SquawkRadio Comments

Hi Lisa! 

I’ve never been to a booksigning so I would love to go to even one.  If I could pick - I’d probably choose Eloisa’s because I’ve always wanted to meet her in person.  In some small way I feel like I’ve gotten to know her and her readers due to her BB.

Congrats on Sugar Daddy too!  I adore Liberty and her story, how could we not love her and Carrington?  There are so many favorite parts for me but the scene with the birth of Carrington and Liberty being so love-struck had me in tears.  You just knew there was something special between the two of them.  Also - I wonder if you’re even capable of writing a hero that is just ok . .  . no, you have to just blow us out of the water with these characters, ha!  I loved who Liberty ended up with --- I was so afraid at the end but of course, you didn’t disappoint me and now I have another book of yours that I’ve read at least twice already! 

Besides the Squawker Ladies?

Peter David
Janet Evanovich
Charlaine Harris
Anne Rice
Harper Lee (because that could happen)

I met Eloisa in December and because of Eloisa only almost met Nora Roberts. LOL! I would love to meet Judith McNaught.  She really was the first author that I fell in love with and I still remember sitting on my bed as an unhappy teenager just laughing and crying (lots) with her characters.  She is probably the reason I made it through HS with any sanity.

I’d like to meet Johanna Lindsey and Jo Beverly as well but gosh there are so many other.

I really enjoyed meeting you, Lisa!  You are such a sweet, wonderful lady.  Thanks so much for signing all of my books and for answering all of our questions.  I hope you come back to Atlanta when you tour again...because I will be there!  I’m reading SUGAR DADDY right now and enjoying it immensely.  You have really outdone yourself with this one.  I’m looking forward to your next contemp and, of course, Cam’s book!  *sigh*

Hugs,
Andrea

While there are many authors that I would enjoy meeting, I would probably have to say Fannie Flagg. There have been so many laugh-out-loud moments while reading her books. Growing up in a small southern town, I can relate to the language and to her characters. I feel as if she is writing about my memories of my great-grandmother or my crazy old drunk uncle.

Welcome back, sweetie! We’ve missed you!

Mark Twain. (altho the rumors of his death are no longer greatly exaggerated)

Ok, besides all the squawkers/ettes at once (wouldn’t that be a fun party!) I’m sorry I missed yours! Is that a fellow squawker in your pix?
I’d also love to wander around a RWA conference, of course with unlimited spending allowed.
Definitely JR Ward, and JK Rowling, and if I can channel like Christina did, Jane Austen..or the Brontes, maybe an afternoon tea, sitting by a lake, with lots of atmosphere..

All the Squawkers of course!  I missed you in Jersey Lisa, but maybe next time you are on the East Coast I will be able to make the trip.

I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Eloisa the same time Terri did.

Terri I didn’t talk to Nora either - I have to admit that I haven’t read any of her books yet, but she lives so close by I am sure that I will have another opportunity.

I’m planning on going to a Julia Quinn signing in April - can’t wait!

Amanda Quick is at the top of my list too.  She was my first romance author and you always remember your first.

I have never attended a book signing.  They had one here about 2 years ago with Dorthea Benton Frank (I forget which book), and the line was so far out the door. 

I would stand in a very long line for any of the Squawkers, but that’s about it.

Ms. Mary, I was going to say Jane Austen also.

Ms Mary.............Me too, Me too....The Squawkers, Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.  And I second your motion concerning: Wondering around the RWA conference. 

I would add, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Judith McNaught. 

Our house was robbed yesterday (while we were at church..GRRRR!) and my Lap Top was stolen.  This means the Audio books that I have downloaded on line are lost and gone forever.  Most of these audio books were Susan Elizabeth Phillips.  However, I am happy to report that none of my books were touched.  (she added with a sigh of relief) All is not lost. 

Dear midwestgal,
Thank you dear, you are so sweet!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed Sugar Daddy and Liberty. You know, originally I had planned for her to end up with the other guy, but this ending seemed just perfect for her

FYI, I’m now writing the sequel to SD, and it features the guy who didn’t end up with Liberty!

Dear foreverdelayed,

It would be a DREAM to meet Harper Lee, wouldn’t it?

Andrea, darling, I loved meeting you!!! It was wonderful.

Dear Julie-Lynn,

I’M SO SORRY about your laptop. May a huge ugly curse follow whoever stole it.

Hi Lisa! I met you in Dayton on this tour and I was so excited that you were there that my brain froze. I really liked the small group we had, it seemed more like we got to know each other that way.  I did go to Janet Evanovich’s kick off party for Twelve Sharp last summer and that was fun too, but there were over 900 very loud people there so it wasn’t as initmate. She had it at Foxwoods Casino in NJ and had a Tom Jones impersonator and her future son-in-law dressed up as Sally Sweet, it was hysterical.  My hubby went with me and he enjoyed it too even though he is not the avid reader that I am.  I was number 865 in line to get my book signed.  But she was great, kept the smile and autographing going even when you know her hand had to go numb from holding that pen.

con’t
Aside from the other Squawkers, the author I would love to meet is Kathleen Woodwiss, because it was The Flame and The Flower that started my lifelong love of romance novels when I was a teen.  I love all of her books.  And if it were possible Jane Austen would be second because she wrote books that have survived and thrived thru many generations of readers.  To have people still wanting to read and make movies from your books some 100 yrs after they were written is pretty awesome.

Hey Prue and Julie, I’m a VA res. too, I believe we need a concerted effort to get those squawker-ellas to at least stop in the mid-east! Jez, we are close to I-95 and all!! *sniff* I need a hug

My gosh, I’d love to chat with Stephen King.  The man’s a genius.  Anyone who can write THE STAND just blows my mind.  I bet the line would be a couple of blocks long, though.  I’d have to have my kids with me as runners for coffee jolts while I waited!

I recently attended SEP booksigning in Richmond, VA, what a fun evening.  It was a relatively small group, about 75 ladies.  She read to us from her latest, Natural Born Charmer (which she is) and then we had a quiz relating to all of her previous books, that was a riot.  She was just so much fun and quite personable. She is my favorite author and I won a prize for travelling the longest distance to the signing, I was thrilled. 

I’ve also met Linda Howard, was in awe.  Love her books.  Meeting the Squawkers would be great too.

Lisa! That is so cool you got to meet Santa & J Perry and the others!!!

Also, I would go to your book signing if I could. Elizabeth Vaughan’s, all of the Squawkers… When is that SR convention anyway????
.

And I would also go to a Nora Roberts, Julia Quinn, Julie Garwood, Shana Gallen, Rachel Gibson, Elizabeth Boyle, Kathryn Smith, Karen Hawkins, Christine Feehan, Lori Foster, Elizabeth Lowell, Brenda Joyce.................. on to infinity of all the authors I love book signings.... I guess that would be RWA...... man, I am soooooo dying to go! Next year I plan on it~!

Congrat’s on the RITA nominations Lisa!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!

OOOOh!  Lisa I am so on board with the “huge ugly curse”. 

You were so right ending “Sugar Daddy” the way you did.

However, I am glad you are going to write Hardy’s story.  I really liked him and I would hate for him not to be redeemed.  He had so many great qualities that I would hate to think they were lost forever under his selfish ambition.

Want to go to Lisa’s booksigning? She has a segment up on romancenovel.tv

Ms Mary........Once again I second your motion.  You have all the good ideas.

Ditto, Ms Mary!

Good Lord. I had no idea I’m so limp-wristed when I talk.

LOL! It’s a great video, Lisa, and you’re almost as charming as you are in real life. And probably your hands were tired from signing so many books!

welcome back, Lisa!!!

we’ve missed the sound of your little chicken claws clacking on the coop floor

Did anyone notice that skinny blonde with glasses in the crowd?  She looks vaguely familiar.....LOL!

I really liked her hair....*g*

Well dang.    Sugar Daddy shipped to me today and now I know who Liberty ends up with.  I’m sure I’ll enjoy the book anyway but I sure wish I hadn’t read that spoiler.

Lisa, congrats on the Rita nominations!

Hi Lisa!  It was a treat to meet you in person when you visited Amarillo. I know my friends Jennifer Archer and Ronda Thompson enjoyed meeting you, too.  I now have Sugar Daddy in my collection...it will be fun to have a heroine hairdresser!

April

Julie-Lynn, I’m so sorry your house was robbed.  I’ll second that big ugly curse!

Thank you dear Connie and Xtina!

Oh, PJ, sorry about the spoiler, but there will still be a couple of surprises!

terrio, that skinny blonde with the great hair is a HECKLER. heh heh.

April, it was SO GREAT to meet you in Amarillo--you and Jennifer and Ronda made my night!

I also went to a SEP booksigning, in Newport News.  It was loads of fun.

I’d love to see any of the Squawkers, too!  And if anyone manages to channel Jane Austen, I want to be there for that one.

We actually had an author with local ties at one of my book club meetings.  My son, with my kids’ usual spectacularly bad timing,got sick at school so I had to leave before the meeting was even half way over.  I didn’t get to buy the autographed book because I ran out too early.  Next time, the kids are waiting.

I’m another VA girl who’d love to see our favorite authors in this part of the world!

Lisa, loved, loved SUGAR DADDY.  I ignored everyone in my household to read it last Sunday.  Great ending; I’m also glad to hear Hardy gets his story.

Oh, and Julie-Lynn, I hope the thieving creep grows massive quantities of backhair.  And catches something icky.

Hi Lisa, I had the pleasure of meeting you, Eloisa, and Nora Roberts at a Turn The Page book store event a couple of years ago. I was in seventh heaven to get to meet some of my favorite authors. I hope someday to meet the rest of the Squawkers, Julia Quinn, Linda Howard, Catherine Coulter, Paticia Cornwell, and JK Rawlins among others!  Congratulations to you Eloisa and Christina on your RITA nominations.

Oh, I have too many to put, so I’ll say one that’s off my list—I met Victoria Alexander last year, which was very cool, and she was at my first booksigning, so it was double cool!

Three dream authors—Jane Austen, Shakespeare and Albert Einstein.

Lois

I would love to see Jude Deveraux.  She seems so mysterious and you almost never hear anything about her and as far as I can find, does not have a website.  But her books have kept me company for (cough-cough) years. 

But, I would love to do a wine and author evening (or something intimate like Oprah occassionally does).  If I could sit at a table with the Squawks with wine, chocolate, big comfy chairs and discuss books, the journey to becoming an author and the insight of “stick-to-it-ness” when it comes to writing, that would be joyous. 

Deb

See the cream colored sleeve next to the skinny blonde heckler.....that’s ME!  LOL, it was great to be there with you and Eloisa.  I had a blast!

Loved ‘Sugar Daddy’.  RUN and grab this one, folks!

I almost made it to Kathryn Smith’s signing in NYC.  I’ve been to several signings by Adriana Trigiani.  I love her books and her signings are hysterical!

I’d love to catch the rest of the Squawkers and I’d love to go to a signing for Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Crusie, Cathy Maxwell.....trust me it’s a big list!

BTW, who is the lucky fan next to you?

Lisa, congrats on the nominations and it’s wonderful to have your smiling face back. 

I, too, would love to be there if someone channels Jane Austen.  I just finished reading ‘Northanger Abbey’ and loved it!

I’ve only been to one booksigning.  I am so far off the beaten track up here in Albany, NY that nobody comes up our way!  *sigh* If I hear of a signing close, maybe I can make it.  NOT the City though.  I’m adventurous, but not that adventurous to do it by myself. 

The Squakers are at the top of the list, but I’d love to meet JK Rowling, Julie Garwood and Lynn Kurland.

I saw where Bernard Cornwell and Diana Gabaldon are going to be in Albany at a conference in June.  But the registration fee is way too much for me to go.  Would love to meet them also. 

Congrats to the other nominees here at SR.  My fingers will be crossed in hopes that all y’all win something. 

Lisa I adored meeting you and gobbled up Sugar Daddy in two days.

SPOILERS probably

That wasn’t a love triangle in Sugar Daddy; it was a love-quadrangle, with Texas being the forth main character.  You captured everything from it’s grandeur to the heat, the people and the land.  One of my favorite descrips is when Liberty asks Carrington if the adhesive crystal she’s wearing on the corner of her eye is too much.  You write, “Asking an eight-year-old girl if something is a little over-the-top is like asking a Texan if there are too many jalapenos in the salsa.  The answer is always no.”

And the first person POV was perfection.  I adored experiencing the whole thing from only Liberty’s perspective.  It was her story, after all, not a “their” story.

continued

As ever, your writing is just beautiful.  There’s one place, on page 113, where you describe Diana’s attraction to Louis Sedlek as that of a bug to a pitcher plant.  My ears rang as I read it.

Not only that, the underlying tone was so bittersweet, my heart was permanently lodged in my throat.  I felt every painful growth of her right in my bones.  It hurt, but I wanted to cry afterwards for having gone through it. It was fitting she ended up with Gage.  She’d grown past her childhood crushes.  Hardy hadn’t grown (he’ll have to do his growing in his own book, eh?), yet I understood his motivations.  You did a tricky thing—you made him do a despicable thing yet didn’t make him loathsome.  Are you going to write his book from his perspective??? 

You must, Must, MUST write more contemps, Lisa.  I found Sugar Daddy so personal (1st person in your hands), I felt as though Liberty’s struggles were mine. 

J

PS. I’ve been so ashamed I didn’t verbalize what a cutie pie your daughter is when I looked at her picture.  I was looking at it, thinking as much in my head, and nothing came out of my mouth (for once).  Guess I was star struck.

Oh and,

of course I’m a Squawk cheerleader; you all are tops, but I’d also go see

Judith Ivory
Gaelen Foley
Shana Abe
Loretta Chase
Kathleen Woodiwiss (she deflowered me after all)
and....
Diana Gabeldon

As far as dead writers, if I thought Keats wouldn’t give me TB, I’d camp out at his door.

You do have good ideas Ms. Mary.

We’re so glad you’re back, Lisa, and so jealous that you got to hang with some of our awesome Squawkees!

Nationals Teresa.  Santa and I are there...at your table!

I was tickled that Lisa remembered me from the net when she visited.  Tho it isn’t me in the picture, I do believe that’s my bookstore (well, the one in my neighborhood, anyway) that’s in the picture on the blog!

That’s right!  We’ll be there with bells on and all our Squawker paraphenalia. 

J will be the one with the white socks on........

Dear Caroloyn,

I’m SO HAPPY you enjoiyed Sugar Daddy--thank you!!!

Dear Lois,
I agree, I would love to meet William Shakespeare--but only if he looked like Joseph Fiennes. *g*

Dear Santa,
That wonderful woman next to me is Lori S, and she is a dear.

Dear J (who is absolutely GORGEOUS, everyone!)

You have the sweetest, most beautiful little family, and I loved seeing you. And I think you did say something about my daughter--you were nice in every way.

THANK YOU for your comments about Sugar Daddy--you can tell I put a lot of my heart in it. And yes, it was definitely a story about Liberty finding herself and growing up, and both Hardy and Gage had a part in that. I have toyed with the idea of telling the next book from Hardy’s POV, but to me the character arc of the heroine (Haven Travis!) is too compelling--I have to go with her.

HUGS from moi!

Lisa,

On EJ’s BB this month we have been having fum with a write-a-romance-poem contest (ShrinkLits, haiku, and limericks only). I loved Sugar Daddy so much that I wrote a ShrinkLit version. I am going to self-plagiarize and post it here.

Sugar Daddy, Lisa Kleypas

She, smart and poor.
He, cool and sure.
Love’s young dreamer.
Ambition keener.
Heart torn.
Sister born.
Mother died.
Reader cried.
Farewell, yesterday.
New choice, new way.
Enter Churchill.
Then Gage falls ill.
True love, can’t resist
once she’s been kissed.
Hardy’s not past.
Which love will last?
Spoilers? Not here.
Buy book! Join cheer!

Janga that’s PRICELESS . . . I love it!!! Thank you, dear . . . you distilled the book perfectly and also gave me a huge grin.

BIG HUGS!

J.K. Rowling.  I would have to enjoy it while it lasted because I’d be immediately banned for being such a complete and utter nerd.

I dont think she does them though; and I’d prefer to wait until I read the 7th before continuing with this pipe dream.  If she kills Harry, I don’t want to be “that reader” who tells her how she should have written the book.

I’ve been sucked into the world of Stephanie Plum, so I’d like to mean Janet Evanovich just so I can go, “I freaking love Ranger!  Is there anyway you can make the books all about him and Steph?” (There I go, being THAT reader again.)

My top two romance writers I’d love to meet though are 1) Sherrilyn Kenyon and 2) Teresa Mederios.  I’d literally lose my mind.

I talked to Eloisa James once on the phone and turned into a complete dweeb...so I can imagine how meeting the other authors would probably go.

Oh Janga, having read and loved SUGAR DADDY, I thought your poem was hysterical.  So clever and so accurate!

Well you were one of the authors that I always wanted to meet so that was great meeting you in Austin on your SD tour.  You are as beautiful and as sweet as can be.  It was great gushing about your books and gushing about the Brothers with you.  Thank you again for signing my books and just being so gracious.  Can’t wait for Cam..oh man!

Next author that I’d really love to meet is definitely JR Ward!  I’m such a big BDB fan.

The Squawkers of course!! That’s like my dream day. Although I’d be so nervous that I’d either have verbal diarreaha or wouldn’t be able to open my mouth. Either way I’d look like an idiot but wouldn’t care at all. Cuz I’d get to hang with the squawkers!

Janga that poem is perfection!

Janga, Thank heavens someone around this joint can give us some class! LOL, everyone in my family loves SUGAR DADDY, and Lisa’s become an icon of what an author should be!

Wait. Do you think my kids and husband are trying to tell me something????

Considering not many authors get to Montana, it will probably be quite awhile before I get to a booksigning. It would be great to meet any of the squawkers, Nora Roberts and Stephanie Laurens

I haven’t been to any individual booksignings but I met a lot of my favorite authors at the RWA literacy booksigning in Atlanta, including all of the Squawkers except Lisa.  Those of you going to Dallas are going to have such fun! 

Lisa, hopefully someday I’ll have an opportunity to meet you.  Another author I’d love to meet is Janet Evanovich.  I adore the Plum books.

You stole Lisa’s sign-in password, didn’t you mother?

Welcome back, Lisa.  It was really nice seeing you again.

Can we say dead authors too?  I would have loved to have met Alexander Dumas(father), Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde and the Bronte Sisters.

Two authors that I have been reading since I was 15 are Kasey Michaels and Diana Palmer.  I have met Kasey Michaels, at an NJRW Booksigning, talk about a total dweeb.  To meet my idol and not be able to say a word to her was soooo embarassing. I remember stammering to her that I would be back once I stopped shaking and could hold a normal conversation with her. She was wonderful, I just love her.  Now, I would love to meet Diana Palmer.

Hi Lisa,
As Ing said you were one of the authors I’d like to meet--thank you for coming out on a rainy night to read/sign books in Austin! I treasure my signed copy of Devil in Winter! Ditto for the gushing--thank you for kindly listening as I babbled away! I’m also looking forward to Cam’s story and the new Wallflowers!

The other authors I’d like to meet are: J.K. Rowling and Amy Tan.

My daughters and I love reading and discussing the Harry Potter books. We’d have so much to ask and say to Ms. Rowling!

Amy Tan had some great stories in her “The Opposite of Fate” book. My favorite one was when she was reading the Cliff Notes for “The Joy Luck Club” while she was waiting to be introduced for her book signing! I’d love to hear more of her real life stories.

I adored the Wallflowers, but I read them backward, starting with SIS, which convinced me to read the rest, but I could only find them in the bookstore in the wrong order. When I read DIW Cam’s character was so compelling, I prayed he would get his own story. I’m so excited!

Not to play favorites, but there is only one author I’d like to meet, partly because I like to pretend I’m interesting and have valuable things to say and meeting too many authors would likely force me to revise that opinion of myself, so I would have to choose the author that forced me to get over my intellectual snobbery and realize it was not just ok to read romance, it was pretty damned enjoyable. So, Teresa, if you get down to Florida I’ll come say hi, but don’t expect any scintillating conversation.

Lisa,

Historical Romance is my favorite genre, and I have read and enjoyed all of your books.  I just finished Sugar Daddy and have to say it is now my 2nd favorite book of all time (Shanna is my favorite by KEW).

You are a fabulous writer, and I so enjoyed crying and melting as I read your new book.  I loved all your other books, but this one surpassed them all.

Thank you for sharing the gift you have been given, you have brightened many of my days.

God Bless You and Keep Writing!

Lisa Hill

Lisa,

Hi! Thanks for a memorable first book signing!
It was great to meet and greet you. I bought some
books by the authors you suggested to me and I
can’t wait to get started. Take care, I’ll be anxiously
awaiting your new book in october!
Jodie

I just finished reading Lisa Kleypas’ Sugar Daddy.  My story is very similar to this story in some places.  I don’t mean to sound melodramatic.  Liberty got her name from the county and town in Texas where she was born.  Nobody in the world knows where Liberty, Texas is...but its my birthplace too. Liberty faces the challenge of raising her sibling at a young age.  My youngest brother was born when I was 10 years old and due to my mother’s illness he was my responsibility. Years later my husband and I adopted him.  Liberty’s mother dies suddenly at the age of 42.  My mother died of a massive heart attack at the age of 43.  My husband and I discussed getting a second mortgage on our home to pay for the funeral.  At the funeral home, the director told me that a gentleman had a life insurance policy on my mother and wished to remain anonymous.  The policy was enough to cover her funeral.  I still don’t know who that person was.  I have often told my husband that my life had to happen the way it did for us to have met.  After reading this story I was so compelled to respond and I HAD to write about it somewhere.