Hello, lurkers!

[pegkerr]

Since I've thrown open this journal to anonymous commenters once more (at least until the spammers find me and start being annoying again), I'd like to send a friendly hello and why-don't-you-please-introduce-yourself to the lurkers out there. How did you find my journal, how long have you been reading, and what keeps you reading? Do you have a blog yourself on another site, if you're not on LiveJournal? Don't be shy--I'd like the chance to say a proper "hail and well met." And thank you for reading.

Same goes for those of you on LJ who haven't yet spoken up yet. Seize the day and say hello.

Comments

[potionsprofessor.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

Hello again! Have only been "lurking" since I quit LJ entirely last spring and you've been anti-anonymous, but still read all of your posts in Google Reader daily -- the habit of five years isn't easily broken! I love the wizard rock updates (I've bough the Ministry of Magic and Oliver Boyd albums based on your links, and love them all), the karate saga, and the beautiful prose you bring to ordinary things -- both the beautiful and the frustrating.

My new home is at www.slenderbranches.com. I've been thinking a little about my "story arc" as someone with a blog -- as it's been just over five years since I started using LJ, then Vox, then Blogspot, my writing and subject matter have certainly changed. I don't know that anything I have to say is/will be of interest to you -- I seem to have left most of my initially fandom-friends behind as I've started talking about non-profits and cancer and environmental concerns more steadily -- but writing about these things makes me feel connected to the world. That's a complete spectrum change for me, as I originally came to the blogosphere to forget about "cancer and environmental concerns".

So, "hi." Again. It's nice to see you, still.

[rosefox]

Hi there! I don't remember how or when I found you--probably in my writers-and-editors friending frenzy a while back, when I followed links off of people's profile pages and friended everyone I could find who worked in publishing--but I really enjoy reading your journal. I think a lot of it is your focus on being happy, and your obvious enjoyment of sharing and celebrating your happy times. I think that's just wonderful.

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

I came here after David Lenander said you were on LJ. I loved your novel, The Wild Swans, and understand if another one doesn't come out. I enjoy hearing about your daughters and their achievements in addition to your own.

[firedragon9.livejournal.com]

Hi! I can't remember how I found you, but I do like hearing about your life. It's much fun.

[iamzulma.livejournal.com]

hi, this is a nice way for you to welcome lurkers. ;) you must sense all of us out here, hee!

i read you via alg's journal. she has interesting people on her flist, including you. i like reading about writers who are working on novels and such. :) i also appreciate that you talk about your depression; i wish i could do that, but umm, i found that i have become more private the longer i have had my lj. i used to be so open when i first came here. not so much anymore. *shrugs*

[quesrah.livejournal.com]

Hello! I don't remember when I started reading or how I found you, but I think it had to do with wizard rock.

blog: http://www.srah.net/weblog

[abstract-me.livejournal.com]

Hail to you as well. i came across your journal a few years ago (probably something to do with HP) but I only really started to follow your blog six months ago or so when I made the connection that you might be the Peg Kerr who once wrote this book I really like :)

Like another commenter said, one thing that keeps me reading is your openness about your experiences with depression. Having such problems myself, it's so calming to see someone who seems to really aggressively address the issue and work to keep negative feelings from running your life. You are my anti-depression hero.

Irony of timing

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

Not new to reading your journal, but this seems like as good a place as any for this comment. After asking for suggestions for places to do a retreat, and finding one, the Strib has an article today about retreat centers in the area. For future reference:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/16352201.html

[livsmama.livejournal.com]

I mostly lurk here, but toss an occasional comment your way. I think my friend mmmgood was reading you first. I love the things you find and share. Most of the good feeds I now read came from you. And brotherhood 2.0. And Kiva. so I keep reading to see what you find next.

I am also thinking of writing a tree poem, but I haven't written a poem in quite awhile, so don't hold your breathe on my account!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not on LJ, don't have a blog, and I don't remember how I found you--following links through someone else more likely than not. I've been reading for a year or two. I just like following your life, don't ask me why! We do seem to have a bit in common, or at least a lot of what you write resonates with me, and I have a daughter & son a little younger than your daughters who are interested in karate and all things fantasy (though we aren't really keen on Harry Potter).
--Melanie

Earworm!

[amandageist.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but because of you, I've had the tune to "Hello, Young Lovers" from The King and I stuck in my head all day. Hello, you lurkers, wherever you are....

I have other lyrics; I will spare you. But I will share the curse of the melody being stuck with you.

~Amandageist

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I ever told you before how I found this, but it was me reading Kij Johnson's friends list before I understood what Livejournal had meant it to be, and you were there, and eventually I stopped reading the friends list because it *changed*, and now... hi. And it turns out that you are connected to a great many people I sort of fake know online and more whose books I like, so I was happy to find The Wild Swans in my library here, and then very sad because it tied into a lot of other things and while most of the information wasn't *new* exactly, it hadn't been visceral before, and now it kind of is. I like to read about your life, whether trees or girls or writing, and try not to make you into a story.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi, I've been lurking and reading your journal for at least 6? years. I started because I enjoyed your book, The Wild Swans, and have stayed because I love your LJ "voice". I'm a full-time working mom with 3 boys, a Christian and interested in social justice. Your posts are what I read first thing in the morning when I start up my computer at work. (Don't tell my boss.) Some of my favorite things to read are letter collections and journals (like May Sarton's or Sylvia Townsend Warner). Your LJ posts fill the same kind of niche for me. You've added Wizard rock to my workouts and my MP3 player. Someday I'd love to suggest you as a speaker for the Festival of Faith and Writing held here where I work: http://www.calvin.edu/academic/engl/festival/
Thanks for writing in whatever form it takes.
Francene L.

[calepin.livejournal.com]

Hello-- I also found your journal a couple of years ago, maybe, through links from other writers. Loved The Wild Swans... The interplay between myth and "real life" is one of my favorite subjects.

Heather