Cait Miller's Blog: Sizzling Scribes Blog, page 5

Simplicity At Its Best

This past week, I was doing some clean-up in my kitchen. Of course the television was on (as it always is). I have it strategically set up so I can watch it while cooking, etc. I thought I’d find something to watch that would take an hour or so. Flipping through channels, nothing caught my attention until I came to Dances With Wolves. And to my glee, it had just started! Kitchen cleaning would have to wait. I took up residence in my comfy lazy-boy and gave myself the gift of the afternoon.Now, if any of you have ever read any of my interviews in the past, if asked I will ALWAYS state this movie is my all-time favorite. No other has ever captured my imagination and pulled at my emotions like this story. I’m a nut for anything historical and even crazier about real romance. I bet I’ve seen Dances With Wolves at least fifteen times. I even have the sound track, which I’m listening to as I write this blog.

Dances With Wolves is simplicity at its best.It is a sweeping epic western that defied all the odds. Who would have ever dreamed a two and a half hour movie with English subtitles could win numerous Oscars and Golden Globes? There were no pyrotechnics, but instead campfires. One could almost smell the charred wood and the wispy trails of smoke. There were no blue screens with hurricane force fans off to the side as an actor sat atop a fake horse, but actual riders on horseback racing hell-bent across a prairie. There was no computer animation where characters shot through the sky or where unearthly monsters leapt past the camera lens.

Yet there were times during this modern classic that I sat on the edge of my chair, my breath hitched in my throat. There were times I swiped at my tears and moments I chuckled to myself. And it was partly due to the beautiful, breathtaking windswept vistas of South Dakota and Wyoming. It was due to a perfectly told story, a statement of truth as to what happened during a period of US history, a journey on the screen that pulled at my heartstrings.Being a writer, to me the movie, Dances With Wolves, is a perfect example of how the most important thing is always the story, is always the emotional connection a viewer or reader has with the characters, and goes to show if a story captures your imagination then greatness is defined. And it can be done without all the modern day fanfare. It can be real and honest.

Yup, simplicity at it’s very best.Ruby

Super Bowl Sunday

The Super Bowl is one of the most watched sporting events in the United States. Fans root all season for their favorite team to land in one of the two coveted spots in the Super Bowl. Millions are spent on this one game. Fans pay big for a seat in the stands. Homebound fans throw big time parties celebrating the event. At some point, it doesn't matter who is playing. It's the simple fact it's a reason for sports fans to gather and party. Loads of beer is guzzled. Snacks are devoured. Dips and chips galore. Gotta love a great dip. :)
And Football pools are formed. Millions of dollars are bet on this one game alone. Even I threw in $20 and put my name in a box in the hopes of coming out a winner. Fingers crossed for my numbers to at least happen during a quarter. LOL!
But, I have to admit the main reason I watch the game at all...1) to spend time with the family but
2) to watch the commercials. The Super bowl has the best commercials of all time.
My favorites are the Budwieser commercials with the Clydesdales. Gotta love them big beautiful beasts. But there was one commercial that I'll never forget. It made me smile and even today, it still can bring a smile to my face when I remember it. Mean Joe Green, a little boy, a coke and dirty jersey. Everyone knows that one. Did you smile? I did just writing the words.
So to all the fans out there, I know there are others like me. What's your favorite reason to watch the Super Bowl? Do you have a favorite Super Bowl commercial?
The half time shows have gone too far overboard for me. It's the commercials that rule.
Tell me your favorites.
Tara Nina

Sometimes Bravery Comes in Small Packages.

My blog is late today (shocker, I know) but for once, it's for a very good reason. This morning I went with my 11 year old daughter to do the "Penguin Plunge" for Special Olympics.

Each year, on what has to be one of the coldest days in Connecticut, a group of INSANE people jump into a nearly frozen lake to raise money for Special Olympics. Now, my family has been involved in Special Olympics for 20 years, in my "other life" I'm a special education teacher (although, my students are "special" in other ways but that's a different story) and we have done a lot of work with our local Special Education organization.

I have never and will never jump into freezing water for them.

My youngest daughter has been begging me to do this for years. Her friends have done it and she couldn't understand why I wouldn't let her do it too. Never mind the fact that she just finished TWO AND HALF YEARS of chemotherapy in 2010, and that she was 9 year old when she first began the begging. Seriously, am I the meanest mom ever or what?

I finally relented, and she, along with 10 or so other elementary school children (and two insane adults) ran into a lake this morning. It was 17 degrees out. That's Fahrenheit folks, not Celsius. As we pulled into the park, there were people ICE FISHING on the lake where she was going to swim.

And swim she did. She and her friends not only went into the freezing water, they actually went all the way under. It was terrifying and amazing and very inspiring for me. She just had a lot of fun.

On the way home, she asked if she could do it again next year, even as she had her feet pressed against the heating vents and was wrapped in as many layers as I could put her in. As we drove along, she said to me, "If I can do that, I can do anything!"

I have not one single doubt it's true.  

Silver Screen

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Jack Reacher. I was aware of all the uproar over the casting of Tom Cruise in the main part but since I hadn’t read any of the books I didn’t have any particular feeling about it. I wanted to go to the cinema and the trailer looked entertaining. Ultimately I enjoyed the film although the female lead was so wooden she could have made a fine statue. Tom Cruise played the part well and I was left thinking “What an interesting character.” So much so, that when I got home that night I bought and downloaded the first Jack Reacher book. I am now on book seven and have bought all of the rest of the series. I would say that that was mission accomplished for the author, Lee Child. What more could he ask for? And a legion of fans scream out, “A more accurate portrayal of the character!”

Having now read half the series I can see why it would annoy fans as Tom Cruise is about as different from Jack Reacher as you can possibly get. However I find I am still not really bothered by this. Maybe it’s because I saw the film first and the character wasn’t really fixed in my imagination. There was no desecration of a story I knew and loved. There are many more films or TV series where I’ve read the book first and been horrified by the choice in actors or the cut and slash of stories I’ve loved into manageable plots for the screen. Very few have lived up to my expectations. Pride and Prejudice is one that springs to mind that did – the BBC TV adaptation that is, not that awful film. LOL. Perhaps the length available in a TV serial meant fewer cuts had to be made. The lower budget gave them a wider scope to look for people who actually fit the part instead of a big name to draw the viewers and pay the bills. Looking back I can say that the adaptations I have liked best have all been made for TV or straight to DVD movies.

As an author how would I handle seeing a five foot four inch (?) slim guy play my 6 foot five built like a tank hero? I think I’d be thrilled to be asked but it would hurt too. I’d need to know they weren’t going to destroy my story and don’t think I’d be able to watch it watch it myself. But, ultimately if it made even a quarter of those cinema-goers head home and buy my books then I’d be a very happy author indeed.

What are your favourite book adaptations and what is it that makes them live up to your expectation? Which books would you love to see on the silver screen?

Coming over to the dark side...

Okay, I have a confession to make. I've been an ebook-published author for over nine years and, until a few weeks ago, I only read ebooks on the computer. And very few of them at that.

Yes, it's true. I read paperbacks. It isn't that I have anything against ebooks, it's just the only way I had to read them was sitting here at my desktop computer...and this chair isn't really conducive to long hours spent reading. You can't curl up in it for one thing and you can't put your feet up (well, I can balance my heels on the speaker under the desk, but it wobbles and once I'm set, I can't move).

I've never liked any of the ereaders because they're proprietary and link me to one type of file. I can't buy something from Barnes and Noble and read it on my Kindle, I can't buy something from the IBookstore and read it on my Nook. So I just never made the leap, since I want to buy what I want to buy from the place I want to buy it from and read it on the device of my choosing. I'm fussy that way.

This Christmas, however, has been a game-changer. My husband bought me the Google Nexus 7 (the "7" refers to the screen size. It also comes smaller and larger, but mine is the size of a tradebook. Perfect!). It uses the Android operating system, so I can fill it with reading apps. The free Kindle app allows me to download ebooks from Amazon and read them easily. Same with the Nook app. Okay, so they're two different programs. I'm okay with that. It's all on the same device. My entire reading library on one small unit I can carry in my purse.

My ebook library is, however, pitifully small. I have books by my fellow-Scribes, the next book my book club is reading, and a few classics just because I like them (Edgar Allen Poe, anyone?). I need to fill it up.

So I'm on the dark side now...I'm an ebook reader. Give me suggestions! What books do I need on my shelves?

Diana

To Blog or Not To Blog

Blogging has been around for a lot of years. It's a great way for an author to keep his/her fans up-to-date on new releases, upcoming appearances, important information, or something fun the author wants to share. But while going over messages on one of my Yahoo groups this weekend, I read it described as "last decade".

So what's *this* decade? Social media. In this day of instant gratification in the form of Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets, maybe reading blogs has become too time-consuming for a reader. Same with emails. I used to get a lot of emails from readers. Now they post to my Facebook timeline or send a tweet.

I read very few blogs...not because I don't like them, but because I could easily spend all day reading them and social media instead of writing. I allow myself a set amount of time in the morning to read email, post to social media, and play a bit on Pinterest. If I didn't set a time limit for myself, I'd never get a book written.

What do you think? Do you still love to read blogs or do you prefer social media instead?

Lynn

P.S. Speaking of social media, here's where you can find me:
https://twitter.com/lynn_lafleur
https://www.facebook.com/lynn.lafleur

Some Things Just Go A Certain Way

I did it! I made it through another year. 2013 is right around the corner. This coming year I’m not making any new resolutions because I figured why set myself up to fail? I’m going to keep the mindset that if I’m very quiet about things needing to be done or changed, there may be a good possibility I can quietly sneak up on them and get them accomplished while not pre-jinxing myself.

Sounds a little adolescent but, hey, I’ll try anything once. I remember last year at this time—and on this very blog—proclaiming that 2012 was going to be the year of Ruby. HA! Things don’t always turn out like you’d like. Last January we made the decision to redo our old bathroom. It was nearing the end of its life. My shabby vanity had seen years of wear from either small children crawling up the side to reach the faucet, spilled nail polish, and the “oops, Ma, I just dropped a hammer on the tile.” It was getting really hard to think of all the cracks, dents, and gunk as simple character marks. Then my husband blew out his shoulder and ended up having surgery, so the project waited.

Then along April we once more put the remodel out on the table. Yup, things were really starting to deteriorate back there in the bathroom. We started to draw plans again…and then in the famous words of Emeril, BAM! I ended up with some medical issues and subsequent surgery the first week of June. So now we’re backed up until the end of August.

Along about September I’m really starting to worry about stepping into the tub only to end up crashing through to the basement. Tiles around the tub began to pop and water started going places it really shouldn’t. So the process proceeded and the money pit began to sap our strength. Because of one thing or the other, actual demolition didn’t start until towards the end of November. And then we discovered that ALL the plumbing had to be replaced, which was probably a smart thing to do. And since we’re anal about doing things ourselves we have now found ourselves on Christmas Eve morning without a second toilet and thirty-three people coming for dinner tomorrow.

But you know? I decided not to sweat it. It is what it is. My kids and grandchildren and family members are all going to be here healthy and happy. The food is going to be substantial and hot, and the drinks are going to be cold and tasty. So what if the house isn’t picture-perfect. The sheetrock dust is gone and the presents are all wrapped and under the tree. I just took out a pecan pie from the oven, the spaghetti sauce is bubbling and I’m off to make my one son his banana cream pie, the other, his chocolate. My brother-in-law’s cherry pie was baked earlier.

So there it is. I’m planning on a great day tomorrow and hoping for health and happiness in 2013. As far as ‘the year of Ruby’? Well, I’ll just take one day at a time. Merry Christmas to all of you and special wishes to 26 families in Connecticut. Keep them in your hearts.

Ruby

Tales of Christmas

So my trees are up inside and outside, I’ve dug out my Michael Bublé CD and I’ve finally started my present shopping. Yes, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. My mind is turning to traditions and family and the Christmas spirit is starting to spread. I find I’m enjoying the Christmas decorations and music that were just annoying in November. I want to bask in that warm festive glow. I want to read all the Christmas stories that are being released. I’ve pulled the ones I didn’t make it to last year to the top of my reading list. So many awesome Christmas tales to read and only a few short weeks to fit them all in, because after that window has passed they just don’t hold the same meaning. In fact after the last cracker has been pulled and the last firework faded from the New Year's sky we are all ready for Christmas to be over for another year.

So tell me, which are your favourite Christmas books? Which do you re-read over again? Which of the new releases are you looking forward to the most? Which of those stories should I make sure are at the top of the list this year?

Dog Lovers Unite

Dog Lovers Unite
There isn’t a day goes by that someone doesn’t post a picture of a pet on Facebook. It doesn’t even have to be their companion. It’s just a random picture they found and posted a funny quip with it to make the reader laugh. Most the time it’s pictures of cats. I’m not a big fan of cats. I’ve got my reasons. I had a cat named Fuzz, who was the best mouser on the planet and his weight proved it. What turned me away from cats as pets was this one vindictive little biotch. She belonged to my roommate at the time, many years ago. This little furry vixen hated me from the beginning.I think she was convinced it was my fault she went to the vet to get fixed, since I was the one who picked her up after the operation. She considered me to be the reason for her pain. Lovely. And that was the start of our love hate relationship.You’re going to love the rest of this story. It gets better, because I plan to share with you some of the hateful things she did to me during our time together.If I ever forgot to close my bedroom door, she would sneak into my room and jump onto my dresser. Not a problem. I didn’t mind she liked to be up on things. But when she decided to chew up all the gold bead necklaces I had hanging on a jewelry stand, I was ready to kill her. She looked at me as if “What? I thought you wanted the gold beads squashed flat.” I never left the bedroom door open again. Now I’m dating myself on this one J  Whenever I listened to records on the stereo, I had to make sure to close the lid. If I didn’t, she’d use it as an amusement ride. The little vixen would jump up and sit on the record as it went round and round, ruining it for any future use.  Then she’d give me a look like “I hated that song.”My curtains took a beating as her personal climbing toys. But the Christmas tree was her favorite. She treated it as her personal climbing tree. The first time she slithered up the artificial limbs, it fell over, breaking most of the ornaments while we were at work. Of course, most of the ornaments were mine so she got her vengeance. Instead of blowing my top, we tied the tree to the wall so it wouldn’t fall again. Big Mistake. This gave her the perfect launching station. Since it was situated at the front window and beside the front door, it was a great location for her to plan sneak attacks on whoever came through the door. Mostly just me. She acted like a princess when her mother was home. This little vixen would climb into the tree and wait for me to enter. The moment I closed the door behind me, she’d jump out of the tree and use me as a scratching post. Of course, this got her taken to the vet and her front claws removed. I wasn’t playing games anymore. But neither was she. The last straw came the day she figured out how to use her back claws to get me good. I used to do sit-ups in front of the TV everyday. (this is true I swear, not my reality now LOL). She planned her attack just right. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her sitting in the kitchen doorway ignoring me. At least that’s what I thought. The moment I lay flat, she sprang into action and hauled ass as fast as she could from the kitchen, straight across the living room and my stomach, making sure she dug those back claws in as she made her turn for the hall and her master’s bedroom.That ended her time with us. The gouges across my stomach didn’t need stitches but bled and were painful with every move I made. When my roommate got home, the cat was in a large cardboard box, which was taped shut. I had it addressed for Hell. Of course, I was nice enough to poke a few holes in it, but I really didn’t want too. My roommate got the message and took the cat to her grandparent’s farm where she is probably still tormenting the other cats to this day. Demon cats never die.
I solemnly swear that all of this did happen to me. As an author, the imagination sometimes takes over and embellishes events, but not in this case. This cat and I hated each other and that’s a fact. Please share your Love-Hate animal stories. I’d love to hear them so I know I’m not alone. I truly love my Dogs. They love me and have never tried to hurt me intentionally. We have the perfect relationship. I feed them. They give me kisses. I throw the ball. They bring it back. Try that with a cat. It’ll look at you like “What? You think I’m going to get that? Really?”Dog lovers unite. Flood Facebook with dog loving pictures. A big thanks to Diana Hunter for stepping into my blog spot several weeks ago. As many of you know, the northeast took a double hit. My heart goes out to all who suffered as a result of Hurricane Sandy and the Nor’easter that followed. It is times like these that make us realize the power of Mother Nature and that we are helpless at her hands when she is suffering a severe bout of PMS. We were lucky and only lost power. Others lost everything.  To donate or help in the relief efforts contact:NJ Food Bank @ http://www.njfoodbank.org/blog/news/5367/hurricane-sandy-reliefSalvation Army @ http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_nj.nsfRed Cross @ www.redcross.org/Donation Humane Society@ http://www.humanesociety.org/about/state/new_jersey/

Go-To Authors

I love to read. It's right up there at the top of my list of favorite things to do. I was a reader long before I ever wrote the first word for my own books.

Along the way, I've discovered some wonderful authors, and some not-so-wonderful authors. We all have different reading tastes. You might hate an author I love, and vice versa. That's okay. There are plenty of wonderful books out there for all of us to enjoy.

I'm so lucky to be involved with the Sizzling Scribes. I truly love all their books. I know if I read a book by Arianna or Cait or Diana or Ruby or Tara or Tielle, it will be wonderful. I'll get lost in their worlds and characters and forget everything around me for a few hours of absolute bliss. When I'm ready to start a new book, I'll search for one of theirs first.

So now I'm in a quandary. I only have a few Scribes books left that I haven't read. Then what? Eek! Who do I read next?

I doubt if I'm different from most readers who have favorite authors, ones they go to when they want a really good book to read. Other than my Scribes sisters (who all need to write faster so I don't run out of their books to read), I'll turn to Nora Roberts, the Queen of Romance. I haven't read a book by her yet that I didn't enjoy.

Next on my go-to list is Jill Shalvis. I love Jill's humor, her hunky heroes, and her down-to-earth (and sometimes klutzy) heroines.

I also enjoy:
P.J. Alderman
Toni Blake/Lacey Alexander
Sandra Brown
Jaci Burton
Flo Fitzpatrick
Cindy Gerard
Angela Knight
Titania Ladley
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Jayne Rylon
Nikki Soarde
J.R. Ward
Caitlyn Willows
And so many others, I can't list all of them.

How about you? Who are your go-to authors? Share with me. I love discovering new authors to read!

Lynn

P.S. Perfect Pleasure is only 99¢ through November 30th at Smashwords with coupon code EV62A. That's a $2.00 savings!