So welcome to Day Two of my party!
In her comment below, Nicola Marsh painted such a lovely picture of working on a beach with gorgeous cabana boys offering massages, that I decided to move the whole blog party to a beach today. We can stretch out on the sand, take a dip in the warm sea, and drink cocktails a-plenty.
Then I found out that it’s Lady Day at Ascot today. And while I’ve never been to Ascot races, I used to work in Ascot and I love looking at the hats. Look at this one, for example. It totally makes you look like you have awesome alien antennae!!
So I’ve decided that today, we’re partying on a beach, wearing couture hats. You gotta shade your face from the sun, after all, right?
Put on your hat, grab a cocktail of your choice (I’m beginning with a bucket of margaritas) and enjoy!
Today my signed book giveaway is a copy of my Mills & Boon Modern Heat romance, All Work and No Play…
This story, about mistaken identity and hot sex with a male model, was published in North America in April, hitting the Waldenbooks bestseller list as Mistress in Private.
It’s not wholly inappropriate that the name of the book was changed, because the hero of the book sometimes goes under a pseudonym himself. As a computer geek and all-round nice guy, he’s known as Jonny Cole. As a stunningly gorgeous, sexy, alpha male model, he’s known as Jay Richard. And lucky Jane Miller, the heroine, gets to know both of these men…though at first, she doesn’t know they’re one and the same.
To win a signed copy, and to join in the party, leave a comment telling me what would you call yourself, if you got the chance to change your name?
Or just describe your hat and what you’re doing with it on the beach…
I always quite liked my name really, but just in case this information is useful my p*rn star name would apparently be Fluff Longford (childhood pet + street you grew up on)
I love hats. I used to cut out pictures of Lady Di in hats when I was a little girl, and have always wanted one of those little box hats with a veil that she used to wear. Not very haute couture but I shall wear one on the beach today because it sounds like it’s the sort of party I could do that!
I thought I’d been checking your blog everyday… yet the flu has got my by the short’n'curlies (is that even the right saying?) and I must have missed a day or three. Blog party!!? Bring it on!
Ooo hats and beaches! Excellent change of venue. I will be wearing a Philip Treacy hat, think trilby but with a tilt and definitely in black.
I quite like my name but have thought about the names Antonia Lang or Toni Else if I wanted to write under another name (they are combos of my middle name and family names). Antonia for the posher ones and Toni Else for anything steamy!!
I wished for a better name when I was in my teens (who hasn’t?) but now I think I’ve grown into it. I can’t see myself answering to any name but the one I have.
Great party, btw!
I like my name well enough, but sometimes I wish my name wouldn’t be quite so common (Minna is a very common name in Finland).
I like my name. Actually I get called anything but my name. It’s Kimberly and I’m Kimmy, Kimber and Kim.
Straw hats or sometimes cute baseball caps with some nice sunglasses. I’m having a good time thanks for such a fab PARTY!!! Congrats to the winners.
Since I am named after my grandmother I doubt I would change it however I would use my middle name as a pseudonym (Elizabeth). As for hats I’d be a little different (and possibly strange)and wear one that looks like a frog.
See, now the blog party in the next cabana is on a beach with cocktails, but this one has hats too. I mean really, why would you go anywhere else?
I love the new format. Well done!
If I were to need an alias I’d probably go for something elegant like Jillian Kavanaugh. And I’d so be wearing a hat.
This beach is so gorgeous, the sand is warm and soft between my toes. Of course I’m being very sensible and shading my face with a huge Phlip Treacy style hat in black and white, which matches my Primark bikini exactly. I’ve got a cool glass of champagne in my hand. The name…it’s Bathsheba, Bathsheba Winsome.
Hey Julie: So day two party at the beach. No hats for me – I cringe if anyone even comes near my hair or God forbid touches it. I spend too much time on it what with hair gel, magnetic curlers (yes, I still use them)and hair spray. No, no hats!!! I wish my name would have been Brigitte, Brigitte anything! I just love that name so. And I was named after my grandfather Patrick (Patricia)straight from the old country (Ireland). And when my parents died and going through paperwork only to find out that his mother’s name(my grandfather’s) well her name was Brigitte!! Go figure.
I didn’t like my name when I was growing up, but now it seems to suit me. I guess I grew into it. I really don’t know what I would like to be called that was different.
Hats I do love them. I can see myself of the beach with a big straw hat and a margarita.
I like my name but I have been called Susan before when people forget my name.
What is funny is that is the other name that was tossed about before they decided on Ann.
I’ve been away from your website for a few day. The computer fears thunder and lightning.
Wow a beach party with hats, the page is all stretched out pretty, and nothing is scrunched anymore. This is some party!
I actually quite like my name but when I was younger I always wanted to be called Louise. I have no idea why.
Sounds like a lovely day! I’ve already read this book – great fun!
Wow, everyone here looks great hanging out on the beach in their hats!
Ruth (aka Fluff) is very sophis in a Lady Di hat. Biddy/Antonia/Toni and Carol/Bathsheba in their Philip Treacey chapeaux. Rach, aka Jillian, obviously has an elegant hat. Kimmy in her little straw hat and quilt lady in her big straw hat. And Patricia in no hat but wonderfully styled hair.
And Ellen…is that a FROG?
I am loving the names too, especially Toni Else and Bathsheba Winsome.
Yes Julie that is a FROG!! Now you know I taught school too long and have lost my mind.
I never where hats, but I would where one of those bid floppy ones if I had to.
I hated my name growing up, and now I wouldn’t change it but if I could when I was younger it would have been Christina.
The beach party is great! Especially today, since it allowed me to leave the dreadful gray and damp weather here.
I’ll skip the hat part though. I look terrible in hats! Unless your beach magically makes everyone look good in hats. In that case, I’ll take a colorful floppy beach hat.
As for names, growing up I always wanted to be Theresa so I could be called Terry. These days, if I could change my name I’d probably pick Laura — that’s what my mom originally wanted to name me.
I’m pulling my hat down over my head now and taking a little nap while my legs get some sun. Please don’t wake me up.
I’ve always like the name Penelope and Abigail. Friends could call me Penny or Abby.
I knew there was a reason I didn’t get here until today . . . the beach! Ah, it’s wonderful, Julie. I’m about to dive in and do a bit of bodysurfing. The water is warmer than usual so I didn’t have the normal shiver when I first went in. And I’m thrilled to be celebrating your book! As soon as I get out of the water, I’m lying down on my beach towel and reading it. Tell Nicola to send the cabana boys my way with tall cool drinks!
Name? I like mine since I became a romance writer and people can pronounce it.
Hmmm, my posting yeterday didn’t take…must be those work gremlins!
So here I am again (from the comfort of my beach lounger!) to tell you Julie what a beautiful redesign of your whole website! Love it!
Tammy, of course at this party everyone looks great in hats! Because we are all so fabulous darling. And our hats too…
..Oh, whoops, you’re sleeping. *tiptoes away and grabs a pina colada*
Rachael, I hope you feel better soon.
Cheryl, I wished for a better name when I was a teenager too. I can’t remember what I came up with (probably Julie McCartney to tell you the truth).
Minna, you may have a very common name in Finland but it’s very uncommon here. So there’s your solution: don’t change your name, move countries!
I think it’s a lovely name.
Kimmy, I have a friend Kim and we call her aKimbo.
Rach, this blog party is much better than all the other blog parties on this beach! Excuse me, don’t mind that thing in your drink, it’s just one of my alien antennae feathers.
Carol, I totally can’t get your pseudonym out of my head. Bathsheba Winsome. How perfect.
Patricia, that is funny that your great-grandmother happened to have the name you wanted the most. I think that is an ideal excuse for adopting it.
Quilt Lady, I can see how the name “Quilt Lady” might need some growing into.
Ann, maybe you look like a Susan. I am often called Jennifer, even by people who don’t know that’s my mother’s name. Odd.
*waves to Chris W*
Nell, see I love the name Nell. It is so old-fashioned yet cool. Louise is also nice but I must admit I prefer Nell.
Hi Heather, I totally owe you a drink or two, so help yourself! Did I mention that the bartender is a totally hunky specimen wearing nothing more than a little apron to protect himself from splashing rum?
Ellen…well, a frog as a hat I suppose does have some perks. Like…um…well it looks great anyway!
I like the name Dena, Dena. I suppose it’s as difficult to have a different name as it is to have a very common name.
I had the worst time choosing a name for the Fecklet. You just feel as if you have this kid’s fate in your hands, don’t you? In the end, of course, “Fecklet” was the obvious choice.
Cyclops8, you will henceforth be known on this blog as Penny-Abby.
Anne, welcome! And enjoy the water and the cabana boys. I toyed with choosing a writing name when I first sold a book and in the end, I just couldn’t come up with anything comfortable enough. Your name definitely suits you and your books.
Hey Christyne, I saved your comment from the spam queue so hopefully you won’t be relegated there again. Sorry about that…the beach is much nicer! Though the spam queue does seem to be filled with odd sexual practices so maybe it’s an interesting place to hang out.
A beach party? Cool!
I love hats, and I’m determined to buy a big, fancy concoction and wear it with a spiffy frock to the Melbourne Cup once the kiddies are older.
A beach party – yes please! What fun this is!!
As for my name – definitely Melissa or Tiffany. What I cant believe is that I have given birth to two girls and didnt name either of them Melissa or Tiffany. How strange. I love my surname though and think Melissa Geore sounds nice as does Tiffany George. Just my opinion!! Keep it up. It really gets me thinking!!
Well, if I am at a beach party wearing a couture hat then I would have to go for a high impact name. Ever since Austin Powers I’ve always had a fancy for…Allota Fagina.
The problem is introducing yourself with a straight face. And finding a bathing suit that doesn’t give the game away.
Have a great party, Julie, the site looks wonderful.
Kirsty (Allota)
Hi Juile,
I like my name, but have always thought Sabrina & Holly were pretty names.
I just loved that pick about the beach… can I have a pina colada please!
Anyway, it is bizarre that they like to change the names of the books… I have to say I preferred the M&B one… How do you feel when you don’t like the new title chosen?
Anyway… as an alias, I think I would stick with my first name, but I hate my last name… so I am sure I would chose something more poetic, though I have never thought what!
Oh, Julie, that’s a toughie. When you’re as old as I am, your name is ingrained so deep in all its incarnations. The way my mother used to say it when she wanted to “make a point”. The way she said it when she wanted me to go upstairs and fetch her glasses (that’s me now, btw). The fact that she regularly when through all her sister’s names (and she had a lot of sisters) before she got it right. (That’s me, too, although since I don’t have sisters I tend to call people by the names of their cats.) And all the sweet, coochie ways that people who love you say your name, shorten it, get kissy with it. And I sort of grew out of all the ghastly names I wanted to be called when I little…
I guess I’ll stick with the one I have.
Surnames now… Gates, Trump…