Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
New Friends on the Internet
Hi. Ellen Hartman and Diana Holquist here. We’re the newest Love Is an Exploding Cigar bloggers. We’ll do introductions first and then we’ll give stuff away!
We met twelve years ago when we answered a newspaper ad for a baby play group at a community center. It was the dead of winter, we were both new transplants, essentially friendless in a frozen NY state town, and slowly losing our minds at home with our first babies. (Those babies are now in middle school. Eek!) Our first random meeting led to a wonderful friendship.
(Ellen: Except Diana left frozen NY state and now lives in balmy Philadelphia. Makes me question her investment in the friendship, you know?)
(Diana: And Ellen NEVER comes to visit. Hmm…)
Anyway.
In a stroke of serendipity, we have a video to share with you on our first day so you can actually see us. Is YouTube the way to meet new Internet friends, or what?
(Diana: Yes, I do wear black hoodies around the house and eat ice cream out of the carton. Don’t you?)
(Ellen: Yes, I do wear...um...So I really do wear that sweatshirt quite a bit. But only at home. Or with my coat zipped.)
Click to Watch: The Day the Romance World Stood Still
We made this video (with a few friends…) in gratitude for the new book, Beyond Heaving Bosoms, about the romance genre written by Sarah and Candy from the Smart Bitches, Trashy Books web site. Feel free to vote for the video or just enjoy our awesome acting skills. Yo.
On to the prizes. If you want to win a copy of our most recent books (Ellen--His Secret Past and Diana--Hungry for More) PLUS a travel mug complete with a teeny, tiny graphic advertising Ellen’s web site (Ellen: I had art issues, don’t ask), leave a comment on this post. We’ll do a random drawing on Friday to choose a winner.
***Since this is a Get To Know You post, please include one fact about yourself in your comment.***
Ellen’s Fact: I once officiated at the funeral of a tadpole named Butt Biter. He was buried at sea or, you know, pond. (From this fact, I’m sure you can extrapolate the further fact that I live with boys.)
Diana’s Fact: I love to write. I mean, really write, as in calligraphy. Italic and copperplate are my specialties. When I was a teenager and all the other girls were babysitting, I was addressing wedding envelopes. My most “famous” envelopes went to Martha Stewart and Rudy Giuliani. I still have the mess-ups from mis-spelling Giuliani….
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Hi Ellen and Diana
That video was a hoot! I love the black hoodie. I walked into the family room the other day and I believe my teenaged son was sporting a very similar look. A fact about me is that I love to garden, technically I like to plan, buy and figure out where I want things to go, and in the last couple of years I have found that my dh will, dig, weed, mulch and water.
Hi Maureen!
Oh, man, you can come to my house. My daughter loves to garden and I haven't got a clue. We mostly plant stuff and then watch it die, for which I get blamed. Last summer, a groundhog showed up and ate EVERYTHING. I was so relieved that for once, the destruction wasn't entirely my fault....
Diana Holquist
http://dianaholquist.com
Fashion Trends
Diana--I notice you didn't comment on the fact that you and Maureen's teenage son have the same taste in clothes...
My kids and I used to garden quite a bit but last year we missed out. We usually plant pumpkins, which seem to me to be a very thankless strain of vegetable. We plant them. You'd think they could show some gratitude and grow or something.
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Welcome to Cigars, Ellen and
Welcome to Cigars, Ellen and Diana! Your post is hilarious, and I loved the video! One fact about myself? I work for the Dept of Defense, and I once fired a .50 caliber pistol when I was eight months pregnant--the same handgun used by Arnie in The Terminator. The recoil nearly sent me into early labor, LOL!
I'm thrilled to have you join us!
Thanks for the welcome
Hi Karen,
Nice to "meet" you, fellow blogger! I'm dying to shoot a gun. I don't know why, but I think it has something to do with my girl crush on Scully from the X-Files. I would so enjoy being Scully. ;-)
Thanks for the welcome!
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Born
in South America in little country called Uruguay, moved to Canada when 7.
Loved the video
Love to garden too went to college for 2 years and earned Horticultural Technician diploma
Hi Christa
Hi Christa!
I like your facts! Do you speak 2 languages? I always wished to speak another language, but never learned one. The closest I came was 4 years of high school Latin. I didn't have a lot of conversational opportunities with that one, though.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
I'd have flunked horticulture for sure...
AND I flunked high school Spanish....
Wait, that's too many facts, isn't it?
Diana Holquist
http://dianaholquist.com
Fascinating
I didn't know these facts about you. Feel free to share more.
;-)
I flunked college biology. Solidarity.
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
I flunked Watercolor 101 in
I flunked Watercolor 101 in college...
I know some
German still but because I don't use it often I lost most of it. My parents sent me to German school for 6 years(they turned the last year into credit course so when I entered high school I already had 1 credit) I worked in a kitchen of a mostly German retirement home for close to 10 years as both cook and Dietary Aide.
That was...
great silly fun. Wow, your conference call capabilities are great!
I hope it was as fun to make as you made it look.
Silly is right
Silly is about how I felt when I was working on my part. ;-) It was fun, though. I like Elizabeth Hoyt's framed photo of Colin Firth. Too funny, yo.
Thanks for watching it,
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
oh, it was fun...
...and check back soon for the blooper reel, which Lindsey is putting together now. It will truly be hilarious....
Diana Holquist
http://dianaholquist.com
Welcome Ellen & Diana
Glad to see you on Cigars. Of course Ellen and I know each other from eHarlequin when I had to ummm decided to change my name so I would know who everyone was referring to.
I saw the video a couple of days ago and loved it because it made me laugh.
FACT: I was a high school teacher for 35 years before I decided I was getting too old to keep up with teenagers any longer. But I loved the job most days.
ELLEN TOO
Hi Ellen!
Fact: After my first book came out, one of the first readers I met online was Ellen! A very nice, welcoming kind of name for a very nice, welcoming kind of person! ;-)
You were here first, though. I'll be Ellen H. here on Cigars! When is Jeannie's book with the Evil Ellen coming out? I'm looking forward to reading that!
Nice to see you,
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Hi Ladies!
Jeannie's Evil Ellen book is coming out in July 2009. I received the line edits about fifteen minutes ago and can't wait to get started.
Fact about me: Instead of going to Spanish 2 in 8th grade, I hide in the locker room. Eventually I was caught. Apparently when you only miss one class a day, the attendance lady considers that a red flag.
Jeannie
What was wrong?
Jeannie--why the aversion to Spanish? Was it one of your "stick it to the man" high school protest moments?
Ellen H.
Como se dice "boring" en
Como se dice "boring" en Espanol?
Thanks Jeannie
I'll definitely keep an eye out come July.
Hey you guys!
OMG that was hysterical -- the Rachel Gibson bit had me screaming...
I have to be honest, I am not a SB fan, and have not read the book, but I loved the video.
Thrilled to have you guys here. :)
Fact about myself, huh? I often swear like a sailor while I'm sewing...that probably surprises no one, especially anyone who sews...
Sam
hee hee...
I only sew with my eleven-year-old daughter, so I only get to say "darn." I sew about as well as I garden...
Diana Holquist
http://dianaholquist.com
Swearing
Sam--I like the Rachel bits, too. Lindsey is very funny. She's a great video editor as well. ;-)
I don't swear in front of my kids so that has cut back on my opportunities for profanity quite a bit. I do manage to squeeze a few in now and then, though. (Diana is probably rolling on the floor laughing right about now.) Sewing definitely has the potential to raise the frustration level. Well, not sewing exactly, but measuring and cutting. Those are the parts that get me.
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Hi Ellen & Diana!
Ohhhhhhh, so THIS is the "friend" who ditched you for Philly. ;-)
Hi, Diana. It's nice to "meet" you. I already know Ellen. lol.
Here's something about me: I am responsible for Ellen's career. Yes, it's true. Single-handedly, I might add. (Okay, so not really single-handedly. )
I lurrrvvved the video. But, uh, Ellen? I noticed you forgot the r in lurv. And, dang, you've had surgery since I last saw you. ;-) How much did that new bosom set you back? It wasn't exactly heaving, but good grief, it sure was...there.
Susan G.
For all those in the know...
It's true....Ellen won a critique from Susan and after Susan's critique--the manuscript sold! I love--er, lurve--that story.
Y'know, my door is ALWAYS open down here in Philly...just someone never, ever shows up....
Diana Holquist
http://dianaholquist.com
Philly
I'll come visit, Diana. I love Philly! Haven't been in years, though. There's so much great history in Philly!
Susan Gable
A Kid to the Rescue - 4.5 Stars, Top Pick!
H Superromance - Feb 2009
Susan. Oh, Susan
True, yo.
Without Susan I'd probably still be revising Wanted Man.
Although when she read it, it was titled, Painted Love. (The guy is a housepainter. Makes sense, right?) I'm sooo not good at titles. Hey, maybe I'll attend the upcoming Cigars workshop on titles and get myself straightened out.
Diana, I'm on my way this spring, I swear. Although, it's a pretty nice day here in Ithaca. 34 degrees, icy rain. You could always come to visit me, right?
Ellen H.
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Ithaca is Gorges
Couldn't resist. I have a whole slew of relatives in Ithaca. My uncle is a professor at Cornell. Biochemistry or something. My aunt is a minister there, but not sure which church. You can see we're very close.
Cornell
Karen--how funny. It's a small world, but Ithaca is truly a small town. Everyone knows everyone.
Weird how these connections crop up once we start sharing facts. :-)
The Boyfriend's Back May 2009, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
I like Painted Love. I
I like Painted Love. I think it's an excellent title. Wanted Man is pretty darned good, too, though, and rather appropriate. My last book went to contract as "Libby's Story." I wanted to call it "The Book With Evil Ellen" but refrained.
:) Jeannie
The Book with Evil Ellen
At least now you can save that title for another time. It has a more single title feel to it anyway.
;-)
Un-Evil Ellen H.
Diana
You know, now that I think back, I think I met Diana. Didn't we hang on Rita night this year? Of course, I could just be imaging that, too. I'm good at that.
Susan Gable
A Kid to the Rescue - 4.5 Stars, Top Pick!
H Superromance - Feb 2009
Ah, Rita night....
I remember it well.
Yes, we did meet. I was the one who was trying to grab MY Rita away from Kristan Higgins....
(Just kidding. Sort of. Maybe next year...)
Welcome
Welcome Diana and Ellen,
The video was hilarious. How's the weather in upstate NY?
Fact: I was on the bowling team in high school.
The weather? Is this a joke?
Hi Jane,
I read your comment just before I left my basement office at work. No windows, so no hint of the weather. I am stubbornly optimistic so I thought, well, I'll walk to the car and see what the weather is like and then write to Jane once I'm home. The walk to the car was about fifteen minutes so I can say I had a good sample of the weather. It was like this: blech.
;-)
I love living here. Except when it rains ice in January. I think this particular type of weather should be retired.
Fact: I was in the band in high school until my clarinet got stolen.
Thanks for dropping in!
Ellen H.
Welcome! The video was too,
Welcome!
The video was too, too funny.
I also swear when something goes wrong while I am sewing.
Hi Estella
Glad you liked the video! It was a lot of fun to work on. I'm looking forward to the blooper reel.
Thanks for the welcome,
Ellen H.
I love blooper reels!
And I think you should unbleep the swearing!
Sam
Fact: I say I hate brussel sprouts, because Mike hates them, but honestly, I have never eaten one so I don't really know. It sounds like something I should dislike, though. :)
Hooray for sprouts!
I lurrve brussel sprouts! You must try them! When you come to Philly, I know what we're having for dinner...
Ellen and Diana, welcome!
Ellen and Diana, welcome! You're going to love it here!
Fact about myself: I once took a world cruise that spanned months at sea and many ports of call and a number of continents. What I’ll always regret about the trip is that I don't remember anything. You see, I was only one years old at the time.
Good hook
Hi Sue A.,
Your fact is pretty cool--nice hook and then a surprise ending. ;-) Too bad about the lack of memories. I hope someone took pictures!
Thanks for the welcome,
Ellen H.
If it were my life...
Now, see, if I went on a cruise, I wouldn't remember anything either. Although, it would probably have more to do with pina coladas than age...
Hello!! Welcome to Cigars! I
Hello!! Welcome to Cigars!
I saw that video, good stuff. I can't wait to read the Smart Bitches book, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you both through the blog. Take care!
J.K. Coi
Immortals To Die For
www.jkcoi.com
Hi J.K.
Glad you liked the video--I'm intrigued by the book, too.
I'm feeling right at home here after this warm welcome.
Thanks,
Ellen H.
So nice to be here.
I'll second that.
Hi Ellen and Diane
It's going to be fun having you around. I already know Ellen is always up for fun and games as I won Wanted Man playing a game of hers. I like the title Painted Lady --it would work for the book. It is a great book but her second book is better. I'm sorry Diane but I haven't read any of your books yet. The video is a hoot as are some of the other ones made to promote the book.
My little secret is that I like to hang around in my nightgown--all day sometimes if dh is out of town. Makes for some interesting encounters with the UPS guy and the mailman if I'm not expecting them. How do you answer the door at 4 in the afternoon in a nightgown?
Kaelee
How do you answer the door in your nightgown? I think that depends on which line you're a character in...maybe Sam can answer for Blaze.
I'm a great fan of the all-day PJ look. When I was freelancing, I spent a lot of my business hours in my PJs. It's absolutely the only business-look I have for my novel writing career. PJs and that sweatshirt I was wearing in the video.
Is this what Diana meant when she mentioned too many facts earlier today?
Good to see you, Kaelee,
Ellen H.
P.S. Thanks for your kind words about my books. I sent an excerpt of the letter you mailed me to Victoria, my editor. I knew she would be as touched as I was. I enclosed it in her holiday card. :-)
doing pj look too
I've been sporting the all day pj look for the last few days too. It takes too much energy to get dressed besides I've been napping a few times this week too
PJ's
Yup, love the pj's. Every once in a while I actually get dressed, and then people squee at me--"You look so....nice." I think they catch themselves before they actually say "clean."
Hi!!
Hi, Ellen and Diana! So glad you've joined the gang at Cigars! I quite enjoyed your joint video effort! (But I'm glad you've no plans to give up the writing gig to make more videos ;) I've got to have my books!)
Fact: I've never sent or received a text message--in this day and age, that seems to be somewhat of an oddity now... guess I tend to be a bit of a slow adopter when it comes to technology!