tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post8795316795237297775..comments2024-03-28T12:00:47.858-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Finding Inspiration – Finding DreamsJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50975291079582297592010-05-06T00:49:17.389-04:002010-05-06T00:49:17.389-04:00Ah, Nancy Drew, by the fire with hot cocoa on a wi...Ah, Nancy Drew, by the fire with hot cocoa on a winter's day with no school! Thirty-some years later I was lucky enough to interview the late Mildred Wirt Benson for my children's books column. Mildred was already in her 90s and still at her desk at the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Tough lady, flew her own plane, as adventurous as Nancy Drew herself. Mildred wrote the most of the beginning series and created the brave and curious character with her own spirit.<br />Today I'm inspired by too many to name, some of them appear on this very blog. But, though the cocoa has been replaced by green tea, and Nancy by Stieg Larrson or Stephen L. Carter or Kate Charles, I'm still by the fireannoxfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775887050572970228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13167736426634157272010-05-05T20:24:15.162-04:002010-05-05T20:24:15.162-04:00Great topic, Jane. I started with Nancy Drew and h...Great topic, Jane. I started with Nancy Drew and havn't stopped since.<br /><br />My husband's aunt was in the convent, and loved reading Mary Higgins Clark. I bought copies of Mary's books for her and she loaned them to the other nuns. One evening a ninety-year-old nun failed to come down for dinner. Everyone was sure she had died in bed, until they went upstair and found her reading, one of Mary's novels. I told Mary Higgins Clark this story and she got a big kick out of it. We've talked about Cape Cod many times. She's a classy lady. I really enjoyed her novel, Remember Me, which takes place at the Cape.Ruth McCartyhttp://www.ruthmmccarty.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69715052277236242222010-05-05T19:16:15.035-04:002010-05-05T19:16:15.035-04:00I also like learning things in my mysteries... in ...I also like learning things in my mysteries... in any book... I'm so amazed that you mentioned REFLEX. That book knocked my socks off!<br /><br />(Hank, I'm not the least bit elegant in the way you and Mary Higgins Clark are; each of us has different strengths and looks... I'm a "comfort horse," as it were... )Jane K Clelandhttp://www.janecleland.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47488058281491588612010-05-05T15:35:00.436-04:002010-05-05T15:35:00.436-04:00I read the Hardy Boys too but I didn't like th...I read the Hardy Boys too but I didn't like them as well as Nancy Drew but they were books my Grandma gave me that were my dad's so they were special, but I've always been partial to strong females. I also love Dick Francis but didn't find him until about 10 years ago. I would love to met Mary Higgins Clark. I've read nearly everything she has read and loved how she weaved mystery with a budding romance.WS Gagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02278366853908626596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50769654660604662612010-05-05T14:02:08.322-04:002010-05-05T14:02:08.322-04:00Tery! Hi--and yes, the Speckled Band. I still thin...Tery! Hi--and yes, the Speckled Band. I still think about that story!<br /><br />(And Jane..aw. Tnanks. You, too.)Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7115537484460660892010-05-05T09:56:31.568-04:002010-05-05T09:56:31.568-04:00As someone who can't remember NOT reading, I&#...As someone who can't remember NOT reading, I'd say I got hooked on mystery when I read the Speckled Band in high school. I loved seeing all those facts tossed into a story (whether they were true or not). From there, Agatha Christie, Isaac Asimov (especially his robot series, which blended mystery and science fiction.) <br /><br />Dick Francis's Reflex hooked me on his writing. Didn't much care for Nancy Drew, but read all my brother's Hardy Boys books. <br /><br />As a writer, I'm often inspired by those authors whose work amazes me -- simply because it seems so awful, and I wonder how it got published. But then I figure, if that got published, there's still hope for me to move up. (Not mentioning names here!)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-50850301752992769802010-05-05T09:43:44.427-04:002010-05-05T09:43:44.427-04:00Thank you, Hank. I thought the red herring panel w...Thank you, Hank. I thought the red herring panel went well. <br /><br />Mary Higgins Clark -- I agree... she's so elegant and gracious... just like you, Hank!Jane K Clelandhttp://www.janecleland.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-54481748784303420292010-05-05T08:17:05.260-04:002010-05-05T08:17:05.260-04:00Oh, Wendy, I loved Hans Brinker! Thank you so much...Oh, Wendy, I loved Hans Brinker! Thank you so much for reminding me.<br /><br /><br />And you know, over the past week, I got to know Mary HIggins Clark just the littlest bit--and wow. She is an amazing role model. Clssy, elegant, generous--and smart smart smart.<br /><br />JAne--you were a wonderful moderator of the panel on red herrings at last weekend's MAlice convention!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72016923683789696312010-05-05T07:50:56.216-04:002010-05-05T07:50:56.216-04:00For me, the most pivotal was Mary Papes Dodge for ...For me, the most pivotal was Mary Papes Dodge for writing Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates. This was the first chapter/hard cover book I had ever read. I don't remember how I got the book or where it came from. It might have been my older brothers. I had to googled the book to get the name of the author because I couldn't remember but then read about her. She is a fitting role model for the modern women refusing to give up her maiden name and identity and writing books after being widowed. I can still remember the joy and sense of accomplishment I felt when it ended and I "had done it" and finished my first big book. I've never stopped and the author had been dead for 50 years before I was even born. I hope someone will say that about my books in 50 years.<br />Of course I also read the Nancy Drew mysteries and still have some of the first dozen or so with the beloved yellow spine.<br />Wendy<br />W.S. Gager<br />www.wsgager.comWS Gagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02278366853908626596noreply@blogger.com