Tag Archives: Women

Free Again – Drinking with Dead Women Writers

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I posted this book before and it’s come up free again. If you missed it last time, get it now while it still costs $0. I read it and loved it. Imagine having a drink or two, or too many, with some of literature’s most famous dead women authors. It’s a funny and informative read.

  Drinking with Dead Women Writers by Elaine Ambrose and AK Turner
Essays on drinking with Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Erma Bombeck, The Bronte Sisters, Willa Cather, Emily Dickinson, George Eliot, Margaret Mead, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Margaret Mitchell, Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor, Sylvia Plath, Ayn Rand and Virginia Woolf.

Most early female writers used pen names because women weren’t regarded as competent writers. Margaret Mitchell wrote only one published novel in her lifetime, but Gone with the Wind won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937 and sold more than 30 million copies. Emily Dickinson was so paranoid that she only spoke to people from behind a door. Carson McCullers wrote The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter at age 22. Her husband wanted them to commit suicide in the French countryside, but she refused.

Ambrose and Turner explore these and other intriguing facts about the most famous (but departed) women in literary history.

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Disclaimers and Disclosures

I found this book via Amazon’s Kindle eBooks store. Resources for free Kindle and other format eBooks are listed in my sidebar.

This freebie is a limited time offer and there is no guarantee it will still be free when you click on the link. Grab it sooner rather than later.

Kindle Freebie – Drinking with Dead Women Writers

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I picked this up today and had to share because I think the concept is so delicious.

Drinking with Dead Women Writers by Elaine Ambrose and AK Turner
Essays on drinking with Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Erma Bombeck, The Bronte Sisters, Willa Cather, Emily Dickinson, George Eliot, Margaret Mead, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Margaret Mitchell, Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor, Sylvia Plath, Ayn Rand and Virginia Woolf.

Most early female writers used pen names because women weren’t regarded as competent writers. Margaret Mitchell wrote only one published novel in her lifetime, but Gone with the Wind won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1937 and sold more than 30 million copies. Emily Dickinson was so paranoid that she only spoke to people from behind a door. Carson McCullers wrote The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter at age 22. Her husband wanted them to commit suicide in the French countryside, but she refused.

Ambrose and Turner explore these and other intriguing facts about the most famous (but departed) women in literary history.

I am embarrassed to admit I wondered why they hadn’t included Harper Lee. Err, because she’s still alive? Blush. Sorry, Ms. Lee. I would love to have a drink with her and hear all about her life and her exploits with Truman Capote.

I would love to meet for drinks, or even tea or coffee, with most of these women. I am very intrigued to find out what Ambrose and Turner imagined these writers would drink and what conversations would ensue, particularly Jane Austen and Dorothy Parker. Witty and wry are a great combination over cocktails.

Whatever your beverage of choice, enjoy this book. I know I will.

Roller Derby Night

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This exciting sport has been making a big comeback in recent years. I loved roller derby as a kid, so when a friend joined the local league, the Boulder County Bombers, that was the excuse I needed to get back into it. My husband and I went to see her first match last night.

The match took place in the gym at the St. Vrain Memorial Building in Longmont. A very enthusiastic sold out crowd cheered on the two teams, the Daisy Nukes and the Shrap Nellies. Both teams are in the same league, so this could be called a friendly, though very competitive match.

Boulder County Bombers

Boulder County Bombers in action

This is the best action photo I could get with my phone camera. In the background, you can see one of the players going down. There were lots of collisions and pile-ups. It’s a very exciting game to watch. The skating was amazing, especially the jammers, the players who can score points.

Daisy Nukes

Battle ready

During the second half, we sat in the Daisy Nuke’s corner. It was fun, watching them discuss strategy and seeing them skate in and out of action.

Daisy Nukes Style

Fierce style

I loved that the players all added their own personal flare to their uniforms.

Roller Derby Name

Call her Muscle Leanie

Each player has a roller derby name, such as Muscle Leanie, Fleur de Beast, Double DeckHer and Feist E. One. A player’s handle must be unique and there is even a registry of roller derby names so that no two will be the same. Players choose their names with care. However, if you’re interested in a roller derby name, there is a Roller Derby Name Generator. You can choose between being a blocker, pivot or jammer. I got Allie DeathWish.

The Daisy Nukes won by a wide margin, though at half time, the Shrap Nellies had come from behind to take the lead. Luckily, we were sitting by the scoreboard and one of the volunteers filled us in. It had been long awhile since I’d watched a roller derby match and I remembered little of the rules. You can still enjoy watching without a lot of knowledge, but I’m going to learn more before the next match.

One thing I also appreciated was the family atmosphere. There were home baked goods sold in the lobby, a martial arts demonstration at half time, and lots of kids watching the skaters in awe. I felt that same awe when I was a kid watching the San Francisco Bay Bombers. Now I have a new team to root for. Go Boulder County Bombers!