Sophia Rose's Blog - Posts Tagged "readers"

Howdy all! Happy Fall!
Just got in after watching some afternoon high school band practice. There isn’t anything like Elvis Presley’s Burning Love played by the kiddoes! Ha, got you humming, didn’t I?

Brr! It was crisp and breezy and I forgot my fleece blanket. Good thing I snagged a jug of cider at the local apple farm stand on the way home yesterday. Heated spiced cider with a smidge of cloves and allspice along with cinnamon sticks for stirring and a sack of donuts for dipping. House smells great and I can’t wait for a mug of cider and a plate of dipping donuts.

But that isn’t the best part. I have a guest stopping by today for a chat. All the way from the Carolinas, no less. This is a busy time for her so I was happy to catch her between big family events like a vacation and welcoming a grandbaby into the world. Better than the best of five-star reads.

Debbie is a devourer of books and a friendly member on GoodReads and further into the Jane Austen lovers community. She is a supporter of authors and readers alike through her on-line presence and insightful reviews. I love it when she shares her thoughts on what she reads and puts out her most recent reads so I can pick through and find some goodies amongst them.

And I do believe that’s the doorbell…
Greetings, Debbie!

So lovely to meet you, Sophia! *HUG* It’s perfect that our virtual visit was scheduled this month, because I do miss the fall foliage. It’s so beautiful here! And it’s an honor to sit with you on your plush, comfy sofa. I always love reading your interviews. It’s sure different to be on this end of the process! Ah, yes, come soak up the fall while you're here. Ha! It's fun to put people in the hot seat, um, hot sofa.

How are things down in your neck of the woods?

Woods?

I live in a beach town – Myrtle BEACH, baby! Even though the Carolinas ARE known for its fir trees, I live only 10 minutes from the shore and my house mostly has palmetto trees around it. Not a very woodland-type environment.

Did you have a good time on your vacation? See any wild life or have any surprise adventures?

As for our vacation, there’s nothing to report because we cancelled it at the specific request of our son, who surprised us by wanting us at the hospital when his wife went into labor. We knew his mother-in-law would be around and had expected the new parents would prefer not to get inundated with family for a week or two… you know, attempting to be the cool, understanding in-laws even though we were chomping at the bit to see our first grandchild. Obviously, we were VERY happy to change our plans. They’re in North Charleston, and the hospital is only about an hour and a half south of us.

It was very exciting sharing the experience with Evan, even from the waiting room. And our new grandson, Samuel, is adorable, of course. I love watching Evan interact with him. Verra nice! Vacations come and go, right? Grandbabies being born, chance of a lifetime!


Debbie with little Samuel


Are you busy with any autumn activities?

Oh, yes. Extremely busy. Walking along the beach, or even better, sitting on the beach listening to the waves and reading my kindle. In addition, my husband Kurt and I get out on the golf course whenever we can. There’s a fall golf league for couples that we joined. You know, the usual autumn stuff!

This is Debbie being busy on the beach. Just kidding, Debbie! Do you think she's reading JAFF/Austenesque on that e-reader?

But seriously, we’re retired, and we just moved from Eastern Pennsylvania in 2013 to the warmer climate down here. It was total serendipity when our son and daughter-in-law moved so close by just last year. Of course, we’re also busy as new grandparents, and we scoot down to North Charleston whenever we can.

I’ll bet you noted all those leaves in my yard. That’s for tomorrow- me, my trusty rake, and my audio book. Haha! I think you’re not allowed to burn them anymore, with all the air pollution concerns. Pity. That was always a favorite feature of autumn when I was growing up on Long Island, NY. Love the smell of burning leaves!

Speaking of audio books, are you a fan of audios? If so, do you have a favorite narrator or favorite audio book?

You know, I’m really not. I think they’re great in some situations, but the only time I listened to one all the way through was about 20 years ago. It was on cassette, narrated by David Ogden Stiers. I don’t even remember the title, just that it was a novel set in Rome during the Roman Empire. I was driving from Eastern PA to CT by myself, and I knew it would help pass the time and keep me awake and alert better than anything else.
I tried an audio book again recently-- one of Georgette Heyer’s. I just couldn’t get into it. The narrator was very good, but it was so much slower than reading it silently myself and I honestly couldn’t keep the characters straight.
I must need to see the names in print for them to register in my head properly. Sort of like the difference between being introduced to someone in person and then forgetting the name 2 minutes later unless he/she is wearing a name tag! I get that. I do alright for some audios, but others with many characters or lots of details get me confused. And I thought audios were slow, too, until I realized I could increase the speed setting and now I listen to them at 1.5 times the regular and that works much better.

Now that was audios, but in general, when did book love begin for you?

Oh, golly! When DIDN’T I love books? It feels like I was born reading. I have a strong memory (one of those odd moments embedded in my brain for no particular reason) of being a second grader in the schoolyard during our after-lunch recreation time. I was walking backwards reading a Nancy Drew book Nancy Drew, sigh....I so wanted to be her as a kid. while a friend was walking forward facing me and talking to me. (Awfully rude of me, wasn’t it?)

Has there been a particular book that has been read and re-read and loved to pieces by you?

Aside from Pride and Prejudice (I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve read that), my other reading obsession is with all the Harry Potter books. I’ve read them multiple times, too. It’s so impressive how J.K. Rowling blends adolescent coming-of-age with mystery and paranormal. Somehow, she makes it all work so well as a series as well as within each individual book. I could have bet money on knowing your answer to that question. I knew you adored Pride & Prejudice and devour so many wonderful sequels, variations, and mash-ups for it.

But what made you love it? And has your love for it evolved or changed at all? Personally, I’ve grown more aware of the background social customs and those quirky secondary characters when at first it was Darcy and Lizzy that captured my early attention.

The first time I read Pride & Prejudice I had to immediately RE-read it. I mean, as I started it, I first thought it was going to focus on Jane and Bingley. After a little bit, I was saying to myself, “I know Jane is supposed to be the heroine, but her sister Elizabeth seems a lot more interesting!” Of course, eventually I figured out Elizabeth was the heroine. But it seemed like Wickham was going to be her love interest. Then, when Darcy proposed, I was absolutely, totally shocked. Never for a moment suspected that would happen.
And then Darcy’s LETTER!! OMG! It just blew me away to realize how wrong Elizabeth and I had been about everything. And I could go on (and on and on and on…), but it was just the most surprising book I’d ever read with the most satisfying ending ever.
When I was done, I had to start it over again to read more closely now that I knew where it was going.
And, yes, my love for it has evolved because, the more I examine it, the more I appreciate what a truly brilliant and ground-breaking book it is. The use of limited third person, the structure, the economy of writing, the humor, all the letter-writing (and letter-reading!), the dialogue, the well-defined characters, and, yes, the clever misdirection leading to the surprises—Genius! Pure genius!

Let me pause for a bit and bring in the goodies.
I have heated spiced cider and donuts or, you know, I can sneak my husband’s secret stash of Chips Ahoy from on top of the fridge with a glass of milk. I leave him to think he’s still a bit of a mystery to me after all these years.
Oh, thank you! You’re such a wonderful hostess! How kind of you to share your donuts. I’d feel guilty stealing your hubby’s Chips Ahoy, though. Put ‘em back, Missy!

Hey! I’ve got an idea! I grabbed some apples at that apple farm. Howz ‘bout we cut them up, mix in some cinnamon and brown sugar, throw them in a pan and bake them? That’s another fall favorite of mine: baked apples. Now you're talking, sister!

YUM! I appreciate the offer for the spiced cider, which does smell heavenly. As it happens, though, I brought a thermos full of steamy hot chocolate, which is my personal go-to drink when it’s nippy out as it is today. If you would care for some, there’s plenty for you, too, and that’s something else we can dip the donuts into! Don't mind if I do. Thanks! Hot Chocolate is my favorite cold weather drink.

Is your hubby a secret stasher or maybe he’s the Sherlock who finds your stashes?

I’ve usually been way too sneaky for my Sherlock hubby to find my secret stash, although I don’t keep one around the way I used to. About 12 years ago, I was really overweight, started having back problems, and realized I was likely to develop serious health issues if I didn’t get my binge eating under control.
Fortunately, around the same time my church started a healthy lifestyle support group that included nutrition education, encouraging food journaling and sensible exercise along with weekly meetings, relevant Bible study and prayer partners. It was really, really hard work but very rewarding. In about a year, I lost 60 pounds and I’ve kept most of it off ever since.
My weight does fluctuate, but now I take advantage of www.myfitnesspal.com to get myself back on track when my scale goes up beyond a certain point. Way to go, Debbie! Your commitment and hard work made it happen. Thanks for sharing this personal victory.

Changing the subject a little, I understand that you and your husband share a special and rewarding career in music.
By the way, I had a chance to go over to your website and click through your demos and his (click on his picture if you want to listen to his demos).
You guys are sensational.


Debbie and Kurt performing as part of Rubaiyat band

Can you share a bit about BrownSound Music and your own personal career in music?

Thank you so much! I can’t talk about my own music career without including my husband. Kurt is a tremendous electric guitarist, as talented as the majority of well-known rock guitarists, and more versatile than most of them, too. (I must mention that he is also the sound engineer for every song on the web links.)
I have been so blessed to have worked with him throughout my professional singing career starting with our marriage in 1977.

When he and I first met in college at a mixer, my school activities in high school and college had been in choral groups and musical theater, so I was comfortable singing in front of an audience.
However, music wasn’t my field of study. If I could go back in time, I’d major in it and study music theory. I still don’t know chords, though I can read sheet music from the couple of years of piano lessons I took in elementary school. But I never ever expected to sing professionally and certainly not in a rock band. I didn’t even listen to much rock and roll.
Kurt still jokes that he brought me over to the “dark side” by turning me into a rock and roll singer. It was something we could do together that we both enjoyed.




Debbie & Kurt in Alter Ego band

In the late 70’s and early 80’s, we were performing together in cover bands (meaning we “covered” popular music), playing gigs 2 to 6 nights every week. That was our only source of income, and we even bought our first house as full-time musicians.


Rubaiyat band


In 1985, we decided to settle down and start a family, so we got out of the music business. When our son was older, around 2003, we began another band together, performing only on weekends.

Within only the past few years, I also went back to singing serious choral music. I got to perform in a chorus with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra (in PA) in 2012, including doing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Now I’m doing concerts with the Long Bay Symphony here in Myrtle Beach as part of the Carolina Master Chorale. Last season we performed Brahm’s Ein Deutches Requiem, and we’re working on Pirates of Penzance later this season. As one who loves classical music, I’m soaking it all up and enjoying every second.

Kurt and I made our debut as a duo, BrownSound Music, about 7 years ago when I started feeling like I was a bit too long in the tooth to keep singing rock in bars.
He plays acoustic guitar and I play keyboards (badly, but it’s adequate!). We also have a drum machine and special digital units linking our microphones to his guitar that allow us to harmonize with ourselves- the two of us can sound like as many as six voices if we so choose!
Our repertoire is pretty diverse: everything on the light side from Joni Mitchell and Billie Holliday to quasi-rock arrangements of Janis Joplin and old Jefferson Airplane.
We had modest success with the duo in PA, but it takes time to establish a following in a new area and we haven’t marketed ourselves too aggressively since we moved to Myrtle Beach.

Now Kurt and I are each doing other things musically, although we perform as BrownSound Music whenever those opportunities arise. There’s no one I’d rather make music with!

BrownSound Music: http://www.brownsoundmusic.com/index....

Carolina Master Chorale: http://www.carolinamasterchorale.com/

Here’s a link to a bunch of us in the Carolina Master Chorale singing the National Anthem on 8/20/2016 at the local minor league ballpark (I’m on the right end):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSg_w...

Any special music gigs for you, recently?

This Sunday, September 25, the Carolina Master Chorale is performing music by Debussy, Strauss and Borodin with the Long Bay Symphony. I always love when we get to sing with the full orchestra! (Our choral rehearsals are with piano accompaniment.)

Can you tell us about your new DooWop singing opportunity?

As for my new doo- wop project, again, I have to credit Kurt. He came across an ad placed by a group of four older men in an established singing group, called Forever Doo Wop, looking for a female singer who could handle both lead and harmonies. Knowing this would be a perfect fit for me, my dear husband encouraged me to audition, and I got the job!
It’s all music from the 50’s and 60’s. We’re accompanied by karaoke instrumental recordings and add all the vocal parts ourselves.
The guys are originally from the New York/New Jersey area, and they each grew up, very literally, singing doo-wop on street corners and in the subways. We have a great blend of singing voices and each of us gets opportunities to sing lead with the others backing. I’m reviving some Motown tunes (such as Respect and Dancin’ in the Street) that I loved singing in bands 30 years ago.
The group has a faithful and enthusiastic group of followers, most of whom are in our older age bracket. I’m still cramming to learn all the music.


Debbie singing with her new Doo Wop group

I am a music lover and if I’m not listening to books while doing my chores and errands, I’m listening to music. Frequently, I’ll even find myself distracted by a song when I’m reading because something about the story calls it to mind.

You know, with all the music I work on, I prefer quiet when I’m not actively learning songs. No radio, iPod or CDs… just blessed silence and my kindle or computer, thank you very much.
And Kurt is the same about not listening to music without his guitar in hand, only he’s a TV-watching junkie. Sports and cop shows for him.


GoodReads pals Debbie and Sheila had the opportunity to get together though they live miles apart. Books can bring people together and make friends out of strangers.


Sofa Starters
Red or Yellow? Red. I go for the bold!
Pie or cake? Ha! I LURVE cheesecake, which is more like a pie than a cake IMO. I do love apple pie, too. (Couldn’t you tell from the baked apples?) Ergo, pie!
Hawaii or Scotland? Scotland. My husband and I both have a hankering to see the land where golf was born. (Isn’t THAT just too stereotypical of an old married couple married almost 40 years?!)
Mary Bennet or Margaret Dashwood? Gotta be Margaret Dashwood. Mary gets kinda annoying, doncha think?
Stuck in traffic or cornered by a solicitor? Actually, I’m mostly patient in traffic, especially since I’m retired and rarely have to rush to get anywhere, so that’s an easy choice. On the other hand, I get incredibly uncomfortable with solicitors, whether they want me to buy something or to donate money, and I avoid them as much as possible.
Math or History? Hmmm. This is harder. History, I guess. I don’t really like either, but at least I UNDERSTAND history!!
Cowboys or Cops? Definitely cops. I have tremendous admiration for them and the difficult job they do. Although I do love horses. *snapping fingers* I know! A mounted policeman would be perfect. A cowboy cop! Yep, that’s the ticket!

Debbie, thanks so much for stopping by. You're a hoot in person. :) I had a good visit and I wish you a safe trip back home.
Oh, this has been delightful, Sophia! Thank you again for inviting me. You’ve made me feel welcome and comfortable- from the setting and the exchange of favored fall treats to the nice softball questions you lobbed in my direction. *BIG HUG* Keep up the great blogging!

Yep! I’m one of those. I shop the post-Halloween candy sales and I am not ashamed to admit it. It would be a cold, cruel world without candy in it.
And I need this to support my NaNoWriMo challenge efforts.
Oh, and I wanted to have a nice full candy dish for when my latest Sofa Chat guests arrives.
Yeah, yeah, that’s it, I bought all this candy for my guest. Definitely. Really.
Never mind. You’re a tough crowd. Haha!

But back to that guest, oh yes, I am excited to have a lovely reunion with Miss Debbie. You see, Debbie is the first GoodReads pal ever that I have met in Real Life.
We were real life strangers until just this summer when Debbie and her family were on a road trip vacation that brought them through my neck of the woods here in Southeast Michigan. Books really do bring people together.
It was a fantastic experience to converse and discover that she is just as wonderful in person as she is here on GoodReads and Facebook.
Debbie is an ardent book lover and shares many similar reading tastes not to mention we both talk ‘school’ since we shared that vocation, too. I can’t wait for our chat visitors to learn what a snazzy gal she is so without further ado…

Howdy, Debbie! Welcome back to Michigan!
What do you think of all the blazing orange, yellow, and red and the crisp frosted air now after all that sun, heat, and humidity earlier this year?

Hey Sophia! I am glad we could get together again. I so enjoyed our first visit. I love the beautiful colors the leaves turn, especially the reds, but I much prefer the heat of summer. When it gets cold I’d like to do that thing the bears do…..hibernate.

Ha, I know your stomping grounds, New York, can put our weather to shame. How is fall in New York?

Fall in New York is beautiful. It was unusually warm and nearly reached 80 degrees during mid-October, but now it is colder than I like.

Any favorite fun activities?
My favorite fall activities are apple picking and taking walks with my husband.
Very nice! And you can do both of those at the same time. ;-)

Have you ever gone to Sleepy Hollow to hunt down the Headless Horseman? Erm, okay, strike that last question- sometimes my rampaging imagination gets the better of me. Unless you want to answer it, that is.


Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow, NY
Doesn't he look properly spooky?


It is funny you mention Sleepy Hollow as that is where I work. The bridge in the famed story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is no longer there, but the Old Dutch Church is in The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and every October they have a parade during which the honored guest is the Headless Horseman.








The Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, New York

What are some neat places and things to do if I come traipsing along to New York?

New York City has great museums, restaurants, and theatre. My favorite museums are the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. When we go to a Broadway show or concert there are 2 places we love to eat: Carmine’s and Tony’s DiNapoli. The New York Public Library, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Intrepid are also nearby. If you like modern art the Guggenheim is also near.



The New York City Public Library
Anyone else drooling with envy and wanna go there?


I love upstate New York…. West Point is another great place and Niagara Falls. if you like to hike we have a slew of state parks, one of which I imagine Darcy riding to me around the corner on the trails.


Watkins Glen State Park, NY

As for my favorite New York State Park, it has to be Watkins Glen State Park in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. At one point the view makes you feel as if you have walked into the Elven realm of Rivendell, from JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.

Other wonderful places to go to in the Finger Lakes region are the Corning Museum of Glass as well as the Seneca Wine Trail, and if you love birds there is the Cornell Lab or Ornithology and Montezuma Wildlife Refuge are great places to visit.



Corning Museum of Glass- a piece from 1812
Couldn't you just see this at Pemberley?


I know, you’ve actually been to the Hudson Valley because we talked about you recognizing scenes from Mary Simonsen’s lovely book (which I hope to read this month), Darcy on the Hudson.

It was pretty neat to see familiar places in that book. As a matter of fact Sleepy Hollow and West Point are in the Hudson Valley.

Speaking of books, you have a fun book related side job that I truly hope grows which allows you to work with the authors during pre-release time. Would you like to share more about that?

Well, my book related side job started about 2 years ago when a JAFF ebook I purchased had no content.
After contacting Barnes and Noble with no results I contacted the author who resolved the problem. I thanked her and shortly after I began checking her NOOK and Kindle content.

After a while, I began proof reading for her. Now I proofread, cold read, and BETA read for a number of authors. I have done research for one author, as well. Since I love to read I really enjoy doing this.
The most challenging book I proofread was a compilation called Pride and Prejudice: Behind the Scenes. It’s about 700 pages, 150 chapters. It took about 10 weeks to complete.


Whew yeah, that's definitely a hefty one!

I love hearing how it all came about from a small seed of a beginning. So much promise for more here with your talents.

Since we share the same love for Jane Austen and the stories based on her life and books, I’ve of course grilled you on how you came to love Austen’s works. Do share that with everyone since they need to hear how swoonworthy your husband is for his part in it all.

I had never even heard of Jane Austen until May of 2011 when my hubby read Pride and Prejudice and told me I would love it. He found the 2005 movie and forced me to sit down and watch it (yes. He had to make me watch it) and I fell in love with the story. I then read Pride and Prejudice in 2 days and watched the 1995 version, but the 2005 is my favorite and Matthew MacFadyen will forever be Fitzwilliam Darcy in my eyes, after all, hubby looks more like Matthew than he does Colin Firth. As for Matthew MacFadyen being my favorite Darcy, I think that is apropos since my hubby’s favorite Elizabeth is Keira Knightly. And from here, the rest is history, as they say.

Yep, that reasoning for favorite actors playing the roles makes perfect sense for me. If I were to toss in comparisons, my darling would be Bingley (1995) because he has a look of Crispin Bonham-Carter going on, but his personality is definitely a Henry Tilney.

What is your favorite Jane Austen novel? And what was your first JAFF/Austenesque to your recollection?


My favorite is Pride and Prejudice very closely followed by Persuasion. I love Darcy, but, the letter in Persuasion is the most swoonworthy I have ever read. As for my fist JAFF recollection….I believe that would be Abigail Reynolds’ By Force of Instinct. I loved that there were variations and I looked for more and found continuations as well. I became totally hooked.


And if you’re not reaching for an Austen or Austen-related book, what are some of your other reading favs?

I love legends, especially King Arthur and Robin Hood. I researched and found the original basis for both King Arthur and Robin Hood.
History and science come next. The Middle Ages and Egypt. Love learning how the Egyptians prepared their dead for mummification.
As for science I enjoy astronomy and anything living. I read about raptors and other wildlife and follow many nest and wildlife cameras. I know. I deviated a bit.

Deviate away, LOL! That’s what books do- open us to new things. But yay for the legends, love those two. And Egypt, sigh…I will watch or read anything if it has to do with Egyptology. Erm, incidentally, I’m a huginormous Elizabeth Peters’ fan as a result.

As a teacher of the kiddies, this means that you have a few secret weapons up your sleeve. I know this about teachers because I was once upon a time a preschool teacher and a school children’s librarian. One secret weapon is fun and quirky children’s books for the telling to a young eager audience. What is your favorite children’s book or children’s author/illustrator?


I have 2 favorite stories for young children. One is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. My kids love it because Alexander has everything go wrong. The other is Miss Nelson is Missing.

As for my absolute favorite author, that is Dr. Seuss. The kids love the stories and many teach lessons.

And what was your favorite picture book as a kid?

I cannot remember my favorite picture books, but my favorite stories with beautiful drawings were the Billy and Blaze series by C.W, Anderson about a boy and his pony.



I can’t let you off without talking about birds. You must know this. I have to ask how that quirky birdie unrequited love affair is going that you told me about while out here in August. Did she finally accept his wooing?

That’s right. You know my love for birds. The answer to that is still no. My son’s green finch pair, Flip (female) and Sunny (male) have spent six years in the same cage and Flip still wants nothing to do with Sunny.

And have you gone on any recent bird watches or seen any nifty birds lately?


Osprey

I went on my first bird walk this August at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I saw so many different kinds of birds on their guided bird walk. I saw my first Merlin, Kestrels, and King Fishers among at least 30 other varieties.


Junior Eagle, 4-5 months

At the Wildlife Refuge I saw my first Bald Eagles and Osprey in the wild. That was so amazing.

As I mentioned above I watch nest cameras. My favorite is the Southwest Florida with Harriett and M15. They should be laying eggs soon….
There had been a lot of drama on that nest last year….a fight over the female , an injured baby, a missing youngster who was attacked by a great horned owl…..

Oh, and now your love of the medieval stories makes even more sense- you probably adore it when they reference falconry in the books. :)

And see, now I’ve learned something. I had no idea one could keep track of birds in live time through nest cameras.

Link to an Eagle Cam in SW Florida: http://dickpritchettrealestate.com/ea...

I wonder if I can tempt you with a special treat from my candy dish. I also have some home-made zucchini bread and honey butter with a cup of hot Russian Spice tea if you’d like. Can’t send you back into the brisk air without warming your insides first, right?

The zucchini bread with honey butter is delicious and the Russian Spice tea hits the spot. Yummy.

Sofa Starters:
Cave Exploration or Snorkeling?
Cave exploring, as long as I have a good flashlight and extra batteries with a long rope around me so I don’t get lost and can find my way out
Pink or Turquoise? Pink
Iceland or New Zealand?
Now that is a tough one. Both are unique. Iceland for its geothermal system and volcanic landscape. New Zealand for its warmth and wildlife. So, my answer is both.
Elinor Dashwood or Anne Elliot?
Anne Elliot because I love Captain Wentworth’s love letter.
Pizza Delivery or Chinese Takeout?
Another tough one, but pizza wins out by a smidge.
Art or Music? Music
Ironing or Window Cleaning?
Ironing. I can’t flip the windows as they are too stiff and to climb a ladder would not work as I am terrified of height.

It has been a joy to see you again, Debbie. Thanks so much for stopping by. One of these days I will have to return the visit so I can see your New York.

Yes, you must and enjoy my Pride and Prejudice themed guest room.
Oh, good golly, you make me want to head out for guest room privileges right now. That would be a fun room to stay in.






If Debbie isn’t spending time here on GoodReads, here’s where you can find her:
Facebook…Debbie Fortin
Twitter…@Skamper25Fortin
Google+…Deborah Fortin

There! I have lugged out of the loft storage the last of the outdoor Christmas lights. And yes, somehow during a year of sitting undisturbed they have managed to leave their neat coils around the paper towel rolls (great idea, mom), get tangled, and turn ornery about doing their jobs and twinkling. Sigh…

Coming home to pretty holiday lights in the evening is worth it even if I don’t compete with my neighbors for that coveted award our small city gives out for the home holiday decoration contest (my brother in law, who lives on the other side of town swears its rigged- he’s competitive, nuff said).

But wow, look at the time! Make haste! Make haste! I must snag my skates (which I also dragged down out of the loft) and zip down to Fountain Park and meet my latest sofa chat guest at the Warming Building for a cup of cocoa and a coze while watching the ice-skating fun on our frozen fountain ‘pond’. Maybe she’ll let me entice her out on the ice or maybe she’ll smugly skate circles around my pitiful rusty attempts to stay on my feet (I skate once a decade these days, haha).

My guest is a book lover, lover of Jane Austen, and other shared favs that I hope to get to know so much better through our chat. She has sent me the most wonderful book recommendations and particularly a goodly list of holiday reads. Her encouragement and contributions to our shared GoodReads group, Austenesque Lovers, makes her the most delightful Good Reads Pal.

Howdy, Patricia!
Brrr, right? Come on in out of the cold. I see you found the skating rink and warming shed just fine. They have coffee or hot cocoa at the counter if you would like and I saved us a table here by the window.

Are you a winter lover? What’s winter like in your neck of the woods?

I love the first snow of the season, but after that I dislike the cold. I like the beginning of the winter, with the Holiday preparations (Christmas movies, songs, decorations, etc.) more than winter season when it is really cold (Brrrrrr)! We usually get at least one big snowfall a year that forces people to stay home and we have to shovel our way out! Personally, I am more of a spring lover. I love it when we have warmer weather and the days are longer. I confess that seeing the new plant growth and warmer weather is a big plus for spring.

Are you the type who hibernates in front of the TV with the hockey game on or with a good book or is this your busy time when you’re rarely home?

I will be busy until the beginning of January. Once it gets really cold, however, I am more of the kind to curl up with a good book but instead of a hockey game on TV, I usually have a period drama movie on with my dogs curled up beside me. Oh hey, that totally works for me. I adore period drama and need to catch up on Poldark.


Ahhh, isn't Tricia's dog a sweetie?





Do you have any fun don’t miss holiday or winter activities in your area?

If I had to choose one, the “don’t miss holiday activity” I always do is to go to Byers’ Choice in Chalfont, Pennsylvania to see a one man show of “A Christmas Carol” performed by Gerald Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens! He narrates and takes on the personalities of all the characters, just the same way that Charles Dickens performed it! It is absolutely amazing! Whoa boy! Yes, I had no idea there was this option of enjoying the Christmas classic. Sounds like a blast.
There are other things we do as a family, too. We try to go into NYC some time in December to see the Christmas tree and maybe take in a Broadway show. We also take a day and make my grandparents’ special Christmas cookies. On Christmas Eve we go to a midnight service that ends with everyone holding lit candles while singing, just like from Jane Austen’s time! A candlelight service does strike the right ambience.

Any first-time ever experiences (food, music, activity, show)?

I went to 54 Below, a club in NYC, for the first time in September and loved it! This particular show was performances by Broadway actors who portray Disney Prince’s and they performed all different types of songs. I cannot wait to go back again.





Now, if I remember right, you have a theater job that is in full swing at the moment. I love attending plays and the world of theater so I was thrilled to know you work in one. Would you tell us any fun work stories?


When they had “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” there last year, I found out that I knew two members of the chorus from the high school shows we were in together. It was also during this same show that I talked to, and had a picture taken with, Alan Menken! *Whistles appreciatively*


Tricia With Alan Menken of Disney movie song fame


What play is showing at the moment?
Right now, “The Bodyguard” is having it’s US premiere at Papermill Playhouse! It is an exciting time for everyone!

What was your favorite play to see? Favorite to work?

When it comes to a favorite show to work and to see, there are so many and they both intermingle together!
I especially love working the kids shows and autism friendly performances at the theater. I love seeing a child’s first experience at a theatre…the way their eyes show their excitement. The theater also has special performances that make them accessible to people with disabilities such as the deaf and blind. I try to make sure I work these shows since I enjoy working with people who need accommodations. I also am a subscriber to the open captioned performances for the deaf and hard of hearing. This is what first drew me to the Papermill Playhouse as a place to work. I cannot believe it has been ten years that I have been working here! I would say the highlights would be West Side Story, 1776, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, Ever After, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. That makes my heart warm to know that there is a place for people of all abilities can go and enjoy a play- and work, too.
Love Thoroughly Modern Millie!!!

LINK: Paper Mill Playhouse
http://www.papermill.org/


Now I want to know about your favorite Broadway experience- show, the theater, if you went to dinner with it.



Anastasia play poster



My love of theatre is so big, that it seems when I am not working a show, I am going into the City to see shows on Broadway. I am so excited for the upcoming musical Anastasia. I saw it twice when it had its world premiere in Hartford, Connecticut. All the members of the cast are so nice!

My Papermill family and I saw “A Bronx Tale” a few weeks ago on Broadway, after it had it’s world premiere at our theater. After the show, we talked to some of the actors who had been at the Papermill – they were so glad that we came to see them!



Trish's Papermill family attending A Bronx Tale



A few weeks ago I waited in the cancellation line for “Hamilton” with my mom from noon until 6:45 one day to get the ticket, which my mom purchased for me as an early Christmas present. The seat was in the center orchestra, Row G. The experience was amazing and I recommend this to everyone to try to see if they are given the opportunity. I had been hesitant about seeing it as it is so different from what I usually like, but I totally enjoyed every minute of the show! I waited at the stage door after the performance to see Christopher Jackson, one of the last original cast members. He was leaving the show (he’s currently on the CBS TV show “Bull”). He didn’t come out that night but I was able to go back another night and saw him afterwards – he couldn’t believe that I did that! It was the best backstage door experience I ever had!


Tricia and Christopher Jackson, actor from Hamilton An American Musical in a stage door Meet and Greet!


My college roommate of two years was a drama major and she instilled in me a love of theater. She must have dragged me to every small town community theater and city theater within a fifty mile radius, and I was able to see the behind the scenes side because she worked as a stage hand as well as acting. I also got the opportunity to promote and cover the theater seasons for two different community theaters when I worked for a small circulation paper. Coincidentally, it was my college drama major roommate who made me fall in love with small town community theater.

What book that you’ve read would you love to see put on the stage?

I read a lot and often think about how a story would be performed on stage or adapted for the movies. I think that North and South, Little Women, and the Hesitant Heiress would make good stage productions.

Speaking of books, and we definitely are- can two book lovers get together and not speak of books? Haha! What are you reading at the moment?

At the moment I am reading The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James, Pride & Prejudice group read on Justjane1813, and The Particular Charm of Miss Jane Austen. I also am in the middle of reading Victoria by Daisy Goodwin, which I hope to finish by the time the Victoria miniseries airs in January. You can never ask me what “book” I’m reading as I usually am in the middle of quite a few at any given time! Yeah, that's me, too. Never just one in the hopper.


Have you read any good holiday or winter setting stories yet? I know I still have two holiday Austenesque books you recommended that I plan to read in December.

I just finished Christmas with Miss Austen by Laura Briggs. I hope to read more Holiday books as the month goes on, like Regina Jeffer’s Mr. Darcy’s Present.


Always curious about this...How did you come by your love of Jane Austen’s books and Austenesque/JAFF?

I remember being home sick from school when I was in 1st or 2nd grade and my Grandma, whose name was Emma by the way, had the TV on. Unknown to me at the time, it was the Colin Firth’s Pride and Prejudice. I was dozing on and off for the whole movie and saw bits and pieces of it. I remember loving the dances and costumes, and seeing the first proposal scene. I am hearing impaired and was not wearing my hearing aids at the time, so I did not hear what was going on and all I recalled reading at the beginning of the movie was the word Jane in the opening credits. I slept through the ending and I just had to find out what happened. A few years later when I asked my teacher, she thought it was probably Jane Eyre. I recall reading it and being so disappointed and not recalling anything from what I remembered from the movie.

I knew the story had to be a “classic” and started to read as many as I could, hoping that I would eventually find it. Finally, one day when I was in middle school, I was at Barnes and Noble and saw the first DVD release and recognized Colin Firth on the cover! (who would not recognize him? ;) )

I tried reading the book, but it was hard to get into her writing style. I eventually got the DVD and used it as a “guide” to help me read the book. I loved it and brought the rest of her books soon after! Once I got better with reading her style of writing, I was able to read them. I could not get enough of them and bought the movie versions of them too.

When I graduated high school, my mom took me to England as a graduation present and I got “Me and Mr. Darcy” by Alexandra Potter at the airport. On our trip we asked at our hotel about Jane Austen related sites for a side trip and they told us about Chawton House.
Here is where I found out about JASNA. I saw a brochure about the Jane Austen Society UK. I thought out loud how I wished they had one in the US and they handed me a different brochure about JASNA!
I became an annual member for a couple of years before I received the lifetime membership as a gift.

That same summer, I also began reading According to Jane by Marilyn Brant and from that time on, I have been reading Jane Austen books and variations constantly! My personal library consists of hundreds of books by Jane, about Jane, variations of her novels, time period of Jane, etc. etc. etc. :)

It might surprise some people, but I had a really low reading level compared to my classmates, at the time I saw Pride and Prejudice all those years ago. It was by trying to find the name and book version of the movie that was a key factor in why my reading level began to soar and why I am such an avid reader. Jane Austen, and her works, impacted my life in a way that makes me so grateful to her. You have a peach of a story, Tricia.

What type/types of Austenesque story really gets you excited to read it?

I love variations/what ifs stories. When I am not reading a Pride and Prejudice inspired book, I like anything Persuasion and Emma related. It doesn’t matter to me if the book is set in different time periods or settings, but I am not one for the paranormal types of books, though I do like a good ghost story!


Tricia visiting Bath with author and illustrator Jane Odiwe

When we were in England in 2013, we went to Bath and spent the day with Jane Odiwe, an author who lives there some of the time. She gave us a tour of Bath and pointed out different places that she used in her books. It was like we were actually living it and it is an experience that I will always remember!


What has been your favorite TV/movie adaption of Jane Austen’s books or an Austenesque story?

Do you want the short list or long list? Lol. Becoming Jane is one of my favorites! I’ve watched it soo many times that I lost count! It was the first movie I saw in a movie theatre that was Jane Austen related. I know it is not historically accurate, but I love the music and the dances, and the costumes are gorgeous! I am also a huge fan of Anne Hathaway and I love James McAvoy’s portrayal of his character.

Other Jane Austen related movies that I liked are, the 1983 version of Mansfield Park – in my opinion, it is more faithful to the book than any of the others.
The 2009 adaptation of Emma with Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai. I love everything about this adaptation.
When we were in England in 2013, we also visited Loseley Park which was Donwell Abbey in this version of the movie.
The 1995 version of Persuasion is another favorite. Out of all of the adaptations I have seen for Persuasion, this is my favorite. Our visit in 2013 to Bath made it seem all so real that I fell in love with the city even more. We even saw a performance of it in Bath by a traveling group from the United States!
And of course, the 1995 Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice! This is my favorite for SO many reasons. It has a special place in my heart since it was the movie that got me into Jane Austen and was one of the things that got me into reading. I have seen it a lot and just appreciate everything about it.


It’s getting down toward the end of the year which makes me want to look back and reflect even as I gear up for a New Year start. What were some of the best books you read this year?

There are a lot of good books that I read this year! I devoured The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor. I think I finished that in two days and I highly recommend it, especially for those who like Titanic. Edenbrooke by Julienne Donaldson is another one. She wrote a novella from the hero’s perspective and I wish she had expanded upon that. I think that The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen is one of the best books that she has written.

I also found two series of books that I think were excellent. The Everstone Chronicles by Dawn Crandall and Amanda Carmack’s Elizabethan Murder Mysteries.

As for Jane Austen related books, I would have to say it is the Subsequent Proposal by Joana Starnes and our group’s read on George Knightley Esquire series by Barbara Cornwaite and Bluebells in the Mourning by Karalynne Mackrory.

Do you have any books you planned to read this year, but didn’t and are determined to get read next year?

I was hoping to finish North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I love the TV miniseries and was hoping to read it. I also have sequels to North and South that I had found but wanted to read the classic first. I keep getting sidetracked with other books and life. I also was hoping to read Julia Quinn’s book Because of Miss Bridgerton and Mercy’s Embrace series. I put that series on hold for 2018. I thought it would be nice to read Persuasion related books during the 200th anniversary year of Persuasion.
That TBR Pile never goes away. Haha! So true!

So, now that I’ve got you nice and toasty warm, do you want to go outside and skate?

I would love to go outside and watch people skate. Unfortunately I have a balance problem and have never been able to skate. Yep, that might interfere with skating. Next time I'll drag you out to the sledding hill. Haha!

Sofa Starters
Ocean or Forest?
That is tough. Can I say both? I like being surrounded by nature when I am out in the forest, but I find that the ocean is very calming for me. I have a hearing loss, and the waves are one of the few things I can hear without my hearing aids.
Gold or Silver?
I like both for different reasons. I love the color gold, but when it comes to wearing jewelry I like to wear silver.
Drama or Comedy?
I would say I am more romance than anything else, but if I had to choose, it would be drama. I like mysteries like Sherlock Holmes and other dramas like the Hunger Games
Board Game or Jigsaw Puzzle?
Though it has been a while since I have done either of them, I would have to say Board Games, especially Checkers and Clue.
Charles Bingley or Edward Ferrars?
Charles Bingley. I like his personality better, how positive and outgoing he is. I also feel he is very honest.
Waffles or Omelette?
Waffles, especially my grandma’s recipe for them!
Laundry or Pulling Weeds?
Laundry - though I like being outside in nature, I don’t like gardening – too many bugs!

Great to have you visit for a chat, Patricia! Thanks so much for being game to my antics.



If Patricia isn’t hanging out here on GoodReads, you can find her at: Twitter LOSTfan2011