Giselle Renarde's Blog, page 163
January 13, 2011
What's Your Crush Type?
Fifteen years ago I could predict exactly the type of person I would develop a crush on. I knew every last characteristic. That person would be:Male
Healthy & FitAged 48-60BaldHighly Intelligent/AcademicRefined Manners and TastesThink Patrick Stewart. Yeppers, that was the man for me. Every time a man like that crossed my path, I'd melt into a gooey puddle of crush-juice.
Ten years ago, I noticed a shift in my crushes. Bald men stopped turning my head. A different type of person started attracting my attention:
Female
Artsy/QuirkyAged 18-30Small in StatureEclectic TastesDark HairMy rockabilly babe, pin-up model Bernie Dexter, should give you some idea of the kind of girl I'm talking about.
Now...I just don't know anymore! I can't predict when a crush will come along and what she'll look like or act like. It's like there are absolutely no commonalities anymore, except that I haven't had a crush on a dude in a good long time (except Professor Snape...does he count?).
What is my "crush type"? I've been mulling this over for a couple days now and...I've got nothing!
I mean, I think about my girlfriend of two+ years, and she doesn't fit into any known category. Sweet's:
MTF TranssexualTallRedhead"Curvy"Generous
Wise Woman
Geeky/TrekkieTells Really Bad JokesMind you, I don't remember ever really having a crush on Sweet. I knew there was something special about her, and I fell in love. Or maybe I did have a crush on her...and maybe I still do. I certainly do find myself fantasizing about kissing her while I'm dozing on the subway. I still think about her all the time. Every time I'm in a store, I can't resist buying her a present, even if it's just a bottle of iced tea.
But that doesn't help me in establishing my crush type. When I think about the women I've crushed on over the past five years, I see no similarities. Maybe we only see the similarities in retrospect. Maybe five years from now, it'll all be clear.
What about you? Are there certain physical qualities you know you'll be attracted to in any given person? Or do the physical qualities have to accompany personality qualities? Can you clearly identify the kind of person you'll develop a crush on?
What's your crush type?
Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!
http://www.wix.com/gisellerenarde/ero...
January 12, 2011
Love Romances Cafe's 2011 Best of Awards
If you have a favourite book, series, author, or publisher from 2010, now's the time to make your voice heard! Love Romance Cafe is ready for your nominations. Here's the info from the LR Cafe loop:
Giselle RenardeIt's that time of year when we at the LR Cafe loop get ready for "Best of.." Awards. This is the awards where the readers get to nominate their favorite authors, publishers, books and more.
Readers, please read the following information carefully because if directions are not followed, your vote WILL NOT be counted.Please be aware that you can only nominate ONCE per category. You don't need to nominate for all the categories if you choose not to.
All books must have been released between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2010. I will double check on release dates with publishers if I feel there is a question on the nomination.
To nominate your choice in the categories, email me at dawn_roberto @ yahoo dot com with "BEST OF AWARDS" in subject line. Anything else WILL NOT be counted. Make sure you follow these instructions or your choice will NOT be counted. I will then tally all nominations and the top 10 (no more than 15 nominees total) nominees will be the finalists. In event there is a tie in semi-finalist nominations, they will both be counted in the finalist round.
You have from Monday January 10th, 2011 to January 16th, 2011 to nominate your picks. At MIDNIGHT on 1/16/2011, the voting closes (this is in USA Eastern Time). Any email time stamped after midnight EST on this date will NOT be counted. I will announce the finalists on January 18th, 2010 on the LRC loop at 2 PM EST.
Voting for finalists will begin on January 20th-29th, 2011 and close at MIDNIGHT (USA EST) on the 29th. Winners to be announced on the LRC loop from Noon-3 PM EST on January 31st, 2010.
The Category list for nominations is as follows:
Best Contemporary Book-2010
Best Fantasy Book-2010
Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Book-2010
Best Historical Book-2010
Best Thriller/Romantic Suspense/Mystery Book-2010
Best Paranormal author
Best GBLTQ Author
Best GBLTQ Book-2010
Best BDSM Book
Best Anthology/Multi-Authors Book 2010
Best Science Fiction/Futuristic Book-2010
Best Book Cover
Best Erotic Book
Best E-publisher-2010
Best Shape-shifter Book-2010
Best book all around
Best Vampire Book
Best Series
Canada just got hotter!
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January 11, 2011
Time to Vote in the 2011 Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll
Horror Novels
Romance Novels
Science Fiction & Fantasy Novels
Erotica Novels
Mystery Novels
Thriller Novels
Children's Books
Young Adult Books
All other Novels
Horror Short Stories
Romance Short Stories
Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Stories
All other Short Stories
Anthologies page
Poems page
Nonfiction articles pageArtwork page
Book/e-book Cover Artwork page
Magazine/e-zine Cover Artwork pageAuthors page
Poets page
Artists pageBook/e-book Editors page
Magazine/e-zine Editors page
Print/Electronic Book Publishers pageReview Site page
Bookstore page
Promotional Firms, Sites, and Resources pageFiction Magazine/e-zines page
Poetry Magazine/e-zines page
Nonfiction Magazine/e-zines pageWriters' Discussion Forum page
Writers' Workshop page
Writers' Resource/Information/News Source page
You can have your say by clicking on http://critters.org/predpoll/ and then scrolling down the page until you get to the different category headings. Click on one to cast your vote from the list, or add your own nomination!
Oh, and because of the time offline, the poll has been extended this year until January 26, 2011!Cheers,Giselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!
Giselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!
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January 10, 2011
For Those Who Resolved To Lose Weight
When she asked me to help her out, I said sure, as long as she didn't bitch at me when I nagged her. I mean....when I encouraged her. Unfortunately, my Sweet no longer remembers the whole "nagging is an acceptable means to an end" conversation and...well, I don't exactly agree with her chosen weight-loss method.It's nothing terrible. It's not like she's taking laxatives and starving herself...not exactly. She's just decided that the best way to lose weight is to eat only to satiety. That's a great start--being mindful about food is a wonderful thing. The problem from my perspective is that she's still eating pretty crappy foods. Just smaller portions.
So now instead of feeling the energy she would if she were eating lots of wonderful vegetables and beautiful fruits and other natural foods, she feels tired all the time. And cranky. Sluggish. Nappish. And...did I mention CRANKY?
Nagging me and cranky her? Bad combination. So in month one of this six month endeavour, I've already learned to keep my damn mouth shut.
However...
Today I will be sending her a link I found today for CBC's "Live Right Now" movement. It's all about making small changes to get healthy.
At LiveRightNow.ca you'll find lots of ideas about eating better and getting more physical activity into your routine. There's a lot of fun stuff like "build a snowman" and "dance for 10 minutes" and "walk around while you're talking on the phone."
When you go to the LiveRightNow website, click on "challenges" and explore family, food, physical activity, and community ideas for getting healthy in 2011.
Because, really, it's the little things in life...right?
Hugs,Giselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!
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Quick Six TNG with Maia Strong
1. What does "vanilla" mean to you? Richly exotic and cozy at the same time.
2. Is there any moment from your life that you remember in slow motion?
The 2001 Nisqually earthquake. I remember being very calm while a co-worker freaked out next to me under my desk. A long file drawer was drifting open from the movement of the building, and I reached out and shut it so it wouldn't hit anyone.
3. What's the most unsettling movie you've ever seen?
The Rapture - Unsettling because it was an absolutely awful film, and I found it disturbing that anyone thought it was a good idea to make it.
4. If you had to get a tattoo on your face, what would you want it to look like?
A Celtic Tree of Life - But, dude, that would hurt!
5. How many monkeys jumping on the bed?
Only four these days.
6. Which of the books or stories you've written is your favourite?
Not counting the very first novel I ever wrote, which isn't published, I'd have to say Client Privileges. I love the characters and their world.
Buy link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2160
Blurb: Jonas Vaneau's life seems ordinary, with days working at law courts and evenings at home with his cat, plus countless Sabbath dinners with his parents and an endless string of potential brides. Meanwhile, an unusual encounter with seemingly ordinary brothel client Jonas causes Micah Hartshorn considerable consternation. When Jonas inexplicably bursts past his emotional defenses, Micah can't even fall back on his professional skills to help him.
The attraction between Micah and Jonas grows, despite their misgivings. As they grow closer, all personal problems are swept up in political unrest when new laws threaten both men's livelihoods. When even greater troubles send Jonas' world spinning beyond his control, it's up to Micah to save Jonas from the downward spiral if he can.
~~~~~
MaiaStrong.com
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January 9, 2011
The BLOGGIES are Back~Nominate Now!
All you have to do is visit http://2011.bloggi.es/ to get nominating. Hell, nominate your friends if you want (that's what I did for the most part...although mainly because I love their blogs even more than I love them. Kidding!) or even, I don't know, nominate me? I mean, if you want to...shucks...it's totally up to you...but there is a category for Canadian blogs and another for LGBT blogs...
Okay, I'll quit being coy and just give you the cold, hard facts:
If you're thinking of nominating, do it now! Nominations close Sunday January 16th 2011 at 10p.m. EST. Again, the go-to website is http://2011.bloggi.es/After that:
Wednesday, January 19 200 randomly selected voters receive an invitation to choose the finalists from a list of the most-nominated weblogs in ten random categories.
Monday, January 24 10:00 PM EST Finalist voting closes. The five (or six for Weblog of the Year) weblogs with the most votes become finalists. I will solve any ties for fifth place.
Tuesday, February 1 Finalists are announced and voting reopens to all to choose the winners.
Sunday, February 20 10:00 PM EST Voting closes.
Sunday, February 27 8:00 PM EST Winners are announced and the Weblog of the Year receives a prize of 2,011 US cents (US$20.11).
So there's some added incentive: your favourite blog could win $20.11! LOL Gee, that could pay your...cable bill...in 1983...
Okay, I'm being snarky, but seriously do nominate your favourite blogs today. There are so many different categories and I'm sure you'll have fun perusing the site. Again, it's http://2011.bloggi.es/
Have fun!GiselleGiselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!
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January 8, 2011
Journal SCIENCE Reports Women's Tears are a Turn-Off to Men
Experimenters had women cry into buckets (kidding--into test tubes, of course. This is science, after all!) and then put those tears on damp pads which they then placed under men's noses. Men self-reported lesser states of arousal as compared to when pads with a saline solution were placed under their noses.Scientists are very interested in studying tears cried from emotion pain because they haven't yet established a clear evolutionary reason for them. What's the point in crying?
Well, this group of scientists have offered some weak and, in my radical feminist mind chauvinistic, conclusions. Most notably, that women obviously cry more while we're menstruating as a signal to men that we're not fertile at the moment, so don't even try. Hmm...a lot of bizarre assumptions being made there. If I were around these scientists while I had my period, I might just get a little stabby.
And I think the result of this study might have been a little different if the subjects actually got to SEE these women while they were crying. Call me a sick freak if you want to, but I think a woman in tears is incredibly alluring. Woman are gorgeous when they're crying. Even when it's that mascara-drizzling ugly-cry. It's the emotion, I think, and the intensity of it that gets me.
But, hey, I don't have a man's body chemistry and I won't pretend I do. I'm just one more freaky queer chick with a crying fetish. Though, I must admit, I love seeing men cry too.
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!
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Canada just got hotter!
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New Book Cover: Painting With Brushes
Claudia detests Mark. Mark detests Claudia. They both love Jason Paul.
Two years after Claudia's husband leaves her to live with Mark, she finds herself unemployed but desperate to stay in the city. As she sees it, the only solution is to move in with Jason Paul and his new love Mark—whom she despises. As she and Mark paint her new bedroom together, sparks ignite and Claudia realizes the romantic and erotic possibilities of having two men in her bed and in her life.
Excerpt:
Claudia knew the truth. She'd always sensed it, but now she knew for certain. "You were in our bedroom when Jason Paul was still my husband." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Certainly it was true.
In Mark's silence, she waited for tears, but they didn't come. She didn't have it in her to be upset with them any longer. When she pictured Mark and her husband in bed together, the image made her tingle. "You made love to him in our bed, didn't you?" One man and another man, their bodies writhing together…rough sex...tender kisses…
"When you were away," Mark admitted. He didn't stop painting to confess. "You visited your mother the summer Jason Paul and I first met. We lived in your bed that entire week."
She nodded. Where had her anger gone? She felt none of it. In fact, when she reflected on the two men falling in love and into bed, it seemed romantic. She had the choice to play a bit part in their love story, or to play the evil witch. Why had she chosen the latter? Why had she made their love more difficult than it had to be? Simple enough, she thought: Jason Paul was her husband. Of course she felt possessive of him—she was in love with him too!
Was it possible to love selflessly, she wondered? One could love one's children and one's parents without ego interference. Yes, it was very possible to love two people at once. But being in love was different. In love, she'd been jealous and controlling. It didn't seem like too much to ask, at the time, that her husband not sleep with other people. Love was such a crazy animal. Uncontrollable.
"I had a feeling you did," she said. "Something about the sheets. They seemed more tousled than usual."
"We washed them."
"Even so."
"We had sex up against the washing machine," he reflected. The early days of any affair were always halcyon. Mark shook his head, staring at the wall. "Sorry. I'm sure you didn't need to know that."
"I don't mind." Claudia actually smiled when she pictured them together. And then she surprised herself by saying, "Tell me about it."
You can check out this and other Upcoming Amber Heat titles here: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/AH_upcoming.htmlGiselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!
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January 7, 2011
Your Weekend Read: TANGLED ROOTS
I happen to love the snow, but I'm aware that many people don't. That's why I'm recommending my M/F novella TANGLED ROOTS to read this weekend. It's a Canadian summer cottage read, a sex in the canoe read, and a story about rebirth. But it's not a babes in bikinis read. It's much darker than that. Considerably darker.If you're looking for a book wherein the shimmer of the summer sun on the rippling lake is complemented by the shame and frustration of the unlived life, why not pick up a copy of TANGLED ROOTS?
Simone is having a bad day. Not only has she broken up with Toy Boy Toby, she's been fired from her high-powered job! Now, in hopes of raising capital to start a business of her own, Simone must sell the old family cottage. But the lakeside cabin rejuvenates her soul, and her wise neighbour Moses sparks a new flame. Only with the guidance of this tattooed man devoted to healing can Simone overcome humiliation. Passion comes easy, but is this power-hungry businesswoman ready for love of the compassionate variety?
Warnings: This title contains graphic language and sex.
Word Count: 17,324
Excerpt:
"I love you, Moses," she said in disbelief. "I love you."
Kissing her forehead, Moses replied, "Maybe you do. And maybe you're looking for something beautiful to counterbalance the pain. Either way, Simone, you are loved. You are worthy of love. I guarantee it."
The tears she cried turned from tortured to awed, like when she used to cry in church, never knowing why. Running her hands across the prickly hair of his head, Simone pulled Moses in to take comfort in the warmth of his mouth. His tongue still tasted of black liquorice and of her. She kissed him hungrily, desperately, like she could consume his spiritual knowledge this way.
Simone expected him to push her away, ask her to stop, thinking she was too emotional. He didn't. No, Moses kissed her back, wrapping her body in his tremendous arms, leaning her down until her hair touched the pine needles. Hungry for love in any form, in all its forms, Simone pulled off her clinging top. No more weeping. Her awe was silent now, and she wiped the traces of tears from her cheeks. Firelight kissed Moses' skin, making him look like an angel in hell, while it warmed her naked breasts.
"I'm sure," she whispered in anticipation of the question he seemed about to ask.
Her eager nipples piqued in expectation, pointing up to the greener-than-green treetops. An errant raindrop found its way through the cover overhead, bursting against her chest. The bristle of Moses' hair excited Simone's skin as he followed the rain down her breasts. There he worshipped, taking the luscious orbs in his hands as he pressed his beautiful face into them. Softly, he kissed her flesh, leaving wet lip marks in his wake. Slowly, he ran his hot tongue along the cleave, from the base of her round breasts up.
His soft mouth against her nipples sent a message, like an electrical current through her body. The feel of his wet tongue on her breasts ignited her pussy, and that raindrop sensation came back to her abdomen. With every nerve-ending Moses touched, new feelings of beauty awakened in her. He wrapped her in his protective arms, sucking at her breasts. The dew of his mouth on her skin made her body bloom like a patch of white trillium flowers. In her mind, she could see pure white petals bursting through every precious green bud in the forest. The sun and rain together inspired new birth. As Moses planted loving kisses across her chest, a drop of crystal rain kissed her forehead. It flowed like holy water through her hair, cleansing her guilty conscience. Simone's eyes opened wide. She was awakened.Now, Buy Links. There are plenty of retailers you can buy this book from. Here are just a few:eXcessicaAll Romance ebooksKobo
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!
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January 6, 2011
Donuts & Desires on Queer Canada Blogs
What is Queer Canada Blogs? According to their site:Queer Canada Blogs refers to queers living in Canada as well as Canadian queers living elsewhere. The origins of this blogroll are rooted in a desire to find and promote local queer voices. Regardless of how we feel about what it is to be Canadian and/or queer, we believe that our lives as queers are heavily influenced by this country: Its cultures, landscapes, and politics. Whether overtly or as an undercurrent, we use our blogs to negotiate and celebrate the complexity of our identities.
If you're interested in following queer Canadian blogs, I'd say Queer Canada Blogs should be your first stop! At a glance, their blogroll includes a "Bookish Butch," "a queer family grows in redneckville," a "Dead Robot" (aww...poor robot), "Queer as Fuck," "The Naked Black Guy" (yikes!), "A Life about Transition," "My journey with AIDS...and more!" and "Daily Life of a Gay Escort in Montreal."
There's great reading to be done in Canada, and I'm delighted to be on the list!
Hugs,Giselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!
Giselle RenardeCanada just got hotter!
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