Liane Spicer's Blog, page 18

In the news today: World leaders choose romance novel

Click here to read the article. Thanks for the heads-up, Karen![image error]

Book Giveaway #1: Note to Self by Andrea Buchanan

April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature for on this date and in the same year of 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.

Beginning today, this blog will be giving away a book a week for the next seven weeks or so. I'll post the name of the book on Thursday and anyone who'd like a chance to win it should leave a comment

My interview with Toronto-Lime.com

My interview with Toronto-Lime.com has been posted on their site for a week, but I've only just found it:

Trini author Liane Spicer tells a sensual story with a beautiful backdrop in her new novel “Café Au Lait”

Good job, Ms. Robinson. I really like this![image error]

Hugo Chavez vs. President Obama at the 5th Summit of the Americas

I just watched President Obama get off his plane and lope along the red carpet at Piarco Int'l Airport here in Trinidad - watched on television, that is - and my initial impression, obviously shaped by my profound analysis of the issues surrounding this 5th Summit of the Americas, is: Lawdie, Lawdie! He's hawt! My sister doesn't see what I see, though. She insists I just like skinny guys.

Now that I've succeeded in disgusting you, let's get back to those issues...
Trinis, with my mother spearhea

Monster frogs and fridges in match-to-the-death

My mother has a weird habit of trying to converse with me while I'm obviously fast asleep. Hello! The room is dark, I'm bundled in covers, my eyes are shut and my mouth is probably agape and drooling all over the pillow or something, so even a casual observer might deduce that I'm asleep and go away. Not my mother, who has just seen something on TV that she must, MUST share with me IMMEDIATELY! Yes, the same mother whom nothing enrages so much as being disturbed while she's - ah-ha, good guess -

CAFÉ AU LAIT on Toronto-Lime.com

TORONTO-LIME.COM has posted a release on Café au Lait. I know some of you non-Trinis are wondering why a Toronto site about citrus fruits is mentioning a romance novel. Well, here we go: Lesson 1 - Speaking like a Trini.

lime
Origin: Trinidadian
Meaning: (v) hanging out/socialising in an informal relaxing environment, especially with friends, for example at a party, or on the beach. Usage: "We liming on the beach today."
(n) an event at which liming takes place, e.g. a party. A gathering of people

...while rescue workers tried in vain to pull her from under the TBR pile...

I'm sure there are people out there with to-be-read piles that dwarf mine - but that's hard to imagine right now. My bedhead bookshelf is stuffed with new titles, there are more piled on top of it, and others are winging their way from Amazon at this moment. Here's a sampling of the ones balancing over my head:

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Forever My Love by Jeff Rivera
The History of the Maroons by R.C. Dallas
The Beauty of Color by Iman

Those have been

Nikon or Canon?

Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera

The photographers among you might recall my fascination with the Nikon D40. I intended to buy it with my little book advance but, alas, that plan fell by the wayside as more practical imperatives became, well, imperative. A few of you have asked me why this camera? Someone swore by a Pentax, a couple others (including my son) think I really need a Canon Rebel. So, why the D40? Because I wanted a DSLR and was taken aback to find this brand in the price ra

My super(market) award

Fiona's post Death by Shopping made me think a bit. I thunked and thunked and then decided I'd better 'fess up and be done with it. I'm a poseur, a hypocrite, another shame-faced contender for the If You Think You're a Naturalist or Environmentalist or Conservationist or Humanist or Whatever Grand and Noble Label You Love to Apply to Yourself You're, Like, Totally Deluded award.

I remember the little shops of yesteryear. My grandfather owned one. These shops fascinated me as a small child - a fas

March hunk: Jimmy Jean-Louis

Born in Haiti 40 years ago, he lived in a remote village until, at the age of 12, he moved to Paris. "From a young boy growing up in Haiti, living with no electricity or running water, my journey to Hollywood has been rich with experience. I take little for granted and appreciate the beauty of life, knowing that there is so much more to learn." Jean-Louis is fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Creole. He has strutted the catwalks of London, Paris, Milan, South Africa and New York