Just a Brief Note

I've decided to give up the practice of alerting you to double posts, triple posts or more and simply let the dates speak for themselves. I'm having far too much fun finding material and I like the freedom of adding something mid-day if the opportunity arises.

I hope you're enjoying the extra material. I can't promise that I'll do this every day but if something comes my way or I want to add a writing tip, I like being able to do that (also I live in fear that one day I'll forget to post even one thing. If that happens, please know that there will be a good reason for it and I'll be back with an explanation soon).

Best Wishes!

Origins

A short and sweet little animation:(as it's animation and very memory intensive, it may take a little longer to load)

origins from Robert Showalter on Vimeo.

via The Curious Brain

Double Post Day! Awkward...

This is always so embarrassing, but it happens...

by elephrame via I Love Charts

And That, Boys and Girls, is How a Spray Can is Made

Born on June 30th: Florence Ballard, David Alan Grier, Susan Hayward, Lena Horne, Charles VIII, Vincent D'Onofrio

Quote of the Day: All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Another how things are made (I know, it's a sickness, but I love seeing how ordinary objects are created). 

Birth of a Spraycan from Montana Cans on Vimeo.

I guess there's not much to add to that, is there, although...hmm, I rarely even use spraycans anymore. They're being replaced by pump sprays, everywhere. Which is, I suppose, a good thing. Can you think of anything that commonly comes in a spray can anymore?

Best Wishes,

Eek! This Makes Me Want to Become a Vegetarian

I don't think of myself as squeamish but I would be screaming...and running. (Not a fan of cooking things that are still alive when they go in the pot). I think you may have to click on the image to get it to play.

via Bits and Pieces

Double Post Day! Powerline Flyers

This is short and sweet and pretty...and the birds look like a bit like musical notes on a scale.


powerlinerflyers from wes johnson on Vimeo.

via Misscellania

Enjoy!

100 Best Movie Lines

Born on June 29th: Little Eva, Nelson Eddy, George Ellery Hale, William James Mayo, Slim Pickens, Antoine de Sainte-Exupéry via NNDB

Quote of the Day: A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it. - Alfred Hitchcock

I've mentioned before that I love movies, but I especially love compilations of the best of what happens in movies. Here is a video of the 100 Best Movie Lines in 200 Seconds (not new but worth watching again if you've seen it). 

via Misscellania

Did you see any of your favorites in there? Any you'd forgotten you'd even seen?

Best Wishes,

You'll Be Missed, Duffy Lyon

I'm not from Iowa, I know very little about Duffy Lyon, but even here in Illinois, we've heard of "the butter cow lady." Every year at the Iowa State Fair until she passed the torch in 2006, Duffy Lyon sculpted a butter cow and entertained visitors. On Sunday, Duffy passed away at age 81. Here's a video of her from the 2004 fair.

For All the Coffee Lovers Out There...

Born on June 28th: Kathy Bates, Mel Brooks, John Cusack, Gilda Radner, Peter Paul Rubens

Quote of the Day: Do Lipton employees take coffee breaks? - Steven Wright

I didn't start drinking coffee until I was a teacher and it was so readily available in the teacher's lounge. Since then, I've gone back and forth between being a coffee drinker and stopping now and then (I didn't go near caffeine at all when I was pregnant, for instance). Most of the time, however, I like a morning cup of coffee. If you're a coffee drinker (and even if you're not) you might enjoy this video. It's told with a nice dollop of humor.

So are you one of those "must have coffee" people? Tea? Cola? Or none of the above?

Have a good (caffeinated or decaffeinated) day!

Triple Post Day! What an Image!

A view of the Puyehue volcanic eruption



via Imgur

Writing Tip of the Day - Line Up Your Scenes

This works for me. It may (or may not) work for you, depending on whether you're a planner or a seat of the pants writer:

When I'm beginning a book, after writing the synopsis, I compose a very brief list of scenes. Just a one to three or four-line description of what is happening in each scene, what the point of the scene is and what important points (backstory, emotional, whatever) will be revealed during that scene. When I sit down to begin writing, all I need to do is reread yesterday's pages and look at the scene description of what I plan to write today and I'm off and running. (Note: I don't force myself to stick to the plan if something better comes along, but it's good to know that I do have a workable plan).

Water Painting

Born on June 27th: J. J. Abrams, Helen Keller, Tobey Maguire, Vera Wang


Quote of the day: Every painting is a voyage into a sacred harbour. - Giotto di Bondone

I want to do this. It looks so cool (although I know I'd never be able to pull that paper off without ruining the whole thing).



This is why I'd like to travel more. You just don't see these things at home. What fun!
via Presurfer

Best Wishes,

Some Forgotten Musicals

Born on June 26th: Branwell Brontë, Pearl S. Buck, Sean Hayes, Chris Isaak via NNDB

Quote of the day: The musicals had a good, happy feeling, saying that the world is a better place. They say it's not reality, but who cares? There's too much reality these days.

I went to the theater this weekend. It wasn't a musical, but the very act of walking into a theater makes me think of musicals. Here are some old favorites, just for the fun of it.

From My Fair Lady


And of course there are many others. I'll save those for another day (when I need a touch of nostalgia). But I've been wracking my brain trying to think of all my favorites, both current and older. What are some of your favorites?

Best Wishes,

Double Post Day - Squirrel With a Sweet Tooth + One More

Because I felt guilty only posting about Star Trek today, I thought I'd add some cute pictures. I have a relative who isn't a squirrel fan (because they get in his attic if a tree is too close), but even he might like this photo.


via Imgur

And a rebellious mountain goat.


via Imgur

What a bold one he is!

Enjoy your day (all of you wild ones and rebels)!

For Star Trek Fans...

Born on June 25th: Ricky Gervais, June Lockhart, George Orwell, Carly Simon

Quote of the Day: How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life. - James Kirk, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Bonus quote: It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life. - Captain Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation

Not a new video, but still fun if you're a Star Trek fan (and I am). 

Stop wearing those red shirts, guys!

If you're a Star Trek fan, this next one, a 40th anniversary tribute (through 2006 and posted on YouTube in 2007) may bring a tear to your eye, but if you're not a fan, it may not be your cup of tea. Just so you know.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that not everyone is a Star Trek fan. (What a shock! LOL)

And since I know that we're a global community and we all have see different television shows in our respective parts of the world (at least in part), what are some of your favorites? I don't watch a lot of television these days, but I do tune in now and then (although obviously not to Star Trek  anymore).

Best Wishes to all Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike,

Synesthesia

Born on June 24th: Mick Fleetwood, Mercedes Lackey, Michele Lee, Jeff Beck, Ambrose Bierce

Quote of the day: If there's any message to my work, it is ultimately that it's OK to be different, that it's good to be different, that we should question ourselves before we pass judgment on someone who looks different, behaves different, talks different, is a different color. - Johnny Depp

Until a couple of years ago, I had never heard of synesthesia. I was in the library and came across a book on the subject and I was instantly hooked, totally fascinated. I needed to know more. 

Coincidentally, within days of finding that book, a fellow writer wrote a blog post on the subject. I don't even remember which writer it was, but an online discussion ensued with a few synesthetes relating their experiences. 

For anyone who doesn't know what synesthesia is or who would simply like to know more, here are two videos about this amazing condition:

I can't begin to imagine what this would be like, but isn't it amazing? I just finished reading a children's book called A MANGO-SHAPED SPACE. The heroine is a synesthete, but she doesn't know it at first. As she finally learns that she isn't alone, her world opens up and she learns that there isn't anything wrong with her (as others have thought), but she's really very special.

This is definitely an area I want to continue to explore. At the very least, it makes me more aware of my own limited senses.

Best Wishes,

Double Post Day - Indulge Me While I Mention My Bargain Books

I've been meaning to mention this for days, but just haven't gotten around to it. Two of my books are being offered at bargain prices (one of those in a mass market paperback version for only $1.33. I'm not sure what that's about, but it's a good deal for a book): (Note the price on these seems to vary by a few pennies now and then and occasionally shoot up, but for the most part, they're staying in this less than $1.50 range).

THE FRENCHMAN'S PLAIN-JANE PROJECT is currently listing for $1.46 for the Kindle ebook version on Amazon and also for $1.46 as a Nook version on Barnes & Noble.

4-1/2 stars and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee
"A sexy, humorous take on the Cinderella story, Mackenzie's tale has a larger-than-life, completely delicious hero." - RT reviewer Catherine Witmer

In addition, COWGIRL MAKES THREE is available in paperback for $1.33 on Amazon.

The Kindle ebook version is also available for $1.26.


4 stars - Romantic Times
"This is a great tale in which the characters are well written and well rounded." - RT reviewer Katherine Taylor



Okay, shameless self-promotion over for today. Thank you for putting up with that.
Best,

Don't We All Feel Like Beating Up Our Computers Now and Then?

Born on June 23rd: Richard Bach, Selma Blair, Bryan Brown, June Carter Cash, King Edward VIII, Bob Fosse, Frances McDormand, Alan Turing, Joss Whedon via NNDB

Quote of the Day: Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog. - Doug Larson

Remember the days of dial-up? This was how I sometimes felt. (This isn't a new video--it's from 2009--but it's still fun to watch). 

via Misscellania
Note: I just discovered that the creator of the video above is now working for Dreamworks. The video was her thesis film when she was in college.

(Hmm, I wonder if I subconsciously felt a desire to post this because my computer is misbehaving today).
Ever have one of those computer days? I'll bet you have.

Best Wishes,

Writing Tip of the Day - Clear Your Mind

As noted in the comments section, some of the writing tips also apply to other aspects of life. I think today's tip will, too.

There are days when I get up and the words just won't come. I'm staring at a blank screen and I've got nothing. It's annoying, it's frightening and it's very stressful, especially when I'm on a deadline.

But...at least some of the time (a lot of the time), I realize this "failure to write" is because my mind is on other things (other obligations, upcoming appointments or just things I need to remember and am afraid I'll forget). I've found that one way to clear my mind for writing is simply to take out a piece of paper (or several sheets of paper) and write down all the things that have been nagging at me. I'll make a To Do list, a Don't Forget list, a Things to Think About Later list, even a What's On My Mind list (What is with those double rainbows, anyway? Or what am I doing craving chocolate at 8 AM? :-D ). The truth is that I may never look at these lists or scraps of thoughts again, but just knowing that I've gotten them down in hard copy form relieves me of the fear that I may forget something and clears my mind a bit. That frees me to focus on the book and to devote myself fully to writing.

Happy Writing (or working, playing, enjoying the day)!

Amazing Bookcases

Born on this day: Bill Blass, Erin Brockovich, Dan Brown, Carson Daly, Kris Kristofferson, Cyndi Lauper, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Meryl Streep via NNDB

Quote of the day: I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen

I'm always interested in the way people store their books. In this case, this is the outside of a bookstore. Buyers are on the honor system and are supposed to submit 50p through the letterbox. 

photo taken by Simon Carey

When Ikea was celebrating the birthday of their Billy bookcase, they presented them in unusual settings:

photo by Peter Hindmarsh

These bookshelves are on the Celebrity Equinox

Photograph by Tom Mascardo 3

The books in this wall are actually ceramic (but interesting, aren't they)?

Photograph by andrevanb

This person organized their books by color, making them part of the decorating scheme. Although I would never have thought of doing that, it does look good!

Photograph by chotda

Another rainbow bookshelf

Photograph by Craig Conley (Eccentric Scholar)

Interesting how they built these around the window

Photograph by Philip Fibiger

A shop window filled with books

Photograph by Richard Croft

How do you organize your books and are you a bookshelves overflowing type or do you store them neatly? (I tend to organize by subject...most of the time and my shelves are a bit neater than they used to be, but only because I recently cleared them out. Soon I'll be piling books in any nook and cranny available).

Happy Reading!

A Love Story - With Trees

Born on June 21st: Meredith Baxter, Berke Breathed, Michael Gross, Juliette Lewis, Prince William

Quote of the Day: A man doesn't plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity. - Alexander Smith

A romantic animated short about two trees in love:

Rooted from Rooted on Vimeo.

Sweet and a bit sad. (I love animated shorts)!

Writing Tip of the Day - Ignore the "Nevers." Find Your Method

If another writer tells you something that begins with "Never..." or "Always..." an alarm should go off in your head and, at the minimum, you should examine their statement and see if it applies to you rather than following their advice blindly. Yes, there may be a few rules relating to common sense behavior when dealing with editors, publishers or other writing professionals, but when it comes to the writing itself we're all individuals, and one writer's methods may not be the methods that work best for you. Find what works for you, what feels right for you, and stick to that.

If I Could Be Anything, I'd Want to Be...A Dancer

Born on June 20th: Danny Aiello, Olympia Dukakis, John Goodman, Nicole Kidman, Martin Landau, John Mahoney, Anne Murray, Lionel Richie, Brian Wilson via NNDB

Quote of the Day: Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never do any harm to the world. - Voltaire

I am not an accomplished dancer. That is, I'm not good at choreographed dance where my movements have to match those of other dancers, and I'm not good at following, so I'll never be a ballroom dancer. Perhaps that's because I was raised during an era where you mostly danced alone...or maybe just because I'm not particularly coordinated. LOL 

I had my dancing moments, but they were rare, and I always wished I could be really good at it. I love watching dance. Dirty Dancing is one of my favorites: (Sorry that this is just the trailer)

And Gene Kelly is still wonderful.



Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers look wonderful together, don't they?



Shall We Dance (I've heard great things about the Japanese movie this was based on, but I've never seen it):



And finally, one of my absolute favorites, Strictly Ballroom:



This reminiscing was brought about by one of those ad sidebars on Facebook This one was touting a Cafepress store and t-shirt with this image on it...which intrigued me.

Are you a fan of dance movies? And if you are, what are your favorites? There are so many that I'm sure I've missed many wonderful ones.

Happy Dancing!

The Log Drivers of Canada (Animated Short)

Born on June 19th: Louis Jordan, Blaise Pascal, Phylicia Rashad, Gena Rowlands, Wallis Simpson, Kathleen Turner (via NNDB)


Quote of the Day: Australia and Canada were settled by adventurers, they had to break new ground. I think that is indelibly etched on our cultural spirit. - Tom Cochrane

Pardon me while I climb into the Way Back Machine today, but years ago, the Public Broadcasting System used to use fillers if a television show didn't quite fill the hour, and one of my favorites was this animated short from The National Film Board of Canada. (I know that many of you have seen this before--probably many times--but I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today, so I thought I'd dig it out and share).

A fitting video for a romance writer, don't you think? Uh oh, now I'll be humming this all day.

Have a great day!

The Ghost Deer of the North Woods of Wisconsin

Born on June 18th: Roger Ebert, Gail Godwin, Carol Kane, Paul McCartney, Isabella Rossellini

Quote of the Day: "I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her." - Ellen DeGeneres

A relative recently sent me a link to a video about the ghost deer of Wisconsin. Since I used to spend a lot of time in the North Woods and also because these were such beautiful creatures, I had to find out more. 

Source is Rebecca's Photography


Of course, Boulder Junction, Wisconsin isn't the only place these rare deer can be found, but I'm fascinated by the fact that they live within a day's drive of me. 


They have apparently been in this area for a very long time (Native Americans knew of them) and are protected from hunters.


Here's a video with some great background music:



And a link to a more informative video (embedding isn't allowed, because this was a television special):

I would love to see these in the wild (maybe I will). What creatures have you come across during your lifetime? Or what ones would you like to have the chance to see and/or study?

Have a wonderful day!

Quadruple Post Day (Formerly Triple Post) - Simon's Cat in Hidden Treasure

I know. I thought I was through for the day, but...it's very short. And I can so relate to this.



Maybe that's why I need a cat. Hmm...

Best,

Writing Tip of the Day - Jiggle Your Imagination

Writing Tip for June 17th, 2011:

If the writing isn't going well (and you're beating your head against the wall, hoping that will jar the words loose), try something less violent (and more likely to work): if you have another computer, switch your work area. I sometimes find that simply changing my location (a different wall I can ponder) gives me a new perspective, and sometimes that's all that's needed to prod my stingy sub-conscious to give up the words I need and to get things rolling along again.


Happy Writing!

Quadruple Post Day! A Brief Explanation of Things to Come

NOTE: It recently occurred to me that as much as I like posting intriguing human interest stories (well, they're not really stories are they?) and plan to continue to make that the main focus of this blog, I have totally neglected all things writing for quite some time. I haven't even completely added all my books to the site yet (deadline looming, not enough time to get everything done).

So, in the interest of not completely dropping the book biz out the window, I'm opting to occasionally (not sure how often--might be a little, might be a lot) add a second post dedicated to writing (and yes, even to book promotion. I have 2 books that are selling for unbelievably low prices on Amazon, and I've wanted to mention it, but have failed to do so. That seems silly, so now and then I'm just going to give myself permission to mention bits about my books). However, I still intend to keep that kind of thing low key and I promise to do my best to keep from beating you about the head with promo. Feel free to send me a stern message if I ever get out of line about this. I won't be offended.

And if you're a visitor who isn't interested in either writing or my books, I'll understand if you scroll past these posts to the ones that are more fun-oriented (let's face it, I'll never even know). As mentioned, those will continue to be my main focus, and when time allows, I may add extra fun posts per day.

So, thank you for visiting. I'm enjoying this so much (and enjoying your comments)!

Best Wishes,

Quadruple Post Day! - Skydiving for Those With a Fear of Heights

Born on June 17th: M. C. Escher, Will Forte, Greg Kinnear, Barry Manilow, Igor Stravinsky, Venus Williams via NNDB


Quote of the Day: Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I'm no adventurer, at least not in the usual sense. Yes, I write books, which any writer will tell you is a wonderful but insane way to try to make a living, so in that sense I guess I do have adventures of a sort. And I have hiked many trails, including some up mountains (small mountains). I've gone white water rafting, but only after being coaxed into it (it was fun, but if I did again, there would have to be more coaxing. Serious coaxing and some arm twisting, because I'm the sort who likes her feet firmly on level ground most of the time). 

I do have adventurous relatives, however, including one who used to skydive. We've all watched those videos of people linking hands mid-air or getting married mid-air or turning somersaults mid-air, and it's fascinating to watch people jump out of airplanes and perform that type of aerial ballet. But I can tell you that I'm never going to skydive unless it's like this:

Now that looks like fun! What do you think?

And what's the most adventurous thing you ever did?

Have a great day!

Quick Change Sports Stadium

Born on June 16th: John Cho, Geronimo, Stan Laurel, Phil Mickelson, Joyce Carol Oates, Erich Segal (via NNDB)


Quote of the day: Nothing good comes in life or athletics unless a lot of hard work has preceded the effort. Only temporary success is achieved by taking short cuts. - Roger Staubach

In today's world, sports is big business, requiring large venues to hold competitions. But to make the whole concept economically feasible, multiple types of events have to be held at one complex. Here's a video (rather a frenetic video, as it's a complicated time lapse) of a hockey rink being converted to a basketball court.

It's amazing how much work and manpower goes into the changeover. I'm not much of a hockey or basketball fan (all right, I'm a fair weather fan. If my home team makes it to the playoffs, then I watch. I'm the kind of fan that real fans loathe). Still, I'm fascinated by this conversion process. Clearly a lot of planning goes into it.

So, sports fan or not? And if so, which sports do you follow? (I follow tennis, and despite not being British, I keep hoping that Andy Murray will win a major just because it's been so long since the British have had a champion. As the home of Wimbledon, it just seems as if they deserve to finally have a win after the long drought. But I'm truly a Nadal fan).

Best Wishes,

Ah, France!

Born on June 15th: Jim Belushi, Courteney Cox, Edvard Grieg, Neil Patrick Harris, Waylon Jennings

Quote of the day: Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is a cute little video regarding the clichés we Americans tend to believe about France and the French.

Ah, too true! We do have a tendency to put people in little boxes, no matter where we live. Enjoy! (I love the music)!

Best Wishes,

Tall Paintings - Looks Like Fun!

Born on June 14th: Steffi Graf, John Bartlett (Bartlett's Quotations), Harriet Beecher Stowe

Quote of the day: Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. - Pablo Picasso

Here's an awesome and interesting way of creating art. I noticed later that some other people on YouTube had tried to replicate it (including a kindergarten class).

After watching, I do think, however that there's some mathematics and science involved (the right amount of viscosity to get the correct flow, the right amount of paint to make sure that things flow enough but not too far, merging but not too much merging and so on). Intriguing!

Are you ready to try this? It actually looks a bit expensive (that's a lot of paint).

Best Wishes,

The Camping Life

Born on June 13th: Tim Allen, Don Budge, Christo, Ben Johnson, Malcolm McDowell, William Butler Yeats

Quote of the Day: The ultimate camping trip was the Lewis and Clark expedition.

I went on my first camping trip with a friend's family when I was sixteen. They had a small camper (the type that sits on and over a pickup truck), and after that, I was hooked.

Since then I've been a tent camper, and we've camped our way over great swathes of the United States and Canada, revisiting some of our favorites (Acadia National Park, Yellowstone, the Canadian Rockies, Sequoia National Park, to name a few) over and over again.

Our original tent looked something like this (except it was green). I could set it up by myself in a matter of minutes, and back then I was not a very big person. It had a spider at the top that locked in and cool buttons that locked the aluminum poles in place, so that one part couldn't fall down while you got the rest of it up.

Image source

But it was made of heavy canvas that made it weigh a ton, especially when it got wet, and eventually the floor wore through. We patched it until it couldn't be patched anymore. Then we sold it at a garage sale (amazing that someone wanted it by then, but it's always surprising what people will buy at garage sales). Since then, we've gone through several more tents. A strong wind on Prince Edward Island bent a tent pole in half, ending our stay there (no place to buy a replacement) and we lost one tent in Bryce Canyon National Park when the zipper broke. It was on its last legs and we were at the end of our trip, anyway, so we all enjoyed pitching it in the dumpster. One less large item to cart home.

These days, on the rare occasions when we still camp, our tent looks like this (yes, that's me getting ready to feed the troops). This shot was taken in Yellowstone.

Camping has long attracted the young, the poor and those who simply like to be surrounded by the outdoors.

Image Source

Here's an interesting article on the history of camping, with some great images.

So are you a camper or not? Or were you ever a camper? (I used to camp a lot more than I do these days. Now I confess that much as I enjoy standing in a campsite breathing in the scent of pine, I also enjoy finding a hotel every few days and enjoying the luxuries of a bed and a private bathroom).

Happy Camping (or hotel staying)!

Double Post Day: We All Have Our Hobbies...

Look at this. An entire YouTube channel devoted to stacking cards!




Here's the link if you'd like to see more time lapse card stacking (and deconstructing).

Sound Off Time - Do You Have Any Pet Peeves?

Born on June 12th: Anne Frank, Chick Corea, Robert Mondavi

Quote of the Day: Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe. - Robert Service

Most of the time I'm a very positive person. I like looking on the bright side and don't see much point in looking on the...well, the other side. But, let's face it, we all have our pet peeves.

Image Source

I do have one major pet peeve: drivers who don't use their turn signals when they turn or change lanes. It just seems incredibly lazy and is so very unsafe.

There! That's been bothering me for awhile (well, since the last time I nearly saw two cars collide right in front of me because one of them didn't signal). I feel so much better now that I've said it. But as I said, I mostly don't let things bother me too much. Here's an example of something that apparently bothered someone. It was posted online as a pet peeve (found via Misscellania):

I found it amusing more than bothersome, but I can see how it would drive some people crazy.

So...anything you'd like to share? Those little niggling irritations that make you shake your head?

Have an annoyance-free day!

A Blast from the Past - Vintage Romance Novels - Part 2

Born on June 11th: Hugh Laurie, Richard Strauss, Gene Wilder

Quote of the day: It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new. - Tony Visconti

I talked a bit about vintage romance covers and titles the other day, but I failed to mention that years ago a lot of romance novels fell into the nurse/doctor category. My mother had many of them, so I was privy to this trend. Today Harlequin still has the Medical line (print version overseas, but only available in the U.S. online), but there are few nurse/doctor books available elsewhere. Looking at some of the covers, I'm astounded at the variety of nurse titles. (Note: as mentioned before, my comments have to do with the titles--that were probably not chosen by the authors any more than many of ours are today--and I mean no disrespect to the authors or to the books, which hold a special place in my memories).

This is one of my favorite titles (possibly because it's been years since I've heard the term hootenanny). :-D 

And then we have College Nurse (is she studying to be a nurse or practicing her skills at a college)?

There are specialty nurses:

And nurse books that focus on location:

I do love the expression on this heroine's face.

There are even nurses who don't want to be nurses.

Are you a fan of nurse/doctor books? Would you enjoy reading a modern version with a hero or heroine as a doctor or nurse? And what do you think about the path that romances have taken? They've certainly changed over the years and continue to change. What are your favorite types of romances? Contemporary? Historical? Fantasy? Sci-fi? Time travel?

Whatever your preference, Happy Reading!