with the worship of Germanic phallic figures such as that of Freyr. One clear sexual reference is in John Cleland's controversial novel Fanny Hill:
...and now, disengag'd from the shirt, I saw, with wonder and surprise, what? not the play-thing of a boy, not the weapon of a man, but a maypole of so enormous a standard, that had proportions been observ'd, it must have belong'd to a young giant.
As for the visitors this month...I am blinded by the brilliance. Too much excellence to absorb without caffeine. :)
Cassondra, most excellent blog!! You're like Julie from the Love Boat! A fantastic cruise director for all of us searching for looooovvvveee...
I am so excited for more Bandita launches and such fantastic guests. I sure do wish I could win some of the fabulous booty, though.
I've never done a Maypole dance, but my husband was born on May Day, so we always celebrate the day. We're having a birthday party tonight so I better get to work on the cake!
Well, see Cassondra...I actually...kind of want to to learn the other kind :-)
Only for aerobic purposes mind you
:-)
As to the pretty type of maypole I did it once in grade school. I think it is related to the Celtic celebration of Beltaine or something. (I did not Google before I came here). It's pretty with all the different colored ribbons ending up weaved together.
I persuaded Demetrius and the other gladiators to try it once. They grumbled and caught the ribbons in their fists and finally just jerked the pole out of the ground and hurled it into the woods.
Gladiators are tense people.
I am just floored that somebody else has my forget-a-class dream. I have a variation of this dream. Not the forgotten class so much, but that I can't find anything to wear (I see my high school closet of clothes in my dream) and invariably end up barefoot when I get there.
Also a classic nurse stress dream.....You've worked like a crazy woman all day then at the end of the shift realize you missed a patient who is really sick and been alone in a room all day... (shudder)
Good catch, Helen!
I have to admit, I don't know anything about dancing around poles. But I love May! The azaleas are in bloom, lilac is in the air and the weather perfect. And the kids are still in school until mid-June.
It sounds like May will be a fun-filled month in the lair.
Happy May Day everybody! And great post to kick off the new month, Cassondra! Sounds like another fabulous month in the Lair!
As a Brit, I can say that the whole dancing round the Maypole thing is part of our tradition. It's all part of the big May Day weekend celebrations.
For us, May Day is always associated with the beginning of summer (and indeed it is a glorious day here, today). We have a public holiday (a Bank Holiday) on the Monday closest to May Day.
Great review of the lineup for May, Cassondra!
Congratulations, Helen. The GR probably needs a rest from all the shenanigans he was up to with Bandita Donna.
Helen, congrats on the GR! Have fun with him. As Cassondra notes, he's become a bit self-absorbed (more than usual) after his travels.
Cassondra, great job on the preview! I love the maypole photo and the analogy of all of us and our buddies weaving strands together. I'm an Anglophile, but I don't know the history either, alas.
Isn't that a great word, alas? Too bad it has fallen out of usage.
Wooot! Helen! YOu have the GR for May Day! :> How fun is that.
Hey, and Pink Peony's back too. Wow. May Day is a good rockin' start to MAY!!!!!!
Cassondra, as always, you write a heck of a blog. I'm a big fan of May Day bouquets - sneaking to friend's houses and leaving a wee bouquet of flowers. (Its Beltane today, if you're into the alternative stuff.) :>
I love May because everything's in bloom here, from my tulips to my cherry trees. It starts to get hot and muggy here, though, which I don't like. Sigh.
Tawny said:
As for the may pole dance, honestly? Its the only dance I'm comfortable with *g* Its so fun.
Tawny! Someone who (apparantly) has done the Maypole dance as an adult! Is this a California thing? Is it beautiful when you're done? (I always thought if you did it right, it would end up in a pretty pattern, but that pole in the blog looks like it's been used before, and it looks like a jumble of colors...) Tell us the fun details.
Minna said:
In Sweden and Swedish speaking parts of Finland, the maypole is usually called a midsummer pole, midsommarstång, as it appears at the Midsummer celebrations,Minna, interesting stuff about the Maypole in your country!
Deb Marlowe said:
My high school does a May Day celebration every year, with a May Queen and court and a traditional May Pole Dance.
Awesome Deb! (And we're looking forward to your visit with Anna!) So, was it fun? Did you get to participate when you went there--hold a ribbon and weave among the other dancers? Are there rules--like, you have to skip every other dancer--or something?
Buffie said:
You had me laughing at the blog title. I thought, hmmm are the bandits giving lessons now??!!! LOL!
Well..YEAH. THat was kind of my original idea...except that nobody will tell me the details. I'm thinkin maybe there IS something kinky about this whole ribbons and a pole thing.....so everybody's clamming up.
Gillian Layne said:
The Maypole is often considered a phallic symbol, coinciding with the worship of Germanic phallic figures such as that of Freyr. Well then..(grin)...that takes it to a whole new..uhm..level...than little kids dancing with ribbons, doesn't it now?!
So...hmmm.. did this thing start out as a pagan fertility ritual? I know, I know, I could have researched it, with the web right here at my fingertips and all, but I didn't have time last night, or room in the blog, so I thought I'd let y'all fill me in.
I'm not, as a rule, particularly naive..well, not usually...but for some reason I was always distracted by the ribbons and just never saw that pole as particularly phallic. It's kind of like seeing a lamp post as phallic...I just..don't. I tend to focus on the lamp, ya know?
Kirsten said:
I've never done a Maypole dance, but my husband was born on May Day, so we always celebrate the day. We're having a birthday party tonight so I better get to work on the cake!
Oh, Happy Birthday to your hubby from all of us! And yummmmm...cake.....even if I completely missed the symbolism behind the pole, CAKE is another matter...now THAT's got plenty of suggestive possibilities. Sweet. And the things you can do with icing....
Oh..just sayin.
Joanie said:
I persuaded Demetrius and the other gladiators to try it once. They grumbled and caught the ribbons in their fists and finally just jerked the pole out of the ground and hurled it into the woods.
Gladiators are tense people.Hmmm. Well, I would have chalked it up to being tense...but...in light of the recent disclosures of the phallic symbolism, maybe they just didn't want to go there? Ya know...being manly men and all that....
Joanie said:
Also a classic nurse stress dream.....You've worked like a crazy woman all day then at the end of the shift realize you missed a patient who is really sick and been alone in a room all day... (shudder)
OMG! That's AWFUL! Do all nurses have this dream when stressed? Wow. Talk about guilt...flunking a class is nothing compared to this.
Christie said:
The azaleas are in bloom, lilac is in the air and the weather perfect. And the kids are still in school until mid-June.
Those are my favorite parts too, Christie. The flowers (especially the fragrant ones, and it seems there are more of those in May than at any other time) and the warmer weather. Sandals. Sleeveless dresses and tops, flirty, shimmery skirts. The windows down in the car. Walking barefoot. Ahhhh. I'm SO glad winter is done. It was a long one here. I hope you folks down under have a mild winter coming.
Anna Sugden said:
For us, May Day is always associated with the beginning of summer (and indeed it is a glorious day here, today). We have a public holiday (a Bank Holiday) on the Monday closest to May Day.
Oh, COOL!
So have you, personally, danced around the pole? NO, not THAT one..the one with the ribbons.
Gosh, now that the symbolism of this "pole" has been brought into the open, y'all will think I'm being suggestive with my "Have you danced around the Maypole" question. (grin)
Jo said:
Great review of the lineup for May, Cassondra!
Thanks Jo! And it's a great month, isn't it? Hmmm. I should be spring cleaning. We have a huge party tomorrow, after all.
Nancy said:
isn't that a great word, alas?Alas IS a great word. But around here, if you use it, people raise their eyebrows and look at you crooked.
I frequently use "forlorn" when I'm feeling kind of blue. Steve will say, "what's wrong" and I'll say, "Oh, I dunno. I'm....forlorn." I usually end up with dinner out when I'm forlorn. So I consider it a good word too.
Happy May Day! May looks to be another fantastic month in the lair :-) I can't wait!
I read this this morning and got too busy to comment. Then tried again later and Blogger gave me fits. Let's try this again.
Great blog, Cassondra and what a month in store in the Lair. Anniversaries and launches and fantastic guests, oh my!
Don't know much about the May Pole festivities, but when I've seen it on TV it always looks fun.
Haven't read any of the previous
comments, so I don't know what has
been shared thus far. According to
what I've read, Maypole dancing
began as part of an ancient pagan fertility celebration. This began
as early as the time prior to the Roman invasion. Other European
countries adapted the ritual for
use in their annual celebrations.
I recall seeing and participating
in this type dance during primary
school days way, way, way back
in the day! Although by the time
it reached my elementary school,
it was merely a pretty little
children's dance!!!
Pat Cochran
Cassondra, alas doesn't get me dinner. So I'd say forlorn trumps alas. :-)
Waitin' here for JT to report on X-Men, which I will not, alas, get to see for a few days.
(Tried to post this earlier, and it's not here, so apologies if I end up with a duplicate via cyberspace weirdness.)
Dancing around Poles? Only if his name is Frederic Chopin!!! Ha ha. Bad joke day.
Helen, about time he came back to you! Congratulations!
Cassondra, what a fantastic month we've got coming up and what a great post. I love the idea of dancing around Poles (as long as I don't get stuck with the Czech!).
Yes, I seem to have invited everyone I know this month, don't I? Oh, well, the lair's a big and exciting place. I'm sure they'll all have a blast!
And seriously, this is a great contest. Pam's new Feral Warriors series looks like it's going to take the romance world by storm and this is your chance to win an ARC and read it FIRST!!!
Cassondra, we don't have those flowers here as far as I know, but I'm not a horticulturalist so you shouldn't take my word for it! And I note you've changed the pic now, so anyone reading my comment is going to think I'm the odd one.LOL
I really don't remember much about the dance, except that it took a long time to learn and I didn't even realize the object was to make that pretty pattern down the pole (we didn't actually use a real pole until the day itself) nor, I must admit, was I aware it was a phallic symbol--thanks for corrupting a lovely childhood memory, Gillian:))
CONGRATS Helen, he's come home agin, watch your Tim Tams and have fun with him.
Looks like we have a great month ahead! As far as the May pole, I can't remember dancing around it. Maybe I did when I was real young and in school but that was a long, long, long, time ago!
Nancy said:
Cassondra, alas doesn't get me dinner. So I'd say forlorn trumps alas. :-)
Nancy, I'm going to try out forsooth to see what I can get with that one of these days....
terrio said:
Don't know much about the May Pole festivities, but when I've seen it on TV it always looks fun.
It does, doesn't it? Dang. I've gotta find a maypole. A wine tasting this evening is all I've been able to manage.
Pat Cochran said:
Maypole dancing
began as part of an ancient pagan fertility celebration. This began
as early as the time prior to the Roman invasion. Ha! I was right! It IS a fertility rite. Dang Romans...messed up everything. Oh...sorry Joanie....
Anna Campbell, otherwise known as the SOCIAL BUTTERLY of the lair, said:
Oh, well, the lair's a big and exciting place. I'm sure they'll all have a blast! Ha! Yes it is a big place...with plenty of sofas and corners with soft rugs for sleeping off the hangover until the next day...and lots of cabana boys for company. (That's the important part.)
Christine said:
And I note you've changed the pic now, so anyone reading my comment is going to think I'm the odd one.LOL
Oh, sorry Christine. I had a little trouble with that picture and substituted the iris. It's okay. We're all a bit odd here in the lair. ;0)
Virginia said:
As far as the May pole, I can't remember dancing around it. Maybe I did when I was real young and in school I dunno , Virginia.. You live in Kentucky don't you? Buckle of the Bible Belt and all that? Not too many Pagan fertility festivals happening around here..at least not out where everybody can watch. (grin).
Virginia said:
As far as the May pole, I can't remember dancing around it. Maybe I did when I was real young and in school I dunno , Virginia.. You live in Kentucky don't you? Buckle of the Bible Belt and all that? Not too many Pagan fertility festivals happening around here..at least not out where everybody can watch. (grin).
LOL on Cassondra corrupting Christine!
Cassondra--nope, I was not May Queen court material in high school! They were elected and I was not a popular girl! I ran in the AP crowd, not the in crowd!
Sorry to be so late to the party. And it looks like May is going to be ONE LONG PAR TAY !!! in the Lair ! Some of favorite authors and lots of new authors to add to the TBR Incredible Leaning Tower !
I actually have danced around a maypole on May Day in the village of Kelsale in England. There was a huge fete at the local squire's estate and there was a maypole, food, pony rides, craft displays, you name it. I think I even have some photos here somewhere. I need to find them. I don't remember much about it except it was a lovely day and I got to wear a crown of flowers in my hair, but so did all of the other girls. And my drawing of a swan on a lake took first place!
Now when I got home today I had my own little May Day Dance!! I am off for FOUR DAYS !!!! FOUR DAYS!!! I took a couple of vacation days and combined them with my off days to create my own little mental health / writing long weekend.
I must confess when I got home I kicked off my shoes, slipped on my most well-worn oversized t-shirt, turned on Old Time Rock and Roll and danced around the house. The dogs and cats are still hiding in the bedroom !!
What a fabulous list of interviews and coming attractions - I am so proud to be part of it and very excited to be visiting the lair again this month. Thank you so much for the enthusiastic shout out, Anna! The first of my trilogy books is winging its way to you as we speak with a cabana-boy-with-palm fan included for those heated moments!
Looks like its going to be a great month! Cant wait.
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