Quotes and Jokes

Two quotes and a joke to brighten your weekend.

Quotes:

Language has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word solitude to express the glory of being alone. --Paul JohannesTillich--

What I like in a good author is not what he says, but what he whispers.

--Logan Pearsall smith--

Trivia:

The longest one-syllable word in the English language is strengths.

Joke:

Jack and Betty are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
"Betty, I was wondering -- have you ever cheated on me?"
"Oh Jack, why would you ask such a question now? You don't want to ask that question..."
"Yes, Betty, I really want to know. Please."
"Well, all right. Yes, 3 times."
"Three? When were they?"
"Well, Jack, remember when you were 35 years old and you really wanted to start the business on your own and no bank would give you a loan? Remember how one day the bank president himself came over to the house and signed the loan papers, no questions asked?"
"Oh, Betty, you did that for me! I respect you even more than ever, that you would do such a thing for me! So, when was number 2?"
"Well, Jack, remember when you had that last heart attack and you were needing that very tricky operation, and no surgeon would touch you? Remember how Dr. DeBakey came all the way up here, to do the surgery himself, and then you were in good shape again?"
"I can't believe it! Betty, I love that you should do such a thing for me, to save my life! I couldn't have a more wonderful wife. To do such a thing, you must really love me darling. I couldn't be more moved. When was number 3?" "Well, Jack, remember a few years ago, when you really wanted to be president of the golf club and you were 17 votes short?"

Balance in Life

My husband often asks me to balance my time. To prove his point he showed me an article about the value of balance. According to that article, most of our troubles are due to imbalances, to which my husband strongly agrees.

We should divide our day in such a way we can balance work, family time, socializing, exercise, spiritual time, and fun time. If a person works eight hours a day, drives half an hour each way to work, breaks at lunch for an hour, exercises for an hour, and sleeps seven hours, this adds up to a total of eighteen hours. I assume the remaining six hours are used for family time, fun, socializing and spiritual time.

I am not sure in which category I can fit cooking, dinner and dishwashing time. Reading should go under the hour or two of fun time. And what about writing?

I am writing full time-- or to be more accurate I sit in front of my computer full time. I can manage an hour to exercise or walk every day, a couple of hours to visit my mother in assisted living. I can cook twice a week and freeze, socialize two or three times a week. I don’t know if this is a balanced life. Considering there is so much more I want to do, I’m still faced with the same problem of balancing my time.

I think balancing one’s time is wonderful. In theory. Unfortunately I don’t believe you can be successful while dividing your time in multiple activities. I have always learned that to be successful you ought to give your main goal your 101%.

Yet some people manage to multitask and be successful at everything they do. If you are one of these fortunate people, how do you do it?

An Interview with Sandra Cox

Today we are welcoming multipublished author Sandra Cox. I had the privilege of reading a few of her books and I loved everyone of them.

Thank you Sandra for being with us today.

It's a pleasure to be here, Mona. Thanks for having me.

Sandra, what are your writing habits?

I have a day job so I basically write in the evenings, on weekends and at every available opportunity. As soon as I get home from work I grab a Diet Pepsi, something to eat and head for the computer. The only day I don't write is Fridays. Friday is my play day;)

Who or what has been your biggest support?

Family and on line buds. The family never stopped believing in me even when I was ready to throw in the towel. I've had a tremendous amount of support from 'The Pond'. For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, our editor likes frogs and her writers, froggies one and all, gather at the cyber space pond. A lot of great friendships have developed on the lilly pads:) Mona is also a frog:)

What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?

Emotion. Building tension. Finding a way to bring the reader into the book. Making the unbelievable believable.

How do you know what to name your books or the characters?

The name of the book usually comes from something the story is centered around. The Crystal is about a crystal ball, Boji Stones are the stones in the first magic amulet, Rose Quartz is the stone in the second magic amulet and so on.I work on the names quite a bit while I'm outlining. I keep changing them until I find the one that fits the character.

Can you give us a quick synopsis of your latest release?

That would be Silverhills.
Brandon Wade is driving a herd of longhorns over the Chisholm Trail when a youth appears out of nowhere riding a magnificent black stallion and packing a deadly-looking six gun. In need of trail hands, Brandon hires the young man on. Not till weeks later during the middle of a terrible stampede does Brandon learn that his young sharp shooter is a beautiful woman. A woman, full of fire and passion, that he burns to possess. A woman steeped in mystery who refuses to disclose her past.
Alexandria O'Malley is on the run and must be able to disappear at a moments notice. When she hires on to the cattle drive, she doesn’t expect the powerful attraction between herself and her trail boss or the response of her treacherous body. Will love and desire cost Alexandria her life. . .or save it?

Your upcoming books?

Rose Quartz, the 2nd in the amulet series is due out March 20th with Cerridwen Press.
Power Stones to Go, a metaphysical kit on gems, published through Lotus Circle is due to go to print this month.
Black Opal, the 3rd in the amulet series, is due to be released with Cerridwen in June.
Akasha is due to be released at Wings EPress in July. Akasha is the 2nd in the Cats of Catarau Series.
Sundial is a Time Travel and will be published through Highland Press. It does not have a release date.

Please tell us about your work in progress.

I've got three going right now that I flit back and forth on. The fourth in the amulet series, the third in the Cats of Catarau series and a new cat fantasy.

Where can we find your books?
I love this question:) Thanks for asking.
Most of my books can be found at cerridwenpress.com
Shardai can be found at wings-press.com, Amazon.com or fictionwise. Shardai is available in paper or e.

I am currently running a contest in honor of Rose Quartz's upcoming release. The prizes are a Rose Quartz T-Shirt and a Boji Stones T-Shirt. If you have an opportunity please stop by sandracox.blogspot.com and enter to win. I'll be looking for you:)

Thanks for having me, Mona. It's been fun. I'm looking forward to French Peril when it comes out.

Thank you, Sandra, for being here. I love your strories. They have the emotion and suspense I look for in a book.

How do you create your hero and heroine?

How do you create your hero/heroine?

In my Russian story TO LOVE A HERO, my heroine is in her mid-thirties and physically looks like one of my former colleagues, a lovely person I knew well. When I told my friend that my heroine, Cecile Lornier, was going to look like her, she laughed and said she couldn’t wait to meet her clone in my book. As my story unfolded, Cecile, a strong career scientist who went after her goal, became her own person, not someone’s clone. The situations I threw her in, the obstacles and conflicts she met, gave her specific mannerisms. I forgot my model after the first two chapters and followed my heroine as she claimed her own character, her own emotions, her personal voice.

My hero Sergei was physically a mix of three officers I met in Belarus. I borrowed the athletic height and frame of one, the handsome face of another, the gorgeous eyes of a third. To be honest the three of them had the grand manners and exuded the same sensual appeal I gave my General Sergei. I can’t thank my models enough. Sergei was easy to describe because I constantly picture my models in my head.

In my second book, FRENCH PERIL, I used my niece, a bright and lovely architect, as model and gave my heroine the same figure, auburn hair, huge blue eyes. Again the comparison stops here as the impetuous twenty-eight years old Cheryl meets with dangerous situations and reacts accordingly.

Count François, the hero of French Peril, was more difficult to create. I knew no one who could fill the role. A friend sent me a gorgeous picture of Hugh Jackman I keep on my desk. He became my Count François.

So how do you create your hero and heroine?
Do they look like someone you know? Do you model them after TV or movie celebrities? Do you create them from a mix of people you know or you just sculpt their features as you write? How old or how young are they?

Reviews

Here are great reviews for some Ellora's Cave and Cerridwen Press multipublished authors:

Boji Stones by Sandra Cox 5 angels
http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/StephanieB-BojiStones.htm

In Boji Stones, I really liked the feistiness of Maureen’s character; she fights for what she believes in. She is intelligent, caring, and tough… Jack’s character is strong and loyal. I enjoyed the battle between these two strong-willed characters as they try to survive the bad guy and decide what to do about their attractions to one another. Also during this story, another amulet owner appears for a while and I’d love to read her tale next. I highly recommend Boji Stones and hope that this story is just the beginning. Reviewed by: Stephanie B.

Underdead by Liz Jasper 5 angels http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/StephanieB-Underdead.htm


I really enjoyed Underdead by Liz Jasper; it is a lighthearted, funny and very entertaining vampire story…..If you are looking for a humorous vampire tale, you’ll enjoy Underdead. I hope Ms. Jasper has more books planned to continue with the lives of the characters of Jo, Will, Gavin and their friends. I would really like to read about them again in another tale. I think Underdead would be a great start for a new funny vampire series!Reviewed by: Stephanie B.

Playing to Win by Shelley Munro 5 angels http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/RachelC-PlayingToWin.htm

Shelley Munro has done a wonderful job of mixing up the emotions in this scene…. Ms. Munro weaves the different emotions and situations with ease and before you know it you’re at the end of the book. Besides being emotionally deep, Playing to Win builds to a suspenseful moment that left me breathless. All the secondary characters add depth, and Ms. Munro brings them to life brilliantly. If you’re after a book that engages on all levels, you can’t go past Playing to Win by Shelley Munro. Reviewed by: Rachel C.

Mad About Mirabelle by Amarinda Jones 4 angels http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/Dawnie-MadAboutMirabelle.htm

Mad About Mirabelle is a delightful yet suspenseful story. The relationship between Flynn and Mirabelle keeps the reader hanging on every word wondering what will happen next... The strange happenings have both of them trying to get to the bottom of the mystery. The chemistry between them is amazing, the sex is sizzling, and the mystery keeps the reader on the edge. Ms. Jones has done a very nice job, and I can't wait to read more by this talented author.Reviewed by: Dawnie

Master Me by Brynn Paulin 5 angels
http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/Dawnie-MasterMe.htm

Master Me is a scintillating story of lust, romance and kink. Max is extremely alpha male and oh so hot. His strong personality and confidence make him the thing of erotic dreams. Ana gives the initial impression of being flighty and not sure what she wants. The sexual tension with Max adds a spicy element to her character and I was pleased with the direction she went. Ms. Paulin has done a great job of bringing to life edgy characters and delicious sex. Reviewed by: Dawnie

All Chained Up by Brynn Paulin 4 angels
http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/KarenN-AllChainedUp.htm

The attraction between Theo and Keera is explosive and very believable. Their sex is so hot that I’m surprised my computer didn’t go up in smoke while reading it. And talk about erotic….all I can say is, I’ll never look at ginger quite the same way again. If you’re looking for a fast paced erotic read, you’ll enjoy this hot little number.Reviewed by: Karen N.

Chrysanthemum by Anny Cook 4 angels http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/Ashley-Chrysanthemum.htm

Anny Cook has put an exciting twist to the story of King Arthur and his Knights…. Chrysanthemum is nothing like the Camelot you have come to know.... The love scenes between all the couples are hot and steamy. Anny Cook has done a great job with her version of this tale, and I would love to read more about this fascinating world that Anny Cook has created. Reviewed by: Ashley

Ronan’s Grail by Bronwyn Green 5 angels http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/Misa-RonansGrail.htm

Bronwyn Green’s Ronan’s Grail was a marvelous book that I will remember fondly for some time to come. Morgan and Ronan’s story held me enthralled from start to finish. They were extraordinary characters and the passion and love they shared truly was the thing of legends. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Arthurian legend and Ronan’s Grail definitely ranks among my favorites of the erotic genre. Ms. Green has made an instant fan of me and I plan to revisit her universe of witches, knights and magic over and over again.Reviewed by: Misa

Winter Hearts by Anny Cook 3 angels
http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/DanaP-WinterHearts.htm

Anny Cook has given us a fun frolic with a twist in Winter Hearts . The Jericho family is angelic in the extreme with shifting abilities that surprise Unity. Quills attraction to Unity is displayed well interfering with his job, but Unity is not someone he can ignore. Unity is strong but she is tired of starting over, she wants her own home and a family to love; and the Jericho family may be it. For an amusing and lighthearted read check out Winter Hearts by Anny Cook. Reviewed by: Dana P.

Shades of Gray by Amarinda Jones 5 angels http://fallenangelreviews.com/2008/February/Ashley-ShadesOfGray.htm

Shades of Gray by Amarinda Jones is a fantastic vampire story that left me wanting more now! I enjoyed reading about all the characters, the setting, and the supernatural world Amarinda Jones has created.... Amarinda Jones has written a story that is a must read for any vampire lover!Reviewed by: Ashley

Going Down by Tea Trelawny Rated 4 http://www.theromancereadersconnection.com/reviews2/trelawnytea1308.html

GOING DOWNFancy Mitzki has the reputation in town of being a matchmaker. With her descendant owning the old building, it is believed that GOING DOWN is a delightful tale about a spirit and a vow that is meant to be kept. Tea Trelawny brings us a funny and interesting tale of love, believing, and hot sexual encounters, that would make any spirit blush. This is one you won't want to miss.
Reviewed by Gloria Gehres

Love Scenes

This past weekend, I spent a whole day working on a major love scene in my work in progress. Laboring, sweating, deleting, rewriting while sighing, huffing and pulling my hair. Do you get the picture? No, I don’t think you can yet.

I usually start my love (or sex) scene with enthusiasm. Hey, everyone loves to watch Hero and Heroine gaze into each other’s eyes, trail a determined look down each other’s noses and linger to study each other’s lips. Should we go for it? Is it going to taste as good as it looks?

Once they overcome an initial hesitation—so to speak because my alpha hero and assertive heroine always know what they want—they melt into each other’s arms, play, taste, devour. They have fun and like what they are doing. So why stop now? More exploration is in order.

In the old historical novels I used to love years ago, HE would take the lead in the next phase of the game. Now-a-days, SHE likes to show she is a woman of her time. During phase two, hands run from throat to waist and linger in between, and lips soon follow, without discrimination. Things get hot. To cool down, they open a few buttons and lower a couple of zippers. Often enough, the undressing has the opposite effect. They get warmer, even blazing hot, and they start a few moves to help each other cope with the situation, until they reach a mutually explosive satisfaction. Unless someone, or something, interrupts them, and then they will try again in the next chapter.

This is the basic plot of my love scene.

Since I usually layer my writing, I go back to check if Hero and Heroine display their emotions. After all, they are flesh and blood characters who live, love and suffer. They need to share their feelings with us. If not, I torture them until they do.

I forgot to mention I always try to choose an interesting setting that would put Hero and Heroine in the right mood. I also add a few sensorial details. The ocean breeze carrying the scent of her perfume. The taste of vodka on his lips. The callousness of his palm against the softness of her skin. Characters have to smell, taste, and feel to be real.

In theory it sounds easy enough. So why did I suffer so much to create my characters’ love scene?

Do you have difficulty writing a love scene? What do you think is essential to bring your love scenes to life?

You can also stop to check Anny Cook’s blog www.AnnyCook.blogspot.com and Kelly Kirch’s blog http://www.kkirch.blogspot.com/ If you need to brighten your day with a smile, check Amarinda Jones's blog, www.AmarindaJones.blogspot.com. And if you own and love pets, the place to go is Sandra’s Cox blog, http://sandracox.blogspot.com/. Helen Scott-Taylor just started a new blog at http://helenscotttaylor.blogspot.com/

Quotes and Jokes

Two quotes and a joke to brighten your weekend.

Quotes:
The secret of becoming a writer is to write, write and keep on writing-- Ken MacLeod
The greatest rules of dramatic writing are conflict, conflict and conflict-- James Frey


Joke: Sunday School
Little Mary was not the best student in Sunday School. Usually she slept through the class. One day the teacher called on her while she was napping, ''Tell me, Mary, who created the universe?'' When Mary didn't stir, little Johnny, an altruistic boy seated in the chair behind her, took a pin and jabbed her in the rear. ''God Almighty !'' shouted Mary and the teacher said, ''Very good'' and Mary fell back to sleep. A while later the teacher asked Mary, ''Who is our Lord and Savior?'' But Mary didn't even stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to the rescue and stuck her again. ''Jesus Christ!'' shouted Mary and the teacher said, ''Very good,'' and Mary fell back to sleep. Then the teacher asked Mary a third question, ''What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?'' And again, Johnny jabbed her with the pin. This time Mary jumped up and shouted, ''If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!'' The Teacher fainted.