Monday, September 27, 2010

Ditching The Tiara

When you were six years old, what did you want to be?

Confession.  I wanted to be a princess.  I was the third of three girls, so the princess position had been filled.  My mother, however, read me stories about princesses and I saw them on television.  I always thought princesses did fun things like wear tiaras and have people wait on them and adore them.  They always wore pretty dresses and usually got the gorgeous prince.  This all sounded good to me.:)

PrincessHeartTiara_400-01

In real life, many princesses make a lot of appearances and work very hard.  They have a lot of pressure from the press and every move can be scrutinized by the public.  So what if you were a princess?  What if you were the princess who never gets into trouble, who avoids scandal and works like a dog?  Your brother, the crown prince, can be an arrogant you-know-what, but you love him and you know he’s under pressure, so you try to always be there for him.  Your younger, thinner, more beautiful sister who has caused countless scandals and spent a stint in rehab, is now getting married to a French filmmaker.  You have no love life.  You have no personal life. 

For one night, you get a chance to ditch the tiara at a masquerade party.  You get a chance to be anyone what you want to be.  You meet a hot, but kind rancher.  You spend some time with him.  Unlike Cinderella, reality hits you way after midnight, and months later, you learn that you, the goody-two-shoes everyone has counted on, is pregnant.

rhbaby

Yeah, this is the premise for the first Silhouette Special Edition I’ve written in over ten years.  What I like about this book is the humanity of the characters.  The hunky hero has his own baggage and the worst thing that could happen to him is an unplanned pregnancy that he caused.  Romantic Times Book Club gave ROYAL HOLIDAY BABY a 4 1/2 star review and I really like this book, so I hope you’ll give it a try.  If you do, please drop me a line at leannebbb@aol.com 

In the meantime, I’m giving away a copy of one of my previous books to one commenter.  My questions:  When you were six years old, what did you want to be?  Did you ever want to be a princess?  Have you ever worn a tiara?  (I have a hair band with crystals that resembles a tiara, but I’ve never had the nerve to wear it.<g>)   TELL ALL!:)

40 comments:

Laney4 said...

When I was six, I wanted to be a teacher like my sister. I remember sitting at the dining room table with her, marking her Grade 2 tests (and I was in Grade 1). She would give me a template of all the right answers and I got to mark the pages with check marks or exes (in pencil). When were were done (and she had confirmed everything), I got to use the red star on the stamp pad (long before stickers came out, as this was 45 years ago).

No, I've never wanted to be a princess (except in my books). The closest I got to wearing a tiara was about 10 years ago when I won all three events at our badminton club championships (ladies' singles, ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles). At our annual banquet, I was presented with a hairband that had three Crown Royal little bottles glued on it, thereby representing my "triple crown" win. I wore it for awhile at the banquet, but that was it! (The rye was finally consumed last month!)

Laurie G said...

I was always a tomboy. My older brother is the favorite child. So I always wanted to be like him. I dreamed of being a star quarterback!!


My daughter is the princess lover. Totally feminine. Loves shopping!

Loralee said...

When you're a six-year old P.K, you dream of being anyone but who you are. I wanted to be a movie star, but would've settled for princess. Could I have been farther from reality?

Linda Henderson said...

When I was six I wanted to grow up and work in a library. We didn't have books at home and when I started school and found the school library I was in heaven. I've loved books ever since. My dream changed over the years and I wanted to work in a bookstore, I didn't get to do that, but I still love books.

Cindy Gerard said...

The book sounds terrific, Leanne and sure, I wanted to be a princess. And a nurse. And a singer and a professional cheerleader. Lofty aspirations, huh?

Michele Hauf said...

Leanna, loving the premise of this book! And congrats on the 4 1/2 stars!

I'm not sure, but I think when I was six I wanted to...be in charge of something, anything. Just me, telling people what to do. Ha!

Hellie Sinclair said...

When I was 6, I wanted to be a Princess; a horse rancher; and a Vegas Showgirl (I think it was the feathered/sequined outfits). Mostly I wanted to be the horse rancher, if it's any comfort to anyone.

I have a tiara, yes. I wore it for my 30th birthday with a feather boa (see Vegas show girl) and had way too many jello shots. I'm tempted to wear it to renew my license. My friend does that. *LOL*

Helen Brenna said...

Congrats on the new release, Leanne! Is this the first princess story you've ever written?

When I was six? Hmmm. I have absolutely no clue what I wanted to be! But I'm sure I would've settled for a princess. lol I have worn a tiara - at a Superromance reader party at national. It was fun!

Karyn Good said...

When I was six I wanted to be a princess but being a realistic six year old I had a back up plan - professional figure skater.

Neither of which worked out.

Unknown said...

Leanne, you girly girl, you! I LOVE the tiara thing-- though I've never worn one. I love the idea, MsHellion, of wearing one for the DMV picture! I soooo want to do that!

When I was six, I don't think I had aspirations to princess-hood, but I certainly played princess a lot. And movie star. We drank Koolaid out of paper cups and pretended it was champagne. Nobody in our neighborhood or family had champage glasses-- so the sight of them on TV was exotic and a little forbidden. Left me with a life-long stemware fetish. It's the only thing I buy the-best-of-the-best in. Waterford and Reidel. Despite the fact that I only drink on holidays-- and then only a few sips!

I guess I really wanted to be a doctor or a missionary. Can you tell we went to church a lot? Yeah, then we came home and pretended "champagne"!

Unknown said...

I almost forgot-- we sometimes MADE tiaras out of aluminum pie plates. We'd cut out the bottom and then bend the curved sides to set on our heads like tiaras. I had forgotten that until just now!

Okay, I'm off to E-Bay to find a nice used tiara!

LSUReader said...

When I was six years old, I wanted to be the operator of a snowball (snowcone) stand. All the free chocolate cream snowballs I could eat—and lots of customers buying their own!

I never wanted to be a princess. But I have worn a tiara. I have a wonderful friend who celebrated her birthday once by treating her friends like royalty. I was among the lucky ones who got to ride in a stretch limo, get manicures/pedicures while we sipped champagne, and meet our group of husbands out for dinner—all while we wore matching tiaras.

Janga said...

When I was six, I wanted to be a writer. I had just learned that I could impress and please my friends and classmates by writing rhymes for their entertainment. The praise was heady. However, I was sure I could combine writing with being an Amazonian treasure hunter and a cowgirl who taught the cowboys how to beat the bad guys. My BFF and I spent hours on intricate, let's-pretend games involving both Amazons and fearless cowgirls. Come to think of it, maybe that was verbal pre-writing. :)

Leanne said...

Laney4, LOVE LOVE LOVE your badminton story. That is too cool and funny that it took you so long to finish the rye! THANKS!;)

Leanne said...

Laurie, so did you play any touch football, or did you try to play tackle? OUCH! I played powderpuff one year and I was definitely too scrawny for that!:) Bet you enjoy your princess daughter.<3

Leanne said...

Loralee, PK's a tough job, but I'm with you on being a movie star. That would have been acceptable to me too.lol

Leanne said...

Linda, what a sweet story. I love it and books can take us away and get us through so many situations. Thanks for sharing.<3

Leanne said...

Well, Cindy, you've done most of those. Nursing your family. You were a cheerleader, weren't you? And you could sing... and you're a princess... and ...thanks sweetie.

Leanne said...

Well, Cindy, you've done most of those. Nursing your family. You were a cheerleader, weren't you? And you could sing... and you're a princess... and ...thanks sweetie.

Leanne said...

Well, Cindy, you've done most of those. Nursing your family. You were a cheerleader, weren't you? And you could sing... and you're a princess... and ...thanks sweetie.

Leanne said...

Well, Cindy, you've done most of those. Nursing your family. You were a cheerleader, weren't you? And you could sing... and you're a princess... and ...thanks sweetie.

Leanne said...

MICHELE! You wanted to be IN CHARGE! I love it! I can just a see a little six-year-old you saying it should be done THIS WAY!:) LOVE IT! xo

Leanne said...

Ms. Hellion, I TOTALLY get the Vegas showgirl thing and I'm with you on wearing the tiara for your driver's license. In VA, where I live, they don't even let you SMILE anymore!

Leanne said...

Helen, thanks. Not my first princess story, but it's still different for me. Now, I want to see a PIC of Helen with her tiara!!!!

Leanne said...

Karyn, you were smart even at 6! Did you learn to ice skate? I was a roller skater. Lots of fun, but nowhere near pro material. THANKS:)

Leanne said...

Karyn, you were smart even at 6! Did you learn to ice skate? I was a roller skater. Lots of fun, but nowhere near pro material. THANKS:)

Leanne said...

BETINA, we went to church a lot too. I would have chosen singing if I went in that direction, but there are so many more people who don't get as nervous as I did when I sang solos!
THE ALUMINUM Plates! Yes! You always rocked creatively, didn't you!!!:) xoxoxoxox

Leanne said...

LSU Reader and Janga, I'm in an airport ready to board, but I didn't want you to feel neglected. LSU, you have a wonderful friend, but I also highly respect your desire to do the snowballthing, and JANGA, YES YOU WERE PRE-WRITING! You sound like another creativity ROCK STAR!!! xo

Leanne said...

LSU Reader and Janga, I'm in an airport ready to board, but I didn't want you to feel neglected. LSU, you have a wonderful friend, but I also highly respect your desire to do the snowballthing, and JANGA, YES YOU WERE PRE-WRITING! You sound like another creativity ROCK STAR!!! xo

Leanne said...

LSU Reader and Janga, I'm in an airport ready to board, but I didn't want you to feel neglected. LSU, you have a wonderful friend, but I also highly respect your desire to do the snowballthing, and JANGA, YES YOU WERE PRE-WRITING! You sound like another creativity ROCK STAR!!! xo

Minna said...

I wanted to be an astronomist.

Michele's journey said...

When I was six I wanted to be a cheerleader. Many years later in high school I finally got that wish. I also was intrigued with Princess Diana and wanted to be a real Royal princess I had to settle for a few titles as Pow wow princess and the pow wow queen this was our small town (Scappoose OR) celebration I was on the court and was crowned queen. Then I was Miss Mistletoe in high school and there was one other I can't remember the name I still have all my tiaras

Sheree said...

When I was six, I wanted to be a veterinarian and take care of animals like the family dog. My little sister was sickly at the time so I had a lot of exposure to doctors and hospitals, but I didn't want to put up with bratty patients like my little sister so dogs were it.

No, I never wanted to be a princess and I never had a tiara or worn one.

ironss[at]gmail.com

robynl said...

at 6 yrs. of age I wanted to be a nurse which didn't happen but I did get to work in a couple of hospitals as a Confidential Secretary and Records Clerk.

yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

catslady said...

At one time I wanted to be a fairy godmother - had the wand and dress (one of my mom's castoff bridesmaid dresses lol).How wonderful to be able to just wave that wand and have dreams come true.

Jane said...

I wanted to be a gymnast like Mary Lou Retton. I've never worn a tiara, but I'm pretty sure I did want to be a princess.

Kathleen O said...

I really can't remember exactly what I wanted to be at six, but I know I always wanted to know I wanted to where a crown.. Maybe marry a king and become the QUEEN....

Unknown said...

I know/knew lots of girls who wanted to be a princess, but not me. I was pretty much a tomboy. I can't remember much of what I wanted at that age except perhaps to be a singer, b/c I loved to dance in front of the mirror with a curling iron as my microphone.

Mary Preston said...

I actually can't recall. So nothing significant at that time obviously. No dreams of grandeur or a profession.

marypres@gmail.com

Linda said...

What fun comments to read! At 5 I wanted to be a horse. I told my K teacher my name was Dale (Evans), and I cantered/galloped to and from school.

Somewhere along the way I was determined to wear only big, puffy, beautiful formal gowns and wedding dresses all my waking hours. I would clean house in them. I would never wear ugly clothes like my mother or Lucy. I was going to only wear the most beautiful of dresses.

My daughter has a tiara tattoo on her shoulder (I think it is the same as the one on the blog. She has one on her lower back that says HARDER.

I don't remember wanting to wear a tiara, but it probably would have interfered with my swishing pony tail.

Linda
Lindina2@aol.com