When Midnight Comes

I Haz Internet Withdrawal

2012-01-28T21:36:00.003-05:00

There's nothing quite like recovering from surgery, stuck in bed and offline. You find yourself contemplating the oddest things. Like if the wallpaper trim in the corner of your bedroom is peeling and how much tug it would take to pull it all down.

Or when they take the gauze off your eyes, if the doctor and nurses will all have snouts. I admit, that one kinda worried me. See what happens if you go offline for too long! ————>>

The good news is I haven't seen a snout yet. The bad news is I have had the worst itchy feeling and because it's on the inside, I know rubbing or scratching around my eyes won't help make it go away.

On the plus side, I'm ready for Halloween. So what if I'm nine months too early. Not everyone can rock the goth look so well, and without make-up!

But the absolute worst is not being able to get on my computer and go online. Yes, I am sneaking on here now and will be in big trouble if I'm caught. I'm counting on ya'll not to tell on me. ;-)

Until next time,
Cass

Red Hot Dragon Love

2012-01-13T09:53:00.005-05:00

Just got the cover for my upcoming ebook, Open Season and thought to share the news. My story is part of the DragonPax from Amber Heat/Amber Quill Press and slated to release on February 19, 2012. A very nice belated birthday gift to me. :)

I hope readers will enjoy the dark and dangerous tale of a submissive-in-training who falls in love with her very masterful dragon.

The Dragon Pax is Coming Soon

2012-01-12T01:43:00.000-05:00

*happy dance*

Just received this in the mail and had to share! What do you think? My story, Open Season is part of the Dragon Pax, and will be available in February. Yay!

Night Escapade In A Bookstore

2012-01-11T06:38:00.000-05:00

Tarot Tonight!

2012-01-10T09:21:00.005-05:00

Join me and my friend and writing pal Cora Zane for a free tarot reading tonight at 7pm SLT (10pm Eastern/9pm Central) and see what adventures await you in 2012!*

We'll be at our usual location at the Midnight Moon Cafe in Awen (Bookstacks)

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

This is the last tarot event we're holding for the winter season, so don't miss it!

*for entertainment purposes only.

Story Telling Hour With Cassandra

2012-01-05T11:04:00.000-05:00

I will be in SL this Saturday, reading selections from my recently released erotic romance ebook, Naughty Little Secrets. The event will be in voice, so bring your headsets!

Date: Saturday, January 7, 2012
Time: Noon SLT
Location: The Midnight Moon Café at Awen
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

Hope to see you there!

Friends With Books, pt.1

2012-01-04T11:08:00.020-05:00

Books that are coming soon but aren't out yet will be noted, so you can get a *heads up* on ebooks and paperbacks to watch for in the coming months.

Art of Sensuality
by Jax Cassidy

 ISBN: 978-1-6004-3044-2 
Publisher: Parker Publishing
Contemporary Romance, Erotic
Order Print Book on Amazon / eBook

Brought together by art, but does falling in love come at a price…or is it the ultimate masterpiece?

Art was not only a passion of Machiko Barrett, but also a destiny- a way of life she has known since her talent was discovered at 3-years-old. Caught in a turbulent storm of celebrity, scandal, and corruption, she disappeared from the art world only to re-emerge 15 years later. Her sheltered existence is disrupted when she is lured back to her one true passion: painting.

While she struggles to discover her own identity through her art, she encounters a man who opens her eyes to the art of sensuality, and awakens the woman buried deep inside the broken girl.

One of the most sensual books I've ever read! A must for romance fans!
~Cassandra Curtis, author of the Shifting Tides trilogy.

Coming in 2012 from
GrrlX Publishing

At the Edge of Twilight is
a collection of erotic faerie
stories by Cora Zane.

Features shape shifting pixies, and sensual oak men who use the promise of pleasure to lure their lovers to the Realm of the Fae.

Release date TBA (currently in production)

Will be available at Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com in both electronic and print formats.

Lyrical and enchanting, spicy and alluring, you won't want to miss Cora's spin on the Faery folk! ~Cassandra Curtis, author of the Shifting Tides trilogy.

Tempt Me
by R.G. Alexander

In the sultry heat of the Big Easy, desire can be a dangerous thing...

Gabriel Toussaint Giodarno has returned to New Orleans to make amends with his estranged family. The last thing he expected was to be hounded by a magical wannabe-guardian angel-or to be tempted by a beauty who's strictly off-limits. Angelique Rousseau has always lived a safe, uneventful life. But when her friend's twin brother arrives, Angelique finds herself drawn to him. Neither Gabriel nor Angelique is prepared for the intensity of their joined passions, or what the voodoo spirits have in store for them...

ISBN-13: 9780425243336
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Publication date: 11/1/2011

From the minute you start reading R.G.'s Tempt Me, you're drawn into a thrilling, magical world of sensual and erotic delight. Laissez les bons temps rouler. ~Cassandra Curtis, author of the Shifting Tides trilogy.

Intrusion
by Cynthia Justlin

THE REMNANTS, BOOK 2

Available Now from Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

Her job: create defenses. His job: crack them. What could possibly go wrong?

Nanotechnologist Dr. Audra McCain attributes her success to her ability to distance herself from messy emotional entanglements that threaten her focus. But when she is framed for the theft of her dynamic armor prototype, she finds herself on the run with a man whose talent lies in hacking through the toughest of defenses.

Ever since a shattered knee ended his career in the Special Forces, Cameron Scott has felt like an intruder in his own life. Hiding his discontent behind a need-to-win mentality, he earns his living testing security systems by breaking them. When Nanodyne hires him to evaluate their system, Cam discovers someone has already breached the company at the highest level. Now he’s on a mission to find out who.

As Audra and Cam play cat and mouse with a ruthless thief out to use the prototype for his own sinister cause, they’ll have to break rules, violate security, and fight their growing attraction. But when love makes an unauthorized attack, Cam realizes he may have finally found the one firewall he can’t breach: Audra’s heart.

An action-packed, romantic suspense keeper! My Nook couldn't turn those pages fast enough! Forget sleep—I had to know what happened next! ~Cassandra Curtis, author of the Shifting Tides trilogy.

FLESH AND BLOOD

by Kristen Painter 

Gothic Urban Fantasy 

Sacrifice is a choice…

With the ring of sorrows still missing, and the covenant between othernaturals and mortals broken, Chrysabelle and Malkolm’s problems are just beginning. Chrysabelle still owes Malkolm for his help, but fulfilling that debt means returning to Corvinestri, the hidden vampire city neither of them is welcome in.

The discovery that Chrysabelle has a brother could mean reneging on her promise to Malkolm, something that might make him angry enough to loose the beast living inside him. And fulfilling her vow could prove devastating for Chrysabelle — especially when you throw in power hungry witches, dead fringe vampires, and the Kubai Mata.

ORDER NOW: Amazon | B & N | Target

Kristen's HOUSE OF COMARRE series is stunning, rich and complex with characters you won't forget and a storyline that is spellbinding! ~Cassandra Curtis, author of the Shifting Tides trilogy.

FEARLESS IN HIGH HEELS
by Gemma Halliday

High Heels book #6  Available now!

Fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer is back!

Morning sickness sucks. Which is why fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer has spent the last six weeks being a couch potato and Moonlight vampire movie devotee. But when Maddie's best friends finally convince her to venture out, Maddie stumbles on a dead body of a girl who has been bitten on the neck, and life suddenly imitates art in the most deadliest of ways. Now Maddie is smack in the middle of a murder investigation involving a deadly dance club and a coven of Hollywood "vampires". Not to mention navigating the world of baby showers, diaper genies and Lamaze classes with her LAPD Homicide detective husband who would rather his pregnant wife not continue popping up in his murder investigation.

Between the hormones, the homicides, and a flurry of fangs, Maddie and her gang work to track down the deadly truth... before the killer bites again!

Gemma's High Heels series will have you laughing and cheering for Maddie, one of the most delightful heroines ever written. Smart and witty, Fearless In High Heels is a keeper and a great addition to the series. ~Cassandra Curtis, author of the Shifting Tides trilogy.

AND COMING SOON...

St. Martin's Minotaur
Available March 14th, 2012
First book in a brand new series!

She faked her death to escape life as an assassin. But now her enemies have tracked her down, and this time they want her to stay dead.

Anya Danielovich was a highly-trained killing machine in her former life. But that was a long time ago. Today she's just Anna Smith - a single, thirtysomething woman living in San Francisco with an undemanding day job, a loving, if dim-witted, dog, and a simple desire to lead a simple better life. But she's still haunted by her past - the people she killed, the mentor she betrayed, the woman she was. She's taken care to cover her tracks, but she's beginning to feel like she's being watched...

Nick Dade is a hired gunman, the best of the best. He's read Anya's file inside-out and, after weeks of surveillance, he's ready to pull the trigger...until someone else beats him to the punch. With his agenda shattered, Nick suddenly finds himself thrown together with the woman he's been sent to eliminate. Who is she really? Who hired the second hit? And who can he trust? Together Nick and Anna find themselves embroiled in a web of deceit and desire as an unknown enemy - one with dangerous ties to Anna's former life, and a present-day political assassination - closes in. To unravel the truth, Anna must face her past even if that means risking both Dade's life and her own...for good this time.

New Releases: Naughty Little Secrets is Out!

2012-01-01T01:50:00.006-05:00

So very excited to let ya'll know that my novella Naughty Little Secrets is available now!

Naughty Little Secrets
by Cassandra Curtis

Release Date: January 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4658-5057-7

A guilty pleasure.
A wicked desire.
A lusty kink.
A hidden fetish.

Everyone has a few naughty little secrets. All of Stacie Purcell's secrets are in the red story binder she keeps in her messenger bag. An aspiring writer, Stacie dreams of the day her sexy stories will get published. But when she misplaces her binder, she is frantic, worried she'll never see it again. Desperate to get it back, she’s willing to do whatever it takes.

Tyler Murchison can't help noticing the cute little blond in his car repair shop's waiting room, her nose buried in her red binder. Closing up for the night, he discovers a not-so-innocent piece of paper and a mysterious messenger bag in the waiting room.

Intrigued by the drawings of sexual positions and the erotic fantasies Stacie weaves in her stories, he returns the binder, and offers Stacie a chance to experience all the incredible sexual delights she writes about.

But can a single night of wild, passionate sex lead to something more?

Sample and Purchase link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/118880

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.001-05:00

Wishing all my friends and fans a very
Happy New Year!
Let's make 2012 the best year ever!

Tarot Reading For the New Year!

2011-12-30T00:53:00.000-05:00

Friend and fellow author Cora Zane will join me today for free tarot readings open to the public at our Midnight Moon cafe bookshop in Second Life. The details are below.

Hope you can attend. It's sure to be interesting and fun!

Date: Friday, December 30, 2011
Time: 3:00pm SLT
EVENT: FREE Tarot Readings For The New Year
Location: MMC Bookshop & Tarot, Witches Island

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/witchfest/47/230/701

Merilee Avatar Now Available!

2011-12-29T22:50:00.003-05:00

Ever wanted to be a mermaid? Would you like to enter the fantasy world of Shifting Tides? Now you can! Announcing the release of the Merilee avatar mermaid set! Available only at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Riverchapel/13/60/4

Swim the warm Caribbean waters and explore the underwater world of my bestselling trilogy as depicted in my trade paperback, Shifting Tides! The adventure awaits—if you dare!

Open Season Slated for February Release

2011-12-26T10:36:00.006-05:00

I received a very welcome email in my inbox this morning from my publisher. My novella, Open Season (part of the upcoming Dragon Pax from Amber Heat) is slated for a February 2012 release. What a nice birthday present!

The BDSM novella is set in an alternate universe where dragon shape shifters and humans fought a savage war over rights to a colony. Twenty five years later, there is an unsteady truce between the two species.

Here's the blurb:

A submissive-in-training, Season knows the boundaries, but that doesn't stop her from crossing them, or from falling in love with her master and wanting more. When the ban against life-mating between humans and Dragonkind is lifted, she jumps at the chance to enter the ritual hunt and claim her master as mate. Despite the dangers and risks, she knows their love is worth it, even if her masterful dragon doesn't.

Quinn knew accepting the position as General of the Dragon Army came with risks and that his enemies would look for any weakness they could use against him. But he never realized how fast lust could turn to love, or desire to need.

When an old foe from the war notices Quinn’s growing attraction and deeper involvement with Season, Quinn is caught between two difficult choices. Pretend indifference to the woman he’s grown to love, or enter the Solstice Hunt and risk everything to claim his human mate.

Once I have a cover to share, I'll post it on my blog and website. I'm very excited about this story and am so happy it will be part of an Amber Pax anthology! The other authors in the anthology with me are April Reid, Lynn Lorenz, Lyndi Lamont, and Deirdre O'Dare.

Happy Reading!

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T12:17:00.002-05:00

Happy Holidays and a Very Meowy Christmas
to all my readers and friends!

Cassandra

Birthday Bliss for Sis

2011-12-20T05:57:00.005-05:00

Yesterday was my oldest sister's birthday and I took her out for a movie and dinner. She wanted to see The Help, so we checked and that movie is already gone from the major theaters in our area, but found it still playing at Village 8! Yay!

If you haven't seen The Help, it's a wonderful character driven ensemble film about doing the right thing and standing up for what you believe in and know is right.

I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great movie and doesn't need special effects and explosions to enjoy a flick.I also recommend reading the book first, since it's even better. :-)

After the movie, we went to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday dinner. I let her choose and was surprised when she suggested a steakhouse, since she usually picks a Chinese restaurant when given a chance. The food was delicious. I loved my baked potato and salad, and she said her steak was perfection. :-)

I gave her the presents Bear and I had bought for her, a lovely little kitty angel Santa pin with bells and yarn, and a Homedics heated foot massaging cordless machine. She seemed to like the presents. :)

When I got home I found some packages on my doorstep and several holiday cards. I admit I was beyond surprised. Bear placed them all in my lap and I sat in my chair weepy eyed at the generous outpouring of love and kindness from my friends.

I don't like to talk about it much, but if you've been reading this blog for a while, you may have seen glimpses, hints of why my life has been a giant kick in the teeth rollercoaster ride for the last three or four years, starting with my cancer diagnosis back in 2008. Add to that my mother's increasing illness and her death in 2010, and my situation with my home and with Bear (2010 and ongoing) and well—like I said, it's been a tough road and a rough ride.

I have hope and belief that next year will be better. I know my life will undergo major changes and things will be crazy and sad and difficult, but I also know that I am not alone and I have some amazing and incredible friends out there and with the love and caring of my family and my beloved friends and fans, I will get through it all.

With much love,
Cass "C.C."

Holiday Decorating

2011-12-13T11:43:00.005-05:00

I'm hopeless when it comes to decorating, but I'm fortunate that I have friends who aren't. They were born with wicked skillz and display them in style. I'm luckier still that several of those friends are happy to lend a hand, be it in RL or SL.

I may have to *kidnap* Cora, Linda, and Jan, and have them help me get my house all purdy for visitors. lol.

Speaking of SL, check out the neat winter decorations my friend Jan did for my pal Kimberly Menozzi's booth at the book fayre.

Pretty cool, huh?

No, You Cannot Have My Feedback

2011-12-09T14:14:00.001-05:00

I am getting tired of surveys and pollsters and people wanting my feedback. I know it will only take a few minutes out of my day, but I have been feeling ick and the last thing I want to do is be questioned by a machine, grilled about my choices in life. I want face to face interaction if I'm going to divulge my odd shopping habits or my quirky political views.

They tempt us with offers and possibilities to win cash, but then bombard us with spam and the offers always have a catch and the cash...? I've never seen any of it.

With the political machine gearing up for another garbage fest of spoon-feeding the public, I know next year will be worse and my senses will be assaulted with pollsters trying to determine if I swing left or right or if I hang down the middle. ::shakes head at the mess our society fell into::

My wish for the new year would be that the crazy ride would stop for a few minutes and let off the passengers (we the people) because I know I'm not alone in thinking the chaos needs to stop and the idiots in charge of our lives need to leave us alone.

Like that'll ever happen. Haha.

In the meanwhile, I am tooning out. Yep, I said it. Tooning. Tom and Jerry are more appealing. :p

Until next time,
Cass

Welcome Guest Author Kimberly Menozzi

2011-12-01T01:43:00.000-05:00

When I say "Italy", what pops into your mind?

Handsome men? Beautiful women? Amazing food? Rome? Venice? Florence?

All of the above?

When I think of Italy, of course, I think "Home". Italy is where I've lived for the last eight years, where I married my husband, and where I wrote (and set) my novel, Ask Me if I'm Happy. It is a place I've come to know quite well, to love and to hate at the same time. It's a place I can't wait to leave every summer, and a place I can't stand to be away from once I'm gone.

I never planned on living here, though. Italy never even registered on my "radar" when I plotted and planned out my life. I thought at best I'd end up in England, but instead I overshot and landed here in northern Italy, all because of chance.

I loved England so much, and after my first visit (in 2002) I started writing a novel set there. I soon was introduced to the music of the Britpop band called Pulp, and their music influenced that novel quite heavily. By chance I found a web forum dedicated to Pulp, and I shared some of that novel with the people I met there. In May of 2003 – and who would've thought it could happen? – one of those people was so moved by what he read that he felt he had to contact me and tell me how he felt.

Even though he lived in Italy and I was living in Tennessee, we fell in love sight unseen (save for a few photos we exchanged) via our forum messages, e-mails and phone calls. The first time I saw him in person was in August of 2003 at the Knoxville airport, and that was the moment I knew I'd marry him.

When he asked me to come to Italy for Christmas it was impossible to say 'No'. I took a flight from Atlanta and arrived in Bologna on December 23rd. Just over two months later, in February of 2004, we got married in the city hall of his Italian hometown, which has now become my hometown, too.

And there my love-hate relationship with Italy really began. The joys and frustrations of living here could fill not just novels, but encyclopedias. Volumes and volumes of the written word couldn't contain them all.

A few years after I arrived here, I started writing what I planned to be a short story. In it, a woman named Emily was stranded in Bologna – the capitol of the region (Emilia-Romagna) where I live – by a transportation strike. When a kind stranger named Davide offered her some help, she connected with him more deeply than she ever imagined possible. But the short story kept growing and growing, refusing to be curtailed by the restrictions I tried to enforce. I gave in and that short story grew into the novel it is today.

Now, Ask Me if I'm Happy is many different things: a love story celebrating the connections we make slightly later in life; a tale set in a city seldom explored in other stories; a virtual love letter to Bologna; a heartfelt paean to a place which has come to mean so much to me in spite of all its flaws and frustrations which sometimes hide its charms.

I immersed myself in the world of these characters as I wrote. I considered the meals they ate, where they lived, how they dressed. I knew their political opinions, their personal prejudices, their dreams and aspirations. I understood why they were the way they were, why they'd chosen their friends and how they'd made their enemies (for lack of a better word).

They were always with me, sharing their experiences and their stories, my constant companions for two years. I saw them everywhere – in the piazzas, in the restaurants and shops, even the school where I teach English. I heard their voices in the street, or in the crowds. I dreamed about them, thought about them as though they were real people. Frequently, I wished they were. They were people I'd love to know in real life, if only I could.

Then the book was finished. I polished and shaped the story, still thinking of Emily and Davide, still living in their world right up to the moment when all the work was done, and the book was sent to my (then) publisher to be brought out into the world.

I missed them so desperately I wondered how I would cope. A new story beckoned, with new characters, set in a world completely different from the one I'd inhabited in my head for so long. I fretted that I'd never be able to bring these newcomers to life – not like I'd been able to do for Emily and Davide – and that I'd never be able to go into their world as deeply as I had before.

In time, I no longer heard Emily's voice. Davide wasn't hovering at his own desk behind mine anymore. I was alone, and it hurt. I focused on other things, started researching my new story, started writing new blogs for promotion and kept worrying I wouldn't connect with these new companions as I had the others.

And then, one day, it happened. I heard a voice whispering in another room. I sat and waited for it to become clearer: an accent I couldn't pin down, unfamiliar as it was, telling a story. I listened closely, went to the door and tried the doorknob. It turned, not easily, but I was able to open the door and peer inside.

Federico and Abby stood there, whispering to one another. His voice was louder than hers at first; he was more confident, more determined to be heard. Soon enough, she began to speak up, too, and the story began to flow.

That was a little over two years ago. Their story has been plagued with stops-and-starts and my real-life personal tragedies and losses have threatened to overwhelm them more than once. Still, they've held on through everything. Now they are my constant companions, speaking their piece and demanding to have their stories told. It's going to be very hard to let them go when the time comes.

But Emily and Davide are lurking around the corner with new tales to tell.

I can't wait to see them again.

___

Links:

Website: http://www.kmenozzi.com
Author page on Amazon.com: http://tiny.cc/xirxo
Blog: http://www.kmenozzi.com/blog.html
Smashwords page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kmenozzi

Ask Me… excerpt Chapter One (in full): http://www.kmenozzi.com/excerpt-ask-me-if-im-happy.html

Ask Me… excerpt Chapter Two: http://www.kmenozzi.com/ask-me-if-im-happy-excerpt-2.html

Ask Me… excerpt Chapter Four (sensual): http://www.kmenozzi.com/excerpt-ask-me-if-im-happy---chapter-sixteen.html

Up Close With A Story Villain

2011-11-30T02:50:00.001-05:00

Presenting the Deepening Character Workshop for SL NanoWriMo this past month got me thinking about new ways to approach developing and interviewing my villains. They’re not really bad. To paraphrase Jessica Rabbit, they’re just made that way. For instance, lets look at the basic character development I did for the villain in my novella Naughty Little Secrets, Eddie Murchison, Jr.

Eddie was a decent enough guy back in high school, but he always seemed to land in the principal’s office and the job of cleaning up Eddie’s screw-ups fell to his slightly older cousin and friend, Tyler (who happens to be the hero in my story). Eddie always felt he got a raw deal in life, because his dad was the poorer of the brothers Murchison. Although the family was tight and always helped each other when they could, Eddie didn’t like depending on the good will of his dad’s brothers in order to make it in life. For one thing, they always treated him like a half-witted little kid, even after he became an adult. His older cousins usually got all the girls and in a town small as Rusdale, Tennessee that’s one tiny pond for a tiny fish. He became even more reckless as he got older, determined to do things his way, and of course, this eventually landed him in jail. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions and learning from his mistakes, he shifted the blame onto others for all his troubles and ignored cause and effect, or should I say, consequences.

When he learns his cousin Tyler is back in town and bought an already successful business, an auto repair shop, he’s a little miffed and envious. Tyler has so much and he doesn’t have much more than the clothes on his back. In his mind, he has a right to other people’s property, namely, Tyler’s. He also is jealous that his cousin’s only been back in town for a few months and has one of the hottest girls in town, yet no woman will give him the time of day.

Keep in mind Eddie doesn’t hate Tyler. He actually likes his older cousin, but feels for Ty to have so much and him not, is unfair and it should be given to him since he paid his dues. That covetous mindset is common among most if not all criminals. It’s also the mindset of the typical bully. Of course, Eddie doesn’t think what he’s doing is wrong, and once he crosses his own personal line and rationalizes it to justify his actions, well—there is no going back.

The novella Naughty Little Secrets is Stacie and Tyler’s story, not Eddie’s, but I felt that short scenes in Eddie’s POV not only helped move the story along, but also helped flesh out his character enough so that what he does in the story would be believable to readers. By using his POV in limited amounts, I was able to allow readers to see into Eddie’s mind, lay bare his weaknesses, and all his rationalizing. At the end of the story, my hope is you’ll despise Eddie, but a tiny part of you will also feel a touch of pity for a man lost in his own illusions, with nothing and no where to go.

The challenge of writing contemporary romance always throws out curve balls—at least to me. I finished writing the first draft in June 2011, then let it simmer for a while as I worked on Open Season (a 16K BDSM with Dragons). When I came back to NSL (Naughty Little Secrets) I realized it needed several revisions and changes to the story to correct a plot hole I’d missed. My original plan called for the story to be released mid-August, but nothing ever goes as planned and it helps I try to stay flexible, because a ton of things happened that couldn’t be avoided, or as my Kentucky daddy used to say, “The shit hit the fan, and the wall.”

Which is why I’ve been struggling to finish edits and revisions on a fifth draft of this story. Every time I write a contemporary this happens to me. I seem to attract crap and hit brick walls the minute I outline a story without any paranormal elements. lol. Or that could be paranoia talking. But whatever the case, my latest goal is to release this monster (not a reference to size, but sheer frustration, lol) before this year is out, so help me blank! (Pick a deity of your choosing).

That said, I’d like to introduce Eddie, my villain of the month. :p

A Farewell to Anne McCaffrey

2011-11-29T09:41:00.011-05:00

In 1978, I happened by a bookstore and spotted a book cover that captured my imagination. I stood there in the shop and read the first few pages. I was hooked and even though it was a hardback by an author I'd never read before, I bought it. As I recall, I read the book in a single weekend. The book was The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey. I soon bought all her backlist and every subsequent book she released.

I was lucky enough to meet Ms. McCaffrey in person at a conference back in the 80's and got her to sign my copy of The White Dragon. There was a line behind me and I didn't want to monopolize her time (not to mention piss off the people standing behind me, some of which had pointy things in their hands—Ouch!), but I remember saying all the gushing fan girl stuff she probably heard ad nauseum during these types of events. I think I even told her how I would love to write a story one day and maybe get it published. When she finished signing the book and pushed it toward me, a million things ran through my mind that I wanted to say to her. Instead, the words, "Blessed be," popped out of my mouth, as I stepped away. That's when she truly looked at me. She smiled and said, "Thank you, and blessings to you."

Rest In Peace, Anne.
You inspired me to take hold of my dreams and make them happen.

Anne Inez McCaffrey
April 1, 1926 – November 21, 2011
The Dragon Queen flies free!

There was a memorial for Anne McCaffrey held in Second Life the other day and although I've been offline the past couple of days with internet issues, my good friend and fellow McCaffrey fan, Jan attended and was nice enough to send me the following snapshots from the memorial.

She said that everyone who was there were given actual 'keening' gestures and they all cried out in unison. A harper and a singer also performed at the memorial according to her, and then afterward everyone was invited to a dragon dance in celebration of her life.

Squidilydoo Alert

2011-11-26T09:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:00:00.001-05:00

Wishing you and yours a fun and thankful feast!

Banter and Witty Repartee

2011-11-21T11:55:00.002-05:00

I've always admired writers with a talent for writing great dialogue, especially sexy and witty banter between the hero and heroine. The chemistry literally zings between the characters and you can almost smell the phermones coming off the page.

But how do you write sexy banter? There has to be a smooth rhythm, right? I mean, this is verbal sex.

So, to the readers out there: Do you like sexy banter in a book? Do you have a favorite book that uses witty dialogue to reveal aspects of the main character?

Pics from my NaNoWriMo workshop

2011-11-19T11:14:00.005-05:00

I really had fun at the workshop last Thursday and hope all the attendees enjoyed the workshop as well and took away some good info from the presentation.

NaNoWriMo Workshop Updates!

2011-11-17T09:10:00.002-05:00

Deepening Characterization Workshop update!!!! If you planned to go to my NaNoWriMo workshop in SL tonight, the time had to be changed due to circumstances. The workshop will now start at 10AM SLT today! (aka 1 pm EST); same location.

Cora's workshop on Kicking Your Stalled Story also has changed, both time and day, and will now start on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 8am SLT (11AM EST).

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Nov. 17, 10:00AM SLT: Workshop by author Cassandra Curtis
Author of the Midnight Effect and Shifting Tides trilogy.

In this mini-workshop, Ms. Curtis shows how a writer can deepen the characterization of an existing protagonist, antagonist, or develop a secondary character by using a few simple diagrams, an interview sheet, character check list, traits, and even an exercise she invented called the Writer’s Duel, which creates multi-player participation in a game setting. Developing your character look in SL will be briefly discussed as well.

Nov. 20, 8:00AM SLT: Workshop by author Cora Zane

Are you struggling with your NaNoWriMo story? Erotic romance author Cora Zane will be covering ways to kickstart a story that has stalled, and get you back on track to reaching your 50k NaNoWriMo project goal.

Both workshops will be held here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/211/196/22

A Christmas Tarot

2011-11-14T09:19:00.003-05:00

What better way to enjoy a Victorian Christmas than with this lovely deck created by Corrine Kenner? The imagery evokes all the warm memories of a Christmas past, holiday cards from my relatives overseas, presents stacked under the Yule Tree. I can almost smell the delicious aroma of the gingerbread cookies my late aunt used to bake...

The Christmas Tarot will soon be a full-fledged, 78-card tarot deck — and it should be available for a Christmas, 2011 release!

The expanded and renamed Victorian Christmas Tarot deck will be published by U.S. Games Systems, Incorporated.

If you were lucky enough to get the original Majors-only deck, keep it: it’s now out of print, which makes your copy a collectible.

Mix Tape Sunday

2011-11-13T13:32:00.009-05:00

Plotting one of my future stories and creating a mix tape of sounds and songs to play when I start writing the first scene. Since I rely on music to help set the tone and mood of my writing, I'm making notes as I listen to Pandora.com

Just another tool I use in my writer's bag o'tricks to circumvent the wall. :-)

Give a listen to some of the tunes I've chosen so far:

Crazy by Leaves
http://www.last.fm/music/Leaves/_/Crazy

Learning To Fly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Ordinary Girl by Earshot
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/letting-go/id299801716

11/11/11 Numerology and Superstition

2011-11-11T09:23:00.007-05:00

Only once in an entire century will this auspicious date and time occur. According to folklore, it's said to be a time of magical possibilities, and wishing upon a star at 11:11 p.m. on 11/11/11 it's said that any wish will come true. I know my mum used to say that any time you have so many ones aligned, you are birthing something new, filled with incredible potential. Be it a project, a desire, a relationship, or an actual birth, all things began today will get off to a good start.

In numerology, the number one represents individuality, aspirations, births, the heart, ambition, achievement, willpower, and the divine. The number one also encompasses all of humanity, together as one. The sun is also associated with the number one, and if you happen to be (like me) an Aquarius, today's vibrations will balance out the sun sign's seemingly aloof and/or stubborn tendencies.

If you're a writer, start writing your next book today. If you're a gambler, it wouldn't hurt to place a small wager on the #1 horse in the first race, the #1 on a roulette table or big wheel, or place a "Yo" bet on a craps table.

No matter what you do today, have fun with it!

Until next time...

~Cass

A Year In Passing

2011-11-08T10:27:00.004-05:00

Today marks the first anniversary of my beloved mum passing away. In some ways, it seems as though just yesterday we talked on the phone, I can hear her voice, feel the love spread over me like a warm blanket when I'm cold and alone.

Whenever I thought about what I'd do to commemorate the day, I always imagined driving up to the little country cemetery where both of my parents and also my dad's parents and great-grandparents are buried. I could see myself and my sister laying roses on their graves, a ritual of love and remembrance...

But in life, things don't always go as planned. My sister is at a doctor's appt. (her son drove her since I couldn't) and I am home sick with some weird flu germ. Just typing this blog post is about wearing me out. To say I feel useless is an understatement. I hate not keeping promises.

Near the bottom of their gravestone, reads the inscription: Gone But Not Forgotten.

I may not be there in person to lay roses at their graves today, but I think they know we won't forget them, no matter what else happens in our lives.

Blessings to those we've all loved and lost, may they rest in peace.

NaNoWriMo Fun!

2011-11-02T13:27:00.002-04:00

Nov. 17, 7:00PM: Workshop by author Cassandra Curtis
Author of the Midnight Effect and Shifting Tides trilogy.

Nov. 17, 7:30PM: Workshop by author Cora Zane

Both workshops will be held here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/211/196/22

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:11:00.002-04:00

Wishing you and yours
a safe and Happy Halloween!
Booyah!

Haunted Tales Event!

2011-10-28T07:19:00.002-04:00

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fig/105/100/499

Join paranormal romance author and amateur ghost hunter Cassandra Curtis for Halloween Eve storytelling fun. Explore the strange phenomena of the spirit world and hear about true ghost stories from real life...or real death—you decide. Mwahahaha!

The event is in Second Life and is in voice, so please bring your headphones! I hope to see you there!

Don't have a Second Life account? Go here to learn more: http://secondlife.com/whatis/

Guest Author Dee Carney's Intimate Whispers

2011-10-27T18:23:00.008-04:00

Please welcome guest author Dee Carney!

Creepy Romance. But in a good way.

Do you remember that whoa movie, The Entity, from waaaayyy back? (Okay, so it wasn’t that way back. It was 1982, but still…) For those of you who weren’t born yet (Dude. Do you know what I was doing in 1982 and you weren’t even born yet? That’s just wrong), or simply don’t remember, it’s a story about a woman who is continually raped by a ghost. Not only that, it’s based on a true story. Freaky, huh? Apparently that story left quite the impression on me. Back to this point in a sec.

I’ve been fascinated for as long as I can remember about stories with incubi and succubi. An incubus is a male (evil) spirit which has sex with a sleeping woman; a succubus is a female (evil) spirit which has sex with sleeping men. I put the word “evil” in parentheses because in the versions in my head, the spirit isn’t necessarily evil. It’s all about the sex. Bow chicka bow bow.

Third point. I write romance.

So what happens when you combine a story about a woman being raped by a ghost, a writer who thinks sex with a spirit is, well, sexy and top it off with a writer who writes romance? You get INTIMATE WHISPERS, my latest release from Ellora’s Cave. Take a look at the blurb:

Intimate Whispers
Dee Carney

Whispers from the dead are everywhere because their greatest desire is to be heard.

Sabrina Turner has found only one way to stop the curse she was born with—allowing an incubus to worship her body in exchange for halting the voices drowning her sanity. Every time she succumbs, it’s still an act of desperation. Yet she’s not sure if she wants to be rid of the bittersweet release.

All Jason Raines wants in this world is to communicate one last time with his deceased brother. When he discovers his seductive neighbor speaks to the dead, it’s another reason to get close to her. Visions and cryptic dreams Sabrina experiences are messages for him, he’s sure of it. Whatever her price, he’ll pay it. When a reluctant Sabrina opens the doorway to the other side, though, he discovers the cost may be higher than he first thought.

Her urgent search for freedom. His crucial need for absolution. A burning love between them offers their only hope in salvation from intimate whispers.

Every person who’s given me feedback on this story has used the same word to describe it: “creepy”. I do believe even my editor called it that. Lol. It’s the perfect Halloween read. With Ellora’s Cave’s new lower prices, pick up your copy today and let me know if you’re now intrigued by the possibility of sexy sex with a spirit. Ouija, anyone?

Happy (creepy) reading,
Dee

About the author:

Dee Carney is a best-selling, award-winning author of both contemporary and paranormal erotica and romance. She promises not all of her stories are designed to keep you peering into dark corners, security blanket firmly pulled up to your chin. Visit her on the web to find out more, www.deecarney.com.

READ EXCERPTS OF THIS BOOK:

www.deecarney.com/bookshelf/intimate-whispers

www.jasminejade.com/p-9629-intimate-whispers.aspx

Intimate Whispers is one of the creepiest, scariest, and hottest books you'll read this year! —Cassandra Curtis, author of The Midnight Effect and Shifting Tides.

Lady Cass at Salty Bob's on Thursday Night

2011-10-26T10:33:00.002-04:00

I'll be at Salty Bob's Restaurant on October 27, 2011 from 5-7pm SLT doing free tarot readings. Drop by if you're online and would like to get a fun, free reading.

Here is the SLURL for your teleport to the event:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bailywick/114/52/27

Halloween Movies Contest Winner

2011-10-26T09:43:00.002-04:00

Time to pick a winner from my oogly boogly witch's hat for the Halloween Movies Contest! The winner will get a pizza gift card from Papa John's. What could be better than watching a wicked awesome scary movie and eating free pizza? :-)

Well, I guess if you had a handsome hunk there to cuddle with during the scary parts of the movie. But that you'll have to provide yourself. *wg*

And the winner is... *drum roll please*

Regina May Ross!

Congratulations, Regina!

Please contact me at cass {at} cassandra curtis. com (no spaces), with your mailing address so I can send your prize. You have 10 days to contact me. If I don't hear back from you, then the prize is up for grabs to be awarded in a second chance drawing, or included as a prize in a brand new contest, so please get back with me soon as you can!

Fun With Workshops

2011-10-22T10:05:00.004-04:00

My family's motto is "As we learn, we grow." So of course I love to take workshops. I also like to give them.

Next month, I'll be teaching a writers micro workshop on characterization as part of the NanoWriMo workshops held in Second Life. The workshop will be held on November 17, 2011, starting at 7pmSLT at the grassy area near the Bookstacks Book Faire in Awen/SL.

The mini-workshop will include handouts and the key ingredients on bringing a character to life on the page. The workshop is free to the public, and all you need is a Second Life account and an avatar to attend.

My writing and critique partner in crime, Cora Zane will also teach a mini-workshop that day. For more info on Cora's workshop, check out: http://corazane.blogspot.com/2011/10/upcoming-workshops.html

We hope you can make it.

Tarot At The Midnight Moon Café

2011-10-21T11:20:00.005-04:00

Free readings by the ladies of the Midnight Moon Cafe. Join Cassandra Curtis for a fun, free tarot reading! Ask the cards a question, reveal past lives, gain insights on present issues, or take a glimpse at your future!

* Event is in voice and/or private chat as per querant's discretion.
*For entertainment purposes only.

Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Time: 1:00pm SLT
Location: The Midnight Moon Café at Awen
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

Hope to see you there!

Dancin' With Dolphins Tarot Event Tomorrow Night!

2011-10-19T18:55:00.001-04:00

Free readings by the ladies of the Midnight Moon Cafe. Join RL Cassandra Curtis for a fun, free tarot reading! Ask the cards a question, reveal past lives, gain insights on present issues, or take a glimpse at your future!

* Event is in voice and/or private chat as per querant's discretion.
*For entertainment purposes only.

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011 Time: 7:00pm SLT Location: Dance of The Dolphins, Combs of Pearl

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Combs%20of%20Pearl/234/207/1

Tis The Season: Top 10 Fright Movies To Watch Contest!

2011-10-19T09:29:00.010-04:00

I love scary movies, even if I do watch them through my fingers, lol. So I thought I'd gather up a list of my ten top movies I love to watch during the month of October. See if you agree. What are some of your top ten fright flicks?

1. The Shining
2. 30 Days of Night
3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4. The Howling
5. The Thing
6. The Exorcist
7. Bram Stoker's Dracula
8. Halloween
9. Night of The Living Dead
10. Psycho

Leave a comment and you could win a $10 gift card good for Papa Johns Pizza!

Contest open to U.S. residents only. Void where prohibited. Must be 18+ to enter. Contest ends Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Odds of winning are determinate upon number of entries received. Entrants are responsible for checking the blog to see if they've won. Must have valid email address for contact, so I can get your snail mail and send your prize. Good Luck.

eBook Sale Alert!

2011-10-16T12:59:00.004-04:00

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/

Who loves a bargain? I know I do.
Right now ARe and AQP are working together to bring you savings
on some of your favorite authors. *wink wink nod nod*
So pop over to ARe today!

Upcoming Mermaid Tarot Event

2011-10-15T15:57:00.004-04:00

Wanted to let ya'll know about one of my upcoming events for readers, fans, and anyone who enjoys mermaids or tarot!

Thursday, October 20, 2011
7:00pm - 9:00pm SLT
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Combs%20of%20Pearl/229/204/2

Join RL author Cassandra Curtis for a free tarot event open to the public in the undersea sim Combs of Pearl at Dance of The Dolphins.*

Take a look into your past lives, sneak a glimpse of the future, or ask a question. Lady Cassandra will be using Gillian Kemp's wonderful Mermaids and Dolphins Deck.**

Event is in voice, so bring headsets. Event is also underwater, so bring your scuba gear or bring your tails fins and enjoy the enchanted underwater seas of Second Life. :-)

*Event is free but tips are appreciated.
**For entertainment purposes only.

Hope to see you there!

Hunkering Down...and how!

2011-10-06T11:12:00.003-04:00

If ya'll don't see me online much after today, it's because I am 'hunkering down' determined to finish every project on my plate before the year is out. I have three really hot hunky heroes and they need me to finish my wips and let their stories be told. They can't wait to meet readers and woo them. :p

Tyler is the hero of Naughty Little Secrets and he's been waiting what seems like forever for me to finish the book. The heroine of NLS is Stacie Purcell, and she's just glad I rewrote several scenes involving sex. lol.

Rey is the returning hero from Shimmer, in my sequel, Shimmer II: Heart of Dixie. He's determined to get the hot-blooded girl of his dreams.

Nial is the hero of my wip, Yule Tide. When he decides to visit friends in Florida for Christmas, he discovers something he'd never dreamed existed, an honest to goodness mermaid!

And as if that wasn't enough, I also have five more stories in the planning/plotting stages! OMG!
So as you can tell, the rest of this year is going to be busy, busy, busy! lol.

Until next time...
~ Cass

Adding a Few More Touches

2011-10-03T08:27:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I got seriously medieval with my characters. I told them no more fighting me, somebody has to steer the freakin' boat, and since I wrote them into existence, I can bloody well write them back out! Oh you better believe after that I didn't hear a peep outta them. They were suddenly more cooperative and I did four timed writings, three with my crit partner, Cora Zane, and one on my own. I came up just shy of 1,000 words—I'm a slow typist, more hunt and peck than touch, plus these were 15 min. writing bursts. But the great thing is I tweaked and added a scene, so the new touches to the wip are shaping up well.

I took a break, fixed din-din, then watched a little TV with the Bear. Since he must be in control of the remote, we usually watch whatever he wants, then the minute he leaves the room, I grab the clicker and check out what else is on. Last night his viewing choice was Wanted, the movie we'd watched the night before. I like a little space between seeing a movie for a second time, but anything with Anjelina Jolie and Bear can watch it a million times in succession.

Personally, I'm not a big Jolie fan, so I decided to go into SL and meet up with Cora, so we could talk shop and maybe do a little exploring. She'd heard about this Halloween SIM with spooky stuff and pumpkin pat-ches. I love exploring anything new, so I was game. Of course, it was a popular SIM and it took several tries before we could go in, and of course, the lag was atrocious, so we didn't stay long, but by then it was nearing midnight, so we teleported over to our virtual Midnight Moon Cafe in Awen SIM, and talked shop and added a few more finishing touches on our Halloween decorations.

Today is a busy one as I have to do my mer thing and get my fins wet in RL (Aqua Fitness class at the gym), then come home and do the usual stuff, like household finances (bills and accounting), clean up the place (99% of writers do NOT have a maid) and then rewrite the transition scenes between my next two chapters on the wip from hell. If the characters get unruly again, at least now I know how to whip them in shape! :p

Until next time,
Cass

Halloween Preparedness

2011-09-30T10:03:00.006-04:00

Cassandra *Sharktooth* sitting near her newly decorated booth
at the Book Fayre on Awen, Bookstacks Island.

The other day I popped into SL (Second Life) to decorate our home away from home, the virtual version of The Midnight Moon Cafe. It's much easier to decorate in SL, and costs less money. Plus I don't have to worry about the plastic spiders coming to life on our fireplace mantel.

Tomorrow, I'll be back in SL doing tarot readings at the Café with my writing critique partner and bestest friend evah, Cora Zane. The last time it was standing room only, and since it is first come first served, you may want to pop into SL a little ahead of time so you're first in line.

The event starts at 10am SLT (which is 10am Pacific Time, 1pm Eastern, or Noon Central time) and will last for about 2 hours. I say about, because I tend to expand on the readings in case there is any confusion and I want, or the visitor wants clarification on the reading/interpretation. :-)

The event is open to the public,
to anyone with a Second Life acct.
We hope to see you there!

Saturday, October 1, 2011
10am - noon SLT
The Midnight Moon Cafe, Awen Bookstacks SIM
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

Yes, It's True, I was a Ginger

2011-09-29T02:59:00.006-04:00

This was pretty much me growing up. The picture has faded a little over the course of decades, but trust me, that was honest to God ginger hair. It wasn't until I was in grade school that I learned being a ginger was supposed to be a bad thing. I know it made me the object of some seriously mean pranks. But I got over it and grew up somewhat normal. Okay, partially normal.

Earlier today, a friend posted a topic thread on a writers forum about "what's weird about you" and I realized reading through the thread that I may be more normal than I realized, since everyone has at least one weird thing they say, or do, or think.

Here are my four things:

1) When I was a little girl, people would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I told them a manatee. lol

2) I talk to plants and trees. Just waiting for them to answer back.

3) I love scary movies, even though I watch 80% of them with my hands and fingers laced over my eyes. lol

4.) I can't drink a margarita like a normal person. I have to lick all the salt off the rim first. On the upside, I used to get a lot of dates that way. rofl

What are your four things that you think are weird about yourself?

Interview and Storytelling Events Today

2011-09-24T11:25:00.006-04:00

Netera Landar will be interviewing me today for her *live* show starting at 11am SLT. I'll discuss my most recent release as well as upcoming books and give readers a sneak preview. Event is in voice, so bring your headsets.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Terric/43/137/29

Where Are the Furry-chested Male Models?

2011-09-23T11:44:00.007-04:00

There is a trend I can't stand and it's been going on too damn long! I'm talking about the de-nuded chests of the male romance cover models. OMG! Please, please stop shaving their chests!

I and other women want to run our fingers through sexy chest haired imaginary heroes. Having a little chest hair doesn't make a guy a Neanderthal. I want to see publishers and stock photo companies bring out the man fur. Oh and while you're at it, please stop injecting these poor guys with plasticine. I swear, the last few books I read, the cover model's faces looked like they'd had more plastic surgery and botox than Jocelyn Wildenstein!

Can't men just be men for a while? Please?

Even some of my own book covers sport guys with hairless chests, and while I stand by my stories, I wish the male models used on my covers matched the hairy-chested heroes in my books. Notice the slide flash at the top of my right sidebar and you'll see the lusty, hairy chest of my hero Javier Lopez from my book The Midnight Effect. Now, tell me he's not sexy!

Ooh, yes indeedy, that is what I'm talkin' about! *wink*

So, New York, with book sales dwindling, will you please give this a try? Give us alpha heroes with hair on their chests as well as hair on their heads. Thank you.

Until next time...
~Cass out

Interview and Storytelling Event This Saturday!

2011-09-22T13:47:00.001-04:00

Netera Landar will be interviewing me this Saturday for her *live* show starting at 11am SLT. I'll discuss my most recent release as well as upcoming books and give readers a sneak preview. Event is in voice, so bring your headsets.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Terric/43/137/29

Hot New Book Out by Kim Knox

2011-09-19T17:14:00.003-04:00

Fellow diva and friend Kim Knox has an amazing hot book that was just released, and ya'll gotta check it out:

Book 3 in the Planetary Bodies series.

Alexandra Syato has complete control of her life.

She's rich and has Captain Rhearden Lawe as a delicious friend with benefits. Her life couldn't be more perfect. Until the mysterious force known as sheen turns her world upside down.

It changes Lawe in a way she doesn't expect and now her easy-going friend has become a dark and brooding stranger, determined to take her control. She can't fight their new, blistering attraction. But the price for having him may break her. Completely.

Buy here from Ellora's Cave

You can also read an excerpt here

At my website there's a little sneak peek behind the series, Planetary Bodies

Current is part of a linked series. Books 1 and 2, Magnetism and Friction, can be found here.

Not All Salons Are Equal

2011-09-17T00:16:00.003-04:00

Jeopardy answer is: What is one place I am never going to get my hair cut?

The Search For The Chipmunk Girl and AGT

2011-09-15T03:57:00.011-04:00

My ears may never be the same, and it's all Cora's fault. Her very innocent (yeah, right) question on Facebook has driven me round the bend and forced me to listen to the worst ca-ca-poo-poo music on the planet. Maybe in the universe. Ohmigawd! I cannot sleep, peoples! I am doing exhaustive searches on the internet and wading through the worst freakin' music videos in existence, trying to find one simple thing...

Cora Zane: Okay, I'm trying to remember the name and artist of a song. I remember the video had a young woman no older than 22 with dark hair sitting on a carousel - it could have been at a county fair or maybe Coney Island at night. The song was either 90s, early 2000's pop/dance song and appeared on a compilation album that was advertised on TV. The singer had a ridiculously babyish voice. Anyone know who this is?
Gaaa! I cannot rest now until I know the answer and it's driving me bonkers. For criminey's sake, I have had to listen to high pitched, squeaky voiced baby-girl voiced neo-pop wannabes in the hopes of finding the proverbial needle in the haystack of ca-ca singers. ::bangs head and not in a good way::

If I have to watch another NOW THIS IS WHAT I CALL MUSIC TV ad on You Tube, I may spontaneously combust! Stop, you say? How? How can I stop the churning in my brain as I mentally run through every single breathless, high pitched female singer since 1997?

And it's not Nelly Furtado, Leigh Nash, or anyone else with a modicum of talent and a few hits under their belt. Oh no, it's a one hit wonder type of singer, and the one hit wasn't that big of a chart topper. ::pulls hair out::

I can't let this rest and cannot leave it go. Just not in my nature, so until I find the carousel baby girl warbler, I will slowly go insane a la Monk. Wahhhh!

In the meanwhile, my favorite talent show came to a close last night, and what a finale it was! AGT's season ender was perhaps the best I've ever watched. For me, the height of the show was watching one of my personal fav all time bands, Def Leopard, rock and wail on stage, showing after all these years, they haven't forgotten how to bring the house down and rawk out.

Also seeing Leann Rhymes with Silhouettes, and PopLyfe with Stevie Wonder was incredible. I actually missed the first fifteen minutes because my sister called, so I didn't get to see Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. with Patti LaBelle, but I'm sure there is a video somewhere floating around, so I can see a replay. I'd never heard of Cobra Starship (?) but I did think their music fit the Team iLuminate dance routine quite well.

The voting was a nail biter and I admit I was conflicted on who to vote for. From the very beginning I picked PopLyfe to make it to the final four, but I really thought they'd come in second, however, after their rendition of Queen's We Are The Champions on Tuesday night, I was less sure. You could tell Kalani really wanted it so bad, but no matter how good they were, how professional-seeming, you have to remember they are just kids and they are only learning how to be professionals. I cringed for them inside when she missed several notes and went off key. I really wish they'd picked a different band to take on instead of Queen. There was only one person in this world who could successfully sing a Queen song, and that was Freddie Mercury. I've never heard anyone else (except possibly David Bowie) do a passably good job.

When Kalani told the judges their finale would be "epic" I looked over at hubby and said, "Oh god, I sure hope they don't overreach and go for something like Bohemian Rhapsody."

But it was worse, because they did Queen's cheerleader game song (my least fav song of Queen's) We Are The Champions. Ugh. #MassiveOverreachingFail#

In contrast, the winner, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. sang the real epic song and performance with Ol' Blue eyes biggest hit, My Way. I felt goosebumps and chills and was so very happy for him. He nailed it and deserved to win.

So what happened to what we kept hearing from the judges all season about it being the year of the dance? Both of the top dance acts finished two and three. I loved them both and was happy to see them make the final four, but I knew in the end it would come down to a singer or singers. It always does. America loves variety, but we cherish our voices.

In my opinion, all of the top ten acts will make great deals from their appearance on AGT and get awesome paying gigs. So really they're all winners.

Congrats to Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Silhouettes, Team iLuminate, and PopLyfe. You've done your home states and America proud!

Computer Farts and Other Oddities

2011-09-12T21:42:00.007-04:00

Today has been a lesson is patience. I woke up this a.m. with a single goal in mind, and my day spiraled out of control from that point on. It all started when I was enjoying my morning routine of coffee and blood. No, I'm not a vampire or into the red stuff, but I am diabetic, so I test every morning fasting.

But, instead of my test strip going into my cute little biohazard bin after I did my glucose test, it flipped into my coffee. No problem, I'll just dump it out. Except that was the last cup left in the pot, so I had to make more. While the happy little coffeemaker did it's thing, I decided to read my emails. I even managed to get through about 67 of them (23 of which were about my saggy boobs needing a genie bra—how did they know? lol) when a pop up alert flashed onto my screen, saying I needed to upgrade my browser.

Seems simple enough. I clicked yes and installed the update. Then I got a pop-up telling me my java script was too old. Fine. I'll update it too. When I came back with my coffee in hand (new cup sans blood strip) I saw another notification on the screen, telling me that my OS should also be updated. Man, is my computer feeling its age. Everything on it is out of date, I thought. So sure, it's free, why not update it. So I clicked OK.

Then it said, I must restart for all my changes to take effect. Sure, go for it. And boy did I! OhMiGawd. I knew I shouldn't have trusted those happy little prompt windows! They lied, because when my computer came back on and I tried to launch my browser, all hell broke loose. The little progress icon I coined, 'the spinning beach ball of death' popped onto my screen and stayed there for about thirty minutes. I would get up, do laundry, come back and check the screen, nope. So then I did dishes and mopped the floor. Surely by now the bloody thing should be finished doing whatever it is that little spinning beach balls do.

Riight. So then I vacuumed and dusted and balanced my checkbook (very scary moment there, btw), and came back to see a COMPLETELY BLACK SCREEN! Yep, and it wasn't a time out. The beach ball had left the building, so to speak. I had ten minutes of panic and then unplugged, replugged and restarted the machine. After what sounded (I swear) like a ginormous farting sound, it came back on and I quickly tried to launch my browser. I went to the main site and reinstalled the old browser I used to use and restarted.
This time it worked.

I thought all was right with my little space in the computer world, but then had to try three times to leave a comment on bff Cora Zane's blog. So I may have to get a fart extinguisher before all is said and done. Eeps!

10 Years Later

2011-09-11T17:07:00.003-04:00

It's hard to believe 10 years have past since September 11, 2001. I recall it as if it were yesterday. My sister and I had plans to pick up gift certificates for my mother's birthday and do some other errand running, so I was getting ready and knew she'd be at my house soon to pick me up. My hubby hates watching or even hearing the TV in the mornings and so our TV is seldom on in the daytime. But from the bedroom I could hear the TV going in the living room. Curious, I walked in there and he turned to me and said, "There's been a horrible accident in New York City. A plane flew into the World Trade Center building."

I sat down beside him on the sofa and we watched events unfold, soon learning that this was no accident, as we saw in real time, the second plane hit the other World Trade Center building. He turned and looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "We're at War."

I think back to that day, such a beautiful, sunny day, with only a few clouds in the sky, and I try to understand the diabolical nature of a group of people who would deliberately want to strike America on that specific day so that they could also hurt as many first responders as possible, our heroes, men and women who hold the line and save lives, as they send their twisted message of hate to us all.

Ten years later, the despicable creature who planned the tragedy is in custody. Ten years later, the leader of this evil, terrorist group is dead. But when I think about all the lost souls in NYC, at ground zero, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA, all I can feel is a sadness so deep, that nothing will ever resolve the pain.

I didn't lose anyone on 9/11, and I am grateful, but I know too many of friends who did lose someone they loved, so while I felt a sense of relief the next day after many phone calls were made and loved ones accounted for, I also felt the helplessness and sorrow for my friends and their families who lost someone they cherished, for the victims who died such a horrible death, and the survivors who still deal with their own remorse at the miracle of being alive when so many didn't make it out.

I can only hope that we never forget that day and that we continue to teach our future generations about 9/11, so that we never have to face history repeating itself.

Blessings and prayers to all those who lost a loved one. Blessings to all those who survived and are still to this day eaten with remorse and grief. Blessings to everyone who holds the line and protects us all.

Thank you.

Tarot Reading Tomorrow in SL

2011-09-09T12:25:00.001-04:00

Free readings by the ladies of the Midnight Moon Cafe

Join RL authors Cassandra Curtis and Cora Zane for a fun, free tarot reading! Ask the cards a question, reveal past lives, gain insights on present issues, or take a glimpse at your future! * Event is in voice and/or private chat as per querant's discretion. Hope to see you there!

*For entertainment purposes only.

Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011

Time: 11am- 1pm SLT
Location: The Midnight Moon Cafe, Awen
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

Time: 9:00-10:00pm SLT
Location: The Midnight Moon Cafe, Witches Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/witchfest/47/230/701

Edits, Pork Rinds, AGT, Zombies, and Tarot

2011-09-08T07:25:00.011-04:00

These days, it seems all I do are edits. But it makes sense in a way.

I'm in edits on two different projects: Naughty Little Secrets and Mr. Hawtness. Both are contemporaries and I think that's why the edits are kicking my ass. Before now, my only contemporary story was Compulsion, and I recall that story kicked my ass as well. My brain flows best when I'm knee deep in the woo-woo, I guess. lol. I'm hard-wired for paranormal.

Which is fine, except some ideas come to me full-blown in virtual color without a drop of the para in them. Knowing in advance my struggle with contemporaries, I usually shove the ideas in a binder and let them simmer until I can no longer ignore them. lol.

As a treat between rounds of edits, I'm writing a few scenes here and there on the sequel to my novella Shimmer, entitled Heart of Dixie. The other night while I'm flipping channels, I see an ad for a new show this fall, called Hart of Dixie, and I can only hope no shapeshifting aliens are involved. lol.

I'm on day three of my Countdown to Conference diet and having snack attacks. Usually the bad thing about snacking on a diet is I can't snack or I blow the diet and have to start from scratch again. But thanks to my critique partner and friend, author Cora Zane, on this diet, I can snack and be a good girl even while feeling like I'm cheating. My whole life I lived with the assumption that pork rinds were terribly bad for you and you were going off your diet in a big way if you ate them. So imagine my surprise when I learned that pork rinds are on the Atkin's diet and are a big fat O carbs! Wooyah!

Another happy discovery is that my favorite yummy spice mix tastes great sprinkled on them and I went through almost half a bag of pork rinds last night free of guilt. Now that is a great feeling! If you like chipotle, this stuff is amazing: http://chipotledryrub.weikelfoods.com/

My favorite TV variety show was on last night—America's Got Talent. I was really excited to see my top four all made it into the next round. If I have to pick it from this point on, I'd have to say it's going to come down to PopLyfe and Silhouettes. When I listen to PopLyfe, it's like they are already recording artists and are on the show promoting their next album, not competing for a spot in the finals—which they won. And Silhouettes never fail to fill me with this incredible surge of emotions. How often can you say that about a dance troupe? But that's just it. They're more than dance, they are also storytellers. It's going to be tough for me to choose which one to vote for as I love both acts. But it could come down to Team iLuminate and Silhouettes and that would be a difficult vote as well, because I also love the energy they bring to the stage.

The only one of my favorites that I don't see making it to the finals is Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., and that's only because I think more of the audience of voters are young people who will cast their votes for PopLyfe over Landau. Personally, I think Landau is already worthy of a Vegas show and could start his own new version of The Rat Pack. I know I'd pay to see him in Vegas.

Actually, each of the final four acts in this season's AGT are Vegas ready acts I'd pay to see. Who will win the ultimate prize? I don't know, but like millions, I'll be tuning in to see who is chosen the winner. Good luck to all four remaining contestants!

Speaking of favorite television shows, I'm excited about the new season of The Walking Dead. The promo trailer shown at Comic-Con looked amazing! I can't wait to see what happens next! Hoping Sophia makes it okay. Whew. That show is tense! The season premiere is October 16th on AMC channel.

Last but not least, I wanted to give everyone a *heads-up* alert that Cora and I will be in Second Life this Saturday, Sept. 10th for two separate sessions of free to the public tarot readings! I sure hope you can join us!

Free readings by the ladies of the Midnight Moon Cafe

Join RL authors Cassandra Curtis and Cora Zane for a fun, free tarot reading! Ask the cards a question, reveal past lives, gain insights on present issues, or take a glimpse at your future! * Event is in voice and/or private chat as per querant's discretion. Hope to see you there!

*For entertainment purposes only.

Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011

Time: 11am- 1pm SLT
Location: The Midnight Moon Cafe, Awen
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

Time: 9:00-10:00pm SLT
Location: The Midnight Moon Cafe, Witches Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/witchfest/47/230/701

Day One: Countdown to Conference

2011-09-06T12:30:00.003-04:00

I am giving up my membership in Heifer's Anonymous and giving losing weight one more try, starting day one of yet another diet. My goal is to lose 65lbs. before the Written In The Stars Conference next March. I'm not trying for svelte. I left sexy behind when I hit 40, so this is more about wanting to fit into my clothes better and overall feel better.

This time I'm taking a three prong attack.
1.) more consistent exercise
2.) no carbs for two weeks, then slowly adding carbs back into diet in smaller amounts
3.) no weighing. This time I am getting out the tape measure as my barometer. Weighing only depresses me, which in turn makes me eat things I shouldn't.

I also have a secret weapon this time around. I am not going on this journey alone. I am gathering up a team of fellow authors who also want to fit into slinkier dresses in time for their next conference. Together we can do this. We can make our goal. It's time we took control.

Thank God It's Finally Friday!

2011-09-02T08:45:00.003-04:00

I can almost taste Labor Day weekend. Looking forward to our annual family cookout and maybe talking someone into going with me to the casino **cough cough** I mean, bra shopping, over the weekend. Any takers? Ahh well, I guess I'll have to go it alone.

The other thing I love about this last big weekend of summer, is that it kicks off the fall festival season and art fairs. There is something so neat about getting up early in the morning, sun just breaking the sky into a dazzling lemon yellow and watching the booths with all their creative and innovative items, set up and display the beautiful things from all their hard work.

The dew is on the grass, a mist is in the air along with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and pastries, why—it's positively invigorating!

As I stroll paths around the booths, I'm always on the hunt for two things: anything with angels on it, especially jewelry pins (my oldest sister collects them) or anything with mermaids or manatees (which I collect). It's a rare day that I find anything for me, but I've been very lucky in the past, finding angel pins.

My other watch-item is a booth selling handmade potpourri by the scoop. I love the stuff, even though the booths usually make me sneeze. lol.

If you're sitting around on the weekends this fall season, wondering what to do, check out some of these neat art fairs that may be in your area. If you find any manatees or mermaids, let me know! :-)

Have fun!

~ Cass

http://www.artfestival.com/FestivalCalendar.aspx
http://festivalnet.com/art_fairs.html
http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/
http://www.fairsandfestivals.net/

Twitter for the Social Media Challenged

2011-08-30T12:02:00.004-04:00

Every day I hear about new social media sites I should join and I tells ya, keeping up with it wears me out. lol. If you're like me, you want to reach your audience the best way possible. I'm still learning, but so far I've found that by tweaking my Twitter, and combining it with my Facebook, it helps me stay focused. Adding my blog to the mix creates another layer of information readers may like to know and best of all—circles back to my Facebook and Twitter. The neat part is that it now only takes a few minutes to do each day, puts my info out there to interested readers, and allows me to do what I really want —write my books.

I came across a very neat how-to article about Twitter and thought others might find the information useful. It's worth a read, especially if you're a new author or an aspiring one. I know it helped me better understand how to use Twitter more effectively. http://gigaom.com/collaboration/tweeting-101-a-twitter-cheat-sheet/

Hope to see you Tweeting soon!

~Cass

Did Earth Scientists Find Shimryn?

2011-08-26T22:27:00.003-04:00

Based on the news article HERE, it would strangely seem so. In my short story Shimmer, southern belle Dixie Ames attends her sister's tropical wedding and discovers a strange crystalline ball of light that shoots out of the ocean and into the sky. The pulsing light (USO or unidentified submersible object) follows her until she throws her shoe at it, and she runs into the ball room where her sister's reception is being held.

The light is actually a very handsome alien named Rey who comes from a planet called Shimryn, which is a large carbon/diamond (I call it adamas) based planet with a breathable surface thanks to a layer of oxygen. The planet lies within the Milky Way Galaxy and is inhabited by carbon and silicon based life forms that are crystals radiating pure energy and light, but can transform into other forms so they can fit in with the native species of any planet.

The sequel to Shimmer, Shimmer II: The Heart of Dixie is tentatively slated for a January 2012 release date.

From the Writing Cave

2011-08-26T16:56:00.002-04:00

Haven't posted on my blog for a while since I am still stuck in the writing cave working on edits. I basically gutted my wip, shifted a few salvageable chapters around, added new chapters, changed some of the backstory to better fit the plot and theme, and added just a small touch of snark (I promise it's not full blown snark, or I would have had to shoot myself), but it's just enough to make the work funnier and a miniscule amount edgier. I also reduced the 'facetime' of one character since he was hogging the story, and I added another love scene.

When this sucker is finally done, I am so going to break open a bottle of the bubbly and celebrate! Whew-wee! To anyone out there contemplating being an author, are you of sound mind and body? Seriously wish someone had asked me that seven years ago when I decided to resurrect my teenage dream of being a published author. It takes a certain amount of dedication mixed with insanity. Lucky for me I'm stubborn and eccentric enough to qualify for nuts. :p

This weekend is my critique writing partner's birthday and was glad to know her box o' fun arrived in time yesterday. Maybe one day I'll get to shock her and deliver the present in person. lol. That would be a hoot.

In my upcoming novella, Naughty Little Secrets, the heroine loses her red story binder and panics. In real life, my binder is black and just as naughty, except everyone knows what I'm up to when I'm nose deep scribbling in it, and tries taking a peek. ::smack:: ::smack:: lol

Once the ebook comes out, I have several fun events and contests planned, so stay tuned for more.

Until next time...

~Cass

Gettin' Squiddy With It

2011-08-19T07:15:00.006-04:00

In honor of our future anthology collaboration (basically when we can get to it and coordinate our busy schedules), I bought the both of us Squidilydoo tentacles from Panda Express (via SL Marketplace).

The neat thing about these tentacles is they can color change to match your outfit and they come with slime! lol

Funny Cuddling

2011-08-17T13:50:00.004-04:00

First off, this video is not work-safe or if you have kiddos around, but it is funny as hell, albeit slightly disturbing. I will never think of Full House in the same way. rofl.

Thanks to John Stamos and Bob Saget for creating this neat, fun video. And thanks to my friend Neith for telling me about it. ::wipes tears from eyes::

John Stamos' Guide To Cuddling

Aquarian Moon

2011-08-14T10:53:00.004-04:00

Yesterday's full Aquarius Moon strengthened the intuitive powers of all Aquarians. You may not have noticed, but I bet if you look back at all your conversations and encounters, all your feelings and emotions from yesterday, you'll see a pattern emerged. Each person is different, but I would hazard a guess that you were more *in-tune* with your surroundings and the people in your life, picking up on all their hidden signals and expanding your emotional horizons.

You can still use that energy today, by listening to the people in your life and paying close attention to what they have to say. I bet insights will flow so fast, you may have trouble keeping up with all the revelations! :-)

Yesterday was also a wonderful opportunity for tarot and other means of divination, whether you're an Aquarius sun sign or another favor of the zodiac. This is also true for those with Aquarian moons.

Hope your weekend brings everything you desire,
In light and love,
Cass

Neat Zombie News

2011-08-12T09:56:00.003-04:00

THE ZOMBIE WALK

On August 29th, zombies will take to the streets!

The meet time is 8:29PM, at the intersection of Bardstown Rd and Eastern Parkway for Louisville's annual Zombie Walk. This is a fun, free event for all ages.

What is it exactly?

Dress as a zombie then come out and walk the streets with the walking dead. Don't be shy, get creative with your costumes and show it off to the world! It is one of the coolest events in town (with the exception of Danger Run). Best of all, it is completely FREE!

Plus Danger Run staffers will be there taking pictures, shooting video, and giving out FREE Danger Run stuff. Did I say free? YEP! They will be giving out free shirts and other great freebies to a select number of people.

Who knows, you might get some free Danger Run swag out of the deal. If you'd like to learn more about the event, go to this webpage with MORE INFO and pictures from past zombie walks. This event is off the chain...and rabid, ready to eat your brains! Don't miss it!

Zombie Posters and Other Oogly Stuff

2011-08-11T08:27:00.009-04:00

Inside Slum Manor Apartments (I swear this place looks like my old dorm room! Freaky-dink, ya'll!)

Cass and Cora doing a bit of slumming in SL.

Last night while teleporting through virtual reality with my gal pal Cora Zane, (searching for Pink Doc Marten's of all things) we came across a place with some of the coolest B horror movie posters. I really wanted to buy a couple of them they were so nifty, but alas they were not for sale. So this morning, between phone calls and reading email, I decided to do a search on Google and see if I could find them on the internet. Voíla! Most of the posters were of zombie flicks, so I picked my three favorites (posters not movies themselves as I haven't seen them).

We also took the time to catch up on all things writing related, Midnight Moon Cafe related, and did some tarot readings for each other. I've been getting the Magician a lot lately, so I should be able to use the knowledge I have and tools at my disposal to work my way out of my current troubled songs of woe...or so speaks the cards.

Maybe it's time I overhaul my writing *career* (a-hem) and refocused some of my goals. Especially since I can't finance the underground bunker build (I didn't win last night's Powerball jackpot). Sad too, because I was only six numbers off. All six. lol.

In the meanwhile, I'm pluggin' away on the edits and rewrite for Naughty Little Secrets, and writing the first chapter of Heart of Dixie, the sequel to my ebook, Shimmer, waiting to hear word back on my submission sent to EC earlier this year, and dreaming of getting another few stories out the door and into e-book reader's hands.

And yes, I am still flirting with my squidilydoo story. rofl. Offbeat and off the wall, and probably won't sell, so I'm sure I'll have to self-pub the thing, but it will get finished one of these days. :-)

Now, go ink yourselves! heehee.

Until next time...

~ Cass

In Dreams Begin contest winner is...

2011-08-08T01:07:00.000-04:00

::drumroll please::

Meredith!

Congratulations, Meredith! Please email me at cass [at] cassandracurtis [dot] com with your full name and mailing address so I can send your prize. Happy reading! :-)

Erotic Romance Collection 1 Now Available!

2011-08-06T23:13:00.003-04:00

Very happy to announce that my paranormal erotic romance anthology, When Midnight Comes: Erotic Romance Short Stories Collection 1, is now *live* and available for the Kindle direct from Amazon.com!

Paranormal erotic romance anthology from author Cassandra Curtis includes the stories The Ghost of Goodacre Hall, Mummy Dearest, and Stroke It. Previously published separately and now combined into a single volume for the Kindle, When Midnight Comes: Erotic Romance Short Stories Collection 1 offers three sizzling tales, with three levels of heat!

~Hot~

The Ghost of Goodacre Hall
Matthew Lambert tried to run from his past, but when he decides to renovate an old house, he is forced to resurrect more than ghosts. Intrigued by the paranormal, Cadence Martin always loved Goodacre Hall. When she gets an invitation to attend the Victorian house's grand opening, she decides to see if the new owners are aware they just inherited the resident ghost, her great-aunt Miriam.

~Hotter~

Mummy Dearest
Gwen Patterson expected an adventure when she signed up to work an archeological dig in Egypt, but she didn't expect to uncover a sinister plot involving a mummy and a mysterious golden scarab. Cursed to sleep for thousands of years, Kemnebi is awakened by Gwen's accidental blood sacrifice. Now freed, he must regain his power and defeat an old foe, or risk losing Gwen forever.

~Hottest~

Stroke It
Exhausted after a coast to coast book tour, Laris needs serious R and R. The luxury resort along the Baja coast provides their guests with everything they could desire, including their own personal masseur. Former special ops agent Alejandro Maranta loves his job as an on-call masseur for the resort hotel. Using his unique gift for easing tension, he gives Laris a massage she'll never forget.

Contest Fun!

2011-08-03T08:48:00.004-04:00

“Close your eyes tightly—tightly—and keep them closed . . .”

From a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power, but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist instead. Now, for the man or demon she loves, each woman must span a bridge through Hell and across history . . . or destroy it.

“Every passionate man is linked with another age,
historical or imaginary,
where alone he finds images
that rouse his energy.” W. B. Yeats

Anchored in fact on both sides of history, Laura and Ida, modern rationalist and fin de siècle occultist, are linked from the moment Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne. When Laura falls—from an ocean and a hundred years away—passionately, Victorianly in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats, their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats’s poetry until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces in between.

With her Irish past threatening her orderly present and the man she loves in it, Laura and Yeats—the practical materialist and the poet magus—must find a way to make love last over time, in changing bodies, through modern damnation, and into the mythic past to link their pilgrim souls . . . or lose them forever.

::Contest Time::

How would you like to win a copy of In Dreams Begin by Skylar White? All you have to do is leave a comment here on my blog. Easy peasy. :-) Contest ends midnight, Sunday, August 7, 2011. Winner will be announced next week. Good luck!

Get Genrefied: Book Country

2011-07-28T00:45:00.000-04:00

Saw this awesome map that breaks down books by genre and wanted to share the link:
http://www.bookcountry.com/books/Map/Default.aspx

My friend Cora also posted about this on her blog along with some info on the whole agent to epublisher trend. Check it out: The Intimate Thoughts of Cora Zane.

In the meanwhile, I think I've gotten all the plot holes covered and made Naughty Little Secrets a smoother story and hopefully, a fun summer e-read for folks. It still has to pass the vetting process of my wonderful beta readers before it sees the light of day, but it shouldn't be too much longer now. :-)

Stay cool and enjoy some steamy reads.

Until next time...
~ Cass

Writing 'Till It Hurts

2011-07-27T10:13:00.004-04:00

Ever have those mornings when you wake up fine but the happy highlight of your day is your first cup of coffee and it goes downhill from there? Yesterday was one of those days. I already have a knot on the tendon at the base of my left thumb and I managed to really aggravate the poor, abused hand. It started with lunch.

I somehow managed to get pickle relish on my fingers and not having a paper towel handy, I chose to fling my hand toward the faucet and sink. I just remember turning slightly and thinking I'll run my hand under the water and get the pickle relish off. Simple enough. Except I was half day dreaming about a scene in my wip at the time, working out the kinks (quite literally) and didn't realize my late m-i-l's heavy duty glass pitcher from the 40's sat on the counter top in the direct path of my hand. Smack! Thankfully I didn't hurt the pitcher, but my hand didn't fare as well.

So instead of working on my kinky love scenes, (I understand writing 'til it hurts, and pushing through the pain to pour out your soul, but come on, I didn't know they meant literally!) I sat in the living room with an ice pack on my hand, watching what passes for daytime TV these days. I knew things were bad, but when the best show on is a rerun of a 2010 episode of Kitchen Nightmares, you know daytime TV has gone to hell.

So I did what many people with a modicum of intellect do. I turned off the telly and grabbed a book. I chose to start Robert McCammon's Speaks The Nightbird, Volume 2: Evil Unveiled. Somewhere in a steam trunk, tucked away in a closet, is volume 1 I think. But I was in no condition yesterday to dig through trunks of books to find it.*

Here's the blurb:

Robert McCammon, author of the best-sellers Boy's Life and Gone South, returns to the forefront of American fiction with Speaks the Nightbird.

Is there a witch in Carolina in 1699? The people of the town of Fount Royal think so. Her name is Rachel; she's foreign, beautiful, and brave--no wonder so many people hate her.

Comes a traveling magistrate to hold a witch trial, and his clerk, Matthew. The evidence spells doom for Rachel: witch's tools are found in her home, she will not speak the Lord's Prayer, and witnesses swear they've seen her commit unspeakable acts with the Devil himself.

But Matthew hears the call of the nightbird. He wonders--is there any such thing as witchcraft? If Rachel can fly through the night on wings of evil, why hasn't she escaped from the town gaol?

And the town itself--who murdered Rachel's husband? How did the ratcatcher learn to hypnotize his prey? Who stands to gain if the witch is burned?

God and Satan are indeed at war in Fount Royal, and even the innocent are not safe. In the end, Matthew follows his head and his heart, and Rachel keeps an unlikely appointment with destiny.

I've made it to page 41 so far and can't wait to get back to it. But until then, I need to return to writing my own story. Wish me luck. I'm typing one handed with deadlines looming.

Until next time...
~Cass

*(Nope. Found the book I was thinking of this a.m. and it's not a volume anything. But it is an excellent McCammon book, They Thirst). So which book is considered Volume 1? If you know, please leave a comment. Thanks!)

Mr. Fluffykins

2011-07-24T22:26:00.002-04:00

I sense another 80's toy to movie tie-in on the way. Our only hope to stop it is Mr. Fluffykin. lol

Heroine from NLS

2011-07-21T22:25:00.006-04:00

Stacie Purcell, the heroine from my upcoming ebook Naughty Little Secrets isn't on the cover, so I wanted to post my own rendition of her courtesy of SL's wonderful hair, skin, shape, eyes, and clothing vendors.

The hairstyle I found is exactly how I pictured it, but the color is too yellowish bright for my character. I wish it had come in a color two shades lighter and less brassy. Still though, not bad. She's a green-eyed blond, in her mid-20's, taking creative writing classes at the local community college and working as a hair stylist at her sister's beauty salon in the fictional town of Rusdale, Tennessee. Yes, she's a southern girl and she's about to fall hard for the town's newest bad boy... *rubs hands together in wicked delight* oh yes, I do so love those bad boys. ;-)

NSL isn't paranormal, it's a straight up contemporary, much like my earlier ebook, Compulsion.

Speaking of compulsions, I love characters with odd little idiosyncrasies. I'm in the rewrite/editing phase of NLS now and may have to give a few oddities to some of my secondary characters for fun.

I had hoped NLS would be released late next week, but more and more it's looking like August before everything is finalized and the formatting done and ready for upload to Smashwords and Amazon.

Look for news in the coming weeks about the book release party I'm planning for Twitter, Facebook, and in SL.

Until next time...

~Cass

Update on The Deal Breaker!

2011-07-15T17:33:00.003-04:00

The Deal Breaker is now *live* on Amazon with a Kindle Edition!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CQ5STU

Formatting Angst

2011-07-13T20:12:00.005-04:00

After much hand-wringing and nail biting, hair pulling and angst, I managed to get my short story The Deal Breaker uploaded to Amazon's website. The erotic bit of fiction will be the same price as it is on Smashwords (99¢), for those who want to upload directly via whispernet to their Kindle. Right now the ebook is *in review* but once it's up on the site and available to download, I'll post the link here. **

Time for me to relax and unwind...and get away from the glare on my computer screen. :p Computers make me crazy, I tells ya. lol

Until next time...

~ Cass

**UPDATED**
See link above for The Deal Breaker on Amazon.com!

Boot Lust

2011-07-10T12:21:00.010-04:00

I love to surf the net and shop, but when it comes to certain items, my passion kicks into overdrive. What am I talking about? Why boots and shoes of course! :p

<<— Saw these pretties at FeelingUSA and fell in instant lust.

But I had no idea of the wonderful and diverse styles they had when I scrolled down on the next page. Omgawd! Total craving!

Spotted these buckled beauties and went into near orgasmic delight. OMG! Your man sees you in these and you know he realizes you mean business. Whoa mama! :D

Paired with this cute little corset I picked out, and you are so gonna have him on his knees thanking whatever divine being lead you into his life.

Oh yeppers, you can trust me on that one. Heehee.

Also note that these items come in plus sizes, ladies! Curvy models and real women, not bones and skin airbrushed to surreal perfection.

FREE Public Tarot Reading Event at the MMC

2011-07-08T23:10:00.003-04:00

Cora and I will be in Second Life, Saturday, June 9, 2011 from 7-8pm SLT (pacific time) doing tarot readings for fun. The readings are free to the public, so drop by our virtual 3-D Midnight Moon Café tomorrow night if you get the chance. A good time is usually had by all.* :-)

Sat., June 9, 2011
7-8pm SLT
Midnight Moon Café, Awen, SL
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

*for entertainment purposes only.

Reading Outside Your Genre

2011-07-07T11:14:00.001-04:00

I find it a nice change of pace to switch things up and read outside my genre. For those of you who follow my various blogs, you know historical novels are not my favorite cuppa tea. But every now and then I get the urge to try something different outside my comfort zone. The latest book I finished fits the description very well.

Available as a free read at B&N online for the Nook, I downloaded a story called The Fox, by author Arlene Radasky. The book (although it does have paranormal elements) is a sweeping historical romance set in part during the time of the Roman empire's occupation of Britain. The story is told through the eyes of two main characters, Jahna (a Celt) and Aine (a modern day archeologist).

Perhaps the story appealed to me because I'm part Celt, or that I liked the way the story moved between the two characters, separated by time. But whatever the reason, I soon found myself engrossed in the book, wondering what would happen next. This is not a 'light' book you'd pick up for a quick read, but it will stop and make you think about the obstacles women have faced throughout history and appreciate the struggles they made so we can have the gifts we have today.

The Fox is also available on itunes: http://itunes.apple.com/bw/podcast/the-fox-a-free-audiobook-by/id283539821

Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T00:37:00.000-04:00

Wishing you and yours a fun-filled

and safe Independence Day!

Upcoming Attractions...

2011-06-28T11:49:00.000-04:00

Wanted to share some cover love and the blurb for my next ebook, entitled Naughty Little Secrets. Thanks to friends and authors Grace Draven and Alicia Richardson, I have a neat cover for my wicked little story.

Here's the blurb:

Aspiring author Stacie Purcell writes her secret fantasies in a red ‘story binder’ she carries around in her oversized slouch bag. When she misplaces the binder, and risks exposing all her naughty little secrets, she’s desperate to get the binder back.

Tyler Murchison finds the binder in his garage waiting room, and remembers the shy blonde who had been writing in it earlier that day. When he picks it up, a color print-out falls to the floor…a diagram of various sexual positions! Intrigued by Stacie’s erotic fantasies, he returns the binder, and in doing so, gives Stacie a chance to experience all the incredible sexual delights she writes about. But can a night of steamy sex lead to something more?

Look for the ebook's release date this coming July!

Plots and Bunnies Collide...Shimmer

2011-06-25T12:35:00.000-04:00

Happy news for fans of my story Shimmer. I have begun the plotting and blocking of scenes for the sequel, which I've titled Heart of Dixie. As some of you may remember, Dixie is the sultry southern heroine of Shimmer. I plan for things to heat up between her and the ever so hawt Rey. If you've never read Shimmer, now is a great time to check it out for free on smashwords.com http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9899

Shimmer, an Ebook by Cassandra Curtis

www.smashwords.com

Stuck at her sister's tropical wedding without a date, Dixie Ames decides to kick up sand at the reception and finds more than she bargained for, spotting a strange shimmering orb over the water. Rey knows better than to appear in front of humans, but something about Dixie attracts him like no other...

Meeting of The Minds and New Releases From Friends

2011-06-24T11:25:00.001-04:00

I've spent the better half of a week planning future good things with my CP Cora Zane, plus finishing up projects so I can get them out the door and into readers hot little hands. :-)

Speaking of projects, Cora's project turned ebook is coming out today (look for it sometime this afternoon on Cobblestone's website) called Wicked Obsession. The book is a sequel to her best-selling ebook, Wicked Temptation.

Once she gets approval on her official blurb and excerpt, I've invited her to drop by and talk about her latest ebook, so ya'll watch for that.

Another friend of mine is Jennifer Colgan and her latest ebook is available on Smashwords and Amazon.com. I love the cover and the story is flat out fabulous! You. Must. Read. Married To The MIB!

Blurb:
Spence is a MIB, a special agent dedicated to protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats. Three years ago, he fell in love with Dulcie, an alien abductee. Now the fate of an empire rests on Dulcie’s hidden memories of their affair. It’s Spence’s mission to retrieve them. It should be easy, but will Spence be able to remain objective when the love of his life experiences total recall?

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Smashwords

Buy at All Romance eBooks

Tarot Love

2011-06-22T09:29:00.000-04:00

The more I use my new tarot deck, the more I love it. The deck is the Faerie Tarot put out by U.S. Games.

The deck consists of 78 cards and is based on the Rider-Waite deck. The artwork by Nathalie Hertz is very Fae-like, meaning whimsical and colorful. The additional faery bits of lore are an added bonus.

Another thing I like about this deck is the feel of the cards. They aren't so thick and stiff that I have trouble shuffling them. I'm sure as time goes on and I use this deck more and more, the feel will get even better as they age.

My favorite spreads to use with this deck are the Celtic Cross and the Six card over and under (see example below).

Happy Litha, Share The Love Ebay Auction Starts Tonight!

2011-06-21T21:38:00.002-04:00

Happy Litha to All!

The Share the Love eBay Auction for author L.A. (Leslie) Banks starts tonight at 9pm. You can use the button below to go to the link that will take you straight to the auction. Happy Bidding! :-)

Weekend In A Nutshell

2011-06-20T13:33:00.001-04:00

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gorvana/173/71/26

The other day, bff Cora Z. and I did a little make-up shopping at a store called—what else—Make-up! lol They have a bunch of freebies and specials running right now 50% off on a ton of stuff. The tattoo layer make-up there is really great and I gave the owner much Linden love. :p

Afterward, we rezzed our boxes and stopped by the Midnight Moon Café to check on things and take a break. Cora had the great idea to make some piña coladas and we talked shop for a while.

Looking forward to Cora's Wicked Obsession ebook release date.

Right now my big dilemma is whether to leave my story Derby Girl as a romantic comedy (non-erotic), or turn it into a YA and place it under a different pen name. To make the change, I would have to switch the main focus from the reincarnated friends and onto the secondary character, a teenage girl who got hurt in a bad fall and now is nervous around horses. So I am not sure the best direction for the story. ::sigh::

I did a little card reading for myself (which never works but I do it anyway) and everything sounds promising and sunny, lots of lovely cups and the Sun card. So I had Cora read for me, and of course, it was nothing like my reading. There will be decisions to make and obstacles to overcome. Story of my life. Nothing comes easy. But the eventual outcome did sound great, so I'll simply have to waddle hip deep in the muck and go for it. :-)

At least one thing did get settled. Bear and I drove up to the cemetery in the country and after almost eight months of pleading, nagging, and phone calls (which were seldom returned) they finally got mum's tombstone engraved. It now lists her name, date of birth, date of death, and the words Gone but not forgotten at the very bottom. Finis It's a complete relief.

So there it is. My weekend in a nutshell. Until next time...
~ Cass

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T13:31:00.000-04:00

My father was an incredible man. In his teens, he ran moonshine for some cousins in Southern Ky (daredevil streak revealed) and played high school basketball as a forward. He would have played for the Kentucky Wildcats under Adolph Rupp (daddy was that good) had it not been for WW2. He was in the 8th Army Air Force, fought as a ball turret gunner (on a B17 Flying Fortress) in WW2, met a gorgeous English girl under a bridge on the Serpentine in London, wooed, and married her (my mum; they were married for 54 years), was a fireman at an airfield, an industrial painting and coating project supervisor, owned his own industrial painting company, raced NASCAR in the 50's, owned a stable of thoroughbred race horses, took my mum to Vegas often as possible (they both loved to gamble), traveled a lot (both while in the air force and once he got out), and he loved bowling, deep sea fishing, and golf. He was bigger than life and my sisters and I loved him like crazy.
He passed away in 1999. But I will always cherish the memories.

Never let a day go by without telling your dad how much he means to you.

Dad as a young man.

Dad with his four girls. The chubby dork bent in half mid-giggle is yours truly. eeps!

Because Authors and Readers Care...

2011-06-17T10:06:00.002-04:00

Leslie "L.A." Banks

Hello to all my blog readers,

It is with profound sadness that I learned an online friend of mine and fellow author, Leslie Esdaile, ("L.A. Banks") is most gravely ill. She is facing an uphill battle in her struggle with serious illness. Please know that as Leslie needs all of her energy in this fight, she is absolutely not able to receive visitors, answer emails, texts or phone calls, or receive flowers.

While your prayers and thoughts are most welcome and needed, a special support website, including an auction has been set up in order to help Leslie with the mounting medical expenses facing her and her family. I'd like to ask if you would consider helping myself and others spread the word about this auction by mentioning the auction on your website, blog, facebook and in your newsletters with a link to this website: www.labanksauction.org for the duration of the auction.

I have donated a signed copy of my paperback erotic romance, Shifting Tides and also am donating a critique for a 30,000 word or less manuscript of an erotic romance story. So whether you are an erotic romance fan and reader, or a budding erotic romance author please help by bidding on these items and some of the other wonderful items up for auction.

Share Your Heart Auction for Leslie On Ebay
June 21-July 1, 2011
Bids begin at : 9 AM EST (6/21)
Auctions end: 9 PM (7/1)
you must register with Ebay to place bids for the auction (if you are not registered)

Thank you all so very much.
Cass

Saturday's Tarot Fun

2011-06-12T08:45:00.000-04:00

From l to r: Cassandra Curtis and Kghia Gerardi, tarot reading event 6/11/11.

Yesterday I went into SL for one of my tarot reading events and it was so much fun! I got to meet new people and say hello to old friends. And also hopefully introduced a few people to paranormal erotic romance books. :-) Cora and I hope to hold a couple more of these events later this summer, so if you didn't make it to this last one, never fear, there will be more fun to come! :-)

Cass reading tarot at the MMC's virtual café in Awen (Second Life).

Editing With Ice Cream

2011-06-12T01:24:00.000-04:00

I've been working on the edits for one of my upcoming stories and learned a valuable lesson...sometimes you have to give yourself bribes. Don't feel ashamed, it's okay if you give yourself a bribe in order to finish what you start. Some days it's the only thing that keeps me on target for deadlines.

My own personal favorite bribes are:

Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines. These are the best thing to ever come out of Texas, well...after Matthew McConaughey. ;-) Both are seriously delicious.

Ice cream sundaes, heavy on the strawberry please. I love ice cream. Every time I got dumped, ice cream was there for me. It never turned its back on me, was always faithful, and never failed to make me smile. How can you not love something so creamy, cold, yummy, and always there for you when you need it most?

Fresh picked Georgia peaches. Fun and fuzzy on the outside, sweet and juicy on the inside, peaches are not only delish, but they are also a nutritious bribe. ;-)

What is your favorite bribe?

Tidying Up

2011-06-06T03:07:00.002-04:00

From l to r: Cassandra and Cora in SL, June 2011.

In between tidying up the rough drafts of my latest projects, I've been running errands, going to appointments, housework, blah blah you know, the usual grind. But I did get a chance the other night to try out some modeling poseballs in SL with my writing partner in crime and bff, author Cora Zane.

It's funny, but I actually bought these poseballs back in January but we never got a chance to use them for a *virtual* photo shoot, because Cora's been having issues with computer and her router/connection for quite a while now. So it was very cool to be able to hang out with her again in SL, talk shop, and five months later, give the modeling poseballs a goofy try. The following snaps were taken at Cora's virtual home among the stars.

Showing our Divatude.

Cora taking a snap of me. Interestingly enough, the pose didn't come with a camera prop. Cora had to search for one and buy it on the marketplace.


This is my favorite snapshot of them all. Love the pose and the attitude it expresses. Love Cora's virtual tan. This snapshot also shows off my virtual tats and my rockin' Kate Pierson hairdo.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T00:23:00.002-04:00

As the daughter of a United States Veteran of WW2,

I am always thankful for the men and women who serve our country.

Everything I learned about dedication, honor, and integrity, I learned from my father.

On this day, we honor their commitment and sacrifice.

I encourage those of you reading this,
to donate your time and/or money to charities
(such as Fisher House Foundation,
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
National Military Family Association
Operation Homefront – N.O.)
that help our Vets.

If you are a Vet, thank you for your service!

To those who made the ultimate sacrifice,
you may be gone, but you are NOT forgotten.

So while you enjoy your day off, always remember why this day is ours to hold...

Blessings and have a great day!

Cat Giggles

2011-05-28T09:50:00.000-04:00

I do believe this kitty enjoyed some of my primo 'nip. lol.

Eclectic Reader Contest Winner

2011-05-27T00:05:00.012-04:00

The winner of my eclectic reader contest is ...

*drumroll please*

MARY!

Congratulations, Mary!

Please email with your info to cass @ cassandra curtis. com (no spaces)

Thanks to all who entered! :-)

I'm having another contest later this summer,

so check back and watch the blog for updates.

Eclectic Reader's Contest!

2011-05-22T12:24:00.000-04:00

I'm clearing off my shelves and offering up a neat giveaway package for my readers.

I've stuffed a goody bag with bookmarks, and the paperbacks: On the Hunt anthology by (Gena Showalter, Shannon K. Butcher, Jessica Andersen, and Deidre Knight), Dying For Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson, Star Raiders by Elysa Hendricks, Dogs and Goddesses anthology (Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich), Tall Tales and Wedding Veils by Jane Graves, and Hope's Folly by Linnea Sinclair. So six books in all, each very different in genre, style, and voice. Perfect for the eclectic reader.

To enter, you must answer two questions and then leave a comment here on my blog with your answers. The answers can be found on my Facebook author page, in the notes section for my Flash Fiction Fridays. In the case of a tie, entrants with the correct answers will have their names placed in a hat and one name will be drawn out.

Question #1. What was the name of the shapeshifting cat in my flash fiction story, Stray?

Question #2. Who saved my fictional self from a sex-fiend in my flash fiction story, First Impressions?

Contest ends midnight, May 26, 2011 and the winner will be announced on May 27th here on my blog.

Good Luck!

A Worthy Cause and A Fabulous Contest!

2011-05-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

My good friend Jax Cassidy is an amazing person, and here's why—
Not only does she have wicked wild talents as a graphic artist, and write incredible erotic stories, she also has a big heart. She is using the release of her latest ebook SHIBUYA MOMENT to help a great cause.

All author proceeds from the sale of her story SHIBUYA MOMENT will be donated to the Red Cross and ShelterBox for the relief effort in Japan.

On top of that, she pulled together a group of her friends and is sharing the love by having a fabulous contest for readers! The giveway is valued at over $500.00!

Thanks to the help of her friends and SPONSORS, they are going to include a brand new Kindle 3G and an Amazon gift card to add to the already fantastic giveaway!

GO to the link below and find out how to enter her amazing contest and help spread the ebook love.
http://jaxcassidy.com/shibuya-giveaway/

Dream Interpretation Workshop

2011-05-17T19:36:00.001-04:00

I've always been interested in dreams and what they mean. I've taken workshops on the subject and read numerous books in an attempt to discover if my dreams have any significance or if I simply shouldn't eat eggs and chips after midnight. lol.

I love to hear about other people's dreams and help them figure out what their subconscious mind is trying to communicate.

Dreams are also the perfect vehicle to let our imaginations take flight. Many authors use parts of their dreams to color the imaginary world of their books, to add and enrich the art of storytelling and storycraft.

Do you dream in color? Are your dreams more like still frame snapshots? Or full-blown movies with an orchestra? Or maybe your dreams warn you of coming events? Do you remember your dreams at all? Or are they more like faint visions that disappear like mist?

If you have an account in Second Life and would like to attend my workshop and learn more about your dream time, please mark your calendar, because this Thursday, I will be in SL at Fig, Haunted Fruit Island, talking about dreams and what they mean. :-)

Thursday, May 19, 2011
3pm SLT
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fig/87/228/503

Hope to see you there!

Mermaid Dreaming

2011-05-14T18:20:00.002-04:00

Friday the 13th Myth

2011-05-13T00:13:00.001-04:00

Luck Is Where You Find It

I imagine most of you reading this know what today is, right? An unlucky number on an unlucky day, the combination of which causes the more superstitious to stay home and bolt the doors.

In my own family, Friday the thirteenth is considered very lucky. A child born on Friday the thirteenth is said to be blessed by the magic of the old ones. I have a sister born on that day whom we all love very much, even if she did hog all the mirrors when we were growing up. lol.

For many people though, it is a time to beware of walking under ladders, crossing the path of black cats, or handling any mirrors. But how did the concept of luck, of superstitions, Fridays and the number thirteen, ever get started in the first place?

Paraskavedekatriaphobia is the psychological term for those individuals afraid of Friday the 13th. Fear of the number thirteen has been around for ages and although we aren’t one-hundred percent sure where it started, many believe it stems from the story of the of the Last Supper, where thirteen sat down to eat, and one of their number, Judas, betrayed Jesus.

Others insist the unlucky association dates back to Friday, October 13, 1307, the day that many Knights Templar were simultaneously arrested in France, and then executed.

But I’ve found that much of luck depends on who you ask and what their culture or religion believes. While most people in England, Germany, Portugal believe Friday the thirteenth is unlucky, it is Tuesday the thirteenth that is bad luck for those in Spain and Greece.
However, Buddhists believe the day is a lucky one, as did the ancient Aztecs and Egyptians.

Personally, I think it all has to do with math.

Yes, I know for most of us, math is inherently evil anyway, but let’s think for a second. Thirteen is a prime number, and very different from all the other numbers before it. That was probably very scary to the slide-rule challenged cavemen who first discovered the uniqueness of the number thirteen.

I believe we make our own luck. Serendipity is there for the taking, and whether what we experience is good or bad is more than a toss of a coin. Sometimes all we need is to focus on is what we want.

So how do you make good luck?

Expect to get as good as you give and allow yourself to be lucky. That’s right. Know it and it will be. Simple, huh?

Now, I’m not saying for you to act like a Pollyanna and recite affirmations while your car is being towed. ::grins::

A positive attitude is only going to take you half-way. You must use your innate senses, your inner ESP, your knowledge, and careful attention, to take you the rest of the way.

Clear the way for the magic to happen. Watch for potentials—be observant—and expect to be lucky.

Thirteen is nothing to fear.

Steamed Up...and not in a good way

2011-05-12T10:41:00.000-04:00

Info below reposted permission courtesy of author Ashley March. http://www.ashleymarch.com/blog/?p=1439

Facebook apparently has rules for pages that nobody knows about/pays attention to. But Facebook is serious, and they’ve updated the rules today.

These rules I’m referring to are about promotions/contests run on Facebook. They aren’t directed solely at authors, of course, but since many authors routinely post contests on Facebook through their author pages, I thought I should bring attention to this issue. Turns out that if you don’t follow the rules, Facebook can and will delete your page at any time and without warning.

First, feel free to read the Facebook rules straight from the company itself. It’s in pretty plain English.

However, for those of who would rather read my summary, please pay attention.

According to Facebook’s Promotion Guidelines (which includes contests, although they define them differently than how we commonly use the term), we:

1) May NOT hold a contest on our Facebook pages unless it is administered through a third party app and is placed on a unique page tab or canvas page.

2) Must disclose that participants are giving information to us and not to Facebook; must acknowledge to participants that the contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Facebook; and must have participants somehow acknowledge that they release Facebook from any liability.

3) May NOT use any part of Facebook’s features or functionality to enter participants in the contest. This means participants cannot be required to like a status/picture, comment on a status/picture, enter their own status/picture, or even like the page as a condition to be entered into the contest.

***You should read this last one again. If I’m reading this correctly, it means that we can no longer hold “Like my page and I’ll give away a Kindle when I reach 5,000 fans” contests.***

(Note: If you read the rules on the Facebook link, #3 and #4 are in clear contrast as #4 says you CAN do this. However, as #3 is the update to what I read just last week, I’m certain that it holds the most weight and Facebook will probably clear this up soon.)

4) May NOT use any Facebook features or functionality (such as asking people to “Like” something) in order to receive votes for a promotion. (I have to admit I’m not really sure I’ve ever seen anything like this; if someone can clue me in, please do.)

5) May NOT use Facebook to notify winners of any contest whether held on Facebook through the third party app or on a separate website (such as our author websites). This notification includes posting on our own walls, posting on winners’ walls, chats, and direct messages.

6) May NOT use Facebook in the name of a promotion (such as “Check out the Ashley March Facebook Contest”), nor any trademarks, copyrights, intellectual properties. We may NOT use Facebook in the rules and materials of any contest except as stated above in #2 as required. (Note: Because all of these rules are meant to govern us if we “communicate or administer a promotion” on Facebook, I believe this guideline specifically applies to what we post or link to on Facebook about a contest; see below for a run-around.)

In my opinion, what does this all mean for us? I don’t blame Facebook for protecting itself, but it definitely limits us to the point where we can ONLY communicate on the site. Of course, the point of having social media is to interact with readers, but I know a ton of readers who enjoy Facebook contests and a lot of authors (including myself) who have ran “Like Me” contests in the past in order to increase the number of readers on their page.

In essence, the only things we CAN do are:
1) Use Facebook to mention and provide links to contests we are holding elsewhere (unless it’s a Facebook contest; see below).

2) Continue to run “Like Me” contests on our author websites. However, we can only use Facebook to monitor the number of people who become a fan. We can’t use Facebook to advertise the contest because of #6 above and we can’t use Facebook to notify winners. Publicity for “Like Me” contests will have to come through Twitter (yay, Twitter, my new best friend!), newsletters, our own websites, etc.

ETA
3) Announce that you’ll run a contest AFTER you get a certain number of “Likes.” Then run the contest on a separate tab through the third party app or on your own website.

4) As far as I know, these rules apply only to pages. Unless it’s hidden somewhere that I haven’t seen, you can still run contests through your individual/personal accounts. (However, this seems like a very fine line to me and one I’m personally not going to cross.)

All of this is a big blow to author promotion, and I know some people are going to continue running contests as they see fit anyway. For me, however, I’m going to be following the rules simply because I don’t want to find out one day that my page has been deleted. If you know of any authors who are running contests on Facebook or are otherwise violating these rules, please let them know!

Now I'm left unsure whether it's even safe to post on my FB pages about the contests or events I have on my website. And when I think of all the time I've spent building a following on FB, creating a fan page and begging people to "like" it, it makes me sick. I could have written another story or two in the time that FB has taken out of my life, because I thought I was building something, and creating another avenue for my promotion. Grrr.

Hmm. Sounds to me like to stay in FB good graces, we authors will have to buy those irritating sidebar ads to stay safe within their policy mandates. In the old days we had a term for this...it's called a "shakedown". When you didn't pay to keep your business "protected" from being destroyed (literally) the mafia would come pay you a visit. The difference is that these "companies" hide their true nature behind a smile and their happy little mission statement. At least the mafia was honest about their intentions and thus had far more integrity. Grrr.

I have one word for Facebook—MySpace. Remember MySpace? Yes, and soon as the next hottest thing appears on the horizon, the new "thing" will eat their lunch and FB will be eating dust.

Oh and if you dare to retaliate and pull down my pages or another author's pages for us warning each other and speaking our mind (Free speech, remember that?) or using your policy as an excuse to cut us down for speaking out, FB, you'll wish you'd never been born. Seriously. You want social media? Power to the people? It works both ways. Enjoy.

Mermaid Tarot Event

2011-05-11T11:55:00.001-04:00

Tarot Reading Event in Second Life tomorrow!

Thursday, May 12, 2011
6pm SLT

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

Join Cassandra for a quick swim in the sea as she reads the Mermaid Tarot Cards. This is a free event. Tail is optional. *wink* Hope to see you there!

The Ghost Of Goodacre Hall at Story Telling Hour Tonight!

2011-05-10T11:44:00.001-04:00

As some of you might know, I have a fascination for anything paranormal, and you can't get more paranormal than ghosts! They both frighten (The Shining) and even delight us (thinking Casper here). They also make us think about what lies beyond the every day existence we lead. I've interviewed and talked to hundreds of people who claim they've seen a ghost, and the encounter left them more than a little freaked. Some have evidence, using everyday items like a tape recorder and digital camera. Others experience the feeling of being watched, or perhaps even touched, then turn around and nothing is there.

In my little short story ebook, The Ghost of Goodacre Hall, a former chef decides to open a bed and breakfast. There is just one catch—the house is haunted. The story is both sweet and funny, with a tiny dash of heat, and a small dose of realism. I've always liked this story and I hope you will too.

I will be in Second Life, reading The Ghost of Goodacre Hall tonight at 6pm SLT (Pacific), behind the Midnight Moon Cafe located in the sim, Awen. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Awen/196/225/22

When you arrive at the Cafe, look behind the building and you'll see a graveyard. That's where the reading will be held. The event is in *voice* so please bring your headsets, so you can hear the story.

If you'd like to read the ebook for your self, it's available for FREE at www.smashwords.com. Click the link in the right hand column of this blog, where it says Cassandra's Links. See it? Under that heading is a link that says Cassandra on Smash. Now you're all set. :-)

I hope to see you there!

Cass

Happy Colors

2011-05-09T10:51:00.000-04:00

Your Nail Polish Color is Magenta

How you're unique: You're confident - and you show everyone the true you

Why your style rocks: You have the attitude to carry the most outrageous outfits off

What this color says about you: "Look at me. I know you want to!"

What Color Nail Polish Best Fits You?

Blogthings: A Fine Line Between Insight and Stupidity