Waxahachie

The city we went to visit in Texas is called "Waxahachie" and it's just about 30 minutes or so below Dallas.

It still has it's small "home town" feeling about though. The population is just around 21 thousand or there abouts, so it isn't a big town.

What I REALLY liked was their downtown area.
It was very nice and it was centered all around their old Victorian looking courthouse which is in very good shape.
The downtown area remarkably was thriving.....you don't see that often in small towns or even big towns. The downtown areas die often times and that is so sad.

But Waxahachie's was vibrant. Which was exciting to me.

The buildings downtown are the original shops with the old time "store fronts" and big windows.
The are TONS of wonderful "Antique Stores" within many of them which Miss Priss and I were able to wander through. And there are fabulous other business's and restaurants in the others.
"The Chantilly Tea Room" where we ate lunch INSIDE of the big window area. There is a huge Quilt store to the right in this photo where that man is sitting on a bench in front. I don't know why it says "Maxwell" above the Tea Room.

What was also impressive were the old Victorian homes in the Historic District downtown.


The sweet, little University "Rep" from SAGU that we were with that day for our tour, took us all over town and to lunch at the Chantilly Tea Room.

She drove us into the Historic District that was right there showed us all the beautiful homes in the area, and then she said....."I have to show you my FAVORITE home" so she zoomed us in her little car to view this one.Miss Priss and I agreed with her that we too loved it, and I went on to imagine what a little bit of "Grapevine" wrapped around the front door with some sweet flowers shoved in it might look like. HA! HA!

We had a very great day! We toured the University, we toured the town...we had lunch in a Tea Room.
Miss Priss and I were so exhausted that night and couldn't WAIT to go to sleep in our wonderful hotel beds. Miss Priss would have a FIT if she knew I snapped this. HA!
Don't tell her.

More to come later.....
I don't want to make this too long each time so as not to bore you all.

Please Vote! HEARTFAST is up for Best Book!

Your story "­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­HeartFast" was reviewed by us this week and is up for Best Book honor this weekend (voting runs from Saturday, 2/28, through Sunday, 3/1). We thought you might like to know. You can find the information here on Saturday:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/recentrev.htm

Please vote for me! :D Thank you!

Book Signing Today! Come By and Say "Hi!"

5 Cherries for HEARTFAST!

HeartFast
by Linda Mooney
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
Genre: Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Futuristic
Length: Full
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Cherries
Review by Lilac

With HeartFast, the author has created a world filled with fascinating characters and a premise that I found highly entertaining.

I was intrigued from the very first moment of this futuristic story as two of the elite sixteen Guardians, who are defenders of the planet who also have special powers, find themselves forced into a mating bond thanks to a law and lottery requiring a couple to procreate. Friends and coworkers, Star and Hunter find themselves in an interesting predicament as they must follow the law. It was interesting to watch them deal with the changes that came their way because of the circumstances beyond their control.

Star is a strong female character who is very much a survivor. An outcast due to her special abilities, she has finally found a place with the Guardians and fears losing that spot due to the changes that her situation with Hunter have caused. I really felt for this character and couldn’t help but be touched by all that she goes through during this emotional story…and there are definitely some emotional parts so have those hankies handy while reading.

Hunter, the hero of the story, is also a strong character who has a few secrets of his own that come to light as the story progresses. He fascinated me and I longed to know more about this strong and serious man who is very much a protector. Star definitely brings out the best in Hunter and it is interesting to watch his transformation as the bond between he and Star grows stronger.

And while the lottery might have brought this couple together, it was evident that they already had a strong connection and I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if not for the lottery. This is something that I loved about the story. The fact that the couple had a prior relationship made the transition from friends/coworkers to lovers go smoothly and make sense as things must progress rather quickly thanks to the Handfast Law. Star and Hunter share a bond with one another and it is wonderful to watch their relationship blossom as they grow closer with one another.

The story also contains a few secondary characters that enhance the story from the mysterious group of men who have a vested interest in Star and Hunter’s mating to Star and Hunter’s fellow Guardians. The Guardians truly fascinated me with their various special abilities and all of them practically scream for stories of their own. I would love to see more of them in the future.

As for the plot of the story, it progresses nicely and I enjoyed every minute of its fascinating premise and setting. I became lost in the story and didn’t want it to end. The stunning conclusion touched my heart and made me feel for all of the characters of the story. Everything from the characters to the setting to the plot comes together quite nicely making for one strong read.

From its action-packed beginning to it heart wrenching conclusion, HeartFast is an unforgettable story that I highly recommend.

http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2009/02/heartfast-by-linda-mooney.html

If You Can Go Back In Time, Where Do You Want To Go?

If you were given the chance to go back in time in a time machine, what particular period in history would you want to go back to? Please explain your answer.


Tags: Time, Time Machine, Somewhere in Time, Past, History, Experiences, Time and Space, Glorious Past

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla
Philippines
Viewpoint/Opinions

Castor Oil Challenge Going On Strong

Almost 1 month has passed since the Castor Oil Challenge Started. Keep up the good work Ladies. Oil that scalp twice a week for more growth!

New Chat Room / Photo Slideshow

The New Chat room is finally here! The Chat Room is no longer positioned on the right hand side of the site. Now you can find it at the footer of the site, just click on the arrow with the dash above it (bottom right hand side) to chat with others.

Many are concerned with "private" messaging one another. This feature is still available. Once you are in the chat room, simply click on the person's name you would like to conference with and an option to private chat will appear.

The photo slide show is best viewed in Internet Explorer rather than Firefox. If you decided to navigate the site in the Firefox browser, be sure to download Adobe Flash Player version 10.


P.S. Be sure to check out the new descriptive icons located in the Latest Activity Feed giving you a perfect visual effect.

For the Love of Writing - Making Certain Scenes... "Believable"

Every so often I see the inevitable question asked on a loop -- "What's the hardest part of writing a romance?" Inevitably, at least one author will answer, "The sex scenes."

There have been a few times I've been reading an erotic romance, and trying to get the visual imagery of what the couple are doing is, umm, difficult. Oh, yes, I KNOW what they're doing. It's trying to see them in my mind's eye that I have a problem with.

Do the scenes give me problems? Rarely. I know a couple of authors who read other authors' sex scenes for inspiration. Me, I would rather watch a movie. There. I admit it. I will watch a hard R rated flick, or soft porn, to get the imagery back in my head. So the next time I have to write a love scene... well... ;)

Gee, It's Good To Be Back Home......

I took this photo at a "Rest stop" in Texas...isn't this just the cutest ideal? I don't know who thought this up but I think it's brilliant.

You know Dorothy was right.
"There IS "no place like home."
I'm glad to be back in Baton Rouge......nutty traffic and all. Here I mean. I think the traffic in Dallas is calmer than here actually. And they have up to 4-5 lanes on the Interstate in some places......something that we NEED to have here in this city.

Can I tell you this? I like Texas.
I really do, I always have.

It's very different than Louisiana.
I mean the MINUTE you cross the Texas border you can feel that something is different. I've always felt that
every time we've been there.

There really is something very "awe inspiring" about that State.

Texas is just so BIG and STRONG!!!
I mean look at the size of this thing. You can drive for hours and hours and never get across Texas!

I can't tell you actually what is is that is so awesome about this great State.....but what I DO know is that many of the things you think of when you say or hear the word "Texas" really are valid.

I was raised and lived in Iowa from 8 years old until I was in my late 20's.
Once we had moved from there to Louisiana, people would ask us "Where are you from?"
Ummm....I think the "Midwestern accents" gave us away at times.
Now we have a bit more "twang" in our speech.

Many times once we responded that we were from "Iowa"....the person asking would say something like....."Iowa, that's where all that corn is." Or they would say...."Did you all have pigs?"

Well, sadly my family didn't have corn or pigs......because we lived in a big city.

But isn't it funny how we associate certain "images" with a region??

Like "Oil wells".....you really do see them in Texas. You can see these "black gold" pumping machines all the way to Dallas along the Interstate. It isn't a rare site.

I bet you didn't know though, that you can see them over here in Louisiana too.
We also have big ones, little ones, and of course the big "Platform Rigs" out in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.
I WISH I owned one. Don't you? Even a little one would be fine with me.
HA!

Yet, when you think of Texas....you think oil....more so than you think of it being here in Louisiana.

And Texans love them some flags....
Flags flying in Texas at a "Truck Weigh Station."

Another thing I LOOOOOVE about Texas is that those people......"fly their State Flag" which is that infamous "Lone Star Flag".....everywhere.
And I DO mean everywhere.

Especially at their homes and of course you see them over many business's.
I love that.
I appreciate the Texan's zeal and their love for their State.

Plus, people REALLY do wear "Cowboy hats" there.
I saw people wearing them.
Which didn't freak me out because it's Texas. They should wear them right?

Besides...I've seen that "Cowboy hat wearing" situation in Nashville, and also here in some lower parts of South Louisiana too. So I think it's pretty neat.

Miss Priss and I had a great time together doing the "Mother/Daughter bonding thing" in Texas.

We had a great and producitve trip......
I will tell you more about that in our next visit.
Stay tuned!

Simply. Beautiful. Music.

Il Divo singing "Amazing Grace"
Live
With bagpipes
Keep the tissues handy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrnB4FZ-yc

New Features

We are currently undergoing several changes where features are concerned. Check them out!

1. Members can control who can access their their profile pages, and you now have five additional themes for your social network. We heard many request for members to be able make their profile viewable just to the members of the network on a public network, or just to friends.

With this release, from the Settings page, any member can choose from a few new privacy options for their profile:

• Everyone who visits the social network
• Only members of the social network
• Just your friends

2. New Chat.

3. Members will now also have the ability to decide whether to show their birthday, their birthday and age, or neither. Members who have left “Don’t display my age” checked in their settings will continue to have their age hidden, but they will now appear in the birthday feature.

4. Newly designed Video Player
5. New Photos Player
6. New Music Player

Stay Tuned!

For the Love of Writing - The Bug Has Bitten, BUT...

You're at the market, at the doctor's office, driving to your next appointment, sitting in line at the bank... you're SOMEWHERE, and you get this Really Fantastic Idea for a new story! Plot, characters, circumstances -- the whole works just start pouring out of your brain.

What do you do? Do you keep a pad and pen nearby for just those moments? Or maybe you have a laptop handily at your disposal.

What do you do about those bits and pieces you know you're going to forget if you don't get them somehow saved?

I have a friend who keeps a small purse-sized tape recorder with her at all times for just those moments. Another girl I know calls her home phone and leaves it all on her message machine. I personally keep a small 4.5x7 spiral notebook with me (I just measured it. :)

Want to share your tricks? I'd love to hear some of them!

Runner's Moon Trilogy Megabook is WCPT's #1 Best Seller!

Linda,

Congratulations! Your book RUNNER’S MOON TRILOGY MEGABOOK is the Number One Bestseller at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid for the month of February, 2009!

MEGABOOK will be carried on the WCPT Home Page all month during February as the WCPT Bestseller, and be permanently “red lettered” with our other, past Bestsellers at the site. It will also be featured in the WCPT newsletter as the Bestseller and at other third party places.

RUNNER’S MOON TRILOGY MEGABOOK is your sixth book with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, and all six books have been Number One Bestsellers, an amazing achievement!

Again, congratulations from all of us at Whiskey Creek Press!

Debra Womack, Executive Editor and Publisher
Jan Janssen, WCPT Executive Editor
Steven Womack

Dear Linda: Regarding RUNNER'S MOON

Dear Linda,

Are there going to be any Ruinos babies in your Runner's Moon books?

LOL! To be honest, I don't know. At this time, no, but who can tell what may come down the pike?

Thank you for an interesting question!

Update On My New Bathroom

In case you forgot, here it was in the beginning.


And a month later, most of the "dirty" work has been done.

On the right will be my linen closet. The vanity will go where the blue toolkit is. The shower bath combo has been replaced by a huge "soaker" tub (not a whirlpool or jacuzzi, as using bubble bath would clog up the pipes.)

Estimated date of completion: March 1st!

Contact Us

If you would like to get in contact with us regarding hair questions, product questions, comments, concerns, advertising etc. feel free to email us at hairlistainc@gmail.com. Please allow a 24-48 hr response.

For the Love of Reading - Do Reviews Make a Difference?

I wish I'd remembered to add "Good Reviews" to my poll. But I just had an incident that reminded me of my oversight.

I was at Fictionwise, looking for a book I'd seen promo'd on one of my umpteen kajillion e-loops. The premise looked interesting, and the author had gotten some great reviews from notable review sites. However, over on FWise, that same book had one or two (maybe) Great ratings, a few more Good ratings, but the remainder were Fair and Poor. Most of her reader reviews were in the lower ranges. Needless to say, I'm holding off until I get word of mouth from some people I know and trust to let me know if I should fork over the money.

Not too long ago there was an uproar about authors and their fans manipulating the reviews over at Amazon, which led a lot of readers to reply that there were ways for the authors to have low ratings removed. As such, the reviews at Amazon are not as unbiased as they could be. That's not the case over at FWise. What authors get is what authors get.

So, my question is this... Do you trust reviews? Do they make a difference when you get ready to purchase a book? Are there certain sites you trust more than others?

Seriously??? ARE YOU SERIOUS???

I think that I finally have to face that I am no longer a hot chick. That title is reserved for the young trampy-esque girls that go to the bars. I just look like their mother. Their HOT mother.

C'mon, I need to validate myself just a little bit.

On Saturday night a group of us went out for Sarah's birthday. When we arrived at 10:30pm the place was dead. I remember when 10:30 was kind of late to head to the bars...I mean it wasn't THAT long ago...so I was all stressing out that there would be a line-up and we would have to wait outside like a bunch of retards... but I guess the hot people stay at home until their parents are asleep then they sneak out to make a grand entrance. I say 'sneak out' because I could swear some of the kids that showed up around midnight to pack the place were still in highschool.

Overall the night was pretty fun. I didnt embarass myself (much), I didnt make a second trip to the bank machine to take out money I didnt have, I didnt slam a random punch into any girls face for looking at me funny, and I didnt get any random loser-ish guys try to pick me up. Seriously, I attrack them like flies. My forehead is stamped with "Will be nice to losers because I am too nice to tell you to fuck off".

But this is where the title of my blog comes in. I am still realing from the words some 15 year old kid (well, he was obviously older than that to be in the bar, but he sure LOOKED 15) tried on me. So I am standing in line for a drink behind some gang bangers (Affliction shirts anyone? I saw atleast 50 of them) and one of them over to the side thought I was just DYING to get my ass fondled by him. Well, it was more like molested, because there was no grabbing, more like rubbing. I am nice, so I dont slap the mother fucker across the face (despite my desire to), and you know what this son-of-a-bitch says to me????

Prepare yourself. It will be your new most hated sentence on earth, because it's mine...and if I ever hear it again I may crawl into a whole and cry for at least a week straight.

"Wow... your ass sure is soft"

UMMM WTF?!?!?!

You dumb fuck, how in the hell is that a compliment???? TO ANYONE??? Let along a woman flirting on thirty who has to stand next 115 lbs women in skirts that show their hoohaws???

I have never been more insulted in my life.

Fucker COULD have said "Wow, I could bounce quarters off that Ass. But nooooo... the dumb DISRESPECTFUL fuck says it's soft.

Time to bring out the granny panties ladies. I am no longer a hot chick.

"Headin North...and West....and A Bit South..."

Today, in just a few minutes in fact....Miss Priss and I are setting off on an adventure.

We are heading North to Dallas.....then a bit West...then a tad South......to the tiny little city of WAXAHACHIE.

We are going to go tour a College she is interested in possibly attending in the Fall.
And wouldn't you know it I have been SICK as a dog....ugh. My Specialist just called a prescription in for me and I am on my way to pick it up then......
"TEXAS here we come!!"

Seven hours.....blah.
I'll tell you happy tales I am sure when I get back.

For the Love of Writing - An Author's Dilemma

I guess you could say the blog today is directed mostly to other authors.

I have a book that was out with another publisher for nearly a year. It was sold on their website, and on Fictionwise for about 8 months. All in all, I was told I had sold a total of 46 copies of it (although on FW I had 36 reviews for it before it was pulled.)

It's a perfectly good novel. It's a fantasy romance that reads like a medieval, but takes place on an alternate world, and runs around 88,000 words. But, like I said, it's been "exposed" for a year already.

Should I try submitting it to another publisher? Or should I self-publish it and put it up on my website?

Any suggestions? I would dearly love some insight.

Thanks!

Happy 4th Months

Happy Anniversary Hairlista! Hairlista Inc. is officially 4th months old today. We have over 3, 500 members and growing rapidly everyday. Big thanks going out to all who have joined and those who continue to invite their friends and family!

For the Love of Being Read - Thank You!

I'm walking on Cloud 9!

Like most authors, I have my name set up as a Google Alert so that I can be notified once a day of any places on the internet where I'm mentioned. Specifically, this is to let me know when a review for one of my books may go up without me being aware of it.

I got an alert today that I was mentioned on someone's blog. Curious, I went over to see.

My book is listed as being on someone's TBR (To Be Read) List! I'm in tears!

This is a FIRST!

Rarely do I hear from other people, much less from readers, although they're out there. You see, 99.9% of the time, when people discuss what they're reading, or make suggestions what to read, it's a NY book by a NY author.

Which is why I was stunned, then in tears to see my book listed with a dozen other books -- a dozen NY books.

To that person, many many thanks, and many more blessings on you!

Waiting In My Mail Box Today......

This afternoon as I checked the mail I saw an "express" mail package crammed in there.
"Humm....I haven't ordered any books in two weeks" I thought to myself.

I then pulled it out to see WHO it was from and upon reading the senders name
I excitedly yelled....YES!!!!!! like a silly teenager.

Loudly enough I might add for my neighbors and close by parts of Baton Rouge to hear as well.
I knew this was coming to me because I won it on my friend Patty's website last Friday. I just hadn't expected it to arrive as soon as TODAY.

This sweet inscription was penned inside by Ms. River's own hand.
That really WAS the "icing on the cake."


I love those scriptures she wrote down.....


Just that little package brought some EXTRA "joy" to my day....it's amazing how that works.
I was already having a GREAT day so this has put it over the top.
And it's only 1:50 in the afternoon....just think what's left for me to behold yet today!

I think I'll go now and take myself a little nap before church tonight.....all this excitement has plumb worn me out. HA!

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulet!

I Would Love to Get Your Feedback!

Please do me a favor and answer my poll at the right.

For my benefit only, let me know what influences you the most to buy a book.

The poll will be up until Friday, February 28th, and will close at 6:00 p.m. CST.

Thank you!

What I LOVE About Living South.....

There are so many things I LOVE about "Living in the South" but.....I have to say number one is probably.....
Early signs of SPRING!
Our neighbor's White Azalea bush in FULL BLOOM!

Our own "Pink Azaleas" are just now starting to bloom.

Can you see the little bee in this shot??
We LOVE "Pansies" in the South because they can endure the cold through the winter and take us into the heat of summer.
And then we change them out because they get pretty stressed out looking.This year I planted all the pansies in "Purple and Gold" .....LSU's colors! HA! Maybe that will help them this year.
Our front porch area.

Yes, it's true, Spring has SPRUNG here...but don't envy us too much.
We will be crying over the "Heat and Humidity" by May.
Or sooner.

I'll give you some more items on my "list" at another time.

But please feel free to tell me what you like about living where you live at too.

For the Love of Reading - Why Use Books as Punishment?

Grrr. Time to let out some steam.

I have a very difficult time trying to make certain teachers understand one basic principle: If you use reading as a punishment, then don't complain when the child's reading scores are low!

Have you ever heard this?
"If you don't behave, I'm going to put you over in that corner with a book!"
"You just lost recess, buster! When we go outside, take a book with you so you'll have something to do."
"No, sir. You're going to In School Suspension. Take your library book with you."

There are other similar quotes, but you get the picture. I cringe every time I hear an adult threaten a child with reading a book if they don't do "such and such". Heck, I would LOVE it if I could get out of some of my more boring classes, and instead be sentenced to a day of reading!

Why do teachers AND PARENTS use reading as a form of punishment, when we're trying to RAISE our reading test scores? Does anyone else see the double standard in this?