Happy New Year

May you be blessed with health and happiness all of 2011.

Wednesday Word of the Day

Farouche \fa-ROOSH\, adjective:


1. Sullenly unsociable or shy.

2. Fierce.


Brazen \BREY-zuhn\, adjective:


1. Shameless or impudent.

2. Made of brass.


~Hmmm, how about a hero and heroine, one Brazen and the other Farouche.  It might be an interesting combo. ;)  hehe~

Tuesday Temptation - Coupling

Have you seen this show?  This is a "new" old show to me.  Coupling ran from 2000 - 2004 on the BBC and it is fabulously funny and a tempting thirty minutes of sassy, sexy humor.  If you have a chance, check out an episode or two...it might tempt you as well.  :)

May this holiday season find you happy and healthy.  Stay safe.  :)

Wednesday's Word of the Day

Pogonip \POG-uh-nip\, noun:


An ice fog that forms in the mountain valleys of the western U.S.

~Hehe, the name of a new town is born!  There will be some story that I use this word in...  Pogonip Valley, Pogonip Falls, Lake Pogonip.... Which one do I go with?~

Titillating Tuesday

Check out some of the tempting and titillating posts going on over at Shapeshifter Seductions.  A new town has been born on our blog by the name of Talbot's Peak and our fabulous authors have filled the town with some of the most fascinating of characters. 

Stop by and give it your own peek.  :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~Burgess let the plane empty out before prying his six foot four frame out of the tortuously uncomfortable airline seat. He had almost flown in animal form for this very reason. As a penguin, he was only sixteen inches tall, weighting in at just over two pounds. As a human, he was built like an Olympic swimmer with massive shoulders and long limbs.  Rebecca L. Gillan~

~Marissa turned, just in time to catch a face full of water balloon. It drenched her hair, skin and clothes. The man standing upright in the convertible hooted in triumph. The car sped off with the man still howling like a maniac.  Pat Cunningham~

~Hidden by the trunk of a tall pine tree, he’d stalked her with his predator’s gaze as she playfully raced in circles. With utter joy, she threw her fluffy, yet sleek feline body forward, tumbling and rolling on the thin carpet of leaves and snow. Springing high, she batted at the flurry of snowflakes, her pale fur beautiful against the forest backdrop.  Savanna Kougar~

~A streak of blue, a dark and gorgeous blue belonging to an equally, if not more gorgeous man, passed by her. He too appeared to be slowed by the tourists and families headed for the door, and thankfully so, because he had exactly what she needed—six foot something of obvious muscle and no lovely lady on his arm.  Serena Shay~

~Josh leaned his elbows on the bar, burying his face in his hands. He blinked, trying to not give into the tears stinging his eyes. Frustration and angst worked intricate knots and lattice arrays in and out of his gut and up into his heart.  Solara Gordon~

More Snow...

The weather guys are predicting another 6-10 inches of snow for our area today.  This on top of the 17 inches we got a couple of weekends back, which has not melted even one little iota.  Sheesh, where the heck are we going to put it all?

Anyone know of a really nice, warm climate I can move too??  ;)

Have a great Monday!

Wednesday Word of the Day

Thwart \THWAWRT\, verb:



1. To oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose.

adjective:

1. Passing or lying crosswise or across; transverse.


~Here's another word that's fun to roll off your tongue...Thhhhhwart!~

Tuesday Trivia

Good Tuesday Morning!

So today's trivia comes by way of The National Dog Show which aired on Thanksgiving Day.  I love watching the dog show and seeing all of the fabulous breeds.  There are some truly gorgeous dogs out there.

Question:  Who introduced the first Akita to America in 1937?

Answer: Helen Keller

Pretty cool, huh. 

Have a great day!

Wednesday Word of the Day

Consanguineous \kon-san(g)-GWIN-ee-us\, adjective:


Of the same blood; related by birth; descended from the same parent or ancestor.

~Would this not be a great word for a vampire story??~

Thank You!

My thanks to the brave soldiers and individuals who risked their lives or lost their lives on Dec 7, 1942.  You are all heroes!

Wednesday Word of the Day

enspirit \en-SPIR-it\, verb:


To infuse life into; enliven.

~I like this word...it has so many possible uses.  A ghost story, a party scene or maybe the way a shifter changes it's shape.~

Tuesday Trivia

How fair ye on this fine Tuesday Morning?

Question:  What trade was Greek philosopher Socrates trained for?

A: Stonecutting.


I wonder if there was a difference between stonecutting for art and stonecutting for everyday living...plus, does the physical labor lead to philosophical pursuits?  Hmmmm

Happy Thanksgiving

May your Thanksgiving's be safe and warm...

Wednesday Word of the Day

mithridate \MITH-ri-deyt\, noun:


A confection believed to contain an antidote to every poison.



~Interesting note:  Mithridate originates from the name of Mithridates VI, a legendary king who had an immunity to poisons.  Here's a case of the real world and a paranormal world meeting.  hmmm, a character, maybe a spy, who could not be killed or could only be killed by poison.~

Tuesday Trivia

~Here's an interesting bit of historical trivia.  Well to me anyway, lol.~

Question: True or False: George Washington was born in England?

Answer:  False

Have a great day!

Wednesday Word of the Day

Emend \ih-MEND\, verb:

1. To free from faults or errors; correct.

2. To edit or change a text.
 
~Hmmm, so when the time comes I could go into the emending cave or maybe be waiting for my current emends to come in...  lol, you know, I kinda like it!~

Tuesday Trivia

Question:
Who was the very guest host on the first show of 'Saturday Night Live'?

Don't peek...




Answer:
George Carlin

Finally....A Magical The End!

The last sentence is down, those last two words are placed and I am one happy author!

Oh, I still have to edit and re-edit, send it off to my CP and a reading buddy, edit again and then hopefully be ready to submit.  Still and all I'm thrilled to have it done.

No shifters in this story, but magic and mayhem, indeed, and a wee bit of Latin.

Next up, a bit of work on my dazzling dragon story and editing on my second jaguar shifter story...I hope they are both ready for me!

Nite all...

Guest Blogger, Stacey Kennedy Today on Shapeshifter Seductions.

Hey Everyone,
Stacey Kennedy stops by today over at Shapeshifter Seductions to share with us a bit about herself and her new release, An Everlasting Bite.  Come on by and say hello.  :)

Wednesday Word of the Day - Saccade

Saccade \sa-KAHD\, noun:


1. The movement of the eye when it makes a sudden change, as in reading.

2. The act of checking a horse quickly with a single strong pull of the reins.


~Well then, I must saccade, a lot!  Nope, sadly I don't have a horse, but I have a bunch of books.  ;)  I find it interesting though, that the same word can be used in eye movement and horse checking.  I wonder if it had something to do with the horses eye movement when they use that "single strong pull"?~

Tuesday Trivia

Good Tuesday morning...
I thought to break from the Tuesday Temptation today and  go with a little fun trivia found at http://www.funtrivia.com/
So on with the show...enjoy!


Question:  Who lived at 1164 Morning Glory Circle, Westport, Connecticut?

Don't peek if you're still thinking...



 
Answer:  Darrin and Samantha Stephens (BEWITCHED) officially resided at 1164 Morning Glory Circle in Westport, Connecticut.
 
Have a great day!

Friday Facts - Pablo Picasso



The First Communion by Pablo Picasso
Picture and facts from Mental Floss



1. The painting depicts Pablo Picasso’s sister, Lola, at her first communion. The man at her side is either modeled on their father or on Vilches, a doctor and a friend of the family. The young altar boy is Pere, Vilches’ son.


2. Picasso’s interest in art developed at a young age: he began drawing by age 7, he completed his first painting by age 9, and at age 14 he began “The First Communion.”

See more of the article at Mental Floss.

~~

I just love art.  My walls are covered by prints I've found interesting, unique, strange and peaceful.  I'm not an expert, just a avid looker, ponderer and enjoyer of visual art.

When I happened across this painting by Picasso, I was shocked...that painting is a Picasso?  They don't, at all, resemble the works on my wall.  Nope, this painting was so normal.  Beautiful, of course, but just so normal.  As I read the article I was bowled over to learn that this painting was started when Pablo was only 14.  Let see, at 14 I was gawking at cute boys and listening to copious amounts of Duran Duran...

Impressive...so very impressive.

Wednesday Word of the Day - Chicanery

Chicanery \shih-KAY-nuh-ree\, noun:


1. The use of trickery or sophistry to deceive (as in matters of law).
2. A trick; a subterfuge.

~I know I've heard this word used before, but what a nice flow it has.  So I wondered where the word came from and check out what I found.~

Etymology


From French chicaner (to quibble).

~Cool, huh.  I am so going to have to use this word in a discussion with my family sometime.  I wonder if it will stop the conversation or if I'll get a what are you saying kind of look...heheheh.~

Election Day!

Well, I voted, but do you know what the highlight of my day has been so far?  On the way home from doing my duty, I heard Election Day by Arcadia on the radio!  ~Can you believe I found a picture of the album cover?~

I know kinda sad, huh.

An election of our leaders should be exciting and energizing.  I should be jonesing to know the results, to know if my small part has helped, but the reality is I'm just glad that the barrage of horror show TV ads and radio blurbs are going to be over...

I used to believe I could make a difference in the world of politics, but now, I'm not sure.

Happy Election Day everyone...I hope you hear one of your favorites songs on the radio as well!

Guest Blogger Ashlyn Chase Visits Shapeshifter Seductions

Hey Everyone,
Ashlyn Chase is our special Halloween guest on my group blog Shapeshifter Seductions.  Swing by tomorrow and check out her post of Book Recommendations from a Real, Live, Witch.


Have a Spooky and Spectacular Halloween!

Wednesday Word of the Day - Inchoate

inchoate \in-KOH-it\, adjective:


1. In an initial or early stage; just begun.

2. Imperfectly formed or formulated.

~Perfect word for today.  As in,  The inchoate wind storm late last night had this author wondering if she was soon to depart for Oz!~

Roaring Twenties Tuesday - The Flapper

Since it's so close to Halloween, how about this for a Tue Temptation... Costumes! Or variations of the same one...The Flapper.

I love these outfits...the beads, the boas and the bawdy attitude to boot!  Maybe this year I should dress up in one of these little numbers and relive the roaring twenties...at least in my head that is!

Sunday Scribbling - Curious

“Mmmm, fire and ice.” The dragon pulled himself away from the task of counting his treasure to draw in the new scent invading his cave. It was his favorite kind of ice, one he needed to add to his collection and keep forever safe in his lair—diamonds, only with a twist.


He climbed easily over the piles of gold coins, silver cups and gems of every color. His talons moved loudly over the stacks as he hurried to reach the delicious smell. He would add the new gem to his collection only after he removed the smell of brimstone from its beautiful facets.

As he moved atop the ledge overlooking the entrance to his cave, a pint sized human came into view. She was earthy and feminine, but her scent was off. She smelled of demon and reminded him if a soft, green glade. She should smell of warm summer nights not coal, squeezed tightly into a perfect bauble.

She was different and he was curious…

Wednesday Word of the Day

fulsome \FUL-sum\, adjective:


1. Offensive to the taste or sensibilities.

2. Insincere or excessively lavish; especially, offensive from excess of praise.

~Now this is a new word for me, but I like it.  I'm going to have to ponder how I can use it in a story.  :) ~

Tuesday Temptation - The Forties

Quizes, Quizes, Quizes...I love them and they always temp me.  I take the quizes at the end of the Cosmo and have found out some mighty interesting things about myself. ;) 

I also enjoy taking the ones on Facebook.  The latest quiz I took was titled What Era Are You From?  Check out what era I appear to be from...who knew!  Hey, maybe I was a Rosie the Riveter.  :)   

You belong in the forties! You are an independant, strong, and adorable. You long to be back in time with Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters playing on the phonograph and crushing on Jimmy Stewart in "It's A Womderful Life."

So, what era do you see yourself from?

Friday Five - Travel

Happy Friday! 

I've just recently happened upon a Friday Five site that I thought was quite interesting and I thought I would share my findings along with my answers to the questions. 

Today is also my blog day at Shapeshifter Seductions and I posted an entirely different and, wowser, unique set of questions there as well.  Stop by and check them out if you get a chance.  :) 

1) What is your favorite mode of travel? (Car, train, plane, etc).
A speedboat.  Out on the lake with the warm sun on my face and the wind in my hair.  Now, I've never been on a train, so I just might have to give it a whirl one of these days!


2) Where is the northernmost place you've traveled? The southernmost?
Northernmost...Thunder Bay, Canada.  Southernmost...Nuevo Laredo, Mexico

3) What is the last place you visited for the first time?
Rhode Island

4) Of all the places you've traveled, which is your favorite?
San Francisco, California

5) Where would you most like to travel to next?
Vancouver, Canada

How about ya'll...where's your favorite travel destination?
Have a great weekend!

For more Friday Five's go to http://community.livejournal.com/thefridayfive/

Wednesday Word of the Day

nepenthe \ni-PEN-thee\, noun:


1. A drug or drink, or the plant yielding it, mentioned by ancient writers as having the power to bring forgetfulness of sorrow or trouble.

2. Anything inducing a pleasurable sensation of forgetfulness, esp. of sorrow or trouble.

~Interesting, this word I could use in a story.  :) ~

Tuesday Temptation - The Tiger's Masquerade

The Tiger's Masquerade
http://www.mojocastle.com/ParaHalloween.html

On Sale Now! 

The Tiger's Masquerade by Savanna Kougar


Stacy wasn’t looking for a tiger-man to erotically and exotically fill her tank , then steal her heart. That is, until the Halloween ‘Call of the Wild Masquerade’ ball. But, what kind of tiger does she have by the tail?

Zyrru wasn’t looking for a human woman to un-tame his fiercest passions, and alter his royal life forever. After all, he’s only vacationing on Earth, and is almost engaged to The Princess. But her rosefire scent is irresistible.

~Oh my, a 'Call of the Wild Masquerade' ball and a Tiger hero named Zyrru, mmmmm mighty tempting indeed!~

Wednesday Word of the Day - Nympholepsy

Nympholepsy \NIM-fuh-lep-see\, noun:


1. A frenzy of emotion, as for something unattainable.

2. An ecstasy supposed by the ancients to be inspired by nymphs.

~A frenzy of emotion, very cool description.  ;) ~

Tuesday Temptation - Shapeshifter Seductions

Oooh wee, check out our new header over at Shapeshifter Seductions, a group blog with which I participate. 

Isn't it delicious? 

Amanda Kelsey, artist extraordinaire, of Razzle Dazzle Designs ~ razzdazzdesign.com ~ developed it for us and I'm loving it. 

Sexy and Sinful, just like all of my fabulous blog mates!

The Me Book Melee

Good Morning, one and all. 

I hope this Monday finds everyone healthy, wealthy and wise!

So I have high writing hopes for the day and the week.  It's quiet here and the majority of my must do stuff is done!  Yay!  It kills me to put stuff in front of my writing, but sometimes that's just the way it goes.  I've had an influx of ideas of late that I need to jot down before they fall back into the haze.  I'm also very close to finishing another story I started a while back, so today that is the priority.

Now what is this melee I spoke of in the blog title, well I'll tell ya.  My little Darling Diva is in the 5th grade this year and they are kicking off their how to write lessons.  You remember this, right.  For me it was a hellish bout of memorization and a lack of anything that had to do with fun. 

I can still hear the teachers with their..."Repeat after me, a noun is a person, place or thing.  A verb is an action word.  An adverb describes the verb....."

What!!  Wait, describes the verb, what does that mean?  You know, memorization is great for some things, like state capitals and math facts, but soooo not for the parts of a sentence.  You gotta do to get that.  Use it, practice it, find new ways of absorbing what a noun, verb and adverb is....

Enter in...The Me Book!

At DD's school, they are doing a year long project called, you guessed it, The Me Book.  In this book, the kiddo's make the front and back of the book and on the inside, they fill it with information about themselves-  Family trees, about the author, memories from past school years, travels, friends etc...  For each week they are required to turn in a different page and in that week they work on some new thing.  Last week, it was third person, this week the verb and adverb.  Freaking fun if you ask me, what better way to introduce writing than to make it a fun, keepsake about themselves.

Anyway, I just had to share that.  I love to see schools try something different to teach the basics rather than the "old school" ways I learned.  Kudos to those schools who are stepping outside the box!

Have a great week everyone.

Wednesday Word of the Day

Rigmorole \RIG-muh-rohl\, noun:


1. An elaborate or complicated procedure.
2. Confused, incoherent, foolish, or meaningless talk.

~Okay, another word that threw me for a loop.  I use this word - A lot!  I love it, it just says so much in one little word, however, I would have sworn it was spelled and pronounced with an A.  Rig-a-morole.  So now I wonder, is it just me that has it wrong or do the folks around me have it wrong as well?  Are we all looking silly with our mispronounced word or is everyone just to uncomfortable to tell the lovable dork (that's me) that I'm saying it wrong!  lol

How do you say this word?~

What Happened To Monday?

Kinda spooky how this happens sometimes, but I swear I lost a day.  Yesterday, in fact, just ceased to exist for me.  I got online this morning, ready to hit all of my usual haunts, blogs and forums before getting ready to write and guess what...all the places I usually leave posts were blank.

Huh?

I would have sworn I went to them yesterday, but then, I have been sick so perhaps I dreamt that I went there...sheesh, this virus is taking it out of yours truly.

So here I am, ready to start fresh, kick myself in the writerly butt and hopefully not lose another day!

Have a good one everybody!

Wednesday's Word of the Day

Brobdingnagian \brob-ding-NAG-ee-uhn\, adjective:

Of extraordinary size; gigantic; enormous.

~Ohmygosh, my mind is over run with cheesy ways to use this word!  LOL~

Wednesday's Word of the Day

rue \ROO\, verb:


1. To wish that (something) had never been done, taken place, etc.
2. To feel sorrow over; repent of; regret bitterly.
noun:
1. Any strongly scented plant of the genus Ruta, esp. R. graveolens, having yellow flowers and leaves formerly used in medicine.

~Ah, here's another word I adore.  I can totally see so many of my female characters screaming at the top of their lungs, "I rue the day your were born, asshat!!"  LOL, yes, in my head most of them end that sentence with a sweet, or not so sweet, little pet name for the hero.  Not all of the them end up in their stories.  ;)

Who knew though, that it was also a plant?  Okay, maybe lots of you knew, but not I, so here's to learning something new...woot!~

Tuesday Temptation

~Sigh~

I do love a great back!  And looky-looky, do I glimpse a sexy tat on his arm as well?  Yum!

Stand Up To Cancer

What a powerful show this is, I'm glad I didn't miss it.

Donate Here

Wednesday Word of the Day

kenspeckle \KEN-spek-uhl\, adjective:


Conspicuous; easily seen or recognized.

~Okay, this word is just darn fun to say.  Kenspeckle, kenspeckle, kenspeckle.  Can you say it five times fast?  LOL~

Happy Labor Day!