Lunch With An Author

           Remember that game “If you could meet someone famous, living or dead, who would it be”? Well, if you’ve read this blog before, you know I love to meet authors (okay, I’ll make exceptions for several actors: Hugh Jackman, Antonio Banderas, Tom Selleck, Sam Elliot and Mark Harmon. Oh my! Be still my heart)). And if I could have lunch with them? Oh my gosh! How cool would that be?

            Who am I kidding? I’m such a fan girl. I’d probably gush all over them (yes, there is precedence for that statement as I have gushed over a favorite author) and I probably wouldn’t be able to eat a bite (hey, that might be the secret to weight loss….dine with an author you idolize).

            So who would I choose? I’ve met many authors and as a group, they are warm, generous, sweet and lovely people. Victoria Alexander? Wonderful woman and I did have the opportunity to meet her. Kathryne Kennedy and Jennifer Ashley? I have the honor of knowing them both and lovelier people you won’t find.  Jodi Thomas? Yes, another gracious and kind author (who, surprisingly did not run from me when I blurted out “I love you”. Of course, she knew I was talking about her writing….at least, I hope she knew that). I would love to meet Tessa Dare because I love her witty, so satisfying novels.

            Oh, wait! While not a romance author, I would love to meet…and maybe have lunch with….or at least sit at the same table with Stephen King. I could tell him how very badly he scared me when I was fourteen and how much I’ve loved being terrified by him ever since. That wouldn’t be gushing, would it?

            So, who would you choose?

As always, happy reading!

Marie

To Shave or Not to Shave

Every once in a while, I like to see a hero with facial hair. Oh, I’m not talking about big bushy beards like the men who used to be on the Smith Brother’s Cough Drop box, but rather a nicely groomed mustache or goatee or even a full beard, if it’s well kept. For some reason, I am attracted to this and I’m not sure why. 

I used to love watching men shave, which somehow doesn’t quite fit with the attraction to facial hair (and we’re not even going to discuss chest hair which I like on a man but you never see on a book cover) but I digress.  

I once heard that publishers don’t like heroes with facial hair because they didn’t quite look right on the cover of a book so it makes me wonder why there aren’t more heroes with beards or mustaches or both. Is it reader preference? Writer preference?         

I love Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott, but both must be sporting their mustaches (somehow, they don’t look the same without them, don’t you agree?). Hugh Jackman? Well, that’s unfair because he looks fabulous with or without.

             

What about you? What’s your preference? Do you like your heroes clean-shaven? With a five o’clock shadow? Sporting the scruffy look Don Johnson made famous? Or full on hairy face, like Hagrid in the Harry Potter films? Or somewhere in between?

             

Whatever your preference, I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for within the pages of a book!

           

Happy reading!

Marie