Giselle Renarde's Blog, page 121

The Forgotten Ones (books, that is)

Authors: have you ever written a book and then totally forgotten about it?

Today I stumbled upon a little ebook of mine called Good Bi Valentine, and I was sort of like... oh yeah... THAT.  It's not like it came out a long time ago.  Good Bi Valentine hit the shelves in early February of this year (am I a marketing genius or what?) and it's sold a few copies at Barnes & Noble and some other retailers, but by and large it hasn't made waves.

Oh wait... except that it kind of has.  Good Bi Valentine made quiet waves by quietly being taken off the quiet shelves of quiet All Romance Ebooks.  Apparently, it was too (fill in the blanks--your guess is as good as mine).

And, although Good Bi Valentine was newly released this year, it's actually the first erotic story I wrote with the intention of publishing.

It was published, originally under the hefty name "All in a Valentine Day's Work."  After the contract with its first publisher ceased to be, I decided to shorten the title and highlight the fact that lovely Lexi the Sexi Super is bisexual.  (The book isn't about a break-up or a "goodbye" but rather a gay old time, an enjoyable bisexual Valentine's Day)

Anyway, the point I wanted to make was that, until today, I'd totally forgotten this book existed.

My question to other authors is... is it just me?  Do you guys ever stumble across one of your books online and have that moment I described above?  Which of your books have you forgotten about?

Do comment, my friends!

Hugs,
Giselle

(Oh yeah, and Good Bi Valentine is published by eXcessica and available at Amazon and a whole bunch of other places)Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

New Release! Wedding Heat: Pretty Cousin

Where to begin, where to begin?

Well, Wedding Heat: Pretty Cousin is now available--I guess it's best to start with the basics.  Pretty Cousin is the fourth story in the Wedding Heat series, but it was actually the FIRST story that came to mind when I conceptualized this series.

Because... okay, well... a lot of people have crushes on their cousins.

Right?

I definitely have one cousin I'm a little sweet on--not that I'd act on it, and she's straight anyway, but fantasy is a huge driving factor in erotica.  I wouldn't surrender to temptation the way Vanessa and Maggie do in Pretty Cousin, but I sure as hell enjoyed writing about it!

The last thing I want to mention before sharing the blurb and an excerpt from Wedding Heat: Pretty Cousin is that, because this title falls into the "pseudo-incest" category (the girls are not blood relatives), it will not be available from ALL the usual vendors.  All Romance and a few other e-tailers don't allow this sort of content on their sites, BUT a whole lot of other sites do allow it, and you can check out a preliminary list at the end of this post.


Vanessa’s had a crush on her cousin Maggie since before she knew what love was.  They were inseparable growing up—that is, until Vanessa came out as lesbian.  That confession sparked a rift between the girls that stretched out more than ten years
Two days before Maggie’s wedding, she meets up with Vanessa for the first time since they were teenagers and makes a confession of her own: Maggie’s mother was adopted by Vanessa’s grandparents.  They aren’t related, not by blood.  They aren’t really cousins at all.
Will Vanessa give in to her lust and try to seduce Maggie so close to the wedding?  Or will Maggie give Vanessa no choice?
WARNINGS: This title contains graphic language and explicit lesbian sex between non-blood-related cousins.


Word Count: 8,000


EXCERPT:
“I can’t.”
Vanessa spoke so softly she could barely hear her own voice.  Shaking her head, she let her gaze wander the length of Maggie’s naked flesh.  God, what a body!  Maggie’s thighs were like cream, two milky paths culminating in pinkness hidden beyond a trim strip of hair.
“I can’t, Mags, I just can’t.”
“Can’t what?” Maggie whined, reaching for the soap dish indented in the shower wall and pulling herself to standing. She opened the tiny bottle of shower gel and drizzled it across her breasts.  “You can’t wash me?  You can’t just wash me?”
The way Maggie said that word, wash, made it seem like not such a big deal.  Still, Vanessa fought with herself: should she let go and abandon her good sense, or obey moral law and fight her urges and Maggie’s advances?
Maggie didn’t give her much choice.  Grabbing Vanessa’s sopping shirtsleeves, the girl pulled her in for a kiss. She didn’t even see it coming.  Her mind was clouded, hazy, lost in the heady sensation of Maggie’s tongue whipping around her mouth.
Moaning, Maggie pressed her big breasts against Vanessa’s front.  They writhed together under the shower’s hot flow as the mango-scented body wash began to froth between them.  In the midst of their frenzy Vanessa felt the tiny bubbles working their way through her undershirt and popping against her nipples.  The sensation defied description.  All she wanted was more.
“You’re such a good kisser!” Maggie cried as Vanessa licked her wet neck.  “Oh god, that’s amazing!”
Vanessa hesitated for an instant, assuring herself that Maggie wasn’t really her cousin, and then ran her hands across the supple length of the girl’s waiting flesh, tracing the perimeter, exploring all the boundaries.  “I want to lick your pussy so bad, Mags.”
“Do it.”  Maggie’s voice was tight and high, like she was so desperate for this to happen she could barely speak.  “Do it now!” 

Wedding Heat: Pretty Cousin is available from:

eXcessica: http://www.excessica.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=562

Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/wedding-heat-pretty-cousin-ff

Rainbow Ebooks: http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7329

1 Place for Romance: http://1placeforromance.com/womanlove/wedding-heat-pretty-cousin/prod_7976.html

1 Erotica Ebooks: http://1eroticaebooks.com/female/female/wedding-heat-pretty-cousin/prod_2958.html

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/169891

For more information about the Wedding Heat series, check out its devoted site: http://weddingheat.wordpress.com/


Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

New Title: DENNIS AND DAD (Father's Day/Gay Parenting/Short Fiction)

Here's me, the fatherless one, writing a heartrending and supremely father-full story about gay parenting and Father's Day.

DENNIS AND DAD is one of my rare non-erotic titles. It's a Father's Day short story that involves gay parents, aging parents and fathering beyond the boundaries of a conventional family unit. It's the snapshot you can't stop staring at.  I cry every time I read it.

I cry because it's a pretty challenging little piece.  As you'll see, the excerpt begins with Chris's father using a racial epithet--totally uncharacteristic, totally "not dad," totally disappointing.  This gets Chris wondering what the hell's going on with his father.  Dad's life partner has some answers, and when Dennis gets Chris alone their conversation... actually, their conversation is my personal tipping point.  That's what makes me cry.  Dennis adores Dad so much, and is so committed to him, so resolved to do what's best for the man he loves, that Chris just knows Dad is in good hands.

What inspired me to write Dennis and Dad?  Actually, a big part of the inspiration came from my mother. I went to visit her one Sunday, and I was making us tea and sandwiches, only when I poured the milk it was chunky.  "That's fine, it's fine."  And when I took out the bread, it was GREEN.  Seriously.  It was a big loaf of mould.  I threw it in the trash, but she pulled it out.  "It's fine, it's fine."

That was the first time I thought of my mother as... old?  Aging?  You hear about meals on wheels recipients getting sick after leaving food sitting out for days, and that's what it reminded me of.  Green bread and chunky milk are not fine.  It was such a jarring experience, because it was the first time I felt like someone should be supervising her.

This experience, for adults of aging parents, draws a parallel to that childhood moment... the first time you realize your parent isn't perfect.  We go through that psychic trauma all over again as adults when we realize parents aren't as capable of caring for themselves as they once were.

Actually, that parent-child/child-parent experiential parallel is the reason I included so many children as characters in this story.  But I won't go in to their significant role, because I've talked enough as it is.  DENNIS AND DAD is a very inexpensive ebook, so you can take a look for yourself.


Description:During this year's Father's Day visit, Chris realizes his dad is aging fast. When Chris notices his father's confusion and strange behavior, Dad's long-term partner Dennis expresses his own concern that these are more than just "senior moments." Chris's dad refuses to see a doctor, but with the impending issues around hospitalization and next-of-kin legalities, Dennis and Dad have made a big decision about their future together. A short story.

Excerpt:

And then, from the stairs: “Who’s the darkie?”

Chris’ blood curdled, and for some reason he looked to Dennis, whose eyes were just as wide. “Dad?” Chris asked, unable to process that statement or its intent. A joke? Why? “Dad…what the hell?”

His father glanced slowly at the group of people in the front hall, and screwed up his eyebrows like he was surprised to see them. Nodding toward the window, Dad asked, “You got a new kid?” He laughed, but he was the only one.

“Becky’s friend came along,” Kim said. Her tone seemed reluctant, to Chris, like she just wanted to turn tail and run. Chris knew the feeling. “Remember, Ron? I told you on the phone. I asked if you wouldn’t mind an extra visitor.”

Dad grimaced like he was searching his brain for this information and not finding it. His expression went blank for a moment, and then a scowl took over. “I remember,” he snapped. “But you didn’t tell me she was a coloured girl.”

“Dad!” Chris couldn’t believe his ears. He’d never in his life heard his father talk this way. Never. He really didn’t know how to react, and obviously no one else did either, because the lot of them stood in silence. He found himself looking to Dennis for some kind of explanation, but Dennis averted his gaze, sheepishly, or nervously. Chris wasn’t sure which.

Thank God for Kim. “Oh, we brought gifts,” she said, holding up the matching shiny gift bags. “Happy Father’s Day, you two.”

Dennis recovered at last and said, “We haven’t even invited you in! Come on, we’ve got a whole brunch spread laid out in the kitchen. What do you want to drink?” He took the bags from Kim and led the way.

“You two always have the best coffee brewing,” Chris said. He wanted to forget his father’s uncharacteristic comments, but he felt disjointed now, like nobody was who they were supposed to be.

DENNIS AND DAD is on sale for the month of June at Untreed Reads (only $0.74!): http://store.untreedreads.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11&products_id=425

It's also available at a bunch of other e-tailers, including Amazon and Amazon UK.

Hugs,
GiselleGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

'Take Me There' Wins Lambda Literary Award

What an honour!

When Tristan Taormino's anthology Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica hit the shelves, I mentioned here on the blog that my story "The Therapist and The Whore" was included in the collection.

Today I share the wonderful news that Take Me There has WON a Lambda Literary Award in the category of Transgender Fiction.

Tristan Taormino (@tristantaormino) tweeted a little thank you speech that I will post right here:

Thank you so much Lambda Literary for this amazing award. I dedicate it to Cleis Press for publishing visionary books, the contributors for writing brave, sexy pieces, and all the trans, genderqueer, and gender variant folks who may pick up the book and see themselves in it as sex symbols.

I was particularly moved by Tristan's words because they reminded me why I started writing trans fiction in the first place.  If you read my blog religiously, you know my girlfriend is a trans woman.  When we first fell in love and began our relationship... well, things were complicated.  She acknowledged that she was blocked sexually.  She was afraid I might fetishize her trans body, or view her as a "guy in a dress," or view her in any other way that didn't speak the truth of who she is within herself.  In fact, when we began this relationship four years ago, she pretty much guaranteed we would never have sex.

Yikes!  And me an erotica writer!

Actually, erotica figured in to this conversation (and conversion and transformation) around sex and representation and being trans.  My Sweet really hates erotica that portrays trans women as brainless cardboard cut-outs who are good for nothing but sex--and, as far as she was concerned, all trans erotica was like that.  It was for her that I began crafting stories involving trans characters who weren't other, weren't alien, who were both sexual and valuable, socially and personally... who were human.

When Sweet started reading my trans fiction, I was actually surprised that she loved my work and could relate to my characters.  (I don't know why that surprised me. I guess I was just nervous.)  The comment she made that stuck with me was, "You don't write about sex, you write about people."  For her, that made all the difference.

If you haven't read Take Me There... well, now is as good a time as any!  I know the public library system here in Toronto has copies available.  If you don't happen to be inside a library in Toronto at the moment (and considering it's midnight as I write this, chances are you're not), the anthology is available from Cleis Press and Amazon.

And if you've already read Take Me There and you're looking for another anthology to take a bite out of, I'll get in a little plug for My Mistress' Thighs.  That's my single-author anthology of transgender fiction and poetry.  You might like it.  It's published by loveyoudivine, and also available from Amazon in print or as an ebook.

Congratulations to Tristan Taormino, to Cleis Press, and to all other winners and nominees in this year's Lambda Literary Awards.  What you do changes lives in ways you probably can't even imagine!

Hugs,
Giselle


Find Giselle Renarde at:
Her blog: http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
Her website: http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

#SixSunday Wedding Heat: Skinny Dipping

The third story in my Wedding Heat series was released last week, so today's Six Sentence Sunday is devoted to Wedding Heat: Skinny Dipping.  This gay erotic romance is already the most popular of the series!

Six Sentences from Wedding Heat: Skinny Dipping

Something touched Joey’s dick underwater, and he jumped, squealing like a little kid.  “Oh my god, what was that?”


“My hand, you dumb fuck.”  Greg shook his head, and Joey laughed, feeling like a total idiot.  “No wonder you’re still a virgin.”


This time when Greg found his cock underwater, Joey didn’t squeal or squirm.

Greg is such a little bitch--I just love him!

If you want to find out more about Wedding Heat: Skinny Dipping or the rest of the Wedding Heat series, check out its website:  http://weddingheat.wordpress.com/

Hugs,
GiselleGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

What To Do When You're Attacked Online

Today I'm reprinting a great little article from a great little newsletter. I just devoured this and thought how illuminating other authors and business owners and... well, really just everybody would find it, so I've reprinted the entire article with permission from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter":

THE BOOK MARKETING EXPERT NEWSLETTER!
A newsletter all about SUCCESSFUL publishing and POWERFUL promotion.
May 10, 2012 Issue #272

Feature Article: What To Do When You're Attacked Online
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
At one time or another it could happen to all of us. We're attacked online. Whether it's an errant blog post, a misunderstood tweet, or something more serious it's out there and if it's coming up in search, it's always bad news. Unfortunately, with the Internet you are often guilty until proven innocent.

I recently presented a webinar about this topic; in the wake of the Komen disaster, everyone is wondering, "what if this happens to me?" Likely you won't be as visible as Komen, or as viral, but at the same time when you're attacked it all feels the same: bad.

A few years ago someone visiting my website was unhappy with the navigation. Candidly, she was right. It was just before our new site was launched (we were going live with the revised website a week later) and some of the pages ended up in dead links. With an older site this is bound to happen. She was irritated by this and decided to lash out by putting up a YouTube video showing the faulty navigation. She said we were marketing experts and we should know better. In the end, she was right which is why we were redesigning the site. Her complaint, however, should have been brought to us directly and not put up on YouTube. The video was a painful eight minutes long, during which time she blasted us for not knowing our own website, offering a link (and a promise) that went nowhere. It was horrifying. She finally took the video down, and I'll explain in a minute how we got her to do that.

*Different types of attacks:*

First, it's important to know the difference between an online attack and a difference of opinion. We've worked with authors who have gotten bad reviews and wanted them pulled. A bad review is not an online attack, it's someone's opinion of your product or book. They didn't like it and it's their right to voice that. There have been cases where an author has gotten Amazon to pull a highly negative review but that's for another article.

If the attack is about something you did wrong, make it right, let the person know and move on. We'll cover this more a bit later.

Attacks can show up in a variety of ways. Sometimes they are on Facebook, other times they are on Twitter, LinkedIn, a blog, or on YouTube.

*Keeping Track*

Most of us won't have to worry on a daily basis if we're attacked online. Still, it's never a bad idea to know what's being written about you in general. I recommend getting Google Alerts - http://www.google. com/alerts - it's free and an easy way to know what's been written about you or even when a review pops up of your business, product, or book. You should get Google Alerts on your name, your URL, and your blog URL - that way you're covered if someone cites just your URL or your blog and not your name. This happens to us a lot if someone is referencing a blog post on our site.

*You've been attacked, what happens now?*

*1) Who is attacking you?* First, define who is attacking you because it might not be worth your time to pursue. We had a situation a few years ago where one of my Twitter followers asked me to market him for free (no kidding); when I didn't, he started attacking me on Twitter. We reported him to Twitter and he was shut down, but that's the extent of what we did. Now he continues to start up new Twitter accounts and tries to follow us, but he is always blocked. I didn't spend a ton of time on this because he didn't have a big enough online footprint for it to matter. If you're attacked, determine the extent of their online footprint. If they don't have a significant following they might just want to rattle a cage, or two. Again, if it's something you did wrong, make it right. Otherwise consider someone with no following or a small online footprint (few followers, little or no Page Rank on their blog, no real Facebook presence) to be just a nuisance. Sometimes the Internet, and the anonymity it affords, gives people freedom and power they might have not otherwise had. Know the difference and respond when it matters.

*2) Keep talking:* If you identify the online attack and it's credible, then start talking. Communicate on your blog, on Twitter, and on Facebook. Don't stop talking. That's the first thing many big companies want to do: go silent. Amazon did this several years ago when they made a blunder and more recently, the Komen Foundation did this, too. Silence is not golden. Be communicative. Depending on what the issue is, present your site. If it involves a fix, tell users when the issue will be addressed. If it's a team member that had cyberspace chatting, be clear and specific about what actions will be taken to remedy the situation.

*3) Watch Hashtags:* On Twitter, Hashtags have a way of going viral. Such was the case with #Komen and #amazonfail. Be on the lookout for a hashtag and be sure to search Twitter continuously at search.twitter. com. Hashtags can be really detrimental if left unchecked. If there is a hashtag around this issue, be sure to follow it and respond to any and all appropriate tweets.

*4) Communicate with them, directly:* In the case of the gal who put the video up on YouTube, I opted to communicate with her directly and address her issue. I explained to her that I was sorry she'd had that experience and that we were fixing the situation. She wasn't very responsive to my note, but she did take the video down 24 hours later and, to thank her, I sent her a copy of my book. You might think this is a bit of overkill but trust me, it's always a good idea to be kind to watchdogs. Whether they are official or unofficial, some users are out there watching for scams, etc. In the end that's what she was doing. We defused it and the situation was resolved. Perhaps emailing the person and having a dialog may be the last thing you want to do, but step back and realize that going directly to the source could fix this much faster.

*5) Don't I have rights?* No, you don't. Bottom line is that anyone can say anything at any time, which makes the topic of online attacks that much more timely and volatile. You can't force someone to take down a horrible blog post about you, and in fact we've had clients who have hired lawyers to go after YouTube and have them take down disparaging videos to no avail.

While we never want to think about being attacked online it does happen. Hopefully it will never happen to you, but much like having a battery-operated radio, candles, or a working flashlight, it's better to be ready then to be caught in a storm and not know what to do.

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

New Anthology! Girl Fever: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex for Lesbians

Remember an awesome anthology of erotic short shorts called "Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex"?  It was released last year, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel.

Well, this one's like that one, only different.  Girl Fever: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex for Lesbians (edited by Sacchi Green) is all about lesbian sex.  You might have gleaned that from the title.  You're pretty sharp.

This antho's got a release date of June 12, 2012 at Amazon, but I keep hearing that it's available now.  So if you're in the market for lots of lesbian sex (no comment--except to ask, like, come on, who isn't?) Girl Fever's an option.

I contributed two stories to this anthology.  Hey, want a really quick excerpt from one?

Sure you do!

"Saucy Cheeks" is a lesbian spanking story I wrote one night after being over an hour late meeting my girlfriend and another couple for dinner.  It really wasn't my fault, but I felt like such a dolt, so I turned my embarrassment into spankings:


Before she knew it, Donna’s mouth was slanted across hers, their lips a tight seal, tongues wrestling.  This never happened.  Never.  But it was happening now—Donna was kissing her in a public bathroom, and kissing her hard!  Marigold couldn’t get over the heat coming off her girl’s body.  She felt consumed by it.“I thought I’d be in trouble,” Marigold whispered, panting.“Who says you’re not?”  The growl in her girl’s voice made Marigold loopy, and she couldn’t believe it when Donna yanked her into the end stall.  “Pull down those pants,” Donna instructed, even before the door was closed.Marigold did as she was told, dropping slacks and cotton underpants to the floor.  Sitting fully clothed on the toilet seat, Donna patted her lap and Marigold fell into it.  At home, this was standard practise, but they were in public…well, in a public washroom.  When the top of Marigold’s head met the toilet paper dispenser, she turned around to watch.   “I’m sorry I was so late.”
Just a wee sample from that one.

 My other story in Girl Fever is called "Taste of My Woman," and belongs to a "sense" series about girlfriends keeping in touch while one is away on business (phone sex much?):


Closing my eyes, I focused on the pleasured moan Monique released into my black Nortel phone receiver.  Warm sweetness caressed my taste buds, and I knew precisely what she’d place on my metaphysical tongue.  
“You’re eating dark chocolate.  I can taste it.”  I peered down the hallways to make sure Sid wasn’t on his way back.  The coast was clear, and I was going all in. “Now, you tell me what I’m eating.”Monique gurgled, but answered without pause. “I know exactly what you’re eating. You’ve got your face all up between my thighs, and you are just devouring my pussy.”“Yes I am, babygirl, and your pussy is delicious.” There was a throb between my legs, like a drumbeat, at the sound of those words from her mouth and from mine.  We didn’t do this.  We didn’t talk like this. “Oh, you are sweet,” Monique cooed. “Sweet as chocolate.” I wondered where she was, if she was alone now, if she was reaching down inside her panties to play with her clit. God, I loved the image of my woman with her hand down her pants, slowly rubbing that sweet spot. I loved the image so much I was half tempted to slip my own fingers down between my pussy lips and play in that liquid heat. But I couldn’t do that…not at work…not sitting at my desk in my wide-open office…
Girl Fever seems to be available as an ebook as well as in paperback at Amazon, so check it out if you're interested: http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Fever-Stories-Sudden-Lesbians/dp/1573447919/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1338593046&sr=1-1

Happy Friday, Everyone!
GiselleGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

Call for Submissions: The Other Man (Gay Non-Fiction: Sex/Deception/Love/Betrayal)

This particular call for submissions caught my eye because it's looking for essays about "The Other Man."  Having spent a solid 10 years of my life as "The Other Woman," I understand the complexities of adulterous relationships and the like.  I think they tend to get painted much blacker than they deserve.

Anyhoo, here's the call:

*** Anthology Submissions Call ~ Permission to Forward ***
THE OTHER MAN: 22 WRITERS UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT SEX, DECEPTION, LOVE, AND BETRAYAL
EDITOR: *Paul Alan Fahey
*PUBLISHER: *JMS Books LLC
*DEADLINE:* August 31, 2012


*PLEASE NOTE:* Publisher has final right of refusal on all submissions. Payment made upon publication. Publication date is May 2013.

JMS Books LLC is seeking submissions of short personal essays from gay writers on the subject of "the other man" for an upcoming anthology entitled *THE OTHER MAN: 22 WRITERS UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT SEX, DECEPTION, LOVE, AND BETRAYAL*.

Submissions should be non-fiction, previously unpublished, written in the first-person POV, and between 3,000 and 5,000 words in length. Shorter essays of exceptional merit will be considered. Essays should focus on the theme of "the other man" -- either being the other man, suffering the other man, or having their lives affected in some way by infidelity. The other man experience can also be a positive one that, in some way, makes a committed relationship even stronger after he passes through.

All types of stories are welcome, from light-hearted to serious. Authors selected to appear in the anthology will receive *$100* for their submission as well as *1 free copy* of the final book in both electronic and print formats. A portion of all profits (75%) will be donated to the IT GETS BETTER charity.

Established authors and newcomers alike are welcome.

Send completed essay and short bio (150 words) to the editor, Paul Alan Fahey, at *paul1189@sbcglobal .net*. Electronic submissions only. Final decisions will be made by the editor no later than November 2012. Publication is slated for May 2013 in both e-book and print formats.

**Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

Elton John Glasses: Just For Fun

Remember lying in bed at night and listening to Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me back when you were too young to wonder if the title had a double meaning?  Remember the sweet snap-crackle-pop of vinyl as you closed your eyes and imagined dancing at your wedding with your new husband Elton John?  In matching silk gowns with white feathers boas?

What?  You didn't have that fantasy?  Huh.  Uhh... yeah, me neither.

Anyhoo, here are some awesome Elton glasses.  Just for fun.











Hugs,
Giselle
(I tell you all my secrets, darlings. Don't go breaking my heart.)  Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...

How Do You Measure It?

I originally wrote this post for one of my guest spots at Romance for the Rest of Us, which is Torquere Press' blog, but after breaking yet another mug (one of the blue ones--I only have one left in that set now) I figured it was a good time:




Remember that song from the musical Rent? 
Five-hundred-twenty-five-thousand-six-hundred minutes, Five-hundred-twenty-five-thousand-six-hundred moments so dear, Five-hundred-twenty-five-thousand-six-hundred minutes, How do you measure, measure a year?

I find myself singing that song in the kitchen.  Always the kitchen. Never the shower, never anywhere else, just the kitchen.  When I got to asking myself why, the answer was pretty obvious.
It's my dishes.
Every time I open the cupboard and look at my mish-mash of assorted bowls and dinner plates, I get feeling old.  Weird, right?  I guess I could have titled this blog post "What Makes You Feel Old?" but... it probably wouldn't have the same draw.
So, why do my dishes make me feel old?
Because I've been through so many sets.  I really don't feel old enough to be on my third (plus) set of dishes.  Part of the problem is that I'm a klutz and I've never owned a dishwasher.  I tend to drop dishes while I'm washing them.  That's the problem.  And when enough plates get broken... well, what's a girl to do?  You buy another set.
I bought my first set of dishes when I was a teenager, in anticipation of moving out of my mother's basement.  The set was called "Italian Bistro" and they cost me $9.99 at one of those kitchen stuff stores.
The second set, I bought in my twenties.  They were blue with kind of a raku-inspired glaze.  I think I got them at Sears and I think they were $39.99?  Something like that.  Almost all of those pieces have since cracked or chipped.
After the blue ones, I gave up buying sets.  Instead, I bought pottery from local artists.  That's why I have way more bowls than anything else.  Bowls are more common and usually cheaper than plates, when you're buying from potters.
Now every time I look into my cupboard, I don't just see dishes--I see a history.  I see years of buying and breaking, of disposing and accumulating until all I have to show for myself is an eclectic mess.  
And that's me in a nutshell--an eclectic mess.  I measure myself in mismatched dishes, in Band-Aids of various shapes and sizes with yellowed paper casings coming apart at the seams, in odd socks and old underwear, in books I've read and books I've written. 
How about love?Seasons of love...
How do you measure, measure a year... or a life?
Hugs, Giselle --Giselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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