Penelope Crowe's Blog, page 10
December 15, 2011
Welcome to the Holiday Hop!
Happy Holidays everyone, and welcome to the Holiday Hop!
During this magical time of year it is lovely to visit with dear ones, and make some new friends along the way. :) After your visit here, make sure you click the HOP BUTTON---------------------------------> and stop by and see other author's blogs for wonderful holiday prizes, fun contests, and of course some good reading.
I have two simple contests. Please answer questions in comments below:
1. If Santa had a back-up reindeer in case one needed a break, what would he or she be named, and-
2. If you could write the next Christmas or holiday classic, what would be the title, and briefly, what would it be about?
One winner will get a $25 Amazon card and the other a $25 Barnes and Nobel card. You can enter either contest or both! These two winners will then be put in a grand prize drawing for a KINDLE FIRE!
If you would like a copy of one of my books, 100 Unfortunate Days, the very dark memoir, The Moon is No Place for a Ghost, fun kid's book or short bloody story Absorbed, please tell me what title you prefer in the comments.
Have a delightful holiday and Happy Hopping!!
During this magical time of year it is lovely to visit with dear ones, and make some new friends along the way. :) After your visit here, make sure you click the HOP BUTTON---------------------------------> and stop by and see other author's blogs for wonderful holiday prizes, fun contests, and of course some good reading.
I have two simple contests. Please answer questions in comments below:
1. If Santa had a back-up reindeer in case one needed a break, what would he or she be named, and-
2. If you could write the next Christmas or holiday classic, what would be the title, and briefly, what would it be about?
One winner will get a $25 Amazon card and the other a $25 Barnes and Nobel card. You can enter either contest or both! These two winners will then be put in a grand prize drawing for a KINDLE FIRE!
If you would like a copy of one of my books, 100 Unfortunate Days, the very dark memoir, The Moon is No Place for a Ghost, fun kid's book or short bloody story Absorbed, please tell me what title you prefer in the comments.
Have a delightful holiday and Happy Hopping!!
December 14, 2011
Welcome Welcome Yvonne Hertzberger!
Please welcome Yvonne Hertberger to As the Crowe Flies!
Please tell me about your book."Through Kestrel's Eyes" is the second installment in my Fantasy trilogy "Earth's Pendulum". The underlying theme for the series deals with the interdependence of ourselves with our environment. But this 'old world' tale has lots of action, with traitors, battles and romance and characters you will love.
"Through Kestrel's Eyes" is written from the point of view of Liannis, a young seer just coming into her full abilities as the servant of the goddess Earth. She must battle self-doubt, great loss and the lure of forbidden love as faces test after test in her quest to help bring back the Balance. Failure means that Earth cannot provide good harvests, health and prosperity. The people will starve if the Balance is not restored and Earth's wounds healed. Time is short.
When and why did you start writing?I began writing in earnest five years ago when, after a couple of short stories. I had retired from 'paid' employment and now had the time to devote to writing. When I wrote the first pages of "Back From Chaos" I found I had a longer tale demanding to be told and have not looked back since.
What inspires you?I have always been a people watcher, or rather a 'student of human behaviour'. J Figuring out what motivates people in relationships and what makes societies work has always fascinated me. The result is that my writing is strongly character based and I use my characters to explore the issues that interest me, such as gender, power and spirituality.
Are you working on anything now?The first few chapters of "The Dreamt Child", the final book in the trilogy are written. I hope to have it available this time next year. But that means I better get my butt in gear. J
Is there anything you do NOT like about being a writer?I find marketing and promotion very challenging. I came into the internet age late and am still learning all the time. It is definitely not my forte and stresses me out.
What do you think of the ebook revolution?I still love the feel of a 'real' book but I also see the value of e-readers. As we become more mobile, as homes become smaller without the space for many books, as paper books become too expensive for many, Ebooks provide a viable alternative for those who still like to read. Given the choice between not reading or reading ebooks there is no contest.
How do you see your writing career in five years?I truly hope that in five years time my writing will gain enough exposure that I will gain respectability as an author, that my name will no longer be obscure and unknown. I do not expect to be famous, or even to make a living from writing, only to have a small following who like what I write.
Is there anything you will NOT write about?I will not write pornography, anything that abases a specific group or even individual without also including healing, or anything that will incite hatred or prejudice. My aim is to challenge thinking for the good, never to leave the reader in a dark place without hope.
In what genre do you prefer to write? To read?The answer to both would be Epic Fantasy. I have no desire to write non-fiction though I might write fiction other than Fantasy some day. My favourite author is Robin Hobb. I do occasionally read mystery or thrillers or sometimes an acclaimed best seller.
Please tell us about any ups and downs in your writing career so far.The hardest part, at first, was deciding to self-publish. iUniverse (called assisted self-publishing) published the first version of "Back From Chaos", a good learning experience but very costly. I will never get that investment back. But the process prepared me for putting the revised version and "Through Kestrel's Eyes" up myself on both Kindle and Createspace so I do not begrudge it, now. The lows for me are the times I stress about the things I needed to learn to get to that place.
The highs come when the writing takes on a life of its own and flows well. Then I feel great and believe that I am, indeed, a writer.
Do you have any suggestions to people who might be considering writing as a career?Read, read, read. Write, write write. Listen to feedback but stay true to your own voice. Know the rules and break them only when you know you can do so effectively. Don't expect to get rich.
Anything else you want to add?I have made many friends and received a great deal of support from other writers since joining on-line groups. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have offered support and information, and to Orangeberry for the opportunity to share with you all.
Twitter: @YHERTZBEWebsite/blog: http://yvonnehertzberger.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/yvonne.hertzbergerFan page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/EarthsPendulum.YvonneHertzberger.authorBooks available in paper and on kindle at amazon.com
Please tell me about your book."Through Kestrel's Eyes" is the second installment in my Fantasy trilogy "Earth's Pendulum". The underlying theme for the series deals with the interdependence of ourselves with our environment. But this 'old world' tale has lots of action, with traitors, battles and romance and characters you will love.
"Through Kestrel's Eyes" is written from the point of view of Liannis, a young seer just coming into her full abilities as the servant of the goddess Earth. She must battle self-doubt, great loss and the lure of forbidden love as faces test after test in her quest to help bring back the Balance. Failure means that Earth cannot provide good harvests, health and prosperity. The people will starve if the Balance is not restored and Earth's wounds healed. Time is short.
When and why did you start writing?I began writing in earnest five years ago when, after a couple of short stories. I had retired from 'paid' employment and now had the time to devote to writing. When I wrote the first pages of "Back From Chaos" I found I had a longer tale demanding to be told and have not looked back since.
What inspires you?I have always been a people watcher, or rather a 'student of human behaviour'. J Figuring out what motivates people in relationships and what makes societies work has always fascinated me. The result is that my writing is strongly character based and I use my characters to explore the issues that interest me, such as gender, power and spirituality.
Are you working on anything now?The first few chapters of "The Dreamt Child", the final book in the trilogy are written. I hope to have it available this time next year. But that means I better get my butt in gear. J
Is there anything you do NOT like about being a writer?I find marketing and promotion very challenging. I came into the internet age late and am still learning all the time. It is definitely not my forte and stresses me out.
What do you think of the ebook revolution?I still love the feel of a 'real' book but I also see the value of e-readers. As we become more mobile, as homes become smaller without the space for many books, as paper books become too expensive for many, Ebooks provide a viable alternative for those who still like to read. Given the choice between not reading or reading ebooks there is no contest.
How do you see your writing career in five years?I truly hope that in five years time my writing will gain enough exposure that I will gain respectability as an author, that my name will no longer be obscure and unknown. I do not expect to be famous, or even to make a living from writing, only to have a small following who like what I write.
Is there anything you will NOT write about?I will not write pornography, anything that abases a specific group or even individual without also including healing, or anything that will incite hatred or prejudice. My aim is to challenge thinking for the good, never to leave the reader in a dark place without hope.
In what genre do you prefer to write? To read?The answer to both would be Epic Fantasy. I have no desire to write non-fiction though I might write fiction other than Fantasy some day. My favourite author is Robin Hobb. I do occasionally read mystery or thrillers or sometimes an acclaimed best seller.
Please tell us about any ups and downs in your writing career so far.The hardest part, at first, was deciding to self-publish. iUniverse (called assisted self-publishing) published the first version of "Back From Chaos", a good learning experience but very costly. I will never get that investment back. But the process prepared me for putting the revised version and "Through Kestrel's Eyes" up myself on both Kindle and Createspace so I do not begrudge it, now. The lows for me are the times I stress about the things I needed to learn to get to that place.
The highs come when the writing takes on a life of its own and flows well. Then I feel great and believe that I am, indeed, a writer.
Do you have any suggestions to people who might be considering writing as a career?Read, read, read. Write, write write. Listen to feedback but stay true to your own voice. Know the rules and break them only when you know you can do so effectively. Don't expect to get rich.
Anything else you want to add?I have made many friends and received a great deal of support from other writers since joining on-line groups. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have offered support and information, and to Orangeberry for the opportunity to share with you all.
Twitter: @YHERTZBEWebsite/blog: http://yvonnehertzberger.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/yvonne.hertzbergerFan page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/EarthsPendulum.YvonneHertzberger.authorBooks available in paper and on kindle at amazon.com
December 13, 2011
Ho, ho ho!!!! It's Amost Time for the Holiday Hop!
Happy Holdiays everyone, and welcome to the most wonderful time of the year!
On December 15th the Holiday Hop begins :) There will be lovely things to read, authors to meet, and prizes to win, including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire.
The directions are simple. Starting in two days, you will be able to connect to the Holiday Hop from the activated Holiday Hop button--------------------------->
There you will meet other authors, enter contests, and try to win fun holiday prizes.
I will be offering a $25 gift certificate from Amazon, a $25 gift certificate from Barnes and Nobel, copies of my books, and a few fun surprises.
So put on your warmest scarf and hop on over for some holiday fun!
On December 15th the Holiday Hop begins :) There will be lovely things to read, authors to meet, and prizes to win, including the grand prize, a Kindle Fire.
The directions are simple. Starting in two days, you will be able to connect to the Holiday Hop from the activated Holiday Hop button--------------------------->
There you will meet other authors, enter contests, and try to win fun holiday prizes.
I will be offering a $25 gift certificate from Amazon, a $25 gift certificate from Barnes and Nobel, copies of my books, and a few fun surprises.
So put on your warmest scarf and hop on over for some holiday fun!
December 11, 2011
Making Up for Lost Time
In 2002 I was bitten by a tick. I was misdiagnosed for several months, being told I had everything from hepatitis to a spider bite. By the time I was told I had Lyme disease, it was systemic and well on it's way to being chronic.
After spending a good part of the next eight years lying on the couch, I found a protocol that has helped. I am up and about, and I have the energy to finally write again.
As I was getting better, I realized that I felt waaaayyy behind. iPhone? What the hell is that? Laptop? Sure--I've seen people use them. New friends? Ummmm...not so much. I had so much to catch up on! I felt like Rip Van Winkle, or that I was waking up after being sealed in a time capsule, and I could not do things fast enough. Texting, apps, iPads, Bluetooth in cars, trips, plays, you name it...I was a kid in a candy store and life was fascinating.
But I could not and cannot shake the feeling that I missed out on so much. I've had to say no to vacations, parties, lunches with friends, work, and most regrettably, playing with my son.
So if my house is a little messy, dinner is late, nobody picks up my phone, you see me building snowmen on my front lawn with my son when I should be at a town meeting, or you see me having an ice cream soda for breakfast, just know I am making up for some lost time, and I feel better. :)
Please read about the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease below:
http://arthritis.webmd.com/tc/lyme-disease-symptoms
After spending a good part of the next eight years lying on the couch, I found a protocol that has helped. I am up and about, and I have the energy to finally write again.
As I was getting better, I realized that I felt waaaayyy behind. iPhone? What the hell is that? Laptop? Sure--I've seen people use them. New friends? Ummmm...not so much. I had so much to catch up on! I felt like Rip Van Winkle, or that I was waking up after being sealed in a time capsule, and I could not do things fast enough. Texting, apps, iPads, Bluetooth in cars, trips, plays, you name it...I was a kid in a candy store and life was fascinating.
But I could not and cannot shake the feeling that I missed out on so much. I've had to say no to vacations, parties, lunches with friends, work, and most regrettably, playing with my son.
So if my house is a little messy, dinner is late, nobody picks up my phone, you see me building snowmen on my front lawn with my son when I should be at a town meeting, or you see me having an ice cream soda for breakfast, just know I am making up for some lost time, and I feel better. :)
Please read about the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease below:
http://arthritis.webmd.com/tc/lyme-disease-symptoms
December 9, 2011
Welcome Mary Pat Hyland!
I am very pleased to welcome Mary Pat Hyland to As the Crowe Flies. Mary is the author of the very popular book The Terminal Diner. Read all about it!
"Men like pie." Who would know the truth behind those words better than
Elaina Brady's mother Maria? Months after she showed her teenage daughter
how to bake perfect pie and hours after offering that culinary wisdom,
Maria abandons Elaina, her sister Dee Dee and their father Walt. All it
took was a lingering, lusty look from a Missoula trucker who stopped by
their family's diner and ordered a slice of lemon meringue. Maria hitches
a ride west with him, and with that impulsive decision, sixteen-year-old
Elaina loses her mother and gains a job baking pies at the diner.
A decade after Maria's departure, Elaina is still working at The Terminal
Diner, just around the bend from an upstate New York airport. Her humdrum
life is defined by pie-baking routine. Elaina realizes painfully that all
she still knows about the opposite sex is summed up in the three last
words her mother spoke to her. Then one deceivingly beautiful morning in
September 2001, horrifying acts committed by terrorists a hundred miles
away upset her world, bringing new influences into her life and inspiring
her to be like her mother-impulsive. Will Elaina survive the consequences
of her actions?
This suspenseful story is the fourth novel by Amazon Top 100 bestselling
author Mary Pat Hyland.
You can find Mary Pat's blog here:
http://www.marypathyland.com/thehylander/
"Men like pie." Who would know the truth behind those words better than
Elaina Brady's mother Maria? Months after she showed her teenage daughter
how to bake perfect pie and hours after offering that culinary wisdom,
Maria abandons Elaina, her sister Dee Dee and their father Walt. All it
took was a lingering, lusty look from a Missoula trucker who stopped by
their family's diner and ordered a slice of lemon meringue. Maria hitches
a ride west with him, and with that impulsive decision, sixteen-year-old
Elaina loses her mother and gains a job baking pies at the diner.
A decade after Maria's departure, Elaina is still working at The Terminal
Diner, just around the bend from an upstate New York airport. Her humdrum
life is defined by pie-baking routine. Elaina realizes painfully that all
she still knows about the opposite sex is summed up in the three last
words her mother spoke to her. Then one deceivingly beautiful morning in
September 2001, horrifying acts committed by terrorists a hundred miles
away upset her world, bringing new influences into her life and inspiring
her to be like her mother-impulsive. Will Elaina survive the consequences
of her actions?
This suspenseful story is the fourth novel by Amazon Top 100 bestselling
author Mary Pat Hyland.
You can find Mary Pat's blog here:
http://www.marypathyland.com/thehylander/
December 7, 2011
Vampires!
My short story, The Key to Happiness, has been accepted in the special edition anthology VAMPIRES! for Dark Moon Press.
Although I don't consider myself a horror writer--maybe there is something new in my future!
The cover looks like a mix of modern horror and old-school Tales From the Crypt comics. I love it. ------------------>
Off to press on Dec. 12th, and on the shelves as a paperback soon. :)
Check out Dark Moon Press here.
http://www.darkmoondigest.com/
Some good old-fashioned horror fun from Tales from the Crypt...get ready!
http://www.warnervideo.com/talesfromthecryptdvd/card.html
Although I don't consider myself a horror writer--maybe there is something new in my future!
The cover looks like a mix of modern horror and old-school Tales From the Crypt comics. I love it. ------------------>
Off to press on Dec. 12th, and on the shelves as a paperback soon. :)
Check out Dark Moon Press here.
http://www.darkmoondigest.com/
Some good old-fashioned horror fun from Tales from the Crypt...get ready!
http://www.warnervideo.com/talesfromthecryptdvd/card.html
December 6, 2011
Orangeberry Book Tour for 100 Unfortunate Days
Starting December 8th my book 100 Unfortunate Days will be on tour with Orangeberry Book Tours, and I will be in great company. Fellow Indie Writers Unite authors Terry Simpson and Mary Pat Hyland will be touring their books Etchings of Power and Terminal Diner, along with many other great authors.
I am lucky enough to be hosting Ashley Fontainne, Yvonne Hertzberger and Mary Pat Hyland on my blog this month, and hopefully several others.
We will be featured on blogs and hopefully generate interest about our books.
Please visit the Orangeberry site and check out 100 Unfortunate Days, along with all the other great authors on the tour. See you there!
http://www.orangeberrybooktours.com/2011/09/book-launch-festival-2011.html
I am lucky enough to be hosting Ashley Fontainne, Yvonne Hertzberger and Mary Pat Hyland on my blog this month, and hopefully several others.
We will be featured on blogs and hopefully generate interest about our books.
Please visit the Orangeberry site and check out 100 Unfortunate Days, along with all the other great authors on the tour. See you there!
http://www.orangeberrybooktours.com/2011/09/book-launch-festival-2011.html
December 5, 2011
Botox Anyone?
I was having a conversation with some women not too long ago about Botox and cosmetic surgery. Being almost 50, we all have things that we wish were more like they were when we were 20.
But I stated that I would never had plastic surgery, and doubted that I would ever use Botox. First of all, I'm not the healthiest person on earth so I would avoid any kind of unecessary medical procedure, and second, needles just make me more than a little queasy. I don't even want to go to the dentist.
I also think I've seen enough plastic surgery mistakes that I would be too afraid. And many people end up getting the same type of look. I don't know if it's that very big puffy lip thing that makes many look alike--but I'm not sure I like it. Most of the time people still look the age they actually are, just smoother and tighter. And I don't want to look like everyone. I have also seen people look less wrinkled, have wider-looking eyes, and less of a double chin after plastic surgery.
Yes I have wrinkles and crows feet, and my neck isn't perfectly tight anymore, but this is the way I look, and there is something graceful and wonderful about how we age. We have earned every one of our lines, and I think there is something sad about taking that away.
There is also some part of me that wonders at what age can we stop worrying about gaining five pounds, and just RELAX. I don't think people look at us and think--yikes--she needs Botox! And if they do I don't want to hang around with them anyway...
Like I said, I've seem good and bad plastic surgeries, and everyone will make their own choices. But for me...I choose no.
But I stated that I would never had plastic surgery, and doubted that I would ever use Botox. First of all, I'm not the healthiest person on earth so I would avoid any kind of unecessary medical procedure, and second, needles just make me more than a little queasy. I don't even want to go to the dentist.
I also think I've seen enough plastic surgery mistakes that I would be too afraid. And many people end up getting the same type of look. I don't know if it's that very big puffy lip thing that makes many look alike--but I'm not sure I like it. Most of the time people still look the age they actually are, just smoother and tighter. And I don't want to look like everyone. I have also seen people look less wrinkled, have wider-looking eyes, and less of a double chin after plastic surgery.
Yes I have wrinkles and crows feet, and my neck isn't perfectly tight anymore, but this is the way I look, and there is something graceful and wonderful about how we age. We have earned every one of our lines, and I think there is something sad about taking that away.
There is also some part of me that wonders at what age can we stop worrying about gaining five pounds, and just RELAX. I don't think people look at us and think--yikes--she needs Botox! And if they do I don't want to hang around with them anyway...
Like I said, I've seem good and bad plastic surgeries, and everyone will make their own choices. But for me...I choose no.
December 2, 2011
Alter Ego
I was tweeting with a fellow author today and I remarked that I loved her avatar. She told me it was her alter ego. I responded by saying I thought everyone needed an alter ego. And I meant it.
I don't mean alter ego in terms of dissociative identity disorder, or even leading a completely double life. I was referring to a second-self, another side of us that we use in certain situations.
Although I don't have an alter ego like Superman, writing under a different name allows me the freedom to be as dark and twisted as I want. I don't have to worry about my name being attached to horror, and then try to sell a children's book under my real name.
And I like having an alter ego. It kinda makes me feel cool--which is not what I am.
Please read about me, my books, and my alter ego in Laura Yirak's blog Dreams of Diamonds.
http://dreamsofdiamondsauthor.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-author-penelope-crowe.html
I don't mean alter ego in terms of dissociative identity disorder, or even leading a completely double life. I was referring to a second-self, another side of us that we use in certain situations.
Although I don't have an alter ego like Superman, writing under a different name allows me the freedom to be as dark and twisted as I want. I don't have to worry about my name being attached to horror, and then try to sell a children's book under my real name.
And I like having an alter ego. It kinda makes me feel cool--which is not what I am.
Please read about me, my books, and my alter ego in Laura Yirak's blog Dreams of Diamonds.
http://dreamsofdiamondsauthor.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-author-penelope-crowe.html
December 1, 2011
December and Ugly Christmas Sweaters
It's December! The most wonderful time of the year!
Kids are being extra good, town centers are pretty from holiday lights and decorations, and everyone is getting excited to be with loved ones.
It is also the time of year of TERRIBLE SWEATERS. People will wear just about anything as long as it is green or red, or has something Christmas-ee on it.
This puts us all on the same playing field as far as fashion goes. Sure you can still wear $200 jeans, but if your sweater has floating Santa heads on it, you are just like the rest of us who are sucked into the bad holiday sweater vortex.
After a suggestion that our Christmas party this year should have an ugly Christmas sweater dress code, I looked on eBay and was floored at the amount of heinous sweaters available. I saw ice skating cats, light up moose-heads with tinsel, and a strategically placed angel so YOUR head would be the angel's head.
I have chosen my Ugly Chistmas Sweater for my party this year, and put a few samples over there. ------> Click on any one--they are all for sale on eBay...really.
Please send me any pix of really good ugly sweaters you find and I'll post the extra-terrible ones at the end of every day!
Happy Holdiays everyone!! :)
Kids are being extra good, town centers are pretty from holiday lights and decorations, and everyone is getting excited to be with loved ones.
It is also the time of year of TERRIBLE SWEATERS. People will wear just about anything as long as it is green or red, or has something Christmas-ee on it.
This puts us all on the same playing field as far as fashion goes. Sure you can still wear $200 jeans, but if your sweater has floating Santa heads on it, you are just like the rest of us who are sucked into the bad holiday sweater vortex.
After a suggestion that our Christmas party this year should have an ugly Christmas sweater dress code, I looked on eBay and was floored at the amount of heinous sweaters available. I saw ice skating cats, light up moose-heads with tinsel, and a strategically placed angel so YOUR head would be the angel's head.
I have chosen my Ugly Chistmas Sweater for my party this year, and put a few samples over there. ------> Click on any one--they are all for sale on eBay...really.
Please send me any pix of really good ugly sweaters you find and I'll post the extra-terrible ones at the end of every day!
Happy Holdiays everyone!! :)
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