Lockmeupology: Writing From The Chandelier

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Parody of "Chandelier" by artist, Sia 

No copyright infringment intended.

Dude, is this disclaimer really necessary?

Seriously. 

*eyeroll*

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Birthday America! 

To everyone celebrating today, have fun, be safe, and save a cold one for me. Oh and whatever you do, don't overcook the steaks! 

Lockmeupology- Condom to the Left, Condom to the Right

Once upon a time, a girl went driving through the beautiful French countryside. She drank in the beauty of the endless fields of lavender and sunflower. She drove down countless old tree-lined roads, squealed over the charming country chateaux, and marveled at the architecture of each fortified town she drove through.

"Oh look, an intersection up ahead with more cute signs! 

I wonder where I should go next."

"Oh well, I guess no matter which road I take, I know I'll be safe!"

Lockmeupology - Look it fits! (kinda sorta)

Elizabeth Seckman, France, and Fate Intended

Hi there! I'm here with the fabulous Elizabeth Seckman. She's published several books and is an all around wonderful person, I'm thrilled to have her stop by my humble blog. Today, we're gonna talk about the French and the love shared between siblings, as well as Elizabeth’s new book, Fate Intended.

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Hello Elise!

Bonjour Elizabeth!

Long ago, you posted a get-to-know-Elise video (it was marvelous, by the way). In that video, you said some French people wonder...does America really hate France?

Yes, I remember that video. I still live in France and I've gotten that question a few times, especially during the time right after 911.

Lafayette at the Battle of Yorktown

Wow. What a sad question.

It really is, Elizabeth. 

If America ever had a solid friend, it's France.

I will venture to say, there would be no United States of America without France.

It was the French who had our back in the Revolutionary War against the British crown.

Without French gold, blood,and brains...the American Revolution might have gone down in history as a failed revolt.

I agree, Elizabeth--Vive la France! :)

So much gold was spent, the French government was deep in dept.

There were more French soldiers at the Battle of Yorktown (1781) than American. And that battle was a turning point in the war and it turned the war in our favor, thanks to the leadership of the Marquis deLayette (a French dude...can't you tell by the name?)

Yep, and one of his most famous quotes was: "Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country." 

Thank you France!

Our victory against England was signed, sealed, and a new country was delivered by the Treaty of Paris.

France even gave us our symbol of freedom. Yes, Lady Liberty welcomes her huddled masses with a smile and, “Bonjour!”

Bonjour!

So, see? France is like our big brother. And granted, sometimes big brothers and little brothers fuss, but behind every noogie and wedgie...there is real love.

I can't agree with you more, Elizabeth. France and the US are the best of siblings. And speaking of siblings, in your latest book Fate Intended, a hansome devil named Trip also happens to have siblings as well! Can you tell us a bit more about the story?  :) 

Fate Intended is the third book in the Coulter Men Series.  Trip is the last of the Coulter sons to find love. He’s a handsome man with all the skills a young spy needs to succeed. But when it comes to love, he misses the target. Jane is a sweet beauty who may or may not be wanted for murder. She’s hiding out as a cleaning lady when chance brings her and Trip together. It looks like a happily ever after is in the cross hairs until reality tries to destroy what fate has intended.

Elizabeth Seckman is a simple chick with a simple dream…to write stories people want to read.

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A Shout Out To Some Awesome Folks

It's Valentine's Day (puke) and I wanted to share the love and give a shout out to some very awesome people.

Samantha Redstreake Geary, and the Composers for Relief: Support the Philippines project that not only created an amazing music album, but also a companion ebook, Beyond the Binding that is now available: 

- Worldwide through Amazon

- Smashwords 

  
- Goodreads


(More links coming soon)

DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude will be celebrating his one year anniversary of the Blog Blitz team. Please check it out if you haven't already. The team blitzes random bloggers, and what better way to brighten someone else's day than to blast them with over 100 positive comments!

I also want to give a shout out to Roland Yeomans at Writing in the Crosshairs. Roland is a supportive blogger and prolific writer. He's written dozens of books that are fast paced, action packed, and wonderfully written. I love the imagery and imagination in his books that give Roland a writing style all his own. You can check out Roland's books on Amazon. 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend everyone. 

As for me, I'll just be watching my back . . .

Silent Sunday Smiles

If you're feeling a little blue...

Have a cupcake.

If you're out of cupcakes, then I will unleash the ultimate weapon. No one can resist the power of the adorable fluffy kitten. This kitty was so darn cute, I must have said "awww" enough times to make her think that was her name. 

Happy Sunday.

:)

-comments disabled-

I'd Rather Ski With A Pair of Lightsabers

The family and I are going skiing this weekend. And truth be told, I'm not a good skier. I'm just good enough to leave a trail of yellow snow behind me while I trigger a massive avalanche and scream at everything in my vicinity. Yeah, I'm that person on the slopes, the stay-the-hell-away-from-crazy-lady-falling.

Anyway, I'm trying not to imagine all the horrific ways I could bite it this weekend while locked into those dreadful death-boots. Trouble is, I'm a writer which means, I have no control over my hyperactive imagination. The only thing that could make skiing any fun, is if instead of ski poles, they gave me lightsabers. Yeah, I want to go down the fricken mountain like this...  

...then maybe, skiing would be fun. (;

Have a good and safe week/weekend. I'll see you next week for IWSG and a very special REVEAL!

Lockmeupology: Getting Into The Christmas Spirit

This is me getting into the Christmas spirit. I know, it's a bit pathetic. It also takes a lot of effort. And rum. 

But underneath the Christmas grump tinsel and twinkling festoon lights, I do wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. Be merry, and jolly, and bright, and may 2014 be the year your dreams come true.

I'm taking a little holiday blogging break so be good and see you all next year!

IWSG: A Case of Bad Poetry

For information on this wonderful
monthly bloghop, check out the button
on my sidebar; ===>

I have a confession to make. Lately, I've been writing poetry. Really, really bad poetry and I can't stop. 

I'll sit in front of my manuscript, get a couple lines of editing done, and before I can stop myself, I've clicked the 'new document' button and I'm churning out poetic vomit. Actually, let me rephrase that: rhyming poetic vomit--the worst kind. 

Why, oh why, is my brain doing this to me. I'm a gawd awful poet, and that's not false modesty, it's fact. 

But...

If I'm being painfully honest, it kinda feels good getting the verse out. It's crap, of that I have no doubt, (see I'm doing it again) but I'm ok with that. I'm writing something I'd never show anyone and knowing that releases me of insecurities and the fear of disappointing. Even better, it's led to a steady trickle of words. And you know what? I'm--dare I say it--enjoying this exercise. Even the dark and depressing, angsty stuff is fun to get out on paper. It reminds me of when I first started writing. A time before the blog, before I wanted to get published, before letting in all these insecurities . . . back when I was just a girl who happened to be writing a story. That's all. I've missed that girl, but I think I've found her again, at least part of her when I write poetry. So I think I'm going to stop fighting it, and just let the bad rhyming flow and see where this takes me. The rest can wait and I'm ok with that. Really. I'm ok.

CassaStorm And The Ninja's Brain Guitar

To celebrate the release of CassaStorm, Alex J. Cavanaugh (aka - The Ninja Captain) is touring the blogosphere this week and answering questions from his crazy fans. (;  

Here's my question I scrambled to come up with at the last minute brilliant question:

Ummm... I think I'll stick to armpit farts. 

CassaStorm

By Alex J Cavanaugh

 (Release date: September 17)

From the Amazon Best Selling Series!

A storm gathers across the galaxy…

Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

"Cavanaugh makes world building on the galactic scale look easy. The stakes affect the entire known universe and yet Cavanaugh makes it intensely personal for our hero. The final installment of this series will break your heart and put it back together."
- Charity Bradford, science fantasy author of The Magic Wakes 

“…mesmerizing story of survival, personal sacrifice, tolerance, and compassion. It’s a rare jewel that successfully utilizes both character and plot to tell a story of such immense scope and intimate passion…” - Nancy S. Thompson, author of The Mistaken

$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.

Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera

Print ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019

 One person will be chosen at random to win a
Cassa mug, Cass mousepad, swag, and a
$25 iTunes gift card. (Or Amazon.) 

$4.99 EBook available in all formats

Find CassaStorm:

• Barnes and Noble  
• Amazon 
• Amazon Kindle 
• Goodreads  
• Book trailer  

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife. 

Find Alex on:

• Website  
• Twitter  
• Goodreads 

The Sound of Awesome: D S Taylor's Book about a Girl, an Egyptian Prince, and The Shepherd King

I've got a special treat for you today, my best kept secret--David S. Taylor who blogs over at DS Taylor. I've been following David for a while and he's a great guy. I love his posts and sarcastic humor, especially on writing, twitter, blogging and anything in between. Plus, he's a Sansa Stark fan--what's not to like about this guy?! 

But the real reason I've managed to get his elusive internet-self over here, is so we can talk about his new release, SHIRI.

David describes his book as historical fiction verging on fantasy because as he puts it, "I don't let history get in the way of a good story!"

I told you he was awesome! 

Here's the book's blurb to wet your appetite and get you in the mood while I run out for a quick wardrobe change . . . (;

Shiri blocks her ears to her mother’s screams, sees the arrows strike her father’s chest. With their murderers bearing down on her she turns to obey his final command. “RUN!”

Amenhotep, Prince of Egypt burns her village, enslaves her people, and destroys all she loves. Only Shiri escapes. With tears in her eyes and vengeance in her heart, she races to warn the Shepherd King. If she doesn't reach him in time, all Palestine will burn.

It’s a race that takes her from the fields of Armageddon, to the sands of Ancient Egypt and the very heart of Pharaoh’s court. It’s a struggle that brings the deaths of kings and the birth of a god. It’s a quest that sees her fall in love.

But in a world of masters and slaves can such love really survive? The man she loves is known to all others as Yuya. He is the mysterious new governor of a powerful Egyptian city, and high priest of ‘The Jealous God.’ He is determined to set her people free. Only Shiri knows his true identity and must protect it at all costs, for he is Josef, son of the Shepherd King, and without him, all is lost.

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Ok, I'm back. 

Doesn't Shiri sound fantastic! 

And don't I look better in this Egyptian inspired costume dress?

Eat your heart out Elizabeth Taylor.

Did you know it took me 14 hours to make this costume. Granted, most of that time was spent chasing the dung beetle, but doesn't it look great? David, you should redo your book cover and put me on it. I'm sure you'll sell at least a million more copies if you do. :P

When I read the blurb I was hooked, and wondered what inspired the book, and how David came up with the story line. So I asked. Take it away, David!

Well it’s kind of weird and a long story really – but you asked for it!

During my archaeology degree I became a bit obsessed with a guy called Akhenaten. If you haven’t heard of him he’s King Tut’s father and in Egyptology circles is known as ‘The Heretic’ (mainly due to him being the first person in history to come up with some wacky notion about there only being one god).

Towards the end of my degree it was suggested that I’d be able to lord it over lesser mortals if stayed on in college and got a Ph.D . . . unfortunately to do so I had to write a thesis. The standard topics were ringforts, megaliths and basically anything in Ireland not built by those pesky English. Being about as interested in the suggest topics as I am in the latest Enda Kenny monologue on the progression of the fiscal stimulus package (oh and for the less educated amongst ye Enda Kenny is our esteemed leader) I decided to try to write it on Akhenaten instead.

Thing is, once I started writing it, for some reason it started coming out as a story instead of a thesis, so soon enough I gave up on the whole Ph.D idea and decided I’d lord it over lesser mortals by writing a novel instead. That’s when the kinda weird thing happened. I had this one character in the developing masterpiece . . . an old slave, a woman . . . Shiri. And I just sort of got attached to her and ended up wanting to write her story.

So that’s what I did. I went back in time from Akhenaten to when Shiri was a child back in Palestine. And her story just sort of poured out . . .

That is really cool. Thanks for sharing that with us, David!

So if you haven't already, please go visit David, you can find him on:

DS Taylor (blog)
Goodreads
Amazon 

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And . . . 

Happy Friday!

Happy 4th of July

Thank you all for your nice words and encouraging comments yesterday. I wish I could reply individually to everyone but time is my enemy right now. However, I will be stopping in to visit with you guys soon. It may take a few days though. In the mean time, have a great weekend, and for those celebrating today, Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the fireworks, the BBQs, and be safe. 

I miss being in the States on the 4th of July.  

IWSG: Lockmeupology

I've been really stressed out these past couple of weeks. So for this month's IWSG post, see my sidebar for info ==================================> 

I thought it'd be easier to draw out my frustrations and anxiety. Thanks everyone for stopping in and commenting. And thank you Alex for hosting, and to Nancy Thompson, Mark Koopmans, and Heather Gardner for co-hosting another great IWSG hop. (:

For those of you who may not know, Matthew is a writer and blogger over at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment (QQQE). Matthew regularly takes queries in progress and critiques them on his blog. He does an amazing job at analyzing each query and offering suggestions to strengthen them. In addition, many of his commenters also contribute to the critique by giving excellent advice as well. I highly suggest you check out Matthew's blog, just not this week . . . that is unless, you want to see how NOT to write a query. :P   

Lockmeupology: Query Quarrel

It's almost Friday where I live so I'm wishing everyone 
a great weekend before I crash. 

The forecast for the next two days is looking about the same for me: 

Write, write, rewrite, rewrite . . . 

Wish I could go see Henry Cavill's abs Man of Steel. *sigh*