One thing I've wanted a long time, but couldn't justify the spending of, was an e-reader. Netbooks and laptops have come down in price and one could pick up a decent laptop for the price of an e-reader, and have more capabilities than just read e-books.
Spike had been promising to get me one when we could afford one, but I've been shying away from choosing one because of price. I didn't want an expensive one, I didn't want one I needed to pay for access, and I didn't want one that did everything under the sun. I just wanted an e-reader.
I spent a couple of months debating, comparing capabilities, pricing, etc. Borders sent me an ad for their new Kobo e-reader. It's not available yet, but I could pre-order. It's got 8,000 page turns before needing a recharge, it holds 1,000 books, but more if you use the memory card slot.
Well, I'd have to pre-order through Borders and they've already sold out their first shipment, and the second wouldn't be until July.
We were running some errands and we stopped into Best Buy, up in South Hill, Puyallup. We were looking for a DVD, but I wanted to see what they offered in e-readers. One of the salespeople, by the name of Shannon, was awesome. We must have talked for about 20 minutes. As it turned out, she's an aspiring author. She has a couple of shorts written and one ready for submission. I gave her a few of my cover art cards and we talked writing for a good while. We commiserated together about writers' getting into that "zone" and neglecting everything else, the need for privacy by using pen names, the fear of submission, rejection, and the joy of writing. She's writing paranormal romances as well! LOL.
Anyway, she has a Sony Touch. She didn't just try to sell the Touch, but she gave the pros and cons of the different e-readers. She pointed out that Nooks and Kobos are plastic and flex more easily than the Sony, which are made of metal. This made sense to me. Spike tested a Nook there and agreed later that the flex on the Nook was obvious, the risk to the screen shattering was greater.
So, the temptation was there. I'd been saying i just wanted an e-reader. I didn't need one to play music, I didn't even need a touch screen, but they had the Sony Touch there, marked down from $299 to $249. I hemmed and hawed. It was still a bit pricey to me, but Spike said to go ahead. So I chose a black Sony Touch and picked up a wall charger for it. Took it up to the register and used my business account to pay for it.Who knows, maybe a tax write off? As it turned out, it rang up for $199.
Heck, yeah! Hehehe.
Still, a bit much, but I'm now a proud, new owner of a Sony Touch. As soon as it finished charging, I loaded "Moonlight and Magick",as well as some music on it. Just skimming the pages of my novel on an e-reader is a heady experience.
Now, I'll begin to shop for a few e-books. I have a list I want to look into. *Grin*
May 29, 2010
May 28, 2010
Sonya Clark Interview
Sonya, thanks for taking the time to visit! Let’s launch into the grilling, errr…interview, shall we? =)
First question, what do you like least about the writing process? What do you like best?
The hardest part of writing for me is when I’m just getting started with a new work in progress. It’s always frustrating to have a few pieces of a story, like pieces of a puzzle, but I haven’t figured out how to put the pieces together yet. Once I’ve figured that out, though, it seems like the rest of the story will come together fairly quickly. Getting to a point where I really know my main character, really understand them, is great because that does so much for the story as a whole. Sometimes I have to write quite a bit for that to happen, but it’s always worth the wait.
Tell us about your most recent release.
Bring on the Night is an urban fantasy novella about a vampire tasked with stopping a gang of monsters who’ve gone on a killing spree. They’re killing innocent people, something she abhors, and they’re attracting too much attention from mortals, something that could be dangerous for the world of vampires and other creatures. I’ve always loved those anti-heroes from noir, the tough guys on the fringe who believe in protecting society even though they are separate from it for whatever reason. I also love anything paranormal, so having a vampire as the main character just kind of happened naturally. I made my vampire a female because I get tired of gender stereotypes.
What genre do you prefer to write? Is there a genre you’d like to write in that you haven’t tried yet?
I really love urban fantasy because you can do so much with it. There’s all sorts of things that go bump in the night that you can craft stories around, and you can make those things either the good guys, or the bad guys, or both. At this point my vampires have been mostly good guys, but I’d like to write something eventually where they are full-on absolute monsters. As far as another genre, I’d like to try romance. It might be tricky for me to write a romance because I find a lot of the alpha male tropes a bit stale. How about a romance with a bookish, handsome nerd instead? And it’s the woman who is daring and worldly and seductive? I don’t know if anyone would want to read something like that, other than me. And yes, I have a thing about gender stereotypes. I like to flip them on their heads.
What do you like to read?
I love a lot of urban fantasy and some paranormal romance. Mystery novels, horror. I’ve got about a hundred books on music – history, criticism, biographies. If you want me to talk your ear off, ask me about music. I will tell you way more than you ever wanted to know, especially about Southern music - jazz, blues, country, rock and roll. As much as I love fiction, I’d have to say some of my favorite books are non-fiction about music.
Where do you see your writing career taking you?
To be honest, I don’t really have a career plan. I know that I should, but my priorities have changed. I guess most people who grow up dreaming of being a writer think about being on the New York Times bestseller list, getting a movie deal, making enough money to go live out your expatriate dreams in Ireland or maybe Spain. (That was a big dream of mine.) Now I care more about being good than being financially successful. I care more about being able to point to something I wrote and say, this is damn good, and I know it. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there but I’m going to keep working.
Do you ever use people you know as characters in your book?
I might borrow a characteristic or some little something but I’ve never based a character on someone I knew. I don’t think it’s a good idea to do that because what if they read it? The idea of people I know reading my work is strange enough without adding that into the mix.
What’s your favorite leisure activity? Why?
Does my obsession with music count as a leisure activity? It’s certainly something I enjoy. I live halfway between Memphis and Nashville and I’ve visited a lot of music-related places, both in Tennessee and Mississippi. I love discovering music that is new to me. I’m not sure why I love music so much, it’s just always been a part of who I am.
What are you working on now?
At the moment I’m having commitment issues. ;-) I’ve had a second novel contracted by Lyrical Press called Mojo Queen and I have ideas for a sequel for it. I’ve also got ideas about a romance with a sexy nerd and a female paranormal creature of some sort (haven’t picked a creature yet.) Neither of these ideas have gelled enough that I know what’s really going on in the story, if that makes sense.
Do you have an evil day job, and if you do, how do you find time to write?
No day job right now so I’m able to devote a good amount of time to writing.
What does your family and friends think about you being a published author?
My husband is very supportive of my writing. He enjoys reading what I write and he’s very proud of me for getting published.
Do you identify with the characters you write about?
I’m not sure how to answer that. I mean, I guess I must to some extent or I wouldn’t be writing them. It seems like I’ve always got at least one character that’s a music lover like me, which gives me a chance to work that in. And they’re usually outsiders to some degree, so I guess that comes from a lifetime of never quite fitting in. I’ve noticed that my outsider characters seem accepting of that status now – make of that what you will. ;-)
Where do you go when you need to recharge?
To the stereo. ;-) What kind of music helps depends on what kind of mood I’m in, though usually Miles Davis is always a winner.
When and why did you begin writing?
I think the oldest stories I have are from the second grade, and at thirteen I knew that I wanted to be an author. As for why I write, it’s like with the music – it’s just always been who I am. It’s not something I’ve ever tried to decipher. I’ve tried to figure out why I like urban fantasy and paranormal so much, and I think it has to do with metaphor. Monsters serve as a good metaphor for things I might not otherwise want to write about, at least not with my name attached.
Does reader’s feedback help you with your writing? Is feedback something that is very important to you?
I’ve never been part of a writer’s group or had a critique partner, so I’ve never had a whole lot of feedback. It never really bothered me until the last few years when I started to get serious about writing. I would love to have feedback and as scared as I am about getting my first reviews, I’m also looking forward to it. I want to know what I need to do better. Anyone that reads Bring on the Night is more than welcome to email me at clarksonyab@gmail.com
How about a look at your cover art and a blurb?
Only a vampire can own the night.
If there’s one thing Jessie hates, it’s going after her own kind. She may be used to taking a bite out of human killers, but she leaves her fellow immortals alone.
It’s only after a series of gruesome murders have her suspecting vampires and werewolves are going after innocents does she set out to put a stop to it.
It’s not long that Jessie finds herself racing against the waxing moon to stop an ambitious gang of monsters with a sinister agenda.
(You can find Sonya's novella here at Lyrical Press, Inc.)
Learn more about Sonya Clark at her blog, http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/
First question, what do you like least about the writing process? What do you like best?
The hardest part of writing for me is when I’m just getting started with a new work in progress. It’s always frustrating to have a few pieces of a story, like pieces of a puzzle, but I haven’t figured out how to put the pieces together yet. Once I’ve figured that out, though, it seems like the rest of the story will come together fairly quickly. Getting to a point where I really know my main character, really understand them, is great because that does so much for the story as a whole. Sometimes I have to write quite a bit for that to happen, but it’s always worth the wait.
Tell us about your most recent release.
Bring on the Night is an urban fantasy novella about a vampire tasked with stopping a gang of monsters who’ve gone on a killing spree. They’re killing innocent people, something she abhors, and they’re attracting too much attention from mortals, something that could be dangerous for the world of vampires and other creatures. I’ve always loved those anti-heroes from noir, the tough guys on the fringe who believe in protecting society even though they are separate from it for whatever reason. I also love anything paranormal, so having a vampire as the main character just kind of happened naturally. I made my vampire a female because I get tired of gender stereotypes.
What genre do you prefer to write? Is there a genre you’d like to write in that you haven’t tried yet?
I really love urban fantasy because you can do so much with it. There’s all sorts of things that go bump in the night that you can craft stories around, and you can make those things either the good guys, or the bad guys, or both. At this point my vampires have been mostly good guys, but I’d like to write something eventually where they are full-on absolute monsters. As far as another genre, I’d like to try romance. It might be tricky for me to write a romance because I find a lot of the alpha male tropes a bit stale. How about a romance with a bookish, handsome nerd instead? And it’s the woman who is daring and worldly and seductive? I don’t know if anyone would want to read something like that, other than me. And yes, I have a thing about gender stereotypes. I like to flip them on their heads.
What do you like to read?
I love a lot of urban fantasy and some paranormal romance. Mystery novels, horror. I’ve got about a hundred books on music – history, criticism, biographies. If you want me to talk your ear off, ask me about music. I will tell you way more than you ever wanted to know, especially about Southern music - jazz, blues, country, rock and roll. As much as I love fiction, I’d have to say some of my favorite books are non-fiction about music.
Where do you see your writing career taking you?
To be honest, I don’t really have a career plan. I know that I should, but my priorities have changed. I guess most people who grow up dreaming of being a writer think about being on the New York Times bestseller list, getting a movie deal, making enough money to go live out your expatriate dreams in Ireland or maybe Spain. (That was a big dream of mine.) Now I care more about being good than being financially successful. I care more about being able to point to something I wrote and say, this is damn good, and I know it. I don’t know if I’ll ever get there but I’m going to keep working.
Do you ever use people you know as characters in your book?
I might borrow a characteristic or some little something but I’ve never based a character on someone I knew. I don’t think it’s a good idea to do that because what if they read it? The idea of people I know reading my work is strange enough without adding that into the mix.
What’s your favorite leisure activity? Why?
Does my obsession with music count as a leisure activity? It’s certainly something I enjoy. I live halfway between Memphis and Nashville and I’ve visited a lot of music-related places, both in Tennessee and Mississippi. I love discovering music that is new to me. I’m not sure why I love music so much, it’s just always been a part of who I am.
What are you working on now?
At the moment I’m having commitment issues. ;-) I’ve had a second novel contracted by Lyrical Press called Mojo Queen and I have ideas for a sequel for it. I’ve also got ideas about a romance with a sexy nerd and a female paranormal creature of some sort (haven’t picked a creature yet.) Neither of these ideas have gelled enough that I know what’s really going on in the story, if that makes sense.
Do you have an evil day job, and if you do, how do you find time to write?
No day job right now so I’m able to devote a good amount of time to writing.
What does your family and friends think about you being a published author?
My husband is very supportive of my writing. He enjoys reading what I write and he’s very proud of me for getting published.
Do you identify with the characters you write about?
I’m not sure how to answer that. I mean, I guess I must to some extent or I wouldn’t be writing them. It seems like I’ve always got at least one character that’s a music lover like me, which gives me a chance to work that in. And they’re usually outsiders to some degree, so I guess that comes from a lifetime of never quite fitting in. I’ve noticed that my outsider characters seem accepting of that status now – make of that what you will. ;-)
Where do you go when you need to recharge?
To the stereo. ;-) What kind of music helps depends on what kind of mood I’m in, though usually Miles Davis is always a winner.
When and why did you begin writing?
I think the oldest stories I have are from the second grade, and at thirteen I knew that I wanted to be an author. As for why I write, it’s like with the music – it’s just always been who I am. It’s not something I’ve ever tried to decipher. I’ve tried to figure out why I like urban fantasy and paranormal so much, and I think it has to do with metaphor. Monsters serve as a good metaphor for things I might not otherwise want to write about, at least not with my name attached.
Does reader’s feedback help you with your writing? Is feedback something that is very important to you?
I’ve never been part of a writer’s group or had a critique partner, so I’ve never had a whole lot of feedback. It never really bothered me until the last few years when I started to get serious about writing. I would love to have feedback and as scared as I am about getting my first reviews, I’m also looking forward to it. I want to know what I need to do better. Anyone that reads Bring on the Night is more than welcome to email me at clarksonyab@gmail.com
How about a look at your cover art and a blurb?
If there’s one thing Jessie hates, it’s going after her own kind. She may be used to taking a bite out of human killers, but she leaves her fellow immortals alone.
It’s only after a series of gruesome murders have her suspecting vampires and werewolves are going after innocents does she set out to put a stop to it.
It’s not long that Jessie finds herself racing against the waxing moon to stop an ambitious gang of monsters with a sinister agenda.
(You can find Sonya's novella here at Lyrical Press, Inc.)
Learn more about Sonya Clark at her blog, http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/
Awesome, Sonya! Thanks for answering my questions.
May 26, 2010
Mid-life crisis and makeup...
Ahhh, I've hit mid-life crisis. Why else would I blog and snap a million pictures, of my makeup case and write about ordering and receiving said makeup? LOL
When I was younger, I wore cover up and eyeliner. That was pretty much it. Mostly because I couldn't put makeup on like the other girls, no one taught me. There were no classes in school that teaches one to apply makeup. My sister, two years younger, hadn't perfected her technique, nor taken cosmetology classes yet, so I did as I always had as I hit my 20's.
After having my daughter, who had time for makeup? LOL. I was lucky if I could put myself in a tshirt and jeans. No place to go, anyway. I was a parent. No more night clubbing, no more dinners out, no more social life. If I went out for a rare special occasion, my sister did my hair and makeup because I'd fly into a panic at the thought of going out, of having to make myself pretty.
And then...
Someone flipped a switch and OMG! Makeup!
You know, my sister will read this and laugh her ass off.
So, for my birthday, I ordered from Eyes Lips Face (because OMG! Makeup! is MUCH better when it's OMG! Makeup for a $1.00!) as a treat for myself. Plus, I really needed new stuff. Well, let's show you why...
(Some of this stuff was OLD...!)
And so, this is what I got in the mail today!
All of that (well, the brushes were free if I spent $20 or more!) for about $29.00 including shipping.
I so love Eyes Lips Face.
When I was younger, I wore cover up and eyeliner. That was pretty much it. Mostly because I couldn't put makeup on like the other girls, no one taught me. There were no classes in school that teaches one to apply makeup. My sister, two years younger, hadn't perfected her technique, nor taken cosmetology classes yet, so I did as I always had as I hit my 20's.
After having my daughter, who had time for makeup? LOL. I was lucky if I could put myself in a tshirt and jeans. No place to go, anyway. I was a parent. No more night clubbing, no more dinners out, no more social life. If I went out for a rare special occasion, my sister did my hair and makeup because I'd fly into a panic at the thought of going out, of having to make myself pretty.
And then...
Someone flipped a switch and OMG! Makeup!
You know, my sister will read this and laugh her ass off.
So, for my birthday, I ordered from Eyes Lips Face (because OMG! Makeup! is MUCH better when it's OMG! Makeup for a $1.00!) as a treat for myself. Plus, I really needed new stuff. Well, let's show you why...
(Some of this stuff was OLD...!)
And so, this is what I got in the mail today!
All of that (well, the brushes were free if I spent $20 or more!) for about $29.00 including shipping.
I so love Eyes Lips Face.
May 24, 2010
Clash of the Covers...
Uhhh...wow! My novel's cover is up for Clash of the Covers. http://embracetheshadows.wordp
Hey, show some love and vote!
Wow...I'm actually stunned.
May 23, 2010
This and that...
Nothing says you're a real author than when you find your first novel up for free download on a pirate site. It was a forum and one of the posts had a link to a download site. I joined up just enough to post, letting them know while I appreciated the free advertisement, I would rather they didn't pirate my book because I'd like to get paid for my work.
The next day, the thread had been removed from the forum. LOL.
I also followed the link to a download hub for P2P downloads, and left them a Cease and Desist notice, although they have a disclaimer about copyrighted items since they don't host the downloads, but they'd investigate it. We'll see.
How sad is it that I'm excited that I picked up a glucose meter? LOL Wal*Mart had one for $9.00 and I've been wanting one for years. My parents are borderline diabetic, controlling it with diet, and as I am a "fluffy" girl, I need to be on the extra careful watch of this. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, but they caught it so late in the pregnancy, it didn't matter all that much in regards to medications or diet. So, Mr. Nursing Student Husband has been practicing on me. Heh, we're going to run out of lancets and test strips just on me. I keep telling him to "poke me", and not in the way he wants. LOL.
I've been waffling back and forth between reviews. I've not received any reviews for my book and this worries me. It's that bad? Then, I worry that someone will post a bad review and then everyone will know it sucks, so I'm afraid to submit it to any review sites. Yes, I'm a big chicken. Of course, then I hear authors don't pay attention to reviews because they're just opinions and everyone has one. One person may like it, the next will hate it, and do reviews really matter?
In to chapter nine of "Dead of Night". I'm halfway through writing the book!
Be sure to check out my interview at Sonya's blog... http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/2010/05/guest-post-and-giveaway-from-author.html (Pssst! There's a giveaway!)
The next day, the thread had been removed from the forum. LOL.
I also followed the link to a download hub for P2P downloads, and left them a Cease and Desist notice, although they have a disclaimer about copyrighted items since they don't host the downloads, but they'd investigate it. We'll see.
How sad is it that I'm excited that I picked up a glucose meter? LOL Wal*Mart had one for $9.00 and I've been wanting one for years. My parents are borderline diabetic, controlling it with diet, and as I am a "fluffy" girl, I need to be on the extra careful watch of this. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant, but they caught it so late in the pregnancy, it didn't matter all that much in regards to medications or diet. So, Mr. Nursing Student Husband has been practicing on me. Heh, we're going to run out of lancets and test strips just on me. I keep telling him to "poke me", and not in the way he wants. LOL.
I've been waffling back and forth between reviews. I've not received any reviews for my book and this worries me. It's that bad? Then, I worry that someone will post a bad review and then everyone will know it sucks, so I'm afraid to submit it to any review sites. Yes, I'm a big chicken. Of course, then I hear authors don't pay attention to reviews because they're just opinions and everyone has one. One person may like it, the next will hate it, and do reviews really matter?
In to chapter nine of "Dead of Night". I'm halfway through writing the book!
Be sure to check out my interview at Sonya's blog... http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/2010/05/guest-post-and-giveaway-from-author.html (Pssst! There's a giveaway!)
May 18, 2010
Odds and Ends...
Today, I guest blogged at Savvy Readers blog. It was a bit late notice, I know, but Terry called me and asked if I could put something together and so I did. Go check it out.
Tomorrow, I'm being posted at Midnight Seductions.
My mom's birthday is tomorrow! I'd say wish her a happy birthday, but she'd kill me if I gave out her email. LOL.
I had a few people ask me about the makeup I did on my birthday. A former friend gave me a link to an online makeup site that I LOVE. It's called Eyes, Lips, Face, or E.L.F.
Dude! They have makeup for a $1.00!!!
I just placed a second order with them this morning. My first order was a year ago, and I picked up a few items to try. I received an email saying I'd get a free brush set if I ordered $20 or more. I needed a new brush set! LOL.
Anyway, I ordered a BUNCH of new eyeshadows and eyeliners. I'll post pics and a review of the makeup when I get the package. I just wanted the brush set! LOL. I needed a new set and hopefully this one will be labeled as to what each brush is. If not, I'll be labeling them myself. =) I'm still new to the makeup brushes thing. I normally use those little sponge pad applicators that come in the eyeshadow packs from Wal*Mart or my fingers, so the whole brush thing is interesting. =)
What else?
Working on "Dead of Night". One of the characters just bit it and trying to write the aftermath has been emotional. Can't really type when you're sobbing, you know. LOL.
My Chinese novel is set aside for now. I have to do some rewriting of parts because it's too similar to M&M in some aspects. Bleh. Hehehehe.
That's it for now.
Tomorrow, I'm being posted at Midnight Seductions.
My mom's birthday is tomorrow! I'd say wish her a happy birthday, but she'd kill me if I gave out her email. LOL.
I had a few people ask me about the makeup I did on my birthday. A former friend gave me a link to an online makeup site that I LOVE. It's called Eyes, Lips, Face, or E.L.F.
Dude! They have makeup for a $1.00!!!
I just placed a second order with them this morning. My first order was a year ago, and I picked up a few items to try. I received an email saying I'd get a free brush set if I ordered $20 or more. I needed a new brush set! LOL.
Anyway, I ordered a BUNCH of new eyeshadows and eyeliners. I'll post pics and a review of the makeup when I get the package. I just wanted the brush set! LOL. I needed a new set and hopefully this one will be labeled as to what each brush is. If not, I'll be labeling them myself. =) I'm still new to the makeup brushes thing. I normally use those little sponge pad applicators that come in the eyeshadow packs from Wal*Mart or my fingers, so the whole brush thing is interesting. =)
What else?
Working on "Dead of Night". One of the characters just bit it and trying to write the aftermath has been emotional. Can't really type when you're sobbing, you know. LOL.
My Chinese novel is set aside for now. I have to do some rewriting of parts because it's too similar to M&M in some aspects. Bleh. Hehehehe.
That's it for now.
May 12, 2010
Birthday Recap...
Today has been great! =)
I appreciate all my friends wishing me a happy birthday on Facebook. I can't remember any year in which so many people took the time to wish me a happy birthday. Everyone has been so supportive and friendly, even if we've never met in person. Warm fuzzies abound!
My sister couldn't make it over this morning. She was going to help me learn how to do the "smokey look" for my eyes. First, I have NEVER been able to do makeup other than the usual eyeliner and foundation. Sometimes, a light eyeshadow, but usually, if I'm wearing makeup and it looks WOW, my sister came over to do it. LOL. She's a licensed cosmetologist, so she's always done my hair and makeup for those special days.
Well, I got a free sample of Covergirl's "Smoky Shadow Blast" to try out. It's a double tipped, two colored eyeshadow applicator. The rounded tip goes on first, then you flip it over and use the tapered tip to do the crease of your eyes, then blend to create the smokey look.
Umm...I'm half Chinese and I have the Chinese hooded eyes. I have no crease to use for the contour color! LOL. After trying to apply this stuff without a crease, it got tossed to the counter and my face was washed, amidst some cussing.
Grabbing my makeup case, I pulled out some of my eyeshadows to use. U looked up some tutorials on YouTube and with my laptop in the bathroom with me and much use of the pause button, I tried this tutorial out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLxMfBL6QqE&feature=related
(I love the way this woman looks. She's gorgeous!)
Anyway, I did try. Unfortunately, it looked like I caked the eyeshadow on. UGH. I washed my face again to start over, with much more cussing.
This time, I went with this tutorial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWIk5c7jRuw
I don't know if it's because the guy talked through the steps, or what, but even with the extra steps in his tutorial, I actually managed to do the makeup! So...here is the result... (as always, click to enlarge)
Oh, the necklace! Hehehe. I bought the necklace from a local jewel crafter who I had befriended on LiveJournal. This woman is AMAZING. She not only creates necklaces, and other jewelry, she also cards her own wool, knits, dyes her wool, and spins (spinning wheel). Her name is Ann and you MUST visit her Etsy store - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ebonraven
Here's a closeup of the necklace.
Click to enlarge, of course, but the center piece is obsidian (hand wire wrapped with silver wire), as well as the bell shaped beads on either side. Beneath those are garnet beads, and in the center of the serpent pieces near by neck are more garnet pieces. I fell in love with this necklace when I saw it on her website and I all but begged and pleaded with Spike for permission to buy it. =)
Why dress up? Because Spike and Pixie-Brat took me out to "Linner" (Pixie-Brat's word for a meal too late for lunch, but too early for dinner) at Sumay, an Indian Restaurant, here in Puyallup.
Lamb mango curry, naan (center, background), saffron rice (center foreground), and chicken curry. We had leftovers! Hehehe. Pixie-Brat and I both had mango lassi as our beverages. YUM!
To end the night, we finished with a birthday cake. Not just any old birthday cake though. Oh, no! I've been hinting for YEARS I've wanted an ice cream cake for my birthday, and years went by without one.
Not this year! I actually got my ice cream cake!
This birthday has been the best! My first book released, a birthday filled with greatness, awesome makeup. I feel really great!
I appreciate all my friends wishing me a happy birthday on Facebook. I can't remember any year in which so many people took the time to wish me a happy birthday. Everyone has been so supportive and friendly, even if we've never met in person. Warm fuzzies abound!
My sister couldn't make it over this morning. She was going to help me learn how to do the "smokey look" for my eyes. First, I have NEVER been able to do makeup other than the usual eyeliner and foundation. Sometimes, a light eyeshadow, but usually, if I'm wearing makeup and it looks WOW, my sister came over to do it. LOL. She's a licensed cosmetologist, so she's always done my hair and makeup for those special days.
Well, I got a free sample of Covergirl's "Smoky Shadow Blast" to try out. It's a double tipped, two colored eyeshadow applicator. The rounded tip goes on first, then you flip it over and use the tapered tip to do the crease of your eyes, then blend to create the smokey look.
Umm...I'm half Chinese and I have the Chinese hooded eyes. I have no crease to use for the contour color! LOL. After trying to apply this stuff without a crease, it got tossed to the counter and my face was washed, amidst some cussing.
Grabbing my makeup case, I pulled out some of my eyeshadows to use. U looked up some tutorials on YouTube and with my laptop in the bathroom with me and much use of the pause button, I tried this tutorial out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLxMfBL6QqE&feature=related
(I love the way this woman looks. She's gorgeous!)
Anyway, I did try. Unfortunately, it looked like I caked the eyeshadow on. UGH. I washed my face again to start over, with much more cussing.
This time, I went with this tutorial - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWIk5c7jRuw
I don't know if it's because the guy talked through the steps, or what, but even with the extra steps in his tutorial, I actually managed to do the makeup! So...here is the result... (as always, click to enlarge)
(By the way - that's not a blonde streak. LOL - I have grey hair growing in a streak!)
Oh, the necklace! Hehehe. I bought the necklace from a local jewel crafter who I had befriended on LiveJournal. This woman is AMAZING. She not only creates necklaces, and other jewelry, she also cards her own wool, knits, dyes her wool, and spins (spinning wheel). Her name is Ann and you MUST visit her Etsy store - http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ebonraven
Here's a closeup of the necklace.
Click to enlarge, of course, but the center piece is obsidian (hand wire wrapped with silver wire), as well as the bell shaped beads on either side. Beneath those are garnet beads, and in the center of the serpent pieces near by neck are more garnet pieces. I fell in love with this necklace when I saw it on her website and I all but begged and pleaded with Spike for permission to buy it. =)
Why dress up? Because Spike and Pixie-Brat took me out to "Linner" (Pixie-Brat's word for a meal too late for lunch, but too early for dinner) at Sumay, an Indian Restaurant, here in Puyallup.
To end the night, we finished with a birthday cake. Not just any old birthday cake though. Oh, no! I've been hinting for YEARS I've wanted an ice cream cake for my birthday, and years went by without one.
Not this year! I actually got my ice cream cake!
This birthday has been the best! My first book released, a birthday filled with greatness, awesome makeup. I feel really great!
May 11, 2010
Check it out!
http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com
One lucky commenter will win a copy of "Moonlight and Magick"!
May 10, 2010
Berry Salad
5 cups mixed greens (or use whatever you want - I like baby spinach)
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1 1/4 cups raspberries
2 TB toasted almonds, cashews, or hazelnuts, chopped
1 TB blue cheese (omit if you'd rather - I do!)
1/3 cup raspberry vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp ground pepper
Rinse mixed greens and drain well. Lay in bowl or on individual plates. Top with fruit and chopped nuts, (and blue cheese, if you're using).
Whisk or shake olive oil, vinegar, and pepper until combined. Drizzle over salad.
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1 1/4 cups raspberries
2 TB toasted almonds, cashews, or hazelnuts, chopped
1 TB blue cheese (omit if you'd rather - I do!)
1/3 cup raspberry vinegar
1 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp ground pepper
Rinse mixed greens and drain well. Lay in bowl or on individual plates. Top with fruit and chopped nuts, (and blue cheese, if you're using).
Whisk or shake olive oil, vinegar, and pepper until combined. Drizzle over salad.
Happy Monday! (There is such a thing!)
Spike cooked breakfast and then did the yard work. For dinner, he BBQed some elk steaks and baked some oysters wrapped in spinach with some "secret seasonings". It was all very YUMMY.
Of course, I'm paying for my laziness today as I scramble to catch up on my chores. Laundry, dishes, straining the beef broth I made on Saturday to throw into the freezer.
This morning, as I was waiting for Pixie-Brat's bus, there was a patch of clover at my feet. When I looked down, something caught my eye. When I knelt down, I saw it was a four leaf clover! I'll be 38 on Wednesday. This is the FIRST four leaf clover I've ever found!
Today marks one week for the release of "Moonlight and Magick". I'm hoping you're liking/liked the story! Tomorrow, I'm blogging at Lyrical Press, Inc. (http://lyricalpress.blogspot.com/) so don't forget to check it out. I'll be giving away a copy of my e-book to one lucky person who leaves a comment. =)
I've been considering deleting my Twitter account. I'm rarely on there. The only reason I got an account is no longer applicable (long story, we'll just say there was a parting of friends). I'm finding Facebook is so much easier to keep in contact with people (friends, family, readers) and I have more options, better control, and more characters to use that Twitter's 140 limit.
I know Twitter is suppose to be great for networking and promoting, but really?
Anyway!
Been thinking of instigating a guest blogger/interview once or twice a month. As you recall, I interviewed Sandra Sookoo. I have someone lined up for later this month. (She's still working on the interview questions. Apparently, I make them a bit in-depth. LOL) If you're a poet/writer/author, or have a cool or interesting hobby...OR deal with Depression and/or Social Anxiety and want to share on my blog, email me. (isobael at gmail dot com)
Happy Monday, friends!
May 9, 2010
Happy Mom's Day!
Wishing a Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. Hope you're enjoying your day!
Hehehehe...I'm not even out of my pajamas. I'm being incredibly lazy. The only "work" I did today, so far, was give the cat a bath...because no one in the house is brave enough to risk the wrath of Isis. LOL.
Taking a break from writing today as well. Will return to work tomorrow, but for today, I'm doing what I want. Which is listening to Spike do yard work. *Grin*
Here's to hoping you're having a wonderful, lazy day!
Hehehehe...I'm not even out of my pajamas. I'm being incredibly lazy. The only "work" I did today, so far, was give the cat a bath...because no one in the house is brave enough to risk the wrath of Isis. LOL.
Taking a break from writing today as well. Will return to work tomorrow, but for today, I'm doing what I want. Which is listening to Spike do yard work. *Grin*
Here's to hoping you're having a wonderful, lazy day!
May 8, 2010
Lilian was interviewed! =)
Hey! Check out an interview with Lilian Quinn, my heroine in "Moonlight and Magick"! She's being interviewed over at Naughty Little Vamp's Blog... http://naughtylittlevamp.blogspot.com/?zx=572e51e24fd5593e
May 7, 2010
My first blog guest! Let's welcome Sandra Sookoo!
I’d like to introduce Sandra Sookoo to my blog as my first guest blogger and interviewee.
Welcome, Sandra. I’m honored to have you as a guest on my humble blog. Would you please tell us a little about yourself?
Thanks for having me as part of my Fangs, Fur and Boys with Fast Toys summer blog tour! Hmm, a little about me…Well, I’ve been writing since I was 10 but didn’t “get serious” about it until a few years ago. I live in Indiana with my hubby of seven years.
What inspires you to write? Where do you get your ideas?
Everything around me inspires me. One of my favorite things to do is people watch at malls. Great character studies and I love to imagine what their lives are like. My ideas can come from pretty much anything—a movie, a conversation with someone, going to the zoo. As long as my imagination’s functioning, I’m good.
Do you identify with the characters you write about?
Most of the time, yes, with the heroines. Okay, let me rephrase that. If the heroines are of the paranormal variety then maybe not, but they all have to overcome and/or accept something they don’t like about themselves, so the answer is still yes.
Who’s your favorite of all your characters and why?
Wow, that’s a tough question! Favorite heroine? It might be Anne from my just released novella Demons and Stilettos Are A Girl’s Best Friend (you’ll have to read to the end of the interview to get the blurb and excerpt). She’s funny, feisty and owns an awful lot of fashion forward shoes that she’s too scared to wear in public. I have to say, I have a couple of pairs of heels I’ve never worn. We’ll leave it at that lol Favorite hero? Probably Nicholas from a historical/paranormal book called Unraveled Souls. He was dishy.
What project are you currently working on?
I’m just finishing a 90K paranormal book centering around dragons. It’s the third in a trilogy presented by Eirelander Publishing. The first book in the trilogy is out in print format now. Check it out at http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
Any future projects you can tell us about?
Well, after the dragon book, I’d like to do another comedic short piece to “clear my mind” so to speak. After that, I’ll be doing research then writing a full length time travel romance.
What do you like least about the writing process? What do you like best?
Wow. What do I like the least? Rejections with no explanations, loving a book but finding it doesn’t resonate with readers. I could go on. This business is not for the faint of heart. What do I like best? Writing, creating, crafting a story that I fully believe in, being so excited to pour out the words onto the screen, sharing it with my critique partner and beta readers to see if they like it too, and getting cover art of the ones accepted. Of course, getting emails from readers as excited about the book as I was is pretty darned cool too.
What do you like to do outside of writing?
When I’m not writing, the hubs and I like to travel. We frequent downtown Indianapolis a lot and play tourist, go to the zoo, try new restaurants and try to get to Disney World every year. For me, I love to cook and bake and will often turn to the kitchen if I’m stuck on a part of a book. After that, I’ll read for pleasure.
Any tips for us baby writers?
Best thing you can do? Keep writing. No matter what anyone says about your stories, no matter how many rejections you get. Work on the craft and get better but above all, never give up.
What was the best advice YOU received when you first started the author path?
LOL Exactly what I just told you.
Where do you go when you need to recharge?
Somewhere with people. Writing is such a solitary endeavor at times. When the house gets too quiet, I go out to the store and walk around, get outside and kind of expand the boundaries. A vacation helps too.
What kind of books do you read and what are your favorites?
I’ll pretty much read any genre. It really depends on my mood and how much free time I have to devote to pleasure reading. I can tell you I’ve pretty much devoted my book buying to e-published authors. I try to support them as much as I can above the print ones because I believe they deserve more support.
Anything else you’d like to add?
You can find out information on current releases and upcoming projects by visiting my website at http://www.sandrasookoo.com On the front page you’ll find recent releases, the blogs I’m a member of, recipes of the month. You can also find book excerpts there as well.
As a special incentive, one lucky commenter will receive a goodie bag filled with book related merch and a couple of stiletto related gifts. And trust me, it’s pretty spiffy. Makes me want to comment on my own interview! LOL
Now for the promo you’ve been waiting for!
Blurb: Anne Jenkins never believed there was a heaven or hell so when she’s rescued from a runaway horse by a guy who claims he’s a demon, her freak detector goes off. She demands proof and the leather-clad biker sets some local wildlife on fire. She starts to trust in a hurry.
Gregg Carter, bound to the Devil for all eternity because of an audit gone wrong, seizes the opportunity to take possession of Anne’s soul as a way to please his boss. What he didn’t count on was the fact that his libido would take the one-way bus to crazy town as he gets to know her better.
Trouble is, Anne and Gregg spend so much time trying to hide their true selves from each other, they can’t escape the attraction that builds between them. But everyone knows demons and humans don’t mix, and neither can two people who have no futures.
Excerpt: Anne glanced around, looking for hidden cameras just in case her friends were attempting to punk her. Seeing nothing but red and gold leaves that shook in the slight breeze, she turned back to the biker. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“You bet. Now, I need you to sign here testifying that I did indeed save your life and prevented the early termination of such. Because I did, the payment for my deed is one human soul, to be rendered due and payable within thirty days of the receipt of said services.” He held the pen out to her. “I do have other clients today.”
“I can’t just give you my soul. I don’t even know exactly where in my body it’s located or how a person goes about parting with it.” She took another drink. “Besides, don’t I need my soul in order to function? I’m pretty sure it’s not like an appendix or something.” Flutters filled her stomach when the smile he’d flashed earlier morphed into something smoldering and sexy.
“A human soul is only valuable if you know how to use it. To sweeten the pot, I’m prepared to give you three wishes.”
Anne snorted while she took another drink. Water shot through her nose, and tears stung her eyes. Not exactly the sort of thing that would impress a bike-riding minion from hell—not that she wanted to impress him. Damn, I must be desperate if I’m trying to catch the interest of an alleged demon.
Wiping the drops from her face with the back of her hand, she stifled another round of laughter. “Three wishes, huh? Like a magic genie?”
“No, it’s an added bonus, an incentive. Think of it as a supplement to the contract in order to cushion the blow of my taking your soul. You have thirty days to accept the offer, but be aware there are some conditions.”
“Is saving me from impending death one of the wishes?” The whole conversation felt so weird and beyond normal that Anne suddenly knew how Alice felt in the Lewis Carroll story.
“No, but at least you’re paying attention.” A smile curved his lips. “You can use the wishes on yourself or others, but they must be used in the time allowed. You can’t save them. Also, until you exhaust the wishes or they expire at the end of the specified term, I will be your constant companion—”
“I thought you had other clients?”
He huffed his disapproval. “I have a very loose schedule. Anyway, if you do not use the wishes by the end of the thirty day period, you forfeit them, and I still take your soul.”
“That doesn’t sound very fair.” Anne frowned. Fear made her insides clench. “What if I don’t agree to any of it? I mean,” she snorted from the absurdity of the notion, “it really is pretty unbelievable.”
A shadow of annoyance crossed Gregg’s face, and his expression grew dark with anger. “It doesn’t matter. I saved your life. Therefore, you owe me. I can reset recent events and leave you to die, or I can take your soul, and you’ll still die, but at least you will have lived it up for thirty days. What’s not to get?”
* * * * *
Thanks, Sandra!
Sandra's book "Demons and Stilettos Are A Girl's Best Friend" can be found at http://www.thewildrosepress.com
Don't forget!
One lucky commenter can win a goodie bag from Sandra so leave a comment!
May 6, 2010
WOW!!!
Dear Friends,
I want to thank EVERYONE who purchased "Moonlight and Magick". I just received an email that read, in part:
"Hope you’re doing well!
Congratulations are in order! We are writing to you because you’ve just made it to the BooksOnBoard Top 10 eBook list! You’re ranked 10th in bestselling eBooks and author category.
Click here to view the Bestselling eBooks from BooksOnBoard"
In case this post goes into archive and the link no longer works, this is what it looks like...
So, again, thank you!
Love, love, love you guys!!
Interview at Believing is Seeing...
Hey! Don't miss my interview with Sandra Sookoo at http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/moonlight-and-magick-by-isobael-liu/
May 5, 2010
Pics of Contest#1 prize...
Wanted to post a picture of the prize Piedmont Writer won from my first contest. As always, click on the picture to enlarge.
The trinket box is hand painted with a hand sprayed finish. I did the flower arrangement as well. Tea, incense, and stationary set rounded out the prize, as well.
The trinket box is hand painted with a hand sprayed finish. I did the flower arrangement as well. Tea, incense, and stationary set rounded out the prize, as well.
Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, and forms one of the three major Chinese holidays. Since the summer is a time when diseases most easily spread, Dragon Boat Festival began as an occasion for driving off evil spirits and pestilence and for finding peace in one's life. The festival was later enriched by the legend of the patriot, Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan was a patriotic statesman who lived in the state of Chu over 2,200 years ago during the Warring States period. He remonstrated with the King of Chu on many occasions, complaining about the state of the nation and trying to make a change. The King of Chu believed accounts of lesser officials, ignoring Chu. He felt he could no longer save the nation from the violence and political problems into which it had fallen. Chu Yuan killed himself by jumping into the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. His patriotism is remembered every year on this day. Since Chu Yuan was also a famous poet, the day is also known as Poet's Day.
Dragon boat races are where competing teams drive their boats forward rowing to the rhythm of pounding drums. This lively and colorful tradition has continued unbroken for centuries to the present day.
The most popular dish during Dragon Boat Festival is tzong tsu, originally eaten in memory of the patriot Chu Yuan, but gradually evolving into a snack eaten during normal occasions as well. Making these are fun but shaping them are a pain! LOL
May 3, 2010
RELEASE DAY!!!
Guess what today is? *Dances*
It's the release of "Moonlight and Magick"! I'm so excited!
You can find it on the Lyrical Press website...
It's the release of "Moonlight and Magick"! I'm so excited!
You can find it on the Lyrical Press website...
May 1, 2010
Blessed Bealltainn...
It's May 1st! The newsletter is available on my webpage, isobael.webs.com or at http://groups.google.com/group/magick-and-moonlight OR you can have it emailed to you. Just email me at isobael at gmail dot com.
Blessed Bealltainn to all of my Pagan friends. Happy May Day to my non Pagan friends.
Don't forget! Monday is the release of "Moonlight and Magick". =)
Spike upgraded my phone as a congratulations present. =) We handed my NV2 to our daughter who is stoked to get a new phone. We put her on our family plan so now we're not forking out money for a prepay when she doesn't use all of her minutes up in the allotted time. She uses it mostly for texting anyway and on this plan, we have unlimited texting. I don't approve of kids having phones, BUT we do not have a home phone, so this is the safest and easiest route for all of us. My new phone is an LG Chocolate. We had the internet blocked on all of our phones, so no $10 charges every time there's an accidental press of the internet button. Still, it's a gorgeous little phone and I'm getting used to the touch screen. We laid down the rules with her in regards to the phone...so now we have leverage. Isn't it fun being a parent, sometimes? We can be evil... "What, you didn't do your homework? No phone for a week." "What? You got in trouble at school? No phone or computer time for a week." MUAHAHAHA.
I finally broke down and got a business license. I guess, in the state of WA, we need a business license to be an author. We're providing a service or product for sale and we get paid for it. I have to get in touch with the city I live in because they may also require other licensing. *Boggle* So, I'm in business for myself now, with the business name "Isobael Liu". LOL. Why, yes, I'm that imaginative. =)
Anyway, back to work. Have a good one, everyone! =)
Blessed Bealltainn to all of my Pagan friends. Happy May Day to my non Pagan friends.
Don't forget! Monday is the release of "Moonlight and Magick". =)
Spike upgraded my phone as a congratulations present. =) We handed my NV2 to our daughter who is stoked to get a new phone. We put her on our family plan so now we're not forking out money for a prepay when she doesn't use all of her minutes up in the allotted time. She uses it mostly for texting anyway and on this plan, we have unlimited texting. I don't approve of kids having phones, BUT we do not have a home phone, so this is the safest and easiest route for all of us. My new phone is an LG Chocolate. We had the internet blocked on all of our phones, so no $10 charges every time there's an accidental press of the internet button. Still, it's a gorgeous little phone and I'm getting used to the touch screen. We laid down the rules with her in regards to the phone...so now we have leverage. Isn't it fun being a parent, sometimes? We can be evil... "What, you didn't do your homework? No phone for a week." "What? You got in trouble at school? No phone or computer time for a week." MUAHAHAHA.
I finally broke down and got a business license. I guess, in the state of WA, we need a business license to be an author. We're providing a service or product for sale and we get paid for it. I have to get in touch with the city I live in because they may also require other licensing. *Boggle* So, I'm in business for myself now, with the business name "Isobael Liu". LOL. Why, yes, I'm that imaginative. =)
Anyway, back to work. Have a good one, everyone! =)
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