Michelle Marquis's Blog, page 2

Why I don't believe in spanking

I don't judge people who spank their kids. I just don't agree with it on any level. After all it wasn't so very long ago that it was done by almost every one. But we know more about child psychology now and there are better ways of disciplining your kids. You don't need to resort to violence. You don't need to teach your kids that if you're angry, violence is the answer to all your problems.

You don't have to terrorize them to get good behavior.

It's a choice. My kids are perfectly well behaved and all I use is time outs. I also don't make idol threats. If you're going to lose something for misbehaving, you know its gonna happen. End of story.

There is something very distasteful about an adult beating up on a child. First off, you have ALL the power. They have none. And one day they are going to be bigger and stronger and they won't forget. I've seen fights with people and their teens where the kids has no problem punching a parent that used to spank them.

I've never met a grown up who was spanked as a child that doesn't hold a grudge. They may not talk about it, but it does leave emotional scars. It damages trust. Children count on us to teach, guide and care for them. I don't see how inflicting pain does any of those things.

There are better ways. Watch an episode of Supper Nanny for crying out loud.

Excerpt Abby's Last Stand by Michelle Marquis

 


"For Abby, sleep was impossible. As it grew later, the saloon across the street got even louder and more rambunctious. Add to that the occasional gunshot and the fact that she was sandwiched between two of the most gorgeous men she’d ever laid eyes on and you had a recipe for insomnia. She opened her eyes and stared at Bear’s massive back. The knotted muscles along his shoulder blades gracefully folded into the indentation of his spine. Even in the bedroom’s dim light she could see the round scars of two bullet holes on his right side.

She wanted to touch those strange, round scars. She wanted to run her index finger along the scarred edge and feel the notch in his flesh. She imagined a few scenarios where he’d gotten those scars and immediately felt compassion for him. 

Snake shifted behind her. She turned around found herself face to face with him. He smiled, and it was charming. “Hello. Having a hard time sleeping?” he whispered.

“I guess so. So much has happened so quickly I can’t seem to relax.”

“Why don’t I give you a back rub? That always works to calm me down when I’m all riled up.” Abby knew she should say no, but the truth was she secretly wanted to be seduced."

Why I hate Geico

You might be wondering what my problem is today.

Well dear friends, I'm gonna tell you. I hate Geico. Whew...there I said it. I got it out there. I feel so much better now. This company sucks so bad that they YELLED at me a while ago when I canceled them for JACKING up my rates for no reason. Yes, they yelled at me.

What business does that???

I also hate them for having the stupidest commercials EVER. They suck in ways that I didn't think it was possible to suck. The company that is and the insurance. I hate them for their lizard mascot that speaks in a non-American accent (Yes Geico, you sound SOOO sophisticated with an English or Australian accent or whatever the heck that thing is).

I hate that they advertise EVERYWHERE. They would advertise on toilet paper and give it away for free if they thought you'd buy their crappy insurance. Worse still is their commercials, both on TV and in print, are painfully stupid. I get insulted watching them.

My hate boileth over...

But the thing that bugs me the most is that all of this advertising cost MONEY and lots of it. So they aren't saving you anything. They bring you in for cheap and raise your rates later. They have to make money somehow so they are probably denying claims all over the place too. The consumer is somehow paying for all these stupid, mindless, aggravating commercials. Someone is and I know it's not their big payday CEO and CFO.

Check the internet, there are plenty of complaints.

Rant complete.

The Wild Wild West

When I was a kid I used to love riding horses.


I would imagine myself as a Native American (preferably a Comanche or Apache because they could kick some serious A**) hunting along the lonely plains or a cowgirl riding the range. There was a horse rental stable near my house and almost every weekend I would ride for as long as I could afford. There's something simple and unspoiled about being alone with your horse that gets lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Unfortunately as time went on and I got old enough to drive, my romance with riding horses faded. But sometimes I still wish I was able to own a horse and lived in a simpler more rugged time.

There is no denying the draw of the Old West and the men and women who survived in that rugged time. I have a great deal of respect for the hardships they endured and perhaps even the triumphs they enjoyed. I especially admire the women who broke from traditional female roles and made their own paths. I'm talking Calamity Jane and Belle Star, among others. I only wish history had more of them.

My historical erotic romance, Abby's Last Stand is about such a woman. I hope you'll pick up a copy and join the adventure.

Get yours HERE

Until next time, my darlings,
M

What is this, its not a horse?? This is a half zebra/half horse at Old McDonald's Farm in Orlando

New erotic romances are on their way!

Lindsey and I have been furiously writing the newest Siren Warrior book 11. It has yet to be naked but all your favorite characters are back, bigger and better than ever. Will Gypsy Theron be able to become as great a warrior as her father? Will she ever get back with Colonel Caraculla or is he lost to everyone forever?

Sexy, fast-paced, and full of adventure, the Siren Warrior series is sure to please.

What else is coming up? I'm almost finished with a smoking hot contemporary romance called Built to Last. Stay tuned for more updates and happy reading my darlings.

Going Places and Doing Things

Ever since I was a kid I loved going places. Today I packed up my nieces and took them away to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainsville. It was a long drive but well worth it. The exhibits were AWESOME and we had a lot of fun.
One of my favorite places was the butterfly garden. I was thinking the butterfly's would be free to fly away and come back as they pleased but no, they are in a large enclosed room. They have all the flowers and other things that they like and live a wonderful life. I couldn't believe how many varieties they had.

They also had some great extinct species on display and a cool Native American exhibit. I loved it there. Can't wait to go back.

If any of you are wondering if I'm going to write anything new, I'm working on something now. It should be done in the next week or so.
Hope you're all having a great summer.

Having trouble finding a job part 2

I know a lot of you are struggling with finding a job and BELIEVE me, I've been there. So because I have suffered like many of you, I have some advice. Ready here it comes:

- you should be sending out AT LEAST 10 resumes/applications a day. Much more if you can hack it. Each one should be tailored to the job your applying for. Why? Because this is your first interview. If you cut corners and don't write a flawless resume, or write all over your application "see resume", you've labeled yourself as lazy. Not fair but there it is.

I know its hard when you're depressed but you need to go into survival mode and force yourself to do things. Book mark places you'd like to work or you think you have the best chance of getting a job and check it every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY. If you are a night person, do it at night, a morning person? Do it in the early AM.

- If you are suffering financially the only two things you should keep paying without fail are shelter and transportation. This is as far a bills go. For those of you in colder climates, heating obviously.

-If things are really dire, search for a job nationwide. You may have to split up your family for a while but its better than starving. When your life get stable you can fix the parts of it you don't like. But first you MUST find a job. Yes, even if that means two crappy part time jobs for now.

-Just a note here on crappy jobs: I've done them. I've worked for some real a**holes. I know how much it blows but suck it up for a while until you can find something better. DON'T wait for your unemployment to run out if you can help it. I know this may be too little too late advice for some of you.

-The best time to apply for a job is around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why? Less competition. I know a few people who've gotten hard to find jobs in their field that way, no joke.
Volunteering, as I said in a previous post, can also be a magic carpet to a job. I know a lot of people who got jobs that way too.

You may have to settle for a job that makes a lot less that what you think you need. Really think about it. More than a few times I had to temp and made so little money I had a budget of $40 a week for spending. But once your working, you have a recent job reference. Sometimes that's all you need.
Hang in there.

Where the heck have I been?

Hello all
Some of you may be wondering where the heck I've been. Well I've been coming to terms with my mom's death and studying math at the local community college. Why? I don't know. Just call the math thing a mid-life crisis. I find school fun and rewarding so I guess that's why.

At the end of Feb my ebooks with Amira will be given back to me. I will have to revamp them and see if another publisher wants them. I hope you are all having a great new year so far. I haven't been writing at all but plan to return to it sometime in the future...as soon as my mid-life crisis wears off.
Hugs to all
Michelle

In Memoriam to my Mom

This is a sad post so be advised.

I lost my mom this month to cancer. She was 85 and the best mom in the world. She was a nurse all her life and took care of some very sick people. She always did her best to make them comfortable and well cared for. I don't think words can do her justice. I miss her more than words can say.
She got sober when I was about ten, first from booze then from pills. she made friends everywhere she went. Everyone loved her.
She went into the hospital on a Thursday night with shortness of breath and when they scoped out her throat they found a mass. She was kept sedated so I never got to talk to her again. She passed away Oct 1st. I haven't stopped crying since.
She didn't know how to use the internet but on my blog she will live forever. Her name was Terry O'Neill and she was one of the bravest women I ever met.
Rest in peace mom. Aug 3, 1928 -October 1, 2013

Miley oh Miley

Just like everyone else I feel the need to put my two cents worth in on her VMP performance. I get that she doesn't want to be seen as a child star anymore but I don't think this weird new image is helping her in any way.

To make matters worse, I have a sneaking suspicion she is heading into that dark land that many "child stars" fall into...that of too many drugs and no one around you to tell you your acting nuts. *SIGH* So many drug references in her songs and not lite drugs either. I hear her next song is...wait for it...all about drugs too.

It's all fun and games until everyone gets addicted. I sure hope Miley doesn't learn the hard way as so many others have.
RIP Hannah Montana...