Julia Quinn is definitely not The Weakest Link…

Posted by Lucy Icke in Fiction, Guest Posts

Julia Quinn versus Anne Robinson…and shares her experiences of being a contestant on The Weakest Link in the US!

It is a fiction almost universally accepted that readers of romance novels must be in want of a brain. Writers of romance novels tend to be judged ever so slightly higher on the IQ scale – even the most hardened of literary snobs will admit that one must possess a few brain cells to put together 400 pages of complete sentences.

After a number of years fighting against this stereotype, I decided it was time to put my money where my mouth was, and I tried out for the game show The Weakest Link. I’d become hopelessly addicted to the Anne Robinson show when I lived in London in 2001, and I was beyond thrilled that she was bringing her scorn and derision to the States. Plus we were moving. I needed to buy a new house.

A few months later I found myself on a sound stage in California, with lights flashing and music pounding and a strange disembodied voice telling me to “look thoughtful and pretend to write down someone’s name.” (It only takes two seconds to jot down the name of who you think is the weakest link, but they need to draw it out, so they splice shots of the contestants furrowing their brows and writing veeeeeerrrrrrry slowly.)

My biggest terror was that I’d be the first one booted off. My second biggest terror was that I’d blow a question about Jane Austen. As an author of historical romances set in the Regency era, I would never live that one down.

Thankfully my questions were Austen-free. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for plush toys, country music, and certain former presidents of the United States. Herewith, all my Weakest Link questions, with the answers in white (highlight the space below each question to reveal the answer.)

I’ve starred the ones I got wrong. See how you measure up!

Which US President won a Pulitzer Prize for his essay, “Profiles in Courage?”

John F. Kennedy

In transportation, what British automaker manufactures the Silver Seraph and Corniche?

Rolls Royce

**What country singer recorded the album Trio with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris?

Dolly Parton

In geography, what British territory do Argentines call Islas Malvinas?

The Falkland Islands

What US coin is currently being minted with 50 different designs, one for each state?

Quarter

Which maker of “brisk tea” introduced the flow-through bag in 1953?

Lipton

**What former partner of Don Simpson produced the movie Pearl Harbor?

Jerry Bruckheimer

The green card allowing foreigners to work in the US is issued by which agency?

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

In the United States Army, what is the rank immediately below major?

Captain

In geology, sapphire and what red gemstone are derived from the mineral corundum?

Ruby

**What line of adoptable plush dog dolls did Tonka introduce in 1985?

Pound Puppies

What ancient Roman city destroyed by a volcanic eruption was rediscovered in 1748?

Pompeii

What renaissance artist painted The Virgin of the Rocks and also designed an early version of the helicopter?

Leonardo Da Vinci

What is the name of the relic at the cathedral of San Giovanni Baptista believed to be Christ’s burial cloth?

The shroud of Turin

What bouncing device invented by George Nissen became a gymnastic event at the Sydney Olympics?

Trampoline

In geography, Addis Ababa is both the capital and largest city of what country?

Ethiopia

In fashion, the name of which sheer transparent fabric is the French word for “rag?”

Chiffon

In the 1988 presidential debate, George Bush called Michael Dukakis a card carrying member of which organization?

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

**What actor from the film The Empire Strikes Back is a spokesperson for Colt 45?

Samuel L. Jackson

Which bird is depicted in the logo of the National Broadcasting Company?

Peacock

Which Andrew Lloyd Webber musical features roller skating actors singing the song Pumping Iron?

Starlight Express

What country is the birthplace of the thick, brown, salty paste known as Vegemite?

Australia

**Yokozuna is the top rank in what Japanese sport?

Sumo wrestling

In television, which BBC cooking show is hosted by Jamie Oliver?

The Naked Chef

In geography, Lhasa is the capital of which region between Nepal and China?

Tibet

**In transportation, what car manufacturer recently unveiled its first convertible model, the SC430?

Lexus

In December 1777, what Pennsylvania village became the main camp of George Washington and the Continental Army?

Valley Forge

A poem that is written in iambic pentameter normally contains a total of how many syllables in each line?

Ten

What documentary filmmaker and author of Downsize This also had a prime time series called TV Nation?

Michael Moore

In geography, what is the southernmost U.S. state capital?

Honolulu

**Before becoming a U.S. president, George W. Bush was a co-owner of what major league baseball team?

Texas Rangers

What name for a type of single-story cottage surrounded by verandas is derived from the Hindi for “a house in the Bengali style?”

Bungalow

Cue the dramatic lights and music. I won!

We at Piatkus think that Julia deserves extra special congratulations – not only did she defeat the formidable Anne Robinson, but she recently won her third RITA award for Best Regency Romance of 2010.

Look out for Julia Quinn’s fantastic new novel Ten Things I Love About You, out now.