This week we Riskies are celebrating our second anniversary! For two years we have been sharing our various and sundry thoughts about the Regency, about writing, life, and such. Sometimes we are brilliant and scholarly. Sometimes frivolous and silly. Sometimes even naughty, but always, we hope, interesting. I am the latecomer to this wonderful group, but I’m delighted to be here and delighted with the friends I’ve made. Our readers are wonderful!
We’d like to reward you for your friendship and your comments. You make this blog a conversation among friends and that is my favorite part about Risky Regencies. Each of us will offer a prize to someone who participates on our day. And we’ll also have a Grand Prize, an Amazon gift certificate for $25 for one lucky person picked at random from our newsletter list. Sign up for our newsletter by midnight Sunday, Sept 23 in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize.
My prize for today is an autographed hardback copy of The Marriage Bargain, one of my Diane Perkins books that was printed by Doubleday Book Club. Because I’ve decided to only write under the name Diane Gaston from now on, this promises to be a collectible (I should hope!). Added to that is A Reputable Rake–not my RITA book, but the promotional item I used when the book came out from Harlequin Historical, complete with a laminated copy of the cover. A Rake such as this (only smaller) was mentioned by Judy T recently. And if those items are not enough, I also am including a hand embroidered lady’s handkerchief, the sort a Regency lady might use to dab at her tears.
All you have to do is pick your favorite blog of mine over the last year and tell me why it was your favorite. Winner will be selected at random from the comments on my blog. Keep commenting all week. All our winners will be announced next Monday.
To assist you, I’m going to list five of my favorites. You can pick from this list or from another one of mine. Just be sure to give a reason why it is your favorite.
One of my favorites was “300 and the Regency” on March 19, 2007. Not only did it give me an excuse to post pictures of Gerard Butler in the flesh, so to speak, but it was fun looking at the movie from a Regency perspective.
A lot of my favorite blog postings seem to have something to do with handsome men. Another favorite was from January 29, “More on Covers – Men or Flowers?” I discuss one of my favorite topics: Romance covers. We all have our strong opinions about Romance covers.
Which leads me to another favorite. My postings of the interviews with Richard Cerqueira, both Interview 1 and Interview 2, March 11 and 12, which I’ll take credit for even though it is his interview.
I thought it was fun learning about the behind-the-scenes of a cover shoot, and I thought Richard was an interesting person in his own right.
Another favorite of mine was my posting of December 11, 2006, “Is it Lord Byron?” I shared the sketch I purchased at an antique shop and compared it with paintings of Byron. When I look at the blog again with the images side by side, I’m even more convinced I have a sketch of Byron.
And lastly, my rant about the movie Beau Brummell starring James Purefoy, “Brummell, Bio or Bust?” from May 2. In this blog I show just how hypocritical I can be, because I go on and on in indignation about the inaccuracy of his open-front shirt and then last week I turn around and rave about the open-front shirt on my The Vanishing Viscountess cover.
If I could add one more, I’d add my blog about Waterloo from June 18, “Waterloo, A Very Near Run Thing.”
I’d include that one because I think that was such a pivotal day in history, a day of incredible horror and incredible honor.
So, now it is your turn. What is your favorite Diane Gaston blog of the past year? You could win her Perkins book, her Reputable Rake, and a handkerchief to stick in your reticule.
Sign up for our newsletter by Friday for a chance to win our Grand Prize-a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate. Just send an email to riskies@yahoo.com and put “newsletter” in the subject field.
I likes the 300 post. I watched the movie and it was great. I was hopng for a different ending but at least it didn’t leave me wondering what the #@#@ happened here. It was also great to see picks of Gerard Butler. He’s a great actor with a botacios bod.
Ooooo, I like the “300” post, too. I saw it twice at the theater and bought it as soon as it came out to DVD. Loved it. And Diane, you need no excuse to post pictures of Gerard Butler. 😉
~Andrea
Whoo hoo! Two votes for Gerry!
This is great.
As much as I ADORE Gerard and his various . . . assets, I would have to say that the Waterloo blog is my favorite. I love all of your blogs, but the Waterloo blog is just so very real to me. It came along when I was in the middle of collecting information about Waterloo as I am outlining a novel that starts at the battle with a group of young peers in the calvary, friends and what happens in their lives afterwards. Happy Second Riskies!!
Doglady,
I could not resist adding that blog about Waterloo to my list. Waterloo is one of my favorite subjects and Waterloo: Day of Battle is one of my favorite research books.
It does prove I have a serious side, as well!
From Catlady!
I love your 300 and the Regency blog the most. I’m a huge Gerard Butler fan!! The movie 300 was a fantastic effort into advancing special effects. Though violence ruled the plot, if you notice, blood never got on the characters. Very interesting comic book effect reminding the viewer of Sin City.
I also loved your Beau Brummel blog too. I thought it was very witty. 🙂
Kathy
My favorite post was the one on February 25th when you were interviewed and talked about Innocence and Impropriety. I received a autographed copy of the book from you and have it on my keeper pile. Thanks again its a treasure!
I know Riskies aren’t “eligible,” but just have to say how much I also enjoyed the Waterloo blog. 🙂 (And pics of GB are always welcome, too!)
LOL Well, let me give one vote to the one about the covers, because after all, any chance I get to mention my intense dislike of headless people. . . 😉
But heck, okay, I’ll go with the 300 one too. I mean, anyone who could find ways of bring that into a Regency discussion, two thumbs up! 🙂
Okay, so I cheated and didn’t stick with just one choice. 😉
Lois
The 300 post of course. Any excuse to see pictures of Gerard Butler is a good one to me.
Hi catlady from catslady roflmao.
I am also adding my name to the 300 post. I went back and read it since I hadn’t seen the movie until after your post. From some other people’s comments I thought I wasn’t going to care for the movie but I loved it and of course Gerard. I heard him say on TV that he worked out 4 hours every day to get that body – I’m so glad he did lol.
The blog I enjoyed the most was Travel Guides for the Imagination. It was fascinating reading and learning about the various destinations. I do long for a trip of that type. Looks absolutely wonderful.
I enjoyed your Sunday, August 19, 2007 post –
“More of Diane and Amanda’s Excellent Adventures” with your pictures from your trip to Williamsburg
The 300 post, because before that I thought I could live without seeing the movie, but now I know I’m wrong. I have got to see that movie!
tetewa, how nice of you to say that about Innocence & Impropriety!
Lois, glad you like the cover one. I, too, am not fond of headless people.
Ruth, glad you liked Travel Guides…I forgot about that one.
Cristyjan, glad you liked our Excellent Adventures. I was in Williamsburg this weekend, too, and was remembering the fun we had.
But, you know, I think Gerry is winning.
It is a good thing some of you like other stuff or I’d be blogging about Gerry every Monday!
How many cats do you have, catslady?
I think I liked your cover post best — I find the topic of covers endlessly fascinating. 🙂
Along the subject of covers, I also loved your post about covers on foreign editions:
http://riskyregencies.blogspot.com/2007/
07/foreign-affairs_30.html
(Of course, I’m not eligible for a prize — but my vote should still count, even I’m not voting for a certain gentleman!) 🙂
Cara
Hum… I think I prefer More on Covers–Men or Flowers? because I am just addicted to covers… I never buy a book when I find its cover distateful… and I always like to have an insight on what the authors think of their own covers.
I also liked your cover post… I mean discussing all these gorgeous men on the cover… sigh… but also because I discovered that cover models were real models… I thought they were drawings that have been modified by computer.
Feb. 25 Innocence and Propriety is my fav.
vivid depictions of the Regency period got me into this type of story. I loved the opera singing aspect of this book. Rose is a great character.
I forgot to ad that the embroidered handkerchief would be so awesome; what a perfect prize along with the books. I collect fancy handkerchiefs from yard sales, etc. I love them.
I must admit that the blog I talk about the most is your Interview with Richard Cerqueira. I mention romance novels, and the covers invariably come into the conversation. The next thing I know, I’m babbling about that interview, again. Richard was well spoken and gracious. Added a certain something to those covers, you know? And no need to enter me, as I’ve already been richly blessed, but I wanted to add my tuppence. 🙂
So glad to see the animal world represented!! I got the nickname “doglady” when I had to testify in a dog fighting case. I work with dogs with “mental” problems for lack of a better word. I helped to rehab some fighting dogs that were confiscated in a bust and the DA asked me to testify as to the trauma, etc. The judge saw me at a local restaurant and said “Oh yes, this is the doglady I told you all about.” It stuck! I actually have three cats as well, weighing in at 23, 17 and 8 pounds!!
Can I just say two more things?? First of all, Cara King is a DOLL!! She judged my entry in the Royal Ascot and it was a really terrific crit! NOT because I won, but because she made some fantastic suggestions and I could tell from all of her notes that she really took her job seriously! Thank you, Cara!! I too am SO glad Gerard worked out 4 hours a day. And my 16 year old nephew is the one who said I HAD to see 300. He wanted to talk to me about the history in it. Gotta love that kid. Speaking of history, I have always thought that Waterloo was such a turning point in the lives of the British peerage. So many aristocratic families lost sons in that battle.
I had to look back for the title, but I remembered what it was about. It’s the one titled ” Fallen Soldiers”. I thought the part where you mentioned your Dad was touching. He would be so proud of you now to see everything you have accomplished.
I had to look back for the title, but I remembered what it was about. It’s the one titled ” Fallen Soldiers”. I thought the part where you mentioned your Dad was touching. He would be so proud of you now to see everything you have accomplished.
Ah, Kimw, how very nice of you to say this! I almost listed that one, too. I have a thing for soldiers, even though I married a very “unsoldierly” guy. But I’m intensely proud to be my father’s daughter. He knew I was writing–I’d just become a Golden Heart finalist in 2001 before he died. And his brother, my uncle in Florida, actually reads my books.
I’m just wild about Gerry!! But I did enjoy the cover model piece….No, Gerry it is please!
Robinl, I had the idea for handkerchiefs when I did the lunch at Ft. Meade. I wrapped my books in handkerchiefs. So I got obsessed by handkerchiefs for a while.
And how nice that you liked my Innocence and Impropriety blog!
doglady, you are redeemed by having cats!!! There are worse names you could be called, too.
Nathalie and lily, I like to talk about covers. You’ll probably hear more from me about them.
Judy T, I’m so glad you liked Richard’s interview! I was so thrilled he would do that for us, especially because my only connection is his hand was on my Wagering Widow cover!
And to all you like my 300 blog…you are ahead! doglady, I liked 300 for the history, too….
And I like Cara, too! Congrats on winning the Royal Ascot. I wish I’d stayed to see the award ceremony.
What I need to do, Santa, is convince Gerry to be my next cover model!!!
She judged my entry in the Royal Ascot and it was a really terrific crit!
Wow, thanks, doglady! And I’m so glad I could be of any service to someone who rehabilitates fighting dogs, among other things — what a noble job! And that you have cats, too, makes you quite perfect. 🙂
Cara (who is going to get a kitten any day now)
Well, I guess I am Disqualified By Reason Of Connubial Involvement, but that has never stopped me from expressing an opinion! So many great posts to choose from, so I’ll pick two: first, your 300 post…though perhaps not for the same reason as most of your readers…and second, your Byron post. Because I thought it was interesting, and it gave me the opportunity to say “Isn’t it Byronic?”
And Doglady: I’m pretty fond of Cara King myself. So kudos to you!
Todd-who-assures-everyone-that-no-hedgehogs-were-harmed-in-the-typing-of-this-comment
Very Byronic of you, Todd!
You know, we ladies love 300 due to its historical significance….sorta.
I loved this one: More on Covers – Men or Flowers?
But I’m truly obsessed with covers. So it’s really fitting.
I like your covers post best. 🙂
Diane Gaston wrote:
You know, we ladies love 300 due to its historical significance….sorta.
Oh, absolutely. I feel exactly the same way about Barbarella, Queen of the Galaxy.
Todd-who-is-a-strong-believer-in-historical-significance
I love the Waterloo post. And I have a very selfish reason for it: I live in Belgium! So I’ve learned about it at school, I’ve visited Waterloo…
PS: Please don’t count me in the drawing. I’ve already got the book. Good luck to the rest of you!
Oh, Stefanie! How nice of you to stop by all the way from Belgium! I want someday to visit Belgium and Waterloo. I often wonder what the opinion of the battle was to the people who lived there.
Thank you also for having my book. That is a surprise because I didn’t know it was all that available in Europe.
Hope you win some prize this week!
I vote for: More on Covers – Men or Flowers? I love a good cover 🙂
My favorite post of yours, Mme. Gaston, was the one on Brummell.
Not, of course, because I feel the “celebrated” Brummell needs any more attention turned to his paltry achievements or insipid tailoring, but because the post (and accompanying comments) provided many opportunities for various Risky folk to insult the Brummell TeleVision programme — and reading these insults gave me nearly as much pleasure as reading insults to the actual Brummell.
(You note that I do not call him “Beau.”)
Yours in elegance,
Bertie
I’m torn between the hunks of 300 and the cover model interview. I will have to say I like the interview better because it is an interesting look into something everyone is curious about.
Bonnie, I’m with you. I love a good cover. My tastes have changed since writing romance. I’ve come to appreciate the clinch cover, although I prefer the covers to have handsome men depicting something relevant to the book. Like mine have!!!
Bertie,
You are the one true Beau…..
Georgie,
What a dilemma! Caught between a rock and a hard place….I didn’t say that, did I?
I was surprised that Richard’s interview didn’t get more votes. As far as I know Michelle Buonfiglio is the only other blog to have a cover model interview. And I thought Richard showed the work in a serious manner–when it is so often made fun of.
Diane, you didn’t mention two of my favs. The first one is the trip to Williamsburg and Amanda’s visit, and the second one is about saving your floppies and backing up your computer drive.
The technical one is among my favs, because it’s such an important task but most of us forget to do it. We get complacent about the ubiquitousness of computers and forget that it’s a machine and it can fail. Backing up is vital.
A quick suggestion: You get these little drives that you can plug into a USB port and then pop into your purse and thus you can save off the latest copy of your WIP and research for said WIP.
And like we’d EVER get tired of GB in his various poses showing off his many…assets. (eye roll)
I blush that I only just discovered this blog today through “spiced tea party” but you aren’t getting rid of me again in a hurry.
Welcome, Erastes!
We are delighted to have you. We like tea, too!
Keira,
I just reread those blogs – the floppy one and the Williamsburg/Amanda one. Why didn’t I add those. Doh!
I have those stick drives, a smaller external hard drive and now my big external hard drive. I’m all set!
Bless you and your husband, Diane, for saving your work. I don’t know who would be more horrified at the loss of your WIP, you or me. I run a daily nightly backup on my internal second drive, a weekly backup on my external drive, and then there’s always the stick drive. Phew! Phew!