Penny Watson's Blog, page 68

Off For A Holiday!

Farewell my friends! I am heading off to Salem, MA for a short holiday. Hope everyone has a wonderful week, including those of you enjoying the national RWA conference. Have a blast!

Penelope

Beard of the Day

I know. Elijah Wood looks like a baby, and I like older men. But there is something about his young, fresh, innocent face that is super appealing. And I love the thin beard that extends all the way up the side of his face. Also, he has the most gorgeous and mesmerizing eyes.



The reason that EW is on my radar this week is because he is starring in a new quirky TV series, "Wilfred." His neighbor's dog is actually a "pot-smoking, alcoholic, foul-mouthed Australian man wearing a dog suit" (The Smoking Section). Hee hee hee....that sounds fabulous!

Hope that all of you have a great weekend. I am taking my son to a 2-week sleep-away camp on Sunday, and I am only slightly freaking out. I told him I was going to make a life-size poster of him, put it on the wall of my office, and tape record him saying "Hey. I'm going down to the basement to play XBOX."

Happy Weekend,
Penelope

Bigfoot, Musicales, and Summer In A Glass

I'm gonna start with the upbeat, positive stuff first. Summer In A Glass.
If you have not checked out the wonderful blog Full Fork Ahead, please do. It has stunning photos, delicious recipes, and will inspire your culinary inclinations. KMont recently posted a recipe for White Sangria that makes me want to sit on my deck, stare at the sunset, and slurp down a pitcher of these delicious-looking drinks. Sangria is pretty much summer in a glass. Filled with colorful, festive fruit, all kinds of naughty liquors, sugar, and wine.....it's cold, it's fruity, it will knock you flat on your back and have you singing the Backstreet Boys at your next party. The perfect summertime drink!
I have 2 different recipes for sangria I make...one with white wine and one with red wine. I like mine sweeter, so once I added ginger ale instead of soda water. But to each his own!
(While you're visiting Kendra's blog, you might want to check out the recipe for lemon curd tart, too. I am obsessed with lemony things, and this recipe looks like the perfect ending to a summery BBQ dinner. What do you think?)
All right, onto the not-so-positive stuff. I have been reading a lot of lackluster crapola lately. Sure, every once in a while, I read something amazing and have a momentary bit o' happiness, but in general, I'm in a reading slump. In fact, I'm sort of sick of reading. In particular, reading romances. How could this happen? I don't know. But I'm thinking of reading some mysteries for a while. Either my expectations are too high, or I'm choosing poorly, or I need to do something totally different like run away from home, sign up for a glass-blowing camp in Vermont, and let my hair grow into dreadlocks. (I'm already working on the dreads...hee hee!).
In recent weeks, I've read a Julia Quinn ( Just Like Heaven ) that was not so heavenly. In fact, I am starting to think that Quinn will never get back her writing mojo. Writing witty banter is fun and cute, but adding serious emotional chops into a romance is the sign of a truly great author. Quinn has the ability to do this (Bridgerton series), but she no longer seems interested. The Smythe-Smith musicales have been a humorous addition to Quinn's historicals for a long time. But once the decision was made to write an entire book about one of these untalented musicians, then a few questions needed to be answered. Namely, why in holy hell are these young untalented girls being forced to perform in front of the ton and humiliate themselves? There could have been a cool story here. But the quick flash of humor (oh, look, it's another one of those crappy musicales) doesn't offer a real explanation for why a noble family looking to marry off its daughters would knowingly put them in a situation where they are humiliated and ridiculed. (And please....don't tell me that all of the parents and family members are so clueless and tone-deaf that they are not aware of what is going on). As all of us know, who have read 10 million historicals, there is nothing more important than appearances and proper protocol in the ton. So, yep, I find it extremely hard to believe that an entire family would subject its unmarried daughters to this year after year. Sigh. This book was nothing more than banter, no real magic. And I was disappointed (again). 
Then I tried a bigfoot book. Granted, it was a bigfoot book. But I am always on the look-out for something different and quirky and fun. This book could have been about a chef or policeman or CEO or really anything. Okay, the heroine was a tabloid reporter looking for a story, and the hero....was the story. But other than lots of sex, and of course the whole irritating erotica theme of Wow-We-Just-Boinked-Our-Way-To-True-Love-In-24 Hours-Or-Less premise going on, there was no reason to have bigfoot in this book. If I hear that a book is about bigfoot, then I want to see some bigfooty action....what does bigfoot do all day? where does he go? how does he live? is it interesting, cool, different? He spent all his time in the cabin boinking the heroine. I know...it's an erotica. What was I thinking? Sigh. 
I also read part of an indie book where the POV bounced back and forth from sentence to sentence within the same paragraph, and another historical where the evil step-daughter falsely accuses the hero of rape, rips her own clothes and smashes her head against the wall to appear "ravished" and....
I give up. See Penelope waving the white flag of surrender. 
I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Start reading mysteries for a while? Take the summer off? How about make a huge-ass pitcher of sangria and hang out? That sounds good!
In the meantime, if anyone has just read something utterly mind-blowing, please let me know. As long as it's not about bigfoot.
All My Best,Penelope

Winners of Celebrate New England!

Huge thanks to everyone who stopped by for the Celebrate New England Giveaway! I have 12 winners...8 print book "baskets" and 4 digital book "baskets."

Here are the winners....
donnas (Donna's Book Blog)Nina Piercebarbara (bimmergrlmd email address, Maryland)NataschaSusan (I need your email and address!)Di (print books only)Julia BarrettBexBlodeuedd (Finland, digital basket)Jennifer Mathis (Meandi Corner)Amber SkyzeKym (from Rhode Island)Could each of the winners please email me at....

penelope DOT romance AT gmail DOT com

....and provide me with your mailing address and email address....Let me know if you have an ereader or not. I have to figure out who gets the print baskets and who gets digital! Thanks so much!

Loretta Chase donated 4 books, so I have those to add into the print baskets, too. Yee haw!

Happy Reading,
Penelope

Happy First Monday Of Summer Vacation!

Slept in!

8 year old daughter crept into my bed with the laptop, and started searching for dachshund puppies on the internet. And kept showing me adorable photos of Puppies We Must Get Now!

Then, she totally redeemed herself by letting out our dog Lucy, feeding her, and bringing me a cup of coffee. Good girl!

Here are some quickie updates...

Celebrate New England Giveaway is closed. Winners will be announced this week. I just found out that Loretta Chase will be adding some books into the giveaway, too. Yippee!I read Kiss Me, Kate by Mari Carr this weekend. Loved it! A sexy, quick read.I am about to start Goddess Cottage by Sherri Dub and Size Matters by Stephanie Julian.Made my goals for the summer. Lose 20 more pounds, and finish my WIP. I can do it!

My husband loved his Father's Day...we watched Natty kick butt in her final soccer game of the season, then my hubs biked with the kids, then we all went to the pool, and then for some dumb reason we went to Panera for dinner. (I voted for sushi, but was over-ruled by the kids). Hubs was a happy camper!

Hope everyone has a great week!
Penelope

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day To All!

Don't forget...this is the last day to enter the Celebrate New England giveaway. Just leave a comment after any of the posts published on June 13 and you will be entered to win!

Penelope

Friday Shenanigans And Penny Pens Another Parody

Here are my random Friday Shenanigans.....
1.) The  Celebrate New England  giveaway is still going on....leave a comment after any post published on June 13 and enter to win! Yee haw!
2.) My super quickie reading updates.....
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen......mehJust Like Heaven by Julia Quinn.....double mehJacob's Return by Annette Blair....LOVED it! Bawled like a baby at the end.Heart of a Knight by Barbara Samuel....wicked step-daughter meh meh....DNF
More in-depth reviews to come later. Although I am digging the whole "meh" thing right now. 
3.) Yesterday I planted my entire freakin' garden at once. I weeded, applied compost, and planted seeds and seedlings (3 types of basil, cherry tomatoes, 3 types of pumpkins, carrots and leeks). It was hot and sunny, and I got a bit light-headed (probably from a combination of dehydration, high blood pressure meds, and working my ass off for hours). 
As I felt myself swaying, I realized that if I fell down, I had two options....1.) I would fall on a rake with the prongs sticking up, thereby re-enacting a scene from a horror movie, which seemed like a bad idea....or 2.) I would fall on a pile of chicken shit compost, which....also seemed like a bad idea. And a stinky idea. Needless to say, I forced myself to stay conscious, and went inside to get a glass of water. That freakin' garden better look great in August!
4.) I swear I tried not to do it. But after I read Gail Carriger's blog post "So You Really Want To Help The Author" I just couldn't help myself. I penned another parody. Here it is. (For the record, I am a big fan of Gail's Protectorate Series, but hell, that post was so wack, I was powerless to stop myself).

Do You Really Want To Help Penny? Just Follow These Simple Instructions...


Just in case you've been thinking about me, or worrying about me, or maybe concerned about how I'm feeling, possibly worried about my book sales or money situation, or wondering how I'm paying for my son's exorbitant adventure camp this summer, or hoping that I might publish another book soon (before 2029), or looking for ways to help me out. Just in case. Here are some ideas....

1. Get an ereader. Seriously. Quit whining about how freakin' expensive they are, and just do it. I am SO sick of people asking if my book is out in print. The answer is NO. It's a freakin' ebook. Get an ereader. Whiner. Print books are totally last year.
2. Try to get people psyched about Christmas all year long. Maybe....put up a tree in April? Send cards in July? Offer eggnog in October? There is no g-damned way I am going to have good sales for my "holiday romance novel" if folks can't get over this whole "I'm-only-gonna-buy-a-Christmas-story-in-December" attitude. Criminy.
3. Do you have any friends who are Jewish? Why not gently encourage them to convert to Christianity? How hard could it be? Jews are not interested in a book about Santa Claus. I have a sneaking suspicion that could be hurting my sales. Maybe point out that Christians don't have to plan and pay for a bar mitzvah, etc etc. Be creative.
4. If you like my book, buy 10 more copies.
I hope I haven't offended anyone, but if I have, too stinkin' bad.

Merry Freakin' Christmas,Penelope (Who Likes Writing Parodies Way Too Much And Needs To Work On Her WIP)

Beard of the Day

It's a Happy Friday In Boston!Penelope

Penny's Most Romantic New England Memory

Celebrate New England Giveaway , Post #8. Leave a comment and enter to win!

At last, the final post for Celebrate New England! Thanks to everyone who has been visiting the party! I decided to finish up our posts with my most romantic memory of New England.....
My husband grew up in Middletown, Rhode Island, right next to Newport. Luckily for me, I got to spend many wonderful weekends exploring Cliff Walk, Brenton Park, Ocean Drive, and Second Beach, which was within walking distance of his parents' home. 
One summer afternoon, my husband, brother-in-law, and I were walking in Newport, on the cobblestone street next to Trinity Church. It's a historic church on Queen Anne Square, built in 1726. If you stand behind the church and look down to the water, you have a magnificent view of Newport....the docks, tall ships, and town. The sun was just setting as we walked by. Suddenly, the doors to a small building to the left of the church flew open, and out came a bride clutching her flower bouquet. Behind her, all of her attendants, dressed in gorgeous red satin dresses. They walked across the sidewalk, with the sun setting behind them, and entered Trinity Church. A gentle breeze lifted the skirt of the bride's stunning gown. Sunshine illuminated her veil like a golden halo. The girls smiled and laughed as they crossed the path to the church.
I stood there transfixed, watching the bride and her bridesmaids enter this beautiful historic church, with the sun sparkling off the water behind them, illuminating their little parade. Tears flowed down my cheeks as the door to Trinity closed, and I knew the bride was on the threshold of a new beginning.
I turned to my husband and brother-in-law, and said "Did you see that?"
They answered, "What?"
Exasperated, I said, "The bride! Her bridesmaids! That was an incredible moment! So romantic!"
My husband and his brother snickered at me and rolled their eyes. "Are you crying?" my husband asked me incredulously.
"Of course I'm crying! That was the most romantic thing I've ever seen in my life!"
My husband and his brother looked suitably chastised for about 3 seconds, then they said, "Let's go get a cup of coffee."
Which just goes to show....guys are dumb.


Who knows what happened to that bride, but her wedding day certainly got off to a wonderful start. 
I would love to hear from some of you about romantic moments in New England. Have any good memories? Let me know!
Thanks for celebrating with us today. 
All my best,Penelope

Cool Spots In New England

Celebrate New England Giveaway, Post #7. Leave a comment and enter to win!


Cape Cod by Katie O'Sullivan


Cape Cod is a great place to kick back and relax, and get back in touch with yourself and your loved ones. As Nauset Beach and the rest of the National Seashore celebrate their 50th anniversary this year, you can appreciate the same pristine beauty that President Kennedy recognized and set aside as a national park. Afterward, head to Chatham for clam chowder at the Squire and take in a Cape league baseball game for a perfect summer day!


Katie O'Sullivan
Perfect Strangers
Unfolding the Shadows








Longfellow's Wayside Inn by Judith Arnold


Longfellow's Wayside Inn is the oldest continually operating inn in America.  It first began serving the needs of travelers in 1716. Its most famous guest was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who used it as the inspiration for his "Tales of a Wayside Inn."  The inn features several preserved historical rooms, some of them blocked off and maintained just for viewing and others, including the old tap room, still used by visitors who come to drink, dine and spend the night.  (Some of the guest rooms are alleged to be haunted.) Beautiful gardens--including a vegetable garden that provides vegetables served at the inn--surround the main building.  A short walk up the road is the gristmill, where a stream powers the millstones that grind the flour used in the inn's rolls and muffins.  Also on the premises is the beautiful Martha Mary Chapel, a non-denominational New England chapel built by Henry Ford and named in honor of his two grandmothers, and a one-room schoolhouse dating back to the early 18th century.  I live just a few miles from the Wayside Inn, a place where we celebrate family birthdays and special events. We love bringing out-of-town visitors there for a unique Colonial experience.  More information about the inn can be found here: http://www.wayside.org/


Judith Arnold
Meet Me In Manhattan
Hope Street




French's Restaurant, Main Street, Tewksbury, MA by Kat Duncan

Think you have to go to the coast to get good fried clams? Wrong. Consider Tewksbury, Massachusetts and French's Restaurant. This hole-in-the wall eatery specializes in catering. But any weekday you can stop in for the best lunch anywhere in New England. Dave French was trained in culinary arts at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island. He specializes in catering large functions, but local citizens flock to French's for lunch. The menu is extensive, the prices reasonable and the service is fast. Best of all, you will never be disappointed with the food. Homemade soups and chowders, thick sandwiches, fresh salads and the best fried clams anywhere.


Kat Duncan
Fifty-Eight Faces



Newport, Rhode Island by Penny Watson


Newport is an extraordinary place, and the perfect spot for a getaway weekend. You can browse around the charming cobblestone streets and peek into antique shops. Explore the incredible mansions on Bellevue Avenue, including The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff. Spend some time at Brenton Point State Park, and watch the kites dance in the air. Sneak over to Middletown and go birding at Sachuest Point....there are harlequin ducks, buffleheads and more. Grab an order of fried clams at Flo's. And my favorite, walk along Cliff Walk, with history on the right (the mansions of another era) and the ocean on the left, crashing up against the rocky cliffs. It is breath-taking. Finish off the day with a lemonade from Del's Lemonade Truck (my kids' favorite treat!). It just doesn't get any better than this. It's truly a unique New England city.


Penny Watson
Sweet Magik




Have a favorite cool spot you like to visit in New England? Let me know!
Penelope