The Literary Heroine Blog Party -- 2013

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1. Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random! 

Hi, I'm Hamlette, I'm 32, I have 3 kids (ages 1, nearly 3, and 5), and this is my first time attending the Literary Heroine Blog Party!  I'm currently homeschooling my kids and writing my sixth novel.  I love books, movies, and history.

2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? 

A heroine should know what she likes and does not like, and be willing to stand up for what she believes.  But she also needs to be able to change and learn from her experiences, not just either run away or refuse to budge.  And she needs to be supportive of her significant other -- not pushing him to be or do what she wants, but encouraging him in whatever way she can.

3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. 

Only four?!?!?  And only heroines.  Hmm.  Okay.  Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud Montgomery.  Mary Russell from the Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes books by Laurie R. King.  Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

Incidentally, my first daughter's middle name is Anne, and my second daughter's middle name is Jane, named after my two favorite literary heroines.

4. Five of your favorite historical novels? 

If by "historical novel" you mean novels set in a time other than the present day, then they are:  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas,  Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.

5. Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why? 

Jane Eyre.  She's intelligent, wise, and stubborn.

6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? 

Sherlock Holmes in The Beekeeper's Apprentice.  He's also intelligent, wise, and stubborn.

7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to -- and what would you plan to do there? 

If that means I have to limit myself to one place, I would go to Alaska and see the Northern Lights.  I've dreamed of going there and seeing those ever since the first time I watched the John Wayne movie North to Alaska (1960) as a child.

8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? 

The WWII era.

9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? 

Singing "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" while wearing a pirate costume.

10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? 

Anne of Green Gables.  I look good with red hair.

11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? 

The darker, the better.  And the more, the merrier!

12. Favorite author(s)? 

Raymond Chandler, Thor Heyerdahl, Laurie R. King, Jasper Fforde, Alexandre Dumas, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Louis Stevenson, Jane Austen, Robert Ludlum, J. K. Rowling -- there, that's ten, I'll stop.

13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? 

A camera, a journal, a blank notebook, and lots of pens.

14. In which century were most of the books you read written? 

Twentieth.

15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… 

Robin Hood.

16. Describe your ideal dwelling place. 

The house we live in right now, Tir Asleen.  Only less messy.

17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence. 

If it's not comfortable, I won't wear it.

18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? 

A character in another person's book?  I don't think so.  A character in something I'm writing?  Absolutely.  But they don't always acquiesce.

19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... 

Wow.  That's a toughie!  I'll go with Sauron from The Lord of the Rings -- he has no redeeming qualities.

20. Three favorite Non-fiction books? 

Other than the Bible?  Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl, A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway.

21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? 

Writing, writing, writing!  With an iced coffee and a candle for companions, and no interruptions.  Bliss.

22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. 

A well-worn, comfortable cowboy hat.  Dark brown, with a leather band.  Not too broad, not too high.

23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. 

My husband and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary last June!  And my brother, his wife, and their baby moved nearby, which has been such great fun.  Other than that, this past year was blessedly uneventful.

24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you." (John 14:27a)  That's been very important to me for almost two years now.