C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 178

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

You know how dragon love pie.  Indulge in something small and sweet.

Taurus

Puss and Boots was a dancing fool.  Enjoy the music of life.

Gemini

A spider crosses your path.  Pay attention to details this week.

Cancer

Fairies are gathering.  Their energy and good luck is yours.

Leo

Gnome today.  Gone tomorrow.  Take advantage of your opportunities this week.

Virgo

Like a vampire, someone unexpected will walk into your life.

Libra

The winds are blowing and mermaids are singing.  A day at the beach would be restorative.

Scorpio

Last week you sparkled.  Someone noticed.  A new friend is in your future.

Sagittarius

Werewolves love to cook.  Expand your culinary talents.

Capricorn

Elves gather around you and send you some healing love.

Aquarius

Shapeshifters love to exercise.  They find it invigorating and life changing.

Pieces

A vampire crosses your path and you receive unexpected help.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Scottish Romance

I know that you’re already picturing burly men in kilts. It’s a bit of a mischaracterisation of the land: people do not run around in kilts all day. Mostly they wear them for fancy occasions like weddings. There’s a “formal shop” in Dundee that rents them. But I know that many of you want to think of wild men striding the Highlands in their kilts, like this Lawson’s advert that riffs on the haka (if you’re not a rugby fan and don’t know what the haka is, see this first):

That said, I have seen at least a couple of kilted men on each visit. Mostly at the airport, so they’re on their way somewhere else, I expect. Scotland is the land of Irn-Bru as much as it is of kilts and bagpipes. Lately it’s also the land of very hard economic times. As I get to know it better, I find all kinds of things to fascinate me.

One of my favourite spots in Dundee is the Howff. I spent a lovely afternoon there this time around. The cemetery has been around since the 17th century, the lands granted by Mary Queen of Scots. Here’s one of the discoveries I made, a very touching gravestone from the early 19th century.

She was, but words are wanting to say what.

Think what a wife shoud be, she was that.

The nature of this encomium stands out markedly against the mostly complimentary but seldom personal legends on most of the other gravestones. They are content to say things like “wife, mother, beloved…” etc. There’s an immediacy and emotional authenticity in this stone. It’s entirely personal. You can feel his loss. The other side of the stone has more information:

A lot of hardship here: before Mary’s death she and George lost five children in infancy. How difficult that must have been, then to lose her, too — so much sorrow. Not an uncommon story in the nineteenth century, of course. But the love that lived lives on in this grave marker. There’s such a wonderfully understated romance. Maybe it will inspire me to write something about George and Mary. That’s what I associate with Scottish romance: loyalty, directness, confidence and the good sense to value what’s really important.

I may be influenced by one particular Scotsman in that regard.

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, contemporary romance, Emotions, erotic romance, historical romance, inspiration, Kit Marlowe, romance, Romantic Places, Settings, What inspires you?, Writer's Life, Writing Topics

The Bad Guy by Gerri Brousseau

Leia Shaw’s blog on Tuesday about handsome heroes got me thinking about villains, or the bad guy.  Some movies have the most evil villains, those who do unspeakable things, but also play with your mind.  For me, those are the worse and most scary villains.  When I think of those types of psychologically evil villains, two really come to the front of the line.  Now, this is just my opinion and for me the most evil is Hannibal Lecter, played to perfection by Sir Anthony Hopkins.  Hannibal is the type of villain who really gets to you and messes with your head.  I read somewhere that when they filmed the sequel to Silence of the Lambs, Jodi Foster refused to return because she was so psychologically affected by the movie.  Silence of the Lambs was not your run-of-the-mill “slasher” movie, but was frightening on a much deeper level.

The villain who took second place for me was The Joker, brilliantly portrayed by the late Heath Ledger.  The Joker is another villain who gets to you and messes with your head.  Heath took this character to the deepest level of evil, and it was said this role also took quite an effect on him.

Then we have the villains such as Freddy who chases his victims around the screen slashing and trashing.  Admittedly, this is not my favorite venue of film.

Then we have some of our all time favorite villains, such as Darth Vader and the evil Lord Voldemort.  These characters play evil to perfection.  We want our hero to slay them, and yet, are sad to see the story end.

Now we come to likeable bad guys, such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, played respectively by the late Paul Newman and his sidekick, Robert Redford.  These two are destined to stand at the wrong end of a gun, and we know it.  Yet, we love them.

And now, for a few of my personal favorites.  He’s a pirate, and, therefore he must be a bad guy, right?  One would think, but is he really?  He’s flamboyant, savvy, and the smartest pirate the British Navy has ever seen, he’s Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp.  The perfect role for Johnny, although another of my favorite roles of his was Edward Scissorhands, another “bad guy” we can’t help but love.

We can’t talk about bad guys without talking about our beloved vampires.  The original Dracula (Frank Langella), the sullen and moody Edward Cullen (the handsome Robert Pattinson), and my personal fav, the passionate and irrational, Damon Salvatore (the sexy Ian Somerhalder).  We know they are predators, we know if they can lure us into their arms they will drain us of every last drop of our blood and yet, we simply can’t resist their charm.

I have told you some of my picks for villain, or bad guys I love (and some I certainly would like to).  Now it’s your turn to share.  Who do you think is the most evil villain?  Who is the bad guy you love?

Filed under: romance

What A Writer Needs, Part 12 – The Sting

You’re probably wondering what the sting is.  It’s not “The Sting” with Paul Newman and Robert Redford pulling a con.  Though you can learn a get deal about setup by watching that movie.

The sting in this reference refers to the most horrible thing you can think of that could hurt or kill your main character (heroine or hero).  Your character needs a secret fear or something in their past that could destroy them.  It’s sort of like a bee sting for someone allergic.  At first, it’s the sharp pain and then it spreads and swells until the pain and suffering becomes unbearable and life-threatening.  Your character in his or her most severe distress feels they can’t breathe, that unless they find help, they will die.

A story fails to have the sting, when the conflict in the story is not developed far enough.  Make sure you challenge your characters to reach new heights and grow as people.  There’s a saying that fits here:  Whatever doesn’t kill you, will make you stronger.

Are you ready to face your character’s sting?  Write your character at his or her most desperate, then go back and make everything worse.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Characters, Emotions, Helping Other Writers, Susan Hanniford Crowley, What A Writer Needs

Take Your Writing to the Next Level by Gerri Brousseau

Back in 2010, I wrote a book, and then had no idea what to do.  I didn’t know there were Writer’s Magazines, Writer’s Groups or rules to getting published.  By chance I happened to see Connecticut Style, which is a news magazine type of show featuring local chefs and authors.  On this particular day, author, Sandi Kahn Shelton, was talking about her writing and offering workshops.  Wow, I thought, I want to find out more, so I called her.  She took the time and spoke to me at length.  Having always worked in the legal field, I was impressed that a multi-published author would actually take the time to help a new author.  Nothing like that is usually done in the legal field.  Ms. Shelton said I should check out CTRWA … so I did.

Much to my surprise, the first meeting I went to was their Fiction Fest event.  I was in awe.  I joined the group that day and since that time have participated in their yearly Fiction Fest events.  Their motto for Fiction Fest is “Isn’t it time to take your writing to the next level” and for me, it was.

Attending these events will broaden your horizons.  This group brings in wonderful key note speakers, offers great workshops for writers of every level and if that’s not enough, features pitch sessions with NY editors and agents.  Connecticut Fiction Fest will be held on May 12, 2012 at The Heritage Hotel and Resort in Southbury, and I won’t miss it.  The key note speaker this year is historical romance author, Sherry Thomas.  There will be 15 workshops from how to promote your book to agents/editors to writing fast fiction, there will be five editors and 10 agents, all looking for writing in different genres.  It is a day filled with fun, information and opportunity which culminates with a book signing, which is open to the public.

If you can only make it to one writer’s conference this year, it should be Connecticut Fiction Fest.  My question to you today … “Isn’t it time to take your writing to the next level?”  If you are a reader and live in the area, I invite you to come to the book signing, May 12, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at The Heritage Hotel.  It’s open to the public and we would love to see you there.

Filed under: romance

The Pursuit of Happiness

I’m not talking about the movie with Will Smith, but instead, our individual pursuit of happiness through writing. Donald Maass writes a great book called Fire in the Fiction. In it, he writes all about writers who are story tellers and those who are out there to be published and make money. I read it a while ago but it is always something I come back to.

I thought about writers this past weekend and our individual pursuits of happiness. I am not going to judge either way as everyone writes for their own reasons. Some want to tell stories, others dream of being published and many others fall somewhere in between. And then others branch off of these and look for more (providing a message to the public, starting a publishing house, becoming an agent, etc). We all have our pursuits of happiness and we writers are as varied about them as our readers are about the works we write.

As much as I enjoy having my own pursuit of happiness, of writing stories and sharing them with the world, I respect the differences of others. These changes are what make the publishing industry and world of books so dynamic. It’s what adds variety to the types of books we read and write.

So what is my point in all this? I don’t really have a point but more of some thoughts. Everyone should write to their own pursuit of happiness although I also believe that it may take a few tries to find out what truly makes us happy. And whatever each of us decides to do, do it with honesty and true effort.

Happy writing to you all this week!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life

Top 10: Sexy Movie Heroes by Leia Shaw

I’m in a generous mood today so I’m posting my list of sexiest movie heroes, complete with photos for you to drool over.

 

10. Daniel Craig in Cowboys and Aliens

 

 

 

 

 

Who can resist a man saving humanity wearing chaps and a cowboy hat?

 

9. James McAvoy in Wanted

 

 

 

 

 

A pretty face and charming smile but can still kick ass with the best of them.

 

8. Adam Sandler in 50 First Dates

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe not your traditional sexy hero but, come on, he spends his life with a woman who wakes up every day with no memory.

 

7. Wesley Snipes in Blade

 

 

 

 

 

Who says vampires have to be pasty white? Wearing sunglasses and black leather with an I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude, Blade is how I prefer my vampires.

 

6. Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harrison Ford wielding a whip and saving women from pits of vipers? Classic.

 

5. Hugh Jackman in X-men

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He may be a smidge hairy but he can dig his paws (not claws) into me anytime.

 

4. Brad Pitt in Fight Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, maybe he plays the immoral half of Edward Norton’s character, and maybe he spends most of the movie with black eyes and bloody, but just look at those abs!

 

3. Viggo Mortenson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soft-spoken Aragorn has a warm heart but can still kick orc ass on the battlefield.

 

2. Bruce Lee in anything

I don’t know what to say other than, he is the definition of bad-ass

 

1. Russell Crowe in Gladiator

 

 

 

 

 

All he wants is to go home. To his son and his wife. *wipes tears* Just let the man go home!

 

So that’s my list. I know you have opinions about this so, go on, share yours. Sexiest movie heroes. Go!

***I wanna do another top 10 list in the future. What should be next? List suggestions in the comments.

Filed under: romance

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

Rain makes the grass grow and pixies too.   If you’re weather gets wet, your luck increases.  Go figure.

Taurus

Centaurs are racing.  Life will seem speeded up, but you’re actually winning the race.

Gemini

When a new mermaid is born, cooling breezes blow across the land.  Enjoy.

Cancer

Vampires think they’re all that.  It’s the clothes.  Upgrade your wardrobe.

Leo

Gnomes know the best places to travel.  Plan a getaway.

Virgo

Trolls collect more than tolls.  They love scrapbooking.  Who know!  This is a perfect time to organize old photos and memorabilia.

Libra

Werewolves are partying, and you’ve been invited to join.  Bring dip.  They love dip.

Scorpio

A fairy finds you that you sparkle, but it going to give you help this week so that everyone notices.

Sagittarius

Yetis love “Dancing with the Stars.”  Get some new dancing shoes.

Capricorn

The Sandman plays you a visit.  You need some quiet and rest.

Aquarius

Unicorns love to sunbathe.  It’s time to go out and get some fresh air and sun.

Pieces

A new friend who roars like Aslan will show you a new way to do things.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

A Gift?

In London one of my planned stops was at the last day of the David Hockney exhibit at the Royal Academy. I had heard it was drawing big crowds, but I had no idea just how much.

I arrived in the misting rain to find the wait to buy tickets was an hour and a half. Entry would be even later. I had my phone with me so I just started reading (love my ebooks!).

I had been in line long enough to have settled into the shuffling routine (move a little, wait, move a little, wait) when a man came up to me. I figured he was going to ask how long I’d been waiting, but no.

He gave me a free ticket to go right in!

I was chuffed. A great show and in for free. I drank in the wonderful landscapes and wandered from room to overstuffed room with delight.

They say (those people) that people don’t appreciate things they get for free. I sure did! I’m hoping that proves true for other people, too. I’m giving away my erotic romance sampler FOUR PLAY for free this weekend.

Do free books make you more likely to give a new author a try?

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

Just Can’t Put the Book Down by Gerri Brousseau

Yesterday my neighbor gave me “Fifty Shades of Grey.”  She said I just had to read this book.  She said she had never read anything like it, and couldn’t put it down.  I told her it was erotica and that I had heard about it, but no … had not had the chance to read it yet.  I read chapter one last night but honestly, I really don’t want to allow myself to dive further into this book because I have things to do.  I can’t allow myself to get so wrapped up in a book that I stop everything because I can’t get my nose out of the book.  (Warning:  If you don’t see me commenting on blogs, it would be because even against my better judgment, I dove head first into this book)  As a writer I know that reading other author’s work makes mine better, but I need to get to work on writing my next book.  I read pretty fast, but this book is 514 pages long!  (So much for the importance of word count for debut authors – Kudos to E.L. James and mega wishes for continued success)  When I start to read a book, I usually set aside a chunk of time to read it daily and sort of fit it into my schedule.  That is, of course, unless it becomes one of those books … you know … the one where your family starts to gather around you at 7 o’clock at night wondering when you will start dinner … the one you are holding in one hand and reading as you stir something you have cooking on the stove … the one you take to the bath with you … all because you just can’t put it down.  The one you can’t wait to finish and when you finally do, you are sad because it ended.  I’m afraid, my dear readers, Fifty Shades will become this book.  Have any of you read it?  Have any of you read a book you simply couldn’t put aside, no matter what?  What book was it?  I remember when I was taking the train 4 hours per day to and from work,  I was so engrossed in the book I was reading that I missed my stop!  Has something like that ever happened to you and if so, what book were you reading?

Filed under: romance