23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in learning

≈ Leave a Comment

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt, This is My Story

my favorite movies a-z

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in movies

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

,

Trying to write about something interesting every once in a while? I thought, well, what do I do …I read, I love movies. I write. So… my favorite movies.

Aviator. Ah, now here’s an interesting one. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the life story of Howard Hughes. The young Howard inherits his father’s tool company and fortune and wants to use his riches to make movies. But he also has a passion for tinkering with things. So he starts building airplanes (with the help of some loyal, talented friends). He makes a couple of really bizarre movies, sleeps with almost every starlet of the 1940s (like Katherine Hepburn and Ava Gardner) and builds an aviation empire called TWA. He keeps experimenting with planes and makes several innovations, and gets a lucrative government contract. Unfortunately he builds this massive plane that , by the time it’s done, the government can’t use so he became a sort of joke. He was also what we’d now call obsessive-compulsive. Everyone thinks of Hughes as a madman, but this…this is interesting!  If you haven’t seen this one, it’s one of those, “how creativity can drive you mad” movies, and it’s very, very good. :) If you haven’t seen it, do. DiCaprio does a fine job here.

Marsha A. Moore: Mermagic: How to change a merman into a human

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in friends and family, writers events, writing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

hearts by KatussiaGood morning, my friends! Do excuse the hearts and flowers, everywhere. My minions are trying to butter me up. They say tomorrow’s something called Valentine’s day though…I don’t remember ever hearing about this holiday before. What? Oh, it has something to do with love? What do I need with winning anyone’s heart? Everyone instantly loves me, don’t they?

Why are they laughing at me? Don’t mind them, my dear. Oh, yes. I’m getting ahead of myself. Today  I have a treat for you. We’ve an expert in another kind of magical being here (I must say I’m intrigued. I thought I was the pinnacle of magical humanoids ;) ). Ahem,  our guest today is the talented fantasy romance author, and our dear friend, Marsha A. Moore, and she’s dropped by the castle  to tell us a little about mermaid magic.

Marsha dear, you have the mic.

Mermagic: How to change a merman into a human
by Marsha A. Moore

Lots of folks ask me about mermagic, especially how mermaids or mermen are transformed into humans and vice versa. I’ll share a few of their secrets, as revealed to me by my heroine in the Ciel’s Legacy series. Her name is Ciel and in the first book, Tears on a Tranquil Lake, she was surprised to find herself transformed into a mermaid. She received an offer to change back, but declined. Years later, she finally meets the man of her dreams, a pirate named Alvaro, when he is moments away from dying with a knife lodged in his back—not the best timing. In order to save him, she moves fast and turns him into a merman using the magic “kiss of life.” Worse luck for Ciel, Alvaro thinks he wants to become human again. She’s told me many times mermen are no easier to understand than men. Like any woman, she tries her best to please him, hoping he’ll eventually see how nice she really is and drop his wild idea. Ciel knows the process is rarely done and requires great talents in mermagic. Although well-trained and talented, she’s uncertain whether she can perform what is required.

And what exactly would Ciel need to do to meet Alvaro’s wishes? Only two people know the procedure—the Silver Merman and the greatest Vodoun Mambo in the land, Teega. Read the following excerpt from Tortuga Treasure: Ciel’s Legacy to find out what they tell Ciel and her friend Sesi must be done.

Teega stared at Alvaro, her gaze piercing him. “Ain’t et enough she saved yer life?”
He shivered and bowed his head. “With yer respect, Mambo, I be very grateful, but…”
“Dat brogue—ye be a pirate en disguise,” she snapped. “Yer wantin’ Teega to help ye, ye black-hearted fool? Ye’ll cause me sweet Ciel a peck o’ trouble.” She clenched her teeth and leaned forward, glaring at him. A slight flush of rage showed even against her dark complexion.
I wrapped my fingers in hers. “It’s alright. He’s caused me no harm. Please.”
“Wot be yer name?” she demanded of him. “Give me yer hand.” She held both his hand and mine, closed her eyes, and hummed softly.
Her eyes opened. “I will help ye. I feel through Ciel wot she reads en her soul. Dat be enough.” The vodou in her voice dripped over my mind, calm and soothing.
“Wot ye must do es to honor an’ bring together his past, present, an’ the moment he were turned. First, gain the weapon which tried to take his life. Second, borrow the magic conch horn after et es used to welcome him ento the merfolk community. An hardest of all, find an item dat show connection to his human family. Bring dese things together to the spot ye turned him. Once ye return, Mambo will guide ye.” She let go of our hands, reclined into her rocker, eyelids lowered, and resumed humming. Was this to steady her own fears? Did she see dangers ahead she didn’t tell?
I gulped. “How can I find all those? The Silver Merman isn’t likely to give up his conch. And I have no idea how to get the others. How will he even know…”
“Why is getting something from the past the most difficult?” Sesi asked.
Teega nodded to me. “Ciel can tell ye.”
I turned to Alvaro. Certain of the answer I’d get, I asked, “What’s your name?”
He opened his mouth to speak, but didn’t answer. His eyes opened wide with bewilderment. “Don’t know.” He ran a hand along his brow. “Why don’t I?”
“Alvaro, you were turned into a merperson like me, rather than born as one like my friends. Surviving that close a call with death, your memory becomes shadowy. It’s scary, having no past.” I took hold of his hand to show my empathy.
“Alvaro,” he repeated. Although outwardly he looked unaffected, his soul trembled against my hand and his black eyes clung to me.

Tortuga Treasure: Ciel’s Legacy – Blurb:
When Ciel first looks into Alvaro’s eyes she finds love. Bad timing. In the next instant he’s fatally stabbed in the back by one of his pirate mates. Her girlfriends warn her it will only bring on a heap of trouble to save him. Unable to resist, she gives him the gift of a new life as one of her kind—a merman.

Will their love encourage him to embrace life as a merman? Can love survive if he wishes to return to human form? Either way, her friends speak true. No matter how much mermagic and dark vodou Ciel and her friends cast, blood-thirsty buccaneers chase them across the Caribbean until Alvaro finally decides.

Warning: This book contains a magical cock-a-too, lecherous scurvy pirate dogs, hoodoo healers, the mark of the evil Black Spot, plenty of dark Haitian vodou, and passionate encounters on tropical beaches.
Genre: Fantasy romance
Purchase links:
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Tortuga-Treasure-Legacy-Tranquil-ebook/dp/B0070OIMVI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327592130&sr=8-1

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/127433

MuseItUp Publishing
http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=293&category_id=69&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

Author Bio:

author Marsha A. Moore.

Author Marsha A. Moore

Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Her creativity also spills into watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transforming into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Crazy about cycling, she usually passes the 1,000 mile mark yearly. She is learning kayaking and already addicted. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and that spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at new stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!
Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage
Fantasy Faction staff page: http://fantasy-faction.com/staff-members?uid=38
Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore
Google + https://plus.google.com/u/0/100564214132835514192/posts
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marsha-a-moore/2b/8/aa9

Mermen do sound wonderful. Do you happen to have Alvaro’s number? I think I wouldn’t mind dating–I mean meeting, him. *laughs* Thanks for being with us today, Marsha. We always look forward to it when you grace our humble little abode. You are welcome here, anytime, my girl. I’m sorry I have to keep apologizing for my staff. Good minions are so hard to find! However, we want to wish you all the best of luck with Tortuga Treasure! It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it, folks?

Q and A with author AJ Nuest

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in writers events

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

,

AJ Nuest is an award-winning author, with several RWA chapter contest wins to her name, her debut novel for The Wild Rose Press was releases this past summer and we were recently able to sit down with this up and comer. So please welcome AJ for A little Q and A torture. ;)

Author AJ Nuest

Hi AJ, thanks for taking the time to visit with us:

AJ Nuest: Good Morning, Julianne! First, I want to say how much I appreciate this chance to be on your blog, and for the awesome review you recently blessed me with for Jezebel’s Wish! You’re the best, baby!!

Shucks, thanks. You make me blush! Ahem,  So can you tell us a little about yourself so my readers can get to know you?

AJ: Well, I’m a married mom of two school aged kids, I live in NW Indiana where my dear husband and I run our own home-base business, I am both an e-book and freelance editor, and when time allows, I write.

Who were your influences?

AJ: Throughout my entire life I’ve been a voracious reader. It started with the Little House on the Prairie books, progressed into the Nancy Drew series and just got worse from there. Whenever someone enters my bedroom, they usually take a wide-eyed look around and say, “Wow. Have you read all those books?” The sad truth is I’ve read most of them several times. To ask me to name an influence is like asking me to choose a favorite star in the sky. How about, “Everyone who has ever had a book published?”

Hehe. I know the feeling! What inspired Jezebel’s story?

AJ: Honestly, the only inspiration I had for Jezebel’s Wish was the image of a pair of worn, brown cowboy boots, sitting in the corner of a chic, Chicago apartment. I knew they belonged to my heroine and that they were a reminder of a love she’d left behind. Other than that, I just sat down and began writing. As you can see, I’m a bit of a panster (ha, ha).

Nothing wrong with that!

AJ: It wasn’t until the story came into focus that I really began to see who Jezzy was and what had happened to make her abandon love.

Now that Jezebel’s Wish is out, what can curious fans expect from you next?

AJ: I’ve got a contemporary romance in production with The Wild Rose Press entitled She’s Got Dibs, that I hope will see the light of day sometime later this year or early 2013. After I finished JW, because of the deep emotional element, I really needed to write something fun and quirky and highly steamy.

Oh, I can attest to that! Jezebel’s Wish tugged at my heartstrings, I must say.

AJ: That’s where Dibs came from. It was a step back from the intensity of Jezebel’s Wish. So while my goal with Jezzy was to make everyone cry, with Dibs I’m hoping to make everyone laugh. I’m sorta evil that way.

Who called you evil? ;)

AJ: I’m also shopping around an edgy inspirational entitled Flicker, and am preparing to self-publish the first in a three part fantasy series called Rowena’s Key. I’ve gotten some great feedback from this little novella, and in my opinion, it’s hilarious.

(note: AJ didn’t mention this but She’s Got Dibs and Flicker placed in HeRA (Heartland Romance Authors) Show Me The Spark! Contest in 2010) So you are a “Jackie-of-all-trades” so to speak. If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have pursued instead?

AJ: Well, now that I’m an editor, I guess I would have to chose…editor. I really do love the written word. So much that I spend most of my time at the computer. Editing is a ton of work, but it can also be highly rewarding. I love building relationships with my authors, seeing the stories come into focus. From both sides of the desk, working in the publishing field is a total blast.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

AJ: How about the blurb and excerpt from Jezebel’s Wish?

Sound good, let’s have it.

Cover Art by RJ Morris

Blurb:

Haunted by nightmares, tormented by guilt, Jezebel came to Redemption Ranch to escape the past—except now she’s stuck in the middle of nowhere with no redemption in sight. When her mother pushes her into riding lessons with local veterinarian Matthias Saunders, Jezebel balks. Sure, the doctor is gorgeous, but he’s completely obnoxious and knows how to push every one of her buttons.

Only her deep connection with The Reverend, a gentle stallion who guards her darkest secrets, has her agreeing to spend any more time with Dr. Saunders. Caring for the stallion is the first bright spot in her life in months, and if being around the horse means she has to deal with Matthias Saunders, then so be it. Surely a city girl like her can handle one country vet—even one with disturbing blue eyes. Can’t she?
Excerpt:

Jezzy stopped. “I thought I was having a riding lesson.”
“You are.” He nodded toward the empty paddock. “Go in.”
“Go in?” Jezzy propped a hand on her hip. “You sure you know what you’re doing? Because it was my understanding that an actual horse is needed for a riding lesson.”
“Don’t you think it would be wise at this juncture to leave the understanding up to the professionals?”
Jezzy rolled her eyes. “You’re making this way too easy. Professionals? Please. Don’t get me started.”
“Why not? Getting you started is exactly what I’m here for.”
Jezzy’s jaw dropped. She didn’t quite know how to interpret that remark.
He held out the rope. “Now go in. And take this lead line with you.” Steely blue determination glinted in his eyes. There was no way he was going to give in.
Jezzy snatched the lead line from his hand and stormed through the gate, then turned when he closed it behind her.
He put a foot on the bottom railing and rested against the gate, facing the horizon. “Take the chair to the center of the paddock and sit down.”
“And just exactly how is that supposed to teach me to ride?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You want out of the deal?”
Jezzy’s fist clenched tight around the lead line. What she wanted was to march back to the fence and smack his face.

Let me just say, having read this book, folks, ladies, I think you’ll love it. Thanks AJ, any final thoughts for us? How can readers learn more about you?

AJ: There are several ways for folks to get in touch with me, and I LOVE hearing from readers. If the mood strikes, don’t hesitate to pop me a note at any of these locations.

Visit AJ on the web at:
http://ajbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/ajnuest
Email: ajnuest@yahoo.com
Facebook: Tattered Pages

Jezebel’s Wish Buy Links:

The Wild Rose Press
and Amazon.com in paperback
Amazon Kindle E-book

Trailer Embed:

House

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Television

≈ 2 Comments

Well, fiddle sticks! I just heard this on the news, so don’t quote me on it, before you check it out…they say House, the Fox TV show about…well, an ornery, very talented doctor named House, is ending.

*sigh* Ending…what? So they can put on another reality show? Feh. So good bye to one of the only good shows left of *cough* free television these days. :(