Julia London's Blog, page 34

A Case of Forgotten Identity and Other Odd Oddities

Kid found in Germany

Forest Boy

A kid showed up in Germany last year, claiming to have lived in the woods with his father for five years, and having conveniently forgotten everything else.   He’d be eighteen now, which is no longer a kid, and all I can think of is those men who lead dual lives.  So, in my head, (because I write fiction for a living), he got a girl pregnant, and is running away, because he’s not ready to get married (and he told her that he loved her).  I feel sorry for the girl.  I think she needs someone to tell her story.

One of the comments in the story led to the name Frederic Bourdin, who I had never heard of, but started reading about him here. People are so odd.  What makes a person completely lose who they are and impersonate someone else?  I remember a Law & Order episode like this one.

What was wrong with Prometheus

I saw Prometheus this weekend.  Oh, oh, oh, it could have been such a great movie, but it was the character/motivation thing that truly fell flat.  If you write an emotionless android, he must stay an emotionless android.  He cannot become vengeful and vindictive.  And Noomie Rapace as scientist Elizabeth Shaw is no Sigourney Weaver as Ripley!

Et tu, Ridley Scott?

All that said, it was a beautifully shot movie, and very suspenseful.  If the characters had stayed true to themselves (or been better drawn), it would have been superb.

Color-code your emails and texts by the emotion they are likely to incite from you

This is a little scary.  Think about it.  If software can decide, “this is a mean message,” then I want software to grade my emails and texts and let me know if this is a “mean message,” and if it is a “mean message,” I want software to tell me how to turn it into a “nice message.”  And if it can tell me how to write a “nice message,” I want it to answer all my emails!  Hehehe…

Joan Rivers is President of her condo board

I have no words, but I would not like to interview for this building.

So that is my collection of items for the day.  Would you ever want to become someone else?  Have you seen Prometheus?  I’m looking forward to Brave.  Hopefully it will be good.  Would you like someone to write all your emails for you?  And are you brave enough to face Joan Rivers in a condo board interview?  Happy Hump Day!  It’s gray and rainy here.

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The Blank Slate. Some Might Call it a Void

I am sitting here trying to think of something fun and engaging to blog about. Should I talk about how crazy the Real Housewives of Any City are? Nah. Should I discuss how HGTV and one small renovation can make a person a little crazy and cash poor? You guys probably could guess that. It occurs to me that the weightiest things on my mind these days are not very weighty. That’s a good thing. For me. Not for a blog .

So here are a few things I am looking forward to that ought to bring some thoughts back into my head:

1. The Olympics. I am totally psyched for them. The only problem is that I thought they were in June, but they are in July and August, which is cruel if you ask me. I love the summer games. My favorite used to be gymnastics, swimming and diving, but I am looking forward to all the running this time, as I understand a little better what it takes to run 3.1 miles in 12 minutes as they did recently at the Olympic trials.

2. Typing The End of The Desperate Debutante so I can move on to new projects. I am like this with every book. I get tired of them having spent months with them, especially when they won’t wrap themselves up neatly and require me to work. Argh.

3. Travel. It’s getting super hot in Texas (as opposed to hot) and I can’t wait to blow this pop stand for some cooler climes. Starting with a trip to Oklahoma, which will not be cooler, but my dad turned 80 and we are going to celebrate by watching Fox News, turning in at 9, and having some birthday cake.

4. The new brave digital world in publishing. Doors are opening for authors that were not open before, and all of us here are sticking various parts of our feet in. Some toes, some whole feet. The cool thing about it is that we can direct our writing and publishing like never before. The scary thing about it is that it feels like the sink or swim aspect just got a little deeper. Don your floaties, everyone!

5. The end of my renovations. I have finished the kitchen and living area. I am waiting on new furniture to arrive, my new door to be put in, and now…the update of my master bath and master closet. What can I say? You know, as long as they are here, right? .  But living in a mess is no fun. 

What things are you looking forward to?

 

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Magic, Cats, and saving furry friends

Years ago, when I was writing my very first single title romance, THE CAT’S FANCY, we lived in a neighborhood with approximately eight billion feral cats. My husband and I took it upon ourselves to trap as many as we could and take them to a nearby vet who had agreed to spay and neuter the animals in the hopes of reducing the feral colony. When that wasn’t feasible (as in, momma kitty was already pregnant) we went out of our way to find homes. (And, yeah, we ended up with a lot of cats ourselves. My precious Tiger, who I bottle fed, was the offspring of Preggers, a feral female that we were unable to catch until after two litters. So were Tiger’s half (or maybe full) siblings, Squeaky, Scratchy and Two and Three (the latter of which were adopted by my mom after much cajoling on my part).

The book centers around a cat, Maggie, who is in love with her master and, through magic, is given the chance to win him. It’s been praised for, among other things, its fun portrayal of the human Maggie’s cat-like qualities. Considering how many cats I was around at the time I wrote the book, I guess it’s not surprising that some of those qualities sunk in!

I like to think that we saved a good number of cats that would have otherwise starved or been picked up by animal control or gone on to lead very unpleasant kitty lives. But the little dent we made is nothing compared to what a really fabulous organization called Austin Pets Alive! has accomplished. You can read all about APA! at their website, but here’s just a snippet of the organization’s philosophy and mission:

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), founded in 1997, is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to stopping the killing of Austin’s adoptable dogs and cats.

Today, we are a grassroots group of volunteers, led by Emancipet founder, Dr. Ellen Jefferson, who want to see the end of the killing of the homeless pets in Austin, Central Texas, and the entire country. APA is leading the charge towards No Kill by energizing the public and breaking down myths about sheltered pets. APA believes that actions speak louder than words and is backing up the No Kill rhetoric with lifesaving programs designed to save the animals most likely to die at kill shelters.

I discovered Austin Pets Alive! one Saturday when I was walking South Congress in Austin and fell in love with a puppy who was in need of fostering or a permanent home. I wanted him. The girls wanted him. Don could’ve been convinced. But with allergies and cats, it wasn’t to be. But I took literature, interacted with the pets and volunteers, and was incredibly impressed with the organization. I wanted to do something to help, and more than just spreading the word.

So, for the month of June and July, I’m donating 50% of my proceeds from the Kindle and Nook sales of THE CAT’S FANCY. At today’s price, that means that for every book bought, over $1 is going to help APA help a furry friend.

My request of you is to help spread the word (buying a book would be great too!). I’d like to raise as much money as possible for these animals, and I really appreciate the help!

How can you spread the word? If you have a blog, please mention the event. If you Tweet, give a shootout! Ditto Facebook or Tumbler or Pinterest or any other social media!

And thanks so much for your support.

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The Demon You Know

When daughter Allie finds herself knee-deep in demons, Demon Hunter Kate Connor must come to the rescue in this first short story featuring not only Kate, but fourteen year old Allie, too! (This story was originally published in Those Who Hunt Monsters, published by Edge Books in 2011)

Nook

Kindle

Coming soon to other retailers

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Mad Men and Peggy and, yeah, a few spoilers.

I’ve mentioned before how much I love Mad Men, and I apologize right now, because if you haven’t seen the last two weeks’ episodes, I’m about to mention some Big Plot Stuff, so if you care about spoilers, we must say adieu before you see too much (sniff sniff).

But the thing is, I want to know the thoughts of folks out there who do follow the show. The season finale is this Sunday, and I have a THEORY. I’m laying it out there, folks, and I want to see if anyone agrees with me, or if anyone has a theory of their own.

My theory: Don is going to approach Peggy in the finale and ask her to return to SCDP as a partner.

Why? Because when she left two episodes ago, it was clear that Don wanted her back (duh). Also, in Shut the Door, Have a Seat (the season 3 finale that is, imho, one of the best hours of television ever) he told her he that if she didn’t work for him he’d spend the rest of his life trying to hire her. And, because I think the show is as much about Peggy as it is about Don, so she can’t really be gone.

Okay, fine, but why next episode? Why not next season? Well, they might let it drag over the break, but Mad Men likes to jump time during the break, and so they (thankfully) wrap things up at seasons’ end more than most shows. So that’s one reason. But the primary reason is Lane. Lane killed himself as a direct result of a) what he did, and b) that Don didn’t offer him a way out, instead forcing him to resign. For the record, I don’t think Don did anything to feel guilty for (it’s perfectly reasonable to demand a letter of resignation from someone who embezzles and he couldn’t have foreseen suicide), but it’s human nature that he would feel guilty. That he would look back at his relationship with the people he works with and examine his relationship with them. And because of that, I think he would land at Peggy.

So my prediction is that he’ll approach her. That he’ll have another heart to heart with her and ask her to come back as a partner.

I’ll go even further and say that I think she’ll accept, but that one might be left hanging so that we don’t know she accepted until next season.

So, that’s my prediction. What’s yours?

And now I’m off to see the first matinee of Madagascar 3…because its just that kind of day!

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Zombie Apocalypse, Revisited

The headlines in the past two weeks have had people concerned. Well, okay, not most people, but the niche crowd of sci-fi/fantasy fans who follow shows like Game of Thrones and Walking Dead, aka “My People.”

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I’m not really cool enough to hang with that crowd, but somehow having written two monster mash-up books involving blood, guts, zombies, and slaying has gained me admission. Suddenly, I have street cred with the apocalypse crowd. Yay me!

So the recent headlines, involving one man eating another man’s face, and another guy shipping body parts across the country, and yet a third man, a cage fighter, going a little ragey and ripping out the heart of an opponent have caused a stir, and people who consider such things in the first place are suddenly saying “The zombie apocalypse is coming! Maybe it’s really real!” And they only seem to be half joking.

What’s causing the stir? Apparently, bath salts. Yes, bath salts. But not the bath salts that come to mind for most of us. Months ago, the news started warning parents that kids were getting high on bath salts and we all said “What? Some stupid kids will do anything to get high!” And the media, enjoying the opportunity to get us all worked up once again, left it at that.

We all thought there was going to be a potential rush on Bath and Body Works. Oh no, bath salts! Now I won’t be able to buy my favorite body products without going through a security check. [image error]

But the fact is that the “Bath Salts” that some people use to get high are not actual bath products at all, but a designer drug known colloquially as “bath salts.” Don’t lock up your body scrub. No one is looking to snort your Mr. Bubble. There is no zombie apocalypse. People getting high on “bath salts” apparently suffer major hallucinations and mental problems and that accounts for some of the recent news reports. [image error]

Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief. But I started watching The Walking Dead, in case I can learn something. And I have to say that I am enjoying the ride, letting the story unfold, and trying not to ask too many questions– but I am fairly stumped if I stop to think about it. How is humanity so quickly overpowered by brain-dead, slow-moving, decaying creatures?[image error]

It had to have happened quickly, because it mostly all unfolded from minor situation to major apocalyptic crisis while our lead character Rick was in a coma. It’s never explained how long Rick was in a coma, but it couldn’t have been long because a) he wakes without medical care, yet he hasn’t starved to death or seemingly suffered any unfortunate and icky bed-soiling issues and b) he can walk after a few stumbling steps.

We’re talking a matter of weeks, tops, before zombies outnumber humans by 5 to 1. Even outnumbered and in need of occasional rest and refueling, I can’t see live, able humans letting the walking dead get that much of a jump on us. How could it happen? In epic proportions? They don’t have functional brains!

And as the series unfolds, it all seems even more implausible. But no spoilers. Still, fun show: yes. Zombie Apocalypse: never going to happen. And if I’m wrong, you can remind me later and we’ll all have a good laugh as we’re banding together to try to stay alive.

Did you know that “bath salts” were not really bath salts? Have the recent news reports of cannibalism and mutilation frightened you? Do you have a survival plan for the zombie apocalypse? Do you believe in zombies as a potential threat? Are you a fan of the Walking Dead?

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Strawberry Shortcake

 

Continuing on my recipe theme, and in concert with the fact that summer is here, I’m going to share a new recipe for strawberry shortcake that I tried, with great success, last weekend.

 

 

 

Strawberry Shortcake (from Sarabeth Levine)

1 ½ cups all purpose flour

½ cup sugar, divided

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp orange zest

5 tbs unsalted butter, chilled, cut into ½ in pieces

¾ cup heavy cream

1 tbs softened butter

1 tbs sugar

2 pints strawberries, sliced

½ tsp vanilla extract

Whipped cream

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Stir flour, ¼ cup sugar, and baking powder together.  Cut in zest and butter with a pastry cutter.  Stir in the cream.  Knead dough.  Roll out to ¾ inch thickness. Cut 8 cakes using 2 ¼ inch biscuit cutter.  Place on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper.  Cover tops with the softened butter and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake 18-20 minutes.  Cool.   Meanwhile, mix strawberries with ¼ sugar and the vanilla.   Let them rest for at least an hour (so flavors can blend).  To serve, slice cake in two, cover the bottom half with whipped cream and berry mixture, then top with second half of cake.

[image error]These were so amazingly good.  Particularly the little “cakes”  which resemble scones in texture.  Truly the perfect ending for a summer meal.

What’s your favorite summertime dessert?

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The hell-cyon days of May…

In song and poems, May is a month of celebration, and dance.  A time for merry-making and celebrating something that probably had to do with agriculture, but I don’t remember.  And yet, in modern times, May is still a month of celebration, and dance  and HELL!  Seriously, who decided to put everything into May?  For the record, I have two children.  They are not children that participate in five thousand things; I am a selfish Mommy and don’t want to do that.  However, in the month of May, we have been to EIGHT concerts.  EIGHT.  And that’s just instrumental concerts.  We’ve had the senior concert, the combined concert, the district-wide combined concert.  We’ve had recitals from music instructors.  We’ve had recitals given by our postal carrier (just kidding, but honestly, it feels like it!).  We’ve had concerts for legislators (and you wonder why government never gets anything done?  It’s because they’re listening to music all day).

All this song has got me POOPED!  Every year, I think it will be June that is the bad month.  That’s the ending month for us Yanks in NY. But it’s never June.  June is a breeze compared to May.  I’m thinking that back in the day, after the farmers had planted their crops, and all the community members sang and danced and prayed, I’m thinking those farmers just went out to their fields, laid down, and pretty much didn’t get up until harvest.  I understand that.  If I had a field (which I would have, except that I was too busy to plant my garden in May this year), I think I would collapse, too.

I’m sorry.  I just needed to vent.

In other news, did anybody else watch The Hatfields and the McCoys?  I watched Part III on Saturday, and really loved the whole thing.  The acting was top notch (especially the dude who plays Bad Frank).  I hope we see more of these longer, more epic style productions.  I could really dig some serious story-telling instead of cat-fights, and comic one-liners.

Anybody else?  How is your Tuesday today?  Are you still pooped, laying (lying?) in the fields, watching the transit of Venus?  Any great TV shows that you’re looking forward to in the summer season?

 

 

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Touch Me

Pleasing a man is something former mistress Genevieve Ralston does very well. But after her lover callously dumps her, she’s definitely off men…until she meets Simon! He’s brooding. Sexy. And she can’t keep her hands off him…

But Simon Cooperstone, Viscount Kilburn, is a spy. His mission: retrieve a mysterious letter in Genevieve’s possession. Intent on seducing her secrets from her, he forgets to guard one thing: his heart.

Each stroke of Genevieve’s talented fingers unleashes his deepest desires. Too late, he realizes that while he may be a master of the art of seduction, he’s no match for a sensual mistress…

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MY FAVORITE THINGS, Part 3

This week’s Favorite Things blog is about places.  I’ve visited some really great places over the years–and loads of others are on my Bucket List.  In fact, a majority of the items on my Bucket List are places I want to go, things I want to see.   Yet while many places have been great, there are three that rise above the rest.  And they are:

#3 England.  I’ve visited this wonderful country several times, although not recently, and I look forward to returning someday–hopefully in the summer because we’d like to see a Wimbledon match.  I love the history and the tea shops and the book stores and the museums and Harrods and Mayfair and…well, just all of it.  I love that the Tube makes it so easy to get around–and the fact that everyone speaks English–and with that fab accent!  I imagine myself being transported back to Jane Austen’s time.  It’s the country where I’ve set all my historical books and it holds a special place in my heart.

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London Bridge

#2 Venice.  Actually, all of Italy, but this city in particular, with it’s winding canals and fabulous food and history.  It oozes romance and mystery and a charm that exists no where else.  There is no other city in the world like it.

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Gondola ride in Venice

And my #1 favorite place is:  Bermuda.  The DH and I have visited this British island numerous times and we love it.  The beaches are gorgeous, the shopping and food terrific, the boating unsurpassed, and we love getting around town on a moped.   We’re not planning to visit Bermuda this year but hopefully we’ll get back there next year.

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Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

What are your favorite places?  What places are on your Bucket List to visit?  Hope you have a great week!

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