Girls (and parents), it’s Prom time again, and you know what that means. Scheduling hair and nail appointments, reserving the limo and most important, finding the perfect dress, because, let’s face it ladies, prom is all about the dress.
I love gowns. I always have, ever since a little girl. I always felt ultra feminine and pretty in ball gowns. Like a princess floating on air. Every year I scour the internet and fashion mags for the gowns I wish were around when I was going to prom. I’ve posted a few here for you to see. If you click on the picks, it will take you to the website where you can learn more about them. I hope you enjoy my prom gown picks for 2013.
Today I woke to a wonderful surprise. The lovely Sheryl Winters nominated me for a Liebster Award. This is fantastic, not so much because I got the award, but because I can pass it on to other bloggers and brighten their days.
Here’s the scoop:
* Each nominee must answer the 11 questions given.
* Create 11 questions for the next nominees to answer.
* Link back to who nominated them.
* Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
* Go to their page and tell them.
* No tag backs!
As Sheryl didn’t leave new questions for her nominees, I’m going to answer the ones that were sent to her, and then pass on the award and 11 new questions to others. So, without further ado, let’s get this party started!
01.What makes your day brighter?
Witnessing happiness. It could be hearing a baby’s laugh, or seeing complete strangers getting married or a movie or a book with a happy ending. I also love this beautiful Florida weather we’ve been having: soft breezes, the smell of the Gulf waters, the warm sunshine. Paradise on earth.
02. Your goal for 2013?
To finish once and for all my YA novel, The Eye of Kedge, and find a loving home for it. I also want to make a serious dent in books 2 and 3 in the trilogy.
03.What do you like to write about?
I like quirky fantasy or odd stuff. You’ll pretty much see dragons in some form in almost everything I write just because I think they are way cool. I also dabble in a little non-fiction, writing short stories like the stuff you see in Chicken Soup for the Soul.
04.What is your biggest pet peeve?
Hypocritical, suspicious, people. I can’t stand it when people think they can tell others what to do but don’t think the same rules apply to them. I never got the “do as I say do, not as I do” mentality. Practice what you preach. These same people tend to be suspicious, too. Can I just say something here. Just because your partner is talking to someone of the opposite sex at a party, it doesn’t mean (s)he is having an affair with said person. Get over it and grab a bit more self-respect and confidence.
05.Do you have any hobbies? (other than blogging)
Collecting sea shells. I LOVE sea shells. If there is a beach within traveling distance from wherever I go, I have to hunt for shells. I like to make things with them, like jewelry boxes, mirror frames, etc. I love reading, walks on the beach, going to see live performances such as plays and concerts. I like painting on glass and I love gardening.
06. Beer or Wine?
I prefer wine. My fave is Martini and Rossi Asti Spumanti, however, I really only drink around the holidays.
07.Favorite breakfast?
Sausage, eggs, grits and some fresh squeezed OJ. Yeah baby.
08.Dog or Cat?
I love them both. I have 3 dogs and I’m down to 1 cat. I did have 4 at one time. I’ve owned iguanas, bearded dragons, veiled chameleons, cockatiels, rabbits, fish, ferrets, parakeets. I currently have a kingsnake in my house (it’s my son’s), so you name it. I have a regular zoo. it wouldn’t surprise me if someone came home with a bison some day. Knowing me and my softie heart, I’d probably keep it.
09. Muffins or Cupcakes?
Hmm, blueberry muffins with whipped butter are to die for
10 Autumn or Spring?
Spring. I love seeing the world waking up from a long nap. The only part of fall I really like are the colors of the leaves and the cooler temps.
11.PC or Apple? PC.
I’ve used a mac laptop and hated it.
And there you have it. I will nominate my 11 tomorrow. That will give me some time to think about who I want to nominate (because all my bloggers rock the universe), and what questions I want to ask.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful day. Smile and be happy.
There’s a new author in town over at J. Taylor Publishing, and his name is Jonathan Lister. His new book, Crossroads, will release in just a few short months. What’s it about? Check out below.
Crossroads
A Demos City Novel by Jonathan Lister
Release Date: November 4, 2013
Target Reader: Adult, Thriller/Suspense, Werewolf
Back of the Book
Werewolf. Bar bouncer. Dad. Standard traits for any self-respecting, reformed criminal, living under the radar in Demos City. For Leon Gray, normal is what he wants—for himself and his not-yet-changed teenage daughter.
Playing bodyguard to crusading reporter David Hastings would totally ruin Leon’s peace, especially since Hastings has hired killers on his trail, pros who know how he takes his espresso in the morning, and where Leon lives.
The payoff, though, would fill up Shauna’s empty college fund, and in a battle between opportunity and ordinary, money wins. He just has to keep Hastings alive long enough to cash the check.
If only he didn’t have to save his daughter, too.
As a budding wolf, she’s piqued the interest of a local pack Alpha—one Leon knows will steal Shauna right out from under him the first chance he gets.
Leon isn’t about to give up on his daughter or Hastings, and will fight for both longer than it took Demos City to see werewolves as equals to humans.
He can only hope it doesn’t take a thousand years.
Jonathan Lister
Jonathan Lister is a full-time writer with work appearing in outlets of USA Today, The Houston Chronicle and many others. A graduate of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University, he’s waited an unspeakable amount of tables en route to having the career he wants, and the ability to the tell stories he loves. Crossroads is Jonathan’s first book-length work of fiction. He currently lives in the Philadelphia area and continues to drink too much coffee.
I just wanted to let you know, I will be taking a break from blogging for a while. I have lots of beta reads, reviews and interviews to prepare for blog stops. Thanks for understanding.
(Of course, I know me and this ‘break’ will probably last all of 24 hours. It’s so hard to stay away. 🙂 )
Welcome to day 16 of the A-Z challenge. Today’s letter is “P” for power (and Pink Floyd).
There’s a lot of power being slung around in my novel, The Eye of Kedge. The mages have power. My antagonists all have insane powers. There is magical power in the air. Even my young protags have oodles of power, though they haven’t realized their full potential.
Societies tend to frown upon certain kinds of power: power in government, power in the work place, power in education. People don’t take to oppressive sorts of power too well, as obvious in Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”
As John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton said, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
And while power can be viewed negatively, we as individuals would die as a species without it. We all possess the power within ourselves to change our behaviors. As parents, we pride ourselves on our power to take care of our young, to see to it no one else brings them harm. We have the power to help others in need, to organize community events, to become better than we are. Writers have the power to change opinions through words. Artists have the power to influence our fashion sense. Books have the power to open minds and let imagination run free. The thirst for ‘power’ isn’t a bad trait to have. It’s all in the reason we want it and the way we use it that makes us lions or lambs, good guys or bad guys.
Ok, so I get sicker than a dog, traveled to NC and back, went to work and kind of forgot about posting all my A-Z goodies. Soooo…..I’m lumping them all into one post. I promise, I’ll make it short and sweet.
As they relate to my novel, The Eye of Kedge:
L ~ Mr. Earl Loudermilk
An older man and former history teacher at Havendale High School. An avid collector of medieval weapons, old books, and historical memorabilia. He is David Heiland’s next door neighbor, mentor and friend, that is until he turns wackadoodle. The reason for his odd transformation is dangerously absurd.
M ~ Mangus Grythorn
A handsome and lethal man. Part mage, part human, he is Supreme Master Jared’s closest ally, collaborator, and serves as General of the Felindil Legion Command. Standing 6’4″, Mangus speaks seven languages, has a twisted sense of humor and a kind heart…when he’s not trying to rip out the heart of his enemy. Inspiration for this character can be found here.
N ~ Northern Forest
The realm of Fallhollow is bordered to the north by the Northern Forest and to the South by the Southern Forest. Seyekrad, one of two protectorates of the realm, lives in the Northern Forest. The second protectorate, Slavandria, resides in Chalisdawn, in the the Southern Forest. The Northern Forest is also home to the Sankara Mountains and Berg Castle. Here, you will also find the Elastine Forest, an unusual, magical prison, and haven to shy and timid dryads.
Hello peeps of the world! Welcome to day 11 of the A-Z challenge. Today’s letter is “K”, which in my world stands for Kedge, as in “The Eye of…”
What is Kedge? It was once a central meeting place of the mages buried deep in the Sankara Mountains. It served as their secret headquarters during the great Dragon War. Fingers of tunnels spanned from the base, serving as safe passages to all of Fallhollow. The eye of kedge is a magical stone that energizes the crystals that hide the tunnels from creatures of black magic. It went missing at the end of the great war. With the possibility of war looming over Fallhollow once more, it is important to find the Eye of Kedge. The mages are gathering. Time is running out.
What does the eye of kedge look like? Click here to see my inspiration.
Hello everyone. Today, I’m coming to you from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, in Winston-Salem, NC! My daughter’s thesis presentation is this weekend and I left Florida to be with her for moral support, not that she needs it. She’s awesome! This is’ make it’ or ‘break it’ weekend for her. Will she or won’t she get her Master’s degree? Signs point to yes.
While she’s up there in the presentation room, I’m going to tell you about Jared. Nope, not the jewelry store (though I’m really smitten with this gorgeous canary yellow and chocolate diamond neckace and ring I saw there). I’m talking about Jared, a very, very powerful mage in my YA novel, The Eye of Kedge. He may not be as powerful as Pug, but he’s pretty darn close. (Raymond Feist fans will know of whom I speak, but I digress).
So, what’s so hot about Jared? Well:
he’s the Supreme Master over all magic beings in the world of Estaria that possess white magic.
he is the only mage allowed to commune directly with the heavens. He receives his directions from the heavenly master.
He is the king of Felindil.
He owns a fleet of slipper ships. His own vessel, the WindSong, is the largest of all of them, coming in at 800 feet long with 6 masts varying in height from 150 to 400 feet tall.
He is intimidating, as David so aptly points out:
The man sauntered forward and slipped the hood away from his head. Dark hair framed his rugged face. Eyes, clear and blue, shone bright against his sun-bronzed skin. A slight smile creased his lips as he shed the entire garment like it was a nuisance. Over his well-defined muscles, he wore a black leather vest, and heavy black trousers tucked into knee-high boots. Silver rings, some bearing jewels, adorned every finger. A sword sat on his hip and mystic symbols stained his chest.
Sounds like a guy to have in your court, huh?
Thanks for stopping by, guys. I’ll talk to you tomorrow when I’ll let you in on a little secret about Kedge. Until then…
YA Chit Chat 
