Comments on: Friday Feature: Kate Dolan

By: Helen Wright

Helen Wright — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:43:22 +0000

Oh dear. I was much distressed to learn that my author offered a prize to entice people to come read my post. She asked me to tell you that Christie Kelley has won the summer prize pack.
Fortunately, I have also had a bit of good news: the first reviews of The Appearance of Impropriety have listed me as one of the highlights of the book.
So perhaps I shall finally get some of the recognition that has long been my due.
Thank you all for reading, and I shall look for you elsewhere.
Your most hum. and obed. servant,
Helen Wright

By: Jenyfer

Jenyfer — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:07:25 +0000

Dearest Helen,

I have so enjoyed having you on my blog this holiday weekend. And I hope that wherever your author is, her head isn’t aching too badly with her recent merry making!

I look forward to reading this novel and will wait anxiously for you to have a story all your own.

By: Helen Wright

Helen Wright — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:33:29 +0000

My dear Miss Garrett,
Forgive me if a took a liberty in presuming you to be in an unmarried state. It seems to me that once a woman is married, she is consumed entirely with menus, servants, and what time to retire. Therefore, I concluded that if you hold an interest in scientific experimentation, you must be in the superior, unmarried state.
While you did not specifically state that your experimentatation is scientific, I am sure it must further the goal of acquiring greater Knowledge, and therefore would be quite useful.
Unless… oh, dear. You do sound a bit like Sophie, now that I think of it…

By: Charlotte "Charlie" Garrett

Charlotte "Charlie" Garrett — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:32:53 +0000

Dear Ms. Wright,

As I am very familiar with the author you mention, I find myself surprised to hear you cast her good name in such a light. She is a person to be admired, a lady above all.

You may find that statement to be hypocritic of me as I recently engaged in very unladylike behavior myself. Believe me, everyone was quite flummoxed by my own behavior.

I must say that I quite admire your own interests in experimentation as I too have done some experiments of a different type. Hopefully they will not spell the end of me.

By: Helen Wright

Helen Wright — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:57:26 +0000

Dear gentle readers,
I thank you for the concern expressed for the welfare of my author. I wish I could inform you that she has learned from experimentation with excess. Alas, now that she has returned to Maryland, she insists upon joining in some revelry based entirely upon the fact that this is the fourth day of the seventh month on the calendar. There is talk of some political document, but I gather that this is a thinly veiled excuse to ignore work, congregate in disruptive coteries and indulge in excessive consumption of food and drink. I must admit, however, a certain fondness for the pyrotechnics. I believe I shall spend the remainder of the afternoon experimenting with them.
Your most hum. and obed. serv’t,
Helen Wright
P.S. To Miss Wellesley-Clegg:
I might stand in need of assistance with my experiments this afternoon, so if you would be so good as to send your sisters over, I would be much obliged. And perhaps they might be encouraged to wear one of their older gowns…

By: Laurel Wanrow

Laurel Wanrow — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:29:14 +0000

I certainly like Helen’s viewpoint. Maybe a young man who is as absorbed in scientific experimentation as she is, with no intention of becoming a suitor but a collaborator, would be the “rational” solution for keeping Helen in the mix with a dose of tension - will they ever combine and combust?

Very fun, Kate!

By: Lynn Reynolds

Lynn Reynolds — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:45:36 +0000

Loved your opening, Kate. I was quite shocked that someone was exposing you as a drunken sot until I realized it was part of the fun. Helen and Sophie both sound delightful - I’ll have to check out the rest of their story!

By: Miss Philomena Wellesley-Clegg

Miss Philomena Wellesley-Clegg — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:11:37 +0000

My dear Miss Wright,

I am most alarmed that Mrs. Dolan has succumbed to the temptations of Louisiana, a most dreadful hot place, I believe.

Indeed, ladies and gentlemen who contemplate the married state are extremely tiresome to live with, forever making a fuss over nothing and not behaving as rational beings. You, as a female scientist, must be a young lady of a distinctly rational mind. I should be charmed to introduce you to my younger sisters who are most precocious and learned, and would be most interested in your fiery and moldy experiments.

If you need to know of bonnets, I am your woman, but I daresay your mind is above such frippery.

By: sarah

sarah — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:29:32 +0000

ya know… I like it when the character speaks to the audience sometimes.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:10:08 +0000

Appearance of Impropriety sounds like an excellent book for the lazy days of summer or the brisker days of autumn.The characters are engaging and the plot fresh and different.