Giselle Renarde's Blog, page 132

Gather 'Round the Projector. It's Time for Travel Slides!

Not quite, but almost.

As I may or may not have mentioned, Sweet and I enjoyed a romantic little getaway to Niagara Falls last week. I've always thought of NF as touristy and tacky, but Sweet thinks it's romance up the wazoo, so I figured I'd go with an open mind this time and you know what? I caught the fever. I guess no matter where you are, the romance is there if that's what you want to see.

So I bought my girl a dozen red roses, booked us a jacuzzi room, and treated her to a just-because mini-vacation. And now YOU have to look at pictures. Mwahahaha! My evil plan is complete.

First off, I took Sweet to Niagara Parks' Floral Showhouse. I love that place. It's free, it's open every day except Christmas, and for an avid photographer like my girlfriend, it's an opportunity to get shots of brightly-coloured things. January in Canada tends not to be overly colourful, at least not outside. Oh, and there are birds in there:















When in Niagara Falls with your sweetie, it's really worth getting a hotel room with a jacuzzi tub big enough for two. I bought us a romance package at the Hilton Fallsview, and I gotta hand it to Hilton staff--they didn't seem even momentarily fazed about two women checking in with a romance package.
As you can see below, our room looked out on the Fallsview casino and both sets of falls. You can kind of see the America falls in the casino pic but the Horseshoe falls are out of shot. Sometimes all you can see of them are mist anyway.


















































Maybe you've heard of the lights by the falls? Well, most of them are Disney characters and I don't really feel like being sued so I won't post them. But here are some mounties and the coolest fountain I've ever seen (with a ferris wheel in the background):


The 9 o'clock fireworks over the falls were really something special--totally worth freezing your buns off after dark to hug your sweetie and watch (even if your sweetie is watching through a camera lens LOL):





























Okay, I'll stop boring you now. Anyway, those are some highlights of our Niagara getaway.Hugs,Giselle-- Giselle Renarde Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
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http://twitter.com/GiselleRenardeGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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Call for Submissions: Chicken Soup/Positive Thinking

Hey writing people,
Here's another Chicken Soup for the Soul call that found its way to my inbox. I'm really looking forward to receiving my (10!) contributor's copies of Tough Times for Teens. If I'm not mistaken, the very first Chicken Soup for the Soul edition was published when I was a teenager, and at that stage of my life I derived a lot of strength from it. If you've got a story around "The Power of Positive" that might help others, why not submit?Hugs,Giselle

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Positive
101 Inspirational Stories about Changing Your Life through Positive Thinking

After the success of our book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive, we are ready to make another book full of stories about how you changed your life, solved a problem, or overcame a challenge through a positive attitude, counting your blessings, or an epiphany of some kind. Tell us your success story about using the power of positive!

Topics could include: Attitude! It does make a difference The unexpected benefits of challenges Putting things in perspective Turning negative into positive How you spread the message of gratitude to others Lighten up and laugh! What made you realize that your life is good and that you are grateful Silver linings that you have discovered Appreciating the simple pleasures ... Anything else that you think that is interesting and inspirational Your stories or poems need to be nonfiction and about your personal experiences or those of someone close to you. No "creative writing" please. We prefer stories written in the first person and no more than 1,200 words. If you ghost-write a story for someone else, that person, not you, will be listed as the author of the story. We are no longer running "as told to" stories. Stories should not have been previously published by Chicken Soup for the Soul or other major print publications.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for US $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoup.com
Select the Submit Your Story link on the left tool bar and follow the directions.

DEADLINE FOR STORY SUBMISSIONS IS APRIL 30, 2012.

Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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

Giselle Renarde's SCP Blog Hop Stop

If you've been participating in Secret Cravings Publishing's first anniversary blog hop, you know why you've come.
If you just happened to have popped into Donuts & Desires today, you might be wondering what's going on. You can find out more here.
I joined Secret Cravings with my multicultural MMF menage story Callie and the Hipster, which is a part of their "hot flash" line:

When Callie's husband leaves her for a younger woman, she drives all the way out to the summerhouse only to find it's been taken over by hipsters--twenty-somethings who wear plaid and listen to indie rock and eat nothing but raw broccoli. They're friends of her son, Dante, all queer and quirky students at the nearby university.
At first, Callie's irritated that her son has thrown a party in her haven of relaxation, but when she and a bottle of Kahlua stumble upon two young men gettin' it on in her bed her annoyance morphs into arousal. The drink and the day's multitude of disappointments encourage her to join Vish and Evan, pansexual and polyamorous young men who are more than happy to welcome a vibrant older woman into their bed. How will they feel about inviting Callie into their lives?

It's a funny story, and heartfelt as well, with lots of hot sex. You can find out more here: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=12&products_id=126

My newest addition to the SCP lineup is another MMF cougar story called Wonderful Wing Boys:

Deb has nothing in common with the other women at Only Angels. They're mutton dressed as lamb in their gold miniskirts and sequin tops. Deb's all business. Her life's work is her only interest...until The Big Guy hooks her up with Andreas and Zander, two of the club's incredibly hot young angels.

Yeppers, this one is urban fantasy and then some. Since it's a THREEsome story I'll be giving away THREE copies of Wonderful Wing Boys. Yay!!!
To enter the Wonderful Wing Boys contest, as well as SCP's grand prize contest as outlined at their blog, all you have to do is leave a comment in the comments. Remember to include your name and email address.
Good luck everybody!
Hugs,Giselle
--
Giselle Renarde Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica
http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde


Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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

Six Sentence Sunday - Naughty: Full to Bursting, lesbian strap-on erotica

I don't think I managed to feature Naughty: Full to Bursting during the holiday season, even though it is a bit of a holiday story. A strap-on makes a damn fine Christmas gift, and lesbian erotica is the gift you can give yourself any day of the year.
Here are my six, from Naughty: Full to Bursting from Torquere Press~

Janelle sat up in the middle of the mattress, cradling the covers in both hands. Her back was bare, chilled not by the temperature of Wanda's cozy home, but by her apprehension. The house was too quiet.

"Wanda?"

There was a squeak on the stairs and then a creak on the landing before Wanda appeared in the doorway. Janelle struggled with where to look first: she glanced at her woman's face, but she couldn't glean any emotion from that stony expression before her gaze shot down between Wanda's thighs.

If you want to know more (I think there's a dildo in the next sentence), read the blurb, read an excerpt or buy a copy, visit Torquere Press here: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68&products_id=3475

Hugs

Giselle

--
Giselle Renarde

Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica
http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde

Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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

The Cheapest and Easiest Way to "Stamp Out Poverty"

If I'd been thinking, I would have posted info about this program in December, when everyone was getting cards in the post. Oh well, better late than never.
Most people I talk to have never heard of Oxfam's "Stamp out Poverty" program (actually, most people in Canada have never heard of Oxfam), but I think it's brilliant. The program collects postage stamps from volunteers across Canada to sell them to collectors and raise money for Oxfam projects.
I've participated for years, and it's as easy as cutting the cancelled stamps off envelopes I receive in the mail. Really! I just save them up until I have a whole bunch, then send them in. It's unbelievably easy.
The stamp program needs volunteers to collect stamps, or even donate valuable stamp collections, which they sell to philatelists (stamp collectors--there's a word of the day for 'ya LOL). Here's some info I pulled from Oxfam Canada's website:
How the money is raised

Those used stamps and envelopes can add up. Oxfam Canada volunteers raise about $10,000 annually by sorting and selling stamps to collectors. Nearly $250,000 has been given to Oxfam from the Stamp Program since it started in 1980.

What you should save Everything! foreign stamps Canadian stamps commemorative stamps
Keep the entire envelope if there are: clearly identifiable town/village postmarks registered/special delivery postmarks

Where should I send the stamps?

Once you've collected the stamps and envelopes they can be delivered to any Oxfam Canada office or sent directly to either:

Stamp Programme
Oxfam Canada
39 McArthur Ave
Ottawa, Ontario
K1L 8L7

http://oxfam.ca/stampoutpovertyGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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

FREE READ: Underhanded, Lesbian Erotica

I hesitate to admit when a story I write is pretty much 100% true...
That said, I have some new lesbian erotica up at Oysters and Chocolate today. I love the O&C site--always great visuals there as well as great reads.
My new story's called Underhanded, and you can read it for FREE right here: http://www.oystersandchocolate.com/Stories/2342/Underhanded.aspx
Hugs,Giselle
--
Giselle Renarde Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica
http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde

Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

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

2012 Toronto Star Short Story Contest

If you're an Ontario writer, you just might be eligible to enter this year's Toronto Star Short Story Contest. First prize is $5,000 and then some. Here's a lot of reading:
2012 TORONTO STAR SHORT STORY CONTEST RULES

Agreement: These rules govern the Toronto Star Short Story Contest ("Contest"). The act of entering the Contest constitutes acceptance of the Contest rules and the decisions of the Contest judges, which decisions shall be final and binding upon all entrants.
Sponsor: The Contest sponsors are Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, the Toronto Public Library and The Humber School for Writers ("Sponsors").
Eligibility: The Contest is open to all residents of Ontario who have attained the age of 16, except for employees, their immediate families and anyone living with any employee of the Sponsor or its corporate affiliates, advertising or promotional agencies. There is a limit of one entry per person.
Contest and Judging Criteria: • Contest begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2012 and ends at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, February 26, 2012. • Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, February 26, 2012. • By entering this Contest you acknowledge that all entries become the property of the Contest Sponsors and will not be returned or acknowledged. • To enter the Contest, submit your entry by the contest deadline in its own envelope. Stories submitted by fax machine and e-mail will not be accepted. Illegible entries will be disqualified. • Stories must be written in English, original and unpublished up to the time the winners are declared on Thursday, April 12, 2012. • Stories must be written on a computer or typewriter, be double-spaced and no longer than 2,500 words. • Total word count must be printed on the front page of the story. • No changes to a story are allowed once Toronto Star Newspapers Limited receives your entry. • Manuscripts will not be returned. • To ensure that the stories have reached Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, entrants may wish to enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with their entries. • Information is not available by email or telephone. Pseudonyms are not permitted. • By entering the Contest, entrants agree to allow Toronto Star Newspapers Limited to publish their stories, names and biographical information in all media, including but not limited to its newspapers and thestar.com without compensation. Entrants also agree to allow the Toronto Public Library and The Humber School for Writers to publish their stories, names and biographical information in all media. Do not send photographs with entries. Winners will be contacted about a photograph at a later date and must agree to publication of his/her photograph. • In connection with your submission, you affirm, represent and/or warrant that (i) you own or have the necessary licenses, rights, consents and permissions to use and authorize Sponsors to use all copyright, trademark or other proprietary rights in and to your submission to enable inclusion and use of the submission in the manner contemplated by these Contest rules; and (ii) you have the written consent, release and/or permission of each and every identifiable individual person in the submission to use the name or likeness of each and every such identifiable individual person to enable inclusion and use of the submission in the matter contemplated by these Contest rules. • Sponsor reserves the right to reject and disqualify any submissions that could be offensive or inappropriate or that do not meet the terms and conditions of these rules.
How to enter:
• The author's name, address, telephone number, email address and a 25-50 word biographical sketch must be included with each entry on a separate sheet of paper.
• The name of the author should not appear on the story itself.
• Mail or drop off your submission to: Short Story Contest, Toronto Star, One Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1E6. Entries may also be dropped off in the Short Story contest box in the main lobby of the Toronto Star building, One Yonge Street.
• NO ENTRY FEE REQUIRED
Judging and notification:
• Members of the faculty of The Humber School for Writers will complete the first round of judging starting on or about Wednesday, March 28, 2012.
• The finalists' entries will then be judged by the 2012 Toronto Star Short Story Contest judging panel, who will select the First, Second and Third prizewinners on or about Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and the caliber of the entries. The decisions of the contest judges are final in respect of any matter relating to this Contest.
• The potential winners will be contacted by telephone or email between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2012 by a representative of the Sponsor, and must reply within 48 hours to maintain eligibility. If the potential winner(s) cannot be contacted within this time period or fail(s) to respond to any attempted contact, such potential winner(s) will be disqualified, his/her entry will be declared null and void and the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to select another potential winner based on the judging criteria, in which event these provisions shall apply to such other eligible entry.
Ownership/Use Rights:
Entrants retain the copyright to their stories. However, by entering the contest, you hereby grant the Sponsors a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicenseable and transferable license to print, publish, use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, and display your full name, short story and photograph in connection with Sponsors' (and its successors') business, including without limitation in any media formats and through any media channels.
Prizes:
• Three prizes will be awarded:
-- First Prize: $5,000, plus the tuition fee for The Humber School for Writers 2012 Correspondence Program in Creative Writing. Approximate retail value: $3,000.00.
-- Second Prize: $2,000.00
-- Third Prize: $1,000.00
• If the winner does not claim the prize within 48 hours of notification, the next eligible entry selected by the judging criteria set out in these rules will be contacted, and the first potential winner will have no further claim to the prize. Sponsor will not mail or courier the prize and is not responsible for unclaimed prizes.
• Winners must attend a prize presentation event at the Toronto Public Library, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 2G8 on or around Monday, April 23, 2012 to collect the prize won.
• The winners' stories will appear in the Sunday Star as follows: The Third place story will appear on Sunday, April 29, 2012; the Second place story will appear on Sunday, May 6, 2012; the First place story will appear on Sunday, May 13, 2012. Should any of the above-mentioned dates become unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances, the stories will run, in the order listed above, on the next available Sunday edition of the Toronto Star.
Release:
Prior to receiving the prize, the potential winner will be required to show valid photo ID and to sign a declaration of eligibility and release form releasing the Sponsor and its related parties from any and all liability in connection with the Contest and/or the prize, confirming compliance with the rules and consenting to the use of his or her name and short story in any and all forms of media, without further compensation, in any publicity carried out by the Sponsor and/or its advertising and promotional agencies. If a potential winner is under the age of majority, his/her parent or legal guardian must also sign and return the declaration of eligibility and release form. The signed form must be received within 48 hours of notification or the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate entrant.
Indemnity:
By participating in this Contest, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsors, and their parent, subsidiaries, affiliates and/or related companies and each of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, advisors, assignees, agents, licensees, representatives, advertising, media buyers and promotional agencies from any and all damages, injuries, claims, causes of action, or losses of any kind (including but not limited to lawyers' fees) arising from your participation in the Contest, your violation of any term of these Contest rules, your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, property, or privacy right; or any claim that your submission caused damage to a third party.
Privacy:
We use your personal contact information to administer contests, including contacting, announcing and promoting prizewinners. In addition, we may use this information to send you offers or information from us, our affiliates and from selected Sponsor or advertisers ("Marketing Offers"). If you do not wish to receive Marketing Offers, you may opt-out at any time by: following the instructions at the bottom of any email Marketing Offer you receive, informing your telemarketer at the time you are called with a Marketing Offer, by calling 1.800.279.0181 and requesting that your personal information not be used for Marketing Offers, or emailing privacy @thestar.ca and requesting that your personal information not be used for Marketing Offers. The Contest is run in compliance with the Toronto Star privacy code, which may be found in full at www.thestar.com/privacy.


Banning:
The Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, prohibit any person from entering the Contest whom it believes to be abusing the rules. Such abuse includes entering false information and entering more than once.


Other:
This Contest is governed by the laws of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein and is void where prohibited by law. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the Contest or the Contest rules at any time without notice. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and are not convertible to cash. The Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize or portion of the prize with a prize of equal or greater value. All prizes are awarded as-is. Sponsor is not liable for any lost, late, misdirected or stolen entries or inability to process entries, or any errors, damage or negligence that may arise in connection with this Contest, including human error. Sponsor is not responsible for any errors or omissions in printing or advertising this Contest.
For more information visit The Star's website Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...[image error]

Here's the Answer to the Question "How Do I Vote in LRC's Best of 2011 Contest?"

This came through my email (from Dawn Roberto, owner of Love Romances Cafe), and I thought we all might be interested:

LRC's `Best of 2011' Voting Information

Any questions email Dawn at dawn_roberto@yahoo.com with "Voting Questions" in subject line please.

**~~**

The voting will take place on my blog, Dawn's Reading Nook, starting January 16th, 2012 beginning at 8 am est (USA Time). No Early voting will be allowed. Anyone caught trying to vote before 8 am est will have their vote deleted and not counted.

Link to my blog is: http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com

I will list the complete links to the all the nominee categories on the 16th of January.

Voting will take place from January 16th to 24th, 2012. Announcement of winners will be on January 26th, 2012 at 10 am-noon est (USA Time) on the LR Café Loop. All winners are final.

ONE VOTE PER PERSON. No multiple comments under different names, etc. Granted I can't keep tabs on all the names but I can make it harder for you not to cheat.

Comment moderation is put `on' for the blog at this time. Do not worry if you do not see your comment right away. I will see it and it will be counted in the voting. There will be no anonymous comments allowed.

DO NOT bother to count comments in each category. The staff at LR&M Reviews will be doing their voting privately and just because so & so is in the lead DOES NOT mean they won. All Winners are final when I say so, not any Tom, Dick or Harry on the web.

Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, caught announcing they won before I formally announce the winners are automatically disqualified. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Until I tally all the votes, no one has won until I formally announce it. So put a muzzle on it people.

Winners and runner up winners will get cute buttons like the nominee button. Honorable mentions do not get a button.

Good luck nominees.

Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...[image error]

Six Sentence Sunday - Bobbing for Peaches, a lesbian erotic anthology

It feels like forever since I've participated in Six Sentence Sunday, but realistically I doubt if it's been a full month. What new releases have come out in that time?
Well, the first that springs to mind is lesbian mini-anthology from Xcite. It's named after my contribution, a milky messy food fetish story called Bobbing for Peaches.
Here are today's 6. They are very... sensual.

Jocelyn gazed down as Melanie looked up, an expression of sheer supplication glinting in her eyes. 'You're getting me so wet, baby. Finger-fuck me, OK?'

'OK.' Melanie traced her fingernails through Jocelyn's sopping pubic hair, zeroing her thumb in on her lover's erect clit.

Jocelyn jumped when Melanie touched it.

Bobbing for Peaches is available now from Xcite and a bunch of other e-tailers.
Happy Sunday!Giselle --
Giselle Renarde Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica
http://twitter.com/GiselleRenardeGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...[image error]

To Answer A Question Nobody Asked...

Pretty much every year since I started writing professionally, I've been donating 4th quarter royalties to a queer helpline called LGBT Youthline. I love what this organization does--queer youth helping queer youth--and it's been a joy to attempt to raise money for them.
But the key word there is "attempt." In 2010 I let readers vote on which of my titles I should donate money from and I had great feedback. Unfortunately, sales didn't pan out. To be blatant about it, after all the promotion I did (with the help of wonderful people like Kiki Howell and Sally at Bibrary) I managed to raise under $5.
Yeah.
So this year I decided to go a different route. One of my publishers, Torquere Press, organized a charity Sip line to raise funds for It Gets Better. I wrote a transgender lesbian erotic short called Eclipse the Stars, a story about Jody's jealousy of her girlfriend Renata's beauty and confidence after surgery. It's a long-term couple story. It's a love story. With sex.
Here's the best part: Eclipse the Stars is available from Torquere Press and Rainbow ebooks, and neither the publisher nor the e-store (nor anybody--cover artist, author (me), editor, proofreader) is taking any percentage of the purchase price. It all goes to charity.
One of the hurdles I encountered in fundraising was trying to go it alone. In 2010, the wonderful Jay Hartman at Untreed Reads went above and beyond to help me and Youthline by contacting Rainbow Ebooks. For one weekend, the entire purchase price of my lesbian eating disorder short UGLY NAKED PEOPLE was donated to Youthline and we raised just under $50 if memory serves. That's amazing for one little short at one ebook retailer in one weekend! It worked because author, publisher, and e-seller were all on board and all willing to work together to support a queer organization.
That's what needs to happen to fundraise effectively.
So Eclipse the Stars is available from September 2011-September 2012, with all proceeds going to It Gets Better. Everybody's working together, and already (actually, in the first 2 months it was available) this trans lesbian story raised like 600% more than I raised on my own the last year I tried any solitary fundraising.
It takes a village to raise money.
Hugs,Giselle
p.s. Thank you to everyone who has supported any of the above-mentioned fundraising efforts. Huge Hugs!
--
Giselle Renarde Canada just got hotter!

Visit me online
http://donutsdesires.blogspot.com
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/erotica
http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...[image error]