Annette Mori's Blog, page 27
August 31, 2019
Politics and Eroticism
Okay, yes, I created a brand new word called romash to explain how I combine topics like romance and something else (sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, etc), but combing politics and eroticism…you must think I’m out of my bloody mind. And yet, that is sort of what I did in Pleasure Workers. I tried to think of a new word, but I thought Polierotic would lead people down a completely different path and they’d be disappointed to learn the book is not about polyamorous (which by the way is a real word) relationships. What about eroticpol. Does that generate a vision of a pole dancer? I must have a thing for pole dancers since one showed up in The Dream Catcher.
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As with other books, where I try to combine concepts, I will readily admit, the eroticism is erotic-light. I included more intimate scenes in this book than any other I’ve written, but I seriously doubt it meets the standard for most erotic novels. However, the real question is how the hell did I weave in politics?
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When I first started forming the novel, there were horrifying stories about immigration and the country’s evolution to a decidedly less compassionate view of the plight of those families who are simply looking for a better life. Additionally, dreamers were a big story and how the current administration was resistant to following through on the promises made to them. I could not imagine living my practically my whole life in the US with a new fear of being sent to a country I know nothing about and can’t even speak the language.
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So, I got the bright idea of combining my passion for bringing forth social issues within what I hope is an entertaining story. I also wanted to offer a different perspective on pleasure workers. I prefer not to call the women who work at legal brothels, prostitutes or sex workers because those terms have a very negative connotation. This was another side message, though not necessarily political.
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I’m certainly not the first author, nor will I be the last to use the pen to weave in political messages. There are numerous classics that do this and their approach ranges from a political allegory such as Alice in Wonderland, Animal Farm or Gulliver’s Travels to more obvious warnings woven within a startling plot like the Handmaiden’s Tale or 1984. I’ve done more of the latter, versus the former, but one of these days, I think I might like to try a more obtuse political allegory similar to Alice in Wonderland. I could spin more outrageous tales than I’ve already managed to write. Now that is a truly scary thought. You are probably wondering how I might venture further down that track than The Dream Catcher or The Book Witch. Stay tuned, because I don’t think I’m done writing.
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Besides the fact that Pleasure Workers is as close to an erotic tale as I will probably write, I am particularly proud of the development of my character Alex, who is complicated for more reasons than the fact that she wasn’t born in the US, yet has lived here for most of her life. As with most of my books, I believe I’ve managed to weave in those political messages without beating the reader over the head. As I’ve said before, I like knowing that maybe, 100 years from now, someone will pick up my book, read it and get a small insight into what was happening in the United States during this timeframe in our history and get the bonus of reading a few particularly steamy scenes.
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The book comes out on September 1st and I hope you will check it out. Don’t forget to get Ali Spooner’s The Trophy Wives Club where my character, Alex is introduced. Her book has already received rave reviews, so I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Pleasure Workers – Affinity Site
Pleasure Workers – Amazon Australia
[image error] A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
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Artist Free Zone (All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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August 23, 2019
Personal Relationships in Lesfic/WLW
Recently, I read this blog that was posted in a Facebook group about the new trend— forming a “personal relationship” with readers. I suppose with the flood of new authors into the market, not just in Lesfic/WLW, but mainstream as well, authors have to do more marketing on their own and apparently, this is the new shiny ball.
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I haven’t been in Lesfic/WLW that long to know if this is a trend in our tiny corner of the world, or if, as I suspect, this is what we’ve been doing all along. Granted, there are a lot more of us interacting now, so I suspect this phenomenon is more visible. Or maybe not? What was astonishing to me was the way the article described authors getting personal. This was not a one-sided relationship where the author feels free to share personal details about their life. No….apparently, authors are asking readers about their lives and they are doing it via spam mail. And….they aren’t stopping at that. They are piling on the guilt with impressive efficiency. My catholic grandmother would be impressed. If you unsubscribe, they want to know why? If you haven’t left a review…guilt times 1,000. And on and on. The author of the blog was not in favor of this new trend, for very good reasons.
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Well, that is not the kind of personal relationship I am comfortable with. Nor do I believe, for the most part, that is the kind of personal relationship Lesfic/WLW authors should nurture and grow. I think our world is different, or at least mine is. When someone reaches out to me, I always answer. If that turns into a friendship as it sometimes has, I am all the more enriched by that experience. I don’t have thousands of followers like the mainstream authors, or the top echelon of Lesfic/WLW, so I can easily keep up. As long as those back and forth communications don’t cross a line, I rather like the interaction. Crossing the line would be not respecting my marriage and leading the discussion into flirty/propositional territory. Truth be told, I’m much better behind a computer interacting with readers, than in person.
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I had a reader once who e-mailed me about one of my books and we continued to communicate back and forth for a bit of time. She lives in China. When she came to the states for an extended vacation, I invited her to stay with my wife and me in Moses Lake. That was a profoundly wonderful experience. Another reader, who is now one of my betas, has become a good friend, along with her wife. I never would have been gained the richness of that friendship had I not been open to communicating with her.
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There is one other reason I think our world is different. Like me, many of the readers out there are also authors in my genre. It makes sense to form personal relationships with other authors.
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People come and go on my mailing list. I’ll never ask why you left. Some readers leave reviews, most do not. I am very grateful to those that leave reviews but have zero judgment on those who do not. Why would I judge readers who don’t leave reviews? I fall into the trap of not leaving a review or doing a Lesfic PuttyCat Review on every book I read. And…it isn’t because I don’t enjoy a particular book. It is simply that I am super inconsistent. There aren’t too many Lesfic/WLW books I don’t enjoy, so if I left a review for every book, there would be 1,000’s of my very inadequate reviews out there for people to read.
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If I ask you about your life, it will only be after we’ve become friends and had several interactions that would suggest those questions are welcome and not invasive. And…it won’t be because I want to sell you a book. Bottom line is that I haven’t developed personal relationships with readers as a marketing ploy. I’ve done it because it feels comfortable to me. Has it generated sales…maybe? I don’t really know, but it doesn’t matter. Marketing is not something I am particularly good at, so I won’t adopt this strategy or cease communicating with readers on a more personal level simply because it is good marketing.
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Instead, one marketing strategy is to close every blog with feel free to check out my links. Oh, and if you want to unfollow this blog, I won’t ever track your ass down to ask why you’ve decided to unfollow me! I suppose I also send something out every time I have a book release to my mailing list, but there isn’t much that is personal about that. For those on the list, you’ll be getting something soon when Pleasure Workers releases on September 1.
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But for today, here is my traditional blog closing line…check out my links below if you are so inclined….
[image error] A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
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Artist Free Zone (All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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August 16, 2019
Men in Lesfic/WLW…
As often happens, I get my ideas for blogs when I read an interesting thread on Facebook. This week, I read something about the absence of men in Lesfic/WLW or alternately, when men do show up they aren’t portrayed positively in the story.
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To be honest, I haven’t put this under a microscope to any great degree and I happen to be reading a story where there are male characters in the story that are not the embodiment of evil. However, as I try to think back, I believe that to some degree, this might be a little true. I started to look back on every single novel I’ve penned to determine if I’ve fallen into this trap. I have.
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I don’t dislike men. Not at all. Because if I did, I wouldn’t have great respect for my brother in law, my nephews, colleagues, or even my very flawed father. As a result, there are male characters in some of my books that fall squarely into the family category. I’ve also included a sprinkling of positive co-workers who are men.
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I’ll admit that none of my male characters are front and center, except as villains. And they certainly aren’t current, future, or past lovers. In fact, as I look back, I’ve written only one main character who was previously married to a man who died. All of my other main characters have been lesbians. Some of those characters have been more comfortable with that self-identification than others, but still definitely lesbians. I suppose I do this because I write WLW. I don’t want to see the woman end up with a man in the end, so I don’t ever create a story where that would even be possible. I’ve never written the supposedly “straight” woman falls for the lesbian/bi-sexual trope. The closest I’ve come to that is the character, Danna, in Pleasure Workers who is a widower. The dead husband is not really a character, because, well, he’s dead. But, I didn’t vilify him, either.
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I’ve written wonderful fathers, cool brothers, flamboyant friends, badass colleagues, nice old men who pick up hitchhikers and make sure the main character gets a safe ride, quirky townsfolk, and men who willingly fight alongside the women. Those male characters have had varying degrees of prominence in my books. Some, like Unconventional Lovers are wonderful side characters that are crucial to the story. Others are fun additions, like in The Review and add a little humor and levity. Finally, some may present originally as villains, only for the reader to discover they aren’t really that bad after all like in Asset Management and The Organization.
The real question is whether to consider having men play a more prominent role in the books or not? Some may argue that by not having men in the books, other than as evil-doers, we aren’t being fair. Or, and I love this argument, aren’t representing the real world. I laugh long and hard about that argument. Because come on, it’s fiction. No one can argue that every single lesbian has chiseled abs and makes their partner scream their name. All night long. It’s fiction.
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Don’t we get to make up shit and draw our characters any damn way we want? It does not have to mirror the real world. That’s the point. Some of us read lesfic/WLW to escape. And honestly, I prefer reading about women who love women more than a central male character. You can sprinkle in a nice guy, here and there, but don’t make that nice guy ride off into the sunset with the drool-worthy lesbian.
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So, put men in your books or leave them out. Make them all heroes and stand-up guys or not. It makes no difference to me, as long as two women fall in love or stay in love somewhere in the story. That’s what I look for.
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If you want to see how I included men in my books, you know the drill, click on the links below.
[image error] A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
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Artist Free Zone (All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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August 9, 2019
A Different Kind of Badass
This week’s blog is going to be relatively short because I still got a whole weekend left to celebrate with my wife. Apparently turning 60 is a big deal to her….gonna go with the flow and eke out every little bit of pampering I can get! But that is not the topic I want to talk about this week.
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So…I write badass characters and they are some of my favorite characters to write. When people think of badass characters, they think of Val in The Organization. And yes, Val is a total badass. But, I also consider Toni, Dani, and a new character, Katrina that I will introduce in Compound Interest coming out in December badasses for a different reason. Those characters are all genius eggheads. My idea of an intellectual badass, which is just as appealing to me.
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Now, I’m about to introduce a whole different kind of badass in Pleasure Workers. Can a person be a badass in the bedroom? In my humble opinion, you bet your hiney she can! There are three total badasses in the bedroom in The Trophy Wives Club and Pleasure Workers and they are able to make their clients sing the Gospel. I know very inappropriate of me to use that as an analogy…but hey sometimes I cross the line. Apologies to anyone I’ve offended.
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So…badasses come in many forms. Another stereotype that I think needs changing is that all badass women tend to run on the butch side. I have to admit that my biggest badass of all, Val, did tend toward the butch side. Alex, in Pleasure Workers, is also very butch and is good at two things: fixing things and pleasuring women. But Marley, in The Trophy Wives Club certainly isn’t.
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This morning I read a funny post from Isabella who posed an interesting question. If a lesbian can’t do something mechanical like changing a tire, they lose their butch card, so what would a femme have to do to lose hers? At first, I didn’t have an answer, then I thought of this:
The femme would squint at the flat tire, give her lover a gentle push and say, “Move over babe, I got this.” She would proceed to kick off her high heels, pull up her dress, squat down, and then change the tire. When she was done, she would reapply her make-up. Her butch lover would quirk her brow and the femme would answer, “What, did I mess up my make-up?”
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So there you have it…badasses come in many shapes, styles, and personalities! If you want to read about all of my badasses, check out the links below. Pleasure Workers comes out on September 1st. Make sure you check out Ali Spooner’s book first, The Trophy Wives Club. Pleasure Workers is as close to erotica as I will ever get.
And….as usual, click any of the links below if you want to check out my other stories.
[image error]A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
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Artist Free Zone (All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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This morning I read a post that made me laugh and I had to think
August 2, 2019
A Major Milestone…
I’m about to reach a milestone in my life and honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’ve always been one of those people to take another birthday with a grain of salt. Birthdays were not big deals when I was growing up. I never got to invite a bunch of kids to my house. I never had a slumber party. No clowns, bouncy houses, streamers, or any other fancy birthday tricks. I got cake and family. To this day, I sort of shrug and say, “Wonderful, I am one year closer to retirement now.”
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Well, guess what year I set as a goal for retirement? Yup, I am there and I made my goal. Come January, 5 months from when I turn 60, I am planning on retiring.
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Every morning I look in the mirror, I start to see my age, and I have to admit, this birthday feels a little different. I’m starting to see those old lady wrinkles around my mouth. You know the ones. Those prominent lines that appear sooner rather than later on smokers. I am not a smoker, so I think it is a little unfair. But, I have to finally accept, I’m just getting to that age. I don’t like this one bit. Not one bit at all.
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The wrinkles that are vaguely acceptable to people are the little crinkles around a person’s eyes. They are fondly described in Lesfic/WLW novels about women of a certain age. I don’t think I’ve ever read about the lines above a woman’s mouth. There is no way to describe those as sexy. Of course, I don’t read about 60-year old main characters. That is not an age demographic that would sell well. I get that.
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Perhaps now that I have reached that Golden Age, I’ll start incorporating main characters into my novels that are sixty+ years of age…since I like writing about what I like writing about. I’ll need to ponder on how to make those lines above her mouth appealing and sexy. The Brandi Carlile song, The Story, is now running through my head. I adore the lyrics and how the song begins: “All of these lines across my face, tell you the story…”
As a celebration of this milestone. I intend to give away six copies (one for each decade I’ve been alive) of Pleasure Workers when it releases on September 1st. Make sure you check out Ali Spooner’s book first, The Trophy Wives Club. This story is as close to erotica as I will ever get. If you want a chance to receive a free copy, you’ll have to be on my mailing list or sign up for my mailing list. Here’s the link: Mailing List
And….as usual, click any of the links below if you want to check out my other stories.
[image error]A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
[image error] [image error]
Artist Free Zone (All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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July 26, 2019
Readers: The Forgotten Heros and Heroines – Gems I Hold Dear…
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I am a packrat in all aspects of my life. I hang on to things that have meaning and sometimes much to my wife’s despair, things that aren’t worth anything. This was a huge point of contention when we were downsizing from our large home on three acres to our small condo on the lake. Now, before you get all judgy and feel sorry for my wife, she’s every bit as much a collector as I am, only in different ways.
This tendency to save everything, just in case I need it in the future, extends to electronic communication. In my defense, that has saved my ass on more than one occasion at work. People’s memories are notoriously distorted as the months go by.
So, what does this have to do with writing? Well…I’m going to tell you. In addition to every e-mail my wife sent me when we first started corresponding, which I pulled out and used when writing, Artist Free Zone, I’ve saved every single piece of correspondence from readers that I’ve received over the years.
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I have a folder that I drag and drop all those e-mail messages. I’ve never taken those lightly. They have always meant a great deal to me. When I need reminding about why I continue to write, I admit, I’ll pull those little gems out and read them. I hope I won’t violate anyone’s privacy by sharing a few of my favorites (I promise not to add a name to them). I’ll probably edit them a little bit because some are long.
My very first e-mail from a reader: I just finished your book and I had to tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. It sounds as if there’s a sequel in the works and I can’t wait! Your creative writing kept me glued to the screen. I really liked the fact that there was action, suspense and most importantly, romance and love. A lot of authors seem to think you can’t have them together. I loved the fact that the female characters were strong, intelligent and beautiful inside and out with a healthy dose of humor. I’m looking forward to seeing what becomes of Dani and Candy. They’re adorable and I think they have possibilities.
I just wanted to message you and tell you how much I enjoyed reading one of your books. I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters and the plot was excellent. I am definitely keeping this book around for many more reads. I admit to a decent obsession with books haha, and it’s always a treat to find one I know I will enjoy more than once. So, thank you for a great story. I think stories are a lot more important than many people realize, especially nowadays.
I just stayed up till 4:30AM reading your book. I literally could not put it down. It was amazing. I loved it.
I wanted to let you know that I just finished your book and I am stunned. I don’t know where to start, except to just gush.
You were born to write, I loved your book it was different it had me guessing, could not turn the pages quick enough it was a beautiful story. Can’t wait to read your next one.
I bought your book ages ago and have read it many times. I just wanted to tell you the story captivated me, I went through all the emotions with Belinda and Carly. The unconditional love they shared was beautiful. I love they slow build romance as well, usually Lesbian books have the characters sleep with each other on page three. You really had the reader hoping and anticipating their eventual union. I love Locked Inside. Bravo.
I finished reading Unconventional Lovers twice last night. What a beautiful story.
I just wanted to take a moment to reach out to you about your novel, Locked Inside. This was the first of your books that I have read and I absolutely loved it! I read 3 – 4 books a week and cannot believe I haven’t read one of yours before. Shame on me
July 19, 2019
Anal Proctalgia
What the hell, Annette? No, Anal Proctalgia is not this writer’s clever and highbrow way to tell someone they are a pain in the ass. Although sometimes I may be clever with my stories, I am never highbrow. How about a blog about a relatively obscure medical condition? Yup, why not. Besides, having just had an encounter, it was fresh on my mind.
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So, I am reminded of my age as medical conditions appear that I never experienced in my youth. Imagine my shock when one night I woke up with this particular condition, although I did not know the name at the time. I don’t think the literal translation is, pain in the ass, but that’s exactly what it is.
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I’m going to let you be a fly on the wall for when I broached the subject during my annual physical. Here’s how the conversation went.
“Is there anything else you want to discuss?”
“Um, no, uh, well, there is one thing and I guess I am not sure if this is related to going through menopause or not. It doesn’t happen often, so I think I still don’t want to go the hormone route.”
No response. Just a questioning, go on look, from my doctor.
“I don’t really know how to say this, I uh, wake up at night sometimes from this pain.”
“Pain? Not sweats?”
“Oh, I wake up from sweats too, but no, this is a sharp pain that lasts about ten to fifteen minutes and then goes away?”
Puzzled look follows.
“It’s in my, um, uh, the same place I sometimes get hemorrhoids.” There. I said it.
Light dawns on her face. “Oh, it sounds like Anal Proctalgia.”
“Anal what?”
“Here, let me write it down for you and you can look it up.” She knows I love to research things. “I recommend warm baths.”
“Okay.”
I tottered off and the minute I walked into my house that evening, I was on the internet researching Anal Proctalgia. While there are theories on different triggers, one of which I am not happy about (sexual activity), the information on this condition clearly states it is from unknown causes.
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Apparently, what happens is severe muscle cramps in the anal canal. Since there is a very sensitive nerve that runs along the canal, the pain is sharp and insistent. What causes the cramps? Who the hell knows?
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So, what does this have to do with writing? Well….I was thinking about a Facebook post some time ago about how we rarely read about everyday activities, like going to the bathroom, etc. Who wants excruciating details in the novel about a person’s morning dump? This would probably wear off the shine of the main character. Similar to that, we also don’t read about more uncommon medical conditions of short duration. They aren’t at all interesting. There are loads of books that give details on terminal conditions and how that affects a person’s loved ones as they support and care for their love interest. Readers might also find a smattering of scenes related to someone having a cold or the flu, and an adorable scene about homemade chicken noodle soup or some such kindness. Dramatic accidents are common. We love those on the edge of our seat scenes with the person lovingly glued to the hospital bed while the main character fights for their life.[image error]
I got to thinking, what if I included a humorous scene on Anal Proctaglia? If nothing else, it might be remembered. I can tell you that women of a certain age have no hesitation when it comes to talking about delicate medical conditions or bodily functions, especially if they’ve spent their career in healthcare. My wife used to research E-Coli 0157 and would give nurses coffee cards in exchange for bloody poop samples. Yup, a scene about two mature women discussing Anal Proctaglia would work. Considering I am one of those writers who often take chances, don’t be surprised if you read a scene in one of my future novels….In the meantime, you can always check out how I have taken risks with my books and other obscure conditions.
[image error]A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
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Live Forever, Love Forever (Debut Novel)
Artist Free Zone (Charity Book – All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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Asset Management (Top Selling Book)
[image error]Locked Inside (Goldie Winner)
[image error]Out of This World
July 12, 2019
Why Megan Rapinoe Matters…
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I don’t generally watch sports on television. Not having a TV is not the main reason. It just isn’t my thing. Even when the Seahawks made it to the Superbowl, as my wife raptly watched the game, I had one eye on my computer and the other eye sort of on the game. Most of the time, my computer won the contest of what is more interesting. But, the final two games of the Women’s World Cup did catch my attention because they represented so much more than a win for the US. I was fortunate to have good friends do a live video chat so I could watch the game on their television (thanks Gail and Deborah Dodge Hankin).
Here are the reasons why Megan Rapinoe matters:
She is an unapologetic out and proud lesbian and ironically that fact has not mattered in her elevation to heroine status for the majority of Americans…as it should be.
I’d always found it interesting reading excerpts of Bonnie Morris’s book, The Disappearing L: Erasure of Lesbian Spaces and Culture. While I may not embrace every concept in that book, I like having lesbian role models to look up to. Ones that don’t exclude and take us back to what I’d always been used to in the 80’s. Pride had always been about embracing all the letters in our community without feeling the need to diminish their own claim of the L in LGBTQ+. Megan is that shining model for us all.
The US Women’s soccer team brought the important conversation about equal pay to the world stage with their win, led by their outspoken team co-captain.
She is now the second woman to silence Trump. In response to his go-to attack tweet that, “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job!” she answered with the first goal of the final game. She took away his favorite word, loser. When Trump was handed his ass after the very public fight with Pelosi, who got him to blink and re-open the government, this second ass whooping must feel particularly painful.
Despite all attempts by Fox news pundits, rabid Trump fans, and other bitter far-right conservatives, America loves Rapinoe. Every effort to tarnish her name through the same old, same old, tired tactics of remarking on her physical appearance, questioning why she is such a hero, etc. has been met with a rabid response from most of America, defending the team and holding them even higher up on that pedestal.
Megan’s response to the Trump Administration has never fallen down the grade school path of remarking on the color of Trump’s skin, other aspects of his physical appearance, his intelligence, or any other immature personal attack. She’s kept her criticism where it belongs…on his policies, his tendency toward divisiveness and exclusion, and other important areas that have nothing to do with meaningless rhetoric that will never take the conversation to the place it needs to go.
Her call for collaboration and inclusion is truly the American way. She is leading us back on the right path. With words like, “We have to be better. We have to love more. Hate less. We got to listen more and talk less. It’s our responsibility to make the world a better place.” I am not surprised people have called on her to run for President. Her words are Presidential, Trump’s are not.
She is using her platform of sports success for something much more than American pride in their sports teams and that is why she matters.
Words matter. Whether they come from a soccer star, an author, or a politician, we all have the ability to make our words matter. I’m not a superstar, heroine, or widely known author, but I still hope that my words have mattered. Start small and let your words matter, even if they only extend to family and friends who spew hate and incite violence. If one person changes their perspective because of your words, they have mattered. If you want to see how I’ve woven subtle messages in my books, you know the drill.
[image error]A Window to Love on Amazon US
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
[image error]
Live Forever, Love Forever (Debut Novel)
Artist Free Zone (Charity Book – All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
[image error]
Asset Management (Top Selling Book)
[image error]Locked Inside (Goldie Winner)
[image error]Out of This World
July 4, 2019
Celebrating the 4th
In 1976, I was in high school. Centennial celebrations are a big deal. Imagine the chance to celebrate anything that’s been around 100 years. A celebration for basically the birth of one’s country is something a person doesn’t usually forget. And yet, I have. I don’t remember much about the 4th of July that year. Why? Because it was all a bunch of pomp and circumstance. Nothing profoundly personal happened to me. I didn’t fall in love. I didn’t lose a loved one. I didn’t achieve anything monumental. It was just another holiday. A holiday that isn’t particularly my favorite.
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I suspect that people won’t remember Trump’s little foray into a celebration focused all on him, either. He wants them to because that’s what narcissists are all about. I believe that the only holiday’s people remember are the ones that have something profoundly personal attached to them or when a memory is triggered by a question from a loved one.
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My wife asked me how we celebrated the 4th as kids. She wanted to know if we did the traditional bar-b-que. I had to laugh and said I usually was in Baltimore during the summers as a kid and we would always gather with my very large extended Italian family at my Aunt Rose’s. Here’s the funny thing. I don’t remember bar-b-que foods at all. I’m sure they were there, but what I do specifically remember is homemade pizza, pasta, and other uniquely Italian dishes. There was always a ton of food, just not the typical bar-b-que fare. After she asked the question, a memory surfaced of one of my cousins showing us the secret of making pizza. He drizzled olive oil on top and winked at us.
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I don’t like loud noises and neither do my animals. I’m also quite the cynic and maintain that once you’ve seen fireworks, it’s the same old, same old, so why would I try to stay up to watch. My wife and I laugh about not ever making it to midnight each year when celebrating New Year’s. The same is true for the 4th. We are usually early to bed and early to rise. Living so far North, it doesn’t get dark until ten and so the fireworks are normally much later.
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That brings me to the one other time I specifically remember a 4th of July celebration. My wife and I decided to see our favorite band play in the park and then the fireworks would follow. We were so damned proud of ourselves for staying up late and for once in the whole fifteen years together, we watched the fireworks. That, I am sure, I will always remember. We giggled like teenagers, patting ourselves on the back for partying until the wee hours. Well, the wee hours for us!
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Portions of stories or books have the same effect on me. I only remember those things that have a profoundly personal link or are something a little more than the same old, same old. For me to remember a book, it has to touch me or touch a personal memory in me. That is not to say, I don’t enjoy reading all the other books I cannot recall. I do. It’s the same with holidays. I enjoy my holidays. I just don’t always remember them.
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I’ve often said, being a commercial success isn’t really the ultimate prize for me when writing a book. The ultimate goal is creating a story that people will remember. I’ve been told a few of my books have done that. If you want to check them out, by all means, click on one of the links now! And don’t forget that two of my books and two of my short stories are on Kindle Unlimited! Others are on sale at rock bottom prices like $3.00 – $4.00.
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
On Kindle Unlimited
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Live Forever, Love Forever (Debut Novel)
[image error]Artist Free Zone (Charity Book – All Proceeds go to charities)
On Sale
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Asset Management (Top Selling Book)
[image error]Locked Inside (Goldie Winner)
[image error]Out of This World
June 28, 2019
Why Do I Write…Part 2
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In August 2016, I wrote a blog titled, Why Do I Write. You can find the blog in my archives or click this link: https://annettemoriauthor.com/2016/08/26/why-do-i-write/. I’m writing part two because my motivations have evolved over the years. Nearly three years later and many more books under my belt, the landscape has shifted…in epic proportions. However, a small part of what I believed was my original motivation remains. What occurred over the years was an expansion of those reasons.
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I still like to educate and sneak in topics that cause people to think. I continue to want to touch people in a way they may or may not have experienced before. The new wrinkle as I enter the final quarter of my life is the ultimate driving force for me to continue. Yesterday I read a string of posts on Facebook that not only saddened me, but reinforced my view this remains important. Marginalized groups need a voice.
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Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my existence…my purpose for living. My wife asked me about my thoughts on approaching our golden years and essentially the final quarter of our lives. I said I hadn’t really thought much about that, but what I had thought about was what I would leave behind. I asked if I could read her a passage that I’d written in, A Window to Love to help explain my thoughts a bit better. This is the passage I read to her:
“Are you for real? I’ve read about you. My God, you’re famous. I wish I could have afforded your services,” Mandie stated wistfully. “Your life matters—you left behind a legacy. There was absolutely no purpose for my life.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true. I’m just one of the millions of people who were born to grow up and work forty or fifty years, then die leaving nothing behind but money and trinkets for their heirs. I didn’t even have any kids. What’s the point?”
“I don’t believe that for a second. Haven’t you ever read about how everything is interconnected? My favorite Christmas movie is It’s A Wonderful Life. I’d bet one of my designs you’ve had a major impact on people’s lives but just can’t trace it back. By the way, where did you live? I know for a fact that people outside the state of Washington have no idea who I am.”
“I lived on the east side of the state in Moses Lake.”
Then I said something that caused her to look at me in a new light. On occasion, even I have deep thoughts that are not a joke. I said, “It gives me great comfort to know that a little piece of me will be left behind after I leave this world.” She thought that was wonderful, but for a moment it caused her a bit of distress because she wondered about the purpose of her life. I had to remind her that a little piece of her is in the research she’s been a part of, including her name on a renowned published research study. She smiled at that.
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Every author should dig deep and explore the reasons for writing. Nancy Ann Healy reminded us all of that and her wisdom rings true and gives me solace. For me, it is not an occupation. I don’t expect to make a living with my writing. I’ve always believed that it was not about the money but did not know exactly what it was all about. It took some introspection to really understand what keeps me writing. Now that I know, it is a very freeing feeling to remove the pressure I’ve placed on myself this past year to ensure every book I write at least breaks even.
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Feel free to pick up those bits and pieces of me. Some of them I am actually very proud of!
A Window to Love on Amazon Australia
A Window to Love through Affinity Rainbow Publications
Join Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Proud to be an Affinity Rainbow Publications author!
