Thursday, March 05, 2009

Hype!

A little hype for y'all tonight.
The Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards are now accepting nominations from lesbian fiction readers for our 2008 Favorite Book and 2008 Favorite Writer Awards.

To nominate you need only be a reader of lesbian fiction and a member of the Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards. There is no form to fill out, no nomination fees to pay, and no book copies to provide. The award recipients are nominated and chosen by the members.

If you aren't already a member, go to: groups.yahoo.com/group/LesbianFictionReadersChoiceAwards.

Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards book categories are:

Favorite Romance
Favorite Speculative/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Favorite Adventure
Favorite Mystery
Favorite Anthology/Short Story Collection
Favorite Erotica
Favorite Humor/Comedy

For a book to be nominated for the Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards, it must have been released between January 1 and December 31, 2008. And it must have 2 main characters that are lesbian. Books released in eBook format are eligible.

Nominations will be accepted until March 31st.

Please join the Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Awards where the readers' voices are heard.

Jo Fothergill
Administrator


Okay, you heard Jo. Nominate those books!

Tamara

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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

It's true

And I bet you thought it was a myth. Brits do like to talk about the weather. So I'm going to. We've had a twelvemonth's worth of it today. When I woke this morning there was snow on the ground. Snow!! In Devon!! In March!! (Think that's enough exclamation marks or shall I chuck a couple more in for luck??) Seriously though, it snows about once every ten years here and hardly ever (once-in-a-lifetime) this late. Winter's been weird this year. The sky is falling!! Global Warming!! Any way - by 8.30 it had melted. Come mid-morning it was warm & sunny, so warm that I stripped off my jumpers (2) and my donkey-jacket. Then at lunchtime it snowed. I put my jumpers back on. Then it hailed (oh boy did it hail). We gave up working and huddled in the portakabin. The hail stopped. I went to the dentist (again - more in a mo). When I left the dentist it rained. And rained. It wasn't so much digging as playing in the mud through the afternoon. And now it's snowing again. Heavily. Somebody make it stop. I want it to be spring.

Why the dentist?? You remember that crown I had a couple or three weeks back?? It fell out. I wasn't eating anything that hard either. Just a baked-bean sarnie. I like baked-bean sandwiches - I know - I'm weird. Hey did you only just realise that?? At least it didn't cost anything, since it was so recently done the re-fix was included in the original payment. The only problem was that she told me not to eat anything for 7 hours. Seven!! After a hard day's labouring I was starving of the hunger by the time I could have me tea!! (Stew in case you wondered. and very nice it was too.)

Ze

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Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Winter

It just won't let go. The past couple of weeks have been positively spring-like, even though we've almost 3 weeks to go until the spring equinox, today though it's been proper manky. Torrential rain and it's blooming freezing again. Got soaked at work. Site clearing this week, with weeks of good solid work in prospect. Even though the construction industry is in turmoil there's a local housing association (social housing) doing some building. There's some old railway-owned land just down the road, between the main south-coast line and the allotments that, while it isn't quite a brownfield site it isn't a (frowned-upon) greenfield location either. It's a fair old strip of land that's been allowed to go to waste. It's covered with brambles and is one of those places where old shopping trolleys go to die. And idiots, who are too lazy to go to the tip, dump broken freezers and old washing machines. This week we're clearing it with a mini-digger (back hoe) and digging foundations. Over the next few weeks we'll be building a dozen maisonettes (those are buildings that look like a pair of semi-detached houses but are actually four flats). I'll do labouring for the clearing, act as bricklayer's mate for the basic building, roofer's mate for that and then I get to do the painting. Weeks of work. Excellent!! So, in spite of the awful weather and the fact that I look like I've been swimming fully clothed, (god I hate the smell of wet wool), I'm dead chuffed.

Ze

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Monday, March 02, 2009

Busy Monday

The return of the work week and not much seems different. Just another lucky person with a job. Hope sent to the rest of you.

On to the updates. Have a great night.

Elisa

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Sunday, March 01, 2009

Hype!

Y'all have a HUGE update tonight courtesy of P&P. Words are provided by Bedazzled Ink....
Hi, all--

I'm at it again, this time with a new colleague-in-crime, R. G. Emanuelle. We're looking for a few good women pirates for an anthology to be published with Mindancer Books (Bedazzled Ink Publishing). Here's the scoop, and hope y'all consider playing with us:

Call for Submissions: Skulls and Crossbones

A collection of short stories that features women pirates in any setting, any time period.

Editors: Andi Marquette and R. G. Emanuelle.

Publisher: Mindancer Press (Bedazzled Ink), print and ebook editions

Stipulations:
No longer than 7000 words; no shorter than 4000 words Will consider original and previously published stories. $35 per story, paid after contract is signed. Story rights revert back to authors 18 months after date of publication. Each contributor will receive one print copy as well as one ebook copy of the anthology.

GLBTQ/heterosexual characters are welcome BUT EACH STORY MUST FEATURE A WOMAN PIRATE, either as the main character or the focus of the story (e.g. another sailor on the ship who hates the woman pirate and through his/her eyes, we observe the woman pirate). Again, the main character or the focus of the story MUST BE A WOMAN PIRATE. We will consider main characters that identify as transgendered (male to female), but that identity must figure prominently in the story as a driving force and/or something that speaks to the character's experience as a woman pirate.

Extra caveat: The focus of the story cannot be a romantic hook-up/sex/erotica. Sex, eroticism, and romance may be part of the story (as long as they fit within the story's overall plot), but they cannot be the reason for the story or the driving force of the story. We want stories that feature adventure, intrigue, antiheroines/heroines, battles (epic, personal, or small-scale), something to be accomplished/overcome, vengeance, trickery, thievery, and/or assorted banditry and outlaw behavior.

Absolutely NO stories that feature acts of pedophilia, incest, bestiality, or rape.

Deadline for submissions is September 1, 2009

Final selections will be made by October 1, 2009, with publication tentatively slated for January 2010

To submit your story, send as an email attachment in RTF format, double-spaced to pirateanthology@gmail.com. Please include your name, pen name (if applicable), mailing address, email address, story title, and word count on the first page of your submission.

For more information, go to mindancerpress.wordpress.com/books/skulls-and-crossbones/. If you have questions, drop us a line at pirateanthology@gmail.com.

--Andi Marquette

========================

Hi!
We're happy to announce our latest book and eBook by Sandra Barret called In Keisha's Shadow.

Thanks for reading!

In Keisha’s Shadow
Sandra Barret
204 pp., 5.06×7.81
$13.95 paperback
978-1-934452-09-7

Dumped by her high school sweetheart for not being out and proud, bi-racial Tori Kahl struggles with college life, her demanding mother, and the legacy of her dead sister Keisha. Her only escapes are riding her horse, drinking, and cutting herself. Then Ashley, the brash and flirty new boarder, shows up at the stables and not only challenges Tori's top rider status, but shakes her world of self-pity as they cope with the pains of growing up.

More information for ordering can be found at: nuancebooks.wordpress.com/books/in-keishas-shadow/

The eBook version is available at: bedazzledink.com/bookshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11

We're offering a Coupon for 10% off all your eBook purchases at the Bedazzled Book Peddler Bookshop (www.bedazzledink.com/bookshop) through March 15, 2009. Just enter IDESOFMARCH where it says "Redemption Code" on the checkout page. *g*

--Claudia Wilde
www.bedazzledink.com


Enjoy 'em!

Tamara

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Saturday, February 28, 2009

Organized...

...that sounds good and Tamara and I got a start on it, but hey plenty left to do. Today we tackled the two car garage that was full and I do mean full of boxes. Some filled with packing paper, some filled with garage and tools, some filled with toys, and some filled with household items we wanted to keep but left packed up. There is a lot of stuff in that garage and I'm not sure there's any less now, but it's much more manageable to see and figure out what needs to be gone through and what's waiting for the next move. Eeek! Lots of work ahead.

Well, now that I'm very tired and yet still need to get to Safeway and Costco one must keep on movin'. Enjoy the updates.

Elisa

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Yay Friday!

Long day for me. I'm so glad it's Friday. I know E feels the same. She's off to a play at the Seattle Children's Theatre so getting to bed early won't be happening for her. I'll probably be curled up watching an episode of Lois & Clark when she comes in.

Before that the kids and I will be heading to the comic store and Target to pick up the newest Futurama movie. I'm sure I'll be roped into watching it but that doesn't mean I can't read a few comics at the same time.

Enjoy your updates!

Tamara

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Spring Anyone?

I'm so ready for Spring. Actually I'm ready for NO MORE SNOW! Even the bit we got today, which has already melted off, irritated me. I just want Spring to arrive...now.

Hence, out of words, tired and ready for something else. Grumpy has spoken...time for your updates, enjoy.

Elisa

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Still planting

Apple trees that is. I only got one (sort of) offer of a massage after last week's request. Unfortunately there's an ocean in the way of my taking it up. At least I've got used to the digging and I don't ache quite so much. The sad thing about planting all these tiny little saplings is that they won't be ready for much for at least ten years or so. They should produce some good cider by then. That's cider in the European sense not the American. Over here cider is an alcoholic drink. It has as high - or frequently a higher (up to 8 or 9%) - alcohol content than most beers. There used to be a local sport here of feed the grockle (tourist) two pints of scrumpy (farm cider) then watch them try and walk. I know, I've been a victim of it. They don't seem to do it as much now. Probably because there isn't as much real farm cider around. That's a result this modern habit of mass-produced, ultra-sterilised, must-all-be-the-same, commercialisation. Real cider isn't clear, it's cloudy, it has bits in it and the big bits hunt the little bits.

Ting Tong. A reader came up with a suggestion of its origins. Apparently there's a Ting Tong Gate in Wales and it's a corruption of Dan-tung (upon oath). The gate stood where the tenants of the manor gave their fealty oath and paid their fealty rent. Since the language of the Dumnonii and Cornovii eventually became Cornish which is cousin to Welsh (and mutually intelligible) it seems pretty likely that the Exmouth Ting Tong might be the same. Fantastic. Been driving me nuts for over ten years trying to find the roots of that. Thanks Laurie!!

Ze

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Language

Wonderful stuff isn't it?? Usage, variations, dialects, history, all interesting. I was re-reading a book the other day which contains a description of a cycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. At one point along the road they come to a place named Heartbreak Hill. Every time I read it I wonder about that. How did it get its name?? Who named it and why?? I wonder if it was gold miners, hoping for a big killing, bitterly disappointed by finding nothing. Or maybe settlers having spent months, years even, crossing from coast to coast in a wagon in search of a better life and finding only barren soil and harsh coastline. I know I could look it up and maybe find out but I don't want to - just in case it's named for a totally boring reason.

Place names are truly fascinating though. They tell the history of a country far better than any book. When I lived in Essex there were a couple of villages not far away with wonderful names; Cold Christmas (I wondered if was), and Good Easter, imagine being able to tell folk you live there. Most of the place names in England betray their Anglo-Saxon or Viking origins. Like Cheapside in London, cheap being the old word for a market. Or the village of Street in Somerset, street used to mean a clearing in the forest not a road (which also didn't mean road, although gate did mean road not gate - confused yet?? *g*). Not the river names though - they're much older. Take the city I now live in Exeter. Named for the river on which it stands, the Exe. Exe, like other rivers such as Usk, Uisk, Axe, Esk, Isk, is widely believed to be a corruption of the old Celtic isca - meaning water. The Roman name for Exeter reflected this - Isca Dumnoniorum, the river of the Dumnonii (the local tribe).

There are a couple of local roads with wonderful names but they drive me nuts. I can't find their origins anywhere and nobody locally seems to know. Which of course means I'm desperate to find out!! Their names... Inner Ting Tong and Outer Ting Tong. Where the hell do they come from. I reckon somebody in the planning department of the local council's having a laugh!!

I love language.

Ze

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Back to It

Back to work for both of us this week. E is looking at a long, busy week catching up on all the problems she missed while she was gone. I'm looking at pretty much the same as before. A week off school doesn't throw the kids off too much. I think it's harder when it's a day here and a day there.

My kids now were another matter entirely. Duncan wasn't looking forward to his day. This morning he sounded as if he were being sent off to the big house. And Calvin is still young enough to like school but his behavior for me today was atrocious. I kept asking Duncan if they got to bed on time last night. Duncan assured me he did but Cal sure wasn't acting like a well-rested kid.

The funny thing about Cal is he can be a pain-in-the-butt, crying, the world hates me little shit one minute and the next he's fine. When I dropped him off at school he was back to his normal self. Nice to know he forgot that I'm the worst mom in the world. I'm sure it'll come back to him soon enough.

Tamara

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Ug

Vacation is over. Tomorrow the kids head back to school and Tamara and I head back to work. I fear a long week ahead. Today we spent doing not much. As it should be. Tonight more of the same.

Oddly enough we have an update with no Buffy...shocking I know. So little here, hence enjoy it all!


Elisa

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

Chick Flick Saturday

I'm happy to report my birthday went quite well. The cake turned out great. Dinner was good. I went to bed feeling like my day was special. What could be better than that?

I also tacked on a request for today...E and I went to see He's Just Not That Into You. E has a fondness for chick flicks and we were taunted by the fact that this movie was showing at the small Icicle Inn theater in Leavenworth. However, with three kids in tow there was no opportunity to see it. Lucky for me Seattle likes those 10 am showtimes and our morning consisted of popcorn and heartwarming romance. If you're a fan of the genre, check this one out. I think you'll like it.

Tamara

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Tamara's Birthday Today!

Tamara is finally catching up with me age wise...sadly not completely. With her birthday here, I spent the afternoon making German Chocolate cake from scratch. Way too many steps, but for her it's all worth it. Her favorite dessert and tonight we go out to dinner, her choice. Since Tamara does the majority of cooking around here it only seemed fair she get the day off completely. So today we even went out for lunch, once again she chose. And we all went to Taco Time, one of her Seattle favorites, even though I think her Oklahoma Taco Bueno was better.

We arrived home yesterday to a happy dog, cats and a pile of laundry. On our way home though we did stop in the town of Monroe to see the Reptile Zoo (if interested holler, I took a ton of pictures I can share). I think we all thought this place was darn fun.

So other than that back to the basics we go. Enjoy those updates!

Elisa

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