Sweet 15 - then I read....

Shanna by Kathleen Woodwiss. I read my first romance novel at 15. Before that I was read sci-fi and fantasy. Jules Verne, Issac Asimov, Ayn Rand, Ursula Le Guin, and Arthur C. Clarke, ect. But that one rainy summer afternoon I was left with nothing and a bike ride to the library was out of the question. So I swiped this book off my Mom's night-stand. Thinking the book taboo I read in my room and since I was RIVETED I did not come out of my room for 2 days - it was over 600 pages (except for meals). At some point my Mom swung the door open and I hid the book under the covers. My Mom said, "Elizabeth, what are you doing?" I sheepishly showed her the book and she said....wait for it....."Oh, Thank God! I thought you were in here doing drugs."

So despite the torn cover I'm keeping this on the shelf. Great book and a great memory to remember.

“Older women are best, because they always think they may be doing it for the last time.” Ian Fleming

This is my Ian Fleming Collection. I would love to add on to it but alas I haven't been able to find any at the bargain price of $1:00, which is what I paid for these (SCORE!).

Note the golden gun - love it. Also on the front cover of Octopussy there is a rifle with the tentacle of a octopus coming out of the barrel.

I'm a big fan of Ian Fleming - in fact if I was told to take a pen name I'd take Liza Fleming.

Did you know he also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? I don't have the book but I do have the movie.

Here is another great quote from the great Ian Fleming...
"Surround yourself with human beings. They are easier to fight for than principles"

Monday Funny - 3/23/09

There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire to become a great writer.

When asked to define great, he said, "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, howl in pain and anger!"

He now works for Microsoft writing error messages.

Why do writers write? Because it isn't there. - Thomas Berger

Being a former student of philosophy I love this quote from Berger who must have been familar with Descartes "I think, therefore I am."

I am now a member of RWA-PRO. How do you become a member? Well, first you have to be a member of Romance Writers of America then you have completed and submitted a manuscript. It probably was designed to make us un-published (oh I'm sorry the politcally correct say 'pre-published) writers feel all warm and fuzzy.

I could have joined long ago but despite the quarterly newsletter and career series booklets I saw no need. However with my upcoming attentance to the RWA National Conference in D.C. I will be able to go to the PRO Retreat, which is 4 hours of business-of-writing information and more importantly after RITA and Golden Heart finalists, PRO members are able to sign up for editor and agent appointments.

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend. ~Author Unknown

I've got Mondays covered with Monday Funny. Wednesday's will now be Reading Wednesdays where I pull a book off my shelf, photograph it, and share either the story of how I aquired it or why it's on my shelf and not donated to the Literacy Library in town.

My first selection is Snoopy and the Red Baron by Charles M. Schulz. I grew up reading Peanuts and hearing the songs about Snoopy and the Red Baron so when I came across this in a library sale for the cost of only $1, I had to have it. The copyright is from 1966. It would probably be worth something if it weren't for the previous owner (someone named Gordon who received it as a birthday gift from Mommy and Daddy) scribbling in a few places but I don't care. The worth is in the childhood memories it brings back.

And who knew Snoopy was quite the romatic hero? "She does not understand ze English...Ah, but she will understand that I am a handsome young pilot...And she? She is a beautiful French girl..."

Monday Funny - 3/16/09

I'm sure you've heard and at some point in time read the Sunday Funnies. Well, I decided to start a Monday Funny because it's like Monday and we all really, really need a laugh.

I'll share a joke that either I heard, someone e-mailed to me, or that I pulled off a joke internet sites. This one came from an internet site after looking up jokes about writers....

A writer died and was given the option of going to heaven or hell.
She decided to check out each place first. As the writer descended into the fiery pits, she saw row upon row of writers chained to their desks in a steaming sweatshop. As they worked, they were repeatedly whipped with thorny lashes.
"Oh my," said the writer. "Let me see heaven now."
A few moments later, as she ascended into heaven, she saw rows of writers, chained to their desks in a steaming sweatshop. As they worked, they, too, were whipped with thorny lashes."Wait a minute," said the writer. "This is just as bad as hell!"
"Oh no, it's not," replied an unseen voice. "Here, your work gets published."

A woman's health is her capital - Harriet Beecher Stowe

If this is true then I'm about as healthy as our stock market. My 'woman' issues have not abated and in fact have gotten worse. The goal is to prevent a hysterectomy so my doctor and I are going thru a check list of options.

I've tried an endomentrial abalation which did not work and now I'm on the drug Provera, which is also not working. So I will be off to the doctor next week to discuss the next step. (long suffering sigh)

I have managed to lose 6 pounds which I hope will help alleviate my symptoms. I don't want to turn this blog into a my medical journey but it's the reason I haven't been posting on a regular basis.

So I'll leave you with this quote...

Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause you gain weight and get hot flashes. Male menopause - you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles.- Rita Rudner

Not every story has explosions and car chases. That's why they have nudity and espionage. - Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum, Unshelved, 09-14-08

Robert Vivian occasionally distributes postcards from small towns, and asks each student to write a note on that card to a fictional recipient. Look at the postcard and imagine you’re traveling across the country and you’ve landed in this small town. Use the postcard as a trigger and write to someone. It could be someone who’s wronged you in the past or it could be a beloved person. You might be writing this postcard due to a situation that you’re fleeing. “Dear Randy. Hello from the middle of nowhere. I’m in a diner. Icicles are hanging down from the roof. I’m driving to Santa Fe. I have 20 dollars in my pocket. I can’t stop thinking about the last time we spoke…” Etc.

I love this writing prompt found on the following site http://writethebook.podbean.com/

I might even try writing it from one of my character's POV, the possibilites are endless.

She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain. (1873) Alcott

Here is what I've read between 1/01/09-2/28/09. I've listed them in the order from best to not so much...

1) The Six Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly
2) No Peeking by Stephanie Bond
3) The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
4) Halfway to Heaven by Susan Wiggs
5) The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewsk
6) So Brave Young and Handsome by Leif Enger
7) Write Away by Elizabeth George

Trying to expand by horizons by reading some 'literary' fiction but I've been disappointed. I'm so bored I tend to skip pages. I know this is cheating but if I didn't it would take me a month to get through it and there are so many books to read.

Despite my deep pile of TBR, I'm highly anticipating the arrival of a package of 8 books from Rhapsody Romance Book Club. Right now I'm in the middle of Anne Rice's non-fiction book, Called Out of Darkness - a spirtual confession.

What are you reading?