Shoveling in a Jo Storm

Years in the making...95ers the Movie

2012-02-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

My sister and her husband have been working on this micro budget indie for years and it is looking gooood. My hubby was involved with some of the special FX. It is amazing to see what these talented people are pulling off for next to no $$$$. (=

Visit the site 95ers

Radio

2012-02-11T19:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all of the well wishes and support. You guys are awesome to be so happy for me for getting an agent. I'm super excited to get things going with my book!

Here is my most recent radio interview with host, Rebecca Cressman on FM 100.1. My awesome friend and fellow "Cubie", Jennifer Jenkins joined me as did clever author, Frank Cole. We had a good time-- a full 25 minutes to gab about our writing and the Teen Author Boot Camp.
This interview took place only a few days before my agent picked me up--so you will hear me talk about my query quest--which is now OVER! Whew!
Take a listen! THE INTERVIEW

AGENT!

2012-02-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

I got the phone call today! I have an agent! And he is already awesome. I am so thrilled to work with such a professional and to have this opportunity to dig in and get my writing on! Thanks for all of your support and encouragement!

Happy day!!!!

Working on it

2012-02-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

I love writing. I wish all I had to worry about was the creative work involved--but I'm also determined that all of my efforts lead to publication.

I've been sending out query letters--everyone's fave task. I have one complete manuscript and half of its sequel written. I'm also working on a third novel of a totally different genre. One of my short stories is on Amazon. I like the idea of branching out and trying out my options. Everyone knows the publishing world is changing. And I say, it's high time.

In the meanwhile, I'm so lucky to belong to Writers Cubed. The support and talent in this group is inspiring. We are hard at work preparing for yet another Teen Author Boot Camp.

We have been lucky to get some wonderful authors to come and participate--imparting their wisdom and enthusiasm with the eager teens who come to learn at their feet. Mostly, it's just FUN.
Our keynote speaker this year is Brandon Mull of the FABLEHAVEN series. It should be a fantastic conference again this year.

Shout out of congratulations to Jennifer Jenkins (a fellow Cubie) for being landing an agent! I can feel the positive vibes in the air.

This will be the year of KARMA.

He had a dream...

2012-01-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cycles by Lois D. Brown

2012-01-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

Check out my good friend, Lois Brown's latest!

She remembers things that never happened.
She's a stranger in her own home.
She always knew she was different.
She just didn't know why.
Until now.
Renee Beaumont is about to die . . . again.

Here is Lois to tell us a little about her book!

"A little about the book. I started CYCLES in 2008. Crazy to think it has been that long. How did it start? I’m hesitant to admit it, but it was a dream. (I know, I know. That’s how Stephanie Myer and a bunch of other authors have gotten their ideas too. Nothing too original there.)

At the time, I had just been diagnosed with having Simple Partial Seizures. These kinds of seizures don’t affect motor skills, but they can affect all of your five senses (hence their other name: sensory seizures.) Mine created an odd mesh of symptoms, the most disconcerting of which was MASSIVE déjà vu. For those who are saying to themselves, “huh?” take a minute to read this article about the different kinds of seizures.

Now, when I say déjà vu, I don’t just mean a fleeting, “Oh, that was cool. It just felt like I’ve been here before.” No, when I had déjà vu as part of my seizures, time slowed to a crawl and everything around me faded in and out. It was like I had lived that moment a thousand times before in a different life.

Needless to say, it was weird. Period. Like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

Back to CYCLES. I went to bed one night thinking about my recent trip to the neurologist. In my sleep, I had a vivid dream where there was a girl who had frightening feelings of having already experienced things before but in another lifetime. It wasn’t like reincarnation—the same soul come back to earth to live as someone or something else. Instead, it was like her life just kept repeating itself and she had moments where these “other-life” memories were intensely strong.

I woke up and knew I was going to write a book about it, so I did. Three years later, it’s done. Voila. (That makes it sound much easier than it was, but I won’t go into the blood, sweat, and tears.)

I have to admit, I’m nervous to “put it out there.” Like anything in life, some people are going to like it and some will hate it. Part of being an author is learning to just keep at it (and to grow a thick skin)."

The e-book is available on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble PubIt. The hard copy will be available first of February 2012.

CYCLES if the first book in a series. SPACES, its sequel, will be released in 2012.

Good luck ,Lois! (=

The Time In Between

2011-12-23T19:58:00.000-08:00

I had heard some buzz about this book, THE TIME IN BETWEEN by Maria Duenas and was intrigued. I was ready for a little heavier read, with historic and social issues and this did not disappoint. It is a runaway hit in Europe. This English translation retains the beautiful prose and richly textured descriptions of war torn European and exotic African worlds at a crucial time in history.

In a time of unrest and civil war in Spain, the life of a young Spanish seamstress, Sira, shatters when the man she loves betrays her. Abandoned in Morocco, she is determined to pull her crumbling life back together. She finds herself sewing and designing couture clothing for the wives of powerful and influential men.

The political intrigues and power plays in Europe as Franco and Hitler rise to power leave no one untouched- including innocent, grieving, Sira, who at first becomes an unwitting participant in espionage as a means of survival. Over time and circumstances Sira becomes a practiced spy and a woman of the world.

Extremely well written. The deep research that must have gone into this historical novel blows my mind. The characters are interesting and many are actual figures from this time period. You see huge growth in the main character from beginning to end. A satisfying read.

SHIFTING by Bethany Wiggins

2011-12-15T00:09:00.000-08:00

Maggie Mae is an orphan with a tragic and obscure past. She has so much to learn about herself and her new found "curse" or powers. Now she is in a new foster home in a small town where small minds and superstitions thrive.

As if the perils of high school and being the new girl were not enough, something evil seems to be stalking her.Enter, Bridger. The ultimate, dark, mysterious hottie to baffle and bewitch any female. Can he be trusted? What is his secret?

It's been awhile since I've read a YA novel with a main character as likable as Maggie Mae. Her character strikes that balance between vulnerable,damaged girl and determined, gutsy heroine. I found myself liking her and sympathizing with her right away. Maggie struggles with how to accept herself, how to trust and how to let herself love and be loved. The human condition can be a real b*#@%-- especially when you are constantly shifting--out of it.

The story is a page turning, supernatural/mystery/suspense/romance that will capture your interest and keep your imagination churning. Bethany Wiggins combines ancient Native American lore with the life of modern teens-- making a fun and compelling concoction. Her writing is clever, creative and well paced with skillfully sketched characters and an emotional pitch that rings true. It delves into darkness and reaches up to redemption in a well crafted roller coaster ride. Smooth and thrilling.

Read.It.Now. (=

My Little Sister

2011-12-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

When I was in kindergarten my little sister, Alesandra was born. I was so excited and I remember looking at her little pink body through the glass at the hospital thinking I'd just hit the jackpot. Best. Doll. Ever.

Over the years our relationship has changed from one thing to another and grown into an amazing friendship.

Ali and I are not really alike-- but compatible and simpatico.

We are raising our kids together-- living just up the street from one another. She's an actress, my husband is in the film business. We are both health nuts and spiritually minded. We like travel and good books, old movies and new insights... We get each other.

Laughing until our tummies ache

Listening and supporting

Cooking, Cleaning, Singing

Sisters are such a blessing.

Love

Bobbled

2011-12-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

If you haven't ever watched a Julian Smith skit on YouTube... are you an earthling?
We love this guy. My sons love his funny songs and characters. My hubby, Clark has made a prop or two for him.
Then Clark sent him this-- just for fun. And he loved it! Who wouldn't want a custom made bobble head of themselves with interchangeable hand props all based on inside jokes. Supah! Julian is about to have his own TV show. Go, Julian, Go!

Click to see Julian's thanks tweet.

Hide your kids, hide your...snicker?

2011-11-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

So, everyone knows the "hide your kids, hide your wife guy", Antoine Dodson. I met him recently at a party. He is soft spoken and coy. We talked awhile and he said his new-found fame scared him. My sister, Ali, who is a saucy actress, straight asked him if he had talent to back up his fame and he informed us that he sings. His new album comes out soon. When we asked if he would give us a sample Antoine obliged-- and he can sing. Without auto-tune. (=

As I watched him I thought how odd fame is. This shy, effeminate, sweet man became famous because everyone mocked his heartfelt and worked up response to a rapist entering his house and attacking his sister. The Youtube video was kind of funny-- but after meeting him and talking with him, I sorta see it different. While there is nothing really wrong with being able to laugh at ourselves, I think we don't always sympathize the way we should.
So, although I can still laugh (like when you see someone wipe out) I do care. Really, I do. Teehee!
And Antoine-- you are a brave guy. Good on you for rescuing your sister! Run and tell that--homeboy!

An interview with author, Jessica Bell!

2011-11-11T01:57:00.000-08:00

The incomparable, Jessica Bell over at The Alliterative Allomorph has released her debut novel, String Bridge. Here's the Goodreads description:

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits, and she realizes she's been seeking fulfillment in the wrong place.

Sounds like an awesome and thought provoking story. It definitely peaks my interest in the book and its author! Let's learn a little more about Jessica...

1. How do you feel when you perform your music?
A lot like Melody, actually, but perhaps not so exaggerated. Ha. You’ll just have to read the book to find out J

2. Deal. (= You seem like a poetic sort. Do you have a favorite poem?
Sea Anemones, by Gwen Harwood

3. Beautiful poem! I love "seasidey" poems. Vanilla, chocolate or cinnamon?
Cinnamon! Actually, I don’t eat it on much more than the Greek sweet called “risogalo,” which means “rice milk.” It’s like custard, but white and made from, you guessed it, rice and milk. But vanilla and chocolate are such plain flavors that I can’t bring myself to choose one of those.

4. Sounds scrummy!

Greece

or Australia? And what have each contributed to you?
That has to be the hardest question anyone has ever asked me. They are both my home, having spent a great deal of my childhood in both countries. Greece has taught me patience. The bureaucracy here is hell. Australia gives me a sense of security. I know that if I ever choose to go back, I will be safe.

5. So much of who we are is where we grow up. Do you dream in color? In your dreams are you mostly an observer or do you play a role?
Yes. Full color. Do you really want me to answer this? … Ack! I am more often than not, either a victim, or a perpetrator. Hmm … I wonder what this says about me! :-/

6.  Ah- ha! Quite a bit actually! Thomas Moore said: “Far beneath the many thick layers of indoctrination about who we are and who we should be lies an original self, a person who came into this world full of possibilities and destined for joyful unveiling and manifestation.”   What do you think?
I do truly believe that we are conditioned do behave and think in particular ways, but I also believe, that if our character is strong enough, we are able to differentiate between what is ‘real’ and what is ‘expected,’ and make choices accordingly. I think we all live our lives in fear of not being accepted. If only we could over come this fear and just be ourselves ... But imagine living a life free of environmental influences? The possibility of us all becoming serial killers is as big as us all living an unconditionally content existence. Don’t you think?

7. Hmm... Society, with its checks and balances does have its perks.  If you had one piece of advice for your children what would it be?
Everybody’s opinion counts.

8.  I like that. (= What people in your life have most shaped you for good or bad?
I think my mother has shaped me the most. I don’t think I could have asked for a more supportive parent. All she ever wants is for me to be happy. Though she is proud of what I achieved, I think she’d even be proud if I spent my life working as a waitress, as long as I was happy doing so.

9. She sounds like a wonderful, validating woman. How would you describe Jessica Bell to a stranger?
Oh no! I hate these questions! Hahahaha … Um … Apparently my aura color alternates between orange and blue. So you can Google the aura colors and find out. J

10. So--confident, creative and spiritual. Cool. What brings you the most pain? Joy?

Pain: Seeing animals going through pain or suffering

Joy: Loving and being loved

I totally enjoyed this interview and am eager to read Jessica's book. Best of luck, girl!

Harmony!

2011-11-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

When writing a book, so many things have to come together: Plot, character arc, setting, voice--and it has to blend into a harmonious vibration that rings true. Like a song.

One of the advantages to a writing group is that you you find people who "get" you as a writer--people to bounce ideas off of and to collaborate with. And sometimes this kind of symbiotic relationship fosters a harmony and synergy that can really be bonding--and FUN!

A few of us in Writers Cubed realized that we like to sing together and have had the opportunity to perform together. Here we are doing our thing ... wish I had a nice mic to capture our sweet blends!

We all have a different voice and style-- but together it somehow works! Speaking of harmony-- here is our Writers Cubed compilation, THE STORM -- now available for kindle!
We all wrote a short story based on the scenario of a freak storm in the Bay Area of California. Enjoy!

If I had all the magic in the world, I'd...

2011-10-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this stop on Elizabeth Mueller's Darkspell Launch Spookfesta . (Click the link to see other participants.)

If I had all of the magic in the world... I would wave a wand to make everyone be NICE. That would solve most of the problems in the world.

And on a more selfish note... This guy, this castle...and all the time in the world.

Elizabeth's magical book in is now available to buy!

Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . .until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.
As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.
Will love prove thicker than magic?

I'm looking forward to reading this soon myself. Congratulations, Elizabeth! It's a book!

Buy it on AMAZON!

Order your own signed copy on her website:

http://www.authorelizabethmueller.com/

Visit Elizabeth on her blog!

http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/

My Short Story... White Lies

2011-10-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

As a writing group we thought it would be fun to all write a short story based on the same premise: A freak storm in the California Bay Area. Here's mine!

Now available for Kindle on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.

Yay! Just throwing this out there!

LINK

Bethany Wiggin's book SHIFTING

2011-10-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

Bethany will be one of the author's presenting a class at Teen Author Boot Camp 2012 put on again by my fabulous writing group, Writers Cubed! We are excited to have her join us!

Check out Bethany's BLOG!

What the? And WHY??? LOL

2011-10-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Just a little something to boggle your mind and possibly make you smile...

Have a great day. FREEEEDOM!!!

Hm. Sigh.

2011-09-26T16:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a rough month. Breathe.
Don't know what to write about. Maybe I'll just post some pictures of things that keep me going- in no particular order. (=

What keeps you going when the going gets rough?

If I Could Be Anyone...

2011-09-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

Talli Roland, author of the snarky, fun and romantic book, The Hating Game, has a new book out now! Watching Willow Watts is available on Kindle! This is one I will read for sure!

Talli's awesome launch party is themed "If I could be anyone, I would be..."
I thought about this and since I like being me, I decided on the next best thing...

Buffy Summers. She kicks trash, battles evil and has awesome friends. I kinda relate. (;

Buffy: "I'm going to give you all a nice, fun, normal evening, if I have to kill every single person on the face of the earth to do it."

You have bewitched me...body, soul and BRAINS!

2011-09-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

Quickly girls-- the pentagram of death!

I am a huge Jane Austen fan. I never really thought I'd read P&P&Z... but I am.

Basically the same story--with excerpts and quotes from the original-- except that Elizabeth Bennett is a martial arts warrior who kills "unmentionables" with skill and viciousness.
Since the outbreak of the "plague" many people of society are trained in the arts of zombie battle. Zombies break into social events and balls, attack travelers in the carriages and cause mayhem wherever they go.

Darcy is a great warrior and proud of it. Elizabeth is determined to defend her honor when he slights her at the dance and plans to behead him. Gonk!? She roundhouse kicks him when he confesses that he cares for her. Hiyahhh!

Oh, and she fights ninjas and eats their hearts out.

Yeah, it's weird. Not sure what I think of this gimmick yet... sometimes entertaining and funny but mostly an eye roller so far.

Read anything different and strange lately?

I'm sorta baaaaack!

2011-08-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

Spent two fabulous weeks on vacation with family on the west coast. Sigh. A week in the luxury of Mayacama resort in California's wine country. Bliss!

Our "casita"-- it was gorgeous and huge and had an indoor and outdoor living room.

The golf course

The clubhouse where we would get delicious food.

Our friend, Michael, aka Cognito came out to the resort to eat dinner with us. He has an awesome rap career and he and Clark will probably be collaborating on some cool projects. Check him out:

After California we headed to Southern Oregon for a family reunion. It was awesome!

Here is only part of the gang...

One of the fun things we did as a huge group was play Hunger Games in the woods. We were separated into districts and had to find water balloons and water guns in the woods to kill everyone off with. There were a bunch of rules and stuff like the book-- it was cool and way fun! I love my family!

Got home and hit the ground running... literally-- did a 5K. Been busy and crazy-- trying to find time to write. The boys are back in school so I'm hoping to get some great stuff done on my new book. (=

Summer is OVAH! How was yours?

Schaffer Studios Podcast

2011-07-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

So, some exciting things are going on for my hubby in his quest to get funding for his film despite not reaching the goal on Kickstarter. I will share when things solidify for certain. (= But it's lookin' good...
With years of Hollywood experience, determination and tons of talent it is only a matter of time-- one way or the other.

Now Clark and his buddy Aaron have a Facebook page, Schaffer Studios Podcast-- LIKE IT!
In his pod-casts they talk about the ins and outs of what Clark does behind the scenes, about the Biz and some of his Hollywood moments. A new pod-cast will post once a week on Tuesdays.

(That's my honey on the left--the goatee is gone!)
Listen to the first Schaffer Studios Podcast. (=

I will be drawing the winner of the Iron Man mask soon. If you haven't entered and still want in the drawing-- blog about Clark's podcast and leave me a comment about it. When summer vacation ends so will the contest. Thanks for your support everyone!

Interview with Author Elizabeth Mueller

2011-07-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Mueller is a talented author and an awesome woman. Her debut YA novel, DARKSPELL is coming out this fall! She has agreed to be one of the authors to present a class at Teen Author Boot Camp 2012 (put on again by Writers Cubed). I had the opportunity to interview Elizabeth and am excited to share her with all of you. (=

1.Tell us a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing.

I’ve been creating stories since I was a small girl. It was my way to escape the awful things I faced while growing up. I fell in love with writing when I was 11 years old and haven’t stopped since. I’m a stay-at-home mom of four creative kids who share my passion of writing or drawing or making friends.

2. As a mom, how do you make time for your writing?

It’s hard to write with the kids running amuck. I need absolute silence to feed my muse, so I create my time. When I’m I the zone, I have what’s called “quiet time”. It is an hour where the kids play or read by themselves in their respective rooms. I write during that precious time. I also write from the time they are in bed or while they are away at school.

3. Who are some of your favorite authors? Favorite books?

Kim Wilkins, Liz Kessler, Helen Dunmore, and Michele Bell are a few of them. I love Giants of the Frost, that one has made me cry the hardest.

4. What inspires your writing?

Anything can inspire my writing. If I see a twisted branch hiding under dead leaves, a whole world of fairies comes to mind. If I see a bloody sunset, a story about vampires rises. Seeing my hubby in a jetted tub filled with foaming bubbles over his head made me think of a mermaid book, too! Have you seen those little cupids from Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian? An entire novel was born from that. My ideas come from anything and anywhere.

5. Tell us a bit about your writing journey from first draft to publication.

I started writing because it gives me a sense of peace—it is the best way for me to regroup. It was interesting, the pathway that has led me to where I am at now. Although I’ve been writing for years, I felt the sudden drive to take it a step further: publication. I knew that if I wanted to be published, I needed to learn more on how authors became published. I went to my first writers conference in 2009. I learned about marketing, how other authors became published and creating my platform. My local library gave me what I wanted—a writers group! I was in heaven! I attended two more writers conferences and made so many new friends with published as well as aspiring authors. Basically, I am where I am now because I stepped out of my comfort zone and reached out to other writers—they are one of the best kinds of “co-workers” anyone can have in my opinion.

6. What is Darkspell about?

Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold.

As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winter’s protector against the darkness that hunts her. Violently thrust into a magical realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own.

Will love prove thicker than magic?

7. Of all your characters who do you feel closest to and why?

I would have to say Winter. First, because it is in first person. I have to admit that I made myself look out of her eyes, to see what she saw and feel what she felt. Winter has gone through so many obstacles and she always found the courage to move on, despite struggles. That’s how it has been for me in my past as well as finding the place in my heart for forgiveness.

8. How would Winter describe Alex and visa versa?

Winter would describe Alex as powerful, courageous, passionate, and alluring. She always felt safe whenever he was near and fell in love with him at the very start. Alex would say that Winter is fragile, forgiving, has the strength to overcome anything that she encounters and passionate. He has always had the drive to protect her from anything that could harm her.

9. What themes or aspects of your book do you think will resonate with readers?

I feel that my book runs on many levels with themes. There’s one to find the strength to believe in yourself, one on forgiveness and compassion, resisting temptations, finding the courage to discover your true self, endurance lends strength to purpose and purpose lends strength to endurance, and fighting for what you believe no matter who or what.

10. Where and when can we get our hands on a copy of Darkspell?

You can pre-order you autographed copy now at my website!

Please join me in my celebration for Darkspell’s fall release all July long! It’s a pre book launch party! Click here for details.

Thanks, for hanging out, Elizabeth. Best wishes on your book release and all your creative endeavors! (=

Gathering my thoughts...

2011-07-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

So far summer has not been awesome for my writing--as far as actual writing goes. I'm still four chapters into my new book (have been for a couple of months). Also, all editing has stopped on my other book. I leave on another trip in a couple of weeks. After that things should slow down.

But, I've been thinking about my books a ton and have taken some time to do some recreational reading and spend time with the fam. And as far as I'm concerned that's all part of the process.

Another part of the process is just taking the time to observe. Recently, in my travels I've had the chance to absorb the details of so many interesting places and people. Adding to the arsenal. Images, thoughts and information to draw from. As writers, the more we experience the better!

In particular, I had "a moment" in a train station with a drunken and amorous Scot that gave me an idea for a character. The Scottish Highland tour and some of my other adventures in England gave me numerous story ideas that might turn into books someday. My brain was clickin'!

When I start writing again I have a terrific writing group who will give encouragement and awesome feedback. I feel fortunate to know so many people who "get it"-- that I share a passion and madness for writing with so many fabulous people-- including all of you. (=

Home Again...(in body anyway)

2011-07-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ready for a journey...

London

Back at my old school in London. Found my class picture.

Highgate cemetery is huge and creepy. Loved it.

Yummy crepes in Hampton.

On the train with my neice.

The Pump Room in Bath. And the ancient Roman Baths.

Ruins in York.

The castle in Edinburgh.

The B and B we stayed in while in Kirknewton. The manse was built in the late 1700s.

On the Firth of Forth in North Barrick, Scotland.

Direlton Castle ruins.

FREEDOM!!!

Highland Tour...gorgeous.

Touching Loch Ness and exploring the ruins of the castle there. We took a boat across the loch.

Ruins of the abby at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh.

Back home again to my lads.

Just a sample of my many adventures there. It was amazing. I learned and experienced so much and had a fabulous time. (=

Possession Launch and London...Good Life

2011-06-10T23:43:00.000-07:00

My Cubies (Writers Cubed) and I had a blast mobbing Elana Johnson at her launch party for her debut novel POSSESSION. We made it a fun Girl's Night out! Woooot!

After all of her effort and perseverance Elana is living the dream! It gives us all hope.

Elana is an inspiration, a friend and a talented author. We are all so happy for her. Congratulations, girl!

I'm off to London... see you all in a couple of weeks!

Tag!

2011-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

I was recently tagged by Medeia Sharif .

Do you think you're hot?
(= Yeah, I'm sorta hot. (Especially sweaty in July and August. Teehee.)

Upload a picture or wall paper you are using at the moment.

Hey, Jude!

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?
I had chicken last week.

The Song(s) you listened to recently?
Good Life-- One Republic
Don't Let Me Fall-- Lenka
Curl Up and Die- Relient K
18th Floor Balcony - Blue October

What were you thinking as you were doing this?
How my neck and shoulders are sore from Taekwondo.

Do you have nicknames?
My given name is Johanna.
People call me Jo, Jojo, Joey, Jomama, and oddly, Josephine.

Tag eight Blogger friends.
(You are it!)
1. Jennifer Jenkins
2. Lois Brown
3. Margie J.
4.Wendy Ewurum
5. Elizabeth Mueller
6. Candace Ganger
7. Angela Felsted
8. Barbara Kloss

Who's listed as number one?
Jen is a good friend and also in my writing group, Writers Cubed.

Say something about number 5.
Elizabeth is a bubbly and happy woman. Her YA Novel DARKSPELL releases this Fall!

How did you get to know number 3?
Margie is also a member of Writers Cubed and a writing beast!

How about number 4?
Wendy is my beautiful blogger buddy from South Africa.

Leave a message for number 6.
Girl, feel me up anytime.

Leave a lovey-dovey message for number 2.
Lois - you inspire me and I love your guts.

Do number 7 and number 8 have any similarities?
They both blog...are women and like to write. But Angela is a poet/ musician and Barbara writes YA sci-fi/ fantasy and is a science smarty pants. (=
***

Getting ready for my trip to London. I leave next Monday. Squeeee!!!

Recent reads

2011-05-31T00:38:00.000-07:00

Johanna Garth brings Greek Mythology into a modern setting in a creative and intriguing way. Her characters are well developed and interesting. The plot kept me turning those pages!

Persey has an unfortunate gift--people are compelled to tell her all of their darkest secrets. They have to confess to her. Disturbed and troubled by this she withdraws into herself. Persey grows tired of feeling used, all she wants is to be loved and listened to herself for once. But she can't prevent the way she attracts people and how they need her-- telling her things she doesn't want to know.

Aaron is a good man who desires most to protect Persey from the moment he meets her in high school.
Daniel has a gift of his own-- to know what people really mean no matter what they say-- and he can't seem to stay away from her even though she remains unreadable to him.
Haden, a mysterious immortal, feels he must have her for his own. He recognizes her gift and it just so happens that he needs the information Persey has access to--about people's darkest desires and hidden secrets--to manipulate the souls that he collects.

Losing Beauty explores several different faces of love and the destiny of souls after death. It is an exciting story that mixes romance, suspense, magic and myth.

Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly In Amber is the sequel to the epic historical fiction, The Outlander, and is every bit as riveting.

"It's now 1968, and Claire Beauchamp Randall has returned to Inverness, Scotland, with her daughter, Brianna. This is Claire's first visit back since she and husband Frank visited 22 years before--when she walked through a Druid stone circle into the middle of the 18th century. Now, Frank is dead, and Claire hopes to learn what happened to the second great love of her life--gallant Jamie Fraser, laird of Lallybroch whom she married during her journey into the past. She's also looking for a way to tell Brianna who her real father is. Framed by these dilemmas, the bulk of the story consists of the second installment of Claire and Jamie's adventures. Escaping the English death sentence passed against Jamie, they flee to pre-revolutionary Paris, where they secretly work at foiling Bonnie Prince Charlie's efforts to regain the Scottish throne. But this espionage is only the beginning!" -Kirkus Associates

I enjoyed losing myself in Claire and Jamie's world again. A fantastic sequel.

What we leave behind

2011-05-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Years ago while traveling in Wales, I visited Tintern Abbey. It is one of the most picturesque ruins I've ever explored.
Worn stone walls and columns remain standing, with empty gothic windows that stare blindly into the past.
The bright green of the grassy floors under the blue vaulted sky ceiling had a surreal and magical effect.

Wordsworth was moved to poetry while overlooking this same place and I could understand why. The place inspired him to think of his life and loved ones.

There is something beautiful, triumphant and sad about seeing nature reclaim our mark on the earth.
Life really is fleeting.One of the reasons I majored in Archaeology for a time was my fascination with how people live--in the past and present. And what we leave behind says so much about who we are and what was most important to us.

Ruins are always a reminder to me that we shouldn't waste our time here--that we need to make our time count.I want to leave more than "stuff" behind. I want to leave stories and love. To leave my mark on people.
So in that spirit I intend to spend quality time with friends and family this weekend. Have a wonderful weekend everyone--make it count. (=

What do you hope to leave behind?

Phantoms from my past

2011-05-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

When I was 12 years old, somebody gave me the music from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman performing in the lead roles. A flame was ignited. Soon, I had the the poster, t-shirt, earrings, perfume, music box, libretto and the mask. I even owned the Lon Chaney silent film version of the story. Yeah. Obsessed.

I went to go see it live in San Francisco which was only 45 minutes from where I grew up. I was amazed the stage production. I remember getting chills throughout at the sights and sounds. The obsession lasted a year or so and eventually tapered after I had seen every known movie or show about the Phantom...and then I discovered real boys. (=

Later as a college student in London I saw the show there and it was like bumping into a sexy ex-boyfriend--leading me to get hooked on the music again for awhile. A brief relapse.

Years skimmed by and then not too long ago the movie came out. I think there is a plot against me, because just as I had forgotten all about it--they stick Gerard Butler in the role as Phantom. Curse them. So, yeah, I own the movie and watch it now and then. It doesn't take over my brain like it did when I was 12 years old, but I like the music and well...Gerard Butler!

I'm not even a big musical theater fan, really. But some things just resonate.(= Look. At. Him. Sighhhhh...

What reoccurring obsession do you have?

Hammicus Podcast and Blog Award

2011-05-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Brian Higgins over at Hammicus Podcast

invited Clark to join him in a discussion on the vintage sci-fi film Moon Zero Two and other movie chat. Take a listen!

I got this award from TD McFrost. Go check out his blog--he's got a lot of personality.

I'm passing this award on to five bloggers.

1. That Girl From Around the Bay
2. J.L. Campbell
3. Kelly Polark
4. The Wordsmith Apprentice
5. An Alleged Author

Pop on over to these blogs and get to know these awesome bloggers!

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Books I've recently enjoyed

2011-05-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

This urban fantasy by Roland Yeomans is set in the dark chaos of post Katrina New Orleans. The hero is the centuries old Sam McCord, who considers himself a monster although he is one of the few brave enough to push back the encroaching darkness that lurks in the devastated streets and the corruption in high places. His vigilante justice is deadly and violent, but his heart is golden. He struggles between the evils of the underworld and the light of a Great Mystery he's unsure even exists. While futilely fighting for his own redemption he also battles to protect a town that seems incapable of saving itself.
If you like action, mystery, rich prose and layers of meaning--this book will pull you in.

Bum's Rush by EA Mc Kenzie. Skip, a homeless, runaway, saves Jack Troy's life after Jack is shot. Jack gives the boy refuge, which puts Jack and his much younger brother, Ancel, in mortal danger from enemies Skip is unaware of. The truth is both tragic and wonderful for Skip, but the question remains, who shot Jack?
This book has great characters, action and lots of heart.

The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is an epic historical fiction. Claire Randall is a nurse in the British Army during World War II. She and her husband, Frank, who were separated during the war, have recently reunited and are enjoying a second honeymoon in Inverness, Scotland. While there, Claire stumbles into a time portal in the center of a stone circle (much like Stonehenge). She is transported into a savage time when the Highland clans battle Redcoats. Intense drama and adventure ensues as she is mistaken as an English spy and kidnapped by the Clan McKenzie. Because of her medical experience she is immediately thrown together with the injured warrior Jamie Fraser who later becomes her sworn protector.
Wow. Time travel, Highland battles, men in kilts, romance... this is an epic historical fiction.

What have you all been reading?

What Sells?

2011-05-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

We write because we love it. But if we want to get an agent and become published-- we have to be able to sell ourselves. A query is part of that. And Elana blogged about social networking today. Building a platform and getting our names out there is part of that.

Even then there is that mystery spark that nobody can predict that will create buzz. YouTube has made some unlikely celebrities. Why do some things catch on and others don't?

Why do some unremarkable books make a huge splash while other well crafted books get overlooked?

I'll admit that I'm usually immune to advertising. But here is a campaign that worked on me. It made me buy Old Spice. I mean, look at him. (= Cute AND funny? Deadly combo.

What has caught on for you lately?

Iron Man Mask Giveaway Reminder

2011-05-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

My husband's film project CLEVERER is still on Kickstarter. Watch the video at the link or click the widget on the top right of my blog. He's giving away some great prizes to those who help out with a donation. Even a few bucks will get my sweetie closer to his dream of making his own film-- after years of making other people's movies. Please donate and pass it on!

Any of my Followers who would be willing to blog about Clark's Kickstarter project will have their name put into a drawing to win a face plate of the Iron Man mask made by Clark for the Iron Man 2 movie.

After blogging it--if you also Tweet, Facebook or get it out there any other way your name will go in again for each way you passed on the word. If you're really ambitious you can blog it up to three times through May and June -more chances to win!

Keep me informed via comments or write me at jo at writerscubed dot com.

The drawing will not take place until the Kickstarter deadline has passed. Please help us spread the word!

Get involved in the movie biz and make my man's dream come true!

Thanks everyone!

Awards and seven random facts about Jo

2011-05-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

I got this delicious looking award from David Powers King.
Thanks, man!

So with this award I'm supposed to :

1. Link it back to my giver.

2. Tell you seven things about me.

3. Award it to fifteen other blogs and let them know.

HOMEWORK?? (= Ok here I go with seven things about me...

1. I have green eyes.
2. I'm working on my black belt in Taekwondo.
3. I'm a health food freak.
4. I've had a crush on my man since I was 12 years old. (That didn't stop me from dating and having boyfriends through high school and college. Couldn't just wait around for him to notice me. Incidentally, I proposed to him first--of course he said..."Heck yeah!")
5. I share a birthday with Frank Sinatra--and I love him.
6. Rain and hot chocolate make me happy.
7. I really like Indian food.

How exciting was that? Now for the 15 bloggers to pass this award on to:

1. Spin Me Write Round
2. Writing by Candlelight
3. Life of Lois
4. Ashley Nixon
5. Dancing Down Serendipity Street
6. Author Elizabeth Mueller
7. A Writer's Reality
8. My First Book
9. The Writing Nut
10. Bossy Betty
11. Losing Sanity
12. Life In Retrospect
13. Living In London
14. Catherine Denton
15.The Warrior Muse

Please check out these blogs! (=

And for this award--Thank you to Elizabeth Mueller.
The A-Z Challenge was fun!

Where to Start? Be an Axe Murderer.

2011-05-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

So I'm working on a few stories right now, but I've edited and reworked MORE THAN KARMA the most. I have a fantastic editor who has really helped me get a firmer grasp on my story and characters. However, for the longest time I was hesitant to alter the first chapter too much. I liked laying out the scene and unfolding the story with the characters in a certain way. It felt a little more "Once Upon A Timey" in my early versions--which sort of appeals to me.

But a couple of days ago I decided to write a new first chapter. Just to try it. I promised myself that it didn't have to be permanent and I could always still use my original first chapter. So I had fun with it.
Now that I have written it-- it feels good. To start from a more advanced point from a fresh perspective. And it made me realize a few things about a couple of the characters that I didn't know before! (=
*Cue shaft of light and heavenly choir*

Sometimes it's painful to give up our favorite and familiar bits and take risks for the reader. But don't be a hoarder.We write for our own enjoyment and to satisfy our muse but we can't afford to be entirely selfish because in the end writing is meant to be read--it is for the reader too. Sometimes that means you just gotta CHOP something out.

Here are some simple tips that most of us already know--but might be overlooking in our reluctance to "kill our babies".

1) Description: Starting with a dream or describing the weather is a bad idea. Don't ramble on with descriptions on the setting, story background, charcters or premise in detail. Introduce the characters, preferably in action, at or just before a big moment. Hit the ground running--or at least walking fast. Description can be sprinkled throughout as you go--and will stick out to your reader more that way--otherwise they skim and miss important details in a sea of superfluous ones.

2) POV: Right away establish a tight and clear POV with a firm easy voice. Don't be shy--a confident voice that has "personality" and doesn't wander in POV and tense is important.

3) Action: Get it on. There's no room for a chapter where nothing happens. Think like a movie.

4) Avoid Chiches and Cheesy Hooks: Gimmicky writing is a turn off. Be original and allow the reader to be drawn in naturally by something that is compelling but honest--true to the story.

5) Backstory: Don't bury the reader in the backstory on characters or place before you get into the plot. Readers don't care about your character until you make them care. You make them care by their actions, not their story. Avoid the horrific INFO DUMP.

6) Dialogue: Right from the start, make sure your dialogue is tight, strong and relevant. The characters should sound like people with different personalities.

These tips can keep all of your chapters dynamic and crisp.

Really examine that first chapter--it's like a promise to the reader that it will be worth their time to keep reading. If it isn't --KILL IT.

Writing should be an act of compassion--to be mutually satisfying.Think of it as being a good and respectful host-- you invite someone to come over and spend some time with you-- so clean house and be thoughtful. Don't ramble or dominate the conversation-- let your reader participate and have room to breathe and think. Serve them up something yummy and plate it in an appealing Food Network way. And most of all-- if something threatens to harass, smother, bore, or overwhelm your guest give it the AXE.

Do you have any favorite passages that might need to go?

Happy chopping!

Z is for Zodiac

2011-04-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

THE END OF THE A-Z CHALLENGE AND I DID IT!!!! It has been so much fun getting to know new bloggers! Now how often will I post? I don't know- but this was fun!

Z. So, I don't put a lot of stock in it and I don't read my horoscope but I have been noticing patterns in the people I know and their signs. I almost always know another Sag when I meet one. I click with certain "compatible" signs more. I see shared traits popping up in people of the same signs. It's weird.

I got this off of a website--some of the wording is awkward... but my friends would say it describes me pretty well.

"THE Zodiacal Sign of Sagittarius commences on November 21st-December 20th.
The symbols for Sagittarius are the hunter and the centaur, a mythical half-man, half-horse. This sign symbolizes the search for wisdom; this is the sign of the philosopher and the explorer. They have an appetite for learning and travel.

Such people prefer to be footloose and fancy free, however should they become involved in a relationship they make it as enjoyable and as much fun as possible. Normally they are very gregarious, but they will be glad to find the time for that special relationship.
They are often the great workers; such people never seem to tire until they drop with fatigue. They would rather learn on their own, through travel and experience, than endure structured classroom environments and routine work assignments.

To have an open minded and intellectual curiosity means that these people are willing to learn about other people in an effort to understand them, while being trusting and open. High spirited and congenial, they are a gifted conversationalist, a wonderful storyteller, and a born entertainer.
Nearly all of them are devoted to music. They often make brilliant musicians. They are often successful in business such as writing, publishing, TV, communications and enterprises where there are many representatives of this sign.

One of their great difficulties lies within relationships. They are completely able to be faithful to two people at once. The women born in this Sign are, as a rule, the nobler of the two; they love to make their husbands successful and will sacrifice everything to that end. They are usually great church-goers. On the other hand both men and women when they settle down they usually treat themselves strictly. They refuse to let the relationship get stale and always look for ways to bring excitement into the union.

Frank Sagittarius does not hesitate to give an honest opinion, which can seem tactless.

They venerate law and order and make the best of mothers. People born in this period, even when successful, should never cease to be actively employed inactivity for them would mean despondency and an early decay.

In the Sagittarius' character there are combined such qualities as reliance, affability and courtesy. The Sagittarius usually loves sports, nature, traveling , to learn and to win . The Sagittarius likes all doing in the company surrounded by close people. His mind and body are both requiring constant intellectual, emotional and physical loading. (what the? loading?)
They are the nicest friends in the zodiac. These people are not a meet-for-coffee friend. They are doers and they make the best travel companions."

Have you ever read about your sign? Does is seem to describe you?

Y is for Yankovic

2011-04-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

Confessions of a closet NERD. (= Guilty pleasure...Wierd Al. (= Have loved his goofy parodies since I was a kid. Even saw him in concert once. Yep. Teehee.

Enjoy...

X is for XENA

2011-04-27T22:45:00.000-07:00

I loved the Warrior Princess back in the late 1990s. I always like strong, empowered lead females in shows or in books. Xena rocked. She paved the way for heroines like *Buffy Summers* of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and *Sydney Bristow* of Alias, etc. Maybe they are why I decided to take up kick boxing and then Taekwondo. (=

Don't. Mess. With. Me. (I'd prefer hugs to slugs but don't push your luck!)

So for Halloween one year, I told my husband to make me a Xena costume. He seriously made it like it was no big deal-- because he is awesome. (I wasn't really this washed out... flash + scan-of-old-pic = GHOST)

LALALALALALALA!!!

Do strong women inspire you or intimidate you?

W is for WHAT,WHAT,WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

2011-04-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we all need a friend to ask "WHAT are you doing?"

V is for...

2011-04-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

Silent movie hunk. (= Watch one of his movies--he still smolders.

I like Venice--despite the decaying, leaning buildings and smelly tide. It's lovely and novel.

Awesome, cheesy 1980s TV show...loved it as a kid. Aliens we can fall in love with.

An actual Vampire...(a psycho sexy one)

Versatile me! (= Given to me by Shannon Lawrence.

Passing this award on to these five bloggers:

1. TS Hendrik

2. The Chameleon's Backbone

3. Wendy G. Ewurum

4. Tricia O' Brien

5. Angela Felsted

Check these blogs out! (=

And let's finish "V" with VINDICATED by Dashboard Confessional.

U is for UPDATE

2011-04-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

So, I said I would let ya'll know how the Boot Camp went. Success! It was so fun! We had 130 or so teens sign up --(with this being our first one and Easter and several school proms on the same day we are so pleased with the number of attendees).
The authors all gave fantastic classes and the kids were enthusiastic and already so excited for next year!

Me and author--blogtastic Elana Johnson-- she's awesome. (and a fellow Sagitarian!)

Me and author, Kiersten White-- she's a terrific speaker for teens! (She's fabulous and adorably tiny!)

Me and author, J. Scott Savage-- the character bible genius.

Me and author, Kristen Chandler my radio interview buddy.

Just some of our recruits.

My wonderful Writers Cubed "Cubies" and our fabulous guest authors! If you haven't read their books-- look them up and get them now! (= These giving and gifted writers have some serious good karma coming their way!

A shout out of thank you to all of our wonderful authors. I enjoyed getting to know you and we "Cubies" are so grateful for your time and talent.

We got really positive feedback from our attendees. It felt good to be a part of something that has inspired and excited so many young aspiring writers.
After we recover from this year... we will think about next year. Whew!

To see more pictures from TABC go on Facebook to our Writers Cubed Club! Please "like" us and become a follower on our blog!

T is for TEEN AUTHOR BOOT CAMP

2011-04-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

After all the WORK ... it's finally here. Saturday, April 23rd. The day that my writing group (Writers Cubed) and I are putting on a writing conference for teens at the local university.
We have around 125 teens registered! And an amazing line up of authors coming to mingle with and teach the kids how to be awesome writers!

KierstenWhite, author of best seller PARANORMALCY is our keynote speaker-- and other great break-out sessions taught by:
Elana Johnson, Kristen Chandler, Frank Cole , Matthew Kirby,
Sydney Salter ,J. Scott Savage and Emily Wing Smith

We will be teaching a class and running games as a group too-- it should be great! I'm going to have so much fun with the kids-- (seeing myself in them years ago) and hanging out with our wonderful authors.
Stay tuned for pictures and a fun report.
It's going to be a long day tomorrow-- I better get some sleep! (=

S is for St. Paul's and Statue

2011-04-21T23:41:00.000-07:00

While living in London I fell in love with St. Paul's cathedral.
Some facts about the building:

"St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral dedicated to Paul the Apostle. It sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is generally reckoned to be London's fifth St Paul's Cathedral, all having been built on the same site since AD 604. The cathedral is one of London's most famous and most recognisable sights. At 365 feet (111m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962, and its dome is also among the highest in the world. In terms of area, St Paul's is the second largest church building in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral."

All of this is super fascinating, but what really grabbed me was being inside, looking up at the beautiful, soaring ceiling as the sounds of the men and boys' choir echoed and reverberated all around me--tangible, clear, angelic. Goose bumpy. Whatever you believe in-- it is amazing in person, and as a poet/writer it filled my young, student head with fabulous things. Centuries of human souls captured in sound.

I had a similar reaction when I was in Italy, walked in and saw this STATUE.

I literally got tears in my eyes--and NO--not because of that, pervs.

It's difficult to describe. It just blew me away. Majestic, powerful an incredible work of art that overwhelms you in person--pictures don't really convey that. How can stone look so life like and evoke emotions?

Ever have breathtaking moments like these?

R is for Redbox and Randall

2011-04-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

Redbox. The last man standing. Blockbuster and Hollywood video are gone. In my lifetime I saw the rise and fall of video rental stores. I remember when my family would rent the video player, in a metal cage, and a few precious movies for the weekend. It was a big deal because we could watch movies that we otherwise would have to wait to see when it was a Special Feature on TV.

Redbox came-- no employess, no big facility overhead, (no selection)... and that was that. The last remnants of a dying technology that will give way to Netflicks and all things digital soon enough.

AND... R is for Randall from Monsters Inc. He's on my mind because my youngest son is obsessed with him right now. Jack runs around insisting that he is Randall. I'm pretty sure it's because Randall is the creepy , bad monster in the movie and the best way to not fear him is to be him.

It's a study in psychology, really. Do we sometimes become our worst fears--or make our worst fears come true with negative thoughts--so that they won't take us by surprise or destroy us if they do happen? Because if you "knew it" or "meant to do that" then it isn't scary and we have control of it. Right?
If you can't beat it--join it?
Hmmm...
Are the things that scare you reoccurring themes in your life? If so-- maybe you are inviting them.

Q is for Queen

2011-04-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

QUEEN ROCKS! As a teen of the 1990s, it was Wayne's World that put Queen on my radar. I know, I know--pathetic. But any way is better than no way. (= I still love to blare this song and head bang to it with my kids and friends. (=
Enjoy it the way I heard it first.

P is for PRIZES!

2011-04-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

PRIZES!!! Winners of my 300 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY!

Winner of the $20 Amazon card -- Theresa Milstein

Winner of $10 iTunes card-- Anash

Winner of this cool book-- Candyland

Congrats to the winners!

My next giveaway...

For your chance to win the face plate from the Iron Man 2 mask blog about my husband's Kickstarter project!

O is for Orpheus

2011-04-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Orpheus's story is romantic and tragic. Blessed by the God's with a lyre and a beautiful singing voice, Orpheus charmed the nymph Eurydice. They fell in love and married. But the gods were jealous. Eurydice was bitten by a poisonous snake and sent to the Underworld.
Orpheus charged into the Underworld to retrieve his beloved. The sound of his lovelorn songs touched Hades who made him a strange deal.
“Orpheus, take your Eurydice and bring her to the world of the living. But you must walk ahead and leave her to follow you without you looking back even for a second, your beloved will be lost here again and forever”.

Happily the two lovers fled hell, Orpheus in the lead. But the way was dark and rocky. Just as sunlight streamed ahead of them Eurydice stumbled and cried out in pain. Orpheus turned to help her and she was dragged away from him forever into the darkness of the Underworld.

My favorite modern adaptation of this story is Moulin Rouge. Great stories never die-- they just change clothes. (=

N is for...

2011-04-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

M is for Movies

2011-04-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

I love movies. I like them action packed, chick flicks, comedies, classics, documentaries, indies, martial arts, thought provoking--you name it. I like the theater experience--in the darkness, big screen and popcorn--or at home in a cozy blanket. I like watching movies with friends or alone. Heck--whenevah!

Like books, we share a human experience through film. We learn something from every movie--it's a communication and an art. Discovery, exploration, expression and sometimes catharsis!
I don't have a "favorite" list-- that's too hard. But I will list some movies that I really enjoyed a lot --for various reasons.

1. Moulin Rouge-- the music!
2. The Mission-- epic, and heart wrenching
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-- quirky, thought provoking
4. About a Boy-- made me smile, made me think
5. Jane Eyre (2011)-- good adaption of a great book
6. Star Wars--because it is awesome
7. War of the Buttons--fun and adorable
8. Most BBC adaptaions of novels (=
9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon-- freaking awesome and beautiful
10.The Gods Must Be Crazy--Funny!
11. Chariots Of Fire--Inspiring
12. What the BLEEP Do We Know--fascinating
13. Dead Poets Society--Wow.
14. Clueless-- teehee!
15. Juno--spot on
16. Silverado--yeeehaw!
17. Enchanted April--yes, please!
18. Nacho Libre--quotable--and I "know" the director. (=
19. Rear Window--gasp!
20. The Thin Man series-- so suave, so witty
21. Strictly Ballroom--HAHAHA!
22. Indiana Jones--it rocks
23. So I Married An Axe Murderer--the only time Mike Myers didn't bug me (other than the first Wayne's World) and it was shot in the Bay Area--yay!
24. Bourne Identity--YES!
25. Singin' In the Rain--all smiles and happiness

I could seriously go on and on! And these are only the tip of the iceberg!
What are your fave flicks and why??

If you want to get involved in movie making yourself-- click here! My husband's movie will be so fun! And there are prizes!

L is for LOOK

2011-04-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

There are so many things that take our attention-- that sometimes we forget to REALLY look. I'm so busy that I almost forgot that we have beautiful mountain views--I don't always see them.

Today we spent the day with our kids looking... at the Zoo. We watched animals and how they behaved-- noticing details because that's what we were there to do.

It was today I noticed that my oldest son's hands are bigger than mine. When did that happen?

The sun makes my middle son's eyes shine the exact color of the sky.

My youngest loves elephants and his smile reminds me of my husband.

What did you look at today?

While you're at it--look at my last post (below) to learn about an exciting film project and the Iron Man mask giveaway!

K is for Kickstarter!

2011-04-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, my husband is in the film industry. We spent years in Hollywood working on blockbuster films and then he struck out on his own-- lone wolf style and has continued to work freelance on various movies, TV shows and commercials. Some of you will recall the local media attention he got after working on Iron Man 2 last year (CLICK). Since then he has worked with director Danny Boyle on 127 Hours, starring James Franco and a few Disney projects.

Now Clark is finally taking his skills and passion to the next level--making his own film!

Please watch this video for opportunities to be involved and for amazing film project related prizes! (WAIT UNTILYOU SEE THE LEGIT COLLECTIBLE FROM STAR WARS: NEW HOPE HE'S GIVING AWAY!!!)

Here is his Kickstarter video about the project:

Any of my Followers who would be willing to blog about Clark's Kickstarter project will have their name put into a drawing to win a face plate of the Iron Man mask made by Clark for the Iron Man 2 movie.

Keep me informed via comments or write me at jo at writerscubed dot com.

The drawing will not take place until the Kickstarter 90 days has passed. Please help us spread the word!

Get involved in the movie biz and make my man's dream come true!

Thanks everyone!

J is for Jack's Journey

2011-04-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

Jack came into this world with big challenges. But he has beaten the odds again and again.

From breech birth--taken by C-section... to surgery, after surgery, after surgery.

This one made his head swell to epic proportions. He was our little alien! (=

After this painful surgery they sewed a string through his tongue and taped it to his cheek to keep him from choking on his tongue. By this time he was an old pro-- having already undergone 4 other surgeries--and there were more to come.

Maybe he won't ever walk...

Well at two and 1/2 years old he showed them otherwise.
Now he walks without a walker--no problem! Jumps on the trampoline and dances!

Maybe he won't ever talk ... well after this surgery he showed us he could.

He uses less sign language now-- and can be a real chatter box.

Now he is testing well enough at school to go into a transitional kidergarten-- he knows his numbers and letters! He is such a happy boy and we love him so much. I feel honored to be a part of his journey.

What else will Jack do?

I know exactly what he will do. Surprise us. (=

I is for INTERVIEW with author H.P. Mallory

2011-04-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

Today I'm interviewing H.P. Mallory. An author I've recently discovered online. I downloaded and read five of her books in quick succession. Her characters are likeable and interesting, the plots are fun and creative and her writing is descriptive and humorous with a dash of sexy. Page turners-- definitely worth reading!

Jo: Tell us a little about yourself.
Mallory: Well, I've always wanted to be an author ever since I was young. I was an English major at UCLA and during my college years, didn't really do much writing. I started up again 5 years ago and wrote my first book, Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble. Then I managed to get an agent and she sent it to a bunch of publishers and no one was interested. LOL So, after that went nowhere, I sat on the book for 5 years and then uploaded it to Kindle as well as another book I'd written, To Kill A Warlock. I started contacting book bloggers, asking if they'd like to read and review the books and little by little, word began to spread. Now I'm happy to say I am a full time author, quit my job last Feb and I have a 3 book deal with Random House for books 3,4 and 5 of my Jolie Wilkins series.

Jo: That's so awesome that you didn't give up on your stories. What made you decide to epublish and what if any concerns did you have about publishing online?
Mallory: I decided to epublish after reading an article about self published sensation, Karen McQuestion. I figured I had nothing to lose. I didn't really have any concerns because I'd already accepted the fact that a writing career didn't seem to be in the cards for me. LOL

Jo: What have you learned from online publishing and do you have other plans in the future?
Mallory: I love self publishing. It changed my life literally. I will always self publish some of my works. I also like having my foot in the traditional market as well because I feel like it's a very balanced career approach that way.

Jo: So, you were able to quit your day job and now you write "full time"?
Mallory: Yep, quit my job as Director of Online Marketing in Feb. Now I'm a full time author and loving it.

Jo: What do you write about?
Mallory: I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy. One of my series is about a witch, Jolie Wilkins, and my second series is about Dulcie O'Neil, a fairy in law enforcement.

Jo: What inspired you to write in the Paranormal Romance genre?

Mallory: I just love reading paranormal books and always have. So, I think it was a natural progression that I'd want to write paranormal themes as well.

Jo: Who has been your most enjoyable character to write?
Mallory: I love writing Sinjin Sinclair. He's just so easy.

Jo: Sinjin is devilish and likeable. Are any of your characters based on yourself or someone you know?

Mallory: No, not really. I think I can't help but be in my characters since they are coming from my head. If any of them are most like me, it would be Jolie. My husband recently started reading Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble (yes, he was late to the party) and said it was like being inside my head. LOL He thinks Jolie is me but I still think we are pretty different.

Jo: If you could date one of your characters who would you pick? (I think Rand and Knight rock but I admit that Sinjin would be fun to tame.)

Mallory: LOL I wonder if Sinjin is tamable? Um, I do love Rand because he is so honorable. But, I have to admit that Knight is really growing on me because he's so honest in his intentions.

Jo: If you had a supernatural power what would it be?
Mallory: Read people's minds

Jo: That would be handy! (And embarrassing!) Who are your favorite authors? Are you a fan of any writers of your genre?
Mallory: I love Karen Marie Moning, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton

Jo: Where can people get your books?

Mallory: My books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Thanks for blogging with me, H.P.. It's been great getting to know you better. I admire your pluck-- in diving into the epub world and finding success in doing so. Your books are so entertaining and fun to read. I hope to see many more of your stories in the future. (=
Check her out for yourself!
H.P. Mallory
Author, Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance
http://www.hpmallory.com/
http://www.urbanfantasyauthor.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/hpmallory
http://www.facebook.com/people/Hp-Mallory/10000124964376

Still time to enter my 300 Follower giveaway!

H is for Harrison

2011-04-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actors of all time. Rugged, manly, cocky, earnest--the every man and the hero. Here are three roles he played that top my fave characters EVAH!

He was awesome as the scoundrel Han Solo, like an Old West hero in space.

Nobody could resist the charming, adventurous Indiana Jones. I swear those movies had a major influence on me as a kid. (I majored in Archaeology before English.)

As Dr. Richard Kimble he kept us on the edge of our seats--on his side all the way.

So no matter how bizarre the concept-- you can believe I'm going to go see his latest movie.

Do you have a favorite Harrison Ford movie?

Don't forget to enter my 300 Follower Giveaway!

G is for GIVEAWAY

2011-04-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

I now have 300 GREAT followers! So I am GIVING away 3 prizes!

1. $20 Gift Card to Amazon

2. $10 iTunes card

3. A copy of I Never Fancied Him Anyway by Claudia Carrol.

"Cassandra, a Dublin magazine columnist, has three best friends and an unlucky love life, a familiar setup that author Carroll (Remind Me Again Why I Need a Man) shakes up with a whimsical device: her likable, humorous chick lit narrator is psychic—but no believer in the occult. Cassie's involuntary flashes, as she calls them, usually involve the love lives of strangers, but when she catches a glimpse of her own romantic future, Cassie's mystified to discover that her fabulously wealthy best friend Charlene is dating the man of her visions. Caught among fate, friendship and the rare possibility of fulfilling romance, Cassie struggles mightily with her desire and guilt, though readers will find the choice between unsympathetic Charlene—a disagreeable comic misfire—and dream guy a no-brainer. Carroll gives Cassie enough wit and charm to make up for a hackneyed media world setting and grating details—egregious puns (a black belt in tongue-fu), Manolo Blahniks, evil bosses—making this an exercise in pure (if predictable) chick lit fun."--Publishers Weekly

*Leave a comment to enter once.

** Tweet, blog or FB it to enter twice.

Thanks for following, supporting and commenting. I appreciate my bloggy friends! (= You rock!

F is for Fitzwilliam, Firth and McFadyen

2011-04-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

Fitzwilliam Darcy ... the fantasy man for so many women. One of literature's most beloved and complex romantic heroes.Will he rescue the damsel (from the likes of Wickham) or allow her to flounder (as he did to Elizabeth at the ball)? I find it interesing how he is so full of contradictions:

Proud, shy, refined, misunderstood, loyal, passionate, reserved, kind, intolerant, smooth, awkward, intelligent, clueless... know what I mean? But in the end... adorable and did I mention WEALTHY?

As far as I'm concerned there are only two actors who embodied Fitzwilliam Darcy--Colin Firth and Matthew McFadyen. Fantastic actors and mighty fine.

What do you think of Fitzwilliam Darcy? Over rated or pretty awesome?

E is for Ewan

2011-04-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

EWAN McGregor. I fell in love with this Scottish actor when I saw him in Moulin Rouge, as the sweet lover boy belting out romantic lyrics with amazing inhibition. Since then, I have seen some of his other films and am always impressed by his range.

What a set of bag pipes, eh?

EWAN--A wild adventurer, motorcycle rider, singer and consummate actor... and he rocks a kilt.

If I'm lucky I might catch a glimpse of him (or someone like him) on my trip to Scotland this June! (=

D is for DISABLE

2011-04-04T23:10:00.000-07:00

DISABLE WORD VERIFICATION!

You write a pithy comment on somebody's blog.

Then an annoying window pops up. Sometimes you have to type in a nonsense word a few times before you can post your comment.

Sometimes you click away from the comment box before you realize it didn't post. So you have to comment again. Or give up and go away.

To be more blogger friendly--Disable the annoying box. There are other Spam gaurds that work great.

Happy Commenting!

C is for Chocolate

2011-04-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

CHOCOLATE.

Chocolate's bittersweet, smooth, dark, sensual dance on the tongue makes it the ultimate comfort food.

It stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure.

It contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant

Also it is full of flavanoids that act as antioxidants.

Dark chocolate lowers your blood pressure and your cholesterol.

The cacoa bean from which chocolate is derived was anciently used as currency. And made into a drink for kings. The world's long and torrid love affair with chocolate changed societies and shaped trading routes. Quite an impressive hill of beans. Enjoy...

Also, an awesome movie... (=

One of many favorite chocolate memories ... traveling through Switzerland and finding the ultimate, delicious hot chocolate. It was a sensational part of my trip! (=

Do you have a favorite chocolate memory?

B is for BREAKING BENJAMIN

2011-04-01T23:51:00.000-07:00

Breaking Benjamin's Blow Me Away is on the menu for "B" today! A to Z challenge!

What song blows you away?

What band rocks your world?

A is for Alliteration

2011-03-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

Always an aspiring author

Prattling prose

Spinning stories

Working words into worlds

Smithing steele swords

From facts and fiction

Unique and universal

Day to day dull

Or exciting explorations and epic entertainments
Touching truth
Humanities' harbor and meeting of minds

Sanity's summit

Beautiful books

This is my first day participating in Alex J. Cavanaugh's A to Z Challenge. April will be fun!

Win $10 iTunes card!

2011-03-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

FACT: Winning a $10 gift card to iTunes is awesome.

FICTION: Doing it is hard work.

If you're looking for an easy way to increase your music collection then go to the Writers Cubed blog. We have a great contest going on this very moment to win a $10 itunes card. The rules are simple:

1. Go to our blog, become a follower, and make a comment. That puts your name into the drawing for the itunes card one time.

2. Mention the contest on Facebook, your personal blog, or Twitter. Be sure to include the link to their site and tell the Writers Cubed about it in your comment. Each of those things are worth two more entries into the drawing to make a total of seven entries--if you do all of them.

The contest runs from now until April 23rd.

Here's the link in case you didn't catch it up above: http://www.writerscubed.com/blog/

Who doesn't love a flash mob? Music does things to people. Rock on!

Review of Kristen Chandler's YA novel Wolves, Boys & Other Things...

2011-03-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Another great Book Review from Lois Brown of Writers Cubed.

"The first time I tried Thai food, my taste buds thought they'd died and gone to heaven. To me, reading Kristen Chandler's book WOLVES, BOYS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT KILL ME was a lot like that. I found it a delicious new flavor in the current smorgasbord of YA literature.

Don't be fooled by the title. This book has nothing to do with vampires and werewolves. Instead, it is a serious yet entertaining look at the ramifications of re-introducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park, a government program that began in the mid 1990s. (However, if you are looking a for a good paranormal read, I recommend the book PARANORMALCY.)

What could have been a dull, simply informational read is transformed by Kristen into a story that skillfully blends fact with excitement, intrigue, and, oh yes, teenage love.

It all begins when 16-year-old KJ is cajoled into writing a column about the Yellowstone wolves for her high school newspaper. She's to work side-by-side with Virgil, and expert photographer and the new kid at school. As luck would have it, he's a good-looking vegetarian whose mother is a passionate environmentalist.

As KJ learns more about the plight of the gray wolf in the United Sates, she gains an appreciation for an animal that most people in her rural community would prefer dead.

Her newspaper articles cause enough of a stir in town that the lives of those who are sympathetic to her cause are threatened. It's up to KJ to protect the wolves, keep ranchers' livestock safe, and to heal relationships gone bad.

Thanks Kristen for adding some spice to my reading list!"

Kristen will be presenting a class on Dialog: Give your characters a voice that readers will love at the Teen Writers Boot Camp in Orem, Utah at the Utah Valley University campus on Saturday, April 23, 2011. The boot camps is for teens ages 13-19. Cost is $39 before April 9th. For more information, visit www.writerscubed.com

Interview with author Roland Yeomans PART 2

2011-03-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

Author Roland Yeoman of Writing In The Crosshairs joins us again today. We are talking about his new ebook release on Amazon--THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS.

Jo:
What inspired you to write a Fable style story with a Bear as the main character?

Roland :
I usually write in the first person. It involves the reader on a deep, empathic level.

But when I wanted to write a novel based in part on my mother's tales while I lay ill with double pneumonia, I knew it had to be done in the style of a Lakota storyteller, squatting in front of the campfire, spinning his tale to wide eyes and curious ears.

Third person it had to be. But the unique third person of a seasoned storyteller, painting with words a picture of different shades :

One level simple adventure for the children.
Another level speaking to the loneliness and alienation felt by all teens.
Another level singing of the quest each young adult undertakes to find love and meaning.
Yet another level whispering to all of us as we face that last great unknown : death and what, if anything, lies beyond.

Why a bear?

First, because my mother told her tales to a fearful and ill boy, using the bear as hero. I began to see the hulking shape of Hibbs in the shadows at the foot of my bed ... and I was comforted.

Second, The Grizzly bear has always been part of Native American Indian history; for as long as Native American Indians have been around, so has the big beast.

The big beast showed gentleness, but could also be fierce. All in all, the bear was a magnificent creature that they respected.They knew a mother bear would fight to protect her cubs, just like any mother would do. She could also be gentle and quiet, however, and she was just as good a hunter as the Indians.

Also Native American Indians regarded the grizzly bear with awe and respect. That awe which is so important to a story and to a reader, young or old.

Early hunting tribes noticed that these bears had very complex behaviors. Many native tribes thought of the bear as a "god".

American Indians saw that these grizzlies were large and very strong animals that could move quickly in spite of their size.

It's no wonder that these magnificent animals would become the center of Indian legends. Often found in Indian paintings and engraved in jewelry, the grizzly was a sign of strength.

The grizzly bear stood for many meanings and rituals among the American Indians.

The Indian Bear Dance was considered the Ghost Dance, bringing back the ghosts of their ancestors while helping the grizzly bear fall asleep for its winter hibernation.
Ancestors join in the dance in their spirit form while the bears are lulled to sleep. After the dance is complete, another Dance is celebrated, called the Circle of Life Dance.
This dance will be held around a burning log fire until the fire burns out. The Native Indians will dance, sing and chant for warmth and light from the sun during the time the grizzly sleeps.

It is important to note that Hibbs is the only grizzly that does not hibernate in the winter. Why is that? Ah, that is a secret that to which only reading my book will give you a hint.

Jo:
How do the lessons of Lakota legends differ from the ancient Celtic ones?

Roland :
The Celtic heroes and legends are often fierce, prideful men and godlings. Take Cernunos :
The "Cernunnos" type being in Celtic iconography is often portrayed with animals, in particular the stag and also frequently associated with the ram-horned serpents. He is often described as a "peaceful god of nature and fruitfulness". But is also associated with coins and wealth.

In my novel, I had his nature perverted and twisted by the Adversary of All Life, the Gray Bear, until all that was left inside him was a wild lust for control and power.

Then, there is the Dagda. Irish tales depict the Dagda as a figure of power, armed with a spear. Again pride of arms of strength. Not surprisingly, he turns out only to be a mask worn by the Gray Bear.

On the other hand, Lakota legends and myth praise humility, compassion, healing, bravery, and honor. It is not that the Lakota do not appreciate wealth or material possessions, we just do not measure ourselves or others by those things.

Jo:
I thought your use of the ancient myth that the Sidhe were those angels who were undecided in the great war in Heaven in your story was very creative and frankly, cool. How did Hibb's encounter with the Sidhe change his path?

Roland :
The Turquoise Woman, who first met Hibbs far in the past as a grown bear, grew to love him as a cub later on when one of her plans to re-introduce the Whyte race backfired. She stole a human baby from a dimension beyond the mirror barrier. In him, she would bring the Whyte race back into being.
But you cannot trick the Great Mystery. The baby was transformed in her arms into a grizzly cub. And The Turquoise Woman knew she had brought this young infant to its death that she had seen far in the past. She determined to train the cub, mold him, strengthen him, and then to hide him in the wonders of Eire.
When the adult Hibbs saves the Sidhe, Leandra Dagda, The Turquoise Woman realizes he was bringing his own doom upon himself.

Destiny is a fearsome force to fight.

Jo:
Why did you choose the title "Answer" for God and "Question" for Lucifer and call it the War Between Question And Answer?

Roland :
One of Lucifer's first words in the Garden is "Has God really said?" He asks questions, not for truth, but to make us doubt ourselves and our worth.
Jo:
Why is it "always inevitable for answer to triumph over question"?

Roland :
The Answer is the Light inside our souls that doubts wants to douse. And that is why Answer will always win. For even the smallest candle casts back the heavy blanket of dark night.

Life will always trump death. Without life, death would cease to exist. But life can roll on merrily without death. And in a realm where no shadow ever falls, life will do just that.

Ask Hibbs.

Jo:

Thought provoking stuff! I've enjoyed learning more about you and your book. Thanks for sharing yourself with us. (=

Go to Amazon and get your own copy of Roland's book-- THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS.

If you don't have an ereader--no problem! Just click the link below and get Kindle for PC for free!

Download FREE

Interview with author Roland Yeomans PART 1

2011-03-24T01:02:00.000-07:00

Roland Yeomans, talented author of Writing In The Crosshairs has released his debut novel-- THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS available on Amazon HERE.

Those of you who follow his blog already know that he is a poet at heart. He writes with elegance, creating drama, mystery, compelling characters and always with an underlying philisophical beauty. His new book is no exception.

Today and tomorrow he is gracing my blog with an interview. Enjoy. (=

Jo:
Roland, tell us a little bit about yourself and when you knew you wanted to write

Roland :
My family left Detroit when I was quite young so my last memories of Detroit are hub cabs and knee caps. The further south we went, the hotter it got. So I was glad when we stopped in Lafayette, Lousiana, because I was real sure the next stop would have been Hell.
A year there taught me to say "sir and ma'am" and to pronounce David and Richard in really strange ways when they were last names. And it was not a pretty sight when I said Comeaux for the first time.

Lake Charles was the next stop. I remember standing in the front yard of our new home, watching the neighbor across the street beating in his front door (his wife had locked) with a fence post.
I looked up to Mom and said, "You know, if I had a degree in Psychology, I would probably understand what's going on there."
She ruffled my hair and said back, "Lot's of luck with that."
And she was right. A master's degree in psychology hasn't unlocked the why's of the pain I see. It just helped me put fancy labels on them.
I have been everything but a pirate, but since I once worked for a tax preparation firm, I guess you could say I've been that, too. I was a teacher for awhile. Then, a family counselor. My mother contracted cancer, and I emptied my savings, opening my own bookstore to give me freedom to go with her for her out-of-town treatments.

Mother died. The reason for my store died with her. I saw an opening at Lifeshare Blood Center in the Product Management department (We try not to say "blood" out loud, it gets people queasy -- LOL.) I applied and was hired. And the rest is infamy, ah, I mean history.
I've been writing most of my life. In Lafayette, a wealthy neighbor took me in for a time when my mother was hospitalized.
She saw me reading a GREEN LANTERN comic and pulled me to her study. There she asked me to make up a story of Green Lantern where an enemy used his greatest weakness against him.
As I spun the tale, she typed it, fingers flying across the keys like magic. She gave me the story to read aloud.
And I was hooked. From that day on, I was a storyteller. Mrs. Hilton, I owe you.

Most of my old writings burned up when my home burned to the ground. But now, I have an e-book, THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS, on sale at Amazon.

Jo:
Sounds like your mother and Mrs. Hilton both had a lot of influence on you. Do you have Muse? What drives or inspires your writing?

Roland :
That childlike sense of awe and wonder I had as a lonely only child, wandering the lush rolling rises and long, wide stretches of nothing but trees and bushes. I would imagine myself Ulysses wandering some fabled lost island in search of his lost men. I would sit under a tall pine, my back to it, my nose in a book of mythology or volume on legends.

I want to create that sense of awe and wonder and adventure that enveloped me and drew me into a journey where I walked beside giants and legends.
I want to spin tales for the child in all of us. I want to make you seat on the edge of your seat as laughing Victor Standish leads evolved raptors on the chase of their lives along the rooftops of the French Quarter.

I want to introduce you to Hibbs, the bear with 2 shadows, and draw you into his world so well that you smell the death-lotus blossoms on the air, feel the tickle of the summer grass underneath Hibbs' bare paws.

I want to make the magic real in the darkness of yor mind.

Jo:
I love how sensory your writing is. Give us a short synopsis of what your book is about.

Roland :
In a land just beyond your mirror lies a realm few discover.

It is a magical, dangerous dimension. There lurks your darkest nightmares and your fondest hopes.
The race called Whyte is not even a memory. Except to Estanatlehi, The Turquoise Woman, once named Gaia, Goddess of the Earth, by the People she alone remembers.
All of which means exactly nothing to the young bear Hibbs. For as long as he can remember, he has been raised by The Turquoise Woman, whom he simply calls GrandMother.
Trained by her, hunted by the Lakota, accompanied by the strange hawk, Little Brother, Hibbs has happily ambled from mountain to desert to forest, even sometimes across the great waters.
Often he has asked GrandMother why she has led him to so many different lands. The answer has always been : Because a moving target is harder to hit.

But now, Hibbs finds himself unable to avoid his destiny : to rescue the lost Whyte race from oblivion.
And all it will cost the bear is everything he holds most dear.

Jo:
Thanks, Roland. This book is fascinating and original. I look forward to finishing it. (=

Tomorrow I will post PART 2 of my interview with Roland and you can read more about his book THE BEAR WITH TWO SHADOWS.

Unicorn City

2011-03-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

This Friday I'm attending the premier for this new indie film, Unicorn City. My little sister Ali Durham is in it. My husband built her warrior costume. It looks like goofy fun--like a Napolean Dynamite-ish movie. Not to be taken seriously! Yay for indies! (=

Radio Days

2011-03-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

Here is the recent radio interview I did along with Lois Brown (also of Writers Cubed) and YA author Kristen Chandler. We are promoting literacy and teen writers with the Teen Author Boot Camp. Have a listen and pass it on!

Writers Cubed: Jo Schaffer, Jennifer Jenkins, Tahsha Ford , Reana Campbell, Margie Jordan, Lois Brown, Mat McLeod, Amy McKay.

Review of Paranormalcy

2011-03-02T16:13:00.001-08:00

Today my guest blogger is Lois Brown of Writers Cubed. Here is her review of Paranormalcy by Kiersten White who will be the keynote speaker at our Teen Author Bootcamp. Take it away Lois...

What’s your favorite paranormal?

Vampires, werewolves, zombies, or how about mermaids?

If you can’t decide, then PARANORMALCY, a New York Times best-selling young adult novel, is right up your alley. The author, Kiersten White, skillfully weaves a swarm of different creatures together in a story that feels much more human than not.

I immediately liked PARANORMALCY's main character, Evie. She has spunk, attitude, and the talent of seeing through a parnanormal’s glamour—a beautiful exterior that hides what is really underneath. Evie’s job is to round up these monsters and have them tagged by the International Paranormal Containment Agency.

Things begin to go awry, however, when Evie learns she is being watched by the IPCA because they believe she too is a paranormal--one of unknown origin.

Add a cute boy, a devious fairy, and a mysterious ruthless killer to the plot, and you have the makings for a great story.

I finished the book and handed it to my 14-year-old daughter. She confirmed my opinion when she couldn’t put the book down to come eat dinner. Just so you know, it's not like we were having split pea soup or anything gross like that. It was a tasty meal I'd made. (grin)

A sequel is coming out soon, and I look forward to reading it.

Kiersten is going to be the keynote speaker for a teen writing conference in Utah. If you know a teen who likes to read/write books, and if you live in Utah, check it out at www.writerscubed.com.

Journey

2011-02-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare said:
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts"

Our lives are not just "sound and fury signifying nothing" as the Bard said. For those of us left behind on the stage-- the show must go on. And we have to learn our new parts as other "characters" come and go.The play can change from comedy to tragedy at a moments notice. Love, loss, pain and hope are all part of the play and who we become as a result signifies everything.

This Saturday was so unbelievably shocking and upsetting that I can't even write about it yet. But my writing group friends mentioned it HERE, HERE and HERE. We have all been floored.

Sometimes things happen that are hard to even wrap your head around. When people you love suffer it is the darkest, most helpless feeling in the world. You don't want to move on like nothing happened--you don't want to leave someone to grieve alone. But that's the tragdy of it all. Everyone grieves alone. Surrounded by love, by support... we are alone inside the pain.

"He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath. And then - the watcher at his pulse took a fright. No one believed. They listened to his heart. Little - less - nothing! - and that ended it. No more to build on there. And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs."
--Robert Frost

It is the lot of the living to walk the treadmill until our turn is over.We have no choice but to move on because we travel with time as long as we live. And the world keeps turning even when it feel like our hearts have stopped beating. We feel guilty when it seems we must leave our dead behind. But I believe Wordsworth had it right when he said:

"Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
... And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home."

So death is a waking and remembering. And those who die actually leave the living behind for just a little while. Whether ahead or behind we are all traveling to the same place. Our paths will cross again.

Shout out to my grieving friends. I love you. My heart can't help but break along with yours. I'll make this journey with you in any way you need me to. Lean on me. Together we will find the "new normal".

God bless you.

Third book in Erin Kellison's Shadow Series

2011-02-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

Erin Kellison's third book, Shadowman, is coming out in September. Just giving you all the big heads up-- so you have time to read her first two books before this one comes out. I read Shadow Bound and Shadow Fall and got really sucked into their creative lore and exciting story concepts. She writes with vivid imagery, heart pounding action and well sketched characters. Dark, dangerous, romance and fun--think chick-flick meets action film. Keep an eye on Erin. Check out her website.

To refresh your memory read my interview with Erin HERE.

Teen Author Boot Camp

2011-01-31T17:27:00.000-08:00

My fabulous writing group, Writers Cubed has been busy! We are organizing and putting on a Teen Author Boot Camp for local aspiring young writers-- to be hosted by Utah Valley University. We are bringing in awesome guest authors to lead great break-out sessions for attendees. The kids will hone their writing skills by learning at the feet of their idols. We hope to mentor their budding passions and ambitions in a fun environment with other creative kids and published authors, giving them an opportunity to win prizes and be recognized for their talents and get the tools to improve their skills. These teens are the now and the future of the written word and we take them seriously.
Some of our amazing guest authors include: Kiersten White-- best selling author of Paranormalcy, our beloved "Queen of the Net" Elana Johnson-- author of Possession, Matthew Kirby-- author of The Clockwork Three, --to name a few!

Keep posted on Facebook. And to learn more or for registration check us out HERE!

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Writing Prompt: Bad communication= nobody wins

2011-01-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

Writing prompt: Imagine a scene where two people have a problem and how bad people skills keep either one from getting what they want.
This sort of negative and self centered (immature) way of communicating is something that we see all of the time. Got me thinking about how validation and understanding can increase our ability to have successful and effective communication where everyone wins rather than resorting to insults and villainizing.
I wrote one that reflected the frustration of generation gaps and impatience with young people that I have witnessed personally in our schools. Power struggles that never empower.

Answer
I hadn’t paid enough attention--again. But what would be the point? She stood, her broad back to the blurry green chalkboard, her lips pursed, twirling the chalk between her sausage fingers with an impatient flare of her nostrils. She repeated my name as if it tasted like battery acid on her tongue. I stared back at her—sure that I had a vapid sleep-walking expression on my face that infuriated her.

There was something on the board which was somehow familiar—numbers and symbols, but I was like one of those poor immigrants on Ellis island—no-speakah-da-language. My nemesis stabbed the blackboard with the chalk leaving dots of mounded white next to the equals sign. The enormous black glasses she wore reflected the dull snap of overhead fluorescent lights, and slid in increments down her sweaty nose, as she suffocated in her own flesh. Why did the fat teacher taunt me? She knew well and good—I had no clue what the sum of all that gibberish was. I disliked her for that sharp voice, puffy hair and lack of fashion. Fashion was one thing I could understand—I could feel superior about that.

The other students didn’t seem to mind as she waited for me to fail. Nobody snickered when this happened to me—wouldn’t dare—they rolled their eyes in my behalf. I guess I had to put Miss Burned Out in her place to save face. The classic cop out would do.

“Whatever.” I shrugged.

She shifted her enormous weight onto her unfortunate left leg and strangled the chalk in one hand as she placed bloated fists on her hips. Heaving a sigh that would try the stitching on any shirt, she responded, very tired.

“Wroooong. Wherever--as in ‘wherever did you leave your brain this morning?’”

“Same place you left your teaching skills, I guess.” I was more than a match for her feared and notorious put downs and sarcasm.

“Is that right? Anybody in here know the answer?”

Glaring, I searched the faces in the room. Nobody raised their hand.

“There you go.” I went back to drawing on the desk.

“I wish you well with your prestigious job as burger flipper at McDonalds.” She tossed her clown hair and crossed her arms. I gave her my special death glare and she smiled as the class “oohed” as one.

“Thanks, I look forward to serving you the Super Sized meal everyday. I’m guessing you want fries with that?" The other students laughed—probably out of disbelief more than anything else and I smiled like a helpful fast food worker.

“You win—I’m fat and you’re stupid.” She swung her hip and turned like the Titanic toward her desk.

I felt the fire start in my stomach and knew it was on its way to my head, but she couldn’t know that she got me. “Fat would be putting it mildly and stupid is a gross exaggeration.” She didn’t know me. Math was the only class I sucked at.

“Prove it.” Giganta tapped her toe.

“Prove what?”

“You aren’t stupid.” She shook her head with her brows raised. It didn’t help—her face still look bunched up like a Cabbage Patch doll.

“Ok. If you lose two hundred pounds.” I wrinkled my nose in disgust, scanning her from head to toe like a laser.

“I’ll get right on that—now what’s the answer Einstein?”

“Bite me—no wait, you’re trying to cut back.” I shrugged. That was the end of that.

“Only on carbs—I can have fat-head.”

“Whatever.” Crap. She was good.

We glared at each other—at an impasse. She knew more, I weighed less and we were both helpless to do anything about it. An icy lump raised in my throat. If it weren't for the tears trying to worm their way out I know I could have cut her lower than low. The lame question on the board behind her remained unsolved as I stood and stomped out of the room to wander the halls and think of an answer to “fat-head” until the bell rang.

Share a scene of your own or comment how this could have gone better.

A Kiss isn't just a kiss

2011-01-13T12:36:00.000-08:00

With the freezing cold weather I have been stuck inside watching a lot of BBC and sipping tea. (= Not a bad way to while away the winter.
Many of these BBC films are based on classic literature that I love, so it has been a wonderful revisit to the stories, times and characters that I enjoy. Classy romance all the way. When restraint and respect not only built the tension between the characters, but allowed relationships to blossom in a beautiful way.

SPOILER alert...I recently watched North and South. At the happy ending Richard Armitage gives one of the best screen kisses of all time. A kiss isn't just a kiss. It has to carry more emotion than just desire-- and this kiss says it all. After a long and rocky road he finally gets the girl.

Sigh!!!

What are some of your all time favorite screen smooches? Share!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

New Year

2011-01-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

The Holidays rocked. SO many festivities and good times crammed into one month! A highlight of our Christmas was having a globe-trotting couple from France visit with us for Christmas dinner. My dear friend Melanie of Musingly Melanie was hosting the couple, Marc and Gwendolyn, at the time. She met them through "couch surfing" online and we thought it would be fun to combine our Christmas plans. I'm so glad she shared them with us!

Marc and Gwendolyn are serious travelers. They've been all over the world--to every country in South and Central America, across Africa, all over Europe and North America-- I was amazed by their journeys. I felt privelaged to help host them on their very first Christmas in North America.

We made a few classic French dishes in their honor to go with the feast--and they were very gracious. (Even though we only had Martinellis and not wine to go with the cheese plate!)

It was so fun to have them in my home and to hear about the places and people they've had experiences with. They played games with us and the kids and were such a wonderful addition to the party.

When we said goodbye, they welcomed us to visit them anytime and it was one of those cheesy moments when you have a glance at the heart of humanity and realize that we're all the same. Warm fuzzies. And boy did it ever wake up my Sagitarius travel bug. Time for a trip! Adventure! New cultures and the unexplored!

Marc writes for a couple of magazines and Gwendolyn takes pictures. Many of their adventures have been taken in a custom made car that they ship with them when they have to cross water. Otherwise... they just drive there.Check out their website, Les Bourlingueurs-- it is fascinating! (you will need to use translation).

Anyway, Happy New Year to you all. I hope we can think personally and globally this year...get things straight at home and make the world our home. (=

WINNERS and a Holiday Thought

2010-12-18T15:35:00.000-08:00

And the winners are...

$70 CSN Giveaway... Brian Piero

Shaft... Kathy Lumen

The 39 Clues...buzzd

Congratulations! And thanks to all for commenting and following!

Well, the weather outside is frightful!

I always love this time of year, but this time I love it more. Mostly because I'm so grateful we are all together as a family.
My husband was in a car wreck on the freeway after the most recent snow storm. His car slid out of control in the snow when he had to swerve after another car almost hit him. He crashed into the cement median, crushing the rear of the car and tearing off the back bumper.
He was stuck there, perilously trapped on the freeway in low visibilty, freezing his bum off for an hour waiting for 911 to respond. When a cop finally showed up--he gave my husband a ticket "because he must have been driving faster than was safe for weather conditions." My husband was surprised and aghast. He explained that he had only been going 45 mph and swerved to escape a collision with a truck coming into his lane-- causing his car to spin on the snow, the cop said he had already written the ticket--so to take it up with the judge. Way to pour lemon juice into a paper cut, huh?
Merry Frickin' Christmas, Quota Boy.
BUT thankfully the car was the only thing damaged--The pile up that could have happened and the injuries or deaths that could have occurred makes my stomach feel like a bag of ice cubes. So, who cares that we need a new car and have a ticket and all that. I'm not going to lie-- this has been a rough year in a lot of ways, but Christmas is one week away and my hubby is here with us. I'm snug inside the house with all of my shopping done and all of the gifts wrapped--The kids are out of school and we can spend fun time with them baking, partying, caroling, playing games and watching Christmas movies. Life is swell.
It's kind of like at the end of It's A Wonderful Life... maybe things were still a little tough-- but George Bailey was alive! So somehow it was all good.

Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!

200 Follower $70 CSN Giveaway!

2010-12-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

This time of year can be frantic with all of the parties, decorating, performances, baking and shopping. Shopping can be a nightmare just trying to decide what to get for people and fighting the crowds. Last year I did a lot of my shopping online and it was great! From the comfort of home I pushed some buttons and the gifts came to my door a few days later. Ahhh! CSN online stores makes it easy. And you can find a vast array of products on one site-- from a laptop messenger bag to movies, games, toys and housewares. (= So convenient.

I have 200 FABULOUS FOLLOWERS and since Holidays are here and it's time to shop, I thought I would do another CSN $70 Giveaway to celebrate! You must be a follower to enter.

Simply enter once by leaving a comment, twice if you comment and tweet it, and three times if you mention this giveaway on your blog. That's it.

And as an additional thank you to all of you for following me and sharing your awesomeness with me-- I will also draw a name for two more prizes.

This time I thought I would have a prize for the men...and nothing kicks more trash than the movie SHAFT (the original 1971 version!)-- that's how cool and unstoppable I feel now that I have 200 Followers, oh yeah.
"They say this cat Shaft is a bad mother
SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
I'm talkin' 'bout Shaft.
THEN WE CAN DIG IT!"

The last prize is Rick Riordon's 39 Clues. A fun one for the kids!

So enter below. I will draw for the CSN giveaway first on Saturday December 18th.
Thanks for following and have a Happy Holiday!

The Hating Game...

2010-11-30T23:11:00.000-08:00

And for today's good karma...

Help Talli Roland's debut novel THE HATING GAME hit the Kindle bestseller list at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk by spreading the word today. Even a few sales in a short period of time on Amazon helps push the book up the rankings, making it more visible to other readers.

Click the links and get this awesome book on your Kindle!

Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/hNBkJk

Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/hX2ieD

No Kindle? Download a free app at Amazon for Mac, iPhone, PC, Android and more.

Coming soon in paperback. Keep up with the latest at www.talliroland.com.

About THE HATING GAME:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £2000,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

I'm clicking over there to get my own copy right now! (=

Blog Award and Gratitude

2010-11-23T16:56:00.000-08:00

What better news on a blizzard-watch day... I was given this bright and cheerful award by Margo Kelly. Thanks girl! Check out her great blog.

To pass on the good karma here are five blogs I'm passing the award to. Check them out!
1.Samantha Bennett
2.Theresa Milstein
3.Phoenix
4.Lola Sharp
5.Tammigirl

And with Thanksgiving looming (I'm hosting dinner for the masses) I thought I'd list some things I'm grateful to God for.
A cozy house, a good man, my 3 sons and all of my huge, expansive family, friends, good books, hard working people who make the world a better place, organic and healthy food, running water and indoor plumbing, music, hot cocoa on a snowy or wet day, my writers group Writers Cubed, classic films, yoga, wise teachers, new couches, paid off mini-van, black nail polish, charities, the coast, camping, redwood trees, yummy smells, soft bed, the good surgeons at Shriners and Primary Childrens' hospital, second chances, holidays, my country, my health, and the trials that have made me stronger. And that's just the tip of the iceberg of "gratitudeness". (=

Stay tuned for another great $70 CSN Giveaway for you to spend just in time for the holidays!

Writers Cubed-- New Website!

2010-11-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago I joined a writers group of amazing and talented people. With their support and passion I've been able to finish several drafts of my novel, start a sequel and really dig into the biz of writing. I have learned so much from the group. Each person contributes with unique strengths and with a style all their own. Not only are we babes who write, but we sing, play, laugh and pull all nighters like nobody's business. We love writing and we love each other. It has been an incredible journey. Writing can be a solitary enterprise. Finding like-minded people to bounce things off of and to "have my back" has made the creative process so collabortaive and fun that sometimes I forget that it is hard work!

Our group, Writers Cubed has just launched our website http://writerscubed.com/ . Our mission statement is:

"To become better writers through collaborative practice and study, to encourage perseverance by combating self-doubt, and to validate members and other writers by helping them realize and achieve their full writing potential."

Currently, we are putting together an exciting Teen Authors Bootcamp for Spring 2011, where young writers can mingle with authors and learn from gifted professionals in a series of little power-up classes. There will be activities, food and plenty of fuel for the creative fires of young and upcoming writers. More on this to come.

Check out our new website Writers Cubed and follow our blog.
Keep on writing!

Cool stuff

2010-10-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

Clark is alwys busy creating something awesome. Working on an indie sci-fi movie right now as well as building some guy a pirate ship for a Halloween party. He's also making a prosthetic face for one of my boy's costumes and some legit fangs for me. (= I will post pics!
To see some more things he has done check out THIS LINK.

Also just felt like mentioning that, in case you have not heard, Alex Cavenaugh's book, CassaStar came out this month! I for one, will get a copy.

Whenever someone gets their book out there I feel even more encouraged as I trudge through edits on my WIP. Sometimes I feel like I hate my book...but a little voice keeps telling me that it's worthwhile and that I shouldn't give up on it. In fact, I really think its going to be good--and I mean that in the least cocky way possible. I am so forunate to have a great writing group, Writers Cubed, who help keep me going. And a bunch of beta readers who gave me great feedback on my early drafts and helped me realize I was on to something special. To all my writing friends out there-- suround yourself with support and keep on writing!

Do something nice for someone--pass the good karma and have a fabulous weekend everyone. (=

Food of Immaculate Conception

2010-10-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

My husband likes to cook and he's actually really good at it. I really appreciate his flair for flavor and his helping hand on the kitchen front.

BUT...

I have this pet peeve...he's messy when he cooks. I know it's all part of his creative process and he's totally the artist in and out of the kitchen and I get that...it just drives me nuts.

I mean, everything gets left out. The spices, the utensils used to stir--and there are several for some reason. Plus an assortment of random bowls and dishes used to mix things, knives and several chopping boards. Somehow there are spills and splatters and used paper towels and scraps all over the place. What in the world?

I have this thing...well, ok it sounds kinda OCD, but when I cook or do anything in the kitchen I put away stuff and clean as I go. In fact, I love it when the food is ready and the kitchen looks as if it wasn't used. Like the food just materialized in all of its yummy glory, without a chef. Immaculate conception.

It is such a satisfying feeling. Then I can relax and enjoy the food, facing only minimal cleanup after the meal. Is that weird?

Today I made and canned apple butter and raspberry jam, a messy and involved process. But when I pulled the last batch of jars out of the boiling water the kitchen was shining and nothing was out on the counter except some gleaming jars neatly lined up, filled with fruity goodness...yay me. (=

Sigh.

So I want to hear what some of your peeves or quirks are. What drives you nuts or makes you say "Yay me"?

Spill. I know I'm not the only weird one. (=