Posted by: Author | October 10, 2010

10-10-10

As those of you who  know me or have read this blog in the past know, I like connections and symmetry.  Today’s date of 10-10-10 just makes me happy. It is such a round number, or group of numbers, it appeals to me.  The only thing bad about it is tomorrow is Monday and back to the real job. I’m writing like a demon this morning- woke up with a good scene in my head and am trying to get it like I imagined it.  Wish me luck on this day of symmetry.

By the way, did anyone celebrate what would have been John Lennon’s 70th birthday yesterday? I drank a toast to him with my unsweet tea.  And yeah, I’m a southerner that hates sweet tea. So sue me.

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Posted by: Author | October 8, 2010

Friday Fact- October 8, 2010- Cantonment

A  cantonment is either a temporary or semi permanent place for the lodging of troops.  It comes from the French and means corner or district.

Here’s a picture of a cantonment.

Pensacola , Florida is located on a  bay that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. Historically, it has been a vital part of the defense of the countries that have owned it, dating back to the first Spanish occupation.  There is a highway in Pensacola that’s called 9 Mile Road- it is actually US Hwy 90 but the name 9 Mile Road comes from the fact that it is 9 miles from the center of downtown (and yeah, we have 8 1/2 Mile Road and 10 Mile Road and even 8 1/2 Mile Creek Road – since there’s a creek beside it).

If you reside on the South side of 9 Mile Road, your mailing address is Pensacola. If you live on the North side of that magic highway,  your  mailing address is Cantonment.  I live across the line into Cantonment but I tell people I’m from Pensacola ’cause they always look befuddled over Cantonment.

My little area of Florida was actually a place for soldiers to be billeted in the past, thus the name. It is North of the City but close enough to reach by horseback (if you were one soldier on a fast horse) in less than two-three hours and the entire troop could be moved in less than a  day and a half, if necessary.

The area just south of Cantonment was once called Pine Forest due to the large forest of trees in the area.  It is still called that by locals even though the mailing address is Pensacola and even though it is a major thoroughfare now.

Pensacola is a diverse area and lots of really cool history happened here.  I love this town!

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Posted by: Author | October 7, 2010

Seances, Harry Houdini, Halloween and My Novel

All of the above may sound like they don’t relate. They do. Sort of. Harry Houdini was the greatest magician of all time. That’ s not just my opinion. It’s pretty much a fact.  And yeah, I know this is not a Friday Fact day. Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926. And that’s a fact, too.

Spiritualism and seances came in vogue in the middle of the Nineteenth Century. Seances themselves as a way to try to contact the dead date back to the very early days of mankind. They enjoyed a huge resurgence in the days of Queen Victoria because of two sisters, last name Fox.  They started the movement when they said they contacted a spirit that communicated with them. Their story is intriguing and I recommend further research if you’re interested.

Houdini was a skeptic about this whole phenomenon. His friend, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a true believer.  Houdini was able to debunk several mediums and prove the methods they were using to scam people.  He and Conan Doyle enjoyed their arguments on this issue. They liked to debate about the truth of the matter and whether or not there were real mediums.

Despite the fact that he insisted to his friend that there were no true mediums, Houdini and his wife came up with a plan for him to try to contact her after his own death. Since he died on Halloween, every year for ten years after his death, his wife would hire a medium to conduct a seance to see if the secret message would come through. It never did. She gave up after ten years.

What does this all have to do with my novel that I sold this week? Well, in Redemption for the Devil, the hero is looking for a way to have free access to the bowels of the cruise ship on which he’s traveling.  Since 1920 was at the height of the seance/spiritualism craze, I have a character that’s a clairvoyant on the RMS Mauretania. She conducts seances for some of the wealthy passengers. Her name is Madam Theresa and she’s a scammer. Liam, our hero, takes advantage of the situation. Once the first seance occurs, passengers imagine they see ghosts all over the ship. Liam dresses as a dead World War I soldier to have free rein on the boat. The RMS Mauretania had been commandeered by the British Navy  for troop transport during the war so it was feasible for there to be such a ghost on board. The ship took troops to Gallipoli where the British forces lost over 21,000 men and over 52,000 British were injured.

So there you have it. How Seances, Harry Houdini, Halloween and Redemption for the Devil relate.

I’m guest blogging today here: http://www.cynthiaeden.com/blog/   Come comment on your own true  love or  a ghostly experience you have had – be entered to win a shoe charm to commemorate the January 2011 release of my book Solo Honeymoon. The hero in that one happens to be a shoe designer.

 

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Posted by: Author | October 6, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

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Posted by: Author | October 5, 2010

Remember my book- Redemption for the Devil?

I spent 20 days in September revising it for an editor that liked the premise and wanted me to up the historical factor/details.  I did it and resubmitted it to her on 9/25/10.  Just got an email from her and she  said,  “Bravo!”  She added that it was engaging, bright and lively.  Then the best part, she offered me a contract with a publication date  of July 2011. 

So happy that she liked it. This is the historical from 1920. A odd time period that a member of my RWA chepter said I’d never sell. So thrilled that someone wants it. 

To remind you of my inspiration for my hero,  here he is: 

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Posted by: Author | October 5, 2010

Friendship?

I have a friend that lives far from me that is causing me some concern and has been for a few weeks now. She has always said that she has never been able to keep friends. I’ve told  her that I am a loyal friend and would always be there for her. But now I’m not so sure about what she meant by saying people abandon her.  She has cut herself off from me as well as a couple of other friends. So, the question becomes, does she lose friends because she builds walls over some perceived slight or do people really abandon her? I know I haven’t walked away.

I hate that she has cut herself off and I have done all I can do to make this friendship work, short of begging her to contact me and that I refuse to do. I don’t grovel for anyone. 

The question in my mind is this: Is it a true friendship if a person has to watch everything that they say – even the innocuous comments that have nothing to do with her- for fear that the other person will take offense? I don’t define that as friendship. I call that an acquaintance. It’s quite sad as I do love her.

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Posted by: Author | October 4, 2010

Cover Angst

So, two of the authors from Siren BookStrand got their covers today and posted them for us to admire. One of them, her book comes out in November and I’m not sure about the other one.  The covers are wonderful. One is a little over the top for me but I don’t write erotica nor menage and it’s definitely a menage cover.

I sure would love to see what’s in store for me. I gave some ideas on a questionnaire but being new at this, I don’t know if they follow the suggestions or not.  So, I’m having cover angst. Gotta get my mind onto another subject.  Easier said than done, though.

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Posted by: Author | October 3, 2010

“The Glades”

I had lunch at the parents’  today, mainly because my mom wouldn’t let such a word as no mean anything to her- is that payback from when I was a kid? My dad, sister and I started talking about Stephen Cannell dying and shows he wrote and produced. The conversation meandered around to shows on now. My sister asked me if I’d seen The Glades.  A show based in a fictional town near the Florida Everglades. I had not. She highly recommended it but said the season finale was coming on tonight. Oh, well, I wasn’t going to watch one episode and the season finale at that.

Imagine my glee when I got home and found a marathon on of the show on A&E leading up to the season finale. So, I’m tuned in now to watch. I’ve seen part of one episode and am into the 3rd full one. I’m liking it.  I didn’t see the first few but I’m getting up to speed.

The hero is quite charming. He’s a Aussie named Matt Passmore. I like his scruffy look in the show. And I found this picture of him and his kittimal. Any dude that loves a cat like he seems to love this one, is a good egg.

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Posted by: Author | October 2, 2010

GCCRWA Programs

I’m the vice president of Programs for the Gulf Coast Chapter of RWA.  I can’t take any credit for the awesome programs we’ve had recently. I can only take credit for recognizing the inherent talent and knowledge of my fellow writers. Last month, we had a great education in the history of medicine, including birth control. We also learned about herbs and how they’ve been used over the centuries for healing, birth control, luck and  even poisonings.

Today’s meeting was a lesson in different religions and types of worship over the centuries. We learned about Native Americans and their traditions, Voo Doo priestesses, and Wicca. We got to hold bells that sing, an intricate knife with carvings, a gris gris bag, Voo Doo dolls, Tarot decks, candles, and even a Native American carved walking stick.  We also learned about ghost hunting and other paranormal manifestations.  Our  member that spoke today is a member of a paranormal investigation group based in Mississippi. She’s full of cool stories.

Our members that presented the last two month’s programs are awesome ladies and I thank Rita VanFleet and Runere McLain for making me look like a brilliant program veep!  I love you guys!

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Posted by: Author | October 1, 2010

Friday Facts-October 1, 2010-Barrow

As you learned one day last week, I love to dissect songs. Today I decided to discuss one of my favorite songs and what something means in it. Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da is a cool Beatles song.  The first line is Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace. Today, class, your lesson is on the barrow. What the heck is a barrow, you may ask. Historically, in Britain, the markets set up on certain days of the week. The sellers of goods kept them in barrows or push carts. Some sold flowers, some sold meats and vegetables and some sold clothing among other things.

There are still markets scattered all about London and outer lying areas. They sell wonderful things. Sunglasses, batik dyed dresses, jewelry, head bands, old records, and just about anything you can imagine. Such fun to go and browse all the merchandise on display. A cool way to spend a weekend  in the fall. Oh, to be in England in the fall.

Anyway,  back to Demond and  his barrow. I want to know what he sold from his barrow in the marketplace ’cause the song goes on to say that he took a trolley to the jeweler’s store and bought a twenty-carat golden ring. What could he be selling to make that kind of money? Anyone want to ask Macca? He wrote the song. John hated it. And, kids, if you don’t know who Macca is, it’s Sir Paul McCartney to you! 

I have a picture of a barrow here. A wine barrow. Fun!

Anyone remember the television show that used this song as the theme song?  I do. Used to love to watch it. Cute family show.

Other barrow definitions:

1. a large mound of dirt placed over a burial site

2. The Northernmost part of Alaska

3. A pig that has been castrated before sexual maturity.  I have to say that I’m not sure why you’d do that to a pig. As I recall the castrati of the Baroque period, the boys were castrated at an early age to keep their voices from changing. Why do we care if a pig’s voice changes? That’s the rhetorical question of the week, kiddos.

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