Sandra Cox's Blog, page 286

I Know This One

Yay! Finally, one I know. This is a  Moon Moth. Hmm, sounds like a good book title doesn't it? This guy was on the kitchen screen window. I looked him up in my butterflies and moths book. I blush to confess what caught my attention was: 'Mating pairs will often stay in position for up to twenty hours.' Yee gods.

Minder Contest

To celebrate the release of Minder, I'll be running a month long contest. The winner  gets:
A set of butterfly pins--on right
A Starbucks gift certificate
A book dedication
and
A download of Minder
To enter: Just leave a coment mentioning Minder and  include your email addie.
 Blurb:
Among the northern tribes there is a legend passed down from generation to generation about shape-shifting Minders—guardians of the innocents—and how they came to be.  It is said that nowadays only a handful of Minders exist, hunted to near extinction by a fearsome beast. Of the remaining Minders, only one wears a garnet-studded collar, the symbol of protection and royalty.   Even when my aunt told me the story, and handed me an ancient garnet-studded band, I had no idea the tale applied to me. After all, it’s only a legend…
Excerpt: We left Bayforks about five o’clock and once again cut through the forest. A Monarch butterfly fluttered over my head for a moment then flew away. We were almost home when a deer leaped across our path. “Oh look.” My aunt pointed at the tawny blur. I’d already seen it. My butt twitched and quick as a cat I gave chase. I couldn’t believe my speed. I bounded easily over a fallen log. My blood hummed with joy. I chased the deer for a quarter of a mile through the winding forest then leaped. As I reached out to grab its flank, the deer kicked out with small hooves that caught me square in the stomach. “Oof.” I flew through the air and landed on my butt, jolted back to reality. “Oh crap. Not again.” I drew up my knees and put my head in my hands. What’s wrong with me? I began to shake.       I heard racing footsteps but I was too embarrassed to look up. Aunt knelt beside me and put her arms around me. Her subtle fragrance enveloped me as she laid her cheek next to mine and rocked me as best she could. Her racing heart belied her calm manner. “It’s okay, Rora.”“How can you say that, Aunt? I just chased a deer,” I mumbled.To my surprise she laughed. “Not your usual reaction, I grant you. Come on, let’s get cleaned up. We can talk over dinner.”I winced and grabbed my stomach as I rose.“Are you all right?”Before I could respond she raised my shirt. Goose bumps rose as the wind blasted my bare skin. I looked down. Two hoof prints stood out red against my toned abs. “I’ll be black and blue by tomorrow,” I grumbled even though I have no one to blame but myself.
Available at:http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=470&category_id=69&manufacturer_id=233&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1
 

Destiny's Fall

Topic:  How did you approach world building for this novel?
One of the best parts of writing a sequel is the chance to return to a much-loved world.  The first wisps of inspiration upon returning to the world of Destiny were the unsettled questions of my world.  Without giving away spoilers, the world played an important part in the first book of the series, Destiny’s Blood.  It’s a space-faring story, and featured many worlds with different cultures and belief systems.  As a lover of cultural anthropology and a professional storyteller, I’ve always been a fan of exploring the human element of world building, and how cultures and peoples interpret the world through their own lenses and life experiences.  I get to experience these various interpretations as I discover the world through my characters’ points of view (I love multiple points of view!)
The world of Destiny is hinged on Mirial, the First Star, cloaked in legends, myths and multiple interpretations.  The Solarian Empire, the greatest expended force in the known universe, believes it to be riddled with treachery and that it promises only destruction, or perhaps profitable trade.  The ether creatures, who rely on the First Star’s continuous flow of ether, believe the First Star brings both salvation while promising destruction.  And Layela, a child of The world of Destiny bloomed in the first book, Destiny’s Blood, but it blossomed in the second book, Destiny’s Fall. The third book promises even more world building and exploration, and I can’t wait to discover its other secrets!


BLURB:
A broken tradition. A hunted child. A rebellion that threatens to topple the very fabric of the universe. 

When Layela Delamores gives birth to her first child, the ether immediately rejects what should be its only heir. A wave of destruction sweeps the ether races and sparks Solaria’s ire and rebellion on Mirial. A new heir rises to take the throne of Mirial, one who wields tainted ether.

Unable to access the flow of ether, Layela is left with little choice but to flee Mirial, seeking answers that may no longer exist, prepared to sacrifice everything to free herself and her daughter from the clutches of the First Star.
Excerpt
 “Cap’ain!” her second-in-command, a short man named Larod, screamed.
 “Gun the engines, get us out!”
 “Solariers are telling us to stand down,” said Jaru, her systems analyst.
 “And I’m saying the docks need redecorating. Gun the engines!”
The two moved quickly to obey her order. The engines churned to life, the scent of rotten cabbage pumping through the entire ship. The ship jerked once and the engine popped, and her hull vibrated, resonating in Avienne’s skull.
 “Come on, you useless piece of crap!” She kicked the tactical controls and half the panel lights blinked out.
 “Blood and bones, I need to steal a better ship!” The engines sputtered and the ship stopped vibrating.
 “Engines online, Captain!” Jaru screamed. Avienne whooped and switched the viewport on. The entire metal structure of the docks buckled as they pulled free without first de-clamping, ripping great chunks of metal. The Dessicate’s engines kicked in full blast, throwing Avienne back into her seat. The docks swayed for a moment when the engine’s jet of hot hair struck them, then buckled sideways, and seemed to be righting themselves before suddenly collapsing in a heap of smoke and metal, dragging a few of the smaller ships down.
Avienne hissed. That made a nice, round ten worlds on which she would no longer be welcome. She was running out of planets to do business on.
“Where to, Captain?” Larod asked from navigations.
“Mirial. I believe it’s time to pay my brother a visit.”


 




 Marie will give away a signed eBook copy of Destiny's Blood (the first book in the series) to one randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and an autographed set of Destiny's Blood and Destiny's Fall in print (US and Canada only) or eBook (International) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. The tour dates can be found here:  http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/04/virtual-book-tour-destinys-fall-by.html

New Member of the Family

Since the house has been on and off the market we had decided not to add any more pets to the herd, err family, until after the house sold and we relocated. Then when Maggie passed and it was so difficult on the hubby we decided, okay we'll get another dog after the remodeling is done--which we haven't started because we're waiting for our loan to be approved, but that's another story. I dropped off Cat to get his shots yesterday and Ms. E took me to the back to show me our latest rescues in the dog world. Guess who ended up coming home with us? Penny is a year and a half, part lab and the hh and I think part greyhound. Look at those forelegs. She certainly has the body and the head shape. Her tail, over a foot long, should be registered as a lethal weapon.  So far she's torn up the cat bed, freaked out the cats and gotten in the trash. She's also figured out how to open the  back door. We have a fenced in backyard that I want her to get comfortable with so we can leave her out when we take day trips. I put her outside yesterday and the next thing I knew she'd opened the doors and was back in the house. We apparently have a penchant for cat/dog burglars since Cat made a escape at the vet's yesterday too.
Cat's feral and I should have never done a drop off but stayed with him for his shots. He totally freaked.  When I went to pick him up, he and his carrier were in one of the cages and I was told I'd have to get him back in myself. Which I did. The vet came to the front and asked if I'd put him in his carrier and I said yes. After he repeated this a couple of times, I went and checked. He'd made a breakout.  The clasp must not have been completely closed. He'd gotten out and climbed onto the top shelf of the kennel run. The vet got the ladder out and I climbed up to get him back in the carrier. The day was very traumatic for poor Cat and to add insult to injury we brought a dog home. His world still hasn't righted.
~*~
Don't forget to enter the contest below.

Guest Post by Jolene Perry Sometimes a story is more...

Guest Post by Jolene Perry
Sometimes a story is more personal than you expect it to be.

I read an article in an online newspaper that talked about the YA books coming out that year which dealt with abusive relationships.

I'd part mapped one out a while back, and thought maybe I'd work on it - all evidence that the market had just gotten an influx of them didn't sway me the way it should have…

The more I wrote in the story, the more personal it became.

I was not ever hit by my boyfriend in high school. He never screamed and yelled at me - though I heard him trashing his room a few times when I left after an argument, and he didn't hesitate to show me when he was pissed about something.

He'd pick fights with me over the phone and hang up, knowing it meant I'd sneak out to "straighten things out."

There was one really horrible night with him that I'd blocked from my mind for a long time, that I remembered when I was writing, so I used it.

I see these cases my husband talks about with women who are beaten and bruised and making up excuses and going back over and over. One ended in murder a couple of weeks ago. A case my husband will be prosecuting when it goes to trial.

The abuse story I told is nowhere near that dramatic, but so much of Ronnie's story was mine. WAY more than I realized while I was writing it. When I got to the end, and started writing down the parts of her story that were real (I always do this for my author site), I realized more and more how much of me was in that girl.

I stared at my computer screen in shock.

I had one of my best friends, who was a guy, who I shared more with than I probably did to most of my girlfriends - (like Luke from Knee Deep) and a boyfriend I'd known since I was a kid (like Shawn from Knee Deep) And I felt this draw to my boyfriend, only because I'd known him for so long, not because we really had anything left in common.

I felt more like I was stuck in this relationship, and didn't even realize I didn't want to be there until I visited a friend in college and saw how much more LIFE was out there. It was just that the idea of this one person had been in my head for way too long.

And where did I end up? Married to the best friend.

People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.

But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable.

And that's the story of how Knee Deep came to be. 

Knee Deep Summary

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.  Knee Deep Excerpt
My front door opens. “Hello?” Shawn calls.

“In here!” I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart’s beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different.

Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea?

Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Except...I’m so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn’s life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me
knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke.

“What’re you doing here?” Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke.

“I figured you’d be here, man.” Luke stands up. “It’s like we always ditch together, right?” 

Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn’t helping anything. Maybe Shawn won’t notice, or maybe it’s just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie.

“Uh, I don’t know.” Shawn’s still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight.

“You would’ve hated it,” I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay?

“Yeah, maybe.” Shawn’s narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three ‘most awkward moments’ ever. I can’t even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I’ve just found number one.

“Romeo and Juliet all day.” Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he’s trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Luke’s trying hard to keep his voice light.

“Yeah.” Shawn has yet to return Luke’s smile. “I almost never see my girl anymore.” 

It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I’ve never seen Shawn like this. 
Jolene Perry's Bio:
Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of Night Sky and The Next Door Boys.Knee Deep web site:
http://knee-deep-book.blogspot.com/
 

Another Porch Visitor

Anybody recognize this one? Its got to be a peacock something.....
~*~Memorial Day: To honor all American soldiers that have died fighting wars.  And to remember our loved ones.

Mahonia

Mahonia is a member of the evergreen family and has leathery leaves that resemble holly leaves. Its blue berries are edible but tart. The bark is gray-brown and the shrub can grow to ten feet tall.

I had never seen Mahonia until I moved to North Carolina where its very prevalent. It was love at first sight.
I also was enamored of the plant's name. Mahonia. Isn't it a great word?
Author Amarinda Jones has incorporated 'pukeable' into her Amarandisms.
I've incorporated Mahonia, as a Sandraism. My former sister-in-law and I used it as a greeting instead of hello.
What wordism have you made your own?

~*~

I poured thick warm syrup over my pancakes.I took a mouthful, chewed, swallowed, then closed my eyes and purred in delight. My eyes flew open. I really did purr.

Released Today:

To celebrate the release of Minder, I'll be running a month long contest. The winner  gets:
A set of butterfly pins--on right
A Starbucks gift certificate
A book dedication
and
A download of Minder
To enter: Just leave a coment mentioning Minder and  include your email addie.
 Blurb:
Among the northern tribes there is a legend passed down from generation to generation about shape-shifting Minders—guardians of the innocents—and how they came to be.  It is said that nowadays only a handful of Minders exist, hunted to near extinction by a fearsome beast. Of the remaining Minders, only one wears a garnet-studded collar, the symbol of protection and royalty.   Even when my aunt told me the story, and handed me an ancient garnet-studded band, I had no idea the tale applied to me. After all, it’s only a legend…Excerpt:  “Shall we walk the two miles into town?” Aunt waited by the door. Over the years we’ve worn a path through the woods. “Most definitely.” I breathed deep then exhaled as we stepped outside. In moments, we were in the forest. The sun shone bright through the trees, our path alternately in sunshine then shadow, the temperature, a comfortable sixty-six.  Our feet crunched on brown pine needles that filled the air with a crisp tangy scent.A Tiger Swallowtail fluttered by my head joined by a Black Swallowtail. “Look, Aunt.” I pointed in delight. I love butterflies.  They are so delicate and beautiful.My aunt smiled and nodded.Another Tiger Swallowtail landed on my head. I laughed with pleasure.A Black Swallowtail fluttered near me. Then another and another until black and yellow, blue-tinged bands of color flickered around me.My arms extended, I turned around in a circle as pure joy washed over me. “Oh, Aunt, have you ever seen anything like this?” I didn’t look at her, my gaze on the glistening winged creatures that circled me.“Not in a long time,” she said quietly. “When did you last see a swarm of butterflies?” My head tipped back and forth as I watched the flurry of color.“When your mother was alive. Remember?”

Minder can be purchased at: MuseItUpPublishing  

Friends

Friends. What would we do without them?

Mancode

Rachel will be awarding a chocolate treat to a random commenter at every stop and a $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
The Mancode: Exposed and A Walk in the Snark by Rachel Thompson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb for The Mancode: Exposed:-        I'm over forty. I don't have a blankie. I have vodka. -        I'm no 'ologist.' I don't give advice. If that's what you're looking for, go buy Dr. Somebody's book.-        I write about men, women, sex, & chocolate. My experiences, my truth, my martinis. -        *Note: Thompson employs hashtags (i.e., the # sign) in her work. Google it. These are not typos, people #deargod.Praise for The Mancode: Exposed -- already a #1 bestseller in Marriage, Parenting & Families AND Parenting & Relationships! 5/5 Star Reviews: --As a long time warrior in the Battle of the Sexes, I would've won a lot more skirmishes had I had a copy of Mancode in my saddle. Reaching back toward my shotgun, I would've found this book. Instead of shooting the man, I could've said, "Stop acting like a man!" Buy Mancode and stop wasting bullets.~ Beth Wareham, author Power of No--Finally! A woman who gets what I'm going through every day, front hat whole spitting thing to my deep abiding love for chocolate. Well done! ~ Amber Scott, author of #1 Kindle bestsellers IRISH MOON, FIERCE DAWN, WANTED --Mancode: Exposed is a scathingly funny, rapid fire and heartfelt looks at guys. Author Rachel Thompson delivers a satirical piece that invokes strong shades of Penny Marshall and Seth McFarlane. ~ Casey Ryan, Host & Creator, Cutting Room Floor radio program
Blurb for A Walk in the Snark:-        Be forewarned -- the material in this book has been called controversial in nature. It is based on the author's popular blog. There are recurrent themes regarding men and women, love and loss. It's not all funny. But it is all honest. Can you handle the snark? Sometimes I think I'm too jaded. Then I think no, it's just the lighting. Praise for A Walk In The Snark -- now a #1 Bestseller! 5 of 5 stars!--The commonalities we all share is what makes this book spark to life.Tony Eldridge, Author, The Samson Effect--Thank you for making the lives of women and men more intelligible, Rachel, and for making us laugh at ourselves! Berit Ellingsen, Author, The Empty City ●        Rachel believes "Men are from Seinfeld, Women are from Friends," and so do her legions of fans. She dares to ask "Why do men want to change the world, but can't change a roll of toilet paper?" ●        Drawing on her decades (#deargod has it been that long?) of marriage, friendships, and past relationships, Rachel's specialty is observing male behavior and dissecting it with humor (Shopping is NOT a Verb). Think of her as the Scientist of Snark...without the ugly white lab coat #asif Husband: Mumble, mumble, mumble. Daughter: What? Me: It's okay. I speak husband. See why everyone is buying this book! Mancode, Chickspeak, and much, much more! See why critics love it! More praise: 5/5 Stars: Crisp, cutting, and caffeinated. A gem of a read.~Rebecca Tsaros Dickson, Author, I Could Tell You Stories; Editor-In-Chief, Indie InkThe author's wicked sense of humor sprinkles every day stories of relationship angst with spicy hot pepper with keeping it real adventure.~Bonnie Jean Adams, Chicago Culture And Events Examiner ●        If you want to laugh, cry, and risk blowing coffee out of your nose at Rachel's unique take on life (Manesia, anyone), you've GOT to buy this book today! Want to know why this book reached #1 on the Kindle Motherhood list (and Parenting & Families, and Women's Studies) and is still a mainstay months and months later? Buy it!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I'm a chick who writes stuff that makes you laugh. My book A Walk In The Snark hit #1 on the Kindle Motherhood list this past September (do you think they know I talk about sex? Shhh.). It's since hit about oh, SEVEN more times. #woot! I've been nominated for Funniest Blog, Best Humor Writer & Redhead Who Makes A Killer Dirty Martini (okay, I made the last one up, but it's true. Honest.).
I released The Mancode: Exposed right after Thanksgiving 2011! Two books of snarky goodness, baby.
I've been told I write in the style of that Dickens guy. Kidding.
I'm a mom, a wife, and a recovering pharmaceuticals rep. It's been a long process but I'm doing okay, thanks.
I also used to sell Trojan brand condoms. Yeah, it's hilarious, I know. I did it for three years way back when, and I was their top salesperson in the Western Region, a dubious honor at best. My number-one customer was the Mustang Ranch. No, seriously. The Mustang Ranch. I couldn't make stuff like that up.
The experience definitely gave me insights into the... er... ins and outs of men.
So it should come as no great surprise that I write about how men (The Mancode) and women (Chickspeak) approach most things differently. And since I did, in fact, grow past my Trojan days (in more ways than one or--insert your own joke here), I've thrown in a few tidbits about marriage, kids, being a mom, living in the OC (ya know-being a pale redhead living in a sea of blondes), coffee, and vodka. Not necessarily in that order, depending on the day.
Don't read this book to find advice about how to be sweet or nice. I'm pretty much allergic to both of those words. Actually don't read this book for advice on anything. (My lawyer made me put that in just in case you know, you thought I could save your marriage or something - not).Or if you are looking for some light, heartfelt humor in everyday life (Erma Bombeck-style), well, I'm really not your girl, either. Nothin' homespun about the Queen of Snark, baby. Mostly I just laugh at stuff and make up words (See "Refrigeratoritis and Manesia.") Yet somehow it all seems to work.
And don't call me cute. (Hint: Babies and puppies are cute. Grown women are soooo not.)Special note to men: I write frequently about "The Mancode"--like how you guys do goofy stuff and we women try, and often fail, to understand. (Um, change the toilet paper roll much? Yeah, that's what I thought.) If that offends your sensibilities, this may not be the book for you. Yeah, I'm crushed.
Like everyone, I've also had some rough times. I share those with you, too. Life can't always be martinis and beaches. Wait, this is the OC (Orange County, CA, for those of you from Canada, or people on the East Coast who don't know California beyond LA). Naw, not even here.
So, welcome to RachelintheOC.
Now go read an essay or two and find something to laugh at, would ya?
I have to go help my husband find the butter. Again.
Blog: http://rachelintheoc.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/rachelintheocFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExposingTheMancode