Monday Musicals - My Soul Mate

I love music, as does everyone. Music touches us all in one way or another, some more than most. I tend to relate my life to music, as does a very dear friend of mine, Charity Parkerson. I asked her to drop by and post about a song that touches her deeply, and she jumped on it like a mexican jumping bean. So, let me give the floor over to Charity!

I love music almost as much as I love to write and that is really saying something. The T.V. in my house is rarely on when I am home alone, but my ipod never gets a break. I tend to lean towards the music that fits my mood, and I have learned to use that to my advantage in my writing. If I know that I am writing a love scene or a heartbreaking scene, then I set my playlist to match my scenes in order to keep my mood even with my writing. However, music has also equally influenced my “real” life, as opposed to the imaginary one that I normally life in, and I believe that music can lift you up when you are down or allow you to wallow in your misery if that is what you need at the time. Songs hold our memories. How often do you turn on the radio and suddenly found yourself thinking about a person or a time that you’d forgotten. Just like Trisha Yearwood says, “The Song Remembers when” and if I had to pick one song today that remembers for me, it would have to be:

Usher - You Got It Bad



This song was very popular back when my husband and I were dating. We would be out on the town when this song would come on the radio, and then we’d turn the sound up, and sing this song to each other at the top of our lungs. We meant every word, but we would still laugh about it afterwards. We decided against playing this song at our wedding, in order to keep from offending some of the older quests, but in my heart this song will always be my wedding march, because I know every time that I hear it, that it was the song I was hearing in my head as I was marrying my soulmate.

Thank you, Charity! You can find her on Twitter ( @charitypakerso ); FaceBook ( charityparkerson ); or here on blogspot ( charity - thesinners )

So, this has made me curious. What song touches you when you look at your soulmate?

The Vampires Kiss - Sunday Shots

Oh man, do I have a treat for all my eebil minions! Today, we are going to treat you to not only a yummylicious drink, but my good friend and author, Liv Rancourt, was so sweet to give us a taste of her delicious words that bite just as deep and sensual as our drink today: The Vampire Kiss.

Ingredients:
•1 1/2 oz Finlandia Vodka
•1 1/2 oz Korbel Champagne
•3/4 oz Chambord
•red sugar for rimming

Preparation:

1.Rim the glass with red sugar (use food coloring) or drop in a set of wax vampire teeth for a real surprise.
2.Pour vodka and half of the Chambord in a martini glass.
3.Top with Champagne.
4.Pour the remaining Chambord over the back of a spoon to make it float.

And now that I have left you craving more, I turn over my loyal eebil minions to Liv:




They are weak. All of them. As careful as I am, picking only the hardy and the strong, and cultivating their devotion like a rare orchid that blooms once in a decade, it is never enough. And like the orchid I would have them last, their waxy blooms and glowing colors sustaining me for weeks before they crumble and fade. They all go too soon.

But perhaps the problem is mine. Perhaps my sin is gluttony that I draw too much, stealing the very sap that keeps their petals firm. Like this poor soul. He fought, hands tearing at my undead flesh in an unsuccessful bid for survival. Now he lays beneath me, as waxy as an orchid’s petal, victim of my gorgeous death.

Liv Rancourt is a writer of speculative fiction and romance. She lives with her husband, two teenagers, two cats and one wayward puppy. She likes to create stories that have happy endings, and finds it is a good way to balance her other job in the neonatal intensive care unit. Liv can be found on-line at her website (www.livrancourt.com), her blog (www.liv-rancourt.blogspot.com), on Facebook (www.facebook.com/liv.rancourt), or on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LivRancourt).








I'm so excited to get a chance to read some of Liv's work! Don't be afraid to Tweet Liv or find her on FB and Blogspot, she bites! Oh, erm.. well, if you ask!

Until next time,
Stay Eebil!

Brand New Look and Line Up

How are all my sweet, saucy eebil minions? Good, I hope! I'm doing okay on this end. Just tweeking my blog some, changing it up, because I am oh so good like that. Muwahahaha!

So, enough tooting my own horn. I decided to starting branding. Yes, it felt like a band-aid was being ripped off, I won't lie. It's hard changing old habbits and starting new ones. Guess what? We did it!

I love themes, don't you? They're great! You can do so much with them. Huh? Oh, what are they?

- Shots Sunday
- Music Monday
- Wicked Wednesday

Yummy, I know.

How is this going to work? Let me tell you... Starting us off will be Shots Sunday. It'll look something like this:

B52's

Yes, doesn't this shot look yummy? I know it does, and so does everyone else. Something about fire always draws me to it. Moth to the flame? Probably. Something completely untouchable that you've just got to have but can't? Oh yeah. Got to love the flavor too. Nothing in the world like it. Why did I pick the B52 for this example? Because my Mom actually worked on them and it brings back a lot of memories. I used to love to listen to her talk about them, look at the pictures she'd bring home and let's face it, planes mean freedom to soar. There's that whole untouchable thing again....


Okay... so Music Monday is next, right? Well, this is how this will work. I'll posty a song that touches me, or maybe a video, or maybe a guest blogger will. You never know.



Angie and her band are wonderful. I completely support our troops, but hey, I'm a military wife. It's my job. Angie also represents dreams to me, and how she made hers come true, just like I've made mine. Sure, having a great voice is just a plus. (Kidding Angie! You are great, love you!)

And last but not least ... Wicked Wednesday! Oh yeah, baybay! Anything goes. What makes you wicked? Is it a recipe? A candy? A movie? You name it, I'm going to post it. I even take requests! Just drop me a line at blueremy@sapphirestarpublishing.com and I'll see just what I can do for you.

Until the next time,
Stay Eebil!

Say what!?

Remember Wayne's World?  "Excuse me?  I cunt hear you!  I have an ear infuction!"  Yeah, you know exactly what I'm talking about, and don't lie.  I'm sure every single one of you have used those lines.  I know I have, especially when someone sideblinds you with something that you believe in.

Take my guest blogger for example.  Newly signed author, Amy Gregory, was just slapped in the face by her daughter's school programming.  Left in a daze, I let her rant her little heart out here.  So, I'm going to turn the soap box over to Amy.

Rant away!

AMY: 

Ok, so I’m not one to complain about my school district.  I know just how fortunate I am to have my kids in the schools they are in.  HOWEVER!!!

Having said that, I am an author.  I make people up, situations, storylines, their feelings all of it.  This is what I love to do, it is my passion.  So imagine my surprise when at ‘freshman night’ at the high school when the English department made the statement – from now on the kids will only be focusing on learning to write research papers, essays and etc.  The things they’ll need to know in college.  They won’t be writing any of the fluffy poems and creative and fun stuff of middle school.

Hmmmmm?  EXCUSE ME?  I took a moment to breathe, not wanting to spontaneously combust and embarrass my daughter who was now slinking down in her chair at the smoke billowing out of my ears.  Oh hell no!  I did not just hear that right – did I? 

Apparently, I did!

They went on to further explain how that was not a necessary part of the high school curriculum, or what they’d need for college.  Ok?  Well, um, what if they want to be a….. WRITER???  Oh, I guess those books in the library – the state of the art library that we were sitting in at the time, mind you – just magically appeared on the shelves from authors of long ago.  That no new ideas are written about, no new worlds explored, no new loves found.  So apparently they don’t need to teach it anymore.

Again, let me state, I’m so lucky to be in the district we’re in.  They have some of the most outstanding programs in the country.  Our public schools surpass any private school around, these kids are ready for college.  I guess it just floors me, when you tell me that my love, my passion, my job isn’t worth the piece of paper I write on, teaching MY kid about.  Or any kid for that matter.  It makes me sad to think, that something that has lasted as long as time itself, may not be important to our future.  At least in the eyes of those who decide what is taught in schools today.  College isn’t for everybody, however learning to write, most certainly is.  Maybe not the next Shakespeare masterpiece, maybe not the next Odyssey or even one of Charles Dickens’ works of art.  But maybe something as simple as an endearing thank you note, or their own wedding vows. 

So, now that I’ve said my piece, I’ll go back to what I love.  Writing.  And NO, it’s not for a college essay! 

_________________________

Now, with that being said, I'm going to leave you with some video fun!  Let me know what you think about schools who dictate what is good or not good for your children.

When You Wish Upon A Star

"All of our dreams can come true,

if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

I have been taking the blogging course "Blogging to Build Brand" by Kristen Lamb and have learned many many things.  One of the things that I have learned is to always be real.  Be yourself.  Be 3-Dimensional.  Involve others, promote others, give thanks. 

I'm here today to do all of that. 

Once in a while, we need to talk about ourselves, giving insight on who we are.  Perhaps a form of a biography.  Writing down 100 individual words that describe me helped so much to figure out what I want to blog about, or directions that I can take it.  I'm random.  I always have been, always will be. 

So, here we are.  You and me.  Bored yet?  I promise you won't be much longer.  Want to know why?  I'm going to tell you a few things about myself and about the people who helped me get where I am.

Let's touch on my first book, "From Hel, With Love".    How did I get started?  D&D.  Yeah, you remember that board game in the early 80's???  Yup, the one that every parent screamed was the Devil's playground along with Metallica?  YES!  I saw that lightbulb ignite!  You know exactly what I'm talking about.  My step-brother had a D&D game night once a week with his friends.  One got grounded, so he asked me to be the Dungeon Master.  Boy, was that a mistake.  I had WAY too much fun creating worlds and scenes for them to play with.  I finally begged to create a character, and thus, Raven was born.

Raven quickly became a household name for me.  I'd come up with adventures for her at his next game night, try and have Raven kick his characters butt.  It kind of got out of hand, Raven was always on top, and he finally got mad and wouldn't let me play any more.  At that point, I decided to write down some adventures, short little stories of her adventures that I didn't want to ever forget. 

BAM!  A dream was born.

The early 90's hit and we all know what became popular then.  V:tM aka Vampire:  the Masquerade.  Toreadors, Ravnos, Brujah.  Raven went from demon to vamp.  It just didn't work.  Raven was so complex that changing her up wouldn't work, so we discovered AOL's Rhy'Din.  Lord have mercy upon anyone who crossed our path. 

I honestly think that is where my writing skills developed to their fullest.  My imagination was running wild, Raven was becoming more than a character, but a part of me and I knew that I needed to tell her story to the world.  How could I not?? 

Another dream was born.  I wanted Raven in print, and her world that I created. 

I wished upon a star.

I've made quite a few friends when I decided to take my dreams to the next level.  I have to give many thanks to Charity Parkerson, Johanna Denton, Amy Lichtenhan, Katie Henson, Joanna Shupe, Amy Gregory, Diane Hattaway and last but not least, Sapphire Star Publishing.

No, no, I'm not forgetting my hubby, Daisy or Sarge.  Not by any means.  They support me in everything I do.  Charity became an immediate friend and helped me with my self esteam with Raven.  She kept pushing me to take chances and because of her, I took the step and spoke with Katie.  Johanna is a sister, already having been a close friend, though we only get to see eachother about twice a year, the texts and calls and emails between us, bouncing idea's off of eachother, I'm sure our hubby's are sick of it.  Amy G .. well.  She's the Thelma to my Louise.  We hit it off immediately, and well, the rest is history.  Amy and Katie are my new family in the publishing world.  These two believe in Raven and I, giving us a chance to shine and become a household name.  Diane.  Well, Diane is a whole new world.  She's helped me more than I can ever say.  Basically has been my personal assistant.  She would spur on my idea's, give me a few to run with and we'd both be scribbling these idea's down on the back of projection schedules, notebooks or napkins.  What fun.

I guess what I'm trying to get out here, is that I have a great family and awesome friends, and without every one of you, I wouldn't have had the dream I had come true, that wishing upon my star would have been just that.  A wish.

Wishes can come true.  I'm living proof of that.

Tell me your dreams and wishes, and let's make them come true.

Please... Silence Your Phones

As most people know, I am the GM of an REG Theatre.  One thing that is in my blood, is entertainment.  Whether it be music, books or movies.  I.  Love.  It. 

Most parents who go to the movies spend a ton of money on tickets,  concessions and babysitters.  When they go to a 7 o'clock showing of a movie they've been waiting for for months, they don't want to listen to a baby crying, ruining the evening they've waited on having for so long.  Most theatres have installed a policy stating that No child under the age of four may be admitted to movie unless it is G to PG rated and deemed a family movie.  Let me tell you, I did a jig!  Granted, it pisses of more people who are not considerate of "date night", but I get more pats on the back than not.

I admit it.  I cannot sit in any of my auditoriums during normal business hours.  I will end up going postal and probably kill someone.  Between the talking and TEXTING, I cannot even enjoy a simple movie any more.  To cure this, a policy was created at our theatre.  Not only does Sprint or AT&T send us the "Please Silence Your Phones, No Texting or Talking During The Movie" signs, but if my staff or I have to speak to you more than twice, you are escorted out of the theatre, no refund given.  Of course, when you remove a teenager for texting the whole time, it wasn't them.  You're lying!  I have often pointed to the sign and have asked them if they can read it, since it is plainly posted on the ENTRANCE of the auditorium, and they read it out loud just fine.  I then ask them if they saw the ad that says not to text, and I get a grumbled yes.   When asked why they do it, and I get told they weren't, but yet there I was standing over them, watching them, but I'm a dumb adult.  I don't know anything.

I think the Alamo Drafthouse has it right.  I honestly WISH we could show this video and get away with it.  I think it would solve some problems, and maybe I wouldn't have to wait until midnight to watch a movie, because I'd hate to be the first GM in history to get kicked out of their OWN theatre because she opened a can of whoop ass all over someone for texting.

Enjoy the video.  I know I did.  Don't forget to drop me a comment on your pet peeves in a theatre too!

February means it’s sexy time…

I am the luckiest girl. Admit it, you're jealous.

Huh? Oh. Whoops. Why be jealous? (Okay okay, you don't have to rub it in, I forgot how to properly introduce her!)

Be jealous because I have the Wickedest Sinner of all in the house! That's right! (I hear the OoooOohhhh's! and AAaAAahhHHh's! ) Charity Parkerson ! She is the author of "The Danger from Within", "A Fighting Chance", "The Society of Sinners", "A Secure Heart", and "Wicked Sinners".

So, without further adieu, here is my good friend and author with her guest post on the most sexiest holiday of all:


Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and this means that most of us have two things on our minds: chocolate and sex!

In honor of this occasion, I thought I’d share some fun facts with everyone, just to get you in the mood.

· Over50 % of all people fantasize more often about money than sex

· The most popular method for burning calories is kissing

· 11,000 Americans injure themselves every year attempting a new sexual position

· Lipstick was invented in Egyptian times for women that specialized in oral sex. They wanted their lips to look more inviting

· Many believe that chocolate is an aphrodisiac, possibly because of the simple sensual pleasure of its consumption. Scientists suggest that the obromine and other chemicals do act as mild sexual stimulants

Now that you know a few new facts, go eat some chocolate, get a little, and if you need some help heating up go check out my book "A Secure Heart"