The Sound of Rain

Inspirational Music

2012-02-10T01:39:00.001-07:00

Jane Seymour's Theme on

The Tudors Season Three Soundtrack

I often listen to music while I write, and the four Tudors soundtracks are some of my favourites. This song is quite lovely, so I thought I'd share it with you =)

Man Candy Monday: Paul Marron

2012-02-06T04:00:00.006-07:00

Okay, so this Man Candy Monday is a little bit special. Instead of finding the hottest actor out there, I decided to give a treat to every romance writer out there who knows her cover models ;) A few years ago, Nathan Kamp was the "it" guy, but he's gotten a little too old to be gracing the covers of hot romance. However, there's new blood now--boy is there ever. For those who have never "met" him before, here is Paul Marron! Of all the romance models out there, I believe Paul is my absolute favourite.

He has been on dozens of romance covers-- and those are just the ones I can name off the top of my head! I could only include so many pictures, so if you're curious, just google him. He is, of course, the lovely man playing Lothaire for Kresley Cole's newest Immortals After Dark book, Lothaire. Enjoy!

Happy Monday ;)

New Facebook

2012-02-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, so after my post on Friday, I decided to switch over my profile to a public one! I'm still in the process of moving everyone over (Facebook only lets me do a few at a time), but I will eventually get everyone moved. However, if I haven't added you yet and you're getting antsy that you might be forgotten, you can add me here or you can click on the Facebook button in my sidebar =)

Thank you to everyone who chimed in on Friday!

Facebook Page or Facebook Profile?

2012-02-03T04:00:00.003-07:00

Okay, so for the past few weeks, I've been contemplating making the jump from a public profile to a private one. Although I still have the usual security settings so someone can't just stalk me, I generally accept most friend requests from writers or other publishing professionals. However, as my wedding draws nearer, I've come to the realization that I don't want all of my personal pictures plastered for all and sundry to see. While they are never inappropriate, I just don't want everyone to see them. I'd like to be able to pick and choose which pictures the public can access.

Which brings me to the point of today's post. After doing a bit of research, I found out that it is against Facebook policy to have two accounts--regardless if one is under a pseudonym and the other is your real name. Therefore, that reduces the number of options I have. I can keep my profile the way it is and just not post pictures, or I can make it private and lose the Facebook connection with writers.

However, there is one other option. I could always create a Facebook page. It's not as interactive, in my opinion, but it would still give me the web presence I want. Now, my question for you is... Do you think a pre-published writer should have a Facebook page? I've heard on a few forums that it's arrogant and "jumping the gun," but I'm not sure I agree. So I want your opinion on the matter!

Do you think it's okay for a pre-published writer to have a Facebook page instead of a Facebook profile? Why or why not? Do you have any other suggestions for me that could help me with this predicament?

February Releases

2012-02-01T04:00:00.004-07:00

End of January:

She Tempts The Duke by Lorraine Heath-- January 31st
Forever Buckhorn: Gabe and Jordan by Lori Foster-- January 31st

February:

The One I Want by Jennifer Echols-- February 7th
Run From Fear by Jami Alden-- February 28th
With This Kiss by Bella Andre writing as Bella Riley-- February 28th

So as you can see, February is a slow month for books. However, I'm excited about all three of them! This is just preparing us for March, where a whopping seven books are released-- five of which are on the same day!

Man Candy Monday: Christopher Egan

2012-01-30T04:00:00.003-07:00

Happy Monday!

Diving Back In!

2012-01-27T04:00:00.002-07:00

So as the title of this blog post indicates, I am finally diving back into writing creatively. It has been far too long since I last looked at my medieval romance, but I'm trying not to get mad at myself for not working on it. I was super busy and I can't help that. At least I'm opening it back up now =)

Alright, so on Wednesday I opened up my AHR document and read through the first two chapters, adding here and there when I thought of something new. Aside from a few additions (and very small ones at that), I LOVE my story! I truly forgot how much I enjoyed Lachlan and Meara's characters. On some level, I think I made myself forget so that it didn't hurt so much when I was forced to do school work instead of working on my story. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I think this story rocks. The second I started reading, the entire world melted away and I was once again in the Scottish Highlands. Whole scenes and conversations popped into my head, making me eager to dive back in and start writing again!

I know there will be stress involved, especially in the beginning as I get back into the swing of things, but I'm very excited to be back with my creative writing. Lord, how I missed it.

Have you guys ever taken a long break from writing? What did you find the most difficult about jumping back in?

To Review or Not To Review

2012-01-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

I know this question has been brought up numerous times before by other bloggers, but I'd like to hear your take on it. Do you agree with posting reviews of books you've read?

Personally, I do post reviews on Amazon and Chapters. However, I do not post them under my name. While I can understand the concerns about posting reviews, I think people have the right to hear opinions about books, whether or not they're positive. Although many people disagree with 1 star reviews, I admit that I have posted 1 star reviews before, because I have literally despised a book so much that I could not possibly give it more than that. However, I also left detailed reasons why I gave the book a 1 star. Though to be fair, it is extremely rare for me to dislike a book to that extent. Most of my reviews range between 3 and 5 stars.

So what do you think? Do you post reviews? Why or why not?

Man Candy Monday: Ryan Gosling

2012-01-23T04:00:00.003-07:00

I hope you have a good Monday!

Man Candy Monday: Ryan Reynolds

2012-01-16T11:00:00.000-07:00

Man Candy Monday: Jonathan Rhys Meyers

2012-01-09T04:00:00.005-07:00

Happy Monday! =)

2012 Goals

2012-01-04T04:00:00.001-07:00

Here are my goals for 2012!

Writing:

1. Finish writing A Highlander’s Romance (and do all of the editing, etc...)
2. Query A Highlander’s Romance
3. Buy my domain name & create a website
4. Order business cards
5. Join Celtic Hearts RWA
6. Join Hearts Through History RWA
7. Join a Virginia Romance Writers group (once I've moved)
8. Attend the Calgary RWA's Spring Workshop in May
9. Read more than 118 books (to beat 2011's number!)
10. Be more interactive online. Over the past year I've been too busy to do much of anything, but I want to change that. I hope to read more blogs in 2012 and actually comment on those blogs, LOL! ;)

Personal:

1. Work out more! (I'm pretty sure this will always be on my list, LOL).
2. Keep track of all family birthdays & send birthday cards!
3. Start driving again (I had to stop due to my arm issues)
4. Write down all of the family recipes onto handy dandy recipe cards for when I move out!
5. Finish planning wedding (this isn't so much a goal as a "must do")
6. Go to university graduation/convocation!!!! (again, more of an event)
7. Move to Virginia and take care of everything that is involved in that.
8. Get married!!!!!!!!!! ♥

So there are some of my goals! By the looks of things, it's going to be an extremely busy year! I just hope I can keep up.

What are some of your 2012 goals?? =)

Man Candy Monday: Robert Downey Jr.

2012-01-02T04:00:00.005-07:00

Happy Monday ;)

January Releases

2012-01-01T04:00:00.007-07:00

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you guys had a wonderful 2011 and an even better 2012! To begin the new year, I thought I'd post a list of all the books coming out in January that I want to read!

1. Crash Into You by Roni Loren—January 3rd
2. Lothaire by Kresley Cole—January 10th
3. She Tempts the Duke by Lorraine Heath— January 31st

Okay, this is an absolutely amazing month for new releases. Although there aren't that many coming out, I am SO excited about them. Kresley Cole and Lorraine Heath are two of my absolute favourite romance writers. AND, Roni's book finally comes out! I've waited so long to read this--I can't wait!

Do you have any other books you're excited about this month?

Favourite Books of 2011

2011-12-30T04:00:00.056-07:00

Note: These books weren't necessarily published this year, but I read them in 2011. As well, they are listed in no particular order. If you want to see the full list of books I read in 2011, click on the link at the top of the page.

This year I read 118 books! Woohoo! I also read the first 50 pages of 31 books, but I ended up putting them down. They are not included in my 118 count--I kept them on a separate list.

Young Adult:

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
Forget You by Jennifer Echols
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Georgian, Regency, and Victorian Romance:

Waking Up With the Duke by Lorraine Heath
Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath
Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt
Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Medieval Romance:

The Hawk by Monica McCarty
The Ranger by Monica McCarty
The Viper by Monica McCarty

Paranormal Romance:

Dreams of a Dark Warrior by Kresley Cole

Romantic Suspense:

When You Dare by Lori Foster
Trace of Fever by Lori Foster
Savor the Danger by Lori Foster
Beg for Mercy by Jami Alden
Hide from Evil by Jami Alden

A Canadian Car Chase...

2011-12-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Because I think this is hilarious...

Heheheheh ;)

Happy Birthday, Love!

2011-12-28T04:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Birthday to my wonderful fiance!

I love you and I hope you have an amazing day =)

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

I hope you have a wonderful holiday!!

Christmas Cartoon

2011-12-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Heheheheh ;)

My Birthday =)

2011-12-21T04:00:00.002-07:00

Yep, today's my birthday! I am now 22 years old =)

So everyone grab a cupcake and celebrate with me!

Man Candy Monday: Jason Momoa

2011-12-19T04:00:00.003-07:00

I don't tend to post naykid pictures of guys on here, but it's actually difficult to find pictures of Jason Mamoa with his shirt on ;) Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful Monday! I'm currently on my way to Virginia for the holidays! =)

I'M DONE UNIVERSITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

*runs around screaming*

I have now earned my B.A. in English with a minor in history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

University Favourites

2011-12-14T04:00:00.008-07:00

So now that I'm almost done school (eeks!) I thought I would post a list of my favourite professors and classes in my main areas of study. However, first I did some overall "basics" of my education. A lot of this is for me, but I thought I'd post it on here ;)

English: 19 classes
History: 11 classes
Anthropology: 4 classes
GNED (one science and one philosophy): 2 classes
Humanities: 1 class
Language (French): 1 class
Romantic Studies (studying: France, Spain, Lebanon, Morocco, Italy): 1 class
Philosophy: 1 class

Semesters Total: 9
Roommates Total: 12 roommates (plus their friends). I normally say 16, because 4 other girls practically lived at our place.

Favourite Professors:

English:

·         Kelly Hewson
·         Kenna Olsen
·         Jane Drover

History:

·         Jeffery Wigelsworth
·         Shawn England
·         Thomas Brown

Anthropology:

·         Roman Harrison
·         Christine Giancarlo

Favourite Classes

English:

·         Post-colonial Literature 1 & 2
·         Literature in the Age of Chaucer
·         Romantic Literature I (1760-1815)

History:

·         Early Modern Europe, 1453-1789
·         Religion, War, and Society in Europe, 1558-1714
·         History of Indigenous People in Latin America
·         Ancient Greece

Anthropology:

·         Ancient Civilizations

So there you have it! Even as stressful as it is, I'm really going to miss this place, especially my professors and my friends. Looking back at the last four and a half years, I've grown so much as a person. I've learned a lot about myself and who I want to be. I've gained a lot of self confidence. My entire university education tested me in ways I never expected. I'm glad it's done now, but I'm going to really miss it.

Man Candy Monday: Sam Reid

2011-12-12T04:00:00.007-07:00

Hope you have a good Monday!

I'M FINISHED MY UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! * runs around screaming* I am done my undergraduate classes! I have 8 days left until I am done my final exams, then I will have earned my undergraduate degree! I'm so excited. However, it still doesn't feel real...

Man Candy Monday: Sebastian Armesto

2011-12-05T04:00:00.011-07:00

For those who don't know who Sebastian is, he played Ben Jonson in Anonymous, a movie about the identity of William Shakespeare. It was phenomenal! He also played Charles V in The Tudors. Unfortunately, these were the best pictures I could find of him, but trust me when I say he's a cutie =)

December Releases

2011-12-01T04:00:00.017-07:00

Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally-- December 1st
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare--December 6th
The One I Want (ebook) by Jennifer Echols--December 6th
The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall-- December 27th
Trouble at the Wedding by Laura Lee Guhrke-- December 27th
Can't Help Falling in Love (ebook) by Bella Andre-- December 2011

Do you guys have any other books on your December list??

Oscar Wilde on Art

2011-11-30T00:00:00.002-07:00

So I was reading Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray for my English class when I came across a wonderful quote. I think it’s quite pertinent and every artist should read it, so I thought I would post it here =) Enjoy!

Preface from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray

"The artist is the creator of beautiful things.

To reveal art and conceal the artist is art’s aim.

The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.

The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography.

Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.
They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only Beauty.

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.

The nineteenth century dislike of Realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass.
The nineteenth century dislike of Romanticism is the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass.

The moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.

No artist desires to prove anything. Even things that are true can be proved.

No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style.

No artist is ever morbid. The artist can express everything.

Thought and language are to the artist instruments of an art.

Vice and virtue are to the artist materials for an art.

From the point of view of form, the type of all the arts is the art of the musician. From the point of view of feeling, the actor’s craft is the type.

All art is at once surface and symbol.

Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.

Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.

It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.

Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital.

When critics disagree the artist is in accord with himself.

We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely.

All art is quite useless."

I hope you enjoyed! My two favourite parts are:

"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all."--- Damn straight! As a romance writer, I've heard it all. For some reason there's still a common misconception that romance books are trashy books. This is 100% inaccurate--and ignorant!

"We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless."--- I love this. As an artist you must love your work. You have to put yourself into it. Otherwise, why would you bother? And more importantly, why would anyone else bother with your work?

I've just noticed that the spacing is a bit off here, but you get the general idea. Anyway, if you enjoyed this little snippet, I highly recommend you read the entire novel.

Man Candy Monday: Sean Patrick Flanery

2011-11-28T04:00:00.008-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but I love The Boondock Saints ;)

Happy Monday!

So True...

2011-11-25T04:00:00.003-07:00

Heheheheh.....

University Humour

2011-11-23T04:00:00.001-07:00

Alright, time for another installment of University Humour....

Incident One:
So the other day I was sitting in my Ancient Peoples and Places class when the oddest thing started to happen… I began to sink. I was leaning on the table when I noticed that I was tilting to one side. When I realized what was happening, I sat up and looked around—I had feared I was falling asleep. Unfortunately, that is a sad occurrence that has happened more than once in this class (my professor likes to make us watch really boring, uneventful movies). But anyway, when I realized I was wide awake and was, in fact, sinking, I glanced down. Lo and behold, I noticed that the table was disappearing into the floor! Yes! Disappearing into the floor! I was sitting by the window and at the base of the wall, several holes had appeared. The table was actually sinking into those holes! I immediately told my friend and tablemate, Stephanie, and we proceeded to pull and tug until the table popped back up onto solid ground. Well, as you can imagine, I spent the rest of the class eyeing the holes warily. When class finally ended, I decided to crawl around on the floor and check to see how deep the holes were (yes, I know, wise move). Get this, I could put my entire hand inside, but couldn’t touch anything! So yes, the floor tried to eat me. My friend and I told the professor, but it hasn’t been fixed yet. It looks as if the maintenance guys just pulled the carpet up to "hide" the holes...

Incident Two:

Alright, so yesterday I was sitting by the payphone when these two girls walked over. Now, it’s quite unusual to see anyone near the payphone, since most people have cell phones. However, these two girls walked over and started to fiddle with the phone. After watching them for a moment, I realized they didn’t know how to use said phone! The one was listening into the receiver while the other was pressing buttons. They didn’t seem to realize that you had to put MONEY into the payphone to get it to work. They literally spent several minutes standing there before they actually gave up and left! I couldn’t stop laughing. It made my whole day!

Sorry it’s a short post this week. I’ve been sick the past few days, so I’m running low on energy.

Man Candy Monday: James McAvoy

2011-11-21T04:00:00.004-07:00

I love James McAvoy ♥

Have a good Monday!

University Humour

2011-11-18T04:00:00.071-07:00

Time for another university humour post!!!

Incident One: A conversation I heard while in the university library...

Blonde Barbie-Like Girl: *walks into the library with a group of other girls* “Oh my God, there are so many books here! I didn’t realize this place was so big!”
Other Girl: *rolls her eyes* “Yeah, it’s called a library, genius. There are books in a library.”
Blonde Barbie: “Oh. Do they have dictionaries here? I need to look up a word.”
Me: *thinking to myself as they walk away: Was the word “library” to big for you? I'm surprised you know what a dictionary is. Dumb ass.*

Incident Two: In my History of Western Sexualities Class...

Professor: “Okay, so for your book review you need to use Chicago style.”
Random Student: “What’s Chicago style?”
Professor: “It’s a form of citation, specifically for history.”
Random Student: “Citation?”
Professor: “Yeah, you know, like MLA or APA....”
Random Student: *looks puzzled* “MLA, like… our… MLA?”
Professor: *snorts* “Do you mean like our Member of the Legislative Assembly?”
Random Student: “Yeah! That!”
Professor: “Uh, no. I mean MLA citation for English classes.”
Random Student: *blank look*
Professor: “Perhaps you should see me after class…”

Note: MLA stands for the Modern Language Association (of America).

Incident Three: Pop machine fiasco...

Alright, so I have to preface this incident by telling you a story of my own first. After my class a few days ago, I was really thirsty so I decided to buy myself a bottle of water. I made my way to the pop machine with my toonie and quarter ($2.25 for you Americans), and put the money in and picked out a water. However, when I pushed the button it said, "Option unavailable. Pick again." Well, okay then. So I picked another. And I got the same message. So I picked once again and got the same message. So I gave up and asked for my money back. Now, I put in two coins. What did I get back? Twenty two dimes and 1 nickle. -_- Are you freaking serious? I had to stand there as it went, "cachunk, cachunk, cachunk, cachunk, etc etc..." spitting out my money. Well, after that massive failure, I dumped my large pile of coins into my wallet.

Now, the next day I was sitting by the pop machine when this guy walked up to buy a drink. I didn't really think about what had happened to me until I noticed that he hadn't moved in several moments. So I turned and watched him as he picked option after option, obviously getting the same message I did. Well, after a while, he asked for his money back (and got a small pile of coins, just like me). Now, I thought that was the end of it. I was wrong. Instead of walking away and trying a different machine, he put ALL of his money back in and picks a different number. It doesn't work. So he pushes a different button. When this doesn't work, he asks for his money back. And then he does the whole thing all over again! He went through this process a total of three times! THREE! He probably would've kept going except for a girl sitting across from me decided to say something. I know I should have said something, but I was laughing too hard into my hoodie to get the words out.

So there you have it. Check in next week for another session of university humour ;)

Funny Comic & An Update

2011-11-15T22:24:00.001-07:00

Alright, so my fiance emailed me this and I thought I'd share it with you.

If you can't read it, just click on the picture =)

Yep, I wish I could get away with this.... ;)

Update on School: What I have left...

7 days of classes left
29 total days left until I am 100% done my last semester of undergrad

History 2237 (Intellectual European History): 1 final exam

Anthropology 2270 (Ancient Egypt): 2 in class discussions; 1 term paper; 1 final exam

English 4440 (Pre-Raphaelite): 1 journal entry; read 1 novel; 1 term paper; 1 final exam

Anthropology 1105 (Ancient Peoples & Places): 1 term paper; 1 final exam

History 2207 (History of Western Sexualities): 1 quiz; 1 final exam

Personal Update:

For those who don't have Facebook or Twitter... I found my wedding dress!!! Eeee!!! No, I wont post pictures of it yet. However, I'll post some in August after Chris & I are married ;)

Man Candy Monday: Matthew Macfadyen

2011-11-14T04:00:00.002-07:00

Mr. Darcy *sighs happily*

How could a girl not fall in love?

Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T04:00:00.008-07:00

8 Days of Classes Left!!!!!!

2011-11-09T04:00:00.012-07:00

Hello all!

It's been a while since I've done an update, so I thought I'd do one today! Okay, so I looked at my calendar, and yes, I only have 8 days of undergraduate classes left! OMG! My last day of classes is December 8th. I can't believe it's almost here! I've been so busy this semester that I didn't realize how quickly everything was flying by! I will probably sob like a baby on that last day, LOL.

Anyway, I also have my final exam schedule. I have one exam December 12th, two on December 13th, one on December 14th, and my last on December 15th. Yep, 5 exams in 4 days. I'm going to be a bit stressed that week, I think ;)

Alright, so below are my classes and the assignments/exams I have left in them!

WHAT I HAVE LEFT:

· History 2237 (Intellectual European History):

o 1 book review

o 1 final exam

· Anthropology 2270 (Ancient Egypt):

o 2 in class discussions

o 1 summary

o 1 term paper

o 1 final exam

· English 4440 (Pre-Raphaelite):

o 3 journal entries

o 1 novel (read)

o 1 term paper

o 1 final exam

· Anthropology 1105 (Ancient Peoples & Places):

o 1 term paper

o 1 final exam

· History 2207 (History of Western Sexualities):

o 1 novel (read)

o 1 book review

o 1 test

o 1 final

So there you have it! I still have a few odd readings here and there, but I didn't put those down. This is just the big stuff I have left to do. Eeeee! I can't believe I'm nearly done!

Man Candy Monday: Kenny Wormald

2011-11-07T04:00:00.002-07:00

What a brooding stare! *shivers*

I haven't actually seen a movie he's been in, but I do want to see the new Footloose (2011). I know a lot of people think it's heresy to redo it, but I haven't seen the original, so I don't really care, LOL.

Anyway, hope you have a good Monday ;)

University Humour

2011-11-04T04:00:00.003-06:00

Okay, so if you follow me on Facebook you're probably aware of my recent "university humour" posts. This is where I post funny things I overheard that day, or weird thoughts of mine during school. Well, they've been quite popular on Facebook, so I've decided to make them a weekly blog post. What do you think?

Alright, so some of you guys might be familiar with a few of these, but I thought I'd post them on here anyway. Next week, I'll have a new post of university mishaps.

Incident One: Signs I've Been In Class Too Long...

"The girl sitting beside me has the hiccups. I’m extremely tempted to whip around and scream at her to see if it’ll get rid of them. I’m sure it’ll scare her, but it’ll probably scare quite a few other people too. My professor might not appreciate it either. He might think his lecture was so bad I broke down and lost my mind. This could very well be true, but the poor man doesn’t need to know that." -- Me

Incident Two: A conversation I overheard in my Ancient Peoples and Places class...

Girl in Purple: "So I was reading my book and I came across this place, Mesopotamia. God, I wish those barbarians used actual words, rather than coming up with gibberish."
Girl in Black: "Well, it wasn't gibberish to them. It's their language, I guess.
Girl in Purple: "Who cares? English is the only language that's important, even thousands of years ago."
Me: *trying not to laugh*

Incident Three: A conversation that took place in my Ancient Egypt class....

Professor: “Does anyone know when Jesus was born?”
Random Student: “October 12th, 34 BC”
Entire class: *silence...*
Professor: *clears throat* "Well.... That was oddly specific. Incorrect, but specific."
Random Student: "Um, it's not incorrect. The Bible says Jesus was 34 years old. You should know that, being an archaeology professor."
Professor: "Annnnd we're going to move on now."

Incident Four: Again in my Ancient Egypt class...

Professor: "Does anyone know what language was spoken during the Old Kingdom?"
Girl Student: "Old English."
Professor: *trying not to laugh* “Did you just say Old English?”
Girl Student: “Yeah?”
Professor: *choking on laughter* “Are you sure you mean English?”
Girl Student: *obviously getting frustrated* “Yes! They spoke Old English in the Old Kingdom.”
Professor: “I think you mean Old Egyptian.”
Girl Student: “No, I don’t? Old Egyptian isn’t a language. Chaucer wrote in Old English and the Middle Kingdom was just a few decades later."
Professor: “Um, okay. Moving on...”

*Note: I mean, seriously? What’s wrong with this girl? Not only does Old English not exist during the Old Kingdom, but Chaucer wrote in Middle English, not Old English. And it was a little bit more than a few decades. Try 4000 years.*

So there you have it! My first installment of university humour. I hope you enjoyed ;)

November Releases

2011-11-01T19:32:00.000-06:00

Hide from Evil by Jami Alden-- November 1st
Crossed by Ally Condie-- November 1st
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting-- November 15th

As you can see, it's a pretty slow month for books I want, which is probably a good thing. I have enough homework without adding wonderful books to the mix *winks*

Man Candy Monday: Kellan Lutz

2011-10-31T04:00:00.001-06:00

*sighs happily*

Happy Halloween!!!

Funny Email

2011-10-28T04:00:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, my mum sent me this hilarious email so I thought I'd share it with you guys! I don't know who originally wrote it, but I'd love to meet her (I'm assuming the author is a woman).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
I don't want to brag or make anyone jealous or anything, but I can still fit into the earrings I wore in high school...

It is Good to Be a Woman:

1. We got off the Titanic first.

2. We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.

3. Taxis stop for us.

4. We don 't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.

5. No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival the Speedo.

6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.

8. We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her rear end.

9. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.

10. We have the ability to dress ourselves.

11. We can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.

12. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.

13. We will never regret piercing our ears.

14. There are times when chocolate really can solve all your problems.

15. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.

I hope you enjoyed!!!

What was your favourite? I loved 4, 5, 8, and 9.

Heck Yes! Rick Mercer Tells it Straight

2011-10-27T08:33:00.001-06:00

For those Americans out there who might not know who Rick Mercer is, he's a Canadian icon. He's a comedian, television personality, and political satirist. Normally, he's a pretty easygoing guy. My family and I love to watch his shows and hear his rants. He's actually on my list of 10 famous people I want to have dinner with. He also happens to be gay. And this week, his rant was a personal one against bullying. I think this video is something everyone needs to watch--and take seriously. Bullying is preventable.

Man Candy Monday: James Purefoy

2011-10-24T04:00:00.002-06:00

I know some people might not agree with me, but I really like James Purefoy.

He's so yummy! If you haven't seen Ironclad, then you definitely need to check it out!

Anyway, I hope you have a good Monday =)

WIP Wednesday

2011-10-19T04:00:00.001-06:00

So once again I've gotten lots done, but not so much with my story. Oh well, I've accepted that I'm super busy with school. There's no point in beating myself up about it. Anyway, below are some of the things I've been up to in the past few weeks.

School: wrote 9256 words in the last week

1 presentaion
2 Book Reviews
1 Identificaiton Assignment
4 Journal Entries
2 Essays

Writing:

A fellow CaRWA member asked me to read the first 30 pages of her new YA story. I haven't critiqued stuff in so long--it was nice to get back to it!
I attended the CaRWA monthly meeting last night. It was tons of fun =)

So there you have it. What have you guys been up to recently? Any progress on your stories?

Man Candy Monday: Alex Pettyfer

2011-10-17T04:00:00.000-06:00

Yeah... I happen to love Alex Pettyfer.

He was fantastic in I Am Numer Four, and I loved him in Beastly.

I hope he made your Monday a little more tolerable ;)

5 Ways to Ignore Your Inner Editor

2011-10-14T04:00:00.000-06:00

As I dive back into writing the first draft of A Highlander's Ransom, I am once again faced with the dreaded inner editor. You all know what/who I'm talking about. That little voice in the back of your mind that makes scathing comments at every word choice, plot point, and sentence structure you make.

Yeah, that little b*tch. I forgot how awful she can be; sometimes I just want to kick her ass. I don't think there's an easy way to deal with her, but there are a few things you can do to ignore her.

Invest in a pair of good headphones: I can't tell you how beneficial this has been for my own writing. I don't know why, but music can help me block out my inner editor. It doesn't always work, but it certainly helps.
Have a good alpha reader: An alpha reader is someone who reads your story while you're still writing it. Their job is to provide quick feedback and to address the larger elements of the story, such as pacing, tension, and character arcs. Not everyone uses an alpha reader, but I love mine. Sometimes, I just need to find out whether or not I'm going in the right direction. With the inner editor screaming obscenities at me, it's always nice to find out what others think of the story.
Take a break: It can be difficult to step back and take a break, but sometimes it's the best choice. Go read a book, watch a movie, or hang out with your friends/family. When you're feeling a bit better, you can step back into the ring. Your inner editor might still be there, but it'll be easier to deal with her.
Just keep writing.... I know, I know. This is easier said than done, but it's true. The only way to get through a slump is to keep writing. It seems impossible at first, but it can be done. Eventually, your inner editor will get the hint and shut up until revision time. Don't worry about what's on the page. Just write. Everything can be edited later.
Keep sweets nearby: If all else fails, indulge in your favourite treat. Mine happens to be ice cream. It doesn't help get rid of your inner editor, but it's one tasty way to cope with her.

So there you go, 5 easy ways to dealing with your inner editor. Like I said, we're all afflicted with one, but that doesn't mean we should let them rule our lives.

Have you found anything else that works for you?

WIP Wednesday... Sort Of

2011-10-12T04:00:00.000-06:00

Man Candy Monday: Matthew Goode

2011-10-10T04:00:00.003-06:00

Matthew plays the hero in one of my absolute favourite contemporary romances... Leap Year! I LOVE that movie. I watch it entirely too often, LOL. Anyway, I know Goode isn't a typical hot, but I adore a guy who knows how to smile/laugh. So attractive! Plus, he has that rough, Irish look to him.

Yum, yum, yum!

In unrelated news... Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, and Happy Birthday to my Dad!!

Fall Workshop with Emily Ohanjanians

2011-10-07T04:00:00.002-06:00

Hello everyone! So today I’m going to be talking about what Emily Ohanjanians said at the CaRWA Fall Workshop. Although I loved getting to hear Deidre Knight talk, I was absolutely fascinated by the editorial process Emily described. As pre-published writers, we don’t tend to hear about what happens after you get that elusive book deal, so it was very interesting to see behind the scenes.

First, some background on Emily. She's a single title editor with HQN, which means she only takes manuscripts of about 100,000 words. They accept all subgenres of romance, as well as fantasy and chick-lit (though these last two are not as prominent).

The Editorial Process

First Read / Editor Revisions: This is where the editor focuses on the major or broad aspects of the story.
Author Revision
Editor’s Line Edits: After the initial revision, the editor then goes back with her red pen and comments on everything.
Author Reviews Line Edits & Makes Changes. This process can go back and forth between editor and author a few times before it’s completed.
Once the editor and author agree on all of the changes, the manuscript is sent to the Copy Editor, who looks at the extremely technical and nitpicky side of the story.
The copy editor then sends the story back to the writer, who makes the changes. Again, this can go back and forth a few times before it’s completed.
Finally, a PDF version of the story is sent to the author. This is the author’s last chance to make any changes to the story.
Once the author approves, the story is sent to production!!

What Emily is looking for:

A well thought-out concept: Is your concept new? Is it fresh? An editor has to be concerned with whether or not the book will sell. If your idea isn’t different enough—or is too different—from what’s out there, they won’t be able to sell it. It’s a fine line writers tread.
Tight plot: Although every story will need some tweaking, the basic plot should be quite concrete before an editor ever sees it. An editor is buying the idea to the story—everything else can be revised.
Clean writing/polished manuscript: Although Emily said she will overlook some errors (we’re all human, after all), it worries her if a manuscript is riddled with mistakes. It makes her wonder whether you’ve bothered with the editing process, and since she has to work with you, this could mean a lot of extra work for her.
Quality of writing: Once again, it all comes down to writing/voice. If an editor loves your voice, they are more willing to overlook other issues.

So there you have it! I hope you enjoyed =)

WIP Wednesday

2011-10-05T04:00:00.000-06:00

Alright, so I don't have much progress to report this week. I've been neck deep in homework (and it doesn't look like it's going to get better anytime soon). October is my busiest month this semester, so you might not see much of me in the coming days.

Regardless, I still wrote 2000 words for AHR this weekend, so I'm happy. On top of that, my school word count is now at 4155 for last week. So... in total I wrote 6155 words. I wish that was all for my story, but school has to comes first.

So how are you guys doing this week? Have you made any progress on your story?

Man Candy Monday: Henry Cavill

2011-10-03T04:00:00.001-06:00

Henry Cavill plays Charles Brandon, the Duke of Suffolk, in the Tudors (one of my favourite shows).

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! 'Twas difficult to pick my favourite pictures of him ;)

October Releases

2011-09-30T04:00:00.003-06:00

Okay, so here is a list of the books I want in October. I've also included a late September release, since I haven't been able to pick it up yet.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins--September 29th (yesterday, in fact!)
Home Sweet Home by Bella Andre writing as Bella Riley--October 1st
Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick-- October 4th
The Viper by Monica McCarty-- October 18th
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater-- October 18th
Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt-- October 18th

Are any of these books on your list? Do you have any other recommendations?

Fall Workshop with Deidre Knight

2011-09-29T04:00:00.058-06:00

Alright, so I'm going to divide the information I gathered at the CaRWA Fall Workshop into two posts. Today I'm going to talk about agent and author, Deidre Knight. Next Friday I'll do a post about what HQN editor Emily Ohanjanians had to say.

Okay, so for those who haven't heard of her, Deidre Knight founded the Knight Agency in 1996. Since there are multiple agents at TKA, they represent almost everything. Deidre is personally very interested in historical romance right now (mostly Regency and Victorian), as well as contemporary romance. She kept repeating that she’s “really looking,” so if you want to send her a query, now is the time to do it! Just be sure to check out the agency website for preferences and guidelines before you submit.

Now, on to the good stuff!

Deidre gave a PowerPoint presentation (her first ever!), about what sort of agent she was and what she thinks makes a good agent. To begin with, she classified herself as a “full career” agent, meaning she wants to work with you throughout all stages of your writing career. Now, if you’ve already been published with a traditional publisher, or even self-published, that’s fine. This just means that she expects to represent you, rather than just your book.

She then went on to say that a good agent should be like a midwife, and that the relationship between agent and writer is like a marriage. And like all good relationships, communication is key! She wants to know if you’re having a down week, or if you don’t agree with one of her suggestions. Since she’s a hands on agent during the writing process (meaning she’ll help you plot, brainstorm, and even help you come up with a title), you have to feel comfortable with each other. Like communication, respect is a must.

Now, TKA is based out of Georgia, so Deidre relies heavily on the internet for communication. If that’s not your cup of tea, then this agency might not be the best choice for you. However, if you prefer using the internet, then definitely check her out!

Alright, so for those hoping to pitch or query Deidre in the future, she gave six points sure to impress her:

1. Voice! Almost every agent lists this at their top, and Deidre is no different. Writing is all about voice, and if she likes your voice, she’s more willing to overlook other errors. However, that doesn't mean that you should skip the editing process. She still wants to see a good manuscript.

2. Be authentic! Don’t try to write to the market. Write what you love to write--it'll come through in your story.

3. High concept! I think that’s pretty self-explanatory.

4. Clean manuscript! This one is also pretty self-explanatory. Don’t send in a submission with spelling errors all over the place. It gives the impression that you can’t be bothered to edit, and if you can't be bothered to edit, why would she want to sign you on as a client?

5. Be nice! This goes without saying, but Deidre says a lot of writers don’t think they need to be polite to an agent. However, this is a business. You have to be polite and respectful of your colleagues, whether they be agents, editors, or fellow writers.

6. Last but not least... To truly impress her, your story has to sweep her away. She wants to forget she’s reading a submission. In other words, she has to be sucked into the story.

So there you have it! From the conversation I had with Deidre, she was funny, nice, and very laid back. I think she’d make the publishing process very comfortable for a writer, which is a good thing since it can be so stressful!

Any comments or questions? I didn't post everything she talked about, since it would make the post too long, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll see if I can answer them!

WIP Wednesday

2011-09-28T04:00:00.002-06:00

Hello all!

Well, a lot has changed since last week. My word count is still pretty low (I wrote 1500 words yesterday and Monday), but my mindset has changed drastically. I attribute this 100% to the Fall Workshop I attended on Saturday. I'm still just as busy with school--if not more so--but I had so much fun hanging out with writers this weekend. I loved getting to know my new CaRWA group, and I adored meeting Deidre Knight (from the Knight Agency) and Emily Ohanjanians (editor with HQN). They're both absolutely delightful. Deidre was hilarious, and Emily was so sweet! I'll talk about some of the stuff they discussed tomorrow, so be sure to check in!

Anyway, I'm very excited about my writing right now. I think I've solved my chapter 3 problem, but we'll see *crosses fingers*

So how are you guys doing? Any exciting news?

Teaser Tuesday

2011-09-27T04:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme. Anyone can play along, just do the following:

* Grab your current read.

* Open to a random page.

* Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. Be careful not to include spoilers - make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others!

* Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

MY TEASER

"He didn't remember her. That truth disturbed Stephen more than he could voice with words, because if there was anything about the past two years that he should have remembered, it should have been her--or at the very least her eyes. An unusual shade, they reminded him of whiskey. But they were haunted, no doubt by things he couldn't even begin to imagine, but with which he should have been intimately familiar."

-page 24 of Pleasures of a Notorious Gentlemen by Lorraine Heath

I know I included more than two sentences, but I loved this paragraph so I broke the rules. Lorraine Heath is one of my newest favourite romance writers. Her books are amazing. However, I must warn you that they tend to be really emotional books, especially her newest series (of which this book is number 2). Regardless, I highly recommend you check out her books.

Man Candy Monday: Chris Evans

2011-09-26T04:00:00.002-06:00

Have a good Monday!

Friday 56: Kimberly Derting

2011-09-23T04:00:00.030-06:00

1) Grab the book nearest you. Right now. Don't dig for your favorite, the coolest, or most intellectual book. Use the closest book to you.

2) Turn to page 56

3) Post any sentence from that page (plus 1 or 2 others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog. If you don't have your own blog, feel free to post in the comments section of this blog.

MY FRIDAY 56

DESIRES OF THE DEAD

Author: Kimberly Derting

Genre: YA Paranormal

"She listened to the chatter going on around her as Jay's arm slipped over her shoulder and he steered her toward the lunchroom. She heard Chelsea and Jules. She heard Claire giggle. She heard the deep voice of the new boy--Mike, she remembered--deep like Jay's. And she heard Jay.

She didn't hear the girl, but she knew she was still there.

They were all just noise to Violet.

Background.

She felt Jay squeezing her hand with his. It was warm. It made her feel safe and attached to the world.

He reminded her that she was still alive."

Medieval Movies

2011-09-22T04:00:00.077-06:00

As most of you know, I write medieval romance. It’s my favourite genre to read and watch. Unfortunately, there aren’t that many medieval movies out there. I’m always doing research looking for more, but I’ve reached a dead end. So I thought I’d ask you guys. What are some of your favourite medieval-esk movies? Below is a list of all the medieval movies I can think of. Not all of them are strictly medieval, but you get the idea =)

Movies I Own:

A Knight’s Tale
Beowulf (meh)
Black Death (meh)
Braveheart
Centurion
Elizabeth
Elizabeth II
Ever After
Gladiator
In the Name of the King (awful)
Ironclad
King Arthur
Kingdom of Heaven
Lord of the Rings 1-3
Man in the Iron Mask
Monty Python and The Holy Grail
Monty Python's Life of Brian
The Musketeer (awful)
Pirates of the Caribbean 1-4
Princess Bride
Robin Hood (new one)
Robin Hood Men in Tights
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Shakespeare in Love
Sword of War (awful)
The Tudors: Seasons One to Four
10 Commandments
300
Troy
Tristan and Isolde

Movies I Want To See:

Arn: The Knight Templar
The Borgias (tv show)
The Eagle (I'm not sure about this one...)
Game of Thrones
The Last Legion
Pillars of the Earth
Red Cliff
13th Warrior
Valhalla Rising

Movies I Refuse To Own:

Camelot (TV show): Arthur looks like a rat. IMO, the trailer made it look awful. However, if you can convince me otherwise, I might check it out.
Clash of the Titans: I saw this and HATED it.
Prince of Persia: The main girl is in Clash of the Titans and I despised her lol.
Robin Hood (TV show): I started it and lost interest--it was cheesy IMO.
Rob Roy: GAH! I hated this movie. No, I loathed it.

Can you think of any other medieval movies I should try? I'm open to TV shows, too!

WIP Wednesday

2011-09-21T04:00:00.018-06:00

Well, I'm not doing too well with my writing recently. School is kicking my ass already. It's not that my classes are particularly difficult (they aren't, trust me), but I'm having a lot of problems focusing. I think it's because it's my final semester and I no longer want to be here, LOL. On top of that, I'm exhausted. When I do have a few moments to myself, I don't have the energy to work on AHR. Instead, I've been rereading some of my favourite romances to try and keep my spirit from sinking.
It's been nice to get back to some of my old favourites. It isn't as good as working on my own story, but it's helping me from getting too depressed.

However, when I have found the time to work on my story, I've been trying to brainstorm ideas about my horrid chapter 3. I think it's helping, slowly but surely. The Calgary RWA's Fall Workshop is this weekend, so I'm hoping I'll get inspired to write some more! Being inspired won't stop me from being busy, but it will make it easier to sit down and write even when I'm tired.

How are you guys doing? Any exciting news? What do you guys do when you're too tired to write?

Teaser Tuesday

2011-09-20T04:00:00.004-06:00

MY TEASER

      "He rolled onto his side, giving her room to breathe. "Where did you come from?"
      "I think I should ask you that." She struggled up on one elbow. "Who are you? What on earth are you doing here?"
      "Isn't it obvious?" His tone was grave. "We're bombing the sheep.""

-page 18 of A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Man Candy Monday: Ian Somerhalder

2011-09-19T04:00:00.001-06:00

In honor of the new Vampire Diaries season, I thought I'd post a few pictures of my favourite vampire!

Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

Do any of you watch the Vampire Diaries? If you do, who are your favourite characters? I love Damon, of course, but I also love Caroline and Tyler (I hope they get together!!!!)

Friday 56: Samuel Park

2011-09-16T04:00:00.008-06:00

1) Grab the book nearest you. Right now. Don't dig for your favorite, the coolest, or most intellectual book. Use the closest book to you.

2) Turn to page 56

MY FRIDAY 56

THIS BURNS MY HEART

Author: Samuel Park

Genre: Literary Fiction

"Soo-Ja could still remember the sting of her friend's words the last time she'd spoken to her, when Jae-Hwa accused Soo-Ja of not really being in love with Min. Soo-Ja hadn't told Jae-Hwa about her night of passion--Jae-Hwa would have been shocked."

Classes

2011-09-15T04:00:00.008-06:00

Alright guys, sorry I didn't post a WIP Wednesday yesterday. After getting home from school I had dinner then fell asleep at an embarrassingly early time lol. I'll do one next week, I promise!

Anyway, today I thought I'd post what classes I'm taking this semester. Since I'm likely to comment (or complain) about them on here, Twitter, and Facebook I thought you'd want to know what the heck I'm talking about! As you'll probably notice, most of my classes are first or second year courses. Yes, I did this on purpose, LOL. I had four more electives to take, so I decided to make them super easy--and interesting ;)

In order of how my classes appear on my schedule:

History 2237: Modern European Intellectual History

Class Summary: In general terms, this class surveys the key ideas and thinkers who have shaped the European intellectual/cultural experience from the 18th century Enlightenment to World War II.
My commentary so far: I like my professor. He was actually my Ancient Greece professor last semester and he was great. Reminds me of Plato or Socrates. He's tall and plump, with a big white Santa Clause beard and old spectacles. He also has a deep voice, which tends to put me into a daze, unfortunately. Other than that, the subject should be interesting. I've already covered most of the people he plans on studying, but that's to be expected after so many years.

Anthropology 2270: Archaeology of Egypt and the Nile Valley

Class Summary: This course provides an overview of the development of civilizations along the Nile. Emphasis will be placed upon the archaeological evidence, history, and epigraphy in understanding two major civilizations of the Nile Valley: Egypt and Kush.
My commentary so far: I'm not quite sure what to say about my professor. He seems nice enough, but he's very anti-technology in the classroom, which in this day and age is just ridiculous. As well, we've already had one quiz. I don't mind, but c'mon. One week in? Other than that, the subject is really interesting. I've covered Ancient Egypt and the several other Nile Valley civilizations in other classes, but I'm hoping I'll learn something new.

English 4440: Select Topics in Literature of the Long Nineteenth Century, 1790-1917: Pre-Raphaelite

Class Summary: Founded in 1848, the original Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood banded together in revolt against the classicism of the Royal Academy. An avant-garde movement, the PRB strove to create work that was more spiritually pure, more naturalistically real, and more emotionally authentic than that of their predecessor Sir Joshua Reynolds.
My commentary so far: UGH! This class is a slow, painful torture and we're only a week in. I didn't want to take it, but I need it for my major. The literature is soooooo dry. On top of that, I'm not a huge fan of the professor I have. I've had her before, and she's really snobby. God help me.

Anthropology 1105: Ancient Peoples and Places

Class Summary: This course is a global survey of the human past. All stages of human development will be covered, from the emergence of early hunting and gathering societies to the domestication of plants and animals, sedentism, and the emergence of complex cultures.
My commentary so far: Lmao, this class is a joke. I knew it would be since it's only a first year class, but I decided to take something easy. The only problem is, it might be too easy for me. I've already covered every single topic in other classes--there's not much to keep my interest. However, the professor seems nice enough, so I'm sure that'll help.

History 2207: Histories of Western Sexualities

Class Summary: This class will examine the various histories of western sexualities from ancient Greece to the present. Special attention will be paid to the the history of same-sex love.
My commentary so far: Do you remember my Plato professor from the beginning of this post? Well, he's my professor for this class too, LOL. Anyway, I'm not sure about this class yet. I've heard such fantastic things from other history students, so I decided to take it. However, the subject matter is a delicate one. I just hope my professor deals with it appropriately. I also have a feeling class discussions will get heated.

So there you have it! My last five classes as an undergrad!

*All class summaries were borrowed from the course outlines*

**Just a quick note... Vampire Diaries season three starts tonight! Woohoo!**

Teaser Tuesday

2011-09-13T04:00:00.002-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme. Anyone can play along, just do the following:

* Grab your current read.
* Open to a random page.
* Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. Be careful not to include spoilers - make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others!
* Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

MY TEASER

"Spinsterhood was a word that tended to invoke either panic or pity, but Penelope was coming to realize that there were decided advantages to the unmarried state. First of all, no one really expected spinsters to dance at balls, which meant that Penelope was no longer forced to hover at the edge of the dance floor, looking this way and that, pretending that she didn't really want to dance."

-page 33/34 of Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

I've been rereading a lot of my favourites recently (especially in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn). This series is fantastic and is undoubtedly a classic of the romance genre. If you haven't read these books, you're missing out.

Man Candy Monday: Gerard Butler

2011-09-12T04:00:00.003-06:00

Ahhh, what a way to start off Monday!

Hope you enjoyed ;)

Friday 56: Kris Kennedy

2011-09-09T04:00:00.005-06:00

Another new blog feature! This one is also from Jena Lang at Passionate Scribbles, who got the idea from Freda's Voice.

1) Grab the book nearest you. Right now. Don't dig for your favorite, the coolest, or most intellectual book. Use the closest book to you.

2) Turn to page 56

MY FRIDAY 56

DEFIANT

Author: Kris Kennedy

Genre: Medieval Romance

"Father Peter leaned forward and rested his forearms on his tunic-draped thighs, his face tired and knowing, and in that moment Eva knew she was right to have come for him, however he scolded her for it, however much danger ensued. One paid one's debts. Father Peter had saved her life. She would now save his."

WIP Wednesday

2011-09-07T04:00:00.016-06:00

Okay, I'm going to keep this short and to the point!

A Highlander's Ransom:

I'm slowly trying to get back into the swing of writing again. Everything was going fairly well until I reached chapter three. To say I'm stuck is putting it mildly. Unfortunately, the exact same thing happened with Warrior Branded and Struck. Chapter three seems to be the Bane of My Existence and will be termed as such from now on. I will work through it, it just might take me a little while, LOL.

I'm hoping to be done and ready to query AHR by January. I'm not sure how realistic that goal is with school starting tomorrow, but we shall see! If I'm a month or so behind, that's alright with me.

Writerly News:

I've just recently joined the Calgary Association of Romance Writers of America (RWA). I've been thinking about joining for a few years now, but finally decided to just take the leap and do it. So you are now looking at a PRO Member of RWA and a member of CaRWA. Woohoo!

As well, I plan on attending CaRWA's Fall Industry Workshop in a few weeks. Author and agent Deidre Knight from the Knight Agency will be there, as well as Emily Ohanjanians from Mira Books. I'm very excited to attend!

What about you guys? Any writerly news to share? Do any of you belong to RWA?

Teaser Tuesday

2011-09-06T04:00:00.011-06:00

Okay, so I'm trying something new this week! I got this idea from Jena Lang over at Passionate Scribbles (a totally awesome blog, by the way).

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do the following:

* Grab your current read.
* Open to a random page.
* Share 2 "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. Be careful not to include spoilers - make sure what you share doesn't give too much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others!
* Share the title and author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.

MY TEASER

"There was no correlation between Elizabeth being gone and his shitty hitting streak. He'd just been a little preoccupied since she'd left the other morning, because he figured it was his fault she was gone."

-page 83 of Changing the Game by Jaci Burton

Man Candy Monday

2011-09-05T04:00:00.006-06:00

In honour of my Highlander romance, I leave you with this delectable picture....

Have a wonderful Monday!

September Releases

2011-09-02T04:00:00.012-06:00

Here is a list of books I'm looking forward to in September!

A Night To Surrender by Tessa Dare (August 30th)
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (September 5th)
Vanish by Sophie Jordan (September 6th)
Home Sweet Home by Bella Andre writing as Bella Riley (September 27th)
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (September 29th)

Are any of these on your September list? Do you have any other books you're looking forward to?

One Week Until My Final Semester of University!!!

2011-09-01T04:00:00.005-06:00

That's right, the countdown is on! In exactly one week, I start my final semester of university as an English major, History minor. Cue the screaming! I can't believe I'm so close to the end now. It feels like just yesterday I was heading over to my first class, so nervous I could've peed myself (but I didn't!). When I started, I was only 17 years old. Looking back, I can admit I was pretty naive. University is so much more than textbooks and assignments; it's a way of life. Having grown up in small town Alberta, I had no idea what I was in for.

That first year was the worst. I tried to fit in with my roommates, but I quickly realized I wasn't the party type. I didn't like to drink (drinking age in Alberta is 18), nor did I want to go to the clubs or hook up with boys. To my way of thinking, I was in university to go to class and get good grades. Unfortunately, this often put me at odds with my roommates. After three years living in residence, I made the decision to stay home for my fourth year. Some people have asked me whether or not I hold any hard feelings towards the dozen roommates (plus their friends) that I had, but the truth is... I don't. In some strange way, I miss a few of them. In fact, I've even stayed in contact with one. But the others? I will never be friends with any of them, but I still wish them the best. In the end, we were completely different people. Not much you can do to change that.

Now I'm in my final semester of school. Truth be told, I have mixed feelings about this. In some ways, I feel like the cat in the picture. It's like, OMGTHISISTHEBESTDAYEVER! But on the other hand, I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to miss school. University has been a major part of my life for 4 years (4 and a half by the time I'm done this semester). I'm going to miss my friends, my professors, and my classes. Then again, I'LL BE A UNIVERSITY GRADUATE! Can't exactly complain about that, eh? ;)

Did you guys have mixed feelings when you finished university? How did you get through it? Any advice?

Vacation Time!

2011-07-29T09:33:00.001-06:00

Hello all!

So for the next week I will be away from the internet--I'm going to Disney World with my fiance's family! I've never been to a huge amusement park, so I'm very excited.

I hope you guys are having a wonderful summer and I will talk to you later!

xoxo

Harry Potter: My Goodbye

2011-07-14T02:46:00.002-06:00

Well, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II comes out in less than twenty-four hours now. In preparation for this monumental event, I decided to reread the seventh book. In some ways, I'm not sure why I did this-- it certainly wasn't enjoyable for me (I sobbed for the last two hundred pages of the book, not to mention the countless other times in the first five hundred or so pages). I could say that I picked it up simply to recall details of the story that had slipped my mind over the last few years; however, that's not really the truth. While I did wish to remember things I had forgotten, I decided to reread the book so I could prepare myself, mentally, to say goodbye to characters I loved and a world I will always cherish.

Some have called it the end of an era. I can certainly see why they would feel that way. In fact, in some small, heartbreaking way, it is the end. The books and the movies will live on for new generations, but the excitement of waiting in line for the next book or movie is over. I know it's not necessarily a bad thing, but it hurts nonetheless. Moving on is always the hardest.

I was eight years old when I first picked up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I remember precisely when it happened--I was sick and unable to participate in my grade four music class. My teacher kept a stack of books in her room for just a moment like this. Lo and behold, Harry Potter was in that pile. From that moment on, I was entranced. I'm twenty-one now. For more than half of my life, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were my companions. Their world was my world. And in my own greedy way, I never wanted it to end. It was my childhood. They were my childhood.

Although there are numerous authors I owe for helping to inspire and guide me through my own writing (and life), J. K. Rowling will always, always, be my biggest influence. And for that, all I can say is thank you. I know you will never read this blog, but it doesn't matter. Thank you for having the courage to write Harry's story and for having the stubborn persistence to see it published. Thank you, for everything.

Engagement Picture

2011-07-06T20:05:00.000-06:00

Hello all!

Well, here it is! This is the picture Christopher and I had taken back in January when his family got their family portraits done. We'll likely have an official engagement session later on, but this will probably be the one we use in the newspaper. What do you all think?

Jack Sparrow

2011-07-05T04:00:00.005-06:00

Wow, look at me! Fifth post in less than a week! Woohoo!!!! *dances*

Anyway, I love this song/video. Chris and his brother Adam showed me this a few weeks ago, so I thought I'd show you guys. It's really silly, but the music is so catchy. If you don't have this song stuck in your head after listening to it, I bow to you.

Happy Fourth of July!!

2011-07-04T04:00:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

July Booklist

2011-07-01T04:00:00.009-06:00

Here is a list of books I want in July:

Tamed by a Highlander by Paula Quinn—July 1st

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater—July 12th

This Burns My Heart by Samuel Park—July 12th

Love Story by Jennifer Echols—July 19th

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard—July 26th

Are any of these books on your list? Are there any other books in July that you're excited to get?

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T04:00:00.008-06:00

Happy Canada Day!!

Howdy!!

2011-06-30T13:33:00.001-06:00

Wow, it has been a really long time since I last posted!! Oops! I've just been so busy with wedding stuff that I haven't had much time to blog. It has been crazy around here. Anyway, I thought I'd give you all an update on what I've been up to recently.

Wedding Stuff:

I have finalized my bridal party! Keri is my maid of honor, Kelsey is one of my bridesmaids, and Lyndsay is also a bridesmaid. I'm very happy with these three--they've all been fantastic =)
The church is booked!!! August 18th, 2012 is my wedding date! Eeeeks!! Everyone keeps asking why we chose that day, and there's actually a really interesting story behind that. You see, my parents got married August 19th, and Christopher's parents were married August 20th! So when it was time to sit down and talk about a wedding date, Chris and I thought either the 18th or the 21st would be a neat idea. It just so happened that August 18th, 2012 fell on a Saturday! Woohoo!
We have decided on a reception venue! I won't say where it is until we sign the contract, but I promise to post something on here when we know for sure (hopefully early next week sometime).
I have also narrowed down a cake baker and a photographer. I will start booking appointments with them shortly to decide on a few things. When I know more, I will let you all know!

So far this summer, Christopher and I have been to several movies, so I thought I'd mention them as well:

X-Men: First Class-- I thought it was pretty good. I think I would have liked it more if they had focused on the characters a tad bit longer. However, it was still good.
The Hangover 2-- It was an awesome movie, just like the first. I really enjoyed it.
Kung Fu Panda 2-- I thought it was cute, but not as good as the first one.
Green Lantern--What an awesome movie!!! It was very entertaining and Ryan Reynolds brought his usual flair.

Personal:

Over Father's Day weekend we went up to Staunton, Virginia to visit with Granny and Pawpaw. We had a lovely time. If you'd like to see pictures of it, they're on Facebook.

I think that pretty much covers it all! Tomorrow is Canada Day and it's also my future father-in-law's 50th birthday!! So to celebrate all of that, we'll probably go out to dinner =) As well, we will be going back up to Staunton for the 4th of July celebration. We will also go see the newest Transformers movie sometime this week.

What are you guys doing for this holiday weekend? I hope you all have a wonderful time!

This Makes Me Sick

2011-06-05T07:52:00.000-06:00

I know I'm probably really behind on the times right now, but I just had to post the link to this article talking about YA books. It makes me sick to know that some people still judge a book and its author based on content. I know it shouldn't surprise me, especially as a romance author, but it does. Teens swear, drink, do drugs, and engage in heinous pranks. Not all teens do this, of course. But enough of them do to warrant these types of books. In any case, teenagers are not stupid. If you censor what they read, they'll only want to read the "bad stuff" more. Gah! Anyway, I hope you read the link and let me know what you think about it.

*By the way, I'm in Virginia safe and sound-- boy is it hot here!*

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2011-05-27T15:48:00.000-06:00

Let me start this post by saying I adore stormy weather--rain, wind, grey clouds, lightning... I love it all. It doesn't matter how chilly it is, I truly enjoy such days (except for snow-- I loathe snow/winter with all of my being). That being said, I am tired of rain right now. Mother Nature, you've won. I bow to your greatness... now stop the rain!!!

But I suppose I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning... On Sunday, it began to rain here... and it hasn't stopped since. Yes, we're on our sixth full day of stormy weather. I mean, c'mon. We don't live in Vancouver or Seattle! We shouldn't be getting this much precipitation! The province (Alberta) has actually put out flood water warnings. As well, my dad had to come home early from work today because the work site was flooded (he's a carpenter). So I suppose this is my plea for the rain to stop. Please dear God make it stop!

How is the weather where you are? Bright and sunny, I hope!! Do you guys have any plans for the American May Long? (Canada's holiday was last weekend). I'm busybusybusy this weekend. I have to finish shopping and pack for my trip to Virginia! I leave June 1st and I don't get back until August 10th--Man, is it difficult to pack for over two months! Eeeks!

R.I.P. Sir Gawain

2011-05-22T02:14:00.001-06:00

R.I.P. Sir Gawain. You were a wonderful little beta fish. Alas, you did not have a warrior's death (as befitting your name and your castle), but you lived to the ripe old age of four years old.* You will be greatly missed. ♥

*Yes, he really was four years old. Everyone said he wouldn't make it beyond a year, because beta fish don't live that long. Hah. They clearly didn't know my little warrior. He was a fighter, he was.

Wedding Plans: I Need Your Help!

2011-05-17T12:09:00.003-06:00

Hello all!

How have you been the past few weeks? I'm sorry I haven't been around much. I've been trying to recover from the craziness of the last semester. I'm also getting ready for my trip to Virginia. I leave June 1st and I'm there until August 10th, so there's a lot to get done! I'm excited though. This summer is going to consist of a lot of wedding plans, which brings me to the topic of today's post!

As a lot of you know, I'm getting married in August 2012 (tentatively August 18th, 2012). This means that I have to start planning the wedding this summer. I have to book the venue, hire a photographer, hire a DJ, etc etc... The list really does go on. However, I'd like to include you guys in as much as I can. Therefore, you'll be seeing a lot of wedding posts in the next year or so, LOL.

For today, I'm going to start relatively small. My question for you is: In your opinion, what is the most important aspect of a wedding? What is the least important aspect of a wedding?

Final Grades

2011-05-02T20:19:00.001-06:00

Hello all!

So I now have my final grades for this semester! After everything I had to deal with in the last 4 months, I'm sooo happy with them.

Film History: 84% (A-)
Canadian Drama: 84% (A-)
Ancient Greece: 88% (A-)
History of Latin America: 90% (A)

So as you can see, I stayed pretty consistent in all areas ;)

Books I'm Looking Forward To In May

2011-05-02T05:00:00.006-06:00

Hello all!

So today I thought I'd post a list of the books I'm looking forward to coming out this month =)

So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti—May 3rd
Trace of Fever by Lori Foster—May 31st
Just like Heaven by Julia Quinn—May 31st
Guarding a Notorious Lady by Olivia Parker—May 31st
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini—May 31st

Are you guys looking forward to any of these books? What other books are you excited about?

I'M DONE!!!

2011-04-29T21:46:00.002-06:00

I am now done this semester! WOOOOHOOOOOO! *dances* I am now off for 4 months! Then in September I start my final semester of my undergrad! OMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!!! *runs around screaming*

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch The Wedding with my mum! I couldn't stay up because I had two finals today =( But now I'm going to go be girly and sniffle while I watch Will & Kate get married! *squee*

xoxo

Finals Week

2011-04-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

Yep, I'm pretty sure my brain has exploded. Yay for Finals Week! LOL!

So how are you guys? I hope you're having a good week!

Illegal Book Downloading

2011-04-24T17:43:00.000-06:00

I don't like to talk about controversial subjects on my blog, but I simply cannot let this one slide... In the last few months I've noticed a disgusting trend beginning to crop up: illegal book downloading. As a writer and an avid reader, I am outraged that people are doing this. I mean, seriously? IT IS ILLEGAL. Would you walk into a bookstore and take 10 books and walk out without paying? No, of course you wouldn't, because it is ILLEGAL! Unless it is a website like Amazon, downloading books for free is illegal. Now, there are some classics that are free to get online because the copyright has run out, but new books are copyrighted. You cannot download books for free from modern authors-- it is illegal.

Alright, I think I've ranted enough about that =)

Doing Okay

2011-04-15T12:47:00.000-06:00

First, I just want to say thank you for all of your love and support during this difficult time. It's been really tough, but I'm doing okay now. I miss her tons, but this was the best choice for her. We couldn't be selfish and keep her here just for us, that wouldn't have been fair to her. It'll just take time to adjust to her being gone (I've had her since I was 5).

In other news, I'm done with classes this semester. Yay! My last day was Monday. The only thing left now are exams on the 26th, 27th, and 29th. I'm not too worried about them.

How are all of you doing?

R.I.P. Daisy

2011-04-13T04:00:00.000-06:00

My baby girl,

I miss you. It hasn't even been a day and I miss you so much. It seems so empty and lonely here without you. I miss the sound of your paws on the hardwood floor, my little tap dancer. I miss that little hop-wiggle you'd do when you're excited to see me. I miss the way you'd beg for popcorn. I miss the way you'd play hide and seek with me. I miss the way you'd patrol the entire yard to make sure the perimeter was safe. I miss the way you'd do your seal imitation, and the way you'd nudge my laptop when you thought it was time for a belly rub. I miss your giant floppy ears and your curly fur. I miss your kisses and your cuddles. I even miss the way you'd wake yourself up by snoring, then look at me like it was my fault.

I miss you.

You were my entire childhood. My confidante. My best friend. I love you so much. You'll always be my Daisy Doo. I hope there are lots of squirrels to chase in heaven.

Sleep well, sweetie.

Mummy loves you.

xoxoxoxo

Daisy

May 1, 1995- April 12, 2011

Salty is Missing!

2011-04-08T14:05:00.002-06:00

I love this commercial.

Poor Pep.

End of the Semester Chaos!

2011-03-31T00:14:00.000-06:00

CHAOS I TELL YOU! UTTER AND COMPLETE CHAOS! RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!

Ahem.

As you can see, I'm currently experiencing a bit of panic, stress, and lack of sleep. I've also developed a nasty eye-twitch and an odd craving for anything awful for me (chocolate, chips, ice cream etc etc). I'd also like to sleep for the next million or so years.

Yep, I think that about sums it up.

As of today, I only have 4 days of classes left (remember, I only have classes Mondays and Wednesdays). My last official day is April 13th. After that I have a final on the 26th, 27th, and two finals on the 29th. Yeah, I know. I have nearly two weeks between my last day of classes and my first exam. Not exactly the schedule I would have picked, but meh.

I currently have 2 essays I need to write, 1 presentation to do, and 1 test to study for before the 13th of April. Therefore, I'm going to take a short blog break until I am out of the woods, so to speak. However, I will be on Twitter (I'd like to see you stop me! *cackles*), so if you'd like to check in on me, I'll be on there. I can't guarantee any of my tweets will make sense, but that's a risk you'll have to take.

Until April, my dears.

xoxo

New Look

2011-03-23T20:48:00.001-06:00

Hello all!

So I decided my blog needed a new look. Although I adored my old blog background, it was a bit...girly. And by a bit, I mean a lot. I loved it, but I needed something new. So here it is! Let me know what you think =) Some of the old posts might have some funky colours happening, but I can't change all of them.

As well, I changed my Twitter background too. Go check it out! The link is on the sidebar. If you're not following me already, friend me!

xoxo

WIP Wednesday

2011-03-23T04:00:00.005-06:00

Hello all! Since today's Wednesday it's time for a writing update! Woohoo!

Struck (Paranormal YA):

Current word count: 18, 050 words
Current page count: 71 pages
This story is still going really well =) I finished chapter 10 and I'm very happy with how it's going. I've now started chapter 11 and it seems to be going really well.

A Highlander's Ransom (Medieval Romance):

Current word count: 7007 words
Current page count: 27 pages
I finally finished chapter 2! Yay!!! I hope it's good. I've sent it to my CPs, so we'll find out soon what they think =) I've now started chapter 3 and it's gone so quickly.

So how are your stories going? Any news?

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

2011-03-17T09:38:00.000-06:00

In honour of St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd post a video from one of my favourite Irish bands, Flogging Molly. If you'd like some other bands to listen to, Dropkick Murphys are always good, as are The Pogues, The Clancy Brothers, and The Chieftains. There are plenty more, but those are some of my favourites.

WIP Wednesday

2011-03-16T04:00:00.002-06:00

Hello all!

I haven't done a writing update for a while, so I thought I'd do it today! =)

Struck (YA Paranormal):

Current word count: 16, 621 words
Current page count: 66 pages
I've had a sudden burst of inspiration recently. I've written quite a bit the last few days, so I'm happy. With how busy I am with school, any words are good words ;)

A Highlander's Ransom (Medieval Romance):

Current word count: 5004 words
Current page count: 20 pages
This story has been a bit more difficult than I'd first assumed. While I adore the words I do have down, they've been hard won. However, I still love this story. I can't wait to see where this goes =)

How are your stories coming along? Any exciting news?

The 5 Rules of Being a Good Critique Partner

2011-03-14T04:00:00.002-06:00

Hello all! So today I thought I would do a blog post on the 5 rules (in my opinion) that every critique partner should follow.

Be Quick: No one likes a slowpoke. I know life gets in the way, but being a critique partner is a job you need to take seriously. Taking several weeks to get back one chapter isn't right, especially if the person is waiting for your feedback so they can continue revising.

Be Thorough: In my opinion, this one is very obvious. Don't let things slide simply because they're your friend. I tell my CPs everything I find and then some. Does this mean that some critiques are full of comments? Yes. But at least this way, my CPs know I'm being honest, which leads into my next point...

Be Honest: Dishonesty is something I can't stand. If you have to give someone tough news, so be it. It's better than lying, and it's part of the business. We all need to have thick skin to survive. If you can't take it right now, you need to learn how.

Be Respectful: Of course, being honest doesn't mean you're being disrespectful. In a critique, you need to give positive feedback as well. I know sometimes it can be hard to find good things (ouchie), but you need to do it.

Be There For Your Fellow Critique Partners: Being a CP isn't simply critiquing someone else's work. You need to be there for them. You should want to be there for them. In my opinion, you need to be friends with your critique partners. I talk to my CPs daily--I can't imagine going 24 hours without talking to them. They're there for me, for every aspect of my life.

So there you have it! Those are the 5 things I think every CP should follow! Of course, this list was rather broad, and didn't get into the nitty gritty aspects of a CP relationship, but that's a post for another day, I think.

Which point do you think is the most important? Do you have any other points to add?

My Surgery

2011-03-08T17:16:00.001-07:00

*WARNING: PICTURES OF MY INCISIONS BELOW*

Okay, as promised, here is an update on my arm. I went and got my stitches out last Thursday and my surgeon gave me the news.

My left arm was quite a bit worse than my right one. I have some permanent damage, but there's nothing they can do. It shouldn't be too bad, though.
If we'd waited even one more week, I would've needed the huge surgery and my semester would have been a write off. Phew, that was close!
I'll have the same pain level (it hurts a lot), for the next month.
It'll be about a year before I notice any significant difference.

So yeah. Both good and bad news, I suppose. It seems to be healing up nicely, even though it hurts.

But now, some pictures!

Left arm (and most recent surgery).

This is right before the stitches were removed.

You can see some of the bruising still, even after 2 weeks.

Left arm again.

Stitches are out! You can see some of the pen marks still.

As well, my arm is pretty swollen around the incision area.

Right arm (surgery last November).

I couldn't get a good picture of it because of the angle, but here it is.

It has healed up nicely after 3 and a 1/2 months.

However, it's a lot darker than this picture shows.

Backup Your Files!

2011-02-28T13:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we've all heard that we need to backup our files. However, a lot of us don't do it as often as we should. I used to do it once every two weeks... until my netbook died. That's right. Pinky, my lovely pink netbook that I got in October, crashed. I brought it to Best Buy and they were able to recover all of my files, thank gawd. Apparently my hard disk had died. Now I backup my files every few days. I'm also thinking about doing an online backup.

But the strangest part of this whole story? In the last month and a half, two of my friends also had their computers crash. Unfortunately for them, they lost all of their files.

So the point of this blog post? BACKUP YOUR FILES! Don't wait to do it. Do it NOW.