Blast from the Past: Flirting with Fans

It’s been quite astonishingly warm out here in New England, and all I can say is thank heavens for air conditioning, because relying on a fan to stay cool--especially a hand-held one--would have not have worked for me! Then again, fans have other uses, as we learned in this post from 2009:

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Now, on to how to flirt with fans. Mr. Shafer’s introduction to fan flirtations in his Secrets of Life Revealed (Baltimore, 1877) is short and to the point:

The fan is also used for flirtations, and the following rules govern the subject:

Carrying in right hand: You are too willing
Carrying in right hand in front of face: Follow me
Carrying in left hand: Desirous of an acquaintance
Closing it: I wish to speak with you
Drawing across the forehead: We are watched
Drawing across the cheek: I love you
Drawing across the eyes: I am sorry
Drawing through the hand: I hate you
Dropping: We will be friends
Fanning fast: I am engaged
Fanning slow: I am married
Letting it rest on right cheek: Yes
Letting it rest on left cheek: No
Open and shut: You are cruel
Open wide: Wait for me
Shut: I have changed
Placing it on the right ear: You have changed
Twirling it in left hand: I love another
With handle to lips: Kiss me

Well! Again I see a lot of potential for miscom-munication here, especially for those of us who tend to be klutzy. Then again, we might end up with a wide circle of acquaintances that way…

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Incidentally, I needed a fan this past weekend, when I learned that Evergreen won the Best Young Adult Novel category of the OK-RWA's National Reader’s Choice Award! A thrill and an honor, for which I'm very grateful.

Being a Homebody

I’ve been very much a homebody lately—haven’t we all? Being at home for me hasn’t chafed at all: I’ve been gardening up a storm—look at those zucchini, cucumbers, and green beans! 

My fingernails are permanently stained from weeding, and Beatrice-bunny has been feasting on fresh parsley, cilantro, and Italian dandelions from my herb planters.

And when not outdoors, I’ve generally had a paintbrush in my hand—my office now wears a handsome coat of “Creamy Mushroom” and my bedroom is cool and blue in “Life at Sea.”

And then I remembered Mrs. Hurst Dancing.

Mrs.Hurst Dancing is a delightful book I mentioned here back in 2010—it’s a collection of drawings by Diana Sperling, a young lady who lived with her family at a comfortable country house in Essex in the early years of the 19^th century. Di (as she was called) recorded her family’s doings between 1812 and her marriage in 1834 in a series of watercolor drawings in a charmingly naïve style, and they are suffused with good humor and charm…as well as giving us an excellent picture of life among the country gentry at this time.

And what do we see the Sperling family doing? Among other things, they redecorate…

And plant a garden…

And suddenly, 1820 doesn’t seem all that far from 2020...

What are you doing at home?

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In a postscript, one other thing I’ve been doing is receiving some good news: Evergreen is a finalist in two RWA chapter contests—the NationalReaders’ Choice Awards and the Prism Awards. More news soon!

 

The Romance Writer's Season

So here we are at the Romance Writers of America conference. It’s a little like the Season, when all young ladies of good family went to London or another large town and were formally presented to the rest of Society. Marissa and I have been making polite conversation with editors, agents, our writing colleagues, and other industry professionals just like nineteenth century ladies made calls. We were invited to tea with some of the luminaries of our circle (God bless you, John). As you saw in Marissa’s post, we attended a lovely Soiree on Wednesday. And last night, Marissa termed the Harlequin Party a sad crush (which is nineteenth-century speak for a very popular event). Alas, there were no dukes or princes present, but that didn’t stop us from dancing. Or posing.

Tonight is the grand finale, the big night for romance. The Rita Awards, the equivalent of the Academy Awards for the romance community, will be given out. We’ll dress up in our finest gowns and wait breathlessly for the names of friends and favorite authors to be announced. It’s a little like waiting to be presented to the queen.

But we don’t have to wait to hear about our own personal winner. You see, the Rita isn’t the only award given at conference. The mystery and romantic suspense authors present the Daphne Du Maurier for best romantic suspense novels. The Greater Detroit Romance Writers give away their Bookseller’s Best Award for novels in various categories judged best by booksellers. The Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal group gives awards for the best in that area. The Oklahoma Chapter runs a competition for best book as judged by readers around the nation.

I am honored to announce that our own Marissa Doyle was awarded the National Reader’s Choice Award. Betraying Season won for best young adult novel for 2009. I was so proud, I carried her rock all the way back to our hotel room. Well, okay, I carried it part of the way before she relieved me of it. I think she saw the possessive gleam in my eyes.

Can we all brag that we know her?