Meet a Wenchly Reader

Anne here, introducing a new, occasional feature called Meet a Wenchly Reader. We thought it might be fun, now and then, to shine the spotlight on a few of the names that regularly crop up in the comments — a kind of quick snapshot that highlights the range of readers we have and where they come from. Today we invite you to meet RevMelinda, Louis and Maggie, who've been reading this blog and dropping in to comment for years. We've asked each person the same questions and asked for a photo or two that's important to them. We hope you enjoy meeting your fellow wenchly readers.

RevMelinda, tell us a little about where you live. 
I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years with my husband and our two daughters.  Our city overlooks the Columbia and Willamette rivers, about 90 minutes from both the atmospheric rocky beaches to the west and the towering Cascade mountains to the east.  Over the years I’ve come to appreciate the perpetual misty rain, the bikes and bridges, the coffee shops and brewpubs, the Thai eateries on every corner, and the ultra-casual dress code (even at church or the opera).  We can see Mount Hood from our living room window—particularly beautiful at sunrise.

This picture represents my professional capacity as a volunteer coordinator for hospice.  I work to recruit, train, assign and support volunteers who provide weekly respite in the homes of our hospice patients.  Hospice is an interdisciplinary way of providing medical, social, and spiritual care to people who are terminally ill and have a prognosis of 6 months or less.  I feel privileged to work with volunteers committed to comforting and companioning our patients and their families in this most intimate and profound of journeys.

Can you tell us 3 interesting facts about yourself or 3 authors who are auto-buys for you?

Interesting fact: (not three, just one!) I’m a Presbyterian minister by vocation; you can read my sermon about romance novels here. 
Three authors who are auto-buys:  CS Harris (the Sebastian St. Cyr series of mysteries set in the Regency; Harris describes her protagonist as “Mr. Darcy with a James Bond edge”) Carla Kelly (beautifully written and emotionally honest romances often featuring doctors, sea captains, and ordinary people doing extraordinary things) Karen Marie Moning (her paranormal Darkfever series is like crack with covers—once you start, you can’t stop, and you want everyone you know to get addicted too)

This second picture (taken some years ago) combines three of my favorite things —my daughters, the Pacific Ocean, and the setting sun.

How you usually read the Word Wenches blog?  
I read the Wenches most often at home, in the morning, while I sip the day’s first cup of coffee.  However, I usually don’t make a comment until the afternoon or evening as I need some time to ruminate on the blog topic of the day.

 What book do you remember as the one that made you fall in love with reading? 
I never lose an opportunity to talk about the first romance novel I ever read, Georgette Heyer’s “The Masqueraders.”  It has a crazy premise—a brother (Robin) and sister (Prudence) hide from their past in the plain sight of society by pretending to be the opposite sex (Robin pretends to be a woman, Prudence pretends to be a man)—but Heyer makes the crazy premise work.  The book has a little bit of everything—masquerades, duels, secret pasts, a lost heir, a sinister villain, a botched elopement, fabulous clothes, delicious secondary characters—and Sir Anthony Fanshawe, the large gentleman with sleepy eyes who is much more alert than he seems, is an unlikely but thoroughly swoon-worthy hero.

Introducing Louis.  

My wife and I raise Arabian horses on our five acres of Southern California backcountry.   We have five children...four boys and a daughter...all grown up. We have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.   I am a retired television engineer and have been retired for 12 years. My wife is a retired RN. I'm a WWII vet and was in the Navy. I'm 86 years young.  

I think this is my favorite of our horses. Her name is "Fair Lady"  a purebred Arabian She is blind in one eye due to a genetic cross that was not known when she was bred. We all still love her.  

I started reading in the second grade. Started with "Romance" when about 12 while visiting an aunt... she had several Grace Livingston Hill books that I read... and I continued from then on.   I'm a voracious reader,  re-reader and share that with my daughter. Auto buys are JAK and Nora Roberts plus several others. Some newer writers that I like are Lauren Willig, Mary Anna Evans, and Maria V Snyder.  

I usually read the Word Wenches blog around noonish. Sometimes with coffee and sometimes with a sandwich.  

This picture is of one of our "Resident Road Runners" sunning on our deck rail. There is a pair of them and they raised two chicks this year.

 

Our third wenchly reader is Maggie Robinson. 

 I live down a long private dirt road that ends at a lake in Maine. Gorgeous sunrises. Loons. Peace. This is our forever house. I want to die here (but not anytime soon).

This is my chance to tell you about my two upcoming releases, right? I’m tremendously excited to share a December Brava anthology title with Virginia Henley and Kate Pearce. My second book in the Courtesan Court Trilogy, Mistress by Midnight, comes out in January. Yes, Nicola and I share the same title, but I know Wenchly Readers are way too smart to mix us up.

3 Interesting facts about yourself?
 I was a double-debut author this spring, writing as both Maggie Robinson and Margaret Rowe. I’m rather old for a debutante. I credit reading the Wenches for inspiration, but don’t blame them—all errors are mine. In the next couple of years there will be eleven books published with my names in them somewhere. I’m stunned and oh so grateful.

How you usually read the Word Wenches blog?
I wake up very early, read the news, e-mail and my favorite blogs online in my pajamas. I subscribe to the Wenches’ alert so I can read the new post right from my mailbox. Traditionally, I have a cup of tea with too much sugar and lemon and a maple-nut muffin, and then get to writing.

What book do you remember as the one that made you fall in love with reading?
Like so many girls, I loved Little Women, although I’m still upset that Jo didn’t marry Laurie. I’ve been trying to match-make ever since.

Thank you RevMelinda, Louis and Maggie for joining us and sharing a little about your lives. I certainly enjoyed getting to know you a little better, I hope others did too.  I'll send a book to one person who leaves a comment.

Comments

[Patricia Rice]

I love this new feature, Anne, thanks so much for thinking of it! As a writer, I am inevitably curious about people, so I love knowing the people who make such lovely and intelligent comments on the blog. I've been following Maggie's writing progress with pride in her success! And I think I've kind of guessed some of RevMelinda's and Louis's backgrounds from things they've said, but details are exciting. Thank you all for visiting and making the wenches a better place to hang out.

[anne gracie]

Pat I so agree. It's lovely to see Maggie's success — congratulations Maggie. And I loved seeing RevMelinda's view of the Pacific — we see it from a different angle, and never with a sunset.
And that's my first ever roadrunner outside of a cartoon. But my fave of all is Louis's beautiful horse, Fair Lady — isn't she a sweetheart?

[Jo Beverley]

I love this new feature. What interesting readers we have.

Jo

[Cara Elliott/Andrea Penrose]

This is a wonderful feature, Anne! It's delightful to get to know our amazing readers "up close and personal"—thank you RevMelinda, Louis and Maggie for sharing with us!

[Nicola Cornick]

Thanks so much for this feature, Anne, and thank you to RevMelinda, Louis and Maggie for sharing. I enjoyed a glimpse into your lives. Fabulous photos too!

[Hellion]

Hi RevMelinda, Louis, and Maggie! Thanks for sharing about yourselves!!

I have to do a special shout out to Louis--my Dad is 88 and was also in the navy in WWII (on the USS New Mexico.)

[Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe]

Thanks so much for including me in this debut! I'm having another glamorous writing day, reviewing copyedits of my March release in my PJs (still)as the rain cascades down outside. It's almost noon and pretty dark outside, so I don't feel too guilty about the pajamas, LOL. Hope the sun shines indefinitely on the Word Wenches!

[Jeanne Miro]

The one thing I enjoyed about this post was that Melinda, Louis and Maggie all remembered their favorite books from childhood. When my boys were young I had so many of the other Moms asking how I "got" them to read. I always had to explain to them that there were a couple easy steps to have a child love to read - 1. Read to them when they are newborns, 2. Let them see their parents reading (books, newspapers, etc.), 3. Have more books and less toys accessible, 4. Have books available that interest THEM. Most important in our family was to have encyclopedias in the house (even if used and out of date). From the time they were 2 if they had a question we would send them to get the, i.e.. D book for questions about dogs. Our motto - get a book, read a book, give a book and your family will love to read.

[Susan/DC]

It should not come as a surprise that the charming and intelligent Word Wenches have charming and intelligent readers. I very much enjoyed learning a bit more about the people whose names I see on posts -- thank you to the Wenches who thought of this feature and thank you to RevMelinda, Louis, and Maggie.

[LouisaCornell]

What a wonderful idea !! I love reading everyone's comments on this blog and now I know a bit more about the people who share these conversations about the topics with me.

RevMelinda,

I am in awe of your work with hospice. People just have no concept of the comfort and peace you and your volunteers give to families in some of the most difficult times of their lives. Thank you!

Louis,

I am in LOVE with Fair Lady. She is gorgeous! Look at the sweet soul in that face and she knows she is loved. You can see it.

Thank you for your military service to this country. As the daughter of a military career man (6 years army where he served in Korea and 21 years Air Force where he served in Vietnam) I know the sacrifices men like you make to guard the gates while the rest of us sleep. And you read romance!! How cool is that!!

Maggie,

You and I have known each other a while on this writing journey! And NOBODY is more thrilled and proud than me that you have succeeded in SUCH a big way! Anyone who hasn't read Mistress by Mistake is missing a great read! And I am SO excited to see that there will be more of your great stories out there for me to enjoy!

[Alison]

I followed the link to RevMeinda's sermon and thought it was wonderful. Ultimately, we all believe in the redemptive power of love, and that's why we're reading romances.

[Louis]

Thanks Ms. Anne...and you included my favorite Fragonard painting at the top. I have a copy near one of my bookcases.

Thank you one and all.

[Sherrie Holmes]

This was an utterly delightful blog! It's like legal window peeping. RevMelinda, I so honor you and your volunteers for your hospice work. Hospice has touched my life in many positive ways, including the death of my mother and ex-husband. The people in hospice are remarkable, yet when I thanked them for their work, they often said they received as much benefit from their patients as their patients did from them. Giving is a natural boomerang. The more you give, the more you get back. Bless you.

Louis, Arabian horses! Yes! I've had horses for over 40 years, mostly Arabs and part-Arabs. I don't think there's a horse more beautiful than an Arab. I used to have an Anglo-Arab gelding that I rode to a first place finish in the 60 mile Washington State Championship Competitive Trail Ride, and a 2nd place finish in the Washington State 100 mile Competitive Trail Ride. You can't beat an Arab when it comes to distance riding.

Maggie, congratulations on your publishing success. Your home sounds like the IDEAL place to write. The location sounds so beautiful and inspiring. No wonder you call it your forever home. And it certainly must be inspirational, based on the huge number of your books coming out in the next few years. You must be one prolific writer!

It was such a delight to be able to learn a little about some of our regular readers.

[Deb H.]

What a fun idea for a post! Thank you to all of the readers who gave input today.
RevMelinda, I absolutely loved your sermon. It was beautifully written and I'm sure it was as beautifully delivered.
Louis, thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with us, too.
Maggie, it's so nice to see your
name(s) on books in a store. :)

[theo]

What fun getting to know others who post on the same blog, but who we only know in passing.

Thanks for the blog today and what a great idea! Looking forward to meeting more of the regular posters here :o)

[MaryJoPutney]

What a genius idea, Anne! I've always known our readers are extraordinary people, and it's lovely to know a bit more about some of them.

Mary Jo in Venice

[Minna]

Great idea!

[Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe]

Thanks so much for all the good wishes on my books! I still pinch myself every day. I have a link to RevM's sermon posted on my blog, and I read it every now and again to remind myself of what's what. And yay to Louis, his wife and the beautiful animals he sees every day!

[Dee Feagin]

Every time I read a new post, I learn something new or interesting or thought provoking. How delightful is that? This is a fabulous idea for a column. I hope you will do it again. Thanks to RevMelinda, Louis and Maggie for sharing. I found someone else who thinks C.S. Harris and Carla Kelly are the best; was pleased to find a man who reads romance with no excuses; and now have a new author to find...all in one morning.

[Janga]

What a great idea, Anne! I loved reading the posts from RevMelinda and Louis. Knowing more about them will make me enjoy their posts here even more. And I'm always delighted to have another chance to cheer for the accomplishments of my friend Maggie. That she managed to write most of that prolific list of titles from her debut year in the wee hours before going to work makes her story more amazing.

[RevMelinda]

What a pleasure and honor it was to be included in this post--especially with the fabulous Louis and Maggie! Thank you Anne for inviting me, and thank you to the commenters for all the good thoughts. And here's a toast to the Wenches for creating and nurturing this fascinating and welcoming blog community!

[Chelsea B.]

This is a great feature! I enjoyed reading!

[Joanna Bourne]

I love that horse, Fair Lady. What a sweetie.

Does being blind in one eye give her any particular habits or vulnerabilites, I wonder.

[Susan King]

What an absolutely delightful post! It's exciting and fun to learn more about some of our readers.

Melinda, you're such a wonderful supporter of romance and I admire your big heart for helping others. And what a gorgeous sunset photo of your daughters by the ocean!

Louis, you're simply amazing! Your Fair Lady is just beautiful, and your love of romance and reading is an outstanding trait that I wish more guys shared! It's wonderful to learn more about your fascinating life. (I was just talking to my father yesterday about some of his WWII experiences as an 18-yr-old artillery guy, slogging his way through the rains and mud in northern Italy.)

Maggie, big congratulations on your first book - eleven coming up, WOW, that's an incredible start to what will be a great career! I've got you on my TBR list for sure.

Thanks to these three readers and to all of our readers - it's a privilege to get to know you all.

And BIG kudos to Anne for thinking of this new feature. I look forward to more "Meet a Wenchly Reader" blogs in the future!

Susan

[Louis]

Ms. Joanna...

Fair lady went blind when she was about four..one eye was operated on and sight restored (Expensive!) We have to be careful when on her blind side and not approach too quickly or she will startle. Try to keep a hand on her when moving around her so she will know we are there.
Otherwise she is a quiet and gentle horse.

Thanks again Ms. Anne