Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Welcome BARBARA VEY!!!!

By Jeanne Adams and Cassondra Murray

ROOSTER CROW!!! DRUM ROLL!!!! TRUMPET FANFARE!!! DRAGON ROAR!!!

Please welcome, the one, the only
BARBARA VEY!!!!!!!

Cassondra: Jeanne, you're going to scare her off.

Jeanne: Barbara? No way. That woman has nerves of steel. She took on Publisher's Weekly, after all. And has now become the personality behind one of the top reviewer sites on the 'net. Barbara's Beyond Her Book Blog is the "go to" spot for information about the top books in Romance today. She's always got positive reviews. She's always going to a conference or event and sending back pictures and live streaming video and interviews to keep everyone "in the know" about the latest in romance, in books, and in what's up in our industry.

Cassondra: Yes, Barbara ROCKS. However, didja really think we needed a trumpet fanfare?

Jeanne, looking abashed: Well, maybe that was overkill. But I do so love a good trumpet volley. Figured if I was going to dust off the trumpets, and trumpeteers, then we might as well have a good blaring welcome blast, don't you know.

Cassondra shakes her head and turns to our guest: WELCOME to the Lair, Barbara! Jeanne and I have met up with you all over the country, at RWA events, Thriller events and more, but this is the first time the two of us, together as a team, have had you join us in the Lair. We're so glad you could make it.

Barbara: Thanks, Cassondra and Jeanne. And thank you to all Romance Bandits and friends.

Cassondra: So how did you get started doing what you do, Barbara?

Barbara, laughing: That's the very first question I always get asked is, “How did you get this amazing job?” I guess the easiest answer is by being an avid reader. Because I was reading a book a day (at that time) I kept noticing an ad at the back of the books called “Get Caught Reading at Sea.” Turns out there was going to be an author/reader cruise with about 30 authors and all I could think was that I would be on a ship for seven days with authors who had no where else to go.

Jeanne: Oh, noeeesss! No escape! Haha! Actually, I'm teasing. As an author, I think that would be fabulous to be on a ship with dozens, if not hundreds of avid readers. Not only would I get my extrovert fix, but I'd get to enjoy being both a writer and a reader too! I take it you went on the cruise?

Barbara: Oh, yes! I made my reservation and immediately started reading a book by every author. Then I emailed the author to say I enjoyed their book and looked forward to meeting them on the cruise.

Cassondra: That was courteous. And how like you, Barbara.

Barbara: Thank you! Once on the ship, I got to meet every author and one morning, while breakfasting with Marjorie Liu, I saw a woman all alone and asked her to join us. She turned out to be Karen Holt, Deputy Editor of Publishers Weekly.

Now, being a reader, I thought Publishers Weekly was a publisher, so I told Karen to sit down and I would tell her everything that was wrong with publishing from a readers point of view.

Jeanne: Good heavens! That's awesome! What did she do?

Barbara: Well, she took notes and wrote a story about me in Publishers Weekly that included my picture. A few months later, Karen contacted me and said PW was starting an online magazine and thought I would be perfect to write a blog from a readers point of view. I declined and told her to send books instead.

Cassondra: More books to feed the habit, right? But if you declined....

Barbara: Exactly, I loved the books. As to the blog, thankfully, Karen kept calling and after my son showed me a blog and explained that I should write it like I was talking to a friend, I accepted for a 3 month trial. Well, it’s been over 4 years and I’m still at it.

Jeanne: OMGosh, I had forgotten that you didn't, at the time, even know what a blog WAS, much less how to write one. You're such a natural at it, it doesn't seem possible. But you absolutely write it as if you are talking to a friend - me! - and that warmth and fun come through in every posting of Beyond Her Book.

Barbara: Thank you, Jeanne. It was an experience! I’ve learned many things along the way. Remember, being a reader I had no clue to how publishing worked. I now know so much more! Here are some key things I learned that I think most people don't know:

There's a difference between an editor and an agent.

An author doesn’t pick their own cover.

There are many imprints under one giant publisher.

An author isn’t necessarily responsible for all the editing mistakes in a book.

Publishers have certain criteria that writers have to follow. (I just thought they could write whatever they wanted.)

Writers actually have to work hard at writing a book. (I thought they sat around in sweats eating junk food and the stories just magically came to them.)

There’s a lot more to publishing a book than any reader ever wanted to know.

Cassondra: Amen to that, Barbara! The sheer number of steps in the process boggles the mind. What else has happened for you since you became the woman behind Beyond Her Book?

Barbara: I’ve been blessed to meet my favorite authors and discover many new ones in all my travels and traveling is one of my favorite parts of what I do. I get to go all over the United States and talk to amazing people and then write about it. How cool is that?

Jeanne: Have to say, that is TOTALLY cool! What's been the most exciting thing you've done so far?

Barbara: My first Comic Con in San Diego was overwhelming, but when I was invited to interview some movie and tv stars, I thought I was dreaming. I went to press junkets where you sit in a room and the stars and director of a movie come in and go table to table to talk to the press and all of a sudden I found myself one of the press.

Not knowing the rules, I asked for pictures and hugs from Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans, Richard Dean Anderson (and the rest of the cast of Stargate), Joss Whedon, Stan Lee, the entire casts of Burn Notice, Fringe, White Collar and Psych. I had lunch with Stephen Collins at the Hard Rock Cafe and talked about 7th Heaven and First Wives Club.

I met Bruce Campbell and had my picture taken. My son posted it on Facebook and declared me the “coolest mom ever.”

Cassondra: This is amazing, Barbara! I'd agree with your son. And kudos to him for helping you find the confidence to take that first step to blog, and big kudos to him for recognizing that his mom is an outstanding part of our Reader/Writer world!

Jeanne: Well said, Cassondra! So, what's coming up for you next, Barbara?

Barbara: I'm very excited to tell you about that. Next year I’ll be hosting my first Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheon in the Milwaukee area. This has been a dream of mine for years. Thirty-eight authors have agreed to come in to meet, greet, eat with and sign books for almost 300 readers. This is a real coup for the midwest.

I don’t know what else is in store for me, but I look forward to each new adventure.

Jeanne and Cassondra: Barbara, thank you SO much for being with us today!

So Banditas and Bandita Buddies, have you ever done something wild and crazy, like jump into a new career? What was that like for you?

Barbara has an outstanding blog in Beyond Her Book, what questions do you have for her about the blog and how she got started?

Would you have had the courage to hug Joss Whedon? What about the guy from Burn Notice? Grins.

As a reader, which authors would you love to sit down to lunch with, like at Barbara's upcoming luncheon, and chat about books?


SPECIAL NOTE......
Don't forget to check back for a big announcement on October 14 as we kick off Trick or Treat. The best treat of all will be awarded during the Duchesse's Halloween party on October 31. If you're not in the know after the 14th, you might miss the treat.

77 comments:

Nancy said...

Barbara, welcome to the Lair! What a cool story.

I don't think I would have the courage to hug Joss Whedon. Or the other stars you mentioned, though I watch most of those shows.

Nancy said...

Hey, I get the rooster! Cool. The boy is coming home on break (yay!), and we can use some extra cleaning help.

I hope he enjoyed his Tim Tam breaks 'cause he's workin' today!

Mozette said...

Okay... only hug Joss Whedon? You're kidding, surely... the dude who created Buffy the Vampire Slayer... I'd kiss him! :[

And the guy from Burn Notice... well, I'd love to kiss him too... :P He's a hottie and anyone who can't see that needs glasses. o.O

As for jumping into a career? Well, in May 2009, I looked at Blogger and thought: "I can do a book review blog. But nobody will want to know my ideas about books and reading... would they?"
2 1/2 years on, I've got over 6,000 people visiting my site and I will write about just about anything to do with the written word; very cool.
I also have other blogs I manage, but My Reading List is my biggest and most popular one I put the most work into. My Book-Crazy Life is what I do on a fixed income; so people can see there's more to life than just watching the daily soap operas when you're on a disability pension. :)

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Barbara! Wonderful to have you here. Bummer that I missed you on your recent foray into OHio. I was in Georgia at the time. Love that you're doing a Readers Appreciation Day in Milwaukee. Those are so much fun!

Changing careers? Well, yeah. I went from a CPA to writing historical romance. It's a bit of a switch.

Kiss Josh Whedon? You'd have to peel me off of him. I shall always be grateful for FIrefly.

Do they still do that reader/author cruise? That's on my dream list to participate in. Hey Barbara - you're living my dream!

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Nancy, the chook is yours!

Barbara, welcome to the lair. Cassondra and Jeanne, talk about bagging the BIG GAME (in the nicest way possible, of course!).

Barbara, I love the way you cover such a variety of books and writers on Beyond her Blog. And the way you talk about different topics. It can be reviews or industry issues or writing life or... Well, the sky's the limit, really!

By the way, I think the guy from Burn Notice is seriously awwwwwwwwwesome. Wow, how lucky are you that you got to meet him!

The Readers Appreciation lunch sounds like great fun!

Helen said...

Well done Nancy enjoy your day with him make him work LOL

Ladies
What a great post and Barbara how exciting I don't thik I would have the courage to do what you have done although going on a cuise with all those authors would be awesome and I would be in that any day LOL.
I love meeting authors favourite and new to me authors I belong to The Australian Romance Readers Association here in Oz and I have had the best time at 2 conventions and met some wonderful authors been to book signings had dinner with Nalini Singh and Cindy Gerrard chatted to Dianna Love and Sherrilyn Kenyon and Liz Maverick to name a few and of course the wonderful Aussie Authors Anna Campbell Christina Brooke Annie West Stephanie Laurens and loved every minuite of it.

I would love to sit down to dinner with all of The Romance Bandits that would be awesome for me and to meet Julia Quin and Eloisa James and Victoria Alexander to name a few the list would go on for a long time LOL.

Barbara awesome job Jeanne and Cassondra thanks for a great post

Have Fun
Helen

Anna Campbell said...

Helen, you're the life of the party. Authors would be lining up to have lunch with you. But remember, the chair next to yours is MINE!!!!!

Eli Yanti said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eli Yanti said...

never done something wild and crazybefore but now i'm thinking of being a writer of historical romance =D

did you meant the photo will full of book is barbara's book? wooohooo, if those are my book may be i will make a library and welcome everyone to come and read the books hehe

so shame, but i don't know Joss Whedon (try to search about him in google) =(

difficul choice because if could i will like to lunch with all HR or Romance's author =D

Mary Preston said...

All these honey's from TV & movies better stay away from me, I just know I would launch myself at them.

I tend to re-invent myself every ten years or so. It keeps life interesting.

Helen said...

Anna

Always I so love being out with you all it really is a blast

Have Fun
Helen

Kandy Shepherd said...

Hi Barbara, I love reading Beyond Her Blog but had no idea of how you started it. What an inspiring story! Thank you for bringing it to us, Cassondra and Jeanne.

Anna Sugden said...

Hey Barbara - great to see you again. Glad we got a chance to catch up briefly in NY!

Oooh I'm such a fan-girl I'd definitely enjoy a day like yours at Comic-Con. I regularly go to the Memorabilia conventions here in the UK where we have lots of famous people come in for autographs - had some great experiences ... and some bad!

I'd love to meet some of the stars of my fave shows like Leverage. Yes, I'd have the nerve to hug them. And, yes, I have met many of my fave hockey players ... and hugged them! LOL

Tracey Devlyn said...

Thanks, ladies, for such a fun post! Besides writing :), the scariest job I ever had was a Natural Resources Technician. I ran around the county with a group of guys restoring prairies, woodlands, etc., using chainsaws and driving ginormous trucks. The job was extraordinarily empowering.

Barbara, looking forward to the luncheon. It's going to be tons of fun!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Nancy! You captured the elusive Golden Rooster! Woot!

Oh, finally someone who's going to put that scoundrel to work for a change! Yeah! Make him work hard. He's getting a bit plump with all those tim-tams.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Mozette! You're another wonderful adventurer, aren't you!?!

This is great. You said: My Book-Crazy Life is what I do on a fixed income; so people can see there's more to life than just watching the daily soap operas when you're on a disability pension. :)

Way to GO!!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Donna said: Changing careers? Well, yeah. I went from a CPA to writing historical romance. It's a bit of a switch.

Heehee. Yep, it is. And yet you're so logical about it....*ducks flying fruit*

Grins.

The reader appreciation things are so cool, aren't they? LOVE them!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Anna! I think you said it so well! Barbara covers such a range of things associated with writing, but all in her breezy, familiar, and readable style.

Huzzah, Barbara!

Anna, you said: Barbara, I love the way you cover such a variety of books and writers on Beyond her Blog. And the way you talk about different topics. It can be reviews or industry issues or writing life or... Well, the sky's the limit, really!

I learn a ton from visiting Barbara's blog every day. Never fails to inform.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Helen! Wouldn't that cruise be a blast? I'd go on that too, for sure.

You said:
I would love to sit down to dinner with all of The Romance Bandits that would be awesome for me and to meet Julia Quinn and Eloisa James and Victoria Alexander to name a few. The list would go on for a long time LOL.


Awww, thanks, Helen! We'd love to sit down with YOU too! Wouldn't that be fun??

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Eli! So glad you're going to try your hand at historicals. It's a fun category in which to write.

You said: did you mean the photo will full of books is Barbara's book? Wooohooo, if those are my book maybe I will make a library and welcome everyone to come and read the books hehe

Heehee. That would be great, wouldn't it? No, that picture is from a bookstore, but it reminded me of Barbara talking about how many books she gets in on a regular basis. I COULD be your office, couldn't i, Barbara?

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Marybelle! I love what you said!

You said: I tend to re-invent myself every ten years or so. It keeps life interesting.

I love that! Go, you!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

G'morning, Kandy! Thanks for popping in!

Isn't it a fantastic story, about the start of Barbara's blog? Love it.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Anna S! I'd love to see some of the conventions over in the UK and meet some of the UK stars from my fav shows.

You also said: I'd love to meet some of the stars of my fave shows like Leverage. Yes, I'd have the nerve to hug them. And, yes, I have met many of my fave hockey players ... and hugged them! LOL


Ohhhh, hockey hunks. There was a picture of one, from the other day...OMGosh...I'd hug that, and it would be diffucult (waz gonna say hard, snork) to let it go.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Tracey! Thanks for popping in!

You said: was a Natural Resources Technician. I ran around the county with a group of guys restoring prairies, woodlands, etc., using chainsaws and driving ginormous trucks. The job was extraordinarily empowering.

How COOL! I worked for a Caterpillar dealership at one point and got to operate some of the heavy equipment. Very fun, very empowering, so I can see how that would be the same. Go, you!! Grins.

Barbara Vey said...

Nancy, I guess I don't think about the hugging. I just ask and if they say yes it's a done deal.

Mozette, kissing would be going a little too far, even for me. Congrats on your blog!

Donna, sorry, Levi stopped doing the cruises and now I see they were bought out by another company. But I'd go on another author cruise. :)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Barbara said: Donna, sorry, Levi stopped doing the cruises and now I see they were bought out by another company. But I'd go on another author cruise. :)

That's a bummer! They'd have had a whole pile of Banditas on the next one if they were still doing it! Ha!

I think they stopped doing the bus tours too. Sigh...

Barbara Vey said...

Hi Anna, Bruce Campbell is seriously funny and amazing in person. I saw him again in New York and he remembered me (I hope in a good way).

Helen, I would love to come to Australia someday and meet the readers there. That would be a very exciting adventure to me.

Eli, the picture isn't mine, but I do have 3 rooms filled with books...almost a thousand right now, but I had them off to readers and donate some to libraries and other charities.

Barbara Vey said...

Hi Marybelle, thanks for stopping by. I get excited thinking about what I can do next.

Kandy, I know it's not the usual start for a job, but it's worked for me. Thanks for reading Beyond Her Book, I appreciate it.

Hey Anna, glad to see you in NY too. I haven't met the Leverage group yet, but I'll watch for them.

Barbara Vey said...

Tracey, I'm so excited that you'll be at my first ever luncheon. Your Natural Resources job sounds a lot harder than what I do. :)

Barbara Vey said...

Jeanne, thanks for popping in and answering everyone. Although it's still early here, I sometimes forget there's a whole world out there on different time zones. Thanks to you and Cassondra for inviting me today.

Unknown said...

Barbara, you are the best and a lot of fun. It was great meeting you in San Diego. The biggest jump I ever made was moving cities to start a new career. It wasn't easy but I'm so glad I did it since it changed my life in so many ways.

Jeannie Lin said...

Love this story! I think I want to be Barbara Vey when I grow up. At least I'd love to have met all the people she's met. The Reader Appreciation Luncheon sounds awesome. I hope it'll become and annual event so maybe I can attend the 2nd one!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Barbara! SO glad to have you with us m'dear!

You said: Although it's still early here, I sometimes forget there's a whole world out there on different time zones.

Heehee, so true! I am amazed sometimes when I pop on at 1 or 2 in the morning my time and there are people up and chatting. Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Georgie Lee! So glad you popped in.

You said: The biggest jump I ever made was moving cities to start a new career. It wasn't easy but I'm so glad I did it since it changed my life in so many ways.


Changing cities can be a real adventure, can't it? I did it and it's a wild ride. :>

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Jeannie! It's always wonderful to have another Jeannie on the blog. :>

You said: The Reader Appreciation Luncheon sounds awesome. I hope it'll become and annual event so maybe I can attend the 2nd one!

Doesn't it sound FAB? I'm so excited that Barbara's doing it.

Deb said...

Sit down at a luncheon and talk to an author?? I would probably be tongue-tied, having a fan-girl moment. Except with Anna C. or Jeanne. They'd most likely say something witty and I'd snort my drink through my nose or spit it out from laughing.

I'd love to meet all the Bandits in person; a luncheon would not be long enough. Let's make it a weekend Lair get-together!! I've met and actually have had luncheon with Julia Quinn. Others I'd like to meet would be Suzanne Enoch, Debbie Macomber, Sara Lindsey, Sarah Sundin, and many more....

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hahahah! Deb, we'd LOVE to have lunch with you!

You said: Except with Anna C. or Jeanne. They'd most likely say something witty and I'd snort my drink through my nose or spit it out from laughing.

High praise, I tell you, high praise. Anytime I can be witty enough to make someone spew their beverage? I'm good. SNORK!!!!

And I love your list of authors you'd like to meet with over lunch. How cool!

Joan said...

Forget Joss Weadon and Burn Notice, Barbara...you MET MATT BOMER!!!!!!!

Prepare yourself...I must touch your hand.

You've always been a great friend to the Bandits and I know when I became involved with more things at the National level your name was whispered with awe and reference. I wanted my picture made with you! :D

As to leaping into a new career, writing is it and I only wish it were as easy as sitting around in sweats...eating chocolate I've got down pat.

Now, excuse me...my hero has to slay a dragon...or at least make it cry bahahahahaha

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Joan!!!

You said: Forget Joss Weadon and Burn Notice, Barbara...you MET MATT BOMER!!!!!!!

Prepare yourself...I must touch your hand.


Heeheee! I know, JT! Isn't she cool? Grins.

Barbara Vey said...

Georgie, it takes guts to move to a new city. Good for you!

Jeannie, for sure you're coming to the next luncheon.

Deb, there will be Bandits at the luncheon.

Barbara Vey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barbara Vey said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barbara Vey said...

Joan, Matt Bomer is adorable. He came in with a Sinatra hat on.

pjpuppymom said...

Welcome, Barbara! Great to have you in the lair. I'd never heard the story of how you got the Publisher's Weekly gig. From a random act of kindness to a whole new career. How cool is that? And kudos to your son for encouraging you to give the blog a try. You're wonderful at it!

I'm so glad to see more regional reader/author events popping up and I know your luncheon will be fabulous.

So was Stephen Collins as nice in person as he seems on TV? I've had a crush on him since way back when he played Jake Cutter on "Tales of the Gold Monkey" (1982-83). Him, I would most definitely hug! ::grin::

Karin Shah said...

Nice to see you here, Barbara! I enjoyed your recent talk at COFW. I'm the one who asked if you got to hug Michael Shanks, too*g*

Best wishes!

Karin Shah
BLOOD AND KISSES Available now
www.soulmatepublishing.com

Barbara Monajem said...

I did some wild and crazy things while young, but the memories make me cringe. Since then, I decided writing is wilder and crazier and more fun, because imagination is the limit.

I sure hope your Reader's Luncheon becomes an annual event, Barbara!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey PJ! What a wonderful way to phrase it: From a random act of kindness to a whole new career. How cool is that? And kudos to your son for encouraging you to give the blog a try. You're wonderful at it!

Isn't she fabulous? Grins. Then again so are you! All of you over at the Romance Dish are divine, darling! Grins.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Karin! Thanks for popping in. I heard the COFW event was wonderful!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Barbara M! Enjoyed YOUR post the other day when you were with us!

You said: I sure hope your Reader's Luncheon becomes an annual event, Barbara!

Me too!

Beth Andrews said...

Welcome to the lair, Barbara! I loved reading how you got started with your fabulous blog *g*

My parents spent their honeymoon in Milwaukee :-) I've always wanted to visit there for that reason. Well, that and because of Laverne and Shirley, lol! Hope your Reader Appreciation Luncheon is huge success!!

Anna Campbell said...

Deb, Jeanne often has me snorting tea all over my keyboard. And it's NOT a good look!

Anna Campbell said...

Eli, good luck with that plan! You meet some very interesting people in this business, at the very least! ;-)

Anna Campbell said...

Hey, Jeannie, is this your first visit? If so, pull up a cabana boy! Make yourself comfy!

catslady said...

Oh, I have to ask if that is a picture of Goeff (the robot on the Craig Ferguson show)?

Barbara Vey said...

PJ, I was interviewing Stephen Collins because it was the anniversary of the Gold Monkey and they give me the complete DVD set!

Hi Karin, nice to see you here. If you watched the video, you got to see Michael Shanks hugging me. Yummm!

Hi Barbara, I'd love to see the luncheon become an annual event.

Barbara Vey said...

Beth, let me know if you come to Milwaukee and we'll tour Miller Brewery and see where Laverne and Shirley worked. :)

Catslady, not sure about the robot picture.

Christina Brooke said...

Barbara, a very warm welcome to the lair today! We're so pleased to have you. You've given authors such amazing support and been such a wonderful advocate for the romance genre I'm not surprised Jeanne wanted that fanfare!

The readers' lunch sounds amazing. I hope it goes brilliantly for you and is syndicated around the country!

Christina Brooke said...

And oh, yeah, I don't think I'd ever have the courage to hug Joss Whedon. Fall down at his feet in worship? Yes. Hug? Nooooo.

Beth Andrews said...

Beth, let me know if you come to Milwaukee and we'll tour Miller Brewery and see where Laverne and Shirley worked. :)

LOL! Barbara, I would LOVE that! I may just set my next trilogy in Milwaukee so I can tell my husband the trip is for research ;-)

Barbara Vey said...

Christina, Joss is very huggable. :)

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hey Anna!

You said; Deb, Jeanne often has me snorting tea all over my keyboard. And it's NOT a good look!

Well then we have to return the favor and say something spew worthy in Deb's presence. Hahahah!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

*preens* Christina said: You've given authors such amazing support and been such a wonderful advocate for the romance genre I'm not surprised Jeanne wanted that fanfare!

*preens*

See, Cassondra? My trumpeters are appreciated. Grins.

(Cassondra's on the road today, she'll chack in later)

Becke Davis said...

Hi ladies! I haven't been around for awhile (I feel like I've lost this whole year, somehow...) but I had to stop by to say hi to you all and to Barbara.

I'm totally on track with Barbara - I took my first baby steps into fiction writing when I was 55, and I'm still hoping it's possible to teach this old dog some new tricks!

Go Barbara!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Becke! YEAH!!! We're so happy to see you!!

I know you've been busy, and I'm so excited that you're working on some great fiction, so rock on!!

You said: I'm totally on track with Barbara - I took my first baby steps into fiction writing when I was 55, and I'm still hoping it's possible to teach this old dog some new tricks!

You're great, Becke and you too do so much fo all of us as well, so agin, I say, ROCK ON, Becke!

Nancy said...

Becke wrote: I took my first baby steps into fiction writing when I was 55,

It's not when you start that counts, Becke, it's how you finish. Good luck!

Nice to see you here.

Barbara Vey said...

Hi Becke, so nice to see you here. Knowing you, I know you will be very successful at whatever you attempt. :)

Cassondra said...

Hi all!

I know, I'm SO late! My humblest apologies to Barbara. I asked her to join us, then I was called away and have been on the road all day. Long drive, delays in both Nashville and Chattanooga.

I've missed almost the entire party. *hangs head in shame and sadness*

And I've left Jeanne to tend to everything. :( What a rotten co-hostess.

But..Barbara I'm so glad you were able to spend the day in the lair, and thank you so much for telling your story, and letting us be one of the first to know about your awesome reader luncheon next spring. I'm angling to get to go. *flutters eyelashes in a come-hither way*

Cassondra said...

Nancy!

You got the rooster!

I talked to you on the phone today, and I didn't hear any crowing in the background. You must have had him tied up and gagged.

Or cleaning the kitchen. *grin*

Cassondra said...

Oh, and the question..

Yeah, I've changed careers a couple of times. It's not always good for the retirement plan, but it's good for the soul sometimes.

Cassondra said...

Christina Brooke said: Barbara, a very warm welcome to the lair today! We're so pleased to have you. You've given authors such amazing support and been such a wonderful advocate for the romance genre I'm not surprised Jeanne wanted that fanfare!


Okay I will have to admit, that in light of the reader luncheon announcement, the fanfare was...appropriate. *glances sideways at Jeanne*

Becke Davis said...

Thanks, Jeanne - I wish I'd started sooner, but better late than never!

Nancy - That's what I keep telling myself! Not quite there yet, but I'm not giving up!

Barbara - Are you coming to Lori Foster's get together in 2012? Seems like ages since I've seen you!

Cassondra said...

Becke!

So good to see you here in the lair!

*smooches*

Pat Cochran said...

My dear friend Dee,who handled the
advertising for one of our area
papers, asked if I would like to
write a neighborhood news column.
I'd never done anything like that
before and with her recommendation,
the job was mine! I wrote for them
for eight years and enjoyed every
day! My most memorable column was
based on a mini-interview with
Russian engineers who were on a
visit to the company my husband was
working for at the time.

I have to say that I participated in
Miss Barbara's several-day-long party
in celebration of her 4th anniversary
with PW. Loved it! Looking forward to
the 5th!

Pat Cochran

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Cassondra said: Okay I will have to admit, that in light of the reader luncheon announcement, the fanfare was...appropriate. *glances sideways at Jeanne*

WOOOT! See, see! Got it in one. Grins.

Ta-rah! Ta-rah!

Cassondra said...

Pat Cochran said:

I wrote for them
for eight years and enjoyed every
day!


I think this whole discussion is a perfect statement about how we shouldn't be afraid to step outside our "boxes" and try something new---see where it will lead. That's so cool--that you now have all those wonderful times to look back on because you were willing to take that leap into the unknown.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hi Pat!

You said: I have to say that I participated in Miss Barbara's several-day-long party in celebration of her 4th anniversary
with PW. Loved it! Looking forward to the 5th!


And the 5th is gonna be a party of epic proportions, I'm pretty sure! Grins.

Barbara Vey said...

Becke, I'm working on my schedule for next year now, so I'm not sure about Lori's event yet, but Joysann will be there for sure.

Pat, thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed the anniversary party. Next year will be the 5th, so I'm expecting it to be huge! See you there.

Thanks again to Jeanne and Cassondra for having me, it was a blast.