A Call For Judges

Happy Saturday everyone! I have an all day writers meeting today which leaves me very little time to put together a huge blog. It’s something called Plotapalooza and you guessed, we have a full day of plotting for us in store. It should be a good day as I always learned something new. I’ll be talking about it in tomorrow’s blog, which brings me to the subject of today’s blog.

As many of you know, I belong to an online writing group called EPIC. The organization has the longest running ebook contest and need judges to fulfill their commitment to that contest. Here’s the plea they put out for judges and contest entries:

EPIC is seeking industry professionals for judges; people who enjoy seeing what mischief their peers have gotten up to this past year. We are seeking judges for all genres from fiction, romance, erotic romance, non-fiction, poetry, to children's and YA. Judging information is available at: http://bit.ly/eBookJudges.


There are lots of great books to be read and new authors to be discovered. Aren't you curious?


EPIC's eBook Awards is open for entries. Interested? The entry rules and guidelines are at http://bit.ly/eBook2011. Entries are accepted until midnight, Aug. 15, 2010.

Please help if you can. This contest is wonderful and I’ve been a finalist in it, which was a wonderful experience.

That’s about all for today! Sorry I couldn’t be more talkative...I’ve been writing...and my brain is mush. Yuppers, you will see some of this in unedited form the moment I turn it all into my publisher.

See ya tomorrow!

Lynn

This & That Friday

Howdy! I have decided that Fridays will be the day I share the links and whatnot people have shared with me during the week. I get these links mainly via Twitter and email. Occasionally they will come in a newsletter but I get a lot the other media. Some I shake my head and some are great.

As you know I had been keeping them in a file and just posting them when the file because a full page. But this week, the file had more than five pages of good information. What I will be doing is pulling the best of them and sending them to you as well. This will allow me more time to write as I don’t have to think of something to put up. LOL! Yeah, I know, I am lazy. But I value my writing time and some days, it’s harder to do this blog than it is to do a 5K chapter. I kid you not.

So here are your first ten links on the very first this and that Friday!

One of the cutest videos you will ever see! Enjoy!

http://www.wimp.com/babymoose

This is a really good blog on perspective and alternate lifestyles.

http://ohgetagrip.blogspot.com/2010/07/never-look-back.html

What?!? I had to read this twice. I didn’t know I was writing to a trend. Besides, it’s how they use the institution of plural marriage. If all are created equal then all is well.

http://sixldswriters.blogspot.com/2010/07/trend-watch-polygamy-is-new-craze.html

This is a body I so love!

http://scifiwire.com/2010/07/jason-momoa-leaps-into-action-as-conan-in-official-new-pic.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Okay, funniest Alien trailer ever: Alien versus Ninja

http://scifiwire.com/2010/07/alien-vs-ninja-trailer-ou.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Yeah, it had my interest! LOL!

Impulse buying of ebooks! Oh Happy Day! And yes, there are two blog listed here!

http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/comments/happy-dance-open-letter-about-impulse-buying-ebooks/

http://tracycooperposey.com/ebooks-buying-is-addictive/

Kick ass contest for all of those who read sci-fi romance. Yeah, enter this one because you never know...you might win...imagine that!

http://sharonleewriter.com/2010/07/expanding-universe-contest/comment-page-5/#comment-767

Interesting grouping of postings from TOR. These will take place over a few days and you might want to bookmark it for easy access.

http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/07/paranormal-romance-and-urban-fantasy-on-torcom?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Fan of Firefly? Then this is for you...or not...LOL!

http://scifiwire.com/2010/07/first-review-of-the-new-f.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I sure do hope you enjoyed this little foray into just part of what rolls across my desk daily. See you all tomorrow and have a fantastic Friday.

Later...

Lynn

Me & The Hot Southwest

All of you know by now I live in southern Nevada, which is in my mind one of the hottest places on earth. For example, on Monday we woke up to temperatures over 100 and some humidity. The week has gotten progressively worse in my honest opinion. It should be a time when I hole up in my house and turn the air on high.

The issue isn’t the cost of the power bill but the fact it doesn’t help me. I have a brick house and the bricks heat up during the day. Once the sun goes down, that heat slowly dissipates throughout my home. Thankfully, my office since I had the doors put on for my Christmas present is probably the coolest room in the whole place. I can actually feel a temperature difference between my skin and the outside air.

Now tonight, as I have been doing every night for the last nine nights, I went for a walk. About fifteen minutes in, I knew I was in trouble. The sweat was pouring down the center of my back and we all know where that ends up. LOL!

I kept trudging away because if I didn’t I would not have accomplished the goal I set out for myself. Eighteen days ago, I made a commitment to me and that commitment included a nightly walk with my husband and our dog. We didn’t start walking until I knew I was comfortable with my very calorie diet as it can be a shock to the system. Believe it or not, I don’t miss the food...yet...LOL! If you want to know more about me and this new diet, go to my other blog, Journey From Fat 2 Fit, and you’ll get the full scoop. Find it here: http://journeyfromfat2fit.blogspot.com/


So here I am walking and I suddenly feel this cool, cool breeze. I look ahead and see the sidewalk covered with water. The sprinklers are still going in this particular yard and the dog right along with me frolics in the decreased temperature. We both try to get ourselves as wet as we can before we move on. Granted, these were not high-powered waterspouts but enough was deposited on my shirt I kept fairly cool the rest of the evening.

Now the dog on the other hand went berserk in this yard and the next one we found. He tries to drink the water from the spray and then he immerses himself until he has to shake the water off. Once it’s all over, he gives us his goofy smile and wants to find the next wet yard. Sometimes I wish I was as carefree as my dog, going from wet yard to wet yard, making sure my immediate need of being too hot was taken care of as quick as possible.

But alas, I’m human and I have deadlines and family and a life very rich in personal as well as professional things. As I look back, wondering how I got here some days, I know I wouldn’t be anywhere else. It’s a great time in my life. The youngest is getting ready to go to college, the oldest is a father and I get to travel with the DH when everything lines up properly. Vienna isn’t going to work this summer because I’m not going to spend $2K for a ticket and that’s the going rate. It has been for almost nine months. Sigh. I know I’ll get there.

Just like I’ll get out of the hot southwest sometime. I want to go somewhere like here

Yes, that is me walking away from the camera is a cool and very green countryside.

Or how about here. Aren’t both places very gorgeous? Guess where they are and let me know. If you get both correct or even one for that matter, you’ll get a special gift!

See, I know dreams come true. All my life I dreamed of being an author, a published author who saw their books in print, who had many releases and became a bestseller. Well, three out of four isn’t bad and I am working on the last one.

So...how have your dreams stacked up to your reality? Let me know and I’ll throw an extra entry into the hat for this month’s contest.

Till tomorrow...

Lynn

From Patti Shenberger

Help me welcome good friend, Patti Shenberger to my blog. We used to do a blog together at one time and have followed each other's careers for a while. When I saw on another loop she had secured an agent, I leapt for joy right along with her as it is very much deserved.

Let's help her celebrate!

Lessons in Love

© Copyright Patti Shenberger

All Rights Reserved, Devine Destinies

http://tinyurl.com/Lessons-In-Love-PS

Excerpt:


Where There's Smoke


"Actually, it started while I was sulking on the couch.” Cassie jumped up and paced back and forth. “It’s all David’s fault. If he hadn’t proposed to Tiffany, this never would have happened. He was supposed to come here tonight. I was making him a special meal. Now look at this place. It’s a mess.”

“Let me get this straight,” the fireman interrupted. “The fire was caused by a guy who wasn’t even here?”

House Calls

Every time he moved, her heart beat a little faster at the way his jeans hugged his backside. Polly shook her head to clear away her distracted thoughts. Checking out his butt was not on the agenda. Getting the roof fixed and the water stopped was. But then again, a nice view did tend to make the day go by faster.

Be My Valentine

What was wrong with her? Here she was about to spend time conferring with her daughter’s teacher, talking about a school party, and yet all she could think about were his blue eyes and the warmth of his hand when it covered hers. Mentally cursing herself, she patted a few loose strands of hair back in place and reached for the entry door. Sam rose as she walked toward the table.


Thanks, Patti for sharing!

See you all tomorrow!

Lynn

Where I Am

Every once in a while people ask me where I am on the web. I laugh then tell them everywhere but people like specifics. So here they are with a little update on each.

This is my website. Expect it to be updated in the next few months with a new look and all the new books I’ll be having published between now and the end of the year.

www.lynncrain.com

I have a presence on MySpace but I have to admit I don’t use it much anymore. My daughter-in-law was doing all my updating for me and when she got pregnant, all that stopped.

www.myspace.com/lynncrain

As with the website, I will be updating this myself very soon. Blogger has some wonderful new templates and I’ve been offered help to complete it by another author friend. I’ll warn you first since I do post every day!

www.lynncrain.blogspot.com

This is a blog I’ve had to a few years to show people my journey with the battle of the bulge. I have updated it and would love to know your opinion of it. I’m a few days behind on it but am slowly catching up as I can. Yeah, I’ve been dieting for seventeen days now and you all didn’t even know it...LOL!

http://journeyfromfat2fit.blogspot.com/   

This is another medium I have but haven’t done much with except sign up for the darn thing. I try to get to it once a month but it’s sketchy at best.

http://lynncrain.livejournal.com/

This is my yahoogroup and I do a variety of things here. I have a weekly get together I call Sexy Saturday and if enough people show, I will give out free ebooks. eMail me if you want to join and I’ll send you an invite. I try to post at least once a day but mainly on Saturdays.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XtraOrdinaryRomance/

Now, this is the place you can always get me. Twitter is absolutely addicting and I love it. Who would have thunk what 144 characters could give you? I have a special prize waiting for the person who becomes my 100th follower! Sign up today! It’s a blast!

www.twitter.com/oddlynn3

Again, I’ve been on Facebook a long time but it hasn’t been until recently I’ve actually logged on more than once a month. Why? My whole family is there and I have tons of people who love it. It’s the older generations MySpace in my opinion. Everyone I know has a Facebook page. I do try to get to it weekly so I can see all the new pictures of my grandsons. If you want to befriend me, let me know beforehand and I’ll approve you right away!

www.facebook.com/oddlynn3


I absolutely adore YouTube and used to create tons of videos for my books. You’ll find a lot there if you go to look. I haven’t updated it in a long time but I feel the creative urge coming on. I’ll keep you posted. After all, I do know how to put them in this blog now. Good thing. LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/lynncrain

There are a few more I belong to but these are the places I am at the most. If you belong to any of these and want me to follow or join you, just let me know...pass them around to all your friends...thanks in advance!

Tomorrow we have a special guest...see ya on Thursday!

Lynn

Changing Things Up

I have been looking at other people’s websites and blogs for a long, long time. After months of deliberation, I am changing the look of everything. That means my website will be updated with a new look and some graphics as well as this blog.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love this sexy, sexy picture on this blog. But I want – no need – it to reflect me and how I think. I don’t know anything about programming, nor do I really want to any more. I mean, yeah, over twenty years ago, I started as a hacker and moved up to what they called a power user. A power user is similar to today’s beta testers. I knew a little about programming and a little about testing. I could wing my way through minor corrections and understand what I was seeing. My real talents, even now, consist of the fact I can break anything and I see the big picture.

The big picture this time is me and my web presence. I want something people enjoy coming to and seeing. After a full month of promoting and writing every day on this blog, interest has waned. I can take it a couple of ways: 1) I’m not writing things which are really that interesting, which means I need to change it up and 2) my blog and websites are ugly. My personal opinion is that they are a little of both.

For right now, I’ve looked at the fact that I love what I’ve seen on Wordpress but I’m basically a lazy person and don’t want to change what I have. This means I have to get someone or myself to do something in blogger similar to Wordpress and incorporate everything I want in it. I also would love everything to match my website, blogger, twitter, MySpace, Facebook and any other social network I belong to at the moment. I belong to a few more but someone else owns them and I can’t change them at all.

All in all, this is a big dilemma for me as change is hard on anyone let along a writer. So today, I took one of my lesser known blogs and looked into the new templates Blogger has. All I can say is OMG! I don’t know what I was waiting for as far as that goes. Wait a minute, I know exactly what I was waiting for, time...I wanted a day to devote to playing with it...but I decided when I lost twenty pounds I would revamp my weight loss blog. You can go see it at http://journeyfromfat2fit.blogspot.com/ and I really shouldn’t say new. I’ve had the darn thing for almost three years as I try to win this battle. I might just do it this time...nope, wrong thing to say...I WILL make it this time.

So, let me ask you all a few questions: do you like erotic romance blogs to be plain? Do you like them with people? Or do you just want them to look nice and don’t care about the other graphics? See, I’m a widget gal and I just love the widgets on other people’s blogs. I’ve seen one with book covers and release dates, I’ve seen them where they track all my work-in-progress so you all know exactly where I’m at. What do you think would be cool in a blog?

Let me know...see you all tomorrow! And don’t forget to tell me about the new blog...I’d love your opinion!

Lynn

A Horrible Thing

Last night, my daughter-in-law had invited me to a home party for spices. I should actually say we as she invited my dear husband too because she thought he would enjoy it more. She had asked me weeks ago and even though youngest had a series of basketball games, my DH and I decided I would be the one to go since I am usually pickier about those type of things. Basically, I decide a budget then stick to it and I don’t care who the party is for either. I go there with a number in mind for spending and that’s it.

My youngest son’s first game was at 5:10, so they left at about 4:00 as it takes nearly an hour to get into Vegas and the courts where they are held. I worked a little more then took my shower at 5 to leave at about 5:30. My oldest called and asked me if I was coming. I told him yes and I would even get there early. I hopped into the shower and mentally went through the order of how I would need to do things.

Promptly at 5:30 pm, I started gathering my things to leave when all hell broke out as the dog chased the cats. It was obvious they needed separate areas, so I went about the task of catching cats and closing them in various rooms around the house. It took me an extra ten or fifteen minutes to get out the door. Once I was in the car, I realized how hot it was today and zipped along my merry way sweaty and hot.

Along this route, I have to go through a place called Railroad Pass, affectionately known as the Pass to all us locals. The traffic was really bad and I got stuck behind a car pulling a trailer. It was very slow going and I was about to pull around him as the traffic had cleared when one of the most horrific things I have ever seen in my life happened.

The trailer door opened, and believe me it was finally going a speed of about 60 mph, and something was tossed out. It took me a few seconds to realize what had been tossed out was what looked to be a chocolate seal-point Siamese baby. I tried to stop and knew I had gone too far so I had to go to the first exit and back around. I was so stunned by this action I did not even get the license plate on the trailer...after all...who could do something this horrible?

At this point, my oldest calls me and wants to know where I am. I tell him I’ve forgotten something and have to go back to get it. I didn’t want to tell him about the kitten because there was always a chance that I wouldn’t get back to it in time. The whole way back around, I’m praying that the little guy has gone toward the desert and not the road. As I drive past on the other side of the road, I don’t see him and my heart sinks as I dread I’m too late.

At the Pass, I do an illegal u-turn and start driving really slow to get the kitten. Low and behold, I see him staggering toward the desert. I pull off the road quickly, put on my blinkers and try to pick him up. When I got near him, he ran for the desert and got stuck in a small bush. He appeared to be only four to six weeks old but he moved fast when he got scared. It took me a few minutes to part the piece of brush he was in and finally I have him in my hands.

I look at him and see he is definitely a male plus he’s banged up pretty good. It looks as if his eye is swollen and leaking a little with a few more bumps or scrapes on his body but otherwise he was just scared. I get into my car and know I can’t hook up the seatbelt with him still in my hand. I set him down in the seat next to me and in an instant know I’ve made a mistake as he finds a way into a space under my dash. At this point I am a little panicked because I’m not sure exactly where he went so I call my oldest and asked if there were anything which would hurt a kitten under my dash.

He’s confused so I have to explain the whole thing to him. He doesn’t think there is anything there that might hurt him but every car is different. Not knowing what to do, I decide to go on to his house where we’ll pull the dash and retrieve the kitten. I was afraid the poor little thing had crawled away to die as cats often do. So I take it nice and slow to his house where after removing screws and getting in a position I haven’t been in in years, I manage to grab the kitten and pull him out.

We immediately see his injuries but better this time and decide to take him to my son’s vet about five to ten minutes away. Again, we were lucky, or rather this kitten, that someone was there as they had closed at five. As the vet opened the door, I tell her the tale of the kitten and that neither my son nor I can keep it. She states she is actually there for an emergency case but to bring the kitten up anyway. My lumberjack of a son, who has held this little guy and calmed his fears, brings him up. He explains that all his animals come here and it was the closest place. We talk for a while with the vet who states the kitten looks good for all the trauma and they will look after the minor wounds as well as give him a dose of antibiotics.

After that, she then states they will put him up for adoption as long as my son signs him over. We all agree this is the best course of action since he has two cats and I have three already. The last words we heard her say was actually to the kitten as she pulls him up to eye level. “Well, little guy, you only have eight left.” That touch of humor did a lot to calm my soul, which was hurting with the trauma of the whole thing.

When I finally talked to the DH, I admitted it was probably more traumatic to see the even than it was to the kitten who didn’t know what was going on. It was horrible in every way and I wonder about people any more. You don’t do those things to animals. You don’t do that to anything except maybe a bug or spider.

Then I also realize what a miraculous set of events happened, so I could be at the right place at the right time. If I hadn’t let the dog know I was leaving, he wouldn’t have gone on a rampage to harass the cats because he wanted me to stay. If I hadn’t of been in such a hurry, I wouldn’t have picked the wrong lane to get in going out of the Pass. If I hadn’t been paying attention to the road in front of me, I would never have seen the kitten bounce on the pavement. In addition, if I hadn’t been willing to turn around, taking my time to go back, this little kitten would have surely been coyote food.

As it is, he will go home with some lucky family who knows the value of having a pet. Nevertheless, the best moment came when my oldest turned to me and said, ‘Mom, you did the right thing. You can always come to one of these parties but you can’t always rescue a kitten.’ That made my day!

What thing have you seen that you couldn’t understand? Did it traumatize you or make you wonder about humanity? Let me know and I’ll give you an extra entry into the monthly contest.

See you all tomorrow!

Lynn