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Recently, I read Kieran Kramer’s Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right and fell in love with her writing. Lucky for me, she was nice enough to allow me to go all fan girly on her and agreed to do an interview here on Mt. Oly. Although, I’m pretty sure she agreed to the visit because I promised her she could have her very own FROS for a day.
Kieran is offering some incredible prizes! One lucky commenter will receive copies of both When Harry Meet Molly AND Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right! Another super duper lucky commenter will win an advanced readers copy of Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage!
Now a USA Today best-selling Regency romance author, Kieran is a former CIA employee, journalist, and English teacher who lives in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with her family. Game show veteran, karaoke enthusiast, and general adventurer, her motto is, “Life rewards action.” Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.kierankramerbooks.com.
Here are five things I was dying to know about Kieran!
1. Cake or Pie? (answer carefully!)
Oh, no. This is a very, very difficult question. I love nothing more than a slice of homemade chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting, all washed down with a tall glass of milk. But I also love pie. Hmmm…this is a real conundrum (which is a word I rarely get to use). But since I am easily swayed by pop culture, I will choose (drum roll)….pie!
Why? Because pie is the new cupcake. Pies are in, baby. Cupcakes are out. I read that somewhere, so I automatically believe it.
Oh, and my absolute favorite pie (besides my Thanksgiving choices) is a simple apple pie. But it must have sugar sprinkled on the crust.
2. Milk or Dark chocolate? (don’t even ask if white is an option. It’s not.)
I know I sound like a wimp to you diehard dark chocolate lovers (I think of you all as these sleek, dangerous, sophisticated people), but I like milk chocolate best. I feel all healthy and responsible when I eat dark chocolate (I wish I felt dangerous and sophisticated)–but it doesn’t have nearly enough sugar for me. I love sugar!
3. The first romance novel you read?
I’d have to say THE LUCKIEST GIRL by Beverly Cleary. It was the story of Shelley Latham’s big adventure going to a high school far away from home, and while there, she met her first true love–she thinks it’s going to be popular boy Phil but it’s good guy Hartley. I still have my copy. And I bought vintage copies for my sisters. You have to get the version where Shelley is wearing her pink rain slicker with the black velvet collar on the cover to be in “THE LUCKIEST GIRL” club, which I am just starting right now this very moment if you want to join. Why should you? Because it was the best book I’ve ever read. I say that about a lot of books, but I believe it about each one.
Oh, and it costs twenty-five cents to join THE LUCKIEST GIRL CLUB. Pay Kim and she’ll pass it on to me. I’ll ride my bike to the 7-11 and buy candy with it and split it with you next time the club meets, which will be in NYC during the RWA conference (near the potted palm by the front desk–wear your pink rain slickers as the secret sign so we can find each other).
4. You’re only allowed to keep one book; what is it and why?
Sheesh. I’m going to have to say VENTURES, my fourth grade reader from Holy Cross school. It was the boringest book ever, so at the end of the year, when I was given the chance to buy it for a nickel, I did and marked up all the stories. I changed them to read really funny. I also doodled over the nice, boring pictures. I still have VENTURES, and I still laugh uncontrollably when I read it.
5. You’re allowed to choose any celebrity as your personal FROS; who would it be? (I wouldn’t say Hugh Jackman or Johnny Depp. They get fought over pretty regularly.)
Darren Criss. Did you see him and his friends sing “American Dream” on GLEE? Completely adorable. If I were my daughter’s age, I’d have a huge crush on him. Now make me stop talking about him because I should burn in hell for thinking a kid who was in diapers when I was in my twenties should be a FROS!
Well. This sure has been an interesting conversation. Now I’d like to ask your readers an intimate truth-or-dare* question…tell me honestly if you’ve ever practiced kissing on a mirror or on a pillow. And if so, who were you pretending to kiss?
*If you take the dare, today you have to buy the person behind you in line at Starbucks his or her coffee. If you don’t go to Starbucks, you have to do something else super-duper nice and unexpected for a stranger (let us know what you did!!).
Let me be the first to welcome you Kieran!!
I have to say, I *did* practice kissing my mirror. Probably Lief Garrett or Shawn Cassidy (ok, I TOTALLY dated myself!!).
Also, I slathered on my Dr. Pepper lip smackers and kissed the mirror to see what my lip imprint would look like. I used to watch the cheesy boy-meets-girl after school specials, and TV heroines sprayed their Love’s Baby Soft perfume and left a kiss mark next to their signature on love letters. (had to make sure my lips were up to scratch…just in case – went to a Catholic school, so no hanky-panky allowed!)
I’ll do the random act of kindness anyway because I’m probably a quart low this year (and running out of time!) after all my gossiping with girlfriends negated at least half of my good deeds. Will let you know what I come up with…
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:13 am.
Former CIA employee????? My new idol!!!
Um, of course I’ve practiced kissing (now that it helped when I actually had to kiss). Not the mirror or a pillow, but my hand!!! In 5th grade, I’d pretend it was Leo and kiss the sanity out of it. (Leo was a jerk and ended up kissing my best friend instead — after telling me he wouldn’t kiss me because I was too fat — and I wasn’t back then) — so, I’m glad I never really kissed him. It would’ve been my first kiss.
I’d take the dare, but I’m too shy to do it. Sounds awesome, though!
I can share my heartbreak with my Goddesses, who will surely understand it? My beloved Kindle fell down and broke yesterday. I’m devastated. Been crying on and off the whole night!!!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:14 am.
Oh, and welcome, Kieran. i love your name!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:14 am.
What’s this “did”? That past tense implies that I should have stopped this behavior by now : ) but practice makes perfect.
Welcome Kieran. I enjoyed Harry/Molly based on what might have been Kim’s recommendation. I’m thinking I’d like to see a scanned version of a store from VENTURES at some point.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:43 am.
NancyG’s post reminded me I once put a big red lipstick kiss on my boss’s business card, then stuck the card in the middle of his box of cards in hopes that he’d blindly hand it out at a meeting far in the future. He was both a player and a practical joker so he kind of deserved it.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:52 am.
Welcome!! I enjoyed your interview (and Kim, Great questions. I have to say though, Question 4, asking them to name ONE book? That is rough!!!).
I’ll send in my 25c because I want to be in the Luckiest Girl Club too! Those dues are cheap and right up my alley!
Yes, I practiced kissing on my hand and with a pillow, and sometimes I wore a white hand towel or pillow case on my head as if it were a wedding veil…and I’d practice the walk down the aisle too.
I was probably hoping it was Shaun Cassidy or Leif Garret (shout out to my sister NancyG, you weren’t the only one! LOL). Could have also been a local boy, Duane, but that never materialized…..which I’m fine with. LOL
I had the lip gloss that was in a little glass tube, tasted like bubble gum and it was real shiny and had that roll-on ball applicator. Anybody remember those?
Have a great day ladies!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 7:24 am.
Welcome, Kieran. Thanks for joining us. I love the titles for your books.
I don’t remember practicing kissing. Doesn’t mean I didn’t do it. But the old mind ain’t what it used to be. But if I did, I probably would have been smooching David Cassidy. (Which explains the old mind, doesn’t it?) The other day I was out to breakfast with friends, and suddenly everyone went silent, listening to the muzak, then we all squealed, “The Partridge Family!”
It was sad.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:08 am.
Welcome Kieran, you have such an unusual and pretty name.
I didn’t and still don’t practice kissing on a mirror or pillow or my hand. I am a hugger.
I was of the Shaun Cassidy era too, dating myself.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:34 am.
Hi Kieran. I have to say I love your books and the titles! They are so original and fun. I can’t wait for Cloudy with a Chance of Marriage.
If I ever practice smooched anyone (and like Lori, I can’t remember doing that!) it would have been Paul McCartney.
I don’t know if this qualifies as a ‘buy someone in line a Starbucks’ but the other day I was in Barnes & Noble and the lady at the register asked the older gentleman in front of me if he had a member card. He said he didn’t and she told him how much it cost and all that. His total was about $70.00. Well, I pulled my card out and said they could use it and he saved a bit of money. He thanked me & asked what he could do for me and I just told him to pay it forward and he said he would.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:46 am.
How nice to wake up to such lovely (hilarious) comments!! Yes, I slept in until 8:30, highly unusual for me. But I was up ALL night worrying about my latest plot! Luckily, Benny and Joon, my cats, and Striker, our black lab mix, kept vigil with me as I sat on the living room couch and debated endless possibilities…for a minor character.
Not even a major one.
Sigh. And of course, I couldn’t come up with an answer!!
So I went back to bed about 5 am and when I woke up (the truth is, Joon sat on my stomach and meowed to wake me up), I had the right idea! So my brain was working for me in my sleep. Yay. I just wish it would work for me when I’m awake!! Hopefully, it will today.
Nancy, let us know how the random act of kindness goes!! I’ll do it, too. Boy, do I ever remember all the different lip glosses. I liked any flavor except banana.
B, I’m so glad you didn’t kiss Leo, either!! He didn’t deserve you, and today I hope he’s walking down the street past a bunch of pretty teenaged girls, thinking he looks all hot, and kind of trips. Just a little. Not enough to fall down, but enough that they all giggle. (Does this bad thought cancel out my random act of kindness?)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:48 am.
Freschescelle, I’ll work* on the scanning of Ventures!! Great idea!!
* This really means I’ll get one of my unpaid tech assistants to do this (my teenagers run circles around me at the computer).
Robin, since you’re the first member (other than moi) in the Luckiest Girl Club, you get TWO pieces of candy when we meet by the potted palm at RWA National. No, make that four. Because I’ll have a secret stash I’ll hide from the slacker members who join LATE.
Lori, I ADORED the Partridge Family! I always wanted to be the little redheaded girl playing the tambourine. We were about the same age, and she was so wishy-washy!! Gosh, if I had been in her place, I would have had more speaking lines and had a few solos on stage!! I loved David Cassidy, too, but I didn’t have that crush feeling about him. I think he was too intimidating to me at that point.
At about that same time in my life, I got my first crush on the little boy who played Oliver in Oliver Twist, the movie. I don’t know why now, come to think of it. He sang a little bit like a girl, but I remember thinking to myself, “I’m in love!” when I saw him at the Saturday matinee and he sang, “Where Is Love.”
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:56 am.
Angela, thanks for the compliment about my name, which is actually a really common boy’s name in Ireland. It’s like being called Bob or Fred. When I lived in Scotland for a year, everyone over there got such a kick out of it. My Irish mom knew it was a boy’s name, but she said, “What the hey,” or something to that effect, (the Irish are a carefree people ) and went with it anyway. I’ve always liked it, but everyone calls me Kiernan. Speaking of which, I mention that fact on my video on my website–in a highly unusual interview with the fabulous English talk show host Penelope Brown-Braun.
Sue, you get free membership in the Luckiest Girl Club. My husband knows if Paul McCartney asked me to marry him, even if he’s 87, I’m going to say yes (my husband will come with me, posing as my indispensable butler).
Nancy, I forgot to mention that I used Love’s Baby Soft!! And did you ever see that afterschool special in 1979 or so with a guy who looked and sang like Peter Frampton? I was so in love with him!!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:04 am.
Thank you Kieran for the Luckiest Girl Club membership. I missed The Beatles in concert when they came to my hometown of Cincinnati, but I finally got to see him back in 2002 when he came to Columbus, Ohio with the Back in the USA tour. I think I cried when he came on stage. Just to be in the same building with him!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:33 am.
Sue, I saw him on Saturday Night Live recently, and I just kept screaming, “I love you, Paul!” much to my kids’ amazement–my husband just laughed!!! You’re so lucky you’ve seen him in person. I had tickets to see him–I think it was in Charlotte, NC–in 1989, but my kitten Mickey died of kitty AIDS that day, and I was so bereft I gave my ticket away.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:40 am.
Hey Kieran, I don’t like pie crust unless it’s crushed cookies but I love pie filling.And I love cherry, coconut, lemon meringue, And I prefer lemon cake with coconut on buttercream frosting, and raspberry filling. Fortunately I have Celiac and am prevented from sticking my head into the pastry case and just chowing down and I have decided to just stop baking regardless b/c I have no self-control.
I do love milk chocolate over dark – dark sometimes feels like mom’s baking chocolate. Recently in Vancouver I have hot milk chocolate w/ soy milk and must say it was the best chocolate thing I have ever had in my entire life.
I am so sorry about your Kitten. I still miss each I have ever lost so it having happened in 1989 doesn’t make it better.
One book for life would have to be the compendium of all the books I want to read even those not yet written.
I am now going to look for the luckiest girl although I firmly believe that I am that person b/c I have a wonderful husband and life.
Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
email: steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
Twitter: @fangswandsfairy
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:55 am.
Kieran, I actually ran into Leo not long ago!!! He’s fugly! Kinda on the fat side and FULL on zits. Like, disgusting. Well, he was never really handsome to begin with, more like a skinny little thing with a really big head. But anyway, I learned a few years ago (through the amazing world of social networks! I have him on my Orkut) that he had a child. I think his son is like 3 or 4. He likes trashy music and goes out to trashy places. Yup, he wasn’t worth of my first kiss. But, man, back then, my little heart was shattered like Godzilla stomped on it!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:58 am.
(Oh, and when I say his kid is 3 or 4, I have to tell you, I’m 22, so, he had a kid when he was like 18). And, you know what? If I’m not mistaken, his birthday is TODAY!!!!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:00 am.
Welcome Kieran!! Thanks so much for joining us today!
*groan* I totally practiced kissing. It was always my husband, Gil. I think we dated for almost a month before I could finally kiss him, I was terrified!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:14 am.
Kieran, welcome to Mt. Oly!
I am sure I did practice kissing, but I don’t remember it. What I do remember is acting out entire episodes of Alias Smith and Jones out in the middle of nowhere, all by my lonesome, starring me as the object of their desires and the person they had to rescue from danger. I had entire sections of canyons as my stage. Those were the days–free to be a nerd!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:19 am.
Your books are so fun. My BFF moved away last January… the 600 miles has made it difficult for us to swap and share books! But we are managing as only friends and romance books lovers do. She’s up for a visit and I was so excited to give her your books. (along with 30+ others)
Hope you enjoy your visit to Olympus… those goddesses are great, right?
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:27 am.
Welcome, Kieran!! Both of your books are in my TBR pile (but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t like an autographed copy
).
As for kissing, I probably practiced as well, but if I did, it was Parker Stevenson, NOT Shaun Cassidy (yeah, I’m also dating myself!). I had to go for the blue eyes . . . *deep sigh*
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:37 am.
Hey Kieran!
Kind a slow today, what with all my bosses gone, it’s kind-a lonely 
What a fun interview! Made my morning here at work
OMG! Never on a pillow or a mirror, but man did my arm get a lot of my attention!
I’ve got both of your books, and I would love to win “Clouds”!
BTW: just love the titles, and especially the colorful covers!
Best ALWAYS,
Mel
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:40 am.
kieran that was rex smith in Jesse’s girl and while reading the comments he was the only one that came to mind for my crush i was so excited when you mentioned him!!! i made my daughter jesse watch that movie. kim, i don’t remember paracticing but god knows it is so me to do something like that. didnt lip smackers make that lip gloss with the ball i loved strawberry. and what was the powdery perfume only 12 and 13 year old girls with older sisters wore i was one of them but the name escapes me. kieran i loved both books each a one day reader. i laughed so hard my kids kept checking on me oh and B i am devistated for you im reading a great book on my kindle and would cry if it broke just now. have a great day ladies
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:49 am.
Welcome to Mt. Oly,
I can’t recall kissing pillows or mirrors but I did have a huge crush on Keith Partridge and could sing every word of “I think I Love You” at the top of my lungs.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 10:54 am.
Hi Kieran!
I would steal my mom’s pink lipstick and kiss pieces of paper. Having the actual “proof” of the kiss was in a crazy way making me smile. Yeah I did pretend to be kissing someone but it’s a bit embarressing to admit….. Should I… Shouldn’t I say it?
Ok, here it goes I dreamed of kissing: Tom Cruise. Yes that guy jumping on Oprah’s couch. I know, sad really but way back than I thought he was cute.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:01 am.
OMG, Alyssa! Rex Smith!! I’m gonna have to see if I can find him and that movie on YouTube!! He was adorable. And Kirsten, it’s okay about Tom Cruise. He WAS cute as a button. And Julia, I remember Alias SMith and Jones–they were hotties, too!!!
Kim C, I was so scared with my first kiss, too, but it was pretty unforgettable. It was at night under a small catamaran which had been pulled up on the dunes at the Isle of Palms in SC. It even rained a little on the canvas overhead.
Of course, if anyone tried to get me to crawl under a catamaran these days, I’d say, “No, thank you. I don’t want sand in my ears.” :>)
Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the books, and I really appreciate your support. B, I’m sorry, too, about your Kindle. Check and see if it’s under warranty!!
Hugs, Kieran
P.S. Rachel, I STILL love to sing I Think I Love You! In fact, I’m going to add that to my karaoke list.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:19 am.
Welcome, Kieran! I loved your interview answers…and this from a woman who doesn’t like chocolate much at all since the only chocolate I “like” is white chocolate and I have been told repeatedly by my dark chocolate loving husband that white chocolate is NOT chocolate.
You chocolate-lovers are so touchy!
Anyway, of COURSE I practiced kissing on a pillow. I also used the pole lamp next to my bed…and I even write about that in the bio section of my website. I. Am. Not. Ashamed. I believe in being prepared. Is that anything to be embarrassed about? And I wasn’t practicing for anyone in particular. I just wanted to Be Ready. And I was.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:26 am.
Kieran, it’s great to have you here! I thoroughly enjoyed When Harry Met Molly.
I can’t believe you had a crush on Mark Lester from Oliver!–so did I!! He was a really big celebrity in Thailand for some reason (where I grew up), and he actually came to visit Bangkok. I remember going to bed thinking, “Mark Lester is in the same city as I am.” *G* He was very cute.
I looked him up once to find out what happened to him, and I think he’s an orthopedic surgeon or something, and married with three kids.
I also had a crush on Jack Wild, who played the Artful Dodger. He was also the star of H.R. Pufnstuf, another of my favorites. And I definitely had a crush on Keith Partridge. I wasn’t intimidated by him AT ALL. I wrote a very embarrassing fan letter to him once that I hope was in the lot of letters he burned. *G*
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:30 am.
Oh, forgot to answer the question, and this is weird. I don’t remember practicing. Maybe I did, but I don’t remember doing it. You’d think I would have, but if I did, it’s gone in the mists of time, along with the combination to my high school locker and the address of my best friend.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:32 am.
See, I can forget the name of the woman down the street, but I still remember the combo to my high school locker. It’s the useless trivia I retain.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:38 am.
Hi, Kieren, and welcome!
I was a pillow kisser as a pre teen. I was too self-conscious to use a mirror, and shared a room with my sister so I could never be sure no one would walk in. A bit like having to be careful about what you look at on the computer screen at work, if it isn’t positioned for privacy.
Of course, it being a pillow, there wasn’t much in the way of creative technique being practiced.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:48 am.
Yes, I practiced kissing on my pillow when I was in the 6th grade. I had a crush on a boy and I wanted him to be my first kiss! Sadly I did not get a chance. I had my first kiss a few years later with a boy I really did not like. I really hated it! YUCK! Very sloppy! I got my first real nice kiss a few years after that! That is a good memory! His name was Mike and he had long flowing blond hair. Kinda like in the romances I was reading! LOL! I’m staying home today since it’s cold, windy, and raining like crazy so my radom act of kindess will have to wait but I will make my kids some hot chocolate later! Does that count? Thanks for sharing today!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:53 am.
LOL, Claudia!! I love the last lines of your first post: “I just wanted to Be Ready. And I was.” Ooo, I love a woman with sass!!! And I’m the same way about remembering trivia. I still remember a spelling list from 5th grade (twenty-five, sunshine, we’re, dipped, carried, joining, piling, reader, warmth, ailment, sixty) because our teacher made us memorize them. But if you ask me to remember where my keys or cell phone are, I’m stumped.
Sabrina, I’m so glad I wasn’t alone in my infatuation with Mark Lester! How fun to know he grew up to become a “regular” guy. And thank you so much for your support of When Harry Met Molly. I have to mention here that I absolutely adore your dedication to educating people about autism. My son has mild Asperger’s–he’s a freshman in college and has had some trouble adjusting but he never gives up. He’s one of the greatest joys of my life, and I feel so honored to be his mother.
Incidentally, I feel extremely blessed to be here today with such amazing women. All of you are!!!
:>)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:59 am.
I can’t remember practicing, but I was a little prodigy when it comes to kissing. I had my first peck when I was 8 from my idol, while playing hide and seek. ;D Then, my first “real” kiss when I was 12. I’m not sure if I gave myself time to practice! Oy! If I found out my boys had been kissing girls at that age, I would hit the roof!
If I had practiced, though, it would have been for the boys I ended up kissing. They were sooo cute. I’ve seen them both recently (they were close family friends) at funerals, and one ended up not so cute. The other one, whom I dumped after 3 years because he refused to tell his parents we were dating, turned out to be a quite the jerk of a husband. I wasn’t really surprised. He was always a little managing. It broke my heart to break up with him, but I am so glad I did!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:08 pm.
Fresh- I would so love to know if your boss ever gave that out. Hilarious!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:09 pm.
Kieran- Welcome! I loved your interview. Why would someone call you Kiernan, though? That’s a little weird to me. I do like Kieran. Maybe we could consider it like Jordan, instead of Bob. ;D
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:10 pm.
Hells Bells!
I forgot to mention WHO I was pretending to kiss! Kurt Russell (He was SOOOOOO cute as Jamie Mcpheeters in this western series “The Travels of Jaime McPheeters”)!!! I was eleven at the time! Still love the guy!
Sabrina thanks for reminding me of Jack Wild from “H.R. Pufnstuf”! Gosh, he was so cute too! Goddesses, you’ve brought so many pleasant memories to my mind today….Those were such innocent times…
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:20 pm.
Yes, Johanna, making hot chocolate definitely counts! If that ain’t love, I don’t know what is! I always love when my husband makes me tea. He steeps it just right and adds the right amount of milk and carries it carefully to wherever I am in the house. And when I travel, he makes sure I have PG Tips English tea (decaf because I’m so high strung).
And LOL, Madeline, about the pillow! Thanks for the nice welcome. I’m so thrilled to be here.
Kristina, I love your comments. It’s funny what you said about the guy who wouldn’t tell his family you were dating. That happened to me once when I was in my 20′s and thought I was very sophisticated. I’d been dating this guy pretty seriously for a while, and his dad came to town. Yet the boyfriend *did not take me to meet him.* He made up some excuse that I accepted without really worrying about it. My older sister pointed this out to me and said, “You should dump him. He’s a player if he doesn’t want you to meet his father.” I remember being shocked that she said that, but guess what? She was SOOOO right! Thank goodness I didn’t wind up with him, either!! :>D
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:25 pm.
Welcome to Mt. Oly, Kieran! I’m looking forward to reading your books. You have the most DELICIOUS titles! I love that!
I love Darren’s voice from GLEE! I’ve wanted to know more about him. I need to google that man!
My youthful crush was Davy Jones from the Monkees. I still grin like a loon whenever I see him in an interview. …. Great. Now I’ll be humming “I’m a Believer” all day. Oh well, at least it’s not a Duran Duran song.
And no, I don’t remember practicing, but I probably should have. I remember my first kiss and it wasn’t very spectacular.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:39 pm.
I was a total tom boy so no practicing for me. First kiss was actually really good… with a kid in spin the bottle. First kiss with first crush was terrible… again spin the bottle
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm.
Can’t take the dare, unless opening the door if a stranger knocks counts. We’re housebound at the moment so odds of doing a kindness for a stranger even in the local grocery (Starbucks is twenty minutes away!) is slim to nonexistant.
Still, I will say yes to both although I can’t recall who or why. I just recall getting greasy lipstick off the mirror wasn’t fun. LOL
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:27 pm.
Hi, Kieran! I loved your interview.
I don’t remember doing any practicing as far as kissing goes, but I probably did. My first kiss was at the age of 15. It was a disaster, and not repeated with that boy. I was a late bloomer. My first real date was at the ripe old age of 18, and I didn’t know how to kiss. I asked him to teach me. Lol!
I would say that my first real crush was Paul McCartney when the Beatles first came out. Others I loved were Davy Jones and Alias Smith and Jones. I know, I know — I’m dating myself also.
I took one of my friend’s handicapped mother out shopping yesterday for my friend’s wedding. I guess that would qualify as my good deed of the day. She has a walker she uses, but is she ever fast for a little old lady. Every time I turned around, she was gone in an opposite direction, not sure what she wanted to look at or buy. She wore me out and got tired herself. Lol!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:28 pm.
Oh, Karen, I loved One Night in Scotland!!! Just finished. So delicious, that trapped-in-a-turret scenario!!! And yes, as for Darren in Glee…he is TOO cute, esp. backed up by all those boys singing a cappella in those darling blazers! If I were a teen, I’d be watching those scenes a lot. I think one of the things I like best about Darren is that pre-Glee, he was the super-talented composer of a Harry Potter musical (my 17-year-old daughter told me that–we both like him).
OMG, the memories y’all are bringing back! I totally forgot to mention that I loved HR Pufenstuff, too (can’t remember how to spell it). And Melanie, I never saw that show–must look for it. I loved Kurt Russell in all the Disney movies.
And Davy–Hearthtrob–Jones!! Marcia was so lucky on the Brady Bunch–his guest appearance was such a big deal. (“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” She always gets the guys!! )
Does anyone remember Penelope Pitstop and Lance Link, Secret Chimp?
Archer, what a cool name!! Love that you were a tom boy!! Sometimes they fall the hardest in love because they’re so not looking for it. They’re too busy climbing trees and playing B-ball with the boys. :>
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:29 pm.
KHawk, are you making fun of my beloved Duran Duran who I just friended on Facebook? Girl, I was a fan from the days when they were an opening act for Split Enz. That Roger Taylor is still just dreamy.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 1:29 pm.
Welcome, Kieran! It’s raining here in SoCal again, and so I’m doing something nice for myself — I’m watching “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” on USA. *g*
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm.
Welcome Kieran to our motley crew here on Mt. Oly! I never practiced kissing when I was younger because I just didn’t care enough back then. I cared when I got older.
I can’t remember what my first romance I read was but I’m pretty sure it was a Georgette Heyer, I adored her back then.
I can’t buy anyone a Starbucks because I stopped going there, the quality sucks lately. I do however go to Dutch Bros. whenever i can. I bought 10 piece nuggets and fries with a bottle of water and gave it to a man holding a sign by the freeway exit. I knew he would be there because it is my exit so I went tot the McD’s before my regular exit. He shared with his puppy.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:14 pm.
Hi there Kieran. I loved your interview. Hilarious. I just recently read When Harry Met Molly and loved it. I can’t wait to read Dukes…it’s coming in the mail this week. So excited. I’ll take truth. I think I practiced on a pillow. To be honest I can’t really remember. I know I definitely didn’t practice on my hand. My first crush was on Patrick Swayze. Was in love with him in Dirty Dancing. My six year old self was totally convinced I was going to marry him. So dreamy!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:31 pm.
split enz!!!!!!!!!!!!i loved them anyone remember james at 15? my 7th grade boyfriend was his clone stubbed nose and all!! but then james at 16 came and by then he wasnt so cute anymore. suzanne a movie sounds great we have soooo much snow here on long island in new york!!! but i think ill start a new romance. you guys must write faster ive read them all and now am trying nicola cornick just finished last three she wrote. worth looking at.spin the bottle omg. i remember my best friend was a boy in fifth grade and we used to play it alone in my back yard because we were too shy to just kiss. thank gd mom never saw us. he was my first boyfriend by 6th grade.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:49 pm.
OMG, I just love all of your childhood crushes! It’s so cute.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:51 pm.
I just looked Mark Lester up on Wikipedia, Kieran, and he’s an osteopath and father of four (though he’s on his second marriage). Oddly enough, he’s also godfather to Michael Jackson’s kids. Now THAT’S something I wouldn’t have imagined.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:56 pm.
Cathy, High five on the Paul McCartney crush! And how nice what you did for your friend’s mother! I love hearing other people’s good deed stories. She sounds like a dynamo. I hope I’m like that at her age.
Suzanne, we all deserve some time to spoil ourselves! Enjoy your movie!!!
Evlqn–yay for your sweet gesture for the man and his puppy at the exit!! You’ve inspired me. I’m going to Little Caesar’s takeout window right now and buying a pizza for the car behind me in the line.
Danielle, thanks for the kind words, and I love Patrick Swayze, too!! He was so great in Ghost, too, wasn’t he? I was genuinely so sad when he died. He loved his wife so much. They’d been dating since they were young, and they both loved to dance. I wonder how she’s doing these days?? I’m sure he’s watching over her (maybe in the same way he watched over Demi Moore in Ghost).
Okay, off to Little Caesar’s. Let’s see what happens. Knowing me there will be no one behind me in line. But even so, I can tell them to give the next person a free pizza.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:57 pm.
P.S. Gwynlyn, about greasy lipstick being hard to remove from a mirror, once my sister wrote something on the bathroom mirror about her crush and wiped it off, but when someone else took a shower, the fog steamed the message right back up for us all to read! She was so embarrassed!! Poor girl. :>)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 2:58 pm.
Welcome Kieran!
I remember practicing on the inside of my elbow, as well as the back of my hand. Most young girls do, don’t they? The boy I was ‘kissing’ was Joey form New Kids On The Block… I was so in love with him! I also remember practicing once on my sisters favourite poster of Rob Lowe, she caught me, though and I only did it that once. If I remember correctly he was a pretty good kisser! lol.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:12 pm.
So funny, AmyS, about that poster of Rob Lowe!! And who can forget New Kids on the Block?
Sabrina, how interesting that “Oliver” is godfather to Michael Jackson’s children! Wow. Somehow that blows my mind.
Okay, I just got back from Little Caesar’s and sped off before the car behind me knew I left him a pizza. All I could see was that he was wearing a beret of some sort, he was older, and he was driving a really, REALLY old red car!!
So fun!! I need to do that more often.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:31 pm.
Haha what an awesome discussion topic!! I grew up in South Phoenix, and until 4th grade I attended public school there and we NEVER practised kissing…probably b/c so many of us were already kissing for realsies.
But when I moved across town and started attending Catholic school, it was like everyone practised kissing every third day!! It was weird…like, really, really weird. Oh, flashback: my mom signed me up for the Girl Scout troop run by the Catholic school, and I think that’s where everyone practiced kissing.
Oh and the other favorite that was practiced at every sleepover and just about every Girl Scout event, was “I must, I must, I must increase my bust!!” The idea being, that if you chanted this while pumping your elbows behind you (so yourchest got pushed wayyyy forward) your boobs would magically grow bigger overnight. None of us had bigger breasticles, but we all had very defined shoulder muscles!
I can remember very clearly the moment when I developed my very first crush. We went to the moveis to see Batman Forever, and the first time Val Komer popped up on screen a little voice inside me screamed “Ta-Da!!” Then there was that shirtless scene, rawr!!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:50 pm.
Oh and Karen H, I too had a hugr crush on Davey from the Monkees!! One of the stations in AZ played reruns ALL the damn time so I had loads of oogling time!
Oh and what girl who grew up in the 90s didn’t have a major crush on someone from a boy band?? Mine was Brian from Backstreet Boys…then that morphed into AJ from Backstreet Boys (cuz who doesn’t love a badboy??).
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 3:52 pm.
Welcome Kieran to Mount Oly! I loved both of your books and this interview.
Definitely pillow and thinking of David Cassidy.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:01 pm.
Hi Kieran,
I practiced kissing with my dolls. I fantasized about Johnny Depp(21 Jump Street phase.)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:05 pm.
Welcome, Kiernan!
Can’t wait to read Cloudy With A Chance Of Marriage.
Never practiced kissing. Kissing is something I read about and saw on TV and in movies when I was growing up. Kissing is not something one sees in my culture. My parents marriage was arranged and as a first generation American, I had a very traditional Chinese upbringing.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 4:19 pm.
Kayte, your posts were so funny!! I was always so flat-chested and worried about it. And now I’d give anything to go back to those days! LOL!! I’m bursting out of all my blouses and my doctor says that’s what happens as you get older and put on a little weight each year. I actually buy blouses a size larger than I need now (to accommodate my expanding bustline) and get the longer sleeves shortened to fit my arms.
Elsie, Jane, and Mary, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Truth or Dare about your crushes!
MaryC, I’m so glad to hear from you, too. I loved your post! I’m honored that you shared some of your insights with us about traditional Chinese culture, specifically as it relates to kissing!! You don’t read much about that in the sociology textbooks. ;>)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 5:10 pm.
I just thought of another crush I had — Herman of Herman’s Hermits.
I was out shopping today and opened the door for some elderly ladies. That’s nothing new, though. I am always holding doors open for people.
Part of the reason I was a late bloomer was because I was a died-in-the-wool tomboy until high school.
I am really enjoying reading everyone’s comments.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:02 pm.
Thanks
. My dad was pretty happy about the tomboy thing 
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:15 pm.
welcome! i saw Kim raving about your book all over the place when she read it!
I never practiced kissing in a mirror, sad to say. I didn’t even know it was a thing till now!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:26 pm.
Cathy, I was a late bloomer, too.
Archer, I know now why your dad was happy about your tomboy phase!! Sometimes the later heartache and intense, emotional relationships are put off, the better. You’re more able to handle them. But wait–that’s a gross generalization. Everyone matures at his or her own pace, really.
Oh, by the way. Nice fire going at my house–everyone’s happy, furry beasts included. I’m naughty and let the dog and cats stretch out on the couch. But I remind myself that the Queen lets her precious Corgis curl up on her chairs, and her uppercrust titled friends with country houses allow their huge, slavering hounds to hang over the ends of their sofas. So I’m in good company, right?
:>)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:30 pm.
Oh, hi, Cail! I somehow missed your post. Thanks for stopping by!!! So you missed out on kissing mirrors? Or pillows? How about passing notes to your friends in class about your secret crush–and getting that note taken by the teacher???
I am absolutely thrilled to have met Kim and so many great people as a result of writing my books. It’s truly been the highlight of this whole publishing experience, making new friends. I am really bowled over by the many kindnesses shown me and hope to pay it forward.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:34 pm.
Don’t think I ever practiced kissing in a mirror though maybe pretended to kiss while hugging a pillow, but who can recall things that happened soooo long ago (I have enough trouble recalling last month at times)
Kieran — congrats on the new releases & fab reviews. Would love a chance to read them.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 6:43 pm.
Kieran-thanks so much for spending the day with us!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 7:18 pm.
It was my pleasure, truly, Kim. Thanks!!! Happy New Year to all! I hope everyone thinks about something *they already have in them* that will make 2011 the best year they’ve ever had.
Hugs from Kieran :>)
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 8:27 pm.
Hi, Kieran!! Thanks for answering the questions!
Now, to answer your question….
Yes, I did practice. On my pillow. It was Johnny Depp, and I think it was when 21 JumpStreet started.
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 9:11 pm.
Hello All!…. I adored when Harry met Molly & Princes 2 the Left Dukes 2 the rite. So much in fact that I let my Sissy borrow them! Probably doesn’t count 4 the contest but I got KIERAN A NEW FAN & THAT MAKES IT AMAZING I THINK!! Thanks for the GREAT BOOKS!
Posted on December 29, 2010 at 11:20 pm.
I am late to the party today… I’ll own it.. yes, I practiced on a pillow.. and my hand.. I can’t remember anyone in particular that I was trying to get ready for.. but I am sure it was someone Very Special at the time.
I am now toddling over to amazon to check out your books
Thanks for stopping in Mt oly!
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 12:10 am.
I really enjoyed reading Dukes.
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:58 am.