Books I'm Grateful I Read - Giveaway Hop with Cathy Maxwell's THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT

Aloha!  I signed up for this giveaway hop before the recent kerfuffle ... but it is a great way to wrap up my week long focus on authors doing good.  Most authors I know appreciate readers and welcome their honest thoughts.  One such author is Cathy Maxwell.   She wrote the first romance book I read, THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT.  This Scottish Regency invited me into a new world of love, hope, and friends.   I am grateful for this experience.

Check out other stops on the giveaway hop at this link.

I offer one more excerpt from the original Colonial catfisher, Benjamin Franklin, a 16 year old boy writing letters as a middle aged widow named Silence Dogood ...

July 9, 1722 • Silence Dogood No. 8

Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or controul the Right of another: And this is the only Check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know.

This sacred Privilege is so essential to free Goverments, that the Security of Property, and the Freedom of Speech always go together; and in those wretched Countries where a Man cannot call his Tongue his own, he can scarce call any Thing else his own. Whoever would overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing the Freeness of Speech; a Thing terrible to Publick Traytors.

Benjamin Franklin in Boston

Thank you for joining me in celebrating authors doing good.   I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash.  To enter the giveaway,

1.   What is your favorite Halloween candy?  Naturally, I "inspected" my son's bag and sampled Heath Bars - love them!

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 8, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 9.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

More from Authors Doing Good - Inigo Montoya, Mrs. Dogood, and Eileen Dreyer

My family is a fan of the Maryland Renaissance Festival - my teens especially enjoy Fight School. From their website (link):

Here we come... walking down the street... we get the funniest looks from... everyone we meet. Hey Hey We're the Fight School!

The quirky quartet demonstrates famous sword fights, including "the one from a movie we can't identify due to copyright infringement". Yet the audience knows it is The Princess Bride with Inigo Montoya vs. Westley (link).

Inigo Montoya offers up the best quote to combat the ongoing Catfish controversy, "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means."  To recap, a YA author accused a reviewer of "catfishing" for using a pseudo name on social media.  Catfishing typically refers to online dating ... but if the YA author wants to use it in this manner, then let us look to the original catfisher, Mrs. Dogood. She portrayed herself as a middle aged widow to comment on social issues in Colonial Boston.  Mrs. Dogood was, in fact, 16 year old Benjamin Franklin.  

May 14, 1722 • Silence Dogood #4

(Mrs. Dogood shares a dream in which she visits the Temple of Learning aka Harvard University):

I reflected in my Mind on the extream Folly of those Parents, who, blind to their Childrens Dulness, and insensible of the Solidity of their Skulls, because they think their Purses can afford it, will needs send them to the Temple of Learning, where, for want of a suitable Genius, they learn little more than how to carry themselves handsomely, and enter a Room genteely, (which might as well be acquir'd at a Dancing-School,) and from whence they return, after Abundance of Trouble and Charge, as great Blockheads as ever, only more proud and self-conceited.

Benjamin Franklin, through Mrs. Dogood's letters, offers veiled criticims of Harvard University.  It is the Alma mater of the YA author who remains unapologetic for stalking the reviewer.   Mrs. Dogood says its best, "as great Blockheads as ever, only more proud and self-conceited."

I have several friends who attended Harvard - they are not blockheads.  Likewise, not all authors are blockheads.  Perhaps one of the most vivacious, entertaining, and generous is historical romance author Eileen Dreyer.   From her bio (link):

Eileen is an addicted traveler, having sung in some of the best Irish pubs in the world, and admits she sees research as a handy way to salve her insatiable curiosity. She counts film producers, police detectives and Olympic athletes as some of her sources and friends. She’s also trained in forensic nursing and death investigation, although she doesn’t see herself actively working in the field, unless this writing thing doesn’t pan out.

Eileen first published as Kathleen Korbel - gasp!  A pseudo name!  Should you meet her at a book signing, ask her how she picked this name.  Eileen won five RITAs and is the fourth author to be named to the RWA Hall of Fame.  

Eileen (left) laughs with Patricia Rice and
Cathy Maxwell at RT/11 in LA.

Eileen is now putting all her "research" to work as a Jeopardy contestant.   Make sure to watch on Thursday, October 30 - check your local listings.  Meanwhile, follow Eileen's road to Jeopardy on her Facebook page at this link.

Let's celebrate those who are not blockheads!  I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including several titles from Eileen.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Jeopardy - which categories would you win money?  Lose money?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 1, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Check out pictures from our recent visit to Harvard (during our trip to Boston) at this link and link.

State of Romance, Benjamin Franklin, and Authors Behaving Humanely

Mount Hood, Oregon
Public Domain (link)

I contribute a weekly column, State of Romance, to USA Today's HEA Column.  Today we visit Oregon, the Beaver State, at this link.   We also return to the other state of romance ... the flow of free thought (link).   I continue sharing the musings from the colonial catfisher, Benjamin Franklin, posing as a middle aged Silence Dogood in his/her letters to the New England Courant.

April 30, 1722 • Silence Dogood #3

I am very sensible that it is impossible for me, or indeed any one Writer to please all Readers at once. Various Persons have different Sentiments; and that which is pleasant and delightful to one, gives another a Disgust.

I intend to proceed, bestowing now and then a few gentle Reproofs on those who deserve them, not forgetting at the same time to applaud those whose Actions merit Commendation. 

No doubt Mrs. Dogood would offer a few gentle reproofs to those authors behaving badly.  Likewise, she would applaud those whose Actions merit commendation ... 

Standing up to Cancer -  LAST HERO STANDING is a box set from Dianna Love, Cynthia Eden, Elisabeth Naughton, Joan Swan, Bonnie Vanak, Pamela Clare, Mary Buckham, Adrienne Giordano, Norah Wilson, and Stephanie Rowe.  Proceeds benefit Pamela Clare who is recovering from breast cancer. Learn more at this link.

Supporting deployed personnel - Geri Krotow and Heather Ashby sent books to deployed personnel.  Geri and Heather understand the challenges of deployment - they are Navy Veteran and spouse.  Mahalo, my fellow RomVets!

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Oregon, Benjamin Franklin, or an author you know who behaves humanely.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 1, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Remember, you can also support deployed personnel at this link.

Benjamin Franklin fishes for cats ... and Jennifer McQuiston combats Ebola

Ten days ago, Romanceland exploded in anger over The Guardian's publication of YA author Kathleen Hale's essay of how she stalked a reviewer.   Hale attempted to justify her actions and remains unapologetic. Author Alex Hurst offers the most comprehensive review of the situation, Hale vs. Harris, and the Breach of Online Ethics, at this link.

Hale accuses Harris of "catfishing" ... I had to look up this term.  From the Urban Dictionary (link),

A catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they're not using Facebook or other social media to create false identities, particularly to pursue deceptive online romances.

Hale (the author) accuses Harris (the reviewer) of "catfishing" for using a pseudo name to post reviews.  However, it is Hale, in her own words, who engaged in false pretenses to visit Harris at home and contact her at work.   This is a sad day in democracy.

My cat fishes for books.

This past weekend, I came across National Treasure on cable TV.  Nicolas Cage stars as a historian who pieces together the clues to the Templar treasure from Benjamin Franklin's Silence Dogood letter.   From PBS.com (link)

During the eighteenth century, it was common for writers and journalists to use pseudonyms, or false names, when they created newspaper articles and letters to the editor.

Silence Dogood was Franklin's first pseudonym, created when he was sixteen years old and serving as a printer's apprentice to his brother James. Silence Dogood was a middle-aged widow who looked at the world with a humorous and satiric eye. Her letters dealt with a range of topics from love and courtship to the state of education in Massachusetts. In all, fifteen Silence Dogood letters were published in James Franklin's New England Courant.

Benjamin Franklin
Public Domain (link)

Following Hale's reasoning, Franklin must be a colonial catfisher using the social media of his time - newspapers.   I found the Dogood letters at this link.  

April 2, 1722 • Silence Dogood #1

I am not insensible of the Impossibility of pleasing all, but I would not willingly displease any; and for those who will take Offence were none is intended, they are beneath the Notice of Your Humble Servant

April 16, 1722 • Silence Dogood #2

I am naturally very jealous for the Rights and Liberties of my Country; and the least appearance of an Incroachment on those invaluable Priviledges, is apt to make my Blood boil exceedingly. 

These letters are clever insights into an emerging democracy from a 16 year old boy disguised as a middle aged widow.   We could learn much from Franklin's wisdom.   I will share more from Silence Dogood throughout the week.

I submitted a Letter to the Editor of The Guardian.  I hesitated as I was required to submit my name, address, and phone number.  I don't think The Guardian will publish my letter, so I share a portion of it with you, focusing on the single issue that prompted this kerfuffle - a bad review:

I offer an example of how a “bad” review can yield “good” publicity. Elyse at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books posted a D review for Avon author Jennifer McQuiston’s debut historical, What Happens in Scotland. Yet Elyse’s review was thoughtfully written, with a hint of humor.  Elyse's review caught the attention of many readers, including some who thought they might like the book.  I gave 5 stars to What Happens in Scotland.

Quoting Silence Dogood, "I am very sensible that it is impossible for me, or indeed any one Writer to please all Readers at once. Various Persons have different Sentiments; and that which is pleasant and delightful to one, gives another a Disgust."

Six months later, Elyse reviewed the next book in the series, Summer Is For Lovers, giving it an A review. Elyse might not have reviewed the second book had Ms. McQuiston acted like a diva. But that’s not the end of the story. The romance community has rallied around Ms. McQuiston in her day job with the CDC – she is now in Sierra Leone to combat Ebola at its source. You can bet that romance readers are following Ms. McQuiston on Facebook in this global crisis. And they will follow her into her next series. You can’t buy goodwill like this.

In the end, it is free speech that is our National Treasure.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Share a wise old saying such as a penny saved is a penny earned.  Feel free to check out wiseoldsayings.com.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 1, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 2.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Follow Jennifer McQuiston in Sierra Leone at this link.