First let me say Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who celebrate. I certainly do. 
Okay, now let us talk about eccentricity, shall we?
You’ve heard all the legends about famous authors right? Do you think it worked for them in publicity or against them? Some authors may be eccentric because they’re not afraid of hiding who they are. Others might choose notoriety because it gets them the publicity they want for their books. I wonder if Byron’s manic-depressive episodes made him famous in his day? I think writers who dig deep into the well of their experiences, of the thousands of things they’ve known, seen, done, and heard about…well, they have a treasure trove to mine for their stories. Those adventures can sometimes bring a writer’s personality fully to the forefront. Do I like being eccentric? Not sure if I am. ☺ I guess that depends on personal opinion.
The day I wrote this blog I decided it was going to be a mental health day. I considered reading and watching some boob tube since I had a book fair to attend the coming Saturday. Then there is the idea of wearing slippers all day. Yes. That’s a capital idea. Or staying in my PJ’s. That’s an idea. Then I started thinking…well, my slippers aren’t too comfortable. Plus, if someone comes to the door, I don’t want to be in my PJ’s. Still, these are the things I could see a character doing. Right as the hero comes to the door. And of course he’d be an awesome hero…a hunk. A regular Gerard Butler. You get the picture.
Some people think hobbies make an author eccentric. Two of my hobbies include archery and archaeology. When I lived in Colorado Springs many moons ago (before ’93), I made sure if I was off on an excavation or site survey that I’d put a message on my answering machine. Something like, “Hi, you’ve reached Denise. I’m off pulling an Indiana Jones right now, but if you’d like to leave a message, do so after the beep.”
When my then boyfriend (now my husband) and I moved in together, I changed the answering machine message to an English accent. My soon-to-be father-in-law called the machine for the first time and heard the English accent. Turned to my soon-to-be mother-in-law and said that their son hadn’t said anything about his girlfriend being English and wasn’t that neat? My boyfriend got a hoot outta that and told his father I was putting everybody on. ☺ Sue me, I like to do accents. I do English, Irish, Scottish and Australian accents and a passable but not very good Russian. My German accent always ends up sounding Russian. I’m workin’ on my South African accent and struggling with a Welsh accent. About the only people I can fool, of course, are other Americans. My three years living in England only made it all worse, of course. Plus, I’m forever saying garage and jaguar the English way and having to correct myself back to American.
So, what eccentricities do you have? Anything worth writing about? Lay it on me. I’ll pick one reader to win a paperback copy of MEANT TO BE, one of my calmest, least eccentric books. Speaking of reading, stop by and check out my recently designed My Space page at www.myspace.com/deniseagnew
Last but certainly not the least, the latest story in my HOT ZONE series comes out at Samhain Publishing www.samhainpublishing.com on April 1, PRIVATE MANEUVERS. Stop by my website at www.deniseagnew.com to read an excerpt and enter my March contest before it’s too late.
-
Hi Denise, I don’t think I’m eccentric, maybe others might think that I am but I don’t see it. I love accents and men that have them seem sexier to me. Especially Australian and Scottish. That’s a funny story using an accent on your answering machine. I do a Boston one that is pretty believable,lol.
by Dena
on March 17th, 2008 at 4:45 am
-
Hi, I cant think of any oddities I have other than I really dont like to leave my house without my bed being made.
Don’t count me in for the contest - I have the book in my tbr and wouldnt you know it figures you are offering this book as I waited so long to get it in print form. OH, well - Happy St. Patty’s to all from a Patty.
by Pat L.
on March 17th, 2008 at 5:32 am
-
Happy St. Patty’s Day from another Patty!
I don’t think that I’m eccentric. I don’t do accents, unless it’s a southern twang and it comes all on its own. LOL It must be a Patty thing because I hate leaving the house with my bed not made or my bathrooms not clean.
by Patty L.
on March 17th, 2008 at 6:26 am
-
Dena, thanks for stopping by. There is something about that durned Scottish accent, isn’t there? And that Australian accent! YUM.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 7:43 am
-
Patty, I feel the same way about my bed sometimes. I have simply been rushing around on a day trying to get ready to go somewhere and my bed is unmade, or I’ve left the bed unmade on Sunday because I’m going to change the sheets. And a Happy St. Patrick’s to you, too!
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 7:45 am
-
Wow, we are poppin’ Patty’s out all over today. 
Well, I can definitely leave my house without my bathroom being clean. 
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 7:47 am
-
Hi Denise -
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! What a fun post! Hm… you know, I can’t think of any eccentricity off the top of my head that “defines” me. However, there’s a general consensus that… I’m crazy. Haha - I get “you’re so weird/random/insane” all the time. In fact, my friends are surprised they’re still surprised by some of the things I say or do, because they know to not expect anything. [I’m not done growing up yet.]
That’s so cool about the accents. I’m jealous. I can’t do accents worth squat. I can speak three languages fluently- so you’d think I’d be able to do one of those accents… but no such luck. Oh, the possibilities…
by limecello
on March 17th, 2008 at 8:08 am
-
Top O’ the Mornin to ya! Let me hear an Irish brogue, and I go weak in the knees. 
Can that be counted as an eccentricity! 
by DeeAnn
on March 17th, 2008 at 10:16 am
-
I don’t think I am eccentric. I do make some quilts for a hobby but that is not eccentric. I don’t have an accent except a very bad southern one. So there is nothing eccentric about me. Sorry!
by Virginia H.
on March 17th, 2008 at 11:52 am
-
The only thing I can think of is I never leave the house with dishes in the sink. They have to at least be in the dishwasher.
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
by Estella
on March 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
-
Limecello,
Hey, I can’t speak anything but a little French. Actually I’m much better at reading French then I am at writing it. I had two years of French in Junior High but never had to use the French and didn’t like it enough to take it in High School. While researching my Roman Britain book I ended up learning a lot more Latin than I thought I would.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
-
DeeAnn,
Yep, what is it about a hero who speaks with an Irish or Scottish accent, eh? I’ve got more than one in my novels, by golly.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
-
Virginia,
Hey no eccentricities at all works well in life, too. You’re allowed not to have any. WINK.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
-
Estella,
Boy howdy! I can leave dishes in the sink when I leave the house, too.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
-
Hi, Denise,
Eccentricities? Who me? I’m a packrat, and I have a terrible time letting go of things unless I feel reassured that they’re going to a good home. Which is usually not a big deal, but it does clash a bit with my husband’s “just throw it away already!” viewpoint
by Fedora
on March 17th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
-
i dont cook but i am orgainized
by kim h
on March 17th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
-
Denise,
Isn’t Latin fun? Apparently if you know it well it’s a great lead in for other languages [other than duh the romance languages stemming from it…] but they pronounced prose and poetry differently - I’m going ot have to look for your book. I took 3 yrs of Latin in HS - but I did all sorts of geeky things like JCL :-D.
I’m so jealous of your accents. In college, I had a clip from the first Lord of the Rings movie as my voicemail - someone speaking in … Elfish? - however it’s spelled, with dramatic music - I thought it was funny, but it scared a lot of my friends! Some who didn’t know wouldn’t leave messages because they didn’t think it was “me.” - I had to change it when I started job hunting
by limecello
on March 17th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
-
I looked the word up to make sure and yep, I fit the description. I’m a nonconformist. I like to say open-minded 
I refuse to go along with things just because that’s the way it’s always been done. I like my grey/white hair and I’ve earned every one of them lol. I also care for cats (have 6 inside cats - used to have 7 
) and care for ferals and strays.
by catslady
on March 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
-
Fedora!
LOL. I am a bit of a pack rat with books, but not as much as I used to be.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
-
Kim,
I have a heck of a time cooking…well, getting up the enthusiasm to make something truly special rather than slapping together the same ole same ole.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
-
limecello,
My Roman Britain book hasn’t been picked up by a publisher yet…my agent will have to shop it around for me. But I’m hoping someone likes it. I think the Lord of The Rings language you mentioned is Elvish, if I remember right. LOL on the answering machine, though.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
-
catslady…well, your handle says it well then, eh?
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
-
The winner of my contest for a copy of MEANT TO BE is LIMECELLO! Sorry it took so long to announce the winner…I wanted to give everyone a chance. Limecello, email me at danovelist@cox.net and we’ll chat !!
Thanks to one and all for participating into today’s blog. 
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew
on March 17th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
-
wtg lime watht a week for u.
by kim h
on March 18th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
-
Congrats, Limecello–definitely a winner of a week for you!
by Fedora
on March 19th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
