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Bonus scommesse online: I bonus dei migliori bookmakers italiani per scommettere online sul calcio e altri sport.
Reviewer11: Cool blog! WOW! :D
Caffey: I miss chatting with you all here! I shall be visiting more. Checking out the books I missed!
ANGEL: GREAT BLOG
Emi: Hi there!! Great to know that authors have a blog to promote the books.. It certainly makes me want to go out and buy it. Keep it up!
lucid: hi :) nice journal
BUTTERFLY: NICE JOURNAL
ANGELBABBIES: HI GREAT JOURNAL
DoyleSoft: :)
Amy: What? No one has an opinion to post? Tell us your thoughts!
winnei: hi, care to exchange link?
Julie: Hi there, just blog hopping. You ave a great blog here. Keep it up, good luck with the writing.
Krishna: Hi, Blog hoping! Have a very nice day!
glenndel: hi,nice blog here, care to exlinks???
Boink: Happy Weekend!
Marie: Hi all, it's wet and dreary here - hope it's brighter there.
Jeannie Ruesch: I'm thrilled you ladies are enjoying the WIP Notebook! Thanks for the comments. :)
Marie: Hi, love your colours and layout.
Pika: blog hopping.... nice header!
Hazel Quinn: Hi! LOVE your journal name. I write coz I can't help myself & want to exchange links with quality sites. Would u care to exchange? Best wishes ~Hazel Quinn
Amy: Oops! I forgot to post on Saturday! My only excuse is I was writing away from the net and it completely slipped my overtaxed mind!
Amy: Knock Off is a Desert Rose Finalist! Go Babe Rhonda!!
Pika: oohhh.... i like this
Rhonda: I'll add a feed if you tell me how :>)
Realm: hi there
Korner: blog hopping
Bits & Pieces: hello...
Caffey: Hi, can you add a feed to this blog. I'd love to put it on my google reader. Most blogs have the feeds so the blog can be read in one place. Thanks. I'm so glad I found it. Leanne, who I love to read, told me about it!
Lainey Bancroft: The Babes books are in my blog spotlight! Thanks again!
Mandi791: Hey just stopped by to say hi! If u have any more links left, would u like to exchange?
Amy: Charlotte has answered questions! Go back and read 'em.
Cheryl S.: I'm going to have to go with Charlotte Hughes also.
Maureen: Okay, my guess...Charlotte Hughes
Jonella Beauty: Hi Babes, Your blog is wonderful.
rhonda: Thanks Lainey!
Lainey: Hi Babes! I gave you a much deserved award on my blog!
Rhonda: Don't forget to run out and buy your copy of KNOCK OFF - the paperback is available wherever books are sold. KNOCK EM DEAD will be out at the beginning of March.
Amy: Any one guessing about the guest blogger? post your guess here!!
Amy: Happy New Year Everyone!
Toni: Just stopping by to check whats going on.
GK: happy new year..care to exchange link?if so let me know so I can add your link to my blog.
mandi791: Merry Christmas :) and Happy Friday to you
Lainey: Hey Babdes! You and your fabulous prize pack are the stars of my blog today. A million thank you's for the early stocking stuffed with goodies! xo
Garf: care to exchange link
Lainey: T'anks Babes. You're the Bestest!Great contest, and I thought ALL the Odes were fun!
The Babes: Congrats Lainey! Your Ode earned the most votes!!
Amy: Thank you Redstrength! I'll pass it one to him.
redstrength: Your husband sounds like a wonderful man. I thank him and you for your service to out country.
B abes: Don't forget to vote for your favorite Ode. There are seven great ones from which to choose!
Amy: Happy Halloween Everyone!
Toni : Just stopping by to say have a safe Halloween!
Peggy: I was just blog hopping and stumbled upon yours. It's great! Keep up the good work!
Babes: We're launching a contest on 10/29 - watch for details this week!
Rhonda: The Heather Graham will be here all week. PLEASE don't forget too thank Donna for her guest appearance and fabulous answers from last week! Rhonda
Amy: Donna will be answering all your questions today. Be patient
Rhonda: Hi Cheryl and welcome!
Cheryl Norman: I just discovered this blog and have bookmarked it. What fun I had "visiting" you today!
Rhonda: Heather Graham is Coming! 10/15-10/19, it's NTY Bestselling author Heather Graham Week here at BabesinBookland. Don't miss the opportunity to hear what she has to say!
Rhonda: Uber-Agent Donna Bagdasarian will be here to answer any and all questions 10/8-10/12!!!! You won't want to miss this opportunity!
corina: One reason why I enjoy stopping by this blog, is the very direct approach the authors here take. That in itself, seems to be a scarce quality this day in age. God bless.
MURPHY: HELLO
redstrength8: Great Blog!! I really enjoyed your "Lucy" stories.
lutchi: blog hoppin`, nest blog you have here, hope you can visit mine too sometimes. TC
Toni : Just passing by and decided to rest on your blog. Feel free to stop past mine too.
Pollero: Thanks Holly - we are so happy to have been honored with Journal of the Week. Babes Rock!
murphy: just stop to say hi
Holly: Hi there! Congratulations on winning JOTW!
Kerri: Just surfing through and thought I'd say HI and congrats on JotW.
MURPHY: HELLO
sparkle: Hello, I am just around the neighbourhood and dropping in to say hi to all the bravers here. Have an peaceful weekend
Melissa-V: Greetings! Just surfing through other writer/author journals. Glad to meet you, have bookmarked and will return again soon.Cheers!
Kim: Woohoo! Thank you! I'm already a big fan of hers.
Rhonda: Way to go Kim!!!! Congrats! As soon as we get the link up for Amy's website, you can contact her for your autographed book.
Kim: Is the new babe Amy J. Fetzer?
Rhonda: Nope, not Heather, but good guess
Marilyn: Is the new babe Heather Graham?
witchykitten: Just doing some blog hopping :)
medicine: good article!
Kim: Thank you so much for the books and bookbag!!
lorraine: your online journal is just too pretty :D i love it!! keep it up! tc
Kim: Woohoo!! I guessed it right!
Cheap auto insurance quote: Nice site thank you
Rhonda Pollero: Only 2 guesses, sheesh - there's free stuff at stake herre
JackieToo: I would have to say that the new babe is Janet Evanovich.
Kim: A new babe...I'm going to guess Mary Stella
sparkle: dropping by the neighbourhood to say Happy Easter Holiday
Sulome': Hello, Nice Blog! Very Amusing reading! Kindest Regards, Sulome'
LesaDragon: Ah.. ok. Can do. Ahem... Check, Check.. is this thing on! :) Couldn't resist. THANKS!!
becky: Hi Lesa - we're gearing up now - keep checking back!
LesaDragon: if you had a contest? Where would it be? and would the post title read "contest?"
star: hiii, nice blog kawaii !! ^__^ good luck to you
Becky: Thanks Corina, the Babes are always happy to entertain, amuse and sometimes pass on info that might have some value!
corina: i was amused in reading this blog...it's refreshingly candid, and in an odd sort of way: "Cute". Have a great weekend.
LesaDragon: I have seem so many, it's hard to pick just one. When I saw this question from Cherry, it reminded me of the story about the "Hot Santa" cover. :)
BARBARA REGIS: MAD WORLD BY PEPPER ESPINOZA - WHISKEY CREEK PRESS - IT LOOKS LIKE SOME CHEAP PORN
Cherry: Question of the Week!What is the worst cover you‘ve ever seen?
Rhonda: Don't forget to sign up for the mailing list and add your location to the guestmap - we'll be starting a contest soon and we don't want you to miss out! The Babes!
june: Great blog, Love thesound of the book.Sending hugs,June
Ccarla Alleyne: love Cherry's books waiting for my book club to get more of her books.
Mary Stella: This looks like great fun, but no skimping on your personal blogs! I'll add the Babes to my blogroll!

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Thursday, November 19th 2009

10:30 AM

Beware .... Ridiculous PC



I have a tee shirt that says,  Writer.  As politically Incorrect as it gets.  That’s me in spades and my personality takes the lead on this.  I have little tolerance for Political Correctness.  Millions of soldiers have fought and died for your right of free speech and being PC is killing it.  I, as a Marine's wife, have kept my mouth shut rather than make a PC statement.  Those of you who know me well, know that was a struggle.  My mouth never shuts when it should. 

This morning on the news…a group in California is trying to ban Mylar balloons.  Actually it was a ban on all balloons.  Yes, let’s waste a court system with crap like this in a state that is nearly bankrupt.  This isn’t a concern for people, it’s for birds.  Birds.  I don’t give a damn about some seagulls getting balloons in their digestive tracks or a balloon floating in the water and mistaken for Jellyfish by BIRDS.  I care about children, my fellow Americans and the environment, but worrying about birds eating what they shouldn’t, not a concern.  It’s like the fight for timber wolves.  They breed, and are not near extinction.  I don't care.   It’s a food chain thing.  I’m at the top, they’re not.  Might be cold and callus, but when people are going hungry, out of work, losing their homes while there is supposed to be a $700 billion bail out to help them, birds are not even on my radar till today. 

Stop the stupid. Focus on what matters to HUMANS.

Attaching a fee to flat screen TV purchases.  This is a new one to me, minor and ridiculous.  Apparently, flat screens use more energy than a regular TV.  Now California legislature wants to attach fees to the purchase of a flat screen.  This helps HOW?  If you want a flat screen, and you’re aware it uses more energy, then that’s your choice.  Why slap on a fee?  for the sake of the enviroment?  Really?  Then who gets that fee money?  The smoggiest state in the union?  CA is near bankruptcy.  It’s obvious legistators can’t handle money and they're looking to find it in penalty fees like this.  I say, let the customer pay the extra for energy to run it and stay out of my home and my business.    

Slightly off track... I feel the same way about Gay Rights.  US Government needs to stay out of this.  Gays should have every right as any other American because they ARE Americans.  Discriminating is NOT an option, so why is there even a discussion?  To refuse to marry a gay couple is breaking the law with discrimination.  Any further discussion brings in religion.  Who you love or your sexual preference is not anyones business, especially not a government that can't even police its own legislative members.  (Ragell, Larry Craig, and 2 dozen male senators!)  Those who refuse this right to American’s should be penalized.  Let's start with the US Senate. 

This one puts me over the edge…

Harlequin is starting a vanity press.  Harlequin Horizons.  I received a notice on it this morning as did about 10K RWA members.  The purpose of this is to do what?  Devalue the writers who made it through the editorial gauntlet and wrote books that made HQ billion$?  I think it’s the dumbest move by Harlequin.   HQ is playing to the ‘I wanna be a writer’ people who are not storytellers.  A real writer just wants to tell a story, a Vanity press wants to see their name in print.  BIG difference.  To me, Harlequin just slapped any writer who's ever written for them by agreeing to print ANYONE who can pay for it.  PAY.  Out of your own pocket pay.

FYI, I nor the other Babes have ever paid to be in print.  We earned the right and the publisher paid US. 

With this move, Harlequin no longer meets the requirements for its authors to enter the RITA contest.  It makes Harlequin Silhouette non-eligible as RWA does not recognize vanity press as legitimate publishers.

The next weeks will be a true test of RWA.  If they change the rules for HQ  and their authors (I was one of them)  then they have to reinstate the Precious Gem authors they’d denied a couple years ago.  If they don't knuckle, RWA loses tons of money, yet in the same vent, Harlequin will have to pay their way to conference and everything else that was free till now.  

Vanity press is nothing more than PAYING to FEEL like a writer.  My opinion, and you can argue it, but you will never change my mind. 

I will declare now, that if RWA doesn’t treat Harlequin like all the other vanity presses, then I will, after 20 years, no longer be a member of an organization with no backbone. 

So readers... what do you think?   

AMY



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Wednesday, November 18th 2009

5:17 PM

Tis the season...

 

 

 

I am freaking amazed that next week is Thanksgiving. Really??? I thought for sure that once my kids were adults time would adjust itself properly, but no - I'm still wondering what happened to the entire month of October.  Before I know it, it will be Christmas and then it will be 2010 = time for another year of goals. I'm hoping to reach a few more of mine than I did this year - although I still have a month and a half left.  I think I might be sick

I am really excited about Thanksgiving this year.  Rhon and her family are coming, my friend Sheryl and her family - the kids will all be there from college, Nancy and maybe a few more - if you live in Jupiter, come on by.  My house is small but everyone is welcome. I am not the only one who has had a tough year. Just about everybody I know has been touched by the poor economy.  My mom is out of work, my dad's been out of work, my husband's had to take a drastic pay cut and I'm working at Starbucks - and glad to have the job so that we can pay insurance! But instead of that bumming me out, I've decided that this year I am celebrating family and friendship - I don't want to look at the "have not" column - I'm tired of that, lol. This holiday season I want to notice all of the small miracles that happen.  It's incredible how many there are, if you're looking.

For example, there's a young woman who works at Publix in the deli.  She doesn't speak English very well.  There was a man, 'special', and homeless, who had come into Starbucks for a cup of coffee. It was raining really hard outside. She gave me money, like fifty bucks, to give to him, anonymously.  He was thrilled - and she felt good. And I'd witnessed one of those miracles.

Anyway, tis the season, all freaking ready, lol.  I am wearing my rose colored glasses and don't even try to take them off - get your own, lololol

 

 

 

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Tuesday, November 17th 2009

10:05 AM

I Have Seven Words for You . . .

 

Forgive me because I’m a tad brain dead after a long weekend at a dance convention.  My teeth are still rattling from the never-ending pound of the music and my butt is still numb from 10-hour days sitting on a hard banquet chair.  But enough about me . . .

 

While I was there, one of the kids asked their parent to read over their paper before they turned it in this week.  Yes, I couldn’t help myself; I read over the parent’s shoulder and just couldn’t keep my mouth closed when I say one of my pet peeves on the page.

 

The first three words:

‘His teenage son. . . ‘WRONG!!!!’  Just as in middle-aged man, the correct way is . . . ‘His teenaged son.’  Fine, we may not use that in conversation - it’s the whole lay/lie thing.  Southerners say, “I’m going to lay down.”  That is technically incorrect.  Chicken lay, people lie.

 

Word number 4:

 

Towards.  Nope, ‘no s’ unless you’re writing in British English.

 

Word number 5:

 

Backwards.  See above.

 

Words number 6 & 7:

 

“No,” He hissed.  A person can’t hiss a word that does not end in an ‘s.’  Unless it goes this way . . . “No.”  He said, and then hissed.

 

We all have our pet peeves and I know mine are silly but believe it or not, reading them pops me right out of a story.  I understand that all areas of the world have their own colloquialisms  - only in New York and New Jersey do you stand on line rather than in line.  In the Mid-Atlantic States you say, “I’m going down the beach.”  The rest of the world says, “I’m going to the beach.” 

 

Do you have any pet peeves you’d like to share???

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Friday, November 13th 2009

4:53 PM

T's Reviews! Orb World by Andrea Gale

 

 

Orb World by Andrea Gale

 

Ylana has been sick and spent most of her time in hospitals. Eventually, her sickness takes her.

 

She awakes and finds herself in another world; it’s not heaven or hell as she ever imagined. Here, in this village, you are a slave to another of seniority – wearing no clothes – to learn and grow. This village has no modern conveniences and belonging to a man doesn’t sit well with Ylana.

 

Ylana soon discovers that she is needed for her librarian background and must help save the village from a dominant, modernized village, much bigger and better equipped for war.

 

Andrea Gale takes you to a world most have never imagined, stirs in emotion, tension, love, and puzzles to ponder through Ylana’s journey to discover the secrets of the orbs with clues left by the Originators.

 

I am fascinated with Ms. Gale’s creativity and ability to take the reader into this unimaginable world. Impressive.

 

3.5 Shoes

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Thursday, November 12th 2009

10:12 AM

Stressed, sick and psycho...





I’ll be brief.  I’m deadlining still.   I’m so close to the end I can taste it.

The reason I’m not done is I’ve been interrupted four times already this morning and I’ve been working since 7 AM.  That’s just today I’m ready to seriously maim three men any moment.  Plus I’m sick.  I don’t know what it is, but I haven’t left the house in a month so it’s anyone’s guess what vile cooties the men brought in here.  But it’s the interruptions that are making me psycho.  After 17 years 'don't disturb the writer,' they know better! 

It's like I'm talking to rocks!

I can't tell you how dangerous this makes me.

See, I might look like my Irish heritage, but also I’m half Sicilian, with a temper to match.  I’m owning it.  I can be a nasty bitch when you push the wrong button.  I’m not civil and patient like Leanne or Rhonda.  Or always upbeat and positive like Traci.  I admire that.  Greatly.   Most times, I'm pretty reasonable and rather sane, but once enraged, I’m the 'blow you out of the water first volley' type.

Probably good that I work alone, huh? 

As you might have guessed, my mouth has landed me in trouble before.  Words, you can never take back and I've bitten my tongue hundreds of times.

I wish I wasn’t this way and was more like my ‘patience of a saint and the wisdom of sage’ Dad.  Or my ‘so generous she’s already earned her wings’ mom.  Clearly, the gene pool thinned when it got to me.  I’ve struggled with my temper.  And I have to say, no one else in my family has a  short fuse.  No one.    My Nana said I got it from Sicilian Papa.  Bless his heart.

This week, all the wrong buttons have been pushed several times, and I’m a verbal danger to anyone within striking distance.   Clearly, the men in this house forgot I own my own weapons. 

I'll spare you more.  My targets are already acquired.

INCOMING!!!!

 

Amy

 

Happy Birthday Marines!  (Nov 10)

I don’t miss going to the USMC balls, just the always fantastic cake!

 

 



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Wednesday, November 11th 2009

10:44 AM

Have you missed me??? Hunker down because I have a lot to share.

 

I have been in Hell cavorting with Satan.  Or put another way, my flipping computer crashed, in the middle of a book.  How can that be a problem for a person who backs-up to an external hard drive and has an online locker?  (Suspenders and a belt).  I have no one to blame but me.  Since I loathe email- yes, I know I’m the only one who doesn’t want or need to be tethered to emails - Anyway, in my haste to clear out my inbox, I received a notification that looked like all the other notifications, asking me to click to receive the latest Vista updates.  I clicked.  That was October 21st.  Well, it seems that it was a bogus email and I actually downloaded and installed a very, very nasty virus.  I had the freaking swine flu of computer viruses.  Problem was, I had no immediate warning that my computer was compromised.  Unbeknownst to me, the virus was eating away at Vista and it apparently had a Travelocity account because it went to visit my back-up hard drives and my flash drives and since I go from flash drive to thumb drive when I’m juggling between my laptop and my desktop, I managed to infect my laptop as well.  I began popping Xanax like tic-tacs.  But I didn’t think all was lost.  After all, I pay a decent sum a year to have an online locker so this could never happen.  (Yes, I’m applying a sticky note that reads ‘STUPID’ to my forehead). 

 

My computer skills are pretty much limited to msconfig, anything more than that and I have to call in the Crown Prince of computer repair, St. Louis.  Louis came to my house and began checking my system.  This was the first time I realized I had more than just a ‘where’s my files’ problem.  It’s never good when the IT guy sits down, groans and whistles as he shakes his head while staring at the useless blue screen.

 

After 5-6 hours of diagnostic stuff, he tells me I have to reinstall Vista.  Really?  Isn’t Vista one of the 7 levels of Hell?  So, after some discussion, he tells me it might be easier to get the Windows 7 Upgrade.  He did warn me that Microsoft had 3 editions of 7 and 2 subsets of those editions.  One subset simply washed your memory and got rid of all your files.  Another Xanax.  But what I needed was the Home Premium upgrade so we could retrieve as many MBs as possible.

 

I put on my shoes and socks and drove to Staples.  I grabbed the first employee I could find he took me over to the Windows 7 display.  I’d written Sr. Louis’s instruction in sharpie on my palm.  I read off the no-washing, 64-bit upgrade I specifically told him that I was n deadline - and yes, he mentioned something about wanting to be a writer.  The pencil-necked guy pointed to a blue box and said that was the version I needed.  I raced up, collected the program (the stuff on the shelves is all empty boxes to cut down on theft).  I was back home in less than 14 minutes.

 

We opened the box, slipped in the cd and a big red screen that said, “Program not compatible.”  Huh????  Louis tried again - no luck.  He contacted Microsoft and the representative told him I needed the green box.  I called Staples and explained that what I’d been sold was incorrect and since I’d only owned the program for 18 minutes, I wanted to exchange it for the correct version.

 

“Sorry, we don’t take returns on software that’s been opened.”  Huh again?  “If you want a refund, you’ll have to send the program back to Microsoft but I would have to purchase the correct upgrade for an additional $200.00.  Are you kidding me????  Nope.  He then put me on hold, came back on the line in about 5 minutes, and said he’d spoken to the pencil-necked employee and the guy swears he didn’t select the software, I did.  The only thing he did was to get the program from the back and take it to the register.  Lying weasel bastard!!!!

 

I wasn’t going down without a fight.  While my husband made a cheese and fruit plate for Louis and his wife, I charged up to Staples.  As soon as I reached the parking lot, I called the Microsoft tech back and asked him to stay on the line - according to Microsoft, the store can return the software so he didn’t understand the problem.  I went to customer service and was told that the manager had stepped out.  Liars!!!  I stood there and told them I was happy to wait.  Miraculously, the manager teleported back to the store because he showed up 2-3 minutes later.  All the while, I’m having a lovely chat with the Microsoft guy. 

 

Manager called pencil-neck up to the register and I put Microsoft on speaker.  Pencil neck insisted that I’d never spoken to him other than to tell him to get me the wrong upgrade version.  He said he’d talked t other employees and they corroborated pencil neck’s story that I dashed in and out without speaking to a soul.  I asked the manager what the logic could possibly be for me to buy the wrong program.  Manager said it was probably because I made a bad choice since I was in a hurry because I was 2/3rds finished with a manuscript and I needed my computer files to complete my book.

 

Then before I could say a word, the Microsoft guy says, “If she didn’t talk to anyone, how do you know she’s in the middle of a book and has to upgrade with as much of her content as possible.  I gotta tell you, if he’d been there in person, I’d have kissed him.  With tongue. 

 

I turned to pencil neck and said, “Does your mother know you lie with that mouth?”  He turned and hurried toward the back of the store.  Well, maybe he hurried after I called him a sniveling girl.  Manager then acted like he was giving me his kidney as he reluctantly exchanged the software.  When we were done, he about choked as he asked me if there was anything else I needed.  Other than having him sit and spin on an Easy Button, no.

 

Back home I go.  Louis and is wife have snacked and he’s ready to get going.  It took the usual amount of time but in an hour or so, he had the computer running.  I sat there, my breath stuck in my throat as he began hyper-clicking his way through my hard drives.  Then the screen went black.  It was well into the evening when Louis called Microsoft tech support.  He stayed on the line for over an hour, listening to Musak but it was getting late.  He decided to call it a night and come back the next day. 

 

I will spare you the gory details but the problems are about 80% fixed.  I’ve spent a total of about 25 hours on hold to reach Microsoft so they can explain how to get the computer to reboot.  If I turn it off, it dies.  I finally get through only to be told that the tech didn’t have a solution to my problem in his reference manual.  They designed it but they can’t troubleshoot it????

 

So, it’s now more than a week later and Louis was able to retrieve my manuscript - kinda.  What I got was 275 pages.  Some had words, some had symbols and others looked like hieroglyphics.  I was basically back to square one and even though I’ve been at it for almost a week, I’m still trying to fix the old pages.  I bet you’re wondering why I didn’t just go to my online locker and retrieve a clean copy of the manuscript.  Apparently my virus worked some black magic.  My user ID and password didn’t work and my secret reminder question didn’t work either.  I called Webroot and explained what had happened.  I also sent them a copy of the bills from Louis to show my computer had a serious health problem.  I even told them the credit card number I used for billing.  They didn’t care.  Then the customer service woman (and I’m using that term in the most generous way) told me that frustration was hostile and she wasn’t required to assist frustrated or hostile people.  Deep breath, more Xanax.  I called back.  Same result.  I did the same thing for 4 days before I hoisted the white flag, called my credit card company, and requested they back charge Webroot since I wasn’t receiving the service.

 

So, here I sit on 11/11 and I still can’t turn my computer off nor is my email fully functional.  I went out and bought a 1.5 TB external drive and Louis copied all my stuff onto that before he did a complete wipe on the computer.  Then I wasted a day and a ½ reloading my necessary programs and after I finish the book, I’m hoping to learn a little bit about my new operating system.  Can’t do that until I get through to Microsoft so they can help me fix whatever it is that prevents me from shutting down the computer. 

 

After the 7th of December, I might be able to share my thoughts about Windows 7.  I’m hoping it will be as much improved as Word 2007.

 

Enjoy your day . . .

 

Rhonda

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Tuesday, November 10th 2009

9:14 AM

Happy 40th Birthday Sesame Street!

Happy 40th Birthday Sesame Street!

Can you believe one of our favorite children's show is that old?  I'm thrilled it's still going strong.  Sesame Street was one of those shows I often watched WITH my children when they were little.  I'll confess I enjoyed it too.  The colorful muppets with their dilemmas of the day.  I also liked that Sesame Street tackled some tougher issues such as having an HIV positive muppet and a wheel-chair bound muppet along with alllllll the celebrity visitors!  Alicia Keys, Robin Williams, Dixie Chicks, Andrea Bocelli... Whew I can't name all of them. There've been over 440 celebrity guests on Sesame Street!

My kids have their fave Sesame Street characters.  My daughter loved the Count and my son loved Kermit. My favorites?  Oscar The Grouch and his girlfriend Grundgetta.  What's not to love about a grouch who lives in a garbage can?lol  And my absolute favorite Sesame Street Character?  COOKIE MONSTER! 

Who are your favorite Sesame Street Characters?

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Monday, November 9th 2009

11:44 AM

Friends

Friends

 

My husband loves surprises, and this weekend he got me good!!

We went to Orlando Saturday for a booksigning at Altamonte Mall – it was great fun, and twenty percent of the sales went to literacy – yeah, Barnes and Noble!  Anyway, we went to Bahama Breeze for lunch - never been there before so I’m excited, right?  Even more exciting was seeing Stacey Savatsky step from behind a palm tree, the same beautiful smile, the same dark curling hair from FOREVER ago - it was freaking Amazing, lol.  We were teenagers together!!

And I had my teenager with me.  Destini is 18.  It was the coolest strangest wonderful most surreal thing…I love that Stacey – and her hubby Joe  - is in my life again.  Weird thing?  Lunch is over, we get in the car and I ask Destini what she thought about Stacey – and she says, “She’s cool.  I never thought about you having friends, you’re my mom.”  She arched her teenaged brow, and I fell into defensive mode about having friends – lol.  Very mature, I know.  Back to lunch, we had such a fun time – we talked and caught up – no awkward silences AND she brought a poem that I’d written back in 1984.  Someone (Marcelle?) wrote it in nice calligraphy, and I’d given it to Stacey, whose dad had saved it in the attic.  Seems that twenty five years ago I had a thing for political pieces, lolol – when I wasn’t writing odes to suicide <g>

Stacey offered to tell Destini some wild teenage tales (remind me to never let those two alone together) and Stacey’s Joe seems very laid back – a great guy who loves COKE versus Pepsi, so he’s gotta be cool, yeah?

 

Saturday was a day for being with great people – after lunch, we went to the booksigning – those Orlando ladies are all lovely.  Catherine Keane, Shauna Hart, Dara, Terry – Louis – too many to name and I don’t want to forget anybody!  Bonnie Vanak and her husband Frank were there, as was Nancy Cohen, my fellow Florida Romance Writers.  It was fun to talk business and new projects.  Plus, Greg and I got to hang out with Destini, who I miss terribly since she moved to college.

 

And of course, I can’t skip mentioning my fellow Babes when it comes to great friends.  I commiserated with Rhon this morning over bad rat hats, and Amy and Leanne are always commenting and sending their support – and Trena – well, we go almost as far back as me and Stacey.

 

I am off to lunch with my friend Becky – the greatest blessing in my life is being surrounded by wonderful people J

 

Traci
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Friday, November 6th 2009

8:58 AM

Reviews by T - Combustion by Rebecca Savage

 

 

 

 

 

COMBUSTION by REBECCA SAVAGE

 

Sherri Marconi-Sandoval is a 25 year old, petite red head, brought up in a loving Italian home, and is an only child. She thought she met the man of her dreams in George Sandoval.

 

George Sandoval is a handsome, filthy rich businessman with major connections throughout the community. He also possesses another side of himself that no one knows about.

 

After a whirlwind romance, Sherri married George after knowing him only 3 months, but before the ink dried on the marriage license, George began to show his true colors. He began beating Sherri and forcing her to perform her “wifely duties,” all the while threatening to kill her and her family if she ever left him.

 

The final straw comes with George beating Sherri within inches of her life, leaving her for dead, and setting fire to their home...with Sherri still inside. So, with money Sherri stashed away for months, she leaves George, beginning the true hell of her life.

 

Bouncing from motel to motel, having alienated everyone she knows and loves, Sherri continues to run from George and his goons. Eventually, she finds herself at a women’s shelter as a volunteer nurse. Upon the recommendations of others at the shelter, she answers an ad for an apartment; the landlord is the owner of the women’s shelter, a downright saint and gentleman, John Tarentino.

 

John Tarentino is a well off, gorgeous firefighter with a few skeletons of his own. John has an internal need to help and protect everyone around him, especially a particularly beautiful red head with serious trust issues in regards to the male species.

 

With George’s relentless attempts to get Sherri back, or kill her, John finds himself falling hard for Sherri. But will she ever allow herself to trust him, allow him to love her completely? Better question, will Sherri stay alive long enough for John to try?

 

Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens every day in the real world. If only every woman had a John Tarentino to care about her, protect her, and prove that not all men are bad. There is a shining knight out there for every girl. Never give up and always believe in yourself.

 

Rebecca Savage shows a special talent for making you feel as if you are living the hell that Sherri Marconi-Sandoval is living; feeling her pain, both physical and emotional. My eyes even welled up at one point, which is not an easy accomplishment. Her attention to detail, making scenes come alive on the paper, is incredible. This is a remarkably well written story of courage, never giving up on life, and holding onto hope for a real life with real love. A definite recommended read.

 

4 Shoes
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Thursday, November 5th 2009

9:44 AM

Its fiction, people!


I’m deadlining…   which is different from being on a deadline.  It’s a BS excuse.  If writers are working writers, we’re ALL on deadlines and that means—we’re employed.

I’m at the last 30 pages, the ‘get the bad guy and make ‘em pay dearly’ pages of the story.  In this book, Damage Control (Dragon One #5)  I’m pretty much telling two different stories that collide. I do that with almost every book, just not to the extent of Sebastian and Olivia’s story.  I think I'm pushing the limits, but its fiction.  There are no limits and nothing is illegal.  

Recently, I had a letter from a reader saying she’d bought my last book but wouldn’t read the past the first 100 pages because my evil bad guy had body guards and guns.  She claimed that they didn’t have them in Singapore, reserved for the government officials.  Bad guys, as we’ve see in the news daily, don’t play by the rules, that’s why they are...oh gee… BAD.  !

Most times I just gaff off stuff like this.  The average reader has no idea that the author of a book is NOT that last person to touch it.  Any published author can sympathize.  Personally, the instant I get a copy of my book, I check it against the galley proofs that I’ve corrected and I’m always disappointed.  My second book was missing about 8 pages of a very critical scene because the copy editor, not my editor, decided she could write better than me.   And (here's the real heartbreaker) despite that I took 24-hours to correct and Fed Ex the proof pages to NYC (after flying 36 hours from Okinawa to CA with 2 toddlers) it went to print without a single correction.  So you see, we authors have less control than anyone thinks.

I started thinking about all the great books that were just panned by reviewers or readers.  Books that didn’t sell well, yet went on to become world classics.

And here’s where payback is sweet, albeit, late.

A Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare - performed in London in 1662.  "The most stupid ridiculous play that I ever saw in my life." - Samuel Pepys, Diary.

Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift - 1726.  "..evidence of a diseased mind and a lacerated heart."  - John Dunlop, 'The History of Fiction', 1814.

Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert - 1857.  "Monsieur Flaubert is not a writer." - Le Figaro.

Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy - 1877.  "Sentimental Rubbish"  - The Odessa Courier.

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1925. "What has never been alive cannot very well go on living. So this is a book of the season only."  - New York Herald Tribune.

Catch-22 - Joseph Heller - 1961.  "Heller wallows in his own laughter... and the sort of antic behavior the children fall into when they know they are losing our attention." - Whitey Balliett, New Yorker.


So my dear bloggers…. readers and writers alike.  Tell me your worst reader letter, review, publishing mistake, horrific cover, or name a great book that was panned... or just bitch. 

Come on, the mic is yours!


AMY



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Wednesday, November 4th 2009

8:35 AM

Rain, rain - stay for the day!





I love the rain!  I love the dark clouds, the thunder - lightning - the smell of rain, the smell after a heavy rain, the chirrup of the frogs, and how clean everything is afterward.
Rainy days are perfect excuses to curl up with a good book - with the window cracked open so that the sound of rainfall is in the background.
I live in Sunny Florida, but I'm from Spokane/Seattle Washington so a cool rain is the closest thing I get to snow. With the record snows Spokane's been getting these past few years, I'm grateful for my cold rain, but a change from the heat is nice too.  Spokane had snow before Halloween this year, which just isn't right. 

Rain can set a mood perfectly. A soft rain can be quiet, and soothing.  A loud booming rain can scare the crap out of the dogs and suddenly you have a lap full of animals.  Most amazing are the sheets of rain that fall as if God's got a never ending bucket and he's dumped it over.  If you dared to walk out in it, you risk decapitation by rain sheet.
Then there's misty rain - if warm, it's perfect to walk on the beach.  When it's cold, it's best to stay inside. Freezing rain is miserable.
If you hadn't guessed it already, it is raining today. The perfect kind of rainstorm for sitting in the recliner with a cup of hot chocolate and a book.
Unfortunately, I have to work - but my Starbucks is all windows so at least I'll be able to watch the people try and stay dry - and the Publix employees all wear yellow slickers - looks like a parking lot full of walking bananas - amuses me to no end, lol

Stay dry!!

Traci


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Tuesday, November 3rd 2009

10:49 AM

Least favorite foods

 I've been trying to rein in some of my fat-making eating habits lately because I find if I don't nip it at my booiiiiing weight, it's a quick slide to the next size.

Ever noticed how when you're trying to lose a few pounds that all you think about is FOOD?  Especially food that's not going to help you lose weight such as ripple potato chips and french onion dip, chocolate layer cake with frosting, guacamole, fried onion rings... Okay, enough! 

When I was a little kid, I was a very picky eater.  I think in some ways it would be great if I were a bit more picky now.  That said, I thought it would be fun to talk about foods I dislike.  Foods that make me want to sew my lips together.  Foods that I might not eat even if I were on a desert island starving.

1.Raw Beef-- For some it's a delicacy, but the very idea of it makes me go yuck!

2.Raw Fish -- Yes, that includes sushi.  Do we see a pattern here?  I like my meat cooked.

3.Brussel Sprouts.

4.Organ meats. 

5.Insects. 

I could name several more, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.  What are your least fave foods?

xo,

Leanne

 

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Monday, November 2nd 2009

1:38 PM

Rhonda is still battling the evil computer virus

  Rhonda is still battling the evil computer virus.  She plans to return in victory next week!
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Friday, October 30th 2009

2:56 PM

Reviews by T! Flames in the Sky by Linda LaRoque

 

 

 

FLAMES IN THE SKY by LINDA LAROQUE

 

As legend has it, over 1000 years ago in the time of the Chacon Anasazi Indians, a perfect turquoise stone existed, holding special powers. The stone fell into the hands of evil, and because of this, the gods struck the evil holder of the stone, Nukpana, with lightning, breaking off two small pieces of the stone, now referred to as “the twins.” Nukpana never received a proper burial; his body burned, and the ashes stored and sealed in a clay bottle, trapping his evil essence but never allowing him closure.

 

Current time: An innocent Rita Santiago accidentally damages Nukpana’s containment bottle, releasing his essence. He is now free, ready to take revenge on the Anasazi people and wipe out any sign they ever existed.

 

Madison Evans, a fiery red head, substitute violinist in the Houston Symphony with a PhD in art, finds herself on a quest to learn more about her ancestry and the history of the special turquoise locket left to her after her mother’s death.

 

Since acquiring the locket, Madison has been having dreams, almost nightmarish, and they always include a certain warrior and witch woman. What could these dreams mean? Are they trying to tell her something?

 

Madison’s journey lands her at the Chaco Canyon in New Mexico where she meets the handsome Lonan Stone; a native, National Park Ranger with important ties to more than one of the local tribes.

 

After several terrifying mishaps, they soon discover that someone is desperately wants Madison’s locket—but why? Could it be the ancient prophets were right? Are Madison and Lonan truly the chosen ones to reunite the twins with the mother stone and lock Nukpana away once and for all? If so, how can they accomplish this seemingly impossible feat? According to the prophecy, the expectations are high, the sacrifices even greater.

 

Linda LaRoque does it again! Her true talent as an author shines brilliantly in this mystical adventure of time travel, Native American heritage, urban legend, and love. In addition, Ms. LaRoque’s gift for setting a scene is so well done and precise that you can close your eyes and actually see the vivid colors of this beautiful area, smell and feel the air around you, and hear the faint whispers from times past on the light breeze surrounding you. She has you believing in her characters and wanting to believe the legend, the whole story, is true. I highly recommend this book.

 

Flames in the Sky will light a flame in you...all the way to the last word.

 

5 Shoes!!

 

Find Ms. Savage at:  www.lindalaroque.com

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Purchase at: www.thewildrosepress.com

 

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Wednesday, October 28th 2009

6:10 PM

Beauty's Curse November 1st

Happy Wednesday guys - I have a new release out November 1st, and I'm taking today to pre-share the news, lol. If you get a chance to read Amy's fact filled post from Monday, do! And of course, Leanne's got the scoop on New Jersey's conference...thanks for reading!!




Beauty’s Curse

By Traci Hall, author of Love’s Magic
  
 
In this reversal of the Sleeping Beauty story, gorgeous Galiana Montehue—resisting her family's efforts at arranged marriage—scorns all her suitors and finds true love only after she awakens an injured knight from a deep sleep. As the novel begins, Galiana has come to view her beauty as a curse, and she fears for her future. Wishing for an adventure, just one, before she is forced to settle down and marry, she takes a stroll in winter's first snowfall with her younger twin brothers and, following them into the forest, is horrified by the sight of a knight drawing a sword on one of the boys. Without thought, she throws a rock and hits the knight on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious. Taken prisoner by the knight's men, Galiana finds herself locked up in a strange manor house where she is forced to care for the incredibly handsome victim of her well-aimed throw, but when the young man finally wakes from his coma, the household’s happiness turns to sorrow upon hearing he is now blind. By this time, Galiana has become very fond of her knight, and he in turn is fascinated by her gentleness and her wit. Because he is unable to see Galiana's beauty, she trusts him, and by the time his eyesight returns, the young knight is ready to ask for her hand in marriage. He also reveals his true identity—as a spy for Prince William. As he describes his life-and-death mission to find an ancient, magical stone known as the Breath of Merlin, Galiana knows her wish for meaning and adventure has come true, and she joins her prince in his fight against the forces of treachery and ancient magic.
 
Beauty’s Curse is a delightful story that charms and entertains while teaching a moral about all that is truly important in life!”
~ Heather Graham, New York Times Bestselling Author
“Chock-full of royal intrigue and wry humor, hall weaves a deft, not-to-be-missed interpretation of Arthurian-era Britain.”
~Nina C. Davis, BookList (September 2009
4 stars – Romantic Times  …”This novel is a perfect mix of adventure and romance, with a heroine swept into a whirlpool of intrigue with an irresistible knight. Authentic dialect and well-written descriptions recreate the medieval era perfectly. It's a tale of magic and intrigue that will have you believing in true love.” —Gail Pruszkowski
4.5   BEAUTY'S CURSE was a captivating story full of passion, drama and intrigue. I loved the complex characters and events that brought this story together. Galiana has to prove that she is more than a beautiful face, and with Rourke not able to see her, she is at first pleased to finally find someone who can't judge her by her looks, though after a while, she is a bit annoyed with his comments that she is anything but gorgeous.  Usually I hate court intrigue of any kind, but I found that it wasn't drawn out into many misunderstandings in this story and I really enjoyed how it all played out. I also enjoyed secondary characters, and would love to see Jamie Fitzhugh with his own story. I look forward to reading more by Traci E. Hall, she is a talent that I had not before discovered…” Aemelia Night Owl Romance Book Reviews


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