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!)
The dresser I was bought in middle-school with my mother’s hope that it would be used for my own child’s clothing was given (by my Dad with NO consultation with me) to my step-sister when I left for college!
That’s not sharing, that’s theft!
Which is why opportunities to talk about my childhood are ones I’d rather take a pass on.
I was an only. Everything was mine!
Solves that problem. Did it make it harder to learn to share with friends?
I don’t think so. The only difference was they didn’t get to take my stuff home with them!
I don’t think being an only made it more difficult to share with friends. The happy difference was they didn’t get to take my stuff home with them. Mwah ha ha!
Carol, you forgot to say “mwah ha ha” with an evil laugh!
I had to share a room with my brother growing up. Never a good thing as we got older.
And I rarely share my books. Usually only the ones I read that I don’t plan on keeping.
My sister and I were lucky that when she hit her teenage years we got separate rooms.
My sister and I had to share a room growing up because our grandmother lived with us. Most of the time we got along and it was not a problem.
My only sibling, a much older brother, married when I was five, so I was basically a spoiled baby-of-the-family and virtual only-child at the same time. Living out in the country, there weren’t neighbor kids to play with. Only cousins. And I seem to recall my mother had a hard time pounding the concept of sharing into my young and stubborn mind.
However sharing a book birthday is always fun, especially with friends! Congratulations, Wickeds!
You are such a generous person, I’d never guess you were once a kid who didn’t want to share.
Thank you!
I shared a bedroom with my sister (younger than me by almost 8 years) for a long time. Since she was messy and I was not, it drove me nuts. And my brother’s birthday is exactly one week before mine, so I also had to share a birthday party and cake with him for most of my childhood. Needless to say I wasn’t very pleased, especially as youngster (my own kids’ birthdays are only 17 days apart, but that’s why I was adamant that each kid get his/her own day when they were growing up).
Happy book birthday to all of you!
Oh, sharing a birthday would be rough and the messy/neat thing.
Thank you Liz! And yeah, I would hate sharing my birthday too…
Being an only, I never had to share many things, but I was taught it was the right thing to do. I never minded. And I have an only, and she was taught to share, also. She is a very generous woman whom I am very proud of. I’ve always thought I was so lucky. And I still (at 69) have never felt bad that I didn’t have siblings.
That is so lovely!
That’s lovely, Ginny.
I can’t believe you are using the “S” word so freely. Share. *shudder*
If I’m interesting in sharing something, I will do it freely without a second thought. However, if you suggest something, I will fight it as best I can while recognizing I am being selfish. It was that way as a kid. I’m a bit better as an adult, but there are still times I realize I’m being immature and have to really fight it.
You made me laugh. None of us are completely selfless about things. And I know you are a generous person or you wouldn’t be reading, reviewing, and blogging!
That’s too funny, Mark! I’m the same way about certain things – when I’m pushed to do something, usually it makes me want to do the opposite. Like you I recognize that it’s a trigger, but I still haven’t figured out what to do about it!
Congratulations LIZ, Edith and Barb on your new releases. I had to share a bedroom with my Sister. Now I share books with her.
Sharing books is the best!