C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 157

Weekly Paranormal-Scope

While I’m not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.  In many ways, so are you.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Cold winds blow.  Beware of hippogriffs.  Remember be polite to everyone to avoid problems.

Taurus

Lost a sock?  Gnomes know where those socks go.  In the meantime, buy more.

Gemini

Cupid aimed for you and hit someone close to you. Wink.

Cancer

A wizard will make things come clear for you.  Appreciate a new friend.

Leo

Even hell hounds need good food, a warm hearth, and a friend.  Consider it.

Virgo

The Night Bus comes to witches and wizards stranded.  Double check your emergency kit.

Libra

Goblins are hard working and save money.  Keep to your budget, and concentrate on work.

Scorpio

Is one of the fair folk flirting with you?  Have some fun and flirt back.

Sagittarius

Is your crystal ball cracked?  Replace or repair broken household items.

Capricorn

Believe in fairies.  They believe in you, and your lack of confidence is showing.  You need to believe right now.

Aquarius

A messenger owl brings you good news.  Smile.

Pieces

An elf you know what to celebrate the season with fun activities.  Enjoy yourself!

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Sunday Love

Available now from Tirgearr

by C. Margery Kempe

I am drowning in deadlines and grading. Two full weeks of teaching left, then one day for presentations and finals after that.

Then Scotland! Whoohoo!

After the September that would never end, the rest of the semester has gone by awfully quickly. Partly because I’m so very busy with all my writing, but also because I’m still living out of a couple of suitcases and moving from place to place. I’m fond of my gypsy ways, but I admit I’m looking forward to waking up in the same bed every day for a few weeks (and such a nice bed, too ).

So I had thought to do some ‘Get Ready for Cyber Monday’ pitch here, but after the usual horrors of Black Friday (where people buy products made cheaply in other countries to profit corporations who don’t pay their workers a living wage *and* people kill each other to get to those products) I don’t much feel like it.

Instead, here are some wonderfully romantic moments from films I love (yes, kissing movies):

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, Kit Marlowe

Recovering from Black Friday?

This year I have watched the Black Friday festivities from a distance.  Having lost an old friend and also a family member recently, I felt no urge to quest for exciting merchandise.  I understand it though, having spent one very long cold dark night outside a Best Buy.

For those that have returned from the quest, there are a few things you can do to regenerate.

1) Drink your favorite beverage with your feet up watching your favorite movie.

2) Soak in a bubble bath.  Never underestimate the soothing benefits of a hot bath.

3) A nap.  Sleep is very restorative and most of us never get enough.

4) Cuddle time with someone you love.

5) Curl up in a quiet room and read a book from your TO READ pile.

6) Eat a decadent and preferrably chocolate dessert.  Just because you can.

7) Get a massage.

8) Perhaps you just need to rest your eyes.  Here’s a little something to help.

I’m sure you can add to the list.  Feel free to tell us what you do in the comment box.  Remember these are activities meant to rejuvenate.  LOL  So adding going out to shop some more, doesn’t count.

P.S.  Have no worries.  Marian will be back with us next week.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Life, Susan Hanniford Crowley

Thanksgiving Traditions by Gerri Brousseau

Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers. Only in the U.S. could there be a holiday completely devoted to over stuffing yourself. Today I’m going to tell you what this wonderful holiday is like for my family. We begin our day with a shared breakfast as we watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Since I do most of the cooking, I’m running between the kitchen and living room because the turkey must get into the oven. Yes, the guest of honor at the table is the turkey, who usually gets a diferent name every year. I believe last year it was Gertie the Birdie.

Now for my family there are always certain foods we MUST have to accompany old Tom (or Gertie) in the enjoyment of our feast. Please keep in mind, everyone works full time here and everything is made from … scratch! The turkey will be fresh, never frozen! Perish the thought. The stuffing is Mom’s original recipe, as nothing else is good enough to grace our Thanksgiving table. There will be twice baked potatoes, sweet potato casserole (not the recipe with marshmellows, but Mom’s recipe with the Grand Mariner), there will be a pasta dish which is usually stuffed shells (home made, including the sauce), there will be green bean casserole (yes, the one with the french fried onion rings), there will probably be steamed broccoli, toss salad, butternut nut squash, homemade cranberry sauce (the canned will never do), rolls (because some of the family members like to make tiny sandwiches of their meals) and of course … pie (home made and no cheating by using the store bought pie crusts … and yes, they can tell the difference!)

We all sit together at the table, family and friends, hand in hand to say grace. And then the feasting begins. We eat … and eat … and eat … until we are completely stuffed. Elastic waist sweats must be worn by all. Then, we make our way to the living room and do what every other red-blooded American does on Thanksgiving … we watch football!

The table gets cleared off, and then when we feel that the food has settled enough, we have pie. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate cream pie, and sometimes there are other offerings such as brownies, spice squares, and occasionally pumpkin cookies.

Only then, after eating our fill from the dessert table, do we all fall into overstuffed chairs and slip into a turkey coma.  But, when we wake it’s time for the most coveted coulinary pleasure of the year … the leftover turkey sandwich complete with stuffing and cranberry sauce. Ah, Thanksgiving.

And now, dear readers, I wish you a happy day, hopefully filled with family, friends, food and a lot of love. Just looking at the faces of those I cherish sitting around the table … and this writer knows exactly what I have to be thankful for.  And this year … there is a new and beautiful little face at our table, my 3-month old granddaughter, Parker. Please take a moment to share with us today and tell us what you have to be thankful for this year.

Filed under: romance

Happy Almost Thanksgiving

It’s almost here; can you smell the sweet potato casserole? The freshly baked turkey? Okay, so you can see where my mind is at and what I’m looking forward to. In reality, I love Thanksgiving (if you couldn’t tell) and as this Thanksgiving neared, I began to ask myself why I loved this particular holiday so much.  Well, I decided to create a list and share it with you all in case the cheer needed a bit of spreading:

1)      I have a lot to be thankful for and to a certain degree each of us does. I always try to remember that there may be somebody better off but there are also those who are worse off in one way or another.

2)      Time with family.  All day today and tomorrow, my family and I will be cooking up a feast for tomorrow afternoon. Not only do we look forward to the food but we enjoy the time together before then.

3)      Gateway to the holiday season. For me, this means Christmas and really an entire season of giving. It also means that for the most part, people are in better spirits as they remember the true meaning of the season.

4)      Giving. This holiday seems to begin a whole spirit of giving and over the next month and a half, there are more events and charity drives to celebrate this spirit and allow people to participate.

5)      The food. You knew this one had to be included. There’s been a few exceptions in the past few years but usually, the food this day is the most amazing. Hot, comforting and delicious. I imagine the company and conversation help too.

I hope that this year’s Thanksgiving and holiday season is great for each and every one of you.  For all of you picking up the pieces back east after Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter that followed, my prayers are with you.

Happy Writing to you all this week!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life

Breaking Dawn Review by Leia Shaw

Like millions of American teenagers, I saw Breaking Dawn, the Twilight Saga, this weekend. Before I write my long-winded but hopefully somewhat entertaining review, here’s where I stand on the franchise. I liked the book series. Yes, I admit it. I also liked 50 Shades of Grey too so shake your head in disgust if you want, but I’m not gonna apologize for it. What I don’t like about the Twilight Saga (which makes me laugh so I’m going to call it that as often as possible) is the movie franchise.

For those of you who read my review of The Huntsman, you already know how I feel about Kristin Stewart’s acting ability. There are two roles she can play decently. Corpse and sullen teenager. But Bella isn’t a sullen teenager anymore and once the corpse had to walk and talk, we lost that dead-girl magic.

So KC ruined the whole Twilight Saga movie experience for me the very first time she stuttered and tried to go for adorably shy, but only managed to look like she was holding in a fart. I find nothing about her attractive or appealing as Bella or any other role and I have no idea how she keeps getting jobs. And if it isn’t clear enough, I can’t stand Kristin Stewart. I think she’s one of those rare people tragically born without a personality. I know it’s harsh and maybe a little mean but the bitch makes a shitload of money – she can hire people to stroke her ego.

So, yeah, not a fan of the movies. But for some reason, I continue to see each one in the theater shortly after it releases. My only guess about this confusing and contradictory behavior is that I started the series back before I knew it sucked, so I feel compelled to finish it.

Anyway, has anyone else noticed how each movie gets cheesier and cheesier? Special effects, acting, screenplay, all of it. It’s gradually getting stupider with each release. Thank god this is the last one or I’d worry whatever came next would resemble one of those B-rated predator hybrid movies on Sci-fy network – like Piranhaconda and Two-headed Shark. Does anyone else watch those? No? Only me? Alrighty then.

Now the special effects in Breaking Dawn, the Twilight Saga, weren’t cheap like the sci-fy shows, they were just creepy. The baby, Renessmee, was CGI and almost looked real. Almost. I said to my friend during the movie, “It’s a little creepy.” Her response was, “It’s a little Chucky!” And why did they CGI the child’s face when she was older too? I don’t get it. The actress is adorable. The CGI made her look like a Who from Whoo-ville, not a cute little girly vamp thingy.

Was Kristin Stewart a convincing mother, even as a corpse? I wouldn’t know since she barely talked to the girl. It wasn’t even her first thought when she woke up as a vampire. She hugged Edward then checked herself out in the mirror – yep, still scrawny and awkward. Then, finally, she remembered her baby.

Like in the book, Edward makes her hunt before she can see Rennessmmee. This had to have been the worst acting moment in the entire Twilight Saga series. The two are hanging out, Bella’s all like, yeah I’m a badass vampire and so strong I can crack your back with a little hug. And Edward’s all like, shit you’re strong, maybe this was a bad idea. Then he says, hey, you probably shouldn’t be near our half-human baby before you’ve downed a few pints of blood. Then Bella goes from content to SUDDENLY VERY THIRSTY! And you can tell this by the way she grabs her throat with a panicked look on her face. Seriously. It was like the director was coaching her from the sidelines: Look happy. Good, Kristin. Now look like you haven’t eaten anything in days.  Kristin: I haven’t.  Director: Jesus Christ. Somebody get this girl a cracker!

Then the hunt. Oh boy. *shakes head* I’ll just say the entire theater and I had a good laugh through the whole thing. It wasn’t supposed to be funny, but watching Kristin Stewart – who’s acting skills barely matched the little girl playing Rennesseemmee – growl like a predator and tackle a cougar was fucking hilarious.

And that was how I spent the first ¾’s of the movie. Laughing. And it wasn’t just me and my weird, inappropriate sense of humor. Everyone was laughing. But not because this was a comedy! Because it was that cheesy. Like the two vampires that come help the Cullens from the Amazon were literally swinging through the snowy pine trees to jungle music. Cliche much? And I thought vampires were supposed to be attractive! Most of them looked like Cupie dolls on steroids. Don’t even get me started on Dracula and his albino lover.

The one thing that made the movie worthwhile was the last thirty minutes. Have you heard about the big twist at the end? I’m not giving it away. No spoilers here. But let’s just say I have never gasped, screamed, cheered, almost cried, screamed, then gasped again in a single movie. I was so…just…shaken up emotionally by the end, I forgot how bad the rest of the movie was. I left the theater, smiling in a haze of…I don’t even know, and the first thing I wanted to do was tell everyone I knew to see the movie. So obviously the Breaking Dawn, Twilight Saga producers did something right.

Stand outs were Robert Pattinson, who was the best he’s ever been in the Twilight Saga – protective, fatherly, funny. And Bella’s dad of course, was flawless as always.

The Twilight Saga ended with a bang and a happy ending. It was memorable and probably the most fun I’ve had in the theater in a long time. So, I give the actual Breaking Dawn, Twilight Saga movie a thumbs down but the experience of watching it a thumbs up. Confusing? Yeah, don’t care. Anyway…

Who saw the movie and who wants to weigh-in? Leave your comments below and I’ll check in and respond.

Filed under: romance

A Very Thankful Thanksgiving Paranormal-Scope

In the United States, we will be celebrating our national Thanksgiving on Thursday.   Traditionally, we do so since the pilgrims that first came to this land gave thanks for surviving a brutal first year.  For so many people around the world this year, it’s been a brutal time of war, economic disaster, and health challenges.  Refocusing on what is important gives us a new sense of hope.

While I’m not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.  In many ways, so are you.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Pilgrims ghosts love to bake.  Pie is in your future.

Taurus

Native American shamans call you to quest and find your purpose in life.

Gemini

Fairies says that romance is in the air.  Shop for new clothes and smile more often.

Cancer

Vampires may be cold to the touch but they make up for it with enthusiasm.  Don’t dismiss a slow starter.

Leo

Cooking is a hobby among dragons.  Try out new recipes to impress guests.

Virgo

Mountain trolls love to get away for the solitude and peace of mind.  Plan such a trip for yourself.

Libra

Gnomes love games.  Take time to have fun.  Try some games out.

Scorpio

Sea monsters know how wonderful a cruise can be, even a walk by the shore.  Take time for yourself and enjoy being alive.

Sagittarius

Shapeshifters love the outdoors.  Walks, hikes, camping are all options in your future.

Capricorn

A vampire offers to take you to dinner.  Accept this very geniune invitation.

Aquarius

The mer community is regrouping after the hurricane.  Listen.  Someone needs you.

Pieces

Hobbits are great when it comes to creating a feast.  Invite friends over and enjoy.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Author Interview: Megan Hussey

by C. Margery Kempe

Available from Melange

I want to welcome Megan Hussey to talk about her new book Mermance.

If you were a book, what would your tagline be?

And she looked so sweet! lol

What inspired Mermance?

While I’ve always loved mermaid legends, I often wondered why few people ever wrote about male sirens; you can’t exactly have one without the other, right? So it’s always been my goal to give the ladies their own sirens; hot and very sensitive mermen who hook up with everyday ladies of the land.

What started you writing romance?

I’ve been writing stories since I could pick up a pen—and ever since college I’ve been a major romance fan. And as much as I enjoy reading romance, I found certain things lacking in much of what I read. Why did the heroines always have to be 25 and a size 1 ½? Why did some of the heroes have to be overbearing and sometimes forceful? I wanted to offer work that stood as a homage to the beauty and sensuality of what I read, but that also offered a feminist take on conventional romantic themes.

How did you develop your craft?

English was always my favorite subject in school, and I hold a journalism and English degree. I also have a cousin and several friends who write romance, and we critique each other’s work. Plus the editors at all of my publishers, Class Act Books, Melange Books, Noble Romance, Phaze Publishing, Tingle Media and Xcite Books UK, have been so instrumental in improving and supporting my writing.

What makes a great heroine?

She has to be strong, funny and relatable.

What’s sexy?

Beautiful men come immediately to mind, lol.

What makes you laugh?

Everyone from the wry writings of Dorothy Parker and Nora Ephron to parody movies like Airplane and The Naked Gun.

Do you ever incorporate real people/events into your stories?

Definitely; I try to keep a notebook with me at all times; I’m sure my friends wonder if they’re going to end up in my next book, anticipating their inclusion with a mixture of excitement and outright fear, lol!

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

Writing is my life. I’m also a journalist and I love both jobs.

What’s the most common mistake people make about you?

Unfortunately people tend to make assumptions about a person based on their affiliations; I’m a feminist, I’m an author of erotic romance, I’m blonde. So all told I think just about every joke ever told in the history of the free world in some way applies to me. Lucky me! lol.

What ambitions do you have ahead of you?

I want to continue to write romance, and also to write stories on behalf of nonprofit and philanthropic causes.

What’s the best advice you ever received?

Duck! (said at my nephew’s elementary school softball game)

If money were no object, what would be your ideal vacation?

Europe! The history, the beauty, the men, the culture…the men….

What’s next for you?

More writing!

This is an excerpt from my Melange title Merage: The Magic Kiss. It’s a story in Mermance, and also has been expanded into a novel that will be out around Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

The next morning Candace left the confines of her classic beachfront resort, choosing instead to explore the beach itself; stepping as she did into the realm of another, better world.

Port Emerald Beach, in all its glory, rivaled her wildest dreams—and in more ways than one.

She stepped with careful, halting steps across the beach itself, admiring as she did its smooth bronzed sand and its rich assortment of multi-colored seashells. When she stooped to retrieve one of these gems, an artistic fan shell that glowed in ebullient shades of silver and lavender, she also noticed the fanciful creatures who shared her stretch of beach: the pearl pink flamingo who raced across the sand, wearing what seemed like a whimsical smile, and the ivory heron who stood stock still at the center of the beach, the king of all he surveyed.

Rising to her feet she raised her gaze to the clear blue sky; one dotted with images of gulls in flight, not to mention a noble sun that shone bright and gold overhead.

Flourishing in sunlight was a bounty of flowers that grew at the edge of the shore; everything from ruby red roses to silken crepe myrtle, water lilies in delicate shades of pink, violet and brightest yellow to carnations which matched these vibrant hues.

Ah, but the most beautiful flower reclined just up shore; though she supposed that no being with a bulging chest and strong arms could be classified in such delicate terms. Still his face was beyond beautiful, with its wide dark eyes, full lips and crafted cheekbones.

And his hair, which fell down his back in glorious waves of pure, sheer gold, was downright enviable.

And then, of course, there was the fin….

Oh criminy. You’ve got to be kidding me.

She shook her head in sheer wonder as she noticed the lower half of the reclining young man; one soaked in the crystalline waters that grazed the edge of the beach. As opposed to legs, his lower half converged in a smooth, graceful fin that shone bright emerald in the light of the sun.

“It’s like he stepped right out of my dreams.” She grinned in spite of herself.

In fact, she was pretty sure she was still sleeping at this point; this couldn’t be real, right?

“Only one way to find out.”

She approached the ‘suspected siren’ with halting steps, noticing that—blast him—he got hotter and hotter the closer she came.

Finally she stood right square in front of him, grinning like a self-admitted idiot.

“You’re just beautiful,” she blurted out, nodding to lend credence to what she realized were vague and nonsensical words.

The siren raised his glorious head, greeting her with a slow, sensual smile that stole her breath. His eyes warmed with an aura of blatant sensuality, issuing a sexy promise that resounded in his words.

“Why thank you, Miss.” He crooked his finger in her direction, flipping his tail in a flirtatious manner. “It’s a beautiful morning.” He gestured around him with firm but graceful hands. “Would you like to make love?”

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, Interview, Kit Marlowe

Being Thankful A Little Early

Lately a lot of things have blurred and come into focus for me.  I was coming home late from the day job, and the early evening sky was a brilliant purple with pink and gold.  I suddenly felt grateful to be alive.  So many things have happened to all of us in a very short time.  Between the storm and family illnesses,  Thanksgiving will be a time to relax.  In that note and with some humor, I’ve been visiting Pinterest and here are some items I really loved.

Of course, I always would start with dessert.  I thought these cookies looked funny in addtion to being yummy.

For those who visit Nights of Passion blog on a regular basis, you know how often I highlight my grandbaby Penelope.  In the spirit of the fashion diva I hope she will be, she will not be wearing the following:

 

No, Penelope will be stylish.  (I hope.)  Today she had an outfit with a turkey on her bottom.  My camera battery died and therefore has preserved her dignity.  No, our Thanksgiving will focus on family, good cheer, and the lovely dinner.  We aspire to having a turkey like this.

Wishing you and yours a joyful, peaceful, and relaxing Thanksgiving from the passionate crew of Nights of Passion!  A special thank you to the good humored folks over at Pinterest.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: A Lesson in Love, Holiday, romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Writer's Life

Crime Bake Medical Examiner and Forensic discussion by Marian Lanouette

Crime Bake Medical Examiner and Forensic discussion.

First, I want to thank the Crime Bake Organizer who once again put on a fabulous conference. You are the best and so was the conference.

I had pictures to display of the discussions but the files are too large for this post.

Sunday morning after breakfast was very interesting if not gross. I’m so glad I have a strong stomach. Although, I found the discussion informative and exciting, some of the audience (very little) had to leave. Two different discussions took place. The first was with Dr. Debra Prince Zinni board-certified forensic anthropologist at the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii. Before working in Hawaii she was the State Forensic Anthropologist for the State of Massachusetts Office of the Medical Examiner. She’s Bones but with a sense of humor and life.

The second discussion was called The Truth about Crime Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Death Investigator presented by Michelle Clark. Michelle is a medicolegal death investigator for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut. I found her engaging, knowledge and her sense of humor wonderful. Before the Chief Medical Examiner Office she was a CSI for the Waterbury Police Department ( the real town my fictional one is based on). Michelle is also the case manager for unidentified deceased in Connecticut and teaches Forensic Science at the University of Harford.

As you can see Crime Bake brings in the best in their fields to educate us in our quest to present our stories in a truthful and entertaining manner.

The reason I said you needed a strong stomach was number one the topic. Each presenter discussed their topics with ease while showing pictures of the different stages of decomposition. First up was Dr. Prince Zinni she discussed not only bones but how the entire body decomposes and how weather conditions effect the process. I’m still compiling notes on this discussion (there are six pages) and some are graphic. If anyone is interested I’ll share off the pages as not to gross out anyone. What thrilled me was that Dr. Prince Zinni took the time to discuss what ifs. I found out the body in the third book of the Jake Carrington Series, Mated for Life was in the correct state of decomposition based on the weather and temperature when she was discovered. Phew! I don’t have to revise that section. It helps to have a meteorologist for a nephew too. Thanks, Todd.

Next up was Michelle Clark. I found her not only knowledgeable but entertaining. She reminded me of the undertakers I used to work with. It seems a sense of humor is important when you’re dealing with death and what man does to man. I also took page after page of notes in Michelle’s discussion. She showed crimes scenes and also discussed a subject close to her heart. One that she works diligently to resolve: The Unidentified Deceased of Connecticut. It is a daunting task. It broke my heart the pictures she showed, in particular a picture of a mother and daughter that to date no one has reported missing.

I will share one fact from this class. A slide Michelle showed had a husband and wife who died within minutes of each other displayed side by side. Her body was intact; his was in an advance state of decomposition. Why? He went into the basement (a cool environment), shot her and went upstairs to their bedroom and shot himself. The summer heat on the second follow was enough to cause rapid decomposition. The difference in them amazed me.

When you write your scenes involving a body it is important to make sure you research the weather and how it will affect your corpse.

I personally want to thank both Debra and Michelle for the excellent discussions they each presented. I learned so much.

Filed under: romance