Comments on: Scot Free http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/ Author of Historical Romance Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:34:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: terrio http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2955 terrio Thu, 28 May 2009 18:45:16 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2955 I'm a complete mutt. My mother is adopted but I know her birth mother was German. My mother's high cheek bones and blond hair back that up. Though she didn't pass that to any of her children.<br /><br />My father grew up with an adoptive father but his mother was part Native American. Which just means I can tan if I *really* try. His birth father didn't grow up with his actual parents and they didn't exactly keep records in the hollars of WV. Basically, I can only pray there isn't inbreeding back there somewhere.<br /><br />I was going to say I've never seen a castle but then read Tiff's comment and remembered she took me there. So Casa Loma for me too. I have sort of seen an American version of a castle. Biltmore is likely as close as you'll get in this country, and it's absolutely amazing.<br /><br />Never crossed the ocean, but someday! I’m a complete mutt. My mother is adopted but I know her birth mother was German. My mother’s high cheek bones and blond hair back that up. Though she didn’t pass that to any of her children.

My father grew up with an adoptive father but his mother was part Native American. Which just means I can tan if I *really* try. His birth father didn’t grow up with his actual parents and they didn’t exactly keep records in the hollars of WV. Basically, I can only pray there isn’t inbreeding back there somewhere.

I was going to say I’ve never seen a castle but then read Tiff’s comment and remembered she took me there. So Casa Loma for me too. I have sort of seen an American version of a castle. Biltmore is likely as close as you’ll get in this country, and it’s absolutely amazing.

Never crossed the ocean, but someday!

]]> By: Maggie Robinson http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2954 Maggie Robinson Wed, 27 May 2009 12:11:39 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2954 Julie, Romania??? Yikes. I would think the bad vibes of Dracula would still be reverberating even after all those centuries.<br /><br />My husband tried to trace exactly where from Scotland his family came to no avail. Maybe someday we'll figure it out and go back and visit.We spent a morning at Iona in Cape Breton doing geneological research. Fascinating (and gorgeous scenery).<br /><br />And I'm sure you'll you'll flesh out those stick figures when you're ready! Julie, Romania??? Yikes. I would think the bad vibes of Dracula would still be reverberating even after all those centuries.

My husband tried to trace exactly where from Scotland his family came to no avail. Maybe someday we’ll figure it out and go back and visit.We spent a morning at Iona in Cape Breton doing geneological research. Fascinating (and gorgeous scenery).

And I’m sure you’ll you’ll flesh out those stick figures when you’re ready!

]]> By: rubyslippers http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2953 rubyslippers Tue, 26 May 2009 23:38:14 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2953 Hi Maggie,<br />I have to tell you that Hannah and I were absolutely splitting our sides over your squirrels! I could see the little devils at their posts!<br /><br />As for my background, with the maiden name 'Grant' it's pretty obvious that I have Scots blood! My brother has researched our family at length (He maxed out the 'Family Tree' database when he hit 30,000 names -- that was several years ago!) Sadly, that is the one line that we have had difficulty tracing. My other 3 grandparents are all English -- several descended from Mayflower passengers, the rest emigrating in the 1630's. <br /><br />I have visited only one castle -- the Brann Castle in Transylvania, Romania. Yes, that would indeed be Dracula's castle! (Only he was a prince, not a count.)<br /><br />My dibble-dabbles in writing have not given birth to any 'real' characters, yet -- they're more like a kindergartener's stick figures. I'll keep dabbling away, though. Someone's bound to make an appearance someday.<br /><br />Keep writing! Hi Maggie,
I have to tell you that Hannah and I were absolutely splitting our sides over your squirrels! I could see the little devils at their posts!

As for my background, with the maiden name ‘Grant’ it’s pretty obvious that I have Scots blood! My brother has researched our family at length (He maxed out the ‘Family Tree’ database when he hit 30,000 names — that was several years ago!) Sadly, that is the one line that we have had difficulty tracing. My other 3 grandparents are all English — several descended from Mayflower passengers, the rest emigrating in the 1630′s.

I have visited only one castle — the Brann Castle in Transylvania, Romania. Yes, that would indeed be Dracula’s castle! (Only he was a prince, not a count.)

My dibble-dabbles in writing have not given birth to any ‘real’ characters, yet — they’re more like a kindergartener’s stick figures. I’ll keep dabbling away, though. Someone’s bound to make an appearance someday.

Keep writing!

]]> By: Maggie Robinson http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2952 Maggie Robinson Tue, 26 May 2009 22:22:09 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2952 Keira, you are certainly pure, LOL. I've been to Cawdor (which isn't really a castle), Edinburgh and Sterling in Scotland. Think I've been to a ton of ruins in GB. Maybe because I've seen so many swashbuckling movies, castles seem awfully familiar (either that, or I've lived before!).<br /><br />Sarah, so happy my squirrels are still providing you with entertainment!<br /><br />I don't think I'd really like to go back in time any longer than a few hours for research purposes. I'm much too spoiled by contemp life.<br /><br />And yum to Italian food!<br /><br />Janga,no one in my family looks much alike. It's like we don't share any DNA whatsoever. My much older second cousin would always squint at me and say I looked a little like another cousin, Betty Graham, but as she was dead, I couldn't tell, LOL.<br /><br />Ah, Tiff. You have to go to Scotland. It's the most beautiful place ever. And then the kids can wear their kilts!<br /><br />Irish, isn't it insidious that these fictional people seem so real? And your MIL sounds like mine...she thought of herself as being 'honest' when anyone else would call her 'rude!' Keira, you are certainly pure, LOL. I’ve been to Cawdor (which isn’t really a castle), Edinburgh and Sterling in Scotland. Think I’ve been to a ton of ruins in GB. Maybe because I’ve seen so many swashbuckling movies, castles seem awfully familiar (either that, or I’ve lived before!).

Sarah, so happy my squirrels are still providing you with entertainment!

I don’t think I’d really like to go back in time any longer than a few hours for research purposes. I’m much too spoiled by contemp life.

And yum to Italian food!

Janga,no one in my family looks much alike. It’s like we don’t share any DNA whatsoever. My much older second cousin would always squint at me and say I looked a little like another cousin, Betty Graham, but as she was dead, I couldn’t tell, LOL.

Ah, Tiff. You have to go to Scotland. It’s the most beautiful place ever. And then the kids can wear their kilts!

Irish, isn’t it insidious that these fictional people seem so real? And your MIL sounds like mine…she thought of herself as being ‘honest’ when anyone else would call her ‘rude!’

]]> By: irisheyes http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2951 irisheyes Tue, 26 May 2009 22:08:04 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2951 I'm American of 100% Irish descent. I could say I'm 100% Irish but my father would spin in his grave. He hated when we said that - he always corrected us. I think being 100% Irish back in his day was not a good thing or as fashionable as it is today. Thanks to my husband's contribution of German, English and Irish my kids are going to be the mutt variety. My MIL used to say that my husband had a little Irish in him - the part he sat on! Wasn't that a nice sentiment for her to be passing on to her DIL?! LOL<br /><br />My characters are starting to seem real to me. Even though I haven't been writing near as often as I should they occupy my brain ALL the time. I’m American of 100% Irish descent. I could say I’m 100% Irish but my father would spin in his grave. He hated when we said that – he always corrected us. I think being 100% Irish back in his day was not a good thing or as fashionable as it is today. Thanks to my husband’s contribution of German, English and Irish my kids are going to be the mutt variety. My MIL used to say that my husband had a little Irish in him – the part he sat on! Wasn’t that a nice sentiment for her to be passing on to her DIL?! LOL

My characters are starting to seem real to me. Even though I haven’t been writing near as often as I should they occupy my brain ALL the time.

]]> By: Janga http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2950 Janga Tue, 26 May 2009 17:48:53 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2950 I'm all Scots-Irish on one side and German-Irish on the other. According to family lore, there is also a Native American line mixed in on the paternal side five generations back, but I have seen no evidence of it--just overwhelmingly fair-skinned, blue-eyed faces everywhere I look on the family tree.<br /><br />My characters do seem real to me. I think it would be difficult to maintain a strong level of investment for the length my process requires if they did not. I’m all Scots-Irish on one side and German-Irish on the other. According to family lore, there is also a Native American line mixed in on the paternal side five generations back, but I have seen no evidence of it–just overwhelmingly fair-skinned, blue-eyed faces everywhere I look on the family tree.

My characters do seem real to me. I think it would be difficult to maintain a strong level of investment for the length my process requires if they did not.

]]> By: Keira Soleore http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 Keira Soleore Tue, 26 May 2009 17:21:02 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2949 As to Scottish castles, I've been to Glamis Castle and wild Dunnottar on the shores of Aberdeenshire. As to Scottish castles, I’ve been to Glamis Castle and wild Dunnottar on the shores of Aberdeenshire.

]]> By: Keira Soleore http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2948 Keira Soleore Tue, 26 May 2009 17:20:17 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2948 Love this comment, Maggie: "Like our president, I'm a mutt."<br /><br />Me: Like our president's dog I'm mostly pure-bred. Love this comment, Maggie: “Like our president, I’m a mutt.”

Me: Like our president’s dog I’m mostly pure-bred.

]]> By: Tiffany Chalmers w/a Tiffany Clare http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2947 Tiffany Chalmers w/a Tiffany Clare Tue, 26 May 2009 15:50:30 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2947 We can celebrate mutthood together, Maggie! LOL <br /><br />I'm Italian, French (Flemish), Irish-Canadian, Yugoslavian (I'm guessing Serbian. My husband on the other hand is first generation Canadian. Both his parents hail from Scotland (Edinburgh/Auberdeen) The Chalmers Kilt was worn by the kids growing up (it's blue) So my husband did wear them when he was a young lad. <br />I'd love to visit Scotland, both the hubby and I, best part is, we can stay with his relatives :) <br /><br />And my characters always seem real to me. It's frightening that I can have conversations about them and make them sound real. <br /><br />Only castle I recall visiting is Casa Loma in Toronto---it's soooo cool. We can celebrate mutthood together, Maggie! LOL

I’m Italian, French (Flemish), Irish-Canadian, Yugoslavian (I’m guessing Serbian. My husband on the other hand is first generation Canadian. Both his parents hail from Scotland (Edinburgh/Auberdeen) The Chalmers Kilt was worn by the kids growing up (it’s blue) So my husband did wear them when he was a young lad.
I’d love to visit Scotland, both the hubby and I, best part is, we can stay with his relatives :)

And my characters always seem real to me. It’s frightening that I can have conversations about them and make them sound real.

Only castle I recall visiting is Casa Loma in Toronto—it’s soooo cool.

]]> By: Sarah Tormey http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/comment-page-1/#comment-2946 Sarah Tormey Tue, 26 May 2009 13:04:42 +0000 http://www.maggierobinson.net/2009/05/26/scot-free/#comment-2946 First, I wanted to let you know that I still find myself laughing about the "squirrels" in my head at random moments throughout my day. I just love that image! <br /><br />Seeing as my stories are set during the Regency era, I often wish I could abandon present day and disappear into their world. I'd especially love to spend my days riding through Hyde Park. <br /><br />Not that my family hails from England. My roots are very much Italian. Even if there was a trace of some other culture it would be wiped out by the Italian relatives and of course, the Italian food from my childhood.<br /><br />I'm thrilled I discovered you blog and continue to enjoy your posts! Now back to my squirrels . . .<br /><br />Sarah Tormey First, I wanted to let you know that I still find myself laughing about the “squirrels” in my head at random moments throughout my day. I just love that image!

Seeing as my stories are set during the Regency era, I often wish I could abandon present day and disappear into their world. I’d especially love to spend my days riding through Hyde Park.

Not that my family hails from England. My roots are very much Italian. Even if there was a trace of some other culture it would be wiped out by the Italian relatives and of course, the Italian food from my childhood.

I’m thrilled I discovered you blog and continue to enjoy your posts! Now back to my squirrels . . .

Sarah Tormey

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