Getting Naughty at Work
My new release, “Training the Receptionist,” is an erotic novella about a receptionist and her two bosses. Politically correct, it’s not. We all know it’s risky to get involved with your boss. Let alone both of them. At the same time. Obviously, this is an erotic fantasy that should not be confused with real life. It’s fiction, not based on my personal experience or that of anyone I know.But in our society, we spend so much time at work, how can we keep our sexual selves completely separate? One estimate says we spend 164 more hours at work than we did twenty years ago. And work relationships can be very intense, even when they aren’t romantic. Dana, my heroine, can’t possibly be the only one to give in to the lure of the forbidden in the workplace.Of course she isn’t, not even close. I did some research, and the numbers say sex in the workplace is more common than you might think. According to a recent study by staffing company Randstad USA, 37% of working adults have flirted with a colleague. 8% currently have a crush on someone they work with. And 17% have secretly dated someone at work. According to surveys quoted in Marie Claire Magazine, the numbers are even higher: 47% of workers have had an office affair. Only 34% kept it a secret. I’d say Dana definitely has some company in the business of monkey business.Everything my characters Dana, Simon and Ethan do together is consensual, not to mention extremely enjoyable. But obviously, sex in the workplace is a minefield. What if it doesn’t work out? What if there’s a power imbalance? When does it become sexual harassment? Stories of celebrity office affairs have made headlines lately. (Dave Letterman, what were you thinking?)But it’s not all bad news. Most studies indicate that between 15 and 20% of Americans met their spouse at work. So romance on the job can be a good thing. But experts say such dalliances work better if you follow a few guidelines. One, don’t betray a committed relationship. Two, don’t date someone in your direct chain of command. Three, don’t have sex in the actual location where you work. Dana, Simon and Ethan are all single, so no worries on the first count. But as for the other rules…. Yeah, they break all of those. Repeatedly. Enthusiastically.And why not? This is fantasy, and what is fantasy for if not the smashing of taboos and trashing of rulebooks? So go ahead, enjoy “Training the Receptionist.” Just don’t try it at home, or at work.What’s your opinion about on the job romance? Is it too risky? Hard to resist? Always wrong, or does it depend on the situation?Training the Receptionist is available now from Samhain Publishing. You can also download a Free Read called “Thanking the Receptionist,” which features the same characters. Stop by my website at JuniperBell.com, visit my blog or follow me on Twitter.Thanks for reading!Juniper Bell
Thoughts On Love
Unrequited love…there is something about it that is hauntingly beautiful. There is something about it that makes us desire the love of the person we can’t have all the more. Love may strengthen or break in times of turmoil, war, sickness, death, or health. Love is the deepest human emotion. It stirs emotions in us that we never dreamed were possible.
Interesting Game!
I am always amazed on how casino works. But before I used to believe that this game is not for me because I’ve always been straight to my beliefs that casino will just clean out my wallet but to tell you honestly after I tried playing casino my personal point of view really changed, (I am not the type of player who will play til my last penny). Well I know that when people talk about online gambling the first thing that they usually think is that casinos can be very addictive and at the same time a big waste of money., but all I am saying is why not try playing the game? try searching the top search engines in the internet and surely it will also produce the same output. I am very sure that the fun and excitement can never be replaced by any amount of money. So hurry and go the provided link now! Because All people need a break from work and stress. And one way to break free from life’s pressures is through recreation. And I suggest that you try casinos online games as your means of spending your leisure time to cut away boredom. I know that you may think that an empty wallet is the end of the world but if you only just knew about this site. Just simply disregard the notion that gambling is a waste of time and money because for me the fun and excitement that it brings is simply incomparable. So what are you waiting for? Go to the provided link and try this leisure, then invite all your friends. See you there!! Before I forget this site has made it easier for the players to play with their provision of strategies and tips that will really make them more skillful in gambling. So hurry and join this community now! This will surely bring excitement and reduce the level of boredom of its players. Don’t be afraid of the notion that playing in online casino is a big waste of money and a highly addictive kind of play but actually this is not a big deal if you just know how to control and know what is too much and what is not.. You should try your first ever casino in this site! I am also sure that you will enjoy playing online casino gambling. So what are you waiting for?see you there guys!!
Emo Hair
emo hair has sharp edges and shapes. It does not always have bangs, but it usually does have some chunky sections twisted or pulled in a direction that conflicts with the rest of the hair. Girls and guys have emo styles of hair, and they are pretty much the same. Girls might have longer hair than guys, but they usually do not have hair past their shoulders.
from emo-corner
Haunted
In the spirit of Halloween I want to tell you a story Ocean Dreamers, enjoy the story of my haunt…
Found at Weheartit.com
I was 18 years old. I had never been in love. I never knew what love felt like until I met him. He become my everything. He became my all…
My High School sweetheart is someone that I no longer like to talk about very much. Our love story was the kind of love affair that you read about in romance novels. He would carry me up the drive way to my Victorian home, buy me flowers, kiss me until I was breathless, write me love letters, and buy me Tiffany necklaces. We traveled together everywhere. We had the most perfect and happy photos. Kissing at sunset, on the beach, under the stars, it was everything I ever wanted and more. Everything and more. I met his family, he knew mine well. I was infatuated, I was in love, I was his everything and he was mine. For five years we were inseparable. Even though we went to different Universities, we traveled back and forth up to two to three times a month to see each other in either Kansas or California. We couldn’t wait for the weekends when we would see each other. It was a desperate and passionate love. So many memories, so many plans. I never thought anything or anyone could separate us until…
One weekend when I was in Kansas my haunt and I decided to go with his friends to Dave and Busters. My haunt was making glances with a mutual friend…I could tell things were not the same between us. No, it did not happen over night, but I was losing my love, my everything. He kissed me then. He told me everything was okay, that I shouldn’t have any doubts. He had no feelings for the other girl. But inside of me I was screaming. I knew that was not the truth, my premonition was I was losing the love of my life. I would never get him back…
Flash forward to graduation day my Senior year of college. I was in turmoil. My ex and I had just broken up with one another but out of my desperation I was not ready to let go. I invited him to be there with my family and they understood, even though they knew he had broken my heart. My haunt made phone calls to that girl that weekend, I couldn’t understand why I invited him there. All I knew was that he was my heart, but yet my heart was missing. Why did he have to trample my heart on the ground?
By Alegion @ DeviantART
It took me three years to get over my haunt. Some days, when I am driving in the car a song from High School or our time together turns on the radio…it brings me back. Back to those days when we would hold hands in the car, kiss at red lights, and tell each other over and over again that we love each other. That we were meant to be together. Music was so much a part of who we were. It reminded me that I thought that nothing would ever separate us, ever.
Some nights, when I am all alone, or in my dreams, my mind reverts back to the love of my past. He never seems to leave me alone, but it has lessened over time. I consider him my haunt, because for five years this China man occupied my thoughts in every way and he still haunts me occasionally to this day. It was a suffocating love, a love that was not meant to be. But, despite the way our relationship ended, I hung on to the hope of a reconciliation. We remained friends…but it was not the same. He broke my heart, I could not let go. Over and over the cycle went, it was very unhealthy but I thought that was what love was. Did I not understand love? I wanted him more than anything. I was haunted, I am still haunted, I will forever be haunted.
Haunt by Simplistic Scion @ DeviantART
I tell you this story not for you to feel sorry for me or to think that I am still clinging on to my haunt. I am blessed beyond measure with the man of my dreams, aka Big Kiddo. He came into my life at the perfect timing too. Right when I needed him, right when I was still healing but Big Kiddo gave me the time to heal. Big Kiddo taught me what love truly is.
I tell you the story of my haunt because it is a part of me, it made me who I am today. It helped me learn about love, and it helped me learn about life. I do miss my haunt, but I know better now. I know not to run back to someone who even though later came back to me and wanted me to take him back, I did not. He wanted me to marry him, he said he would never leave me again. But why would I take someone back who was only going to trample my heart and leave me again? That was the hardest decision of my life, for you see, I will always love my haunt. That is the type of love you don’t find everyday. And yet…I learned that love is not desperation, is not always fireworks, is not sacrificing everything, is not materialism, is not becoming a weaker person. My haunt managed to make me feel inferior and not good enough, no haunt or person for that matter should ever make you feel this way Ocean Dreamers.
Instead love is mainly loyalty, cherishing someone, not leaving them, consistency not manipulation, improving someone and encouraging them to be an even better person, having the same goals, and trust. My trust was gone, therefore my love was not the same…
I will forever be haunted by this love from my past. But with every haunt comes a happy ending, healing, new beginnings and a new love. But I know that my haunt is one that I will never ever forget.
Blessed Friday and Costume Decisions
Happy Friday Ocean Dreamers, what do you have planned this weekend?
Well for me…tonight I am seeing Love Happens. Tomorrow I am working on homework and seeing Big Kiddo. Sunday I am going to Ingrid Michaelson in concert, yay! I will be doing a post on my concerts soon, since I just saw Colbie as well.
So, to follow my new Friday habit, here are few things I am blessed with:
1. a lovely apartment that I am happy to call home
2. an amazing small group that I meet with each week to learn more about God and enjoy eachother’s company
3. the holidays to come with my family and friends
4. fall colors, mountains, the ocean, and enjoying nature on a daily basis
5. yummy food such as fruit and veggies that fill up my tummy!
Those are just a few things I am thankful for, of course I am thankful for many other things as well!
So, I need your advice. I am trying to come up with a costume to wear to Cirque du Soleil when I go with Big Kiddo on Halloween. Do you think it would be weird if I wear a costume even though I am going to be watching a circus event? I want to dress up but at the same time I am not sure if others dress up. Let me know what you think.
I also want the costume that I wear that evening to be the same one I wear to my work party. I wanted to dress sexy but I don’t think it would be work appropriate, so I am trying to come up with an alternative. I might have to get two different costumes though if I find a cute one that is a bit too showy for work though. So here are some of the costumes I like so far. Let me know which one is your favorite, okay?
Oh, and I just bought this smokey eye set from Sephora, I am going to use it under my eyes. Spoooooky!
Bride of Darkness
Pebbles
I’d wear black tights with the shorts for work. 
Black eyes probably won’t work with this one though, bummer!
Strawberry Shortcake
Might be too sexy for work, what do you think? I think I keep liking the pink, lol.
Spider Vamp
This one is on sale and it is also pink, obviously need to look at different colors now. Ha!
Sea Horse
This is hilarious but since you know how much I love the ocean, this might be it…or not?!
Repunzel
This one might be my favorite. I could be Repunzel gone bad! 
Sailor
I think Big Kiddo would love this one since he loves to sail, lol!
Okay…which one is your favorite for me to wear?
If you want to know where I found all of them follow the links, maybe you just found your costume too!
Hope you all have an amazing weekend.
XOXO,
Crowdsourcing
I not only love reading books, but also looking at their covers. Especially with new-to-me-authors cover art is a very important purchase factor.
When I was only a reader, before I was ever involved as cover artist in the actual production of a book, I imagined that the author would tell the publishers how s/he saw the cover and when there would be a photo-shoot with models and all to just accomplish that vision (i.e. in case no original art was involved). I had never heard of stock art before.
Then, during my beginnings as a cover artist for e-book publishers I discovered the whole world of stock on the internet. There were, and still are, very pricey sites like veer.com — especially when compared to what you earn as e-book cover artist. And then ones who I could afford — istockphoto.com, dreamstime.com, stockxpert.com, to name just a few.
I started to recognize the expensive images on Romance covers by NY publishing houses and dreamed of being able to work one day with the same stock, to bring the NY flair to my covers.
This dream, though stopped later as the first articles started to appear on blogs—yes, also on RTB—about how books, even ones releasing the same month, were having the same cover. The ‘recycled-cover-trend’ had arrived.
So I evolved as artist, striving more for uniqueness and creativity instead of copying what the NY pubs put on their covers. Not that I didn’t do that before, knowing that almost every other e-book cover artist—when working with photos—used the same stock resources than I did. However, the NY pubs were no longer my role model for a great cover.
Don’t get me wrong, please! There are still tons of NY covers that get me drooling! I’m not saying one is better than the other (and I don’t even want to go into an e-book/print pub discussion), just that some events altered my view on the cover art process.
While there will always be some poorly executed e-book covers, I’m very pleased to notice that the majority of e-covers today are very appealing and don’t need to take a backseat when compared to the covers created by the art departments of the big publishing houses.
Quite contrary is the fact that the e-cover artists still use the same ‘cheap’ resources, and the covers have never been better or had more variety than they do today. There are real photo magicians at work.
(And believe me, ‘cheap’ is a very subjective matter as especially lately, the most stock sites increased their prices.)
So while the e-cover industry improved their ‘looks’, the NY pubs have started to recognize—and I’m sure the economy is not a small factor here—the value of the ‘cheaper’ stock sites. After the ‘recycled-cover-look’ you now can see a new trend: Crowdsourcing! It’s not an own, to the Romance publishing world limited, phenomenon, but shows its head everywhere.
Wikipedia: “Crowdsourcing is a neologism for the act of taking tasks traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people or community in the form of an open call.”
Two very well-known Crowdsourcing cases recently have been the TIME magazine cover and the Twitter bird. You can catch up on both also here with lots of visuals.
Nowadays, when surfing the Romance section in online bookstores, I should actually be happy about the fact that I have difficulties telling e-covers from other covers apart. Unfortunately, it’s not only because the e-covers improved so much, but due to publishers using the same $6 stock images I and my fellow e-artists use, and most don’t even do it creatively.
On the one hand, I’m thankful for crowdsourcing as photographers who offer their photos up at affordable prices, giving me the opportunity to purchase the ‘basics’ for my covers. I often merge up to five different photos to create the cover the author and I are looking for. On the other hand, I’m not as happy to see bigger companies, publishers, who could afford to pay the artists more (or even get a bit more creative with the use of such widely used images), do the same, though it’s definitely the right thing in the business world, where cheap resources and fast work are appreciated, and in the end the biggest profit counts.
So please do welcome the crowdsourced-cover-trend!
Copyright
To Be or Not to Be? by Catherine Anne Collins
***First of all, many thanks to Romance Junkies for allowing me to be their guest blogger for the day.
To be or not to be? That is the question.
What question, you ask. Well, let me explain in more detail. To be or not to be happy? Do you, as a reader, require a Happily Ever After? When I did a search on the internet for this question I was astounded at the controversy and in-depth explanations people give of this very subject. The general concensus is that romance has to have an HEA, but there are wide and varied opinions as to what constitutes a happy ending. According to some, the hero and heroine don’t necessarily have to end up together at the end of the story. These people enjoy reading about the emotional roller-coaster ride of relationships and love, but have no problem with the h/h ending up seperate at the end. In fact, they love a good cry. Other readers insist upon a happy ending, they want to be left feeling good and walk away from a book with a smile on their face.
So why the difference in opinions? Does it have to do with personality types? Could your astrological sign influence your desire for HEA or HFN (happy for now)? Do you want the outcome to be a reflection of your own life, or are you reading to escape your own life? Do you need things written in black and white, or are you okay with an open ending where you can fill in the blanks yourself?
My husband and I own a martial arts center and I see kind of the same thing when teaching our students. Some of them need exact details: how, what, why, when, how fast, how slow, how hard. They are true technicians who need specifics and don’t do well when you tell them it depends as much on the energy of the person coming at you. How fast that person is coming, how long their legs are, are they righthanded, lefthanded, kicking, punching, spinning, short, tall…it all comes into play. The more creative people deal well with this and adapt easily to the intangible aspect of the martial arts. In this case, it’s so much a personality thing. I’ve gotten so that I can know a person’s job and their astrological sign and tell you what teaching approach they’ll need on the floor. I’d be curious to know if the same technique applies to people who need the HEA and those who don’t.
Now, that brings me to my next question. As a writer, (I know some of you reading this are writers), do you need to write an HEA ending? Are you comfortable splitting up the hero and heroine to live seperate lives, or, even worse, killing one of them off and leaving the other one grieving for what could have been.
What do I like to read and write, you ask? I could tell you to buy my books and find out, but I know you’re all going to do that anyway You can do that here: www.catherineannecollins.com/books.html My two latest releases finaled in the 2009 Independent Book Publishers Awards and are both great reads. I have to admit, though, that A Witch’s Lament is garnering the most attention because of the Salem witch theme. It seems to be a subject that interests a lot of people.
Okay, self-promotion over, I’ll answer the question. I’m a true believer in a happy ending. I have to put a book down or walk away from a movie feeling good. There’s far too much sadness, pain, gore, and anger in the world. Why not feed the good? After all, what you put out there, not only comes back at you, but can influence others. I would rather make someone feel happy than make them cry. It might not be reality, it might not mirror day to day life, but what the heck, I’m the writer, I can make anything I want happen in my books. 
So, tell me, what do you think?
Catherine Anne Collins
Stressed
Heeellllooo! So, sorry I have been an absent blogger as of late. I’ve been so busy but promise I will be by to visit your blogs soon! I have my first interior design class tonight so I will let you know how it goes. I am excited about it!
So, I am trying reeeeeaaaaalllllyyyy hard to follow my own advice and be content today, but I am super duper stressed. Okay, I think I am relatively positive on my blog but today I am allowing myself one day to vent. Ok? Thanks.
A. My phone got wet this past weekend because I put it my sport’s bra while I was jogging. Okay, if you are reading this don’t make the same mistake I did. My gross sweat basically ruined my keyboard and I couldn’t end calls, dial out, or turn my volume down, hence me having to get a new phone today. But…I did accomplish the ten miles, so at least this much is good! I don’t know about you, but new phones are great and all but they cost lots of money and take forever to figure out. I don’t have my same music player, which I will miss dearly. But I guess that is what my i pod is for, right? Right!
B. I got my oil changed on Saturday and as soon as I left the place my A/C quit working. I called the service center and they said that even though my car is under warranty that I still have to pay a service charge for $100. What?! I am going to take it in tomorrow to see what will happen. Very frustrating and it is so hot outside, not enjoyable. Okay, I might be a princess but I like A/C way too much when it is hot outside like this!
C. Everyone I try to vent to tells me that I am too stressed out. It’s not that big of a deal they say. Okay, I think that this bugs me the most. It drives me crazy when I am looking for some sympathy and the person responds with: “You shouldn’t be stressed out, worse things could happen.” I know worse things can happen and that doesn’t help me calm down!!!
D. I arrived home to my apartment last night to my coach being moved and a new wall painted in my apartment without my roommates letting me know. I had no idea. It was thoughtful yes, and a pretty wall, yes, but….I wanted to be informed that it was going to take place. You don’t think that is too much to ask, right? I am not the bad guy, right?
Okay, so my weekend was great. Big Kiddo surprised me and took me to The Time Traveler’s Wife and we went ocean dreaming. That was nice. I need a bit of this right now. Okay, searching for contentment. Thanks for listening. Hope you had a better Monday than mine Ocean Dreamers! XOXO.
Sorry for my lack of positivity, it will resume itself soon, I promise.
The Industry, or Self-Segregation?
As most know (or perhaps not), I began and recently re-started my blog formerly known as Reading While Black, as a reaction to the absence of black voices in the romance genre. Since the hiatus of RWB and its present incarnation as Save Black Romance, many of the voices who stood with me in raising awareness about the issues minority writers face in the publishing industry have largely faded into the background. Granted, many of them are writers with deadlines both professional and personal that must take precedence, but after scrolling through the dozens of photo albums and blog updates on the recent RWA conference I suddenly found myself reassessing the issue of black (and other minority) writers in romance when photo after photo showed a a terribly small number of non-white faces–whether it be writers or readers. This took me further aback because the conference took place in Washington D.C., which has always had a very large black American population and having been to the district, I know there is a lot of diversity in the outlying areas.
Regarding black writers, the industry placing them in the “African-American Author” ghetto stands in their way of mainstream success. The ghetto prohibits them from receiving the same opportunities their non-black counterparts are given, such as major book deals, prime marketing dollars, etc. While I do agree with this (has a debut black romance author ever been given a six-figure deal, or sold at auction?), and that romance novels with black characters tend to stock the shelves of bookstores or supermarkets only where there is a significant black population, most debut romance authors start out the same: nice deals, need for self-promotion, and so on. Not to mention that the internet has brought authors right to readers’ fingertips.
Read a few author blogs on the side here, and whether they be e-published, NY-published, unpublished, veteran, or debut, you’ll see that being a writer and being a published writer can be a difficult career. A writer debuting to much acclaim can find their next book sinking to the ground. Or a writer working under the radar can break out suddenly with their sixth book under circumstances they had nothing to do with. Or a writer who sold modestly can find themselves without a contract. Because of this crap-shoot of an industry, I now wonder whether the difficulties black writers face are made more surmountable because they are essentially self-segregating themselves? Truthfully, I don’t see any harm in the wonderful Romance Slam Jam Conference, or even an organization for black romance writers, but I can no longer believe that the ghetto the publishing industry sticks black writers (or writers of any ethnicity who wish to write romances reflecting their background and culture) is a barrier to what they can do to reach readers. In the Age of Twitter, Stanza, and Ebooks, if not enthusiastic and personable reader blogs, the old ways of reaching an audience have expanded exponentially. If NYTimes best-selling authors realize that simply having a book on the shelves isn’t enough, how much more does this benefit black writers?
Copyright
Interesting Game!
I am always amazed on how casino works. But before I used to believe that this game is not for me because I’ve always been straight to my beliefs that casino will just clean out my wallet but to tell you honestly after I tried playing casino my personal point of view really changed, (I am not the type of player who will play til my last penny). Well I know that when people talk about online gambling the first thing that they usually think is that casinos can be very addictive and at the same time a big waste of money., but all I am saying is why not try playing the game? try searching the top search engines in the internet and surely it will also produce the same output. I am very sure that the fun and excitement can never be replaced by any amount of money. So hurry and go the provided link now! Because All people need a break from work and stress. And one way to break free from life’s pressures is through recreation. And I suggest that you try casinos online games as your means of spending your leisure time to cut away boredom. I know that you may think that an empty wallet is the end of the world but if you only just knew about this site. Just simply disregard the notion that gambling is a waste of time and money because for me the fun and excitement that it brings is simply incomparable. So what are you waiting for? Go to the provided link and try this leisure, then invite all your friends. See you there!! Before I forget this site has made it easier for the players to play with their provision of strategies and tips that will really make them more skillful in gambling. So hurry and join this community now! This will surely bring excitement and reduce the level of boredom of its players. Don’t be afraid of the notion that playing in online casino is a big waste of money and a highly addictive kind of play but actually this is not a big deal if you just know how to control and know what is too much and what is not.. You should try your first ever casino in this site! I am also sure that you will enjoy playing online casino gambling. So what are you waiting for?see you there guys!!
Emo Hair
emo hair has sharp edges and shapes. It does not always have bangs, but it usually does have some chunky sections twisted or pulled in a direction that conflicts with the rest of the hair. Girls and guys have emo styles of hair, and they are pretty much the same. Girls might have longer hair than guys, but they usually do not have hair past their shoulders.
from emo-corner
Haunted
In the spirit of Halloween I want to tell you a story Ocean Dreamers, enjoy the story of my haunt…
Found at Weheartit.com
I was 18 years old. I had never been in love. I never knew what love felt like until I met him. He become my everything. He became my all…
My High School sweetheart is someone that I no longer like to talk about very much. Our love story was the kind of love affair that you read about in romance novels. He would carry me up the drive way to my Victorian home, buy me flowers, kiss me until I was breathless, write me love letters, and buy me Tiffany necklaces. We traveled together everywhere. We had the most perfect and happy photos. Kissing at sunset, on the beach, under the stars, it was everything I ever wanted and more. Everything and more. I met his family, he knew mine well. I was infatuated, I was in love, I was his everything and he was mine. For five years we were inseparable. Even though we went to different Universities, we traveled back and forth up to two to three times a month to see each other in either Kansas or California. We couldn’t wait for the weekends when we would see each other. It was a desperate and passionate love. So many memories, so many plans. I never thought anything or anyone could separate us until…
One weekend when I was in Kansas my haunt and I decided to go with his friends to Dave and Busters. My haunt was making glances with a mutual friend…I could tell things were not the same between us. No, it did not happen over night, but I was losing my love, my everything. He kissed me then. He told me everything was okay, that I shouldn’t have any doubts. He had no feelings for the other girl. But inside of me I was screaming. I knew that was not the truth, my premonition was I was losing the love of my life. I would never get him back…
Flash forward to graduation day my Senior year of college. I was in turmoil. My ex and I had just broken up with one another but out of my desperation I was not ready to let go. I invited him to be there with my family and they understood, even though they knew he had broken my heart. My haunt made phone calls to that girl that weekend, I couldn’t understand why I invited him there. All I knew was that he was my heart, but yet my heart was missing. Why did he have to trample my heart on the ground?
By Alegion @ DeviantART
It took me three years to get over my haunt. Some days, when I am driving in the car a song from High School or our time together turns on the radio…it brings me back. Back to those days when we would hold hands in the car, kiss at red lights, and tell each other over and over again that we love each other. That we were meant to be together. Music was so much a part of who we were. It reminded me that I thought that nothing would ever separate us, ever.
Some nights, when I am all alone, or in my dreams, my mind reverts back to the love of my past. He never seems to leave me alone, but it has lessened over time. I consider him my haunt, because for five years this China man occupied my thoughts in every way and he still haunts me occasionally to this day. It was a suffocating love, a love that was not meant to be. But, despite the way our relationship ended, I hung on to the hope of a reconciliation. We remained friends…but it was not the same. He broke my heart, I could not let go. Over and over the cycle went, it was very unhealthy but I thought that was what love was. Did I not understand love? I wanted him more than anything. I was haunted, I am still haunted, I will forever be haunted.
Haunt by Simplistic Scion @ DeviantART
I tell you this story not for you to feel sorry for me or to think that I am still clinging on to my haunt. I am blessed beyond measure with the man of my dreams, aka Big Kiddo. He came into my life at the perfect timing too. Right when I needed him, right when I was still healing but Big Kiddo gave me the time to heal. Big Kiddo taught me what love truly is.
I tell you the story of my haunt because it is a part of me, it made me who I am today. It helped me learn about love, and it helped me learn about life. I do miss my haunt, but I know better now. I know not to run back to someone who even though later came back to me and wanted me to take him back, I did not. He wanted me to marry him, he said he would never leave me again. But why would I take someone back who was only going to trample my heart and leave me again? That was the hardest decision of my life, for you see, I will always love my haunt. That is the type of love you don’t find everyday. And yet…I learned that love is not desperation, is not always fireworks, is not sacrificing everything, is not materialism, is not becoming a weaker person. My haunt managed to make me feel inferior and not good enough, no haunt or person for that matter should ever make you feel this way Ocean Dreamers.
Instead love is mainly loyalty, cherishing someone, not leaving them, consistency not manipulation, improving someone and encouraging them to be an even better person, having the same goals, and trust. My trust was gone, therefore my love was not the same…
I will forever be haunted by this love from my past. But with every haunt comes a happy ending, healing, new beginnings and a new love. But I know that my haunt is one that I will never ever forget.
Blessed Friday and Costume Decisions
Happy Friday Ocean Dreamers, what do you have planned this weekend?
Well for me…tonight I am seeing Love Happens. Tomorrow I am working on homework and seeing Big Kiddo. Sunday I am going to Ingrid Michaelson in concert, yay! I will be doing a post on my concerts soon, since I just saw Colbie as well.
So, to follow my new Friday habit, here are few things I am blessed with:
1. a lovely apartment that I am happy to call home
2. an amazing small group that I meet with each week to learn more about God and enjoy eachother’s company
3. the holidays to come with my family and friends
4. fall colors, mountains, the ocean, and enjoying nature on a daily basis
5. yummy food such as fruit and veggies that fill up my tummy!
Those are just a few things I am thankful for, of course I am thankful for many other things as well!
So, I need your advice. I am trying to come up with a costume to wear to Cirque du Soleil when I go with Big Kiddo on Halloween. Do you think it would be weird if I wear a costume even though I am going to be watching a circus event? I want to dress up but at the same time I am not sure if others dress up. Let me know what you think.
I also want the costume that I wear that evening to be the same one I wear to my work party. I wanted to dress sexy but I don’t think it would be work appropriate, so I am trying to come up with an alternative. I might have to get two different costumes though if I find a cute one that is a bit too showy for work though. So here are some of the costumes I like so far. Let me know which one is your favorite, okay?
Oh, and I just bought this smokey eye set from Sephora, I am going to use it under my eyes. Spoooooky!
Bride of Darkness
Pebbles
I’d wear black tights with the shorts for work. Black eyes probably won’t work with this one though, bummer!
Strawberry Shortcake
Might be too sexy for work, what do you think? I think I keep liking the pink, lol.
Spider Vamp
This one is on sale and it is also pink, obviously need to look at different colors now. Ha!
Sea Horse
This is hilarious but since you know how much I love the ocean, this might be it…or not?!
Repunzel
This one might be my favorite. I could be Repunzel gone bad! 
Sailor
I think Big Kiddo would love this one since he loves to sail, lol!
Okay…which one is your favorite for me to wear?
If you want to know where I found all of them follow the links, maybe you just found your costume too!
Hope you all have an amazing weekend.
XOXO,
Crowdsourcing
I not only love reading books, but also looking at their covers. Especially with new-to-me-authors cover art is a very important purchase factor.
When I was only a reader, before I was ever involved as cover artist in the actual production of a book, I imagined that the author would tell the publishers how s/he saw the cover and when there would be a photo-shoot with models and all to just accomplish that vision (i.e. in case no original art was involved). I had never heard of stock art before.
Then, during my beginnings as a cover artist for e-book publishers I discovered the whole world of stock on the internet. There were, and still are, very pricey sites like veer.com — especially when compared to what you earn as e-book cover artist. And then ones who I could afford — istockphoto.com, dreamstime.com, stockxpert.com, to name just a few.
I started to recognize the expensive images on Romance covers by NY publishing houses and dreamed of being able to work one day with the same stock, to bring the NY flair to my covers.
This dream, though stopped later as the first articles started to appear on blogs—yes, also on RTB—about how books, even ones releasing the same month, were having the same cover. The ‘recycled-cover-trend’ had arrived.
So I evolved as artist, striving more for uniqueness and creativity instead of copying what the NY pubs put on their covers. Not that I didn’t do that before, knowing that almost every other e-book cover artist—when working with photos—used the same stock resources than I did. However, the NY pubs were no longer my role model for a great cover.
Don’t get me wrong, please! There are still tons of NY covers that get me drooling! I’m not saying one is better than the other (and I don’t even want to go into an e-book/print pub discussion), just that some events altered my view on the cover art process.
While there will always be some poorly executed e-book covers, I’m very pleased to notice that the majority of e-covers today are very appealing and don’t need to take a backseat when compared to the covers created by the art departments of the big publishing houses.
Quite contrary is the fact that the e-cover artists still use the same ‘cheap’ resources, and the covers have never been better or had more variety than they do today. There are real photo magicians at work.
(And believe me, ‘cheap’ is a very subjective matter as especially lately, the most stock sites increased their prices.)
So while the e-cover industry improved their ‘looks’, the NY pubs have started to recognize—and I’m sure the economy is not a small factor here—the value of the ‘cheaper’ stock sites. After the ‘recycled-cover-look’ you now can see a new trend: Crowdsourcing! It’s not an own, to the Romance publishing world limited, phenomenon, but shows its head everywhere.
Wikipedia: “Crowdsourcing is a neologism for the act of taking tasks traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people or community in the form of an open call.”
Two very well-known Crowdsourcing cases recently have been the TIME magazine cover and the Twitter bird. You can catch up on both also here with lots of visuals.
Nowadays, when surfing the Romance section in online bookstores, I should actually be happy about the fact that I have difficulties telling e-covers from other covers apart. Unfortunately, it’s not only because the e-covers improved so much, but due to publishers using the same $6 stock images I and my fellow e-artists use, and most don’t even do it creatively.
On the one hand, I’m thankful for crowdsourcing as photographers who offer their photos up at affordable prices, giving me the opportunity to purchase the ‘basics’ for my covers. I often merge up to five different photos to create the cover the author and I are looking for. On the other hand, I’m not as happy to see bigger companies, publishers, who could afford to pay the artists more (or even get a bit more creative with the use of such widely used images), do the same, though it’s definitely the right thing in the business world, where cheap resources and fast work are appreciated, and in the end the biggest profit counts.
So please do welcome the crowdsourced-cover-trend!
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To Be or Not to Be? by Catherine Anne Collins
***First of all, many thanks to Romance Junkies for allowing me to be their guest blogger for the day.
To be or not to be? That is the question.
What question, you ask. Well, let me explain in more detail. To be or not to be happy? Do you, as a reader, require a Happily Ever After? When I did a search on the internet for this question I was astounded at the controversy and in-depth explanations people give of this very subject. The general concensus is that romance has to have an HEA, but there are wide and varied opinions as to what constitutes a happy ending. According to some, the hero and heroine don’t necessarily have to end up together at the end of the story. These people enjoy reading about the emotional roller-coaster ride of relationships and love, but have no problem with the h/h ending up seperate at the end. In fact, they love a good cry. Other readers insist upon a happy ending, they want to be left feeling good and walk away from a book with a smile on their face.
So why the difference in opinions? Does it have to do with personality types? Could your astrological sign influence your desire for HEA or HFN (happy for now)? Do you want the outcome to be a reflection of your own life, or are you reading to escape your own life? Do you need things written in black and white, or are you okay with an open ending where you can fill in the blanks yourself?
My husband and I own a martial arts center and I see kind of the same thing when teaching our students. Some of them need exact details: how, what, why, when, how fast, how slow, how hard. They are true technicians who need specifics and don’t do well when you tell them it depends as much on the energy of the person coming at you. How fast that person is coming, how long their legs are, are they righthanded, lefthanded, kicking, punching, spinning, short, tall…it all comes into play. The more creative people deal well with this and adapt easily to the intangible aspect of the martial arts. In this case, it’s so much a personality thing. I’ve gotten so that I can know a person’s job and their astrological sign and tell you what teaching approach they’ll need on the floor. I’d be curious to know if the same technique applies to people who need the HEA and those who don’t.
Now, that brings me to my next question. As a writer, (I know some of you reading this are writers), do you need to write an HEA ending? Are you comfortable splitting up the hero and heroine to live seperate lives, or, even worse, killing one of them off and leaving the other one grieving for what could have been.
What do I like to read and write, you ask? I could tell you to buy my books and find out, but I know you’re all going to do that anyway You can do that here: www.catherineannecollins.com/books.html My two latest releases finaled in the 2009 Independent Book Publishers Awards and are both great reads. I have to admit, though, that A Witch’s Lament is garnering the most attention because of the Salem witch theme. It seems to be a subject that interests a lot of people.
Okay, self-promotion over, I’ll answer the question. I’m a true believer in a happy ending. I have to put a book down or walk away from a movie feeling good. There’s far too much sadness, pain, gore, and anger in the world. Why not feed the good? After all, what you put out there, not only comes back at you, but can influence others. I would rather make someone feel happy than make them cry. It might not be reality, it might not mirror day to day life, but what the heck, I’m the writer, I can make anything I want happen in my books.
So, tell me, what do you think?
Catherine Anne Collins
Stressed
Heeellllooo! So, sorry I have been an absent blogger as of late. I’ve been so busy but promise I will be by to visit your blogs soon! I have my first interior design class tonight so I will let you know how it goes. I am excited about it!
So, I am trying reeeeeaaaaalllllyyyy hard to follow my own advice and be content today, but I am super duper stressed. Okay, I think I am relatively positive on my blog but today I am allowing myself one day to vent. Ok? Thanks.
A. My phone got wet this past weekend because I put it my sport’s bra while I was jogging. Okay, if you are reading this don’t make the same mistake I did. My gross sweat basically ruined my keyboard and I couldn’t end calls, dial out, or turn my volume down, hence me having to get a new phone today. But…I did accomplish the ten miles, so at least this much is good! I don’t know about you, but new phones are great and all but they cost lots of money and take forever to figure out. I don’t have my same music player, which I will miss dearly. But I guess that is what my i pod is for, right? Right!
B. I got my oil changed on Saturday and as soon as I left the place my A/C quit working. I called the service center and they said that even though my car is under warranty that I still have to pay a service charge for $100. What?! I am going to take it in tomorrow to see what will happen. Very frustrating and it is so hot outside, not enjoyable. Okay, I might be a princess but I like A/C way too much when it is hot outside like this!
C. Everyone I try to vent to tells me that I am too stressed out. It’s not that big of a deal they say. Okay, I think that this bugs me the most. It drives me crazy when I am looking for some sympathy and the person responds with: “You shouldn’t be stressed out, worse things could happen.” I know worse things can happen and that doesn’t help me calm down!!!
D. I arrived home to my apartment last night to my coach being moved and a new wall painted in my apartment without my roommates letting me know. I had no idea. It was thoughtful yes, and a pretty wall, yes, but….I wanted to be informed that it was going to take place. You don’t think that is too much to ask, right? I am not the bad guy, right?
Okay, so my weekend was great. Big Kiddo surprised me and took me to The Time Traveler’s Wife and we went ocean dreaming. That was nice. I need a bit of this right now. Okay, searching for contentment. Thanks for listening. Hope you had a better Monday than mine Ocean Dreamers! XOXO.
Sorry for my lack of positivity, it will resume itself soon, I promise.
The Industry, or Self-Segregation?
As most know (or perhaps not), I began and recently re-started my blog formerly known as Reading While Black, as a reaction to the absence of black voices in the romance genre. Since the hiatus of RWB and its present incarnation as Save Black Romance, many of the voices who stood with me in raising awareness about the issues minority writers face in the publishing industry have largely faded into the background. Granted, many of them are writers with deadlines both professional and personal that must take precedence, but after scrolling through the dozens of photo albums and blog updates on the recent RWA conference I suddenly found myself reassessing the issue of black (and other minority) writers in romance when photo after photo showed a a terribly small number of non-white faces–whether it be writers or readers. This took me further aback because the conference took place in Washington D.C., which has always had a very large black American population and having been to the district, I know there is a lot of diversity in the outlying areas.
Regarding black writers, the industry placing them in the “African-American Author” ghetto stands in their way of mainstream success. The ghetto prohibits them from receiving the same opportunities their non-black counterparts are given, such as major book deals, prime marketing dollars, etc. While I do agree with this (has a debut black romance author ever been given a six-figure deal, or sold at auction?), and that romance novels with black characters tend to stock the shelves of bookstores or supermarkets only where there is a significant black population, most debut romance authors start out the same: nice deals, need for self-promotion, and so on. Not to mention that the internet has brought authors right to readers’ fingertips.
Read a few author blogs on the side here, and whether they be e-published, NY-published, unpublished, veteran, or debut, you’ll see that being a writer and being a published writer can be a difficult career. A writer debuting to much acclaim can find their next book sinking to the ground. Or a writer working under the radar can break out suddenly with their sixth book under circumstances they had nothing to do with. Or a writer who sold modestly can find themselves without a contract. Because of this crap-shoot of an industry, I now wonder whether the difficulties black writers face are made more surmountable because they are essentially self-segregating themselves? Truthfully, I don’t see any harm in the wonderful Romance Slam Jam Conference, or even an organization for black romance writers, but I can no longer believe that the ghetto the publishing industry sticks black writers (or writers of any ethnicity who wish to write romances reflecting their background and culture) is a barrier to what they can do to reach readers. In the Age of Twitter, Stanza, and Ebooks, if not enthusiastic and personable reader blogs, the old ways of reaching an audience have expanded exponentially. If NYTimes best-selling authors realize that simply having a book on the shelves isn’t enough, how much more does this benefit black writers?
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