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Play Ball!!! |
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Diamondbacks Opening Day! |
Recently, while enjoying a game, we got into a discussion of the best baseball movies. Now on this I do have an opinion. My fave baseball movie of all time is: FIELD OF DREAMS:
7 smart and sassy crime fiction writers dish on writing and life. It's The View. With bodies.
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Play Ball!!! |
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Diamondbacks Opening Day! |
Jenn McKinlay: Most of you know I am a summertime Canadian. My family has had a cottage in Nova Scotia for forty years and my brother and I ran amuck on the shores of the Bay of Fundy as kids just as our four boys have done all their lives. To say that I have been UPSET by what the current administration is doing is putting it mildly. When our dear friend Vicki Delaney reached out and offered a post from the Canadian perspective - of course, I said yes. The librarian in me is a big believer that information is power. So here's Vicki to give us some insight from the North.
Community note: Any nasty messages will be deleted. As lovers of books and the book community, we're all in this together. Conduct yourselves accordingly, please.
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Hooligans on our beach in Scot's Bay with their Wowa. |
JENN McKINLAY: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Since I set LOVE AT FIRST BOOK in Ireland, I believe my feelings about all things Irish are pretty clear.
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One of my favorite memories in Ireland was when a cabbie was giving me instructions on how to drive (yes, I drove the Ring of Kerry). He said, "Remember you always want to keep your passenger safe, so you always want your passenger on the curbside of the street." I nodded. This was sound advice. Then he said, "Or as we like to remember it, keep the bitch in the ditch." LOL. Yes, I wrote that scene into the book.
How about you, Reds? Who’s been to Ireland? What did you love about it? If you haven’t been, do you plan to go and what do you want to see most?
RHYS BOWEN: Big fan of Ireland here (which you might guess as my first heroine was called Molly Murphy). John’s grandfather was Irish, his great grandfather an important figure in representing the Irish negotiations for independence at Westminster. And one year we drove around the whole island–truly memorable. In almost four weeks we had one day of rain, which was a miracle. The scenery was spectacular, the people so warm and charming…and so quirky. I think one example sums it up best. We were staying at a B and B in Tralee. Our host told us about a hike over a waterfall that we would enjoy and gave us directions. “You drive along the loch and you’ll come to a lovely hotel. If you’ve a mind to have dinner there, it’s a lovely view over the water.” He went on to extol the hotel then added. “Now if you come to that hotel, you’ve gone too far.” You have to love the Irish. (Oh, and I loved LOVE AT FIRST BOOK, Jenn).
Jenn: Thank you, Rhys! I stayed in a castle in Tralee (exceeded all my expectations)!
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Ballyseede Castle (my room was the windows above the red door to the right - middle turret!!!) |
HALLIE EPHRON: I have been to Ireland and absolutely loved it. LOVE the music which surrounds you at every turn. Walkable cities and towns. Gorgeous churches (see music). Verdant landscape. Absolutely a great trip. (AND they speak English!!)
Foodie that I am, I was prepared for the food to be “meh” but in fact it was sensational. I came home and bought a bottle of malt vinegar since it was so tasty on the wonderful fried fish but I’ve never used a drop.
The Fish Box in Dingle had the BEST fish stew and fish and chips I have ever ever ever eaten. A must place to eat!
LUCY BURDETTE: I’ve had some spotty visits to Ireland–I was in Dublin for a couple of days and also spent one day at the Giant’s Causeway (hordes and hordes of tourists) and overnight at a storytelling barn in northern Ireland. However, I have ancestors from Ireland and DNA that appears Irish, so I feel the pull to return. We are going back in the fall, if the universe is willing! I love reading books set in Ireland and listening to Irish music and now I can’t wait to eat the food! Happy St. Patrick’s day everyone. For now, imagine me beating back the hordes of spring breakers in Key West:)
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Tonka and the spring break girls :) |
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: And picture me remembering not to go into Boston today because it is FULL. And I know a lot of people are having fun, but I am not a fan of green beer or green bagels. (Green bagels. WHY??)
Going to Ireland. Hmm. I have never been and I would absolutely adore to, it sounds magical, but I kinda think it’s not first on the list. But! You never know.
(And do you know the musical Wonderful Town? It is the best song about the Irish–called My Darlin' Eileen. It's from 1953, and you have to imagine it– it’s sung by a chorus of (dancing) New York cops, all Irish, who are welcoming the girl from Ohio, who happens to be named EIleen.
You have to listen to the whole thing–it’s perfect for today! My Darlin' Eileen (From “Wonderful Town Original Cast Recording” 1953/Reissue/Remastered 2001)
And oh, I couldn't resist, here is it on YouTube! Go to 1:12:46. SO funny.
I am horrified to admit that I have never been to Ireland, although I would LOVE to go! Back when I was plotting what became NOW MAY YOU WEEP, my idea was to set it in Ireland, in a fictional version of the famous Ballymaloe cooking school–which of course I would have to attend for research. But my agent said no one was interested in books set in Ireland (one of the few times she’s been wrong) so I set the book in the Scottish Highlands instead. I wouldn’t change that book, but I’d love to get to Ireland someday, research or not!
How about you, Readers, who’s been to Ireland and who wants to go?