Not Going to Nationals? Join the Not Going to Conference Conference

The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived! Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don't miss it!

Coordinated by Seeley deBorn!

Here's a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops...

Wednesday, July 30

Paula Guran, Editor, Juno Books
Q&A on Creating Kick a** Heroines

Laurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain Publishing
Workshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*


Thursday July 31

Joyce Hart, Hartline Literary
Q&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy Market

Sandra Schwab, Historical Romance Author
Workshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms

Friday, August 1

Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by Stone
Q&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World Building

Katie MacIver, KatieDidDesign
Workshop on Website Design and Color Selection

Saturday, August 2

Joey W. Hill, Erotica Author
Workshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic Romance

Rhonda Stapleton, Editor and Author
Workshop on Style and Voice

Excited yet?

How about if I list some door prizes?

• What Gwen said" mug donated by Gwen Hayes
• 3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
• 3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
• An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon's backlist
• An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons' Choice (fantasy romance - dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
• Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
• Lush stuff from Seeley deBorne
• e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
• Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
• Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
• 3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
• winner's choice of ebook copy of "Not Quite Dead" or "Heart of the Sea" by Sela Carson
• e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
• e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
• a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc... All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
• 1 download each of Natasha Moore's Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
• a copy of "Painted Soul" by Mary Quast
• e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
• e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
• e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Wild Rose Press
• e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen - Phaze
• e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen - Phaze
• $10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
• ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden

Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!

Toronto Writers Giveaway!

For the first time ever, Toronto Romance Writers is giving away a fantastic prize of books from our published authors. Lots and lots of books.

Participating authors include:

* Kelley Armstrong
* Kate Bridges
* Deborah Cooke
* Claire Delacroix
* Brenda Harlen
* Margaret Moore
* Molly O'Keefe
* Kayla Perrin
* Michelle Rowen
* Eve Silver
* Michele Ann Young
* JK Koi
* Kimber Chin
* Stephanie Bedwell Grimes
* Amy Ruttan
* Christine d'Abo
* Wylie Kinson
* Dawn Brown
* Morgan Ashbury
* Teresa Roblin
* Jillian Dagg
* Ann Dynowski

(TRW is filled with talented authors, isn't it?)

No cost to enter. One entry per person. (North American addresses only.) So head on over to the Toronto Romance Writers website and enter - it's really easy.

Are you ready? Just go here!

Wylie's been keeping secrets

So earlier this morning I'm reading Cora Zane's blog and read about an interview she's done for The L Magazine:

A few weeks ago I was asked a series of questions about what it's like behind the scenes for someone who writes erotica/romance. The result is a shorty-short interview up along side Nan Wise, The Ethical Slut - sex blogger, Wylie Kinson, Ron Jeremy, and Veronica Viscious to name a few. It's worth a look!

Oh. My. God. Wylie Kinson and Ron Jeremy mentioned on the same line! So I hurry over to the article and read, and yup, there's Wylie's interview above Mr. Jeremy's (but below Cora's. Sorry, Cora, don't mean to imply your interview wasn't interesting too, but I'd met Wylie on Saturday's TRW meeting and she didn't say a darned thing about this interview.)

Go over and read the article, as Cora says, it's worth a look!

And Wylie? I want deets!

Isn't it romantic? Hmm, maybe not ...

I'm doing a little research here ... I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with their Significant Others, current or otherwise, doing something they 'think' is romantic that you find ... well, it's not romantic to you at all.

I know some of this is subjective - to one woman, her hubby washing the dishes might be ultra romantic, while another woman might just think that's the least he could do.

If your boss orders your favorite bottle of wine for a dinner you're sharing (work related), would you think 'he's putting a move on you' or would you write it off as a happy coincidence and chug it down?

So - have you got any tales to share about something your SO has done that he's thought would turn you on, that didn't? And was it that it just flat out wasn't romantic, or did you miss the signals because he was too subtle? (Can a guy be too subtle?)

Want to see a Privateers' Privates?

I subscribe to Cindy Vallar's Pirates newsletter, and today she sent out a blurb about a Privateers Calendar that's coming out to support the 250th anniversary of Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Wanting to support anything Canadian, I clicked on the link. And realized it wasn't just any regular Calendar. It was a Nude Privateers Calendar.

The Privateer Days Commission is working with talented photographer Nance Ackerman to create a calendar featuring local men (and a couple of women!) posing as 18th century pirates and privateers photographed tastefully in the buff.

There's only one small photo, but from the guy on the cover with his carefully arranged tricorn, I'm thinking Privateers can give Firemen a run for their money. Guess it's all those ropes they have to haul. *wink* Talk about Shiver me Timbers!

(and as Cindy says: *Please note: I provide information about vendors for readers’ information. I do not endorse them one way or the other unless I specifically say so in the description.)

There's life other than reading and writing?

It's been hot the last couple days. Okay, well, not HOT HOT the way it is in Texas or Louisiana, but steamy so it's hard to breathe hot. So I decided not to expend a lot of energy today and indulged in a 'day off', especially as the last week has been spent running around.

My indulgence came in the form of cross-stitching. Something I haven't done in quite a while. Usually I did pulled thread work, metal and bead work - cross-stitch is paint by numbers for me, soothing, relaxing. Now as I've blogged before, I used to do sample stitching for a professional designer - my work has gone around the world on trunk shows. And I've run out of wall space for what I have framed, and have about 14 pieces waiting to be framed - which it probably never will be unless I win a lottery. So a lot of times I've convinced myself that sewing any thing more would be a waste of effort - but this particular piece I'm planning on giving to a friend of my mother's.



And as I was stitching today, I realized since I made my resolution to get professional about my writing, I've given up my hobby. In fact most of my hobbies have fallen by the wayside over the years - karate, thanks to a kneecap that ended up on the wrong side of my leg, watercolor painting - just couldn't satisfy my own expectations, quilting (although I've got all the equipment, I lost my sewing room when we moved to this house *pouts*), amongst others.

I know several of my fellow TRW members have hobbies - Claire Delacroix aka Deborah Cooke and Claire Cross knits - she does some tremendous work. I can crochet, but I've never mastered knitting, so I am in awe of her work. Amy Ruttan does cross-stitch (Amy, I'm still waiting for a photo of the piece you did as a wedding present.

Which made me wonder - if you're a writer - or just a reader - what hobbies do you have other than reading or writing? Or what did you used to do and do you wonder now why you stopped?

A Friday Funny

It's Friday - Christine d'Abo is stressed out at work, Amy Ruttan has just finishing up with her EDJ, Marley's about to head out on a long trip, and I've been running my a$$ off this week. So here's a joke Gizmo Guy sent me to lower everyone's stress levels ...

What Religion is Your Bra?

---

A man walked into the ladies department of a Macy's and shyly walked up to the woman behind the counter and said, 'I'd like to buy a bra for my wife.'

'What type of bra?' asked the clerk.

'Type?' inquires the man, 'There's more than one type?'

'Look around,' said the saleslady, as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color and material imaginable.

'Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose.'

Relieved, the man asked about the types.

The saleslady replied: 'There are the Catholic, the Salvation Army, the Presbyterian, and the Baptist types. Which one would you prefer?'

Now totally befuddled, the man asked about the differences between them.

The Saleslady responded, 'It is all really quite simple... The Catholic type supports the masses, the Salvation Army type lifts the fallen, the Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright, and the Baptist makes mountains out of mole hills.'

* * *

Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the letters used to define bra sizes. If you have wondered why, but couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed!


(A} Almost Boobs...
{B} Barely there.
{C} Can't Complain!
{D} Dang!
{DD} Double dang!
{E} Enormous!
{F} Fake.
{G} Get a Reduction.
{H} Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up !

Hmm, they forgot the German bra.
Holtzemfromfloppen