tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5124956990955331713..comments2024-03-29T05:45:39.184-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: The Past Holds Many SecretsDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61220019657424491992012-09-09T12:43:18.180-06:002012-09-09T12:43:18.180-06:00I haven't read the Dahlia books, but am lookin...I haven't read the Dahlia books, but am looking forward to starting the series later this fall (I am so many books behind on my Kindle!) But I remember your name ... I bought the paperback version of Hill Top Tales, or Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, years ago at a bookstore (and read it, and loved it, and passed it on to my daughter and granddaughter.) That was your too, wasn't it?<br />I'll review your book once I've read it, at http://terrysthoughtsandthreads.blogspot.com<br />Thanks for posting here!Quilters' Quartershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09164862226942626710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48709549743986326392012-09-07T09:22:13.475-06:002012-09-07T09:22:13.475-06:00Could there be a more timely message than "sh...Could there be a more timely message than "she lived through those days because she believed that better times were coming, as long as people had faith, worked hard and worked together, and respected and cared for one another"? It seems spot on to me, and definitely a worthy goal for your writing, Susan. I'm looking forward to diving into the stories of the Darling ladies. And curious to compare this series to your non-historical China Bayles books. Enjoyed the blog post. Good on you for bringing Susan to the Blood Red Pencil, Dani.Susan/snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-77964204060206380902012-09-06T21:04:12.509-06:002012-09-06T21:04:12.509-06:00Looking forward to meeting the Darling Dahlias.Looking forward to meeting the Darling Dahlias.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-7518966263162653732012-09-06T18:09:58.421-06:002012-09-06T18:09:58.421-06:00Oh, I'll have to add the Darling Dahlias to my...Oh, I'll have to add the Darling Dahlias to my To Read list. I grew up reading Nancy Drew - not sure if I read any that you wrote, but I'm still very excited to "meet" one of the Carolyns. Thanks for visiting us. Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52967558374559104742012-09-06T16:33:13.624-06:002012-09-06T16:33:13.624-06:00Have you read another good historical spy, the Sec...Have you read another good historical spy, the Secrets of Mary Bowser? She was a Richmond slave who spied for the North. There was very little recorded for the author, Lois Leveen, to use in constructing her character, and as I read I could imagine her doing just what you are talking about here, the "double trick."<br />I look forward to reading Confederate RoseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-795529068960959442012-09-06T12:18:11.481-06:002012-09-06T12:18:11.481-06:00Great title and I love the way you've woven hi...Great title and I love the way you've woven history into mystery.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26941449722652109022012-09-06T11:30:45.917-06:002012-09-06T11:30:45.917-06:00Regina, that may seem like a strange message to co...Regina, that may seem like a strange message to convey in a murder mystery, and sometimes it takes quite a bit of doing. I write mysteries because that's where the market is--and because I like books with strong plot lines (mysteries certainly have that!). In this series, I try to create crimes that don't involve murder (after all, this isn't St. Mary Mead), and subordinate the mystery plot to the "character plots": the things that are happening in the characters' lives.<br />susanalberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593314069397524232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28558394710465134182012-09-06T11:19:36.437-06:002012-09-06T11:19:36.437-06:00Helen and Susan, thank you. I don't have a lot...Helen and Susan, thank you. I don't have a lot of time to read, and the older I get, the more impatient I am with writing that doesn't help me understand more about the world. I think many readers share this impatience with me and prefer books that are interesting and fun, but also somehow instructive. That keeps me going.<br />susanalberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593314069397524232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-53320185043159268382012-09-06T10:14:04.516-06:002012-09-06T10:14:04.516-06:00"she lived through those days because she bel... "she lived through those days because she believed that better times were coming, as long as people had faith, worked hard and worked together, and respected and cared for one another."<br />I love these inspiring words that give me hope. How wonderful to write books that are filled with hope. Reginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12027016924545567455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9214900257128617772012-09-06T09:56:17.534-06:002012-09-06T09:56:17.534-06:00The DDs and the Confederate Rose sounds like anoth...The DDs and the Confederate Rose sounds like another superb book, Susan! I have a whole section of Susan Albert eBooks on my iPad, and it looks like I'll be adding to it soon! Thanks for the look at the background of the series and what motivated you to write it. I always learn from you!Susan J Tweithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07672965940786234043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-36509210088131123322012-09-06T09:46:06.293-06:002012-09-06T09:46:06.293-06:00I love your books, Susan, because you always have ...I love your books, Susan, because you always have so much more than just a story. And since I'm a Southern girl, this series sounds great.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03171630819400384478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15063057677118330832012-09-06T09:31:01.582-06:002012-09-06T09:31:01.582-06:00Kathryn, yes, that's one of the reasons I star...Kathryn, yes, that's one of the reasons I started this series. Things were much worse in the 30s than now, because there were no safety nets. Elderly, the poor, the disabled--they had no help at all, except what the family might afford. There was no Social Security or unemployment insurance. Times may be hard for us, but it was worse for them.<br />susanalberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593314069397524232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-15880964881212949752012-09-06T09:24:55.804-06:002012-09-06T09:24:55.804-06:00Thanks, Judy. I think it's hard to construct r...Thanks, Judy. I think it's hard to construct real characters in historical fiction--it's kind of a double trick. The writer has to make the character "real," then make the character "real" in the historical setting. Not very easy.<br />susanalberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593314069397524232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59487494384076972962012-09-06T09:05:37.921-06:002012-09-06T09:05:37.921-06:00I'm looking forward to reading the latest Dahl...I'm looking forward to reading the latest Dahlias adventure. These characters are so real to me!<br />Jude Walshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12679893318927615086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8039494735938370822012-09-06T07:46:19.563-06:002012-09-06T07:46:19.563-06:00In my two historical series (The Cottage Tales, no...In my two historical series (The Cottage Tales, now complete; The Darling Dahlias), I'm using the recipes section to explore period foods, food prep, etc. That's been fun and a serious learning for me--takes me into food history, teaches me something new. Which, when it comes right down to it, is why I write.susanalberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593314069397524232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-1810512156889650682012-09-06T07:26:48.568-06:002012-09-06T07:26:48.568-06:00These are good and entertaining reads, and the his...These are good and entertaining reads, and the historical tidbits woven through are spot on! There are always bonus recipes at the end, too, and I've enjoyed trying them out. Highly recommended!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88551908927120017152012-09-06T06:58:20.159-06:002012-09-06T06:58:20.159-06:00Susan, I love the name Darling Dahlias even better...Susan, I love the name Darling Dahlias even better once explained. Wedged as we are between the Great Depression and the post-apolcalyptic visions of Cormac McCarthy, Suzanne Collins, and many others, a look back can be a good reminder that many of us don't really have it all that bad.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-16830179840185219132012-09-06T05:51:53.615-06:002012-09-06T05:51:53.615-06:00I love books that weave interesting tidbits of his...I love books that weave interesting tidbits of history into the fabric of a great fiction story. It's been much too long since I read a book for pleasure, and now I just might have to read all three in this series. Thanks for posting this, Dani. Definitely a winner!Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.com