Carol L is the winner! Please e-mail me at maggie@maggierobinson.net!
Lord Gray’s List, the first in the London List trilogy, has been on shelves for a couple of weeks and seems to be doing well. It’s been in the Top 100 Regency Romances for Amazon Kindle, is a Top 100 bestseller at the Rhapsody Book Club, and has gotten some great reviews. My favorite, from Kirkus, ends like this: “A charming, fun Regency romp that combines an innovative, compelling plot with characters that jump off the page and a hot, captivating romance that will tug at heartstrings.” Whee!
For those of you who don’t know, the fictional London List is a weekly Regency newspaper. Everything you want and want to know about is right there in black and white. You can find a job, a lover, or an umbrella stand. And on the front page is all the racy stuff, in this case, whatever my hero, bad boy Lord Benton Gray has been up to.
My late mother-in-law was addicted to tabloids like the National Enquirer. She lived with us for the last three years of her life, and I used to be ashamed on the grocery line as I put those papers on the conveyor belt. I’d always tell the cashier, “They’re not for me, but my mother-in-law.” I’m sure I wasn’t believed, and I’ll confess I sometimes skimmed them quickly before I put them in the recycling box. But I’ve never been attracted to gossip or gossip rags–People Magazine is about as low as I’ll go. I’ll admit to my share of schadenfreude when some hypocrite gets his or her comeuppance, but generally I try to avoid the train wreck culture.
That’s really hard to do with 24/7 media exposure. I think we’ve seen just this last week that Washington, D.C. truth can be every bit as ridiculous as a Desperate Housewives storyline.
Do you pay attention to gossip? What’s your favorite source for dirt? Can you keep a secret better than a C.I.A. guy? I’ll give away a signed copy of Lord Gray’s List to one commenter!
I have LGL on my wish list. I don’t listen to gossip. My Mom always read the Enquire and Star. She used to say it was entertaining and a way to pass the time. But if we listened to all the gossip and dirt the media spreads it would be a horrible world. lol
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I just feel sorry for those people who can’t step out of their houses without appearing in “Stars–They’re just like we are!” You know, pumping gas, going to the grocery store. It must be awful to think you can never have privacy. I mean, who cares if so-and-so is not in full make-up?
I feel quite uncomfortable discussing people if/when they aren’t present (unless we’re sharing heartwarming “memory stories”). My rule of thumb has become: “If I wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, I don’t say it at all.” As for gossip magazines and/or discussions about celebrities/public figures, those usually turn into “how much can we tear this person apart,” especially when it comes to women and I’ve really been trying to *STOP* being so judgmental over the past couple of years. (Ashley Judd’s response to all the speculation re: her “puffy face” was a powerful reminder of just how much and how often women are subjected to impossible standards of behavior, beauty and general expectations). So no, I really, *really* try to avoid gossip whenever possible. Maybe that’s why I so enjoy books like LORD GRAY’S LIST – I get the vicarious thrill of gossip-mongering without the guilt of (possibly) causing anyone real harm.
catherinejames77(at)gmail(dot)com
Brava for Ashley! (I hope she runs for political office.) Yeah, I was taught if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I’ve lived in too many small towns to see the effect of casually uttered words.
Wld it be terrible to admit that I DO listen to gossip and that I have a terrible habbit of believing alot of it? I know its wrong, but I do it any how! Most of my gossip comes from “social media”. My mother used to tell me that HER mother (the daughter of a Southern Baptist Minister) used to tell her to appologize for the THOUGHTS!! now thats strict.
I forgive you, LOL. Yep, that whole guilt thing is pretty powerful. I try to be nice in real life, but sometimes my mind is anything but.
One thing I do love about all those magazines is their fashion pages. I love to see what people were wearing at an awards show while I sat around my house in pajamas.
I like gossip as much as the next person, but I don’t go out of my way to look things up. I usually read the blurbs I see on yahoo or facebook.
Yes, it’s really hard to avoid when those headlines tempt you!
I can keep a secret… as long as it is not hurtful… if it is, I try to talk things over with the person… as for gossip, not really interested in it.
I have your book down on my want list… thanks for sharing!
In my family, we do keep secrets from certain people…but it’s sometimes hard to keep track of who’s not supposed to know what, LOL. I try to spare my husband stuff, cause he’ll only worry, and most of the problems work themselves out pretty quickly.
i do love juicy gossips. It’s kind a of habit of my family to listen and spread it within minutes you close the phone. We are not good in keeping secret. It feels weird if we don’t blurt out as if your mouth is itchy. We can’t stand not to tell to the whole world. After that, we will regret it.
I love the “itchy mouth” phrase! That describes it perfectly.
While I do sometimes gossip, I don’t think it’s a good thing, and I truly dislike the level of scrutiny people seem to believe is OK to level at public figures. I disagree that we should be privy to everyone’s personal details, so unless they are breaking the law or harming people, I don’t think it’s any of our business
Oh, I know. Really, I don’t care who wears boxers or briefs.
And worse, once you hear something, you can’t “unhear” it.
Very true, Maggie
And well, I admit, I get as nosy as the next person for details but I do sometimes stop and remember that I really don’t need to know!!
I don’t read gossip magazines or watch tv shows that have gossip about celebrities. I have to admit I did years and years ago but after a while, I just got tired of it all. That doesn’t interest me anymore. I would much rather read a good romance book or watch a good movie. I dislike how people are quick to condemn because of gossip without knowing all the facts. You can not believe everything you read these days in the gossip magazines.
I’m with you, Joan. We used to watch Entertainment Tonight, but when we didn’t know who they were talking about anymore, we stopped. Nowadays, everybody’s a “celebrity,” LOL.
If I’m really bored on a weekend I’ll go to the bookstore, get a yummy drink and snack, and sit and read all the magazines.
When I’m on vacation going to the hotel pool, I’ll buy all the magazines, cause I don’t care if they wind up covered in sunscreen & sweat, LOL.
I am the most oblivious person alive. Often, that is not a great quality. But when I have a secret, it is a good one. I put it in the back of my head and I dont even know what I know! LOL
Oh, I identify. My kids will say, “But you KNOW that, Mom. I told you.” And I’ll say, “You did?”
It depends upon who the secret is kept from and why because I will tell my husband. I usually take gossip with a grain of salt. I will watch TMZ every once in a while and will read the tabloid front covers when I am waiting in line at the store. As far as the ex-CIA director, there is more to the story than the news is letting on. With the extensive background checks that they do and all the resources available someone new what was going on with him and just waited to use it for a political advantage so when he went to the Hill he would be discredited.