Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Plotting Boards for Authors

I recently received an email from one of my author friends and she was leaving to meet with her plotting group. For those of you who take part in a group, I recently saw this on a blog.

PPRW Plotting Boards

Would you like some help in plotting out your next book? The PPRW Plotting Boards are easy-to-use, portable and affordable. Available in large and small sizes, each board folds up and comes with detailed instructions for use.

Each board allows for up to 20 chapters and the Goal-Motivation-Conflict for two main characters. Colored stickies help break out the different parts of your book (hero, heroine, sub-plot, etc.) so you can quickly see where your story may be lacking.
Large boards are 22" x 28" (14" x 22" when folded): $20.00 plus $9.00 shipping = $29.00 total
Medium boards are 14" x 33" (11" x 14" when folded): $15.00 plus $7.00 shipping = $22.00 total

Small boards are 8" x 11" when folded: $10.00 plus $5.00 shipping = $15.00 total
Shipping will be via priority mail. International buyers should email first to get shipping costs.

You may order via PayPal or enclose a check/money order along with your shipping address and mail it to:
PPRW
Chapter of Romance Writers of America®
P.O. Box 62943
Colorado Springs, CO 80962-2943



http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2008/09/portable-plotting-board.html

Friday, September 26, 2008

Jane Porter Book Signing to Benefit Seattle Children's Hospital


What: Meet the Jane Porter, local author of two books based in Bellevue, Mrs. Perfect and Flirting with 40, buy the signed books and support Children’s Hospital.


When: Wednesday, October 1, 7 p.m.

Where: 11019 NE 100th Place, Kirkland WA 98033-5133

Cost: $15 to attend, checks payable to Star Guild – Includes food, wine and door prizes.

RSVP: Dana Lofton Danal@StarGuildFashionShow.org or 206.668.0715

Manchester England Festival - October 26-28



Date Saturday 18 October 2008
Time 3:30 PM (15:30 hrs)
Venue Tiger Tiger
Ticket Price £7/£5 (includes free cocktail)
To Book By Phone 0870 428 0785


Writers will be travelling to Manchester from as far afield as North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the United States to take part in our third festival, organised in association with CityLife.co.uk. We'll also be showcasing plenty of local talent at our Festival Hub. With events ranging from Past Crimes to A Place for Romance and literature in translation to children’s fiction, the programme caters for all literary tastes.”



Join our panel of popular novelists for a passionate discussion about the place of romance in contemporary literature, chaired by Sherry Ashworth.


Mavis Cheek is the author of thirteen novels including Mrs Fytton’s Country Life, Janice Gentle Gets Sexy and, most recently, Amenable Women, which was described in The Times as ‘a brilliantly funny, warm, intelligent read’. Earlier this year Christina Jones won the Pure Passion Award for Love Potions, and her novel Heaven Sent was shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance. Mills & Boon lead author Penny Jordan has published over a hundred and sixty novels, including the phenomenally successful A Perfect Family, To Love Honour and Betray, The Perfect Sinner and Power Play, which hit The Sunday Times and New York Times best-seller lists.



http://www.manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/

Vancouver BC Writers and Readers Festival





When: October 21 through 26

http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Harlequin Launches Non-fiction Imprint of LOVE MATTERS

MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
September 25 - October 2, 2008 Edition

NEW YORK, NY/9/24/08 (AuthorLink)--
Harlequin Enterprises, one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, last week announced the official launch of its new nonfiction imprint with the publication of LOVE MATTERS: Remarkable Stories That Touch the Heart and Nourish the Soul, by popular nighttime radio host Delilah on September 30, 2008.

The Harlequin nonfiction program will publish titles across a diverse list of categories, including memoirs, health, diet, fitness, self-help, motivational and relationship books that cater to women, as well as nonfiction books by its bestselling fiction authors, and nonfiction companion pieces to its bestselling novels.

"Harlequin's enviable relationship with female readers provides them with great insight into the types of books women want to read. We are dedicated to entertaining and inspiring women as their lives and roles change. Our entry into the nonfiction market builds upon Harlequin's existing strengths as a publisher that provides millions of women around the world with great entertainment and a rewarding reading experience," says Publisher and CEO Donna Hayes.

In November, Harlequin will reissue Safe Passage: The True Story of Two Sisters Who Saved Jews from the Nazis, by Ida Cook, as a trade paperback. Deborah Brody, executive editor of the nonfiction imprint, says that "Safe Passage is an important story that is ready to be reintroduced to a whole new generation of readers, and the nonfiction imprint is the perfect vehicle to be able to accomplish that."

Titles scheduled to be released in 2009 include the following:

-- Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond. A collection of essays edited by Andrea N. Richesin about mothers and daughters, and featuring such well-known writers as Jacquelyn Mitchard, Karen Joy Fowler, Joyce Maynard and Susan Wiggs.

-- The Total Brain Workout: 500 Puzzles to Sharpen Your Mind, Improve Your Memory, and Keep Your Brain Fit by Marcel Danesi, Ph.D. A book for puzzlers at all levels, this title features hours of brain-teasing and fun word puzzles, Sudoku and more.

-- Underneath It All by Kathy Schultz and Jennifer Carroll. A fun and practical guide to buying and enjoying lingerie, co-written by Jennifer Carroll, owner of Seattle's Bellefleur Lingerie Boutique, cited in

Lucky as one of the country's top lingerie shops.

-- Natural High: 10 Diet Secrets of Happy, Lean People by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. A step-by-step program that shows readers how to be happy, mentally sharp and energized while trimming and permanently managing their weight.

-- The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz. An inspirational memoir by former New York City Ballet dancer Zippora Karz about her years struggling to manage her type-1 diabetes and the demanding life of a ballerina.

-- 113 Things to Do By 13 by Brittany and Terri Macleod. This one-of-a-kind, celebrity-driven book is packed with lists, how-to's, the hottest stars and all things tweens should do, contemplate or gossip about before they hit the age of 13.

-- Between Me and The River by Carrie Host. A beautifully written and riveting memoir that covers the two-year period in Carrie Host's life as she fights a rare and deadly form of cancer known as carcinoid

tumor.

-- THE CEDAR COVE COOKBOOK by Debbie Macomber. Inspired by the popular Cedar Cove series, this cookbook includes favorite recipes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

CELEBRATE ROMANCE CONFERENCE - PORTLAND, OREGON


ANNOUNCING 2009 CELEBRATE ROMANCE CONFERENCE:

Posted by Karen Wheless

Next year’s conference will be held in Portland, Oregon, from Friday February 27th to Sunday March 1st. The registration fee will be the same as it was this year, $150.

Leanne has made arrangements for us at a beautiful hotel in the heart of downtown Portland, The Benson. It’s a gorgeous hotel, originally built in 1912, with all kinds of modern amenities. The hotel rate is $129 per night, which is about the same as it was this year.

You can check out the hotel at their web site: http://www.bensonhotel.com

I’m really looking forward to it - I’ve never been to Portland before and I can’t wait until the end of February! Only ten months away!
Karen


When: February 27th – March 1st 2009
Cost: $150
Where: Portland, Oregon
The Benson Hotel

ABOUT CELEBRATE ROMANCE

Celebrate Romance (a.k.a. “CR”) is a unique conference where romance readers and authors come together as equals to celebrate their love for the romance genre.

WHO RUNS CRS:

Volunteers. Put on by fans for fans, this conference is a non-profit event for ALL romance lovers.

WHAT MAKES CR SPECIAL? As an author I already attend so many events.

Unlike other conferences, CR’s only agenda is to support you and promote romance. No suits, no meetings, no pressure, and no segregation. With the exception of a booksigning on Sunday morning, authors are just like all the other attendees – fans.

This allows you to hear what romance readers really think first had while sharing your own thoughts on the genre. It’s a wonderful place to gain new readers and make friends.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Down Under Desirabelles

Personally I read Desires and I just found this blog on The Pink Heart Society Yahoo Group. There is a marvelous interview with Helen Bianchin - Then and Now.

Helen Bianchin’s romance novels have been taken to heart by romance readers all over the world. She is the Australian doyen of 56 Harlequin Mills and Boon books, and is a much-loved and respected writer by many romance writers everywhere. In this interview, Helen tells us how it was back then, and what has changed since.


http://desirabelles.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Harlequin Authors Speak from the Heart Blog






Great blog if you're a Harlequin fan. This month there is a contest for Trish Wylie's latest release which is receiving exceptional reviews.

http://harlequinromanceauthors.blogspot.com/

5 WAYS TO ROMANCE YOUR BLOG

From Romance Tracker.com

The stuff that works best to build a successful relationship works wonders at building a successful blog, too. Remember, the basics of blogging are all about having patience, using good communication skills, and really connecting with the people you want to reach . . . and the same goes for the basics of romance!


So, can you really use the romantic lessons you’ve learned in the course of your marriage or relationship to build a better blog, get more backlinks, and increase your readership? Sure you can! But in case you haven’t met that perfect person yet and don’t have the first clue how to “romance” your way to success, we’re going to give you a quick list of tips on how to shower your blog with a little love . . . and get some extra attention from the blogosphere at the same time!


http://www.romancetracker.com/top-5-ways-to-romance-your-blog/

The Soap Box Queens - Jennifer LaBrecque, Rhonda Nelson and Vicki Lewis Thompson







The Queens at '08 RWA Workshop

I've had the pleasure of meeting Vicki Lewis Thompson and what an incredible author with an incredible heart and sense of humor. Here is a blog she participatew in along with other authors.

Meet the Queens!

QUEENS

Jennifer LaBrecque
Rhonda Nelson
Vicki Lewis Thompson

http://www.soapboxqueens.com/


For Vicki's interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBl-NRz8gjs

The Wedding Belles - Shirley Jump, Myrna Mackenzie, Melissa McClone, Linda Goodnight, Susan Meier, Melissa James


Check out this blog The Wedding Belles.......it's fun and features:

AUTHORS:
• Shirley Jump
• Myrna Mackenzie
• Melissa McClone
• Linda Goodnight
• Susan Meier
• Melissa James


http://harlequin-theweddingplanners.blogspot.com/2008/09/editors-honeymoon-wish-come-true.html

Why the love industry flourishes

Independent.co.uk
Romance inc.: Why the love industry flourishes
Without our insatiable appetite for romantic love, a large part of the mainstream economy would bump and grind to a halt. Luckily, finds Sophie Morris, the downturn hasn't affected the love industry yet

Tuesday, 23 September 2008


Romance comes in many forms. Most of them, in the modern world, involve money. It may be the initial wining and dining; or one of the more extravagant displays of affection required to put a relationship on a more permanent footing; or just one of those periodic injections of the romantic spirit that are so important for keeping such relationships going. There are the various forms of romantic entertainment books, films, music with which we put ideas into one another's heads, or to which we escape when reality doesn't quite match up to our dreams. And then there are the various correctives flowers, chocolates, holidays that we often use to put relationships back on the right track when, say, one of the partners has been working away (or, worse, playing away) for a while.


Not every romantic gesture has to be expensive, but, taken together, it all adds up to an industry that, even in the current climate, is booming.

You can see this in the continuing success of that pillar of the romance industry, Mills & Boon. A hundred years after its first book, the publisher now churns out some 2,000 books a year. You might not know anyone who admits to enjoying Mills & Boon titles, but it is equally unlikely you will find someone in the English-speaking world who hasn't heard of them. Globally, they sell 130 million books every year 10 million of them in the UK. To put that into context, Harry Potter has shifted a mere 400 million in 11 years.

The tone has evolved over the years. In the Twenties when the brand's popularity really took off female readers' romantic aspirations probably went little further than some compliments, maybe a gift or two; a date into which a lover had put some thought. Today's romantics have steamier expectations but Mills & Boon can satisfy them: your 3 will typically buy you a narrative led by a woman's yearning and a man's touch with titles such as Coming Undone ("Waves of pleasure"), The Novice Bride ("Innocent bride, conquering husband") and The Shocking Lord Standon ("Rich, vivid and passionate").

Mills & Boon's marketing director Clare Somerville says that the books reflect how romance has evolved along with society the heroine is now more likely to be a neurosurgeon than a housewife, and descriptive sex scenes are commonplace in some of the Mills & Boon sub genres; in fact, they lead the plot as long as the protagonists are romantically interested in one another. "Part of the enjoyment for our readers is they know to a certain degree that certain conventions are going to be followed," she says. "There is a framework and a premise, which is that a couple are going to meet, there are going to be quite a lot of obstacles on the way to them achieving happiness, but ultimately the ending is going to be uplifting, and leave you with a positive feeling".

Literary purists will always have reservations about the books as literature with their repetitive plots, two-dimensional characters and gender stereotyping but as a product they are hard to fault, with an annual UK turnover of around 20m. Their example, believes Somerville, has informed more inventive romantic reads. "We're definitely the precursor to modern chick lit such as Bridget Jones, but we're also the child of Jane Austen and the Brontës."

And if Somerville sounds less worried than many about the hard economic times ahead, perhaps that's not surprising: it was during the Depression of the Twenties and Thirties that the imprint really took off. "People wanted to escape the hardship of the depression and general strikes," she explains. "What women wanted, and what we could make money out of, was light fiction. They concentrated on ramping up the light fiction of the time, and the growth of the lending libraries in the Thirties was a great conduit for romantic fiction."

But it's not just publishers who can profit from the earning power of romance. The outlook also looks rosy for the British greeting card industry, whose incredible success in recent years suggests that most of us still struggle with putting our romantic thoughts into our own words. In 2006 alone, 2.87 billion cards were sold in the UK with a combined value of 1.306bn. That's 48 cards per person.

"We're huge fans of slushy cards in the UK," explains Sharon Little, general manager of the Greeting Card Association. "We wonder whether it is because people are still quite stiff upper lip when it comes to face-to-face meetings, and need some medium to convey their feelings".

No other country has quite such an embedded culture of sending and receiving cards. Little claims the UK is 10 years ahead of anywhere else in terms of design, and there are around 800 card publishers operating around the country. It is a vital industry as far as the economy goes: one in six retailers stocks cards, and hot spots include Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire, where cards have stepped into the shoes of heavy manufacturing as major employers.

Chocolates are another tried and tested way of saying "I love you", and, once again, despite the credit crunch sales are booming. The seasonal and boxed chocolate market is now worth 1.246bn, a significant increased from 1.180bn in 2006, when a heavy downturn in the market was predicted.

Times have moved on since the days when a lady was happy with a stealthily delivered box of Milk Tray. Posh chocs are where it's at, and the provenance of the cocoa is all important. Luxury food halls and bespoke chocolatiers such as Godiva and Green & Blacks are gaining ground and squeezing businesses such as Thorntons, long the chocolate king of the high street. The big food producers have not been slow to notice the trend towards luxury which suggests that chocolates are now being bought for special occasions, no doubt many of them romantic and three years ago Cadbury Schweppes bought Green & Blacks for 20m.

Flowers top even chocolate in terms of revenue. The UK trade in cheap bunches of tulips and costly hand-arranged bouquets is worth 2.2bn annually. On Valentine's Day, of course, most of that trade is done in red roses, a flower associated with love, passion and romance.

A more costly way to express feelings for a loved one is to buy a piece of jewellery. The market is worth around 2.5bn, an 11 per cent increase over five years, and the most successful jewellers are those offering high quality pieces in distinctive designs. "Upmarket jewellery is often bought for sentimental reasons," says Mintel's senior fashion analyst Katrin Magnussen. "This means that the market is likely to hold its own in these more challenging times." Platinum the engagement and wedding band of choice for young women is the real mover. Sales are worth 75m and have grown 36 per cent since 2003.

There are those who say that flowers and chocolates are no indication of how a person feels for another, but when it comes to romantic gestures the figures show we are fairly conformist in our tastes. That said, buying gifts as an expression of romance is so deeply engraved on our nation's psyche, it looks as if the practice might withstand even the toughest of economic shocks. St Valentine must be turning in his grave wishing he had trademarked his name.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Raven Happy Hour Scaventer Hunt



Raven Annual Scavenger Hunt is Back!

Quote from website:

Join us for the month of October for your chance to win over 65 prizes from these wonderful authors. Visit the RavenHappyHour.com website for details starting OCT 1st. Happy Hunting!


http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog/?p=610

Writer's at Play Blog



I came across this author blog. It's fun and they're having some great contests.

About Writers at Play from their blog:

Writers At Play is a group of women writers who came together 4 years ago in the spirit of fun and encouragement. (Sounds so noble, doesn't it? The truth is, we got our hands slapped in a larger group for having too much fun, so we decided to create our own little "virtual playground". No rules, hunks encouraged and naughtiness guaranteed!)

http://www.writersatplay.com/wordpress/

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Blogger Appreciation Week Winner

Katayoun you're the winner! Congratulations and please email me at seattlesnoops@aol.com with your name and details. Thanks for entering.

If you're in the Seattle area................



If you're going to be in the Seattle area, authors will be signing their books with the money going to a good cause, DAWN (Domestic Abuse Women's Network). Signing will be at the Bellevue Hilton.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Harlequin Enterprises Launches New Nonfiction Program

Harlequin Enterprises Launches New Nonfiction Program

Last update: 3:56 p.m. EDT Sept. 17, 2008
NEW YORK, Sept 17, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- - Harlequin Enterprises, one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, is proud to announce the official launch of its new nonfiction imprint with the publication of LOVE MATTERS: Remarkable Stories That Touch the Heart and Nourish the Soul, by popular nighttime radio host Delilah on September 30, 2008.


The Harlequin nonfiction program will publish titles across a diverse list of categories, including memoirs, health, diet, fitness, self-help, motivational and relationship books that cater to women, as well as nonfiction books by its bestselling fiction authors, and nonfiction companion pieces to its bestselling novels.


"Harlequin's enviable relationship with female readers provides them with great insight into the types of books women want to read. We are dedicated to entertaining and inspiring women as their lives and roles change. Our entry into the nonfiction market builds upon Harlequin's existing strengths as a publisher that provides millions of women around the world with great entertainment and a rewarding reading experience," says Publisher and CEO Donna Hayes.


In November, Harlequin will reissue Safe Passage: The True Story of Two Sisters Who Saved Jews from the Nazis, by Ida Cook, as a trade paperback. Deborah Brody, executive editor of the nonfiction imprint, says that "Safe Passage is an important story that is ready to be reintroduced to a whole new generation of readers, and the nonfiction imprint is the perfect vehicle to be able to accomplish that."
By acquiring exciting new nonfiction titles that are certain to reach new readers, Harlequin continues to offer entertaining and enriching books for women. Titles scheduled to be released in 2009 include the following:

-- Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond. A collection of essays edited by Andrea N. Richesin about mothers and daughters, and featuring such well-known writers as Jacquelyn Mitchard, Karen Joy Fowler, Joyce Maynard and Susan Wiggs.

-- The Total Brain Workout: 500 Puzzles to Sharpen Your Mind, Improve Your emory, and Keep Your Brain Fit by Marcel Danesi, Ph.D. A book for puzzlers at all levels, this title features hours of brain-teasing and fun word puzzles, Sudoku and more.

-- Underneath It All by Kathy Schultz and Jennifer Carroll. A fun and practical guide to buying and enjoying lingerie, co-written by Jennifer Carroll, owner of Seattle's Bellefleur Lingerie Boutique, cited in Lucky as one of the country's top lingerie shops.

-- Natural High: 10 Diet Secrets of Happy, Lean People by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. A step-by-step program that shows readers how to be happy, mentally sharp and energized while trimming and permanently managing their weight.

-- The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz. An inspirational memoir by former New York City Ballet dancer Zippora Karz about her years struggling to manage her type-1 diabetes and the demanding life of a ballerina.

-- 113 Things to Do By 13 by Brittany and Terri Macleod. This one-of-a-kind, celebrity-driven book is packed with lists,how-to's, the hottest stars and all things tweens should do, contemplate or gossip about before they hit the age of 13. -- Between Me and The River by Carrie Host. A beautifully written and riveting memoir that covers the two-year period in Carrie Host's life as she fights a rare and deadly form of cancer known as carcinoid tumor.

-- THE CEDAR COVE COOKBOOK by Debbie Macomber. Inspired by the popular Cedar Cove series, this cookbook includes favorite recipes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.


About Harlequin Enterprises Limited


Harlequin Enterprises Limited is the global leader in series romance and one of the world's leading publishers of women's fiction, with titles issued worldwide in 29 languages and sold in 107 international markets. The company produces over 120 titles monthly and publishes more than 1,200 authors from around the world. Harlequin Enterprises Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation, a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TS.B). Harlequin's Web site is located at http://www.eharlequin.com/. Harlequin has offices in 19 countries, including offices in Toronto, New York and London. For more information please visit http://www.eharlequin.com/ or press.eHarlequin.com.
SOURCE Harlequin Enterprises Limited http://press.eharlequin.com/

Knight Agency Blog

Link: http://knightagency.blogspot.com/

Stop over and take a look at an article written by Lucienne Diver, Genres and Subgenres and Memes, Oh My! ....very interesting

Writer’s and Authors, PROMOTE YOUR BOOK EARLY!

Wait, hold on! Don’t leave just because you think this post topic doesn’t apply to you. So you haven’t published your book yet? Well this may be news to you; book marketing begins the day you begin to write! That’s correct, the very day you pick up the pen!

One of the biggest mistakes writers make is to wait until the day their book hits the stands to being their promotion efforts. Book promotion should begin at least six months before your book hits the stands and continue for at least three years to follow—especially in this new world of Internet marketing and sales. With it we have the ability to promote our book literally everywhere on this planet. It has been predicted that eighty percent of book purchasing will take place through the Internet by the year 2020. Personally, from the trend I’ve noticed recently, I feel it will be even sooner yet. Amazon.com is one of the best book-selling sites on the Internet and has expanded to include Joya Amazon.cn (Chinese), Amazon.fr (French), Amazon.de (German), and Amazon.co.jp (Japanese). Barnes & Noble booksellers online have followed suit with international sales. Their brick and mortar book stores now stock foreign publications as well, including Vogue Magazine in four different languages.

To gain world-wide exposure for a book, authors need to start early. The Internet is an interesting place. It’s like mold—it grows and expands slowly. It can take months, even years for one promotional article to reach its full audience potential.

So get out there now! Even if you’ve just started your manuscript—promote it! You’ll be surprised how well your book sells “hot off the press!”


Carol Denbow is the author of three books, including A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story which includes 25 Unique Ways to Sell Your Story. Visit Carol’s Website at http://www.booksbydenbow.weebly.com/

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Saved!, Juno, Gilmore Girls


A coin has two sides.
Just like a movie has many interpretations, not only two.
I plan to watch JUNO with my students this Monday. I have watched this movie with another class before, around a month ago, and I think this movie is quite ‘safe’ to be watched by teenagers: there is no vulgar scene, although the story is about a sixteen-year old teenager who gets pregnant outside the wedlock. I opine that the script writer as well as the producer of this movie wanted to give an alternative to teenagers how to face unwanted pregnancy; and to parents a kind of suggestion how about to stand together with the pregnant kid, to be supportive with the kid’s choice, instead of just blaming her without showing any comforting response, without realizing that sometimes female teenagers get pregnant not merely due to their own mistakes—such as accusation to have low moral because having sex out of a wedlock—but can also be engendered by the parents who don’t give enough attention, or too much controlling.

Saved!, Juno, Gilmore Girls

In this article, I want to compare three movies that have similar cases: SAVED!, JUNO, and one serial GILMORE GIRLS. They all have the similar topic: a sixteen-year-old girl who got pregnant outside the wedlock. Nevertheless, the cause of the pregnancy is different. The way to handle the case is different too.
SAVED! was produced in 2003/2004. This movie has very strong Christian teachings as the background. Mary, the leading character, got pregnant because she wanted to “save” his boyfriend who admitted that he was a gay in a telling-secret-under-the-water game. Feeling shocked, and with her head crashed something hard when she was about to go out of the pool, Mary saw a vision of Jesus coming to her, telling her that she was chosen to ‘save’ Dean (from being sinfully homosexual). Being able to make Dean enjoy their lovemaking, Mary thought she was successful to “cure” his ‘psychological/mental disease’. Therefore, she was very disappointed when knowing that Dean’s parents still sent him to Mercy House, a kind of rehabilitation to ‘solve’ any kinds of problems; such as addiction to drugs, homosexuality, until girls getting pregnant outside the wedlock. She felt cheated by Jesus’ vision coming to her.
JUNO was produced in 2007. The cause of Juno to get pregnant was merely she was curious to know what sex was like. ‘Playing’ something she didn’t know with one good friend, Paulie Bleeker rewarded her unwanted pregnancy.
GILMORE GIRLS was produced in 2004/2005. Lorelai Gilmore got pregnant when she was 16 years old merely because she wanted to rebel her controlling parents, especially her mother, who never gave her freedom to be herself. She always felt strangled in her parents’ luxurious house. Meanwhile, her teenage boyfriend, Chris, did that to get rid of his parents’ obligation to continue his study at Yale because he didn’t feel sure to be able to do that.
The solution to face the unwanted pregnancy is different. Mary, at SAVED! kept it secret, trying to hide her pregnancy She even did not tell Dean about it, not to her mother either. With help of her two schoolmates, Cassandra and Roland, she tried her best to hide her swollen belly under some special clothes. In another word, it can be concluded that Mary decided to keep her baby, although at the very beginning she was thinking of abortion.
At Gilmore Girls—as people can easily guess, because this serial focuses on the very intimate, best-friend-like relation between the mother and daughter—Lorelai decided to keep her baby too, but by leaving her parents’ home and doing her best to survive, as well as raising her daughter. She refused Chris’ offer to marry him because she thought both of them were not ready yet to live together in a marriage, moreover she knew very well that Chris was not psychologically and financially mature yet. This would just make the marriage not work well that possibly would just ruin the relationship of three of them—Lorelai, Chris, and Rory, their daughter, especially Rory’s mental development.
At JUNO, a bit similar to SAVED!, Juno was thinking of terminating her pregnancy too. However, then, she got a very brilliant idea, to find a couple of husband and wife who wanted to have a baby very much. She got one. The difference from SAVED was that Juno didn’t try to hide her pregnancy from her parents as well as her schoolmates. Bleeker, the father of the baby-to-be knew too the result of their ‘playing game’.
None of the three movies gave solution to marry the sixteen-year-old girl with the boy with whom they had sex, or with any other guy who was willing to “save” the good name of the family, a typical solution that usually happens in Indonesia.

Solution in Saved!, Juno, Gilmore Girls

SAVED! The failure of Mary to ‘cure’ Dean to me means that the producer as well as the script writer wants to tell the viewers that some people indeed were born to be homosexual, not because of the influence of wrong socialization. Before Dean told Mary about his secret—being a gay—he was involved in a Christian community, dedicated his life following Jesus’ steps. Any celestial religion will consider homosexuals sinful therefore they must be ‘saved’. In fact, Dean eventually had to give in his innate call.
Mary—who was involved in the same Christian community as Dean—was excited to be ‘chosen’ to help cure her boyfriend with the Jesus vision inside the pool. However, after she ‘sacrificed’ by having sex with Dean, Dean was still a gay. Furthermore, she seemed to be ‘punished’ by God to have sex outside the wedlock with the unwanted pregnancy. This ‘accident’ made her lose her strong belief that people would always find solution in religious teachings blindly, without using their common sense. Eventually, her mother accepted the fact that Mary got a baby; she did not need to send Mary to Mercy House because Mary was not a problematic teenager only because she was pregnant outside the wedlock. Mary needed the support of her mother to live her life much more strongly than to be sent to that kind of rehabilitation center which in fact did not really help the ‘victims’.
JUNO. Juno had decided to give away her baby to a couple when she told her parents about her pregnancy. Feeling shocked, but trying to hide it, the parents showed a strong support to Juno’s decision. The father—worried if Juno would be cheated because she was just a kid—accompanied Juno when meeting the couple who would adopt her baby. The mother protected Juno’s mental condition when people accused her a problematic teenager with her unwanted pregnancy. Juno expected that she would continue her life ‘normally’ (read  just like any other teenagers who didn’t get similar accidents) after she delivered her baby.
GILMORE GIRLS. Lorelai decided to run away from home, to deliver her baby, and to raise her using her own way—having intimate relationship with the baby, open communication, without ‘you’ve-got-to-listen-to-me-coz-I’m-your-mother’ trait toward Rory, a way to raise up a baby Lorelai believed would work much better than just controlling. By doing so, she believed that Rory would not end up getting unwanted pregnancy at a very young age.



Multi-interpretations


Especially the two movies above—Saved! and Juno—some people around me opined that the movies even encouraged teenagers to ‘play’ with sex because when they accidentally got pregnant, their parents would even support them and didn’t punish them anything, not even to scold them. (This reminded me of one article in a local newspaper stating that in the movie of BERBAGI SUAMI—LOVE FOR SHARE in English—Nia Dinata wanted to encourage men to be polygamous.)
I have never invited my students to watch SAVED! so that I don’t get any input yet from my teenage students. However, in JUNO, my teenage students could see the complicated things Juno had to undergo, the insecurity a teenage girl had to face in their daily life when getting unwanted pregnancy. This obviously will NOT encourage them to get similar problem, moreover if their parents punish them for embarrassing their ‘good name’ by getting pregnant outside the wedlock.

Conclusion

A movie indeed can be interpreted from different points of views. When showing a movie about teenagers’ life, we as parents/teachers are supposed to accompany the teenagers and then have a live and open discussion to come up to a beneficial interpretation for both sides.
PT56 11.54 140908

Parents’ role in building child’s self-image

One of my workmates has a daughter who is at her early twenties. I have known her since she was in elementary school. She had somewhat plump body and she was a bit tomboy until graduating from senior high school. In 2002 she moved out of town to continue her study. Last year, she was seen again at the office, to visit her mother and she looked very different. She was not plump anymore and looked very feminine with her long hair. So slim was she that my workmates and I suspected that she was an anorexic or bulimic. We felt pity for her. And we were wondering if her mother did not warn her to take care of her health. But then I remembered, this workmate of mine, more than a decade ago, used to complain about her body a lot. She always felt she was plump although I thought she was not.
I assume that the way the mother valued her body has influenced the way the daughter saw her own body. “It is really a big disaster to gain weight, although only a little,” once she said, when attending a workmate’s wedding party. Therefore, she didn’t eat anything but some slices of watermelon.
Some time ago, another workmate saw the mother purging after having meal. It means the mother as well as the daughter suffer from the same thing.
*****
I must say that I was somewhat anorexic when I was at junior high. Some friends (especially a boy I used to have a crush on) said that I would look prettier when slimmer. Therefore in senior high, I used to fast outside Ramadhan month without eating ‘sahur’ (having meal early in the morning before dawn) and successfully decreased my weight. Luckily I didn’t do it so terribly that I suffered from stomach disorder.
Realizing that it was not good for health, I keep telling Angie to love herself, and feel at ease with her body, slim or plump, especially after Angie entered adolescence. I opine that as the mother, I have a big role in helping Angie shape positive attitude toward herself. After that, I also ask her to do the same thing toward her friends. “God never creates ugly things. Human beings give values that are sometimes not necessary. Appreciate everyone the same way.” Still, sometimes she finds a schoolmate who says rude and ugly things toward Angie, and she complains to me.
“Honey, his mother or his father doesn’t teach him to appreciate God’s creature fairly. It even means that inside his heart he feels something wrong or he lacks of something so that he keeps looking for weaknesses in other people, especially physically. He deserves to get pity instead, not you.” I was trying to comfort her.
*****
Meanwhile I still remember at kindergarten, Angie did not like one of her classmates. She kept protesting when her class teacher paired up her with that classmate until this mate felt afraid to Angie. She didn’t tell me about it but her class teacher did. When I asked her why she didn’t like working together that classmate, little Angie said, “She is so slow, not energetic, not lively.” Gosh!!! I never taught her such things, to treat her classmates differently based on their intelligence.
However, after Angie entered adolescence, I did tell her to value people on intelligence more than physical things, especially in looking for a boyfriend. :)
PT56 19.37 140908

Friday, September 12, 2008

BOOK BLOGGER APPRECIATION WEEK IS COMING



Book Blogger Appreciation Week Is Coming!



Nominations are now being accepted for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week awards, in two dozen categories ranging from "best general book blog" to "best design," "most eclectic taste," and even "best name for a blog." (There's also a category for blogs about the publishing industry, in case you know any blogs like that of which you think well, like Eco-Libris, or TeleRead.) You can nominate up to two blogs in any category until Sunday; shortlists will be whittled down to the top five nominees in each category and voting will take place starting September 15.

In honor I'm giving away a copy of Jennie Lucas The Spaniard's Defiant Virgin.
To win, leave a comment or send an email
Start Date 9/12 through 9/15
I'll mail to any country


To Vote:

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/2008/09/bbaw-awards-2008-voting-booth.html


BBAW AWARDS:

BBAW Award Winners 2008

I stole this directly from OCD, vampires, and amusing rants, oh my!



Best Book Club Blog - Reading Group Guides
Best Design - Bookgasm
Best Nonfiction Blog - A Striped Armchair
Most Eclectic Taste - Bookgasm
Funniest/Most Humorous Blog - Rip My Bodice
Best Kidlit Blog - Well Read Child and Jen Robinson's Book Page
Best Romance Blog - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Best Name for a Blog - Bookgasm
Best Challenge Host - The Hidden Side of the Leaf
Best Fantasy/Horror/Sci-Fi/Spec-Fic Blog - Fantasy Book Critic
Best History/Historical Fiction Blog - Medieval Bookworm
Best Community Builder - My Friend Amy
Best Published Author Blog - Neil Gaiman
Best Cookbook Blog - Books and Cooks
Best Literary Fiction Blog - Caribou's Mom
Best Book Published in 2008 - The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Best YA Blog - Bookshelves of Doom
Best Community Book Site - Good Reads
Most Chatty - Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin?
Best Thriller/Mystery/Suspense Blog - Bookgasm
Most Extravagant Giveaways - Maw Books
Most Concise - Bookgasm
Best Christian/Inspirational Fiction Blog - Free Spirit Blogs
Best Meme/Carnival/Event - Book Blogger Appreciation Week
Best Commenter/Commentator - Musings of a Bookish Kitty and Rip My Bodice
Most Altruistic Blog - Maw Books
Best General Book Blog - Bookgasm
Best Publishing/Industry Blog - Galley Cat

Thursday, September 11, 2008

BOOK LIST TOP 10 ROMANCE PICKS FOR 2008

Top 10 Romance Fiction: 2008.

Seaman, Donna (author). FEATURE. First published September 15, 2008 (Booklist).

Tough gals and shrewd women rule the best romance novels of the last 12 months, from a queen of the bayou to an audacious ex-courtesan, a Colorado suffragette, and a businesswoman. Humor adds zest to these historical and contemporary tales of adventure, trouble, and happiness.

Accidentally Yours. By Susan Mallery. 2008. HQN, paper, $6.99 (0-373-77205-X).
 Kerri will do anything to help her sick son, including making a devil's bargain with a billionaire. Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling.

Big Girls Don't Cry. By Cathie Linz. 2007. Berkley Sensation, paper, $7.99 (9780425218310).
 Linz creates a heroine who looks and acts like a real woman, plus-size model Leena Riley, who returns to her hometown, Rock Creek, in this affectionate and funny tale of self-image issues and love.

The Black Sheep and the Hidden Beauty. By Donna Kauffman. 2008. Kensington/Brava, paper, $14 (0-7582-1727-7).
A member of the rescue operation Unholy Trinity in Virginia, Rafe is drawn to enigmatic Elena, the new horse trainer in this terrifically suspenseful tale about the secrets of horseracing and romance.

Chances. By Pamela Nowak. 2008. Five Star, $25.95 (1-59414-637-3).
Denver circa 1876 is the setting for Sarah Donovan's campaign to prove that women are equal to men as she joins the suffrage movement and becomes a telegraph operator in Nowak's smart and snappy Old West romance.

The Courtesan̢۪s Secret. By Claudia Dain. 2008. Berkley Sensation, paper, $14 (9780425221365).
Clever, cunning Lady Sophia Dalby, London's most renowned former courtesan, is back as Dain picks up the story that began in The Courtesan's Daughter (2007) and fashions a particularly wild and racy Regency romp.

Everything but a Groom. By Holly Jacobs. 2007. Avalon, $21.95 (9780803498648).
 Although she doesn't believe in her well-known Pennsylvania family's wedding curse, Vancy is left alone at the altar; luckily, landscaper Matt Wilde is there to help in this very sweet tale of true love.

Love Letters from a Duke. By Elizabeth Boyle. 2007. Avon, paper, $6.99 (9780060784034).
Felicity has every intention of marrying the Marquess of Standon, but when he finally appears at her doorstep, she thinks he's the new footman in Boyle's endearing, sexy, and sharply amusing Regency.

Never Romance a Rake. By Liz Carlyle. 2008. Pocket, paper, $7.99 (9781416579991).
Carlyle brings her Neville family trilogy to a splendid conclusion with the captivating story of a tormented rake and a delightfully unconventional heroine in this luscious and funny historical romance.

Sizzle and Burn. By Jayne Ann Krentz. 2008. Putnam, $24.95 (9870399154454).
 Raine hears voices, and private investigator Zack sees visions as Krentz continues her addictively readable Arcane Society series, deftly fusing paranormal-flavored suspense with sexy romance.

Wild Jinx. By Sandra Hill. 2008. Hachette/Forever, paper, $6.99 (0-446-61653-2).
Hill's whimsical new Jinx romance is more fun than a barrel of frogs in Bayou Black as swamp granny Tante Lulu and her best friend, Jude, try to find a good Cajun girl for Detective â€Å“Tee-John” LeDeux.

On a personal note, Susan Mallery, Elizabeth Boyle and Jayne Krentz are all members of the Emerald City Writer's RWA Chapter here in Seattle (I'm a member) and I offer my personal congratulations to these incredible authors and all of the winners as well.....Marilyn

Are you a Hills Fan?



From the Gossip Girls Website:

She’s been living it up with fashion shows on both coasts this week, and now it sounds like Lauren Conrad may be looking to further diversify her resume.

According to a recent report, the “Hills” hottie has just signed a three-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers for a young adult fiction series. And the subject matter is familiar territory for LC.

A press release for “L.A. Candy” reveals that the books will contain "the behind-the scenes story of a young girl who moves to L.A. and unexpectedly becomes the star of a reality television show."

HarperCollins Senior Vice President Elise Howard told press, “I’ve never seen a new project generate noise like the instant buzz that swept through our offices around this deal. The Hills and Lauren Conrad are household names among our staff, and their popularity is even higher among the teens who are our readers. We’re bracing ourselves for a blockbuster publication.”

Miss Conrad added, “I’ve always loved books that I could lose myself in, ones that would transport me to another place, but had characters I could relate to. I’m so excited to have this opportunity to write books like that for other readers.”

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

MEET AUTHOR CHANTELLE SHAW


I've followed Chantelle's career from the very beginning she began writing for Harlequin Presents. Her September release AT THE SHEIKH'S BIDDING is an extremely powerful read!

From Chantelle's website:

I grew up without a TV, let alone DVD’s, computer games etc that my kids spend so much time engrossed in, but I learned to read at an early age and from then on I was always entertained – so much so that my friends used to hide their books when I visited them because all I wanted to do was read!

When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.


For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.

When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)


My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!

That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.


I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!

Since that day I have had seven books published, number eight Di Cesare’s Pregnant Mistress came out in May 2008, number nine has been accepted, I have just submitted number ten and am about to start number eleven. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 and 3, but often I become so involved in my characters that I sneak off and write again in the evenings.

I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon is a serious commitment which I will do for as long as people want to read my books – hopefully a very long time!

I really believe that aspiring authors should keep on trying. Sure there may be rejections and disappointments, but tenacity is just as important as talent and the highs far outweigh the lows. I can honestly say that if I hadn’t been published I would still be trying because I love writing and creating my own world in my head, and only the sound of the smoke alarm and the cry of ‘mum’s burnt the dinner again’, brings me temporarily back to earth!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Harlequin Romance Report - Perfect Love?

Harlequin is taking an international romance survey and the results will appear in their 2009 Romance report.

Here's the Link: http://www.harlequinromancereport.com/index.php

Finish It?

Now normally, this is where I post the weekly writing or publishing tips for A Book Inside—and today, I will do the same, but with a twist! My topic will be “finish it?”

It amazes me how many of us writers start projects with tremendous enthusiasm just to work, work, work and then drop the project into a little metal file box and forget about it, only to accidentally locate the work a year later and mumble to ourselves, “why didn’t I ever finish this, it would have made a great book.” Why we do it?—I don’t know, but personally, I have a full box!

Do we need to be inspired to write? I say yes. But with any long-term project, there will almost always be times we feel like “putting it away.” Maybe we should fight those thoughts and aggresivly move on through them until we feel inspired again. Or maybe we don’t need to finish those projects. Is the joy of writing itself enough for us to be satisfied? The answer isn’t clear.

I want to share a note I received from my second cousin in Texas. She has authored more than 7 books, and probably 10 more unfinished. But read on if you want to find that inspiration.

Graduation 2008

“I was simply led along, from the first course to the next course to the last course, not from dogged determination, not from any deep seated desire to “get a college education,” but from something indefinable that led me to start and finally to finish, for this is what I do—I finish what I start.

I thought at first it was for my children and grandchildren, for their love and admiration poured out to me in words and a show of affection that overwhelmed me, in grand gestures that made all the work worthwhile. For Courtney, my beautiful and talented granddaughter who will forever be sixteen, whose last words to me were, “Keep up your grades, Grandmother.”

But then I began to hear from other people, many whom I did not know. A few reporters and television crews hovered around, and briefly for a day I was news, an 89-year-old great grandmother who graduated from college.

So here I am, not ready to rest on my laurels. Rebecca gave me a necklace with the inscribed words, “Ancora Imparo,” which translates to “yet I am learning.” In the last few years of Michelangelo’s life, these words were scribbled in the margin of his sketches in celebration of lifelong learning, as I hope to continue to do.

Ah yes, I could start on a Masters of Science in Human Development & Family Studies (with emphasis on Gerontology--the study of aging). I've had experience in these, and it sounds rather simple, 36 hours, Internet based, no GRE required. However, when I mentioned this, my family got real quiet, and all the color drained from their faces.

Instead, I’ll finish writing a history book I started a year or so ago, and until I sink into the deep state of senility, I may give some motivational talks, to tell those who are too tired, or “Oh, I’m too old,” to challenge them to dust off their goals and dreams and dive into fulfilling work, (but not necessarily to gain a college degree), and to say to them, “Yes, you can.”

Elleta Nolte, age 89

Want more? Read on…

“Chances are that I may be a rarity among my fellow graduates this May for many of them will leave the campus and scarcely look back, as did six of my nine children who earned degrees from Texas Tech. And I’m sure I’m among the rare ones who will sense the loss of lugging around heavy textbooks and will keep a pile of them on the coffee table, books to be picked up and browsed through again. And again.

Perhaps rare, indeed, are 89-year old graduates such as I, who will miss being a part of a prime university such as TexasTech. I leave it with a rich store of knowledge and memories and experiences, ones I will take out and savor the rest of my life for however long or short that might be.

I have stayed the course through difficult times while attending classes for I have lived another full life along with the demanding one of being a college student, all adding to the length of time but of equal importance. I’ve suffered the heartache at the loss of my beautiful and talented sixteen-year-old granddaughter Courtney and that of my beloved husband in 2007 after 63 eventful and fulfilling years together. He and I took memorable trips during the “schooling.” We traveled twice to Europe, once to Canada and New England and other places. I’ve written two books of regional history along with articles and presentations within that time. And along with my courses, we sold our house in Ransom Canyon and built and moved to another one in Lubbock. And I’ve also given quality time to my family, including twenty grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

As a student I’ve been accepted by the “other kids” and the instructors as just another student, another body (although in a course in communications my professor was a bit startled to have a student older than radio). I’ve felt comfortable in the classroom. When I enrolled as a freshman it never entered my mind but that I could learn as well as the young students. And learn I did, finishing with a quite respectable GPA. The courses enabled me to pursue history, English and behavioral sciences, all favorite courses.

There’s been comic relief… In the beginning, students looked at me and asked, “Masters?” and I’d answer “Freshman.” Others asked in a puzzled tone, “Why, why are you doing this?” Or, “What will you do with it?” One student asked, “Just how old are you anyhow?” And I laughed and answered, “I know that some of you students look at me and think, “Whoa…is it going to take me that long.”

Recently students have asked me a serious question, important to them, ”Have you found a job yet?”

Sure, my Internet sources would give me facts on subjects I’ve taken but what a difference…I remember my first semester when I stood at the window of the second floor of the English building and looked out across the campus with tears in my eyes as I thought, ‘I am a college student, this is my campus, my building…what a privilege.’

Here I am, at last, learning a little about who I am and what I am and what I can do. It inspires me to achieve other things...as I hope it does Rebecca. I wanted to graduate from college with one of my grandchildren, but seven did not wait for me. God is working on Rebecca and me; for some special reason we finished together. I believe that God gives us each a path in life, lined with doors, and we have a choice whether or not to enter them and then only if our heart and mind are open. I’ve finished this portion of that path, and I’m ready and quite willing to start my next assignment. I believe we’re never too old for our next career, however humble that might be.

I share my graduation with my granddaughter Courtney. She was at our house a few weeks before she died, and as she went out the door, she turned and said, ‘Keep up your grades, Grandmother.’
I’ve done that, Courtney.”

Elleta Nolte, May 2008

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Noral Roberts Books Into Movies


STEPHANIE GERMAIN PRODUCTIONS AND THE ACCLAIMED AUTHOR TO PRODUCE FOUR ALL-NEW ORIGINAL MOVIES

PRESS RELEASE: LOS ANGELES, CA – After the success of the four Nora Roberts movies that aired on Lifetime Television in 2007, the network will join forces once again with Mandalay Television and Stephanie Germain Productions to produce four all-new Original Movies based on Nora Roberts’ best-selling novels to air in 2009.

In making the announcement, Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Networks, said, “Our loyal viewers are devoted Nora Roberts fans, as evidenced by the great ratings and buzz from our movies last year. We couldn’t be happier to deliver four all-new bestsellers to the screen. I’m thrilled to be teaming with Nora, Peter and Stephanie once again. The quality of the first four films was excellent and we couldn’t have a better team behind Nora’s outstanding stories.”

Guber said, “Reconvening our stellar partnership with Nora Roberts and Lifetime provides a unique opportunity to build upon our successful franchise.” Added Germain, “Nora Roberts’ captivating books clearly translate into event-driven television. We are thrilled to bring four more of her extraordinary stories to the screen.” Six best-selling Nora Roberts titles are being considered for movies to air in 2009. They include: Tribute, High Noon, Northern Lights, True Betrayals, Midnight Bayou and Carnal Innocence.

“I’m delighted to be working again with the excellent partnership of Mandalay Television, Stephanie Germain Productions and Lifetime Television,” said Roberts. “The care and attention to detail they gave the four movies that aired in 2007 made for wonderful entertainment. Peter Guber and Stephanie Germain kept the essence of each book, and Lifetime’s outstanding promotion brought a whole new level of anticipation among my readers to see the books brought to film,” Roberts continued. “I’m anticipating another four exciting adaptations to air in 2009
.”

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Unleash Your Story and Make A Difference - Debbie Macomber Pacesetter Author



Permission to post:



We Challenge YOU to

Unleash Your Story & Make a Difference -



Attention Canadian participants! There is a glitch in the CFF website that won’t allow it to accept Canadian address. We do encourage your participation and apologize for this problem.



To register you can use the CFF office address at:

Your name c/o CFF

2990 Cahill Main

Madison, WI 53711



Please e-mail your mailing address to:

info@unleashyourstory.com so that we can send you any prizes you win.

Thanks so much for your participation! It’s not too late!



Sign up to participate as an individual or as a team at the special Unleash Your Story event page set up by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.



Send your writing goals to mywords@unleashyourstory.com and reading goals to pages@unleashyourstory.com



About us:



We’re the authors of Romance Unleashed. Twenty women who all jumped on the publishing roller coaster between 2004 and 2006. We’ve ridden the ups and downs together and become good friends. Besides our love of romance, writing and chocolate we also have a common interest in supporting our community. We figured together we could help make a difference in our world.



The idea: An annual event that will Make a Difference for an important cause. We decided a write-a-thon would combine our love of writing with our desire to raise money for charity. This idea became the Unleash Your Story event, a month long write-a-thon that will be fun, help writers set and meet writing goals and encourage both readers and writers to donate as they root for their favorite author or team.




To add to the fun we decided to invite readers to join us for a read-a-thon that will combine their passion for reading with a desire to make a difference.

That’s right-meet your writing goal for the month and raise a heap of money, too! Or if you’re a reader, curl up with a good book for a great cause! It doesn’t get better than that, does it?



Our goal for 2008 is to raise $10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.



Two ways to help:



Readers and Writers can join a team or work as individuals to set a goal for the Unleash Your Story month. We’ll have certificates for individuals and teams who meet their goal as well as for those who keep up with our guest Pacesetter author.

Supporters can donate in the name of their favorite team or individual participant and watch word count totals and donation totals grow. To keep things simple, we are asking donors to donate a single amount rather than a per word or per page pledge. This way donors will know exactly what they are donating and writer or reader participants will not need to go back to collect pledged amounts at the end of the event.



A donation in any amount is a great way to show support for your favorite writer or reader and to support the important work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

Every participant will also have a chance to win great prizes. Watch for special prizes offered each week!



Pacesetter:



We’re thrilled to have best-selling author Debbie Macomber as our 2008 Pacesetter Author. She is famous for her persistence and dedication to writing daily. As a result she is one of the most prolific writers of our time with millions of books in print. Find out more about Debbie on our Pacesetter Page.

Debbie’s goal for September 2008 is 30,000 words. We’ll have a special certificate for those writers who keep up with the Pacesetter.



How to Participate



Unleash Your Story–work toward your reading and writing goals and make a difference in the lives of others. The 2008 event will go from September 1 through September 30, 2008.



Readers or Writers



1.) Register at the CFF web site. If you have questions or run into any problems, e-mail us at: info@unleashyourstory.com.



2.) Join or start a team (this step optional). Teams can be made up of readers or writers.



3.) Set your individual or team writing or reading goal! Writing goals will be in word count, reading goal in pages read. Send your writing goals to mywords@unleashyourstory.com and reading goals to pages@unleashyourstory.com



4.) Keep track of those words written or pages read and report them weekly to mywords@unleashyourstory.com



5.) Get out the word – Post a Bumpersticker on your blog or web site, email your friends. Get them to make donations directly to you or to join your team. Your donations and donation goals will be tracked on the CFF site, so all you have to worry about is your reading or writing progress.



6.) Win prizes – The individuals and teams with the TOP Five donation levels will be named Our Heroes and receive a special reward! See our Prizes Page for more information on prizes you can win.



7.) If you are an RWA Chapter member, let us know so that we can tally your donations along with those of your fellow chapter members. The RWA Chapter that raises the most money by September 30 will win a complete set of MP3 Audio files from the 2008 RWA National Conference for the chapter library. If you are a member of multiple chapters, choose one to support for this special chapter prize. We will be tallying the chapter donation totals by hand, so we rely on participants to give us accurate information.



We’ll also have certificates and special virtual awards for participants to post on their websites or blogs.



How to donate:



Donation is optional for all participants. However, we encourage you to make a donation through your team or individual portal to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. These donations will count in your team or individual donation tally.



To donate without participating in the read-a-thon or write-a-thon? Go to the Unleash Your Story Event Page and donate directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Your donation will count toward our overall event goal. Designate your donation in the name of a particular author or team, or send it without designation. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, 100% of all donations made through Unleash Your Story go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.



Thank you for your support! With your help we can make a difference in the lives of those living with cystic fibrosis.


Tuesday, September 2, 2008

London's Pink Ribbon Run - Breast Cancer & Mills and Boon


FROM AUTHOR JANE PORTER'S BLOG

For my Harlequin readers around the world, or those who are passionate supporters of breast cancer research as I am, I thought you might enjoy hearing that the Harlequin Mills & Boon editors and staff in London are participating in a 5k run supporting Breast Cancer. The goal is to have one hundred staff members, friends and family join in the run on September 7th. Why 100? Because it’s Mills & Boons’ 100th birthday this year and just makes the event more special.

A number of the Harlequin Romance and Presents authors have made donations to the event and I just made a donation, too. As most of you know my amazing former mother-in-law, Jackie Gaskins, fought breast cancer successfully twice before cancer claimed her life 18 months ago. Mrs. Perfect was dedicated to Jackie and I even named the character Jackie in Flirting with Forty after her. Jackie Gaskins was an incredibly vivacious woman–sunny, loving, optimistic up until the end. Best of all, she was the ultimate grandmother, the kind that baked cookies for the boys, played cards for hours, loved board games and movies and just sitting around talking. My boys can’t talk about her without tearing up. They don’t like me to mention her because it hurts too much. I don’t blame them. It does hurt too much.

Let’s fund more research for breast cancer. Let’s find that cure, too. I don’t want any more children to grow up with out a mom, grandchildren without a mother, or husbands and family without a wive or daughter or sister.

If any of you would like to make a donation to support the Mills & Boon editorial team, visit the online donation page set up: http://www.justgiving.com/millsandboon. The page accepts credit card donations so you can donate from anywhere in the world, or better yet, if you happen to be in, or around, London on the 7th, why don’t you run? If you do, let me know and I’ll support you, too! Jane

Writing Playground Sept-Oct Contest


Of course I (heart) Harlequin—they bought my book and launched my career! But, more importantly, they publish great books. To celebrate my sale, I’ve put together a prize sure to please any Harlequin fan out there. Kimberly Lang.


First Place Winner Will Receive:

Sixteen (16!) books from assorted Harlequin lines.

Heart pen and journal.

Heart stamps

Heart-shaped mini-pillow

And I’ll include some chocolate as well.

All this comes packed in a totebag with photo openings for you to put pictures of the people or things you (heart) most!

Two runners up will receive:

A prize pack of 5 Harlequin books and some goodies from Harlequin authors.


We’ll also be running impromptu contests during September and October on the blog, so be sure to check in daily because you never know when you might be a winner.

The rules and the fine print:

By entering this contest, you attest that: 1) you are over the age of 18; 2) you understand you will be added to the Playground News email newsletter; and 3) that we may list you by name and hometown on our website as the winner.

Only one entry per person per contest.

Contest runs from September 1, 2008 until noon (CST) on October 31, 2008. The winners will be drawn that evening and notified by email. Winners’ names will be posted on the website the following day.

Prize can be shipped surface mail world-wide. The winner is responsible for any taxes or duties.

Decisions of the contest coordinator are final.

To enter, send an email with your name, snail mail address, and email address to contest@writingplayground.com. Please include a note telling us how you found the Playground.

Good Luck!