9. Hit the freebies room the first day if you want the good chocolate promo items.

8. Naming a child Shithead is not a good idea, even if you pronounce it She-the-ad.

7. If an editor offers to take you to dinner, always say yes.

6. Sometimes, you can learn everything you need in the first five minutes of a workshop.

5. The chicken is usually dry.

4. Sometimes one chocolate martini is one too many.

3.No one wants the Cassie Edwards freebies.

2. If you wear an orange cowboy hat with matching shirt, pants and heels, people WILL call you a pumpkin behind your back.

1. If someone says, “You look gorgeous,” they’re mistaking you for someone else.

Cyn

Cynthia Selwyn (aka C.D. Yates) is the trapped-at-home mom of three and wife of one. When she's not hanging around with her Critters, she's editing for one of several e-publishers, writing erotica for Breathless Press or trying to get her characters (and her four-year-old) to behave.

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Abby from Blade Publishing has put the question to all would-be authors sending their submissions to Blade for consideration.

Here’s the link: Blade Blog

Why not go over and read her ideas and post your comments…As for me, I’d like the details so I can strengthen my writing and get contract next time around. How about you?

Debora

Debora writes romance - all types of romance! Her tastes vary from the paranormal to romantic comedy and everything in between. Believing variety is the spice of life, her website changes frequently to appease her creative spirit! She freely admits to being a caffeine and chocolate addict and loves to talk about romance writing with anyone who'll listen. Her latest release, A Knight in Her Arms, was released August 3rd. Visit her website for me details!

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Yesterday was the release day for a really special charity project, Nothing But Red. (Giveaway at the bottom of the post)

The purpose of Nothing But Red is to bring attention to the issue of violence against women worldwide, as well as the continuing need for equality, through art—both written and visual—and by raising money for a charity that strives to help women of all faiths, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, with the support of dedicated volunteers who share a desire to promote equality.

From the Press Room section of the Nothing But Red website:

Nothing But Red, the anthology of literary and visual arts inspired by the impassioned plea of Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon in response to the “honor killing” of 17-year-old Du’a Khalil Aswad, is now available for purchase. Sales of the anthology, which is currently available in multiple formats at www.lulu.com/nothingbutred, will benefit the international human rights organization Equality Now.

“I’ve met some amazing people who’ve worked incredibly hard to put this book together over the last year, whether as contributors or volunteers,” said Skyla Dawn Cameron, originator and editor-in-chief of Nothing But Red. “We can’t change Du’a’s fate – but we can let the world know that there are people who still care. That’s where this fight really happens: with each of us, challenging ourselves to do something to make the world better.”

The 313-page collection, which can be purchased as a trade paperback for $15.95 or as a pdf-format e-book for $5.95, is being released on the one-year anniversary of the death of Aswad. An Iraqi adherent of the Yazidi religion, Aswad was stoned to death by family members and neighbors; her brutal beating and murder was captured in a graphic video and spread on the Internet.

Shortly after learning of the murder, Joss Whedon, creator of the television shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly, penned an emotional response on the website Whedonesque.com. His post, which built from the topic of Aswad’s murder to the contemplation of misogyny’s transcendence of culture, religion and era, ended on an appeal to his fans to do something active to change the cycle.

“True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself…” Whedon wrote. “Her face was nothing but red.”

Taking its title from those words, Nothing But Red is a response to Whedon’s call to action, which is included as an essay in the volume. A full list of contributors can be found at nothingbutred.wordpress.com.

Equality Now was chosen as the recipient of the anthology’s proceeds due to Whedon’s public support of the organization and its mission to “[voice] a worldwide call for justice and equality for women,” as stated on Equality Now’s website.

I had a very (very, very) small part in helping with this anthology–in fact, it might make some of my authors happy to know that I actually missed a deadline. Very frustrating (but I do tell you all that it happens, and now I’m proof of that, unfortunately). But I got to read some of the pieces included in this book and they’re a mix of fiction and non-fiction, but all are moving and powerful.

Please buy a copy of Nothing But Red and help raise awareness for violence against women. Visit www.lulu.com/nothingbutred to purchase your copy! The full colour eBook is $5.95, and the black and white trade paperback is $15.95. All profits (about $4 per book) will go to Equality Now.

Nadia

Romance writer Nadia Lee blends elements of paranormal, fantasy and science fiction into her works. A former management consultant, she has lived in four different countries and speaks 2.5 languages. She writes contemporary romance under the name Angelle Trieste.

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I think this is a better sign of the season than something like…daffodils.

For one thing, my neighbor across the street has a bedful of them, quivering yellow in the weak April sun that shines on them all day. My daffs, on the other hand, still haven’t poked more than an inch of leaves out of their shadowy spot near my front steps. I know that there’s not more Spring on the other side of the street, just more sun; either way, the flowers are no indication of the season. And up in Maine, where my friend lives, there’s still snow on the ground. There’s nothing Spring-like about snow.

Nope.

But the Sox are playing. They play across the street, they play at my house, they even play in Maine. In fact, they played in Japan a week ago. Whereever you hear or see the game–that’s a sure sign of Spring. Even better, it’s a reminder of Summer days ahead…long, hot summer days. Imagine this: The lazy sound of Joe Castiglione, the sound of the neighbor’s lawn mower and the smell of freshly cut grass…the scent of burgers on the grill. Outside, the air is still, humid. There’s the sound of someone’s air conditioner…birds singing…cicadas whirring, maybe. Kids playing. “That’s a hit and…it’s outta here! A homerun by Manny!”

I can almost taste the tangy lemonade in the sweaty glass, feel the sun on my neck as I rock in the swing on my back deck…it’s Summer.

Or it will be, as soon as we can get through this cold and windy Spring. As long as the Sox are playing, there’s hope!

Cyn

Cynthia Selwyn (aka C.D. Yates) is the trapped-at-home mom of three and wife of one. When she's not hanging around with her Critters, she's editing for one of several e-publishers, writing erotica for Breathless Press or trying to get her characters (and her four-year-old) to behave.

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One year on, I am still a non smoker.
I stopped smoking. That’s the difference.
If you keep telling yourself that you’re giving up, you’ll never do it. So go and rewire your brain.
You give up strawberries. You give up chocolate.
You stop smoking.
If I told you to eat dirt, would you say you’d stop eating dirt, or you’d give up eating dirt?

Okay that was step 1. Stop giving up. Just stop. Period. You’re going to have to rewire your brain a bit probably, but it’s doable.

Step 2 is simple too. Ignore what everyone tells you. As long as you are comfortable with the way you’ve stopped – keep doing it.
For instance, I used a real cigarette, drenched in peppermint oil, and sucked on that sometimes. Not because I wanted a cigarette, but because the activity helped me to think. Everyone was flapping about it.
I still have that ciggie. I have no desire to smoke it.

Go cold turkey. It might sound hard, but it’s not that bad. Yeah, you get a craving every now and then, but it’s more for the action of smoking than for the nicotine.

Still… I am amazed at myself. I did it. I will keep doing it.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I figured it was worth mentioning.

Silke

Silke writes paranormal romance, and knows a thing or two about things going bump in the night. Although it is usually her, creeping to the kitchen at O' Dawn Thirty to score another cup of coffee. She grew up in Germany, but her home of choice is in the UK, where she lives with her partner on the outskirts of London. Her first book Smitten is now available from Decadent Publishing.

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Considering we’re coming up on Christmas, and I’ve so far managed to completely ignore the fact I haven’t even started shopping yet, I thought a bit of Christmas cheer was in order. So, without further ado, I’ll post the answers to the survey Angelle tagged me with a few days ago.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate. Eggnog is just gross.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just put them under the tree? Depends. Most get wrapped, but some of the bigger ones might just go under the tree.
3. Colored or white lights on tree/house? Colored.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope.
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving, but this year I STILL haven’t put them up yet. Tomorrow…I swear.
6. What is your holiday dish (excluding dessert)? There are dishes other than desert?
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child. Watching the classics for the week leading up to Christmas. You know the ones…Albert Finney’s Scrooge (the musical version), Santa Clause is Coming to Town, The Year Without a Santa Clause….the classics!!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I’m the oldest, so I found out at some point during my early grade school years from a friend, lol.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We do Christmas Eve with the husband’s family, so we open tons of gifts Christmas eve. Growing up, we got to open 1 gift Christmas Eve, right after we read Twas the Night Before Christmas.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? The usual – lights, glass balls, garland, ornaments (no tinsel, though. Too messy!)
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Loathe it with an all consuming hatred. It’s pretty to look at, though.
12. Can you ice skate? No. I’ve been bugging hubby to teach me for two years.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? A stuffed bear, the first gift hubby gave me when we were dating.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with the family, and not having to work.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Chocolate Cream Pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Decorating the tree, watching The Classics, and reading Twas the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve…I’m very traditional, LOL.
17. What tops your tree? A star.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Both.
19. What is your favourite Christmas song? I Hate People . No, seriously, it’s my theme song, and it’s from the Albert Finney version of Scrooge. OK…serious Christmas Song…hmmmm….I like all of the oldies, as long as they haven’t been bastardized by a boy band. All time favorites are probably Wonderful Christmastime, Sleigh Bells, Christmas Shoes (even though I ball like a baby every time I hear it), and all of the songs from The Classics. (Are you noticing a trend yet? LOL)
20. Candy canes. Delish!
21. Favourite Christmas movie? The Classics .
22. What do you leave for Santa? Milk and Cookies.
23. What is your Christmas Wish? To go out to Japan and force a little holiday spirit on Angelle .

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You know…

Deb started some evil thing. So I’m… going to do it too!

I just got tagged by Angelle… so I’ve now tagged Lara. Only fair! And Nicole needs to get herself a darn blog so I can tag her too! And Kath! And… you know who you are!

So I figured I’ll make one post here… sling the trackback to it into my tag.

Silke

Silke writes paranormal romance, and knows a thing or two about things going bump in the night. Although it is usually her, creeping to the kitchen at O' Dawn Thirty to score another cup of coffee. She grew up in Germany, but her home of choice is in the UK, where she lives with her partner on the outskirts of London. Her first book Smitten is now available from Decadent Publishing.

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