Book Talk!

Last Tuesday I started with my Holiday books, today is the pop-up part of this particular section.

If there is one thing you should know about me personally, it's that I love a good pop-up book. The ones I'm drawn to are those for adults and kids alike - they are full of energy, pop with wow, and are simply stunning.

One of my favorite paper engineers is Robert Sabuda, so it is no surprise I have more than a couple of his books. Using all white pops with colored blocks is what drew me to him in specific, and this style is prevalent in his holiday works like "The 12 Days of Christmas" and "Christmas Alphabet".



Last year Sabuda made a small(ish) "Christmas" pop-up using a few pops from previous books and a new one. Another one was done this year, "Winter in White", but I haven't picked a copy up - space limitation makes me very picky and I think these two books are great for kids or those wanting an introduction to Sabuda in particular or pop-ups in general.



Chuck Fischer may not have elaborate pop-ups like "Great American House and Gardens" and "The White House", but they hold interesting information and are visually delicious. A couple years ago he released "Christmas in New York" and it is a wonderful celebration of how the city celebrates the season. This book closes with a spectacular New Years pop, full of color and speaks almost as the night itself does, without the chill that is.



This year Fischer released "Christmas Around the World". There are pull outs of details and an ornament at the end in both of these - someone who loves the holidays will like both of these.



"Happy Holidays" is one of those tiny books found at the counter and, although they are hard to find now, it is a true gem about receiving a card in the mail. It's all in cream, tiny, simple, and a keeper.



My most unique pop-up in my holiday collection, isn't really a pop-up. Jan Pienkowski's "The First Noel" is both a shadow box and carousel, a fantastic choice for anyone interested in the wonders of paper engineering. Pienkowski is an incredible silhouette artist and here he works his magic in all white against a lovely red background. The book opens all the way up and ties open so it can be set on a table top and viewed in the round.



There you go, a small section of my pop-ups, all focused on the holidays. I hope you're now as drawn to open one of these treasures up and see how incredible they are. Next Tuesday, Book Talk! will look at the last part of my holiday books - all with the same title: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas".

Naughty Thought for Monday!

Okay, you attend a black tie event, you're dresed to the nines and feeling fabulous. Champagne is being passed around with little canapes to nibble on, it's all good. Then you look up and wow, it's a giant glass penis hanging from the ceiling - do you blush, take a picture with your mobile, laugh, or tap the host on the shoulder and voice your disgust?



Me, I'd do the first three!

I cooked!

Ok, earlier this week I told the cutie I'd come up with 3 things to cook when he returned home and he was excited.

Deviled Eggs
Mince and Dumplings
Peppermint Brownies

So yesterday I started with the last one, nothing to heavy and a treat for later. After 3 trips to the market and 1 to the shops for a hand mixer [yeah, I know, who lives in a country for almost 10 years and doesn't own a hand mixer, that would be us], two phone calls to Mom and big sis for help [salted vs unsalted butter], they were in the oven when the cutie came home. After the usual welcome home "things" he lovingly called me a fraud.

Apparently he thought I was cooking from scratch and my Peppermint Brownies mix was bought from William Sonoma [add eggs and butter, the latter of which I messed up], although it was my idea to add a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle the accompanying Peppermint Snow on top.

Nevermind, the other two things I'll make this week are from scratch :-)

Random Ridiculousness...

This is the time of year everyone starts looking for a calendar. It's not my choice this year, it's the cuties so I'm worried. My all time favorite, despite being terrified of birds, has to be the Extraordinary Chickens. It's like pin-ups for the chicken crowd. So what has caught my eye this year that I have no chance of getting?

Naked for a Cause has Australian rugby players stripping down to benefit breast cancer and they do a fabulous job of it.

A similar calendar that also happens to be a work of art is the ongoing Dieux du Stade series and I swear, these guys often show up as inspiration for my heroes...strong, agile, and WOW!

And something different came to my attention, Cofanifunebri, and I'm intrigued. Don't know it? They offer a fabulous mix of sex and coffins. Yup, that's right, but what I'd like to know is: can two people be buried together?

Thursday 13 - 24!

The cutie and I spent most of November to the left of us, enjoying ourselves. Friday was spent doing laundry so the cutie had something to take on his trip, and I prepared for the book fair on Saturday. Well, I'm feeling overwhelmed with the to-do's and need to calm it all down so I'm going to share the trip with you all.

1. Our flight was delayed by 2 1/2 hours. This left us with a bunch of drunks who were loud and obnoxious, but that was the worst thing they did. About half way through someone behind us collapsed and there was a dash of oxygen tanks and what not, and the drunks all stared with their mouths opened. Sorry, I'm not a crash viewer, at the worst moment in someone's life, the last thing they need is to be stared at.

2. Because we were to the left, I was the driver - for the entire time. We had our first Prius and it was great. Quiet, faster than I thought - apparently the optimum speed is 65, or so the cutie kept telling me, but I drive 10 over the speed limit minus a couple to make it not worth a policeman's time to pull me over. Okay, I hit the 80's a couple of times.

3. There's a different mindset where I was brought up compared to where I am or to the right of us. People to the left of us don't talk about miles, they talk in terms of how long it takes to get someplace. The drive from the big airport takes about 1 hour 15 to my Mom's, 2 hours with traffic. At one time during this visit we used Google Maps for directions and there it was time with and without traffic! Anyway, this time it took a shocking 45 minutes and there were miles where there wasn't a car to be seen. I kid you not, this has never happened to me, there's always cars on the road.

4. First morning, it was all about settling into the usual. We hit Jean Paul's for coffee/chocolate milk and croissants and sat in the sun relaxing. The jeweler who made my ring [an old family friend] came in for his morning constitution and joined us for a bit - this is what we do when we're there. Next we walked into town and hit Friends of the Library for a couple of books, and last, to the beach to read until someone came to feed the birds - ahhh! Went back to mom's and then dashed across the road to sit at our favorite spot overlooking Rockpile. No surfers, they're working on the hillside so the beach is closed.

5. We made it to my nephew's soccer game on Saturday - he's a speed demon! Anyway, they were winning so we felt comfortable in leaving early to make the local theaters showing of American Gangster - didn't want to have to drive to one of those metroplex things. Wow, what a flick!

6. Big sis took us on her errands day - cutie didn't believe me it was an exhausting endeavor. I've since been told by niece 1 and 2 separately that she tones it down for me. Anyway, we lunched, shopped and found our Christmas tree. If we're here for the holidays we head over to a local farmer and chop one down - but after seeing this gem, we figure a little more fun is in order. What is it? A 7' pre-lit palm tree :-) The tree's been ordered because the cutie worried they'd sell out of them...kid you not...so there will be a pic [maybe I'll set it up outside in the snow - yeah, that's part of why we did it, a palm tree in the snow suits us just fine].

7. Mom was being honored at her work with a special dinner and we weren't sure we were going. Well, once we found out we were going, it was a mad dash out to get the cutie a tie, coat and pants. I wore the dress with inappropriate cleavage with my leather jacket - give us a break, we were on holiday! Nephew was fantastic, dressed up in a coat, tie and real shoes - that's a big deal, and ontime!

8. We did a wine and cheese night up at big sisters house. It was lovely, although I couldn't drink any [an adamant no drink and drive, lost far too many classmates back in high school to this practice and don't need to see it as an adult], although it certainly smelt delicious. They also gave me my b-day pressie - it was back in September - and I LOVE it!

9. Sitting out catching some serious Vitamin D, the brother-in-law and nephew phoned and asked if we wanted to meet down at the cutie's favorite haunt for beers and nachos. We put on some shoes and walked down to join them. After the third round we went across the street to the beach and watched brother in law and niece #3 surf, and nephew swim. Then a school of dolphins came by and we watched them for a while. It was simply divine.

10. Thanksgiving came and we all went up to the big sisters. They hosted a fabulous feast for 13 of us. We watched a little football, chatted with the nieces and nephew, helped a smidgen, ate plenty, and were home in bed for 8:00pm.

11. There was a visit to Fatburger, Ruby's, Husky Boys for cheeseburgers - yummy in my tummy! We also hit the Royal Hawaiian for ribs and lapu lapu's - delicious! Went out to Thai Bros with the big sister and BIL, our anniversaries are within five days of each other, so it was all about celebrations and trying to talk them in to a trip to the right of us so we could show them where all their kids have been. We also visited a new Thai place so I had plenty of tofu to gnaw on.

12. Throughout our time there, and every time we go, Jean Paul's is where everyone met up with us at some point - even my big sister came [JP bothers her but if someone else will order, it's all good]. It's lovely when family and friends come and go from the table. We set something up or just natter for ages while sitting in the sun.

13. The cutie and I did only one organized thing and it was because I hadn't made it up there yet and really [really] wanted to go. The Getty Villa has reopened. This is someplace I spent months of my life at and I wanted to see what they'd done to it and some of my favorite pieces. I think I'll save all the details on this one for another TT. Now, to share with you how the cutie thinks, he was all excited to go because there was a big fire going on at the time and had hopes of seeing flames or something - nope, there wasn't a black cloud to be seen, it was simply lovely!

So, I'm sure you picked up on the trend for our trip...basically we did sod all except sit out in the sun and vegetate. Nice! Now I'm back and it's flippin' frigid! No, this isn't my usual it's 65 and I need a jacket, it's like 30 and to the left of us will be in the 80's tomorrow! It snowed on Sunday, on top of all the leaves that fell the day after we left - ahhh, the joy of Autumn. So beautiful and done in a few weeks, now we're left with copious amounts of leaf blowing. Bring on the hot chocolate!

Book Talk!

It's December and, after taking a look at my shelves for Book Talk, its apparent I love children's Christmas books so I guess we'll look at those. A little secret I don't often reveal is that it's often the illustrations of a picture book that will have me picking it up off the shelves to look at - that's for unknown to me authors/illustrators. Anyway, let's jump in and check out some of the holiday books in my collection.

I've mentioned this author/illustrator before, Tasha Tudor, but what you don't know is that my sister and I received this book , Take Joy, in our advent calendar one year when we were young. It's a true gem of a book, full of music, stories, poems, and more. Also on my shelves are two paperbacks, The Christmas Cat and The Doll's Christmas, and her most recent book Corgiville Christmas .

Another blast from the past for many that can be found upstairs on the shelves would be Holly Hobbie. Her Toot & Puddle pigs are favorites of mine, they're often sent out as gifts for little ones. Let it Snow was just released and said to be her last with the two porcine cuties, but I think the real treasure would be I'll Be Home for Christmas .

A more recent illustrator I follow and collect is Lisabeth Zwerger. She's fabulous, and in fact has a new Gift of the Magi out, but I haven't done it. The holiday books of her that I have on my shelves are A Christmas Carol and Nutcracker . Her drawings are incredible, thought provoking for children's book, if you get a chance check out her Wizard of Oz.

As far as I can tell, Elise Primavera has only written and illustrated Auntie Claus and Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas , and that's fine. There're beautiful, vibrant, and scream with fun for kids.

When it comes to the best Christmas story in this group, it has to be Audrey Wood's A Cowboy Christmas . I remember the day I bought this one. Robert Florczak's paintings had me picking it up off the shelf, but the story had me crying. This book is a true gem that every family should have and read together.

I'm on one of those people who, if I like someone's work, must have everything they've done. British author/illustrator Camilla Ashforth has a lovely trilogy about a bear, and Willow at Christmas is a part of this set. Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig have are the author/illustrator duo for Angelina Ballerina...a few of these are signed, yup, I'm that big of a fan from the start of this series, and Angelina's Christmas is there with all the others [although I'm missing Alexander and the Magic Boat]. Ahhh, then there's Mariana's Miss Flora McFlimsey series. Wow, I even remember the bookshop these came and the owner who read stories out loud to anyone who wanted - Going on a Bear Hunt was always my favorite. Miss Flora McFlimsey's Christmas Eve , one of seven, unfortunately I'm still on the hunt for two more [Miss Flora McFlimsey and Little Laughing Water and Miss Flora McFlimsdey and the Little Red Schoolhouse]. Another author/illustrator I collect and often give out as a gift is Ian Falconer's Olivia - a wonderfully independent pig if there ever was one. Every little girl needs to have this set which includes Olivia Helps at Christmas .

William Joyce's Santa Calls introduced me to this interesting author/illustrator - I love his work, especially Buddy and The Leaf Men. Yes, he also does the Rolie Polie Olie books/series on Disney and the recent moviee Meet the Robinsons, a take off of his A Day with Wilbur Robinson.

A couple of years ago I found Silent Night , illustrated by Will Moses, and have been hooked ever since. In fact, each Halloween our local framing shop has a poster of his called Girls Night Out and I'm always tempted.

I started with a treasure from my youth, well here is another. My Mom and I were at a holiday fair and in one of the tents was two ladies, the authors and illustrators of Sophie's Surprise and although I was too old for the advent calendar, my Mom still bought this for me and we had it signed.

Yup, I've warned you all, I've been a bookie for most of my life.

So there are a few of my holiday books, next week will check out the holiday pop-ups that reside in this house.

If you're looking for more Book Talk, today I'll be over in the Love Romances Cafe from 10-4:00pm est chatting about my erotic romances.

Booksigning on Saturday!

This is an all day event, so put on your comfy shoes. Oh, and did I mention some authors will be doing readings? Yup, loads to do and you're in Manhattan, so attend a Broadway show while you're there...the strike is over. The details are:

December 1 10-6:00pm est - 20th Annual Independent Small Press Book Fair, 20 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), NYC, NY. 10036 w/a multitude of authors

Hope to see you there on Saturday, but if you can't make it then, still come and check out it out on Sunday.

UPDATE: Wonderful people, beautiful building, great location, oh yeah, this was a great event. I finally met the lovely Nicole and that made it even more special - she kindly fed my chocolate addiction as well, oh baby!

Thursday 13 - #23!

I'm away right now so, before I leave, I thought I'd take a note from Susan at West of Mars, twist it around a bit, and list thirteen unknown qualities found in the male characters from my books. So, here we go:

1. Dirk Madison from The Painted Lady is a professional ice hockey player, a tough man's man, and his unknown is why he bought and lives in a grand old Victorian mansion. He was happy being single, pleased to answer to no one for his actions, then he met and fell for Saffron. The need to settle down with her, make a home and fill it with a family and laughter was overwhelming, but he wasn't afraid. The moment he saw the house, he knew it was the place for them and their future together.

2. Tilton Spidermach from Come, Sweet Creature seems like a real letch, his sexual excapades are always in the press, making Jena's job more difficult especially when trying to organize an event to raise money for a children's charity [in the story it goes unnamed but it's the Make a Wish Foundation]. The unknown about Spider is why the annual party is personally important to him - one of the few things in life that can turn him inside out is when the harsh reality of life takes the joy and childhood away from the young.

3. Selkirk MacLellan from Extreme Speed, Total Control very existence relies on him being in complete control. His a Formula 1 race car driver who drives at over 200mph, there is no room for second guessing a decision. Then one day he's faced with the fact he knows he was wrong and must be man enough to try and make it right with Lia. The unknown quality of Kirk is that he never thought he'd live long enough to retire from the track and definitely never believed he'd find a woman he loved so much he'd give up everything to have at his side.

4. Cooper Sayer from New Beginnings: Carpe Diem has the best of intentions to be a good man, fulfill his obligations to his superiors, and be all that he was brought up to be. It's the last bit that, with his strong moral code, that allows him to lie with ease, live two separate lives that are at war with each other, all so he can be with the woman he loves. The fact that he has a mother, father, and a multitude of siblings who have all chosen to deny his existence because he didn't conform to their easy acceptance of the state of their world is the unkonwn.

5. Luke MacAlister and Timu Tuhaere from An Invitation to the World: New Zealand are both rugby players who take pride in their physical prowress both on and off the field. Despite coming from different backgrounds, they are best friends and possess no jealousy when it comes to sharing Kiri. They were so devasted by her desertion, but had good friends that circled around them so their unknown, the serious drinking they sunk into, was never made public.

6. Vasiliy Beketov from An Invitation to the World: Russia is a smart, successful, busineman who makes a deal with his enemy that denies where he came from, but falls short of taking away everything else, including his ability to find love with Zura. What is unknown of Vasya is his childhood, it helps him survive these difficult times with his sanity intact. He was raised in the far north-east of Russia, the rim of Siberia, where life is a struggle for many. Those who survived and made it out, did so by being listening to their instincts.

7. Rick Milston from The Leather Bride is a successful architect who has everything going for him, professionally his career couldn't get any better. Personally, the woman who has his heart in her gentle hands, his perfect match, is also his weakness. He will do whatever he can to ensure her happiness, so what could possibly be missing from his life? What isn't known about Rick is that he used to be big into the BDSM lifestyle but walked away when he realized he wasn't getting out of it what he thought he would when he started. Mimi made it all feel right.

8. Yi Burton from An Invitation to the World 2: China made a big mistake when he allowed the job to involve the love of his life, Jia. He's terrified for her life and takes extreme measures to protect her, and thereby returning her to his side. What isn't known about Yi is that his own father and two brothers are members of the triad who threatened his woman's life. The informant included this information, but there was no doubt he'd protect his woman above all else.

9. Bodhi Burke from An Invitation to the World 2: India took on the challenge of expanding his families hotel chain around the globe. While mistakes were made during the early days of their marriage, he never lost sight of his goal, to love honor and cherish Sati. With that in mind, Bodhi's unknown is that he gave Sati's uncle a great deal of money, in return, the older man signed a document stating he, nor any other member of his family, would contact his niece or speak in public about her. It would be for her to make a connection or not, to do with her life what she wanted, to finally live for herself and not another.

10. Xer Rieh from Zandia has it all, including a chance to reshape the future. He has a clear idea of what he'd like to see and do for his world. You'd think all this power would make him sure of his path, but then Sui came into his life. Once that happens, he can think of nothing but keeping her and all that comes with her, at his side. What's unknown about Xer is that on this recent trip to Earth, sex, normally an exciting and frequent part of his life, was no longer something he he looked forward to - he was ripe for a change.

11. James and Thornton Michaud from Taming Marie Antoinette are twins and have many things in common, like their taste in women. The guys are doing so well with their career, they've had little time for anything else, then they meet Liana who make them work for more. Most people see how alike they are, this woman captures them by seeing their differences and expanding how they viewed their future. As expected, the twins unknown is the same, and yet for the first time, neither has confided in the other. The more they get to know their lover, the more they want with and from her, including settling into a life together, with kids, lots of kids.

12. Dale Smythe from the upcoming OohRah! is a soldier from his toes up to the top of his shorn hair. Strong and brave, he understands his role in the Marines is for life and has the rest of it planned out. After a talk with a friend, he see's changes need to happen, and makes them when Tashya comes running into his world. Dale's unknown is big, serious, and one he accepts but never allows into his concious, therefore, this is the only place you'll see it written down. He doesn't want to die and have no one morn him, miss him, cry tears for him as a lover gone, and dreams lost. The man may be a warrior, but he's a gentle soul at heart.

13. Courtland Dickerson from the upcoming Ride 'em had a difficult upbringing and made some unwise choices, before he turned himself around. Now he's back home and ready to make a fresh start a horse breeding business, something he'd always wanted to do. He's a man with kinky tastes and finds himself falling hard for Sunny. There is much to discover about their story of love, but one unknown about Court you won't find in this story is that he once let a photographer take nude shots of him for drugs. Personally he's ashamed, not of the pics because they're actually very good, but the reason why he did them is what he has a problem with. He doubts they'll ever see the light of day because he was under 18, but if they do, he's now in a place with life where it wouldn't matter.

So, do you know these guys a little better now?

Book Talk!

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang, is one of my all time favorite books and I highly recommend it as a great read. This is a non-fiction account of a daughter, mother, and grandmother figuring out how to get along together while coming from their various eras. There's a great timeline giving what was happening personally and politically in China. The first paragraph of the Epilogue is what pulls you in to read about this family of strong women.

"I have made London my home. For ten years, I avoided thinking about the China I had left behind. Then in 1988, my mother came to England to visit me. For the first time, she told me the story of her life and that of my grandmother. When she returned to Chengdu, I sat down and let my own memory surge out and the unshed tears flood my mind. E decided to weite Wild Swans. The past was no longer too painful to recall because I had found love and fulfillment and therefore tranquility."

Wow! Well, I couldn't leave this wonderfully rich world behind so picked up Cao Xueqin's The Story of the Stone [also known as The Dream of the Red Chamber, volume 1 - The Golden Days]. Called a great novel of manners in Chinese literature, I struggled to get through, but I did. Then, for a trip I picked up volume 2 - The Crab-Flower Club, and my bookmark is still set to page 135. These books are beautifully detailed, most likely too much for me at that time in life. The Jia family is at the center, but my memory is that it was more about the son and how cherished and beloved he was.

Okay, so my second foray wasn't a success, but I was far from done. The next book I picked up was Dragon Lady: The Life and Legend of the Last Empress of China by Sterling Seagrave. Oh man, yes, this was another gem! While this woman is often remembered as a monster, the book takes you to her beginnings:

"We do not even know her name. She was too private for that, and the world she lived in was uniquely designed to hide her behind multiple layers of court ritual and etiquette. Nobody ever spoke the name of the Son of Heaven or his wives, because they were demigods. She was born on November 29, 1835, the sme year as Robert Hart, somewhere in China, bu where exactly we do not lknow. Nor are we sure of her father's name or occupation, the name of her mother, or event the girl's mil-name, the name she was called as a nursing infant. She was an obscure daughter of an obscure Manchu officer and might have lived out her life in obscurity except that she was chosen to be one of the emperor's lesser concubines and had the good fortune to bear him his only surviving son. Thanks to Hart we know that she had three younger sisters and one brother who survived to adulthood. It is also a matter of record that she was fond of pretty clothes, Pekingese dogs, and chrysanthemums."

This non-fiction account of Tzu Hsi is simply rich. This woman went from being considered nothing to everything. What could possibly be next? I tried Marina Warner's The Dragon Empress, but it wasn't fulfilling so my quest for something more for the China section of my collection went unfulfilled for some time before it was broken.

While in Canada I was trolling through a bookshop and found Dragon of Heaven: The Memoirs of the Last Empress of China, story by David Bouchard and paintings by Zhong-Yang Huang. YES, finally, a scruptuous visual to go with all the words floating in my head. I love this book and often give it as a gift.



So, is my China collection closed?

Nope. This year the cutie bought me Madam Chiang Kai-Shek: China's Eternal First Lady by Laura Tyson Li. I haven't finished this book yet, time and work snuck up on me, but so far she's interesting. I'm already curious about her family so the next book might be The Soong Dynasty by Sterling Seagrave - I liked how he wrote the Dragon Empress so we'll see.

So there you go, another peek into a tiny part of my book collection.

Naughty Thought for Monday

Says it all really!

Booksigning on Saturday!

Actually there will be a discussion before the signing, so come with questions at the ready! The details are:

November 10 at 2:00pm est - Borders, 100 Viewmont Mall, Dickson City, PA, 18508 [outskirts of Scranton] w/Stella Price and Cat Johnson

Hope to see you there!

UPDATE: Total blast! Sat at the front door and had chatted up a storm! Met reader Suzanne, can't wait to see her at RT :-) Made plans with management to come back in 2008.

Book Talk!

It's no secret I'm a bookie with varied tastes, and if you ever meet me, you'll know I love to talk about books. So, I thought I'd share a bit of my collection with you all, let you know why I've kept it, in some cases moved it 6000 miles away and then 3000.

Just because, I'm going to keep it random, I may talk about a them, a single book or a series, I guess it's however the mood suits. So let's get started.

Today, I thought I'd share one of my favorite books to get: A Child's Garden of Verse by Robert Louis Stevenson.



This is an edition from when I was little, hence no dustjacket [sigh, now I take the jacket's off before I read a book]. The drawings aren't my favorite, but this poem, The Unseen People, is one I remember reading over and over again. If ever you need a book for a child to be a keeper, look for this one.



I will sometimes buy multiple copies of the same book - after giving away over 3000 books a few years ago, I'm better at this, not perfect, but better - one of the good reasons to buy multiple copies is different illustrators. When I was younger and in Edinburgh, I came across a bookshop that had this "facsimile" edition, a beautiful book. The paper alone is like silk. Anyway, it was one of the few momentoes I carried home with me, oh, and I bought one for my sister and her kids. Perfect example of my one for me to see how it is and then one for them so they have their own copy - yes, they are older and know what I do and tease me about this, but I like my books to be loved by me :-), that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. The Rennie Mackintosh feel to the illustrations drew me in and said Scotland.

There is a third copy of this book in my collection and it's illustrated by Tasha Tudor, one of my favorite artists, but I'll speak more about her on another day. In the end, A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson is timeless and ageless.

Guy Fawkes Day!

November 5th is Bonfire night, a British celebration remembering the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. A group of English Roman Catholics organized and came up with a plan to destroy tyrannical rule by King James I of England and the Protestant Aristocracy. Guy Fawkes was the man chosen to blow up the Palace of Westminster [or the Houses of Parliament] but he was caught before this happened. After being tortured, he and other conspirators were found guilty of treason, they were hung, drawn and quartered. Apparently Fawkes escaped the hanging by getting free and jumping from the scaffolding and broke his neck. After that, he was still drawn and quartered.

It's not all doom and gloom for Guy Fawkes. He is credited with being “the only man to ever enter parliament with honourable intentions.” In 2002 he was 30th in the “100 Greatest Britons” and on the list of the 50 greatest people from Yorkshire.

Recently the festivities have made their way into popular culture beyond the British Isles. Two examples are a movie and book. The beginning of the movie V for Vendetta has an old rhyme that is often used to recall this incident. The full poem isn’t normally used, just the first bit, and sometime the second. When you read it you'll know why, it’s very inflammatory and no longer has a purpose. The cutie, who grew up knowing the first two verses, never knew the last until we saw it noted at an exhibition. So here it is in it’s entirety:

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,'twas his intent
to blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow:
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, make the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip hoorah!

A penny loaf to feed the Pope.
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah!

There's another appearance of the Guy Fawkes Day celebrations found in the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. A muggle weatherman is reporting shooting stars are being seen all over Britain, and speculates some people are celebrating Bonfire Night a week early. Instead, it’s the wizarding world celebrating the disappearance of Lord Voldemort. And don’t forget Albus Dumbledor’s pet phoenix is called Fawkes.

So how does one celebrate Bonfire Night? Well, on the Fifth of November, once the sun has sunk, the bonfires, big and small, are lit in fields up and down the country. The guy is on the pyre before it’s set on fire and everyone stands around watching it burn. In northern England, Yorkshire, they have baked potatoes, parkin [a ginger cake with black treacle, or molasses], toffee apples, roasted chestnuts, beer and much more are all consumed in the cold damp air, long in to the night.

The “guy” plays a big part in the celebrations. Up until recent times, kids used to take the days leading up to Bonfire Night and make an effigy of Guy Fawkes, carry or wheel him around the neighborhood, knock on doors or ask people walking around for “a penny for the guy.” They’d spout off what they knew about the Gunpowder Plot, maybe sing a rhyme, and be rewarded with money. They used to spend it on fireworks but later it went toward sweets during the night.

Yes, we’ll be having a fire in the backyard with friends, a few pints, and some Oatmeal Parkin. The cutie made it yesterday and here’s the recipe:

Ingredients
5 oz dark syrup, or 4 oz golden syrup plus 1 oz black treacle
3 oz margarine
3 oz soft brown sugar
6 oz medium oatmeal
3 oz self-raising flour, sifted [1 1/2 teaspoons of bicarbonate soda for American flour]
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
a pinch of salt
1 small egg, beaten
1 dessertspoon milk

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 275F.
2. Lightly grease s 6 inch cake tin.
3. Add syrup and syrup treacle into a saucepan with margarine and sugar, place over gentle heat until margarine is melted - no boiling.
4. Place oatmeal, flour, ginger, salt in bowl, then slowly add the syrup mixture until thoroughly blended.
5. Next, add beaten egg and lastly, the milk.
6. Pour into prepared tin and cook, middle of oven, for 1 1/2 hours - or until center feels springy.
7. Let the Parkin cool for 30 minutes before turning out. Don’t worry if the center sinks, this can happen.

This month we give thanks and celebrate with our family, why not expand it and immerse yourself in history, plots of murder, treason and more. Make some parkin, a cup of tea, and watch V for Vendetta.

Enjoy your Bonfire Night!

A bit of random ridiculousness...

I recently attended a wedding. It was an evening function so was in a bit of a panic about what to wear. For three weeks, on two different coasts, I shopped for a "cocktail" dress, maybe one that would be my staple little black number.

Nothing was up to snuff so I bought a sweater while to the left of us to wear over a little purple number I had - thought the cleavage was inappropriate for a wedding. Problem is, it didn't work with the dress, although it looks lovely with jeans :-)

On the way to the hotel, we stopped at a mall for a pair of jeans - we were leaving the next day for a trip and I had none without any holes. Found 2 pair of jeans and a beautiful black dress in less than an hour.

Why? Why, when you have the time to look, you find nothing, and when you have no time, you find exactly what you were looking for within seconds?

Thursday 13 - #22!

HA! We're in November already! My goodness, where has the time gone. So what do I "have" to do this month?

Okay, this didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I wrote down 13 things I had to do and when I finished it felt like I was writing and organizing my days away, and I was not happy. This month has so many things I'm looking forward to that I'm going to write those down instead.

1. Looking forward to finish editing and submitting short story 'Drive-in' for consideration. This is for a ebook/print book where all proceeds will go to support those affected by the Southern California wildfires.

2. Looking forward to finish working out the kinks in the Glamorgan Sausages [or peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate] recipe for 'Coming Together: In the Kitchen' and send it in.

3. Looking forward to shopping for the perfect book to send off to the newest member to the family living to the right of us. Clothes they grow out of, a book is forever. I'm thinking about 'Olivia' but am open minded about it all. No, of course she can't read, but it will be a story that she will grow up knowing, remembering, and taking with her throughout life.

4. Looking forward to the November 10th panel discussion and book signing in Pennsylvania. Not too sure what I'm going to say as an introduction yet, but I'll figure it out. The cutie saw one I did a few years ago and thought it was good, so I'm taking that feeling and running with it.

5. Looking forward to heading to the left of us for an extra long break with the cutie. I've been a couple times this year, but he hasn't had a chance. We'll be vegetating on the white couch, beach, Jean Paul's, sisters, you name we'll be relaxing.

6. Looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with the family.

7. Looking forward to celebrating our 14th Anniversary back where we were married.

8. Looking forward to choosing the birthday pressies for November. Our rule of thumb is that birthdays means books, except for a select few milestones. Have a niece turning 16 this month, her key chain has been ordered, and the cutie will collect before heading to the left of us. There are a few others that need to be chosen, ordered and shipped :-)

9. Looking forward to creating our Christmas lists [and the eldest nephews birthday book] for those to the right of us. Still don't know if we'll be over there for the holiday - we'll decide later. Either way, we'll have everything shipped to the southern group's house so even if we're there, we only have to remember to pack up the parents.

10. Looking forward to creating our Christmas lists [and various December/January birthdays] for those to the left of us - have it shipped to Mom's house. Gauranteed we'll get some sugar treat in return.

11. Looking forward to deciding with cutie whether we want to rent a car or not during our break. If we do, then we'll go up and see niece #2 [could do the train for total relaxation], family and friends to the south and my all time favorite museum that's been closed for years while they renovated it. If we don't, then we'll relax even more.

12. Looking forward to going for my bi-annual mamogram this morning - okay, not the early hour, but will still face the test with confidence. Later, the cutie and I will go out for pizza and deep-fried pickles with friends. Yes, that's right - pickle wedges deep-fried and dipped in ranch :-)

13. Looking forward to WRITING!

There, I feel much better about this list. How about you - are you a lister and feeling discouraged or satisfied by them?

An Old House Speaks...

Will you be able to look beyond my imposing facade and notice my light is on?

Will you decide to ignore my dated and mismatched appearance?

Will you pick my cracked front path to walk along, despite the overgrown bushes and branches rustling in the wind?

Will you choose to step onto my creaking porch and not notice the cobwebs filling the corners?

Will you confidently poke your finger out and ring my bell?

Will you happily yell trick-or-treat when the door is finally opened?

I hope so.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

And then there's this...

Enough said.

Enjoy!

Where am I today?

Besides writing, I'm playing over on Chatting with Joyfully Reviewed!

Come over, you might find a new book to read.

Naughty Thought for Monday

I've taken my Naughty Thought for Monday, mixed in a current event, and taken it on the road to The Romance Studio's blog...hmmm, what could it be, you'll have to head over and find out :-)

A bit of random ridiculousness...

Okay, let's get personal. I wash my hands after going to the bathroom, using soap and water for a minimum of two rounds of Happy Birthday, fine. The weird thing is, I sing it in my head to "Fred".

I can't sing it to myself if it's not my birthday, can't sing it to no one in particular because it isn't theirs either. So I sing it to "Fred", and no, I don't know anyone with this name.

Thursday 13 - #21!

On Monday, October 22 the second book in my 'A Passion for Fashion and Bondage', Taming Marie Anotinette, was be released over at Phaze. I'm very excited for this one to come out so thought I'd give you all a couple of things I did to research this erotic romance.

1. The first book, The Leather Bride, was such a blast I was inspired to briefly outline three other stories. This January the cutie had a trip to Paris and I went along - all in the name of research :-)

2. Some time before we left, my mom sent me an article about the best hot chocolate around the world. Ummm, in case you didn't know, I'm totally addicted to a great cup of hot chocolate.

3. From the moment we arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport [6 hours late], my personal quest to hunt out the best hot chocolate in the city began.

4. We went to Dalloyau and our host treated us to a tasting of everything from the salt to sweets. Yes, I even tasted the things that lived in water - didn't want to be rude, but the hot chocolate was divine! Oh, and the macaroons, simply lovely!

5. I was there as a corporate wife, but I also planned on doing some first hand research, so became tour guide and took my compatriot around.

6. We took the train out to Versailles. I didn't remember there was a small theater for opera and ballet out there, but it's there and a real gem.

7. We shopped - I bought our host a couple of bottles of wine for he and his wife, the pop-up Blue 2 for his son, and chocolates for the Monthly Scorcher members.

8. During the shopping trek acorss Paris, we visited Laduree for a sweet and hot chocolate - yum!

9. One night we took a boat up and down the Seine and ate a delicious meal - including my first ever Kir Royal, and yes, I had the escargot.

10. Another night our host took us all out to eat at Ma Bourgogne in the Marais section and visited the restrooms.

11. When the cutie was finished working, we took some time for ourselves and spent them, amongst other things, revisiting Notre Dame and then walked to Ile Saint-Louis for a crepe and beer.

12. Going through the Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries and into Angelina - the shop noted in my mom's list as having the thickest hot chocolate you'll ever taste. Yes, it most certainly did.

13. We also attended an exhibition at the Grand Palais on Egypt's Sunken Treasures.

Are you curious how this all comes together? Well, you'll have to buy a copy of Taming Marie Anotinette to see how each of these plays a part in the story, as well as how the three of them get to a happy ever after end.

Taming Marie Antoinette is OUT!

October in Paris is romance and the Depravity Dance, what could possibly be next?

Liana Trudeau has moved to Paris in pursuit of her doctorate. While her mind has been working hard, her body has been ignored. Knowing what she wants, Liana attends the Depravity Dance and connects with two men who can perfectly read her needs, both physically and mentally. Unfortunately it's for only one night, or is it?

Thornton and James Michaud have spent the past couple of months focused on a project in conjunction with the French government. With all the signatures necessary to move forward, they’re out to celebrate and indulge their desire for a woman. By the end of the evening they find she has only one fault, leaving before they were finished. Can they find her to complete what they'd started in a city as large as Paris?

What has one reviewer said?

"I swear that several times my ebook reader ignited as I read this powerfully dominating story!" Reviewed by Frost gave Taming Marie Antoinette 5 swords!

Heat it up - dash over and pick up a copy of Taming Marie Antoinette, the second installment in the 'A Passion for Fashion and Bondage' series. If you missed the first, The Leather Bride, they are both now available through Phaze.

Banned Books Week Contest!

Sorry about the delay, I'm back in the land of no easy internet...anyway, the two winners of the Amazon gift certificates are:

Tehya and Catslady

Congratulations, and thank you everyone for taking part.

See you next year :-)