I said yesterday that HelenKay would be visiting with us today, but she's under the weather and wasn't able to get me her blog post. As soon as she's better, we'll reschedule - hopefully one day next week.
So, what am I reading?
J.R. Ward's CRAVE!!!!
My awesome friend, Liza, was kind enough to get me an autographed copy at the Kentucky booksigning. I managed to wait an entire twenty-four hours before starting on it.
Now, the real test will be...can I use it as a reward for getting my writing done each day. Or will discipline totally fly out the window and I won't write another word until after I've finished the book? LOL
Anyone want to take bets on which way it goes?
Have a fantastic weekend!!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
I wish I was this quick-witted!!
Best Comebacks Man: “Haven’t we met before?”
Woman: “Perhaps. I’m the receptionist at the VD Clinic.”
Man: “Haven’t I seen you someplace before?
Woman: “Yeah, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.”
Man: “Is this seat empty?”
Woman: “Yes, and this one will be too if you sit down.”
Man: “So, wanna go back to my place ?”
Woman: “Well, I don’t know. Will two people fit under a rock?”
Man: “Your place or mine?”
Woman: “Both. You go to yours and I’ll go to mine.”
Man: “I’d like to call you. What’s your number?”
Woman: “It’s in the phone book.”
Man: “But I don’t know your name.”
Woman: “That’s in the phone book too.”
Man: “So what do you do for a living?”
Woman: “I’m a female impersonator.”
Man: “Hey, baby, what’s your sign?”
Woman: “Do not Enter”
Man: “How do you like your eggs in the morning?”
Woman: “Unfertilized.”
Man: “Hey, come on, we’re both here at this bar for the same reason.”
Woman: “Yeah! Let’s pick up some chicks!”
Man: “I know how to please a woman.”
Woman: “Then please leave me alone.”
Man: “I want to give myself to you.”
Woman: “Sorry, I don’t accept cheap gifts.”
Man: “I’d go through anything for you.”
Woman: “Good! Let’s start with your bank account.”
Man: “I would go to the end of the world for you.
Woman: “Yes, but would you stay there?
Please be sure to stop by tomorrow and say hello to my Writing With the Stars mentor, HelenKay Dimon!!
Have a great Thursday!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Best Comebacks Man: “Haven’t we met before?”
Woman: “Perhaps. I’m the receptionist at the VD Clinic.”
Man: “Haven’t I seen you someplace before?
Woman: “Yeah, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.”
Man: “Is this seat empty?”
Woman: “Yes, and this one will be too if you sit down.”
Man: “So, wanna go back to my place ?”
Woman: “Well, I don’t know. Will two people fit under a rock?”
Man: “Your place or mine?”
Woman: “Both. You go to yours and I’ll go to mine.”
Man: “I’d like to call you. What’s your number?”
Woman: “It’s in the phone book.”
Man: “But I don’t know your name.”
Woman: “That’s in the phone book too.”
Man: “So what do you do for a living?”
Woman: “I’m a female impersonator.”
Man: “Hey, baby, what’s your sign?”
Woman: “Do not Enter”
Man: “How do you like your eggs in the morning?”
Woman: “Unfertilized.”
Man: “Hey, come on, we’re both here at this bar for the same reason.”
Woman: “Yeah! Let’s pick up some chicks!”
Man: “I know how to please a woman.”
Woman: “Then please leave me alone.”
Man: “I want to give myself to you.”
Woman: “Sorry, I don’t accept cheap gifts.”
Man: “I’d go through anything for you.”
Woman: “Good! Let’s start with your bank account.”
Man: “I would go to the end of the world for you.
Woman: “Yes, but would you stay there?
Please be sure to stop by tomorrow and say hello to my Writing With the Stars mentor, HelenKay Dimon!!
Have a great Thursday!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Hump Day Humor....
During one of her daily classes, a teacher, trying to teach good manners, asked her students the following question:
"Michael, if you were on a date having dinner with a nice young lady, how would you tell her that you have to go to the bathroom?"
Michael said, "Just a minute I have to go pee."
The teacher responded by saying,"That would be rude and impolite. What about you Sherman, how would you say it?"
Sherman said, "I am sorry, but I really need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."
"That's better, but it's still not very nice to say the word bathroom at the dinner table. And you, little Johnny, can you use your brain for once and show us your
good manners?"
"I would say: Darling, may I please be excused for a moment? I have to shake hands with a very dear friend of mine, whom I hope to introduce you to after dinner."
Gotta love little Johnny!!
Happy Hump Day!
Peace and love,
Alannah
"Michael, if you were on a date having dinner with a nice young lady, how would you tell her that you have to go to the bathroom?"
Michael said, "Just a minute I have to go pee."
The teacher responded by saying,"That would be rude and impolite. What about you Sherman, how would you say it?"
Sherman said, "I am sorry, but I really need to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."
"That's better, but it's still not very nice to say the word bathroom at the dinner table. And you, little Johnny, can you use your brain for once and show us your
good manners?"
"I would say: Darling, may I please be excused for a moment? I have to shake hands with a very dear friend of mine, whom I hope to introduce you to after dinner."
Gotta love little Johnny!!
Happy Hump Day!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Food For Thought...
"There's plenty of intelligence in the world, but the courage to do things differently is in short supply."
Marilyn vos Savant
Columnist, Author and Lecturer
I'm guest blogging today at HelenKay Dimon's, talking about my years as a Mary Kay lady, and the awesome compliment my son gave me this weekend. Please drop by and say hi to me over there if you have a chance. Thanks!!
Have a fantastic day!!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Marilyn vos Savant
Columnist, Author and Lecturer
I'm guest blogging today at HelenKay Dimon's, talking about my years as a Mary Kay lady, and the awesome compliment my son gave me this weekend. Please drop by and say hi to me over there if you have a chance. Thanks!!
Have a fantastic day!!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Begging for Votes for a friend
One of the coolest things about being a finalist in the Kensington Brava Writing With the Stars contest is all the new friends I've made. Not only other contestants in this contest, but contestants in other contests, as well.
One of those friends is Romance Diva Kat Cantrell.
Kat is a finalist in the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest. Voting for that contest ends tomorrow (Sunday) night.
Please go vote for Kat's story, Thigh Noon.
Thank you!!!!!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Peace and love,
Alannah
One of those friends is Romance Diva Kat Cantrell.
Kat is a finalist in the Mills & Boon New Voices Contest. Voting for that contest ends tomorrow (Sunday) night.
Please go vote for Kat's story, Thigh Noon.
Thank you!!!!!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Friday, October 15, 2010
LAST CALL Excerpt
There had been some question as to whether or not we could post an excerpt from our contest entry. The powers that be have said we can, so here is the scene where my characters realize they're on opposite sides of the fence. It's the same excerpt that was posted on Mia Marlowe's blog earlier this week, so if you popped over there, you've already seen it. I'll see if I can do another excerpt next week.
Excerpt from LAST CAL:
“I’m looking for A. L. Black.”
Sunny narrowed her eyes on him like he was a bug that needed squashed. “Why?”
He took a step closer. “I work for Holden Enterprises. We...Max Holden is interested in buying this property. All of his phone calls have gone unreturned, so he sent me to find the owner.”
In the blink of an eye, her demeanor shifted from guarded to combative. Her pupils narrowed to pinpoints. Her lips compressed around the sucker stick, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest had him a concerned she might hyperventilate.
In response to her anger, Gavin’s heart rate picked up, and sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn’t like upsetting Sunny. But her fiery passion, even in the form of anger, cranked his libido into orbit.
“The property isn’t for sale.”
He really wanted to loosen his tie, but that would send a clear signal he was hot and bothered, and it was imperative he gave nothing away. “Mr. Holden is willing to pay a generous sum. More than enough for…” He hesitated, wanting to refer to A.L. as “mister,” but knowing in his gut, he was staring straight into Ms. Black’s gunmetal gray eyes. “The amount would be more than enough to purchase another building, and move the bar to that location.”
Sunny stepped down to the floor and stalked toward him, stopping only when they were toe to toe. Her head barely reached his neck, so she had to crane her neck back to look him in the eye.
But the size difference didn’t matter to her.
She threw her shoulders back, and glared with unyielding determination. “You can tell Mr. Holden this property isn’t, nor will it ever be, for sale. Regardless of his generous amount.”
Have a fantastic weekend!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Excerpt from LAST CAL:
“I’m looking for A. L. Black.”
Sunny narrowed her eyes on him like he was a bug that needed squashed. “Why?”
He took a step closer. “I work for Holden Enterprises. We...Max Holden is interested in buying this property. All of his phone calls have gone unreturned, so he sent me to find the owner.”
In the blink of an eye, her demeanor shifted from guarded to combative. Her pupils narrowed to pinpoints. Her lips compressed around the sucker stick, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest had him a concerned she might hyperventilate.
In response to her anger, Gavin’s heart rate picked up, and sweat broke out on his forehead. He didn’t like upsetting Sunny. But her fiery passion, even in the form of anger, cranked his libido into orbit.
“The property isn’t for sale.”
He really wanted to loosen his tie, but that would send a clear signal he was hot and bothered, and it was imperative he gave nothing away. “Mr. Holden is willing to pay a generous sum. More than enough for…” He hesitated, wanting to refer to A.L. as “mister,” but knowing in his gut, he was staring straight into Ms. Black’s gunmetal gray eyes. “The amount would be more than enough to purchase another building, and move the bar to that location.”
Sunny stepped down to the floor and stalked toward him, stopping only when they were toe to toe. Her head barely reached his neck, so she had to crane her neck back to look him in the eye.
But the size difference didn’t matter to her.
She threw her shoulders back, and glared with unyielding determination. “You can tell Mr. Holden this property isn’t, nor will it ever be, for sale. Regardless of his generous amount.”
Have a fantastic weekend!!!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Please Welcome Meredith Simmons - WWTS Finalist
One of the things I've most enjoyed because of the Writing With the Stars Comtest is all the great, new friends I've made. Meredith is one of the finalists, who also happens to live 45 minutes from me!! Merry is an experienced traveler and she's here to give us a few trips on taking amazing vacations on a budget. Please give her a warm welcome!
Goin’ Places
I was really excited when Alannah asked me to do a guest blog, and then I realized I wasn’t an expert on anything. When it comes to writing, I’m still in learning mode and what I don’t know, I make up as I go along. I didn’t feel competent to give advice there.
The one thing I do enjoy, and do a lot of, is travel. The problem with having an unquenchable desire to see what is on the far side of every hill is that it costs so darned much, so I’ve learned how to go places on the cheap. Now, the use of the word “cheap” is relative, but travel can be much less expensive than you think.
Last year, my husband and I made a cross-country road trip. It was the third such trip in the past 4 years and we’ve now visited or re-visited all 48 contiguous states. We live in such an amazing and gorgeous country, it is not to be missed. We drove about 7,500 miles on this particular journey, which took a month.
Our average cost per night for a room was $67, which I think falls into the cheap category. Now, I will admit we didn’t stay in any 5 star hotels recommended by Conde Nast, but all our accommodations were clean, well-appointed, and had great beds. The secret – research and staying in small towns instead of cities or those motel villages that have grown up around interstate intersections. In small towns, there are still charming mom-and-pop motels, lovingly maintained with the owners frequently living on-site. They take great pride in what they offer. They can also point you to the best local restaurants. Some of these are places you might have driven by looking for a national chain, but both the food and the prices are usually better in recommended restaurants. And there are often additional perks. I’ll never forget the Halloween night we had dinner at a very small restaurant in a very small Texas town and had a fantastic floor show as every child in the county tromped in to show off his costume and get a small pie.
To find these more out-of-the-way motels, you have to spend time on the internet doing research, but not only can you find such places, there are even reviews available. And always, always make reservations. If you just drive in to any motel along the road, I promise you will pay the highest price. This particularly holds true if you do stay in a metropolitan area. For this I recommend Hotwire. There may be other websites that are as good, but I’ve never had any problem with a Hotwire hotel. Yes, it is irritating you don’t know the name of the hotel until you book, but all the amenities are listed and the basic location given, so what’s in a name? In a few weeks, we’re flying in and out of LAX and needed a hotel at the airport. We’re staying at a Radisson Hotel on the way out and at a Sheraton on the way back – and yes, they were both under $70 a night. Thank you Hotwire.
If you’re traveling in the US, you should consider getting an America the Beautiful Pass to all the National Parks and Monuments. This pass, which gives the car and everyone in it access to the parks, costs $80 for a year. If you can mange to be in a car with someone 62 or older, you can get the Senior version of this which is an amazing $10 for life. Okay, I admit we use the $10 version, and have seen some of the most amazing sights in the world. The National Park system is on one the jewels of the US and there’s something to interest everyone. One hint is to visit the parks slightly off season. Yellowstone in the spring is wonderful – lots of animals and no traffic. In the summer, it’s a different story. Plus, the surrounding motel rooms are more expensive “in season.”
A road trip is always filled with adventures. This last one had more adventure than we anticipated. On a winding mountain road in Wyoming, a large deer leaped over a barrier and appeared right in front of our car. We couldn’t avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the deer lost the encounter, but our car was also very damaged. We pounded on a lot of sheet metal and used a lot of duct tape, but we got the car drivable and proceeded on. You see, there was this other tall hill and I wanted to know what was on the other side.
Bio -
Meredith Simmons is one of the excited finalists in the Brava/RT Writing with the Stars contest. She’s previously published short fiction, primarily science fiction and fantasy. Her eleventh published short story recently appeared in the June Realms of Fantasy.
When she’s not chasing elusive words around on her computer keyboard, she’s off on adventures. Her latest trip will be a month-long cruise to the islands of the South Pacific. Just look for the woman singing “Bali Hai.” You can always find Meredith at her website www.meredithsimmons.com. The theme there is, unsurprisingly, a journey.
Me again....What a great article, Merry!!! Thanks so much for sharing your trip tips! It's been a long time since I drove across the country - '92, to be exact - but you've made me want to get in the car and go!
Thanks for joining me today. Please come back and share the details of your month long trip to the S. Pacific. I'm sure you'll have fabulous stories to tell!
How about you guys, do you have any questions?
Have a great Thursday!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Goin’ Places
I was really excited when Alannah asked me to do a guest blog, and then I realized I wasn’t an expert on anything. When it comes to writing, I’m still in learning mode and what I don’t know, I make up as I go along. I didn’t feel competent to give advice there.
The one thing I do enjoy, and do a lot of, is travel. The problem with having an unquenchable desire to see what is on the far side of every hill is that it costs so darned much, so I’ve learned how to go places on the cheap. Now, the use of the word “cheap” is relative, but travel can be much less expensive than you think.
Last year, my husband and I made a cross-country road trip. It was the third such trip in the past 4 years and we’ve now visited or re-visited all 48 contiguous states. We live in such an amazing and gorgeous country, it is not to be missed. We drove about 7,500 miles on this particular journey, which took a month.
Our average cost per night for a room was $67, which I think falls into the cheap category. Now, I will admit we didn’t stay in any 5 star hotels recommended by Conde Nast, but all our accommodations were clean, well-appointed, and had great beds. The secret – research and staying in small towns instead of cities or those motel villages that have grown up around interstate intersections. In small towns, there are still charming mom-and-pop motels, lovingly maintained with the owners frequently living on-site. They take great pride in what they offer. They can also point you to the best local restaurants. Some of these are places you might have driven by looking for a national chain, but both the food and the prices are usually better in recommended restaurants. And there are often additional perks. I’ll never forget the Halloween night we had dinner at a very small restaurant in a very small Texas town and had a fantastic floor show as every child in the county tromped in to show off his costume and get a small pie.
To find these more out-of-the-way motels, you have to spend time on the internet doing research, but not only can you find such places, there are even reviews available. And always, always make reservations. If you just drive in to any motel along the road, I promise you will pay the highest price. This particularly holds true if you do stay in a metropolitan area. For this I recommend Hotwire. There may be other websites that are as good, but I’ve never had any problem with a Hotwire hotel. Yes, it is irritating you don’t know the name of the hotel until you book, but all the amenities are listed and the basic location given, so what’s in a name? In a few weeks, we’re flying in and out of LAX and needed a hotel at the airport. We’re staying at a Radisson Hotel on the way out and at a Sheraton on the way back – and yes, they were both under $70 a night. Thank you Hotwire.
If you’re traveling in the US, you should consider getting an America the Beautiful Pass to all the National Parks and Monuments. This pass, which gives the car and everyone in it access to the parks, costs $80 for a year. If you can mange to be in a car with someone 62 or older, you can get the Senior version of this which is an amazing $10 for life. Okay, I admit we use the $10 version, and have seen some of the most amazing sights in the world. The National Park system is on one the jewels of the US and there’s something to interest everyone. One hint is to visit the parks slightly off season. Yellowstone in the spring is wonderful – lots of animals and no traffic. In the summer, it’s a different story. Plus, the surrounding motel rooms are more expensive “in season.”
A road trip is always filled with adventures. This last one had more adventure than we anticipated. On a winding mountain road in Wyoming, a large deer leaped over a barrier and appeared right in front of our car. We couldn’t avoid hitting him. Unfortunately, the deer lost the encounter, but our car was also very damaged. We pounded on a lot of sheet metal and used a lot of duct tape, but we got the car drivable and proceeded on. You see, there was this other tall hill and I wanted to know what was on the other side.
Bio -
Meredith Simmons is one of the excited finalists in the Brava/RT Writing with the Stars contest. She’s previously published short fiction, primarily science fiction and fantasy. Her eleventh published short story recently appeared in the June Realms of Fantasy.
When she’s not chasing elusive words around on her computer keyboard, she’s off on adventures. Her latest trip will be a month-long cruise to the islands of the South Pacific. Just look for the woman singing “Bali Hai.” You can always find Meredith at her website www.meredithsimmons.com. The theme there is, unsurprisingly, a journey.
Me again....What a great article, Merry!!! Thanks so much for sharing your trip tips! It's been a long time since I drove across the country - '92, to be exact - but you've made me want to get in the car and go!
Thanks for joining me today. Please come back and share the details of your month long trip to the S. Pacific. I'm sure you'll have fabulous stories to tell!
How about you guys, do you have any questions?
Have a great Thursday!
Peace and love,
Alannah
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
