Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Blog, page 30
October 5, 2013
Advance Review Offer--GODDESS TITHE
Dear imps, with the time fast approaching for Goddess Tithe's release, I am starting to look ahead for reviewers. Would you like to be one of them?Here's what you need to do in order to qualify as a reviewer:
1. Read the book between now and the release date.
2. Post a review on Amazon, preferably on November 12th. If for some reason you can't get the review ready to post by the release date, then try to post it between November 12 and 30. But I'd like to get as many reviews up on the release date as possible.
3. Post your review on Barnes&Noble.com between now and Christmas.
4. Post your review on Goodreads. This can be done as soon as you've read the book . . . you don't have to actually wait for the release date.
5. If you have a blog, post a review on your blog between the release date and Christmas.
6. Post your review on any other sites you can think of (Shelfari, your facebook page, etc.)
That's a lot of reviewing, but since you only have to write one, it's not too difficult, I trust!
If you can do at least the first three on this list, write to me at aestengl@gmail.com to request a review file. Please use the subject line: Requesting Goddess Tithe Review File. I will then send you a read-only PDF, formatted according to what the book will look like in print--so you'll get to see all the illustrations, pretty swirlies, page decorations, etc.
You are not obliged to write a positive review. Please do not send me your review, whether or not it is positive. I make a concerted effort to not read my reviews (which is harder than you might imagine!), either positive or negative. The more books that release, the more reader opinions accumulate, the more pressure is put on me, cramping creativity even to the point of paralysis sometimes. So I don't read them! I will simply trust you to fulfill your part of this deal.
So what do you think? Would you like to read Goddess Tithe before November 12th?
October 4, 2013
Conquering Mama Kitty
So I set myself a near-impossible task this summer. I decided that I was going to tame Mama Kitty.
This is Mama KittyMama Kitty is a wily feral cat who has lived in my neighborhood since before I moved in. I glimpsed her for the first time passing through my back yard about a month after I'd married Rohan and taken up residence in Rooglewood. Any attempts to make friends were . . . I won't even say spurned. Spurned implies some form of acknowledgement.
Mama Kitty did not acknowledge me in the slightest. She ran the moment she heard the door open.
She is a feral cat, you see. Which is not the same thing as a stray. A stray cat has had some measure of human interaction, and was likely abandoned by previous owners and thus obliged to take up life as a wild cat. But they aren't truly wild.
Feral cats, by contrast, were born in the wild, raised in the wild, and have never had any human contact. They're kind of like squirrels: cute and fluffy, but you'll never get anywhere near them. So I shrugged, figured it didn't much matter, and moved on with life.
Then Mama Kitty earned her name and brought her first litter of kittens to my yard.
I can't actually say for certain that they were her first litter. She may have had several before I came around. But it was the first litter of wild kittens I'd ever seen, and it broke my heart to watch all those sweet little fluffies out there on my lawn . . . slowly dying off as they succumbed to various diseases.
Something had to be done! So I rescued the last kitten of that litter--Mya is her name, and she lives with some dear friends of ours--and determined that I would catch Mama Kitty, have her spayed, and not let her keep producing more wild litters.
But Mama Kitty is a wily girl, as I said up above. I set so many traps for her, caught and fixed a variety of other cats, and even once found myself peering in through the bars at a rather baffled opossum. But I couldn't catch that fluffy gray girl. She eluded me.
And continued eluding me for several more litters.
Yes, Mama Kitty is the mother of Mya, Mousse, Midnight, Minko, Mithril, and Mackintosh . . . not all at once, mind! She kept having them--I'd catch them--she'd vanish, then show up again with more! It was very frustrating.
I'll forgive her, though, since she gave me several of my all-time favorite rescues, including these darling half-brothers!Her final litter included Mackintosh (renamed "Bertie"), who is the gray-and-white kitten pictured above. I caught his brother, Mithril, several weeks before I caught him. And in the meanwhile, I FINALLY managed to catch and spay Mama Kitty. After that, she had several weeks with just her and Mackintosh.
Here's the thing, though. Spayed/neutered cats are no longer so instinct-driven. Thus they are more apt to bond.
And that's what happened. Mama Kitty, who never cared or even seemed to notice when I took away her other kittens, bonded with Mackintosh. When I finally caught him and took him away for taming . . . she sat out in the middle of my yard and cried.
For days.
Oh, my word! It nearly broke my poor little kitty-loving heart! I had half a mind to turn the kitten loose again, I felt so bad. But I knew that wouldn't be best for him. He'd grow up as wild as his mother and never know the love of a home.
Mama Kitty found the window of the room where he was kept. She sat outside it at night and cried some more.
For days.
Yes, I felt like dirt.
So it was that, once all of her kittens had found their forever homes, I decided to set my sights on Mama Kitty herself and see what I could do.
The thing is, as I said above, Mama Kitty is feral. Not stray . . . feral. She still reacted to me the same way she had three years go--running the moment she saw me. From all the reading I had done, I was convinced it was pretty much impossible to tame an adult feral, so I knew it was probably a hopeless venture.
But I have a secret weapon: Chicken and Gravy Gerber Baby Food.
Yup. It is a magic charm. Cats will do anything for that stuff! I have used it to tame all of my feral kittens, transforming them from snarling little tigers into purring lap-babies within days. "What, you'll give me baby food if I sit in your lap? Okay!" And I figured the charm would probably work equally well with an adult.
That's how I started. I would put out little plates of the good stuff in the same place every day. She figured that out really fast! Then I'd start sitting in the yard when I put it out. That was a little more scary, but . . . okay. Then I moved closer. Then I moved closer still.
Then I was offering it on the end of my finger.
It took weeks and months even. But I am proud to say that, as of this evening, Mama Kitty let me pet her. And when I say, "pet her," I mean to say that she was rubbing all over my hand and arm, purring and making "happy feet" the whole while. I NEVER thought I'd live to see the day!
She's still not exactly what you'd call tame. I don't know if she'll ever be fully that. I don't know if it would be wise to try to bring her inside. But she has definitely learned what it means to receive love from a human.
Mama Kitty now lives in my yard, spending all of her time lounging in various sunny patches. If I go outside, she always seems happy to see me, and I bet she'll start approaching me for more petting now that she's discovered how nice it is. I suppose we'll just see where this goes . . . .
But seriously, isn't that great? Do celebrate with me, dear imps! I am so excited about this little triumph.
This is Mama KittyMama Kitty is a wily feral cat who has lived in my neighborhood since before I moved in. I glimpsed her for the first time passing through my back yard about a month after I'd married Rohan and taken up residence in Rooglewood. Any attempts to make friends were . . . I won't even say spurned. Spurned implies some form of acknowledgement.Mama Kitty did not acknowledge me in the slightest. She ran the moment she heard the door open.
She is a feral cat, you see. Which is not the same thing as a stray. A stray cat has had some measure of human interaction, and was likely abandoned by previous owners and thus obliged to take up life as a wild cat. But they aren't truly wild.
Feral cats, by contrast, were born in the wild, raised in the wild, and have never had any human contact. They're kind of like squirrels: cute and fluffy, but you'll never get anywhere near them. So I shrugged, figured it didn't much matter, and moved on with life.
Then Mama Kitty earned her name and brought her first litter of kittens to my yard.
I can't actually say for certain that they were her first litter. She may have had several before I came around. But it was the first litter of wild kittens I'd ever seen, and it broke my heart to watch all those sweet little fluffies out there on my lawn . . . slowly dying off as they succumbed to various diseases.
Something had to be done! So I rescued the last kitten of that litter--Mya is her name, and she lives with some dear friends of ours--and determined that I would catch Mama Kitty, have her spayed, and not let her keep producing more wild litters.
But Mama Kitty is a wily girl, as I said up above. I set so many traps for her, caught and fixed a variety of other cats, and even once found myself peering in through the bars at a rather baffled opossum. But I couldn't catch that fluffy gray girl. She eluded me.
And continued eluding me for several more litters.
Yes, Mama Kitty is the mother of Mya, Mousse, Midnight, Minko, Mithril, and Mackintosh . . . not all at once, mind! She kept having them--I'd catch them--she'd vanish, then show up again with more! It was very frustrating.
I'll forgive her, though, since she gave me several of my all-time favorite rescues, including these darling half-brothers!Her final litter included Mackintosh (renamed "Bertie"), who is the gray-and-white kitten pictured above. I caught his brother, Mithril, several weeks before I caught him. And in the meanwhile, I FINALLY managed to catch and spay Mama Kitty. After that, she had several weeks with just her and Mackintosh.Here's the thing, though. Spayed/neutered cats are no longer so instinct-driven. Thus they are more apt to bond.
And that's what happened. Mama Kitty, who never cared or even seemed to notice when I took away her other kittens, bonded with Mackintosh. When I finally caught him and took him away for taming . . . she sat out in the middle of my yard and cried.
For days.
Oh, my word! It nearly broke my poor little kitty-loving heart! I had half a mind to turn the kitten loose again, I felt so bad. But I knew that wouldn't be best for him. He'd grow up as wild as his mother and never know the love of a home.
Mama Kitty found the window of the room where he was kept. She sat outside it at night and cried some more.
For days.
Yes, I felt like dirt.
So it was that, once all of her kittens had found their forever homes, I decided to set my sights on Mama Kitty herself and see what I could do.
The thing is, as I said above, Mama Kitty is feral. Not stray . . . feral. She still reacted to me the same way she had three years go--running the moment she saw me. From all the reading I had done, I was convinced it was pretty much impossible to tame an adult feral, so I knew it was probably a hopeless venture.
But I have a secret weapon: Chicken and Gravy Gerber Baby Food.
Yup. It is a magic charm. Cats will do anything for that stuff! I have used it to tame all of my feral kittens, transforming them from snarling little tigers into purring lap-babies within days. "What, you'll give me baby food if I sit in your lap? Okay!" And I figured the charm would probably work equally well with an adult.
That's how I started. I would put out little plates of the good stuff in the same place every day. She figured that out really fast! Then I'd start sitting in the yard when I put it out. That was a little more scary, but . . . okay. Then I moved closer. Then I moved closer still.
Then I was offering it on the end of my finger.
It took weeks and months even. But I am proud to say that, as of this evening, Mama Kitty let me pet her. And when I say, "pet her," I mean to say that she was rubbing all over my hand and arm, purring and making "happy feet" the whole while. I NEVER thought I'd live to see the day!
She's still not exactly what you'd call tame. I don't know if she'll ever be fully that. I don't know if it would be wise to try to bring her inside. But she has definitely learned what it means to receive love from a human.
Mama Kitty now lives in my yard, spending all of her time lounging in various sunny patches. If I go outside, she always seems happy to see me, and I bet she'll start approaching me for more petting now that she's discovered how nice it is. I suppose we'll just see where this goes . . . .
But seriously, isn't that great? Do celebrate with me, dear imps! I am so excited about this little triumph.
October 2, 2013
Interview: Brandi Boddie, debut author!
It gives me great pleasure to introduce a new author to all of you today! Brandi Boddi has been a blogging friend for about a year now, and I have been eagerly watching the development of her debut novel! She had just sold it to Charisma House around the time I discovered her blog, and I had the fun of seeing it acquire its title--The Preacher's Wife--and its beautiful cover. Have a look!
Can this small-town girl trade her tarnished past for a respectable life?
During the hot, windy summer of 1870 in the burgeoning prairie town of Assurance, Kansas, Marissa Pierce is fed up with her abusive boss. She longs to start a new life and is growing weary of convincing townsfolk that she is most certainly not a prostitute.
Civil War veteran and preacher Rowe Winford arrives in town intent on leaving the tragic memories of his deceased family behind. Although Rowe has no plans to fall in love anytime soon, the plans of God rarely match those of man.
Face with adversity and rejection from the town and Rowe's family, can Marissa overcome her past, renew her faith, and experience the life of love that God has planned for her?
Here is a little about Brandi herself as well:
Brandi Boddie holds a juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law and a BA in political science from Youngstown State University. Her love of writing and research has led her to work that includes case management for the Office of the Attorney General in Washington DC and teaching assignments for elementary and secondary students. When she is not working on a story, Brandi enjoys hiking, fencing, and swing dancing. Soon to be a Texas resident, she lives with her husband and a cocker spaniel who aspires to be a food critic. Visit Brandi’s blog at http://brandiboddie.blogspot.com. Brandi is on tour to introduce The Preacher's Wife to the reading world at large, so be certain to check the end of this post for more fun stops along the way! In the meanwhile, I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her and learning about her story in this fun interview. Interview Would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?Brandi: Well, like most writers, I consider myself to be an introvert because I replenish my energy through solitary activities like reading and arts and crafts. However, I am a complete nerd girl when it comes to hobbies. I enjoy swing dancing and at some point I plan to take up fencing again. I love attending Renaissance Faires and sci-fi conventions. Don’t even get me started on how much fun steampunk is, lol. As for beverage of choice, definitely coffee.What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?Brandi: I remember making up stories featuring my favorite cartoon characters when I was child. Only back then, no one called it fanfiction. As I got older, I still made up stories, but I used “That must be our new preacher.” Linda Walsh, the town’s young seamstress, walked up beside Marissa. Always eager for conversation, Linda would speak to anyone who stopped to listen, as Marissa had learned since coming back to Assurance a couple years ago. “We weren’t expecting him foranother two weeks. I wonder what made him take off from home so fast.” Marissa groaned at the thought of meeting another preacher. Every preacher she came across had turned her away once they discovered her profession. She watched the small schooner pull up to the local inn. She recognized the driver Dusty Sterling seated beside the other man. Dusty hopped down and tethered the horses. The man in black stepped onto the dusty curb. His recently polished boots gleamed. “Fancy one, he is,” Linda continued. “I hear he comes from a city somewhere in Virginia.” “Where did you hear that?” “It was in the paper a month ago. Our advertisement for a new preacher was answered from a man back East.” Marissa focused again on what was in front of her. The traveler indeed looked foreign to the prairie. Not a hint of travel dust stuck to his long, black frock coat and four-inhand necktie, probably changed into just before departing the train. His gray pants were new and expertly tailored. Heremoved his hat briefly to wipe his brow, and Marissa saw the dark, wavy hair cropped close to his head. “He doesn’t have a wife or children with him. Such a shame.” Linda clucked her tongue. “He’s a handsome fellow, for certain.” Marissa agreed with her on that. He must have stood over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a powerful build. The man’s profile was strong and rigid, his square jaw and straight nose a true delight for the eyes. Assurance’s former preacher, Reverend Thomas, did not look like this. “Would having a wife and children make him a better preacher?” Linda tossed her a look. “That’s got nothing to do with it. One ought to be settled down at a certain age, wouldn’t you say so? Instead of running wild with the barmen?” Marissa absorbed the sting of emotional pain. Anything she said in response would not sway Linda or anyone else’s notion that she was just a beer-serving streetwalker. She put on a polite stoic face. “I’m sure the ladies of this town will clamor for his attention. Will you excuse me, Miss Linda? Ishould be going.” She left the seamstress just as Dusty carried the new preacher’s valises inside the inn. The preacher moved to follow then stopped short, pausing for Marissa to walk past. Marissa saw his blue eyes widen and take in her entire form, from the feathered hat on her head to the dainty-heeled boots on her feet. By his expression she didn’t know whether he admired or disapproved. His lips settled into a firm line of what looked to be distaste, and she got her answer. The preacher hadn’t been there for an hour and already she drew out his scorn. Marissa returned the stare until her image of him blurred with beckoning tears. He jolted from his perusal. His low, straight brows flicked. “Good day to you, ma’am.” He amiably tipped his hat to her. She paused, not used to being addressed in that fashion. Kindness was in his greeting, not the sarcasm she normallyheard from others. Marissa tilted her head to get a clear look at him. His eyes were friendly, calm deep pools. The rest of his face, with its strong, angular lines, remained cordial. “Good day,” she replied, hoarse. Awkwardness seized her person. Marissa hastily continued on her way to the bank. _________ Thank you, Brandi, for sharing with us about your story! I hope all of you readers are now eager to pick up a copy of The Preacher's Wife and discover what adventures are in store for Marissa and Rowe. And I'm sure all of you are as intrigue as I am about this mysterious upcoming steampunk novella . . . .Do enjoy following the rest Brandi Boddie's tour, dear readers, and be certain to congratulate her on her new release in the comments! And did you see that she's offering a sweet giveaway???
The Preacher's WifeBlog Tour Schedule
October 1 Brandi Boddie – Penning Praises: Inspirationalromance with brass and sass October 2 Anne Elisabeth Stengl – Tales of Goldstone Wood October 7 Between you, me, and the gatepost October 24 Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and More October 25 Just The Write Charisma
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f1a5510/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway
Can this small-town girl trade her tarnished past for a respectable life?During the hot, windy summer of 1870 in the burgeoning prairie town of Assurance, Kansas, Marissa Pierce is fed up with her abusive boss. She longs to start a new life and is growing weary of convincing townsfolk that she is most certainly not a prostitute.
Civil War veteran and preacher Rowe Winford arrives in town intent on leaving the tragic memories of his deceased family behind. Although Rowe has no plans to fall in love anytime soon, the plans of God rarely match those of man.
Face with adversity and rejection from the town and Rowe's family, can Marissa overcome her past, renew her faith, and experience the life of love that God has planned for her?
Here is a little about Brandi herself as well:
Brandi Boddie holds a juris doctorate from Howard University School of Law and a BA in political science from Youngstown State University. Her love of writing and research has led her to work that includes case management for the Office of the Attorney General in Washington DC and teaching assignments for elementary and secondary students. When she is not working on a story, Brandi enjoys hiking, fencing, and swing dancing. Soon to be a Texas resident, she lives with her husband and a cocker spaniel who aspires to be a food critic. Visit Brandi’s blog at http://brandiboddie.blogspot.com. Brandi is on tour to introduce The Preacher's Wife to the reading world at large, so be certain to check the end of this post for more fun stops along the way! In the meanwhile, I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her and learning about her story in this fun interview. Interview Would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?Brandi: Well, like most writers, I consider myself to be an introvert because I replenish my energy through solitary activities like reading and arts and crafts. However, I am a complete nerd girl when it comes to hobbies. I enjoy swing dancing and at some point I plan to take up fencing again. I love attending Renaissance Faires and sci-fi conventions. Don’t even get me started on how much fun steampunk is, lol. As for beverage of choice, definitely coffee.What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?Brandi: I remember making up stories featuring my favorite cartoon characters when I was child. Only back then, no one called it fanfiction. As I got older, I still made up stories, but I used “That must be our new preacher.” Linda Walsh, the town’s young seamstress, walked up beside Marissa. Always eager for conversation, Linda would speak to anyone who stopped to listen, as Marissa had learned since coming back to Assurance a couple years ago. “We weren’t expecting him foranother two weeks. I wonder what made him take off from home so fast.” Marissa groaned at the thought of meeting another preacher. Every preacher she came across had turned her away once they discovered her profession. She watched the small schooner pull up to the local inn. She recognized the driver Dusty Sterling seated beside the other man. Dusty hopped down and tethered the horses. The man in black stepped onto the dusty curb. His recently polished boots gleamed. “Fancy one, he is,” Linda continued. “I hear he comes from a city somewhere in Virginia.” “Where did you hear that?” “It was in the paper a month ago. Our advertisement for a new preacher was answered from a man back East.” Marissa focused again on what was in front of her. The traveler indeed looked foreign to the prairie. Not a hint of travel dust stuck to his long, black frock coat and four-inhand necktie, probably changed into just before departing the train. His gray pants were new and expertly tailored. Heremoved his hat briefly to wipe his brow, and Marissa saw the dark, wavy hair cropped close to his head. “He doesn’t have a wife or children with him. Such a shame.” Linda clucked her tongue. “He’s a handsome fellow, for certain.” Marissa agreed with her on that. He must have stood over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a powerful build. The man’s profile was strong and rigid, his square jaw and straight nose a true delight for the eyes. Assurance’s former preacher, Reverend Thomas, did not look like this. “Would having a wife and children make him a better preacher?” Linda tossed her a look. “That’s got nothing to do with it. One ought to be settled down at a certain age, wouldn’t you say so? Instead of running wild with the barmen?” Marissa absorbed the sting of emotional pain. Anything she said in response would not sway Linda or anyone else’s notion that she was just a beer-serving streetwalker. She put on a polite stoic face. “I’m sure the ladies of this town will clamor for his attention. Will you excuse me, Miss Linda? Ishould be going.” She left the seamstress just as Dusty carried the new preacher’s valises inside the inn. The preacher moved to follow then stopped short, pausing for Marissa to walk past. Marissa saw his blue eyes widen and take in her entire form, from the feathered hat on her head to the dainty-heeled boots on her feet. By his expression she didn’t know whether he admired or disapproved. His lips settled into a firm line of what looked to be distaste, and she got her answer. The preacher hadn’t been there for an hour and already she drew out his scorn. Marissa returned the stare until her image of him blurred with beckoning tears. He jolted from his perusal. His low, straight brows flicked. “Good day to you, ma’am.” He amiably tipped his hat to her. She paused, not used to being addressed in that fashion. Kindness was in his greeting, not the sarcasm she normallyheard from others. Marissa tilted her head to get a clear look at him. His eyes were friendly, calm deep pools. The rest of his face, with its strong, angular lines, remained cordial. “Good day,” she replied, hoarse. Awkwardness seized her person. Marissa hastily continued on her way to the bank. _________ Thank you, Brandi, for sharing with us about your story! I hope all of you readers are now eager to pick up a copy of The Preacher's Wife and discover what adventures are in store for Marissa and Rowe. And I'm sure all of you are as intrigue as I am about this mysterious upcoming steampunk novella . . . .Do enjoy following the rest Brandi Boddie's tour, dear readers, and be certain to congratulate her on her new release in the comments! And did you see that she's offering a sweet giveaway???
The Preacher's WifeBlog Tour Schedule
October 1 Brandi Boddie – Penning Praises: Inspirationalromance with brass and sass October 2 Anne Elisabeth Stengl – Tales of Goldstone Wood October 7 Between you, me, and the gatepost October 24 Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and More October 25 Just The Write Charisma
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f1a5510/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 1, 2013
Title Reveal for Jill Stengl's Upcoming Release!
Dear readers, I am so excited to present to you the title of my bestselling award-winning mother's upcoming new title. Are you ready for it?
This book is going to be Rooglewood Press's Spring 2014 release. And I, for one, can hardly wait! This is not only her first release in many years, but also her longest, most involved novel ever.
The cover reveal, as you see on the banner, is scheduled for November 27th. Are you a blogger? Would you be interested in taking part in the reveal, featuring the pretty new cover and back cover copy? Then please email me (aestengl@gmail.com), and I'll add you to the list!
Yes, there will be a fun giveaway. My mother is going to offer a lucky winner a bundled prize of several of her former titles, including one of her reader-favorite short novels, Time for a Miracle , and its two sequels, Myles from Anywhere and Lonely in Longtree . And that's just to name a few!
Do join in the fun of presenting Until That Distant Day to the reading public this November.
And in the meanwhile, be sure to check out her fun new blog, Books, Cats, and Whimsy .
This book is going to be Rooglewood Press's Spring 2014 release. And I, for one, can hardly wait! This is not only her first release in many years, but also her longest, most involved novel ever.The cover reveal, as you see on the banner, is scheduled for November 27th. Are you a blogger? Would you be interested in taking part in the reveal, featuring the pretty new cover and back cover copy? Then please email me (aestengl@gmail.com), and I'll add you to the list!
Yes, there will be a fun giveaway. My mother is going to offer a lucky winner a bundled prize of several of her former titles, including one of her reader-favorite short novels, Time for a Miracle , and its two sequels, Myles from Anywhere and Lonely in Longtree . And that's just to name a few!
Do join in the fun of presenting Until That Distant Day to the reading public this November.
And in the meanwhile, be sure to check out her fun new blog, Books, Cats, and Whimsy .
September 30, 2013
GODDESS TITHE Proof Copy Winners!
And the winners of the two offered proof copies of GODDESS TITHE are . . .
Mary G. Loki
and
Beth (Myra Beth)
Congratulations, ladies! I will be emailing both of you this morning to get your info, then I'll be packaging up your winnings.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this reveal and giveaway. That was a lot of fun and very exciting! I hope you are all eager to get your hands on copies of Goddess Tithe when it releases in November. Not too long now!
In the meanwhile, be sure to share the blog button and link to where folks can read the first chapter.
Happy reading, everyone!
http://goddesstithenovel.blogspot.com/p/read-chapter-1.html
Mary G. Loki
and
Beth (Myra Beth)
Congratulations, ladies! I will be emailing both of you this morning to get your info, then I'll be packaging up your winnings.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this reveal and giveaway. That was a lot of fun and very exciting! I hope you are all eager to get your hands on copies of Goddess Tithe when it releases in November. Not too long now!
In the meanwhile, be sure to share the blog button and link to where folks can read the first chapter.
Happy reading, everyone!
http://goddesstithenovel.blogspot.com/p/read-chapter-1.html
September 25, 2013
Indulgence
Want to know what my most recent indulgence/craving has been?
Lindt Caramel and Sea Salt Chocolates. And I am totally blaming my beautiful sister-in-law, Kristen, for this, since she turned me this direction back when she visited me in January! And now, thanks to her chocolaty influence, I am a lost cause.
It's such a perfect combination of flavors for me, because I'm not naturally a sweet-tooth. I prefer savories. But this chocolate . . . O! this beautiful chocolate has that delightful dash of sea salt that makes it utterly irresistible.
And Rohan bought me three bars of these for our anniversary. The decadence!!!!
Have you tried them? If not, why not? And don't try to tell me it's because you don't like chocolate. I flatly refuse to believe that I could possibly live in such a world where people don't like chocolate! (Unless you're . . . shudder . . . allergic? Or something? I might have to allow some grace for that.)
I think it's part of every good and healthy writer-life to have some sort of indulgence on hand for timely rewards. What are some of your favorite whilst-writing treats?
Lindt Caramel and Sea Salt Chocolates. And I am totally blaming my beautiful sister-in-law, Kristen, for this, since she turned me this direction back when she visited me in January! And now, thanks to her chocolaty influence, I am a lost cause.
It's such a perfect combination of flavors for me, because I'm not naturally a sweet-tooth. I prefer savories. But this chocolate . . . O! this beautiful chocolate has that delightful dash of sea salt that makes it utterly irresistible.
And Rohan bought me three bars of these for our anniversary. The decadence!!!!
Have you tried them? If not, why not? And don't try to tell me it's because you don't like chocolate. I flatly refuse to believe that I could possibly live in such a world where people don't like chocolate! (Unless you're . . . shudder . . . allergic? Or something? I might have to allow some grace for that.)I think it's part of every good and healthy writer-life to have some sort of indulgence on hand for timely rewards. What are some of your favorite whilst-writing treats?
September 23, 2013
Cover Reveal: GODDESS TITHE
Dear Imps, it gives me great pleasure to present to you the cover of Goddess Tithe, the first of what I hope will be many novellas set in the world of Goldstone Wood. Without further ado . . .
The Vengeful Goddess Demands Her Tithe
When a stowaway is discovered aboard the merchant ship Kulap Kanya, Munny, a cabin boy on his first voyage, knows what must be done. All stowaways are sacrificed to Risafeth, the evil goddess of the sea. Such is her right, and the Kulap Kanya's only hope to return safely home.Yet, to the horror of his crew, Captain Sunan vows to protect the stowaway, a foreigner in clown's garb. A curse falls upon the ship and all who sail with her, for Risafeth will stop at nothing to claim her tithe.Will Munny find the courage to trust his captain and to protect the strange clown who has become his friend? Coming November 12, 2013__________ So, what do you think? I am particularly excited to introduce this cover since it is the first one for which I have been directly involved in the design process. I came up with the composition, found the various reference photos, applied the text, etc. The actual artistic work, however, was done by talented cover artist Phatpuppy, whose work I have admired for many years. It was such a thrill for me to contact this artist to create a look for Goddess Tithe that is reminiscent of the original novels but has a style and drama all its own. The boy on the front was quite a find. I hunted high and low for an image of a boy the right age, the right look, with the right expression on his face. Phatpuppy and I worked with a different model through most of the cover development stage. But then I happened upon this image, and both she and I were delighted with his blend of youth, stubbornness, and strength of character! It wasn’t difficult to switch the original boy for this young man. He simply is Munny, and this cover is a perfect window into the world of my story. You can’t see it here, but the wrap-around back cover for the print copy contains some of the prettiest work . . . including quite a scary sea monster! Possibly my favorite detail is the inclusion of the ghostly white flowers framing the outer edge. These are an important symbol in the story itself, and when Phatpuppy sent me the first mock-up cover with these included, I nearly jumped out of my skin with excitement! ________ Many lovely bloggers are helping me to celebrate this cover reveal today. Do feel free to stop by any and all of their blogs to see their opinions on the cover, to read an excerpt from the story, and to see one of the full-page illustrations included in this story. Many thanks to all of the bloggers participating! Including: Anything Everything--Backing Books--Of Battles, Dragons, and Swords Adamant--Blooming with Books--Bluerose's Heart--Christian Bookshelf Reviews--A Christian Worldview of Fiction--Crafty Booksheeps--Darling Diaries--Emily Rachelle Writes--The Endless Road--An Ink-Made Maiden--J.L. Mbewe--Labor Not in Vain--Laurisa White Reyes--Living on Literary Lane--Notes by Oywen--Onto Her Bookshelf--Penning Praises--The Penslayer--Rebecca's Book Blog--Rina's Reading--Seasons of Humility--Scribbles and Ink Stains--Tea and Bree--Tell Me a Story, Raggedy Man--The Writer of Dream Things--A Writer's Ponderings--The Writer's Window--The Wondering's of One Person--Worthy 2 Read--Young Adult Book Reviews. Each of these bloggers keeps an entertaining blog, and I recommend you follow every one of them (if you don't already!). I'm also revealing the Goddess Tithe book page today (click HERE to see it!), and you can find a variety of tidbits about the story, not to mention the whole First Chapter! And I have a fun blog button for the bloggers among you:
http://goddesstithenovel.blogspot.com/p/read-chapter-1.html Do, please, share this with the link to Chapter 1 on your blogs! And now, the fun part of this reveal . . . I am offering two proof copies of Goddess Tithe in a giveaway! These copies are not final proofs, so there are little glitches in them. No major issues, however, and the story and illustrations are complete! If you would like a chance to win an advance copy of my upcoming novella, do enter your name below! (USA and Canada only.) http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd52416/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Vengeful Goddess Demands Her Tithe
When a stowaway is discovered aboard the merchant ship Kulap Kanya, Munny, a cabin boy on his first voyage, knows what must be done. All stowaways are sacrificed to Risafeth, the evil goddess of the sea. Such is her right, and the Kulap Kanya's only hope to return safely home.Yet, to the horror of his crew, Captain Sunan vows to protect the stowaway, a foreigner in clown's garb. A curse falls upon the ship and all who sail with her, for Risafeth will stop at nothing to claim her tithe.Will Munny find the courage to trust his captain and to protect the strange clown who has become his friend? Coming November 12, 2013__________ So, what do you think? I am particularly excited to introduce this cover since it is the first one for which I have been directly involved in the design process. I came up with the composition, found the various reference photos, applied the text, etc. The actual artistic work, however, was done by talented cover artist Phatpuppy, whose work I have admired for many years. It was such a thrill for me to contact this artist to create a look for Goddess Tithe that is reminiscent of the original novels but has a style and drama all its own. The boy on the front was quite a find. I hunted high and low for an image of a boy the right age, the right look, with the right expression on his face. Phatpuppy and I worked with a different model through most of the cover development stage. But then I happened upon this image, and both she and I were delighted with his blend of youth, stubbornness, and strength of character! It wasn’t difficult to switch the original boy for this young man. He simply is Munny, and this cover is a perfect window into the world of my story. You can’t see it here, but the wrap-around back cover for the print copy contains some of the prettiest work . . . including quite a scary sea monster! Possibly my favorite detail is the inclusion of the ghostly white flowers framing the outer edge. These are an important symbol in the story itself, and when Phatpuppy sent me the first mock-up cover with these included, I nearly jumped out of my skin with excitement! ________ Many lovely bloggers are helping me to celebrate this cover reveal today. Do feel free to stop by any and all of their blogs to see their opinions on the cover, to read an excerpt from the story, and to see one of the full-page illustrations included in this story. Many thanks to all of the bloggers participating! Including: Anything Everything--Backing Books--Of Battles, Dragons, and Swords Adamant--Blooming with Books--Bluerose's Heart--Christian Bookshelf Reviews--A Christian Worldview of Fiction--Crafty Booksheeps--Darling Diaries--Emily Rachelle Writes--The Endless Road--An Ink-Made Maiden--J.L. Mbewe--Labor Not in Vain--Laurisa White Reyes--Living on Literary Lane--Notes by Oywen--Onto Her Bookshelf--Penning Praises--The Penslayer--Rebecca's Book Blog--Rina's Reading--Seasons of Humility--Scribbles and Ink Stains--Tea and Bree--Tell Me a Story, Raggedy Man--The Writer of Dream Things--A Writer's Ponderings--The Writer's Window--The Wondering's of One Person--Worthy 2 Read--Young Adult Book Reviews. Each of these bloggers keeps an entertaining blog, and I recommend you follow every one of them (if you don't already!). I'm also revealing the Goddess Tithe book page today (click HERE to see it!), and you can find a variety of tidbits about the story, not to mention the whole First Chapter! And I have a fun blog button for the bloggers among you:
http://goddesstithenovel.blogspot.com/p/read-chapter-1.html Do, please, share this with the link to Chapter 1 on your blogs! And now, the fun part of this reveal . . . I am offering two proof copies of Goddess Tithe in a giveaway! These copies are not final proofs, so there are little glitches in them. No major issues, however, and the story and illustrations are complete! If you would like a chance to win an advance copy of my upcoming novella, do enter your name below! (USA and Canada only.) http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd52416/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveawaySeptember 20, 2013
Nobody Likes Me Syndrome
In a recent Friday Tidbit, I briefly mentioned a hallmark of Mary Sues which I called "Nobody Likes Me Syndrome." This is my own term for a phenomenon I have encountered so many times since I began editing that I finally could not ignore the pattern. So I've decided to present this subtle malady to the rest of you so that you can carefully avoid it!First, however, I want to talk about "The Outcast."
The Outcast is a popular character for many young writers, I believe because the feeling of "I don't belong" is such a universal, so easy to relate to. Even some of the most extroverted people I know suffer from feeling isolated and sympathize with The Outcast character just as much as any of us dyed-in-the-wool introverts.
The Outcast is a character who doesn't fit into her society. For whatever reason, she always says the wrong thing, doesn't quite understand her family/people-group, has tendency toward rebellion, etc. As the story progresses, we either discover that this inability to fit stems from a secret past or parentage (Eloise McGraw's The Moorchild comes to mind as a great example), or from a dark secret pertaining to the society itself (as in Lowis Lowry's The Giver ). In some more drastic cases, it's because the protagonist is disfigured, deformed, or so ugly as to cause fear in others ( The Witch's Boy by Michael Gruber, or my own Veiled Rose).
The Outcast is a particularly popular character in old fairy tales and, in more recent literary history, modern fantasies. Frodo Baggins is an outcast because of his "Tookish tendencies." Cinderella is an outcast because she's fallen from good to low society, and subsequently fits into neither. The Beast from Beauty and the Beast is a classic outcast, trapped in his curse . . . and Disney came up with an interesting foil for him in their Belle, whom they also made an outcast from her village due to her bookishness.
My point being, The Outcast is everywhere, is a fun theme in fiction, one I have used on many occasions and intend to use in the future. And so should you!
But "Nobody Likes Me Syndrome" is a different story altogether. So what is it exactly?
"Nobody Likes Me Syndrome" is the state of being in which a heroine--a lovely, likable, kind, sad, lonely, not-necessarily-but-often-very beautiful heroine--is hated by all of those around her. She is surrounded by monsters, who pick on her, abuse her, put upon her, slap her, attack her, look down upon her, gossip about her, spew vitriol at her . . . the whole works.
For no reason other than that she's the heroine.
Oh, the writer's invent reasons a little more specific. I've seen heroines hated because they are so beautiful. I've seen heroines hated because they are so ugly. I've seen heroines hated because they are orphaned, or because they are the only person able to see the evils of their society, or because they possess magical powers. The reasons are as varied as the writers inventing them. In fact, on the surface, these heroines look very much like the classic Outcast.
What's the difference then?
The difference is that a heroine suffering from Nobody Likes Me Syndrome exists in a world of horrid caricatures.
Every time I read a story (both published and unpublished alike) featuring Nobody Likes Me Syndrome, I get the impression that the author is somehow afraid that I, her reader, will be confused as to which characters are supposed to be good. So she makes all of the secondary characters so horrendously awful (i.e. shallow, cruel, worldly, bitter, brutal, envious, frustrated, avaricious etc.) that I cannot help but bond to the heroine instead.
Usually the basic premise of the Outcast Heroine is not at fault in these stories. We readers will always enjoy a good Outcast.
It's the extreme hatefulness of everyone else in the heroine's life that is the problem.
It's all too easy with Nobody Likes Me Syndrome to lose believability in your side characters. Because seriously, are all of these heroines going to live in worlds peopled with nothing but utterly hateful hags? Do none of these folks possess any good qualities? Particularly the Other Girls. They are often so horrid to our heroine, they border on insanity.
A hallmark of Nobody Likes Me Syndrome is the Other Girl. She is always set up in contrast with the heroine as being shallow, self-centered, often (but not always) extremely beautiful, utterly fixated on attracting all the hot guys, unintelligent, cruel, but oddly popular among her peers. She says nasty, cutting things to our heroine, and will even physically assault her given the least provocation.
She is a source of extreme aggravation to our heroine. And our heroine will spend much of her narrative thought time considering how much she despises the Other Girl. How much she wishes other people could see the truth about the Other Girl and realize what a monster she is (but the whole village remains remarkably dense on that score).
The result is the same: Not only do I end up disliking the Other Girl, but I also end up disliking our heroine . . . whose thought-life is so nasty and bitter toward those around her, and particularly toward the Other Girl, that I can't help but wondering if maybe she is outcast simply because she is so unbearably judgmental.
I have a theory about Nobody Likes Me Syndrome . . . and since this post is already so very long, I'll go ahead and share it, trusting that if you've read this far, you're still interested! Here's my theory:
Nobody Likes Me Syndrome crops up in manuscripts so often because we writers (tending to be the introverted/creative types) are often the Wallflower growing up. We are the girl who sits in the corner, watching the Attractive Girl command the crowd and catch the attention of young men. And she never bothers to acknowledge us.
And we think to ourselves, "Well, she is just shallow/worldly/fake/hateful. If they knew what she really was--and if they knew who I really am--things would be different!"
So, in our introverted creativity, we invent worlds for our heroines where our readers can be in no doubt who the true heroine is, revealing the evil of the Other Girls in grotesque extremes. And not just the Other Girls . . . the people who always seem to gravitate to the Other Girls as well. They are equally hateful.
But it's just another fantasy.
In real life, those people you see around you are . . . people. The Attractive Girl? She is probably riddled with self-doubt and anxiety, and she's quite possibly just as lonely as the Wallflower. Perhaps she doesn't talk to me because, well, I don't talk to her. She might even be intimidated by my standoffishness and think I don't like her or am judging her.
Which, truth be told, I am.
This is the reality of Nobody Likes Me Syndrome. When I read about these poor, put-upon heroines and the awful people surrounding them (particularly the horrendous Other Girls), I can't help but wonder, "How would this heroine appear from their perspectives? What would this story look like if the Other Girl was the star?"
So far when I've requested the folks for whom I've edited to revise Nobody Likes Me Syndrome into something more like, "Some people don't like me, some people do, but no matter what, I'm lonely and feel outcast," the stories strengthen tenfold. Even better have been those writers who've adjusted their story to, "Everybody likes me, but I still feel alone." How much more real is that?
And best of all is when those writers take the time to turn the hateful caricatures into real characters: People with likes, dislikes, interests, heartbreaks, sins, virtues, and (most importantly) motivations. It is amazing how much life the heroine herself will take on if she is playing opposite a fleshed-out cast!
Again, the issue here is not the Outcast. Do write your Outcasts, my dears! Write them, explore them, enjoy them, and watch them grow. Watch them find their places in the world, watch them build their own new families.
But don't force them to play opposite stereotypical Other Girls and other monsters various. Give them real people as their foils! Oh, they'll face true villains enough as the story progresses, but don't fill their worlds with nothing but villains. Consider what the story must look like from those side-characters' perspectives. Understand their reasons for misunderstanding our heroine! Give them the sympathy they deserve.
So what are your thoughts on Nobody Likes Me Syndrome? Have you read books that you liked or disliked that featured this storyline? What are some other differences between Nobody Likes Me Syndrome and The Outcast that you can see?
September 18, 2013
Three Years Today!
I would say that three years ago today was the best day of my life . . .
. . . but the fact is, every day with my sweet Rohan is better than the one before!
September 16, 2013
My Name and Its History
So, I have a confession to make.
Rohan has been telling me for years now that I need to write this post and let everyone know The Truth. But I've been putting it off. Partly because, well . . . I'm kind of shy. I'm also a little too empathetic for my own good, and every time I contemplate writing a post like this, I always think, "But what if other people feel bad as a result?"
So here's my apology in advance if any of you feel bad about the revelation I'm about to make. Because seriously, please don't! It's not your fault. I should have corrected you much sooner, and if it wasn't for that bizarre conflict of shyness/empathy in me, I would have.
Okay, here it is:
I go by Anne Elisabeth.
That's right. Not Anne. And not Annie! I was Annie for all my growing-up years, and my family and oldest friends still to this day call me Annie, despite my preference for a more grown-up title.
The thing is, Annie makes me think of little redheaded orphans belting out, "TOMORROW!" with great vim . . . which just isn't me.
And Anne, I'm afraid, makes me think . . . bland.
No offence to any Anne's out there, please! When the man who is now my husband took me out on our first non-date (it wasn't official . . . but it kind of was . . . you know how that goes), I explained to him why I choose to go by a mouthful honorific. Anne just always struck me as boring. When people called me "Anne," I felt like they were seeing me as an "Anne." Like they were seeing me as one-syllable, when I felt like I was many syllables!
Rohan listened with great sympathy, then went home from our date and did a little research. The next morning, he emailed me a list:
Queen Anne of Britain,
Anne of Green Gables,
Anne Frank
Anne Boleyn (yikes!)
Anne Sexton (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet)
Anne Sullivan (companion to Helen Keller)
Saint Anne
Anne Elliot (Persuasion)
And he said, "So really, you're in pretty good company!"
It was very sweet of him. Anne, as a name, has a rich and noble history.
But it's still not me.
Unlike the famous Anne of Green Gables, however, I did not ask anyone to call me Cordelia. You see, I really like the sound of my first and middle name together! "Anne Elisabeth" has an elegant cadence. And when I was in middle school I read a book (the name of which COMPLETELY escapes me, but it included a St. Bernard dog and a bunch of kids, so if you happen to know it, do tell!) in which one of the major characters went by Anne Elisabeth.
And I started to think: Why not me?
My first attempts at making the switch didn't go so well. My family and friends were utterly against the notion. But when I started my first job in high school, I decided to give Anne Elisabeth a test run.
Nope. None of my coworkers could be convinced to even try it. They immediately shortening me down to Anne. And I was too shy (do you notice a trend here?) to correct them. So I went from being just Annie, to being Annie at home and Anne at work. Neither of which was what I wanted!
But then came college. Against my family's protests, I determined once more to go by my full and chosen designation! I introduced myself to classmates and professors alike as "Anne Elisabeth," and if any of them shortened it to "Anne," I made a point to correct them.
Which went something like this . . . .
"Well, Anne--"
"It's Anne Elisabeth, actually."
"What, both names?"
"Yes."
"That's too long."
"It's my name."
"I can't call you that every time."
"Yes, you can."
*Considering pause*
"Well, AE . . ."
Yeah, that's right. I went from Annie, to Anne, to AE in quick succession. But there were a preciously-valued few who went the extra syllabic mile to call me the full Anne Elisabeth as I wished. And eventually, it did catch on.
The fact is, my husband calls me Anne Elisabeth (when he's not calling me Sweetieheartpiekins, that is). My best friend calls me Anne Elisabeth. My associates at work call me Anne Elisabeth. My own mother even gave in and calls me Anne Elisabeth (though my brothers and father still staunchly refuse).
And Minerva calls me "Wretched Anne Elisabeth," and not "Wretched Anne" you will notice.
One way or the other, Anne Elisabeth--with all its glorious mouthful of syllables--is just so much more me. But please, don't feel bad. If you've been calling me "Anne," and I haven't corrected you, how were you to know? You weren't, and I haven't been offended in the least. And I always figured, "Hey! As long as I know you mean me, is it really a big deal?"
But I guess it kind of is. And, at Rohan's urging, here I am making my public statement. My confession of The Truth as it were.
I am Anne Elisabeth . . . and I am proud of it!
Rohan has been telling me for years now that I need to write this post and let everyone know The Truth. But I've been putting it off. Partly because, well . . . I'm kind of shy. I'm also a little too empathetic for my own good, and every time I contemplate writing a post like this, I always think, "But what if other people feel bad as a result?"
So here's my apology in advance if any of you feel bad about the revelation I'm about to make. Because seriously, please don't! It's not your fault. I should have corrected you much sooner, and if it wasn't for that bizarre conflict of shyness/empathy in me, I would have.
Okay, here it is:
I go by Anne Elisabeth.
That's right. Not Anne. And not Annie! I was Annie for all my growing-up years, and my family and oldest friends still to this day call me Annie, despite my preference for a more grown-up title.
The thing is, Annie makes me think of little redheaded orphans belting out, "TOMORROW!" with great vim . . . which just isn't me.
And Anne, I'm afraid, makes me think . . . bland.
No offence to any Anne's out there, please! When the man who is now my husband took me out on our first non-date (it wasn't official . . . but it kind of was . . . you know how that goes), I explained to him why I choose to go by a mouthful honorific. Anne just always struck me as boring. When people called me "Anne," I felt like they were seeing me as an "Anne." Like they were seeing me as one-syllable, when I felt like I was many syllables!
Rohan listened with great sympathy, then went home from our date and did a little research. The next morning, he emailed me a list:
Queen Anne of Britain,
Anne of Green Gables,
Anne Frank
Anne Boleyn (yikes!)
Anne Sexton (Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet)
Anne Sullivan (companion to Helen Keller)
Saint Anne
Anne Elliot (Persuasion)
And he said, "So really, you're in pretty good company!"
It was very sweet of him. Anne, as a name, has a rich and noble history.
But it's still not me.
Unlike the famous Anne of Green Gables, however, I did not ask anyone to call me Cordelia. You see, I really like the sound of my first and middle name together! "Anne Elisabeth" has an elegant cadence. And when I was in middle school I read a book (the name of which COMPLETELY escapes me, but it included a St. Bernard dog and a bunch of kids, so if you happen to know it, do tell!) in which one of the major characters went by Anne Elisabeth.
And I started to think: Why not me?
My first attempts at making the switch didn't go so well. My family and friends were utterly against the notion. But when I started my first job in high school, I decided to give Anne Elisabeth a test run.
Nope. None of my coworkers could be convinced to even try it. They immediately shortening me down to Anne. And I was too shy (do you notice a trend here?) to correct them. So I went from being just Annie, to being Annie at home and Anne at work. Neither of which was what I wanted!
But then came college. Against my family's protests, I determined once more to go by my full and chosen designation! I introduced myself to classmates and professors alike as "Anne Elisabeth," and if any of them shortened it to "Anne," I made a point to correct them.
Which went something like this . . . .
"Well, Anne--"
"It's Anne Elisabeth, actually."
"What, both names?"
"Yes."
"That's too long."
"It's my name."
"I can't call you that every time."
"Yes, you can."
*Considering pause*
"Well, AE . . ."
Yeah, that's right. I went from Annie, to Anne, to AE in quick succession. But there were a preciously-valued few who went the extra syllabic mile to call me the full Anne Elisabeth as I wished. And eventually, it did catch on.
The fact is, my husband calls me Anne Elisabeth (when he's not calling me Sweetieheartpiekins, that is). My best friend calls me Anne Elisabeth. My associates at work call me Anne Elisabeth. My own mother even gave in and calls me Anne Elisabeth (though my brothers and father still staunchly refuse).
And Minerva calls me "Wretched Anne Elisabeth," and not "Wretched Anne" you will notice.
One way or the other, Anne Elisabeth--with all its glorious mouthful of syllables--is just so much more me. But please, don't feel bad. If you've been calling me "Anne," and I haven't corrected you, how were you to know? You weren't, and I haven't been offended in the least. And I always figured, "Hey! As long as I know you mean me, is it really a big deal?"
But I guess it kind of is. And, at Rohan's urging, here I am making my public statement. My confession of The Truth as it were.
I am Anne Elisabeth . . . and I am proud of it!
