Tuesday, September 20, 2011

PJ's Birthday Bash - Day Three

Birthdays are Better when Shared with a Friend!

Wow!  This has been one terrific birthday bash!  Thank you so much for partying with me this week!   And many, many thanks to all the wonderful authors who have joined the fun.  Last year on my birthday, I blogged about the lessons I had learned over the course of my life. The lesson I learned this year is that I'm blessed.  Blessed with good health, blessed to have a job and, as a bonus, one that I enjoy, blessed to have family that's traveled from three different states to spend this birthday week with me and blessed to have friends who encourage me, support me and bring laughter and happiness to my life. 

Speaking of friends, today we have another group of fun people, who also happen to be fantastic writers, joining us and we have one very special guest of honor.  So, without further ado, let's rev up the margarita machine, get those delicious goodies plated, cut the cake, meet our special guests and PARTY ON because today, finally, is my 60th birthday!

Throw open those doors!  Our guests are ready to make their appearance!  Please welcome the fun and fabulous Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, Manda Collins, Anne Gracie, Christina Dodd, Eloisa James and...drumroll, please...our very special Guest of Honor and fellow September 20th birthday girl: Julie Anne Long!   Welcome!  Welcome!  I'm thrilled to have you all join us today and, Julie Anne, I'm especially excited to share my birthday party with you on our special day! :) 

PJ:  Grab a drink and let's chat a bit.  I've enjoyed hearing about everyone's birthday traditions this week.  Do y'all have any special traditions you look forward to on your birthdays?

Julie Anne:  First—the happiest of birthdays to you, PJ, my birthday twin!! So delighted to be here today. As for birthday traditions? Mine is to milk it for all it’s worth for as long as I can. Hee! I love birthdays—they’re an excuse to have dinners and lunches with all my favorite people. Presents are lovely, but time spent with people you adore is the best gift of all. It’s often difficult to gather everyone at once when you’re an adult (which I have been for a long, long time now) because everyone is so busy and far-flung. But on the plus side, you can make birthdays last for a month or more if you play your cards right by spreading out all those lunches and dinners. And of course, the day itself is always special. Usually I go out to dinner, and there will be cake!!

PJ:  Julie, I love your style!  I'm having such fun extending my birthday celebration this year and, especially, being able to share it with you!

Manda:  We don't really have any traditions. Usually the extended family will get together at my grandmother's house and we'll do the usual cake and ice cream routine. My mom was the oldest of six kids so it can be chaotic with the cousins and aunts and uncles all piling in. But it's fun. And chaotic. Did I say chaotic.

PJ:  Growing up, my birthdays were a lot like what you've described, Manda.  Nowadays, we're all spread out over several states so they're a bit quieter.   

Sarah:  Our family has this crazy tradition where we race to be the first to wish each other a happy birthday. When we finally get through, we sing Happy Birthday, and the birthday person says "You're first!" or (horrors) "You know you're last." It's a bit frustrating for spouses (Eric's always groaning at 6 in the morning on my birthday), but it's what we do!

PJ:  Oh, please don't let my brothers find out about this tradition!  I have visions of 3am Happy Birthday phone calls! ;-)

Tessa:  Special traditions... hmm. Ever since our kids were born, we've been all about the Chuck E. Cheese, bowling, and bounce-house birthdays. So when it's my birthday, I want nothing more than a quiet dinner out with Mr. Dare! I also sometimes play the 'birthday card' to coax the family into an artsy excursion. The Huntington Library is one of my favorite places to visit on special days -- fine art, rare books, and beautiful gardens.

PJ:  Tessa, the Huntington Library sounds like a wonderful place to spend your special day.

PJ:  If you stopped by the blog yesterday you saw a photo of the birthday cake my jokester brothers bought me.  It's chocolate with fluffy white frosting.  What's your favorite kind of birthday cake?  Are you a purist or do you enjoy it with a side of ice cream? 

Anne:  For me, a birthday cake has to be chocolate. I do enjoy other kinds of cakes, but chocolate is my all time fave. Served with whipped cream.

Julie Anne:    Chocolate!! Deep dark layered chocolate with a sinfully rich ganache. Or chocolate with raspberry filling. I won’t turn up my nose at German chocolate. And ice cream—vanilla bean!—is always welcome.

Tessa:  My favorite is German Chocolate, too! What are the chances? As for the ice cream... I won't turn it down, but I've got to admit--for me, the cake is always the main attraction.

Sarah:  Red Velvet for me…cupcakes if you have them! And yes. I'm a purist. Who needs ice cream when there's all that cake to eat?

Manda:  I like a lot of variety. One year I'll want a traditional yellow cake with chocolate icing, and the next year I'll want Italian cream cake. Just depends on my mood and how adventurous I'm feeling. I am a cake purist. I like to eat cake, or ice cream, but I don't really care for them at the same time. Unless it's an ice-cream dependent dessert like a blondie or an ice cream sandwich.

PJ:  So we've determined this week that I'm feeling pretty good about being here to celebrate my milestone birthday.  How do y'all feel about milestone birthdays? Do you dread them, tolerate them with stoic acceptance or approach them with enthusiasm for the adventures that await you? 

Manda:  You know, I'm not too freaked out by them. At least, I wasn't about 30. I've got the big 4-0 coming up in the next several years and I'm not super psyched about it. But I'm not down in the dumps about it either. I prefer to think of birthdays as a good thing--proof that I've made it through another year. And I wouldn't want to trade in any of my years. Otherwise I might not be where I am today.

Julie Anne:  I kind of like to think of every birthday as a milestone—it means I’ve made it through another year! I’ve never really set goals for myself based on my age, and though I suppose I’m conscious of getting older, I don’t necessarily want to be younger again. I love knowing what I know now.. The birthdays ending in “0” provide an *excellent* excuse for a big party, however, and for that reason they are ALWAYS welcome.

Sarah:  While I've only celebrated 30 (which I leaned into with gusto, sure my 30s would be better than my 20s), I can say that I don't enjoy a) not being carded for alcohol, b) being called ma'am, and c) realizing I am definitely too old for that shade of eyeshadow. So, I'm guessing I won't enjoy the milestones, but I shall pretend to accept them.

Anne:  I remember being very edgy and in-denial about my thirtieth birthday. I had a big party/barbecue at my place (my birthday is in summer) but I didn't tell people it was my birthday, and told everyone it was an "end of summer holidays" party. I swore my friends to secrecy, but one friend brought a birthday cake with candles and all. I blew out the candles in the bedroom, then took them off and brought the cake out. LOL For my fortieth, though, it didn't bother me at all. Weird.

Tessa:  My most recent milestone birthday was the big 3-0, and turning 30 was the best thing that ever happened to me. I'd always enjoyed writing as a hobby, but the year I turned 30 was the year it just all clicked for me. My romance career was born that year. (So was my son!)

PJ:  As I mentioned earlier, I share my birthday with the fabulous Julie Anne Long.  Do you share your birthday with any famous people or notable events? 

Tessa:  The Berlin Wall came down on my birthday. I'll always remember watching the jubilation on TV. And I have two good friends (both writers) who share my birthday!

Sarah:  The Wright Brothers flew their first flight at Kitty Hawk on my birthday. That's kind of neat. It would be neater, I imagine, if I weren't deathly afraid of flying…but I'll take it.

Manda:  Well, Alexander Hamilton, whom I've often considered our nation's sexiest founding father--come on, tell me he's not totally smokin'--shares my birthday, so that's pretty cool. I also share my birthday with Diana Gabaldon. So an eighteenth century hottie, and the creator of Jamie Fraser. Not too shabby.

Anne:  Fay Dunaway, Albert Schweitzer and Benedict Arnold -- take your pick.

Julie Anne:  I have the extraordinary good fortune to share my birthday with a certain PJ Ausdenmore. ;) What more evidence do we need that September 20th rocks? So me, Sophia Loren, PJ, Upton Sinclair…anybody else? Stephen King’s birthday is tomorrow. ;)

PJ:  What's going on in your lives these days?  Any news you'd like to share with our readers?

Julie Anne:  I’m counting down the days until HOW THE MARQUESS WAS WON’s January release!! It’s the sixth book I the Pennyroyal Green series, and I’m VERY excited about it—my editor says she thinks she might love it even more than What I Did for a Duke, so I’m crossing my fingers readers will really enjoy it. (And did you girls hear that Amazon selected WHAT I DID FOR A DUKE as one of the best books of 2011 so far??) I’ll be ready to share the cover and excerpts and the like with readers in a few weeks. The blurb is up on my website, if you want to take a look! And I’m working on the 7th Pennyroyal Green book, as yet untitled, practically as I type this. J

PJ:  I'm counting down the days too!  :)

Manda:  Well, as you've probably heard, my first book How to Dance with a Duke will be released on January 31, 2012 by St. Martin's Press. It's the first in a trilogy about three wallflower cousins who have been dubbed Ugly Ducklings by the toast of the London Season. In Book 1, Cecily Hurston and Lucas Dalton, the Duke of Winterson, must join forces to infiltrate the mysterious Egyptian Explorer's Club which was founded by Cecily's father. Lucas wants to know what happened to his brother, who disappeared on expedition with Lord Hurston. Cecily wants to prove that her father had nothing to do with it. Of course there will be danger, adventure and romance. And kissing. And sexytimes.

PJ:  Manda, I'm so excited about your upcoming debut.  Can't wait to read it!



Anne:  I have a new book coming out in January, Bride by Mistake, the last of the DevilRiders series, Marcus's story. Then a new series, which I think is going to be lots of fun.

PJ:  I have so enjoyed this series.  Looking forward to January and Bride by Mistake!






Sarah:  I'm deep in the second book of my Rules of Scoundrels series, which launches February 27, 2012 with A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME. This series is connected by its heroes, and boy do I love these men…they're so dark and wicked…they're teaching me a few things!

PJ:  Another reason to be excited about February!  Can't wait for your new series, Sarah!






Tessa:  Well, I've been celebrating the release of A NIGHT TO SURRENDER this month. And of course, I'm so proud that the book is part of Avon's KISS and Teal campaign to spread awareness of ovarian cancer signs and symptoms. More information can be found at www.KISSandTeal.com and http://www.ovariancancer.org/

PJ:  A Night to Surrender is such a wonderful story!  I loved it!




PJ:  Work schedules, writing deadlines and the dreaded jury duty kept Christina and Eloisa from having the time to answer my birthday questions but both sent along a note and great giveaways for our readers.  Thanks, Christina and Eloisa!



Christina:  Happy birthday! It's 30, right? (PJ says, "I like the way this woman thinks!")  

Revenge at Bella Terra, the second book in Christina's new romantic suspense series was released September 6th. 





Eloisa:  Dear Birthday Girl (and friends), I have some exciting news! When I was at the beach this summer, I started dreaming up a story about a wallflower, stuck on the side of the ballroom because she was just too tall and no one wanted to dance with her. Then she suddenly inherits a fortune... It's really fun! It will probably come out as an e-novella only in December--my holiday gift!--and then be published in paper thereafter. I'm trying to save up enough novellas so that we can actually make a book of them. This one will join Storming the Castle. Happy Birthday, Patty! hugs, Eloisa

PJ:  Thank you for the lovely birthday wishes, Eloisa and for the news about your December novella.  What a terrific Christmas gift!

Thanks everybody, for celebrating my birthday with me this week.  I've had a wonderful time partying with all of you and am tickled pink to have shared the celebration with all my special guests and especially with today's Guest of Honor, my birthday buddy, Julie Anne Long.  Happy Birthday, Julie!

Tell me readers, if you could choose anyone, dead or alive, who would be on the guest list for your birthday party?  We have some great presents to give away today so let's get those comments posted!

Today's Giveaways:

A signed copy of A Kiss at Midnight and When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
Signed copy of Storm of Shadows, Dangerous Ladies and Some Enchanted Evening by Christina Dodd
A signed copy of A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
A signed copy of Heartbreak Creek by Kaki Warner
A signed copy of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
A package of signed books and other goodies from PJ's RWA Conference stash
and...
from my fellow September 20th birthday buddy, Julie Anne Long:
A complete signed set of her entire Pennyroyal Green series!

~PJ

230 comments:

  1. Ooh, goodness me! I win the Golden Cupcake again!

    PJ, happy ACTUAL birthday! Yay, you! And so glad the family's making such a fuss of you.

    Wow, what a star-studded line-up today. You're clearly a VERY popular girl! And happy birthday, Julie Anne! Here, have a bit of my cupcake!

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  2. Hi Anna! Congrats on getting today's Golden Cupcake! Which of our virile young waiters would you like to have serve you today? I understand you kept them quite busy yesterday. ;-)

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  4. Happy birthday PJ and Happy birthday to Julie Anne Long too! Hope you both have great days and find the time to do something that you love.

    As far as who I would want to spend my birthday with, it would have to be some of my favorite authors. Especially if they would give me inside info on upcoming books.

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  5. Happy Birthday!!!! This is so much fun to read all the post and comments.
    I remember once my parents gave me a small racing car for my birthday. I was in shock!!! After all I was a Barbie doll kind of girl. Since I know nothing about racing, I'd love to add to my guest list some gorgeous NASCAR drivers. Only as a source of information, of course ;)

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  6. Thanks, June! I'd love to spend time with authors who would give me the inside scoop on their upcoming books too. That would be an awesome birthday gift! :)

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  7. Happy Birthday, PJ and Julie Anne!

    An author I've always regretted not being old enough to meet is P. G. Wodehouse. I love his Jeeves stories and would have liked to have met him (had he not died in 1974). Nowadays, I try to stick to books of authors who are still alive. LOL.

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  8. Happy Birthday!!!! This is so much fun to read all the post and comments.


    Thank you, Natalija! I'm so glad you've enjoyed my birthday party.

    I'd love to add to my guest list some gorgeous NASCAR drivers. Only as a source of information, of course ;)


    lol! Excellent choice! :)

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  9. Thanks, Sheree!

    You said, An author I've always regretted not being old enough to meet is P. G. Wodehouse. I love his Jeeves stories and would have liked to have met him (had he not died in 1974). Nowadays, I try to stick to books of authors who are still alive. LOL.

    I would have loved to have met him too. So many fascinating authors who died before I was born or old enough to meet them. I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet so many of the wonderful authors I read now!

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  10. Anyone dead or alive...that's a tough one. I wouldn't mind hanging out with some eye candy, like say, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Colin Firth, Alex O'Loughlin, and so on....

    :) It makes me happy just imaging it.

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  11. Kasey said, I wouldn't mind hanging out with some eye candy, like say, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Colin Firth, Alex O'Loughlin, and so on....


    It makes me happy imagining it! :)

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  12. I love birthday celebrations that last for more than a day. Julie Anne's "To Love a Thief" is one of my all time favorites. I would invite George Clooney, Mozart(to entertain us with music) and Joel McHale to tell us jokes.

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  13. Happy Birthday PJ!
    And oh do I like the sound of your brothers LOL! First the crossed-out "Frank" cake and then being the type that would love to play bday tag ftw with a 3 am phone call?! That sounds like the best kind of fun, I wish I had bothersome brothers lol.
    As for guests, I wish my grandfather was around and could be at my next birthday. But I'd also settle for him pulling some strings in heaven and sending Ian Somerhalder or Chris Hemsworth in his stead lol

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  14. Happy Birthday to you too Julie Anne!
    I'm just starting your series so shhhh, dont tell me what happens:D

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  15. Jane said, I would invite George Clooney, Mozart(to entertain us with music) and Joel McHale to tell us jokes.

    What an interesting group. Guaranteed to give you a very entertaining evening!

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  16. And oh do I like the sound of your brothers

    They're pretty great, Bella. I have four brothers and we're all very close.

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  17. Bella said,

    Oh, Bella, you have such wonderful stories ahead of you!

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  18. Anna said, Awww, do I have to choose? ;-)



    Well, yes, you do. Of course, I never said you had to choose just one! *grin*

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  19. Okay, Dishies, this birthday girl is about to fall asleep on her keyboard. Time for me to have some sweet dreams. See you in the morning!

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  20. Happy official birthday PJ and happy birthday Julianne.

    I think I'd like to invite Jane Austen and Byron. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

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  21. It's been a pleasure sharing your extended birthday celebration! The guests have amazed us, the food was imaginative and elegant, and I'm drooling and crossing my fingers over those party favors (as well as the waiters!)

    My choice of party guests would have to include Jane Austin, who got this whole thing started. Then my family and friend, including all those I've made on Face Book. The guests of honor would be all my favorite authors. They would all be bearing gifts of signed ARC's of their
    next books! A girl can dream, can't she?

    Wishing you the happiest of birthday's,
    Flora

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  22. What a great Birthday Bash this has been. Such amazing and talented guests. I've enjoyed all the posts as well. If I could invite anyone living or dead I'd say my late parents and late brothers. Just to hug them one more time and tell them again how much I loved them. :)
    Happy, Happy Birthday PJ. May this be your most Fabulous year.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  23. The party continues! Sorry I was absent so long yesterday but I believe Sven did us proud!

    Tessa Dare you and I share a birthday. How about that? Wasn't that one of the best birthday presents ever when the Berlin wall came down?

    Hope you all have fun today!

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  24. Ooh, PJ, I can see why you're the most popular girl in the lair! ;-)

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  25. Happy belated birthday, PJ and Julie-Anne -- hope it was a fantastic day with lots of wonderful treats. I'll pour some bubbles and toast you. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. :)

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  26. Anne Gracie said, Happy belated birthday, PJ and Julie-Anne -- hope it was a fantastic day with lots of wonderful treats.

    You're not late, Anne! Here in the U.S. our birthday is just beginning so I'm still looking forward to what I hope will be a wonderful day. :)

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  27. Happy real birthday PJ & Julie Anne!Hope it's a glorious day for you both.

    You know, I'm perfectly happy spending my birthday with my family--no celebrities necessary. I only get tongue-tied and then I couldn't eat my cake, LOL.

    My verification word is clenitus, which sounds vaguely naughty, don't you think?

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  28. Happy Birthday! May you have a wonderful day.

    As for who I would invite to my birthday party... hmm... let's see... definitely Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman... and Gary Barlow would have to sing... Jensen Ackles and Ian Somerhalder would have to keep the guests distracted while I'm busy with the others... and Dolph Lundgren would have to make sure everyone behaves, except for the birthday girl, of course! LOL

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  29. Happy Birthday!! My guest list would be a mix of people artist, writers, music and just famous people. But I'm sure Andy Warhol and Janis Joplin would make the list as well as Georgette Heyer, Barbara Cartland and Grace Livingston Hill. I'm happy to see so many of you have new books coming out!!!
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  30. PJ
    I do hope your birthday has been fantastic and I am so sorry I am getting here late to the party I have missed a great week.

    My last milestone birthday was my 50th and I had a blast with my kids and grandkids love spending time with them.

    Who would I invite to my birthday party so many to choose from I think I might like Rod Stewart to come along with his sexy voice I have been a huge fan of his since I was 14 and have tickets to see him here in Sydney in Feb and looking forward to it.

    Great party PJ and the guests fantastic and Happy Birthday to you as well Juli Anne love your stories

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  31. Happy Birthday to all September Birthdays!! Here's to many smiles, much love, frequent laughter and tons of presents on your birthday!

    As for who I would love to have at my birthday party, hm let's see:

    Although they are only alive to us between the pages of books, I would love to have the entire Bridgerton Family (Julia Quinn). Of course, Lady Danbury would come with them. The Boscastle clan (Jillian Hunter), and the MacLean Family (Karen Hawkins). I would try my best to anger Gregor because I love snow. Just to name a few of my favorite families as a time savor.

    Those who are still living are just too many to name from my favorite authors to athletes to singers.

    For a person that is no longer with us would be Jane Austen. How could you go wrong with Jane Austen? And my grandfather, that way my sister would get to meet him, for he passed away a few months before she was born.

    Just to name a few:)

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  32. Hey, PJ & JAL : ) Happy Birthday x 2!!! What a terrific celebration! That hunk of chocolate cake is just the way I like it--with an inch of chocolate fudge frosting on top. Perfect to sink your teeth into when you are reading a rip-roaringly good romance read! Wishing you much happiness and continued success : )

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

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  33. Happy Birthday Julie!

    I would spend the day with my mother and her mother. Her mom passed away when she was a baby. It would be interesting to see the three generations get to know each other because.
    Thanks!

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  34. Happy Birthday Ladies! In the general spirit of the day I pre-ordered myself a few well written, much anticipated presents. Nice to wake up to such a convivial celebration--life's too short not to eat cake for breakfast!

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  35. My birthday was Sunday :)Happy Birthday to you!!!

    I would pick my Papaw who passed away 20 years ago and also my Grandma who passed away 5 years ago. I was very close to both of them.

    No fair putting pictures like that up. The picture of the Red Velvet Cupcake makes me want to lick my computer screen :)

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  36. Who would I invite? Well, David Copperfield at least. He would definitely have to do some tricks!

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  37. My special guest would be my grandmother--"the greatest cook ever". Gran could make any type of cake you could think of, but for my birthday, she always made sure that I had a special cake. There was a nice older lady in my hometown who was known as "the cake lady". She made wonderful decorated cakes with butter-batter and rich, rich icing. Yum!!! The real treat about the cakes was the little collectible figurines that she used as decorations. I still have all of mine, and when I look at them, I can see how I grew up through the years. She picked such perfect designs for each child's age and personality because she knew us all as individuals. Lovely memories : )

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

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  38. Happy Birthday. Hope you have a great day. I will be 65 next month - so we are getting up there. LOL.

    I am going to slice myself a piece of that yummy virtual cake - chocolate is my favorite too.

    As for guests to my party: Susan Mallery, Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber, Rachel Gibson, Toni Blake, George Clooney, Gilles Marini, Michael Weatherly and Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodger pitcher) and since they are out of it, I don't have to worry about him missing my party. LOL.

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  39. I'd like to welcome Jane Austen to my birthday - I'm sure she'd have an acerbic comment to make on advancing years. And I'm desperate to win the Pennyroyal series as I read the first chapter of the first oneand was then parted from the book.

    pageturner345@gmail.com

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  40. Happy Birthday to you!! Have some chocolate in any form and have it more than once! And may your waiter be attentive & attractive!

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  41. For my ultimate fantasy birthday - all the beautiful men from book covers go straight to the top of the list. You've seen them. Delicious!! ALL invited.

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  42. Happy Birthday Julie! Birthdays are a big deal in our house - we always make a huge fuss - it was one of the pacts hubby and I made when we first got together - never to let one slide by.

    hankts AT internode DOT on DOT net

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  43. Happy birthday PJ and JAL! I hope you both have a wonderful day and a year filled with joy!

    Here's who I'd invite to my party: His Holiness the 14th Daila Lama, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Carter, Che Guevara, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Lennon, Henry David Thoreau, and every.single.guy. who's posed for a romance book cover.

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  44. Happy Birthday. I would love to have Colin Firth at my Birthday Celebration next Friday. I would ask him if he could be Mr. Darcy for the day.

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  45. Congrats! Once again the cake looks good ! How about fictional characters? I would love to invite duke of villiers because love to play chess!

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  46. I think I would like to have Elvis at my birthday bash--who would not love to be serenaded by the King and I think he would be fun to hang with for the day!

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  47. Yay today it's finally YOUR day!
    Hope you're having a blast!!

    I would LOVE to get Georgette Heyer & Jane Austen at my party.
    As a present they may sign all my books :D That would be a dream come true for sure.

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  48. Happy, Happy Birthday, PJ! I gasped when I saw that *drool* picture of the chocolate cake. Yummy! How wonderful that you are able to share your post with all of these fabulous authors. Lucky you!

    At the risk of sounding maudlin on a this fun day, I would love to spend my birthday with my father who passed away when I was a baby. It would be so nice have just one day to get to know him!!

    Wishing you a super special day!

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  49. Happy official birthday to you PJ!! It has been great reading your blog posts.

    And happy birthday to Julie Anne as well!!


    I think I would invite Robert Downey Jr. because he'd be hilarious and entertaining.

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  50. Happy, happy birthday and have a great rest of the year!

    I have several friends that share my birthday month of February, so I usually plan the get-together at a Chinese buffet, where everybody can get what they want. For my 50th, we had 45 people and my husband got great pictures of everybody.

    I found some pictures from an earlier bd party with a friend who passed away back in 2004. I'd like to see her and talk to her again. I was grateful that one of the best pictures from my 50th was of a couple where the husband passed on the next summer.

    But I don't mean to bring the celebration down. All my friends and family are book lovers, as am I, so I'm glad to stop by and see your blog for the first time! Sounds like you are a gal after my own heart, with a birthday week. Much happiness and I'll be sure to check in soon.

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  51. Beebs said, I think I'd like to invite Jane Austen and Byron. I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.



    Ooh, that would be a fascinating conversation!

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  52. Happy Birthday to two awesome writers. Relay and enjoy your day!

    Wow what I would love most for my birthday is to have the day off from work & home, eat vanilla birhtday cake and read a great romance novel....awe.....perfect day!!!

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  53. Who would I like to invite? Jane Austen, actually! I'd love to share a discussion of where she got her characters and ideas. I'd also love to ask her about the men who are rumored to have been her close associates. Who were her real life Mr. Darcy, Knightly, and Tilney? And I'd like to thank her for birthing such a delightful genre.

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  54. fsbuchler said, It's been a pleasure sharing your extended birthday celebration!

    I'm so glad you've been here to celebrate with us this week, Flora. So far, sixty is feeling pretty good! :)

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  55. Carol L. said, What a great Birthday Bash this has been. Such amazing and talented guests.

    Aren't they amazing? I'm so fortunate to share my birthday bash with these amazingly talented authors...and, of course, with all of you!

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  56. The party continues! Sorry I was absent so long yesterday but I believe Sven did us proud!

    Christine, Sven added that "something special" to the festivities yesterday. Thank you for loaning him to us!

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  57. You know, I'm perfectly happy spending my birthday with my family--no celebrities necessary. I only get tongue-tied and then I couldn't eat my cake, LOL.



    LOL! You definitely have your cake-eating priorities straight, Maggie!

    I think choosing your family to spend your birthday with is wonderful. I'm delighted to be spending this birthday with many of my family members!

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  58. Weird Vision said, As for who I would invite to my birthday party... hmm... let's see... definitely Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman... and Gary Barlow would have to sing... Jensen Ackles and Ian Somerhalder would have to keep the guests distracted while I'm busy with the others... and Dolph Lundgren would have to make sure everyone behaves, except for the birthday girl, of course! LOL


    Love it! Thanks for stopping by to party with us!

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  59. Happy second day Birthday. ^^

    Hmm... i take it the person has to be non-fictional so i'd choose Jane Austen. I would think it would be wonderful to have her dish about her characters. Whether they were based off of some real people she knew, whose her favorite hero/heroine, and whether her dedication in "Emma" was a bit of a "f-you" to the Prince Regent who "suggested" it. ^^


    Melissa

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  60. Helen said, Who would I invite to my birthday party so many to choose from I think I might like Rod Stewart to come along with his sexy voice I have been a huge fan of his since I was 14 and have tickets to see him here in Sydney in Feb and looking forward to it.



    How did I know that would be your answer? ;-)

    Glad to have you join us today, Helen. Help yourself to some goodies!

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  61. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PJ!!!!!!!

    I wish you the best and can't wait to see you next week!!!!!

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  62. Have y'all tried the Blue Cheese Walnut spread yet? I made a run to the university yesterday to buy some of their world-famous blue cheese so I could make some. It's scrum-diddly-icious!

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  63. Happy birthday, PJ and Julie Anne. To many many more birthdays to come, many more years of dishing with you at The Romance Dish, PJ, and Julie Anne, many many more delicious books of your to read. Enjoy your birthday week ladies. :)

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  64. SamanthaL.Minter said, Although they are only alive to us between the pages of books, I would love to have the entire Bridgerton Family (Julia Quinn). Of course, Lady Danbury would come with them.

    I want to come! I adore the Bridgertons!

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  65. Oh and please don't enter me in the drawing for the books. :) I'm just here to chat and wish you happy birthday.

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  66. Happy Birthday, Julie! I'm so delighted to be sharing today's special celebration with you! Hope you have a fabulous day that kicks off your very best year yet!

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  67. Virginia said, What a terrific celebration! That hunk of chocolate cake is just the way I like it--with an inch of chocolate fudge frosting on top.

    Doesn't it look delicious? My brothers won't let me cut my cake until the rest of the family arrives later today. But tomorrow! Tomorrow, I'll be having chocolate cake for breakfast. Guaranteed! :)

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  68. Belinda said, I would spend the day with my mother and her mother. Her mom passed away when she was a baby. It would be interesting to see the three generations get to know each other because.


    What a lovely wish!

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  69. Grace Burrowes said, Happy Birthday Ladies! In the general spirit of the day I pre-ordered myself a few well written, much anticipated presents. Nice to wake up to such a convivial celebration--life's too short not to eat cake for breakfast!



    Thank you, Grace! How nice of you to stop by today!

    Ladies, if you aren't reading Grace's historical romances, you should be! They're wonderful!

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  70. Happy Birthday Day PJ and Julie Ann. May you have a wonderful day! I would probably like to have Agatha Christie and my grandfather who passed away many, many years ago at my birthday.

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  71. Happy Birthday! What a wonderful celebration you've been having. I'm sorry I missed part of it. Better late then never! LOL The only birthdays I ever minded were in my early 40s because I was going thru and finished menopause by 45! I'm 51 now, the last few years have been good.

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  72. Paula Michele said, No fair putting pictures like that up. The picture of the Red Velvet Cupcake makes me want to lick my computer screen :)

    Paula, stop by on the 15th of every month for Buffie's Hot Dish. You'll definitely be licking the screen! :)

    My birthday was Sunday :)

    Happy Birthday + two! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful birthday and wish you all the best in the year to come.

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  73. My Mom still cooks me a birthday dinner of my choice every year when possible. Most of my life there are 2 meals I always pick between...meatloaf with lots of sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans and some other veggie OR fried chicken,mashed potatoes, gravy and veggies...yummy! The type of cake doesn't matter, that varies year to year.

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  74. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE!!!!

    I hope your day is wonderful!!

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  76. Happy birthday, PJ and Julie!

    Hmmmm. If I could invite anyone to my birthday bash, it would have to be my favorite musicians -- it would be hard to have a bad party with bagpipes, fiddles, and lots of other instruments going! (I like Scottish music, so there have to be the pipes!)

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  77. Happy Birthday and enjoy. Mark Twain would be unforgettable and many who are with us.

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  78. Happy birthday to you again, PJ! No song for you this time, though. I'm just sparing you from my lousy vocal chords, LOL!

    When I was 39, I found out that my biological father was not the man I'd known as my dad all my life. Mom and Dad were married for 49 years before Dad died in 1990 (and then Mom died in 1995); "Allen" lived across the street and died in 1979, and I learned in 1998 that he was my bio dad. Apparently most of our little town knew this, as well as all of Allen's siblings, but I was kept sheltered from the truth all those years. Once I heard, though, everything fell into place, like how Allen took me and my brother (who is also his son) to work with him during the summertimes before we got jobs (yet my Dad had the same job and never did so with either of us or our two elder sisters), Allen taught me to drive, Allen made me face my fear of heights by climbing up a ladder onto his front porch roof, and the list goes on. My Dad "tolerated" me and didn't show any affection for me until I was married.

    I digress. I would like to see Allen again, and discuss my parentage with him, as I was too young emotionally to handle this when Allen died, and I choose to think that Allen would have told me if he could have, but he had too much on his plate back then: the day he buried his mother, he found out he had terminal bone cancer, and a month later he died.

    I have missed Allen so much since 1979 (long before I knew he was my bio dad), ... so he would be my first choice of guest.

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  79. Happy happy birthday!

    And for my guestlist...hmm...I'd choose a whole bunch of other romance fans to come talk about all our favorite books over delicious cake and ice cream! Because none of my local friends read romance AT ALL, so that's a pleasure I don't often get to enjoy, except online. Book-talk + cake = bliss!

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  80. Happy Birthday!
    I love the stories about your brothers PJ, I have brothers that are the exact same way LOL.
    Love all the Q & A. I'm not really sure who I would bring back to talk to, probably Jane Austen and maybe a great explorer like Columbus or Leif Ericson. Who wouldn't want to hear about all their adventures and discoveries?

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  81. Happy birthday to both PJ and JAL!!! Thank you so much for inviting me to your bash!

    My birthday is in a few months, and my dream guests ARE coming! Courtney Milan, Carey Baldwin, and Leigh LaValle! Can't wait!

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  82. No special traditions - either going out to eat with family or going to my daughter's for a home cooked meal.

    Gmapeony

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  83. Forgot to wish you a H.B. - so Happy Bday.

    Gmapeony

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  84. Wow, the day's just getting started here on the East Coast and I'm already late to the party!

    But first things first-HAPPY BIRTHDAY PJ! :) You're a very special lady, and I hope you have a wonderful time on your special day!

    Anna, Christine, I could really use Sven's servies here-could you possibly send him over?

    As to who I would have as a dream guest? For pure eye candy, it'd have to be Matt Bomer from White Collar! :) And I like June's idea of all my favorite authors attending and giving me the inside scoop on their stories. :) But really, since a good portion of my family lives far away, if I could see them for my birthday, that'd be fantastic.

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  85. Happy Birthday, Julie!
    I'd love to have my grandmother at my birthday bash. She's no longer with us in person, but in spirit. She was a unique & very special woman!
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    email in blogger profile.

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  86. A double birthday celebration! How exciting! I hope you both enjoy your celebrations. I would invite maybe Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Louisa May Alcott to name a few.

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  87. Happy Birthday!

    I would choose a fictional character, Jack Aubrey, to join in the celebration. However, knowing him, it would have to be at sea, not dry land, but that would make for an exciting day, wouldn't it?

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  88. Happy Birthday, PJ and Happy Birthday to you Julie Anne!

    As for birthday guests, I'd love to have Jonathan Mayberry (a little bit of zombie), the late Andy Whitfield (a little bit gladiator), Clint Eastwood (a little bit cowboy) and last but not least Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy (the cherry to my Rhett Butler)

    Have a wonderful day ladies and thanks for sharing today with us :)

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  89. For my birthday I would like to invite my favorite fictional detective, Lord Peter Wimsey. I would also like to invite his wife, Harriet Vane.

    Anyone who wants to stop by for cake and champagne is invited!

    (Would it be too much of a Busman's Holiday to ask Lord Peter to find my missing ring while he is here?)

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  90. Happy happy birthday, PJ! So happy to join you today! xoxo

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  91. I share my birthday with Betsy Ross 1752 and Paul Revere 1735, I think it would be cool to have either one of them at my birthday bash.

    Betsy Ross is exactly 200 years older than me.

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  92. First, Happy Birtday ladies. Birtdays are the best way to celebrate the joys of life.

    As for who I would invite to my birthday party, the list is long. The most important guests would be Dr. Martin Luther King, Mrs. Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, St. Bernadette, and the Blessed John Paul II. These are all people who have had a profound influence on my life. The things they did, said and fought for have shaped my view of the world and myself. They have given me strength in the face of adversity, especially Ms. Angelou.

    I would also have to invite Alexander Skaarsgard because he is so beyond yummy it hurts.

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  93. Happy Happy Birthday PJ and JAL!!

    I would love to have a birthday meal with Julia Child. Not sure if I would cook the meal or not. LOL

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  94. Happy birthday to both of you! I would love to invite the Queen to my birthday party. I know it's a bit of an odd choice but I'm sure she has a lot to talk about! And maybe Hugh Jackman, too. Something to console me that I'm getting older. ;)

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  95. Happy bday Julie and PJ. My big 4-0 bday is in October. I am dreading it, but everyone has to get older no matter what. If I could have the ultimate bday I would love to have my favorite people, like authors, actors, and random fav people. Of course I would have my kids, boyfriend, mom & dad, my friend Sarah and her family, and old co-workers. The authors I would choose would be Julia Quinn, Julie Anne Long, Laurell K Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Tessa Dare, Patricia Briggs, Kat Martin, Eloisa James, Anna Campbell, Jeaniene Frost, and Christina Dodd. My fav actors/actress would be Jennifer Aniston, Gerald Butler, Charles Hunnan(jax from Sons of Anarchy), the entire cast of True Blood, Supernatural, and Vampire Diaries. I forgot the music-Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and The Band Perry. I love country music. I would also like Bobby Flay the chef to cook for my bday party. He is a great cook plus he is hot. Sorry my guest list was long, but I only turn 40 once.
    Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
    christinebails@yahoo.com

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  96. Terrific give-aways being offered on this duel birthday bash:) Hope it's a fun day for you both.

    The person I would want most at my own birthday celebration is the man I love in real life. In my fantasy life it would be Cole Hauser;)

    Julie Anne Long is a new to me author and it's her newsletter that enticed me here. I've happily sampled some of the work of other authors connected with TRD.

    Only 60 PJ? Another 10 years will mind boggle the blessings you mentioned:)

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  97. Happy Birthday, PJ and Julie! I should have known two of my favorite people in the world would share the same birthday! Hope yall are going to do something delicious and indulgent today!

    Thanks for including me in your birthday bash, PJ! I am in EXCELLENT company!

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  98. Happy Birthday PJ and and Happy Birthday to Julie Ann Long!!

    I would love to have birthday lunch with some of my favorite authors. Good food and friends. However a dream birthday would have Robert Pattinson, Joe Mangiello, Alexander Skarsgard. Vampires and Werewolves oh my...

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  99. Happy Birthday!! I enjoyed the interview so much. It is a real treat to have so many of my favorite authors in one place. :D And so many new books coming the first of the year. My TBB list is exploding like crazy.

    For the question, I guess my answer should be someone "literary" but since my birthday is next month, it really made me think about it and if I could have anyone here - it would be one or both of my grandfathers. One passed away before I was born and the other when I was 12, so I would really love to spend time with both of them.

    Also, fantastic prizes in the giveaway!! Thanks!!

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  100. I was doing some research for a little project in which I needed the image of a handsome male with a certain type of goatee and stumbled upon David Gandy. About two hours of reviewing images was all it took to develop a SERIOUS crush on this man.

    He has a book (published by Dolce & Gabbana about him) being released in the US next week and I have been pondering how to get the book to him for his autograph. Your post has me dreaming that he is a guest at my birthday bash. I would melt into a puddle on the spot--and then whip out that book for his signature!

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  101. Happy Birthday!!
    If I could pick anyone to spend my birthday with, I would want pick freinds and family that have passed on and who I miss so very much. Even just for a few minutes..I would just like to let them know how much they mean to me.

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

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  102. Happy Birthday, Gals!

    Julie Anne - Can NOT wait for #7 - I love the Pennroyal Green series! Very fond of Cynthia and Miles' story, but Alex and Asher are so mmmmm-memorable :)

    Sarah - Just re-read for the third time all the Numbers series books- LOVE them. I can't wait for the new series!

    Thanks for sharing your creativity with us all!

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  103. Happy Birthday!! It sounds you like you all had so much fun. I remember chaotic birthdays when I was a kid and my grandparents and all my family lived on Long Island. I miss those days as well as the big Italian Sunday Dinners.
    If I could have just 1 person back for my birthday it would most definatly be my Grandmother, my Nanny. I could not get to her funeral and I did not see her for about 4 yrs before she passed,10 yrs ago. I miss her so much and often talk to her, especially when I am just not feeling like myself (many health issues & complications). My dad n mom divorced when I was 3 and my Nan took his spot; I guess one can say. Even when she moved to Fla she never forgot me or my brother and would travel to Long Island every summer to pick us up and spend the summer in Fla. then she would drive us back home. It was nice because we got to see all our cousins, aunt's & uncles. I finally got to see where she was buried last summer when I went to visit my cousins and Aunt with my daughter for a mommy/daughter get away. I collapsed because I missed her so much and was so sorry I could not be there for her like she always was for us. Her & my Mom got along so good, like mother & daughter.

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  104. Happy Birthday to a couple of fabulous writers. I am a true believer in celebrating each birthday and smiling all week long with lunch and dinner celebrations with friends.

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  106. Happy Birthday! I'll be joining you at the grand 60 way- station in life next year. Do you find that age is a marvelous liberator? I am so much more free at 58-almost-59 than I ever was in my 30s or 40s. So Congrats to us all, the Exciting, Enticing, most Excellent Women of Experience!!!

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  107. Oh wow! I'm totally tardy for the party.

    HAPPY actual BIRTHDAY suit day PJ!!! And to Ms. Julie Anne Long also. :) That's such an awesome birthday twin to have.

    Hmm... only one special guest at my party? RichardArmitageHenryCavillJamesPurefoyHughJackman. What? If I string their names together like that, they're one person. Right? RIGHT??

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  108. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

    Tell me readers, if you could choose anyone, dead or alive, who would be on the guest list for your birthday party?

    = The most important, the one who birth me: Mother and Father....

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  109. Happy Birthday!! I think I would invite as many of our "Founding Fathers" as I could get to come. I'm really NOT into politics....but, I think we have moved a bit away from the principles that the country was founded on and we could use a bit of their help in getting back into balance! WOW... can you imagine how it would have been to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independance? or to be ther when the Constitution was written? Awesome!!
    BUT... is they won't come... how 'bout Gerard Butler? ;o)

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  110. Happiest Birthday PJ and Julie Anne! What a great party with such wonderful friends!! I love multi-day birthdays! My b-day is 11/11, a mail holiday (Veteran's Day)...there are always friends and loved ones that forget so I always get cards delivered the next day! I love it!! I get a 2 day birthday...EVERY YEAR! Enjoy your natal celebration with so many esteemed ladies! And save a piece of cake for me...preferably German Chocolate with tons of gooey Coconut Pecan Frosting...Yum!

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  111. Happy birthday PJ, and to Julie Anne~

    I think I would invite some deceased movie stars at their prime, like Gregory Peck, Humphrey Bogart, Paul Newman, Bur Lancaster *drool* Wow, the stories they could tell. PLus it would be great eye candy!

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  112. What a lovely birthday bash! Hope it's the best one ever!

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  113. Wow, a 3-day birthday party! This just shows what a special lady you are, PJ! I think I would like to add YOU to my own birthday party list. :-)

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  114. Happy Birthday! I wish I had such fun on my birthdays! Though I finally did get them to stop calling me at MIDNIGHT to be the first to wish me a happy birthday by moving everyone to FB! Thank goodness!! So yes, don't even expect 3AM if your brothers get wind of the 'birthday race' ;-)

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  115. Happy Birthday PJ & Julie Anne!

    If I were to have a birthday party I would just want to have my family there. I prefer to adore my idols from afar or in my dreams! I wouldn't know what to say to them if I were to meet them in the flesh.

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  116. Who would I like to hang out with on my birthday? I'm feeling political today so I guess I'd have to say Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Barack Obama.
    farrell@crosslake.net

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  117. Happy Birthday! Good question who would I want to be on my list for my birthday? I think it would be my sister Diane. I love pretty far from home and miss seeing her.

    kayswederski@yahoo.com

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  118. Happy Birthday, PJ & Julie Anne. I really enjoyed What I Did For A Duke.

    Hmm. As far as birthday guests, I'd invite Abraham Lincoln, Nostradamus, Leonardo DaVinci, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. With this lineup I think my favorite authors would all want an invitation.

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  119. Happy Birthday all around!!! That chocolate cake looks fantastic. I think I'm gaining weight just by looking at it. Yummay!

    I love spending my birthday with my best friend and her boyfriend. Additionally I would love to be able to invite my late grandmother who died when I was six years old.

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  120. Happy Birthday PJ! Hope it's a fantastic one!

    As far as who'd be on my birthday guest list, I've chosen the following (with various reasons):

    Jane Austen: Because she's one of my favorite Authors and who'd subtly tell my aunt that a strong female is all the fashion.

    J.R.R Tolkien: He'd maybe create a whole series based on the wonderful and weird happenings at the party.

    J.K Rowlings: She'd have a ball conversing with Tolkien over fantasy and literature. Plus she'd bring a great broom as present.

    My parents: They'd enjoy all of the above company, while subtly trying not to take photos of them. Plus they're absolutely amazing in all the sense of the word.

    My friends: Because they'd be so confused and delighted at the same time as to the guest list.

    Henry Cavill: Lastly it would be the always handsome Cavill. Although, I'd probably confuse him for a gift as opposed to just a guest.

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  122. The happiest of birthdays to you, dear PJ! And another hearty chorus of happy birthday to one of my favorite writers, dear JAL!

    PJ, do you really think I can pick just one guest for my dream birthday? LOL Writer: I'd choose Emily Dickinson (Do I ever have a lot of questions for her!); celebrity: George Clooney, of course (SIGH!); personal: my mother and dad and all my extended family who are celebrating in heavenly places now; virtual: all my Romancelandia friends and favorite authors (I'd need a ballroom to accommodate them all).

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  123. Happy Birthday! There are a lot of people that I would want to have at my birthday party, maybe some of my favorite authors, Susan Mallery or Robyn Carr or political figures like Obama or Michele Bachmann. I love to argue so we could have some great discussions.

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  124. Happy birthday PJ and Happy birthday to Julie Anne! I love birthdays. This was a zero year for me and I milked it for all it was worth. Each zero year gets better so why not? Cakes, cupcakes and Red Velvet anything, those make a birthday truly a birthday!

    Wow - who would I like to have on my guest list? It would have to be Andre Norton, a dozen or so of my favorite romance authors, and Grandmamma who is the person who taught me to love reading.

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  125. Happy Birthday to Julie too! Wow, I bet between Julie and PJ, there is a total chocolate orgy going on today at The Romance Dish. Are you going to eat it all yourselves or are you sharing? Sigh. I'll just sit here and dream of how good all that chocolate must taste!! Happy Birthday to two great ladies!!! Enjoy!

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  126. WOOHOOOOO!!! Happy ACTUAL Birthday, PJ!

    What a great day!

    And Anna, you roguish waiter-chasing Bandita you! Hahahah!

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  127. Happy Birthday Julie Anne!

    How great that you get to be here for your birthday. Nobody more fun to share a birthday with than PJ!

    Have a great day, both of you!

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  128. Nathan Fillion! The ultimate guy. lol. He would be a blast to have around - I wouldn't even need a birthday cake. wink wink.

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  129. A huge, tremendous HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, PJ! (And happy birthday to Julie Anne Long, too!) What a wonderful way to share your day. =) Please don't enter me into the giveaway; I just wanted to join in the fun. Let's see, person to invite to party? It would have to be John Candy. My friends and family would get such a kick out of him. =)

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  130. Happy Birthday PJ and Julie Anne Long. So enjoyed reading the blog. Thanks go to Eloisa for sharing news of blog on her FB ;o)

    mmm who would I choose at my birthday bash? Well I definitely want a big bash something as big as RT convention *grin* So that means I would like to invite lots of hunks (you think them I have them on my list) and I'm currently into paranormal romance so would it be possible to have a fictional character as my guest of honour?? LOL I then want Acheron from Dark Hunter series...

    Rita from South Africa

    p.s. I hope this contest is opened internationally.

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  131. Well it is of coz my 40 birthday party ;o)

    But if Acheron can't make it then I'll choose the dude from Vampire Diaries (hubba hubba) Ian Somerhalder ... I can look into his eyes the whole night *lol*

    Well that's list ;o)

    Rita

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  132. Happy Birthday, PJ!!!

    Hmmm, I think I would invite Michael Buble' to my birthday party. Then he could croon to me in his velvety, smooth voice. Now, Sven, don't get jealous.... ;) You can feed me carrot cake.

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  133. Happy Birthday ladies. My list has to include Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, HP Lovecraft, Stephen King, (notice a pattern developing here?) Dean Koontz and Bram Stoker.
    Oh, and my husband too.

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  134. Happy Birthday to Julie Anne and another Happy Birthday to PJ! I think it would be great fun to have all you Romance Dish Ladies for dinner. I'll even cook, but it has to be something doesn't take time after you all arrive. I'd love to hear you all talk about being writers and your books. And I'll make my favorite Birthday Cake - Devil's Food Chocolate cake with White Boiled frosting (the one that's somewhere between marshmallow & meringue). Let me know when you're available to come to New Jersey!

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  135. Happy Birthday to PJ and Julie Anne!!

    Who would I invite to my birthday party? Well, I'd invite the on-line book groups I'm in, I'd invite all my favourite authors (which includes everyone in today's blog!), I'd invite a batch of friends from my non-on-line life, I'd invite my musical friends (just imagine "Happy Birthday" being sung and played, live, in full orchestral surround sound!)

    For that imaginary party, I'd invite Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn, Nadia Boulanger, Noboku Imai, Placido Domingo, Jerry Hadley, Thomas Hampson, Beverly Sills, Carol Burnett ... Can you see a trend here? Lots of musicians that I admire, and would like to have known. As a classical musician myself, this would be complete and total ecstasy!!

    Later,

    Lynn

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  136. have a splendid birthday, ladies!
    Julie Ann, I love your books! but you know that. if i could pick one person to be at my birthday, it would be my dear mom, who died 26 yrs ago. I still miss her. have a great day, everyone! hugs, thea

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  137. Happy birthday! I would have my parents, sisters, fiance, and a bunch of my friends at my party. :-)

    Robin D
    robindpdx (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  138. Happy birthday to both of you. What a fun way to celebrate!

    I have a list of people I'd love to invite to my party, all passed away, all kinfolk. They live on in my heart and dreams but, oh, I miss them!

    When I was a kid, my grandfather used to bring home giant 18" vanilla beans from Tahiti (he was a sailor) and Grandmother and I would use them when we made vanilla ice cream (crank machine), kahlua from scratch, and that hard chocolate sauce from Joy of Cooking. Served with angel food cake warm from the oven. Maybe I'll do something similar for 50 next year... --Sylvia

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  139. My grandparents are top of the list. I just want to revisit the time we had again. They always made birthdays most excellent. Man I miss them

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  140. Happy Birthday PJ and Julie-Anne! Happy unBirthday to the rest of us, cupcakes all around!

    The perfect party would include Jane Austen, Marilyn Monroe, Julia Quinn, Anna Campbell, Eloisa James, Audrey Hepburn, and a handful of others.

    Eclectic yes, but I am sure we will all enjoy when Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling jump out of the cake.

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  141. Happy birthday Julie Anne and PJ! Hope you guys enjoy your day and eat lots of cake and ice cream too.

    Party invites The new Princess Kate she sems so nice and real. Michelle Obama for her fresh outlook on life and her intelligence. All of you today. You all sound like you really know how to have a great, fun time!

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  142. Happy PJ and Julie! Lovely to see some of my favorite authors here.

    I think it would be lovely if Hugh Jackman dropped by and sang "Happy Birthday"!

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  143. Happy Birthday! Mine is the 22nd!! Great September bdays. I would love to spend my birthday with some great musicians and just have a great jam session all day long! I'd also invite a few chefs and bakers to feed all my friends! Too many to list but at the top would be Bon Jovi, Eddie Van Halen, Duff (for the cake), Paula Deen (for some of the food), my Dad whose bday was the day before mine but he passed a few years back and my grandma too she'd be pinching butts and stealing kisses..lol

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  144. Happy Birthday, PJ!!!

    LOL@ Anna! Golden Cupcake---I like that!

    Who I would I like to invite to my birthday? So many: Queen Elizabeth I, Leonardo da Vinci, Jane Austen, William Shakespeare....and Hugh Jackman, Clive Owen, and Joe Mangianello for some serious eye candy! Oh, and Luther Vandross to sing. *g*

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  145. missed a word - Happy Birthday, PJ and Julie!

    need more coffee.

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  146. Huge Birthday Days to PJ and Julie Anne Long! That is how I would like to celebrate my birthday, brunching with my favourite authors, family and friends. If I could I would probably sneak in some fictional characters. We'd have a ball, Regency style!

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  148. I've just becme a follower of this blog, lead here by Eloisa on facebook! So many wonderful sounding titles, I shall be treating myself soon I can tell... Best wishes to all, Jane

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  149. Happy Birthday!!

    How yummy do those cupcakes sound?? All of the books sound so exciting and romantic!

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  150. PJ and Julie Anne--Happy, Happy Birthday to you lovely ladies. More chocolate cake and champagne all around.

    Anyone at my party? I'd like to have Jesus Christ and my Dad (who died three years ago) join me and the rest of the family.

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  151. Happy Birthday to all! Milk it as long as you can! :)

    I would probably be too embarrassed or shy if any celebrities came to my party. I would love it if I could have all my loved ones come at the same time -- they are all over the country. I guess that's how it is with most folks.

    Again, have a fabulous day!

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  152. PJ—Omigosh, this is a bash and a half!! You really know how to throw a party!! LOL. Thanks and BIG HUGS to everyone for stopping by and for the birthday wishes—you're making this an utterly splendid, memorable day!! It's a pleasure to read through the comments. And a big hug and congrats to PJ for the milestone birthday—I, for one, am happy you were born. :) It's not quite 11:00 a.m. here on the West coast and I'm tempted to have cake NOW. LOL.

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  153. Happy B-Day PJ (& Julie Ann) Hope your day is great & you gets lots of special goodies just for you :) If I could I have any one spend my b-day w/ me I'd have to go with my dad (who passed away when I was young) & my mom (who passsed away this spring) -- it would be special to be able to spend the day with them. I also wouldn't mind having a few of those romance hero hunks such as being givine away today at my b-day party :) of course I'd try to make sure the guest list didn't have too many other lady's about to steal my fun ;)

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  154. What a great birthday party to attend. Love reading all the posts :)
    I think I would love to spend a birthday with Jude Devaurex (sp?) because her book A Knight in Shining Armor is the book that started me on a grand adventure with other romance authors!

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  155. It's been a great party. Wonderful line-up!!
    I would like George Clooney to show up at my party.

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  156. Happy Birthday!
    I'd like to have some of my favourite authors at my birthday party!

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  157. Happy birthday Julie Ann and PJ too!
    I adored "What I did For A Duke" and so looking forward to your upcoming release~although I would be thoroughly amazed if that novel is even more captivating than "What I did For A Duke."

    My favorite birthday ritual is a day trip to the ocean--Doran Beach at Bodega Bay specifically. Sitting on the bench watching the waves, listening to the seagulls, and inhaling the tangy salt sea scent makes me feel part of an eternal timeless rhythm.

    And then a fabulous dinner with decadent chocolate cake and yes vanilla bean ice cream or tiramisu!

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  158. Happy Birthday PJ. I loved all the posts! And I LOVE all the authors and their books! If I were to invite anyone to celebrate my birthday I'd love to have my Grams. She passed away when I was very young and I only have impressions and small memories of her.

    Hope you have a WONDERFUL day!

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  159. Happy Birthday!!

    I think I'd like to invite Nathan Fillian and make it a private party lol.

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  160. Happy Birthday P.J. and Julie Anne. I guess both sets of parents were trying to stay warm in December or had a great New Year's Eve!

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  161. I'm late (darn day job) but HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! And to Julie Anne and anyone else celebrating today! Talk about a star-studded affair!!!

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  162. Happy birthday!
    I would pick my family, Jane Austin, Georgette Heyer, Elvis, Thomas Jefferson, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Hatshepsut.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  163. Happy Birthday!

    I would like to spend my birthday with Shakespeare and Nora Roberts.

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  164. Happy Birthday PJ.
    On my Birthday Guest List would be all of my favorite authors(to many to list), Christian Kane(Leverage), Angie Harmon, and Pauley Perette.

    koonie2888 at yahoo dot com

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  165. PJ, Happy Birthday!

    Our birthday traditions are simple. The birthday person chooses where we go out to eat, and on my birthday, the boy gives me a jigsaw puzzle.

    There may or may not be cake, depending on the birthday person's preference. The dh likes pie.

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  166. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear PJ and Julie Anne, Happy Birthday to you! Now take a deep breath and blow out your birthday candles.

    As far as people I would like to be with me on my birthday are my mom and grandmother. After that, my fave authors, and of course, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, and Princess Diana.

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  167. I think I would want to invite my great-grandparents. I have so many questions I'd ask them.

    Happy Birthday!!

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  168. Happy Birthday all! I love it when my birthday is on a Friday because then it becomes a birthweekend instead of a birthday...we just make it an extravaganza!!

    If I was picking a character to spend my bday with, it would either be 1. Roarke from the J.D. Robb 'In Death' Series (would hate to have to try and get thru Eve to get him though. LOL) or 2. Jamie Macleod from the Lynn Kurland books.

    Some other guests: Cher, Whoopie Goldberg, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Hanks, Patrick Warburton, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Paula Deen, Bette Middler, Ellen Degeneres, Harry Connick Jr, Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Johnny Carson would round out my guestlist.

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  169. Wanted to wish Julie Anne a Happy Birthday.

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  170. Minna said, Who would I invite? Well, David Copperfield at least. He would definitely have to do some tricks!

    Ooh, good choice! I saw him in person several years ago and he was amazing!

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  171. Virginia C saic, My special guest would be my grandmother--"the greatest cook ever".

    Virginia, I'd love to have my grandmother at my party too. She was such an instrumental part of my life and, even though she died when I was in college, I still miss her to this day. She's the one who taught me to bake! :)

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  172. PatL said, Happy Birthday. Hope you have a great day. I will be 65 next month - so we are getting up there. LOL.



    Happy Early Birthday!

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  173. Alison said, And I'm desperate to win the Pennyroyal series as I read the first chapter of the first oneand was then parted from the book.



    Oh, no! It's such a wonderful series. I hope you'll have another chance to read it!

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  174. GirlygirlHoosier52 said, And may your waiter be attentive & attractive!



    Thank you for that lovely birthday wish! *grin*

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  175. Marybelle said, For my ultimate fantasy birthday - all the beautiful men from book covers go straight to the top of the list. You've seen them. Delicious!! ALL invited.



    Will you invite me too? Please? Please? Pretty Pleeeeeeeease????

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  176. Kaetrin said, Birthdays are a big deal in our house - we always make a huge fuss - it was one of the pacts hubby and I made when we first got together - never to let one slide by.



    What a great pact to make. Birthdays should always be fun!

    Thanks for coming to our party today!

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  177. Ringois said, The only birthdays I ever minded were in my early 40s because I was going thru and finished menopause by 45! I'm 51 now, the last few years have been good.



    So glad to hear the last few years have been good!

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  178. Robin RBL said, Happy Birthday all! I love it when my birthday is on a Friday because then it becomes a birthweekend instead of a birthday...we just make it an extravaganza!!



    Oh, what a great idea! I think I'm going to do that next time my birthday falls on a Friday. I'm enjoying this multi-day celebration! :)

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  179. Lisa said, I think I would want to invite my great-grandparents. I have so many questions I'd ask them.



    What a wonderful opportunity that would be! My great-grandmother died the same day I was born. I've heard many stories aobut her but I'd love to have met her in person.

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  180. What a wonderful Birthday Party, thank you for inviting me along :-D

    I would like to have Mr. Darcy over to try to charm him and if he resisted my attempts of seducing him then I would agree with Lizzie that he really is an insufferable man! ;-p

    Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girls! :-D

    Thank you for the fantastic giveaway!

    *crossing fingers and toes here*

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

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  181. Kelly said, I would like to spend my birthday with Shakespeare and Nora Roberts.



    Now that's an interesting duo! ;-)

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  182. ps: but if real people then I would like to have my grandma who died when I was 9 over. I had a special bond with her and through the years I felt her guiding presence and would love so much to see and talk to her once again! Would be the best birthday present :-)

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  183. Anne said, Happy Birthday P.J. and Julie Anne. I guess both sets of parents were trying to stay warm in December or had a great New Year's Eve!



    LOL! I never thought about that!

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  184. Ellen said, I think I would love to spend a birthday with Jude Devaurex (sp?) because her book A Knight in Shining Armor is the book that started me on a grand adventure with other romance authors!



    Oh, that's one of my most favorite romances ever. Love Nicholas!

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  185. Jane the Booklady said, I've just becme a follower of this blog, lead here by Eloisa on facebook

    Thanks for coming over! Hope you'll stop by to visit us again!

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  186. Patti said, Happy Birthday! Mine is the 22nd!! Great September bdays.

    Happy Birthday, Patti! Thanks for celebrating with us!

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  187. Mary C said, I think it would be lovely if Hugh Jackman dropped by and sang "Happy Birthday"!



    I would definitely get excited about that! We love Hugh around her. :)

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  188. Happy, Happy Birthday, Julie Anne!
    Those "0" birthdays really are so
    special! My last 0 had a 7 in front
    of it, so my family invited more than
    100 guests and 70+ attended! BTW, I've
    found that anniversaries can also be
    extended for a good while, Honey and I
    have been celebrating our 50th since
    April 8! One more celebration day to
    go! LOL. BTW, I share a birthdate with
    today's Golden Cupcake winner. Let me
    hasten to say that we share the date,
    not the number of years! Congrats on
    the Cupcake win, Ms. Anna!

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  189. Forgot to add PJ to all the birthday greetings! Mea Culpa!! Many happy
    returns of the day!!

    Guests at my party would have to
    include my favorite Nascar drivers:
    Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart, Michael
    Buble for a birthday serenade, all
    the Romance Bandits and Buddies &
    all my other favorite authors!!

    Pat Cochran

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  190. A very big happy birthday !!!!

    For my birthday party I would want to invite a special dead guest Elvis I love his music and aside from that he was just all kinds of yummy ! And if I could pick a live person I would definitely like to invite one ( no wail it's my party so I want more than one )my fav authors and they could tell me how she comes up with their brilliant stories !

    Thanks for a nice contest !

    Desere

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  191. If I could invite whoever I wanted for a birthday party- I would have an uber-huge birthday cake made and plunk myself down smack in the middle of the RWA convention! That way all my favourite authors and fellow readers would be there and nobody who implied I should be reading more 'intellectual' books would be allowed 8^)
    Happy birthday everyone!

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  192. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I would celebrate by throwing a birthday ball and invite all my favorite writers and all the hot dish men and see where that leads.

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  193. If I could invite whoever I wanted for a birthday party- I would have an uber-huge birthday cake made and plunk myself down smack in the middle of the RWA convention! That way all my favourite authors and fellow readers would be there and nobody who implied I should be reading more 'intellectual' books would be allowed 8^)


    Maribeth, I love the way you think! :)

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  194. Kat said, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I would celebrate by throwing a birthday ball and invite all my favorite writers and all the hot dish men and see where that leads.



    Ooh, very good plan!

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  195. Desere, I loved Elvis. He could sing to me anytime! :)

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  196. Guests at my party would have to
    include my favorite Nascar drivers:
    Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart, Michael
    Buble for a birthday serenade, all
    the Romance Bandits and Buddies &
    all my other favorite authors!!



    Thanks for the birthday wishes, Pat! That's a guest list I'd enjoy :)

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  197. Hi Stella! Thanks for coming to our party. I had a close relationship with my grandma too. Grandmas are special, aren't they?

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