Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cartoon Characters - An Inside View


Whoever thought this up had a very unique idea. Gruesome, but unique. Check out this site for some of your favorite Disney and Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoon character, as seen from the inside.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Peter and His Wolf Was Reviewed!

PETER AND HIS WOLF was recently reviewed by United By Books!

Description: Remember hearing the musical story by Prokofiev when you were in elementary school? About the boy who lived with his grandfather, and who captured a wolf by the tail? Did you ever wonder if the story was real? Did you ever wonder whatever happened to the wolf? More importantly, did you ever try to guess what happened to Peter after he captured the wolf?
This is the real story that was never told...until now.

My Thoughts: This book is, at 26 pages, a short read. Peter captures a wolf he keeps seeing. He is drawn back to see her one last time and is in for a surprise. I won't say too much since it's such a short read. I liked it, but it wasn't my favorite. I thought it was a bit rushed, but liked the concept. The coupling was hot and the ending was cute. I just wish it was longer to flesh it out a bit more. I will be looking into more of Mooney's work to see what else she has in store for us.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

1000 Days - One Writer's Amazing Accomplishment

June Faver is a fellow Texas author of romance fiction, specializing in suspense and contemporary. But what she has recently accomplished is phenomenal.

She has gone 1000 days writing at least 100 words per day.

Now, 100 words isn't much. A typical 12-pt. Times New Roman font, single-spaced page is around 500 words, but it's the fact that she had managed to find a rhythm and persistence to her writing for nearly three straight years.

Congratulations, June! You are an inspiration to writers everywhere!

https://www.facebook.com/junefaver

Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day

Tribute

Honor

Service



Katee Robert is my Guest Author Tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio

Join us tonight when Katee Robert joins me at "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio. She'll be reading from her erotic sci-fi romance, Queen of Swords, from Entangled Publishing.

Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt

Don't miss it!
* * *
When the cards tell Ophelia Leoni she's supposed to marry the Prince of Hansarda, the gunrunner grits her teeth and boards the starship that comes for her. It doesn't matter if the ship's commander is the gorgeous stranger she just spent a wild, drunken night with. As a Diviner, she’s painfully aware the cards don't lie. Ever.

Boone O’Keirna knows Ophelia is trouble the second he sees the way she moves. Not about to let the deadly little hellcat marry his sadistic half-brother, Boone pretends to be the Prince’s emissary and kidnaps Ophelia. Too bad they can’t be in the same room without him wanting to throw her out an airlock–or into bed.

Even as they fight each other–and their explosive attraction–Ophelia and Boone sense something is wrong. Too much is going their way. Soon, they realize while the cards may never lie, the truth is sometimes hidden between them...and the future king of Hansarda is not one to take defeat lying down.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Balloon Art Masterpieces


My whimsical side has struck, so today I present to you these pieces of balloon art. Or rather, balloons made to represent classic pieces of art and art masterpieces.

Enjoy!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Now This is What I Call Camping in Luxury!


According to the original post here, where you can also view additional photos: "This camper trailer by Opera is a great-looking one that pulls out all the stops to pamper you in the wild: it comes with two electrically adjustable beds, boiler supplying warm water to the kitchen and the shower, hot air heating, toilet, refrigerator, and low energy LED lighting from the awning all the way down to the floor."

Monday, May 21, 2012

Tara Fuller is my Guest Author Tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio

Tara Fuller is my guest author tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio. She will be reading from her YA paranormal romance, Inbetween, Book 1 of her Kissed by Death series, from Entangled Publishing.

Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt.
* * *

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving countless “accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead—especially for a reaper who is in love with a girl fate has put on his hit list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn’t let her die before, and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil soul hell bent on stealing her body, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

The Way We Processed 'Way Back When


My husband was bedridden and recovering from open heart surgery in 1984. To keep him from going stir-crazy while he recuperated, I bought him a Commodor 64 computer. It was State of the Art back then!

I found some incredible photos of how computers used to look 'way back when. And while you're perusing them, remember this chilling detail:

Your iPhone has more technological capabilities than all the computers put together that put the first American astronaut on the moon in 1969.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Wisdom of George RR Martin


And then there are some things that are just don’t square with history. In some sense I’m trying to respond to that. [For example] the arranged marriage, which you see constantly in the historical fiction and television show, almost always when there’s an arranged marriage, the girl doesn’t want it and rejects it and she runs off with the stable boy instead. This never fucking happened. It just didn’t. There were thousands, tens of thousand, perhaps hundreds of thousands of arranged marriages in the nobility through the thousand years of Middle Ages and people went through with them. That’s how you did it. It wasn’t questioned. Yeah, occasionally you would want someone else, but you wouldn’t run off with the stable boy.

And that’s another of my pet peeves about fantasies. The bad authors adopt the class structures of the Middle Ages; where you had the royalty and then you had the nobility and you had the merchant class and then you have the peasants and so forth. But they don’t’ seem to realize what it actually meant. They have scenes where the spunky peasant girl tells off the pretty prince. The pretty prince would have raped the spunky peasant girl. He would have put her in the stocks and then had garbage thrown at her. You know.

I mean, the class structures in places like this had teeth. They had consequences. And people were brought up from their childhood to know their place and to know that duties of their class and the privileges of their class. It was always a source of friction when someone got outside of that thing. And I tried to reflect that. 
 
- George R.R. Martin
 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

10 Lies You Might Tell Yourself While Editing

 Check out this astute and wonderfully hilarious blog post by Elspeth Antonelli over at the Blood Red Pencil. After you've finished, then go read the sequel, 10 More Lies.

If you're a writer, you'll find yourself guilty of at least one of the circumstances she mentions.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Chris Karlsen is my Guest Author Tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio

Don't miss tonight's episode of "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio. Chris Karlsen will be reading from her romantic suspense novel, Golden Chariot, from Books To Go Now.

Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt
* * *
Myth, murder, and money clash in this gripping undersea adventure.

The rare discovery of a ship sunk during the time of the Trojan War has been found off the coast of Turkey, near Troy. Charlotte Dashiell is an American nautical archaeologist and thrilled to be part of the recovery team. The wreck may contain proof of her highly controversial theory about the Trojan War.

 
Charlotte is present when the Turkish government agent assigned to guard the site is murdered. Her possible involvement and a questionable connection to a private collector of black market relics bring her under suspicion. Atakan Vadim is the Turkish agent sent to investigate her. Unknown to either of them, the smuggler behind the murder plans to steal a valuable artifact and frame Charlotte for the theft...after they murder her.

Friday, May 11, 2012

The Perfect Vacation Trailer

Reported by Solent (UK). If anyone has any further information, please let me know. Thanks!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

How Would You Like to Live in a Transparent House?


This modern single family house with floor-to-ceiling glass windows is located in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan. Designed by Sou Fujimoto architects, the unique house features strong metal frame, movable stairs, wooden furniture, and integrated parking space. At night, “glass walls” are covered with curtains.

To see more photos, including the interior, go here.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Old Photos of Superheroes



Agan Harahap took vintage World War II photos and inserted images of superheroes, making it appear that these fictional characters were somewhat responsible for the outcome of the war.
Whimsical and intriguing. You can see more here at Toxel.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Helen Henderson is my Guest Author Tonight on "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio

Helen Henderson returns to "Other Worlds of Romance" on Blog Talk Radio. Tonight she'll be reading from her brand new erotic paranormal romance, Dragon Destiny, from Burst Books.

Show time is 11 pm et/ 10 pm ct/ 8 pm pt

Don't miss it!
***
Lord Branin of the dragshi, is more than just a man, but two beings—one a dragon, the other a human. The pair share one body in space in time and are able to change forms with the other at will. As a dragshi, he can take the form of his dragon soul twin, Llewlyn and knows the freedom of flight, but not happiness. Both are the last of their kind and have waited millennia for their mates.

The red-haired firebrand, Lady Broch of Ky'port is more than willing to fulfill that position -- with or without Branin's willing cooperation. When a faint thought impinged on Branin's mind, hope for an ending to eons of loneliness soared.

Plagued by doubts because no signs of a dragon shifter's birth have been seen, Branin searches the world for the mysterious girl he only knows by the name, Anastasia.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Six Paragraphs from BREACHERS: HAWTHORNE AND MARYA

Six paragraphs from Breachers: Hawthorne and Marya
A sensuous urban fantasy, paranormal romance novel
(ebook) ISBN# 978-1-4507-1948-3
Word Count: 32.4K
Now available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, and 1PlaceforRomance

1. As Morrow had promised, her military issue was waived by security once they’d verified her active status. After she’d grabbed a cup of coffee and settled down at her gate to await boarding, she’d gotten on her phone and started to scope out the name of her new partner when the television overhead beat her to it. Marya stared in open-mouthed shock at the bloody face of Arik “The Dragon” Hawthorne holding aloft his championship belt and buckle. As the sports announcer continued to expound over the man’s accomplishments, her mind kept flashing back to the intense look on that same face that had stared at her during their meeting in Washington.

 2. She reached up to take the drink from him. As their fingers touched, she started slightly from the tiny jolt she received. It zipped straight down to her inner core, awakening a whole new set of feelings and sensations that had lain dormant for months. Months, hell. Years. Habit made her wipe the can lid with the hem of her blouse before popping the top. Thankfully, the act helped to hide the fact that her hands were shaking. Hawthorne appeared not to notice, and sat down next to her a few inches away. This close, the man radiated heat, something she hadn’t been aware of on the drive down.

3. An imaginary cold wind blew through him. He recognized the signs, just as Diana had, even though he had never experienced them before now. He wanted Corinth, and he needed her more than he wanted her. His body cried out to have her, and each passing minute when he was within reach of her was sheer torture.

4. Hot anger infused her. Sitting up, she wiped the tears away with the back of her hand, then got up to fetch a tissue from the bathroom. On her way back to the bed, she stopped and stared at it. Housekeeping had been here during their absence, but she and Arik had torn up the bed last night in their frenzy to feed their craving for each other. And once all was said and done, she hadn’t wanted to let him go. She had clung to him, as he had clung to her. They knew they would spend the rest of the night together, and she had been surprised by how comfortable it had felt to have him lying next to her the next morning. Like it was meant to be.

5. His wings knifed through the night sky like giant leathery blades. Because of his coloring, he would be invisible to humans who happened to be glancing up in his direction, and to all passing aircraft. The temptation was strong to soar over to the mountains, or to dive through the clouds massing high above him, but he resisted the urge. He had to convince the tzealdo to find another spot to covet, where humans would not encroach. If the creature refused, he had no other recourse but to kill it, as horrible the task was to him. Although their world was filled with all sorts of mythical creatures, there were too few of them on this planet. In some strange way he felt a kinship with the tzealdo. Yet, at the same time, he knew that once a Breacher began to kill, even on their world, it had signed its own death warrant.

6. Hawthorne searched the darkness for his partner. There was no way he would take on the tzealdo until he was certain she was safely out of harm’s way. Tracks in the dirt pointed toward the far western end of the quarry, in the direction where the new pit was located. He started to follow after her when another one of the huge machines started up, but this one didn’t aim for him or the car. It turned toward the fence and began its attack. There was the sound of gunshots, and a high-pitched shriek split the air.

*****

Blurb: They are the cause of many legends, myths, and fairy tales. And they still live among us.

Arik Hawthorne preferred to be a loner. He had a dark secret to protect, and as a professional kick boxer, he was able to work off the wild energy that filled his life.

His whole world changed when he was partnered with Corinth Marya, and they were ordered to find and stop the creature that was killing innocent people in New Mexico.

If going after the Breacher wasn't bad enough, he found himself seriously and dangerously attracted to the army lieutenant. There was no way he could let her find out about his real self, but neither could he deny the possibility that she may be his one and only chance at love and happiness.


They never foresaw the danger that would threaten their lives, or the passion that would pose an even greater problem.

Dragons, anyone?

Warning! Contains unrelenting heat, calling for sex advice, invisible targets, hamburgers, pistol-packing, vengeful dirt, and hard and hot leathery love.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Salt Art

From Toxel(dot)com: "Beautiful drawings and unique sculptures created out of salt by talented Japanese artist Motoi Yamamoto. Intricate salt labyrinths and creative art installations take many hours to complete and require hundreds of pounds of salt."

IMHO, the "leaves on the floor" is absolutely breath-taking!

Friday, May 4, 2012

The Muppets in Fairy Tales


You have to check out these wonderful illustrations of the Muppets in various fairy tales, including Robin Hood and Peter Pan, by David Peterson. (Hint: Click on the smaller pictures to view larger versions.)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Probably the Most Creative Dad in the World

Have I got your attention? Good! Now go to this website and find out how one ingenious dad used his love for photography and his two precocious daughters, and came up with some wonderfully wacky photos.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

"Don't Question. Just Do It."

If you have a windows computer, you may not know that there are cute little surprises hidden within it. In tech talk, these surprises are referred to as Easter Eggs, and here's how you can discover one right now.

1. Click on MY COMPUTER
2. Click on C:
3. Click on WINDOWS
4. Click on MEDIA
5. Click on onestop
6. Listen

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

New! Breachers: Hawthorne and Marya (Book 2)

New!

Breachers: Hawthorne and Marya
(Book 2)
An erotic paranormal, dark urban fantasy romance
Word Count: 32.4K
Now Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance eBooks, 1Place for Romance, and at my website via PayPal

* * *
They are the cause of many legends, myths, and fairy tales. And they still live among us.

Arik Hawthorne preferred to be a loner. He had a dark secret to protect, and as a professional kick boxer, he was able to work off the wild energy that filled his life.

His whole world changed when he was partnered with Corinth Marya, and they were ordered to find and stop the creature that was killing innocent people in New Mexico.

If going after the Breacher wasn't bad enough, he found himself seriously and dangerously attracted to the army lieutenant. There was no way he could let her find out about his real self, but neither could he deny the possibility that she may be his one and only chance at love and happiness.


They never foresaw the danger that would threaten their lives, or the passion that would pose an even greater problem.

Dragons, anyone?

Warning! Contains unrelenting heat, calling for sex advice, invisible targets, hamburgers, pistol-packing, vengeful dirt, and hard and hot leathery love.
******

Would you like to win a copy? All you have to do is comment on this blog. I'll announce the winner tomorrow! Good luck!