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Julia Latham, WICKED,SINFUL NIGHTS, January 2010
Hello! Thanks so much to the ladies of the Jaunty Quills for inviting me to blog. 
I’m Julia Latham (and also Gayle Callen, but not this release month!), and I bet you think I’m here to talk about my newest book, WICKED, SINFUL NIGHTS. Okay, okay, I know you’re dying to know that it’s a swashbuckling medieval, about a woman accused of murder, and the man sent to prove her guilt. And trust me, it’s a great story, with a beautiful, windswept cover. It’s so great, I’m going to give away a copy to one of the people who comments on my blog. So answer the question posed below!
I’m really here to talk about skiing. Yes, skiing. Or rediscovering a long-ago pastime. Way back in the dark ages (and you wonder why I write medievals?) I used to ski. I learned from my father when I was a freshman in high school and borrowed my mother’s skis. I was always a figure skater, and found that if you can snowplow when skating, you can snowplow when skiing. (FYI: snowplowing is a basic move to stop or slow down, where you bend your knees and point your toes together.) I even went on a co-ed ski trip to Vermont in high school, and trust me, this was a big deal, considering I attended an all-girl high school.
Skiing also helped me get the attention of my future husband, Jim. We were fraternity brothers–it was an engineering fraternity, co-ed. As you can see, I did not follow that career path… Anyway, I wanted Jim to know I was available. I called him up and asked if he and any of the brothers were going skiing that weekend, as I had just broken up with my boyfriend and wanted to have some fun. Subtle, huh? They weren’t going skiing, but he eventually asked me to a basketball game, and the rest is history.
Two years ago, we decided to ski again, after twenty-some years away from it. Our kids gave us helmets for Christmas, in an obvious hint that we need protection. But to my utter surprise, skiing came back like I’d never left the sport. I still love flying down the hill, looking at the beautiful snow-covered scenery, and enjoying quiet talks with my husband as we ride the chairlift up through crisp air. Next we’re going to Aspen, where our son lives, to try our creaky skills on the really BIG mountains. Our kids encouraged that trip, too. What, do they think we don’t get out enough?
So what have you rediscovered in your life after many years away?
Filed in: Jaunty Post
Jan 11th
2010
7:07 am
Tonya Kappes Said:
Julia you have a gorgeous cover! Very nice.
My kids are in shock and awe of my vinyl records. I went out and found a record player. We have had to best time using it. BUT they do prefer their I Pods over the vinyl.
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Jan 11th
2010
7:10 am
Laura Said:
Photography. I was a bit of a shutter bug when I was younger but I married someone who wanted to be a professional photographer so I gave up all rights to taking pictures. When we separated 20 years ago (we eventually divorced), he took all the cameras with him. Last semester I took a course in photography and had to buy a camera for the course (I’ve used disposables over the last 20 years and only took pictures on trips). It’s been a lot of fun rediscovering the art of picture taking.
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Jan 11th
2010
7:26 am
Julia Latham Said:
Tonya, ooh, vinyl records! How retro!
My kids got us a turntable a couple years ago for Christmas, so I could still play my albums!
Laura, photography is such an expressive thing. Sorry you had to give it up, but I’m glad you found it again.
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Jan 11th
2010
8:46 am
Emily McKay Said:
I don’t know if this counts, but I’m looking forward to one day rediscovering needlework. I used to love knitting or doing needlepoint in the evenings when we watched tv. I stopped when the kids were born, cause they like to be on me any time I’m sitting and waving around sharp pointy things doesn’t seem like a good idea. But someday I’ll get back to it.
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Jan 11th
2010
9:50 am
Margo Maguire Said:
Not so much discovered something that I used to like to do – but noticed that I’m spending more and more time at the computer… to the detriment of the other things I always liked to do. Gonna fix that this year!
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Jan 11th
2010
10:27 am
Julia Latham Said:
Emily, I did the same thing! A couple years ago, I rediscovered crocheting, and I must say, I love it. I’ve made scarves, table runners, afghans, even a baby sweater. I love keeping my hands busy at night–keeps me from overeating.
Margo, maybe you should try to find something that you used to do before the computer, and rediscover it!
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Jan 11th
2010
10:49 am
Shana Said:
Welcome! So glad you’re here with us today! I rediscovered singing in 2008. I sang throughout high school and majored in music for a year in college then didn’t sing for years. Now I’m back singing again with a band at church. So much fun!
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Jan 11th
2010
11:03 am
Kristan Higgins Said:
Can’t wait to read your book, Julia! So exciting! Like Shana, I rediscovered singing as an adult but then dropped it again (terrible of me…or not. I wasn’t that good.) I plan to not quite rediscover something, though…I want to learn how to tap dance. I asked my mom once if I could take dancing classes, and her reply was “Oh, dear…” I got the message. But I want to take tap, dang it! I might need solo classes, so I won’t crash into anyone, but I’ll do it! One of these days!
Congratulations on the new book!
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Jan 11th
2010
11:18 am
Julia Latham Said:
Shana and Kristan, I’m sorry I’m sounding so repetitious, but I’m doing that, too! Must be I’m rediscovering the past, now that my kids are grown. I joined my church choir, but Shana, your band sounds like such fun!
Kristan, you go for those dance lessons! That sounds like a blast. After watching all the ballroom reality shows, I’ve been so tempted to give it a try (I was a figure skater in my youth–it doesn’t seem so different!). But much as my husband watches the ballroom shows, that’s as close as he wants to get… So the skiing will have to do.
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Jan 11th
2010
11:31 am
Quilt Lady Said:
Well when I was about about 40 I went to an eight year old skating party. I hadn’t roller skated since I was a child but I thought I would try it again. Well at 40 you don’t have the balance you had as a child and before the party was over I landed on the floor with a broken wrist, needless to say I don’t roller skate anymore, I learned my lesson the hard way.
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Jan 11th
2010
12:28 pm
catslady Said:
Cooking and it’s their fault lol. My two girls are grown – one married and one in college so cooking for two no longer interested me much. But now my one daughter and husband moved close to home and my other daughter and her boyfriend visit (she’s two hrs. away so not too bad) and I’m back to cooking large Sunday and holiday dinners. I really do like cooking – it’s the thinking of what to make that’s hard!
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Jan 11th
2010
12:42 pm
Solveig Said:
Great story Julia
(Gayle). I have not gone skiing since I was 16 years old (for 14 years now) and since I´m a great klutz I´m not planning to revisit that anytime soon. 
Needlepoint however I have recently rediscovered. I used to hate it when I was a child but now I find it very soothing and clears the mind when it is too cluttered. Crocheting is next on the list of rediscovery. 
Glad to hear I´m not the only one.
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Jan 11th
2010
12:56 pm
cheryl c. Said:
Dancing! I danced a lot in college, but over the years with work and kids, I stopped dancing. Now I am beginning to rediscover it because it is a fun way to get the exercise I need. Of course, most of my dancing is with the dance/exercise DVDs.
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Jan 11th
2010
1:03 pm
RobynDeHart Said:
Scrapbooking is my thing. I did it for several years and then my writing kind of took over. Then I rediscovered it last year when I put together my wedding album and I remembered how much I loved it. Now all of my supplies have been in storage since we moved back to TX this summer. Our house should be finished next month sometime (hopefully!) and I’m really looking forward to getting my scrapping space set up again.
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Jan 11th
2010
1:27 pm
Catherine Kean Said:
Julia, welcome and congrats on your new release! Like Laura, I’ve recently rediscovered my love of photography. My parents bought me an Olympus camera when I graduated from High School and I took a lot of pictures in my teen years, using cool filters to get special effects. Life just got too busy for me to spend much time on my hobby, but a few years ago, my husband bought me a wonderful digital camera for my birthday. Now I take pictures at every opportunity. When, that is, my teenage daughter isn’t snapping pics! She’s got a great eye for photos.
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Jan 11th
2010
1:29 pm
Julia Latham Said:
Quilt Lady, I’m so sorry you hurt yourself rollerskating! It shouldn’t be painful to recapture our youth.
catslady, that’s so cool that you rediscovered a joy in cooking! Family dinners are so important. Two of my children live in different parts of the country. I treasure those rare meals together.
Solveig, yep, needlework of any kind is soothing. You can let your mind float. Sometimes, my subconscious works on my plot while I’m crocheting, so that can be another benefit.
Cheryl, dancing is dancing! As long as you enjoy it, keep having fun.
Robyn, I’ve never tried scrapbooking! But any time I walk by those aisles in the craft store, they call to me. Maybe it will be my next craft–or maybe I’ll try quilting, to rediscover an old love of sewing.
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Jan 11th
2010
1:31 pm
Julia Latham Said:
Catherine, another person into photography! That’s great. I do love that everything’s digital. I can just upload my photos to facebook, or attach them to relatives. Sadly, then I never get around to printing them out…
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Jan 11th
2010
3:30 pm
Jane Said:
Congrats on the new release, Julia. I’ve rediscovered board games. We’ve been staying in more to save money and we’re having a great time playing Monopoly, Clue and Trivial Pursuit. I forgot how fun those games were.
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Jan 11th
2010
3:31 pm
Soleil Said:
I’m going through college right now, so I always rediscover all the things I love that I can’t do during the semester when I’m on break, like writing for instance! (If I wrote during the semester, I wouldn’t want to do my homework!) I took dance lessons as a kid, but I was in that faze where I was attracted to something new every other week so they didn’t last for long. I love dancing though, so I’d like to get back to that some day, probably after I have that diplomma in my hand!
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Jan 11th
2010
4:06 pm
Julia Latham Said:
Jane, I love board games! We’re big fans of Trivial Pursuit. We even have a travel version, so we can play on long trips.
Work on that diploma, Soleil. What a great accomplishment it will be. Maybe you can dance during the summer.
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Jan 11th
2010
6:01 pm
Maureen Said:
Congratulations on the new book. I have started finding new recipes for baking desserts and I have found that it’s fun to experiment to see what works and what doesn’t.
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Jan 11th
2010
7:56 pm
Julia Latham Said:
Maureen, baking is one of my favorite things to do at Christmas. I make about 12 kinds of Christmas cookies to give away to friends, and every year I experiment with a couple new ones. I think baking is a very creative outlet!
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Jan 12th
2010
7:54 pm
Gail Said:
My girls encouraged me to rediscover rollerblading these past few months. Actually, I used to love roller skating at the local roller rink, but rollerblading on the sidewalks around our town is a while different story. I was sore for days! Now that I finally have the hang of it, I am actually enjoying it. The extra benefit. . . I am getting fitter and actually sorta/kinda enjoying exercising!
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