Welcome back!
Did I mention last week that I have the flu? We’re about ten days in and I’m just starting to feel like a human again. Still super fatigued and my own mucus is trying to kill me, but it’s an improvement to the cold sweats and shivering.
I missed my flu shot this year and NEVER AGAIN! Get your seasonal shots, if you’re able!
Has anyone else been laid low with sickness already in 2026?
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Sarah: Dr. Maria DeBlassie asked me to do an interview – it was so much fun!
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Julia Quinn’s Kickstarter for her historical romance book box is up! It hasn’t launched yet, but you can sign up to be notified when it goes live and get a sneak peek at the campaign.
I’m curious how it’ll do! I’m pretty middling on the 2026 offerings, but I am invested to see what they’ll have for 2027.
One the special artists tied to the project is Shea O’Connor! I commissioned Shea for a couple’s portrait a few years ago.
What are your thoughts so far? Will you be backing?
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Scholar Dr. Sam Hirst is running a romance course through the University of Liverpool. There is a cost to attend, but it’s open to anyone. While the discussions are live, the talks will be recorded so you can view at a time that works best for you. The class begins next Wednesday and there are only a few spots left as of this morning.
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Enjoy this reddit thread of a woman trying to figure out her secretive neighbor’s holiday recipe! The vibes of the threads and subsequent updates were so fun and joyful.
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Don’t forget to share what cool or interesting things you’ve seen, read, or listened to this week! And if you have anything you think we’d like to post on a future Wednesday Links, send it my way!
I did sign up to know when Julia Quinn’s book box launches, but I likely won’t back it. I already own one of the books and like the classic covers better. I know some people are obsessed with special additions, but they don’t have the same pull over me. However (and I said this on Reddit too) I’ll be happy if this gets more people to start reading historicals.
I’m hoping there’s the option to back a specific book. I really dislike subscription services, as a general rule, and would rather do a one-off purchase of a particular title. I think the original trade paperback cover for the Alyssa Cole was the most stunning, although this special edition is very nice, too.
I’m a fan of the OG “Lord of Scoundrels” cover, featuring abundant orange and fuchsia flowers and a raven-haired Jessica. I know Ms. Chase wasn’t really a fan of that cover, but I adore it and would dearly love to know what became of the original painting (since this was back in the days of painted covers).
I guess I just lean towards “full people” covers over illustrated or object designs.
SB Sarah’s comment “…the world of historical romance is a large shared fantasyland…” in her conversation with Dr. Marie DeBlassie made me happy because that’s exactly how I think of historical romance. Historical romance is a favorite sub-genre, and the maximum level of fantasy I can read and stay in the story.
Amanda, a month. Mid-December to just a few days ago and I was miserable. I even demanded a chest x-ray because there had to be *something* behind my inability to breathe. Alas, no. And that was with all the vaccines available to me, so don’t beat yourself up. It gets better.
Oh, no, the flu this year is AWFUL. Our family went through it as well. I’m sending all my empathy. *HUGS*
I got the flu (Type A) for Christmas and I am still not back to 100%. I cough, I wheeze, etc. According to the NYT, the variant being passed around this year was not one that was anticipated so the flu vaccine, which I got, was not as effective this year. Vaccines are helpful but are not a panacea.
Amanda thank you so much for sharing that reddit thread. After my mum died my dad cleared out all of her bits of paper with recipes on, I have been looking for one in particular on and off ever since, over forty years now. It sounds very much like this recipe might be the one! I’m off on holiday tomorrow so testing will have to wait until I get back, but I’m very hopeful.
Speaking of shots:
If you’re an older GenX, get your titer for measles. When we were babies, they only gave one shot. I did have a booster in college because of a nationwide outbreak with college students post-spring break, apparently it didn’t work. My titer showed no immunity to measles. I just got a measles shot.
My pharmacist did say that occasionally the titers are wrong, but since I have multiple autoimmune diseases and new grandbabies, it was a smart move to get the shot.
@Jazzlet: I am crossing my fingers for you that it’s the right recipe!
@HeatherS, it was probably that OG cover of Lord of Scoundrels that deterred me from picking it up back in the day, thinking it was a Bertice Small/Rosemary Rogers type bodice ripper. It wasn’t until I started reading SBTB that I saw everyone talking about Lord of Scoundrels and finally read it. Now I’ve got the paperback on my keeper shelf!