September 2 question - If you could choose one author, living or dead, to be your beta partner, who would it be and why?
The awesome co-hosts for the September 2 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, J Lenni Dorner, Deniz Bevan, Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, and Louise - Fundy Blue!
If I could have the beta partners of my choice, I'd choose Stephen King and Ursula LeGuin. Stephen King, because he can make the most mundane interesting and Ursula LeGuin, because she knows how to choose her words. Her spare descriptions are some of the most beautiful and memorable.
In other news, I've read 31 books this year, the last two some fun Regency Romances.
Oh. You didn't know I read romance. Probably because I don't read them much any more. But...the two writers who made me want to write are JRR Tolkien and Rosemary Rogers.
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| Yes, I read Shanna,too, and all I can say is that's my kind of pirate... |
But back to the two books I read...
I admit, I have a soft spot for the Regency period in England. It was so decadent, and the clothes...to die for, so these were both easy sells. I saw them reviewed and thought, well, darn, I haven't read a fun romance in a while, so why not?
I was not disappointed. These were both fast-paced, hot (but not too naughty) romances with plucky heroines who pulled themselves up from rejection and scandal and made a life before Mr. Hotness walked in. I definitely recommend both to anyone who likes romance, but I especially liked Who's That Earl. The heroine is masquerading as an assistant to an author (who's never seen, of course) when in fact she's the author. Then along comes the Earl...
In television I highly recommend The Expanse, a scifi show on Amazon Prime. I'm on season 3 and oh, boy is it good. Also loving season 2 of The Umbrella Academy on Netflix. If you liked the first season, you're going to love the second. And I say that having not finished watching (I'm on episode 6) so no spoilers!
Now, tell me who you'd like for a beta partner or what books you're reading or shows you're watching or anything that's making you happy.
Stephen King is such a good choice. I commented on another blog this morning that I'd like him to be my writing professor.
ReplyDeleteOh, wouldn't that be fun!
DeleteLove your choices - Ursula LeGuin and King are both amazing! LOVE Tolkein but I don't know Rogers. I don't read a lot of historical romance so that's proabably why - but you've give me some for my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteRosemary Rogers was popular in the 80s, She wrote Sweet Savage Love, Wicked Loving Lies, and The Wildest Heart, among others.
DeleteI always pooh-poohed romance novels and their cheesy tropes UNTIL I got hooked on Steve (Captain America) and Bucky (Winter Soldier) online gay fanfiction -- now I'm a slave to every cheesy trope going and can't get enough.
ReplyDeleteI love a good romance, particularly historical. Neither of the two I read were true historical romances, ie, the time period was just the backdrop, but they were still fun :)
DeleteStephen King is a popular choice today.
ReplyDeleteHe can be wordy, but he sure knows how to create memorable characters and settings.
DeleteI love the idea behind the Who's That Earl book. I'll definitely have to check that one out.
ReplyDeleteHaven't watched the Umbrella Academy yet, but it's on my list.
I really enjoyed Who's That Earl and The Umbrella Academy is awesome!
DeleteI have settled on Rick Bragg as my beta-reader (after going back and forth between Robert Caro and Mark Twain.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
I'm going to have to look up Rick Bragg and Robert Caro. Mark Twain would be awesome but demanding I suspect.
DeleteStephen King is very popular. I tried The Umbrella Academy and didn't love it. May I'll watch a few more shows.
ReplyDeleteThe second season is better than the first. My sister didn't love the first few episodes but warmed to it by the end and totally loves season 2.
DeleteI really don't warm to Stephen King (yes I know, I am on the out list).
ReplyDeleteLove Ursula LeGuin's work though - and reread her each year.
I refuse to be limited by genre and read almost anything. Which my reading list indicates.
We all have our preferences, but if you can ever read Mrs. Todd's Shortcut, I think you might like it. As for Ursula, well, she rocks and that's that.
DeleteI've been on a romance kick for a while now. I love Tessa Dare. She's local to me. I have some good recs for Regency if you're in the market.
ReplyDeleteYou're the second person to recommend Umbrella Academy. I'll have to check it out once I finish Runaways on Hulu.
I'll have to check out some of Tessa Dare's other books.
DeleteI'm sad that Ursula is represented by a very obscure little publisher here in my country, I thought she'd be at one of the biggest ones. There will be a Regency era TV series this year BRIDGERTON on Netflix, it will have tons of blackwashing and similar woke crap.
ReplyDeleteSadly, Ursula is gone so her family controls her estate now.
DeleteOoh. I'm not sure how to answer that question. Thanks for sharing the thought. :)
ReplyDeleteI like your choices of Stephen King and Ursula LeGuin, but I think I'd choose Susan Cooper, only because I write MG and The Dark is Rising Sequence rocks!
ReplyDelete...going to check out Dark is Rising...
DeleteStephen King is a great choice. I'd kinda like to work with Anne Tyler. Most of her books take place in Baltimore, and she has a real knack for making her quirky characters believable and relatable. If I wanted to have FUN, I think Linda Grimes and/or Tawna Fenske would be great beta pals. They have over-the-top awesome senses of humor.
ReplyDeleteThose are all great choices - especially Anne Tyler.
Delete