Congratulations to our winner from Saturday's contest...the winner of Terry Spear's book, Heart of the Wolf.
The names were entered into Random.org's list randomizer and it picked the winner. So, the winner is: DEBBY!!!
Congratulations, Debby!!!! We hope you enjoy your free book from Terry Spear. To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address. Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again! Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!
Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing. No exceptions are made.
*Sorry this was posted so late. I am preparing my family for travel during the holidays and just now realized that today WAS Tuesday and that a winner needed to be announced. So sorry for the delay!*
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
The Deadly Vixens
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Saturday's Contest Winner
Friday, November 21, 2008
Hunting and Free Radicals...
Awesome Friday everyone! *waves* Well, my little one survived his surgery last Friday without tons of drama. *scratches head* This is my drama king child. So, this doesn’t make much sense. *scratches head some more* O-kay…I decided not to look a gift horse in its mouth—I think that’s the way the saying goes anyway…I’m horrible at sayings—and went with the flow and enjoyed his less than stellar drama.
NaNo…eh…it’s going okay for me. I’m proud of the word count I’ve accomplished, especially with all the family distractions I’ve had of late. Currently, I’ve become point man—or point woman as it relates to me—for purchasing the necessary supplies for my husband and son’s deer hunting enterprise. Let me just say, I am NOT a hunter. I’m still too traumatized by watching Bambi as a child to even think of shooting a deer. I do not eat the meat—YUCK!—but I do cook it for my family to eat. None of the supplies they have requested have been difficult; they’ve just not come all at once. *glares at husband and oldest seed* On Monday I was requested to purchase food supplies and take my son’s gun to be sited. They gave me the list and gun and I did the shopping and dropping off. Not a big deal, right? Well, on Tuesday, they decided they forgot the hot hands to keep their hands hot while they sit in the tree stands. (If they actually “hunted” something, scouted it out rather than sit and waited on it—not my idea of “hunting”—their hands might not get cold…just a thought…) So, with a sigh, I grumped about having to go to Wal-Mart to purchase them. I hate going to Wal-Mart…I go for two items and end up buying fifteen. So, on Wednesday, I purchased the hot hands and a bunch of makeup I didn’t need, but couldn’t resist. ;-) Then Wednesday night, they have forgotten to tell me that my son needs a bigger size of thermal underwear. Instead of glaring at them this time, I’m shooting daggers at them with my eyes. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous and they need to get their freaking act together. But, I went yesterday and bought him a new pair and then listened to him grump about the top and bottoms being two different colors. Like anyone’s going to see his thermal underwear! They’re not going into the woods trying to make a fashion statement anyway! I nearly strangled him, then nearly strangled his father when he said, “I forgot B needs a new hunting jacket too.”
At that point I was envisioning with glee slicing, dicing and carving him into tiny, tiny pieces. I think I could easily provide a valid defense. Yeah, needless to say, I informed him immediately they were on their own this time because I wasn’t shopping for any more hunting supplies. I’ll pick up the rifle today, but otherwise, I’m thinking of divorcing the two of them. Anyone know the name of a good divorce lawyer? ;-)
My Word of the Week: Free Radicals
I see the word everywhere. It was even on the new makeup I purchased this week at Wal-Mart. So, that got me to thinking…What is a Free Radical? I figured if I didn’t know some of you might not know either. So, a brief definition, provided to us by: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-free-radicals.htm
“Free radicals are organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage, and possibly some diseases. These molecules are very unstable, therefore they look to bond with other molecules, destroying their vigor and perpetuating the detrimental process. Some molecules are unstable. They do not have an even number of electrons, so they are always searching for an extra electron they can ‘steal’ to become stable. Out in the world, this is a normal process, but in the body, it can result in unnecessary damage. Free radicals are ‘free’ because they float around until they stabilize, and ‘radical’ in the sense that there are a wide variety of molecules from which they can take an electron. However, the damage doesn't stop there, as the new molecule, say a piece of a cell wall, is now also missing an electron and has become another free radical. This snowball effect can wreak havoc on healthy tissue.”
I’ve never been awesome at science, so that definition left me scratching my head again just a little. I could understand the basic idea, but it didn’t really tell me much as to how it relates to my life.
I looked for more articles and got some of the same basic definitions and then some that were so detailed and so confusing, I would have needed a professor to explain it. What I did get from all the articles I read was that the antioxidants found in foods prevent free radicals from harming the healthy tissue in our bodies. But, we can counteract free radicals by eating foods rich in Vitamins A, E and beta-carotene, which is found in fresh vegetables and fruits. Antioxidants are like a security systems in the path of a criminal, stopping the free radical from causing a myriad of damage. If you’re thinking a multi-supplement can give you all the antioxidants you need, well, think again. The multi-vitamin might help, but it is better for us to get the antioxidants we need from a balanced diet because our body absorbs the vitamins from foods more easily. I thought that fact was interesting because I’m a multi-vitamin fiend! I’m a one-day multi-supplement girl, along with green tea extract, vitamin C, Cod Liver Oil and Calcium with vitamin D.
While some free radicals are inevitable, aging for instance, clogging of arteries and DNA destruction can be prevented. Causes of free radicals are found in our everyday life…pollution, cigarette smoking, cleaning supplies, herbicides, etc.
Hope that helps some of you that might have been as confused as me. =)
Don’t forget to check back this coming Sunday and welcome our newest Deadly Vixen, Tierney O’Malley!
And don’t forget to check out our Saturday Contest, as our guest blogger Terry Spear will be giving away a copy of Heart of the Wolf to one lucky winner!
I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! Anyone have any plans? Stay safe and be naughty at least once. =)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Please Welcome Author...Terry Spear!!
Victorian Sex for Werewolves?
Sex Tips for Husbands and Wives was penned by Ruth Smythers, a vicar's wife, in 1894. In this work, she talked about how a wife should limit sex to two brief encounters during the week. Sex should be given reluctantly or the husband would expect a sexual orgy too often. Unclothed bodies should not be seen, and lights should always be turned off. And the best, the wife should be perfectly still or her husband might think she was excited to participate and was encouraging the encounter. Fight with your husband before bedtime to discourage sex.
Ah, I’m so glad my werewolves, though the first story starts in the 1800’s, were not prudish Victorians, who listened to vicar’s wives. :) The fewer clothes, the better. Speaking of werewolves, HEART OF THE WOLF made Publishers Weekly’s BEST OF BOOKS OF THE YEAR for mass category, one of five books listed!!!
And the next three wolf tales will be out next year also! None of the characters in these books believe in Ruth Smythers’s concept of how a husband and wife should behave toward each in the bedroom.
Brief sexual encounters are discouraged. The more, the longer, the better. Movement in bed is encouraged. Lights on or off don’t matter since werewolves can see in the dark. Unclothed bodies are the rule. Sexual orgies with their mates are heartily expected.. Fighting with a mate is to occur AFTER sex, not before, so that by the time they’re ready for the act again, they’re really ready.
So what do you think? Do we have it better???
Terry Spear
Heart of the Wolf, PW’s BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Friday, October 24, 2008
Superstitions
Awesome Friday! I have some personal information I want to share before I start my blog this week.
First, I’m participating in a Carnival at Bitten By Books Review Site. There is hundreds of dollars worth of contributions for you to win. I will personally be giving away five copies of my book, The Devil’s Den, one copy to five different winners. If you’re interested in checking out the Carnival, here’s the link: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=1364 I will post this link under "Blogs and Other Websites We Enjoy" for your convenience.
As more information becomes available, I will pass it along! The Carnival looks exciting and I’m sure you won’t want to miss it! There’s tons of stuff there to win. Good luck to everyone that participates.
Secondly, if you’re interested in winning a copy of my e-book, The Devil’s Den, I am going to be giving away a copy of it on Friday, October 31st—Halloween Day! I will announce the winner Halloween day at approximately the noon hour Central Standard Time, so that the lucky winner can have it to read Halloween evening if they so desire. To participate in the contest, post a comment to either today’s blog, Sunday’s blog or to my Halloween blog that morning before the noon hour! For each comment you make, you will be entered for a chance to win it. So, if you make three comments, then you will be entered in the drawing three times, upping your chances of winning.
Thirdly, I checked the 2008 Fall Night Owl Romance Awards, I am up to 4% of the votes, which is still a long way from winning. I’m just excited that someone thought enough of my e-book, The Devil’s Den, to vote for it! Thank you to all of those that voted for me. Terry Spear has 9% of the votes—she’s tied for first place!—for her book Heart of the Wolf. Congratulations, Terry!!! If you’re interested in voting for either of us (we’re in separate award categories, so there's no conflict), here’s the link: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/NORAwards/fall2008norawardseroticebooks.asp
Lastly, I asked my sons to give me a topic for today’s blog. My oldest son could barely comprehend the request. *rolls eyes* I think hormones are getting in the way of his coherent thought process. My youngest son, who is 6, gave me a goofy story instead and I promised to post it for you all. Here it is: “A ghost ate your feet. Boo!” :-) I didn’t say it was great, but I was chuckling at the simple craziness of it. He was standing beside me giggling, with his chest puffed out in pride, as I typed it up for you guys to read.
Now, off to my Friday topic….
Superstitions…
Are you superstitious? Growing up in the South, superstitions have plagued my life. Do you believe in superstitions? Me, I do not particularly think of myself as superstitious and typically scoff at them. I do, however, have a few that we practice in my home because my husband does believe in them. Which is truly crazy because this man does not believe in the supernatural, anything paranormal or in aliens from outer space? His faith lies with God and superstitions, that’s it, nothing else has a place for rationale in his logical thinking. His grandparents and his mother have spoonfed him superstitions all of his life.
So, here are a few superstitions that I could think of and how they got started. I found it interesting. I hope you will too.
1. We cannot wash clothes on New Year’s Day because if we do, my husband says we will wash someone out of our life. I scoffed at this one for many years, but typically we were too busy on New Year’s Day for me to actually test the theory and wash clothes. Not that I want to wash someone out of my life—well, maybe I can think of one or two, but I don’t think I get to pick the recipient. *snaps fingers* Too bad. I'm just kidding...a little. ;-) So, just my luck that the first New Year’s Day that I actually washed clothes, my husband’s grandmother died in October that year. That was in 1990. I haven’t washed again on New Year’s Day until this year, 2008. Forgetting my husband’s fanatical belief in this particular superstition, I put on a load of towels and it was in the rinse cycle by the time he realized what I was doing. He stopped the wash and muttered something about hopefully he had stopped it in time. Strangely enough, my girlfriend’s mother died on October 12th. Is there any validity to this superstition? Seriously, I don’t believe there is, but my husband is convinced. Me, I think it is just bad coincidence. A really bad, morbid coincidence. But…maybe, just maybe...I’ll refrain from washing clothes again on New Year’s Day just to be safe.
2. Spilling Salt and tossing it over your left shoulder. Salt once was very expensive and had many purposes. It was and still is used to purify. Salt has had many uses throughout history. In Greece, slaves were traded for salt. Hence, it’s where we get the saying, “He isn’t worth his salt.” Every grain of spilled salt was once believed to represent future tears in old English beliefs. If this were true, I would be in so much trouble. Spilled salt was believed to arouse enmity to the Germans. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt because she disobeyed the angels by looking back at the city of Sodom as it was being destroyed. Jesus referred to his disciples as “the Salt of the Earth.” Matthew 5:13 states, “You are the salt of the earth…” Parallel verses to Matthew 5:13 are Mark 9:49-50 and Luke 14:34-35, wherein he is referring to Christians as “salt”. The famous painting by Leonardo DaVinci, The Last Supper, depicts Judas Escariot—Jesus’ betrayer that led to his crucifixion—has spilled some salt on the table, which was thought to be a portent of evil and bad luck. I could go on and on with all the salt superstitions I found and the numerous biblical references. By throwing a pinch of salt over our shoulder, it is being thrown straight into the Devil’s face who is hanging out over our left shoulder because it is the sinister side of our body. Again, this is not a superstition I adhere to. My husband…well, again, I’ve seen him toss salt over his shoulder more than once when salt has been spilled. He’s so freaky about it that he will toss salt over my shoulder for me when I spill it. I find this upsetting because he’s getting salt all over the floor or counter.
3. Weddings are wrought with superstitions, many of which I participated in because they are considered good luck and it’s become like a tradition. The bride is supposed to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. There is supposed to be a penny in the bride’s shoe as well…this was most uncomfortable. The “something old” signified that the couple’s friends would stay with them; “something new” was for the couple’s future happiness, health and success; “something borrowed” was for the Bride’s family to give her something as a symbol of their love, but it must be returned to guarantee good fortune; and “something blue” was because the color represented fidelity and constancy. The penny in one’s shoe was supposed to bring the couple prosperity in their wedded years. At the bridal shower, I remember being told that the number of bows I broke while unwrapping the gifts indicated how many children we would have. It is a very old fertility rite to throw confetti, while throwing grains and/or nuts was considered life-giving seeds, which was probably also related to fertility.
4. Breaking a mirror is supposed to cause 7 years of bad luck. This superstition can be traced back to the Romans. However, many cultures believed that a mirror had the ability to possess a portion of the viewer’s soul. So if the viewer’s reflected image was distorted in any fashion, it could mean the viewer’s soul was corrupted. Worse yet, it was believed that a broken mirror reflected that the viewer’s soul was broken, as was the viewer’s health.
5. Walking under a ladder. In medieval times it was thought that a leaning ladder resembled the gallows, so in essence one was playing out their own execution by walking underneath it. Another explanation was that when a ladder is leaning up against a wall, it makes a triangular shape which represented the Holy Trinity. So by walking through the triangular shape, one was violating and desecrating God, and therefore, the violator would fall prey to Satan.
6. Various other superstitions that I won’t go into are, the horseshoe, the four-leaf clover, the wishbone, unlucky number 13, don’t open umbrellas indoors, making a wish when one blows out birthday candles, wishing on a shooting star, saying “break a leg” as opposed to saying “good luck” to actors/actresses, rabbit’s foot, and the list goes on and on, but these were the ones I could think of. The last one I’ll mention is the one I hear from my boys, “Step on a crack and you’ll break your mother’s back.” I just want to know why we can’t break their father’s back instead of ours? I’m tired of getting the raw end of the deal. ;-)
Do you believe in superstitions? Tell me your superstitions, the ones you practice and believe in. Tell me it's a bunch of malarky, but tell me what you think. Remember, your comments enter you for a chance to win a copy of my e-book, The Devil’s Den. If you’ve already read The Devil’s Den, I still want your comments. Just let me know that you’ve already read it.
Reminder to those that participate in the end of Daylight Savings Time, we turn our clocks back next weekend (November 2nd).
I hope everyone’s weekend is made of awesome!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Please Welcome Author...Terry Spear!!
First off, let me apologize for getting this up so late today. I had planned to get it posted and scheduled for first thing this morning, but between one confusion, the next one and then running off to dentist appointments at 7:30 this morning...well, you get the picture. So, sorry to Terry for the delay and sorry to you all as well. Hope you enjoy!
Now, please welcome author, Terry Spear!
~~
I’m teaching this month about conflict in writing. Whereas in our real lives we don’t want a lot of conflict, in fiction, the more the better! :-)
There’s nothing worse than reading about characters who have no troubles, that everything is perfectly hunky-dory. Nope, got to have conflict. On every page.
My latest release is The Vampire…In My Dreams and here is the blurb that shows some of the conflict they’re in for.
The Witch –
Plain and average Marissa Lakeland doesn’t believe in fate—or vampires. When she and her girlfriend chase after a gorgeous hunk of a guy one dark, misty night to prove he’s truly a vampire, she’s forced to face her worst nightmares—in the flesh. Rather, in the not-quite mortal flesh. So why does the thought of tall, dark, and vampiric appeal to her, when there’s no way a vampire can compel a witch to do his bidding? At least that’s what she’s read in vampiric lore. But lore can be mistaken. Utterly mistaken.
The Prince of Darkness –
As soon as he sees Marissa, fledgling vampire, Dominic Vorchowski, knows that she’s the only one who can save him. Only why does she have to be a witch? Humans are easy to compel, but a witch? Fate has thrown him together with the clever, bewitching teen and if he can gain her trust, he’ll have his life back again. Except for that whole eternal thirst for blood thing. And the fangs. Not to mention the aversion to intense sunlight. In any event, he’ll have his life back as normal as it can be. This time, he’ll not mess with girls he knows nothing about. Especially when he’s set his sights on one tantalizing teen witch, who’s totally off the menu.
The Threat –
Lynetta wants Dominic to replace the lover she lost three hundred years ago, and no witch is going to take her guy away from her. Ancient vampires tend to get really cranky when they don’t get their way. Really cranky. Like three-hundred-years-in-the-making cranking. She’s not just after Dominic’s blood, she wants every bit of the hunk. Time is running out while Dominic and Marissa try to find a way to thwart the vampiress and her blood bonds from winning the battle of the night.
And here is a blurb from Deadly Liaisons, an adult vampire romantic suspense coming November 15.
Dark huntress and rare telepath, Tezra Campbell treads a thin line between being a skilled criminal investigator for the Hunter Council and a renegade. She has an obsessive compulsion to find the vampire who murdered her parents, resulting in severe trauma to her younger sister who’d witnessed the crime a decade earlier.
Prince of the American vampire clans, Daemon, sees Tezra as a danger to herself and to his people if the serial killer vampire terminates her next. He’s also concerned his own brother might be accused of the crime, takes her into custody, and intends to find the killer himself.
Only things don't work out the way either planned, yet both aim to win the deadly game.
I have a conflictive excerpt on The Vampire…In My Dreams shown at: www.terrywildeteenbooks.com
But Deadly Liaisons is just in final edits, so here’s an excerpt from the opening:
Streetlamps poked scant fingers of light into the gray fog coating the warehouse district, deserted at the ungodly hour. Perfect conditions for another murder.
Unable to slow her racing heart, she feared the renegade vampire would hear the blood whooshing through her veins, begging him to take her life also.
Not far from where she stood, the dried blood of the three policemen murdered last week—their jugulars ripped out—stained the pavement. Too close for comfort. She wanted to move away from the spot, to distance herself from the recent killings, to be anywhere but here.
She peered into the murkiness, straining to see any sign of movement, listening for any human sound. Where the hell was the police officer she was to meet?
Come alone, Officer Stevens had warned. And she’d obeyed. Had to, if she was to learn the bloodsucker’s name. Yet, she couldn’t shake free of the feeling she’d been set up.
~~
Lots of conflict. We want to show it in the beginning, and on every page either in internal or external ways through the story. We want to keep our readers entertained and riveted throughout. So the fun in writing is coming up with new obstacles to place in our characters’ paths. They definitely don’t have an easy time of it when we get hold of them. But hopefully, everything will turn out all right in the end. :-)
One of my students used a real life example in a fictionalized setting showing conflict—fire in the kitchen, 9-1-1 operator with a nonchalant attitude. And that’s a marvelous way to dream up new stories, use real-life conflictive situations you’ve been in and turn it into fiction. Have you had some crisis that could be made into a story? And wouldn’t some say, “Oh, no, that’s just too unreal.”
Thanks to Deadly Vixens for having me. Take a look at my movie video trailers here to see how even in a trailer, conflict is important: http://www.terryspear.com/id17.html
Share with me your thoughts on conflict and you’ll be entered in my giveaway for either Heart of the Wolf, The Vampire…In My Dreams, or Winning the Highlander’s Heart. Your choice. The sequel for Heart of the Wolf, Don’t Cry Wolf, is coming Mar 1st. And I’ve sold the sequel to Winning the Highlander’s Heart, The Accidental Highland Hero. Thanks everyone for taking the time to read my posting! :-) Terry Spear, www.terryspear.com
