Emerald's Blog, page 16
June 25, 2013
Recommended Reading #155: The Filibuster of SB 5 in Texas
“Spontaneous Applause Erupt [sic] in Texas Legislature And Continue [sic] Over Vote” featuring Leticia Van de Putte (Recommended Watch, Gender, Reproductive Rights, Activism) 6/25/13
I know this is short, and it may not do justice to the context that surrounded it, but having watched it live when it happened, I got chills when the cheering began and feel simply compelled to share this recording of it. I had chills again fifteen minutes later when the cheers were still going on. The cheering that began after this inquiry did not stop until after midnight, when the perception was that voting on the bill had successfully been denied. (That came into question for the few hours following but was ultimately deemed correct—see the third entry in today’s installment.)
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“Standing and speaking for 13 hours, to fight for reproductive rights.” by Jamila Rizvi (Reproductive Rights, Politics, U.S. Public Policy) 6/26/13
This goes into some detail about what is involved in a filibuster in Texas and State Senator Davis’s experience with this particular one.
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“Messing With Texas” by Rachel Sklar (Reproductive Rights, Politics, Media) 6/26/13
I watched some of this live (though didn’t get to the feed until after Wendy Davis was done speaking for the night) and found it exhilarating. This seems to me a great write-up of at least the part(s) that I saw.
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June 19, 2013
A Taste of Summer Camp: Soy Ginger Chicken Kabobs
Delightfully, there is considerable support out in the online world if one knows where to look. I discovered Marketing for Romance Writers (MFRW) a few years ago when Lisabet Sarai mentioned it in a listserv email for another group. I joined and mostly lurked until earlier this year when there was a call for new assistant newsletter editors to help proofread the newsletter. I answered the call and have since been catapulted into the extraordinary wealth of support and resources that is MFRW.
If you don’t know of (or are a part of) MFRW and you write, I highly, highly recommend joining the Yahoo Group. It’s free, and you can customize how you receive messages from the group into a daily digest (so you only receive one email a day) if you prefer not to receive each individual message as an email. You will then have access to myriad discussions on all things marketing, from websites to Twitter to taglines—as well as a place to ask your own questions on such topics as they arise.
MFRW’s offerings include the monthly newsletter (check it out here), organized blog hops, and, most notably and imminently right now, the annual MFRW Summer Camp. Summer Camp is an online event that epitomizes MFRW’s motto—”seek, teach, share, learn, succeed.” That’s what Summer Camp is all about, and we’d love for you to be a part of it! It will take place the weekend of July 12-14 on MFRW’s Coffee Times Romance forum.
If you want, think of Summer Camp like a weekend of marketing marination that, like this recipe, results in the soaking up of flavors that let you put your best presentation forward. ;) In all seriousness, it is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the business of marketing, learning from all directions about things like promotion, social media, online presence, and how to spread the news about whatever it is you’ve worked so hard to write.
After you’ve run off to join the MFRW Yahoo Group and registered for Summer Camp, come on back and see the recipe below for what I hope is a nourishing, delectable main course of summer. :)
Soy Ginger Chicken Kabobs
Ingredients:
-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into approximately 1 1/2-inch cubes
-1 yellow bell pepper
-1 orange bell pepper
-1 large onion (or a dozen small pearl onions for easier skewing)
-1 package large button mushrooms
-1 package cut-up mango
The amounts of all the ingredients above may be altered depending on how many people you want to serve. I make this for two people, and we’ve invariably had leftovers. Also, if you especially love any of the above things, feel free to use extra of them!
Marinade Ingredients:
-1 cup apple cider vinegar
-1/2 cup soy sauce
-1/4 cup honey
-1 Tablespoon ground ginger
As is probably obvious, a big part of this recipe involves cutting things to kabob size. The mango and mushrooms are already taken care of. With the onion, I just cut it in half and then halves again to about inch-and-a-half pieces. I cut the tops off the peppers, remove the inside/seeds, and cut them into pieces about the same size.
Once everything is chopped to skewering size, simply mix the four marinade ingredients together, pour it into a gallon-size Ziplock bag (or bowl if you prefer), add all the kabob ingredients, and let marinate in the refrigerator overnight. (You might want to turn the bag a time or two for even marination.) If you’re short on time, several hours is okay too.
When marination is done, prepare for a big mess in your kitchen and thread all your ingredients onto skewers. I prefer metal ones. If you use wood ones, it’s recommended to soak them in water first (to reduce splintering).
I use an outdoor grill to make these. With the grill on its highest heat, lower the grill cover and grill the kabobs for about 8 or 9 minutes, turn them, and grill them for 8 or 9 more. Depending on your grill, the cook time may vary—just make sure the chicken is not pink at all in the middle (or use a meat thermometer, though this is a little harder with such small pieces. It can work if you skewer a few chicken pieces together and insert the meat thermometer through all of them, stopping with the tip in the middle of the final piece…if that makes sense ;)). And perhaps check in on them a time or two while cooking to make sure everything isn’t charring too much, in which case you’ll just want to turn the heat down some to give the chicken a chance to cook all the way through without burning the other ingredients.
Enjoy, and see you at Summer Camp! :)
Love,
Emerald
“Now I’ve got you in my sights, I’ve got hungry eyes…”
-Eric Carmen “Hungry Eyes”
Recommended Reading #154: Abortion, Pt. III
“The Soapbox: Why Men Need Abortion As Much As Women Do” by Dan Solomon (Gender, Reproductive Rights, Public Policy) 6/19/13
Nicely put, and an important perspective, I feel.
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“Justice Ginsburg: Roe v. Wade not ‘woman-centered’” by Jonathan Bullington (Reproductive Rights, U.S. Public Policy, Government) 5/11/13
Not being very familiar with Justice Ginsberg, I discovered a subtle tendency for nuance and insight (probably helpful in serving as a Supreme Court Justice!) in this that I much enjoyed seeing. I also found the legal aspects, of which I was also unaware, interesting.
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“I’m Fighting to Give Victims Of Sexual Assault in the Military Their Day in Court” by Claire McCaskill (Sexual Assault, U.S. Military, Reproductive Rights) 4/24/13
I deeply appreciate knowing there is an ally like this in this position to serve as one.
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June 12, 2013
Recommended Reading #153: Digging Deeper, Pt. VII
“How dangerous is it to be a woman on the internet with an opinion?” by Clementine Ford (Violence and Unconsciousness, Sex and Culture, Gender) 6/7/13
As I experience it, the topic of rape is so sensitive that I often don’t even like to read commentary on it lest I find something nearly overwhelmingly upsetting, infuriating, or distressing. I read the piece by Lindy West to which this is referring, and I found it so disheartening I just wanted to avoid any buzz around it so as not to expose myself to commentary I didn’t want to try to stomach. I did read this due to whom it was shared by and his accompanying commentary, and I found/find it helpful and incisive. (Thanks to Hugo Schwyzer for the link.)
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“Is this porn star dangerous?” by Hugo Schwyzer (Self-Awareness, Gender, Porn) 3/20/13
I find this a fascinating, thoughtful exposition on something that hadn’t particularly consciously occurred to me—or perhaps it had and I just hadn’t realized it this way. Either way, I really like what Hugo has to say here.
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“Yes, I’m Pro-Abortion” by Lauren Rankin (Reproductive Rights, Health and Body, Public Policy) 4/15/13
I couldn’t agree more. I have long felt unambiguous about using the word “abortion” and saying I support the right to choose it, I support access to it, and I support physicians who perform them. Because I’ve never seen any reason not to (use the word).
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June 5, 2013
Recommended Reading #152: Questioning Assumptions
“Are We Wrong about Who We Are?” by Veronica Monet (Self-Awareness, Sex and Culture, Consciousness) 6/1/13
I find this brilliant and fabulous and could hardly agree more.
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“Why you shouldn’t (and should) be monogamous” by Tauriq Moosa (Non-Monogamy, Relationship, Sex and Culture) 5/13/13
I am a huge fan of what I interpret as the open, sensible approach I see this taking toward the topic at hand.
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“The truth about female desire: It’s base, animalistic and ravenous” by Tracy Clark-Flory (Sex and Culture, Gender, Relationship, Non-Monogamy) 6/1/13
I don’t quite even know how to say how awesome I find this. I don’t feel surprised by it at all, but I will admit it feels somewhat nice to feel not like the “odd exception” were what I interpret this piece as expressing to be true. In any case, I love the idea of examining this kind of thing more instead of just assuming that what we think we know is the case (especially when, to me, it has so often seemed to not be).
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May 31, 2013
Life in the Big City (and Elsewhere…)
I am delighted to have a story featured today at The Erotic Woman! Originally published last year in the anthology One Night Only, edited by Violet Blue, my story “City Girl” is up now for free reading at TEW. It’s invariably been such a pleasure to be published at TEW, and I’m honored to be appearing there again.
I am also, ironically, in my hometown right now, which served as a fair amount of inspiration for this particular story. :) All sex aside (though don’t worry—it’s definitely in the story!), the state fair was a big part of my summers when I was growing up, and I’ve still been known to miss being here when it takes place. I really enjoyed writing this story a couple years ago, and I’m thrilled that it’s now available online. Big thanks to The Erotic Woman for putting it there!
Love,
Emerald
My lips parted, and instinctively I took a step toward him. There were 25 yards separating us, but I noticed nothing that was between us as my gaze locked in on him like a laser. It was a focus I didn’t even feel like I controlled; it was simply how I looked at people I wanted to fuck.
-from “City Girl”
May 28, 2013
Recommended Reading #151: Raising Awareness
“Adventures in Silicone” by Ned Mayhem (Sex Toys, Health and Body, Economics, Sex and Culture) 5/25/13
I find this just extraordinary—filled with salient information, illuminating insight, and deep relatability.
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“Hospital Mergers Reset Abortion-Access Battle” by Kirk Johnson (Reproductive Rights, Health and Body, Politics) 5/12/13
I’ve long been aware of this issue as a reproductive rights activist, and I’m glad to see it getting attention in the media. However one feels about it, it seems relevant to me that people are aware of it.
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“Miserable & Magical: A Graduation Speech for Paradoxical Times” by Nipun Mehta (Non-Sex-Related, Self-Awareness, Consciousness, Oneness) 5/27/13
I don’t know what to say about this except to please ask anyone reading this to read it. And to quote from it: “When we give, we think we are helping others. That’s true, but we are also helping ourselves. With any act of unconditional service, no matter how small, our bio-chemistry changes, our mind quiets, and we feel a sense of gratefulness. This inner transformation fundamentally shifts the direction of our lives.”
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May 24, 2013
I’m at the Romance Lives Forever Blog Today!
I’m very excited today to be featured on the Romance Lives Forever (RLF) blog! RLF, run by MFRW founder Kayelle Allen, features multitudes of books and authors and is definitely the place to visit if you like to read romance. As my readers are likely aware, I’ve not tended to write romance very often, but I do have a few erotic romance tales out there. :) On the RLF blog today I’m talking about my story “The Beast Within,” found in Lustfully Ever After: Fairy Tale Erotic Romance, which is edited by Kristina Wright and was published by Cleis Press last year. I also mention my favorite kind of pizza and what I think my halo would look like if I had one. :)
It’s really an honor to be on RLF, and big thanks to Kayelle for inviting me!
Speaking of MFRW (Marketing for Romance Writers, for anyone not aware), they have their go-to annual event, MFRW Summer Camp, coming up in July. If you’re not a member of MFRW and want to take part, you may certainly join now, and then watch for my Taste of Summer Camp post slated to go live here on June 20 with more information (as well as a recipe from me)!
In the meantime, find me here today at the Romance Lives Forever blog!
Love,
Emerald
It may seem somewhat ironic given that I write erotica, but the most autobiographical things in my stories tend to be the non-sexual things. Since it seems to me almost anything can be a backdrop for sex, I’ve often used non-sexual aspects of life with which I have experience or feel I know something about and combined them with sexual tension and/or interaction.
-from my interview at Romance Lives Forever
May 22, 2013
Recommended Reading #150: Humanity and Inspiration, Pt. VII
“Masculine and Feminine” by Inspiration Community (Non-Sex-Related, Gender, Spirituality/Consciousness, Self-Awareness) Undated
This simply strikes me as a beautiful description of feminine and masculine energies and the (to me, obvious) recognition that both are present—and well worth appreciating and developing—in all of us.
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“Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal” by Naomi Shihab Nye (Non-Sex-Related, Spirituality/Consciousness, Self-Awareness) 4/24/13
Beautiful.
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“Margaret Thatcher, the Cosmos and Me” by T. Thorn Coyle (Non-Sex-Related, Spirituality/Consciousness, Self-Awareness) 4/9/13
I love this piece. While I won’t say that every single word of it precisely resonates with how I experience, one of the things I love most about it is that I feel it offers things most of us don’t consciously recognize very often. It speaks Truth to which we are usually oblivious. The value I see in that is infinite.
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Recommended Reading #151: Humanity and Inspiration, Pt. VII
“Masculine and Feminine” by Inspiration Community (Non-Sex-Related, Gender, Spirituality/Consciousness, Self-Awareness) Undated
This simply strikes me as a beautiful description of feminine and masculine energies and the (to me, obvious) recognition that both are present—and well worth appreciating and developing—in all of us.
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“Wandering Around an Albuquerque Airport Terminal” by Naomi Shihab Nye (Non-Sex-Related, Spirituality/Consciousness, Self-Awareness) 4/24/13
Beautiful.
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“Margaret Thatcher, the Cosmos and Me” by T. Thorn Coyle (Non-Sex-Related, Spirituality/Consciousness, Self-Awareness) 4/9/13
I love this piece. While I won’t say that every single word of it precisely resonates with how I experience, one of the things I love most about it is that I feel it offers things most of us don’t consciously recognize very often. It speaks Truth to which we are usually oblivious. The value I see in that is infinite.
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