Sarah MacLean's Blog, page 5

Kate Noble on Tina Fey

Tina Fey is getting a lot of love this month from not only the blog, but also readers and others on Twitter who are following Girls Who Wear Glasses month. But I'm particularly happy to share today's post from the fabulous Kate Noble, who lives in LA and who I like to think has a glamorous Tina Fey-esque life. Kate's The Summer of You is one of my very favorite books, and I am so so excited for her next... Let It Be Me  (out next month)!

And, of course, I'm always happy to give Tina (and Kate) more facetime on the blog!

Welcome Kate!

**

It is no exaggeration to say I want to be Tina Fey when I grow up.  She is our generation’s Dorothy Parker.  She successfully ran the writer’s room at Saturday Night Live before becoming the anchor of Weekend Update before leaving to run her own show *about* running a show wherein she played the lead, Liz Lemon.  And winning a bunch of Emmys for it.

(Liz Lemon is my 2nd choice for who I want to be when I grow up, by the by.)

And she did it all in glasses.  Not bothering to hide her four-eyed nature with contacts (like I do) or laser eye surgery, Tina Fey said, “nope.  This is me.  I’m gonna do my job and be awesome and not conform to your standards of what you think I should look like while I do it.”

She killed it hosting the Golden Globes with pal Amy Poehler. She is impassioned and articulate about what it is to be a modern woman – for proof, look no further than her “If I have one more gray-faced man in a two-dollar haircut tell me what rape is…” quote.  On those occasions that existing words are inadequate, she makes the right ones up. (“Blergh”, anyone?)  She’s a leader, a mom of two, and an exasperated professional.

Oh, and she’s funny.  Like, for reals funny.  Like, trying to choke down a special sandwich at the airport before going through security to run after the guy who could be the one, because She Can Have It All! funny.

If I seem to be fangirling, Tina Fey deserves it.  And certainly some of her superpowers must be stored in her sleek glasses.   They tell everyone to take her seriously, but lets them be surprised by her wicked sense of humor.  She makes me feel that with focus, talent, a solid mid-western work ethic, and a sense of humor… I can achieve anything.  I, too, can have it all.

**

And you deserve it all, Kate!

Your turn, reader...let's talk about funny! What do you think is the funniest show on TV? For me, it was 30 Rock for a long time...and now I have to find something new!

One commenter (US Only) will win a copy of Kate's If I Fall!

Jennifer Ashley on Julia Sugarbaker!

I am wild about Jennifer Ashley.

I fell for her ages ago when I read the genius of a book The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie, and I’ve been an avid reader and hand-seller of her books (written as both Jennifer Ashley & Allyson James) since then. She writes beautiful books, and I have no idea how she writes so many of them in a year. She’s either the hardest working woman in publishing, or she’s cloned herself.

All this is to say that I’m thrilled Jennifer has taken some time out of her insane writing schedule to join us for Girls Who Wear Glasses month in celebration of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (Yes…yes…I know it’s March today…but it’s sort of Month-ish) to talk about her favorite lady in lenses– Julia Sugarbaker from Designing Women!

**

One favorite show of my younger years was Designing Women. I loved those four strong ladies, each striving to make it on their own, all finding friendship and support with each other. I liked the message the show sent, that women could make it on their own, without having to compromise what they cared about..

The leader of the gang, Julia Sugarbaker (played marvelously by Dixie Carter—who can forget the “Ray Don speech?”), was beautiful, strong, opinionated, and yet compassionate. And she found no shame in pulling out a pair of designer glasses when she needed them and mounting them on her nose.

Because I’m a woman who has worn glasses since age seven, I love seeing glasses-wearing women portrayed as being beautiful, smart, and strong. Cause you know we are! :-)

I wear glasses *all* the time, because I can’t see a foot in front of my face. (If you look at my author photo, you’ll see them in my hand—I had to take them off for the shoot so light wouldn’t reflect on them),

So I have affection for Julia and all the ladies of Designing Women, who showed us that women could be beautiful, successful, resourceful, self-sufficient, and surrounded by friends, and that wearing glasses didn’t slow them down a step.

I raise a glass to girls with glasses!

**

Thank you so much for coming over to play, Jennifer!

Your turn readers — in honor of the Designing Women of Atlanta and Jennifer’s fabulous Scottish MacKenzies — let’s talk accents! What’s your favorite accent? Tell us in comments and one lucky commenter (US only) will win a copy of Jennifer’s The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie — and get acquainted with the family! 

Jennifer Ashley on Julia Sugarbaker!

I am wild about Jennifer Ashley.
I fell for her ages ago when I read the genius of a book The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie, and I've been an avid reader and hand-seller of her books (written as both Jennifer Ashley & Allyson James) since then. She writes beautiful books, and I have no idea how she writes so many of them in a year. She's either the hardest working woman in publishing, or she's cloned herself.

All this is to say that I'm thrilled Jennifer has taken some time out of her insane writing schedule to join us for Girls Who Wear Glasses month in celebration of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (Yes...yes...I know it's March today...but it's sort of Month-ish) to talk about her favorite lady in lenses-- Julia Sugarbaker from Designing Women!

**

One favorite show of my younger years was Designing Women. I loved those four strong ladies, each striving to make it on their own, all finding friendship and support with each other. I liked the message the show sent, that women could make it on their own, without having to compromise what they cared about..

The leader of the gang, Julia Sugarbaker (played marvelously by Dixie Carter—who can forget the “Ray Don speech?”), was beautiful, strong, opinionated, and yet compassionate. And she found no shame in pulling out a pair of designer glasses when she needed them and mounting them on her nose.

Because I’m a woman who has worn glasses since age seven, I love seeing glasses-wearing women portrayed as being beautiful, smart, and strong. Cause you know we are! :-)

I wear glasses *all* the time, because I can’t see a foot in front of my face. (If you look at my author photo, you’ll see them in my hand—I had to take them off for the shoot so light wouldn’t reflect on them),

So I have affection for Julia and all the ladies of Designing Women, who showed us that women could be beautiful, successful, resourceful, self-sufficient, and surrounded by friends, and that wearing glasses didn’t slow them down a step.

I raise a glass to girls with glasses!

**

Thank you so much for coming over to play, Jennifer!

Your turn readers -- in honor of the Designing Women of Atlanta and Jennifer's fabulous Scottish MacKenzies -- let's talk accents! What's your favorite accent? Tell us in comments and one lucky commenter (US only) will win a copy of Jennifer's The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie -- and get acquainted with the family! 

Miranda Neville on Tina Fey

Miranda Neville is so much fun in real life. Seriously. She’s hilariously dry (or is that dryly hilarious?) and always has a crazy story to tell. And on top of it, she’s smart. I like her because funny, smart, and excellent storyteller are the top three characteristics I look for in people around me. 

She’s also written about girls who wear glasses — the heroine of her short story, “The School of Wooing for Inept Book Collectors,” in the (FREE!!!) Once Upon a Ballroom anthology wears them to particularly hilarious consequences.

So, it should come as no surprise that when I asked her to join me for Girls Who Wear Glasses Month to celebrate the release of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, she chose to write about another funny, smart, excellent storyteller!

Welcome, Miranda!

**

I guess I’ve been living under a rock because I never watched Thirty Rock until this year. For the last month I’ve been glomming the show on Netflix and I have a mad girl crush on Tina Fey.

And I love her alter ego Liz Lemon. I love that she is is grumpy, dresses like a slob (although she can clean up well when appropriate) and eats unhealthy food. I adore that she’s a smart, funny, talented, successful woman who is also deeply imperfect and not ashamed of the fact. Despite her serial failure in relationships she still manages to date some seriously hot men (Jon Hamm, Matt Damon) along with the losers (the ghastly Englishman Wesley Snipes and Dennis Duffy whom I would like to kill).

I don’t know how much Lemon is based on Fey, aside from the fact that she’s both an actress and a writer. I’m not even sure if Tina wears glasses in real life or whether I’ve totally confused her with Sarah Palin. Her priceless depiction of Palin on SNL has to rank as one of the most brilliant political satires ever. I’m not a fan of Palin – I think she’s a whack job and am profoundly grateful she never got near the presidency – but she and Tina both look great, their looks enhanced by stylish eyewear.

Gorgeous Rebecca

Not so long ago wearing glasses was regarded as a severe drawback to female hotness. The change came gradually but we’ve reached the point where glasses are neutral or even an asset for a woman’s looks. To prove my point I offer my very own beautiful daughter Rebecca.  May she never have to stumble due to bad eyesight.

**

I’m wild about Tina myself, Miranda, and so happy you chose her as your girl who wears glasses! 

Your turn, reader — tell Miranda and me who your favorite funny lady is, and one lucky commenter (US Only) will receive a signed copy of her The Dangerous Viscount!

Miranda Neville on Tina Fey

Miranda Neville is so much fun in real life. Seriously. She's hilariously dry (or is that dryly hilarious?) and always has a crazy story to tell. And on top of it, she's smart. I like her because funny, smart, and excellent storyteller are the top three characteristics I look for in people around me. 
She's also written about girls who wear glasses -- the heroine of her short story, "The School of Wooing for Inept Book Collectors," in the (FREE!!!) Once Upon a Ballroom anthology wears them to particularly hilarious consequences.

So, it should come as no surprise that when I asked her to join me for Girls Who Wear Glasses Month to celebrate the release of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, she chose to write about another funny, smart, excellent storyteller!

Welcome, Miranda!

**

I guess I've been living under a rock because I never watched Thirty Rock until this year. For the last month I've been glomming the show on Netflix and I have a mad girl crush on Tina Fey.

And I love her alter ego Liz Lemon. I love that she is is grumpy, dresses like a slob (although she can clean up well when appropriate) and eats unhealthy food. I adore that she's a smart, funny, talented, successful woman who is also deeply imperfect and not ashamed of the fact. Despite her serial failure in relationships she still manages to date some seriously hot men (Jon Hamm, Matt Damon) along with the losers (the ghastly Englishman Wesley Snipes and Dennis Duffy whom I would like to kill).

I don't know how much Lemon is based on Fey, aside from the fact that she's both an actress and a writer. I'm not even sure if Tina wears glasses in real life or whether I've totally confused her with Sarah Palin. Her priceless depiction of Palin on SNL has to rank as one of the most brilliant political satires ever. I'm not a fan of Palin - I think she's a whack job and am profoundly grateful she never got near the presidency - but she and Tina both look great, their looks enhanced by stylish eyewear.

Not so long ago wearing glasses was regarded as a severe drawback to female hotness. The change came gradually but we've reached the point where glasses are neutral or even an asset for a woman's looks. To prove my point I offer my very own beautiful daughter Rebecca.  May she never have to stumble due to bad eyesight.

**

I'm wild about Tina myself, Miranda, and so happy you chose her as your girl who wears glasses! 

Your turn, reader -- tell Miranda and me who your favorite funny lady is, and one lucky commenter (US Only) will receive a signed copy of her The Dangerous Viscount!

Katharine Ashe on Literal Girls Who Wear Glasses

Katharine in her awesome specs

I’m thrilled to host the fabulous Katharine Ashe today on the blog. As you know, Katharine and I are co-bloggers over at The Ballroom Blog — Do you read that? You should. It’s Regency fun. — and aside from writing epic Regencies, she is a lady in lenses. Very. Cool. Lenses (see left). 

So, when I decided to launch Girls Who Wear Glasses month in honor of Pippa Marbury, the heroine of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover, I knew Katharine was going to have to weigh in on spectacles. I knew she’d have lots to say, and a definite favorite girl who wears glasses. 

Boy, do I love this post! 

**

I know a little girl of 5 and ¾ years. Let’s call her Rosella. (It’s her favorite name that isn’t her own, though Minnie would do nearly as well.)

She is my favorite GWWG.

Why?

1. She happily, proudly wears a princess dress her aunt made for her that is emblazoned with Cinderella, Briar Rose and Belle. When asked which princess she likes best, she points to each in a row, then again, then again. She is not a girl to be pinned down to one ideal of femininity. Then she adds that she’s rather fond of Rapunzel too — Disney’s latest version. (A girl after my own heart, indeed.)

2. Rosella wears her princess dress into the creek behind the house, and traipses home without any notion that it’s covered with mud and rusty leaves.

3. She adores my ten-year-old son like a brother, a mentor, a playmate and a best friend. And he adores her right back.

4. She eats Parmesan cheese in giant chunks.

5. She pairs purple leggings with pink-and-orange-striped dresses and paisley skirts with polka-dot blouses. Her rainbow Build-A-Bear sparkles with lamé and sequins. Her world is full of color, life and joy.

6. She loves bubbles.

7. She sits barefoot on the kitchen counter eating potato chips.

Rosella’s awesome glasses

8. When the doctor said, “Time for glasses!” she picked out the thickest, purplest, swirliest frames in the store. She wears them with pride, panache and thorough unselfconsciousness.

When I grow up, I want to be just like her.

**

Me too!!!

Your turn, reader! Tell Katharine and me what one trait you’d like to borrow from a kid in your life, and one lucky commenter (US Only), will win a copy of Katharine’s How to Be a Proper Lady — one of Amazon’s best books of 2012!

Shana Galen Celebrates Ariel Winter, Girl Who Wears Glasses

Today the beautiful and talented Shana Galen is joining us for Girls Who Wear Glasses Month! Shana’s gearing up for the release of her next book, If You Give a Rake a Ruby, out next week, and she’s taken a little time to hop in the hot seat and tell us about her favorite lady in lenses–Ariel Winter!

Welcome, Shana!

**

I had to get glasses when I was 13. You would have thought the world was about to end from the way I carried on. I was afraid no boy would ever ask me on a date, and everyone would call me “Four Eyes.” My mom gave me a poster of Marilyn Monroe wearing glasses and that helped. A lot.

Maybe if I’d had a role model like Ariel Winter, who plays Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, I wouldn’t have stressed so much. From pictures I’ve seen, Ariel Winter wears glasses in real life too.

Celebrate your girl who wears glasses — what makes her so fabulous?

One thing I like about the character of Alex is that she isn’t afraid to show how smart she is. When I was in school, it was cool to act like an airhead. Girls weren’t supposed to be smart. We were supposed to wear pink and be pretty.

What’s one trait you wish you could steal from your four-eyed female?

One trait I want to steal from Alex Dunphy is her prowess in math and science. I was never good at either. No surprise, I was good at English.

What lesson can we all learn from your lady in lenses?

Be true to yourself.

You’re breaking bread with your vision-impaired vixen…what question are you dying to ask?

I’d ask what her vocal training was. Since I have a three-year-old, I’ve been watching a new show about a princess named Sofia. Ariel Winter does her voice and sings too. Her voice is amazing, especially for her age.

**

Your turn, readers! Tell Shana and me who you had pinned to your childhood walls, and one lucky commenter (US Only) will win a copy of When You Give A Duke a Diamond!

Anne Calhoun on President Laura Roslin from Battlestar Galactica

Not long ago, I had dinner with the fabulous Anne Calhoun in New York City, and invited her to join Girls Who Wear Glasses as part of the month-long celebration of ladies in lenses in honor of the release of  One Good Earl Deserves a Lover . She immediately, immediately, chose the person she wanted to pay homage to–President Laura Roslin from Battlestar Galactica! 

Eric and I watched Battlestar Galactica over a few months last year and loved it–I loved Laura Roslin most of all, honestly, and I was thrilled that Anne (author of super-sexy contemporaries including the upcoming Uncommon Pleasure ), was willing to celebrate her! 

Welcome, Anne!

**

I had perfect vision until I was in my late-thirties. I finally decided to get my eyes checked and discovered that yes, I was aging, and yes, I needed glasses for an astigmatism. Determined to make the most of this new accessory, I chose a really sassy little pair of cat’s eye glasses. Because girls who wear glasses are COOL, and I need every bit of COOL I can muster.

My favorite glasses-wearing fictional character is Laura Roslin from the SyFy Channel’s update of Battlestar Galactica. The whole series is absolutely incredible, full of strong, confident women, but none more so than Laura Roslin. When the series opens just before the Cylons attack she’s a former kindergarten teacher now serving as the Secretary for Education for the Twelve Colonies. She’s forty-third in line for the Presidency. Then the Cylons nuke the capital on Caprica, and suddenly Secretary Roslin is President Roslin with an entire species on the run and in danger of becoming extinct.

The series is full of interesting questions about the relationship between civilian and military life in a time of war. In a time of terror and horror, will people choose to live for hope or live for revenge? Who has authority: the people with what remains of the guns or the people in what remains of the government?

One snippet of dialogue perfectly encapsulates Roslin’s glasses-wearing, take charge attitude. Doral, a reporter traveling on Roslin’s ship, questions whether or not Roslin has the authority or the ability to take over the Presidency and lead the devastated survivors of the Twelve Colonies – to be “in charge”. He voices this concern to Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama, the military escort for Roslin’s ship, and suggests someone else (anyone else, really) might be better suited to assume the presidency.

Roslin: Start the cargo transfer, and prep bay 3 for survivors.

Billy: Yes, ma’am.

Apollo: I’m sorry, survivors?

Roslin: As soon as the attack began, the government ordered a full stop on all civilian vessels. So now we’ve got hundreds of stranded ships in the solar system, some are lost, some are damaged, some are losing power. We have enough space on this ship to accommodate up to 500 people and we’re going to need every bit of it.

Doral: But we don’t even know what the tactical situation is out there.

Roslin: The tactical situation is that we are losing, right, Captain?

Apollo: Right.

Roslin: So we pick up as many people as we can, we try to find a safe haven to put down… Captain? I’d like you to look over the navigational charts for a likely place to hide from the Cylons. That’s all.

Apollo: (to Doral, matter-of-factly) The lady’s in charge. 

Apollo sees Roslin’s leadership ability, her courage and confidence, and her ability to focus on the future in the face of all out war. Maybe it’s the glasses, maybe it’s the unshakeable authority learned after years of herding squirmy little kids through their ABCs, but as he says, “the lady’s in charge.”

So say we all!

**

So say we all, indeed! What a fabulous show that I resisted for far too long! If you haven’t watched it, you absolutely should!

Your turn, reader…tell Anne and me about your favorite TV show of all time in comments, and one lucky commenter (US Only) will win a copy of her book, Liberating Lacey!   

Sara Ramsey on Meryl Streep

I’m so excited to host Sara Ramsey on the blog today — Sara is a full on blast, and we’ve had some great meals and great gossip sessions and great laughs in the few years since we met for the first time! And I am really enjoying her Muses of Mayfair series (and their titles!), which began with Heiress Without a Cause and continues with Scotsmen Prefer Blondes.

When I started Girls Who Wear Glasses month, I just knew that she would pick someone awesome for the blog…and I was right! Not only has she chosen one of the most iconic, important, downright idolotry-worthy women of our time…I cackled with glee when I saw the image she attached to her email–what a fabulous choice!

Welcome, Sara!

**

I freaking love Meryl Streep. She’s not only an amazing talent, but she’s also someone I can picture having a conversation with over a bottle of wine. And I deeply admire how she’s built her career in an industry that values female youth.

I also adore that she wears glasses so often. One of Meryl’s most iconic glasses-wearing roles is Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. Her glasses are part of her powerful, highly-driven image – they’re sharp and vaguely sexy, and she often uses them as a prop to express her disapproval.

By contrast, the glasses she wears when giving acceptance speeches in real life are more blunt and squared-off, still lovely but a bit more utilitarian. They’re the glasses of a woman who accepts that she needs them and doesn’t care about anyone else’s approval.

Technically, I’m a girl who wears glasses. But unlike Meryl, I don’t quite embrace them. When I wear glasses, I feel like I’ve just stumbled out of bed (sadly, not in a sexy way). I still feel prettier when I wear my contacts – and I wear them for sixteen hours a day, when I should probably give my eyes a break.

I don’t like divulging this insecurity. It’s almost like I’ve failed as a woman, since I should be evolved enough that such stupidly superficial things don’t matter. But Meryl and all the other amazing women who wear glasses are a huge inspiration to me – not just for little things like being comfortable in glasses, but for big things, like succeeding in male-dominated industries or persevering even when it seems that the roles (or book contracts) have dried up.

The bottom line is that Meryl Streep inspires me to live a fuller, more dedicated creative life. Being a writer requires you to be vulnerable enough to bleed yourself onto the page – and impervious enough to withstand rejection and criticism. This is all so much easier if you have enough confidence in yourself to wear your glasses to the grocery store without feeling like a freak. My goal is to be more like Meryl, and to choose hard, interesting projects (with the occasional “Mamma Mia!” thrown in for fun). And a small but important step on that journey is to own my glasses-hood.

So, thanks to Sarah MacLean for giving me the chance to think about this – and thanks to all you other hot glasses-wearing ladies for rocking out with such confidence!

**

All hail Meryl and her awesome!

And all hail Sara and her awesome! I love this blog post because it shows just how much the little things count in our day to day lives. As Sara’s friend, I can say with 100% conviction that she has in no way failed as a woman — she’s beautiful and smart and talented…and that’s a full-on win!

Your turn, readers…let’s stare insecurity down!

Tell Sara and me what your best feature is, and we’ll give one lucky commenter (US Only), a copy of her latest, Scotsmen Prefer Blondes!

Sara Ramsey on Meryl Street

I’m so excited to host Sara Ramsey on the blog today — Sara is a full on blast, and we’ve had some great meals and great gossip sessions and great laughs in the few years since we met for the first time! And I am really enjoying her Muses of Mayfair series (and their titles!), which began with Heiress Without a Cause and continues with Scotsmen Prefer Blondes.

When I started Girls Who Wear Glasses month, I just knew that she would pick someone awesome for the blog…and I was right! Not only has she chosen one of the most iconic, important, downright idolotry-worthy women of our time…I cackled with glee when I saw the image she attached to her email–what a fabulous choice!

Welcome, Sara!

**

I freaking love Meryl Streep. She’s not only an amazing talent, but she’s also someone I can picture having a conversation with over a bottle of wine. And I deeply admire how she’s built her career in an industry that values female youth.

I also adore that she wears glasses so often. One of Meryl’s most iconic glasses-wearing roles is Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. Her glasses are part of her powerful, highly-driven image – they’re sharp and vaguely sexy, and she often uses them as a prop to express her disapproval.

By contrast, the glasses she wears when giving acceptance speeches in real life are more blunt and squared-off, still lovely but a bit more utilitarian. They’re the glasses of a woman who accepts that she needs them and doesn’t care about anyone else’s approval.

Technically, I’m a girl who wears glasses. But unlike Meryl, I don’t quite embrace them. When I wear glasses, I feel like I’ve just stumbled out of bed (sadly, not in a sexy way). I still feel prettier when I wear my contacts – and I wear them for sixteen hours a day, when I should probably give my eyes a break.

I don’t like divulging this insecurity. It’s almost like I’ve failed as a woman, since I should be evolved enough that such stupidly superficial things don’t matter. But Meryl and all the other amazing women who wear glasses are a huge inspiration to me – not just for little things like being comfortable in glasses, but for big things, like succeeding in male-dominated industries or persevering even when it seems that the roles (or book contracts) have dried up.

The bottom line is that Meryl Streep inspires me to live a fuller, more dedicated creative life. Being a writer requires you to be vulnerable enough to bleed yourself onto the page – and impervious enough to withstand rejection and criticism. This is all so much easier if you have enough confidence in yourself to wear your glasses to the grocery store without feeling like a freak. My goal is to be more like Meryl, and to choose hard, interesting projects (with the occasional “Mamma Mia!” thrown in for fun). And a small but important step on that journey is to own my glasses-hood.

So, thanks to Sarah MacLean for giving me the chance to think about this – and thanks to all you other hot glasses-wearing ladies for rocking out with such confidence!

**

All hail Meryl and her awesome!

And all hail Sara and her awesome! I love this blog post because it shows just how much the little things count in our day to day lives. As Sara’s friend, I can say with 100% conviction that she has in no way failed as a woman — she’s beautiful and smart and talented…and that’s a full-on win!

Your turn, readers…let’s stare insecurity down!

Tell Sara and me what your best feature is, and we’ll give one lucky commenter (US Only), a copy of her latest, Scotsmen Prefer Blondes!