Posted by: Author | February 18, 2013

Happy Monday

Happy holiday Monday. We’re celebrating President’s Day today and first on my agenda is the coverage of the grey hairs on my head. I get one spot on the top of my head and the sides turn grey too fast as well. Men look distinguished with that touch of grey at the temple, I don’t, so I cover it. Yes, I refuse to go quietly. I think it would be different if I was going grey all over but those little touches just annoy me. They are all I see when I look in the mirror.

I’m also waiting for two set of edits to drop into my inbox- one from Desert Breeze Publishing and one from Secret Cravings Publishing. I got an email from one editor today that she’s almost done and that the story is pretty clean (this I like to hear). The other sent me an email last week that she expected to get them to me soon so I’m sure they will both come on the same day.

I finished the first draft of a story on Saturday. This was the story that never seemed to want to wrap up. And before you think it must be a long one, let me set you straight. It’s under 11,000 words. It just kicked my butt for some reason. I’ve been working on it off and on since December. I paper-edited 9,000 words last week and today’s goal is to add those edits on the computer and edit the other 2,000 and call it totally done.

What’s your goal for the day?

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Posted by: Author | February 15, 2013

Friday Facts- February 15, 2013- Vasovagal Syncope

Earlier this week at my office we were discussing people who pass out at the sight of blood or the idea of having their blood drawn or being poked with a needle. My paralegal said she knew the name of that condition and told us it’s called vasovagal syncope.

Here’s the Mayo Clinic definition (I’m pastinng it from their website here with my thanks)

Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Vasovagal syncope (vay-zo-VAY-gul SING-cuh-pee) is the most common cause of fainting. Vasovagal syncope occurs when your body overreacts to triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress. The trigger results in vasovagal syncope — a brief loss of consciousness caused by a sudden drop in your heart rate and blood pressure, which reduces blood flow to your brain. Vasovagal syncope is usually harmless and requires no treatment.

I have this condition in spades. It’s one of the reasons I went to law school instead of medical school. When I was in my 20s, my mother in law was telling me about her cataract surgery as I stood in the kitchen. Bam. I passed out and hit the floor. When I was pregnant and they had to draw blood, the lab people always went ahead and laid me down to take the blood. They knew I was going down. LOL!

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a heroine in a story have this condition? Think of the fun that would be for the writer! I’m just glad I know now what I have. I can wow the medical personnel next time I’m supine from their hijinks.

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Posted by: Author | February 13, 2013

Wordless Wednesday

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Posted by: Author | February 12, 2013

Not Much

Not much is going on at Casa Chantal. I spent Sunday and Monday in bed but I’m up and about now. I did get some good news recently. I have another story that was accepted by Secret/Sweet Cravings Publishing. It’s called Enchanted Edinbugh and is a light time travel story. I’m excited for this one to come out. I had a blast writing it and was very much inspired by my trip to Scotland and old town Edniburgh in particular.  I hope readers will like it as much as I do. It won’t be out until September though, so it’s a long wait for this baby to get out there.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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Posted by: Author | February 8, 2013

Friday Facts- February 8, 2013- Locks of Love

I bet when you read the title you thought I was going to talk about the Locks of Love organization in the USA. Nope. It’s a great organization with an awesome goal of providing wigs for medical patients who lose their hair, but that’s not what I want to share today.

Today’s topic is more related to love of another kind- Love Locks. Since Valentine’s Day is coming soon, I thought I’d tell you about a cool idea that started in Rome and then moved on to the various bridges in Venice, Italy, including the Rialto Bridge. Lovers buy padlocks and take them to the bridges. They inscribe their initials on them and hook them to the bridge railings. The next step is to throw the key into the water as a symbol of eternal love and passion.

London’s new Millennium Bridge has also become the home of many love locks. The idea is quite romantic but the cities are not enamored of these locks. Each of the cities has cracked down on the idea but people are still doing it. The cities each have crews who come and cut them off periodically. What do you think? Eyesore or cool idea?

Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge

Millenium Bridge, London

Millennium Bridge, London

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Posted by: Author | February 6, 2013

Wordless Wednesday

door

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Posted by: Author | February 4, 2013

Cake Tasting

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After

After

Before

Before

We went over to St. Augustine this past weeknd (6 hour each way-ugh). We had appointments with the bride and groom and her parents to check out photographers, florists and the baker for the cakes. The cake tasting was by far the most fun. She had baked chocolate, white and red velvet cupcakes. She had about 12 fillings for us to try including dulce de leche, pistachio, strawberry, mocha, chocolate mousse, guava, coconut, raspberry, lemon, etc.

It was a tad overwhelming but sooo good. They decided on a three tier wedding cake with cream-colored layers on top and bottom that will have piping in the middle tier color in a kind of loose swirl design. The middle tier will be blue/grey with a kind of lattice pattern with a very Parisian look to it. Their theme is based on Starry Night, the impressionist painting by Van Gogh and Midnight in Paris, the movie. It’s going to be lovely. The cake will be white with lemon and raspberry filling. I’m going to see if I can find a similar picture to share.

This baker is amazingly talented and for the groom’s cake- which will be chocolate infused with Kahlua with mocha icing, she’s going to re-create Salisbury Crag and the ruins at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh as that’s where they got engaged.

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Posted by: Author | February 1, 2013

Friday Facts- February 1, 2013- Space Shuttle Columbia

Ten years ago today, the space shuttle Columbia broke up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. I was reading some articles about this the other day and they were discussing the fact that NASA engineers knew before the shuttle even tried to re-enter that the astronauts wouldn’t survive. The damage that had been done on take-off was not repairable and they didn’t have the right equipment up there to do it anyway. They made a decision not to tell the astronauts about the issue. They let them die in ignorance of what was coming.

They also considered an option of letting the astronauts know and then allowing them to orbit until they ran out of oxygen. They eventually decided against that. There was also no time to send another shuttle up to rescue them.

So, ethical question for you today. Would you, as a person in the situation of the astronauts, want to know you were going to die on re-entry or would you want to die in ignorance?

Oh yeah, I’m guest blogging on Naughty Author Chicks today- The lovely Casey Crow invited me over to chat about Doctor, Lover, Baronet. Click here to read.

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Posted by: Author | January 31, 2013

I’m Out and About On the Web

I’m guest blogging today with my guest from earlier this week, Elizabeth Morgan. We are release week buddies. I’m chatting about Carver’s Fall over at her place. Pop on in and say hello here if you get a chance.

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Posted by: Author | January 30, 2013

Wordless Wednesday

Shush. I know this is wordless wednesday but it’s also release day for Carver’s Fall. Here’s a link to the blurb, etc and the buy link. photo-22

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