A Paranormal Drink....

Besides being a foodie, I also like to 'dabble' in mix-logy. Last summer my focus was on vodka martinis, this year I decided to experiment in the breezes/hurricanes. My first attempt was this weekend and I called it Pele because of the fruit combination.

In Hawaii mythology the goddess of fire is known as Pele. It is said the villagers would leave different fruits for the goddess. If the fruit wasn't sweet enough, ripe enough, or if enough wasn't offered, Pele would make the volcano's erupt.

Pele Breeze (fire wind)
1/3 cup of coconut vodka
1/3 cup of pineapple vodka
1/3 cup of mango vodka
1 1/2 cups of tropical fruit juice
ice
pineapple chunks for garnish

Mix all ingredients together in a blender except the pineapple chunks. Pulse until it has the consistence of a slush. Pour into glasses and enjoy :)

What are some of your favorite summer drinks?

Are you Dreaming of Castles?

Veronica Scott sez: A fun one from the Archives:

I know a lot of little girls dream of living in a castle when they grow-up. But what does it mean if you dream of castles as a grown woman?  It actually means you’re refusing to develop rewarding relationships with others.  You have ‘thick’ brick walls keep people out.  But if you dream of a palace (not really sure what the difference is) it’s a good thing – what does it mean if you dream of castles as a grown woman?  It actually means you’re refusing to develop rewarding relationships with others.  You have ‘thick’ brick walls keep people out. It may also be a warning against adopting a false façade. But if you dream of a palace (not really sure what the difference is) it’s a good thing – you feel secure in the security of the family or you seek a little 

less stress in your life.

Do your dreams bring you locked up in some tower with a knight riding in to save you? The meaning isn’t as romantic as our daydream – it represents our desire to shut ourselves away above the world – a form of isolating. It can also symbolize the oppressive influence of an authoritarian figure.

Personally, I like the ‘cotton candy’ of version of my dream of living in my castle with my prince charming – I have a maid to do laundry.

Or is there a Castle in your Cards?

At its simplest, the castle as a Tarot symbol represents a goal - an ideal of achievement usually after a long quest. How do I come up with this simplified symbolism? A look at all the Rider-Waite cards featuring the castle reveals almost all them are set in the back ground of the card. Far off into the distance we see a the glimmer of the castle as a tribute of what awaits us after we have been upon a quest for higher knowing or advancement.

In almost every card the castle looms far in the distance from the central character of the card - it's a reminder of our reward (and delayed gratification). Whether it be monetary, spiritual, romantic or otherwise, the castle is an end-result of the investment made on the journey of life. And, even where it is featured prominently (in the seven of cups), the castle still hints to goal-oriented focus.

In the Cups 7 the castle is an option to be chosen, but what kind of option? This is where we can expand our intuitive ideals about the castle as a Tarot symbol. This is a very good thing because a broader view of castles makes us realize they are symbolic of far more than just obtaining a goal. Castles are also symbolic of:

·         Protection

·         Wealth

·         Strategy

·         Defense

·         Structure

·         Strength

·         High idealism

·         Dreams/Fantasy

·         Comfort

·         Sanctuary

In the final analysis a castle is a home, and in their golden era in history the castle was a grandiose symbol of protection. Everyone took shelter within the thick stone walls of the castle - from royalty to cattle - all sought refuge within the fortress.

So, when the castles of the Tarot cards come calling out to your awareness, consider all these potential symbolic meanings in conjunction with the rest of the cards in your spread.

Give pause and allow your intuition a chance to roam the halls of the castles in your own understanding to gain a broader perspective of this intriguing Tarot symbol.

Lurking Plot Bunnies...

We’re approaching the Chinese New Year and once again I feel the tickling of plot bunnies. For years the idea of writing a series based on the Chinese zodiac has dangled like a shiny object in the distance. Most of the outlining (more than I do for most of my stories) is done but I so far I haven't been able to fit into my writing que.

It would have a twelve year span (the Chinese cycle). Twelve Princess are under an enchantment and when they turn twenty they have an opportunity to shatter the spell. So at the beginning of year the princess is presented with her ‘opportunity’.  To fail would mean they disappear forever. They characters would assume some of the characters of the ‘year’ of their story.

For example 2014 is the year of the horse. So my heroine, Charlene, is popular, quick-witted, charming, cheerful, and talented. Her vices (or the makers of the story) she has a weakness for members of the opposite sex, is impatient and hot-blooded. So when an injured hero shows, she MUST help regardless of the cost even if it means she won’t be able to break the spell. And hiccups in the story are the results of her impatience.

Have you ever as a writer had an idea that sparked your muse but just couldn’t bring the idea to light? Or as a reader have you thought something would make a really good story?

Best wishes for this new year :D

Changing What You Know

So you thought you knew…

What the headless horseman was all about right? It's some guy that rides down a road carrying his head and scaring Ichabod Crane. Right? Maybe not.

If you watch Sleepy Hollow – you may have just learned that they are the four horsemen of the biblical end of times.

In my NaNoWriMO (for you 'non-writers' November is National Novel Writing Month) project - a young adult fantasy - they are women. Three of them to be exact.  They ride around Crencher (my world) and do the witch's bidding.

Did you know that is actually more difficult to take something most readers will have a previous belief about and switch it up? I could have much more easily created something totally unique to my world (and I do have several 'creatures' of this nature) but I liked the headless concept. Readers, myself included, get twisted out of shape if the author takes a 'well known and accept fact' about something paranormal and disregards it without giving an explanation.  So I really make an effort to NOT do this. I hope the reason I give for why my headless horsemen are actually women and how they found themselves headless is acceptable to the reader.

It's not uncommon for something paranormal to shift in the way it is perceived. Vampires are an excellent example. Once they were 'icky' blood sucking vile things but over time they have become 'sexy' heroes. This has lessened the responsibility of the writer when writing about a 'nice' vampire.  The sterotype has already been altered.

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie where a well know paranormal fact had been twisted but no explanation was offered?

What is Scary???

Since this is the month of the scare holiday, I thought I'd share what I view as scary. Now I understand this will vary from person to person. I don't like the 'new' horror movies – aka slasher. Watching blood spray all over as people get dismembered doesn't scare me – it makes me sick. Now that's just me. I want 'old fashion' scary. And that means – to me – 'real' things. For example this is how I see spiders….

And I find this much more frightening 

than this…

Watching the movie Spiderman doesn't bother me but the movie Spiders – another story. To be honest I don't think I've made through the entire Spiders movie without pausing it and taking a time out.  Every weekend for the month of October hubby and I watch at least one 'scary' movie. This provides good cuddling time ;) and I get the house clean because I can't sleep – hahaha.

Of course a scary movie night needs a 'scary' drink – here's my recipe for a (if I drink too many then sleep is assured) Zombie cocktail!

Ingredients:
• 1 oz lime juice (fresh lime is always best)
• 1 oz light rum
• 1 oz golden rum
• 1 oz dark rum or anejo rum
• 1 oz orange juice
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz cherry brandy
• 1 tsp. of simple syrup

To Mix:
Mix the ingredients well. Pour over ice.

I have a Halloween romance suspense novella out ~

Knock Knock…. Answer if you dare. 

New to Kanna, Florida, Lila Maxwell attends All Treats, a Halloween speed dating event in the hopes of meeting Prince Charming but instead one Halloween ghoul after another appears at her door until Cowboy Bill.

Jax Carlson has spent the last year focusing all of his attention on starting his own business. Hiring Lila Maxell over the Internet as his project manager was the completing task. Set to open for business in three days, Jax plans on spending a couple of days on his boat relaxing. However, his friend Erik has a different idea – a speed dating Halloween party. 

Jax has spent the night plotting the best revenge possible for Erik until Sally opens the door. The woman dressed in the pale lavender Harem costume ignites a fire that Jax thought was impossible without the aid of his formulated dating list. 

After a night of mind blowing sex, Lila sneaks out before they exchange real names believing it was no more than a one-night stand. 

When Lila reports to work she learns Cowboy Bill is actually Jax Carlson. She thinks keeping her hormones in check while convincing Jax that love doesn't follow a formula is complication enough until she learns the participants of the All Treats speed dating event are being killed.

It's available at ~ http://www.amazon.com/Knock-ebook/dp/B00A4NPFKI

Reading ~ It's good for you

Reading and Writing ~ They go together like peas and carrots ;) People can be avid readers without being writers but I think it's impossible to be a writer without being a reader. And the number one suggestion to newbie writers is to read.

Why?

1)    Reading a good book inspires me to write. Not everything I read will spark my plot bunnies, BUT there will be some stories or poems that nurture my plot rabbits.

2)    Reading a good book also instills in me a goal. Not to copy the author's idea but to give my reader the same satisfaction I got.

What should a writer read?

(shrugging) Whatever he/she wants! I know some writers don't like to read books to close to what they write in fear of subconsciously 'borrowing' from the author.  While others love to read their peers work, they feel it sets the standard in their genre. I read whatever catches my eye (the shiny object disorder again).

Actually for 2013, I set monthly 'themes' for my reading (you can visit my blog on Tuesdays for reading list and teasers from my favorites ~ www.http//:lynceeshillard.wordpress.com). Doesn't this sound a little OCD for someone who stops in mid-sentence to watch dust dance in the sunlight? The purpose isn't to move me into a Monk-like category but to expand my horizons. There are some genres I've wanted to try but find that when I take a trip to the book store, I don't seem to visit these sections so this was a way to force me to.

For example, I have enjoyed the few – the very few – steampunk books I had read but I rarely really looked for books in this genre. February was devoted entirely to steampunks. Found books I LOVED that I would have never read if I hadn't made it my focus.

What do you read? How do you select your reading material?

Holidays...

January 12 is a holiday - Feast of Fabulous Wild Men.

Now what kind of holiday is this? Well, I tried to find out because as I've mentioned before and all who know me can tell you I love chasing rabbits down trails. But as many of my rabbits trails do this one led to a dead end. On the website – Holiday Insights – they suggested surfing the net and feasting your eyes on fabulous wild men... And in the effort to be a good blogger, (cough, cough) I did so.

After an hour or so of that – I want all the readers here to know it was done for this blog not personal enjoyment (wink) – I decided I needed to finish writing this post. I'm happy to report there are in fact many fabulous wild men out there.  I've included a picture of one of  the wild men I really enjoyed feasting my eyes on:)

But what really started this stroll down the rabbit trail was research for my holiday romance suspense I'm currently working on. I know how my family celebrates, how my husband's family celebrates, and close friends but what about traditions I'm not familiar with. I want my characters to layered and my plot to have some interesting elements which may be achieved by including some lesser known holiday's or ways of celebrating those that are widely known.

Now I don't think my hero or heroine will be partaking in any Feast of Fabulous Wild Men but I did enjoy the eye candy the dead end supplied. I also did come across some very interesting things that I will incorporate into my WIP.

I'd love to hear what are some of the unique holidays or celebrates you've come across.

Is it a furby??? Or a flesh eating creature???

Today, I'm talking about making believe out of the reality or in my case - world building. I'm working on a new sci-fi so I'm elbow deep in developing a world. Planets – how many? What are they liked? What lives on them? Etc. Since I'm a big fan of not reinventing the wheel I look for inspiration in things that already exist.



The picture shows a cute little furby something you would want to give a child to cuddle BUT in the second book in my young adult series - The Warrior Queen they morphed into deadly flesh eating creatures of the underworld. The humpback angel fish lives in my sci-fi world – I mean how could it not? I'm still developing the charactists and it's role. It will play a part in the farming community and will probably not be a fish but some sort of herding animal.

Writing is all about taking something 'normal' and adding a dash of your imagination. An ordanry couple becomes interesting when dead bodies start showing up in their bathtub. A dreaded boring business trip becomes life altering when the CEO's of the competing companies are kidnapped by terrorist. Of course, they find each other incredibly attractive;)

What were some of your favorite everyday situations that an author twisted into an exciting plot?

Creating a tradition by breaking the mold.

I love Thanksgiving. Hands down it’s my favorite holiday. Eating without guilt. An excuse to make FIVE different pies! What’s not to love? But my Thanksgiving wasn’t always moist turkey with cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes, and FIVE pies.  My mother’s idea of Thanksgiving dinner was a turkey roll (not sure what kind of meat this was), a box of stovetop stuffing and a hostess pie warmed up with ice cream on it. Now don’t get me wrong, I looked forward to picking out my pie every year but as I became a mother I decided I want my tribe members to have a different memory of Thanksgiving.

A romance is about falling in love. As writers we take this and twist it into our own.  Like my Thanksgiving dinner is different than my mother’s no two writers will tell the same exact story.  Some may write of werewolves, vampires, or mermaids (like my January release). Other’s may stick all humans and throw in a serial killer for spice.

Readers want a variety. So as a writer don’t be afraid to try something new but know sometimes it will work sometimes it won’t. I could share my Thanksgiving horror stories of raw turkey or of sweet potatoes I baked for three hours but I won’t. Instead let me tell you, my turkey is juicy and my sweet potatoes are the most requested dish in our family.  Just as some of the stories I’ve written should never be read, others are good and as I write more - I improve.

I think this year for Thanksgiving I’m going to make a pumpkin soup. Something I’ve never tried. And in 2013, I’m going to try to write a steampunk.  

What would you like to try to write?

You want it when?!?!

I think one of the hardest challenges as a writer is to work a steamy love scene into a high suspense novella.  When your hero and heroine are in constant danger sex should be the last thing on their mind or it would be for the average person.

Sometimes a little humor can be used to slip it in as in the movie Serenity. Two secondary characters are facing death as the Reavers attack. Simon turns to Kaylee and says his one regret is that he didn’t get to know her better.  She asks as in sex. He replies yes. To which she declares she’s going to live.

In my novella, Taking a Risk, for the Dangerous Men/Dangerous Places Anthology, I have my hero and heroine hiking through the Amazon jungle trying to escape a killer. Not exactly the most romantic set-up. So how did I work in a little romance and a couple steamy love scenes? Like the movie Serenity, I used humor.  I didn’t insult the reader by trying to make them believe Leigh found Nick so hot, she had to have him regardless of the looming danger.  Instead Leigh figures she’s going to die so what the hell… she’ll be sexual satisfied.  She even tells herself this way there will be no awkward moments of trying to decide where this relationship is going – it’s not – she’s going to die.

As in my daily life as a writer, I like to find ways to color outside the lines. Find ways to add a little unexpected into my stories. So what are some of the best ‘unexpected’ things you’ve read?