Colleen Houck's Blog, page 43

How to Make the Best Banana Bread Ever!

I’m sharing my favorite banana bread recipe (both with and without chocolate chips) for today’s blog. It’s afternoon time in the summer, the boys are hungry for a snack and there, sitting on the counter is a bunch of overripe bananas. Yep you guessed it, it’s time to make banana bread.

Now, I dare say that this banana bread recipe is the best ever! That’s a pretty bold claim you say? Well, I ask you to try the recipe out for yourself and see what you think. Mind you, my seven year old is a pretty picky eater and he too jumps up and down for this banana bread!

It is my humble opinion that the best banana bread is sweet, but not too sweet. It’s moist,  lightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and packed with banana flavor. Oh and let’s not forget a deliciously crunchy, crumb topping that’s worthy of the calories.

The Best Banana Bread

Yield: 1 loaf       Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 60-65 minutes

Ingredients:

For the Batter:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs, lightly beaten (I let my eggs get to room temperature for better consistency)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 5 medium)

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

* 1/2 cup Ghirardelli mini baking chocolate chips (optional)

 

For the Topping:

1/4 all-purpose flour

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon nutmeg pinch of salt

2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, diced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan – I use coconut oil spray.

2. In a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Next, stir in eggs and banana. In a separate bowl combine sifted flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, gently stir banana mixture into flour mixture – stirring until ingredients are just combined (optional: add in chocolate chips). Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.

3. Prepare the topping. In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and spices. With your hands, work in butter pieces, until small clumps form. Spread topping evenly over batter.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a wire rack.

This loaf was made w/out the crumb topping.

This not only makes the house smell HEAVENLY, but it adds the perfect touch for a happy home and happy tummies. I will be making this more regularly as an afternoon snack when my children come home for school and what better way to welcome them home than the smell of homemade baked bread and hugs!



Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family does!




‘Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

 

 

 

Buried Mythology Brought Back to Life

RETELLING OF AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN INSECT GOD| THE SCARAB BEETLE

 

Here you sit staring at your computer or phone. You’re possibly bored scrolling through Facebook or busy checking email when you decide to spare a moment to read this very blog. Little did you realize that by doing so, you could be mentally transported to another place and time, unlocking information from the past you never knew existed. 

Worlds of mysteries lie buried beneath the surface just waiting to be discovered. They are found in museums, written on ancient scrolls and tablets, researched and documented in old books, retold in literature, depicted on art, carved into walls and adorned on various jewelry.

Still, there are many mysteries yet to be revealed, hidden somewhere from our view. Some have described that myths are reborn in our dreams to be forgotten by the light of day.

In the past, we’ve featured different mythological stories that have inspired Colleen Houck in her Tiger’s Curse Saga. We’ve featured dragons, vampires, zombies, the Lady of the Lake, Lady Silkworm, the Kappa, tree nymphs and sirens to name a few.

More recently, Colleen has embarked on a new adventure writing her Egyptian novel to be released in the fall of 2015. In her new book, Houck has unlocked a world of mystery, creating an epic tale rooted in Egyptian mythology. Her story involves mummies, spells, danger, romance, adventure, and much much more!

I’d like to feature a little of the mythology that has stirred her imagination, and found its way on the pages of her newest work soon to be revealed!

Today’s mythological find is

THE ANCIENT EGYPT INSECT GOD,

THE SCARAB

Symbolism and Meaning

The Scarab is considered one of the most important religious Egyptian Symbols in the mythology of ancient Egypt and is found in both their history and religious beliefs. But, you might be asking yourself why?

Why did the ancient Egyptians worship a large beetle that rolls a ball of dung, lays its eggs inside it, and then pushes the ball along the ground? Well. . .

According to Wikipedia, the word “scarab” is the ancient Greek interpretation of the word beetle. Several sources have explained that the Scarab beetle is a symbol of the sun. The ancient Egyptians saw a likeness between the scarab beetle rolling the dung and the sun god rolling the sun, making it shine on Earth.

 

In ancient Egyptian religion the scarab was also a symbol of immortality, resurrection, transformation and protection much used in funerary art.

The life of the scarab beetle revolved around the dung balls that the beetles consumed, laid their eggs in, and fed to their young. They represented a cycle of rebirth. When the eggs hatched from what seemed like out of nowhere, it was considered a miracle and quickly became a symbol of spontaneous creation, resurrection, and transformation.

 The Scarab Symbol and Uses

Egyptians drew scarab symbols everywhere. They were found on tomb walls, mummy tombs, art, spells, the Book of the Dead, on images of deities and sacred animals, amulets, and they used them for decorations. Most commonly, they made scarab amulets out of gold or precious gems and stones, or simply out of painted clay. They were often worn as jewelry.

A scarab amulet provided the wearer with protection and confidence in the certain knowledge of reincarnation. Khepri was the scarab headed god who represented the power of the scarab symbol.

A scarab amulet could also have spells inscribed that would curse the wearer.

A heart scarab was an amulet typically buried with a mummy. It was placed over the  mummy’s heart with a magic protective spell inscribed on the back of it. It was believed that when a person died, they must have their heart weighed in judgement in the afterlife. The spell inscribed tells the person’s heart, “do not stand as a witness against me.”

A winged scarab was designed to provide a safe journey into the Afterworld of the gods.

 

I don’t know if you’ve ever had the luxury of traveling to Egypt or touring the great Egyptian museums but if you’re like me, you’ve only seen these amazing things in books and pictures. I’ve found some amazing pictures taken from the Cairo Museum, Manhattan Museum and the Vatican Museum as well as a few other places around the world (be sure to look for the symbol of the sacred scarab in the different images).

 

 

 

 

 

Golden throne of Tutankhamun

 

I hope you enjoyed learning a little of the sacred meanings of the scarab in ancient Egypt and were able to find yourself, even if just for a moment, in another world altogether.

Get ready to embark on another adventure each month as we step further into the mysteries of ancient Egypt and mythology that inspired her new book!

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

 

Mangos

 

During Kelsey’s journey to India she came across India’s King of Fruits, the mango.

Mangos ripe on the tree

Summer is now upon us and mangos are turning up in the grocery store in peak season.  If you have never tried one, it’s time.  When you cut the skin off of the slippery fruit you inhale it’s sweet fragrance.  As sticky juice runs over your fingers you know you are in for something of a treat.

Ripe Mango. I pick the ones that have a pretty raspberry orange and green color on the skin, and that have a little give. Then I know they are ripe.

This blog will be short on purpose.  You need to get to the store right away and pick up some mangos.  Here’s my favorite recipe that Linda, my little sister, served my husband and I at a dinner party after she was first married.  She’s always been the one to try exotic foods first and this one is especially yummy and perfect for summer.

Mango Lassi

 

Mango Lasse

2 ripe mangos, peeled and sliced

juice of 1-2 limes (I zest the limes and add the zest so I get even more lime flavor plus the little green specks look pretty in the drink)

2 Cups of plain yogurt ( I use Greek yogurt now for additional protein sometimes plain, vanilla, or even lime flavored)

Sugar  (1/4 Cup and up depending on how sweet the mangos are)

Ice (lots)

Blend in the blender until smooth.  Get a thick straw and enjoy!

Note: Colleen make a Mango Lassi right after I wrote this before it was published and she thinks it needs more Mangos and only one lime. 

If you can’t get to some fresh mangos get to The Body Shop and pick up some Mango Body Butter or Sugar scrub.  At least go smell it next time you are at the mall, and take a moment to enjoy the scent.

Mango Body Butter

Mango Body Scrub

 

I use the Mango Sugar Scrub in the shower right before I get out.  I could eat it,  but I haven’t…yet.  The sugar and salt in it rubs off the dead skin and leaves  my skin really soft with mango seed oil from India.  After I dry off I use the Mango Body Butter to stay hydrated, and honestly to smell like mangos.   Wait for a good deal and get them 1/2 off.  Here’s mine below…doesn’t it look like the Mango Lassi?  Where’s my straw?

Sweet scent of mangos makes this a summer must have!

Mangos!!!

 

Note: I after I wrote this, I used the scrub in the shower and body butter after. I took my son to a dentist appointment 3 hours later.  A lady walked into the rooms and smelled the air (like Ren) and said, “umm, it smells like sweet fruit in here.” :)  It was just me and my son in the room…soooo…I’m just saying!  Mangos!!!

 

Shara

 

 

 

THE MODERN INK SOCIETY

FEATURING GUEST KIMBERLY DERTING| WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP

Welcome to the fourth session of

THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!

 A thought on growing up . . .

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”

~Pablo Picasso

  Introducing, Kimberly Derting . . .

What did you want to be when you grow up?

“One of the questions a lot of authors get asked is: Did you always want to be a writer?

For me, that answer is simple. No. The end.

I wanted to be about a million things before I wanted to be a writer. First of all, I was a girl, so I went through my obligatory princess phase, at least until I realized there were sick animals in the world that needed saving and I set my sights on the even more obligatory veterinarian. Who cared that I had swelling eyes and throat closing shut allergic reactions to pretty much every animal that does (and every will) exist, including probably the prehistoric furless ones?

But I was also a child of the 70s, so TV became my greatest aspirations. Not that I wanted to be on TV, but rather I wanted to be (interchangeably) The Bionic Woman, a Charlie’s Angel (Jill, please, because she had the coolest hair and biggest….umm, teeth), and Wonder Woman (Linda Carter-style). It wasn’t until a show called BJ AND THE BEAR came along, that my true passion was discovered… Foxy Lady Trucker.

(You thought I was going to say writer, didn’t you?)

That came later, because BJ AND THE BEAR had an allure that writing didn’t: a chimp (aka. “Bear”) who traveled the highways helping BJ do his all of his trucker business. Brilliant!

I had it all figured out. I was gonna be a smokin’ hot (which in 70s jargon was known as “foxy”) lady trucker. I would have a boyfriend in every city, a faithful German Shepherd companion (because a chimp can’t have your back if you’re foxy and you get yourself in a jam), and a tricked-out semi with a sleep compartment (you know, for all the boyfriends).

Fortunately for me (and for my mom’s breaking heart), along came the 7th grade…and electives. And for me, that meant journalism, which meant learning to write and how to keep a deadline. It also meant falling in love with writing. On top of my classwork, I started keeping journals and writing short stories and bad poetry.

It wasn’t long before I’d traded those dreams of truck stops and endless cups of coffee on the road and days without showers for character arcs and endless cups of coffee and…well, days without showers just to meet a deadline. Okay, so maybe there are some similarities between the two, but I will forever be grateful that I took that journalism class, because it changed the trajectory of my life. I’m so not cut out for life on the road.”

 

 Is it just me or did you also want to read more from Kimberly? I find that no matter my age, I’m constantly reinventing myself and discovering things I’d like to “be when I grow up”. I’ve wanted to be everything from a singer/dancer to a farmer to a doctor to a pregnant woman swinging on the porch in the middle of the country side wearing a sun dress and drinking ice cold lemonade (and trust me, the whole fantasy about being barefoot and pregnant is anything but romantic). Still, I’m very much a grown up and still deciding what I want to be. So, if that’s not a lesson that it’s never too late to set out and fulfill your dreams, I don’t know what is!

For those of you interested in learning more about Kimberly Derting you can check her out on her website at kimberlyderting.com.

What path will you choose to take?

 

~Till’ next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

Colleen Houck Book Club

BOOK FOR THE MONTH OF JULY- THE PLEDGE

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July and are enjoying your summer so far. If you didn’t get a chance to read last month’s pick, After the End by Amy Plum, it’s not too late to check it out. For those of you who participated in the live chat on Goodreads with authors Amy Plum and Colleen Houck, thanks! It was so much fun to read everyone’s questions and participate in the discussion. For July’s book selection, Colleen has chosen…

THE PLEDGE

 by her good friend Kimberly Derting

This is the first book in The Pledge Trilogy and for those of you who CAN’T wait for the next book when reading a series, there’s good news. This series is already out and available so NO waiting! 

Here’s a little teaser of book #1,

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It’s there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she’s never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

 

 

I first met Kimberly while attending a book convention in Chicago and I was listening to her talk about her book The Body Finder and her process for writing it. I immediately wanted to pick up her book and start reading! Here’s a little more about her,

 

“I was born and raised in the Seattle area, with the exception of a few short stints in Phoenix, Boise, and San Jose. I had a colorful childhood, raised by a single mother who worked her butt off to make ends meet. She showed my brother and me how to enjoy life on a shoestring budget. She was the kind of person who, given the choice between paying a bill and taking us to the circus, would always opt for the circus…and somehow, she always managed to pay the bill. She was the one who taught me how to laugh.

My publishing career began at an early age, when I started making homemade coloring books with sheets of blank paper and a stapler, and then went door-to-door to sell them. Unfortunately, my neighbors had limited disposable income for such frivolous purchases, so I was forced to seek my fortunes elsewhere.

I first fell in love with writing (giving up my childhood dreams of being a Veterinarian, and then my later aspirations of “lady trucker”) when I signed up for Journalism as my 7th grade elective. It was supposed to an easy A, but it soon became my passion. I moved on to be Copy Editor of the high school yearbook so that I could correct other people’s writing mistakes and fill in when they missed their deadlines (and, hey, it was high school…deadlines were frequently missed!).

I still live in the Pacific Northwest, which is the ideal place to be writing anything dark or creepy…a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. I live with my husband and our three beautiful (and often mouthy) children, who serve as an endless source of inspiration for my writing.”

Kimberly has also written several other series which you can read more about on her website at KimberlyDerting.com. Here’s a little preview of her other works,

 

Newest book series, The Taking

 

The Pledge Trilogy

 

The Body Finder Trilogy

A retelling of Hansel and Gretel

 

I’m very excited to check out her series and I look forward to discussing it at the end of the month with all of you on Goodreads for the live chat. 

So everybody who wants to join us, go get your hands on this book and if you’ve already read it then awesome! You can start leaving your questions right away (but don’t share spoilers just yet).

Join Colleen Houck and Kimberly Derting for a live chat on July 31st, at 7pm (pacific time) on Goodreads! 

Also, stay tuned for the 4th edition of THE MODERN INK SOCIETY featuring guest blogger- Kimberly Derting!

Happy reading everyone!

~Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

 

Writing Process Blog Hop

Writing Process Blog Hop

Before I begin let me say that I have no idea who started this blog hop or how far back it goes. I only know that my good friend Tera Lynn Childs asked me to do it and whatever she asks, I do.

The Fabulous Tera Lynn Childs

Like most people I have days when my writing process goes awry but to make it as a full time author you have to get past that and rededicate yourself to your craft pretty much daily. So here’s my process when it works.

1) What Am I Working On Right Now?

My current WIP is the second book in a new series that will be published by Delacorte. The first book is finished and is being prepped for publication as we speak with an expected release date of Fall 2015. I’m currently writing chapter 12 of book two and I have to say I’m pretty excited about this project. It’s based on the mythology of Egypt. Like the Tiger’s Curse books, there is romance, action, and adventure. There’s a gutsy heroine, too. But this time around there are not two handsome princes but three AND…get this…they’re mummies.

2) How Does My Work Differ From Others In The Genre?

My books always contain a good amount of romance. I’m a fan of poetry so my main character, Ren, in Tiger’s Curse was a poet. This time around I practice my poetry skills in the form of spells and incantations. When I first got picked up, my agent said, “You’re kind of all over the place mythology wise.” That’s still true in my Egyptian series. Though it’s heavily focused on Egypt I freely borrow from mythology or story from any culture or country that fits into the theme of what I’m working on. You can’t pass a mythology test by reading my work but at least I’ll keep you guessing.

3) Why Do I Write What I Do?

When I started writing, my goal was to create something that a mom would enjoy as much as her daughter. I wanted parents to feel perfectly comfortable handing my book to their kids but I also wanted to write a book, and heroes, that a mom would swoon for right along with her teenage daughter. The perfect fit for me then was YA. Romance is something I love to read but I also love action and adventure and big sweeping stories. Basically I write the kind of books I love reading the most. Once in a while I think how awesome it would be if someone else could finish writing my book for me so I could just enjoy reading how everything came together without doing the actual work. I always say I’m a reader first and a writer second.

[image error]

4) How Does My Writing Process Work?

I research and brainstorm for about a week. Then I just start. I’m a very linear writer. I know basic points I want to hit in the story but I give myself the freedom to explore along the way and don’t really stick to much more than a one or two sentence outline per chapter. Even then I’m pretty flexible if I find an offshoot that’s interesting. I heavily research along the way looking for fun and interesting things to add. My chapters are long, usually averaging five or six thousand words and my books are long too. My shortest is 120K and that was after editing. I always reread what I wrote the day before and have a 2K daily word goal and work four days most weeks. When I’m finished with the book I go back through the whole thing again, add and change what I want, and then send it off to my agent.

Now watch out for the next three authors I’ve tagged to continue the blog hop. They are…

LISA T. BERGREN

J. A. SOUDERS

PAGE MORGAN

 

What is your writing process? How many words/pages do you write a day? Do you set a timer? I’m curious so leave a comment and let me know how it works for you.

Until next time,

Colleen

 

July Art Contest

One of the many benefits of summer break is the time to relax and do things we don’t normally have the time to do.

I love lazy summer days by the pool, watching movies, reading books from the library, and stopping by the corner store to get my soda fix of Code Red Mountain Dew or Cherry Coke!

Or driving in your car with the windows rolled down and rockin’ out to your favorite tunes on the radio? Me too!

 

Ahhh, the good ol’ summer days!

As a grown up (I’m 37 now so I guess it’s about time I admitted it) and with the responsibilities of motherhood, most of the “lazy summer days” has become a thing of the past. Now it’s filled with “what can I do to keep the boys busy and engaged in a good cause” kind of days and while that can be rewarding its anything but lazy and honestly quite tiring. But despite your duties in the summer time whether it’s dragging your heels to summer school or going to a summer job, being a parent or pulling weeds in the hot heat of the day (thanks mom ), or your one of the lucky ones that sleeps in and chills on the couch in your pajamas while watching hours of uninterrupted television, this month’s contest is something ALL of us can do!

That’s right, it’s time to stretch your creative skills, develop your talents and explore your artistic side!

For this month, we’d like to put YOU to the challenge and invite you to participate in

July’s Summer ART Contest! 

The theme for this contest is TIGERS PROMISE, the prequel to TIGERS CURSE.

You can really get creative with this one. In the past we’ve seen some amazing drawings, paintings, sketches, sculptures, stuffed animals and the like. Really it can be anything you consider to be art! If you need some creative fuel, check out Colleen Houck’s Pinterest board TIGERS PROMISE or read (or reread) the novella TIGERS PROMISE.

Here’s the scoop on how this will work,

Contest runs through end of July and closes on  July 31st.
Artwork must be linked. You can upload your picture using facebook, flickr, pinterest, etc. A really good place is Deviantart.com (if you haven’t uploaded your art there before its easy, just go to deviantart.com and sign up to become a member, its free!
No limit on number of entries
All ages and skill levels welcome!
The art needs to be related to the theme TIGERS PROMISE

That’s it! Three lucky participants will be randomly selected as the winners and will receive an ASPIRING ARTIST prize package! It will also include the TIGERS PROMISE novella as a bonus with a signed fan letter!

This contest should be fun and we encourage you to invite your friends, children, neighbors and family to participate! It’s a fun way to develop your talents and have a little friendly competition!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

We will also be featuring some of the art submitted when we announce the winners in August so be on the look out for that! Check out below for some previous art entries from previous contests! You can also check out more on Colleen Houck’s Pinterest page featuring fan art.

 

Fan art by Jenna De Trapani

 

Fan art by Danny Heart

 

Fan art by TSVetka.deviantart

 

Fan art by unknown

 

 

I can’t wait to see what you come up with! My two boys, ages 10 and 7, are also excited to participate in this one, so don’t be shy and give this contest a try!!!

~ Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

June Poetry Contest Winner Announced

JUNE CONTEST- A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

First, I’d like to give a big shout out to everyone who participated in this month’s poetry contest! There were over 40 contest entries and I had fun reading them. Before I announce the winners, let’s recap for those just tuning in.

June’s poetry contest theme was “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Here’s how it worked. I posted a picture (shown below) and the contestants used that picture as their inspiration to write a short poem. The range and interpretation of their poem is only limited by their own imagination.

Here’s the picture,

I had some GREAT entries and I’m impressed with the creative interpretations the contestants shared!

Alright, the moment you’ve been waiting for. . .

The winners for June’s Poetry Contest are

Allana Lopez from San Antonio, Texas

and

Katie McGahan from Carlington Heights, Illinois

Their poems are below,

 

UNBOUND

by Allana Lopez

Oh, I have not reached that point,

That bound part of earth.

It has ensnared the radiance of the surface.

And Oh, how bitter a thing,

To be trapped in the dirt,

The mulch of decay and rock,

Everlastingly bound to the ancient

Stagnant bottom beneath me.

My feet scrape the edges,

Billowing dress like the sea

Clinging to the rock holds,

The crevices and crannies.

And oh, my fingers tear at the earth,

Savage impatience and anxiety ensued,

And my limbs tremble from the force,

Oh that force that drives towards freedom.

The light penetrates and at last

 

Captivity
by Katie Mcgahan

My refuge a hole
To bury my soul
The wrath of my shame
Calls me by name

Reaching out toward the light
Dreading the horrors of the night
Gripped by fear
Drowning in despair

Tears cascade down my face
Far beyond the reach of grace
The irony of wearing white
Grasps me with all its might

Snared by the tendrils of a tree
A prisoner am I to be?
I lost my voice........
Do I truly have a choice?

 

Congrats Katie and Allana! Be sure to watch the mail for your prize package! It will include a custom designed Tiger’s Curse bracelet, a leather journal, ribbon bookmark w/ charm, FREE book, personalized fan letter and more!!

Stay tuned for the next contest announced later this week. It will be a TIGERS PROMISE ART CONTEST!!

~ Till next time,

Linda Louise Lotti

 

80 + Barriers to Love: A List of Ideas to Keep Romantic Tension High

Keeping Romantic Tension Alive

One thing that every romance writer faces especially when writing a series, is how to keep a couple apart. It’s a difficult thing to accomplish and readers hate it, but it’s a necessary thing. Otherwise the tension is gone and your readers walk away disappointed.

I am a huge fan of a television show called Moonlighting with Bruce Willis and Cybill Sheperd. I loved, loved, loved watching every week to see if they were finally going to be together. For years they dangled the relationship and tantalized viewers until we finally got what we wanted and the couple got married. Then, guess what happened? The ratings fell and the show was cancelled.

This is something nobody wants. I love Happily Ever After endings as much as the next person but to get there too early is to kill the romance. For me, this happened in Twilight. When Edward and Bella got married in the beginning of Breaking Dawn, I felt like Edward disappeared and mainly became a tortured man wringing his hands on the couch.

Thankfully Jacob was still around.

You see where I’m going with this right?

So, without further ado, here is the list I’ve compiled from various internet searches and from my own experience, not personal experience. At least not all of them. I meant my experience as a writer. I’ve basically divided the list into two categories-Physical Barriers and Emotional Barriers.

EMOTIONAL BARRIERS


Dishonesty
Problem with Touch
Instability
Distrust
Grief
Social or Business Rivalry
Fear of Intimacy
Sacrifice Love for Something Else
Not Self Actualized
The Friend Zone
Feelings of Unworthiness
History of Abuse
Unforgiving
Disappointment
Inability to Communicate
Forbidden Relationship
Competition
Value Conflict
Control
Comparison
Misunderstanding
Unpopularity
Secrets
Fear of Being in Public
Evil Ex
Inability to Forgive
Disapproving Parents
Age Difference
Fear of Abandonment
Cultural Conflict
Religious Conflict
Arranged Relationship
Mistaken Identity
Class Differences
Pretend Relationship
Hubris
Fear of Commitment
Fear of Rejection
Taming of the Shrew Syndrome
Poor vs Rich
Inflexibility
Overdependency
Guilt
Prejudice
Grudge
Anxiety
Jealousy
Denial
Stubbornness
Mistrust
Influence of Friends or Family
Biological Clock is Ticking
Romance Not a Priority
Work Conflict
Inability to Choose
Feelings for Another Person
Fighting or Arguing
Depression
Disloyalty
Race Differences
Stonewalling
Unfaithfulness

PHYSICAL BARRIERS

Disfigurement
Physical Separation
Death
Injury
Transformation
Illness
Coma
Mental Lapse
Kidnapping
Doppelganger
Inability to Cross Boundaries
One or Both People Doesn’t Have a Physical Body
Different Species (Alien, Shifter, Vampire, Mermaid, etc.)
Cannot Survive/Thrive Where Their Love Interest Lives
Contagion/Disease
Pain/Discomfort
Chemical Dependency
Issues with Intimacy
Cognitive Disorders

I hope this lists helps. I know I often wrack my brain trying to come up with yet another way to torture my star-crossed lovers. This list is a work in progress so if you have thought of something I’ve missed, please leave a comment and let me know what it is.

I think it’s time to head back to my book now to throw another problem at my heroine and see how she deals. =)

THE MODERN INK SOCIETY

FEATURING GUEST AMY PLUM| A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO GETTING PUBLISHED

Welcome to the third session of

THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!

 

I love taking a little time out of my busy life to expand my knowledge, enlighten my soul and develop my talents. Creative writing is not one I have the fortune of spending much time on, but I love reading the works of others. Whether its reading Shakespeare, Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Dr. Suess children’s books, a novel by a novice author, or the National Geographic magazine, I am partaking in someone’s art. Whether I decide that art to be beautiful, amateur, sloppy, or insightful to me is to be determined but it is also an exciting experience that can teach me something or even change the way I see the world.

The art of the written word has the ability to illuminate the heart, mind and soul of the composer. When words are carefully chosen, the effect it can have on the reader is limitless. That is why stories and poetry have the power to change a single soul or even entire nations. The written language is a magical tool we can use to communicate our thoughts. It is limited only by our ability to masterfully orchestrate and manipulate the words.

I encourage you to take time to read something new, something different from your norm. Then, I challenge you to take some time out of your day to create something from your heart. It can be keeping a journal, writing a poem or story, drawing a picture, molding clay, composing a song, anything really. There are so many ways to express ourselves and everyone of us has a story to tell. Here are a couple poems that resonate with me that I’d like to share:

 

The Road not Taken

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

 

Lucy’s Song

by Charles Dickens

How beautiful at eventide

To see the twilight shadows pale,

Steal o’er the landscape, far and wide,

O’er stream and meadow, mound and dale!

How soft is Nature’s calm repose

When ev’ning skies their cool dews weep:

The gentlest wind more gently blows,

As if to soothe her in her sleep!

The gay morn breaks,

Mists roll away,

All Nature awakes

To glorious day.

In my breast alone

Dark shadows remain;

The peace it has known

It can never regain.

The Fellowship of the Ring excerpt

by J.R.R. Tolkien

“All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.”

Please feel free to share your experiences of reading and creating something new. Remember, everyone has gifts and talents, you just need the courage and perseverance to make it your own masterpiece. C.S. Lewis once said, “Every poem can be considered in two ways–as what the poet has to say, and as a thing which he makes.”

Now, on to our featured blogger, Amy Plum!!! Remember, she will be hosting a LIVE chat with Colleen Houck on Goodreads on Saturday, June 28th from 9am-10am PST!! Remember, you can post comments/questions before hand if you want to correspond with either or both of them!

 

A Funny Thing Happened While on the Way to Getting Published by Amy Plum

I’ve always written. I’ve always been obsessed with books. But I never thought I’d be a writer. Not that I didn’t want to be a writer. I just never thought I was capable. You see, I began by writing poetry. I wasn’t very good at it. And when the college newspaper that I submitted my poetry to turned it down, I took that as A Sign. A Sign of Suckitude.

I gave up the idea of writing and followed other pursuits. But a few years later, I found myself in Paris taking a creative writing course purely so that I could get a student visa and not be kicked out of the country for living here illegally. And in that 1-semester writing course I decided once again that I was not made to be a writer. The reason this time: I couldn’t think of one darned thing I wanted to write about besides living in Paris, which I didn’t think was an interesting enough topic.

The only thing I wrote for the next decade or so were a master’s thesis on a 14th century Italian altarpiece and lots of articles on paintings and artworks for my employer at the time, Sotheby’s. It wasn’t until I was almost 40 years old, and found myself pregnant, unemployed, and living in the middle-of-nowhere in the French countryside with no friends, no car (for the first 2 months) and nothing else to do that I started blogging. In the beginning, it was only for my friends and family—to show them photos and tell them little stories about living in the Loire Valley.

Before long, I had complete strangers commenting on my blog. Soon I had a surprisingly large following. Some of my readers were writers themselves. They encouraged me to gather my stories into a book and try to publish it. So after 4 years of writing an article every day, that’s what I did. Over a year I wrote my blog into a book, and then began querying agents for it. Within two weeks I had my dream agent, and very soon she sent it out on submission to publishers.

That book, my memoir of living in the French countryside, was never published. But I wrote DIE FOR ME the following year, and have never looked back.

It still amazes me that people like what I write. I don’t feel exceptionally gifted or capable—no more than anyone else. But I am obsessed with words and I love telling stories. Perhaps that’s what people connect with in my books. Whatever it is, I am grateful. I truly feel I have the best job in the world.

 

For those of you interested in learning more about Amy Plum and to check out some of her wonderful books, click here.

~Till’ next time,

Linda Louise Lotti