I don't usually talk about stuff besides my writing or parts of my personal life here on this blog, but I'm making an exception today. I have a friend who lives in Zimbabwe, and her emails to me are just heartbreaking. Thanks to a corrupt and brutal dictatorship, the country's economy is in the tank and their recent elections, which seemed a clear mandate against Mugabe, have turned into a nightmare of fraud and retribution.
So when my friend sent this to me by email, I knew I wanted to share it with others who care about what's happening on the other side of the world.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR ZIMBABWE - SUNDAY APRIL 27, 2008.
A desperate cry from the hearts of Zimbabwe screams across the world. It calls upon all Christians of every denomination in every nation to focus their prayers, in churches, halls, homes or elsewhere, on Sunday, April 27, 2008 on the critical situation in Zimbabwe, a nation in dire distress and teetering on the brink of human disaster.
Let the cry for help touch your heart and mind. Let it move you to do what you can immediately to ensure this DAY OF PRAYER takes place in your country and neighbourhood.
Please pass on this message right now to all the churches and Christian organisations known to you and to the media as well as to everyone anxious to rescue Zimbabwe from violence, the concealing and juggling of election results, deceit, oppression and corruption, and to bring about righteousness, joy, peace, compassion, honesty, justice, democracy and freedom from fear and want.
May a continual strong stream of prayer and supplication flow up to the Lord on behalf of all the people on this DAY OF PRAYER, exhorting His divine intervention throughout the nation.
"It is by making the truth publicly known that we recommend ourselves to the honest judgment of mankind in the sight of God." - (2 Corinthians 4:2)
SOME ADVICE TO ZIMBABWEANS
"Who so putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe."- (Proverbs 29:25)
"Stand fast, and do not let yourselves be caught again in the yoke of slavery." - (Galatians 5:1)
"Make no mistake, you cannot cheat God." - (Galatians 6:7)
"Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good." - (Romans 12:21)
Bob Stumbles
Chancellor, Anglican Diocese of Harare.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
You Have to Admire the Depths of Geekdom
Someone has quantified the frequency of "Red Shirt" deaths in Star Trek. Particularly interesting is how the death rate goes down if Kirk gets his freak on with some alien woman.
I salute you, sir.
Although, in fairness, the guy says he did it as a fun way to make analytics more easily grasped by the general, non-analytical public. Or something like that.
Riiiiight.
I salute you, sir.
Although, in fairness, the guy says he did it as a fun way to make analytics more easily grasped by the general, non-analytical public. Or something like that.
Riiiiight.
Monday, April 14, 2008
T. S. Eliot meets the Internet
http://www.corprew.org/content/lolcat-wasteland/
Really. I have no words. Mostly because I can't stop laughing.
Really. I have no words. Mostly because I can't stop laughing.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
What's Missing?
I'm in the middle of plotting my next couple of proposals, and I'm finding it hard to know quite what I want to write. I think I almost have too many choices available, if that makes sense.
So here's a question for you readers out there, especially if you read Intrigues but even if you don't. What kind of stories aren't you getting enough of these days? What would you like to see more of? Any particular romantic conflict that's not getting written? Any current event that you think would make a great suspense/mystery story? What's missing from your book buffet?
So here's a question for you readers out there, especially if you read Intrigues but even if you don't. What kind of stories aren't you getting enough of these days? What would you like to see more of? Any particular romantic conflict that's not getting written? Any current event that you think would make a great suspense/mystery story? What's missing from your book buffet?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Hey, Look What's up on Amazon...
Cowboy Alibi is now available for pre-order. (Which is funny, because I just finished my edits last night).
Buy early! Buy often!
Buy early! Buy often!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Jane Austen meets Cold Play
I've been watching the Jane Austen adaptations on PBS over the past few weeks. At the end of the shows, Masterpiece has been airing a promo set to Cold Play's "Fix You." It's such an odd combination--Jane Austen and Cold Play--but I think it totally works.
Next up is the BBC adaptation of Emma (seen it, own the DVD) and then sometime in April, the new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. I'm very much looking forward to that one, even though there'll never be a better Colonel Brandon than Alan Rickman. ::sappy sigh::
(Which reminds me, my nieces totally don't get my passion for Severus Snape).
Next up is the BBC adaptation of Emma (seen it, own the DVD) and then sometime in April, the new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. I'm very much looking forward to that one, even though there'll never be a better Colonel Brandon than Alan Rickman. ::sappy sigh::
(Which reminds me, my nieces totally don't get my passion for Severus Snape).
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Tagged!
Several days ago, I got tagged by my friend Emily (the wench!) but forgot to do this before now.
So, here we go:
Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS.
Find page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
(Well, as if that's not confusing...)
"Hello, Nick," said Harry.
"Hello, hello," said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking around. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long, curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed.
Well. There you go.
Now, onto tagging others...
Mary
Jill
Tripp
Gina
Tracy
So, here we go:
Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more.
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS.
Find page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
(Well, as if that's not confusing...)
"Hello, Nick," said Harry.
"Hello, hello," said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking around. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long, curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed.
Well. There you go.
Now, onto tagging others...
Mary
Jill
Tripp
Gina
Tracy
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Spring is Just Around the Corner...
Which puts me in the mood to fish.
Yes, fish.
I've come to the conclusion that the human "hunter/gatherer" instinct is alive and well inside me. I don't hunt (doesn't seem very sporting unless you give deer guns), but fishing is A-ok with me. It's a thinking sport in a lot of ways--where are the fish, what are they eating, what bait do you use, are they spawning? Is the weather right? Is there too much wind? Are you fishing in the right spot with the right equipment and the right bait for the right fish? Lots to learn, lots to think about. And that's before you even get into casting techniques and fishing styles.
I am primarily a catch and release type fisherman, but on occasion, if I'm in the mood, I will keep what I catch, clean it and eat it. I don't keep a fish I don't intend to eat, however. No trophies for me. My feeling is that if I'm going to kill an animal, I have a personal obligation to eat it. (Unless it was trying to kill me first. In which case, the sucker's goin' down).
Anyway. A lot of fishermen are into the big sport fish--largemouth bass, stripe, ocean fish, salmon and trout. Not me. My favorites are the variety of sunfish that fall under the heading "bream" (at least down here in the south) and those lovely speckled fish known as crappie.
Crappie are voracious eaters when they're in the mood. The bait of choice is either live minnows or small jigs. Use light line (4-6 lb. test) on a lightweight spinning reel and small, short rod for precision of casting and a good fight. A little splitshot weight helps it go farther without making it hard to maneuver.
Crappie can get as large as 5 lbs (but that's world record territory). Most average between a half pound to a pound. I've caught one that was close to a pound. Big, fat, pretty fish.
Bream, at least here in the south, covers a number of sunfish, including bluegills, shellcrackers, red ears, warmouths, pumpkinseeds and rock bass. These tend to get round and saucer-shaped the bigger they are, and when they're hooked, they tend to twist their bodies so that the round, flat side of their bodies drag through the water as you reel them in. On lightweight line, with lightweight tackle, they make for a very exciting fight.
Here are a few pictures of "bream":
Bluegill:
Shellcrackers:
Red Ears:
Pumpkinseeds
Both crappie and bream make for good eating. You can clean them and leave the bones in, fry them up and then pick the fish off the bones, or if they're large enough and fat enough, you can fillet them, take the skin off and either bake or fry the fillets. They have a delicate, non-fishy and non-muddy flavor that I really like.
I figure by mid-March, the weather down here should be good enough to go crappie fishing. Can't wait!
Yes, fish.
I've come to the conclusion that the human "hunter/gatherer" instinct is alive and well inside me. I don't hunt (doesn't seem very sporting unless you give deer guns), but fishing is A-ok with me. It's a thinking sport in a lot of ways--where are the fish, what are they eating, what bait do you use, are they spawning? Is the weather right? Is there too much wind? Are you fishing in the right spot with the right equipment and the right bait for the right fish? Lots to learn, lots to think about. And that's before you even get into casting techniques and fishing styles.
I am primarily a catch and release type fisherman, but on occasion, if I'm in the mood, I will keep what I catch, clean it and eat it. I don't keep a fish I don't intend to eat, however. No trophies for me. My feeling is that if I'm going to kill an animal, I have a personal obligation to eat it. (Unless it was trying to kill me first. In which case, the sucker's goin' down).
Anyway. A lot of fishermen are into the big sport fish--largemouth bass, stripe, ocean fish, salmon and trout. Not me. My favorites are the variety of sunfish that fall under the heading "bream" (at least down here in the south) and those lovely speckled fish known as crappie.
Crappie are voracious eaters when they're in the mood. The bait of choice is either live minnows or small jigs. Use light line (4-6 lb. test) on a lightweight spinning reel and small, short rod for precision of casting and a good fight. A little splitshot weight helps it go farther without making it hard to maneuver.
Crappie can get as large as 5 lbs (but that's world record territory). Most average between a half pound to a pound. I've caught one that was close to a pound. Big, fat, pretty fish.
Bream, at least here in the south, covers a number of sunfish, including bluegills, shellcrackers, red ears, warmouths, pumpkinseeds and rock bass. These tend to get round and saucer-shaped the bigger they are, and when they're hooked, they tend to twist their bodies so that the round, flat side of their bodies drag through the water as you reel them in. On lightweight line, with lightweight tackle, they make for a very exciting fight.
Here are a few pictures of "bream":
Bluegill:
Shellcrackers:
Red Ears:
Pumpkinseeds
Both crappie and bream make for good eating. You can clean them and leave the bones in, fry them up and then pick the fish off the bones, or if they're large enough and fat enough, you can fillet them, take the skin off and either bake or fry the fillets. They have a delicate, non-fishy and non-muddy flavor that I really like.
I figure by mid-March, the weather down here should be good enough to go crappie fishing. Can't wait!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
And the Winners Are...
Ellen and Jeanine! Ladies, email me at paulawritesromance@charter.net with the email address you want your amazon.com gift certificates sent to.
And thanks, everyone who dropped by my launch party last night. Now it's time to go buy the book! And tell all your friends about it.
And thanks, everyone who dropped by my launch party last night. Now it's time to go buy the book! And tell all your friends about it.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
FORBIDDEN TOUCH Launch Party!
It's time to partay! Remember, leave your questions, comments, whatever in the comments section. Two commenters will each win a $10.00 amazon.com gift certificate at the end of the party (around 9 pm central time).
Ready? Let's go!
Update: I'm going to let this "party" go on overnight, so everyone can get comments in and get a chance to win the gift certificates. I'll check in frequently before bedtime to answer more questions and then I'll do the drawing in the morning.
Ready? Let's go!
Update: I'm going to let this "party" go on overnight, so everyone can get comments in and get a chance to win the gift certificates. I'll check in frequently before bedtime to answer more questions and then I'll do the drawing in the morning.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Tomorrow's the Day
The official "publication date" of FORBIDDEN TOUCH.
So...y'all wanna have another launch party? With prizes?
Tomorrow night, 8 - 9 pm central time. Ask me any question you want, about writing in general and FORBIDDEN TOUCH in particular. I'll choose two winners at random from the commenters each to win a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. Which, of course, should promptly be used to buy my new book. (Okay, not really, but it would be kinda cool, for me, anyway).
I'll start the party thread around 8. See ya then!
So...y'all wanna have another launch party? With prizes?
Tomorrow night, 8 - 9 pm central time. Ask me any question you want, about writing in general and FORBIDDEN TOUCH in particular. I'll choose two winners at random from the commenters each to win a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. Which, of course, should promptly be used to buy my new book. (Okay, not really, but it would be kinda cool, for me, anyway).
I'll start the party thread around 8. See ya then!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Cold White Stuff
It snowed yesterday. Not much, certainly not enough to stick (it was too warm for that anyway), but it was the real deal. Cold white stuff.
It wasn't enough to send Alabama into its customary snow panic--the grocery stores didn't get a sudden run on bread and milk. (Which, dude, if you're going to be snowed in for a few days, skip the bread and milk and go straight for the chocolate and doughnuts). But be prepared, Food World. There's a possibility that overnight Friday into Saturday, more of the cold white stuff could be on the way. And this time, there might actually be accumulation.
You know, I realize people north of the Mason Dixon line just don't get it. They don't know why a couple of inches of snow can shut down a major city. Of course, most of them have snow plows clearing the roads for them and lots of experience driving in icy conditions.
When you have neither, the smart thing to do is stay home. In the south, we so rarely get snow accumulations that it's more economically viable to shut down businesses for a day or two than to pay for and maintain road-clearing equipment that would get used only once every four to seven years. If that. And why waste time and energy learning to drive in conditions that rarely happen when too many people already have trouble driving in conditions that happen all the time?
It wasn't enough to send Alabama into its customary snow panic--the grocery stores didn't get a sudden run on bread and milk. (Which, dude, if you're going to be snowed in for a few days, skip the bread and milk and go straight for the chocolate and doughnuts). But be prepared, Food World. There's a possibility that overnight Friday into Saturday, more of the cold white stuff could be on the way. And this time, there might actually be accumulation.
You know, I realize people north of the Mason Dixon line just don't get it. They don't know why a couple of inches of snow can shut down a major city. Of course, most of them have snow plows clearing the roads for them and lots of experience driving in icy conditions.
When you have neither, the smart thing to do is stay home. In the south, we so rarely get snow accumulations that it's more economically viable to shut down businesses for a day or two than to pay for and maintain road-clearing equipment that would get used only once every four to seven years. If that. And why waste time and energy learning to drive in conditions that rarely happen when too many people already have trouble driving in conditions that happen all the time?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
My Intrigue Blog is Up
Why Romantic Suspense? (If you're reading this blog late, it's the entry on 1/16/08).
Thanks to all two of my readers who commented in the new "Help me come up with a blog idea" contest thread. Since I owe Joye a book anyway from an Intrigue Blog contest, I'm going to send books to both of you. I just need both of you who commented to email me your contact information here: paulawritesromance@charter.net
Thanks for the help! And be sure to check out the Intrigue Authors blog--lots of great information about reading and writing romantic suspense.
Thanks to all two of my readers who commented in the new "Help me come up with a blog idea" contest thread. Since I owe Joye a book anyway from an Intrigue Blog contest, I'm going to send books to both of you. I just need both of you who commented to email me your contact information here: paulawritesromance@charter.net
Thanks for the help! And be sure to check out the Intrigue Authors blog--lots of great information about reading and writing romantic suspense.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Plagiarism Plague
One of the earliest lessons I learned in school was not to lift whole sections of research and drop them into my research papers without attribution.
What, then, to make of the curious case of romance author Cassie Edwards, who allegedly lifted several passages straight from research books, made the most rudimentary of cosmetic changes, and passed them off as her own words in her romance novels?
Dear Author and Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books are all over the story.
Beyond the obvious--plagiarism is WRONG--lies another lesson. Plagiarism doesn't make you a better writer. As the linked post from Smart Bitches/Trashy Novels points out, the reason the plagiarism was first discovered was that the didacticism of the descriptive/historical passages was so evident and so at odds with the rest of the book. It was a step away from the author's "voice" that made the books even more difficult to read. (Not that I ever found Edwards easy to read; my single attempt at reading one of her novels ended about a half a chapter in, when the awkward phrasing and odd characterization became too overwhelming to ignore).
Anyway, I think too often readers, and even writers, turn a blind eye to discussions of plagiarism. Maybe we want to pretend it doesn't exist. Or maybe our own fear of inadvertantly coming up with an idea similar to someone else's makes us overly sensitive to accusations of word theft. But this is an issue that won't go away, and the reading--and writing--public need to be educated about what plagiarism is, what it isn't, and how it hurts all of us.
So take time to click through the links above. Follow the links you'll find on those pages. Google the issue and acquaint yourself with what's going on. It's important.
What, then, to make of the curious case of romance author Cassie Edwards, who allegedly lifted several passages straight from research books, made the most rudimentary of cosmetic changes, and passed them off as her own words in her romance novels?
Dear Author and Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books are all over the story.
Beyond the obvious--plagiarism is WRONG--lies another lesson. Plagiarism doesn't make you a better writer. As the linked post from Smart Bitches/Trashy Novels points out, the reason the plagiarism was first discovered was that the didacticism of the descriptive/historical passages was so evident and so at odds with the rest of the book. It was a step away from the author's "voice" that made the books even more difficult to read. (Not that I ever found Edwards easy to read; my single attempt at reading one of her novels ended about a half a chapter in, when the awkward phrasing and odd characterization became too overwhelming to ignore).
Anyway, I think too often readers, and even writers, turn a blind eye to discussions of plagiarism. Maybe we want to pretend it doesn't exist. Or maybe our own fear of inadvertantly coming up with an idea similar to someone else's makes us overly sensitive to accusations of word theft. But this is an issue that won't go away, and the reading--and writing--public need to be educated about what plagiarism is, what it isn't, and how it hurts all of us.
So take time to click through the links above. Follow the links you'll find on those pages. Google the issue and acquaint yourself with what's going on. It's important.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Oh, Hey! Another Contest!
Next week I have to blog on the Intrigue Authors blog. I may have mentioned that blogging, like journal-keeping, does not come naturally to me. I do it because I like to touch base with friends and readers, and I do like reading people's comments, although with my graphic design day job and writing at night, I don't get around to answering comments the way I should. (I'm not ignoring y'all, truly. I'm just laconic by nature. I can't help it).
Anyway, all that to say, I signed up to post on the 16th of this month on the Intrigue Authors blog in order to keep my name out there so maybe people will buy my books, but I have no idea what to write about. I think it should probably be book-related, or writing-related. But I'm drawing a blank.
So, we're going to have another impromptu contest. Whee!
Between now and January 15th, please leave your idea for something you'd like to know as a reader--or writer--about writing in general or writing for Intrigue in particular. I may not use the exact idea but you may spark another idea for me. And by posting in the comments, you have a chance to win copies of BOTH of my backlisted books, FORBIDDEN TERRITORY and FORBIDDEN TEMPTATION, just in time for the third in the series, FORBIDDEN TOUCH, which comes out in the middle of February. (But is available for pre-order on amazon.com and other places, and available RIGHT NOW on eHarlequin.com, which means you don't have to wait to get your copy of Iris Browning's story).
The drawing will be random, but if I use your idea, I'll mention you in the blog post on Intrigue, and if you have a blog of your own, I'll give you a link. How's that for a deal?
So put your thinking caps on and tell me what you'd like to hear about if you were reading the Intrigue blog.
(Which, really, why aren't you? The link is right up there at the top of this blog entry, and the blog is chock full of great posts from fantastic authors).
Anyway, all that to say, I signed up to post on the 16th of this month on the Intrigue Authors blog in order to keep my name out there so maybe people will buy my books, but I have no idea what to write about. I think it should probably be book-related, or writing-related. But I'm drawing a blank.
So, we're going to have another impromptu contest. Whee!
Between now and January 15th, please leave your idea for something you'd like to know as a reader--or writer--about writing in general or writing for Intrigue in particular. I may not use the exact idea but you may spark another idea for me. And by posting in the comments, you have a chance to win copies of BOTH of my backlisted books, FORBIDDEN TERRITORY and FORBIDDEN TEMPTATION, just in time for the third in the series, FORBIDDEN TOUCH, which comes out in the middle of February. (But is available for pre-order on amazon.com and other places, and available RIGHT NOW on eHarlequin.com, which means you don't have to wait to get your copy of Iris Browning's story).
The drawing will be random, but if I use your idea, I'll mention you in the blog post on Intrigue, and if you have a blog of your own, I'll give you a link. How's that for a deal?
So put your thinking caps on and tell me what you'd like to hear about if you were reading the Intrigue blog.
(Which, really, why aren't you? The link is right up there at the top of this blog entry, and the blog is chock full of great posts from fantastic authors).
Friday, January 04, 2008
Always a Bridesmaid...
So I have this dream last night. I'm at a writer's convention, and some lady ambushes me. She says she's with Writer-TV, some internet interview site for writers, and she wants to interview me. I'm flattered, a little freaked, but hey, I have a book coming out and I could use the free publicity, so I suck it up and go for it.
We have a few moments of pleasantries, a little chat about my books and my career, and then the woman gets to what she really wants to talk about. It seems that my brother (the pharmaceutical company quality assurance guy) has written a thriller that sold for a seven-figure advance that's all the buzz, and what did I think about that?
Well, I'm floored, because A) I didn't know my brother was writing, even though I think he ought to give it a whirl and B) he never told me he'd sold anything, much less for seven figures. But I managed to soldier on in the interview, speak sweetly about my brother (and really, in the dream, I wasn't at all jealous of his success but truly thrilled for him). But I remember in the dream I had every intention of hunting him down at the next possible opportunity and letting him have it for not even telling me about it!
Then I woke up.
Anybody wanna take a stab at analyzing that dream?
We have a few moments of pleasantries, a little chat about my books and my career, and then the woman gets to what she really wants to talk about. It seems that my brother (the pharmaceutical company quality assurance guy) has written a thriller that sold for a seven-figure advance that's all the buzz, and what did I think about that?
Well, I'm floored, because A) I didn't know my brother was writing, even though I think he ought to give it a whirl and B) he never told me he'd sold anything, much less for seven figures. But I managed to soldier on in the interview, speak sweetly about my brother (and really, in the dream, I wasn't at all jealous of his success but truly thrilled for him). But I remember in the dream I had every intention of hunting him down at the next possible opportunity and letting him have it for not even telling me about it!
Then I woke up.
Anybody wanna take a stab at analyzing that dream?
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
You Want to Buy It...
You know you do...
FORBIDDEN TOUCH is now available for purchase from eHarlequin.com.
Go ahead. Get it early. It's okay. I don't mind.
FORBIDDEN TOUCH is now available for purchase from eHarlequin.com.
Go ahead. Get it early. It's okay. I don't mind.
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