tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269774422024-03-23T11:04:39.770-07:00Kate Austin talks about ...Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.comBlogger540125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-14455286637132784922012-12-24T02:00:00.000-08:002012-12-24T02:00:06.885-08:0012 Days of Christmas - Blue Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-CA">I’m
cheating here a bit because this is an album rather than a specific song, but I
can’t help myself – it is one of my very favourite things about Christmas. I’ll
play this CD to death between December 1 and January 1 (when I’m forced by
everyone around me to give it up) and will be either humming or singing it if
I’m not at home.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Why do
I like it so much?</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Partly
because it’s one of those albums that works perfectly. There’s no place where
you feel jarred from one song to another, no place where you wonder <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">why in the heck did they include that song?</i>,
no place where you get bored. Part of that is because it’s from another time,
when songs were shorter, albums were shorter. Part of it is because I know the
words to all of the songs. But most of it is because I love the way Elvis’s
sweet tenor makes all these songs so sweet and almost sad.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA">And
honestly? My favorite song is the saddest Christmas song ever – and maybe
that’s why I play it over and over again. It makes me think of all the people
I’ll miss over the holidays, people who are gone, people I’ve lost touch with,
people who are simply somewhere other than Vancouver for the holidays. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">I’ll have a blue Christmas without you<br />
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you<br />
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree<br />
Won’t be the same, dear, if you’re not here with me</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">I
didn’t have to look up those lyrics, I know them off by heart – and just typing
them here brought tears to my eyes. Because I can’t think of this song without
thinking of the people I’ll miss. This year, it’s my mom, even though she’s
been gone for almost fifteen years.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA">It’s
funny (funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha, as my mom would say) how we go through
waves of longing, of missing someone – and I suspect for all of us, Christmas
is one of the worst times. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA">So
what I wish for you for the holidays is that you keep the ones you’re missing
this year close to your heart, that you can remember the wonderful, happy times
you spent with them, and that you have a perfect Christmas song of your own.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Kate</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-13544516068964461902012-12-22T03:00:00.000-08:002012-12-22T03:00:01.212-08:0012 Days of Christmas - Laura Drewry<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBbU7flLKa2nFft13mc5_wNqjSMUqlKWpizArdOwjufDj4Iszgh-y-Ok54ev5aR72dfoFooOeBNFYQqX0JuTobgoDKpZxfotCu3C76GjYmntKf8aGmHsPikfI-PHpxyxGqMNirA/s1600/charmingJocover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBbU7flLKa2nFft13mc5_wNqjSMUqlKWpizArdOwjufDj4Iszgh-y-Ok54ev5aR72dfoFooOeBNFYQqX0JuTobgoDKpZxfotCu3C76GjYmntKf8aGmHsPikfI-PHpxyxGqMNirA/s320/charmingJocover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’m
so happy Kate invited me here to talk about Christmas music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who doesn’t love a good carol or hymn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem, of course, is picking just one,
so sorry, Kate, I picked three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
figured that was pretty good considering how many I had to choose from.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When
I was growing up, Mr. Pontini and the church choir would sing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O Holy Night</i> on Christmas Eve, and. .
.well. . .wow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn it up loud and sing
with everything you’ve got.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Do They Know it’s
Christmas</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> – such
an amazing concept, song and event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here
we are, almost thirty years later, and I still cry every time Bono sings
“tonight thank God it’s them instead of you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If for some reason, you’ve never heard the song or seen the video,
here’s the link.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkP2LkWc6lc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkP2LkWc6lc</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Halleluja He is
Born</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> – anyone
who’s listened to country music as long as I have will know and love this
song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sawyer Brown knows how to have fun
when they sing, and this song, recorded with Mark Miller’s own church choir, is
one of their best.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Of
course, I haven’t even touched on Kenny & Dolly, Elvis, Anne Murray, Toby
Keith, Springsteen, Vince Gill, George Strait, Bing Crosby. . .well, you see
where I’m going with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s just
something about Christmas music, whether hymns or carols, that make the season
what it is and makes our hearts a little happier, a little lighter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
the spirit of making our hearts a little lighter, I found this snippet from
CHARMING JO where Levi Travers is getting his first good look at Joanna (Jo)
McCaine in action.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Your Pa wouldn’t
want this, Joey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how he felt
about fencing in the land.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Joanna’s face turned
the deepest shade of red Levi had ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost bordered on purple. She wrapped her fingers around her horse’s
reins and turned to face her uncle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Yes, well, Pa’s not
here anymore, is he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he was, I
wouldn’t be standing here in his clothes making decisions like this. And you
wouldn’t be all in a tizzy because I had to go and hire someone like
Travers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She jerked her head toward
Levi, sending her braid swishing from shoulder to shoulder.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">If she wasn’t such a
sight when she was mad, Levi might have been insulted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Jo.” Mac’s tone
held more than just a little warning, but she stopped him with a raised
hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Maybe the stories of
Joanna McCaine were true – maybe she did rule with an iron fist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because from the look falling over Mac’s
face, this argument was long over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac
McCaine didn’t lose arguments; it just wasn’t done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet there he stood, facing down his niece and
losing – badly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“He’s the only
available body we can find to work and having him here will get you back where
you belong – out from under foot and back with the herd.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“But. . .”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“I’ve made my
decision, Mac.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, as he’d seen her
do earlier, Joanna mounted her horse in one graceful motion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Where are you
going?” Mac asked, his voice still tight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Check on Clay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put Travers to work and I’ll see you at
supper. He can do Walt’s job until Chuck delivers the wire for the fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should be here in a couple days.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">She shot a final
warning look at both of them before kneeing her animal forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">She rode off in the
same direction as Clay while Levi stood watching her go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Is she always like
that?” he asked, more to himself than Mac, since the only response he expected
from Mac was a bullet between the eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">With a defeated
sigh, Mac swiped the back of his hand over his mouth and shot a final glare at
his niece’s back before turning to Levi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You mean stubborn?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah, but. . .”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Bossy?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Yeah. . .”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Ornery?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Levi snickered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s just something about her – what the
hell is it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Mac jabbed a gloved
finger at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You keep the hell away
from her, Travers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’ll have you for
breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if she doesn’t, I
will!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His voice lowered, but the
warning remained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jo isn’t like other
girls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Levi chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I noticed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“Well stop
noticing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there’s one woman you’d
do well to leave alone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mac spat on the
ground and turned toward the barn, mumbling to himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t know why I let her grind me - she’s
never gonna change.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">A low whistle
escaped Levi’s lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why would you want
her to?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>**</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thanks again, Kate,
for inviting me here today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To celebrate
Christmas and the fabulous music it brings, I’ll be giving away a free copy of
Charming Jo (paper or ebook) to one random commenter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you all have a safe and joyous season
and that the New Year brings us all peace and a greater love for the world over.</span></b></div>
Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-69284415321722770902012-12-21T02:00:00.000-08:002012-12-21T02:00:01.210-08:0012 Days of Christmas - Hedda Armour<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-CA">First, full
disclosure:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Kate Austin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone other than Kate had asked me to
talk about Christmas music I would have donned my most grinchy of Grinch faces
and held forth about how I loathe Christmas music, particularly by the last
week of November when the assault has been going on since the Halloween
decorations came down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d go on about
how tired I am of seeing store clerks’ faces weary from exposure to endless
loops of <u>Blue Christmas</u> and <u>I’ll Be Home For Christmas</u> and <u>Rockin’
Around the Christmas Tree</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
equally tired of desperate-looking shoppers, cheesy tinsel-and-bows decorating
every tree and lamp post, of newspapers and magazines and flyers all exhorting
us to buy buy buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each day finds me
with my scowl intact, my chin tucked deeper into my collar, counting the days
when I don’t have to worry about hearing another version of <u>White Christmas</u>
while I’m picking up milk and bread in the corner store.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">But it was Kate
who asked me so I decided to make it an opportunity to re-examine my stock response
to Christmas music and sort through a few songs both secular and non- to see if
it’s really true.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">To my surprise, I
found a few – quite a few in fact – that I really like and at the top of the
list is <u>The Chipmunk Song</u>, both for its enduring novelty and
frivolousness and its incredibly good harmonies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like Alvin’s O <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">KAY</b>! in response to Dave’s scolding to pay attention and focus on
the song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little attitude is
refreshing for me at this time of year, particularly from a singing
rodent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was curious about the singers;
in the days that recording was made technology was more primitive and I
wondered how they did it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who were “The
Chipmunks” and where they are now?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">It turns out that <u>The
Chipmunk Song</u> was written and all parts sung by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. aka
David Seville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His is an interesting
story and includes the fact that his first cousin was William Saroyan with whom
he wrote <u>C’mon-a My House</u> made a hit by Rosemary Clooney.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I hear Alvin sing “I still want a
hula hoop” I am transported and a smile breaks out, I can’t help it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gone the Grinch!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Next on my list is
<u>Oh Holy Night</u> – you can’t get much more non-secular than that – which,
regardless of who covers it (and it has been sung by the likes of Barbra
Streisand, Joan Baez, Sufjan Stevens, Mariah Carey …) never fails to raise the
hairs on the back of my neck as the voices swell to the chorus … “Fall on your
knees…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just gorgeous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it’s seldom played loud enough
in the malls and stores, probably because it demands you stop and listen, which
means you’re not shopping hard enough.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">There’s a bunch of Christmas songs I like because they’re a bit saucy or witty and make me wish
for a time when movies had snappier dialogue, or perhaps when my life had
snappier dialogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At any rate, and in
no particular order: <u>Santa Baby</u> (who writes lyrics like “slip some sable
under the tree for me” anymore); <u>I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus</u>, which
is just plain cute and innocent and perhaps a bit sly; and <u>All I Want For
Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth</u>, the kind of secular Christmas song that
invites a family sing-along, especially if there are children who are near or
slightly past the age when they believe in Santa Claus, are losing baby teeth
but still want to join in the magic and wistfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Frosty the Snowman</u> could almost be on
this list but it’s been overexposed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is a cartoon - a four panel - with a classic snowman, decked out in top hat,
scarf, carrot nose and coal eyes and mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s singing “Zippity Doo Dah …” and slowly melting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time he reaches the line “…plenty of
sunshine…” he’s almost a pool of water with the aforementioned accoutrements
floating around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bit dark but
makes me laugh all the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
“Zippity Doo Dah” does not qualify as a Christmas song though the visuals bring
to mind <u>Frosty the Snowman</u>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">One of my
favourite romantic Christmas songs is <u>Baby It’s Cold Outside</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It speaks of a time when restraint was the
order of the day (“I really can’t stay…”) right alongside desire and
persuasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The song leaves us believing
the couple’s back-and-forth continues long into the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s cozy and cinematic because it takes us
from their warm embrace to the storm outside and back again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">How about those
wonderful Christmas songs we learned as children?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Good King Wences Last Looked Out</u>, or <u>We
Three Kings of Orrie and Tar</u>?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">I’ve noticed that
the lyrics to <u>Santa Claus is Coming to Town </u><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have changed slightly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was always something a bit creepy and
stalkerish about a benevolent gift-giver like Santa turning into a guy who
“sees you when you’re sleeping …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
he merely “knows IF you’ve been sleeping”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">The Little Drummer
Boy is one Christmas song I can tolerate no matter where I hear it; it’s
touching, melodic, structurally sophisticated and appeals to children and
adults alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pah Ruppa Pup Pum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Then there are the
songs I wish weren’t played in public places, not because they’re banal and
repetitive – they’re not - but because they’re overly sentimental and isn’t the
Christmas season fraught with expectations and sentimentality enough?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So please spare me <u>I’ll Be Home For
Christmas</u> or <u>Blue Christmas</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just hate weeping in Toys “R” Us or Shoppers or … well, maybe Shoppers
is a good place to hear these songs – at least I’m close to the tissues!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">Last, I’d like to
celebrate <u>The Twelve Days of Christmas</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s fun to sing with people of any age or persuasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can all take turns singing the “five
golden rings” part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for older folk -
that is anyone over 12 - it’s right up there with crosswords for exercising
that flabby cerebellum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The imagery is
beautiful and encourages painting, cutting and pasting, dancing, working with
clay, making cookies – in short, anything creative that is informed by the
lyrics.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA">So thanks,
Kate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess Christmas music, like any
music, has its favoured and not so loved tunes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I can erase the scowl, lift my chin(s) and march through the season
like a good citizen, loving and loathing in equal measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good
night!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thedrift.ca/artists/heather-armour"><span lang="EN-CA">Hedda Armour</span></a><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-38348602313111071382012-12-20T05:33:00.000-08:002012-12-20T05:33:10.044-08:0012 Days of Christmas - Wendy Ely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Awe, Christmas is almost here. The tree is up and if you flip on a
music station, there is a good bet that a Christmas song will be playing. Even
though my kids have often called me a The Grinch during the holidays because of
my lack of holiday enthusiasm, I do love a good Christmas song! My favorite
would be the naughty tune, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause. And who wouldn’t
enjoy the fun sounds of the old time Christmas favorites like Jingle Bells or
Rudolph? The sweet sounds of holiday music certainly helps set in the Christmas
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is your favorite Christmas music? </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wendy
Ely is a contemporary romance author. She writes some romantic suspense, really
hot stories, and the wonderful happily-ever-after. She lives in Phoenix,
Arizona with her own real-life hero and her two teenagers.</span></div>
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loves to hear from readers: authorwendyely@gmail.com</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Excerpt from her newly re-released novel, Confessions: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Jordan Case. His memory came swooping though her like a flooding
river. She remembered the way she’d run her fingers through his curls, or
when he’d kiss the tip of her nose. He’d made her feel so special when he
had carried her books for her, as though they had been in another era.
When he had been waiting to walk her home from work at night, he’d grab
her in a giant hug as though he hadn’t seen her in a month. All this time,
she’d tried not to care about her past. But she did. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://amzn.com/B00A3FVT84"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">http://amzn.com/B00A3FVT84</span></span></a></span></div>
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-51286830611501986032012-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:002012-12-19T03:00:02.084-08:0012 Days of Christmas - Barbara Monajem<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtxjNE8v5UtcUV3gkjOP9DVAfVRBaPxzpm6jGBhCo2RgchKnJxtgJoyp9jh2CPZlIxAFzdU-z2kzHOejxaOuF8OzGMSOEBwWN-JE2L-Bev0N1O2CVQKIcEdzDpiCcKA_orAFn5A/s1600/unreachable+piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtxjNE8v5UtcUV3gkjOP9DVAfVRBaPxzpm6jGBhCo2RgchKnJxtgJoyp9jh2CPZlIxAFzdU-z2kzHOejxaOuF8OzGMSOEBwWN-JE2L-Bev0N1O2CVQKIcEdzDpiCcKA_orAFn5A/s320/unreachable+piano.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I wouldn’t call
myself a musical person. I like listening to music, but I can’t sing worth
beans, and although my mom taught me to read music when I was a kid, I’m a
pretty terrible pianist. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">However, once a
year, I can’t resist getting out the book of Christmas carols and playing a
bunch of them, because they’re so much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My favorites are the old ones such as The Holly and The Ivy and God Rest
Ye Merry Gentlemen. Maybe this is because I write historical romance, and these
carols conjure up pictures of manor houses with candlelight, roaring fires in
the hearth, roast goose and plum pudding. I also have a great affection for
Good King Wenceslas, not just because it’s a carol but because of my childhood
take on it. I had no idea what the Feast of Stephen was – it sounded like a
dining table filled with sumptuous food in the house of someone called Stephen.
That made enough sense to me, because the good king does feed the poor man,
which is what counts.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But anyway – no
playing Christmas carols for me this year. One, because I can’t get to the
piano! I’m redoing my home office (where the piano also resides) and right now
it’s a catastrophe which is unlikely to be sorted out by next week. Two,
because…. alas, the Christmas carol book is missing. No surprise, considering
the chaos. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fortunately, I
have something to listen to which I couldn’t possibly play or sing anyway. It’s
Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. I have a CD of this fabulous work sung
by the Christ Church Cathedral Choir in Oxford, England. It’s a beautiful,
joyful bunch of songs with a medieval feel to them. I first heard it when one
of my daughters sang it in her high school choir, and I’ve listened to it every
December since.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My Christmas
novella, A Lady’s Lesson in Seduction, takes place in one of those English
manor houses I mentioned earlier, and in this one there’s plenty of Christmas
greenery--including mistletoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>;)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w6Xa1P2ERXw8Dd0ZjlPQ1isc7tJ6BFHUA0C1oHq1cR4R34BgnJGknILQRRflDHFqaq4Z4GoqwcM_mgaD1fU9NYaJ3-IBFznAhTgB6GwFrchfBR_iLd54Q1d_hYxyt6ppT30c1Q/s1600/A+Lady%27s+Lesson+in+Seduction+by++Barbara+Monajem+-+OCT+2012+undone+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w6Xa1P2ERXw8Dd0ZjlPQ1isc7tJ6BFHUA0C1oHq1cR4R34BgnJGknILQRRflDHFqaq4Z4GoqwcM_mgaD1fU9NYaJ3-IBFznAhTgB6GwFrchfBR_iLd54Q1d_hYxyt6ppT30c1Q/s320/A+Lady%27s+Lesson+in+Seduction+by++Barbara+Monajem+-+OCT+2012+undone+(2).jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
<b>Blurb:</b></div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
Once a notorious rake, Camden Folk, Marquis of
Warbury, is now consumed by desire for only one woman: beautiful young widow
Frances Burdett. The Yuletide festivities at his country estate present the
perfect opportunity for seduction…</div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
After her brief, unsatisfying marriage, Frances
swore never to become tied to another man. Then a passionate kiss under the
mistletoe reawakens longings she thought buried forever. Can she give in to the
pleasures of the body with a rogue like Cam—without losing her heart?</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<b>Excerpt:</b></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Frances should never have agreed to go to the orchard with the
Marquis of Warbury—to gather mistletoe, of all things. She sent him a fierce,
furious glare. “If you must have it, I don’t enjoy kissing.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
He eyed her from behind the apple tree. “Not at all?” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“No.” She pressed her lips together.</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“Come now,” he teased. “Surely you’re exaggerating.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Her voice was low, suffused with passion. “You can’t possibly
judge how that—that invasion made me feel.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“That bad, was it?” The marquis reached up and snipped with
his shears. “You’re right, I can’t judge, but the general popularity of kissing
tells me you were merely unlucky.” He came around the tree, a sprig of
mistletoe in his hand. </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
What a fool she was; in spite of bitter experience, she <i>wanted
</i>to kiss him, wanted kissing to be wonderful. How stupid! She was much
better off—much safer—as she was. </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
He kissed the fingertips of his gloves and blew. “That wasn’t
so bad, was it?” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Frances huffed. </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
He picked a berry from the mistletoe and dropped it. “We’ll
make it a very light kiss,” he said, coming closer. “Short and sweet.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
She didn’t trust him; she wanted yet didn’t want— </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
A flurry of snow tumbled from the branches above, distracting
her. He swooped in, dropped a swift, cold kiss on her lips, and drew away—but
not far. “Was that too unbearable?” Another mistletoe berry fell to the snow. </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“No, of course not,” she said, “but—” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“Well, then.” He took her hand and pulled her behind the tree.
“If you don’t want me to invade you—accidentally, needless to say—you’ll have
to keep your mouth shut.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“You mustn’t do this—” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“Of course I must. No talking.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
She gave up, shutting both her mouth and her eyes. It was her
own fault for coming to the orchard this morning, but she’d enjoyed their time
together in the middle of the night so very much. It was only a kiss. </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Nothing happened. She opened her eyes again. He was
contemplating her mouth from under his lashes. “You have lovely lips.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Through her teeth, she said, “Get it <i>over </i>with.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“I’ve never kissed a martyr before.” His lips curled in a lazy
smile, and then he pressed his mouth coolly to hers and withdrew again. “It
requires a more careful approach than we disgustingly hasty men are used to.”
He flicked another berry off the sprig. </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
She couldn’t help but watch his mouth. What was he going to
do, and when? </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
“Close your eyes, and whatever happens, keep your lips
together.” </div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
This time his mouth lingered on hers a few seconds, then
pressed light kisses from one corner of her lips to the other. Kiss. “One.”
Kiss. “Two.” Kiss. “Three.”</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Bite.</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
***</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKrFqFT9qQjig8SS0xEUvU6k41lvjMughFAg2WV70NMjciimigRG-Fng6PgeEJ4DbRUSACbibGrP1Rxh6YWxK9DoTOw-cXPHEUqEJZg4uJ-t3qoUewXC_n9NQt0nefCrXMR3xbg/s1600/BarbaraMonajem300x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKrFqFT9qQjig8SS0xEUvU6k41lvjMughFAg2WV70NMjciimigRG-Fng6PgeEJ4DbRUSACbibGrP1Rxh6YWxK9DoTOw-cXPHEUqEJZg4uJ-t3qoUewXC_n9NQt0nefCrXMR3xbg/s320/BarbaraMonajem300x400.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
My website: <a href="http://www.barbaramonajem.com/">www.BarbaraMonajem.com</a></div>
<div class="Default">
Twitter: @BarbaraMonajem</div>
<div class="Default">
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/barbara.monajem</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Buy links:</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Amazon.com:</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Scandalous-Regency-Christmas-ebook/dp/B008JIKD0W/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1348256077&sr=8-11&keywords=barbara+monajem">http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Scandalous-Regency-Christmas-ebook/dp/B008JIKD0W/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1348256077&sr=8-11&keywords=barbara+monajem</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Barnes & Noble:</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ladys-lesson-in-seduction-barbara-monajem/1112124098?ean=9781459247994">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ladys-lesson-in-seduction-barbara-monajem/1112124098?ean=9781459247994</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Harlequin.com</div>
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<a href="http://ebooks.harlequin.com/D3A0978C-D540-4C1D-98CE-937EE1438520/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=853DE399-5B93-44E5-A13A-91B11173D811">http://ebooks.harlequin.com/D3A0978C-D540-4C1D-98CE-937EE1438520/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=853DE399-5B93-44E5-A13A-91B11173D811</a></div>
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-40440748548109882062012-12-18T01:30:00.000-08:002012-12-18T01:30:00.722-08:0012 Days of Christmas - Lee Mckenzie<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">“White
Christmas” with Lee McKenzie</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">The Pacific Northwest is well known for its
green Christmases, and a green Christmas is one of the things I most love about
living here. So it may sound a little strange that “White Christmas” is my
favorite Christmas song, because I’m definitely not dreaming of one!</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizol4zMqpjeU4D6by1aLlCslYQcQ37-fl-kFw-TUJItKCReV8ocSBBcHgB8lRKG-JP3d_tz2ytumzqWrhmH5GT8zN4Uq2LGrFCCKFg-mXMwBWtNCV9a8GPX_elDrU2m5W20Y9ZpA/s1600/White+Christmas+album.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizol4zMqpjeU4D6by1aLlCslYQcQ37-fl-kFw-TUJItKCReV8ocSBBcHgB8lRKG-JP3d_tz2ytumzqWrhmH5GT8zN4Uq2LGrFCCKFg-mXMwBWtNCV9a8GPX_elDrU2m5W20Y9ZpA/s1600/White+Christmas+album.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">So why is it
my favorite song? Let’s start with a little history. “White Christmas” was
written by Irving Berlin and first performed by Bing Crosby on Christmas Day in
1941, and then in 1942 the song was featured in the film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Holiday Inn</i> and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">“White Christmas” has been recorded by
dozens of artists—Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Elvis Presley, Smokey Robinson,
Bob Marley, Dean Martin, Barbara Steisand, The Partridge Family, Kenny Rogers
and Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, Michael Bublé, Taylor Swift, Andrea Bocelli,
Lady Gaga, and the cast members of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Glee</i>—to
name just a few.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7thPp0wLXZxu6tQyhr0vzHA4J2b1yPcwH50VsRbt2sw8ggirOXOP_McmOZkRTMqdQAptOzra_hoAWpGbzxSUgZ39r-L2NivOhFrnE71T7D-IJ_sppfYztSVjPO0S96fQN1IcLpQ/s1600/White+Christmas+movie+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7thPp0wLXZxu6tQyhr0vzHA4J2b1yPcwH50VsRbt2sw8ggirOXOP_McmOZkRTMqdQAptOzra_hoAWpGbzxSUgZ39r-L2NivOhFrnE71T7D-IJ_sppfYztSVjPO0S96fQN1IcLpQ/s320/White+Christmas+movie+poster.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">But
it’s the 1954 version of the song in the film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">White Christmas</i> that’s always been my favorite. I can’t remember
the first time I saw this film, and I can’t begin to guess how many times I’ve
watched it. Suffice to say…lots! I love Christmas and I love romantic comedies,
and the two are perfectly paired in holiday classic. There’s a real innocence
to the production with its heartwarming story, engaging song and dance numbers,
the oh-so-fake sets, and the gorgeous costumes. I especially love the stunning
black gown worn by Rosemary Clooney when she performs “Love, You Didn't Do
Right By Me.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Every year after I finish decorating the
house and wrapping the gifts and planning the meals, I dig out my old VHS copy
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">White Christmas</i> and curl up with a
steaming mug of hot chocolate and huge bowl of popcorn.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"></span><span lang="EN-CA"> As the closing number begins, with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney,
Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen in their red and white outfits performing “White
Christmas,” then and only then does it truly feel like Christmas at my house.
And when that curtain goes up behind them to reveal the falling snow, I have
all the white Christmas I need!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">T</span>hank you to Kate for inviting me<span style="font-size: small;"> to join in your 12 Days event. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Lee</span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkbhB-le9efN5rFnU8DIePUtlZNt9viuU7DcYIDMJw534MBstocNYTMHiBnNmDhhqK_BlATS4oMlCmKFEudeFXlhRmc0Qi0DadSg2lZu5I5YftiDmGauriqg0Oz6KrG1AdfY1pA/s1600/The+Christmas+Secret+-+front+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkbhB-le9efN5rFnU8DIePUtlZNt9viuU7DcYIDMJw534MBstocNYTMHiBnNmDhhqK_BlATS4oMlCmKFEudeFXlhRmc0Qi0DadSg2lZu5I5YftiDmGauriqg0Oz6KrG1AdfY1pA/s320/The+Christmas+Secret+-+front+cover.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Lee McKenzie writes lighthearted
contemporary romance that’s been described as fifty shades of pink.<b> Today she’s
giving away a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Christmas
Secret </i>(Harlequin American Romance) to one commenter.</b> The second book in
this series, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Daddy Project</i> is on
sale now. For more about Lee and her books, readers can visit her at <a href="http://www.leemckenzie.com/">www.LeeMcKenzie.com</a>.</span></div>
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-3467949952019230782012-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:002012-12-13T03:00:03.751-08:00Day 1 of the 12 Days - Silver James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzWCZgiEEk_5CugzA8FbYCEo0x64RusNnYek3NL0RTI_hTmls29E6SkhjVzK-DP0Z_bFaL5s5voQt0QP7zagt5UPfy0xwCTuKZkdCVGySRRJvTlK-K1DpEPFSK1q0ZpBRkgAT4g/s1600/KA12Days.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzWCZgiEEk_5CugzA8FbYCEo0x64RusNnYek3NL0RTI_hTmls29E6SkhjVzK-DP0Z_bFaL5s5voQt0QP7zagt5UPfy0xwCTuKZkdCVGySRRJvTlK-K1DpEPFSK1q0ZpBRkgAT4g/s200/KA12Days.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Merry
Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone. I’d like to thank Kate for hosting the
Twelve Days of Christmas and give me a chance to talk about my favorite
Christmas carol. I’m an alone-in-car singer and there’s a local radio station
that goes to All Christmas Music All the Time starting Thanksgiving Day. I sing
along (badly!) to them all. But the question Kate as asked is, which one is my
favorite? Argh! That’s like trying to choose which piece of chocolate candy is
my favorite. I love Mannheim Steamrollers mix of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman”
and “Carol of the Bells” (which isn’t actually a Christmas song, but an
Ukranian folk chant). “Do You Hear What I Hear” is a favorite contemporary song.
“O Come Emmanuel” is a favorite religious carol and reminds me of midnight
Christmas Eve services.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
See? This is hard. I think I’ll cheat
and pick a moment in time—or should I say history, given I’m as old as dirt!
Back then, it didn’t matter how old I was, I loved sitting down with my dad to
watch all the Christmas specials. Back in the day, this usually involved a
singer like Andy Williams, Dean Martin, or Perry Como hosting a variety show
with a Christmas theme. One of my favorites occurred in 1977. Bing Crosby was
the host. Now, you’re probably thinking that I’m going to pick “White
Christmas” as my favorite. Love the movie. The husband I watch it every year on
Christmas Eve. But no. That’s not my favorite song. During the course of the
special, David Bowie just happened to show up on Bing’s “doorstep.” And the two
of them performed a duet of “Little Drummer Boy” and “Peace on Earth.” I still
stop whatever I’m doing when I hear this rendition and I miss my dad so much.
We lost him right after Christmas in 1995.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Have you heard the song? Or seen
it? Here, I’ll share the clip from YouTube: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADbJLo4x-tk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADbJLo4x-tk</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4V5ils_G4VuezQ8q_vcTtR6GVY0TGOwj1Q0NGC9KNjautegyrZ6sJomCwAsIe0zl26JYM6sN-c9kt98towRpr7NlU7jLp42YL4DAShMmBcewzrdkFU2Zp8oyPWerq-St4am0dg/s1600/FaireFool_w7276_680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4V5ils_G4VuezQ8q_vcTtR6GVY0TGOwj1Q0NGC9KNjautegyrZ6sJomCwAsIe0zl26JYM6sN-c9kt98towRpr7NlU7jLp42YL4DAShMmBcewzrdkFU2Zp8oyPWerq-St4am0dg/s320/FaireFool_w7276_680.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Thinking
about Christmas makes me wish I had a Christmas snippet to share from my new
release, FAERIE FOOL. Instead, I found a scene where Rory MacDermot, the hero,
is dealing with a little boy caught in a police incident. Rory is a SWAT cop
who is in love with Dr. Delaney Burns, the police psychologist who’s also
there. While not really about Christmas, I think this excerpt embodies the
spirit of Christmas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">**** </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Delaney
nodded and whispered to the boy. Rory watched as the child picked out a hoodie,
a book, and a dirty, bedraggled stuffed animal. He had no clue what the critter
had once been. Now it was a dirty gray lump but the kid clung to it like a
lifeline. When they were ready, he escorted Delaney and the kid out to the
command post to wait. He slipped inside and dug around in a box under one of
the seats. When he found the stuffed dog he was looking for, he stepped out and
located the doc standing next to the open back door of a cruiser. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“His
name is Andre,” Delaney said as Rory walked up. “His mother works the night
shift at a nursing home and he stays with his brother.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Feeling
a little stupid, Rory held out the fuzzy dog. The frown lines between Delaney’s
eyes melted as she smiled at him. She stepped back to give him room and he felt
even more awkward. With one hand on the top of the car, he leaned into the
backseat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“What’s
gonna happen to my brother? If you take him to jail, I’ll have to stay home
alone. Don’t arrest him, ‘kay?” The boy wiped his nose with the lump of fuzz he
clutched to his chest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I
wish we didn’t have to, Andre, but he’s done some bad things. Child Services
will help your mom.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
boy gulped and nodded, his big, haunted eyes filling with tears. “That cop
tried to shoot me, didn’t he?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rory
swallowed his anger and inhaled deeply. Several times. “That cop was stupid,
Andre. He’ll be dealt with.” The boy noticed the floppy dog he carried and Rory
held it closer. “Here. I thought you might like this.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Andre
reached for it but didn’t quite touch. His eyes stayed glued on Rory. “To
keep?” He sounded so hopeful, Rory’s heart broke a little.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“To
keep. He’s yours, if you want him, but you have to give him a name.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
boy smiled and dimples creased his round cheeks. “Boss. That’s what that lady
cop called you.” Andre took the stuffed animal then and folded the dog into his
arms, squished in with the lumpy critter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rory
straightened and his gaze met Delaney’s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“That
was a very nice thing you just did,” she murmured.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Feeling
awkward again, he wanted to dig his toe in the dirt and do some stupid “aw
shucks” thing. “The kid was scared. And not all cops are bad guys.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
She offered him a tentative smile.
“No, not all cops are bad guys. Some of them are heroes, especially in the eyes
of an impressionable boy.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
****</div>
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<br /></div>
<b>
</b><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for dropping by today. To celebrate the
season, I’m giving a present to one lucky (if random) commenter. Leave a
comment with the title of your favorite holiday song and I’ll let Random.org
pick a winner. If you win, you can pick the print version of FAERIE FOOL or a
digital format. May your holidays be filled with peace, love, and good will to
all.</b></div>
Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-59666474273076639612012-12-05T08:20:00.001-08:002012-12-05T08:20:00.754-08:00Design, function and art<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN3DMcXz9NR4zrQYPPXj1dmL0urykRKJxHqSInNQnsjsUSA_NAMS2blRaIgC89MOGdFj4bOe8GYPVsJoJmv-0bccgVQfB5sRkFnNQcw-uhmWMp9bRS_XAhbaNfI3RAUZTC_sECg/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN3DMcXz9NR4zrQYPPXj1dmL0urykRKJxHqSInNQnsjsUSA_NAMS2blRaIgC89MOGdFj4bOe8GYPVsJoJmv-0bccgVQfB5sRkFnNQcw-uhmWMp9bRS_XAhbaNfI3RAUZTC_sECg/s320/2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
These things all come together at Vancouver's lovely old Orpheum theater - beautiful architecture, designed as a movie house, it functions brilliantly as the home for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and music.<br />
<br />
I love going to the symphony - especially when they're playing something I've never heard before. A few weeks ago, I heard Alondra de la Parra conduct Edward Top's Symphony Golden Dragon.<br />
<br />
Top is the VSO's conductor in residence and what drew me in was the surprise of the music. It's not that I don't like classical music - I do. Some of it - Bach, in particular - I love. But this symphony blew me away. I never knew what to expect and I fell in love. <br />
<br />
If you want to hear a piece of music like nothing you've ever heard before, if you're interested in new music, you can check this symphony out at: <a href="http://soundcloud.com/edward-top/symphony-golden-dragon" target="_blank">http://soundcloud.com/edward-top/symphony-golden-dragon</a><br />
<br />
One of the joys of the evening, especially during the Golden Dragon symphony, was watching the young conductor, Alondra de la Parra. Her movements, her direction, became part of the music and it was an amazing experience to watch her direct this symphony. It was as if she were linked to each of the musicians by strings, as if those strings turned them into a single voice. It was wonderful.<br />
<br />
Angela Cheng played a Mozart piano concerto - and each time I've heard her, I've been more and more impressed, but for me, as I'm not a huge fan of Mozart, that was the part of the program I least enjoyed. Luckily for me, they finished it up with Brahms, the lovely Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, and I went away more than happy with my evening.<br />
<br />
Three of my favorite things combined on that night - design, function and art - and I walked home, in the rain, delighted with the evening.<br />
<br />
KateKate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-5727355858408773962012-12-03T01:30:00.000-08:002012-12-03T01:30:00.879-08:00Social is as social does or Kate's adventures in the real worldI sometimes think there are two kinds of writers - those who hunker down and write, write, write and those who don't. Any of you who knows even the tiniest bit about me knows that I'm one of the latter. I'm a writer who writes around her social life - because without a social life, I can't write. Other writers are the opposite - with a social life, they have trouble writing.<br />
<br />
I thought I might try to use my social proclivities as a writing tool and blog about my more than occasional forays out into what I often call <em>the real world.</em><br />
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Vancouver is a city full of great restaurants and while not all of my social life consists of eating out, a fair bit of it does. The good news is that Vancouver has eateries of every shape and size from the tiniest six stall coffee shop to the largest family Italian restaurant. There are restaurants of every ethnicity from Ethiopian to French to every single type of Chinese food you could imagine and everything in between.<br />
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My sister was in town from Edmonton this week. She hasn't been in Vancouver for a few years (okay, make that more than a few) but she discovered an amazing restaurant that I'm not sure I would ever have found, especially as it's only been open for a week. It's a little out of my catchment area - I like to eat out downtown. Not because there aren't terrific restaurants out of downtown, but because I don't have to drive and it's easy to find a cab for the ride home.<br />
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The restaurant - Tamam, which means,according to Google, something along the lines of <em>okay</em> or <em>good </em>in Arabic - was very good. The Palestinian couple of who run Tamam are delightful, warm and friendly and interesting. He's also a professor and a filmmaker - documentaries, short films, feature length films. If you go there - the address is 2616 East Hastings Street - make sure you take the time to chat with both of them.<br />
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I have two criteria for a great restaurant - food and service. Tamam provided both. The food is brilliant, not spicy, but rich with flavour and colour and taste. If you like any kind of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern you're going to want to try this Palestinian cuisine.<br />
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We ate in the pouring rain on this little patio to one side of the main room - warm and dry while the water ran down the windows beside us. Between us, we had many of the things on the menu, starting with humus and a terrific eggplant dip (aka mutabal), scooped up into warm soft pita bread. I could have quit right there, but I didn't. We added tabbuleh, which arrived with crisp lettuce leaves, so we could eat the tabbuleh wrapped in the leaves. Still didn't stop there.<br />
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I moved on to mujadarrah, a traditional Palestinian rice dish. It was rich with spices, only some of which I could identify, and a salad with a lovely tart lemon dressing. The combination worked perfectly.<br />
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Two us had warak, a Palestinian street food you'll find in the oldest part of Jerusalem, and loved it. It's a burger wrapped in grape leaves but that description doesn't come close to doing justice to the plates that arrived at our table.<br />
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I'm glad my sister's nose took her to Tamam. It's going on my list. It may be a little out of my comfort zone, a little fare afield, but when you get there, you'll forgot everything except the warm food and service.<br />
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Here's the website if you want to check it ou <a href="http://www.tamam.ca/">www.tamam.ca</a> and say hi from me!<br />
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KateKate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-12204892185953233222012-10-19T02:00:00.000-07:002012-10-19T02:00:05.378-07:00Interview with RaeAnne Thayne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><br /></b>
<b> 1. I live in a city - Vancouver - but I often set stories in small towns for the sense of community which echoes what I find in my downtown neighborhood. What about you? Where do you live and where do you set your stories? And why?</b><br /> <br />Like yours, my books definitely focus on the importance of community. I live in a small, tight-knit community in northern Utah, very much like my Hope's Crossing series set in Colorado. Here neighbors care about neighbors. When my husband and I purchased our first house more than twenty years ago, we were too young and idealistic to realize how important neighbors could be. We picked our house because it was a graceful old Queen Anne Victorian and we had great dreams of fixing it up. When our second child was born with serious health challenges, however, we realized just how important community was. We had so many people step in to help us with meals, with lawn mowing, with encouraging notes and drive-by hugs. That love and caring didn't stop after we brought our son home from the newborn ICU. He has significant disabilities and our neighbors and friends have been an unflagging support to us through the years.<br /><br />Several years ago it became clear we would have to move to a more accessible house to better accommodate our son's mobility limitations but we couldn't bear leaving our neighbors who had traveled this journey along with us ... so we built a house just around the corner from our old Victorian! <br /><br />That same message of caring and community, of people dealing with their own pain by reaching out to lift and strengthen each other, is a core theme for many of my books and especially my Hope's Crossing series.<br /><br /><b>2. What's your favorite book ever and why? I have 2 or 3 books that I read over and over again - including Jane Austen's Persuasion. I love it because the characters are older and their relationship isn't easy, but you know, when they do finally get together, they're grown-ups and they know exactly who they are.</b><br />I have so many books I adore, books I turn to when I need the solid comfort of a wonderful story. Right now I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series with our nine-year-old (our second time reading them together and about the tenth time for me!). Ms. Rowling can still make me cry!<br /> <br /><b>3. What's the story you've always wanted to write but somehow can't? For me, it's a story about World War I. I'm fascinated by the stories I've read about it but I'm pretty sure I'm never going to write a real war story. I've just finished a book that is set partly during World War I but a very long way away from the battles. I think that's as close as I'm going to get.</b><br /><br />Here's a little secret about me. I've always wanted to write a Regency. They've been my very favorite books to read since I discovered Georgette Heyer and Clare Darcy in middle school ... but I've written forty-three contemporaries now and don't see myself jumping onto another horse at this point in my journey. Who knows, though? It could happen.<br /><br /><br /><b> 4. Finally, do you have a routine? If so, what is it and how easy/hard is it to stick to it? I try to have one, but because I work as a freelance paralegal and teach paralegals occasionally, my schedule tends to change from week to week, if not actually day to day. I'm always buying lottery tickets, hoping to win just enough money not to have to work and write to a regular schedule though I'm pretty sure that even if I did have the money to write nine to five, I wouldn't, as I've been scrambling like this forever :)</b><br /><br />When I started writing romance novels and still trying to make that first sale, I was working as the news editor for a daily newspaper and would get up at 4:30 a.m. to write for two hours before I left for my day job. After I sold, I spent a few years writing early in the morning before work or late at night around our daughter's schedule. The very week I sold my fifth book to Bantam Loveswept, I gave birth to our second child and left my newspaper job for good to write full time and deal with his complicated needs. FYI, I've found it much harder juggling three children and a full-time writing career than it ever was juggling work and writing and one child! <br /><br />I don't really have a routine when it comes to my writing, no totems or rituals or anything, but I generally must have music playing on my headphones while I write, usually jazz. <br /><br />I tend to write better away from my house because of all the distractions here (laundry, Facebook, phone calls from my mom, Twitter, dishes, Facebook. You get the idea). <br /><br />My best writing days are spent either at the nearby campus library or at a coffee shop somewhere in town while my youngest two boys are in school (our oldest daughter is now married and going to school out of state and not my responsibility anymore. At least theoretically!). I love immersing myself completely in the story and it's tough for me to do that at home, for some strange reason. I generally write all day while they're at school and then I spend afternoons doing homework, dinner, family time. After they go to bed, I generally hole up in my office to write again until eleven or so – later, if my deadline is right around the corner. <br /><br />It's a crazy life but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love being a storyteller. I have a sign on my desk, a quote generally attributed to the wonderful Kathleen Gilles Seidel, that reads, "I may not change the world, but I can change someone's afternoon." That's my goal each time I sit down at my computer, to brighten someone's day.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for having me and for the great questions!<br />
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<br /><a href="http://www.raeannethayne.com/">http://www.raeannethayne.com</a>Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-35790260218996892552012-10-12T03:00:00.000-07:002012-10-12T03:00:12.019-07:00Inspiration by Christy McKee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspiration…can come
from the most unexpected places,</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">even from a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>grand piano!</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Have you ever heard of
the Capo d’astro bar?</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
No, it’s not a popular hangout for the literati in New
York City, but it is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>something that
every one of us who wants to be unique, or the next big thing, must know, about
us and about our work. This is the story of an advertising copy writer who was
determined to do a stellar job. His name is Bud Robbins and he wrote the following
article over fifty years ago and it is still relevant today. I’m not sure if
Mr. Robbins is still living, but if he isn’t, his story lives on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
Back in the sixties, I was hired by
an ad agency to write copy on the Aeolian Piano Company account. My first
assignment was for an ad to be placed in The New York Times for one of their
grand pianos. The only background information I received was some previous ads
and a few faded close-up shots…and of course, the due date.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
The Account Executive was slightly
put out by my request for additional information and his response to my
suggestion that I sit down with the client was, ‘Don’t tell me you’re one of
those? Can’t you just create something? We’re up against a closing date!’</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
I acknowledged his perception that
I was one of those, which got us an immediate audience with the head of our
agency.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
I volunteered I couldn’t even play
a piano let alone write about why anyone would spend $5,000 for this piano when
they could purchase a Baldwin or Steinway for the same amount.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
I persisted and reluctantly, a tour
of the Aeolian factory in Upstate New York was arranged. I was assured that ‘we
don’t do this with all our clients’ and my knowledge as to the value of company
time was greatly reinforced.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
The tour lasted two days and
although the care and construction appeared meticulous, $5,000 still seemed to
be a lot of money. Just before leaving, I was escorted into the showroom by the
National Sales Manager. In an elegant setting sat their piano alongside the
comparably priced Steinway and Baldwin.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘They sure look alike,’ I commented.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘They sure do. About the only real
difference is the shipping weight—ours is heavier.’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘Heavier?’ I asked. ‘What makes
ours heavier?’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘The Capo d’astro bar.’</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘What’s
a Capo d’astro bar?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; line-height: 145%; margin-bottom: 13.6pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Here,
I’ll show you. Get down on your knees.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
Once under the piano, he pointed to
a metallic bar fixed across the harp and bearing down on the highest octaves.
‘It takes 50 years before the harp in the piano warps. That’s when the Cap
d’astro bar goes to work. It prevents warping.’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
I left the National Sales Manager
under his piano and dove under the Baldwin to find a Tinkertoy Capo d’astro bar
at best. Same with the Steinway.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘You mean the Capo d’astro bar
really doesn’t go to work for 50 years?’ I asked. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘Well, there’s got to be some
reason why the Met uses it,’ he casually added.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
I froze. ‘Are you telling me that
the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City uses this piano?’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
‘Sure. And their Capo d’astro bar
should be working by now.’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
Returning to the city, I went to
the Metropolitan Opera House where I met the legendary Carmen, Rise Stevens.
She was now in charge of moving the Metropolitan Opera House to the Lincoln
Center.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
Ms. Stevens told me, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00b0f0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b>“About the only thing the Met is
taking with them is their piano.’</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That quote was the headline of our first print
ad.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The result created a six-year wait
between order and delivery. My point is this. No matter what the account, I
promise you, the Capo d’astro bar is there.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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If we are to be successful
branding ourselves, scooping up new readers in our special niche, we<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have to discover our own Capo d’astro bar
and market accordingly. </div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Excerpt</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">“Newspapers
were never very favorable to my father,” he explained. “To the best of my
knowledge, a newspaper reporter has never been invited to this house.” He
wouldn’t tell her that his father referred to them as a pack of ill-bred, bloodthirsty
hounds. Edward Hastings refused to return calls or grant interviews to any
newspaper. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are you insinuating that I’m here
under false pretenses?”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From beneath his sunglasses, Pierce
looked directly into her fiery green eyes. "No, not at all Miss March. I
was merely stating a fact.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The fact is, Mr. Hastings, it is not a reporter’s job to
be favorable. They are in the business of finding and reporting the truth.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Nobly put, Miss March.” The
woman certainly didn’t pull any punches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I hope this will put you at ease,
Mr. Hastings. I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">own</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> the newspaper. It’s been several years since I single-handedly set
out to ruin anyone.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sarcasm, even with
a lovely Southern accent, was still sarcasm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I see.” Pierce sounded duly impressed. “That’s certainly
an accomplishment for such a young …” He froze when her eyes narrowed. What the
hell was wrong with him? He careened from one blunder to the next.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Tell me, is
it my age or the fact that I’m a woman that bothers you?” Her face was
considerably more colorful than the rest of her and he knew it had nothing to
do with the heat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pierce was no chauvinist and certainly had no
prejudice against successful females. After all, he’d been married to a
talented trial attorney. Hadn’t he put his wife through law school? Hadn’t he
supported Glenna in every way until she made partner in her firm and then
announced that she’d changed her mind about having children and, by the way,
she didn’t want to be his wife anymore either. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I didn't
mean that you weren't responsible.” His eyes returned to the very entertaining
Miss March who had just snapped up the ball and was ready to run with it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What would
someone like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> know about
responsibility anyway? You've probably never put in an honest day’s work in
your entire over-privileged life. Flying around the world trying to stay one
step ahead of reality. One of these days you’re going to have to come down to
earth and see what it’s like in the real world.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where did the woman get her information? She’d
obviously pegged him as some sort of wealthy derelict. Fired up, she was
something<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>Misinformed maybe, but she
had balls of steel<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i> "For a
newspaper woman, you’re lacking in your facts, Miss...." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Frenzied barking
drew Pierce's attention skyward. Just as he looked up a huge black creature
soared through the air, plunging down on top of him, upending his float and
catapulting him to the bottom of the pool. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Max exuberantly
dog paddled to his mistress and was rewarded with an affectionate pat on his
broad head. "Perfect timing, Max." Gabrielle smiled and broke into
laughter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What did you
do, signal him to attack?” Pierce sputtered, trying to locate his five hundred
dollar sunglasses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Don't be silly.”
She laughed. "It's just Max's way of thanking you for the afternoon
snack." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: -.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Max offered up a
cheerful bark. The behemoth black dog actually looked pleased with himself. He
was a retriever for God’s sake; he should be down there looking for Pierce’s glasses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>About Christy Mckee:</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">In one media or another, Christy McKee has written
her entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In middle school, she
started a neighborhood newspaper in her hometown in Ohio. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stories about whose poodle just had puppies or
where the Millers spent their vacation were pretty boring—at least to her— so she
embellished with a few bits of overheard gossip <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which got her into big time trouble with the
neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amid a flurry of apologies issued
by her parents, Christy’s news operation folded overnight and she was shipped
off to a nearby summer camp. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly she
was not cut out to be a newspaper woman.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Christy’s degree in Radio-TV-Film opened a
world of creative possibilities. She enjoyed her work as a reporter and news
anchor in Missouri and Ohio, but after a few years she gave in to her creative
itch and moved into production. Although not as glamorous as being “on air” it
satisfied her growing passion to create a story and characters—even if those
characters only existed inside a 30 second TV commercial. It was a short time
fix for someone who craved a more diversified range of opportunities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christy took a brave leap—sacrificing a
regular paycheck— to work as a full time freelancer, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>writing/producing everything from travel
brochures to radio commercials. It wasn’t enough— she wanted to create her own fictional
world and fill it with unforgettable characters. Finally three years ago,
Christy beat back self-doubt and embraced the risk and exhilaration of writing
and never looked back.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">After four incarnations and a year under the
bed, Christy’s debut novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Maybe Too Good
to Be True</i> will be released in August, 2012. She lives in Ohio with her family
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and her two “Lab” assistants, Gracie and
Lambeau. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Connect with Christy McKee:</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://christymckeewriter.blogspot.com/">http://christymckeewriter.blogspot.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.christymckee.com/">http://www.christymckee.com</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://twitter.com/ChristyMcKee">http://twitter.com/ChristyMcKee</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Buy Links:</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-24396728379949308052012-09-28T03:00:00.000-07:002012-09-28T03:00:08.438-07:00Interview with Barbara Monajem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> 1. </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I live in
a city - Vancouver - but I often set stories in small towns for the sense of
community which echoes what I find in my downtown neighborhood. What about you?
Where do you live and where do you set your stories? And why?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Guess what? I grew up in
Vancouver! It’s the most wonderful city in the world. Yes, I’m prejudiced, and
I miss the mountains and ocean every day. However, so far I haven’t been
tempted to set a story there. Now I live near Atlanta, and I’ve never set a
story here, either. Instead, I set my stories elsewhere –- such as the
imaginary town of Bayou Gavotte, Louisiana, where my paranormals take place, or
Regency England for my historical romances. I think this may be because places
I know too well don’t allow my imagination to work -- they are way too real to
me. I need some distance from reality so I can make things up. :)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. What's your favorite book ever and why? I have 2 or 3 books
that I read over and over again - including Jane Austen's Persuasion. I love it
because the characters are older and their relationship isn't easy, but you
know, when they do finally get together, they're grown-ups and they know
exactly who they are.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">There are way, way too
many of them. For example, there are at least ten romances by Georgette Heyer
that I would call my favorites. I’ve read them all over and over. Same goes for
the children’s stories by Arthur Ransome and the mysteries by Dorothy Sayers…
and those are only a few of my best-loved authors. More recent authors whose
books I love are Loretta Chase and Joanna Bourne (romances) and Lindsey Davis
(mysteries).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What's
the story you've always wanted to write but somehow can't? For me, it's a story
about World War I. I'm fascinated by the stories I've read about it but I'm
pretty sure I'm never going to write a real war story. I've just finished a
book that is set partly during World War I but a very long way away from the
battles. I think that's as close as I'm going to get.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">I understand your
fascination with World War I. I devoured the WWI trilogy by Pat Barker, but I
don’t think I could write about that era. It’s just too close and painful. As
for what I’d like to write but haven’t… well, I’d love to write historical
novels about Anglo-Saxon England and Ancient Rome, but that would involve a lot
of research, and research takes a great deal of time. I don’t know if I will
ever manage to write them, but it’s fun thinking about those stories all the
same.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">4. Finally, do you
have a routine? If so, what is it and how easy/hard is it to stick to it?
I try to have one, but because I work as a freelance paralegal and teach
paralegals occasionally, my schedule tends to change from week to week, if not actually
day to day. I'm always buying lottery tickets, hoping to win just enough money
not to have to work and write to a regular schedule though I'm pretty sure that
even if I did have the money to write nine to five, I wouldn't, as I've been
scrambling like this forever :)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">No routine. If I wake up
early enough, I try to delve right into my writing. Otherwise, the day just
seems to slip by with other work, chores, etc. I’m pretty useless in the
evening, so poof! The day is gone, just like that. I try to catch up during the
weekend. (Big sigh.)</span></div>
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<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
latest release is a Regency Christmas novella, A Lady’s Lesson in Seduction. It
will be out on October 1<sup>st</sup>.</div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
Blurb:</div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
Once a notorious rake, Camden Folk, Marquis of
Warbury, is now consumed by desire for only one woman: beautiful young widow
Frances Burdett. The Yuletide festivities at his country estate present the
perfect opportunity for seduction…</div>
<div class="yiv1839445949msonormal">
After her brief, unsatisfying marriage, Frances
swore never to become tied to another man. Then a passionate kiss under the
mistletoe reawakens longings she thought buried forever. Can she give in to the
pleasures of the body with a rogue like Cam—without losing her heart?</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Excerpt:</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Frances should never have
agreed to go to the orchard with the Marquis of Warbury—to gather mistletoe, of
all things. She sent him a fierce, furious glare. “If you must have it, I don’t
enjoy kissing.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He eyed her from behind the
apple tree. “Not at all?” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No.” She pressed her lips
together.</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Come now,” he teased. “Surely
you’re exaggerating.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Her voice was low, suffused
with passion. “You can’t possibly judge how that—that invasion made me feel.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“That bad, was it?” The marquis
reached up and snipped with his shears. “You’re right, I can’t judge, but the
general popularity of kissing tells me you were merely unlucky.” He came around
the tree, a sprig of mistletoe in his hand. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">What a fool she was; in spite
of bitter experience, she <i>wanted </i>to kiss him, wanted kissing to be
wonderful. How stupid! She was much better off—much safer—as she was. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He kissed the fingertips of his
gloves and blew. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Frances huffed. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">He picked a berry from the
mistletoe and dropped it. “We’ll make it a very light kiss,” he said, coming
closer. “Short and sweet.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She didn’t trust him; she
wanted yet didn’t want— </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">A flurry of snow tumbled from
the branches above, distracting her. He swooped in, dropped a swift, cold kiss
on her lips, and drew away—but not far. “Was that too unbearable?” Another
mistletoe berry fell to the snow. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“No, of course not,” she said,
“but—” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Well, then.” He took her hand
and pulled her behind the tree. “If you don’t want me to invade
you—accidentally, needless to say—you’ll have to keep your mouth shut.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“You mustn’t do this—” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Of course I must. No talking.”
</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She gave up, shutting both her
mouth and her eyes. It was her own fault for coming to the orchard this
morning, but she’d enjoyed their time together in the middle of the night so
very much. It was only a kiss. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Nothing happened. She opened
her eyes again. He was contemplating her mouth from under his lashes. “You have
lovely lips.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Through her teeth, she said,
“Get it <i>over </i>with.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“I’ve never kissed a martyr
before.” His lips curled in a lazy smile, and then he pressed his mouth coolly
to hers and withdrew again. “It requires a more careful approach than we
disgustingly hasty men are used to.” He flicked another berry off the sprig. </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">She couldn’t help but watch his
mouth. What was he going to do, and when? </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">“Close your eyes, and whatever
happens, keep your lips together.” </span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">This time his mouth lingered on
hers a few seconds, then pressed light kisses from one corner of her lips to
the other. Kiss. “One.” Kiss. “Two.” Kiss. “Three.”</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Bite.</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">***</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">My website: </span><a href="http://www.barbaramonajem.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">www.BarbaraMonajem.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Twitter: @BarbaraMonajem</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/barbara.monajem</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Buy links:</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Amazon.com:</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Scandalous-Regency-Christmas-ebook/dp/B008JIKD0W/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1348256077&sr=8-11&keywords=barbara+monajem"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Scandalous-Regency-Christmas-ebook/dp/B008JIKD0W/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1348256077&sr=8-11&keywords=barbara+monajem</span></a></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
Barnes & Noble:<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ladys-lesson-in-seduction-barbara-monajem/1112124098?ean=9781459247994"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-ladys-lesson-in-seduction-barbara-monajem/1112124098?ean=9781459247994</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Harlequin.com</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Default">
<a href="http://ebooks.harlequin.com/D3A0978C-D540-4C1D-98CE-937EE1438520/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=853DE399-5B93-44E5-A13A-91B11173D811"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">http://ebooks.harlequin.com/D3A0978C-D540-4C1D-98CE-937EE1438520/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=853DE399-5B93-44E5-A13A-91B11173D811</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div>
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-47258827273622195852012-09-10T01:30:00.000-07:002012-09-10T01:30:03.723-07:00THE bookI'm an avid reader, which means when I fall in love with a book, I'm going to put the writer on my list and I'm going to buy them all, one after the other. I love it when I discover a new writer who has a big backlist, or who writes quickly, or, especially, one who has a backlist <em>and </em>writes quickly.<br />
<br />
And sometimes <em>this</em> happens when I do fall in love with a book. <br />
<br />
Several years ago, I picked up a Sharon Sala book - this one - <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADeqDtL7HO2mh1ULrqezgDidBMdQfpKRiSte-lWO0nsvdTWqawGDH6POPQYwY1tbNFp_5JHSR7htOpFFEHndIrNJjahXI3f7aLuHRPx4J35VzDTroX_Fah2LPR0yN3ARCHJuXbQ/s1600/n89242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADeqDtL7HO2mh1ULrqezgDidBMdQfpKRiSte-lWO0nsvdTWqawGDH6POPQYwY1tbNFp_5JHSR7htOpFFEHndIrNJjahXI3f7aLuHRPx4J35VzDTroX_Fah2LPR0yN3ARCHJuXbQ/s320/n89242.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
This is a book I read over and over again. If I'm having a bad day or a difficult weekend, if I'm not feeling well or I'm frantically busy - this is one of my go-to books. I LOVE this book. I love the characters, I love the story, I love the writing. And even though I've ready it at least ten times, I still love it.<br />
<br />
So, as is my habit, I started buying and reading Sharon Sala's books. I think I bought another three and four and, yes, I enjoyed them. But I didn't love them, not the way I love <em>Snowfall</em>. So I stopped buying every book. I occasionally bought one and enjoyed it, but none of them moved me the way <em>Snowfall</em> did. Now, obviously, that's a personal preference and absolutely no reflection on Sala's writing - it just means that <em>this </em>book, <em>these </em>characters, <em>this </em>story, merged for me into something more than ordinary.<br />
<br />
But I'm glad I've continued to pick up the occasional book because - voila! This weekend, after a frantically busy week at work and elsewhere, I picked up <em>this</em> book -<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZRv1KpATM0DzwsKRKACRUwAbJnZ4EFalK8b9qggYZQnO3pr0I1fikFW5mtHYZ3ID8KapF-3P2t4SNQwLTiR5A_6QXX8B3F6sKLYJJeLFkm3yhxs6r2M-KfAKUGOJn9xBqXEAUA/s1600/n400262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZRv1KpATM0DzwsKRKACRUwAbJnZ4EFalK8b9qggYZQnO3pr0I1fikFW5mtHYZ3ID8KapF-3P2t4SNQwLTiR5A_6QXX8B3F6sKLYJJeLFkm3yhxs6r2M-KfAKUGOJn9xBqXEAUA/s320/n400262.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
<em>Don't Cry for Me</em> worked on me the same way <em>Snowfall </em>did. I loved the characters, the story, the setting, the writing. And I devoured it. It's going on the shelf where I keep my go-to books - the ones I read over and over again. <br />
<br />
The best part? I was delighted to find that this book is one of a series and tomorrow, when I go past the bookstore down the street, I'm going to buy the book I missed in the series and, when the next book in the series comes out, I'm going to buy that as well.<br />
<br />
Lucky me. Happy me.<br />
<br />
Kate<br />
Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-70807073740319906952012-09-07T03:00:00.000-07:002012-09-07T03:00:11.813-07:00Interview with Karyn Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo9x3wKpnYDL_bZbEEjp2ELbpIXK1PWyDG5yqixBg4wVIGcPXbh-VnikYmZr1tMvc7DiRmc40yCD2AwurDk2o-Ify4qVLfCVaT9HnrNSfEuM-1n8BWvRFtuVfc_Fqbbvm3SgpPQ/s1600/Backlash_w6440_750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIo9x3wKpnYDL_bZbEEjp2ELbpIXK1PWyDG5yqixBg4wVIGcPXbh-VnikYmZr1tMvc7DiRmc40yCD2AwurDk2o-Ify4qVLfCVaT9HnrNSfEuM-1n8BWvRFtuVfc_Fqbbvm3SgpPQ/s320/Backlash_w6440_750.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First of all thank you for having me. I’m
happy to chat and answer some questions with a fellow Canuk.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">1. I
live in a city - Vancouver - but I often set stories in small towns for the
sense of community which echoes what I find in my downtown neighborhood. What
about you? Where do you live and where do you set your stories? And why?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I live in the lovely and very friendly city
of Regina in the province of Saskatchewan, which is smack in the middle of the
Canadian Prairies. Ours is a landlocked province, but we’re fortunate enough to
boost a 100,000 lakes. That makes for a lot of provincial and regional parks
plus one national park. It also makes for plenty of unique and interesting
resort towns. I grew up on a farm and I have many happy childhood memories of
days and weeks spent beside the water. I spent two summers working for the Moose
Mountain Provincial Park. It’s where I met my husband. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, when it came time to choose a setting for
my romantic suspense, Backlash, I created the fictional resort town of Aspen
Lake. I used two very real resort towns for inspiration, Kenosee Lake and Fort
Qu’Appelle. Set in the middle of an aspen grove and on the edge of a beautiful
fish-filled lake, my fictional residents enjoy the benefits of living in small
town Saskatchewan. Ideal because small towns make for great settings. Everyone
knows everyone else and their business. It makes it easy to connect the dots
between characters. Because I write romantic suspense I wanted to build on that
small town sense of ownership. The protectiveness residents feel for their own
and their space. Then I ripped open that very sense of community and the
feelings of safety that comes with the comfort of the familiar.</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">2.
What's your favorite book ever and why? I have 2 or 3 books that I read over
and over again - including Jane Austen's Persuasion. I love it because the
characters are older and their relationship isn't easy, but you know, when they
do finally get together, they're grown-ups and they know exactly who they are.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Favorite book ever. Mercy. If I had to pick
just one I’d go with To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. After all these
years, I’m still in love with Atticus Finch. He’s the ultimate beta hero to me.
I think part of the reason why it’s one of my favorites is that I discovered
this book in high school. I was undergoing my own transformation from innocent
child to someone with a wider world view, like Gem and Scout. I read it at a
time in my life when I was beginning to develop my own sense of right and
wrong. It was very relatable in that I also lived in a very small town. It was
easy to envision a set of circumstances so huge as to be dividing to an entire
community. I’ve read it many times with plans to read it in the future.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">3. What's the story you've
always wanted to write but somehow can't? For me, it's a story about World War
I. I'm fascinated by the stories I've read about it but I'm pretty sure I'm
never going to write a real war story. I've just finished a book that is set
partly during World War I but a very long way away from the battles. I think
that's as close as I'm going to get.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I entertain a fantasy where I attempt to
write a novel that falls under women’s fiction and has more of a literary feel
to it. It’s an idea I’ve titled A Prairie Song about a young woman who is
socially mute. However, she’s been gifted with a beautiful singing voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locals, who have created many
superstitions around her, hire her to sing to their crops. Her world is very
small and very controlled and then something happens that pushes her out into
the larger world. Oh well, maybe some day…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">4. Finally, do you
have a routine? If so, what is it and how easy/hard is it to stick to it?
I try to have one, but because I work as a freelance paralegal and teach
paralegals occasionally, my schedule tends to change from week to week, if not
actually day to day. I'm always buying lottery tickets, hoping to win just
enough money not to have to work and write to a regular schedule though I'm
pretty sure that even if I did have the money to write nine to five, I
wouldn't, as I've been scrambling like this forever :)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m a stay-at-home mom to two teenagers, one
of whom has special needs. I fit writing in whenever I can during my day and
around everyday life. That could mean writing in the morning, afternoon or
evening. Sometimes I fit a little writing time into all three slots. Most
importantly I try to write every day. That keeps me in the groove and it
doesn’t take as long to get my head in the story, which is a problem if I go
too many days without tending my work-in-progress. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Backlash
Blurb</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What
he’s sworn to protect, she’s willing to sacrifice to save those she loves...</span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
dedicated teacher Lily Wheeler interrupts a vicious gang attack on one of her
students, she vows it won’t happen again. But her rash interference puts her in
the path of a cold-blooded killer and the constable tracking him—a man she has
little reason to trust, but can never forget.</span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Constable
Chase Porter returned to Aspen Lake to see justice done, not renew old
acquaintances. But when he rescues the woman he once loved from a volatile
situation, he realizes his feelings for Lily haven’t lessened over the years.</span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
the dangerous killer Chase has sworn to capture has Lily in his sights. Can
Chase and Lilly learn to trust each other again before it’s too late—or will
old insecurities jeopardize their future?</span></i></div>
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-55272220497241492722012-09-03T01:30:00.000-07:002012-09-03T01:30:02.120-07:00The Edge of the World<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mG1R6f0nhRrU1vvwPblkWC6lW_hqNjGoN0_X8m2mtBlHKPK8ttjlyf42COY2hGzwHLFKQhx1O_Wc8Z5Von7pRI1JUWGzl4WnuTgjgDqijSLpVoLfTn20r_Ol9CcFW4fkeuQChA/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mG1R6f0nhRrU1vvwPblkWC6lW_hqNjGoN0_X8m2mtBlHKPK8ttjlyf42COY2hGzwHLFKQhx1O_Wc8Z5Von7pRI1JUWGzl4WnuTgjgDqijSLpVoLfTn20r_Ol9CcFW4fkeuQChA/s320/sunset.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
This place - the edge of the world - is something all artists think about. We think about going to the end and then past it, about going somewhere no one's ever been, about discovering something new, something that changes everything.<br />
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For the past few weeks, I've been thinking about the edge of the world.<br />
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Actually, I'll admit I've gone further than thinking into a fixation, perhaps even a tiny obsession. Not full-blown, but it's constantly with me these days.<br />
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Where did it begin? A friend talking about a trip he wanted to take, a cruise that took him around the Horn - perhaps the most dangerous stretch of water in the world. He wanted to be able to say he'd done it. <br />
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I've got many books about explorers on my shelves: The Source of the Nile, The Kon-Tiki Expedition, The Conquest of Mexico. Books about explorers: Shackleton, Cook, Vancouver (of course!), Howard Carter. I'm fascinated by all of them - these men who chose to travel off the edge of the world, literally or figuratively. And then there are the Vikings, of whom I think most often - how they left home in a tiny boat without a single clue as to whether there would be land at the end of their voyage. They set sail into nowhere. <br />
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Artists do this same thing, maybe not every single day, but on most days, at least for me, I step into my ship and sail off, knowing I might sail right off the edge of the world.<br />
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It's exhilirating and incredibly frightening. But we're explorers, we artists, and we don't have any choice. <br />
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Kate<br />
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Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-39517894410663302322012-08-30T13:36:00.002-07:002012-08-30T13:36:52.461-07:00Staycation - Part 2There's something quite satisfying about going on vacation in a place you know. There's no stress about it, it's generally quite inexpensive, and it's something we do quite often - sometimes by ourselves and sometimes with our friend Javier and his 11 year old son Adrian. With them, in the past little while we've taken day trips to the zoo, to Hope, to the Britannia Mine Museum. This weekend coming up, we're going somewhere else - not knowing the destination is part of the joy of it.<br />
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Day 3 of our staycation was spent in one of our favorite occupations - shopping. We took a trip out to New Westminster, to the outlet mall under the Queensborough Bridge. We'd been there once, a few years ago when it first opened, and weren't impressed. This time we had absolutely no trouble spending the whole day shopping and coming home with a table full of bags.<br />
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Days 4 to 6 weren't quite so successful. Yes, we ended up (finally) in the beautiful Okanagan, looking out over the beautiful view below - but it was painful to get there. We got about an hour and a half - just in Abbotsford - out of Vancouver and realized there was something wrong with our car. We stopped, called our mechanic in North Vancouver (almost as far as you can get in the Lower Mainland from Abbotsford), who said bring it to us. We turned around, got stuck in half a dozen typical summer traffic jams, and arrived there around noon. They ordered a couple of parts, we went off for a walk and lunch, and at three-thirty were once again on our way. We arrived in the Okanagan twelve hours after we'd left our house. Ouch.<br />
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But we had breakfast with my sister and her husband, laughed a lot, wandered the farmer's market in Summerland and then headed to Penticton for a lovely and very late lunch on the waterfront. See below.<br />
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The next day we had a late breakfast with my Aunt Janet (who is always delightfully entertaining), drove around the lake to Naramata and walked the beautiful and peaceful outdoor labryinth. <br />
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Then we turned around, stopped at the Black Widow winery and bought some wine, and headed home. Eighteen hours of driving, eighteen hours of vacation. Next time we go, I'm flying!<br />
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Days 7-10 will follow on Friday.<br />
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KateKate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-65577695522354972852012-08-27T11:12:00.000-07:002012-08-27T11:12:02.241-07:00StaycationI've just got back from 10 days of what I like to call a staycation (thanks to Brent Butt and Corner Gas for the title). We didn't go far, but we went to a whole bunch of places, some we'd been to before, some we discovered for the first time, some with family or friends, and some just us.<br />
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Here, for your viewing pleasure are the first four days:<br />
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Day 1 - actually it probably should be called Day 1 minus 1 as I worked this day so my staycation didn't officially start until the next day.<br />
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A friend invited us to a Vancouver Canadians baseball game. It's triple A ball but it's in one of the most beautiful parks in the world. Patrick's son Trev turned 11 that day and he got to throw out the first pitch. Got it into the hands of the catcher as well. We sat in the bleachers, watching the game, the sun set, the sweepers do a break dance, ate hot dogs and popcorn and drank beer with Patrick's family - all 40 or 50 of them!<br />
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Official Day 1<br />
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We took the Skytrain out to the airport and, no, we weren't going anywhere except to the airport. There's something entertaining about being there and not having to rush off through customs or security. Vancouver International is a lovely airport, full of light and great art and pretty good food and shopping. I love taking the Skytrain as it drops you right in the airport and returns us to within a couple of blocks of home. We wandered the airport, looking in stores, stopping for a drink and a late lunch, enjoying the travellers and the hustle and bustle. <br />
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Day 2<br />
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This was a particularly gorgeous day - and we took full advantage of the weather. We went across the Lions Gate Bridge and up to the Capilano Canyon. It's a tourist attraction built right on the canyon and it's full of beautiful views, interesting information about people and history, and thrilling walks. And when I say <em>thrilling</em>, I'm not kidding. The new Cliff Walk is a narrow (maybe 12 inches?) wide plank, with glass walls that end just above my waist. You walk right out over the canyon - it's kind of scary but also incredibly beautiful. <br />
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Day 2 Part 2<br />
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Once we'd wandered around Capilano, having scared ourselves to death on the actual suspension bridge, which moves A LOT - we decided we deserved a nice lunch, so drove west to Horseshoe Bay and enjoyed lunch and the view. There's not much to do there except eat and drink, but it's beautiful and the drive is a delight.<br />
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There's the first part of our staycation - you can catch Days 3-6 on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Kate<br />
<br />Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-54243240200128288362012-08-17T06:55:00.003-07:002012-08-17T06:55:52.449-07:00Inspiration by Rebecca Sinclair
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Hi, Kate!</div>
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Thank you so much for inviting me here! Funny you should be
blogging recently about inspiration and where it comes from yourself—that's
exactly what prompted me to be so long-winded today! I do hope all of you will
bear with me. I tend to be a wee bit, er, verbose about things I feel
passionate about. :)</div>
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Inspiration strikes in the strangest place, and usually at
the most unexpected times. For example...</div>
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No one who's caught an episode of Restaurant: Impossible
would make the mistake of calling Robert Irvine a sap. He's much too forceful,
too mouthy, too opinionated, too stubborn, and too impossible to please,
too—ah, yes, you get the picture. The list of Robert Irvine's charms goes on.
And on. They are, after all, a large part of what makes this show so
fascinating. That he is also tall, brawny, lethal in his intensity and easy on
the eye, simply plays to his strengths and show's advantage.</div>
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If you have no idea what I'm talking about, next Wednesday
night at 9pm (EDT) tune in to The Food Network and catch an episode of
Restaurant Impossible (<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurant-impossible/index.html">http://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurant-impossible/index.html</a>).
Now in its second season, the show is a relative newcomer to the world of reality
television. (This one, by the way, is a la Gordon Ramsey of Kitchen Nighmares
fame.)</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The show's premise in
a nutshell: Restaurant: Impossible challenges its host, the intriguingly
gruff-yet-somehow-oh-so-personable chef Robert Irvine, to take a massively
failing restaurant and turn it on its ear. Offering help are two what I like to
refer to as “accomplices”. First there's a can-do-anything-in-a-pinch, even
tempered man who's obviously kept around for the “hard labor” like knocking
down walls or building a new bar from scratch using only a few planks of wood
salvaged from a local lumber yard and a slab of recovered granite. Second is
the interior designer (woman, of course) to do the traditionally “female”
chores, like fashion new window treatments out of sections of leftover
wallpaper or give tired, outdated chairs and booths a facelift with scraps of
fabric bought for a song at (what luck!) an auction that just happened to be
taking place in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Not real examples,
but they'll do! Lol!)</div>
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Oh, and did I forget to mention this seemingly impossible
task has be completed on a very limited budget?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>$10,000, to be exact. And I do mean exact—somehow that has to cover all
the expenses. Hopeless, you wonder? Apparently not hopeless enough—because the
masochist who thought up this show figured it would be fun to toss in a little
twist by way of a time limit. 48 hours. That's right, 2 days. No more, no less.
Hey, they don’t call it Restaurant: “Impossible” for nothing! Which brings me
full circle to the show's host, Robert Irvine.</div>
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As you can probably imagine, it takes someone very shrewd
and clever to mastermind and engineer a job like this. Someone who can organize
the disorganized, assemble-on-the-fly, adapts and, ultimately, keeps his eye on
the goal and produces results. Something like this needs a ringleader, someone
who can unhesitatingly crack the whip when it needs to be. That duty falls on
Robert Irvine's nicely capable broad shoulders. He wears the responsibility of
it all not only effortless, but almost gleefully.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Revamping a successful restaurant is a large, complicated,
big job that, true enough, is often kicked off on a restricted budget. But just
$10,000? That's crazy! As for overhauling as well the flailing business's also
flailing reputation—for bad food, bad management, bad service; a combination of
the three, or sometimes all three!—luckily that's something usually left up to
the owner.</div>
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Usually.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the case of Restaurant: Impossible, everything boils down
to the determination of just one man. Robert Irvine. He, of the many times
gruff,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>steely resolve to
get-the-job-done, whatever it takes, preferably before the throng of waiting
customers descend. What's that? Just another sweet little twist. As if renovating
an entire restaurant in 2 days with just $10,000 isn't enough pressure, to mark
the deadline exactly, hundreds of customers are invited to line up outside the
front doors, and they gather ready and eager to play bit parts in drama of
rebirthing the town's newest hotspot.</div>
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So, does he do it? Does Robert Irvine somehow manage to come
in on-time and on-budget? Surprisingly, yes. Sure, there were a couple of times
the restaurant didn't reopen precisely on the hour, but that's rare. Somehow,
he pulls it off. Of the episodes I've caught, were two where there was a delay
of maybe about an hour. Yikes! If that isn't a damned impressive track record,
I don't know what is.</div>
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Before you stop reading, thinking what is her point? And
does she even have one? Let me just point out what was no doubt obvious from
the beginning---Insert Drum roll, please---is it my imagination, or is Robert
Irvine going to make one ultra-terrific romance novel hero?! (wicked grin)</div>
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<br /></div>
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I haven't decided yet which time-period to toss him into.
The choices are staggering. With all of that spunk and bravado he could be an
extraordinary Scots laird. Can't you just see him there, somewhere on the
Border between Scotland and England, on the back of some rugged Border pony,
all breathless and sweaty as he rides for all he's worth away from—or to?—his
most recent midnight raid? Perhaps his enemy is hot on his heels, giving a
shake of his fist and vows of vengeance even as he watches Robert slip away
into the dark folds of the night?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or how about...?</div>
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Me being me, I've got to wonder how he would do if I brought
him forward in time a wee bit. Say, to the 1850's American West? He's
definitely got the attitude and arrogance (and physique—can't forget that!) to
be a nice-alpha cowboy (not cowpoke, cowboy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or...? How many lesser men braved the incredible harshness that was the
California Trail? How many actually succeeded in reaching their
destination—California, where it was said gold flaked off the walls of
goldmines if a man simply scratched the wall with his fingernail? If said man
could get there. Unfortunately there was a long, hard journey standing in his
way to tackle first. The reality the California Trail was rough and harsh and
much longer than the average easterner anticipated. No one who braved the trip
made it to California unchanged. I'm thinking...a man like Robert Irvine, don't
you think he could not only manage the trip, but given enough time succeed
beyond his wildest dreams. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But first things first. I am a romance writer, after all.
Shortly the man is going to meet and skirmish with a young woman who looks him
in the eye, who proudly stands toe-to-toe with him, and who proves beyond a
doubt she is every inch as strong and as resilient and as capable as he is
himself. Of course!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Hmmm. Also, now that I'm really thinking about it, I've yet
to set a book in the 1900s, even though I've spent many nights doing a great
deal of very thought-provoking research. </div>
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What if—?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Oops! There I go, letting my imagination run rampant. Toying
with that most delightful of all of a writer's tools—the simple question, “What
if?” </div>
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<br /></div>
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I'll be the first to tell you, it takes a lot to fire up my
imagination. However, once it sparks to life, in no time it's blazing like an
inferno. Restaurant: Impossible, rather more precisely Robert Irvine, is like a
match held to a dried-up haystack. It serves it purpose. It makes my
imagination flicker.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I'll leave you with this: after almost thirty years in the
business, I can tell you with a small bit of authority that a true stab of
inspiration will thrust deep and hard in the most unexpected, craziest places.
It's fickle. Capricious. It likes to tease just out of reach, where you're
almost positive that if you stretch and stretch just so, maybe your fingertips
can almost—almost—just barely graze the edges. When it's finally captured, it
needs to be coddled and tended and nurtured, long after the newness and
fascination wears off. Long, loooooong after. And that said, let me ask ask you
this:</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all honestly, just
between you and me...don't you think Robert Irvine would make the most
delicious, sexy as all hell, Rebecca Sinclair certified, romance novel hero? </div>
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<br /></div>
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You can find Rebecca at:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://www.rebeccasinclair.com/">http://www.rebeccasinclair.com/</a></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-50526027036190712122012-08-13T13:59:00.000-07:002012-08-13T13:59:06.351-07:00Matisse and the vermilion goldfish<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPOSGOeY569xGoDSN_IskQpn-9NtkddU6cPL4OP_dhVa2ksPDx5ZTiLVUMUXv232MnLNJIIqsB5YgwwZCMmI7aO0_J8fo3v98LibBxNiPIO5qW4qEAmq3DBaClsOIylt6iXL7jw/s1600/goldfish.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" mda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPOSGOeY569xGoDSN_IskQpn-9NtkddU6cPL4OP_dhVa2ksPDx5ZTiLVUMUXv232MnLNJIIqsB5YgwwZCMmI7aO0_J8fo3v98LibBxNiPIO5qW4qEAmq3DBaClsOIylt6iXL7jw/s320/goldfish.bmp" width="320" /></a></div>
Over at Black Ink, White Paper today I'm blogging about Matisse and inspiration and where it comes from:<br />
<br />
I think you'll enjoy it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://blackinkwhitepaper.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/matisse/#comment-3680">http://blackinkwhitepaper.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/matisse/#comment-3680</a><br />
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KateKate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-942614641851194332012-08-10T03:00:00.000-07:002012-08-10T03:00:00.092-07:00Female Bonds in Erotica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPE1tXyFn803mrzSDwIxI5j6tiUtVvWFRfRPVuwupW4gkssWKoHkrknXFo4YQsUGN7vr5i7940Vh-8VrGXV_Snv9c6k_8ICFYiLnJumYGfecnDlfinplB_iQlwuHNfzHNMNblXQ/s1600/SintoS_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPE1tXyFn803mrzSDwIxI5j6tiUtVvWFRfRPVuwupW4gkssWKoHkrknXFo4YQsUGN7vr5i7940Vh-8VrGXV_Snv9c6k_8ICFYiLnJumYGfecnDlfinplB_iQlwuHNfzHNMNblXQ/s320/SintoS_final.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m so happy to talk about my newest book on the blog of my
mentor, Kate Austin. <em>Spring into Summer</em> is a book of four erotic
novellas, two that take place in the spring and two in the summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Kate was kind
enough to read my first book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fall into
Winter </i>and offered an editorial review when it released in 2011. Since
then, we’ve collaborated on other works and now write together for an authors’
collective called Black Ink, White Paper. She’s been an encouraging friend,
helping me move into the world of writing full-time. I couldn’t have done it
without her support. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In my current book,
the first story called “A Season for Everything” contains a friendship between
two women not unlike mine with Kate.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Brenda Williams is
the supportive friend who is self-assured and runs her own business. Claire
Pelletier is the main character going through a life transition. Though their
friendship is not the main storyline, it’s an important part of the plot. The
dialogue between the two women reveals Claire’s hopes, dreams, and desires.
With the help of Brenda, Claire eventually meets up with the leading older man,
Stephen Taylor. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you’d like to read more about this female friendship and
the other stories in my book, I’d love it if you picked up a copy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks Kate for allowing me to share a bit about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spring into Summer</i> with your readers.
You’re a true friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #090909; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">~~~~~ </span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #090909; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">About the book</span></b></div>
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In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spring into Summer</i>,
a collection of emotionally-charged erotic novellas, four women explore their
sexual limits, marked by love, lust, and loss. </div>
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Life for Claire Pelletier is changed forever when she meets
a professor who teaches her a most important lesson in "A Season for
Everything."</div>
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<br /></div>
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Evelyn Sutton goes in search of a man in "Unlocking the
Mystery" and discovers the key to her own heart. </div>
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With an open mind, Ava Connors attends a party but wonders
if reality can ever live up to her hottest fantasies in "Summer
Solstice."</div>
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In "The Lottery," Sierra Zhao sacrifices herself
to numerous men to help a friend, fully aware of the consequences.</div>
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With locations in London, Dublin, Cape Cod, and Bangkok,
these four women will seek pleasure to alter their lives and push their sexual
boundaries. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Buy Links: Ebook formats</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008IJ4BNM/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb">Amazon.com<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></a></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spring-into-Summer-ebook/dp/B008IJ4BNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341782301&sr=8-1">Amazon.UK</a></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQBZXuZHrepX18bjN5eGx0ioSb3TRdPBvYgcV40xZwv2PFDo8AZrA_txA5rF67qcFGk_dpZdRXzKhtJH9WU2jg9LTbAFX6YVgE-79w6Q0iHc1b2x6n_eodVnHqnFeYeDDB_AUqA/s1600/eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQBZXuZHrepX18bjN5eGx0ioSb3TRdPBvYgcV40xZwv2PFDo8AZrA_txA5rF67qcFGk_dpZdRXzKhtJH9WU2jg9LTbAFX6YVgE-79w6Q0iHc1b2x6n_eodVnHqnFeYeDDB_AUqA/s320/eb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #090909; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Bio<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #090909; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;">Eden Baylee writes literary
erotica and erotic romance. Her stories are both sensual and sexual,
incorporating some of her favorite things such as travel, culture, and a deep
curiosity for what turns people on. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spring
into Summer</i> is her second collection of erotic novellas.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.edenbaylee.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Website</span></a></span><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://edenbaylee.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Blog</span></a></span><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-7014757648169245672012-08-03T03:00:00.000-07:002012-08-03T12:49:09.338-07:00Interview with Julie Hughes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYZW-Qn-GhVsb0as7JoZxX-2wgyAaR_PoizzelXZv4IqSn_cwm94X0nn0r8VKDlTisycheXUtZdwiAqpobp8IUbMH9iZBB51FncYcW-5JMGtGjchrAYcpCgxlhW4Rl6KU6HnkEA/s1600/eg+tag+on+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYZW-Qn-GhVsb0as7JoZxX-2wgyAaR_PoizzelXZv4IqSn_cwm94X0nn0r8VKDlTisycheXUtZdwiAqpobp8IUbMH9iZBB51FncYcW-5JMGtGjchrAYcpCgxlhW4Rl6KU6HnkEA/s320/eg+tag+on+front.JPG" width="221" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I live in a city - Vancouver - but I often set stories in
small towns for the sense of community which echoes what I find in my downtown
neighborhood. What about you? Where do you live and where do you set your
stories? And why?</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Hello Kate, and thank you for inviting me
over to your place. Community's important to me too. My city, London, is made
up of a series of villages, and a sense of individuality still runs through
places like Kensington, Chelsea and of course, my home village, Notting Hill.
If you ever find yourself down my way, shout out – I'll show you around the
most beautiful city in the world. <i>An Explosive Time</i> is very much
grounded in London, while <i>A Raucous</i> <i>Time</i> and <i>The Bridle Path</i>
are set in the glorious county of Cornwall. In <i>A Ripple in Time</i> the
location switches between London, Cornwall and enigmatic Stonehenge, with the
closing chapters taking place aboard the Titanic. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What's your favorite book ever and why? I have 2 or 3 books
that I read over and over again - including Jane Austen's Persuasion. I love it
because the characters are older and their relationship isn't easy, but you
know, when they do finally get together, they're grown-ups and they know
exactly who they are.</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I'm a great admirer of Jane Austen's works
too, her insight into character and sly sense of humour appeals greatly.
Without trying to side step the question, my favourite book tends to vary
according to mood. Since embarking down the self publishing route, I read
fiction with a more critical eye. I'll often find myself thinking how has the
author managed that? Why does this character work and how did they conjure up a
scene with just a few sentences? Consequently, I find reading biographies more
relaxing, among the favourites this year has been Conan-Doyle's story, and
"<i>How to Survive the Titanic</i>" by Frances Wilson, a study of
Bruce Ismay. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What's the story you've always wanted to write but somehow
can't? For me, it's a story about World War I. I'm fascinated by the stories
I've read about it but I'm pretty sure I'm never going to write a real war
story. I've just finished a book that is set partly during World War I but a
very long way away from the battles. I think that's as close as I'm going to
get.</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As for the book I'd like to write someday;
Eleanor of Aquitaine is for me one of the most fascinating women in
history:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She invented and promoted the
concept of "Courtly Love", went on crusade to the Holy Land, and
having divorced one king, married the first great law maker Henry II, mother of
Richard the Lionheart, and as she signed herself, "by the wrath of god,
Queen of England". But to write <i>the</i> novel to do justice to such an
amazing woman would mean immersion into the medieval world and mindset, and I
suspect supreme dedication.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Finally, do you have a routine? If so, what is it and
how easy/hard is it to stick to it? I try to have one, but because I work as a
freelance paralegal and teach paralegals occasionally, my schedule tends to
change from week to week, if not actually day to day. I'm always buying lottery
tickets, hoping to win just enough money not to have to work and write to a
regular schedule though I'm pretty sure that even if I did have the money to
write nine to five, I wouldn't, as I've been scrambling like this forever :)</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I agree with you, it would be heaven to
write all day, and not worry about silly little things like money. The
masterpieces we could write, sequestered in our ivory towers all day – on
second thoughts, it's probably good for writers to live in the real world –
after all, that's where we glean most of the traits for our more memorable
characters. With regard to routine, I'm currently trying to shift this
'writer's waist' and first thing I take the dogs for a sprint round the local
park. Once breakfast is tidied away, I sit down and tap at the keyboard, before
taking a break for an hour or two. The afternoon is more unstructured, but I
always spend an hour or so in the evening catching up with editing and working
out story lines, I'm currently working on a sequel to <i>The Bridle</i> <i>Path</i>
with the working title <i>Adverse Canter</i> (which no-one but me likes) and a
YA novella – as yet untitled – and of course connecting with other authors! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Julia
Hughes is the creator of the Celtic Cousin Adventures, her breakthrough time
travel romantic adventure <i>A Ripple in Time</i> has been downloaded 20,000
times in five days during a recent promotion. Don't forget to watch out for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Explosive-Celtic-Cousins-Adventures-ebook/dp/B007COSZX6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341749944&sr=1-1&keywords=an+explosive+time">An
Explosive Time</a>, the third Celtic Cousin Adventure which will be free to
download from 5th August, for more details visit <a href="http://www.juliahughes.co.uk/">Julia's website</a>.</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNlLQPRDjlbRiyvX48DJH4zrBzqRFK4FtCEMLMbujHiWQRBu8PHmcoEIvJrbEZ7kp7dYZZ5HQ9vexwu-b0AmXNm7qI0wTFXTzvFQaS6RTjAt3oVmx8sJJlvt6okTHitIE4Y-_ag/s1600/eg+tag+on+front.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-92216000321382983482012-07-27T03:00:00.000-07:002012-07-27T03:00:06.247-07:00Interview with Pauline Lawless<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">I live in a city - Vancouver - but I often set stories in small
towns for the sense of community which echoes what I find in my downtown neighborhood.
What about you? Where do you live and where do you set your stories? And why?</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I live in Belgium
in summer and move to Florida for the winter. Best of both worlds! I was born
and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and lived in the midlands of Ireland from the
age of 22 until I retired aged 62 and moved to Belgium (my husband is Belgian).
My first book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because We’re Worth It</i>
was based in a small Irish town. My second <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If
The Shoes Fit </i>is based in Dublin. The third <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Year Like No Other </i>is based in Paris, a city I love and know
well. And my current book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Behind Every Cloud</i>
is based back in Dublin, my home town. It was published on July 26<sup>th</sup>
2012. The next one, which I’m currently writing, is set in Florida – where
else? I feel it’s very important to write about what you know and the places
you know and I’ve tried to do that in all my books.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What's your favorite book ever and why? I have 2 or 3 books that I
read over and over again - including Jane Austen's Persuasion. I love it
because the characters are older and their relationship isn't easy, but you
know, when they do finally get together, they're grown-ups and they know
exactly who they are.</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Gosh, I have so
many favourite books that I read over and over, it’s hard to choose. I enjoy
period books based in another time. I have read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gone With The Wind </i>time and time again. It’s a classic and I love
the characters and the setting in the south. It describes so well the
devastation and horrors of the Civil War. A little known book that is also a
favourite of mine is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Storyville</i>, by
Lois Battle. I love it because it is based in New Orleans around the start of
the 20<sup>th</sup> century and I became so fascinated by that colourful city
that I felt compelled to visit it. It didn’t disappoint!</span></div>
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</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">What's the story you've always wanted to write but somehow can't?
For me, it's a story about World War I. I'm fascinated by the stories I've read
about it but I'm pretty sure I'm never going to write a real war story. I've
just finished a book that is set partly during World War I but a very long way
away from the battles. I think that's as close as I'm going to get.</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I’m a Francophile
and love French history and have a longing to write a historical novel based on
Napoleon Bonaparte’s family. They were a crazy bunch! However, I have a large
readership base now and they seemingly want the same type of book from me every
time. Ditto my publisher! (My writing has been compared to that of Maeve
Binchy’s) However, I definitely intend to take a break and write my historical
novel when I’ve fulfilled my current contract for six books.</span></div>
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</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Finally, do you have a routine? If so, what is it and how
easy/hard is it to stick to it? I try to have one, but because I work as a
freelance paralegal and teach paralegals occasionally, my schedule tends to
change from week to week, if not actually day to day. I'm always buying lottery
tickets, hoping to win just enough money not to have to work and write to a
regular schedule though I'm pretty sure that even if I did have the money to
write nine to five, I wouldn't, as I've been scrambling like this forever :)</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Working
nine-to-five is not for me. It never has been and it’s a bit late to start now.
My way of writing is pretty unconventional, I guess. I never plot my stories so
I never know how they’ll end. I generally develop my characters in depth first
and when I bring them together, they seem to just go their own way. I usually
think it out in my head, before I go to sleep, or when I wake in the middle of
the night (which I often do). This is my most creative time. Then I usually
can’t wait to get to the computer the next day to get it all down. I don’t set
myself a schedule but for me, a day without writing is like a day without
sunshine! I love it.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">And by “it’s a bit late to start now” you mean?</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I only started
writing at age 63, after I’d retired, and my first book was published when I
was 65. I like to think that this might inspire others to start, no matter what
their age. I’m proof that it’s never too late. Because I’m retired, I have the
luxury of time but strangely I’m as busy now as I ever was, raising five
children and running two businesses. I play golf and bridge, I go to the gym
and line-dance, I travel a lot but I always find time to write. It has given me
a new lease of life.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Blurb For Behind
Every Cloud</span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Who would have thought a wine course could be
life-changing? But a group of people signing on for wine-expert Sam’s course
are about to find out. </span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ellie is planning
her dream wedding to accountant David who has just been head-hunted by a
prestigious firm. She detests social pretensions but he seems overawed by his
elite new colleagues. Can they overcome these differences?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Rachel is the
beautiful wife of newly elected politician, Carl. Perfect life, perfect home,
perfect children – but is anything ever as perfect as it seems? Does Carl have
a roving eye and is Rachel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">too</i> fond
of her wine? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ronan’s marriage
to shopaholic Louise is teetering on a knife-edge and, when he loses his job,
things go from bad to worse. Then Sam offers him a job in one of his wine
shops. But can he get his life back on track?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Zita, who works in
television, is fiercely ambitious and has set her sights on Rachel’s husband to
further her success. Will she be able to ensnare him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Eight weeks later, they know their wines – but
everything else has changed out of all recognition.</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Find out more at: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><a href="http://www.paulinelawless.com/" target="_blank">www.paulinelawless.com</a></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-50897796042119328232012-07-24T14:57:00.001-07:002012-07-24T14:57:39.560-07:00Ocean Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kxcp4LN4Kd3y0PHL2GhZTlSXCKr2MqgiXSMGYGSqqo0i_fF2spApehNRuJkxglFGI9vF6JjsRXJWXJFNMiZADS9uSQHMs-TNf0U4Zkozxq5t4fic518hRgrEMY5Oy_8Wdxtq9g/s1600/IMG-20120704-00718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kxcp4LN4Kd3y0PHL2GhZTlSXCKr2MqgiXSMGYGSqqo0i_fF2spApehNRuJkxglFGI9vF6JjsRXJWXJFNMiZADS9uSQHMs-TNf0U4Zkozxq5t4fic518hRgrEMY5Oy_8Wdxtq9g/s320/IMG-20120704-00718.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Every artist (writer, painter, musician, dancer, film
maker, actor, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every </i>artist, doesn’t
matter what the discipline) has places in their head that inspire them, scare
them, get them thinking – iconic locations. They can be real or imaginary. They
can be right around the corner or halfway across the galaxy. They can be a
memory (the garden you haunted as a child) or a place right around the corner (the
street you walk to work each morning).<br />
<br />
For me, my inspiration is one very large place – the
ocean. Mostly the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Ocean</st1:place>, but that’s
only because I live on the west coast. The Atlantic off the east coast of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region> and the French and English coasts also
resonate with me, as does the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean</st1:place>. Obviously,
for me it’s not only about the water, it’s above the movement of the waves.<br />
<br />
Why do I say obviously? Because I grew up in Vancouver
right on the Pacific Ocean and when, for many years, I lived either in Kelowna
on Lake Okanagan or in Toronto on Lake Ontario, I always felt – though I didn’t
realize it until years later – that something was missing. I figured it out
after four or five years in <st1:city w:st="on">Toronto</st1:city> when I went
to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Miami</st1:place></st1:city>. I sat
on a dock watching the brown pelicans fly by and breathed a giant sigh of
relief. Of course, I’d felt the same thing coming home to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vancouver</st1:place></st1:city>, but I was coming <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">home</i>. I didn’t realize that the comfort
I felt was anything other than that.<br />
<br />
So I write about the ocean. Not always in an obvious way,
but when I think about it, I see that it’s always there. I suspect it’s the
reason I craft sentences the way I do, so that they move like one of the many
rhythms of the ocean. I’m always conscious of the way sentences move – whether
I’m writing or reading them – it’s probably the most important thing to me. I
read them out loud and if they don’t work, I’ll fix them. <br />
<br />
The nice thing about the ocean being the inspiration for
both my stories and my sentences is that it provides me innumerable choices – the
ocean can be anything. It can be any color, any mood, any emotion, any flavour.
And, although I don’t consciously consider the ocean when writing a sentence,
when I look back on them, I know what’s wrong – and invariably, it’s the
rhythm.<br />
<br />
I suspect musicians who grew up on the ocean have the same
feeling when they’re writing – they’re listening to the notes, but they’re
equally conscious of the rhythm.<br />
<br />
After writing for almost twenty-five years, I’ve finally
figured something out. It feels both good and a bit scary.<br />
<br />
Kate<br />Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-19429035090003375642012-07-18T01:30:00.000-07:002012-07-18T01:30:03.135-07:00180 minutes...Vancouver had a long, cold, and very wet winter and spring. But we've finally made it into summer and I documented my first long walk of the summer. This is Vancouver from my house to the beach, along the Seawall, through the rainforest of Stanley Park, across to the Coal Harbor seawall, finally stopping for lunch, warm and happy and exhausted. <br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEjvV3CDrk1djWq8u3XtMPAFXJ8ZEalsIu7gZt7mfqDNOOA_0lLLwO3tncKvokJAKrbtdrWj-R5VbkvAWaXJhN05upcFmxUHFdUibNhEcPZ7Lane-b6FMa0LCrK_P5Qlft_4mMg/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEjvV3CDrk1djWq8u3XtMPAFXJ8ZEalsIu7gZt7mfqDNOOA_0lLLwO3tncKvokJAKrbtdrWj-R5VbkvAWaXJhN05upcFmxUHFdUibNhEcPZ7Lane-b6FMa0LCrK_P5Qlft_4mMg/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Beach looking north west</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK-Zdf_Pxhklnb4QkcCf7U3SbPA4OJj6EynOxBN0I5cyr_RnfRLHPask_9lCe9oqPbxmxXrVvgSLCV3T6H21FeMxdaZnoMlhgOxD5JjlRj32Lm4DaQVz6t1ege2TduqToPG8vhA/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRK-Zdf_Pxhklnb4QkcCf7U3SbPA4OJj6EynOxBN0I5cyr_RnfRLHPask_9lCe9oqPbxmxXrVvgSLCV3T6H21FeMxdaZnoMlhgOxD5JjlRj32Lm4DaQVz6t1ege2TduqToPG8vhA/s320/9.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Douglas fir (I think) in the Stanley Park rainforest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8q8wg0UNP7IoiWpw0p-TuPUMFRUl-ercSjcfgEZNi-Gn7FneV4NJ4QXV50AqSUgsMb9OKEtl5S_v4qOVnhEpSccXjoXyHZH_3BBqZ7ens-k4JswqEkKF4Zu-DcSq0i5UDo7AYA/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin8q8wg0UNP7IoiWpw0p-TuPUMFRUl-ercSjcfgEZNi-Gn7FneV4NJ4QXV50AqSUgsMb9OKEtl5S_v4qOVnhEpSccXjoXyHZH_3BBqZ7ens-k4JswqEkKF4Zu-DcSq0i5UDo7AYA/s320/13.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lost Lagoon looking north</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxEkiIr1r_yECBj-3hi778gvLmVgsYAqVH1MP7RAU1Zv54E5UXUu4KzkLfCIb9kVnn8j7-EAbOWmVxPp4S1eOa3IWx_ZJdoJpff2bW8TtYoJ97jOW3DhBWfpkfJnBNVsQbbjt0A/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxEkiIr1r_yECBj-3hi778gvLmVgsYAqVH1MP7RAU1Zv54E5UXUu4KzkLfCIb9kVnn8j7-EAbOWmVxPp4S1eOa3IWx_ZJdoJpff2bW8TtYoJ97jOW3DhBWfpkfJnBNVsQbbjt0A/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats in Coal Harbor on Burrard Inlet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eyuSW02ZrOHu3A0mxUriO8jzj7jcVktK4Xd1UtMS8ZBxurayojl3VPSJTNKlwVMoJjHMJ3Ul4KKiPdcbVM8tTPZIDuVN9JKLaqj0vdO5Slts_3N3Amq96ghCMKJ4QQ36ANFJ-Q/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eyuSW02ZrOHu3A0mxUriO8jzj7jcVktK4Xd1UtMS8ZBxurayojl3VPSJTNKlwVMoJjHMJ3Ul4KKiPdcbVM8tTPZIDuVN9JKLaqj0vdO5Slts_3N3Amq96ghCMKJ4QQ36ANFJ-Q/s320/15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kcv7kdUNb6cO0Mo8YkxWMbpcnZzj4F_DtF4ncUIceX3QM6fGHm5cPABFAb2Yg13dfsvUAaJ8B4MGhugQIzeAspue5qk97K08Sv7XSwLMZHaJJthLZDL5YXNy7tMHfOxlvNXxdA/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kcv7kdUNb6cO0Mo8YkxWMbpcnZzj4F_DtF4ncUIceX3QM6fGHm5cPABFAb2Yg13dfsvUAaJ8B4MGhugQIzeAspue5qk97K08Sv7XSwLMZHaJJthLZDL5YXNy7tMHfOxlvNXxdA/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">False Creek ferry dock - where all my walks begin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7VAEfWAbCrM3Sl5y3BeiW7DxfnmdB5ozbXhE6FroAMD5ZcattphlMG86nIVKfRpc2yg2X1D6b03pqLWGz9Yp2bdCscGKhsJk4Ng02NTz4qSZeYA8QREgk2OrvlQ1Z2CsrTn6mg/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7VAEfWAbCrM3Sl5y3BeiW7DxfnmdB5ozbXhE6FroAMD5ZcattphlMG86nIVKfRpc2yg2X1D6b03pqLWGz9Yp2bdCscGKhsJk4Ng02NTz4qSZeYA8QREgk2OrvlQ1Z2CsrTn6mg/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half size Viking longboat in English Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYpys5IpeJu05MBb_hSY8cqt88ixfYbac4gWAu-MYfy1rCQspmUCk-xQgQNvt8Jk8ehX06cJow5rMxWf6gV70NQ9nXoL6jXmDDqOopkun0sfp5CjndGoH0NhzPsrALeiY5g_y7A/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYpys5IpeJu05MBb_hSY8cqt88ixfYbac4gWAu-MYfy1rCQspmUCk-xQgQNvt8Jk8ehX06cJow5rMxWf6gV70NQ9nXoL6jXmDDqOopkun0sfp5CjndGoH0NhzPsrALeiY5g_y7A/s320/8.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Beach facing north west</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr9BW6vwNW_U_P-M3WkYLYeGsSwaJIE1PDErO9o5BFu_lU2fXVHy0L0HBIxYLny_VYtcxyDNC42Dz_stA55KkOpRjVFFNy6K1EVS4nh-rDt-d5C-sJybKzM4d72ZigJ3tvp0SVg/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr9BW6vwNW_U_P-M3WkYLYeGsSwaJIE1PDErO9o5BFu_lU2fXVHy0L0HBIxYLny_VYtcxyDNC42Dz_stA55KkOpRjVFFNy6K1EVS4nh-rDt-d5C-sJybKzM4d72ZigJ3tvp0SVg/s320/12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rawlings Trail through the rainforest of Stanley park</td></tr>
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</div>Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26977442.post-9315816733928568952012-07-16T07:48:00.001-07:002012-07-16T07:48:30.162-07:00The Power of the Journey<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8TNozLNh4IFvnenyjLvfYyZhyV4I9S6GTBmuaqjdJVZ_ikHNFanoFhK-jXcUzOaAopNRYw2OBgeXPDda5wrd2cmybUCCUnz8fyhqz0IQ_d39ItouBLgUY70Ta3fWDDZ3UV7L-w/s1600/100_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8TNozLNh4IFvnenyjLvfYyZhyV4I9S6GTBmuaqjdJVZ_ikHNFanoFhK-jXcUzOaAopNRYw2OBgeXPDda5wrd2cmybUCCUnz8fyhqz0IQ_d39ItouBLgUY70Ta3fWDDZ3UV7L-w/s320/100_0059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Remember when you were four or five and the last thing you wanted to do was to leave the world that you knew, the world where you knew every single blade of grass, every crack in the sidewalk, every knock on the door, and it was all so simple? So clear? So safe?<br />
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And remember when it was no longer any of those things? <br />
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I think we all go through phases—phases when the best thing in the world is the safe, the secure, the place where we know every person and every inch in it and phases when we want more than anything to run away to some place we’ve never been, to talk to people we’ve never seen, to immerse ourselves in the unknown.<br />
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For me, I’m far more likely to be in the second phase than the first. I moved away from home when I was sixteen and between that time and the time I turned thirty-two, I’d moved over thirty times. My desire to run has slowed down as I get older, as I acquire more things, but it’s still there. When I’m tired, unhappy, bored, I want to run away from home. I want to live somewhere I’ve never been, I want to meet people I don’t know, I want to walk down streets I’ve never seen. I want the challenge of moving, of learning to live in a new place. <br />
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I’ve done that a lot. <br />
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But it’s much more difficult at this stage of my life to run away, so I do something I’ve done for years—I run away in my head. A character in one of my books goes all the way in her dreaming; she accumulates clothes and books and money and hides it under her floorboards. <br />
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I’ve never gone this far in my planning, even in my head, but many times over the years I’ve traveled to faraway places, walked away many times. And each time I’ve done it, I’ve learned something. <br />
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What I’ve mostly learned is that there’s power in a journey that isn’t taken, power in the planning of a life you’ll never live, power in choosing the unknown—even if you do it only in your head.<br />
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And I guess that’s why I became a writer, and how odd is it after all the years I’ve been a writer, that it’s only through writing this blog that I’ve finally figured out what drew me to writing. <br />
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It’s so I can walk away from the life I’m living and journey into the unknown.<br />
<br />
Kate<br />
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P.S. This is a blog I've posted today on the group blog I share with a bunch of other writers - Black Ink, White Paper. If you're interested in checking out some of my other blogs over there, or blogs by the fascinating writers I blog with, go to <a href="http://www.blackinkwhitepaper.wordpress.com/">www.blackinkwhitepaper.wordpress.com</a>Kate Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07808660234896798169noreply@blogger.com0