Friday, October 21, 2005

The end of a long week


Wow, have I just been the most boring blogger this week or what??? But really, aside from obsessing about Hello Kitty and what's going to happen next on LOST, I haven't been doing much the last few days. When I finish a book, I go through a short period of brain-deadness before I perk up enough to start the next one, and that's where I am now. Stuck in between-projects limbo land. But I did get a lot of reading done, including John Berendt's fascinating new book on Venice, CITY OF FALLING ANGELS, and a whole slew of non-fiction researching said next project, about the court of Henry VIII in the late 1520s. (And, boy, am I super-glad I didn't live then! Those wacky Tudors. But I wouldn't mind being some eccentric contessa in Venice, living in my palazzo with a herd of tiny dogs, a couple of Titians, and a boy-toy named Paolo)

So, I'm posting an older pic of one of the most exciting experiences of my writing life, meeting Barbara Cartland!!! Yes, that chick in hot pink chiffon is THE Barbara Cartland, not her wax effigy stolen from Madame Tussaud's. Granted, at the time she was about 176 years old and just a tad bit out of it, but heck, it was Cartland! I grew up reading her stuff, all those cynical, dark dukes and stammering young virgins. Not to mention the fab movie adaptations. I'll always be glad I had the opportunity to meet her, and get a couple of books signed. It was loads of fun. :)

2 comments:

Megan Frampton said...

I am SO jealous.
Good luck with Henry and his bevy of babes--one of my favorite periods in history, too.
"Yeah, I thought I'd create a brand-new church because you've got too much say over who I'm married to. Not to mention that whole European political power thing. So there, Pope!"

Kelli McBride said...

Hey Mandy! I just put a review of Elizabethtown on my blog. Surely that will pep you up. Wouldn't you rather have a man named Orlando in your palazzo? At least make him available for your guests. Now, that's what I call Hospitaliano!