Other than that: What a fun week! And so wonderful to meet so many new friends...hurray. We hope you'll stay and visit as the new year unfolds--we'll have a lot to talk about! Since so many of you introduced yourselves, thank you!, we figured today might be a good time for us to introduce ourselves to you. In a kind of a way....with the Jungle Red questions.
Only the seriously important life-necessity stuff!
Marple or Poirot?
Debs: Poirot
Julia: Marple
Lucy: Marple
Hallie: Marple
Rhys: Marple
Hank: Poirot
Ingrid: Marple
Jenn: Poirot
Pizza or Chocolate?
Debs: Pizza
Julia: Like asking me to choose between my children
Lucy: Pizza!
Hallie: Pizza
Rhys:Chocolate
Hank:Pizza!
Ingrid: Chocolate
Facebook or Twitter?
Debs: Facebook
Julia: Twitter
Lucy: Facebook!
Hallie: Facebook!!
Rhys: Facebook
Hank: Facebook
Ingrid: Facebook
Jenn: Facebook
Dogs or Cats?
Debs: Both
Julia: Both, but I trend Dog
Lucy: Gotta say both
Hallie: Cats
Rhys: both
Hank: Cats
Ingrid: Allergic!
Jenn: Both
Inside or Outside?
Debs: Either/Or
Julia: Inside, especially in winter...
Lucy: Inside
Hallie: Inside
Rhys: outside
Hank: Inside...?
Ingrid: Either/Or
Jenn: Outside
Day job (what?) or Full-time writer?
Debs: Full time writer
Julia: Allegedly full-time writer
Lucy: Full time writer
Hallie: Full time, heaven help me
Rhys: Full time writer
Hank: Day job: TV reporter
Ingrid: Full time writer
Jenn: Full time writer
Debs: Either
Julia: Automatic now, prefer stick
Lucy: Stick for now
Hallie: Once stick, now automatic
Rhys: had stick once. Hated it. Now automatic everything
Hank: Once stick, now automatic or "being driven"
Ingrid: Automatic
Jenn: Both
Colin Firth or Colin Farrell?
Debs: Colin Firth
Julia: Firth
Lucy: Firth
Hallie: Colin who?
Rhys:Firth!!
Hank: Yeah I keep forgetting who Colin Farrell is
Ingrid: Colin Farrell
Jenn: Firth
Lifetime or CNN?
Debs: CNN
Julia: CNN, but only in airports
Lucy: CNN
Hallie: CNN
Rhys: CNN
Hank: CNN
Ingrid: CNN
Jenn: CNN
Audrey Hepburn or Katharine Hepburn?
Debs: Katharine (named my daughter after her.)
Julia: Katharine
Lucy: Audrey
Hallie: Katharine
Rhys: Audrey
Hank: Can't do thisIngrid: Katharine dressed like Audrey
Jenn: Both
The mountains or the beach?
Julia: the beach, preferably one where waiters come round with trays of coconut-based drinks.
Lucy: the beach
Hallie: the beach
Rhys: love both
Hank: the beach
Ingrid: Beach
Jenn: Beach
New York City or Los Angeles?
Julia: New York, New York (it's a hellava town)
Lucy: New York in a heartbeat
Hallie: No contest: NYC!
Rhys: NYC
Hank: NYC!
Ingrid: Both
Jenn: NYC
London or Paris?
Debs: London
Julia: London
Lucy: Paris!
Hallie: Paris, bien sur
Rhys: Paris
Hank: Paris...I think. Ah. Um. Maybe.
Ingrid: London!
Jenn: London
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Julia: Original Star Wars trilogy, Star Trek Voyager and DS9
Lucy: Hmmm, neither?
Hallie: Star Trek... Next Generation
Rhys: Original Star Wars
Hank: Original Star Trek
Ingrid: Star Wars
Jenn: Star Wars - original
Read reviews? Or ignore?
Julia: Read the professional ones.
Lucy: read with regret
Hallie: Try to ignore
Rhys: Read. Anguish. Exult or despair
Hank: Read and pretend to forget a few. Never do.
Ingrid: Read
Jenn: Never read them
Early bird or night owl?
Julia: night owl cruelly forced into early birdship
Lucy: early
Hallie: early
Rhys: early
Hank: Night!
Ingrid: early
Jenn: Both - I don't sleep.
Number of titles in print:
Julia: 8 By the time I finish this book, Ingrid, too, will have surpassed me.
Lucy: 15
Hallie: 12
Rhys: 39 mysteries by the end of this year
Hank: 10
Ingrid: 4 on Tuesday!
Jenn: 32
Newest book! and website link
Debs: GARDEN OF LAMENTATIONS http//www.DeborahCrombie. com
Julia: HID FROM OUR EYES (still in progress) www.juliaspencerfleming.com
Lucy: KILLER TAKEOUT www.lucyburdette.com
Hallie: YOU'LL NEVER KNOW, DEAR (6/17) HallieEphron.com
Rhys: IN FARLEIGH FIELD (March 1) www.rhysbowen.com
Hank: SAY NO MORE http://www.HankPhillippiRyan.com
Ingrid: DUPLICITY www.ingridthoft.com
Jenn: ASSAULT AND BERET www.jennmckinlay.com
HANK: Truly, this brings tears to my eyes. Two things.
One: we are all so lucky. Feeling this very much today.
Two: SO fascinating! What do you all make of this? It's pretty psychologically revealing in many ways, right? And how would you answer?
So much worry today, Hank . . . and so relieved to know you are okay; thoughts and prayers for all those affected.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post . . . so interesting to see the choices.
How would I answer? Marple, Chocolate, Facebook, Dogs and Cats, Inside, Automatic [although John did teach me to drive a stick shift when we were first married], CNN, Katharine, neither mountains nor beach, New York, London, Original Star Trek and Star Wars, night owl . . .
So many wonderful new Jungle Red books to look forward to reading . . . .
As a Los Angeles resident and CA native, I'm feeling very slighted by the fact that almost all of you got that question wrong.
ReplyDeleteYou also got the Star Wars or Star Trek question wrong. The correct answer is Babylon 5. (Still my favorite TV show of all time.)
So glad to hear you were diverted mid-flight and arrived safely.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting rapid fire questions and choices.
My answers would be: Poirot, chocolate, Facebook, cats, outside, don't drive, no cable TV, Katharine, both mountains and beach, LA (right on, Mark!), Paris, all Star Trek, early bird!!
Your book totals are AMAZING!! What a prolific group of ladies!!
I love it, but we lost Debs on some of the later ones!
ReplyDeleteMarple, chocolate, Facebook, cats, outside, stick but ... Prius-doesn't-come-in-stick-and-now-we-have-two, don't watch TV, Katharine, mountains and beach, LA, 12 mysteries by the end of this year (hey, it's virtually my home town so I'm with Mark), Paris, neither, early bird. Grace, what are we, near twins? ;^)
Oh, wait, I missed a few. Full-time writer. Firth. Read but try to ignore. WHEN THE GRITS HIT THE FAN (March, written as Maddie Day). Thanks!
ReplyDeleteEdith: I agree, we are very much in sync!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Happy you are safe Hank.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am at Palm Beach airport right now… Nothing like a 6 AM wake up call. Talk to you when I get home… Love you all.
ReplyDeleteBABYLON 5? Why have I never heard of it.
ReplyDeleteand Hank, thanks for NOT keeping us in suspense yesterday... were you able to get on the internet on the plane??
The only reason I now drive a automatic is that it was too hard to GET a manual honda civic. Manufacturers are phasing them out, I fear, until the millenials discover how much fun to drive and by then my knees and hips may not be up to it.
Hallie, I had not hooked up to Internet on the plane, because I had decided I was going to get some work done! And the televisions were not working-- which I had a big conspiracy theory about, until I discovered that the incident had happened after we took off. So I had no idea… As soon as the pilot announced we were being diverted, I signed onto the Internet and found out what had happened. It's odd, because it was incredibly scary, although there's no reason for it to be scary, right? Because we weren't there. But it was very Bridge at San Luis Rey because we all knew we might have been there… After all, we were on the way.
ReplyDeleteGreat exercised. I must be spending a fair amount of time here. I could predict the "older" Reds' answers (meaning, not Ingrid and Jenn because I don't know them as well).
ReplyDeleteMark, while I love Babylon 5, the correct answer is "Firefly." ;)
Poirot, chocolate, Facebook with a healthy helping of Twitter, dogs, depends on the weather, day job - technical writer, automatic, Firth (that scene of him emerging from the lake in Pride & Prejudice simply nailed it forever), neither, Audrey Hepburn, mountains, if I have to choose NYC, London, old Star Wars and new Star Trek, what reviews?, middle-of-the-day owl, and I plead the fifth on the book questions, although do anthologies count? (Blood on the Bayou in print, Mystery Most Historical and Fish Out of Water are up next),
oh Fun to read all of your answers. Mark, though, have you BEEN to New York?? and Hank, we are so grateful you weren't in that airport. I hate that these things keep happening, scaring people to death.
ReplyDeleteGrrr. Here are the rest of my ans9which got deleted by gremlins 3 times!!!
ReplyDeleteBeach. Mostly ignore reviews. Night owl. Ànd am going to cheat my original answer and say, along with Mary, Firefly! Oh, and number of books in print, 17, counting the new one.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHallie, after driving manual shift Hondas for more than 30 years I also had to accept the shiftless driving life. Even after six years without a stick shift I still caught myself getting prepared to shift, just the other day. I mourn, especially in snowy weather.
ReplyDeletePoirot (although I'm not much of a Christie fan), chocolate, Facebook, dogs, inside, retired and messing around, shift, Firth, dogs, Audrey, mountains, New York, Paris, original Star Wars, still smarting at a review on Amazon in the 90's (that I'm sure a rival wrote because regular people barely new Amazon existed then), total night owl, and four (non-fiction) books long out of print.
What a fun blog this week, thank you all!
Pizza AND chocolate. Of course. Other questions: Marple, New York, MOUNTAINS. Night owl in a daytime world. Retired, so full-time writer. (Not as full time as I should be) London AND Paris. Of course. (Guess I love London more though)
ReplyDeleteVery fun blog.
FIrefly! Oh, wow, I loved that show. Nathan Fillion and I share a birthday - does the fact that I know that make me a celebrity stalker? I'm not, I swear. Just, Capt. Mal, come on! Here's my fave Mal quote as it reminds me of this writing gig we all love so much: "I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regards to my character so let me make this abundantly clear: I did the job...I get paid."
ReplyDeleteWhoops! Firth, not dogs or cats, love both Hepburns depending on role.
ReplyDeleteHank! So relieved you are OK!
ReplyDeleteJungle Reds, today is my birthday. Do I get a free book or an ARC of your book? Just kidding :-)
Trying to remember all of the questions...
Poirot or Marple? Both, though I am leaning towards Marple
Audrey or Katherine? Again, both for different reasons.
Pizza or Chocolate? Chocolate was my first love. Pizza is an acquired taste.
Beach or mountains? Mountains
London or Paris? Hard to say since I visited Paris briefly. More familiar with London. Loved London, though I like Edinburgh too.
Diana
Lifetime or CNN?
ReplyDeleteSorry to say I prefer PBS. CNN at the airport.
Firth or Farrell?
Colin Firth
Diana
Marple, like Jenn, I have had a chocolate pizza, so I have to go with that, Facebook, Dogs, Inside (it's -6 degrees outside), Automatic (am only successful with stick shift going in reverse), definitely Firth, CNN, Audrey (just saw her in Love in the Afternoon), then again, I just saw Katharine in The Philadelphia Story, so can I say both?, the Beach, NYC, London, Star Wars before it got confusing trying to figure out which one came first....
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you got to Florida safely, Hank! I was horrified to hear about the Ft. Lauderdale shooting.
Thanks for sharing with us!
Left out the news part. I prefer CNN (or PBS), but since I rarely watch TV, and just gave up our cable that no one was watching, my answer is NPR.
ReplyDeleteMary, the Colin Firth scene coming out of the lake in P and P was one of the reasons I named my hero Darcy!
ReplyDeleteRhys
Happy birthday Diana!!
ReplyDeleteCelia, I had no idea there is such a thing as a chocolate pizza. I thought Jenn was making that up...
Yes NPR is the best Karen!
Just landed in Boston! In the snow! Ahhhh....
ReplyDeleteAnd happy birthday, Diana! Hooray!
ReplyDeleteJust started thinking we should keep track of birthdays, and then burst out laughing. Let's make a deal… You all just tell us when it's your birthday, OK? Promise? Xxx
ReplyDeleteMark - I hope you're referring to me when you say "almost all" got the LA/NYC question wrong. I love LA! I love NYC! They're such different places, and I love visiting both.
ReplyDeleteI mis-spent many years of my youth hanging around in science fiction circles, so I have to protest the false dichotomy of Trek v. Wars. I love 'em all. Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly, Doctor Who, Galaxy Quest . . . This is probably the result of growing up watching Fireball XL5. As for the rest, well, Poirot, chocolate, and Firth over Farrell, but I'd also like to give a special fangirl shout-out to a different Firth: Peter Firth. Studliness comes and goes, but there is something universally appealing about a slightly podgy sixty-year-old man who has seen so much, done so much, tasted so much, enjoyed so much, and still has that irresistible twinkle in his eye. Talk about a proudly mis-spent youth!
ReplyDeleteAnother raised hand for Peter Firth here!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Diana!!
And I see I had gremlins in my phone, too, which messed up my text and posted my entry three times. Arrggh. Maybe this is a stay off the internet day...
And for the record, my original answer was LA. I love NYC, too, but something about LA that makes my heart sing.
Hallie - Babylon 5 is a mid-90's sci fi show - and it shows. It was airing during the DS9 and Voyager years of Star Trek, and many people compare it to DS9. The first season is very rough, but it smooths out after that. It told a story over 5 seasons. The characters grow. There is a beginning, middle, and end. It's fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteMary - Firefly is the incorrect answer. In fact, it was Joss Whedon's third strike. The guy has great ideas, but his endings are horrible. Buffy (final two seasons stunk except for the musical episode), Angel (again final two seasons were terrible) and I count Serenity as his ending to Firefly, which I also hated. Not that I have strong feelings about his work at all. :)
Roberta - I've been to JFK and I've been lost in Yonkers. Does that count for anything? The closest I've come is Ossining, aka Sleepyside from the Trixie Belden series.
Ingrid - Yes, you are the only one who got the NYC/LA question correct. I'm glad there is someone to stick up for us!
And Hank - I, too, as so glad you are safe. I know what you mean about it being scary. I was in that airport 53 weeks ago. Something about violence happening in a place you've been or a place you were going to be makes it hit very close to home.
Hank. i am so thankful you are okay
ReplyDeleteSo glad your flight was still under way so you could be diverted, Hank!
ReplyDeleteMy answers would be Marple; Chocolate; Facebook; Dogs; Inside (although outside on a really pretty day); not an author, but I was, for several years, a feature editor/reporter for a small daily newspaper, and have edited numerous newsletters over the years, now I am full-time caregiver for my 96-year-old (well, she will be that age tomorrow!) mother and work part-time as a pro shop attendant at a golf course a few hours a week; automatic; Colin Who? (both times); rarely watch TV, but if I did, CNN might win out over Lifetime, I'm not sure; Mountains! (I hate the beach); Neither NYC nor LA--I like small towns; London, probably, but never have been to either; original Star Wars; I never read reviews; definitely an early bird.
Star Wars at the beach with the cat, and chocolate.
ReplyDeleteNeither Colin (no idea who either is), and neither Marple nor Poirot-- but Original Star Trek, Star Trek Voyager, Star Trek movies II, III, and IV (but none of the others), and Original Star Wars.
ReplyDeleteChocolate AND pizza. Dogs (I'm allergic to cats, but I had one once, and loved him). Beach. L.A. AND New York. Full time writer if it paid enough, but it doesn't, so I guess I'll be a media/copyright/publishing lawyer as long as I live. Have only watched CNN in hotels, have never watched Lifetime (what is it?). And I drive an automatic now, but I still seem to reach out periodically for the stick. London yes, Paris never again. I try to only read good reviews.
Nine titles in print (well, out of print now-- time to get cracking on a new one!) Not writing anything right now-- in the middle of a major downsizing (moving from a house to an apartment) and hoping to be able to write again when I emerge on the other side. (Lots of STUFF to peddle. Anyone interested in a large part of my frog collection? Victorian furniture? Vintage clothes?)
I'm the only one who chose Colin Farrell? Really?!
ReplyDeleteGreat information about all the Reds. I have to say that on the reading reviews question, I am a little disappointed, although I know that there are several Reds that read my reviews for their books. With a reading blog and supporting my favorite authors, always the Reds, every chance I get, it's nice to have the support back. I do realize that the major, professional reviews are important and do the most to increase sales, but it is also the loyal fan base, including the loyal reviewers, that helps. Of course, I love your books and will continue to read and promote them no matter what.
ReplyDeleteNow, to the choices:
Marple
What Julia said
Facebook
Dogs
Inside
Reader, reviewer, blogger
Automatic
Colin Firth
CNN and NPR
Both, Audrey and Katharine are both fantastic for different reasons
Beach, but love the mountains, too. In Hawaii, I am just as much in love with the mountainous region as the beach.
New York
London
Star Wars and Farscape (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0187636/)
Reviews--I usually don't read any until after I've read the book and review it, then I read some
Night Owl in the extreme
Hank, I am so thankful for your safety in your air travels yesterday. Love you so. My husband is traveling to Honolulu today, and when he called a short bit ago from LA, I asked him if he had noticed an increase in security, but he said not really. I'm guessing there are some subtle changes that are taking place though. I did tell him to please be aware of his surroundings. It seems so little, but maybe just that could help.
And, Happy Birthday, Diana!!!!
Kathy, of course we read reviews from reviewers like you!!! And I'm sure we all read the major industry reviews. It's the ones on Amazon I find I have to be careful about. Sometimes you get really hateful stuff and it's hard to let them just bounce off.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Ingrid, I like Colin Farrell too!!
Here goes: Poirot, pizza, Facebook, Dogs, weather-dependent, retired, stick shift, both (never too many Colins),neither channel, like both Audrey and Kate, either, NYC, London (but never been to Paris), original versions of both Star Trek and Star Wars although I pick Doctor Who over both, night owl. I do read reviews when they're handy. Since I'm not a writer I can do so without fear!
ReplyDeleteDebs, I wasn't thinking of the Amazon reviews. Those can be just ridiculous, can't they? I seldom read those, but when I do I sometimes wonder if the person even read the book. As an author, I would steer clear of those, too.
ReplyDeleteHOme home home!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Kathy, I was thinking of Amazon reviews--LIke the 3-word one that said of one of my short stories:: "Not a book."
And exactly, Kathy. xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI never read Amazon reviews, but I read what I consider "real" reviews, and Kathy, you definitely are in that category.
ReplyDeleteI had an Amazon reviewer tell me that when I referred to Fina "feeling like a wet noodle", I wasn't characterizing a wet noodle accurately, that a wet noodle would be sticky, not pliant. I read that and thought "I'm out!"
Marple
ReplyDeletePizza
Facebook
Allergic to cats; dogs scare me
Inside
Research Analyst
Don't drive
Don't know the Colins
CNN
Katharine
Neither - give me the city lights
New York City
Paris
Star Wars (the original only)
Ignore reviews
Early bird
Zero
Thanks for a bit of lightness! (much needed) I gave up the stick shift, but could probably still do it if need be.
ReplyDeleteSome of those would be hard to choose, but Star Trek, chocolate, and Broadway plays would be easy choices.
I think some reviews are so mean-spirited that someone else should read and select for any sensitive author.
Hugs, and stay safe.
Lucy/Roberta, Hank, Deb Crombie, Kathy Reel,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the birthday wishes :-)
The other day there was a discussion about diners. We still have a diner in Berkeley called Bette's Oceanview Diner. We had brunch there for my birthday and we saw Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary (In president Bill Clinton's cabinet) there!
They gave me a free birthday cupcake! They have a jukebox!
Diana
FIRST - PRAYING FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY THE HORRIFIC SHOOTINGS AT FT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT AND FOR OUR COUNTRY, IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY AS FAR AS VIOLENCE GOES :( :( :(
ReplyDeleteMARPLE
PIZZA WITH CHOCOLATE FOR DESSERT ;)
FACEBOOK
DOGS
BOTH UNLESS IT'S POURING RAIN AND LIGHTENING
SERVANT TO PRINCESS ANNABELLE
CURRENT AUTOMATIC, BUT LOVE STICK SHIFT
I'M WITH HALLIE - COLIN WHO ?????
CNN
AUDREY
BOTH - MUCH TIME SPENT IN ADIRONDACKS AND CAPE COD WHEN I LIVED IN NEW YORK
NYC IF I HAD TO CHOOSE - NOT A BIG CITY GIRL THOUGH
LONDON - NEVER BEEN BUT ALWAYS WANTED TO GO, PARIS WOULD BE NICE ALSO
NEITHER - NOT A TREKY FAN
READ SOME, DEPENDS ON MY MOOD AND THE AUTHOR, IF IT'S AN AUTHOR I LOVE, I DON'T BOTHER WITH REVIEWS, I'LL READ THE BOOK ANYHOW
NIGHT OWL FROM THE MOMENT I WAS BORN
ZERO - SADLY, I ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK
THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS, LOVE LEARNING WHAT OTHERS LIKE
SO MUCH BAD WEATHER ACROSS COUNTRY - STAY SAFE EVERYONE !!!!!
MAR <3
A debate over a wet noodle Sigh.
ReplyDeleteLove you all.
And sometimes reviews are life changing.
But that's another blog!