Julia London's Blog, page 23
October 19, 2012
Weekend Reading: The Night Circus
To be honest, it took me a little while to get into The Night Circus. Worth it! I’m glad I didn’t give up. But it’s unusual, enchanting though it takes a little while to cast its spell. Romance readers looking for something a little different, but still a romance, might give The Night Circus a try. http://erinmorgenstern.com/
Have you read The Night Circus? What are you reading?
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October 18, 2012
Starting ‘em young …
Why, yes, the chemicals do smell icky ...
I got my first perm when I was 11. It was a traumatic experience, as my grandmother took me to her beauty parlor and the hairdresser pretty much fried my baby fine hair. I was left with a frizzy mess of dried, chemically burned hair that my mother cut off when I returned home at the end of the summer. (And then I had a short boy-style cut … still with burnt, frizzy ends. Sigh.)
After that, I didn’t do much with my hair. I’d perm it every once in a while in high school, but c.a.r.e.f.u.l.l.y! But other chemical stuff? That I didn’t do.
Until lawschool, when I decided to use one of those wash out purple colors for a party. Little did I know that on thin, fine hair, they don’t wash out so well. I went to conservative Baylor law the following Monday with bright purple hair … in the days before anyone went to school with bright purple hair.
Thus endeth my coloring experiments … at least until I hit my 40s.
Now, I’m a total convert. I love getting my hair colored. It’s fun; it’s like playing dress-up! And when my soon-to-be-eleven year old daughter asked for color for her birthday, her dad and I agreed.
So now my Catherine is a strawberry blonde! (I forgot to take an after picture … it was dark … but the pic above is her in the foils.)
And, of course, I discovered mani/pedis way late in life, too. My kids, however, have been going for years.
Yep, starting them young … and I have to say I love having girl time with my girls!
Do you have kids? What “grown up” stuff did they do at a younger than traditional age?
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October 17, 2012
Hard Irish
Hard hat in hand, Jared Weldon goes undercover, but the answers he finds at McKenna Construction leaves him drowning in passion — and hard up against a killer…
Book 3 of the Weldon Brothers Series. See also Wild Irish (Book 1) and Smooth Irish (Book 2)
Click to buy Hard Irish Kindle edition.
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It’s Magic by Jennifer St. Giles
Magical Moments. Laguna Beach CA.
No, no spells were cast or wands waved. Once upon a Time didn’t come to life. Harry Potter didn’t leap off the page. And Disney World didn’t become reality, but magic does happen if you let it. Every now and then the elements surrounding you and the state of your mind open a window for magic to enter your life. That moment in time when something touches your heart and spirit in a special way, be it a book, a song, a picture, a place, a person, a pet, or anything else imaginable. Do you know what I mean?
To introduce myself to the Whine Sisters and to readers, I’d thought I’d share a few magical moments in my life. Many times for me, I can point to a particular place that I visited, where the magic of the moment became an unforgettable experience. The first time I went walking in the early morning mists of the Shenandoah Valley I could feel the spirits of those who’d lived and walked the rustic trail hundreds of years before. The fresh dew glistened upon deep green leaves and the call of a crow echoed in the air.
Visiting Williamsburg and Jamestown, Virginia was the same way for me, too. The history, the atmosphere, and the experience all coalesced together to make it a place I will never forget. The footprints of brave men and women who forged a new world seemed to mark the cobblestones as I walked the streets, breathed the cool air, and read the headstones marking their graves.
As a reader, the moment I fell in love with romance through the words of Kathleen Woodiwiss’s The Wolf and the Dove– Aislinn of Darkenwald pain and confusion as she both hated and loved Wulfgar, the conquering Norman who may have won a battle but lost his heart to a Saxon maid.
As a writer, I’ve had a number of magical moments where for me the story came alive and the characters stole my heart. I’ll never forget writing The Mistress of Trevelyan, my first book to sell. I fell in love with gothics all over again as I delved Ann into the mists and murder mystery darkening the lives of those in within the brooding house on Trevelyan Hill.
In music, the raw passion of Music of the Night will forever reach into my soul. It is romance, seduction, love, hope, and redemption all within the words of a song.
But surpassing everything else ever are the first moments that I held each of my children as newborn babes. I will never forget the miracle of life and the precious gifts entrusted into my hands and heart.
Some magical moments are as simple as being the right place at the right time. My most recent experience occurred in Laguna Beach, California. Eating dinner, overlooking the ocean at sunset was just pure magic. There may be other places on earth where one can capture the sunset in a wine glass, but it was a first for me and magical.
If there is a magic potion for magical moments, it would be to keep an open heart, a positive mind, and allow yourself to relax and enjoy life.
So, today let’s give a toast to Magic!
Thank you for sharing in my moments. Will you share yours with me?
Jennifer St. Giles.
Remember every day to dream, believe, create, inspire, love, and heal.
And PS My latest book, Hard Irish written as Jennifer Saints has a few hot magical moments! LOL
Available Now!
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October 16, 2012
Solitary Confinement
Writing is a solitary thing. And I’m already a solitary person by nature. So when I became a writer, I developed a tendency to sit in my office and work, often not surfacing until evening when the rest of my family returned home.
When we moved to the city this tendency was exacerbated by the fact that in the city any and everything can be delivered. And with the internet usually ordered as well. All of which led to a doorman in my building once asking me how I’d enjoyed my trip as I walked out the door. Trouble was I hadn’t been away—I just hadn’t left the apartment in like a week.
Julia London, Joan Silvestro, Dee Davis - booksellers lunch
Of course I’m also online a lot. And I “see” my friends regularly through email, Facebook, twitter, and blogs like the Whine Sisters. In fact, the internet while amazing and can’t live without worthy, is partly to blame for my further isolation. And because I’ve always been pretty comfortable hanging with just me…I don’t really realize how much I miss actual face to face time with my friends until I’m forced away to a meeting or conference.
And then—sheer heaven. This weekend, I had the most marvelous time. First with my dear fellow whiners Kathleen O’Reilly, Julia London and Sherri Erwin. But also with so many other wonderful writer friends I’ve made over the years. Seeing each and every one of them was like a gift, and I felt myself relaxing and blossoming and reveling in just the wonderful nature of camaraderie. Kindred spirits.
Roni Denholtz at the book signing
So for those of you, who like me, tend to hole up in front of your computers writing, don’t forget to get out there occasionally—friends feed our souls. And lift our spirits and heck, I’m so lucky to have so many amazing people I can call friend.
How about you? Too much time in front of the computer on your own? Or are you a social butterfly how occasionally needs to force a little down time?
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October 15, 2012
Oh Hey, Monday!
Anyone else have trouble getting started this morning?
Coffee!
I spent the weekend catching up with friends in NJ.
Sherri, Julia, and Dee (Oct 2012 NJ)
Then I got to catch up with my daughter, who had a slight change in appearance.
Before
After
Her father is not too happy about it. My son got my Browning nose, but the daughter got the more adorable Erwin nose, so I think he took it extra hard. How could she do that to the Erwin nose! But I think it’s cute.
We got home in time to watch the Patriots lose to the Seahawks (yay for you Seahawks fans!).
This morning, I woke up late and mini-disasters ensued. I broke a drawer, lost some paperwork, and now I’m trying to blog and my internet keeps cutting out on me. It’s going to be one of those days!
Are you pierced or tattooed? Would you consider adding to them? How would you react if your adult kids came home with a new tattoo or piercing?
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October 12, 2012
Happy Friday- I’ve got nothing.
We’ve moved Happy What’re You Reading Wednesday to Friday. This is the first Friday. I was all excited thinking of all the books I was going to tell you about but… I’m empty. Stumped. Frazzled. Packing for a weekend conference in New Jersey. Well, I’m in New Jersey to check on my college kid, but while I’m there… I can’t resist a chance to catch up with all my friends, so we’re staying at the conference hotel.
Our own Dee Davis is up for a Golden Leaf award! Maybe new whiner Terri Brisbin is, too, I don’t know. But JULIA LONDON is flying in for the event (be still our hearts). And there’s a big booksigning on Saturday:
NJRW- Put Your Heart in a Book!
New Jersey Romance Writers is happy to once again be hosting a Literacy Book Fair and Author Signing at the conclusion of our Put Your Heart in a Book Conference. Open to the Public, the Book Fair will take place Saturday, October 13, 4:00-5:30 pm.
A portion of all proceeds from the Book Fair will be donated to Literacy Volunteers of America, New Jersey.
In addition to conference speakers, published authors who attend the conference are eligible to participate. Typically 50-70 authors sign during this event.
at The Woodbridge Hilton, 120 Wood Ave., Iselin, NJ 08830
So come see us! You can get signed books – signed books!- from Dee Davis, Julia London, Terri Brisbin, and more. And you might see me walking around buying books for a change instead of signing them. I’m a civilian this time. But if you see me and get excited and feel the need to cry and scream and make a fuss, go for it. I won’t mind. Happens all the time.
What are you reading?
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October 11, 2012
He’s No Angel
He’s No Angel is the first book in a new contemporary series with a light paranormal twist. The paranormal element revolves around a wanna-be angel who is trying to perform good deeds so he can get out of the prison-like limbo wherehe’s stuck and make his way to heaven. Only problem is all his do-good assignments concern helping couples on Earth find True Love, and our angel is NOT a romantic guy. After a bunch of failures, he has one last chance to earn his wings– or it’s off to Hell for him. Not good. And even worse? His couple on Earth are reallly not cooperating! The book will be coming out later this fall and is the first in my Heaven Can Wait series for the CRAVE paranormal line.
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My Current Top Five
Since it’s such a beautiful day here in Atlanta, I thought I’d “bring on the sunshine” and list the top five things currently making me happy.
#5– I just discovered that my favorite night-time tea–Sleepytime Herbal Tea by Celestial Seasonings–is now available in a K-cup for my Keurig!
#4– Halloween Peeps! I’m so glad Peeps aren’t just for Easter any more!
#3– A website I just discovered called House of Turquoise (www.HouseofTurquoise.com ) which features everything you can imagine in my favorite color! Let the shopping begin!
#2– I’ve advanced to the Championship round of my neighborhood’s annual pickleball tournament! (Wish me luck in this weekend’s championship match!)
and the #1 currently making me happy– the fall season for all my favorite tv shows has started. Welcome back Revenge, Big Bang Theory, Hawaii 5-0, and Castle!
What’s making you happy this week?
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He’s No Angel
He’s No Angel is the first book in a new contemporary series with a light paranormal twist. The paranormal element revolves around a wanna-be angel who is trying to perform good deeds so he can get out of the prison-like limbo wherehe’s stuck and make his way to heaven. Only problem is all his do-good assignments concern helping couples on Earth find True Love, and our angel is NOT a romantic guy. After a bunch of failures, he has one last chance to earn his wings– or it’s off to Hell for him. Not good. And even worse? His couple on Earth are reallly not cooperating! The book will be coming out later this fall and is the first in my Heaven Can Wait series for the CRAVE paranormal line.
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