Romance Conference in Birmingham

I'm a member of Southern Magic Writers the Birmingham, Alabama chapter of Romance Writers of America and we're having a shindig. Well, perhaps more like a weekend paradise for writers.

Writers' Conference Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 30, 31, and April 1, 2007Wynfrey Hotel, 1000 Riverchase Galleria, Birmingham, Alabama 35244

A virtual who's who in published authors will be there attending and leading workshops on helpful techniques to get you where they are today. I'm a fan as well as a wanna be writer and being around such wonderfully talented people is just as fun as learning my craft.

On Friday night we will be having a meet and greet, you can mingle with authors, editors and agents while eating fabulous yummies. What a way to kick off what's sure to be a fun filled, educational weekend and hopefully a prosperous one for those of us wanting to get our books published.

Saturday will be packed with different classes by different experts in their field. A consultant in the field of violent and an investigator with the Walker County District Attorney's Office will be on hand.

Besides the author workshops, editors and agents will be in attendance to hear story pitches and about your current works in progress.

For those only interested in meeting the authors, there will be a book signing on Saturday that is open to the public.

Raffles of critiques from many other editors, agents and well known authors will be held as well as a formal banquet Saturday evening.

Keynote speakers: Beverly Barton, Gayle Wilson, Linda Howard.

Some authors attending; Sherrilyn Kenyon aka Kinley McGregor, Kelley St. John, Linda Winstead Jones and many more.

If you would like to find out more about this event the web address is; www.southernmagic.org/conference.html

Hope to see you all there! It's going to be an awesome weekend!

So What Was Your New Year's Resolution?

It's that time of year again. You know, the time of year where we make resolutions of what we're going to do and not do for the next 365 days. It's all to make ourselves better people.

Society lables force us to think we are unlovable, too fat, too tall or just overall yuck. Well, whose to say we aren't already pretty good people?

If you have something you want to change, go for it, but if it's for someone else's benefit you will not have the same drive to accomplish the goal like you would for yourself. It's your skin you're wearing and first and foremost you are the only one who needs to be happy with you.

This might sound selfish, I'm not saying be totally self obsessed, I'm just saying respect yourself and your wishes. Make time for yourself. You might end up with less resolutions come the new year.

I guess... you could say What Would Karen Do?

Oops, I did it again

MoonCat.
I have been known by MoonCat for 8 years now, since I was the ripe old age of 25. LOL. And I have thought about doing this for a while, but had never had the money and the nerve at the same time.
Well, Saturday night I set things in motion by making an appointment with the guy who did my first tatoo. (First is Phantom mask from Phantom of the Opera with a rose by it, it's on my right shoulder.) The one I got last night is on my right ankle. And to say it was painful, is an understatement. I honestly thought I could deal with the pain. The shoulder tat was nothing compared to this. Enough whining though. What do ya'll think? Is it pretty?
It represents me on two levels. One; my totem animal would have to be a cat and Two; I've always been kind of a night person as well as dreamy. I guess that's the writer in me.

MoonCat

Somedays just aren't worth the effort

Somedays it just doesn't seem to be worth the effort to get out of the house. I would say bed, but you know.. just being at home is a nice thing. Even if you get up in a good mood, you leave the house and there you come across those people who REALLY make your day. I'm sure you all understand and know some people like that. Right now you are probably thinking.. yep.. I can name a few. Well, so can I and those people make me want to go postal. Alas, I shan't.. only because my mom raised me better. But that furry little kitten pictured above certainly does say how I feel about those people.

So to you folks who have made my day so happy.... Say hello to my little friend Mittens the Kitten.
Mwah ha ha ha

Gramps

Horace Vines

November 15, 1923 - July 19, 2006

My Gramps passed away last month. It's been hard to deal with the loss. I am not much of a public speaker, but I braved the front of the funeral home to say something about a wonderful man, who I miss very much. I wanted to put on here what I said that day.

In Webster's Dictionary, the definition of Grandfather is the father of one's father or mother. But a grandfather is so much more than that. To us, Horace Vines was a teacher, an inspiration, a confidant, unconditional love, honorable, and so much more, in a word, he was Gramps. I know we all have our stories about our times with Gramps, and I could talk your ears off about the time I spent with him. However, what I want to share today with you is how no matter what was going on he was always happy to see me. He was always there for me. And he always had something to teach me, even when it didn't seem like he was teaching. He embraced life and those around him, living it to the fullest and sharing with those all he was. And I want to thank him for being the grandfather he was and I will always love and miss him.

I found this on the internet and it seemed to fit.

Ever unfolding, like Angel's radiant wings.

Is the magical love and kindness that a grandfather brings.

Dark Side of the Moon Finally Out

Okay. Tuesday was the release for Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Yes, I waited impatiently for the work day to finish, then jumped in my car heading for the promiseland. That's right... Books a million. I had already called around to check on which store had not only the book, but the audio as well. Thank God for the audio, because I don't think my supervisor would be okay with me reading at my desk Wednesday. Probably would have received one of those not so pretty in pink-pink slips. Anyhoo, it was really good. Everything I have come to expect from a Kenyon Dark Hunter book. For those of you wondering what is a Dark Hunter; a Dark Hunter is a protector of humankind against those who would destroy it. This book is fast paced, intriguing and has sparks between the hero and heroine of the book. The subplot that has been running through out the series is coming to a head with this book.

Susan Michaels once a hot respected reporter until a major scandal ruined her career, now works at a paper that deals with Elvis sightings, killer moths and such. Not her idea of the best change in jobs. She gets a call from her friend to meet her at the local animal shelter for a tip on a story. She scoffs at the tip as it is regarding a police cover up for a ring of soul sucking vampires out to take over Seattle. Not really the story to bring back her respectability. There she ends up by chance taking home a cat, which she is allergic to. But the cat is not your run of the mill feline.

Ravyn Kontis is a shapeshifter who was killed by his family after the woman he loved betrayed him and his clan. He made a vow to the Goddess Artemis in return for revenge for those who killed his family. He vowed to serve her as a DarkHunter, protecting humankind from Daemons, those who feed upon human's souls. Captured by those who want the Dark Hunters killed, he is stuck in cat form at the animal shelter until Susan takes him home.

Ravyn and Susan are stuck coming to terms with things they would rather not in order to save Seattle. She must open her mind to the possibility that magical beings exist. He must learn to trust another woman with his existence and secrets.

Several familiar faces make an appearance in this book. The tension between Dark Hunters and Daemons are at an all time high. Allegiances are tested.

This is a great book! The only problem with this is that you have to wait for the next book. Another book that deserves 5 meows out of 5 meows.