Category Archives: Uncategorized

ROMANCE FINANCE PISSANTS

0

Posted on by

  Just to set the record straight—most of you probably know what romance is,  and if you don’t know anything about finance, you’re in trouble— but pissants sounds so terrible, that even my voice recognition software wants to call it, “puissance.” But it has nothing to do with ants, usually, unless you are at a picnic where they are attending. The word,  “pissants” is actually considered vulgar (but when did that ever stop anyone?). Pissants means a person place or thing that is insignificant or of no consequence or… Continue reading →

FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN IS… SO GOOD

0

Posted on by

I’ve decided to fall in love with love. I’ve also decided to go back and revisit. . . THE ROMANCE  as a genre.. Fortunately I discovered a terrific series of romances that are keeping my nose glued to my Nook. (Literally falling asleep reading with my nose on you know what and I love it!) So what is this fabulous series? Noelle August’s Boomerang, Rebound, and Bounce. Sorry everyone, I received an advance copy, so you’ll have to wait until August 25 to get Bounce.… Continue reading →

THE PERSONALITY OF THE VILLAIN

0

Posted on by

Gordian Knot

No matter what kind of fiction or nonfiction that we write or read, there must be CONFLICT. Without conflict there is little interest. So what creates that conflict? The villain, antagonist, shadow, giant/monster/ogre or whatever kind of “evil” figure can exist, needs to exist, for a STORY to exist. There can even be many different antagonists within a single story. Cinderella and her evil stepmother and stepsisters Yet there must be something that blocks the hero in some way. As a reader, you may not… Continue reading →

LIVING ON THE EDGE…

0

Posted on by

  LIVING ON THE EDGE…   For the past several weeks I lived on the edge… The edge of the United States i.e. the California coast—from Los Angeles to beautiful downtown Placerville, California         I stayed with friends and relatives along the way. All of whom demonstrated superb hospitality to me and my husband.  At one point, Slinky, the cat above, visited and fell asleep on my computer  –to help me.   I was fortunate to do a reading at the Avid Reader… Continue reading →

READING HISTORICAL FICTION AND/OR JUST PLAIN READING

0

Posted on by

  While this is not exactly the position I used to be in, if any of you had caught me as a young girl, but this is what I would be doing. Reading. I am one of those who used the flashlight under the blanket before we had Nooks and Kindles and iPads  … with backlighting.     I am an unabashed and total bibliophile and proud of it. A friend came into my office and kept looking behind me. Finally he said, “you sure… Continue reading →

#3 in Historical Fiction—SIMPLICITY in the history, COMPLICATIONS in the story!

0

Posted on by

XIR3675

#3 in Historical Fiction—SIMPLICITY in the history, COMPLICATIONS in the story! I usually detest genealogies and long family trees with lots of names I cannot keep track of. I placed the genealogies of the Taira, Minamoto and the Imperial families in the back of my book, because some people need, want, and perhaps like these things. (I’m not one of them, usually. Except when I am trying to learn them to write my story.) I understand about different learning and reading styles, with my graduate… Continue reading →

#2 IN HISTORICAL FICTION—THE STORY!

0

Posted on by

  2. THE STORY What do all of these have in common: Alison Weir, Anne Perry, Ann Woodward, Laura Joh Rowland, Stephen Saylor, Elizabeth Peters, Mary Renault, the early Jean Auel, Philippa Gregory, James Melville and Diana Gabaldon? THE STORY. Amazing plot-driven, character-driven, conflict-driven, history-driven, stories.     The STORY is what draws me into historical fiction and the historical background is what keeps me there.  IF the history is accurate (See my previous post) i.e. no anachronisms, or egregious errors. I was reading a… Continue reading →

#1 In Historical Fiction—ACCURACY!

0

Posted on by

ancient traditional lacquered pillow

There are four characteristics I value in historical fiction. I’ll be talking about each one in the next few posts. 1. Most important for me is ACCURACY.  I truly like the facts to be correct. For example, I noticed that Harlequin Romances was advertising for historical romance. Great. I know a little (okay, a lot) about the late Heian period. BUT. But, I am familiar with their standards. The way the romances are supposed to go—is nowhere near the path the romances of the Heian… Continue reading →

On the road — on the road again — and again

0

Posted on by

While I haven’t been everywhere, I have been on the road.  I personally want to thank all the people with whom I spoke. I had a marvelous time! And if you did happen to purchase  Pillow Book of the Flower Samurai and have a comment, question or concern, please write me.   Special kudos to my husband who took the pictures and followed me around carrying lots of stuff. He is a great playmate and I am grateful for him every day.      … Continue reading →

HASEDERA TEMPLE IN NARA AND ITS SUPERSTITIONS

0

Posted on by

Stairs at Hasedera Temple

I’m working on a  KeyPoint presentation (PowerPoint for those of you PC people) on the Heian Period of Japan.  I have been exploring temples and shrines. Originally built in the seventh century, it is an oldie but a goodie. There is an 11-faced statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kannon,  which was added in the eighth century by Emperor Shōmu.   By the way, he seems to of been the first egalitarian Emperor because he married a non-royal commoner. Of course she was of a… Continue reading →

1 2