Three Wickeds shared a book birthday yesterday. Liz (as Cate) and Edith (as Maddie) had new mysteries release, and Barb’s (as Barb…) is now available everywhere. We were all happy to share the special day – right, ladies?
To celebrate, let’s talk about sharing. When you were growing up, what were you convinced you had to share? A bike, a birthday, a bedroom? The last piece of cake? Which did you share enthusiastically and which reluctantly?
Barb: I’m so happy to share the release day for Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody, with my fellow Wickeds. Even though it’s more like a first birthday than a birth-day for this book, which was a Barnes & Noble exclusive last year. Now it’s out from all retailers, in all countries (in English) in mass market paperback, ebook and audiobook and I’m thrilled.
I have one brother and the last time we lived together was fifty years ago, so I am hazy about whether we had trouble sharing. I do remember epic fights about who got the window seat in the back on the long drives from New Jersey to my grandparents’ house on the eastern end of Long Island. There were two window seats, of course, but the dog insisted on one and would climb over whoever was in it and nudge them out, leaving my brother and me to fight over the remaining one. Classic memories of my father, “Don’t make me stop this car!” Good times!
Edith/Maddie: I’m thrilled to share this release day, too! For most of my childhood we had three bedrooms for four kids. As I recall, it was my older sister Jannie who usually had to share, because she was the easiest to get along with, the least likely to provoke a fight. The rest of us rotated in and out of the biggest room. In high school, Jannie and I (only one year apart in school) were the same size and, since our mother gave us a (very modest) clothing allowance, we shared several sweaters and skirts. Jannie was adamant that if she wore the yellow sweater on Monday, I wasn’t allowed to wear it until at least Wednesday (as if anybody would care…).
Liz: I’m super excited to be sharing with you both as well! And very happy about this book hitting shelves. I was the oldest, and my brother is seven years younger than me so I didn’t have to share too much with him because we didn’t have a ton in common. However, after he came along I felt like I definitely had to share the attention – and I wasn’t used to that! So I made him pay in various ways…like the time I terrorized him with my talking Freddy Krueger doll so badly that my mother took it away from me. So, I guess bottom line is, I wasn’t a good sharer.
Julie: Happy book birthdays!! I’m so happy for all of you. I have two younger sisters, one only 14 months younger, so we shared a lot. Clothes, for sure. We also shared Barbie clothes (though we each had our own), games, things like that. Sometimes we’d have to share a dessert, but my mother usually did the portioning since that could be dicey.
Sherry: Happy book birthday, ladies — what a lovely thing to share! My sister and I shared many things including a room for many years. We shared a love of reading, but she loved math and I did not — our dad was a math teacher.
Jessie: I shared a room with each of my sisters from time to time too. We shared toys and books too. But one of the most wonderful things I’ve shared is raising my kids alongside those of my younger sister. I didn’t have close cousins as a child and it has been such a delight to watch our children develop strong bonds with each other over their lives!
Readers: What did you have – or wanted – to share? How did it go? Will you be sharing your copy of our new books with anyone? (Lest anyone forget: it’s perfectly fine to say you’ll be sharing your library’s copy with all its other mystery fans!)