Julia London's Blog, page 47

Everything In Its Time

The mine called to Cara from deep in the San Juan Mountains, near the town of Silverthread.    Surrounded by a murderous tapestry of lies, it had once been rich in ore, overflowing with wealth that could make a family's fortune—or destroy it.  But also in its labyrinthine tunnels lay the path to redemption and love, a magic that could draw a woman one hundred years into the past, into the arms of one who could make her life whole.

But crossing time was just the beginning.  To right wrongs already done, to paint a new future, one brighter and full of love, Cara would have to unravel the mine's mysteries.  She would have to depend upon the rugged man who emerged from its opening and trust his vow to keep her safe and cherish her forever.  Then, and only then, would she truly understand the danger—and the power—of the promise.

Winner of the Prism Award, the Promise is the third book in my newly re-released time travel trilogy.  I hope you enjoy reading Michael and Cara's story!  Buy it now from:  Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

And don't forget the other two titles in my trilogy:  Everything In Its Time on Kindle, Nook, Smashwords  and Wild Highland Rose on Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

 

And check out www.deedavis.com for reviews, excerpts and more.

 

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Guest Blogger: Ivy Adams

Give a whiny welcome to Ivy Adams, our pal and the author of the new young adult  novel, The International Kissing Club:

Piper, Cassidy, Mei and Izzy are the misfits of Paris, Texas.  For sixteen years, they've dreamed of escaping the stifling fishbowl of life in their small Texas town.  When Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank, she ends up kissing a pig in front of the entire town.  And when the video footage goes viral, the girls decide there's nowhere in America left to hide.  They grab their passports and sign up for an international exchange program in search of life, love and internet redemption.

To make their time in France, Australia and China (or at home, in Izzy's case) more interesting, the girls launch the IKC fan page where they record each kiss while abroad.  Lucky for them, amazing guys abound at every turn.  But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return the same person you were when you left.  Will the girls' relationships—and their friendships—be able to survive?

I was talking to my mother the other day about the selection of books at Target and Costo(she's a die-hard romance reader and has been since she had to cross into Canada from Detroit to get Harlequins) and she admitted to being really disappointed with what they carried.  Not necessarily with the books out right now at Barnes and Noble, but with the books that the discount retailers were choosing to pick up.  The selection is dwindling, in her opinion.

I, too, have noticed the shrinking shelf space allotted to books in recent months, especially in the women's fiction and romance genre.  While my Costco carries an abundance of bestsellers geared towards men, I only have a choice of two or three of my favorite authors.  "Why is that?" my mom asked.  To me, the answer is abundantly clear, but I've been wrong before, so I thought I'd ask all of you.

The answer, in my opinion, is e-readers.   A bunch of studies have been done in the last year or so on who the typical ebook reader is.  What the studies show is that she is an upper middle class woman between the ages of 30 and 50, who likes to read romance and women's fiction.

Now we all know that that demographic is changing—the Kindle Fire and iPad are changing it—but the fact of the matter is, the people who read electronically the most are women just like me.  And I'm guessing, if you're a regular at this blog, women like you as well.   So, what the writer in me would like to do today, is ask you how you all feel about e-readers?  Do you own one?  Do you use it regularly, if you do own one?  And if you don't, do you want to own one?  Or are you stuck on the feel of a book in your hands?

I have a Nook and I use it regularly, because it's easy and convenient and I can get a book at three in the morning when my insomnia strikes and Barnes and Noble is closed.  But at the same time, I admit that I still love to hold a book in my hands.  I love the smell of new books that overwhelms me whenever I walk into a Barnes and Noble and I love trolling up and down the aisles looking for a book that leaps off the shelf at me.  Just the other day, my author copies from my latest young adult contemporary release, The International Kissing Club, arrived and I squealed like a little girl when I opened it.  I took the books out, poured over every detail of them—including the hot pink foil lettering, the airplanes scooting between the sections and the yellow bellyband at the top of the binding.  No matter how convenient my Nook is, it can never give me that same feeling, that same excitement.

So while I understand that e-readers really are the future, I would be lying if I said I won't miss the print book.   How about you?  How do you like to read your books?  Leave a comment and be entered to win the daily prize and the weekly prize in our Around the World in 80 Kisses tour (listed at tracy-deebs.blogspot.com) and the grand prize of a Kindle Fire (to be announced on Valentine's Day), so you too can join the e-reader revolution . 

[From Julia:  Hey!  That's TWO Kindle Fires to be given away!  All you have to do is leave a comment and be entered to win one of TWO Kindle Fires.  Pop over to the address above and leave another comment to increase your chances].

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IN THE NEWS

One of the things I love best about my new smart phone is the USAToday app.  One touch and all the day's headlines are at my fingertips.  And best of all?  The app is FREE.  Yes, FREE!  So between that app and USWeekly Magazine, I'm all caught up on the news.  Here are the top stories I've been following the past few days:

1)  The cruise ship disaster off the coast of Italy.  This story is heartbreaking.  As of this writing, 11 people are dead and 22 still missing after the Costa Concordia capsized as the result of hitting a reef off the Tuscan coast.  The collision tore a 160 foot gash in the hull and in an act of cowardice that will go down in history, the captain abandoned his sinking ship (he's now claiming he TRIPPED and fell into the life boat! UNREAL!).  The situation remains grave as an environmental disaster looms on the horizon in the form of all the fuel onboard the ship–which is in danger of breaking apart thus dumping all that fuel into the sea.  Prayers to all those people and their families.  The worst vacation disaster I've ever suffered is lost luggage.  I'm counting my blessings.

2) Celebrity chef Paula Deen has announced she has Type 2 diabetes.  Ms. Deen was diagnosed in 2008 but has waited until now to announce that she has the disease, claiming she didn't know enough about it at the time of her diagnosis and wanted to wait until she was more informed before letting the public know.  Another celeb foodie, Anthony Bourdain has blasted the southern Queen of Butter and Sugar, saying she conveniently waited to announce her disease until she'd landed a paid spokesperson deal a diabetes medication.  I don't know–it seems to me someone as famous as Paula Deen could have landed a spokesperson gig right away (that is, in 2008).   Her cookbook has been voted "most unhealthy" for the last two years.  Seems the experts are right–all that butter and sugar isn't good for you ( BUMMER!).

3)  According to USWeekly, pop star Rhianna has been secretlyhooking up with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown for a year.  Yes–the Chris Brown who beat the living crap out of her, leaving her bloodied and bruised–photographic evidence of which was plastered all over the news when it occured 3 years ago next month.   I can only shake my head at this and feel pity for this girl.   Why would she have anything to do with the brute who beat her?  I'm not saying she shouldn't forgive him if it's in her heart to do so–but that doesn't mean she needs to give him another chance to kick her ass again.  

4) And to end on a happy note–it's Australian Open time!  Which means I can treat you with a photo of my favorite tennis player, Rafael Nadal.  Vamos, Rafa!

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Tennis,anyone?

What news stories have you been following?   What's going on in your neck of the woods? Have you ever tried any of Paula Deen's recipes?  Are you following the Australian Open?  (In case you're not a tennis fan, Rafael Nadal also models Armani underwear.   How lucky are we??!!)

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What do I do with this big, open space?

I love our new house, don't get me wrong, but there are things that builders are doing nowadays that either baffle me or are aesthetically pleasing and yet practically annoying. Eight foot ceilings fall into that latter category.

Have you ever tried to change a lightbulb while balancing on a flimsy Ikea bar stool? I have, and I'm not real keen on putting my life in danger for 60 watts. Risking your life should be reserved for saving your kids from flash flooding, raging infernos, evil extraterrestrials. Not light bulbs, and while I like the airiness of our house, I much preferred the sturdy feel of our kitchen chairs under my feet. At my old house, that was all that was required to change out a light bulb.

But the thing about our house that baffles me the most is the Bizzaro Big Open Space above the front door. As you can see from the picture, right now it has Christmas decorations. (Yes, I said right now; I've been on deadline, cut me some slack). In October, it was filled with spiderwebs and orange lights and giant fuzzy spiders. But I'm not inclined to fill it with hearts for Valentine's day, nor typewriters for Secretary's Day. I'd like to quit risking life and limb by climbing out there at all (trust me when I say it's not easily accessible).

But that leaves the question of What The Heck Do I Do With It?

And that's why I'm soliciting ideas. Help me out here, people? I'm the girl who needs a committee to choose a paint color for the living room. This is really NOT my strong suit. What can I put there, oh wise readers? I'm soliciting any and all ideas, no matter how bizarre.

And how about you? Do you have a spot in your house that calls for innovative decorating? What was it and what did you do?

PS: In honor of YOU, dear readers, because we love you and we haven't given anything away in the longest time, we're giving away a Kindle Fire (or the gift card equivalent, in the event you have or don't want a Kindle Fire) to one lucky commenter from now until February 13, when we will choose a winner at random from commenters, to be announced on Valentine's Day.

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Whiner (Weiner) of the Year!

And now what you have all been waiting for… our Whine Person of the Year 2011! But of course, we went for naughty over nice, due to popular demand. Presenting Whiner of the Year 2011, Anthony Weiner.

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The one on the right, being sworn into office with his wife at his side.

Or, as you might know him:

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Oh, sorry. You mean you don't want to see it? But he thought women loved penis pictures! What a surprise. In case you need reminding, you can revisit the unfolding of Rep. Weiner's scandal at Gawker. Typical politician, his first instinct was to deny, deny. "I've been hacked!" Yeah, right. The problem was that too many liberal bloggers were ready to believe it, that he was hacked, and started hurling accusations at GOP blogs. Right Wing conspiracy! Oh my.

But the thing that struck me was that while Weiner claimed to have been hacked, he never denied that the pictures (this one above is the least graphic) were indeed of Weiner's wiener. Hmm.

In my liberal house with my very left-leaning husband, this actually led to an argument, the husband in support of the hacking theory and my (silly me, falling for political tricks) continuing to voice suspicion as to why he would not deny the pictures were of him. He might have been hacked (might), but to me, this still made him a dog. A lowly junkyard dog. Did this mean he had penis pictures floating around? Why did he have penis pictures? And of course, we all know how this one turned out…

I was right (naturally). The man had penis pictures. Not only that, but he sent them to random women (porn star women, not his wife) via Twitter and then claimed that he had been hacked to cover it up… prompting a week long (give or take) discussion here at the Whine Sisters on the ridiculousness of men taking pictures of their penises and assuming women want to see them. HAHAHA. Whine Sisters conclusion: Men are stupid. Well, those men. Notably Anthony "Whiner of the Year" Weiner. Congratulations to former Rep. (and new dad to a baby girl) Anthony Weiner.

In honor of Whiner of the Year, we're having a contest! Well. Not really in honor of Whiner of the Year. We're done with him. In honor of YOU, dear readers, because we love you and we haven't given anything away in the longest time, we're giving away a Kindle Fire (or the gift card equivalent, in the event you have or don't want a Kindle Fire) to one lucky commenter from now until February 13, when we will choose a winner at random from commenters, to be announced on Valentine's Day. [image error]

So don't forget to come back to us day after day, maybe many times a day, and leave a comment.

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I'll get you started with a topic– did you watch the Golden Globes? I normally do a fashion report, but you can check out E! for the red carpet arrivals at The Golden Globes. I like Jessica Alba and Kate Beckinsale best, Amanda Peet and Busy Phillips worst, and then there's a whole lot of in between (like, Meryl Streep, what were you thinking?). Who is your best and worst dressed of the Golden Globes? And what do you think of our choice for Whiner of the Year 2011?

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Playoff Recap and Predictions, the Armchair Edition

Click here to view the embedded video.

I've spent most of the weekend watching football, because football is a sacred tradition in the O'Reilly household, only deigned more sacred when the weather is really, really cold and we get to have a fire in the fireplace, and honestly, it's too freaking cold to do much else other than huddle under the throw and watch big screen TV.

So, on Saturday was the Saints vs. the 49ers and the Broncos vs. the Patriots (yay, Sherri!).  I started watching the Saints and the 49ers, not even realizing that the 49ers were in the Playoffs.  The last time I kept track of the 49ers, it was Montana and Jerry Rice, and then they seemed to go downhill, oh, yeah, except for Steve Young, who was really good.  So the last time I kept track of the 49ers it was Steve Young and whoever the heck he threw to, and then they seemed to go downhill… and now they have this dude at QB, Alex Smith, which I don't think is much of a QB name.  It didn't have the pizazz of a "Drew Brees" for instance, which makes me think of fabric softeners.  So, I was expecting the Saints to gold-rush all over the 49ers, but the whole game was pretty much a yawner.  So I turned it off, and then later watched the news, and realized that it had turned into the Thrilla in San Franscilla.  Sigh.

However, the game I really wanted to watch was the Broncos and the Pats.  Mainly because I'd never watched this Teebow dude, and also because I usually hate the Patriots (because they're always really good and always beat my times, and after awhile you have to hate a team like that, much like many people used to hate the Cowboys when they were good, which isn't now).  In the beginning, I was really rooting for the Broncos.  I thought they were underdogs, I wanted Teebow to have another day of divine intervention, and yes, I'm sorry, Sherri, I really didn't want the Pats to win.  They've had their due.  Last time the Broncos were in the Super Bowl was…  heck, I don't remember, which tells you that either my memory is fading fast, or else it's been a really long time.  I'm standing with, 'it's been a really long time'.

So, the first quarter ended 14-0, Patriots, and I was PRIMED for a Teebow Jesus moment in the second quarter, but then halftime came and it was 35-7, Patriots, which still wasn't a huge deficit for any team with God on their side.  I sat on the edge of my recliner (not really, I was actually huddled under the throw, legs outstretched), and waited for the Hail Mary pass, (actually it would have to have been 4 Hail Mary's) but it never happened.  In the end, the score was 45-10, and I'm not sure about Tom Brady's faith, but maybe God plays for the team that is, you know, actually the *better* team.  That's what I'm thinking.  Anyway, I was pretty sad for Teebow, because he seems like a good kid who got thrown into the spotlight, and then God sort of threw him under a bus, (or maybe the Pats defensive line threw him under a bus, or maybe it just felt like he was thrown under a bus, I don't know, but the whole game looked very painful.

So, after a night of rest and recuperation, we settled in for today's games.  I watched a good bit of the Ravens vs. the Texans, which should be called the Colts vs. the Houston Oilers, because that's the proper name for that team from Houston.  It's like calling the Giants, the New York, New Yorkers.  Hello, redundancy, much?  And the Ravens?  Really?  Come on Baltimore, let's show a little more imagination.  So this was a game in which I did want the Oilers to win, mainly because they were the Texas team, but it was a total yawner, probably because the teams didn't think they should be named the Ravens or the Texans, either.  Not sure.  Anyway, the Ravens won, big whoop.

And last afternoon's game was the Giants. vs. The Pack.  This was a game I wanted to watch.  It was old-school.  Two well-established, equally matched team, and it turned out to be a contest of who can outshoot the other.  I was thinking the Pack might take this game.  The Giants have been sort of *meh* recently, and Aaron Rodgers is supposed to be one of the best QB's in the league these days, but wow.  Just wow.  He went 26 of 46, which is really a mundane sort of average, even if it is a gazillion times better than I can throw, but hey, if I was paid thirty million dollars, I'd have decent passing percentages, too.  And the Giants had this great HAIL MARY pass at the end of the first half, because I guess God had decided that he was betting on the Giants, and yes, it showed.  The Giants took charge in the end and took the game 37-20.

So next week, it'll be the Giants vs. the 49ers (minus Steve Young and Joe Montana) and the Pats vs. the Baltimore 'Not The Colts' Ravens.  I'm thinking the Giants are probably going to beat the 49ers, and the Pats are going to kick the Ravens all the way back to NeverMore, which means Giants and Pats in the Super Bowl, which means a total WhineSisters football smackdown.

Did anyone else watch football this weekend?  Can the Ravens win?  Why did they call a football team the Ravens?  Do you think the Texans is a stupid name for a Texas team?  Are you a cheesehead?  And who is going to be in the Super Bowl?  Who do you want to be in the Super Bowl? 

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Friday the 13th, NOT that I'm Superstitious…

Today is Friday the 13th, and as a rule, I'm not a believer in the woo-woo.  I don't think breaking a mirror is bad luck.  I don't think if I step on a crack I'll break my mother's back, and I have never thrown salt over my shoulder.  However, Friday the 13th makes me hinky.  On a good day, there are a lot of bad things that happen in my life.  Not hugely bad.  I've never sailed on a sinking ship.  Never had the air masks drop down on a plane, but it's the little things that really seem to pile up.  Yesterday, my to-do list was about twelve things.  By the end of the day, twelve had turned into twenty-four, the mySQL server on a website that I run was down (not my fault), and I was having a melt-down.

And it was only Thursday the 12th.  It's very difficult for an optimistic person like myself not to turn pessimistic.  On a side note, we bought "The Pessimist" cabernet last week and it was really good!  But back to the slog of life, I'm nervous about today.  I'm thinking, it CAN get worse than yesterday.   So maybe I'll be wearing my rabbit's foot, my imitation four-leaf-clover and maybe I won't be walking under any ladders today, either.

 

What about y'all?  Favorite Superstitions or good luck rituals?  Anybody nervous today?

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The Good News and Bad News about Spring Fashion

I was at the hair salon the other day, flipping through US Weekly, and I came to the Who Wears it Best? page.  The two actress both had on a dress that was bright orange on top and bright pink on the bottom.  Interesting, I thought.  And then I read that color-blocking is the hot new spring fashion.  I was a bit skeptical.  I got on line to check it out.  Yep.  The Good news is that spring fashion has been defined for us.  The bad news is, its color blocks.

I have nothing against bright colors, mind you.  I think they look great on women like these models.  But on women of a certain age, they can really wash one out.  Believe, me, I know. On other women, they look great.  Of the six of us, I think Jacquie could wear bright colors very well.  I would tell Kathleen O'Reilly, our resident Irish, to choose her colors carefully.  No mustard, Kathleen!

And then there is the whole issue of geometric shapes on certain bodies.  Sometimes, they can be flattering, like on these models.  The first one is flattering, as everything is elongating her.  But sometimes, the trend goes wrong, so very wrong.    I did a little more investigative research to prove my point.  See these great color blocks?  Well this is how they translate to clothes for us:

Okay, for starters, I think the bottom middle top was the same as a pajama top I had when I was ten.  But look at that one, and the one above it, and the strange blue and purple number.  Big blocks.  Or, as I see them, Enormous, Colorful, Horizontal Stripes.  So not only would I look washed out, I would also look wide.  So not happening.

I do like the pants and trench up top, and while I admire the dresses in the middle, I would never wear them.  But the tops?  No likey.

What do you think of this spring trend?  Are there colors you think should not be mixed?  Are there colors you can wear better than others?  How do you feel about giant swaths of color running horizontally across your body? 

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Our Latest Gadget

Actually, I should call this blog The DH's Latest Gadget–because I'm still having a grand old time playing with my new smart phone.  But last week the DH did some online shopping and Ta Dah!  We are now the proud owners of this thing:

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If you're scratching your head, wondering, "What the heck is that?" then your reaction is exactly what mine was when the UPS dude delivered it.  My DH told me it was a Nuwave Oven and that it was going to revolutionize the way the we cooked.

Oh, boy.

In case you can't tell, I was a wee bit skeptical.  The thing looks like a spaceship (although not as large, thank goodness)–but supposedly it cooks things better and faster because it uses a combination of infared, convection and conventional cooking.  Whatever.  I wasn't impressed.  It looked like one more kitchen thingy I'd never use.  But, in the spirit of being a good sport, I figured what the heck.  My sister-in-law has one and she loves it.  So we tried it.  First meal–a pork tenderloin roast with baby potatoes.  AND the pork roast was frozen.  Well, I have to admit, that Nuwave spaceship did a great job on the pork roast.  It was tender, juicy, and only took 40 minutes–from frozen.  And the potatoes were delish. 

Next we tried a chicken.  Now, I use the Barefoot Contessa's recipe for lemon roasted chicken and it is DIVINE (look it up on Foodnetwork.com).  I was very reluctant to give my uncooked chicken up to the Nuwave when I KNOW how fabulous it would come out in the regular oven.  But I went along for the Nuwave ride.  And I have to admit that not only did the chicken come out as good as it would have in the oven, it required about 25 minutes less cooking time!  All of a sudden I'm liking the Nuwave (needless to say the DH is rather smug, LOL!).

Last night we gave it the last acid test–salmon filets.  And I have to say, I think they were the best I've ever had.  Moist, tender–absolutely perfect.  Looks like the DH picked a winner.  And best of all–he LOVES to cook in it!  Yay for me!

Ever heard of the Nuwave oven?   What's your favorite kitchen gadget?  I've heard the Big Green Egg is awesome–anyone have one?  Any meal successes or disasters lately?  Any recs for a handheld mixer?  Mine is kaput and I need another one. 

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Characters I Would (And Wouldn't) Like to Be

Let's talk action-gals, shall we? Because there was a point in my life, when I thought that being Buffy or Sydney Bristow (Alias is my current pm comfort watch) would be so dang cool. I mean, they're smart (even though Buffy always says she isn't), they look great in all sorts of clothes, and they can kick serious butt.

Way more exciting than my life, right? I mean, I have never once had to construct a skirt out of dimestore wrapping paper or dye my hair in a grimey gas station restroom. And fighting vampires? (Or sleeping with vampires, for that matter?) Nope, hasn't happened.

I used to think it would be fun to be them. To be the action queen, secure in the knowledge that I could kick butt and still be around to wise-crack at the end of the day. Because, as the heroine of my own story, I'd never end up getting nailed. Somehow, I'd always come out of it okay. (Picture Sarah Michelle Gellar's enigmatic grin at the series finale of Buffy.)

But here's the trouble: My life can't handle any more excitement. Already my house is a three ring circus with the kids in the center ring, two destructo cats in the outer ring (we can't keep anything glass on the table or the breakfast bar without risking sliced up feet when it comes crashing down), and a flood of laundry and dishes over there under the big spotlight. And, yeah, the dishes are always in the spotlight. That's one of those circus acts that's incredibly enduring. I've got kids to schlep and a mom to help and bills to pay and carpets to vacuum and yards to mow and groceries to buy, and if that's not as challenging as breaking into the Kremlin I don't know what is. Especially during the holidays–trying to navigate the baking aisle requires a grappling hook and more endurance than I have. And don't even get me started about changing lightbulbs in the new house. Eight foot ceilings are nice and all that, but did they consider how to get to the fixtures when they built the place? Folks, balancing on a rickety Ikea barstool takes some serious skill.

Honestly, I don't know where Sydney finds the energy to put on all those funky outfits; I'm doing good just getting showered and dressed by noon.

Thank goodness I'm a writer. I can go off and fight demons, kill bad guys and save the world all from the comfort of my office while wearing my sweats and drinking my coffee. I figure that's a very good deal.

Who's your favorite action-oriented television or movie character? Do you ever wish you had their life?

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