Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 14, 2023

AWESOME! Greg is performing tonight at The Fuse! LOL

I wonder if Luann will now start dating again (for research) and possibly even get a new boyfriend? Maybe they can introduce a cool new character to the strip.

Oh, I don’t think D. Coverly is Mr. Fogarty anymore. We saw from the back of the book, that the author has a full head of hair. Mr. Fogarty was pretty much bald. Luann would also be yelling that she recognized the author, if it was someone she knew.

So does this continue on Monday or do we get a new arc?

Just to be clear, by “research,” you mean reading more novels, right? Uh, Tara?

This is absurd in that Luann’s entire adolescent life has been surrounded by romance. She knows everything there is to know about desire and pursuit. Not about sex but that isn’t what Coverly is writing either.

It’s also absurd that Luann finds the level of writing exhibited in the book to any kind of fine, great or sensual writing.

And it’d absurd that she would take and read a book she already dismissed as trash.

The prospect of seeing who D. Coverly is getting remoter all the time. It;s been mentioned that Coverly is the name of a fellow comic strip artist. Since Coverly is a real person it may be unlikely that Greg will feature him in the strip.

Now that is the Tara we have come to know and love. She jumps right into a subject; no holding back.

So! Is Luann is going to do original research on her own, or will she revert to Nancy, Bernice and maybe Toni and pick their domantical brains?

Either way, interesting times ahead!! 8^ )

I am a 42-year-old virgin who writes erotica.

With a single bound, he was by her side. She felt his hot breath on her neck as he ripped the thin silk from

Luann’s eyes in the first panel remind me of Casper the friendly ghost.

I think "D. Coverley " is a woman.

Bed, Bathory, and Beyond.

“Put the candle back!”

An innocent line from Young Frankenstein is left to one’s imagination when it’s a very dark room, while in bed, and you’re not alone.

Does Tara mean research books – or go out into the world and get your feet wet? Tara has been around – but so far, G &K have not told us much about Tara’s relationships, other than they were brief and there were a lot of them. Hopefully Luann is getting ready to venture a little more out of the family comic cocoon.

Is this headed anywhere?

Tara has a history of leading Luann into trouble. Is Tara going to set up a “research project” for Luann?

If so, GnK will make it into a disaster.

The silky voice said, “Eat”, and Jacques anxiously replied, “Could I see a menu?”

Coverly could be Mr. Fogarty, or he could be a woman. The photo on the back of the novel could be a model. Unlikely that they are Tara, as Tara would not have had time to write all that many books. Well, she could if she used a “stable” like R.L. Stine or Franklin R. Dixon did.

And there you have it! Luann again finding a way to bail on anything resembling work!

The unanswered question is “Eat WHAT”?

Better prose this time, though there’s still the unnecessary repetition of the name “Jacques”. Also, I think it’d be better to use “baking” instead of “very hot”, or maybe give a description of how hot it was. Usually, modifying a word with “very” is inferior to just using a better adjective. Don’t say “very big,” say “enormous.” Don’t say “very beautiful,” say “stunning.” Don’t say “very bad at writing,” say “Barbara Bickmore-esque.”

Luann could never be a book writer because she doesn’t have what it takes to write one. A Diary is not writing – it is recording events. She should be a reporter. She already has the skill set. She is a people person, friendly, easy to like, and approachable – all qualities of a successful reporter. She can write for papers, and magazines, be the next Barbara Walters….live interviews. Forget romance writing. It is a lot of work, a lot of research, and a lot of imagination of which you are lacking the skills. Go into Journalism. It is highly competitive. My husband’s cousin majored in Journalism and wrote for THE lifestyle magazine in our state….briefly. She realized she was not attracting a following because her writing was not all that interesting. She switched to teaching. She’s happier – yes, lousy pay but it is what it is. So, let’s find out if Luann turns out to be my Cousin in law or Barbara Walters.

If that’s Elizabeth, Countess Bathory, getting into her bed is a really, really BAD idea!

Jacques awoke in Countess Bathory’s bed.

or

Jacques awoke in Countess Bedory’s bath.

Prediction for next week: for research Luann decides to go to the reading she learned about form Bern and Nancy to meet the author with Tara. They run into Nancy and Bern there and then they are all in for a shock when they find out who the author really is……

Any guesses? Mr or Mrs Fogarty, Dez (would explain how she could afford out of state tuition and the ability to travel overseas and do charity work with no worries about finances), Prof Zebo, some blast from the past like Pru (the novels pay better than Off Broadway), Krystal or Ann Eifel (yeah, that would go over big with this board) etc….

Jaques!? – You mean Jack! That’d be a fantastic story-arc. Get on Tara’s wavelength, Lu – go do research!

Do I detect an Aron Hill comeback?

Shouldn’t that be “PEAK” of Passion?

Wait, the Countess Báthóry? Now I want to read that book! Tara is right, a writer must use the imagination and if you don’t have direct knowledge, you can do research, that advice “write what you know” is a limitation and it’s very weird that it’s so popular. Luann just figured out why her mother and her best friend love that author, that means Nancy could have tried to get her to read him sooner, but never tried because she thought Luann would just hate it… it’s a bit sad.

Wow, Luann’s bar for good writing is pretty low.

Good advice.

Luann’s “research” would entail more imagination, than experience. Tara suggesting Lu enlist live subjects for her research?

See Luann? You tried the romance novel and now you love it. Now that you have your inspiration, all you need to do is write a novel of your own.

I’m sure happy guys will line up to be subjects of your research, Luann.

Countess Bathory? The countess of Blood? The Hungarian serial killer? Some romance…

Yeah, Luann. Go into a bar near the college and announce “I’m doing research for the sex scenes for a romance novel I’m writing.” You’ll get lots of research material so you can “write what you know.”

Um… or so I’m told.

“You see, Luann…. When a mommy and a daddy love each other very much… He lays down next to her and then his friend slips into the treehouse… And then, nine months later, a baby comes out of it!”

The sample in the first panel is actually pretty lousy writing.

If you do any empirical research, gathering database protection.

Okay.

So by “research,” does Tara mean that Luann should read more romance novels to get a better feel for the material?

Or does it mean that Lu should start “throwing” herself at some random new guy character? And yeah, yeah, I know. _They meet, start dating, and are a couple for a few years until “guy” develops a backbone and does something without Lu’s “permission.” And then, they break up with Luann screaming, “I just dated you for research, anyway!” That’s been done.

As for known available characters, there’s Ox, who’s had his heart broke enough already, and good old Jack who’s more of a big brother.

And there’s the always available, ever-ready Les Knox, who just happens to be in the kitchen. ;-)

Research? I bet Ann Eiffel could teach Luann a LOT, boy howdy.

I want to see this "research " part. Luann need to be mezzin.

This is so incredibly STUPID. Greg’s writing examples are so bad they make me cringe. Why he would spend time promoting this trash is beyond me.

Leave it to Tara to come up with a direct, action based, no Luann insecurity, confusion, uncertainty, etc. Live life a little out of the cocoon. But the biggest thing is to read, read, read for the purpose stimulating her imagination. I’m sure it’s fervid, but undeveloped. Should be personal experience too though. This might be a path to a new romance, with someone who is a writer, for Lu. I’m perilously predicting, in answer to XLax above, that the arc is going to continue next week, leading to a huge romantic experince. Or not.

Is she still doing nanowrimo?

Still waiting to see if we’re actually get to see D Coverlt, or just as other no resolution leaving us hanging in the wind.

So what’re the chances that instead of seeing Luann try this “research” on Monday, we will instead move to a new arc and leave this question unanswered for another six months (like Bernice’s whole muse thing, which hasn’t been followed up on since July)?

it is up for grabs if she got intimate with quill

Tara, having Luann “research” romance is an good idea. But with who? Right now she has no prospects.

Neither Luann nor Tara seem to have ordered any food or drink. I wonder how the Fuse stays in business. How long do they let the non paying customers occupy the tables?

He can “write well”?! Luann must not read much…

i’d like to think Tara’s remark is general, i.e. she’s telling Luann to stop being so passive, that information can be actively sought and researched. Luann has a tendency to wait for things to fall into her lap. Tara is the complete opposite. She’s smart, focused and goes after what she wants, to the extent that she can. When they were writing previously at the Fuse, Tara had folders with papers and references; Luann was just staring at the blank screen. I think Tara feels impatient with Luann.

If Luann’s haircut story (and admitted lack of experience with physical intimacy) are any indication, her attempt at a romance novel would make that fanfic My Immortal look like Pride and Prejudice. Should be entertaining at least, if only in the same way that the movie The Room is entertaining.

Luann you go into bar and sit next to man start talking and say you thinking about a romance novel and watch the man come talk to you.

Experience is the best teacher!

Hmmm, so will this lead to a new arc or will we get to see the author, or both? ;-)Luann may want to go to the book signing for a private talk with the author….for research. Would be interesting if it were a good looking man, or if the usual handsome cover model was there. I doubt she’d get a word out.

HOLY CRAP, EAT WHAT?!

Run-away Luann. That kind of research can become addicting.

Researching murder doesn’t require murdering folks, does it?

research: muy importante

Finally, finally Luann will really date, just like a real young adult. She’ll stop being afraid of emotional intimacy and physical intimacy. Because Tara snapped her magic fingers! (I am being sarcastic.)

Yup, trollop 101

It better continue! I’m still waiting to see who broke the window?

Not the best advice.

Luann, always the optimist

If you want to read an excellent factionalized account of the Countess Bathory try The Blood Confession by Alisa Libby. Trust me, no one wants to wake up in HER bed. If you do you’ve had a BAD day.

It’s a good thing one doesn’t need to “write what they know” to write a romance novel, otherwise we’d have to worry about D. Cloverly’s bathing habits… Remember that Ravel wrote the Bolero and his Concerto in G, two masterpieces filled with passion and romance, while he was a shy boy living with his mother.

Good for Tara for pointing out that GOOD writing is difficult work. Research is the difference between the dull, extremely formula-driven romance novels of the 70’s and 80’s, and the more gripping ones available today (sometimes from the very same authors)

We don’t see any indication that Luann has the maturity and self-discipline to write novels, but then, the same could have been said of Tara, as well … Maybe this is where Luann begins her transition from adolescence to adulthood?

Jaques awoke in Countess Bedory’s Bath.. Something cottony brushed Jaques’ cheek, and a silky voice whispered “Dry off!”

Countess Bathory? Is this an historical based fiction? If so, hardly a love story.

Maybe research who “Countess Bathory” really was…

Luann did some researching to write ‘the horrible haircut’, e.g. she listened to sections of her tapes, probably more than once, made notes. That was for a 3 page short story. How can she think that writing an entire novel could be done just off the top of her head from her own limited experiences? To be a writer, you need to first be a reader. Luann has a long way to go.

Watch out folks! Luann could be the next E. L. James!

SUNDAY : Brad and Toni look at the calendar.

Man, those Batorys really get around.

Did Elizabeth Bathory kill any men?

Tara’s got the idea. But I fear Luann is not up for “research” yet. Too repressed….

Wake up tara, Luann is Lazy. She wants everything in life to fall into her lap: love, fame, fortune. The way luann talks about writing a romance novel, she wants a ghost writer who never claims ANY credit for the book.

I knew a girl like Luann long ago, in college. Kinda the same situation…was a bit of a prude, then someone talked her into actually doing some “research”…it was like someone turned on a switch. Became insatiable. I myself did not partake. But she did her best to make up for lost time.

I like how her eyes go wide as she’s reading. It just looks so funny

THAT kind of research will get her community service from a lenient judge