Joyce DiPastena's Blog, page 70

Decluttering

I've discovered that, when decluttering, it's easier to let go of some of those little snippets I've clipped from the paper if I share them on my blog first. That way I haven't actually tossed them out, rather I've recorded them for infinity! (Or however long the internet decides to last.)
So, for your reading pleasure (or not), here is a little anonymous ode to the Spell Checker:
TO BEE OAR NOT TWO BE
I have a Spelling Checker,It came with my PC,It plainly marks four my revueMistakes witch I...

Book Review of "Trapped", by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

Back cover blurb for Trapped , by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen:
Her expression remained somber, but excitement crept into her voice. "You  are the Firstborn She...You must go to them." "You want me to act as  bait?" "Not bait, Emi. A spy. Our Trojan horse."
When Emi Warrin  wakes one night to find a thief in her mother's house, she has no idea  the intruder has planted a trap - a mysterious letter that will change  her life forever. Lured to the Austrian Alps with Daniel, the man she  loves, Emi is...

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

I've finished "new read" Trapped , by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen, on Friday. Yesterday, while browsing through my bookshelves for my next "old read", I came across a four book paperback series called: The Plantagenets , by Juliet Dymoke. I remember collecting and reading these books while I was in college, undoubtedly lured by my fascination, even then, with the Plantagenet kings of England. What I can't recall now is whether I saved these books all these years because I actually loved the books...

Quill to Quill: Heléne and Siri

Heléne has sent another letter to Siri on Quill to Quill !

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

I actually finished Friday's Child several days ago, but haven't had time to update this post until now.
Trapped , by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen, is a new read for me, although the author is not. I previously read her debut book, Missing , and participated in her book blog tour for that title. I am also participating in her blog tour, now underway, for her newest novel, Trapped . Click here to find out how you can enter to win one of THREE free copies of Trapped !
Needless to say, before I can review...

Introducing "Quill to Quill and Heart to Heart"

Yes, yet another new blog! This is a sister blog I've begun to Quill to Quill .

Whereas Quill to Quill focuses on correspondence between the heroines of Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart , focusing on events that occur after the end of the latter (i.e., after 1179), Quill to Quill and Heart to Heart is designed to answer the question: "What happened next?" to Heléne and Gunthar at the close of Loyalty's Web  in 1176.

As with Quill to Quill ,  Quill to Quill and Heart to Heart  is also comp...

I've Been Author-Interviewed!

My publisher posted an interview with me yesterday, along with some goofy photos and an essay on "Why I Write". If you'd like to know what I looked like in the 3rd grade and see me behind bars, check out Get To Know You Monday at Walnut Springs Press!

Tuesday Teaser

Tuesday Teaser is a weekly bookish meme (rhymes with "cream"), hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. (I've borrowed it from LDS Women's Book Review.) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare at least two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT...

Book Blog Tour for "Trapped", by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen

A Forged Letter, A Golden Vial, An Ancient Curse...
Filled with family secrets, intrigue, and romance, the blog tour (August 9-August 24) for
  will have it all.
Her expression remained somber, but excitement crept into her voice. "You  are the Firstborn She...You must go to them. You want me to act as  bait? Not bait, Emi. A spy. Our Trojan horse."

When Emi Warrin  wakes one night to find a thief in her mother's house, she has no idea  the intruder has planted a trap - a mysterious letter that...

Is it or isn't it a romance...and would you read it anyway?

So you see, it's like this. Although in my own mind, all my stories are romances, the "story" part always comes first with me. So suppose...just suppose...that the hero and heroine of my new WIP have a brief interaction in Chapter 2 (not necessarily a positive one), then don't meet up on the same page again until, oh, say, around Chapter 8 or 9? Would you still consider this a romance? (Even though they do ultimately reconnect and fall in love.) If it's not a romance in the strictest sense of...